The Mothers Curse

This tale originates from Oskijan, and was recorded in the latter half of the First Age.

Once, a long time ago, a wealthy cattle-farmer by the name of Cruinniuc was widowed. One day, a beautiful woman arrived at his house, and he fell in love with her although she never revealed her name.

Never marrying, the couple still had a happy life together. The woman fell pregnant. In her ninth month, Cruinniuc was invited to a festival. His partner agreed to let him go but asked that he never mentions her.

Naturally, he does brag of the beauty of his lover, and even claims that she could outrun any of the horses running in the chariot races. The lord throwing the festival decided to make him prove this – his lover was summoned and forced to run in a race with the horses, whilst heavily pregnant.

She won, but collapsed at the finish line and gave birth. As she recovered, she stood, holding her twin daughters. She revealed herself as Macha, and cursed the men of the nation – in their moment of need, every man would be struck down and go through labour. With that, she vanished with the children. Cruinniuc never saw her or his children again.