Fate/Curadh Beag

Chapter 25: The Boundary Between Reality and Folklore

FATE/CURADH BEAG

"Little Champion"

Chapter 25: The Boundary Between Reality and Folklore

Once Connla had recovered enough that she could get out of bed without being sick, the group gathered their belongings and prepared to set out. The previous day, Naoise and Deirdre informed her of their intention to return to Leabharcham's home. Just as they expected, Connla understood Deirdre's condition better than anyone else, and assured them not to worry about her. Although it was difficult for the couple to part ways with their friends, they knew it was for Deirdre's sake, and that they would be happy to see her again once everything settled down.

Now that their business in Emain Macha had concluded, it was time for Connla, Conall, Mini Cu and Morrigan to reunite with Fergus at the base of the town's main hill. Connla and Mini Cu got on Liath Macha's back, while Morrigan hitched a ride on the rump of Conall's horse Deirg nDruchtaig. As the two steed strode along the roads, Mini Cu implored to Connla, "Now you listen to me good. Even though you're much better now, I don't want you doing anything reckless during this mission. Just because you're healthy enough to walk around doesn't mean you should take it for granted."

"Yes, I know," Connla nodded. "To be honest, I still don't feel like I'm 100% yet. I doubt I would be of much help should we get into a battle at this very moment."

"Don't worry. I'll be extra sure to look after her," Conall said.

"You better," Mini Cu grumbled. "If you don't, I'll do something much worse to you than I did to Cu Roi."

"Ugh... If you're trying to be funny, then I'm not laughing."

"I wasn't. I'm being dead serious here."

"Oh ho ho ho," Morrigan chuckled. She then said to Conall, "I bet seeing this side of Cu is quite the surprise for you, isn't it?"

"W-What side of him!? He's still the same womanizing brute that I remember!"

"Oh, ho. So you're not familiar with how much he guards those he cares about with his very life? Why, he changed his birth name to the moniker Cuchulainn, or Culann's Hound, because he wanted to keep Culann safe while a new guard dog was being reared. What is that, if not a reflection of his overprotective nature?"

"That was because he wanted to make up for the mistake he made..."

"Is that any different now?"

Conall raised an eyebrow as he asked, "What do you mean?"

"Think about it. He was never there for the little one. Instead, he became consumed with his hatred for Medb and destroyed the rest of the world over it. Now even Ireland and Scotland have a limited time before they wither away and condemn the last of humanity to the hostile ocean. It may not happen tomorrow, but I'm willing to bet it will occur before the child can live a full human lifespan. You know what that means to Cu, right?"

"..."

"I'm just saying not to be too hard on him if he's all foul-mannered and defensive while around her. He realizes how much he screwed up and wants to help her in any way he can. You understand?"

"Well..." Conall murmured solemnly. "Yeah, I kind of get it... It's hard to imagine, but the pieces do add up. I just find it difficult to believe that he was being generous towards her even before discovering their relationship. I can't help but wonder when that change occurred in him."

"This is just an educated guess," Morrigan said, "but I think it was when Cuchulainn was hunting down Scathach for her authority over the Land of Shadows. Connla said she met him there while he was suffering from amnesia, right?"