Aine Buide,

Swan-Lady of Ceanne
BY JE Low

Dedication

I wish to dedicate this story to my professor, Timothy W. Boyd, who made my Irish heritage come alive; to my friend, Daryl Finnegan, who
is proud of her Irishness, and my brother, John W. Bruno, who shares my joy of creating.

Forward

This story is written with the same conventions as the Ulster Cycle stories, and is highly influenced by the Tain Bo Cuailnge as translated
by Thomas Kinsella. The reader will find some, if not all, the sections of the heroic paradigm in this story. The sections are as follows:
1. one or both parents may be supernatural, or at least magical
2. may experience a traumatic time before and/or at birth
3. may accomplish remarkable deeds in childhood
4. may be invulnerable
5. may have unusual teachers or training
6. may undergo a name change
7. may have supernatural weapons or helpers
8. may have to prove self to claim a place in the world
9. may fight many individual combats against beasts, monsters, or men
10. may woo several women/men; possibly even warriors (male or female)
11. may have few or no children (unlucky in family life)
12. may become involved in a quest, voyage, siege, or battle with other heroes
13. may have encounters with the supernatural, and
14. may suffer a complex death (counter-magic may be used to destroy invulnerability)

Since I had not read any heroic sagas from Munster, I thought the area needed a champion; hence, Aine Buide was born. It was my purpose to
make her as large as life, like Cuchulainn, and to memorialize the woman warrior who once existed.

I have also included a list of unfamiliar words and names at the end of the story. Good reading.

JE Low
 Aine Buide, Swan-Lady of Ceanne
By JE Low

How Aine Buide was begotten and Her Early Childhood

Fionalan, daughter of Felgor mac Athe, rode with her charioteer Bramben, daughter of Kennard, fosterling of Felgor, across
the Plain of Muscraige. As they neared the river Siuir, Bramben warned of the coming fog.

“It is not safe here, Fionalan. We should seek shelter before the fog settles upon us,” Bramben said.

“There is a house from which we can seek hospitality,” Fionalan said, and on they rode to the house.

A beautiful woman greeted them. “Welcome, warriors.”

“I am Fionalan, daughter of Felgor mac Athe, with Bramben, daughter of Kennard. We wish to be your guests this night.”

“You are welcome. I am Ebhinn of the Siuir.” Ebhinn led them into the house which had seven doors and seven rooms with a
blazing fire in each of the rooms, but no one occupied the rooms; the seventh room had a sleeping couch made entirely of gold with
silver etchings and had silk pillows, all red and yellow. Beside the bed was a harper whose harp sang out a happy tune. It was here
that Ebhinn led them and had them sit beside the fire.

Ebhinn gave Bramben a flesh fork of silver with ornamental heads of wolves upon it, and Fionalan was given a solid gold flesh
fork with sleek swans upon it.

The cauldron was all of gold with three great handles in the shapes of hounds hanging from a silver chain. The fire dogs were
black iron in the shape of stags. There was a side of pork, a quarter of beef, and several rabbits stewing within it. Fionalan drove the
flesh fork in and pulled out the beef. Bramben pierced the pork. And as they ate, Ebhinn gave them mead of the best they had ever
had.

Once the meal was ended, the harper played a sleeping tune, and Ebhinn led Fionalan to the golden bed with the blood red
and sun yellow silk pillows. But Ebhinn led Bramben into another room, which had a bed of bronze and velvet pillows the colour of new
spring leaves. There the two spent the foggy night.

During the night, Fionalan woke to find a most handsome man with curly black hair sitting, staring at her. Alarmed she
grabbed for her sword, but it was no longer beside her. The man smiled and said, “It is you who I have sought a long time. I will beget
a daughter by you, and you will call her Ealabienen.”

“How shall I get a child when I have had no tryst with you?” Fionalan asked. “I know not who you are.”

“Then I shall make one with you now,” he said. “I am Ethan mac Nemain of the Siuir.”

“If I allow you to beget a child on me, what will you give me?” Fionalan asked.

“Seven sevens bondmaids with cloaks of red and neck chains of gold. Three sevens golden steeds, sure of body and sound
of hoof. Fifty sevens of the finest cattle in all Erin,” Ethan said.

“It was a good gift, but Fionalan asked but for one thing more. “All you say is good, but I would be more agreeable to the tryst
if you gave me one more thing.”

“That will be easy.”

“An oath from you to stay with me every other year, beginning with Samain next.”

“By the gods of my people, I swear it.” Ethan said; then he slept with Fionalan.

In the morning, Ethan was gone and Fionalan said nothing to Bramben about the tryst. When they returned to Ceanne, her
gift was waiting for her.

Soon came the time for the child to be born. Fionalan lay within her house the whole day and into the next before the girl was
born. And as the child came from the womb, a great flock of swans circled overhead, making a ruckus. This is why Fionalan called her
daughter Ealabiene, Little Swan Lady.
Since no one knew who the father was, a great debate arose in Felgor’s court. So he sent for his daughter and demanded the
name of the father. She refused to give the name and only said, “When Samain comes, you will know.” Since she was a great warrior,
Felgor accepted her answer.
 Now the child prospered under her mother’s care. By the time she was three months old, Ealabienen could walk as sure as a
child of a year and a half old. It was then Samain came, as well as her father.

As he came to Ceanne, a flock of swans, paired with golden chains between them, flew above him. And as he was let into the
rath, the swans settled on top of Fionalan’s house. In the presence of Felgor and the others, Ethan mac Nemain made claim to
Ealabienen. Then he asked for Ealabienen to be sent to Scathach in Alba for fostering when she reached the age of two. It was
agreed upon that day. Then Ethan stayed the year with Fionalan and Ealabienen. He taught her all the feats he knew, such as the feat
of the rope, the body-feat, the feat of the cat, the feat of the javelin, the feat over the poisoned spear, feat of the salmon leap, the feat of
the shield-rim, and the sickle chariot.

By the time Ealabienen was six months old, she was a good satirist. At the age of nine months, she was already a champion
of the feat of the rope. At a year old, she could bring down a stage with her javelin. By the time Ealabienen was eighteen months old,
she was accompanying her mother on the hunts for wild beasts, on which she alone killed and took the skins and heads of seven
wolves. After the hunt she asked for her weapons, and her mother gave her a gold-hilted sword, a bronze-tipped, leaf-shaped blade,
stabbing spear, a gold-rimmed shield, and Fionalan gave her daughter a chariot with the finest steeds from the horses Ethan had given
her. Bramben then became Ealabienen’s own charioteer.

Ealabienen took up her weapons, shook them three times in the air then climbed into the chariot and Bramben took her sun-
wise around Ceanne, three times, before they drove off.

“What would be a feat worthy of recognition?” Ealabienen asked.

“To destroy the Hound of the Badb,” Bramben answered.

“Where is the Hound?”

“By Temair Luachra.”

“Then it is no small thing to go there.”

“I think not for one as young as you,” Bramben said and goaded the horses faster.

They came to Temair Luachra and found the Hound’s trail, Ealabienen asked, “Which way do you think he has gone?”
“That is easy, north.”

“Then north we shall go,” Ealabienen said, as she drew her bronze-tipped, leaf-shaped, stabbing spear.

A great baying arose, and the Hound of the Badb came charging at the chariot. Bramben skillfully kept the horses from the
jaws of the Hound as Ealabienen thrust her spear into the dog’s neck. The Hound turned and snapped at Ealabienen, taking the spear
from her hand. Swift as a kite, she drew the gold-hilted sword. And with one mighty swing, she cut the head from the dog. This is why
the place is called the Dog’s Head. Giving a warrior-yell, Ealabienen jumped from the chariot and claimed the head and took the skin
from the huge hound. Then she mounted the chariot, and they returned to Ceanne.

As they came to Ceanne, Ealabienen triumphantly shook the dog’s head at the rath causing a commotion of wonderment.
Triumphantly, she presented the head to Felgor, along with the skin. This was her first true deed.

Aine Buide’s Fosterling

At the age of two, Ealabienen crossed the waters to Alba, to Scathach’s house, where she learned the feats of the charioteer,
the apple-feat, the far-seeing sight, the thunder feat, the feat of the sword edge and the sloped-shield, the pole-throw, the spurt of
speed, the chariot-fighter’s crouch, the wheel-throw on high, the breath feat, and the snapping mouth, the stroke of precision, the
stunning shot and the cry-stroke, the trussing of a warrior on the points of spears, stepping on a spear in flight and standing erect on its
point. For three years she fostered there. She grew strong and became known to the other fosterlings as a great warrior.

As the third year of her fosterling came to an end, Scathach and Aife were attacked by the Falgar. Ealabienen and the other
fosterlings made a strong defense against the northern warriors. So strong was the defense that the Falgar lost one-third of their
warriors in the first attack, and they withdrew for the night.

Yet, that night, Ealabienen stationed herself upon the wall and took her sling. Skillfully, she let fly a stone and brained a
warrior who was sitting outside his tent by the fire. She smiled at the commotion the death caused in the camp. Again, she loaded her
sling and fired. This time the shot when through the eye and out the back of the head of a tall warrior. She continued, with her sling, to
terrorize the enemy camp throughout the night.
By dawn, the enemy troops were so unnerved by the night attack in which they lost another third of their number, that they
sent out their champion, Gorgon, to call out a warrior for single combat. It was Ealabienen who answered the call.

When Gorgon saw Ealabienen, he laughed. “I called for a warrior and you send me a female child.”
 Ealabienen said, “I am Ealabienen, daughter of Ethan mac Nemain of the Siuir, and Fionalan, daughter of Felgor mac Athe.
And I am a better warrior than you.” And she had Bramben turn the left chariot-board to Gorgon.

“It is a good day to die for such a young one as you,” Gorgon said.

“True. It is a good day for taking heads; but we shall see whose head it is that swings from the spear point,” Ealabienen said;
then she let fly her javelin.

Gorgon lifted his shield and the javelin was buried half-way into the shield. “A baby’s toss!” Gorgon laughed; then he threw
his own spear at Ealabienen.

She leapt up and danced upon the spear point, then jumped back into the chariot before the spear fell to the ground. “Is that
as good a throw as a Falgar is capable of?” Ealabienen taunted. “Here is a throw worthy of a warrior.” She threw silver-pointed spear.
It went through his shield and into his chest.

“You spoke true,” Gorgon said; then he died.

Instantly, Ealabienen had Bramben drive the chariot to the fallen champion. Ealabienen leapt from the chariot, drew her
sword, and beheaded the corpse. She gave the warrior yell and shook the head three times at the enemy. Then she leapt into the
chariot.

On the ride back to Scathach’s rath, Gorgon’s head began to speak a prophecy. It predicted, “A life of sorrow lies ahead for
the golden head of Ceanne.” Hence, from that time forward, Ealabienen was called Aine Buide, Yellow-haired Brightness. And the
plain before Scathach’s dun was called the Plain of Foresight.

In the tenth year of Aine Buide’s fosterling, a message from home came, and so she ended her time with Scathach. She went
to her foster-mother and said, “Dear foster-mother, you have taught me the far-seeing sight, the thunder feat, the feat of the sword edge
and the sloped-shield, the pole-throw, the spurt of speed, the chariot fighter’s crouch, the wheel-throw on high with nine golden apples,
the breath feat, and the snapping mouth, the stroke of precision, the stunning shot and the cry-stroke, the trussing of a warrior on the
points of spears, stepping on a spear in flight and standing upright on its point. Is there any other gift left for me?”

“Three things forbidden to you I see. Never are you to harm a swan. Never are you to battle a one-eyed man. Never are you
to marry a man who cannot overcome you in a struggle. Heed these well, fosterling,” Scathach said.

“Is there nothing more for me from you?” Aine Buide asked.

“Just one,” Scathach said. Then she took the golden torque from around her neck and placed it around Aine Buide’s white
neck. “As long as you wear this ring of gold, you cannot be defeated.”

Then Aine Buide left Alba and returned to Erin.

The Wooing of Aine Buide

From her eleventh year until late in her fifteenth year, Aine Buide had many suitors. Not a few did Felgor pick out for her; yet,
none could overcome her in a struggle. Felgor grew more and more displeased with her. Many times he pleaded with her to
reconsider her requirements for the suitor, but he always failed to persuade her to his thinking. Because he could not move Aine Buide,
he turned to Fionalan; but, she would not consider interfering in Aine Buide’s business—Fionalan knew of the geasa upon her
daughter. Not wanting to see her father so bothered, Fionalan suggested that he should ask Ethan mac Nemain when he arrived. This
seemed to satisfy Felgor, and he left off trying to find suitors for Aine Buide—much to Aine Buide’s relief.

When Ethan came, Felgor and Fionalan sought his advice. The warrior did not look pleased and said, “Nothing good will
come of this.”

“She is at the prime age to be wed,” Fionalan said.

“She needs sons,” Felgor remarked.

“If you seek one who can defeat her in single combat, then you must seek out Mider of Bri Leith,” Ethan spoke solemnly.
“Is there no other?” Fionalan asked.

“No one but a sidh can defeat our daughter. Mider is the most worthy of all warriors, and he is seeking a wife since Etain
forsook him.”

“Then let us send for him,” Felgor said, and he took up his drinking cup.

“That is not so easy,” Ethan said. “For Mider has many guards and traps set since the attack on Bri Leith.”

“Then I shall go myself,” Fionalan said, and no matter what Ethan said, she would not be persuaded to give up the quest.
 Finally, Ethan said, “Than I shall go with you, Fionalan.”

But, upon the morrow, a cry came from the rath that a mysterious warrior was approaching. The warrior was attired all in
purple with shoulder-length hair as bright as the sun, and he held a five-pointed spear and a golden shield with a white boss in its
center. The horses glowed as if they were made of gold, and the chariot was silver with gems of gold upon it. When the warrior
reached the gate, he stopped and waited for the greeting.

Ethan quickly, quietly, informed Felgor that the warrior was Mider. So Felgor called out, “Welcome, I do give you, Mider of Bri
Leith.” And then he commanded the gate to be opened.

“I gladly accept your greeting,” Mider said; then he rode into the dun.

Felgor joined Mider in the liss and asked, “For what purpose have you come?”

“To try to win the warrior Aine Buide,” Mider said.

“That is not an easy thing to do,” Felgor commented.

“Maybe so, maybe not. But the challenge is there, and if I can believe all I have heard of Aine Buide, it will be worth the
struggle,” Mider said; then he followed Felgor into the house and was given the best of all Felgor had. A whole side of beef, a tun of the
finest meade, the seat next to Felgor, all was given to Mider.

During the meal, Aine Buide entered and took her place among the women. She saw Mider and asked who it was that sat
beside her grandfather; she was told that he was a suitor. Aine Buide found him very attractive and desirable; yet, she felt he would
lose as all the others had, which was a pity.

Once the meal was finished, Aine Buide stood and announced, “Fair warrior, it is with loathing that I will meet you on the field
tomorrow.”

Mider was captivated by her beauty that easily rivaled Etain’s. “Aine Buide, you are more than the reports say you are. I,
happily, will meet you on the field of competition.”

“Then, tomorrow before the sun clears the far mountains, meet me outside Ceanne.” Then Aine Buide left the house.
Early the next morning, she met Mider outside the dun. She stood unarmed waiting for him. She spoke to Bramben, “This is
one warrior I do not wish to see defeated.”

“Then do not struggle with your most power,” Bramben suggested.

“That would be dishonorable. I know of only one way to let him have the advantage of me,” Aine Buide said, and she took
Scathach’s torque from her neck. “See that you guard this well, Bramben.” Then she handed the gold ring to the charioteer. At that
time, Mider joined them; he had seen her remove the torque.

“Mighty warrior, I have come to test my strength against yours,” Mider said.

“Then let’s begin, Fair Warrior,” Aine Buide answered.

Immediately, the two came together. Each grabbing the other around the waist, trying to throw the other to the ground. For
many minutes the two entwined ones grappled. Then, suddenly, Mider threw Aine Buide to the ground; but, he did not succeed in
pinning her down for she moved to her feet as quickly as an eel does through water. Again, they wrestled, arm to arm.

For half that day, the two fought. Finally, Aine Buide grew tired and could not regain her feet as swiftly as before, and Mider was able to
hold her to the ground. That’s why the plain is called The Great Prize.

“Do you say that I have bested you?” Mider asked, as he lain atop her.

Out of breath, Aine Buide answered, “No better warrior have I ever encountered than you.”

Then Mider let her up. She took back her torque from Bramben, and then they all returned to the dun where there was great
feasting and celebrating in their union. After a week of celebration, Mider took Aine Buide to Bri Leith.

The Death of Aine Buide

During the Samain of her twentieth year, Aine Buide prepared to journey forth from Bri Leith to Ceanne to visit her mother.
Mider did not wish her to leave, but he was unable to stop her; he said, “I fear that you will not return to me.”

“That is true, but I must go to Ceanne,” Aine Buide said.

 Mider cried,
“O fateful day that e’er I saw you,
Golden hair, fair skin, swan white,
O journey forth, never to return,
Crimson red, dead eye, dark wraith.”

Then Mider let her leave Bri Leith. As she traveled through the dun, a great wailing arose from the people. Yet, Aine Buide
did not waver from her decision. The cries were heard throughout Munster; ever since that time, that day is called Bri Leith’s Lament.

Along the way to Ceanne, Aine Buide met a fian of Falgar. Without hesitation, she challenged them. Then she attacked,
cutting through the nine with her sword. Not one was left alive after her charge. Then she and Bramben continued on. They had not
gone far when Bramben was struck in the chest by a spear. Aine Buide looked for the killer, and when she spotted him, she cast one of
her spears at him. Without fail, the spear cut through the man’s neck, almost decapitating him.

No sooner had Aine Buide dispatched that warrior when another appeared. She was about to cast another spear when she
heard him yell a greeting. Suspiciously, she drove the chariot closer. As soon as she could see his features, she stopped; he had only
one eye.

“Golden-haired warrior, your aim is the best at shaving chins I have ever seen,” he said.

“True enough, but who is that gives me such praise?” Aine Buide asked, keeping her hand around the spear’s shaft.

“I am Ferli mac Aed. I see you are in need of a charioteer. I am in need of a warrior,” the one-eyed man said.

“What needs the attention of a warrior that ranks the risk of losing his dark head?” Aine Buide asked.

“A blood price,” Ferli said.

“What of it?” Aine Buide asked as she took her hand from the spear and rested it upon the hilt of her sword.

“My brother was killed by this dead fellow’s companions. There are too many of them for a warrior alone and on foot. Since
your charioteer was killed by this fellow, then I thought you might want more compensation.” Ferli spoke with a smooth tongue.

“She was the best charioteer in all Erin. If I take you on, you must swear never to fight me,” Aine Buide said, and her hand
tightened around the hilt.

“By the gods of my people, I swear, Fair-haired One,” Ferli hurriedly answered.

“Help me to bury my friend; then we will be on our way,” Aine Buide said as she jumped down from the chariot. Within several
minutes, the two had built a cairn over Bramben and has been called The Charioteer’s Cairn to this day. Then they were on their way.

By nightfall, they had almost caught up to the enemies of Ferli. They stopped and camped not far away. A fog slowly crept up
upon them that night as Ferli stood guard. He was overcomeby drowsiness, and soon he was asleep. Aine Buide was awaken by the
call of a bird. When she rose, she was instantly beset upon by a huge raven. With difficulty, she drew her sword and defended herself
as best she could until she could reach her spears.

Each time she would get within reaching distance of the spears, the raven would grab her hair and pull her away. Always the
raven kept out of reach of the sword. With one mighty leap, Aine Buide was finally able to attain the javelin. Then, in one single, fluid
motion, she cast the spear through the bird’s heart. Instantly, the fog was gone, and a swan was impaled upon the spear.

Aine Buide felt the golden torque around her neck melt away. She felt dread fill her and knew her death was near. Without
hesitation, she put on her armor and strapped the sword to her side. Once she was prepared for the coming battle, she woke Ferli.

“Today is a good day to die,” Aine Buide said to the bewildered man.

“That it is, Aine Buide,” Ferli answered, before he hitched the horses to the chariot.

Once Ferli had taken his seat and Aine Buide stood behind him, they rode off to challenge the enemy, two war bands of the
Falgar.

In sight of the camp, Ferli turned the left board to the enemy and circled the camp counter-clockwise three times. Then he
halted the chariot within shouting distance.
Aine Buide called out, “What business have you here in Munster, Falgarians?”

“We seek the warrior Aine Buide,” the leader answered.

“What is she to you?” Aine Buide asked.

“We have come to make her pay for the death of our brother Gorgon,” he responded.
 “Then you need not look further. I am Aine Buide, daughter of Ethan mac Nemain, and Fionalan, daughter of Felgor mac
Athe,” Aine Buide said; then she took up a spear and threw it with all her might; it went clean through the leader’s head.

The whole camp charged as one, and Aine Buide let out a warrior’s yell, and Ferli goaded the horses into a gallop. There was
great slaughter as the group and the chariot met. Aine Buide cut down many Falgarians with her sword; yet, she received many
wounds in return. It was not long before all but Ferli and Aine Buide and a single Falgarian stood among the dead and dying.

As Aine Buide faced this last enemy, she saw that his eye had been put out in the battle. She dismounted the chariot and
faced this warrior on foot. Raising her sword up, she yelled and charged. The warrior did the same, and the two’s swords came
together in a great clash. The Falgar warrior had managed to disembowel Aine Buide before she had decapitated him.

As she fell to the ground, Ferli came to her. She said, “Take me to Ceanne.” Then she died.

Ferli put her upon the chariot and drove toward Ceanne. He was nearly there when he was overtaken by a flock of swans.
The leader swan was black with a gold collar. When it landed, it shed its swan-skin, and a man came to Ferli.

“I am Mider of Bri Leith; I have come for my wife,” the swan-man said; then Mider took Aine Buide’s body under his arm and
drew his cloak around them both, and Ferli knew not where they had gone. That place, from that time forward, was called Swan
Shadow, because Aine Buide disappeared in the shadow of the swan-man. Some do say that Ferli had taken Aine Buide to Ceanne
and that she was buried in the Cairn of the Swan. It is certain that no one from that time forward ever saw Aine Buide again.

Glossary

Pronunciations given when known.

Aife (ee-fe) mead

Daughter of the King of Greece, a most famous warrior Alcohol from fermented honey

Alba Midir
Scotland A sidh, fosterling of Manannan mac Lir, the Sea god

Badb (badhv/bive) Munster

The raven form of Nemain The southwest part of Ireland

boss Muscraige
The button in the middle of the shield to hold the many layers The plains of Munster
of leather over the wooden shield
Nemain (nev-ihn)
Bri Leith The battle goddess; she causes panic
An otherworld place in Leinster; also called an elfmound
rath
cairn The earthen wall with a palisade on top
A burial mound of stones
Samain (sah-vun)
dun (doo-uhn) The Fall Festival ; the first week in November
A big fortress on a hill
Scathach
Etain A warrior, teacher, prophetess, and sage
Wife of Echaid Aram, King of Tara, who later became Midir’s
wife; but who went back to Echaid sidh (shee-th)
Otherworlders, supernatural people
Falgar
People across the sea, possibly the Vikings Siuir
The river between Munster and Leinster
fian
Raiding party, roving warrior band Temain Luachra
A mount in the northwestern part of Munster
geasa
Things placed upon one that one must accomplish torque
A collar of twisted metal, usually of gold, worn around the neck
liss (lihs) tun
The space inside the wall of the dun A very large cask of liquid