Finella (A Ballad) Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Finella's Revenge
The dother o Cruthneth, the mormaer o Angus
Wis Lady Finella, o guid Pictish bluid
She had a son Cruthlint, a fiery young laddie
Tae Castle Delbog, on a veesit he gaed

Twis ained bi his gransire. A quarrel brukk oot there
Twa servants o Cruthlint wir killt in the fecht
His gransire took umbrage an ordered that Cruthlint
Bi threwshed fur the tribble richt speedy wi micht

Wi the aid o Finella, the laddie escapit
At Fettercairn castle he gaithered his men
Thegither they raided Delbog, slew the fowk there
Returnin in daybrakk tae harry the glen

The king wis informed an sent orders tae meet him
At Scone in his castle ere fifteen days passed
Bit Cruthlint an ithers fled intae the Heilans
Till catched at Lochaber an prisoned at last

Tae Dunsinane castle the reivers wir cairriet
An killt there. His mither vowed vengeance she'd hae
The king, feelin guilty, confessed tae a bishop
An set aff tae Fordoun, his penance tae dae

King Kenneth lodged neist at the castle o Fettercairn
Thonner, Finella received him wi state
In a touer she set crossbows ahin the rich hingins
An ambush tae kill him sae fierce wis her hate

In the mids o the chaumer she'd raised up a figure
Twis haudin an aipple, wi gems, he could pluck
A gift. Fin he pued it the crossbows set fleein
Their arras. King Kenneth wis mortally struck

Finella syne mountit her mettlesome stallion
The king's men closed in as she fled frae her doom
At the deep gorge o Lauriston doonbye St Cyrus
She lowped frae a linn, drappt a hunner feet doon
Sae endit the life o the Lady Finella
King Kenneth tae hyne aff Iona wis taen
His subjecks lamentit the daith o their monarch
Fa'd treated them justly an drave aff the Dane

Wauk lichtly, wauklichtly ower Fettercairn's byweys
There's bluid in the bracken o mencruelly slain
Spare a thocht fur Finella the mither o Cruthlint
A warrior race tae the Netherwarld gaen