by Griff Hosker
The Queen regained her composure. "You are welcome to my home. The messenger brought word of the great victory. You are doubly welcome Lord Hogan Lann. My father often spoke of you and your father, the Warlord. You kept this land safe. King Cadwallon kept this land safe. It is sad that his son is a shadow of the man in whom we put our trust and faith."
Just then Arturus entered. Our bodies hid him from the three women. The King said, "And this is Arturus ap Gawan."
We stepped aside and revealed him. Heledd smiled at him for he was, indeed, most handsome but Arturus did not even see her. He only saw Gwenhwyfar for their eyes were locked on one another. It was as though the rest of us did not exist. I saw a frown fall over Princess Heledd's face. She must have been told of the probable arrangement. The Queen also looked unhappy. King Cynddylan tried to make the best of it. "Arturus this is my wife, Queen Heledd and my daughters, Heledd and Gwenhwyfar."
Arturus dragged his eyes from Gwenhwyfar and bowed, "It is an honour to meet three such beautiful ladies. This land is supposed to have gold beneath its stones. I see a greater treasure here before me."
The flattery was given to all three but we knew it was intended for Gwenhwyfar. She giggled coquettishly. There was an uncomfortable silence as the two stared at each other. The looks were ones which should have been given in private, on a wedding night and the entire room shifted uncomfortably in the awkward silence of the hall.
Gawan acted first and he said, "We are dirty, King Cynddylan. Could we clean up somewhere and make ourselves presentable?"
The Queen seemed relieved that Gawan had broken the silence, "Of course. I have a chamber ready for the three of you." She clapped her hands and a servant came. He gestured with his arm for us to follow him.
The chamber had three beds within and jugs of water. The servant offered to stay and attend to us but I dismissed him. Gawan needed to speak with his son.
When they had gone Gawan put his hands on his son's shoulders. "Arturus I read your thoughts and those of Gwenhwyfar. She is fey. You have used your powers."
Arturus looked up guiltily. I said, "Powers?"
"He has not been trained brother but he has skills in magic. They are basic ones but he is able to detect a person's thoughts. Today he and the adhene shared thoughts."
"She has power too?"
"She does. She has greater powers than any woman I have ever met. Did you not notice that she did not touch her cross when we were announced? She may tell her parents that she is Christian but beneath that veneer is someone who follows the old ways."
"But father I thought that you wished me to marry one of them?"
"And I thought that, what were the words you used, 'I will never marry a shrill voiced, Welsh harpy,' you would not countenance such a union?"
"That was before I saw Gwenhwyfar."
I spoke, "You were supposed to marry Heledd."
"I am happy to marry Gwenhwyfar but not the other. She spoke to me in my head and..." he suddenly blushed and I knew the thoughts which had been planted there.
This was the first time that Arturus had come into conflict with his father and myself. I was in a difficult position. Gawan was his father but I had named Arturus as my heir. The three of us were involved in this decision. If the wrong choice was made then Rheged itself could fall.
Gawan went to the pitcher and the bowl. "When we have washed, brother, I will speak with my son, alone if you would."
I nodded, "Aye, that would be right. For this does not bode well." I went to the second bowl and filled it with water from the pitcher.
Arturus did not move but looked from his father to me and back. "I am my own man, Warlord. I should make my own decisions."
Shaking my head, I said, "Did you not hear your father, Arturus? He will speak with you alone. The decisions we make here are weighty ones. You are not just a squire who soon will be an equite. You are the heir of the Warlord. What we do here will echo into eternity." I pointed south, "Wyddfa and the tomb of Myrddyn lie close to here. I for one, will not make any decision until I have slept. If Myrddyn does not come to visit me I will be surprised." The words I had heard on the road flickered in the back of my mind. He had foreseen this turn of events.
I saw Arturus clutch at the wolf clasp on his cloak. Even my headstrong nephew still feared Myrddyn.
I washed and, after shaking the dust from my clothes left them. The ladies were no longer in the hall but the King was and he had a jug of wine, "Come join me Warlord." He poured us a goblet of wine each. "That was unexpected. It was though four of us did not exist to those two young people."
I nodded, "The word we would use is wyrd. I know that you are Christian and do not believe such things but the connection there was strong. It seemed to me that the two are drawn to each other. It may not end well but I cannot see what we can do to break this invisible bond."
"What does his father say?"
"Like us he is not happy and he is speaking with Arturus. I am not sure it will do any good."
That evening there was a strange atmosphere as we ate. He had invited his leading warriors. My senior equites, Llenlleog, Kay and Bors, also attended. Daffydd ap Miach had been invited but his family had originally come from close to the stronghold and he had asked if he could visit his former home.
Queen Heledd had seated Arturus and her daughter as far away from each other as it was possible. Even so they kept glancing in the direction of the other. I knew that they would be using their thoughts to speak with each other. The Queen could do nothing about that. Her elder sister Heledd looked most unhappy. She had known that her parents were trying to arrange a match between her and Arturus. Her younger sister had stolen Arturus' heart. I could see that she thought it unfair.
The King and I were seated alongside Gawan. The King shook his head, "I said that I wanted a match with Arturus for one of my daughters but I thought it would have been Heledd."
"I have spoken with my son. He will have Gwenhwyfar or he will have none. I fear that if we do not accede to his request he may take matters into his own hands."
I shook my head, "Then his life would be ended for every door would be closed to him."
Gawan was silent and then said, quietly, "There is still Constantinopolis. Gwenhwyfar might be the thing which keeps him here."
I was not happy. I did not like to be held to ransom like this. Was Arturus bewitched? Certainly, Gwenhwyfar had more confidence than was normal in a girl of her age. I turned to glare at him but his eyes were fixed on the Welsh Princess.
"I confess, Warlord, that a marriage of Gwenhwyfar to Arturus would solve a problem for me. I can think of many suitors for Heledd but Gwenhwyfar is another matter. She and your nephew seem to have an understanding already." He lowered his voice, "My wife might be unhappy but then she is often thus."
I remembered the conversation I had had with the King about his heir. His was not a happy marriage. I stared at the ceiling as though seeking inspiration.
Gawan, sensing my thoughts, said, "Brother, sleep on it. We are close enough to Myrddyn that, if he chooses, he can speak to us and, perhaps, Arturus." He turned to the King. "You will have your answer in the morning."
It deferred a decision and I nodded. We went to our chamber and I began to undress. I could not bring myself to speak with Arturus. His behaviour was not that which I had expected. Gawan spoke to him normally as though there was no discord. He was a wizard and could dissemble. I was a warrior and could not. He was his father and, more importantly, he knew his son's thoughts before he spoke them. It made life easier. He handed me a chalice of wine. He put a few drops of a potion into it. "This will help you dream and to sleep. A man makes poor decisions when he is deprived of sleep."
Arturus said, "Uncle, this is meant to be. I love the maid. I know that she will be wild but I believe that is a good thing. I need a strong wife and I know before I have even held her hand that she is strong. Our children will be strong and powerful."
I drank down the drug infu
sed wine, "I hope so but I have reservations. Let me sleep on it. Myrddyn spoke to me when I saw Wyddfa. Perhaps he will convince me."
The draught worked and I fell swiftly asleep.
I was in a black world. I had been in such places before and they did not frighten me. It was as though I was being prepared for the Otherworld. That would come soon enough. The darkness grew lighter, faintly at first but growing stronger. As it grew brighter it became orange and then red. It was the flame of a dragon and it hurtled towards me. I could not move and I knew that the dragon would burn me to a crisp. The flame died and the dragon walked closer to me. Bizarrely I saw its heart beating. It was a steady beat which I could hear in my head. Then I saw its face. Its face resembled my brother's. I saw Gawan in the dragon's features. Then it changed to become Arturus. The dragon was my nephew. Then the dragon opened its mouth and flames leapt forth towards me. They did not burn me. They passed over and, when I turned, I saw behind me a horde of Saxons. They were burning, melting before me. When I turned around all that was left was the heart of the dragon. It was still beating. As I stepped towards it I found that my feet were in water. The closer I came to the heart the deeper was the water and currents began to suck at me, dragging me beneath the water. The heart was swept away. It disappeared and with it, the water. I was alone once more. I opened my mouth and shouted, 'Myrddyn! Do not forsake me! Where are you?' There was no answer.
I sat in silence in the darkness but I could still hear the heart of the dragon beating before me. Then I realised that it was my own heart which was beating.
'Myrddyn! Do not forsake me! Where are you?'
My heart began to slow and my eyes grew heavy. I had had no answer. Just before I fell asleep a voice came to me. It was inside my head and it was Myrddyn's. 'I have answered you once and my answer is still the same. This is all meant to be. He will choose well. It may not be your choice, or his father's but it will be the right choice.'
The last thing I remember before awaking was the sound of oars in the water and sea birds in the air.
Gawan was looking down at me and Arturus looked terrified. Gawan held a goblet. It was ale this time. I drank and it soothed my throat. "I was shouting?"
Arturus nodded and Gawan said, "Screaming. Did you get an answer?"
"I am not certain. Did you not see?" He shook his head. "It was hidden from me."
I told what had happened and he frowned. "This tells us nothing of our dilemma. Was there nothing more? This dream is of a life after our death. This is a foretelling of the future."
"He said he had told me before." I pointed to Arturus, "Arturus has made the right choice." I shook my head. "I still cannot see it but..."
Arturus looked delighted. "Then I can marry the princess?"
Gawan looked at me. His shoulders sank in resignation. "If the King agrees then aye!"
The King was on the gate when we emerged from the hall. We wandered over to him. He smiled, "I know we are Christian but there is something reassuring about the close proximity of the mountain. It makes me feel part of this land."
I nodded in agreement, "I grew up under its shadow. I miss it more than you can know for my father lies entombed beneath it. It has great power. The spirits of the dead spoke to me."
He sighed and turned to Arturus. "Has the madness gone, young Arturus? Or do you still wish to marry Gwenhwyfar."
"I do King Cynddylan and my father and uncle have agreed to support me."
The King looked from my brother to me and back. He saw our expressions and knew that Arturus spoke true. "Would it was that easy. The Queen is opposed to it."
Gawan said, "Do you mind me asking why?"
"Gwenhwyfar was a difficult child and when she became a young woman she became impossible. She and her mother have had many arguments. Her mother favours Heledd."
I shook my head, "Then I would have thought she would have been pleased to get rid of her."
"No for that would be my youngest child winning and that would never do." He sighed, "I am King and I will make the decision. The alliance will strengthen us. King Cadafael is a weak king but he has men in his court who would take this little kingdom from me. Powys is richer but this one is closer to my heart. Come let us bear the news. There will be two women who will be unhappy and one who will be overjoyed."
As we headed down the ladder I asked, "And when would you have the wedding?"
"As soon as it can be arranged. I fear the battle we have just fought will be as nothing compared with the battle between my daughter and my wife. The sooner you are wed, Arturus, and can take my daughter to Civitas Carvetiorum the better."
Gawan turned to the King, "I would say marry now but I know that my wife would like to see our son married. We can be back here in four days for we could return by sea."
"Then I will see the Bishop of St. Asaph and arrange it for five days from now."
He was correct about the reaction. His wife flew into a rage and began pointing a talon at Gwenhwyfar and screaming that her daughter had bewitched Arturus. Heledd just wept. Gwenhwyfar grinned at her mother which just incensed her even more. I felt sorry for Arturus. The joy of knowing that he would have the bride of his choice was spoiled by the screaming Queen and the fact that he could not do what he wished and throw his arms around her.
King Cynddylan ended the storm by raising his voice, "Silence! I am King and my word is law. The pair will be wed in five days' time. If you cannot arrange the wedding, wife, then I will get our steward to do so. Should I invite guests or will you do that?"
The Queen subsided. This was an opportunity for her to show off her finery and her jewels. I saw her calculating and weighing up the trade-off of losing to her daughter and getting rid of the irritant. "I am Queen and I will arrange it." She turned and smiled at Gawan, "Will your wife be attending, lord?"
"We will be leaving now to return as soon as we can."
The Queen beamed for she had a partial victory. Gwenhwyfar's face fell as she realised that Arturus would be going and she would be at the mercy of her mother and sister. Families were complicated affairs.
Chapter 8
As we headed north, Daffydd ap Miach joined me when Arturus rode with the squires at the rear of the column. My nephew had much to tell his brother in arms. When he became Warlord, he would lead them into battle. It was right that they shared in his joys too.
My captain of archers looked nervously from Gawan to me, "My lord, you know I visited family?" I nodded. I saw him take a deep breath. In all the time I had known Daffydd he had rarely spoken of anything other than his trade. "It concerns the Princess Gwenhwyfar." We waited for him to continue. "Some is gossip and rumour. I will not repeat that but the Princess ran off a year since. This is fact for the King had all his men hunting for her. They found her in a cave on the eastern side of Wyddfa. She was with a witch, one of those who did not convert to Christianity. They brought back the princess and had the witch buried alive."
I looked at Gawan. If there was the power of the spirits involved then he should have known. He nodded. "I sensed power in her but I saw it as raw and untamed. I thought it just a relic of her heritage." He looked at Daffydd, "The rumours and gossip, they were about her parentage?"
"Aye lord." My captain of archers was not surprised for he knew Gawan's powers well. "It is said by those with nothing better to do than to chatter like magpies that a young Hibernian warrior, some say a prince, was shipwrecked and came up the river for help. He stayed a month. It was when the King was away fighting his enemies around Powys."
Gawan said, "It is the hair and the features. She has her mother's beauty and yet she does not look like her sister nor her father and then there is her hair. I believe the gossip for it would explain much. It would explain her mother's attitude towards her daughter."
I turned to Daffydd, "Thank you Daffydd. I can trust your discretion. We would not wish Arturus to hear of this."
"Of course, lord. I had to speak."
"And you did ri
ght." When he had gone we spoke quietly about the choices we had before us. After a morning's discussion, as we neared the river by the old Roman fort of Bremetennacum, we decided that there was little to be gained by telling Arturus what we had learned. Her parentage was not her fault and she would either tell or not tell him why she ran away. Gawan would use his powers to try to unravel the mystery.
As we dismounted he said, "Now I know why Myrddyn told you what he did. I do not think that Gwenhwyfar will be easy to live with but I believe that she has been sent to serve a purpose. As yet I cannot see it. If Myrddyn wishes it then it will, in the end, help us. But the river flows a long way before it reaches that sea."
While our horses drank and we ate I spoke with Llenlleog. I could see that he had been curious about our conversation. "Is aught amiss, Warlord?"
I smiled. He was not what the women in the town square at Civitas might call nosey but he had a little of the wizard in him and I knew that he was genuinely intrigued. "Gawan and I were speaking of the changes which the fiery princess will bring to our land."
"Your nephew is smitten, Warlord, that is obvious and she is enamoured of him and yet..." He looked uneasy.
"Speak."
"To me this seems like a volcano. I have never seen one but I know from those who have seen the ones in Italy and Greece that they are brooding and silent. They bubble and they hiss. When they erupt you have no warning. That is what I see in this liaison. They are obviously in love but that does not guarantee peace."
"Like Gawan you have powers; do you see harm?"
"I see change and men our age never like change."