For sixteen years after the flight of Grainne and Dermot, the couple
lived in their home in the forest. Dermot was not unhappy, now that his
remorse for proving disloyal to Finn had grown less keen. He divided his
time between hunting in the forest and the training of his children. He
never mentioned his former chief or his comrades.
Grainne was not so easily satisfied. She proved to be the kind of woman
who is always wishing for something she cannot have. When she was about
to be married to Finn, she wanted Dermot. Then, when she had succeeded
in getting Dermot to marry her, she decided that she had been foolish to
run away from Finn. While he was pursuing them, Grainne had been
perfectly happy. She had not wished to be caught, but it pleased her
vanity to be running away with one great hero and having another trying
to capture her.
When Finn gave up the chase and she was allowed to have the man she had
chosen, she was no longer satisfied. She decided that Finn must come and
visit them. The reason she gave Dermot for this wish was, that their
daughter could never pick a husband if she was never to see any of the
heroes of the country. What she really desired was to have Finn come and
tell her that he envied Dermot his good fortune in getting such a fine
wife, or to have him show, in some way, that he was sorry he could not
marry her.
Dermot finally yielded to her arguments and sent the invitation to Finn.
At first the Fenian leader refused to consider such a visit. The
invitation reminded him of what he called the treachery of the man who
had been his friend. But Ossian and Oscar reasoned with him and urged
him to make the visit as a sign of forgiveness. They told him that it
did not look well for a mighty leader to hold a grudge for so long. They
insisted that it was just his pride which kept him away, and that he
really wanted to see Dermot.
Finn finally consented. He took Oscar and Ossian with him and went to
the home in the forest.
Their reception was a cordial one. Dermot was like a boy in his pleasure
at meeting his former chief and his old friends. As for Finn, he seemed
to forget his injured pride in the joy of being once more on good terms
with Dermot. For several days it was a happy party. Through the day they
hunted together; in the evenings they feasted and told stories of the
hard combats of the past. Finn even went so far as to admit that the
need of Dermot’s sword very nearly caused the defeat of the Fenians in
the Battle of Ventry Strand. It seemed as if the past was all forgotten,
and that Dermot would once more become a member of the Fenian band.
But Grainne never was content. Once more she caused trouble between the
two men. She soon proved that it was for neither her husband nor her
daughter that she desired the visit of Finn. When he had come, he had
greeted her cordially, and then had seemed to forget all about her. This
hurt her pride. She began to make herself very agreeable to him and to
seek him out at every opportunity. She tried to do little things for him
which would bring her to his notice.
Now, Grainne could be very charming when she tried, and she was still a
very beautiful woman. Finn began to take an interest in her. Then,
Grainne, hoping to get some statement of regret from him, called up the
circumstances of that flight, sixteen years before.
Finn’s anger, which had died almost to ashes, burst into a flame again.
He no longer took pleasure in the company of Dermot. Even when he tried
to look pleasantly at his host, the fire in his eyes could not be
hidden. Ossian saw the change and urged that the visit be brought to a
close. Finn put him off angrily and refused to leave.
Grainne was pleased with the results of her scheme. It was not that she
did not still love her husband. You see, she knew that Dermot could not
be wounded by Finn. She thought there was no danger, and it was pleasing
to her vanity to know that once again two fine men were interested in
her.
One night the men were awakened by the continued baying of the hounds.
This could only mean that some large animals were prowling around. So,
early next morning, they went out upon a hunt. Oscar and Ossian took one
path and Finn and Dermot the other. The latter had not gone far when
they met an excited peasant, who informed them that a terrible wild boar
was roaming about, spreading death and destruction in its path.
Dermot paused. He knew that hunting the wild boar was forbidden to him.
The proper thing for him to do was to go back, and he knew it. Finn
watched him anxiously.
“You had better go back, Dermot,” he said. “This is hardly a safe
pastime for you.”
Dermot flushed with anger. “It is plain that you desire my death, Finn
MacCool,” he said, “or you would not say such a thing to me. You know
full well that I cannot turn back when you question my bravery.”
Finn said no more. He felt sure that Dermot would continue the hunt in
spite of the warnings of his foster-father. They had gone but a few
yards when a great boar burst out of the forest and made toward them.
Dermot hurled his spear. It glanced off the thick skull. He drew his
sword, but before he could use it, the boar knocked him down and tore
him cruelly with his tusks. Even as he fell, Dermot crushed the skull of
the beast with the hilt of his sword.
Finn had made no move to assist in the killing of the boar. Now he came
over and looked at Dermot. The wounded man implored him to do something
for him.
“I am sorry to see you this way, Dermot,” he said. “But I can never
forget that you proved untrue to me sixteen years ago. There is nothing
I can do for you.”
“There is,” answered Dermot. “You can restore me to health by giving me
a drink from your two hands.”
“There is no well,” said Finn, making excuses.
“There is one just a few paces behind you,” said Dermot.
Finn made no move to go. His anger held him back.
“Can’t you remember how you were bound and suffering in the dungeon of
the White Nation? I did not hesitate to go through every trial to rescue
you. Will you refuse me now? For the sake of what I have done for you,
give me a drink that will heal me.”
Finn was filled with remorse. He went to the well and started back with
his cupped hands full of water. But as he walked he saw before him a
picture of that hall in Tara. Again he felt the disgrace of having his
trusted friend prove disloyal to him. The water trickled through his
fingers, and he came back with nothing.
By that time Oscar and Ossian had come up and had knelt beside the
wounded man. Dermot looked up at Finn with a pleading look in his eyes.
“I could not bring it,” said Finn. “It is too far to carry it. The water
all runs away.”
“You can bring it if you wish,” insisted Dermot. “I know you are angry
because I took Grainne away that night. But Oscar will tell you that it
was much against my will. She put me under bonds, and I had to go, just
as you had to bring Teasa from the land of Avarta. Your men did not turn
against you because you brought trouble to Erin by that act. For the
sake of our old friendship, get me the drink before it is too late!”
Once more a flood of pity and remorse came over Finn. He recognized the
justice of Dermot’s plea. Again he hurried to the well and filled his
hands. But when he started back to the dying man he seemed to see
Grainne in front of him. She seemed to be smiling at him and beckoning
to him. Once more the water ran out through his fingers, and he came
back with his hands empty.
When he approached this time, Dermot was too weak to speak. Only his
eyes pled for the water. Oscar could not stand it any longer. He sprang
to his feet and drew his sword.
“Though you are my chief, I will not stand by and see you do this great
wrong!” he cried. “You must get the water or one of us will never leave
this forest alive!”
Oscar’s just anger brought Finn to his senses. He put all thoughts of
pride and the woman from his mind. He hurriedly filled his hands and
hastened back to Dermot’s side. He was too late. The mighty hero was
dead.
They made preparations to take away the body for burial. But their help
was not needed. The god, Angus, appeared and with him four shining
heroes, bearing a golden bier. On this they placed the body of Dermot
and walked majestically away.
“I cannot give him back his life,” said Angus. “But I can take his body
with me, and I can have his soul to keep me company.”
Then all vanished in a blaze of light. Finn, Oscar and Ossian were left
alone in the forest.