The Herry Henny.

The Herry Henny

The bonny maiden sat solomentin under the shade o a rowan tree at the edge o the burn. The saat tears were rinnin unheeded doon her rosy cheeks as she wiz lost tae sorrow. Ablow the bonny rowan tree wiz far her only joy could be felt. A wee fish looked up at the lassie fae the crystal water an sic a wave o sadness came ower its countenance that wid mak a body think it wiz but a human an nae a fish. Slowly it swam up the burn and roon the bend till it wiz hidden fae the view o the lassie by a clump o whin bushes. As soon as it reached the spot it gave its tail a flap and loupit clear oot o the water and landed ontae its side on the grassy bank. The fish lay pechin for a meenit or twa afore it slowly teen on the form o an aal woman, far there wiz scales noo wiz hamespun cloot intae the shape o a goon o green and an aapron o shimmerin reed On her heid a wee frilly mutch an intae her haan a saachen woven basket o the maist intricate weave a body wid ivver set ee upon. She made her wye alang the burn's bank tae far the bonny maiden sat ablow the rowan tree deep in solomentin.

“Why weep ye so my bonny lassie whit ails ye so?” Said she in a soft highland lilt. The lassie started and wiped the saat tears fae her bonny blue een as if ashamed tae be caught greetin by the aal woman.

Shakin her heed the lassie replied “ Nithing you or ony ither person upon the face o these lands o the bonny Buchan can help me wi!”

The aal woman smiled and reached oot and stroked the maiden's golden hair. “Dinna frett bonny lassie but maybe there is somebody in these bonny lands o the Buchan that can gie tae ye the help ye seek, so nae mair aboot it but tae tell ma fit maks ye so sad?”

The tale the maiden tellt the aal woman wid've broke the heart o the strongest warrior nivver mind the peer lassie that tellt it. She wiz mairried tae the Laird o these lands faa loed her sae dear and wid dee onything for her. He'd fecht his wye throw tempest, flood and fire for her, he'd face the whole English army his leef aleen wi nithin but his trusty brand wielded sae strong an free. Thus wiz his love for this bonny lassie wi her cheeks sae wan an pale. But she couldnae fulfil sic devotion by giein him a son and heir. She'd wint tae the ‘Widdie Wife’ tae get potions for tae help her bring forth a bairn but it hid nearly killed her, next she'd wint tae the sooth and there set ee upon the prophet o Bethelnie a doctor he wiz said tae be and knew aa the secrets o Elfland he also gave her potions tae tak as weel an certain secret words tae speak and motions tae gang throw in the eerie licht afore the brakin o day. She'd faithfully follied his directions and again nearly deet in the ongyans o them till the Laird himsel intervened and banned her tae the fear o bainishment fae ivver gan tae ony witchie fowk for help wi begettin him a son and heir. So now she sits solomentin the hopelessness o her life. The aal woman aifter listenin and dichtin the saat tear fea her ee untae her did say

“ Weel lassie I think that micht be I can gie ye some help in the fulfilment o yer wish but ye'll hae tae caa in the very wye I tell ye tae or else it'll fail aathegither!” She smiled at the lassie an says “ Wait ye here for the gloamin o dusk for my return!” So sayin she made her wye back up the burn tae the bend aside the whin bushes and laid hersel doon ontae the bank . Slowly she eence mair teen on the form o a fish and wi' ae slap o her tail loupit back intae the clear water. The fish lookit up tae the heich waas o the castle tae see that nae man wiz witness tae her change. But nae shout nor onything else came fae the grey heich waas for as this wiz a time o peace nae sae muckle o a lookoot wiz keepit.

The fish wint doon the burn slowly past the bonny lassie sittin under the rowan tree and wiz kinichted tae see that the look o hopelessness hid left her face though her een were still gye reed wi aa the greetin. A flick o her tail and she set aff doon the water. Soon she reached the place far the fresh water met the saat water and she shivered a wee bit for it wiz caal compared wi the burn and the saat nipped her skin until she got eesed tae it. She swam for mony a lang Scotch mile and wiz almost teen wi a massive Heron that swooped doon upon her like a fleein arra she jinked jist in time and the bugger wint intae the water and came up wi an teem beak. She gave it a scud wi her tail and knocked it skitin an screachin intae the air. Aifter that though she wint much deeper tae keep oot o the range o ony ither buggerin bird that socht tae ate her for its denner. So on an on she swam till she thocht she'd dee o tiredness aathegither but on she wint on and on till she reached a point in the middle o the Frith o Moray. There she stoppit tae get her strength back then wi a big gulp o water she wint deep, deeper than she'd ivver been afore doon an doon she wint till she thocht her intimmers were gan tae burst oot fae her. The deeper she got the licht began tae weer awa till she swam throwe complete darkness but on she keepit gyan. Her tail wiz grabbed by some beast o the deep and she'd tae thrash her wye free. She felt the pain lance up throwe her body but on she wint she knew if she stopped that wid be the feenish o her aathegither. Oot o the blackness she could feel ither beasts makkin breenges at her but she jinked clear ayee gan deeper an deeper till sic time she could mak oot a sliver o licht ontae her left so she headed towards it. Slowly the licht got bigger till she could see fit she'd came sae far tae find the gairden o Badenscoth the place far the elves o elfland leave the cures tae aa the ills o mankind.

Quickly she grabbed intae her mooth a bunch o ‘Birth Girss’ then as she headed awa she spotted the white steen o the fairey queen and she managed tae get a puckle intae her mooth. She hid tae be gye quick for the elves o the deep sea dinna like interlopers within their kingdom but she needna hiv been afeart for that day neen attended the gairden. So aff she teen sweemin towards the surface wi aa the power she'd left in her body, eventually she reached the spot far her burn met the sea and glaidly did she drink o its clear water till she washed aa the horrible saat fae her body. She could see far the beast hid torn at her tail she flapped it in the fresh water tae see if that wid pit the pain awa but it didnae seem tae work ava.

Slowly she made her wye back up the water tae far the bonny lassie still sat awaitin her as she askit her tae dee. Much slower this time she turned the corner so she wiz oot o sicht and wi a gye chave she loupit up ontae the bank. She lay there pechin for a fyowe minties until the change eence mair came ower her. Gettin slowly tae her feet she stottered her wye tae the bonny lassie. The lassie’s een were still reed wi the greetin so she sat doon at her side and teen her haan in hers. “Dinna frett noo bonny lassie for I am here tae gie ye the gift o a son and heir!”

The bonny lassie stoppit her greetin and smiled wi the licht o hope intae her een. Fae the basket the aal woman teen the bunch o ‘Birth Girss. she’d teen fae the elves o the deep. Tak you this and get yer cook tae bile it wi water teen fae the Holy waal o St Drostan at Aiberdour. Mind though the water should nivver touch the grun eence atween here and there. Thereaifter bile the ‘Birth Girss’ for three days and three nichts and tak you a bowlfae in the first mornin aifter. The bonny lassie nodded her understanding as the aal woman continued. “Noo tell yer cook that nae livin person can sup o the bree o that she maun be clear on and that athing left in the pot should be beeriet deep!”

The bonny lassie smiled “I’ll dee as ye bid aal woman.” Fae the basket she teen twa o the three white pebbles an says. “Get these set intae gowd rings so that the ‘Tellin Steens’ can be worn by you and yer son. The ‘Tellin Steens’ will turn as reed as my aapron if ivver yer son tae be is in mortal danger!” The bonny lassie gave the aal woman a bosie and thankit her for the gift o an heir. It wiz then she noticed the aal woman’s feet were poorin o bleed.

“Oh me!” says she “Yer feet are in an affa mess!” So sayin she taks fae her shooder the finest silk shawl in aa the braid Buchan and wupps the aal woman’s feet offerin tae tak her within the castle waa’s and get the physician tae look at them. The aal woman fair touched by her concern tellt her that the silk so freely given wid cure her wounds.

Nine months aifter the bonny lassie or lady Anne as she wiz gave birth tae a wee laddie so gein her man the Laird the son and heir he so wantit. A feast wiz called for and the cooks spent days preparing aa the fancy food for the table. Every cook that wiz except Lady Anne’s cook faa hersel hid given birth tae a wee laddie. At the same time as this wiz gyan on the Laird’s horse hid given birth tae twa foals as weel as his hound and hawk that hid also brocht forth twins. The feast wint doon in the folk lore o the bonny Buchan and still tae this very day is spoken o.

As the years wint by the Laird’s son an heir grew tae manhood strong and true as the North win and so did the cook’s son. They looked for aa the world like twins. The only difference wiz that the Laird’s son wiz golden haired an blue eyed far the cook’s son wiz dark haired an broon eyed. They were the very best o pals and far ye found one ye found the ither. The likeness became so noticeable that one day Lady Anne went doon tae speak tae her cook. It transpired that the cook hid teen a sip o the bree tae check if it needed saat and that instead o beerrien the remains in the pot she’d throwed it ontae the girss o the lichtin green. The Laird’s hawk hid picked at the ‘Birth Girss’ so hid the horse and hound and each given birth tae twins. Lady Anne couldna be angry wi her cook for each hid a bonny laddie and they were worth their wecht in gowd.

The time came though fin Lady Anne’s son Hamish hid tae leave the bonny Buchan and cross the Grampians tae Moidart. There he wid learn the art o war fae a group o warrior monks that came fae the Holy Land. Lady Anne tried tae stop the Laird fae sendin their bonny laddie tae sic a place but the Laird insisted jist as he’d insisted many years afore that their son’s first solid food should be fed tae him on the point o a sword tae ensure that he wid die in battle and nae in a fine feather bed. Lady Anne kent fine it wiz traditional in the Buchan but that didna mak it ony easier tae think aboot.

Onywye the day came fin Hamish made tae leave but a ruckus set up in the kitchen and the cook’s son Daniel came oot the door wi his goods an chattles wuppit up in a bit o hamespun an his mither comin ahin implorin him nae tae leave. Daniel wint up tae the Laird and offered his services tae be his son’s servant. The Laird always teen aback by how much Daniel lookit like Hamish and kenin fine they were the very best o pals granted him leave tae gyang ana.

Twa years wid pass afore they returned. Baith hid grown strong and toughened by there years awa in the clean airs o Moidart. Hamish now a knight wore the burnished suit o armour wi the St Drostan’s cross emblazoned ontae the breest plate while Daniel walked at his side weerin a smock wi the same cross ontae it. The Laird ordered up a feast tae celebrate the return o the twa men for that’s fit they were now. Men! Fit naebody kent though wiz that in the twa years they’d been awa iverything Hamish learned fae the warrior monks he’d taught Daniel at the day’s end. Baith boys hid lang kent they were brithers and fit better o a gift can one brither gee tae the ither than share the knowledge that micht yet save their lives.

Daniel wint back tae helpin his mither in the Laird’s kitchen while Hamish wiz sent awa deein great deeds aroon the country mounted ontae his war horse followed by his hawk and hound. Months wint by and nae word o Hamish wiz heard. Noo years afore fin Daniel wiz doon playin by the rowan tree aside the burn an aal woman appeared dressed in a goon o green wi a reed aapron an a mutch ontae her heed. She teen fae a wee basket a white pebble and tellt him tae ayee weer it aboot his neck. She caad it ‘A Tellin Steen’ and says that if ivver it changes tae bricht reed then his brither wiz in life threatening danger. Daniel always checked it and sometimes he’d seen it turn pink which meant mild danger but he’d nivver seen it bricht reed.

Aboot this time Lady Anne wiz getting haunted by a strange apperition. Ae nicht she wiz in her bad chamber shewin a scarf for Hamish. On it she’d put the cross o St Drostan and wiz gyan tae get it blessed by the priest doon at St Drostan’s waal eence she’d finished it. She wiz affa worried aboot her laddie and hid tried tae get Daniel tae gang wi him but the Laird hid said Hamish maun learn tae look aifter his ain warhorse and hawk and hound. That’s fin she heard the strange scrapin sound at her chamber windae. Noo her chamber wiz at the cliff side o the castle and at least twa hunnder feet abeen the beach ablow. Quickly she laid doon her shewin an drew the drapes. Shis wiz jist in time tae see fit lookit like a hen’s claw scrappin at the windae then a black shada as fitivver it wiz flew awa. Nicht aifter nicht this wid happen but each time aa she saw wiz the shada fleein awa. Lady Anne wiz weel aweer o the legend o the Herry Henny and it wiz said she wid come tae yer windae and scrape it wi her hen’s fit. She checked her ‘Tellin Steen’ she wore in her ring but thankfully it remained white. Hamish wore the marras ontae his ain finger.

Onywye at this time Hamish wiz at the far side o the country searching for ony evil ongyans that he could pit tae richt fin he came across this massive forest. Gyan throwe it his hawk wid flee abeen the trees tae find the path while his hound wid gyang on aheed sniffin oot ony danger. Aifter a couple o days o this his hawk and dog were fair exhausted so he teen them ontae his warhorse tae gie them a bit o a hurl. They baith fell asleep intae his bosie so he let them sleep awa. Aboot a haaf o a league farer on he came tae a clearing in the forest and there beheld the bonniest wee cottage he’d ivver put ee upon in his life. It hid a thacket reef and wiz painted white as the driven snaa and twa green pintit windaes and door. Whit a bonny wee placie he said tae himsel. There wiz really well made statues in the gairden some were weemin an bairns ithers goats,sheep,dogs, hawks and even a couple o mounted knights ontae their warhorses. As he drew closer he could see how good the sculptures really were. If they werena made o steen ye wid sweer they were livin. Onywye Hamish dismounted and this wakened up his hawk and hound and they sleepily lookit aboot. He shussed them and laid them ontae a wee puckle sraa by the gate leavin them tae gyang back tae sleep. He made for the door wi the hope o getting a bite for himsel and his warhorse, hawk and hound. He chappit ontae the door and a voice fae within tellt him tae come awa in. Hamish bein so tall hid tae boo his heed tae wun throwe the door. An aal woman sat on a big chair by the side o a lowin fire. She’d a wizened wee facie and spoke wi a scraichin voice. “Fit can I dee for ye laddie?” Speired she.

Hamish tellt her fit he wiz seekin and tellt her he’d pey her weel if she could furnish his needs. “Och aye laddie I can fairly help ye!”

Hamish wiz so busy lookin aboot the room he nivver noticed her pull a hair fae her erse and throw it doon the side o the seat. The hair turned inae a coil o rope. Leanin ower she picked it fae the fleer and says tae Hamish “Here tak you this rope that is strong enough tae hud the fleet at Troy and tie up yer warhorse, hawk, and hound!”

Hamish teen the rope and as he wint ootside the aal woman shouted “An ye micht leave yer shairp battle brand ootside for I’m terrifeart o shairp things.

Hamish tied up his warhorse, hawk and hound and made his wye back tae the cottage mindin tae leave his battle brand ootside tee tae the waa. As soon as he stepped intae the door it slammed ahin him and the aal woman turned intae the Herry Henny and flew at him scraichin oot o her like a hen. Hamish tried sair tae stop her but wi nae battle brand tae haan he wiz in deep trouble. His warhorse, his hawk and his hound tried sair tae get lowsed fae their rope but even they couldna undee it for Hamish hid tied it ower weel.

Lady Anne wiz sittin pittin the finishin touches tae Hamish’s scarf fin the scratchin sound came fae the windae. This wiz the first time she’d heard it in daylicht so she ran tae the windae and fit should she see but the Herry Henny clawin at the windae. It’s hen’s heedy turned aboot scraichin oot o’t “I’ve got him I’ve got him scraiaiaiaiach scraiaiaiaiach!” Then it flew awa.

Lady Anne in a state o collapse lookit at her ring and saw it hid turned as bricht as a lowin coal. “Oh me!” said she “My bairn’s in mortal danger!” An ran fae her chamber.

The Laird wiz awa fae the place so she made her wye doon tae the kitchen in search o Daniel. She met him haafwyes on the stair and she could see the horror ontae his face as he held his ain ‘Tellin Steen’ as reed as a lowin coal. Quickly she tellt him tae tak the twin warhorse, hawk and hound an search for her bairn. Daniel did this and also teen the spare suit o armour that Hamish kept. So riggit he mounted the warhorse called for the hawk and hound an set oot tae find his brither that wiz in mortal danger. His mither and Lady Anne stood greetin an huddin eenanithers haan as Daniel left the lichtin green.

Daniel rode as a knight and the warhorse, hawk and hound obeyed his ivvery command. He micht nae be a knight in the een o the gentry but he kent athing that his brither hid shown him.

It teen Daniel weeks tae track far aboot Hamish hid been an finivver he speired at fowk if they’d seen a mounted knight ontae a warhorse an wi a hawk and hound they’d smile and say they hid and pynt him in the richt direction. Hamish wiz their hero for he’d put tae richt a lot o wrangs in the country roon.

Eventually Daniel came tae the very same forest his brither entered. The hawk wint heich lookin for the track and the hound wint sniffin aboot for danger. Daniel though wiz a better tracker than Hamish and keepit his hawk and hound fae getting ower tired. By the time Daniel reached the clearin and saw the hoose his hawk and hound were still alert. The dog growled an pulled back its teeth and the hawk wint heich whistlin its danger cry. Daniel dismounted and approached the door. He saw aa the bony statues and wiz fair teen aback as tae foo real they lookit and them made o steen. Een though he swore he recognised. It lookit like Hamish mounted ontae his war horse. The hawk stood there wi its wings spread and the hound wi its teeth bared as if frozen. Daniel gave a chap at the door but he wiz on full alert noo. A sraichin voice fae inside bade him come awa in. Daniel entered booin his heed doon tae wun throwe the door. He saw an aal wizened wifie sittin ontae a big seat by the fire. He tellt her he wiz seekin food and water for his warhorse, hawk and hound and that he’d pey her weel for them. Daniel made on he wiz lookin aroon the room but by the tail o his ee he saw the aal wifie pull a hair fae her erse and drap it doon the side o the chair. His hert near missed a beat fin he saw it turn intae a coil o rope. Nae lettin on he said tae her the she’d an affa bonny hoosie. She leaned doon tae the side o the seat an says. “Here tak ye this laddie!” And threw the rope tae him. “Ye micht tie up yer warhorse, hawk and hound wi this rope strong enough tae hud the fleet at Troy!” And as Daniel wint oot the door she scraiched ahin him that he micht leave his battle brand at the door for she wiz terrifeart o shairp things. Daniel tied his warhorse, hawk and hound but nae ticht as hud them back. As he wiz deein this he could hear a scrathin sound comin fae the cottage winda so he turned quickly jist in time tae see a shada move oot o sicht. As he returned tae the cottage he left his battle brand at the yett o the door within easy reach. As soon as he entered the cottage the door slamed shut ahin him as the aal wifie turned intae the Herry Henny. She flew at him wi her henny claws as shairp as razors. He focht back as best he could but he kent if he didna get his brand he wiz finished. The horse reared up ootside and the half tied rope fell awa and the warhorse charged the door o the cottage and bowffed in intae a thoosand bits. The hawk and hound follied through and wint for the Herry Henny. Daniel got his haan ontae his battle brand and put the finish tae the combat by one mighty swing. The Herry Henny wiz gone and the aal wifie fell tae her knees saying “Thank ye thank ye laddie for I’ve been held under the evil spell o the Herry Henny for many many a year!” Daniel bent doon an teen her till her feet an says “Yer free noo aal woman yer free!” That’s fin he heard the shouts o joy and the barkin o dogs and ither sounds comin fae the gairden. Fin he lookit oot aa the statues were alive again set free wi his battle brand. Hamish stood there smilin and teen his brither intae his bosey thankin him for savin him sayin. “Ye’ve earned yer knighthood brither my father will see tae that!”

The End.

copyright © Patrick Hutchison

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