Kingdom of Dragons

by Anna St George

  “Did he get on the rogue horse’s back?” asked Gwen with wide eyes.

  “Oh yes. It was the only one that would come over to him. You see this horse was very friendly. It would come to people when called. It just didn’t want anyone on its back and he was very ignorant to this fact and as soon as he was in the saddle that horse made a dash for the nearest fence and off he went in a cloud of dust with Sir Gregory literally clinging to his neck.”

  “My word. I never would have known from his expertise in the saddle. He’s so, so...capable.”

  “And his literary skills appalling!!” said Trystan. “He could never quote a simple sonnet of any kind and well . . . as he studied poetry, and practiced and competed on the turf, he transformed from that scrawny waif of a boy into the brawny bull of a knight he is now, entrancing all the women with every word that rolls off his lips.”

  Gwen lifted her head with a serious grin. “Not every woman,” she insisted and Pryderi took a sip of the wine in his goblet with a slight grin on his face.

  “Well don’t tell him I told you,” said Trystan.

  “Of course not Sir.”

  Lady Anwyn grinned softly. “Thank you for that explanation sir.” She was neither convinced nor in reproach of Sir Trystan’s explanation of Sir Gregory but she was rather concerned for the young Lady Gwendolyn who seemed exasperated by Sir Trystan’s words for it all concerned her dear sister Ceridwyn. Lady Anwyn was well aware of the emotional burden it placed on Lady Gwendolyn. “Why don’t you sing to us, Sir Trystan. I haven’t heard your lovely voice for a long time.”

  “Yes,” Pryderi agreed. “You haven’t sung for us in ages. In fact I heard you refused to sing for Lord Godwyn at the Berwyck hunt.”

  “I had a sore throat is why. “But of course I will sing for you now Lady Anwyn and for you Lady Gwendolyn.” She smiled at him and he was quickly to his feet and went and stood up on the dais and it wasn’t often Sir Trystan agreed to sing but with such a small audience he felt at ease and he smiled at Lady Gwendolyn warmly. “This song is called, Dacw 'Nghariad, it’s an old Welsh folk song,” he smiled and Gwen looked over at Pryderi and he smiled at her warmly. As Trystan’s mouth opened a sweet Welsh melody flowed forth. It was a soothing sound and more beautiful than anything Gwen had ever heard. Gwen had never heard him sing before but was told by her sister that his voice could calm the savage beast and she was certain as she listened that this was true for she could hear several hounds in the castle howling but it all went silent as Sir Trystan sang. Gwen sipped her wine and amused by the glow in Pryderi’s eyes every time she looked at him across the table through the light of the candle’s soft flame. She listened to Sir Trystan sing with keen interest and not at all aware the words he sung were an ancient love song and Pryderi smiled at her warmly.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Children of Caenarfon

  Gwen was certain she’d had far too much wine the previous evening and she slept well into the morning in spite of going to bed with dizzying thoughts of Cadwallader and dragon legends. It was the distant cooing of a songbird in the surrounding village that woke her and Gwen sat up and realized she had slept in and she jumped out of bed and went to the window built into the tower facing the hills. She rested her hands on the stone ledge, several feet up from the ground level and she felt that if she were any higher she would be nesting with the birds. She peered outside to sunshine resting over the horizon and she smiled softly for it was a sight to behold with jagged rocks and cliffs and mountains in the distance.

  Gwen was soon attended by a servant and she was dressed in a red velvet gown with a gold sash and she reached the great hall that morning and there was no sign of Pryderi, Lady Anwyn or Sir Trystan and Gwen had her breakfast alone. When she was finished she sat in a window seat in the solar overlooking the seas and read from the Holy Scriptures. After some time there was the disturbance of footsteps echoing on the stone floor and she looked up as Pryderi reached the doorway.

  “Good morning,” said Gwen.

  “Good morning,” said Pryderi. “What are you reading?”

  “Just some scripture.” She handed him the book and giving him her attention however that portrait of the horse came into view again. “That mural on the wall is fabulous?”

  “Yes, it’s a painting of a horse called Brenin. He was my father’s favourite.”

  “He must have been beautiful,” said Gwen as her eyes perused the large mural again of the dark chestnut horse and his rider.

  “You like horses, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she said with a sweet glow in her eyes.

  “Good. I’m glad,” he replied and brief moment of silence passed between them. “So have you met the children?” asked Pryderi.

  “Not yet,” Gwen replied sweetly. “But I am really looking forward to it. I do love children,” she smiled with extreme sweetness and remembering what he said about her and children.

  “Good,” said Pryderi with a grin and he flicked the book closed and then placed it down and gazing back at her with a look that reminded her of the way Daniel looked when he had done something mischievous. It was intriguing as if he knew something she didn’t.

  “How many children are there?” she asked.

  “Oh, several,” he replied and thinking deeply and half grinned with pleasure when he saw the shocked look on her face.

  “Several?” she questioned and her brown eyes deepened in shock.

  “Well …I…I lost count,” he smiled.

  Her face paled to a nice tone of insipid white. “But are these your children?” she asked boldly and finally getting the courage to do so.

  “My children?” He grinned mysteriously.

  And it was at that moment that Lady Anwyn appeared. “Oh there you are. I’ve been looking for you. I must say, it’s a beautiful day out there. Shall we venture forth and I will show you around the grounds. It’s so lovely at this time of year. I appreciate all the seasons God gave us but I do prefer the cooler months.”

  “That would be lovely,” Gwen responded with a delightful glow.”

  “Good,” said Lady Anwyn. “I must first tend to the cook. I must have a word with him about this evening’s meal. I will meet you in the courtyard in half an hour.”

  “Yes, half an hour,” said Gwen and her eyes were still shimmering sweetness and she soon noticed that Pryderi still had that mysterious glow in his eyes. He walked towards her slowly and his boots echoed off the cool grey stone. He stopped a few feet from her and half grinned. “Yes, Lady Gwendolyn, they are . . . my children.” Her face paled, the sweetness dissipated from her lovely brown eyes and Pryderi quickly bowed and left the room leaving her standing there shocked as she anticipated meeting the children of Caenarfon.

  Within half an hour Gwen was walking along the outside of the castle with Lady Anwyn and they walked arm in arm on a cool crisp day and it was so cool Gwen could see her breath. Gwen wore a long red fur trimmed cape that barely dusted the ground as she walked along and her mind was a whirlwind full of thoughts focused on Prince Pryderi’s children. So the Prince had so many children he could hardly count them. It was totally puzzling thought Gwen. He didn’t seem the type. “What a beautiful place this is. It’s like a fairy tale.”

  Lady Anwyn sighed. “Yes, it is lovely although it’s had its share of woes along with the good tidings.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Gwen.

  “Well, mine and Aneurin’s dear mother left this world far too soon and as I told you already Pryderi’s mother died when he was young. And then of course there are all the battle stories and the legends of old.”

  “Yes, of course,” said Gwen. “Yes, but it’s all the memories that make it magical.”

  “Look there my dear,” said Lady Anwyn pointing off in the distance and Gwen looked beyond the castle walls and saw Pryderi and Trystan racing each other on horseback across the green covered hills. And she suddenly remembered that night racing on horseback with Daniel and meeting Pryde
ri near Cheswyck. It was such a magical night riding alongside this man who impressed her so much.

  They walked down a narrow path and out beyond the castle walls and into endless paddocks of green scattered in sheep and a few goats running around here and there and at that moment Pryderi and Trystan came up over the rise in the hill and stopped near them out of breath. He hopped off the horse and approached her and bowed and she curtsied.

  “I hope you enjoyed your walk. Haven’t gone too far,” said Pryderi.

  “No, it’s been a lovely walk of the grounds.”

  “Good,” said Pryderi. “Now I’ll introduce you to the children.”

  “Now?” said Gwen with surprise.

  “Yes.” He held out his arm and she laced her arm through his and they headed out along the fence line of the sheep’s enclosure. Gwen was nervous as they walked along. She had pondered this moment since her father read Lady Anwyn’s letter back at Berwyck but now knowing these were Pryderi’s children bothered her for some reason and she didn’t know what to expect. What if they didn’t like her? She was about to find out.

  “Are you alright, Lady Gwendolyn?” He noticed she was unusually quiet.

  “I’m fine,” she responded. They walked for some time and headed to a nice secluded area bordered in tall pines and firs and there was another sort of pasture but Gwen looked twice. There were no people about anywhere and certainly nothing that resembled children but there were several ponies and horses and Gwen stopped to admire them. “Wait!” she said firmly and pulling on Pryderi’s arm. “I want to see the horses.”

  “I’m very glad you like them,” he said sweetly. “Lady Gwendolyn I am proud to introduce you to . . . the children of Caenarfon.”

  “What?” said Gwen. “These are the children you wanted me to care for?”

  “Yes,” he replied sheepishly.

  “You tricked me . . . didn’t you?” she laughed.

  “Well,” he replied. “Sort of. I mean you did say that you weren’t good with children unless they were horses or hounds so I called them children.”

  “Oh how lovely,” she said as her eyes scoured all the lovely ponies and horses and some of them now clamoured up against the fence to inspect their new admirer. “They’re just fabulous,” she stated and rubbing several whiskered noses and Pryderi was thrilled that she didn’t mind.

  “Believe it or not wild horses have existed in Wales for hundreds of years and probably longer than the first men who came here.”

  “Are these wild horses?”

  “Well some of them were. The big white one there I found in the hills one day with a wounded leg. So I brought her back and cared for her and well she is still here.”

  “You really want me to care for them?” asked Gwen.

  “Well, sort of. I guess it was sort of an excuse to get you to come here. I thought if I told your father they were horses he’d say no.”

  “Really?” she said nervously as she looked up at his marbled blue eyes. Her heart was beating rapidly. “I thought I annoyed you.”

  “No, of course not. On the contrary,” he assured her. Then he placed his finger under her chin and drew her gaze towards his. “I only acted angry over that whole tournament thing. I was very impressed with you.”

  “Really?” She was very astonished.

  “Yes. I thought you were darn brave doing what you did and not being worried about bearing your feelings to me in the manner you did. It was very forceful, but I was not offended even if I showed I was. I was as I said, very impressed.”

  Gwen blushed a hundred shades of red and the fire was burning now. He was impressed with her? This man she was swooning over before she even knew who he was? She couldn’t take her eyes off him. “Thank-you, sir. It means a lot to me.”

  “You must think of me as a friend, Gwen and not an enemy.”

  “I’ve never thought of you as an enemy or I’m sorry if I came across that way. In fact, you impress me too.”

  “I do?” he asked with great surprise.

  “Yes,” she smiled and blushed again.

  “Well then perhaps I can be so bold as to claim the first dance tonight.”

  “Gwen laughed. “Will there be dancing? I suppose it will be either you or Trystan.”

  Pryderi smiled. “I thought I better ask anyway. And he darn well better not ask you. I’ll strangle him.”

  Gwen laughed again and nodded with enthusiasm. “Of course, sir. I would be honoured to dance with you.” And she suddenly remembered all the times she had longed to dance with him and he would not ask. Finally it seemed as if her dream was falling in to place.

  And that evening was like a dream come true and Gwen spent hours getting herself ready in her chamber. For the first time in her life she fretted and fixed herself as Ceridwyn used to do and now she understood why. There was a male she wanted to impress. And she put on one gown and then another and another and so on until she was finally happy with a blue velvet gown that draped over her like a glove. She brushed her long dark hair and covered it with a gold sparkling net and several gem stones through her hair. She even wore a gentle colour on her cheeks and over her eyes. Something she had never done before but she looked spectacular when she walked down the stairs that night and the look of approval in Pryderi’s eyes made her heart flush with warmth. He took her by the hand ever so gently and led her to the hall where they enjoyed good food, drank the finest wine and danced until their hearts content. Gwen was indeed a very happy young girl. She was falling in love.

  Gwen went to bed that night with the moonlight beating on her and she sat up with a slight hangover. She had too much wine but as she remembered the evening it was all worth it. As she lie there in a state of delight she remembered Pryderi’s arm’s touching her waist as they danced and the closeness of his lips as they moved to the soft music. It was bliss! It seemed as if nothing on earth could ever vex her again and she sighed with delight.

  This scenario carried on for several nights and Gwen found one night she could not sleep for thoughts of him ravaged her mind with pleasure and she got out of the bed and dressed and she did what she would have done had she still been in Berwyck; she headed outside in the darkness to the solace and beauty of the Welsh coast. It was a rugged place of natural beauty, beaches surrounded in rocky cliffs and she was in her delight in the dark as she danced near the rippling waves that would try to catch her feet in the darkness. She ran with all her might along the water’s edge and came to rest on a large rock that protruded from the water’s edge. She lay there on top of its flat smooth surface under the starlight. It was blissful and peaceful and she inhaled deeply the fresh salt air.. She couldn’t get over the way everything had turned out; the children and her now budding friendship/relationship with Prince Pryderi. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she never noticed him approach her and climb upon the rock beside her and he gazed at her momentarily taking advantage of the view before she noticed. His eyes examined her well-built form, filtering over her goddess carved shape to her tresses of silk and sweet brown eyes and berry red lips. He was overwhelmed by her beauty and she suddenly felt the heat of his presence and looked up to see his eyes staring back at her. “Pryderi, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were there. My thoughts were far away. Forgive me.”

  “No it is I who should ask forgiveness. I did not announce my arrival.”

  “I just needed some fresh air. Sorry if I disturbed you.”

  “No, you needn’t be sorry. I saw you fly out the door in a hurry and I was worried as it is past midnight.”

  “Too much excitement. I couldn’t sleep.” She nodded sweetly and there was a moment where no words were spoken and Gwen waited patiently for she knew he had something to tell her.

  “I will be going away in the morning, mi’lady.”

  “Going away? Where are you going?”

  “Yes, I must take my father’s ship to the north of France to meet with him there and I hope I will not be more than a week.”
<
br />   “A week,” she said and her eyes beheld a disappointed glow and Pryderi noticed.

  “Yes, but . . . ” he took her hand in his and caressed it. “I will return. I know things didn’t start off well between us Gwen. I just want you to know that I was never looking down on you or judging you in any wrong manner, I just wanted to know what you were like and where your heart was at. You know I do not object to your love of horses and hounds, nor the fact that you enjoy riding now and again and shooting a crossbow, nor that brave tongue,’ he chided.

  “Pryderi!”

  “You are a very kind and caring person Gwen. You know how to laugh and enjoy life. The simple things thrill you like a deer with her fawn or walking through a beautiful garden. Sitting under the stars at midnight,” he chided and his eyes glanced upward. “I feel like I’ve always known you Gwen. I feel like I can be me when I’m with you and you won’t judge me.”

  “Pryderi I...”

  He put his finger to her lips. “Ssshhh, let me finish.” And he stared at her with a serious glow in his eyes that nearly unraveled her. “I’m impressed by your bravery Gwen, competing in that archery competition,” he smiled. “And racing that horse down the road and I was touched by your compassion to save that young horse. I think you and I have a lot in common. May I be so bold as to say, I think you and I complement each other?” Gwen’s heart was really racing now for she felt she knew where this conversation was heading and her mind spinning all over the place. She knew he was about to ask for her hand and she wondered what on earth she should say. What would Ceri say or Merry for that matter? Ceri would say yes to anyone and Merry would probably say no to everyone.