Gilveen told Fedelma and the King's Son the
story. The Spae-Woman had sent a message to Caintigern the Queen to tell
her she had tidings of her first-born son. Thereupon Caintigern went to
the Spae-Woman's house and Gilveen, her attendant, went with her. She
found there Flann who had been known as Gilly of the Goatskin, and knew
him for the son who had been stolen from her when he was born. Flann
gave his mother a token which had been given him by a young woman. The
token was a handkerchief and it held seven drops of heart's blood. The
Spae-Woman told the Queen that these seven drops would disenchant her
brothers who had been changed from their own forms into the forms of
seven wild geese.

And while Gilveen was telling them all this Flann came to see whose
horse was there, and great was his joy to find his comrade the King of
Ireland's Son. They knew now that they were the sons of the one father,
and they embraced each other as brothers. And Flann took the hand of
Fedelma and he told her and the King's Son of his love for Morag. But
when he was speaking of Morag, Gilveen went away.

Then Flann took them into the Spae-Woman's house, and the Queen who was
seated at the fire rose up and gave them the clasp of welcome. The
face she turned to the King's Son was kindly and she called him by his
child's name. She said too that she was well pleased that he and Flann
her son were good comrades, and she prayed they would be good comrades
always.

Fedelma and the King of Ireland's Son rested themselves for a day. Then
the Spae-Woman said that the Queen would strive on the next night--it
was the night of the full moon--to bring back her seven brothers to
their own forms. The Spae-Woman said too that the Queen and herself
should be left alone in the house and that the King of Ireland's
Son with Flann and Fedelma and Gilveen should go towards the King of
Ireland's Castle with MacStairn the woodman, and wait for the Queen at a
place a day's journey away.

So the King of Ireland's Son and Flann, Fedelma and Gilveen bade good-by
to the Queen, to the Spae-Woman and to the Spae-Woman's house, and
started their journey towards the King's Castle with MacStairn the
Woodman who walked beside their horses, a big axe in his hands.

At night MacStairn built two bothies for them--one covered with green
boughs for Fedelma and Gilveen and one covered with cut sods for Flann
and the King of Ireland's Son. Flann lay near the opening of this