She had come with Ethne of the Raven Hair, she told him, and they had travelled purposely to the place of the Fair, as Ethne hoped to meet him there; and trusted he would join his army with one she had brought with her from Tara.
At this Cormac fell into a rage.
“Never!” he cried, immediately. “I will fight no longer with Ethne. I stand alone. I will not see her face.”
“But how came you—you two who hated each other—how came you here together?”
Elgiva’s colour rose.
“Because we love each other,” she said. “You tell me that I have changed—but I tell you that Ethne has greatly changed! She is not the same woman! It is a long story how she came back from Druimceta and lived and worked amongst us at Glendalough—she won all hearts. She has gathered many warriors around her to help towards the rescue of my mother. Ah!” The girl’s eyes softened. “We no longer hate each other, as you say we did once. She loves me and I love her!”
“Loves you!” exclaimed Cormac, looking at the girl pityingly. “No, no, poor fool, she deceives you!”
Tears came into the Saxon’s eyes.
“She does not deceive me—I am dear to her as a sister. She is never happy if I am out of her sight. She is a Christian.”
He laughed and tears came into her eyes.