The Sacred Hearth

In a land called Dyfed there reined a king named Pwyll. Pwyll was a young man, and as young men are wont to do, he enjoyed a bit of entertainment now and again. One thing he rather enjoyed was hunting and, being wealthy as kings are, never had a shortage of fine horses, dogs or friends to accompany him.

One fine day gathered his friends on their fine steeds and set out to spend the day at his favorite sport. They loosed the dogs and the hunt was on. But it wasn’t long before, as Pwyll followed the hounds, he found himself seperated from his companions in the dark forest. Soon, he’d lost sight of the hounds as well, but he could hear them baying in the distance. He also heard the sound of other hounds, further away, in the opposite direction.

He hurried on to follow the sound of his own hounds and soon came upon them as they approached a lovely glade in the woods. There a great stag was locked in battle with another pack of hounds. These hounds like none he’d ever seen, were powerful and beautiful with white bodies that shone in the fading light and bright red ears. They quickly brought the stag down, but he drove them off and set his own dogs upon it.

Just then he saw another man coming toward him on a steel gray horse, dressed all in gray with a hunting horn about his neck.

The man drew near and looked on him with his head held high and said, “Lord King, I have not met you before, and I don’t welcome our meeting now.”

Pwyll was insulted and replied, “Who are you sir, that has the authority to speak so rudely to me?”
And the man replied, “It is not my authority that affects my manners.”

“Well then, what is it?” Pwyll demanded to know.

“Your own rudeness, sir, is the cause of mine.” Replied the man quite calmly.

“My rudeness?” Asked Pwyll, “How have I offended you?”

“Why sir, I have never seen such rudeness in a man.” Replied the man, “To drive my dogs away from their kill and take it for your own. I would be within my rights to take revenge on you, but I am not the sort. Of course, I owe you no courtesy for it either.”

“Oh!” Said Pwyll dismayed, “I am sorry. How may I redeem myself in your eyes?”

The man looked at Pwyll a long time and then spoke.

“I am King in the land I come from.” He said.

“What land do you come from, Noble Lord?” Asked Pwyll.

“I come from Annwn. I am Arawn, King of the Underworld.”

Pwyll was very astonished and afraid when he realized who this man was, but he stood tall and retained his composure.

“Noble Lord, how may I redeem myself of the wrong I have done you?” He asked again.

“Long has my dominion been under threat from another King, Havgan whose lands lie opposite mine. But, alas, he can only be slain by a single stroke from a mortal hand. If you can rid me of him, you will have my eternal friendship.” Said Arawn.

“Gladly I will do this!” Said Pwyll, “Just show me the way.”

“I will show you.” Said Arawn. “Listen carefully. I will send you to Annwn in my place. I will make you look just like me, and you will have the fairest of ladies for your companion. I will take on your appearance and go to your own home and not a page of your court will know that it is not you who rules over him. For a year and a day we will carry on this charade and then we will meet again here.”

“Yes.” Said Pwyll, “This I will do, but how will it help me to vanquish your foe?”

“One year from this night,” Arawn told him, “Havgan and I are to meet at the Ford. You will go instead, in my likeness, and you will slay him with one stroke from your blade. Even if he begs for another, do not give it to him, and he will die.”

This sounded very simple to Pwyll and he agreed to the plan. And so, using his powerful magic, Arawn placed his own appearance upon Pwyll and Pwyll’s appearance upon himself, and he stepped down from his horse and mounted Pwyll’s instead. With a wave of his hand, he opened a path through the forest to his Underworld home and Pwyll made his way to the castle upon the gray steed, with the white hounds of Annwn.

The court of Arawn was the most beautiful place Pwyll had ever been. The buildings and rooms and furniture were the finest he’d seen. As he entered he was immediately attended by knights and pages who helped him off with his hunting things and dressed him in the finest silks. He saw that all of the household were well-mannered, very respectful, well-dressed and his knights bore the finest weapons he’d ever seen. But nothing could prepare him for the sight of the Queen who awaited him at supper. She wore a robe of yellow silk and was the loveliest woman he had ever yet beheld. And as they ate she asked him about his day and as they conversed he thought she was the most entertaining and intelligent woman he’d ever known. The meal was delicious and the food plentiful. They were entertained by the finest musicians and dancers and it was one of the merriest meals he’d ever had the pleasure of attending.

But when the meal was over, as they prepared for bed, the Queen came to embrace him and, in alarm, he turned her away. She was hurt and ran from his sight and though he followed her and attempted to explain and apologize in every way he could think of that wouldn’t reveal his secret, she remained inconsolable. So the year was spent in hunting and feasting and grand entertainment and every day he conversed with the beautiful Queen, but every time she tried to embrace him, he turned her away and she would wail in misery and hurl abuses at him for his cruelty.

And when the day finally came for him to meet with Havgan, he gathered his knights and his nobles and off they went to the meeting place. And when they got there, he rose up and spoke to all those gathered saying, “This fight is between two Kings and between them only. Alli of you stand aside and do not interfere, no matter what happens."

The two Kings faced one another on their mighty steeds, with their javelines at the ready. They came at each other with a mighty crash and Havgan was wounded and thrown far. Pwyll dismounted and approached him, his sword drawn.

“Oh please Cheiftain!” Begged Havgan, “Please finish what you have begun and slay me with your sharp sword.”

“Though I suspect I will regret it.” Said Pwyll, “I will not do as you ask.”

“Alas!” Wailed Havgan, “My death has come. My nobles, come and bear me home.” And his nobles came onto the field and carried him away.

“My trusty Lords!” Announced Pwyll who looked like Arawn, “Let us go and tell all of Annwn who shall be their King!”

And they shouted “Hail Arawn! Long live the King of all the lands of Annwn.”

And so they road out all about the land to tell the people what had happened, and they all swore homage to Arawn. And when this was done, he left them and went to his meeting place to keep his word to Arawn.

When he came there, Arawn was waiting for him and they were overjoyed to see each other.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me.” Said Arawn, “When you return home, you will see that I have also done much for you.”

Then he used his magic to change them back to their normal appearances and they went their ways.

When Arawn got home and saw that all was well, and that his foe was vanquished, he was greatly pleased. And that evening when his wife, in a temper, revealed that Pwyll had not touched her in all that time, he felt an even greater friendship for the man and he comforted his wife, and soon all was well with her again.

Pwyll for his part came home to a kingdom that had never been so prosperous and great. He found himself more popular than ever, and his Nobles even more loyal and devoted than before. His kindness, justice and wisdom was renound throughout not only his kingdom, but surrounding kingdoms as well.

From then on, the two had a great friendship and often visited one another and sent each other gifts of hounds, hawks and jewels.

Retold by Dawn Black
from the Mabinogian