Conor Mac Nessa & Deirdre of the Sorrows                Page 1    Page 2

Page 2

When Fergus had departed for Scotland Conor Planned for Fergus to be seperated from the others on their arrival back in Ulster, he did this knowing well that Fergus by an old law could not refuse the hospitality offered by anybody. When Fergus reached Scotland and met with the sons of Usna and Deirdre they were all so emotional to see each other and were happy with the news that Fergus brought.

 When they arrived back on Ulsters shore and travelled toward Emain Macha they passed through the lands of one of Connors chieftains. He met Fergus and asked him to stay there and told him that on that night he had planned to hold a great banquet and would like Fergus to attend. Fergus declined and stated he was to escort his friends to meet king Conor. The chieftain insisted Fergus stay and let the four continue to Emain Macha but reminded Fergus of the Geis which was placed on him. After hesitating Fergus agreed to stay but insisted that Naoise, his brothers and Deirdre travel on without him and there they parted company as Conor had planned. When the four exiles entered the fort of Emain Macha they were shown to the sleeping quarters of the red branch knights, they asked to meet with the king but were told the king would not receive them that evening. Now the sons of Usna became suspicious. When Conor mac Nessa heard that his plan had worked out well he asked  the now old Lavarcam to meet with Deirdre and bring back news of her. Lavarcam entered the house where Deirdre and the sons of Usna were housed, she told them of Conors plans for revenge.

The old nurse returned to Conor and still loyal to Deirdre told him that Deirdre had lost all her beauty to her time in exile but that the sons of Usna were still strong as ever. Conor was on the verge of changing his plan when a man from the north lands offered to bring his findings to Conor. Trendhorn was his name and he had a grudge against the sons of Usna for killing his father in a battle some years earlier. Trendhorn climbed to the roof of the house of the red branch and through a crack he could see below the four figures playing a game

of chess, he saw that Deirdre was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen but Naoise noticing this face peering down took a chess piece and threw it at Trendhorn and hit him in the eye. With one good eye Trendhorn returned to Conor telling him of his findings. Conor infuriated now summoned an army of men and went to the house of the red branch but could not enter. The sons of Usna had barricaded the door and fled through a window. . .

Cathbad, conors druid was summoned to put a stop to the escape of Naoise, Ardan, Ainle and Deirdre. With the first spell the ground beneath their feet turned to a thick green slime but the four rose above it and escaped further, but soon a dense dark forest appeared before them, so dense no animal could have passed through it but again the four overcame the spell. A third spell was cast against them, a high roaring sea slashed against them and threw waves of water in their path but they managed to dodge their way through.

Cathbad summoned all his powers of magic and cast a fourth and final spell against the four. He conjured up a wild dark spiralling storm and with its speeding winds bound the four fugitives together. Conor’s men were close by to take advantage and captured their foes.

Deirdre was taken back to Emain Macha but the Son’s of Usna were executed.

Deirdre lived for a year and a day in mourning for her true love Naoise, until the final day she couldn’t take the suffering any longer and threw herself from a speeding chariot, she cracked her head off a sharp rock and was killed. When she was buried it is said a great yew tree grew from her grave and intertwined its branches with a yew tree that grew from Naoise’s grave.

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