And still beneath your snowy plumage shall
beat the hearts of Finola, Aed, Fiacra and Conn, and still for ever shall
ye be the children of Lir.'
Then did Eva order the horses to be yoked to the chariot, and away
westward did she drive.
And swimming on the lone lake were four white swans.
* * * * *
When Eva reached the palace of Bove Derg alone, greatly was he troubled
lest evil had befallen the children of Lir.
But the attendants, because of their great fear of Eva, dared not to tell
the King of the magic spell she had wrought by the way. Therefore Bove
Derg asked, 'Wherefore, O Eva, come not Finola and her brothers to the
palace this day?'
And Eva answered, 'Because, O King, Lir no longer trusteth thee, therefore
would he not let the children come hither.'
But Bove Derg believed not his foster-daughter, and that night he secretly
sent messengers across the hills to the dwelling of Lir.
When the messengers came there, and told their errand, great was the grief
of the father. And in the morning with a heavy heart he summoned a company
of the Dedannans, and together they set out for the palace of Bove Derg.
And it was not until sunset as they reached the lone shore of Lake Darvra,
that they slackened speed.
Lir alighted from his chariot and stood spellbound. What was that
plaintive sound? The Gaelic words, his dear daughter's voice more
enchanting even than of old, and yet, before and around, only the lone
blue lake.
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