The passage of the women and children through the marshy ground was slow and steady, they had to follow the guide in single file as he led them deeper into the swamp, lanes of reeds flanked them on all sides, making walls that seem to towered above them. Oran carried a still sleeping Bronagh her small head lay hard on his shoulder, her soft breath, warm on his ear. Before him, on the narrow path, his mother carried her small sister Edel, as Grainne skipped along beside her with a bundle tied to her back. Behind him Mael was jauntily walking, telling tall tales to the small boys who ran about his feet, he wished he could feel as happy, but he was annoyed to be sent into the bog with the women.

It was still dark in the shadows; behind them, the sun was weakly staining the mist pink as it rose. Boan walking closely behind carried Orla on her back with a tied bundle on her waist.

"It won't be long till we get there", she said softly to Orla, "We will make the wains comfortable then we wait, this is always the worst part". All Oran's thoughts were with Lugh and the others, the last look as he waved them good-bye, before he left the fort. This was going to be a long day, how where they all going to get through it.

Bronagh moaned in his ear and shifted her weight, as she woke up, "Its all right Bronagh, your mother is here she is just behind you, look", Oran turned so the small girl could see her mother over his shoulder.
Boann called out to him, " Its all right, Bo I am over here, we will be stopping soon and you will be able to play."
Before him Oran could see the line of women and children stretching into the green gloom, there was a good walk ahead of them, before they could afford to relax, and let the children play. Not that any the women could tear there minds away from thoughts of their men back home and what was happening there.
Grainne skipped back to Oran, "Where you scared out in the woods, did you see any raiders up close? What were the islands like? Some day I am going to go out there too. Can I come with you and Lugh sometime when this is all over, please, Oran; I'll be good honest, please". Grainne said all this is a rush of joyously, the past few days were just excitement for her, she was just to young to understand the seriousness of what was happening.
"When it is all over I'll ask Lugh and me Ma if we can go out on the lough and we will go to the islands if that is what you want, we must just wait and see". Oran said as he ran his hand through Grainnes tangles of nut-brown waves, entwined with leaves and brambles. The sun was now warming their backs and the mist had burned off, leaving the day bright and clear. Bronagh was now wide-awake and squirming to get down and play.
"Just a little while longer, then we can stop for a drink and you can play among the tall reeds, maybe catch a duck", said Oran to sooth the little girl.
"Boann, do you no how much further this place is, my feet hurt from yesterday, got a thorn in my foot, that still hurts. I 'am not used to carting babies, your Bronagh is a fare lump".
He laughed as she half turned to Boann, who smiled back at her. “I remember carrying Lugh, in just the same situation as this, do you remember Aoife. That summer, when you were expecting Oran here and my Lugh was just a toddler and we had to flee in the middle of the night, you where near your time and how scared we were all were. Remember how, your Ma, Maeve kept us cheered up, with all those tall tales of Cuchulainn and Emer, and the wild stories of the things that, she had been up to at Beltaine when she was a girl. I can still see Lugh with his wee fat legs running along, his wee sword clasped in his fat hands, now look were he is, fighting for real. God I feel old, Eh Aoife."

They stopped for a short while so the children good relieve themselves and have a bite of food and a drink. The women sat in the shade, each subdued with thoughts, of their men and boys, left behind to fight. Soon it was time to go on, and they stood to help one another with their burdens, tying the small children on their backs, they set off once more for the hunts hidden deep within the marshes.

The sound in the marsh was flat and dull, even so the women kept as quiet as possible infecting the children with their worry. The heat was lulling the babies to sleep and the women kept a steady pace to reach the huts as quickly as they could.
Oran could feel the sun on the back of his neck; it would be a very warm day out on the water.
Suddenly they had reached the hidden enclosure, Oran would have passed by the small round huts, so perfectly blended they were, woven with willow, and thatched with reeds.
Soon the babies and the old ones were comfortable settled in the cool shade, Aoife and Boan bustled about organizing all there little ones. Troop of boys and girls led by Grainne filled stone jars with water from a well nearby, carrying it back the short distance, with out spilling a drop.

After the heat of the day and the excitement of the past few days, Oran was glad last to be able to sink down in the deep shadow behind the hut, his mind was a whirl with thoughts of Lugh, his Father and his friends, and the battle they had left them to fight. He felt sick when he thought of them, what if he never saw them again. Gently sleep took him, he surrendered his fears, as his head dipped down he sank into unconsciousness.

Aoife and Boan stood looking down at the sleeping boy.
"Poor boy, he looks exhausted, its the best thing for him, he is thinking of them all and we can't help him, we all have our fear's for today, let's hope it goes well for us all." saying this, Aoife put her arm around Boan shoulder and drew her inside the small shelter.

Oran sat with his head in his hands, sleep evaded him, his mind was a frantic whirl, filled with thoughts of the battle out there on the lough. When would news come? The soft sounds of breathing magnified in the silence as, the babies and the young children slept, she could make out the hunched shoulders of Boan as she nursed Bronagh, she could tell by her stance that she too was awake and worried.

Outside, the birds sang out the song of the dawn, which was just a grey glimmer in the east. Oran made his way carefully through the slumbering infants, the air was quite chill and he pulled his cloak tighter around him and made his way past the dozing sentry. He stood listening to the harmonious chorus that rang in the air.

One of the men joined him, "There has been no sight or sound of anything all night, not a peep, must be a good sign" he said as he poured some water from the crock at his feet, and offered it to Oran, who took it thankfully.

"It has been a very long wait, if only we knew what was going on, I couldn't sleep a wink, I feel so useless here, just biding time." A small thin wail wavered and was soothed away as sounds of stirring began in the huts around them." I must go and help my mother with the little ones, when new comes, send us word Please".

He waved farewell and entered just as his mother was emerging with a small child slung over her shoulder, "Here you are Oran, is there any news yet, haven't heard any noise all night, must be a good sign" she smiled hopefully,” Here take her ,will you, be back in a jiffy".

Aoife hoisted her skirts and scurried away. "Well now, its all right Ma will be back soon" he said patting the baby's back, who's crumpled face was beginning to open into a oval howl.
The sun was now high overhead and the children were getting bored at having to stay still and quiet in this strange place. Mael had an entourage of small boys who he entertained with stories of giant fishes and lobsters that could bite off fingers, you could hear the excited cries as his tales grew bolder and bolder.

Encircled by high reeds bleached white by the sun, Oran sat, lulled by the warmth, a bee hummed entrancingly nearby. The loudness of marsh life surrounding them grew, moor hens skidding and chasing, swans gliding regally by with barely a ripple, rodents scurrying about their business in the reeds, all ignoring the strange camp in their midst.
High in the air birds swooped and dived.
He fell into a deep golden sleep, peacefully stretched out on the earth. He dreamed of horses, wild horses galloping faster and faster, nearer and nearer. He could feel where their hoofs hit the ground, thud after thud, gradually he became aware that he really was feeling the ground vibrate with the approach of men and horses coming fast towards them. He fought himself awake and ran to where the men stood.

"Quick, Horses!! Men!! Coming, fast! I could feel them on the ground," he panted, ” Listen can you hear them now? Coming steadily through the hidden path, a steady trot, getting louder and closer at each pounding trot, the men, waited, bows primed with arrows ready for flight. Oran stood beside them his bow fitted with an arrow ready to launch it the moment the enemy appeared Then into their midst cantered a small shaggy pony, a red haired boy jumped of and threw himself at Oran lifting him off his feet and whirling him around.
"Oran, it's over and we beat them, we beat them" Lugh hugged him and slapped his shoulder, before turning to the men who had gathered around them.

"The battle is won, but it has been some hard fighting and many have been badly wounded, some are dead. Baetain has sent only for the women, whose men are injured and need them. Where is my mother ? My father is wounded and will need her".

Oran could see the weariness in his face, the strain of the past few hours etched in his eyes. "Oh Lugh is he really bad, come, she is over here", taking his arm he led him to where his mother sat, stony faced, watching him approach, his news already told by his face.

Oran poured Lugh some water and was handing him some cheese and oatcakes as Máel joined them. "Lugh I'm coming with you, back to the fort, my Ma and the others can manage the little ones between them and Boann might need me, to run any messages, for her, my Ma says it is all right, so I'm ready to go, when you are".
Lugh smiled up at him, "Máel and you sit with me for a minute, its good just to be still, it's so warm here I wish I could sleep". Lugh yawned and leaned back against the reeds. "That's great, she will be glad of any help she can get, he is badly hurt, and she will want to be with him. It was shocking, the injuries were awful, there was so much blood, I didn't know what to do".

A short while later the small party were ready for the return journey. Boann kissed her smaller children good-bye,
"I will be back soon, it's not as far as I thought ", said Máel, as he hugged his mother farewell.