Here is the story of Loégairé's expedition, of the historical cycle Irish.
Loégairé expedition
The Connacians were once assembled at the Lake of Birds in the plain of Ae. It was Crimthan Cas who was king of Connaught at that time. They remained assembled at night; The next day, early in the morning, they got up and saw a man coming towards them through the mist: he wore a five-fold purple cloak; he had in his hand two five-pointed javelins; a shield with a gold hump covered it; a sword with a gold hilt was at his belt and yellow hair flowed behind him.
"Greet him who comes to us," said Loégairé Liabn, son of Crimthan, the most beautiful son in Connaught. "Welcome to the warrior we don't know!"
- Thank you, he said.
-Why did you come? said Loégairé.
"To ask for reinforcements," he said.
-From where are you ? said Loégaré.
-I am from the people of Faerie, he said, Fiachna son of Rété is my name; my wife was taken from me by Eochaid son of Sâl. He fell under my blows on the battlefield; she went to one of her brother's sons, Goll son of Dolb, king of the fortress of the Pleasant Plain. I fought against him seven battles; all of them turned against me. A battle is being fought by us today and it is to ask for help that I have come. I will give a staff of silver and a staff of gold to every man who will come with me. » With that he returned.
“It’s a shame for you,” said Loégairé, “not to help this man. » he leads fifty warriors in his train; he dives before them under the lake; they dive after him. They saw a fortress opposite, and a battle opposite. Fiachna son of Rété at their head went to the fortress and they saw the two fighting armies.
“Well,” said Loégairé, “I'll march to the leader of fifty warriors over there.
-I will march against you. Said Goll son of Dolb.
The two fifties fought; Loégairé came out alive with his fifty men, after Goll had fallen and his fifty men around him. Then everything breaks in front of them and they make a great carnage.
"Where's the woman?" says Loégairé
-She is in the fortress of the Pleasant Plain, said Fiachna, with an army around her.
-Stay here, so I can go with my fifty. » said Loégaré.
Then Loégaré went to the fortress of the Pleasant Plain. We started to take it. “There would not be much profit,” said Loégaré; your king has fallen and your gentlemen have fallen; bring the woman out and in exchange we will give you your life. »
So it was done. As she leaves, she says the Lamentation of the daughter of Eochaid the mute. Loégaré then left and put his hand in Fiachna's hand. That night Der Greine daughter of Fiachna was at Loégairé, and fifty women were given to the fifty warriors and remained with them until the end of the year.
"Let's go get news from our country," says Loégairé.
-If you want to come back, said Fiachna, take horses with you and don't get off them. »
So it was done. They arrived at the assembly. The Connaciens were lamenting over the aforementioned people, at the end of the year, when they saw them above them. The Connaciens rushed to greet them.
“Do not come any closer,” said Loégairé, “it is to say goodbye to you that we have come.
"Don't leave me," said Crimthann; the kingdom of Connacht is yours, its gold, its silver, its horses and their bridles, its beautiful women at your discretion, so that you do not leave me! "
But he turned away from them to enter the sîdh, where he shares the kingship with Fiachna son of Reté, having Fiachna's daughter at his side, and he has not yet left.
