| ACT THREE In the background is a hill. In the middle a long water trough on the edge of a river. GRONW and his PENTEULU enter to join BLODEUWEDD and RHAGNELL. |
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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 |
Beautiful bloom I've thirsted a year for a taste of you. Suffered too long an abstinence 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. A man's fate is not like the course of a river Nor a woman made of flowers. You can choose. |
| Gronw |
Don't mock me woman. Your fierce beauty Is the fate I choose. 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 circumscriptions. 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. 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 your plan? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Is that your Captain? |
| Gronw |
Penllyn's Captain of the Horse. The guards are there in the wood, A hundred horsemen awaiting this man's command. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Brave Captain, On this trough shall Llew Llaw Gyffes be killed. Go to your horsemen. Be ready. The minute He's killed your Lord's hunting horn will sound. Ride to the fort. Rhagnell will open the gates. Only one or two soldiers stand guard there. Then we'll unite Penllyn and Ardudwy. You, Rhagnell, go, tell my Lord That I await him on the bank of the Cynfael Under Cyfergyr hill, by the goat's watering place. And here, as I promised him last night I shall share some news with him. |
| Exeunt RHAGNELL and the PENTEULU. |
|
| 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 below the riverbank. He can't be killed whilst his feet are on the ground. He must be standing on a water trough Positioned beside a river. When you see him here Standing proudly, on top of this trough, rise And spear him through the back with the poisoned barb... 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 |
You kill him. His wake will become your welcome. |
| Gronw |
Not one of his men will wish revenge? |
| Blodeuwedd |
Tomorrow, make them terrified. After that They'll run like little pups to lap your hand. |
| Gronw |
You've learnt the craft of ruling already, lady. |
| Blodeuwedd |
You'd find the ruling instinct in a flea. She and I just want to follow nature. Quick, hide yourself my hunter. The Llew comes. Join your will with mine, to urge him Up on this stone. Then the final deed. And afterwards we'll laugh, and live as we like. |
| BLODEUWEDD sits on the rim of the trough after GRONW has concealed himself. LLEW comes to her. |
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| Llew |
You're up early, lady. |
| Blodeuwedd |
The sunrise shimmered white this morning. Its sweet light drew me out Like a rabbit to lap at the dew. |
| Llew |
And like a rabbit you ventured out barefoot. |
| Blodeuwedd |
A husband notices such things. And 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, 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 tale of killing 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 |
Your imagination is slow to wake this morning. Have you been happy this last year lord? |
| 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, my friend? You've had a name; Despite her you've had weapons; you've had a wife. |
| Llew |
When my mother decreed that I Should never have a wife from womankind – Though we deflected her curse and made a woman Of flowers, the fairest seen by man, And though wherever you stand is my sunlight And having you in my arms is my night's delight And for that I give praise, Blodeuwedd – I still know that I'm not free from my mother's wrath. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I understand. But tell me, when will you Be free of that curse? |
| Llew |
When you give me the best news of my life. |
| Blodeuwedd |
And that news? |
| Llew |
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 a father to me. You now a 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 ring a serenade around you. |
| 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 are 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 dancing. |
| 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 were 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 on a stone sea-wall. In 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 jumps up on the front of the trough and looks outwards. |
|
| Llew |
Look, like this... |
| BLODEUWEDD goes to the left to face LLEW. To the right behind him GRONW emerges and stands with his spear poised |
|
| Llew |
There stand Gwydion and my mother Myself back there. 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 hurls the spear into LLEW's back. LLEW falls with a scream to the ground. They look at him. |
|
| Gronw |
Is he dead? |
| Blodeuwedd |
He shuddered, struck his head Twice 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. (He blows his hunting horn. The sounds of horsemen riding off) |
| Blodeuwedd |
Come, the new heir... |
| They embrace. BLODEUWEDD laughs wildly. |
|
| 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 upon the hill. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Let's wait a minute. I can't believe his death happened so simply. |
| Gronw |
Let's go 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 |
I never saw death before. What shall we do with this? |
| Gronw |
I'll send soldiers to bury him this afternoon. |
| Blodeuwedd |
I heard a sound in the trees, like armour jangling. |
| Gronw |
Those are my men. |
| Blodeuwedd |
They've gone to the fort. |
| Gronw |
Perhaps they left someone on guard. |
| Blodeuwedd |
Has his spirit flown to the woods in fury? |
| Gronw |
His spirit wouldn't sound like jangling armour. |
| Blodeuwedd |
He fell like a broken flower. Is that how you'll die? |
| Gronw |
Come girl. You sound like some old owl, Not yourself. We'll go to the fort, to secure Our new estate. We must move, come. |
| Exeunt. A minute's pause. Then TWO SOLDIERS enter quietly, followed by GWYDION, who is also watchful. They find LLEW. |
|
| Soldier |
This is worse than you feared, Lord Gwydion. Look, your nephew, by the water stone, slain... |
| Gwydion |
Is this where you fell, my child. Like a smitten eagle? Let me gather you to me. His heart has stopped beating. You evil woman! Let's carry him, carefully men, to the woods, And lay him under the oak's shade. All my arts Shall fight with death itself for his being. Now, slowly, gently.... Quietly. |
| CURTAIN |