xjsjaglvr
August 10th, 2001, 07:36 AM
One day Nemain and Ogma met to determine who was more powerful. Each, skilled in the craft of war, was determined to triumph over the other. They set about doing battle under the watchful eyes of Dagda. Now both Nemain and Ogma were evenly matched, the battle to determine who was strongest raged for days with each having, and then losing dominance over the other. Seeing the earth being torn apart and the people scattered in fear, Dagda roared, "Enough, we must settle this another way." Unable to think of a way to settle the contest he called to Flidais and asked for her advice on the matter. After explaining to Flidais what he sought, she gave thought for some time to the matter and then spoke to Dagda, "Let each of them set about to choose a champion, one whom they feel best can represent their strengths and skills. Let the champions decide the matter." Now Dagda thought that a most fair idea. "But as a twist," added Flidais "Let not the champions know of their selection and let them not be god or goddess, nor of the men who walk the earth." Dagda laughed at this and thought it a most clever scheme. Neither knew that Ogma had overheard them and had begun to plan his next move. Dagda appeared before the two warriors and told them of his decision. He laid down the rules for the selection of champions and waited for the replies. Now Neimain being very clever said to Dagda, "I choose the great Elm under which you nap." Nemain knew that Dagdas great Elm was larger in height and broader in breadth then even the great Duir. Nemain was sure that no matter whom Ogmas chose as champion victory was already at hand. But Ogmas knowing of the conditions had already laid his trap. "I choose Ivy," he said. Neiman laughed, how could Ivy possibly defeat the Elm of Dagda? But Ogmas had already spoken to Ivy and told him of his plan. Ogmas was always known for cleverness of voice, it was said he could work magic with it. Ogmas knew that above all else Ivy had always wished to touch the sun. "Ivy, had said Ogmas, I will cause you to have that which you have always wanted, you will stand proudly and touch the sun rather than forever crawling upon the forest floor." "Will you help me?, had asked Ogmas. "To touch the sun I will aid you." answered Ivy. Ogmas gave to Ivy some of the power of his voice.
"Very well," said Dagda. "Ivy shall be the champion of Ogmas" So, one day before Elm appeared Ivy. Elm looked down upon lowly Ivy and said, "What do you want here little one?" Ivy looked up at Elm and said, "Oh great Elm, surly no tree in all the forest is as wondrous and as tall as you. Your limbs are the envy of the greatest warriors in their size and strength. I would venture to say that your roots must reach to the underworld itself. Your wisdom from the ages you have seen must rival that of the Duir. I have come before you to ask that you might do me a small favor" "And what would this favor be, small as it is, which you ask?"said Elm. "Mighty Elm, I am a crawler of the forest floor, always in shade, never before have I touched the sun which shines upon you in such glory. Just once would I like to feel the warmth upon me, could you possibly help me. May I climb up upon you that I may feel your sun on me?" Now Elm thought for a moment, such a small request and easily granted. "Yes Ivy, you may climb upon me that you might touch the Sun, but do it quickly for soon Dagda will come to nap below me and would not like to be disturbed by you being here. "Thank you o' mighty Elm for this favor" said Ivy. Ivy sent a long tendril climbing up Elm, higher and higher it rose. "Can you feel the sun yet ?" asked Elm. "No, not yet said Ivy, let me climb out upon your limbs where your arms feel the warmth of the sun." Ivy climbed higher and higher and when his leaves felt the full warmth of the sun they doubled the rate at which they grew. Before he could resist Elm was completely draped in Ivy till no sun reached him. Elm suffocated as his leaves were covered by Ivy. Now Ogmas came to the Elm and laughed, for by his cleverness he had caused the defeat of Neimains champion. But the death of Elm caused it to crash upon the forest floor and with his body, Ivy also. "Treachery," cried Ivy, "you have cheated me of my reward." "Yes, and I have proven myself mightier than Nemain" he added. Now about this time Dagda appeared for his nap under Elm. Seeing Elm dead and Ivy covering the body he knew the contest over who was stronger was settled. But the loss of Elm, whom he had also expected to win troubled him. Hearing the commotion Ivy was making he knew that some clever evil had been done here. His anger was great. He questioned Ivy about what had happened. Ivy, eager to see Ogmas punished for cheating him told Dagda everything. Dagda thought for a moment, what would be a fitting punishment. Then he decided, "Ogmas, never again will you use the twists and turns of your voice to cause others to do your mischief, you are forever silenced. And you Ivy for the rest of time whenever you climb the back of another it shall soon crash upon the forest floor after you only taste the sunlight, you shall forever crave but be denied it."
And that is why to this day whenever Ivy climbs upon the back of a tree the tree soon dies and sends Ivy back to the forest floor.
Of course Ogmas being very clever found a way to convey himself in words after being silenced by Dagda and that was by inventing the Ogham.
Copyright 2000 by Michael St. Germaine (xjsjaglvr) This story way not be copied, reproduced or reposted without the permission of the author.
"Very well," said Dagda. "Ivy shall be the champion of Ogmas" So, one day before Elm appeared Ivy. Elm looked down upon lowly Ivy and said, "What do you want here little one?" Ivy looked up at Elm and said, "Oh great Elm, surly no tree in all the forest is as wondrous and as tall as you. Your limbs are the envy of the greatest warriors in their size and strength. I would venture to say that your roots must reach to the underworld itself. Your wisdom from the ages you have seen must rival that of the Duir. I have come before you to ask that you might do me a small favor" "And what would this favor be, small as it is, which you ask?"said Elm. "Mighty Elm, I am a crawler of the forest floor, always in shade, never before have I touched the sun which shines upon you in such glory. Just once would I like to feel the warmth upon me, could you possibly help me. May I climb up upon you that I may feel your sun on me?" Now Elm thought for a moment, such a small request and easily granted. "Yes Ivy, you may climb upon me that you might touch the Sun, but do it quickly for soon Dagda will come to nap below me and would not like to be disturbed by you being here. "Thank you o' mighty Elm for this favor" said Ivy. Ivy sent a long tendril climbing up Elm, higher and higher it rose. "Can you feel the sun yet ?" asked Elm. "No, not yet said Ivy, let me climb out upon your limbs where your arms feel the warmth of the sun." Ivy climbed higher and higher and when his leaves felt the full warmth of the sun they doubled the rate at which they grew. Before he could resist Elm was completely draped in Ivy till no sun reached him. Elm suffocated as his leaves were covered by Ivy. Now Ogmas came to the Elm and laughed, for by his cleverness he had caused the defeat of Neimains champion. But the death of Elm caused it to crash upon the forest floor and with his body, Ivy also. "Treachery," cried Ivy, "you have cheated me of my reward." "Yes, and I have proven myself mightier than Nemain" he added. Now about this time Dagda appeared for his nap under Elm. Seeing Elm dead and Ivy covering the body he knew the contest over who was stronger was settled. But the loss of Elm, whom he had also expected to win troubled him. Hearing the commotion Ivy was making he knew that some clever evil had been done here. His anger was great. He questioned Ivy about what had happened. Ivy, eager to see Ogmas punished for cheating him told Dagda everything. Dagda thought for a moment, what would be a fitting punishment. Then he decided, "Ogmas, never again will you use the twists and turns of your voice to cause others to do your mischief, you are forever silenced. And you Ivy for the rest of time whenever you climb the back of another it shall soon crash upon the forest floor after you only taste the sunlight, you shall forever crave but be denied it."
And that is why to this day whenever Ivy climbs upon the back of a tree the tree soon dies and sends Ivy back to the forest floor.
Of course Ogmas being very clever found a way to convey himself in words after being silenced by Dagda and that was by inventing the Ogham.
Copyright 2000 by Michael St. Germaine (xjsjaglvr) This story way not be copied, reproduced or reposted without the permission of the author.