And then the Spae-Woman came to the door and saw who the comers were. She covered them with kisses and watered them with tears, and dried them with cloths silken and with the hair of her head.
VIII
Flann told the Spae-Woman all his adventures. And when he had told her all he said—“What Queen is my mother, O my fosterer?” “Your mother,” said the Spae-Woman, “is Caintigern, the Queen of the King of Ireland.”
“And is my mother then not Sheen whose story has been told me?” “Her name was changed to Caintigern when her husband who was called the Hunter-King made himself King over Ireland and began to rule as King Connal.”
“Then who is my comrade who is called the King of Ireland’s Son?”
“He too is King Connal’s son, born of a queen who died at his birth and who was wife to King Connal before he went on his wanderings and met Sheen your mother.”
And as the Spae-Woman said this someone came and stood at the doorway. A girl she was and wherever the sun was it shone on her, and wherever the breeze was it rippled over her. White as the snow upon a lake frozen over was the girl, and as beautiful as flowers and as alive as birds were her eyes, while her cheeks had the red of fox-gloves and her hair was the blending of five bright soft colors. She looked at Flann happily and her eyes had the kind look that was always in Morag’s eyes. And she came and ‘knelt down, putting her hands on his knees. “I am Morag, Flann,” she said.
“Morag indeed,” said he, “but how have you become so fair?”
“I have eaten the berry from the Fairy Rowan Tree,” said she, “and now I am as fair as I should be.”
All day they were together and Flann was happy that his friend was so beautiful and that so beautiful a being was his friend. And he told her of his adventures in the Town of the Red Castle and of the Princess Flame-of-Wine and his love for her. “And if you love her still I will never see you again,” said Morag.