Celtic Tales, Told to the Children - Louey Chisholm

And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, ‘If Finn be a fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy husband for me.’

When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her words.

And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told them that after two weeks Finn should come thither.

So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara and wed the fair Grania.

Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania.

Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told.

But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, ‘Wherefore is it that Finn hath come hither to feast?’

And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him thus, made answer, ‘Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim thee for his wife.’