River-maids of the Stoneland: Silverfroth and Truetongue
I continued me story about Beannaithe and her visits to the River-maidens of Stone-land when me grandkids and I next gathered around the hearth...
'Bright and early the next mornin' Mac and Beannaithe broke their fast before continuin' their journey east across the Land of the Five Streams.
First they came to Silverfroth of the River Celos, which means "Water Flowing Swiftly from a Rocky Spring" in the Common Tongue. In what seemed like a ritual of some sort, the River-maiden were hoppin', skippin' and dancin' about. Beannaithe giggled just to see it.
So blithe were the River-maiden's spirit that Beannaithe couldn't help but join in the dance. Exhausted from the vigourous dancin', it were not long before the lass needed to stop catch her breath. Silverfroth however, continued to dance on tirelessly. Beannaithe decided there mustn't be anythin' seriously wrong with this river-maiden, so she mounted Mac and rode away.
After ridin' a short ways, Beannaithe and her pony came to the River Flowin' where the river-maiden Truetongue might be found. Unlike her sister Silverfroth, Truetongue were as serious as could be.
"We must visit my sister The Lone Lady to determine the cause of her affliction," said Truetongue. "I know not what has disturbed her so greatly, but my other three sisters and I will call upon her to see what can be done."
Beannaithe nodded her head in agreement.
'Beannaithe's head isn't the only one noddin',' said Ériu, the eldest of me three daughters.
'Aye, wee Beacha has already nodded off to sleep,' agreed Fódla.
'And the others appear that they'll soon join her,' added Banba.
'I'm awake!' claimed Darowva.
'I know you are, darlin',' said Ériu with a smile, 'but we must get these others to bed.'
'Oh, all right,' Darowva relented.
'Oíche mhaith,' I whispered as me grandkids stumbled off to their beds.
'Good night, Grandad,' they mumbled sleepily.
