Finvarra and Ethna

Finvarra was a faerie king who held his court beneath the hill at Knockma. It happened that he saw Ethna, the beautiful wife of a young lord who lived near, and wanted her for himself.

Finvarra kidnapped Ethna and took her to Knockma, but her husband would not rest until he had her back. He sent for workmen who would dig into Knockma and rescue Ethna, but each morning they would return to the hill to find that their ditch had been filled in. On the third evening they poured salt over the dirt they had removed, and they found their work untouched the next morning.

When they had dug near enough Finvarra's palace to hear the voices within Ethna was returned. Her husband found that she would not stir, however, for her soul remained in Knockma with Finvarra. For a year and a day she did not awaken and her husband began to despair, then he was told the only way she could be restored to him was if he burned the girdle about her waist and buried the fairy pin which held it.

This he did, and at once Ethna awoke. She remembered her time in Knockma, but the year and a day seemed to only be the dream of one night to her. She and the young lord remained happy, and were never troubled by Finvarra again.




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