When she awoke, she discovered that her charge was missing. Ah! where had she gone?
Every place about the castle was searched, but it was of no use. People were sent now in one direction, now in another, but every one brought back the same word,—there was no sign nor trace of the fair bride. Then the young lord said:
"I know where she must be. She has gone to the fairies. I will go to their king, Finvarra. He has always been a good friend to me. He will help me to get her back."
Little did he dream that the king of the fairies, even Finvarra himself, had fallen in love with Ethna, and had spirited her away from her home.
The young lord mounted his horse, and away he rode at full speed till he came to the hill of the fairies. There he stopped.
All at once he heard voices. This is what he heard:
"Finvarra is happy now. He has won the fair young Ethna. She will never leave his palace again."
"Ah!" was the reply, "it may happen yet. For if her husband digs down through this hill, he can win Ethna again."
"We shall see! We shall see!" exclaimed the lord when he heard these words.
He sent off at once for workmen to come to the fairy hill. They were to bring pickaxes and spades.