The Ceasg and the Baobhan Sith

Do Mermaids Have Fangs?

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Did you see the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides? Ever since I did, I’ve wondered whether there existed a basis for mermaids with fangs. Do any of the mermaid legends mention fangs? What about Scottish folklore? Could a mermaid with fangs be drawn from the merging of two mythical Scottish fae creatures?

Perhaps the first is the ceasg or maighdean na tuinne (maiden of the wave), a Scottish mermaid of the Highlands. Appearing as a half-human woman and half-grilse (salmon), the ceasg were said to lure young men into the sea's depths. Other accounts describe love affairs between the mermaids and human males with the offspring of these relationships becoming great sailors and sea captains. Some tales attribute the mermaids with the ability to grant three wishes if captured. Of course, to force such action, the mermaid's soul must be destroyed.

The second, the baobhan sith, is a vampiric faerie known to be dangerous and evil. Although sometimes taking the form of a crow or raven, the baohan sith more often appears as a beautiful young woman, wearing a long green gown to hide her hoofed-feet. On a single evening each year, she rises from her grave to seduce a young man into dancing with her until he is tired and weak from the drinking of his blood.

At first, I believed the combining of these two creatures would produce a mermaid with fangs. Then I read an account stating the baobhan sith use long fingernails to draw the blood of their victims.

So what do you think? Do mermaids have fangs?

 

The Fenoderee of the Isle of Man

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

The Isle of Man sits in the Irish Sea. With its Celtic and Norse origins, Manx folklore includes many stories of mythical creatures. One such creature is the Fenoderee.

Originally a knight of the Ferrishyn royal court, the faerie tribe of Man, the Fenoderee lost his status by falling for a mortal woman and missing the faerie's autumnal festival while courting his lover. In punishment, his handsome glamour was taken from him, and he became an ugly, satyr-like creature, covered with copious body hair. At least, that is what I believe.

Some compare him to the Brùnaidh, the Scottish brownie.

The Fenoderee prances about without clothing, complaining that trousers and coats and hats are naught but discomfort. He becomes offended if offered garments, and will vacate the area in a huff.

He is known as an able worker of considerable strength, offering services, such as the herding of animals, to the farmers of Man. He is well suited to performing quarry work, lugging loads of stone too heavy for mortal men. His favorite task is mowing, and for clipping the grass with incredible speed, he has been nicknamed 'the nimble mower.'

The Fenoderee is a creature of folklore I wouldn't fear meeting.

Who is your favorite creature of folklore?

Scottish Highland Games - The Stone Throw

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

This is my last installment for the Scottish Highland Games series. Sorry, I don't have a picture for the stone throw.

Many believe the stone throw originated with the ancient stone of strength or clachneart often found at the gate of a Highland chief's home. Visitors were encouraged to test their strength by throwing the stone.

The stone throw at Scottish Highland Games is like the modern shot put, but uses a round stone—river stones work well—weighing between 16 and 28 pounds. The stone is put from the front of the shoulder, using only one hand. The competitors are allowed a 7' 6" approach to the toeboard or trig. Most athletes glide, twirl, and then throw the stone. If an athlete touches the top of the trig or the ground in front of it, the throw doesn't count. The farthest throw wins.

Other events:
The Caber Toss
The 28-lb. Weight Throw
The 56-lb Weight Throw
The Sheaf Toss
The Hammer Throw

~Dawn Marie

Scottish Highland Games—The Hammer Throw

By Dawn Marie Hamilton





The goal of the hammer throw is distance. A great throw requires a deliberate combination of speed and timing.

The Scottish hammer, derived from a blacksmith's hammer, is a rounded metal hammer weighing 16 to 22 pounds attached to a cane handle.

An athlete stands with his back to the 'trig' and the throwing area. During the throw, his feet are not permitted to move. He may lift his heels while turning, but his toes must remain solidly in place until he completes the throw. Many competitors use spikes on the end of their shoes to anchor them to the ground. When ready, the athlete places the head of the hammer on the ground stretched to the right. He swings the hammer in front of him, and up over his head in a circular motion several times. When he has gained the right amount of speed, he releases the hammer behind him, using the last turn to propel it on its way. Touching the 'trig' or the ground in front of it renders a throw foul.

Each competitor takes three throws, and the throw with the greatest distance wins.

Other events:
The Caber Toss
The 28-lb. Weight Throw
The 56-lb Weight Throw
The Sheaf Toss

Next time, I'll discuss the clachneart, the stone of strength, or the stone throw.

Scottish Highland Games—The Sheaf Toss



The Sheaf Toss

By Dawn Marie Hamilton


The sheaf toss is a games event in which many a farm lad might excel, or not. Tossing hay with a pitchfork onto a pile isn't quite the same as hurling a bag of the stuff into the air over a horizontal bar. A lad must dedicate time to practicing in order to develop the required skill. Not every Highland games runs this event, but I snapped this picture at the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival in February while on winter vacation.



Given three chances, an athlete uses a three-tined pitchfork to hurl a 16-pound burlap bag stuffed with hay over a crossbar set between two standards. The bar is raised in one or two foot intervals after all competertors have completed their attempts. As the bar rises, the field of competitors is reduced until one athlete remains as the winner.

Other events:
The Caber Toss
The 28-lb Weight Throw
The 56-lb Weight Throw

Stop back, I'll discuss more events in future posts.

Scottish Highland Games—The 56-lb. Weight Throw

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Last month I posted a piece on the 28-lb. weight throw. This month the 56-lb. weight throw is the topic.

Different from the distance goal of the 28-lb. throw, in the 56-lb. weight throw, the contestants are throwing for height over a horizontal bar of varying heights. The starting height is the lowest height requested by the athletes.

Using a metal weight attached by a chain to a ring handle, a competitor stands with his back to the bar and throws the weight over, using only one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the weight clips the bar on the way over, but doesn't dislodge it, the toss is considered successful. Measurements are made from the ground to the top of the bar at the midway point between the two uprights.

As the bar is repetitively raised, contestants are eliminated, until only one athlete remains and wins.

Other events:
The Caber Toss
The 28-lb. Weight Throw

I'll discuss more events in future posts so stop back.

Scottish Highland Games—The 28-lb Weight Throw

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

The goal of the 28-pound weight throw is distance.

Using a metal weight attached by a chain to a ring handle, a competitor throws the weight one-handed from behind a toe-board (trig) with a nine foot run up allowed. Although different styles may be used, the most popular is spinning. In order for the throw to count, an athlete must remain standing after a throw, and not have touched the top of the toe-board or the ground in front of it during the throw. The competitors are judged on the farthest of three throws.

Key to a good throw are speed and momentum.

What is your favorite athletic event at a Scottish gathering?

Other events:
The Caber Toss

I'll discuss more events in future posts so stop back.

Scottish Highland Games—The Caber Toss

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

I've heard the comment made that the 'heavy' athletic events at a Scottish Highland Games are as unique to the Scottish as are bagpipes and tartans. (The Irish may take offense to this statement, but I think you get my meaning.) The competition most well known is probably the tossing of the caber.

Sizing the Caber

The caber is not a telephone pole, as some describe it, but a trimmed tree trunk tapering at one end. The type of tree used depends on what is locally available. As you can imagine, due to its nature, cabers vary greatly from event to event and from year to year. Typical cabers are 16 to 20 feet long and weigh from 90 to 140 pounds. The longer the caber, the more difficult to turn.

Skill—balance, strength, timing—is required to excel in this event. The competitor balances the caber against his shoulder with the small end cradled in his hands and the large end in the air, keeping the caber vertical. When ready, he runs and allows the caber to fall forward. Determining the right moment, he stops and flips the small end up. If done correctly—speed, toss and timing—the momentum carries the small end over the large and the caber falls away from the competitor.

The toss is judged according to an imaginary clock face. If the athlete stands at six o'clock, the perfect toss points to twelve o'clock. Tosses landing between nine o'clock and three o'clock are considered good. Judges record the best of three tosses. Ties are broken by determining the closest throw to twelve o'clock.

Do you enjoy attending the heavy athletic events at a Scottish gathering?

I'll discuss more events in future posts so stop back.

Urisk—Scottish Solitary Faerie

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Many a man or woman has sought release from their woes by visiting wild places within the woodland. Seeking ease, they're attracted to secluded pools. Places supportive of contemplation. Since we are of the Celtic bent here at Celtic Hearts, we know that in the dark forests of Scotland, more likely than not, they chance meeting a creature so peculiar they'll scurry back to civilization, their heart in their throat.

'Tis sad. The urisk, a humble creature by nature, is lonely and wants to make friends. Most humans shun the poor fellow because of his uncomely appearance, found by many to be horrifying and frightening.

Still, he holds hope someday someone will come along and befriend him.

"What does he look like?" you ask.

The gangling urisk appears an aging bald creature with pointed ears. His face is long and drawn. He peers at you through soulful rounded eyes. He sports a wiry goatee on his chin. His emaciated, hairless torso is somewhat human-like—his lower half goat-like with shaggy fur. His limbs are long and thin and he walks on cloven feet.

Many confuse the urisk (ùruisg) with the brownie (brùnaidh), though I believe they are each a distinct variety of Scottish solitary faerie. And look nothing alike.

A wonderfully dark depiction of the urisk can be found in the illustrated book, Faeries, by Brian Froud and Alan Lee.

Would you be frightened if you met an urisk in the woods? Or would you make friends with him?

Scottish Dogs

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Within the historical fabric of Scotland is weaved a dependency between man and dog. Though much loved, Scottish dogs were not fancy lap dogs but working dogs bred to help a hardworking people survive the harsh northern climate.

The Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Dandie Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier were developed to protect crops by eradicating mice, rats and other vermin, keeping the pests from destroying grain in the fields, grain stored for food, and seeds over-wintered for spring planting.

One of my two favorites in this category is the Scottish Terrier, nearly a national Scottish symbol. The Scottie, often black, but also brindle and wheaten colored, has a distinctive profile with a hard, wiry, weather-resident outer coat. Though small, they are strong, alert and playful dogs. Just don't let them into your garden—they're diggers. Did you know Presidents Roosevelt and George W. Bush had Scotties in the White House?

The compact, bright white West Highland Terrier is a friendly, strong-willed dog known for spunk, determination and devotion. Westies excel in conformation, agility and obedience trials. This frisky, little dog appeared in episodes of the BBC Scotland TV series Hamish MacBeth, filmed in the town of Kyleof Lochalsh. In the series, 'Wee Jock' kept the peace in the fictitious town of Lochdubh with Constable Hamish Macbeth at his side.

The Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, and my absolute favorite Scottish dog, the Shetland Sheepdog were bred to protect livestock. If you attend a Scottish Festival this summer, you might be treated to a Border Collie demonstration. Working dogs to this day, they are famous for their sheepherding skills.

My best friend for many years was a beautiful, longhaired, female tri-color Sheltie named Red Earth O'Tara for Gone With the Wind. Bred to a miniature size in the Shetland Islands, Shetland Sheep Dogs were farm helpers and home protectors, trained to watch over crofter's cottages, sheep and cattle. They are considered highly trainable and—mine was spoiled to the extreme—known as devoted dogs with great intelligence.

The Gordon Setter, Golden Retriever and Scottish Deerhound were developed to assist in hunting. The extremely popular Golden Retriever and the Gordon Setter were birders, trained to hunt fowl. Scottish deerhounds were exclusive to nobility and—no one below the rank of an earl could possess the animals—bred to hunt game. One of my CPs is writing a Scottish historical series featuring a pair of Scottish Deerhounds as supporting characters.

I think I'll write a Scottish dog into my next Scottish fantasy time-travel novel.

If you are interested in owning one of these special breeds, please consider adopting a dog from a breed rescue group. You can find a breed specific rescue group in your area by performing an internet search.

Which is your favorite Scottish dog?

The Fachan from the West Highlands of Scotland

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

One of my favorite coffee table books is Faeries, illustrated by Brian Froud and Alan Lee. I love to browse through the pages and enjoy the wonderful art.

I flip to a new page, and a fachan stares at me through his single eyeball positioned in the center of his forehead like that of the Cyclops, the primordial race of giants from Greek mythology. Startled, I jump away, but keep an eye on the image glaring at me. The reddish-purple iris surrounded by blood-shot white seems to watch me as I pace about the room. My spine tingles with shivers.

Good thing I have a strong heart since reports claim his grotesque appearance can cause a heart attack.

He stands erect on his only muscular leg at about three feet of height. He covers his egg-shaped body with a loose shirt made from blue-green feathers. Although I can't smell him, others allege his stench is worse than that of an ordinary ogre.

I imagine rotten eggs or a science project gone wrong. My nose twitches at the thought.

A single short arm with a big hand protrudes from under his chin. I certainly don't want to get close to his claw-like fingernails or the sharp teeth visible when he opens his wide mouth.

Most of his skin is a dirty tan—except for the mottled green of his lips, his bulbous nose and the tips of his large pointed ears. A few strands of wiry black hair top his head, matching the hair at the tips of his ears.

Rumors abound that the unusual creature is extremely agile with its flat-footed hop.

I cautiously approach the table and snap the book closed. My neighbors probably hear my sigh of relief.

Many believe fachans live in the depths of caves in the West Highlands of Scotland. Since known to dislike humans, wise men and women are prudent to stay away.

Are there other Scottish creatures of legend you try to avoid? Tell us about them.

2012 Celtic Festivals and Highland Games August - October

Piper from Clan Hamilton
2010 Williamsburg Scottish Festival

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Festival time is in full swing across the country. Come on out and celebrate our ancestry?

Here are the festivals on my radar for August through October:

August 3-4
St. Andrew's Society of Detroit Highland Games
Greenmead HistoricalPark, Livonia, MI
Courtesy of Althea Preston. Things to do: Ceilidh, Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Border Collies, Scotch Tasting and more

August 3-5
Dublin Irish Festival
Coffman Park, Dublin, OH
Courtesy of Renee Vincent. Things to do: Music, Cultural Exhibits, Beverage Tastings, Celtic Canines, Highland Heavyweight Games and more

August 17-18
Foxburg Scottish Festival
Allegheny RiverStone Center For the Arts, Foxburg, PA
Courtesy of Victoria Roberts. Things to do: Ceilidh on Friday, Festival and Concert on Saturday and more

September 5-6
Virginia Celtic Gathering and Highland Games
Rockahock Campground, Lanexa, VA
I've attended this event twice, which used to be called the Williamsburg Scottish Festival, and had a great time. Things to do: Celidh, Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Crafts and Vendors and more

September 8
Edinboro Highland Games & Scottish Festival
Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
Courtesy of Victoria Roberts. Things to do: Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Storytelling, Vendors and more

September 8-9
Columbus Scottish Festival
Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, Columbus, IN
Courtesy of Diana Graber. Things to do: Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Sheepdogs, Reenactors and more

September 21-23
New Hampshire Highland Games and Festival
Loon Mountain, Lincoln, NH
This is an event I hope to attend one of these years. Things to do: Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Sheepdogs and much more

October 13
Indianapolis Scottish Highland Games and Festival
German Park, Indianapolis, IN
Courtesy of Diana Graber. Things to do: Clans, Vendors, Music and Dance and more

October 27
Murray Highland Festival
Murray City Park, Murray, KY
Courtesy of Diana Graber. Things to do: Music, Highland Athletics, SCA Exhibition of Medieval combat, Genealogy Tent, Highland Cattle, Sheepherding and more

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this list.

Click here for April - July events.

Do you know of other Celtic events during August - October? Tell us about them in comments.

Ghillie Dhu—Scottish Forest Faeries

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

I previously posted this at Castles & Guns, but thought it worth posting here too.

The Ghillie Dhu or Ghillie Dubh are solitary faeries believed to reside within Scottish forests, especially near Gairloch in Ross-shire, though one account claims many emigrated to forests in Northern America after following Scottish fur trappers to French Canada in the late 1700's.

Imagine a wee man of about three feet tall, dressed in garments made from leaves and moss, with hair black as a moonless night and eyes the deepest brown of a hazel nut. 'Tis said his skin color changes from green to brown to green with the seasons. He lives in trees, preferring birch, and protects the woodland. He seems to be kind to children, with a nature both wild and shy. In Wonder Tales from Scottish Myth and Legend Donald Alexander Mackenzie tells the tale of young Jessie Macrae who upon getting lost in the forest is directed home by a Ghillie Dhu.

Some accounts claim him to be a harmless sprite, while others recount a darker side. His name means dark servant to match his dark hair and dark eyes and darker temperament. Be wary of venturing into the forest at night when the Ghillie Dhu are known to be most active, for if offended by an adult human the wee man will reach out with thin, long arms and crush him in his angry embrace, leaving the human to rot into earthy compost. Alternatively, a Ghillie Dhu might kidnap the human and drag him into faerieland to be enslaved.

An excellent depiction of a Ghille Dhu illustrated by Brian Froud can be found in the wonderful book, Faeries.

Are you afraid to walk in the forest alone at night?

Other Scottish Fae Creatures:
The Brùnaidh—Scottish Brownie

CHRW Meet The Member

Dawn Marie Hamilton 

How long have you been a member of Celtic Hearts?
I joined Celtic Hearts in January of 2007 and Celtic Critters—CHRW's critique group—at its inception in May of 2007 and currently serve as Critique Chair for CHRW.

Do you belong to any other RWA chapters or writing groups?
Since it is too far to drive to meetings for local chapters, I belong to a couple online chapters. In addition to Celtic Hearts, I'm a member of Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal RWA (FF&P) and From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW), where I serve as VP-Communications.

In what genre do you prefer to write and why?
I write Scottish inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. I've always been fascinated by time travel and all things fantastical and out of the ordinary. Mix that with hot Scottish hunks and I'm there.

When you are not writing, what are your hobbies, passions, etc?
I enjoy cycling and you can often find my husband and me on weekends tooling along the C&O Canal trail in MD on our tandem bicycle. We also like to camp and hike so when not cycling we're hanging out at Shenandoah National Park. I love to garden, both indoors and out. I was a Master Gardener with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Sussex, NJ before relocating to Maryland. Now, I garden on my balcony, hoping to have a real cottage garden again soon. I also have a passion for food and cooking, and sometimes contribute recipes to fellow Celtic Hearts member Pat McDermott's Kitchen Excursions blog.

What place inspires you the most?
The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The first time I visited was to attend the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans. I felt like I'd come home. Enchanted by the area, I used it as a backdrop to my Scottish time travel series that I hope someday will find its way onto bookshelves and e-readers. I'm trying to convince my husband we should retire to the beautiful mountains. Maybe I could have a cottage garden there as one of my characters does.

If you could be transported back in time for a day, when and where would you want to go?
One day wouldn't be enough. There are so many places and times I'd like to observe. For starters: Scotland and France during any historical period. Russia pre-revolution. The American west when it was still the frontier. Maybe Jamaica during pirate times.

Celtic Festivals and Highland Games

Reenactment Couple
2011 So MD Celtic Festival

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

Spring has sprung. Festival time is spreading across the country. Come on out and celebrate our ancestry?

Here are the festivals on my radar for April through July:


April 20-22
Rural Hill Scottish Festival & Loch Norman Highland Games
Rural Hill, Center of Scottish Heritage, Huntersville, NC
Friends of mine attend this event every year. Looks like a great lineup of entertainers for 2012. Things to do: Clan Tents, Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Whisky Seminar, Historical Encampment and more.

April 28
Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and Highland Gathering
Jefferson Patterson Park, St. Leonard, MD
I had a great time at this event last year. Things to do: Music and Dance, Highland Athletics, Fencing Demo, Living History Encampment and Battle, Storytelling, Rugby Tournament and Celtic Market Place and more.

The Sheaf Toss
2012 NE FL Scottish Festival

May 23-27
GALLABRAE and the Greenville Scottish Games
Greenville, SC
I'm very excited and proud. My clan, Clan Hamilton, will be the Honored Clan and His Grace, the Duke of Hamilton, will be the Chief of the Games and Grand Marshal for the Great Scot! Parade. And two of my favorite festival bands are scheduled to perform: Albannach and Coyote Run along with a new to me band Cleghorn. Things to do: Music and Dance, British Car Show, Great Scot! Parade, Highland Athletics, Celtic Jam, Border Collies, Birds of Prey and more.

June 2
Milwaukee Highland Games
Wauwatosa, WI
Added to the list thanks to Fraoch. Things to do: Music and Dance, Scottish Food, Sheepdogs, Athletic Events, Parade of Tartans and more.

July 7-10
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans
Linville, NC
This is my favorite event and the inspiration for some of my stories. To fully experience the festival, you need to camp on-site. Things to do: Torchlight Ceremony, Music and Dance, Clan Tents, Parade of Tartans, Highland Athletics, Border Collies, Gaelic Mod and more.

Pipe Band
2011 So MD Celtic Festival

I'd like to know about other Celtic festivals taking place in the US and Canada.

Do you know of other Celtic events? Tell us about them in comments and I'll add them to the list.

The Legend of the Vanishing Wedding Feast

By Dawn Marie Hamilton



Photo by Jason Hemmings

Old Castle Lachlan might look like a ruin today, but if you step with me through a mist of fantasy you will see a bustling castle where...once upon a time, resided an angry brùnaidh.

"Ouch." Had someone pinched her?

The somber friar raised his gaze from his prayer book. "Is anything wrong, my lady?"

Heat flashed across Mairi's chest and neck. She glanced at the man standing at her side, the one she met a mere few hours ago.

Iain glared at the shingle at her feet. He probably believed the stones poked through her thin bridal slippers and caused the outburst. Though the shingle made the proceedings uncomfortable, that wasn't what made her screech. Something sharp jabbed her hip, but no one stood near enough to inflict such abuse.

"All is well." She smiled at Father Ambrose. "Please, continue."

Mairi's gaze drifted over the faces of those who'd gathered to witness the uniting of two clans in peace. Bah. Her marriage to the Chief of Clan MacLachlan would change nothing. Her grandfather's quest for more land proved insatiable.

Where was Caitrina? Mairi couldn't find her amidst the crowd. Had the fairy forsaken her? Never. Caitrina must have hidden within a glamour of invisibility.

The friar's voice droned on. Mairi fixed her stare on the water, the ceremony taking place on the shore of Loch Fyne. The MacLachlan chapel within the castle tower was unable to accommodate the throngs of Campbells who'd come to witness the spectacle of her ruin.

She risked a sideways glance at Iain. His features remained inscrutable.

He'd dressed for the occasion in a crisp saffron leine and colorful plaide of red and blue. Two warrior braids hung to one side of his strong jaw and his chestnut hair glistened in the sunlight. When he leveled his stare on her, his sapphire eyes sparkled.

A shiver shimmied along her spine, and she couldn't suppress the prick of fear tangled with excitement for the bedding to come. How would she survive? A large man, he'd rip her asunder.

She moistened her lips. His eyes flared before he looked away.

"Join hands." Father Ambrose grasped her right hand and presented it to Iain who clasped her fingers with his left.

She gasped. A tingle spread gooseflesh up her arm. Iain's lips quirked into the first smile she'd seen from him since she'd arrived at Castle Lachlan.

The friar cleared his throat. "Is there any among the gathered with reason this couple should not wed?"

Mairi flinched when something pricked her arse. She looked over her shoulder, but no one was there. She raised her gaze to Iain.

His eyes sobered with concern and he fingered the ornamental dagger handle protruding from a sheath at his waist with his free hand.

"I pronounce thee man and wife."

Grumbling rose from the crowd, and Iain's expression turned fierce. No one dared step forward to denounce the union on fear of retribution.

 

With his palm cradling her back, Iain guided his new wife through the gathering of clansmen loitering within his council chamber toward the dais and head table. Silky strands of strawberry blond hair caressed his fingers. Lavender teased his senses. She seemed a wee, fragile lass, but after gazing into her silver eyes, he sensed her backbone. She'd need it to endure the challenging times ahead.

"He is a fool to wed a Campbell." The whisper came from amidst the crowd.

He felt Mairi flinch through the fabric of her silver gown, and he clamped his jaw tight. They could say what they wanted. He'd set his course. Marriage was the only way to ensure peace and prosperity.

Iain seated his wife to his right. He supposed he should say something to soothe her, but he wasn't adept with sweet words.

"Ignore the barbs. I am pleased with you, wife."

"And I with you, husband." Her eyes spoke volumes to the contrary, though her notion of duty would change when he convinced her to…

He couldn't hope for love, but would settle for trust.

"Quiet," he bellowed at the noisy crowd and inclined his head to the friar.

As Father Ambrose rose to say grace, the feast vanished from the tables in a fine, gray mist. Surprised and angry voices echoed through the chamber.

Iain slammed a fist on the table. Munn. The damn brùnaidh caused this havoc.

"Ach, my apologies. I shall ensure the situation remedied," Iain stammered as he clasped Mairi's hand and stood. "Please, come with me, my dear. We will see to the feast for our guests."

Wide eyes searched his face, but she rose without question and followed him to the vaults along with several servants. All was quiet. They found no trace of Munn or the stolen victuals.

Dropping Mairi's hand, Iain raised his arm in the air. "Where are you wee man? Where is my wedding feast? Show yourself or I will banish you to the darkest, coldest, cruelest corner of the Highlands."

Silence. Then a faint jingle of silver spoons tingled in the damp air.

Iain sighed. His ranting got them nowhere.

"Munn, return the feast. Dinnae disgrace the MacLachlan name or your own by forcing me to serve our Campbell guests naught but scraps."

"Ach, aye. The Campbells will enjoy the fine catch from our braw rivers and the bounty of our woods. 'Twill naught be long until the Campbells steal our fair lands as well," Munn muttered though he remained invisible.

"Please." Mairi stepped forward and sweetly implored.

Part of the feast was thrust into the hands of servants, the rest landed upon tables that appeared along with the food.

With a nod from Iain, the servants rushed to serve the dishes to the guests.

When he caught Mari's gaze, he expected to glimpse horror. Instead, she laughed. "I see we both have wielders of magic. And I think your Munn may have pinched me during the ceremony."

"What?"

"I have forgiven him. And I will explain about Caitrina after the feast."

Iain didn't care who Caitrina was. He wanted to kiss his persuasive wife. And that was what he did. When she melted into him, his heart leapt with joy.

 Copyright 2011-2012 Dawn Marie Hamilton

Although this legend ends happily for Mairi and Iain, Munn held hatred for the Campbells deep within his soul for generations.

To learn more about the brùnaidh—the Scottish brownie visit my post from last month.

The Brùnaidh (Scottish Brownie)

By Dawn Marie Hamilton

I'm excited about the launch of our new Celtic Hearts blog. A big thank you to everyone who made this site possible. Great job!

For those of you who know me—you've probably had first hand experience with my vivid imagination. When I sat to write my first romance story, I decided to write a Scottish time travel because the genre was one of my favorites as a reader. After doing a lot of research, I also decided to include fantasy elements—fae creatures.

One of these creatures is the brùnaidh.

Contradictory information regarding the diminutive creatures known to the Lowland Scots as brownie and to those who speak the Scottish Gaelic as brùnaidh abounds. I've seen where the brùnaidh is mistakenly lumped together with the ùruisg and the gruagach but each is a separate species of otherworldly creature, the brùnaidh being of the household, whereas the others are creatures of nature.

Some say brownies evolved from the lore of the elf, and in my mind, they have similar physical characteristics. The included drawing is of an ancient elf, but his image is similar to the one I imagine for a brownie.

My first exposure to brownies was as a young Girl Scout. Scouting Brownies take their name from the folklore brownies, as the wee men are a model for the young girls due to the brownie's penchant to assist in household chores, asking for only a bowl of cream or a honey cake for payment.

I became reacquainted with the brùnaidh while doing research for that very first romance story I mentioned earlier. Thus was born my Garden Gate series, which revolves around the MacLachlan clan, who resided at Old Castle Lachlan on the shore of Loch Fyne. The clan has several legends regarding their clan brownie. The History and Legends of Clan MacLachlan, written and edited by James A. Finegan, states, "The MacLachlan's brounie, known as both Harry and Munn, has been associated with the clan for so many generations that no one really knows when the brounie first appeared." The legends are from 1746 and before.

In the classic work, Faeries, from Brian Froud and Alan Lee—I have the twenty-fifth anniversary edition—brownies are introduced as a species of faerie. The brownie is described as a shaggy male of short stature, no more than twenty-five inches tall, wearing either tattered garments or nothing at all. It is also suggested that brownies living in the Highlands have no fingers or toes, whereas those living in the Lowlands have no noses.

Other references tell a different tale. "In appearance, they (brownies) have been variously described, from squat, shaggy, naked creatures to tall, handsome and well proportioned. They usually kept to themselves, being mostly solitaries, unlike the fairies who were notably gregarious." –Scottish Fairy Belief by Lizanne Henderson and Edward J. Cowan

Although few brownie names are known, there are some who've achieved notoriety: Billie Blin, Aiken Drum, Wag-at-the-wa', and Puddlefoot. With Meg Mullach, also known as Hairy Meg, being one of the few females.

Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, by John Gregorson Campbell, is available on the internet for download and provides additional references to the wee men.

Writers: Have you included Celtic mythological creatures in your romance stories?

Readers: Have you read a story including such creatures? What did you like or dislike?