DEIRDRE AND THE SONS OF USNA - PART FIVE

The most beloved of the Red Branch Knights were the sons of Usna. They were Naisi, Ainle and Ardan. Fierce in battle or the hunt, they were equally mild of manner in times of peace and Naisi especially enjoyed the sound of the harp and was a skilled musician. The land being peaceful at that time, he enjoyed to wander in the woods, listening to the sound of his own music. Even animals were charmed by the sound of it and as for people—why, they had no choice. It filled them with contentment and joy.
It was at this time, as well, that Deirdre (knowing her unwanted marriage to the king was approaching) sometimes did make her escape to walk in the outer world beyond gate and moat. Leabhar, who should have prevented it, was touched by the girl’s deep unhappiness, for she herself had loved a man when she was young. And Leabhar let Deirdre walk within the world of which she knew so little. No fairer nor more innocent maid ever trod the woods that belonged to the King.
Neither did Naisi fear to go there, for he and the king were on good terms and he knew of no reason he should not. And that is why on the fairest of summer days he sat beneath a tree on a hillock making the finest of his music. It was the music that pulled Deirdre in, of course. She could no more resist it than a trout does the lure and when she saw the sheer, pure beauty of the man making music, that drew her more strongly yet, for she knew him from her dreams.
Still, Leabhar had raised her to be circumspect, so no word did she say. Instead she only passed Naisi, eyes downcast so that no evil could be said of her. But beauty speaks for itself and Naisi, seeing it, was struck to the heart and he spoke.
“How fair a doe my music has called this time.”
“’Tis easy to be a fair doe when there are no bucks,” she responded.
Now the son of Usna was no fool, being himself a chief in Ulster though a young one. He had heard of Felim’s daughter secreted in a fortress of the king and suspected this must be the girl, so he tested her, saying, “Have you not the prize buck of this land, King Conor himself?”
“Yet if I were to choose,” Deirdre persevered, “I would choose the young buck.” And she looked at him so straightly that Naisi knew full well what was in her mind. It was in his, as well.
“But you are the king’s,” he protested weakly.
“Not yet,” she said.