Hostel of the Quicken Trees

Bruidhean Chaorthainn ("Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees" or "Hostel of the Rowan Trees") was a common tale in Irish myth, where the hero was trapped in a fairy palace or hostel and another hero had to free them through various adventures.

Enchantment at the Hostel

In the land of the Lochlainn, said to be located in Scandinavia, there ruled King Colgán. Some identified the Lochlainn with the Viking raiders, whereas others said that they were descendants of the Fomorians.

Colgán decided to invade Erin (Ireland) during the reign of Cormac Mac Airt (Cormac son of Art). When Finn Mac Cumhaill heard of the foreign invaders, he called upon all the warriors of the Fianna to meet him at Allen, a dun or hill-fort of his home. A great battle was fought where many of the Fian warriors fell in combat.

Oscar, the son of Oisín and grandson of Finn, grieved for his companions who had fallen to the invaders. Oscar fought his way to the king, and the two fought an incredibly ferocious combat. In the end, Oscar prevailed. With the death of Colgán, the tide of battle was turned in favour of the Fianna. The Lochlainn fled back to the sea and all their leaders were killed except for Colgán's youngest son, Midac.

Finn spared Midac because he was still very young. As a prince, Finn brought him up in his household, treating the youth with great respect. Midac even received training as a warrior of the Fianna.

When Midac grew to manhood, Conan Maél, the brother of Goll Mac Morna, feared that Midac would use his training as a Fian against them. Conan suggested that Finn should send him away. Finn agreed. Finn told Midac that since he was now a young man, he could leave his household and live anywhere he wished in Erin (Ireland). Finn would provide him with land and servants as befitting a prince. Midac decided to live in the cantred (district) of Kanri on the Shannon, and on some of the islands north of the mouth of the Shannon.

So Midac moved to Kanri, where he had his home built and became very rich. For 14 years he lived here, plotting to take revenge upon the Fianna for the death of his father and brothers. Midac was setting this place as a base for the Lochlainn, so that they could once again invade Ireland.

Opportunity arose when Finn and his companions went on a hunting excursion near Midac's home. Finn was resting with some of his companions on the hill of Knockfierna while others were still out hunting in the woods, when Midac arrived. Finn didn't recognise Midac. Midac invited Finn and his companions to his home. Finn could not refuse Midac, since Midac had placed a geis on him.

Finn went with Midac with only some of his companions, including Goll Mac Morna, while Oisín wait for the return of the other hunters including Díarmait and Caílte Mac Ronan.

Finn became suspicious when he found no attendants in the hall, but they found the hall filled with luxuries they had never seen before. They sat down on the couches in the hall.

When neither their host appeared, nor Midac's servants prepared them a banquet as he promised, Finn decided to send Conan to find their host. Conan found that he could leave his seat. They realised that they were trapped, when none of them could get up from their couches, nor could they move their feet from the floor.

Finn found that even his thumb of knowledge could not aid them in their predicament. Finn found out that Midac had an army of the Lochlainn hidden in Midac's islands, and that Midac was supported by powerful allies: Sinsar of the Battles, the King of the World from Greece, and the king's son, Borb the Haughty. There were also the three kings from the Island of Torrent. Sinsar would be sending his warriors to kill them as they were helplessly rooted to their seats, while they remained fixed to the ground. The only way they could escape was if the blood of three kings of the Isle of Torrent were sprinkled on the floor.

The only thing that they could do was to sing the war cry, called Dord-Fiann, hoping that Oisín and the other Fian would he hear the call.

Defence at the Ford

Back at Knockfierna, Oisín became concerned when he received no messenger from his father. Oisín sent his half-brother Fiancha and his foster-brother Innsa to find Midac's palace.

As the two neared the palace, they heard Dord-Fiann. Finn could hear his son and foster-son conversing outside the hall. Finn warned them not to enter the palace; the enchantment had ensnared them. Finn told them everything and told them to leave, since their enemies were coming to slaughter them. The two young warriors refused to leave. Finn told them that at least one warrior could defend the narrow ford.

Fiancha decided to find where their enemies were located on Midac's Palace of the Island while Innsa guarded the ford.

On the Palace of Island, Midac informed the King of the World that Finn and the Fianna were ensnared in the enchantment and helpless. An Irla (or earl) of the King of the World decided to kill Finn in the Palace of the Quicken Trees, taking with him some of his followers.

The Irla found that a youth was guarding the ford. Innsa refused to leave his position despite being outnumbered. Irla ordered his warriors to attack the lone warrior. Innsa killed all of Irla's followers, but was exhausted from fighting one warrior after another.

Since he was fresh, Irla attacked the tired youth, killing the youth and taking Innsa' head as a trophy of his victory. Since all his warriors were killed at the ford, he decided to get fresh troops back at the Palace of the Island.

As he journeyed back to the island, he encountered Fiancha who had scouted the island and was heading back to the ford. Recognising the severed head of his foster-brother, Fiancha killed Irla. Taking Innsa's head back to the ford, Fiancha informed his father that Innsa had been killed.

Fiancha could not get help from the Fian warriors on Knockfierna, since there was no else to defend the ford.

Meanwhile, back at Knockfierna, Díarmait was concerned when neither Finn nor Finn's son and foster-son returned from the Midac's hostel, so he decided to go there with his companion, Fatha Conan.

On the Palace of the Island, Midac took a company of warriors to his palace, to kill Finn and those others he had trapped in the enchantment. Midac found Fiancha defending the dangerous ford. Midac ordered his warriors to kill Finn's son. Fiancha bravely guarded the ford, killing all those who dared to cross the ford, but also became tired after lengthy fighting.

Seeing that Fiancha was seriously weakened, Midac attacked the son of Finn with great vigour. Both warriors were wounded from the fierce fighting. It was Fiancha who succumbed first from exhaustion.

By this time, Díarmait and Fatha Conan arrived and found Midac about to dispatch Fiancha. Díarmait immediately reacted, hurling his spear and mortally wounding Midac. This did not prevent Midac from beheading Fiancha. Díarmait avenged Fiancha by beheading Midac. Some of the survivors fled back to the island with the news of Midac's death.

Finn and his companions could hear the fight outside of the palace. Díarmait told him about his son's death. Finn told them the only way to free them was sprinkling on the floor, blood of the three kings of the Island of Torrent.

Conan Maél complained that he was hungry, and asked Díarmait to fetch food from the Palace of the Island. Reluctantly, Díarmait went to fetch food right in the heart of the enemy's territory, while Fatha guarded the ford. Upon his return, Díarmait found that Fatha had fallen asleep while he was supposed to guard the ford. Díarmait threw food at Conan through the window and poured wine into his mouth by breaking a hole in a roof. Then Díarmait stood guard at the ford.

Having heard the news of Midac's death, the three kings of the Island of Torrent decided to kill the defenders of the ford and those who were trapped. The kings found Díarmait guarding the ford.

Fatha woke from the din of combat, and was angry that Díarmait didn't wake him. Together, they fought those who tried to cross the ford. While Fatha drove back the warriors, Díarmait killed all three kings.

Remembering Finn's instruction on how to dispel the enchantment, Díarmait beheaded the three kings. From their heads, Díarmait sprinkled blood on the floor of the palace. The enchantment was lifted, freeing Finn and his companions.

Despite freedom from the trap, they had been seriously weakened. Finn told Díarmait and Fatha that they still had to defend the ford until the other Fian warriors regained their strength. The spell that had weakened them would last until dawn, which was only a few hours away. By that time, Finn and the others should be strong enough to help.

Victory at the Ford

Borb the Haughty, having heard of the fall of the three kings, gathered his warriors and headed for the Palace of the Quicken Trees. Díarmait and Fatha fought the enemy warriors, holding them at bay.

By dawn, Finn and the others had recovered their strength. Finn sent a messenger to his son Oisín at Knockfierna about the invasion. Fierce fighting was fought at the ford. Goll, leader of the Clan Morna, killed Borb in single combat, and another head was lost.

Oisín gathered every warrior he could find and immediately marched towards the ford. On the Palace of the Island, Sinsar also moved his army towards the ford, having heard of his son's death.

The two armies arrived at the ford at the same time. The Fianna deployed their warriors into four battalions: Clan Baiscne, Clan Morna, the Mican-Smoil and Clan O'Navnan. A bloody battle ensued. The foreigners still outnumbered the Fianna, causing the Fian warriors to slowly retreat.

Oscar, the grandson of Finn, became angry that so many of his companions had fallen. Oscar fought his way to the king's banner. Sinsar, the King of the World, seeing the young Fian champion, decided to meet Oscar in single combat, hoping to avenge his son's death with that of Finn's grandson.

Both warriors fought with great savagery, and both of them received multiple wounds from one another. Oscar then swept off the head of the King of the World. The invaders were disheartened when they saw that their king had died at the hands of the young Fian champion.

The tide had once again favoured the Fianna. The Fian warriors began to pursue and slaughter their enemies. Those who managed to escape in the rout, left Erin in their ships.