“You cannot refuse me,” she cried. “No true champion should refuse a maiden when she offers herself to him.”
Finn was honest in his refusal. He still mourned for Saba. Anyhow, he knew that to take the daughter of the High King would cause a great deal of trouble.
“You had better go back to your father while there is still time,” he told her kindly.
“That I will not do,” declared Teasa. “Already my father knows that I have come over to his enemies. If I go back he will kill me. If I cannot have your love, I can claim your protection from those who would kill me. I put you under bonds to take me with you to Erin.”
“I beg you to release me from such bonds,” said Finn. “Nothing but trouble can come of it.”
But the maiden insisted that she claimed his protection as a Fenian, and he could not refuse her.
When Donn saw the retreat of his son and his army, he called a council of his wise men to see what it was best to do.
“This is no time to attack Avarta,” said one of them. “The Fenians are with him, and we have not men enough to stand against them. The best thing for us to do is to retire and wait a more favorable time, when the men of Erin have gone home.”
This advice was repeated by the others of the council. Just then the son came on board and approached his father.
“We are defeated,” he said. “I have ordered my men to retire, lest they all be killed and we gain nothing by it.”
“It is well,” said Donn. “But tell me, why is not your sister with you? She went with you to battle and I do not see her returning.”
The son hung his head, afraid to tell his father the truth.
“Speak, my son!” cried Donn. “She cannot be killed! Surely the Fenians do not make war on women!”
“Far better had she died,” said the young man. “She has left us and gone to the Fenians.”
Then the High King lifted up his voice in a long cry of grief and anger. Teasa was very dear to him. He could not bear to think that she had gone over to the enemy.
“I am sure she is held against her will,” said Donn. “Send heralds to this Fenian and order him to surrender our daughter to us.”
But the heralds came back with the word that Finn refused. Then Donn stood out upon the highest deck and raised his arms above his head in a vow of vengeance.