Saorla Fey McCarty
Cu Chulain was a warrior of the Red Branch, that great and noble band of warriors that served Conchobar of Ulster, descended from Ross the Red from whence the Red Branch got their name. The Red Branch warriors were like most Gaels of the day; fearless, and cunning in battle, standing together like the loyalist of brothers in the face of Ulster's enemies, and fighting amongst themselves with abandon when no enemy gained their fury. At the time of this tale a dispute had arisen between the Red Branch due to an uneasy peace that had befallen Ireland. With no wars or external threats, the three greatest of the Red Branch, Leogaire the Triumphant, Conall of the Nine Victories, and Cu Chulain had begun quarelling over the matter of who Ulster's proven champion was. Close though these noble Fliath were, this rivalry divided them.
Knowing full well the enmity that would be caused by choosing one man over another, Conchobar sent the three champions to Connacht, Ulster's ancient enemy, to stand before Queen Maeve in judgement. But the enmity between Ulster and Connacht ran firm, and no one was satisfied with the queen's decisions. Knowing full well her hatred of Cu Chulain, the champions disregarded her choice as invalid. The King of Leinster to the east declined their request for judgement, and the King of Munster, a man who knew the ways of magic, could not be found. Unable to gain a satisfactory judgement, Conchobar ordered a truce between the three, but it was an uneasy and sullen truce that dragged on for months.
Thus did the fall pass into winter, and Macha's winds screamed over the fort that bore her name. Within the long house of the Red Branch, within the fort of Emain macha, Conchobar had invited the warriors to a night of feasting, as is the tradition at Imbolc. Of the contenders, only Leogaire attended that night however, as the three champions spent little time in each other's company. Conchobar had forbidden fighting between them, and they avoided each other lest their tempers flare.
As the night wore on, and the sounds of shouting, boasting, and feasting overwhelmed the howling winds outside, the warriors within heard not a sound as the door opened on greased hinges. A sudden slam that shook the building as the door closed silenced the hall, however. Suddenly alert, the warriors, many with weapons drawn, turned to the door.
In the doorway, eyes glowing like embers, stood a giant of a man. Standing half again as tall as the tallest warrior in the hall, his massive brow and craggy features were shrouded in a mass of wirey hair and beard. Clad in a loincloth of cow hides, he wore a matted woolen cloak over his massive shoulders. In one enormous hand he carried a log, and in the other, a massive axe unlike any seen before.
The giant slowly strode toward the assembled warriors, each step shaking the floor. The warriors watched his passage, but none spoke a word. The hounds, terrified of the man, turned tail and fled beneath the tables as the man strode to the hearth. Standing before the fire, the giant threw down his log and hefted his axe. He surveyed the company of warriors from under craggy brow, silently daring them to speak. None did, and at length the giant spoke, "I am Uath the Stranger, and I wander the world seeking a man who can hold fast to his word-bond. Surely here, in the house of the Red Branch sits one who will make a compact with me and keep it."
One of the host, a Righ named Fergus Mac Roy, asked the giant, "And, what is this compact?"
"Easy to tell," said Uath. "You and Conchobar I put aside and do not hold you to this, as you are kings. Aside from you, I seek one who will make this bargain: He will strike off my head this night, and I will return the blow tomorrow night. Surely there is one among you whose courage can meet my terms." Silence filled the hall. None of the warriors trusted this bargain, as it smelled it smelled of magic and was unseemingly odd. No warrior stepped forward. Uath smiled a cold smile. "Then, there is no champion here."
"Here is one who braves your challange, fool," cried out Loegaire the Triumphant as he leaped to the center of the hall. "Kneel then," he said to the giant. "And I give you my word: I cut off your head tonight, you cut of mine tomorrow."
Uath knelt and laid his head upon the log. With mighty effort, Loegaire raised the axe high and then brought it down swiftly. It struck through the giant's neck, severing the head which thumped to the floor. Great gouts of blood spurted from the body. Loegaire paled and stepped back staring as the body suddenly stood up, seemingly unaffected by the lack of a head. It took the axe from Loegaire's trembling hands, and then picked up it's severed head. The head looked upon the assembled warriors with disdain. The giant then turned and left the building, disappearing into the night.
The next night, as before, the door to the house of the Red Branch swung open, letting in the wind and rain. Uath the Stranger, whole again, without so much as a mark or bloodstain, strode to the hearth, baring the axe. His eyes ranged across the assembled company of warriors. Loegaire the Triumphant was not among them. Though brave without fail, his heart had faltered at the thought of the giant's terrible blow. Uath shrugged and spat on the floor. He fingered his axe blade, and said not a word.
From one of the tables sprang Conall of the Nine Victories, ready to defend Ulster's honor. As Leogaire had, Conall swung the axe and Uath's head fell to the floor. As before, the giant left the feasting hall carrying his head and axe. And, the next night Conall of the Nine Victories was not to be found.
That night, Uath stood in the flickering light of the fire and laughed at the weak-willed warriors of Ulster. "Two of your best have failed me," he said, "And, where is the proud stripling Cu Chulain? Lily-hearted and hiding, like the rest."
Then Cu Chulain rose from the bench where he sat. He spoke coolly. "Keep your bargain for fools, Uath," he said, "For why would a sensible man throw his life away for the sake of beheading a creature that can restore it's form by foul trickery?"
Uath bellowed with laughter. "Coward!" he shouted at Cu Chulain, "Spinless child, lips still wet from mother's teat!"
This did the trick. Red with pride and rage, Cu Chulain leapt to the center of the hall, and in his fury, snatched the axe and swung it, sending the giant's head spinning into the rafters. When the head feel, Cu Chulain smashed it with the axe. There was silence, except for the warrior's heavy breathing. As before, Uath rose, picked up his axe and the pulp that had been his head and strode off into the darkness.
The following night found Cu Chulain at his usual place in the hall, albeit tight-lipped and ashen. The other Red Branch warriors withdrew from him, fearing to be near one marked for death. On his throne, Conchobar waited impassively. The door swung open and the warriors turned towards it, and Uath entered the hall. He called Cu Chulain's name. Cu Chulain walked stifly to the center of the hall and knelt to take the blow. His head trembled slightly, and his face glistened with sweat, but he kept his place when the giant towered over him. Uath raised his axe, and paused.
"Stretch your neck out better." the giant commanded.
"Save your breath and cease your taunting," Cu Chulain growled. "Strike swiftly, as I did." He bent he head again.
The giant's eyes gleamed as the axe hurtled down. A collective gasp left a hundred lips as the warriors watched the loss of one of their finest. But there was no loss. The giant's axe smashed the stones in front of Cu Chulain's head, and he leapt up to face Uath.
Uath had disappeared, and in his place stood Curoi, the King of Munster, he who had been strangely absent when the rivals presented themselves for judgement. Curoi had come at Conchobar's request to settle the matter in full view of the rival champions' peers, so that none would doubt the fairness of his decision.
Curoi spoke to the Red Branch warriors, "Cu Chulain is the king's champion," he said, "For only Cu Chulain refused the fool's bargain, Loegaire and Conall accepted it, and then failed in valor. Only Cu Chulain struck in the heat of rage, a rashness appropriate, even vital to a warrior. Only Cu Chulain had proved his contempt of death by bending to take the axe-blow."
Thus was the matter of the Championship of Ulster settled.
