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Now, Finn at this time had returned to Allen, and there came to him to sue for peace enemies from the past, men of the families that had slain Finn's own father at the battle of Knocka. The leaders on this journey were Angus, son of Art Mac Morna, and Aed, son of Andala.

'Peace you may have,' said Finn, 'but what fine will you pay in satisfaction for my father's death?'

'We have no gold or silver or cattle to give you,' said they.

'Then I shall ask from you one of two things only. The head of a champion, or the full of my fist for the berries of a rowan tree.'

But Oisin warned the two chiefs and said, 'Take counsel, you children of Morna, for it is not an easy thing that Finn asks you. The head he is asking is that of Diarmuid O'Duibhne, and twenty times your number would hardly be enough for that task. As for the berries, they are the magic fruit of the rowan in the wood of Dubhros, which is guarded by Searbhan the Surly.'

'Since peace is our great desire,' replied the chiefs, 'let us pay the fine or die in the attempt.'

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