ONCE upon a time a young gentleman, whose name was Sir Ronan, was walking in the forest and came to the side of a lake. There on the shore he saw seven maidens at play. They had wings and they were very beautiful, but one was more beautiful than any of the others. At sight of this charming lady Sir Ronan became deeply in love with her and desired that she should be his wife. He approached nearer, but on seeing him the seven maidens fled through the forest.

"Wait, wait!" cried Sir Ronan, "I mean, you no harm," and he started in pursuit.

They could easily have escaped, but the most beautiful one looked back, and she was so attracted by the young nobleman's appearance that she permitted him to overtake her. Meanwhile the other six, half running and half flying, went on and disappeared from view.

 

Sir Ronan kneeled at the feet of the lady and said, "My heart was filled with love for you at first sight, and unless you consent to be my wife I will die of sorrow."

The maiden gave him her hand and said, "I love you, too, and where you dwell, there will I dwell also. If, when I looked back, my love had not been awakened I should soon have left you hopelessly behind. My six sisters, helped by their magic wings, are now far on their way to Kilat, the kingdom of our father."

In great joy Sir Ronan and the beautiful maiden went from the forest to Sir Ronan's home, and they married and were very happy in each other's company. But Sir Ronan's mother was afraid this happiness would not last. "My son," she said, "your wife has wings and can go away whenever she chooses without any possibility of our following to bring her back. Let me take her wings that she may not leave you sorrowing."

When the young wife learned of what Sir Ronan's mother wished, she readily consented to take off her wings and give them into the old woman's keeping.

Presently it happened that the king heard of the beauty of the lady Sir Ronan had wedded, and he invited Sir Ronan and his wife to come to the palace that he might see her. So beautiful did she appear to him that he wanted her for his own wife. So he sent Sir Ronan into the army and ordered him to lead the troops in an attack on the enemy. He hoped Sir Ronan would be killed and then the king would be free to marry the nobleman's wife.

The lady was very much distressed when her husband left for the war. She doubted if she would ever see him again, and as the days passed, and no word came, she begged her mother-in-law to give back her wings. "I cannot stay here quietly without my husband any longer," she said. "A flight through the air might comfort me."

"I will give you the wings," said Sir . Ronan's mother, "if you will consent that I tie a cord to your feet so that I can keep fast hold of the other end and be sure that you do not escape."

The young wife consented, but having put on her wings and flown up in the air she cut the cord and could go wherever she pleased. Her freedom made her think of the kingdom of Kilat, where lived her father and her six sisters, and thither she flew.

Sir Ronan returned from the war, unhurt and victorious, but his wife was gone, and without her his home seemed very desolate. He would not be comforted and determined to seek her. "Probably she thought I would surely be killed," said he, "and she has returned to her father's kingdom. So to Kilat I will go, though seven years, seven months and seven days be required for the journey."

Through forests and over mountains and across plains Sir Ronan toiled patiently. One day, as he sat eating some food he had bought at the last village through which he passed, a fly lit on his hat which lay on the ground before him and said, "I fear I shall die unless I have food at once. Let me, I pray, have a portion of your lunch. I know from your looks that you are in trouble, and you may some day need my help. Give me something to eat, and whenever you want my aid, think of me, and I will come to you."

"Eat," said Sir Ronan. "You are quite welcome to the little that 'will satisfy the hunger of such a mite as you are; "and he threw the fly a piece of bread.

After a time he rose to travel on. The fly had finished eating and was wiping off its head and wings with its legs. "My friend, where are you going?" it asked.

"To a land far away where my love abides," replied Sir Ronan. "The way I do not know, but my heart guides me."

Then he travelled on until he came to the sea. He had no means of going farther, and he stood looking longingly out over the water when two eagles of monstrous size came and lit on a tree near him. "As soon as we are rested," said one of the eagles, "we will fly off across the sea to Kilat."

On hearing these words Sir Ronan cautiously climbed the tree and crept under the wing of the larger eagle, and there he clung to the feathers of the bird's body while the eagles flew away over the sea. When they at last reached their journey's end and alighted on a tree, he climbed down to the ground and walked on till he drew near a large city.