fiach le haghaidh an Ceffyl Dwr san fharraige de Evanthe
(The Hunt For The Ceffyl Dwr In The Sea Of Evanthe)

                         Pt. 2: Fragarach And The Land Of Shaddows
 

With all of the knowledge as a human race
Debates on the theories of time bending space
The answers come clearer in this magical place
Where the waters of Albion meet Evanthe

The circle of stones surrounding the gate
Allowed one the attempt to manipulate Fate
Each Dolmen a portal to a sacrosanct state
Held also the tests of the Sidhe

Aiden looked ‘round as to which path to take
Failure was nae an option to make
The Good People who sent her she could not forsake
So on Faith, she must herein rely

Whispers and tauntings played in her head
She tried listening closer to hear what was said
Inspired, she silenced them wholly instead
For confusion thwarts the wise with a lie

Lead by The Light and resuming her quest
Chose an unadorned Dolmen set far to the West
Modestly entered as an unannounced guest
Made her way to the court of its Queen.

The hall was bedecked with the brilliance of sound
Glittering tones of songs all around
The splendor of Tara covered the ground
In a carpet of breathtaking green

Tephi, perched high on her imperial seat
Waved graceful to permit her sentinels retreat
Aiden bowed low at the matriarch’s feet
Announcing her purpose and goal

A counsel was called from each Faerie clan
For a best course of action to save Fae and Man
Securing the Dyrnwyn, and execute the plan
That Aiden assumed was her role 

Three trials ensue the place where it rests
Tokens and talisman gleaned for the tests
Aiden forearmed at the counsels behests
With blessings the Queen freely gave

Riding astride the great white horse
(Banba had gifted), she plots her course
To the Plain of Apples, a truth to enforce
She rides to find Merlyn`s cave

Manannan entrusted his sword to a few
The Light of its blade cast a flaming hot hue
When wielded in battle any medal cut thru
And no liar could stand in its stead.

The Fae were enduring, extremely strong willed
Cast underground or senselessly killed
By Fomorian armies, dark majickly skilled
`Til Fragarach cut off its head

Now Aiden must gain the white hilted blade
To battle the Cefl Dwr, her choice had been made
As with any true quest, there’s a price to be paid
And she hoped it would not be in blood

She stood on the shore of the Cornish coast
A place in her memory that she loved the most
But not thru the front door would she care to boast
Donned the feathered red cap, of a Merrow`s hood

Braving cruel waves, more deeply she dove
Around the small inlet to the under sea cove
Emerged in the chambers of the secret trove
Where lay the four Jewels of Tuatha De Dannan

From Gorias, the Lance, a symbol of power
The Cauldron of Dagda from the Murias tower
The great Stone of Destiny, Falias` flower
And from Findia, the sword held by Manannan

Her cheeks felt the tears as they fell from her eyes
Its magnificence burned, as its flames licked the skies
Nuada’s Fragarach, the Answerer, Sword of light, now her prize
She awaited her measure of cost 

Up from the waters, Nimue came
Once lover of Merlyn, the very same
Held out her arms and called her by name
Then told Aiden of what now she must face

Three coins in a bag for tolls she must pay
For her return to her world by a more difficult way
“The tests are not over, just beginning, so pray
That the Heavens are with your intent”

Nimue took the cap, folded and bent it
Returning the cohuleen driuth to the Merrow who lent it
As she backed into the sea her face showed she had meant it
There was more to why Aiden was sent

Holding the sword, it banished her fear
As she wiped from her face a last lingering tear
She sheathed the sword surely in strapping it near
With her mindset towards her world to save

Three tests she must pass to get back through the gate
Time is obscured in each realm or state
Her thoughts were a whirl to what may be her fate
Holding Fragarach, made her way from the cave