Jeanne HP
Springtime -
The three sisters, Aine, Fenne and Grainne stood looking up to the heavens. On this night there appeared a full moon over County Limerick. A lunar month had passed since they had left their sidhes (underground mounds where fairie goddesses live) to ride to Lough Gur. There, the sisters laughed and played in the moonlit waters. They were often referred to as The Triple Goddesses.
----
Aine had a bewitching mane of red hair, held back from her face with a headband of fallen stars, and was always seen wearing the color yellow - the complexion of the sun and moon. Her beauty was legendary as were her sisters'.
Fennel had reddish hair as well, but much shorter and curlier than Aine’s. Her faery wings sparkled like the morning dew.
Grainne was strikingly different. She had long straight dark hair laced with flowers, and possessed the gift of a sweet singing voice, able to calm the stormiest sea.
Fenne and Grainne mounted their loved horses, Ebony and Snowflake. Aine shape-shifted into Lair Derg, (the Red Mare"). She was the swiftest horse in all of Ireland. None could outrun her, though many tried and failed. Large for a mare, Lair Derg was 17 hands high at the withers with sturdy legs which allowed her to travel faster than western Ireland’s goeth (wind). Her plentiful red mane flowed outward as she ran - a sight to behold.
When the night air became too cool for their frolicking in the lake, the sisters began their trip home to their sidhes. On the way, they came upon a family and their wagon who from appearances, were a Da, Ma and two sons. They appeared to be in dire straits, stranded off to the side of the lane, which led to the hills of Knockainy .
“Can we be of help?”, Grainne asked sweetly.
“Are ye blind? - Get down from yer horses and lend a hand, and be snappy about it,“ the Da growled. “My wagon has lost a wheel and my sons are good for nothing.” With that he shoved his wife with a mighty blow. She had simply accidently stepped in his path.
She began to feel thirsty and paused at a modest, welcoming looking cottage halfway to her destination. Shifting back again into her faerie form, she rapped lightly on the brightly colored door. A bent over grey-haired, old woman slowly opened it. Seeing immediately it was someone from the otherworld,
When Aine had finished her tea and scone, Matty walked her out as far as the boreen (narrow lane). “Please come by again Aine. Since my visitors are few, I have enjoyed this day deeply."
“Never let hope die," Aine said as she walked away.
Matty returned to her cottage. Astonished, she beheld the most beautiful furnishings she could only ever dream about. On the table rested abundant food and a notebook. Her hand trembled as she opened it to the first, last and only page. On there written in gold, was Aine’s gift of poetry:
The whisper of the mountains,
The soft song of the lakes
They tell of a giving woman,
Her kindness, warmth and grace.
Aine, Goddess of Moon and Sun
She quickly made her way back to the door, about to call out her thank-you, but it wasn’t Aine she saw, but a beautiful red mare looking back at her.
The End
Fenne and Grainne mounted their loved horses, Ebony and Snowflake. Aine shape-shifted into Lair Derg, (the Red Mare"). She was the swiftest horse in all of Ireland. None could outrun her, though many tried and failed. Large for a mare, Lair Derg was 17 hands high at the withers with sturdy legs which allowed her to travel faster than western Ireland’s goeth (wind). Her plentiful red mane flowed outward as she ran - a sight to behold.
When the night air became too cool for their frolicking in the lake, the sisters began their trip home to their sidhes. On the way, they came upon a family and their wagon who from appearances, were a Da, Ma and two sons. They appeared to be in dire straits, stranded off to the side of the lane, which led to the hills of Knockainy .
“Can we be of help?”, Grainne asked sweetly.
“Are ye blind? - Get down from yer horses and lend a hand, and be snappy about it,“ the Da growled. “My wagon has lost a wheel and my sons are good for nothing.” With that he shoved his wife with a mighty blow. She had simply accidently stepped in his path.
In faerie or equine form, Aine had powers greater than her sisters. Lair Derg began to paw the ground and snort, angrily glaring at the man. He looked up in shock and terror as she blasted him, “You are a nasty cruel man. Our intention was to help you, but you have sealed your fate." The man began to flail his arms and run in circles howling at the moon. He had gone mad. His wife and two sons climbed on Lair Derg’s back and continued on to their much more peaceful Limerick home.
The faery sisters then returned to their sidhes - it was an eventful night
Autumn -
Aine peered out of her sidh and took in the bright and warming sun, and felt strong inner stirrings to emerge and see to her duties as Sun Goddess . The sun as well as the moon, gave her powers to heal, teach love, watch over crops and animals, and bestow good will or bad on those to whom she came in contact.
She decided to travel east to Annagh. The harvest there did not do well the previous year. It was not a plentiful one and the farmers and their families nearly starved. If need be, she would make certain of a better harvest this time. It was a very long walk, so once again she shifted into the Red Mare. People who happened by wondered about the rider-less horse, but most in that part of Ireland believed in minding their own business and they walked on.
The faery sisters then returned to their sidhes - it was an eventful night
Autumn -
Aine peered out of her sidh and took in the bright and warming sun, and felt strong inner stirrings to emerge and see to her duties as Sun Goddess . The sun as well as the moon, gave her powers to heal, teach love, watch over crops and animals, and bestow good will or bad on those to whom she came in contact.
She decided to travel east to Annagh. The harvest there did not do well the previous year. It was not a plentiful one and the farmers and their families nearly starved. If need be, she would make certain of a better harvest this time. It was a very long walk, so once again she shifted into the Red Mare. People who happened by wondered about the rider-less horse, but most in that part of Ireland believed in minding their own business and they walked on.
She began to feel thirsty and paused at a modest, welcoming looking cottage halfway to her destination. Shifting back again into her faerie form, she rapped lightly on the brightly colored door. A bent over grey-haired, old woman slowly opened it. Seeing immediately it was someone from the otherworld,
the woman's face lit up with happiness, as she was knowing about such things.
“My name is Aine. I am on my way to Annagh. It's a terrible thirst I have. Would you be so kind as to allow me a bit of tea?"
“Welcome Aine! It's Matty I am. Of course you may have a bit of my tea and any further thing you may have a need for from my simple home .” Matty motioned Aine to sit by the fire in her only chair . After serving Aine the tea, she picked up a basket holding one lone scone and offered it to Aine. “Please take it - I baked only two this morning - it was all the flour I had. When I opened my eyes this day, a strange feeling came over me - I felt it would somehow be special. - and oh that it certainly is.”
Aine looked over the woman's the few possessions. Yet she was willing to share what she did have. “Mo run”, (my dear) Aine said, “You will never want for life’s necessities again."
“My name is Aine. I am on my way to Annagh. It's a terrible thirst I have. Would you be so kind as to allow me a bit of tea?"
“Welcome Aine! It's Matty I am. Of course you may have a bit of my tea and any further thing you may have a need for from my simple home .” Matty motioned Aine to sit by the fire in her only chair . After serving Aine the tea, she picked up a basket holding one lone scone and offered it to Aine. “Please take it - I baked only two this morning - it was all the flour I had. When I opened my eyes this day, a strange feeling came over me - I felt it would somehow be special. - and oh that it certainly is.”
Aine looked over the woman's the few possessions. Yet she was willing to share what she did have. “Mo run”, (my dear) Aine said, “You will never want for life’s necessities again."
How could that be? Matty knew it would be impossible, because this was her meager life now and ever.
When Aine had finished her tea and scone, Matty walked her out as far as the boreen (narrow lane). “Please come by again Aine. Since my visitors are few, I have enjoyed this day deeply."
“Never let hope die," Aine said as she walked away.
Matty returned to her cottage. Astonished, she beheld the most beautiful furnishings she could only ever dream about. On the table rested abundant food and a notebook. Her hand trembled as she opened it to the first, last and only page. On there written in gold, was Aine’s gift of poetry:
The whisper of the mountains,
The soft song of the lakes
They tell of a giving woman,
Her kindness, warmth and grace.
Aine, Goddess of Moon and Sun
She quickly made her way back to the door, about to call out her thank-you, but it wasn’t Aine she saw, but a beautiful red mare looking back at her.
The End
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