ACT THREE SCENE TWO CYFERGYR HILL, THE WOODS, MUR Y CASTELL, ARDUDWY Enter Blodeuwedd and Rhagnell. A few moments later, Gronw enters. |
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| Gronw |
I've come, Blodeuwedd. |
| Blodeuwedd |
To the minute, brave soldier. Before the sun breaks over Cyfergyr hill. Don't hold me, Gronw. |
| Gronw |
I've thirsted a year for a taste of you. Suffered too long an absence from your arms. And you tell me not to hold you. |
| Blodeuwedd |
The Llew's collar still grips, I've come here now straight from his arms. |
| Gronw |
And into mine? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Across his corpse. While he lives, don't touch me In case your aim should falter. Is that the spear? |
| Gronw |
I worked on it for a year, on Sunday after Sunday At the hour of Sacrifice. This weapon cost dear: A soul's perdition lies in her point. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Do you fear that? There's the route home to Penllyn. You can choose. |
| Gronw |
Don't mock me woman. Your fierce beauty Is the fate I chose. Sunday after Sunday Until this moment. A vast year yawned As if unending since I last saw you. Roses withered, berries died, Leaves fell. Sun and moon scrawled The months in slow inscriptions. My days stood still Refusing to move with the seasons' shifts, Skewered by the imprint of those lips. The furnace of your kisses honed the steel of this spear. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Gronw, you had an easier year than I did. You indulged your craving, gave your longing lease Without having to bite back sobs and stifle tears. My heart lived in hiding night and day. I detested the weight of his flesh Pressing on my breasts, erasing your impression. I'll say no more; I'll talk tonight – Tonight, tomorrow and every other tomorrow, And I'll be free! But now's the time to strike. |
| Gronw |
What's our plan? My men are in the woods. |
| Blodeuwedd |
On that wooden trough Llew shall be killed. The minute it's done, summon your men. Then we'll unite Penllyn and Ardudwy. You, Rhagnell, go, tell my husband That I'm waiting for him here near the bank of the Cynfael Under Cyfergyr hill. By the goats' watering place And remind him that as I promised him last night I'll share some news with him. |
| Exit Rhagnell. |
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| Gronw |
Will he come? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Why shouldn't my loving husband Come to his wife? |
| Gronw |
And what was last night's promise? |
| Blodeuwedd |
A hint that will bring him scurrying here. |
| Gronw |
How shall I kill him? |
| Blodeuwedd |
It won't be hard. I'll hide you here in the trees' shadows. He can't be killed while his feet are on the ground. He must be standing on a water trough Within sound of a river. When you see him here Standing on top of this trough, rise And spear him through the back with the poisoned barb... Then sound the hunting horn, and seize your prize. |
| Gronw |
Will you get him to climb the trough? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Don't fail with your blow; And I won't fail To get him on this trough. |
| Gronw |
My blow has been aimed this last year And I'll not fail. His death is not The goal. Beyond his corpse lies your kiss. That's the assurance that guides my spear. Only a long life, Blodeuwedd, will quench The thirst that's parched my soul these twelve moons. How long this year's been. How short I see The years that are left to live. |
| Blodeuwedd |
How interesting it will be To remember this day in a year's time. |
| Gronw |
Will Ardudwy accept a new lord quietly? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Why not? Violent means, executed quickly And cleanly, yield the easiest spoils. |
| Gronw |
I heard that he's popular with his people. |
| Blodeuwedd |
What's popularity? A whim. You kill him And his wake will become your welcome. Quick, hide yourself my hunter. The Llew comes. Join your will with mine, to urge him Up on this trunk. Then you'll strike. After that we'll laugh, and live as we like. |
| Gronw retreats into the shadows. Blodeuwedd waits. Enter Llew. |
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| Llew |
You're up early, lady. |
| Blodeuwedd |
The sunrise drew me out Like a rabbit to lap at the dew. |
| Llew |
And like a rabbit you ventured out barefoot. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I always prefer to be barefoot. Would you Make me a shoe, as you did for your mother? |
| Llew |
My mother wouldn't brave the outdoors barefoot. She sent servants with her foot measurements. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Is that the time you killed the wren With a spear? |
| Llew |
Not a spear. No one could transfix A wren with a spear. But a cobbler's needle, On an arrow. With that I did. |
| Blodeuwedd |
A needle of course. How stupid of me. Tell me how you killed the wren. Tell me. |
| Llew |
Gladly. But first, shouldn't you tell me Why you summoned me so early from my bed? |
| Blodeuwedd |
The wren's story first. |
| Llew |
No. Your story first. Why did you call me here from the fort? |
| Blodeuwedd |
And then the killing of the wren? |
| Llew |
I promise. So what is your secret then? |
| Blodeuwedd |
You're so impatient. Didn't I tell you last night? |
| Llew |
You told me that you'd keep some joyous news Until today, to celebrate the anniversary Of my return from Math's court. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Have you been happy this last year? |
| Llew |
How could I not have been? Your trust Was a nest to me. You've been civil and sweet, No longer a wild bird trapped in a cage. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You still fear wild things, my Llew? |
| Llew |
My mother was wild. She persecuted me. She taught me fear. I grew up Not knowing who my own father was. I hated all things wild. They're cowardly And base. They stalk and strike from behind. But you've been my walled and cultured garden, That makes me safe. This is the first year I've not feared a traitor's dagger in my back. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Now you've confounded all your mother's curses. |
| Llew |
Each one she named. There was another. |
| Blodeuwedd |
What was that? You've had a name; Despite her you've had weapons; you've had a wife. Aren't you free now of your mother's wrath? |
| Llew |
Only when you give me the best news of my life. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And that news? |
| Llew |
Dare I hope? The glorious news That through you I have a son and heir. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And that would break your mother's hold on you? |
| Llew |
My mother tried to kill me. In that she failed. My birth sullied her. I personified Her degradation, and was the focus For all her hatred towards the world. She cut me off from mankind, sundered me From the carefree days of boyhood; I was forbidden the very trappings Of young manhood; a name, arms, a woman. I had to fight against her for my sense of self. Gwydion was like a father to me. You're now my wife. King Math gave me lands for my princedom. I've known the cares common to men; through you This year, I've known caring. Love. The nightmare Has receded and is often forgotten. But Blodeuwedd If I once saw, cradled against your breast A boy, my heir, the last link in that cruel chain Would fall away and I would glory In being a life-giver. In fathering a future. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Without that you won't be happy with me? |
| Llew |
Without that, I'll be content. With that my love And gratitude would serenade you endlessly. |
| Blodeuwedd |
But that wouldn't be a song in my honour. Just a serenade of triumph over your mother. It hurts me Llew that you can't once look at me And say – "You, you're enough for me." If you said that – |
| Llew |
I'll say it when a boy rests in your arms. |
| Blodeuwedd |
What fateful words! Listen to my secret. I have an heir for you, here. |
| Llew |
You know for certain? |
| Blodeuwedd |
As every woman knows. |
| Llew |
Oh, my queen! Let the fates make it a son. |
| Blodeuwedd |
He is a lad, I swear it. |
| Llew |
I never dared to think Your words last night hinted at this. My cup is brimful. If death itself should strike now I'd not begrudge it! |
| Blodeuwedd |
Death strike now? Aren't you charmed against Any attempt your mother might make to kill you? |
| Llew |
My mother's wrath counts for nothing if I have an heir. What will he be like? Imagine it my love. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Keen in his kissing. I can see him now, His lips eager for my lips. A hunter. His horn will startle the stags And Ardudwy's halls will echo with his prowess. |
| Llew |
I'll teach him his father's skill at games. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Will you teach him to throw a spear, and a needle? |
| Llew |
And how to row and how to make a shoe for his mother So she doesn't have to go barefoot in the dew. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And will you tell him the story of shooting the wren? |
| Llew |
I can picture him now, a three year old In your lap listening to Gwydion's tales. How the old wizard will make the boy smile With his story of our boat outside Arianrhod's keep. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Tell me that story, as if I'm your heir. Let's pretend that this trough is the boat. Where did Gwydion stand? |
| Llew |
Here, mid-deck, Peering down at my mother's foot. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And you, the nameless youth Stitching the shoe leather, where were you? |
| Llew |
There in the stern. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Did your mother look at you? |
| Llew |
Yes. Long and hard with lips pursed. |
| Blodeuwedd |
But without recognising you? |
| Llew |
Gwydion had woven a spell. She was beautiful, standing, her foot on the boat's rail. Upright, and proud, a princess. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Like this? Facing out to sea? And then? |
| Llew |
It was spring. Ten yards offshore Stood a stone sea-wall. From one of its crannies The wren appeared, skipping and darting In and out of the crevice. It flitted Then came to rest on the boat's prow. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Here? Show me how it stood. |
| Llew |
Look, like this... |
| Gronw emerges from the shadows, his spear poised. |
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| Llew |
There stand Gwydion and my mother Myself here. A moment of stillness. The water's surface shimmering, not a sound... The wren perches. He raises one wing Like this... his head downwards. That second, The needle weighted in my fingers... |
| Blodeuwedd |
A needle, not a spear... |
| Llew |
I aimed at him... |
| Gronw |
Like this. |
| Gronw drives the spear into Llew's back. Llew falls with a scream. They look at him. |
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| Gronw |
Is he dead? |
| Blodeuwedd |
He shuddered, struck his head on the ground, And then was still. There's no sign of life. |
| Gronw |
The poison won't fail. Not even Gwydion And all his sorcery can undo this death. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Come, the new heir... |
| They embrace. |
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| Blodeuwedd |
He is a lad, I swear it. |
| Gronw |
I never knew a better ending to a story... Yes, he's dead. |
| Blodeuwedd |
A man dies so easily. |
| Gronw |
Look, the sun's breaking through the trees. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Let's wait a minute. I can't believe his death happened so simply. |
| Gronw |
Let's go and take the fortress. |
| Blodeuwedd |
A scream, then gone. Will it be like this when it's my turn? |
| Gronw |
Come Blodeuwedd. This isn't the time to ponder... |
| Blodeuwedd |
But wait. What shall we do with this? |
| Gronw |
I'll send soldiers to bury him this afternoon. Come girl. We'll go to the fort, to secure Our new estate. We must move, come now! |
| Exeunt. A moment's pause, then Llew's stricken body stirs slightly. |
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| Llew |
I'm dying. Gwydion. Where are you? Gwydion! I'm dying. Uncle! Help me! |
| Llew struggles to his feet. Exit Llew. |