Eagerly did the exiled sons of Usna beg for tidings of their friends in
the Green Isle.
'I come to you,' said Fergus, 'with greetings from Concobar the King. Fain
would he see once more in Erin the fairest and bravest heroes of his
realm. Peace he would pledge with you, and great shall be your welcome, if
ye will come back with me.'
But before the brothers could answer, Deirdre spake. 'Here in Alba is
Nathos now lord over lands wider than the realm of Concobar. Wherefore
then should he seek forgiveness of the King?'
'Yet,' replied Fergus, 'Erin is the land of his adoption. Since his
boyhood's days Nathos has been a hero in the Green Isle, and it were well
that he should yet rejoice in the land, and, if need be, defend it still.'
'We have two lands,' said Ardan, 'and both are dear unto us. Yet, if
Nathos will go with thee to Erin, so also will Ailne and I, myself.'
'I will go,' said Nathos, but he looked not at his star-eyed wife as he
spake the words.
That night all rejoiced save Deirdre. Heavy was her heart as she thought
she would never again, in shadow or in sunlight, rest in the land of Alba
of the lochs.
On the morrow they set sail, and swiftly the galley bore them to the
shores of the Green Isle. And when Deirdre stood once more on the soil of
her own land, then was her heart glad, and for a brief space she
remembered not her fears or her dreams.
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