Dagda's Cauldron

Dagda’s Cauldron

It was a cold, blistery, miserable day. But unlike any other cold and miserable day, this day was different, this day was a Thursday. You are probably wondering why this Thursday was different to any other Thursday? December 30, 999 A.D, in Glenn’s mama. Ireland against the Norsemen. The victory went to Ireland thanks to a man who in two years’ time would become High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. This story takes place a year after Brian became King, the year 1003, Dublin.

Samhain, the veil that separates the world is at it is thinnest. The last day of the year, a time when all our unwanted parts of us can be taken away. Dressing up as monsters to protect us from being taken by the fairy folk. A great feast was provided in the town hall, all the local villages attended, dressed as the fomorians. One of earliest races of Ireland, supernatural giants that possess power over destructive elements. Some were one eyed monsters, others had heads of goats. The feast of the dead, some of the more prominent villages ancestors were joined with the living to share a meal, a tribute was given to the dead. Stories were shared among both the living and the dead, tales of the war between the Tuatha de Danann and the Fomorians were told and enacted. Ale and food were shared, laughter was exchanged by all. They were all warm and merry as the bonfires around them still burned on. Dana, a petite young woman with golden hair, that shined just like the sun on a summer’s day, her skin fair and silky as the fleeting snow. Dana was the epitome of beauty, there was nothing that shined as bright as this young lass. Instead of a monstrous being Dana dressed as an animal instead, adorned with black feathers and a mask, Dana had a connection to ravens, both spirits had powers of protection and prophecy. Breaking bread with the dead, Dana sat next to her father, Aodh. Aodh was the blacksmith, he kept to himself, especially after his wife died during childbirth. Looking at his daughter always made his heart ache as she was the splitting image of Aine. He had never found another who could touch his heart just like his Aine, but he was fine giving all his soul, as shattered as it was to his daughter. Both Dana and Aodh were both silent, just taking everything in, feeling all the connections that were taking place. This was the one time of the year that Aodh felt that connection with his wife, that she was sitting right there next to him like she used to.

“Excuse me father? May I leave for a moment just to get a closer look at the fire?”

It always made him nervous when his daughter adventured far from his side. Some would say that he was overprotective, but he could not lose her. But he knew that he could not hold her back in all things, she was spirited, and he had doubts that anyone could take her. All he could do was give her a tight smile and a slight squeeze of her shoulder giving her an affirmative answer. Dana kissed her father’s cheek, knowing the pain that she was causing him but wanting to take in the sights at a closer distance, to feel the warmth of the fire all over her skin. Dana did not feel or hear a presence behind her, lost in her own world, trapped within the illumination of the flames, feeling all her negative thoughts and habits slipping away and becoming a new Dana. Fire was there to protect her and everyone else in her village against the Fomorians, this was the beginning of a new. Before she could react, her mouth was covered with a hand, Dana tried to pry them off, but these hands were too big and strong, she was no match against a man. Dana felt guilty about leaving her father’s side. Whatever was going to happen to her would not compare to the pain and suffering that her father was going to be inflicted with. She wished that she had just stayed where she was, next to her father, enjoying the hearty meal with the ancestors. But whatever wishes that fell from the silence meant nothing as she was dragged away from the safety of the celebrations that were being had. She was surrounded by wildflowers, more colours than she could even imagine was surrounding her. Wherever this stranger dragged her to, it was in a place that she had never seen before. Dana had never seen so much beauty in one setting before. At least if she were going to die it would be in the presence of infinite beauty. That at least was a comforting thought. A figure stepped in front of her, a small gasp escaped her lips, she thought her surroundings were stunning, but oh how she was wrong. Compared to this stunning specimen this field dull lustre. He was the epitome of beauty and love, even the birds could not keep themselves away from the light that he emanated, they were surrounding him like he was a magnet. Was this man even real or did I happen to fall asleep in front of the fire and was not even taken at all but just in a dream state? His golden embers of his hair shone like the sun, this man’s body was like stone, the type that the druids heal from, perform rituals. All she wanted to do was touch him, more so to know if his presence was real and that he existed or that she was right and she was in a dream state. But all Dana could do was stare at this glorias being. Dana was too stunned to speak, what could she possibly say to this ethereal being? Even when her name left his lips, words were still paused. His voice was the twinkling lights in the night sky, diamonds cutting through my soul. “Are you alright lass?”

“No, sorry, you have me at a disadvantage. I don’t know who you are nor where I am.”

“My apologies, I have not been around a human in some time, I am out of practice.”

“When you say you have not been around humans, are you implying that you are not?”

“What do you know about the Tuatha De?”

“They were one of the four tribes of Ireland, children of the goddess Danu. They are gods, living in Tir na nog, a world parallel to here in the world of mortals.” As I said those things, answering his bizarre question, his mouth turned up into the most beautiful smile. I had never seen a smile quiet like it, a smile that could brighten the foggiest day in Eire.

“I still do not know your name; All I have been given is a riddle.”

“Forgive me my fair maiden.”

He bent his knee, lowering it down onto the ground, holding Dana's hand with the softest of touches, kissing each of her fingers, sending goosebumps along her too sensitive skin.

“Aengus, my name is Aengus, and we are in Tir na nog.”

“The Otherworld?”

There was that smile again.

“That means that you are one of them, a god.”

The impossibility of what was happening was falling over her like a blanket of dark clouds.

“Aengus? Stories are told around the fire; your name has been mentioned a time or two. Your father is Dagda, king of all the gods and a powerful druid.”

“Yes, my father won the war against the Fomorians.”

Did she happen to hit her head during dinner? Dana was wondering if her father was there with her, trying to wake her up from consciousness? This could possibly not be real.

“You look like you are going to be sick lass.”

“I, I am, I guess that is the result from hitting my head and even in my dream state I am still feeling the effects.”

“You are not dreaming Dana, come sit down, rest while I explain myself to you, why I have brought you here to my world.”

There was no furniture in sight when we had first entered, now there was a gold framed bed, big enough to fit four full grown adults on it. It was covered with red and gold marigolds, life and death all rolled in with summerly delight with a scent that was empowering. It was difficult to think between the glorious bright colours and the smell. He looked so elegant just sitting there, he was royalty, and he looked the part, the bed was just an extension of that. He patted a spot on the bed next to him. “Have a seat Dana, then we can talk.”

Looking around for a place to sit, there was in no way that Dana could sit on a bed with an unknown man, even if he was a god. “I am okay with standing Aengus; besides, I do not believe that my father would approve of me being on a bed with a man who was not to be my husband.”

“I am sure that your father would make an exception for this, you have been called upon by the gods, please Dana, have a seat next to me.” The gods want me for help, I was a slight thing, nothing special worth mentioning, what could I do to help the Tuatha. Even though everything inside me told me not to, that it was wrong, I sat myself down next to him. The coverings of the bed were silk, intense gold and greens sparked my skin. My father had already picked out a husband for me, we had not held hands and come together but by the next lunar full moon we would meet for the first time and come together. I was betrothed to him at the age of fifteen, now that I was turning twenty-two it was time for me to join with another family, make my own family. My body heated at the closeness; he was even more exceptional up close.

“Now that we are comfortable it is time for us to talk, for me to ask of you of something that is of great importance.”

I was waiting with bated breath.

“My father's’ cauldron was stolen, taken to where we believe is in your world, hidden from our presence. As you know there are four powerful druids, each druid holds a treasure. A cauldron, spear, sword, and the stone. With these four treasures that were a gift from Danu, she gave a chance for us, her people to defeat the Fomorians. In the hands of our enemies our world and even yours is in great peril. We do not have a chance of defeating them and protecting our worlds.”

This was even more nauseating when I first thought that I hit my head. Trying to wrap my head around the words that were being told to me.

“I do not understand what my part in all of this is. I am neither a deity nor a fomorian, I am just me, Dana, father is Aodh, mother was Aine, betrothed to Cuidightheach, nothing special, just Dana.

“You are more special than you think. I need a mortal to help guide me through your world. I need you to help me navigate your world and find my father’s cauldron”.