He went into the hurling-match again and now he was like a hawk amongst small birds. Curoi defended the goal and drove the ball back. Fergus drove it to the goal again; the two champions met and Curoi’s hurl, made out of rhinoceros’ horn, did not beat down Fergus’s hurl made out of the ash of the wood. The hosts stood aside and left the game to Fergus and Curoi. Curoi’s hurl jerked the ball upward; then Fergus gave it the double stroke first with the handle and then with the weighted end of the hurl and drove it, beautifully as a flying bird, between the goal-marks that Mananaun had set up. The match was won by the goal that Fergus had gained. The Fianna then invited the Fairies of Munster to a feast that they were giving to Fergus and his bride. The Fairies went, and Mananaun and Aine’ went before them all. Fergus marched at the head of his troop with the rowan berry still hanging from his mouth. And as he went he bit the stalk and the berry fell to the ground. Fergus never heeded that. When the feast was over he went to where Mananaun stood with his daughter. Aine’ gave him her hand. “And it is well,” said Conan, the Fool of the Fianna, “that this thick-witted Fergus has at last dropped the berry out of his mouth.” “What berry?” said Curoi, who was standing by. “The rowan berry,” said Conan, “that he carried across two townlands the same as if he were a bird.” When Mananaun heard this he asked about the berry that Fergus had carried. It was not to be found. Then the Fianna and the Fairies of Munster started back to look for a trace of it. What they found was a wonderful Rowan Tree. It had grown out of the berry that Fergus had let fall, but as yet there were no berries on its branches. Mananaun, when he saw the tree said, “No mortal may take a berry that grows on it. Hear my sentence now. Fergus will have to guard this tree until he gets one who will guard it for him. And he may not see nor keep company with Aine’ his bride until he finds one who will guard it better than he can guard it himself.” Then Mananaun wrapped his daughter in his cloak and strode away in a mist. The Fairy Host went in one direction and the Fianna in another, and Fergus was left standing sorrowfully by the Fairy Rowan Tree.