And Cormac sat by Grania on the couch and
told her wherefore the champions were come.
[Illustration: Grania]
And Grania, giving little heed to the matter, made answer, 'If Finn be a
fitting son-in-law for my father, the King, then may he well be a worthy
husband for me.'
When Oisin the son of Finn and Dering his friend heard these words they
were glad, for they knew not how little thought the Princess gave to her
words.
And Cormac made a feast for the champions, and ere they departed he told
them that after two weeks Finn should come thither.
So the warriors bade farewell to the palace of Cormac and went back to
Allen, and there they told Finn that after two weeks he should go to Tara
and wed the fair Grania.
Slow sped the days, but when they were passed, Finn, with many chiefs and
nobles as his guard, marched to Tara. And there Cormac received him right
royally and made ready a great feast. On his right hand sat Finn and on
his left the Queen. And next the Queen sat Grania.
Now it chanced that the chief who sat on the other side of Grania was a
story-teller, and the Princess listened gladly to the tales he told.
But when he ceased from his tales Grania asked, 'Wherefore is it that Finn
hath come hither to feast?'
And the chief, filled with wonder that the Princess should question him
thus, made answer, 'Of a truth hath Finn come hither this day to claim
thee for his wife.
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