The Lay of Fraoch

Faoch, a handsome warrior with jet black hair, wished to marry the beautiful Findabair, who loved him too. They lived on the banks of Loch Awe in Scotland. The loch contained an island upon which stood a single rowan tree, with fruits that were said to restore youth and health, and to satisfy hunger for three days at a time. A dragon, coiled around its trunk, guarded these precious fruits. Unfortunately, Findabair’s mother, Maeve, also loved Fraoch, and her jealousy and unrequited love ate her up until she plotted a plan to destroy him. Pretending to be ill, she said he could have Findabair’s hand in marriage if he swam to the island and brought back a handful of its fruits to heal her.

Fraoch was afraid, but brave, and he loved Findabair very much, so he set off, swimming strongly through the cold water. When he reached the island he managed to tiptoe around the sleeping dragon, snatch a handful of fallen fruits, swim back and present them to Maeve.

Furious, Maeve plotted again. The next day she called him to her and said she was still ill, and that she must have the entire tree. Again Fraoch set off to the island, only this time he uprooted the whole precious tree, and set off swimming back to shore with it. Of course, this woke the dragon, and the weight of the tree in the water slowed Fraoch down, so that soon the dragon caught up with him and a great battle commenced. Fraoch killed the dragon, but in the process was mortally wounded himself.

Findabair sang a lament over his body, and died of a broken heart. The pair were buried together on the shore of och Awe, and the island {eilean in Gaelic} to this day is named Fraoch Eilean.