Other invaders came to the shores that Fionn mac Cumhail swore to defend. And despite his grief, the Dord Fianna needed answering. More monsters came to, fairies and fomhóraigh who sought to cause trouble for the common folk. And though no great call or horn was sounded for those such occasions Fionn rose to them anyway.

Oisín grew bigger, Fionn’s little deer no longer, and became a respected hunter and fighter in his own right. And soon Oisín had Oscar, and Oscar began to grow up too.

More invaders came, from other nations and other lands. Fionn and his Fianna fought them off all the same. Fionn and his Fianna hunted, and told stories, and fought when called to.

More people joined the Fianna in so much time. One of which was Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. A strange series of events led to him getting a geas put on him. He could never kill a boar lest he bring ruin on himself and his clan. A bit of strategization in regards to who was in what hunting parties prevented that from ever becoming a real problem.

The most notable things about Diarmuid to Fionn were that he was good at fidchell, and that he was very talkative. With the wisdom of the otherworld in Fionn, it was very rare for someone to be able to compete with him in a strategy game. Diarmuid was the only member of the Fianna who could regularly beat Fionn, and thus quickly became the only member who Fionn played with very regularly. Having a talkative disposition meant that those games were usually louder than Fionn preferred.

On that summer morning Diarmuid was talking about the High King, who was currently at odds with the Fianna. Something about not bowing to any king or fighting for any one clan tended to annoy both kings and clans.

“And his daughter, rumor has it she is pickier than even you, word going around is that she is finally wanting to get married…”

Diarmuid was playing particularly well that day. It was still early in the morning, the sun had only just barely risen. It was season and time for deer, which was what the rest of the Fianna were hunting during Diarmuid and Fionn’s game.

“And I know you were never the political type, I mean obviously the title has nothing to do with this, but I think it’d be good to have the High King on our side for once…”

Diarmuid had taken half of Fionn’s pieces already, and Fionn had only captured three of his.

“And Oscar will be out of the house soon. Obviously we all respect you, and trust your judgment on matters like these, but sometimes there is talk about the fact you don’t really have many people you talk to. And she’s supposed to be very polite, a good conversationalist…”

Diarmuid was right of course. It had been long enough for Fionn to remarry seven times over.

“If you think this king’s daughter is so worth me meeting, then arrange to send a messenger to her.” Fion said.

The High King decided to celebrate the meeting of Fionn and his daughter by hosting the Fianna for a great feast.

The younger members, Diarmuid and Oisín and others, were playing games of hurling outside the King’s fort since they arrived. The older and those more inclined towards poetry were inside, enjoying the food and entertaining with stories.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Fionn had yet to meet the King’s daughter.

He had heard much about her. She was allegedly very beautiful. She was supposed to be very learned, to know all the verses and great poems. She had rejected every man who had ever approached her before one day growing bored and deciding to accept the next suitable person who asked for her hand. And she was seemingly not attending the feast.

For almost three nights of feasting he did not see her.

Until late on the third night. She entered the room. Fionn recognised her at once. She was the single most incredible woman he had seen in years.

He rose at once to introduce himself. He knelt down, he kissed her hand. He introduced himself to her, and he said, “You are very beautiful.”

She looked confused for a moment before putting on a smile. She nodded faintly and said, “You are Fionn mac Cumhail?” as though it was a question.

Fionn understood of course. She had to be flustered. It was only natural, he was well known throughout the land, and this Grainne, as her name supposedly was, had never met anyone up to her standards before.

He introduced himself again, politely. He smiled at her.

“That wasn’t you playing hurling outside earlier then?” She said.

“No, If you saw anyone playing hurling it would’ve been Diarmuid or Oisín, my son.”

“Your son looks as if he is almost as old as me.” She looked unhappy at that thought.

“No, he can’t be. Oisín is only a few years into living on his own. Barely a man grown. The two of us are still close in age.”

Grainne kept up her polite smile. She nodded her head and said, “I’m sorry I don’t know what came over me just then. I think I am just a touch surprised. I think I should return to my quarters for the evening.”

Fionn helped her to her quarters, just to make sure she was okay. She made little conversation on the way there. When she finally returned to her room she sat by the window, overlooking the field where the men were playing hurling below.

She asked Fionn to leave. She asked that he not send a druid to tend to her, saying she simply needed “some time to think.”

Later that evening, when Diarmuid and Oisín and the others came inside to eat, they told Fionn not to worry about it. They said sometimes people just take a moment to warm up. She was surprised, she was overwhelmed, she would feel better in the morning.

That morning both Grainne and Diarmuid were gone.

Fionn brought his band of warriors to Aengus Ógh. If anyone would know where to find Grainne it would be him. He fostered Diarmuid as a boy, Diarmuid would go to him for help.

He had the audacity to try to plead with Fionn. He explained that Grainne meant no offense to him. She simply could not marry Fionn, she did not love him. She would not love him.

Aengus Ógh explained that Grainne at first just went to Diarmuid for help. She asked him to convince Fionn not to be angry with her, not to hurt her. Diarmuid said no of course. Aengus said that Diarmuid considered Fionn his friend, his battle brother.

Aengus spoke about love, as if he knew what that meant half as well as Fionn did. He spoke about compassion and mercy.

When Fionn did not calm down Aengus said that Diarmuid and Grainne were under his protection. He said they would not be easily found, that Diarmuid knew how to hide from a hunting party.

Fionn knew that Aengus would not reveal their location to him. He decided he would track them down, he would marry Grainne, his next great love, however long it took.

The last thing Fionn said to Aengus before embarking on his hunt was “Tell your son that I am going to kill him.”