Gràinne and the Grey Wizard (2)
I was telling you about how the Grey Magician took Gràinne into
captivity. Fionn was on the way to the Land of Darkness. He was going
to free Gràinne. He was speaking to a mouse when an eagle came from the
sky. The eagle grabbed the mouse. But Fionn saved it.
‘Thank you, Fionn,’ said the mouse. ‘Take me with you and I’ll help
you.’ Fionn put it among the folds of his kilt. He reached a
sea-strait. He had no way of getting over. The big seal appeared. ‘Jump
on me and I’ll take you over,’ said the seal.
On the other side, there were broken stones [that were] like a maze.
Fionn wasn’t seeing a way through them. He heard croaking above him.
The raven was there. ‘Look up, Fionn,’ said the raven, ‘and follow me.’
With the raven’s help Fionn got through the maze. On the other side of
it, he saw the Grey Magician’s castle.
There was no way that Fionn could get in. ‘I’ll go,’ said the mouse.
The mouse returned with good news. ‘There will be a big banquet there
tonight,’ he said. ‘Gràinne is tied to a column with a rope. I’ll chew
through the rope and I’ll lead Gràinne out.’
The plan worked well and Gràinne and Fionn made for the shore. The seal
helped them to get over. The Grey Magician was in pursuit of them.
Fionn remembered the things that Cailleach Ruadh nan Sìthichean gave
him. He opened his sporran. He took out the pine needle. He dropped it,
and a great thick forest arose between themselves and the Grey
Magician. It stopped their enemy for a while.
Next day, the Grey Magician was still following them. Fionn put his
hand in his sporran and he dropped the shiny white pebble. A big
shining loch appeared. That stopped their enemy for a while.
Next day, the Grey Magician was making for them quickly. Fionn took out the
sharp black stone and he dropped it. A large mountain range arose, delaying
the Magician. Fionn and Gràinne reached the Red River. And I’ll tell you
what happened then next week.
Gràinne agus am Buidseach Glas (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu mar a thug am Buidseach Glas Gràinne am bruid.
Bha Fionn air an rathad gu Tìr an Dorchadais. Bha e a’ dol a shaoradh
Gràinne. Bha e a’ bruidhinn ri luchag nuair a thàinig iolaire às na
speuran. Thug an iolaire grèim air an luchaig. Ach shàbhail Fionn i.
‘Tapadh leibh, Fhinn,’ thuirt an luchag. ‘Thoir leibh mi agus bheir mi taic
dhuibh.’ Chuir Fionn i am measg filltean an fhèilidh aige. Ràinig e caolas
mara. Cha robh dòigh aige faighinn a-null. Nochd an ròn mòr. ‘Leum orm agus
bheir mi a-null thu,’ ars an ròn.
Air an taobh thall, bha clachan briste coltach ri cuartan. Cha robh Fionn
a’ faicinn rathad tromhpa. Chuala e gràgail os a chionn. Bha am fitheach
ann. ‘Coimhead suas, Fhinn,’ thuirt am fitheach, ‘agus lean orm.’ Le taic
an fhithich, fhuair Fionn tron chuartan. Air an taobh thall dheth, chunnaic
e caisteal a’ Bhuidsich Ghlais.
Cha robh dòigh aig Fionn faighinn a-steach. ‘Thèid mise ann,’ thuirt an
luchag. Thill an luchag le deagh naidheachd. ‘Bidh cuirm mhòr ann a-nochd,’
thuirt i. ‘Tha Gràinne air a ceangal ri colbh le ròp. Cagnaidh mi tron ròp
agus stiùiridh mi Gràinne a-mach.’
Dh’obraich am plana gu math agus rinn Gràinne is Fionn air a’ chladach.
Thug an ròn taic dhaibh faighinn a-null. Bha am Buidseach Glas an tòir
orra. Chuimhnich Fionn na rudan a thug Cailleach Ruadh nan Sìthichean dha.
Dh’fhosgail e a sporan. Thug e a-mach am bioran giuthais. Leig e e, agus
dh’èirich coille mhòr thiugh eadar iad fhèin ʼs am Buidseach Glas. Chuir i
stad air an nàmhaid airson greis.
An ath latha, bha am Buidseach Glas fhathast a’ leantainn orra. Chuir Fionn
a làmh na sporan agus leig e an èiteag ghleansach. Nochd loch mòr
gleansach. Chuir sin stad air an nàmhaid airson greis.
Air an làrna-mhàireach, bha am Buidseach Glas a’ dèanamh orra gu luath.
Thug Fionn a-mach a’ chlach gharbh dhubh agus leig e i. Dh’èirich monadh
mòr, a’ cur dàil air a’ Bhuidseach. Ràinig Fionn agus Gràinne an Abhainn
Dearg. Agus innsidh mi dhuibh na thachair an uair sin an-ath-sheachdain.
