While the battle was raging far away in Enna Aignech, Tuatha and his company were crossing the mountains. Gradually the forbidden mountains wrapped around them as they travelled deeper between them, led by Fergus the pathfinder.

  Three whole weeks passed as they rested frequently between difficult mountain climbs that often left them needing two days to recover and to thaw their cold fingers and toes.

  Tuatha was impressed by Laegaire’s endurance, she often went ahead of them, almost always spotted movement before them and was always first to arrive at the next campsite. “She is like a mountain goat,” said Fergus to Tuatha, as they watched her jump from rock to rock while the others trudged through the snow that lay around the rocks. “She grew up on the peak of Mt. Dagemar” said Tuatha, “This is all familiar terrain for her.” Now he knew how she had escaped the Tulpha gangs. There was no way they would have been able to catch her. Especially in deep snow. She had the amazing and coveted ability to skip across snow that the rest of them seemed to sink in to their calves at each step. At one stage Tuatha, light on his feet because of the training of Riangbra, tried to keep up with her, following her steps across the rocks. She laughed as he chased her, keeping up for a short time till his foot slipped and he went face down in a snow drift, disappearing in the deep snow. He lay still, gasping, till Laegaire, looking concerned, jumped down and tried to help him get up. Tuatha grabbed her by the hand and pulled her down into the snow, rubbing snow in her face. The others laughed when they both arose from the snow like two snow rabbits. Ainnle, Ardan and Naoise shook their heads as if to disapprove of their immature behaviour but were secretly jealous of Tuatha and Laegaire’s growing love for each other.

  In this harsh environment, small moments like these were morale boosters and gave them all the energy to push on.

  At each camp they would leave some food for the return journey. Earlier expeditions made by Fergus meant there was plenty of food and they never left camp with an empty stomach. For this they were all grateful to Fergus for his intuition and ability.

  That evening as the sun set through a blood red sky, it gave the party a sense of foreboding. In the southeast, over the black cliffs that they could now see from the top of the forbidden ranges, there was a darkness as distant cloud lit up in flashes with the lightning of a storm. A warm wind started up and the storm seemed to grow as they thankfully made their way down the last path toward the rolling hills of Dun Emain.

  They arrived at a sheltered spot with an overhanging rock and Fergus set about making a fire. “It’s going to be a stormy and wet night,” he said. “Gather more wood and pile it up here so it does not get drenched.” He pointed to the existing pile against the wall under the overhanging rock. An hour later they were enjoying a meal around the fire and the storm hit. They lined up against the rock, heavy droplets of rain falling at their feet, but their heads protected from the rain. The rock was warm from the fire, and they lay along the rock as the storm rapidly moved off leaving a light rain and a cold that fell over them as the warm air was replaced by the mountain air from where they had come from. By morning, they awoke to a frost and icy extremities.

  Tuatha could feel Laegaire close to him, her hand under his blanket holding his tightly. He sat up and reaching out, threw more wood on the hot coals. Before long, it was warm in the alcove again and the group began to stir.

  Tuatha gently kissed Laegaire’s face and watched her still dozing form for a moment, then he got up and quietly walked away, then began jogging along a river, swollen with the rain from the storm. He had awoken feeling heavy and discouraged. He could not find a thought that bought back his sense of purpose. He looked up at the well-known distant planet that was beginning to set. It was not as prominent usually, but now it was noticeable. It had been getting closer and closer each morning. It had not been this close since Emain the first had won the first battle of the Deep Lands more than three thousand cycles ago. Rhiannon had told him the planet coming closer once more was a sign that events prophesied by Riangbra were about to culminate. Just seeing it there, large and ominous, made the pressure Tuatha felt grow even more.

  After some distance he climbed some rocks along the river and standing at the top he surveyed up and down the river. His eye was caught by movement in the river itself, just off the shore. A deer buck and two does with calves were drinking from the stream. Alongside them something made him look harder. A woman was there, crouching in the water and drinking with her hands. She stood and looked up the river away from Tuatha then turned her head and looked directly at him. Suddenly she motioned and the deer sprung out of the water and leapt into the forest. As they did so, she grabbed the buck by the mane and flung herself on its back, disappearing with them into the darkness of the trees.

  When Tuatha arrived back at camp, he mentioned it to Fergus. Fergus looked alarmed. “It is the Deer herders, they do not like strangers, we need to get moving.”

  As the morning wore on, they covered more ground than they had in the days earlier, as it was downhill mostly, and the hills were slowly becoming grassy plains. In the distance the edge of a thickly wooded forest began to come into view.

  “These are the forests of Dun Emain,” said Fergus. “The largest and thickest forests in this world. They are so thick some have never been penetrated and no one knows what lies in the centre. There is one track through it, but further north it is dense and unexplored. We will be skirting this forest tomorrow and we will arrive at the city the next morning.”

  “What is this city called?” asked Laegaire. “It stays un-named: said Fergus. It is known only as the city by people here. Emain the first wrote a journal which he kept all his life. In historians’ studies of that journal, they found he had written that the city should remain un-named until one would come who would name it. He did not say who that was, but he did say the people there would know when that person came.”

  “A strange prophecy” said Tuatha.

  They set up camp and were quickly asleep. Sleep seems short when one closes one’s eyes and then awakes. With the stars still creating spots in their eyes, Tuatha awoke with a shock. No longer was there sky but an arched stone ceiling, and a cold stone floor with straw as bedding. He sat up and saw a wooden door and then the rest of the group, some starting to groan and stir. Unable to understand what had happened, he looked for Fergus, but he was not with them.

  “What happened?” asked Ainnle, sitting up beside him, rubbing his eyes as if in disbelief. “I have no idea,” said Tuatha. By now everyone had awoken, and the questioning murmur of voices arose as they tried to make sense of their surroundings. Tuatha went to the door and knocked. “Is anyone there?” There was no answer, and he pushed it, but it was firmly jammed shut, probably locked.

  They had no weapons or tools, so they could do nothing but guess and await someone to come.

  After an hour, the door rattled and opened, and Fergus stood at the door grinning. No one grinned back.

  Slowly his grin weakened.

  “What happened?” asked Tuatha.

  “Welcome to Dun Emain” said Fergus wryly. “They are quite nervous of outsiders, so last night while you slept, we were knocked out with an herbal smoke that makes you sleep heavily and then brought here to sleep it off. Of course, when they realised it was me, they put me in my own bed, and I have just explained who you are to the lords. Now they want you to follow me to your rooms so you can prepare to meet them.”

  “Lucky you,” said Ainnle, bending his back in all directions and screwing up his face. “I had a floor to sleep on, it was great.”

  “They will probably apologise to you for this,” said Fergus. “They await your presence at the time the bell is struck six times.”

  They followed Fergus and were each assigned a luxurious room with steaming hot bath. Their correct belongings were in their rooms, piled neatly by the door.

  They each had clean clothing supplied and were asked to wear what they had been given. They all heard a bell as it struck out the fourth hour of the morning.

  Tuatha lay back on the couch and closed his eyes. As he relaxed, his mind began to go over what had happened over the past weeks since he had left home. The enormity of his purpose in his mind continued to gnaw at him and a fear grew. The weight of the fate of his people once more began to push any hope out of his mind. As it grew like a darkness over his mind, he realised he could not open his eyes. He began to see shapes on the back of his eyelids which turned into a dreamlike vision. He saw a black distorted figure of a man, with two smaller figures each side of him. The figure held a flaming sword pointed in his direction. The other hand like a claw seemed to hold his mind in its grip because as it moved and twisted, he felt pain over his body. The figure laughed loudly which echoed in his mind. He tried to think of his friends, of the help he had received, to alleviate his growing fear. But the thoughts didn’t come, only negative energy seemed to course through his brain. Then he felt a warmth begin somewhere in his mind, a faint relief, it grew and grew, pushing aside the fear like a curtain. It turned into a growing light in the blackness, the laughter echoed away into the distance, and he saw his eyelids again, then could feel his surroundings again. It felt like he was in a vice, a nice vice, someone moved around him. He opened his eyes. It was Laegaire, holding him against her, her arms and legs wrapped around him, her lips against his, kissing him gently. All the fear melted away as she kissed him. His eyes opened and he saw her closed eyes near his. When she stopped and looked at him, she smiled. “Are you okay now?” she asked. He nodded. “Better but still a little bit worried!”

  “It was the dark lord,” said Tuatha, “He has used my weakness to find a way in. I have been feeling anxious about my purpose and my friends. I fear that the trials ahead should be mine alone. I do not want any of you to be hurt because of me.”

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  Laegaire held Tuatha’s face in her warm hands.

  “I chose to come and find you, because you make me feel safer than I have felt all my life. I know and trust Riangbra to keep you safe, so what do I have to fear?”

  Tuatha looked into her fervent eyes and smiled. He felt reassured by Laegaire’s confidence and love.

  Leaning toward her, he kissed her lips again.

  “Hey! I think you have had enough.” Laegaire said, jumping up and dancing away. “You need to get ready; they will be here shortly.” She came back and grabbed his hand, pulling him up. “Come on, you need a bath.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “I was in a dark place.”

  “That’s the power of the dark Lord, he is able to reach out and put fear into the minds of anyone he wishes. I saw it when I came in, you were completely in his control, and now you are under mine. Get in there,” she said, pointing to the steaming bath.

  As Tuatha lay back enjoying the feeling of being clean, Laegaire came towards him dressed in a light silky full-length gown. His heart raced at her simple beauty. His mind was no longer absorbed on the worries that has plagued him before, and he realised that Laegaire was a source of great strength to him. He decided that he wanted to marry her. Spending the rest of his life with her was a thought that excited him.

  Laegaire massaged his shoulders, unaware of his thoughts.

  “What are you thinking about?” she whispered into his ear.

  Tuatha grinned, making sure she didn’t see his face.

  “I’m thinking of you” he said, “my heart is racing seeing you looking like this.”

  She giggled and kissed him on the neck. Tuatha shivered, there was no going back on what he had decided. He would ask her now. After he was dressed, he called in on his three friends, asking them to follow him outside.

  They walked out into the gardens that surrounded the whole palace that they were in. The palace was made from white sandstone and the morning sun made it shine brightly. Laegaire held Tuatha’s hand, and he led her to a lake that glinted in the trees. He turned her gently toward him, stepped back and kneeled before her. He nodded toward his friends. Naoise stepped forward carrying something in his hand. He lifted a shining tiara above her head and held it there.

  “Honour me Laegaire, Daughter of Dagemar. Will you marry me?”

  Laegaire’s mouth opened, she looked shocked, then delighted. She composed herself and replied. “I, Laegaire wish to marry you, Tuatha De Danaan Findabair.” Naoise lowered the tiara, placing it on her head and stepped back. Ardan placed a crown on Tuatha’s head also. After hugging and congratulating Tuatha and Laegaire, Ainnle, Ardan and Naoise left Tuatha and Laegaire to complete the marriage ritual.

  Tuatha led Laegaire deeper into the gardens. When they were out of sight, he pulled her close and kissed her. She murmured and returned his gentle yet passionate embrace. “I love you Laegaire,” he said into her ear. She cried out and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m yours,” she said.

  ***

  Fergus stood in a great hall, before the three lords of Dun Emain. “My lords,” he said, “the man Tuatha De Daanan Findabair is the offspring of the line of Emain.”

  An audible gasp arose from those in the hall.

  “He carries the Scatach sword of Emain, I have seen it with my own eyes. He is the one prophesied who will come to bring the beginning of the time of the white eternity to us.”

  When he had completed this unexpected announcement, a roar of expectancy filled the great hall, and the news rapidly spread.

  At the Sixth bell toll many had already gathered in the great hall of the Lords. Trumpets blared and the crowd cheered as Tuatha arrived through the main doors of the great hall.

  The news had spread fast that the great, great grandson of Emain himself was with them once more.

  Unsure of why the enthusiasm for his appearance was so immense, Tuatha stepped forward, holding Laegaire’s hand. Wearing a white gown and cloak, her tiara glinted in the sun as they walked through the archway in the morning light.

  The trumpets stopped and a Herald shouted out and instantly the crowd went silent.

  “Lords and Ladies, Riangbra be praised. We have before us Prince Tuatha De Daanan Findabair, son of the king Ailell Findabair, king of Athlethan, son of Emain the third of the line of Emain and Aoife. Chief Lord of Dun Emain and his wife, Princess Laegaire Dagemar De Daanan Findabair. Ladies and Lords, I present the future king and queen of Athlethan and Dun Emain.”

  When he had ceased these words of glory, the trumpets once again blared, and the people shouted approval. Laegaire had been transformed from a girl to a woman and her beauty made any who saw her gasp in amazement. She truly seemed to be the epitome of the first queen of Dun Emain, Aoife the radiant one. A fitting bride for the descendant of Emain.

  Tuatha looked at Laegaire, the way she stood there like a queen, and felt weak with love for her.

  Tuatha himself, with his White tunic and Salchah in the scabbard of Athlethan strapped to his side, appeared to the people as if he was one of the Lords of Old. He could even be Emain the first himself back with them again, a powerful and imposing warrior. Tuatha, slightly overcome with emotion, thought of his ancestor back under the bridge in Esclarmonde. He felt pride for Emain and the legacy he had passed on to him, unworthy as he was. And Tuatha felt blessed because of the wondrous Laegaire, beautiful and loved by all, future queen of Athlethan.

  Tuatha walked up the steps and saw the Four Lords in a semi-circle had arisen from their thrones and were bowing to him and Laegaire. Their foreheads were on the ground as they bid homage to a returning king. The Herald announced each of the lords in turn. There was Conrad, son of Mornai; Erc, son of Fedelmid; Lollan, son of Felmid, and Fergus their guide, he was Fergus, son of Rogh. Tuatha’s eyes widened to see his friend Fergus was in fact one of the lords. He had not told them or even suggested it in his actions or demeanour. To Tuatha and his party, he was just Fergus the pathfinder.

  Fergus stepped forward. In his hand was crown which shone brightly in the sunlight. It was the Scatach crown of Emain the first, last worn by Emain the third. He stepped forward and placed it on Tuatha’s head.

  Behind the four thrones were two empty thrones. Gilded with the rare Scatach metal, they had sat empty for many years, since the line of kings had ceased when Ailell had left as boy, just before his father Emain the third had died. Ailell could not be found, so the Four Lords were given the job of governing Dun Emain till a king in the line of Emain returned.

  Tuatha realised what was expected of him and he slowly escorted Laegaire up the steps, offering her the throne on the left. As they went past the Lords stood and sat in the Four thrones. As Laegaire and then Tuatha sat, the people watched breathlessly and with excitement as history was made. At last the thrones of Dun Emain were once again occupied. To all there who saw these events, hope arose in their hearts and a future filled with glory was realised.

  No one was unaware of what was happening in the south. All knew of Sennol Uathach and the Dark Lord. They all knew that if the south fell, eventually, so would the north. This fear had partly fuelled the distrust of visitors, and protecting their borders made them feel safe from any attack from the Dark Lord by any one of his many servants. But Tuatha and Laegaire’s arrival had now opened the south to their hearts, and they looked forward to meeting any who would visit from Athlethan.

  Tuatha stood as one of the Lords motioned for him to speak. Tuatha knew he still had a job to do for his people in Athlethan, so he spoke.

  “People of Dun Emain. I, Tuatha, have come to seek your help. I spoke with Emain in Usnach, and he told me to pass on to you that it is time to revolt against the evil darkness of Sennol Uathach. Any help will be received.” The people there gasped. How could this be? King Emain was alive.

  Tuatha continued, “He was in the undying realm. He came to me with a message and has now passed. He dreams of white eternity.”

  He felt like he needed to explain to them in case their hopes outgrew reality. But Emain did not need to be there, their hope was already in him. What they could see was the spirit of Emain, in Tuatha.

  Laegaire stood alongside him and nudged his arm. Their eyes met and she cleared her throat.

  “I am Laegaire, daughter of Queen Dagemar. Also, Daughter of Amerghin.” There was a low gasp that went across the crowd.

  She continued, “I do not approve of my father’s desire for power. It is not only the people of Athlethan that need your help, but also the whole of the Deep Lands that must work together to stop this evil from spreading. Freedom for all is our goal and for what we fight. The battle that is coming is one that we all must fight, even in a small way. Many will die, but their sacrifice will never be forgotten. If it is the will of Riangbra, may they see the white eternity.”

  Laegaire finished and smiled at the crowd.

  The crowd was silent for a moment then they clapped and cheered. Tuatha looked at Laegaire with amazement.

  “You are truly a queen,” he said. “They love you already!”

  She blushed slightly and smiled.

  Fergus stood and in a deep and booming voice that held authority, he said, “People of Dun Emain, we have been summoned by our king Ailell and his son Prince Tuatha and the beautiful Laegaire, daughter of Queen Dagemar, to fight.” Here the crowd cheered loudly. “Our army is small but strong and we also have the famous deer herders of Emain, warriors who have defended us from attacks and raids from the outer world for generations. Conrad son of Mornai?” He turned to one of the Lords, tall and grey haired. “What do you have to say on behalf of the deer herders?”

  A tall man arose and spoke briefly, as is the manner of the deer herders. “We will go, we will prepare for travel,”. Another Lord, short with a black beard stood and spoke up, he was Erc son of Felemid. “We cannot ask our men to walk all the way there, and then fight,” he said. “The people of Muinremar are merchants and have a large fleet. I suggest we ask the king of Muinremar for his help. We could ask him to supply the transport for our army around the coast and attack from the south at Port Sencad. But this will take many months to arrange and then travel.”

  Then he shared something that even surprised Tuatha. “We have just received news that Amerghin and Ruad have overstretched their army in the defeat and fall of Enna Aignech. They attacked the Rochad horsemen in Rechrainn and have been driven back to Enna Aignech. They will take months to recover.”

  The people groaned at the news and Tuatha’s heart went out to his people. He felt hopeless that he could not be there to help them. But he, like all those there, was heartened to hear of the victory of the Rochad Horsemen.

  Tuatha stood. “I will go west to Muinremar and ask King Furbaide Ferbend for his ships and his armies to help boost us in our fight against Amerghin and the Dark Lord.”

  “Then it is agreed,” said Fergus. “We will prepare and await the ships of Muinremar to arrive. We will also send a group of our best fighters to Athlethan to strengthen them and to let them know help is being prepared. We must make sure we attack together. Our strength lies in organisation and working as one.”

  As the meeting of the Lords ended, the mood was vastly different amongst the people. The fear of war had affected the crowds who had been elated to start with and now were quiet and reflective. Many people began to pledge their future yields to the cause, to a stockpile of food for the massive effort that was being prepared.

  The next morning the city was awoken by loud trumpet blasts. The king’s best fighters, the Blue Capes, were already leaving for Athlethan to the cheers of the people. Their journey would take them back on the same path Tuatha had already taken to get to Dun Emain, through the mountains and Esclarmonde.

  Tuatha smiled down at Laegaire as he held her close on a balcony of the palace in the sunshine. Despite the mood the previous evening, the city was once again cheery, the sun shone, and the cheering crowds gave the city a festive feeling. These warriors were the pride of Dun Emain. Sons and Daughters of many in the city were on the way to bring freedom to the Deep Lands.

  “We must leave soon too,” said Tuatha. “I do not care,” said Laegaire. “As long as I am with you. But I do long for the time when all this is over, and we can find a home in Athlethan.” Tuatha smiled and kissed her on her forehead. “So do I, my love,” he replied.

  The next morning, Tuatha awoke to a poke in the ribs. “Get up lazybones” said Laegaire. She no longer looked like the queen he had married, but was again the girl he had first met, with her green tunic and a sword at her side, her long hair in messy strands down her back. Like the day he had first seen her at the base of the mountains of Dun Emain, months ago. He jumped up and caught her, spinning her around. “You look like the sprite I first fell in love with,” he said, kissing her. “Get off,” she said. “I’m not a princess or even a queen for a while. I’m tired of it. I just want to travel again, have an adventure, with you.”

  They joined Ainnle, Naoise and Ardan at the front of the palace. Nothing had changed from the previous morning. It seemed the whole city knew they were leaving, and everyone wanted to see them. Sitting on horses, by the time they had reached the gates of the unnamed city, their arms were exhausted from waving back at the people of Dun Emain. Children grew in number, following them out of the city gates and into the countryside, and the last of them only disappeared when they reached the edge of the forest and the trail that led through it toward the west, where it joined the great north road and eventually led to Muinremar.