The couple lived in harmony and
soon a young son was born to them. Alas the time sped by
and soon the handfasting was over. The couple parted with
great sorry at the famous fairy bridge and the princess returned
to the fairy kingdom. As she left she made her husband, the
chief promise that her son would be cared for well and never
allowed to cry for the sound of his cries would cause her
untold grief even in the far away fairy realm. The Chief
kept his promise and the young MacLeod was never left unattended
and never allowed to cry.
However the young chief grieved terribly for the loss of
his wife and the other clansfolk decided that they should
organise a great party in the Castle of Dunvegan on the occasion
if his birthday to take his mind away from his grief. The
birthday celebration ran long into the night with high spirits
and the young nursemaid assigned to watch over the infant
crept from the room to watch the revelries. As she watch
enraptured by the celebrations she did not hear the baby
kick off his covers and begin to cry.
The Child's mother heard the cries from her fairy realm
and suddenly appeared by his side. She took up the young
baby and cradled him back to sleep, covering him in a fairy
shawl. She sang to the child and was still singing when the
maid returned. The maid could hear the lullaby but not see
where it was coming from. She immediately took the baby with
the shawl she did not recognise to the chief and told him
what happened.
Many years later when the child grew into a young man he
recounted a tale to his father that the shawl was a great
talisman for the clan and that should they ever find themselves
in mortal danger they could wave the flag three times and
the fairy legions would come to their aid. However, this talisman
could only be used three times whereupon it would return
to where it had come form taking the flag waver with it.
The Chief instantly realised the young man was telling the
truth and the flag was kept safe.
The Flag has since been used twice; Once when the Macleod's
were vastly outnumbered by their bitter enemies the MacDonald's.
The chief took the flag from its case and waved it three
times, at which point the battle suddenly turned in favour
of the MacLeod's. A second time the land was blighted by
a plague on the cattle and the clan kinsmen were dying of
starvation. The chief again raised the flag and the Fairies
returned to bring the cattle back to life.
This may seem like a fanciful tale but many MacLeod's believe
wholeheartedly in the legend. So much so that during world
War II many Macleod servicemen carried a picture of the flag
in their wallets. It is said that of the Macleod airmen who
defended these shores during the Battle of Britain not one
who carried the picture was lost and indeed the Chief of
the clan offered to bring the flag to Dover to wave at the
Germans should they attempt to invade.
The flag can still be seen in Dunvegan Castle on Skye. |
