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Cuirt an Mheadhon Oidhche
Text notes:
The story is set in a frame. The timing if the story is 11th Century France. The characters: Nicholas de Brabant and Maura de La Marq. Premise: Maura is giving her lover the story of her past. Frame timing: Iron Age Ireland. Characters: Marrauha (Maura), Padraic mac Cormac(Marrauha's father), Nessa nic Damain (Marrauha's Mother), Fionn mac Noisiu (Marrauha's Foster Father), Niall and Erc mac Fionn (Marrauha's Foster Brothers), Kamau (Marrauha's Slave and lover), Eoin mac Floinn (Padraic's Enemy).
Glossary and Terms:
- asthor: my love
- dhampir: vampire
- fian: General Irish term for band of warriors, plural fianna.
- Ard Ri: High King
- olave: 'high' poet, kept by the king.
- druad: archaic spelling for druid, not typo.
- booley: summer pasture land, usually at a higher elevation than the winter settlement. In the case of Marrauha's lands, up refers to north as opposed to elevation. The land in central Eire isn't very hilly and so, they only move the herd a mile or so away for the summer months.
- sire: In context as father, as opposed to lord or king, which is already implied by his station.
- Cetshamain: Another term for Beltaine, the time of celebration usually attributed to the god Belenos. This fertility festival is held in May, and is usually associated with the ritual driving of the cattle between two bonfires set by the druids as a symbol of purification. It is intended, probably, to rid the cattle of any disease and ensure the fertility and productivity of the herd.
- daer fudir: bonded slaves
- saer fudir: free slaves
- bothach: defined by law as highest slave class, herdsmen or hangers-on of a clan. Accepted as members of the clan and taken care of by the members of the clan.
- wife: The term wife is used casually as a female attached in some manner to a male figure, though not neccessarily in the traditional sense. Used also to denote a favored concubine.
- tain: raid
- iar-fine: Term used to establish kinship bonds extended to all on the male line from great-great-grandfather. Also, gel-fine=grandfather, derb-fine=great-grandfather.
- tuath: General term for the social group or tribe led by a king. The average population of a tuath was approximately 3000. A specific, individual tuath was denoted by an 'a' placed at the end of the word followed by the tribal name, ex. Tuatha de Dannan. It is generally accepted that society was structured in layers of kingship, and so a more powerful king would extend his protection over a number of lesser kings and secure this arrangement with tribute and/or fosterage.
- fosterage: The practice of housing and schooling a son or daughter with another family (normally of higher status), usually to cement political ties. Sons usually fostered until they were seventeen, daughters until fourteen. Also termed hostages.
- an mhaidian: (pron. an mwhaden), means 'tomorrow morning'.
- caera: sheep
Places and things:
- Hibernia: Medieval name for modern Ireland, archaic Eire.
- Slige Midluachra: One main road, out of three, that led out of Tara. Specifically, north to Emain Macha.
- Tuatha de Voluntii: Clan that made its home in present day County Armagh.
- Tuatha de Darinii: Clan that made its home in present day Counties Antrim, Derry
- Tuatha de Blanii: Clan that made its home in present day County Dublin.
- Ultu: One of many archaic spellings for the Ulster area.
- O hEachaidh: Old Irish name for present day Haughey's Fort
- Kikuyu: Tribe located in Kenya, Africa. Slaves were taken by the Medditteranean people; Greek traders bartered with the tuaths in Eire. It is not too far a stretch to imagine a slave from Africa ending up in Ireland. An unusual occurance, to be sure, but not impossible.
- Temair: Tara
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