Lugh played the music of joy, and outside the dun the birds began to sing as though it were morning, and wonderful crimson flowers sprang through the grass—flowers that trembled with delight and swayed and touched each other with a delicate, faery ringing as of silver bells. Inside the dun a subtle sweetness of laughter filled the hearts of everyone: it seemed to them that they had never known gladness till that night.
Lugh played the music of sorrow: the wind moaned outside, and where the grass and flowers had been there was a dark sea of moving waters. The De Danaanans within the dun bowed their heads on their hands and wept as they had never wept for any sorrow.
Lugh played the music of peace and outside there fell silently a strange snow. Flake by flake it settled on the earth and changed to starry dew. Flake by flake the quiet of the Land of the Silver Fleece settled in the hearts and minds of Nuada and his people: they closed their eyes and slept, each in his seat.
Lugh put the harp from him and stole out of the dun. The snow was still falling outside: it settled on his dark cloak and shone like silver scales; it settled on the thick curls of his hair and shone like jewelled fire; it filled the night about him with white radiance. He went back to his companions.
The sun had risen in the sky when the De Danaanans awoke in Nuada’s dun. They were light-hearted and joyous, and it seemed to them that they had dreamed over-night a strange, beautiful dream.
“The Fomorians have not taken the sun out of the sky,” said Nuada. “Let us go to the Hill of Usna and send to our scattered comrades that we may make a stand against our enemies.”
They took their weapons and went to the Hill of Usna, and they were not long upon it when a band of Fomorian devastators came on them. The Fomorians scoffed among themselves when they saw how few the De Danaanans were and how ill-prepared for fighting.
“Behold!” they cried, “what mighty kings are to-day upon Usna, the Hill of Sovereignity. Come down, O Kings, and bow yourselves before your masters!”
Mananaan giving the Sword to Lugh.