And of all his musicians the one Finn thought most of was Cnu Deireoil, the Little Nut, that came to him from the Sidhe.

It was at Slieve-nam-ban, for hunting, Finn was the time he came to him.  Sitting down he was on the turf-built grave that is there; and when he looked around him he saw a small little man about four feet in height standing on the grass.  Light yellow hair he had, hanging down to his waist, and he playing music on his harp.  And the music he was making had no fault in it at all, and it is much that the whole of the Fianna did not fall asleep with the sweetness of its sound.  He came up then, and put his hand in Finn’s hand.  “Where do you come from, little one, yourself and your sweet music?” said Finn.  “I am come,” he said, “out of the place of the Sidhe in Slieve-nam-ban, where ale is drunk and made; and it is to be in your company for a while I am come here.”  “You will get good rewards from me, and riches and red gold,” said Finn, “and my full friendship, for I like you well.”  “That is the best luck ever came to you, Finn,” said all the rest of the Fianna, for they were well pleased to have him in their company.  And they gave him the name of the Little Nut; and he was good in speaking, and he had so good a memory he never forgot anything he heard east or west; and there was no one but must listen to his music, and all the Fianna liked him well.  And there were some said he was a son of Lugh Lamh-Fada, of the Long Hand.

And the five musicians of the Fianna were brought to him, to learn the music of the Sidhe he had brought from that other place; for there was never any music heard on earth but his was better.  These were the three best things Finn ever got, Bran and Sceolan that were without fault, and the Little Nut from the House of the Sidhe in Slieve-nam-ban.

CHAPTER III.  BIRTH OF BRAN.

This, now, is the story of the birth of Bran.

Finn’s mother, Muirne, came one time to Almhuin, and she brought with her Tuiren, her sister.  And Iollan Eachtach, a chief man of the Fianna of Ulster, was at Almhuin at the time, and he gave his love to Tuiren, and asked her in marriage, and brought her to his own house.  But before they went, Finn made him gave his word he would bring her back safe and sound if ever he asked for her, and he bade him find sureties for himself among the chief men of the Fianna.  And Iollan did that, and the sureties he got were Caoilte and Goll and Lugaidh Lamha, and it was Lugaidh gave her into the hand of Iollan Eachtach.

But before Iollan made that marriage, he had a sweetheart of the Sidhe, Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast; and there came great jealousy on her when she knew he had taken a wife.  And she took the appearance of Finn’s woman-messenger, and she came to the house where Tuiren was, and she said:  “Finn sends health and long life to you, queen, and he bids you to make a great feast; and come with me now,” she said, “till I speak a few words with you, for there is hurry on me.”