The Daughter Of King Under-Waves facts for kids
The Daughter Of King Under-Waves (Nighean Righ Fo Thuinn) is an old Scottish fairy tale. It was collected by a man named John Francis Campbell for his book Popular Tales of the West Highlands. He wrote down the story after hearing it from Roderick MacLean, a tailor. Roderick had heard it from older men in a place called South Uist, including one named Angus Macintyre.
This tale is a version of a classic story type called the "loathly lady." In these stories, a strange or ugly woman transforms into someone beautiful. You can find similar tales in old stories like Hrólfr Kraki's saga and the folk song "King Henry".
Contents
The Daughter Of King Under-Waves
The Strange Visitor
The brave heroes of the Fhinn were on the side of Beinn Eudainn during a wild and stormy night. Suddenly, a very strange-looking woman appeared before them. Her hair was so long it reached her heels!
She asked Fionn for a place to stay, but he said no. She screamed loudly and went to Oisean, who also turned her away. She screamed again and then went to Diarmaid. Diarmaid was kind and offered her shelter.
Right away, the woman changed into the most beautiful person they had ever seen! She asked Diarmaid where he would like the most amazing castle built. He said he wanted it on top of Beinn Eudainn. Instantly, a magnificent castle appeared, and they lived there happily.
Three times, she gave a small grayhound puppy to one of the Fhinn who asked for it. Each time, Diarmaid became angry. He said she wouldn't have given them away if she remembered how he had helped her. He then quickly apologized. But the third time, even with his apology, she and the castle suddenly vanished!
A Journey Under the Sea
Diarmaid was very sad and set out to find her. His search led him on a long journey, and he eventually found his way under the sea. There, he discovered three gulps of blood.
He then met a woman who was gathering rushes (tall, grass-like plants). She told him that the king's daughter had just returned home but was very ill. No doctor could help her, and a bed made of rushes was thought to be the best for her health.
The woman carried Diarmaid to the king's daughter hidden in her bundle of rushes. Diarmaid and the king's daughter were very happy to see each other again. She told him she had lost three gulps of blood. When he told her he had found them, she explained that she needed a special cup from the King of Plain of Wonder to drink from to get better.
Finding the Cure
Diarmaid set off again. He came to a small stream that he couldn't cross. A little russet (reddish-brown) man appeared and helped him get to the other side. Diarmaid finally reached the castle of the King of Plain of Wonder.
He shouted that he wanted either the special cup or a battle. The king sent out his soldiers three times to fight Diarmaid, but Diarmaid defeated them all. The king then asked who he was. He said that if he had known, he would have given Diarmaid the cup right away, because he would have known Diarmaid would defeat all his men.
The little russet man carried Diarmaid back. He also told Diarmaid exactly how to cure the king's daughter. But he warned Diarmaid that he would feel a strong dislike for her once she was cured. He advised Diarmaid to admit this feeling and only ask the king for a ship to return to his own land.
Diarmaid gave the king's daughter the drinks as the little man had instructed. She recovered completely, but just as the russet man had warned, Diarmaid felt a dislike for her. He honestly told her how he felt. He accepted nothing from the king except a ship to take him back home.
