One bright, Autumn day Mac Cumhail's curiosity took him to the edge of the well, where the aunts drew their daily water. They had told him that faeries sometimes lived in wells and he wanted to see if one lived in this one. It was very deep and when he looked over the edge, all he could see was darkness. He leaned over the stone wall so far that he tumbled, head first, into the depths of the well. He splashed into the water with the bucket tumbling in after him.

It was fortunate the bucket had fallen in behind him because Mac Cumhail was able to climb into it. It was fastened to a thick rope that was tied to a tree above. He looked at the small opening high above his head. He stood up very tall in the bucket, but the top of the well was still far above him. He reached out his arms and felt the slippery moss that covered the stone wall. He decided to climb up the rope. He grabbed tight with his hands and pulled himself up, but when he let go with one hand to reach higher, he was not strong enough to lift himself up. He fell back into the bucket. Kerplunk! He had to start all over again.

He did not call for help. In fact, it did not occur to him. He tried over and over again. Finally, he discovered a way to hang onto the rope with his feet so that he could move upwards with his hands. He climbed that way until he was at the top of the well.

The first thing he saw when he looked out over the stone wall was the worried face of Bovmal and the twinkling eyes of Lia Lara.

"We have been looking for you," said Bovmal. The boys heart sank because he knew he had made the aunts angry with him again.

But, it was not anger that troubled Bovmal. She had been frightened by the thought of the little boy being at the bottom of the well. Lia Lara was pleased that Mac Cumhail had gotten out of the well on his own.

"No harm was done," she said to Bovmal later that day. "He is like his father. He will grow up to be a brave and resourceful."

"Yes," agreed the worried Bovmal, "If that bravery is not wasted on foolish adventures." But, deep in her heart, Bovmal was pleased, too. She did not realize it yet, but she would never again be so frightened for the safety of the Mac Cumhail.

The aunts thought that such a little boy should not climb a tree.
"Wait until you are older," they told him. But, that seemed as far away to Mac Cumhail as the end of the world. so, one afternoon he decided he had waited long enough and climbed a small one. When he had climbed the small tree there was no more challenge to it and he went in search of a larger tree. He climbed from one branch to the one above. It was very pleasant to stand on a branch that swayed and sprang up and down. Above and below and all around there was a swaying and motion. The moving leaves made whispering sounds. It was good to look out at the wide, wide world.

When he was six years old his mother came to see him. She came secretly, because she still feared Morna. She walked through many valleys and hills, until she came to the forest in the mountains of Slieve Bloom. It was late in the night when she reached the little stone house and tapped lightly on the door. Bovmal opened the door and was happy to see that Muirne had finally come. She pointed to where the boy slept.

Muirne went to the night room and gazed on the golden-haired child. His small fists were shut tight in his sleep. Even though she made no sound, he woke up. Mac Cumhail seemed to always have one ear and eye open when others slept. Muirne picked him up in her arms, kissed his forehead and sang a soft lullaby, lulling the boy to sleep again. He tried to keep that one eye open and the one ear listening, but the song was so tender and the arms so soft and comforting that he fell fast asleep.

When he woke up the next morning, he went outside to tell Bovmal.

"Aunt Bovmal, I had a dream," he announced.

Bovmal saw the confusion and hope in the small face. She put down the basket of berries that she had been gathering for breakfast, sat down on the grass and pulled the boy close to her.

"Did you like the lady?" asked Bovmal.

"Oh, she was so wonderful, and she called me a name." A puzzled wrinkle came to his brow, and he looked up at his aunt. "She called me Deimne," he said, and wondered what his aunt thought of this strange dream. Bovmal smiled.

"Yes," she affirmed, "you had a wonderful dream. Only it wasn't a dream. She is your mother who has traveled through danger and walked a great distance to see you." Mac Cumhail couldn't speak. He was so surprised that he could barely form a thought. "She is very tired and now sleeps," Bovmal told him. "She will have to begin her journey back again, as soon as she wakes. Would you like to see her?" asked Bovmal.

The boy could only nod his head. Bovmal stood up and took his hand in hers. When they reached the house, she put her finger in front of her lips to indicate that he must be very quiet. He tip-toed to the back room where the aunts usually slept. The boy peeped through the door and ducked his head back again as if a bright light had hurt his eyes. He took a deep breath and looked through the door again. It wasn't a bright light that met his eyes. It was his mother sleeping in Bovmal's bed.

"My mother. My very own mother," he whispered softly to himself.
She was very beautiful and he knew that he loved her and that she loved him. He tried to memorize her face so he would remember her after she was gone.

Later that day she told them the story of the long years she had been kept in a room guarded day and night so that she could not escape. After a time, the chieftain of Kerry came to bargain for her release. He had been a friend to Cumhail. He brought many gifts with him in order to persuade Morna. Eventually, the greedy Morna let her leave in the custody of the Kerry chieftain. The chieftain was a kind man who asked her to become his wife. He cared deeply about the wife of his slain friend and in this way he could insure her protection. Muirne, grateful to be free at last, and seeing the kindness of the Kerry man, agreed.

She asked only one favor. She asked him to swear to not reveal her secret, then told him of her heart's desire. She did not want gifts or precious things, she wanted only to see her son. The kind man provided her with provisions to go on her journey and gave her safe conduct. Upon her return they would be married.

"The boy has the look of his father," Muirne said to Bovmal and Lia Lara as she prepared to leave. "If anyone comes upon him in the woods, they will see it and carry word to his father's enemies. It is time you begin to train him in the skills he will need to defend himself."

The aunts agreed to the things that Muirne asked. They knew the time had come to tell the Mac Cumhail of his father and the Clan Morna.

When all was ready for her journey, Muirne kissed her son, and bid him farewell. She promised that she would come to see him again when it was safe. She went back through the woods with her heart rejoicing that her son was strong and happy.