The Sacred Hearth

Now, Gwydion was the nephew and heir of Math, and it concerned him that he in turn had no heir. Arianrhod was his only sister and she was unwilling to even consider the idea of marrying or having children. So Gwydion came upon her as she slept and using magic she caused to her to be with child.

And then he came to her and invited her to go with him to see Math about being his new foot maiden, since it was his doing that the last one no longer qualified. Arianrhod thought this was a lovely idea, as it meant that she would never have to entertain the idea of having children, or marrying again.

When she came to the Palace, Math greeted her cordially, and asked her to step over his staff so that he could see if she was, in fact, a maiden. As she did so, however, two small figures appeared. Gwydion quickly scooped them up and made away with them. But as he washed them in the sea, the eldest, became like a fish and swam away. And so he was called Dylan, the son of the wave. The other was very small, and not yet ready to be born, so he kept him in a chest at the foot of his bed until he grew stronger.

When the boy was big enough, he took him to a woman to be nursed and she raised him for two years, and then brought him to court where Gwydion raised him for the rest of his childhood. He was a very big boy for his age, due to his bloodline.

One day, Gwydion took the boy to Arianrhod’s castle. She was furious. “Have you come here to mock me with evidence of my shame? Have you come here to gloat about how you tricked your sister in front of the King?” She demanded.

“I don’t see any shame in such a fine boy. Do you?” He asked her.

“What is his name?” She replied.

“He has not yet a name, I thought you should name him.” Said Gwydion.

“Well then.” Said Arianrhod, “He shall have no name unless it is bestowed by me.” She said, and it must be so, for her magic was as strong as his.

“You are a wicked woman.” Said her brother and he left with their son.

The next day he went with the boy to the shore. He found some sedges, and turned them into a boat, and then he disguised himself and the boy, all using his magic. Then he sailed the boat to the port of Arianrhod’s castle where he and the boy made as if they were making and selling shoes there.

When she noticed them, she sent her servants to see what they were doing and they came back to tell her wonderful things about their craftsmanship. “Well then,” She said, “Take a measure of my foot and go and have some shoes made for me.”

So they did, but the shoes were too small, and again they measured her foot, but this time they were too large. Finally, she went herself to get her shoes.

When she arrived at the boat, a bird alighted upon the bow and the boy took a stone and threw it and knocked the bird down.

Arianrhod smiled, “The little lion aims with a steady hand.” She said.

“Ah good.” Said Gwydion as his illusion faded, “The boy has a name Llew Llaw Gyffes he shall be named and a good name it is too.”

Arianhrod was absolutely furious. “So the boy has a name, but he shall never bear the arms of manhood unless I arm him myself!” She declared and stomped back into her castle.

This did not concern them for awhile, as the boy was still quite young, but soon came the day when the boy must be a man for Gwydion brought him up fine and strong and educated him in every way that was proper for a gentleman of his day.

One day Gwydion called his son to him and again he disguised them both and went to Arianrhod’s castle. There they greeted the porter and told him to tell the Lady that two bards had come to stay with her.

She was very happy to have the company of two bards and set out food for them immediately and urged them to tell her stories. Gwydion was, of course, still the finest storyteller in all the land, and she was greatly amused. That evening she set them up in comfortable quarters and they all went to sleep quite happy.

But in the night, Gwydion used his magic again and a loud uproar came from the outside. Arianrhod came to his chamber in a panic.

“We are under attack good bards. Will you help us?” She asked.

“Of course lady, but we have no weapons!” Said Gwydion and she hurried to get them weapons and suits of armor. “Lady,” He said to her, “Please help the young one on with his arms and I will see to myself with the help of your maidens.”

And so she helped Llew with his arms and when she was done Gwydion said, “Are you done arming him?”

“Yes, he is armed.” She told him.

“Well then let us unarm ourselves for we have no need of them.” He said.

She was much confused, but he was much amused. And when she realized what had happened she became more angry than ever.

“Well, you have tricked me again, but I shall lay one last cursei upon this boy that you burden me with. He shall have no wife of any race upon this earth!” She declared.

“You are a wicked woman, but I will defy you again.” He told her, and he and his son left her Castle and never saw her again for in her fury she moved her entire castle into the sky where it can still be seen today. It is known as Caer Arianhrod by some and Corona Borealis by others.