Queen Medhbh of the Long arm is the daughter of King Mannach, and the second mabden lover of Corum Jhaelen Irsei. She is an incarnation of the Eternal Consort.
She appeared in the stories The Bull and the Spear, The Oak and the Ram and The Sword and the Stallion.
Plot[]
The Bull and the Spear[]
Medhbh is present when Corum arrives to the world of Tuha-na Cremm Croich, set in the distant future from his own, where Corum is worshiped as a Demigod. Corum feels enamored by her beauty, but feels too guilty from his feelings towards his late wife Rhalina. Corum learns of the threat in the form of Fhoi Myore, and the artifacts he is to recover to assist in their defeat. After the battle against the hell hounds, Corum and Medhbh share a tender moment, which is interrupted by the sound of a harp, which greatly unsettles Corum. Afterwards, Corum leaves on a quest to obtain the spear of Bryionak to summon and tame the Bull of Crinanass. During the quest, Corum hears the prophecy of a seeres who claims he should fear a brother (who will apparently slay him), a harp and above all, beauty. Later, Corum has a premonition dream that Medhbh will turn against him and kill him under the influence of the harp. Corum in the meantime encounters the wizard Calatin, who strikes a bargain with Corum. When Corum fails to fulfil his end of the bargain, Calatin demands Corum give him the scarlet robe, to which Corum reluctantly agrees. After he returns with the spear, Medhbh assists Corum during the summoning of the Bull, who defeats one of the Fhoi Myore.
The Oak and the Ram[]
After the sudden arrival of King Fiachadh, Medhbh's uncle, who believes that Fhoi Myore can be defeated if the people of the kingdoms would all unite, Corum is off to the quest to rescue the Archdruid High-King Amergin, who is under an enchantment and held captive by the Fhoi Myore. Medhbh is present when The Oak and The Ram are used to help Amergin regain his humanity. Corum fears the entity called Dagdagh, who turns out was the player of the harp Corum heard, but Medhbh reassures him that the Dagdagh is not their foe.
The Sword and the Stallion[]
Corum and Medhbh's relationship becomes quite turbulent, with her stirring quarrels from time to time, whether it be pointing out his unhuman race or giving him hateful looks, though Corum forgives her and doesn't blame her. Medhbh is present when the dwarf Sidhi Goffanon forges a moon colored sword for Corum, who begins having visions of various incarnations of the black sword and eternal consorts and companions. He also has a vision of his doppelganger in the scarlet robe who wishes to kill him and take his place. When Corum and Medhbh are later attacked by a group of stray mabden, they accuse Corum, or rather, someone looking like him of attacking and destroying their island. When Corum is set to go to the place called Ynys Scaith to confront his doppelganger, Medhbh becomes angry with him, as he is to lead the people of Cremm Croich into battle.
When Corum returns from Ynys Scaith, he is surprised to learn that time had passed differently in the world, and that Medhbh became queen in the meantime and is leading all of the united mabden under the High King, and declares Corum a traitor, accusing him of leading an attack that killed over half of the mabden. Corum tries to explain that the creature that attacked them was a changeling created by Calatin (to whom Corum gave his scarlet robe). Medhbh doesn't believe Corum, who tries his best to convince her. To prove himself, Corum tames and rides the yellow stallion, and Medhbh finally believes him. Later, in order to help him in battle, Medhbh enchants Corum's silver hand. After the battle against the remaining Fhoi Myore, their minions, Corum deals with Prince Gaynor the Damned, and finally kills his doppelganger at the remains of his former Castle Erorn. However, Corum is then struck with a tathlum thrown by Medhbh, influenced by the Dagdagh, in order to fulfil the prophesy that Corum was to be killed by a brother, which turned out to be Corum himself, as the brain used in the weapon was from Corum's (or rather Cremm Croich) corpse buried under the mound. After refusing to leave this world in order for it to be free of sorcery, gods and demigods, Corum's silver hand that Medhbh enchanted stabs him with his own sword, ending his life.
Skills and abilities[]
Medhbh is a skilled warrior, shown to be proficient with a spear and a bow. Her signature weapon is a sling and tathlums, which are of magical properties.
Trivia[]
- Medhbh was most likely based on Queen Medb, a real figure in Irish mythology.
- Medhbh is the only eternal consort to kill her eternal champion (even if it was indirectly).
Gallery[]
