| PROLOGUE CAER ARIANRHOD, ARFON A storm rages. Enter ARIANRHOD. In her mind's eye, Arianrhod sees |
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| Arianrhod |
Once again there's a war to be fought. And the battleground will be that young body. The little map of her flesh Pure, perfect even, Will be charred and scarred. The men will do this of course. As they always do. To her. To me. Some of us survive. And are stronger for it. As yet I've no idea whose side This one wishes to take. Mine, or that bastard beast, My sibling who makes the earth tremble and skies crash And turns all living things into toys To be played with, broken and discarded. |
| Arianrhod's thoughts turn to GWYDION. |
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| Arianrhod |
My sibling Gwydion who creates life but serves death. |
| Gwydion |
Two weeks ago in Coetir woods I was knocked to the ground by a wild boar Twice my size. It mated with me. |
| Arianrhod |
At the foot of my bed is an oak-wood chest. It's empty. And always will be. On it is a woven shawl And some pelts of warm fur. Here burrowed into the folds Two small eyes squinting out Is a fox cub. I found it, a stray In the stable, hiding from the hounds. |
| Gwydion |
Blood in my mouth, between my legs I dragged myself into a bracken lair And lay whimpering for five days and nights I was within a few miles of your fort But I knew you'd turn me away. |
| Arianrhod |
Heal yourself wizard. What could I offer you? |
| Gwydion |
I'm your sister your brother both. But You have more love for that fox cub. |
| Arianrhod |
I feel for anything that's alone in the world. Cast aside. The weak, the defenceless They're the only ones I trust. And you're right. I wouldn't nurse you. Families bring grief. Their ties have left me A prisoner to solitude. I live alone. |
| Gwydion |
Can't you hear me in the night Swirling through the hunchbacked trees. |
| Arianrhod |
My fox warms me back to sleep And I dream of walking in sunlight In soft fine slippers in quiet courtyards Alone, always alone, in a white world. |
| Gwydion |
I'm a bridge between her soft slippered feet And these beasts' trampling hooves. Now I'm angry. In my dreams I make flames shoot from black earth, I breathe out billowing banks of mist Which come to nudge and tug At the edges of Arianrhod's lands. I'm still your sister, your brother, your family You'll not be rid of me by wishing. |
| Arianrhod |
Why are you here now? In my thoughts? Shouldn't you be with Llew in Ardudwy? He wants you. You're still family to him. Go to him. He pines for you. |
| Exit Arianrhod. |