ACT FOUR SCENE ONE CAER ARIANRHOD, ARFON. Enter Arianrhod. Enter Gwydion. |
|
| Arianrhod |
You. Back here. You Who left me to wither to a windblown husk. |
| Gwydion |
I'm here for Llew. |
| Arianrhod |
I heard that Llew was slain. Outside his fort in Ardudwy. |
| Gwydion |
He was. His body left beside the river Cynfael Or so we thought. But when I went To retrieve that body it wasn't there. |
| Arianrhod |
The wolves and kites and maggot-pies work quickly. |
| Gwydion |
But then, a month ago, I heard a strange tale Of a half man half eagle in the forest near your fort. Curiosity drew me there. I found it Perched on a branch, its flesh rotting, its feathers dropping. Dying slowly, being eaten alive by blowflies. Was it some instinct that made it drag its carcass Back to its mother's home? |
| Arianrhod |
I also heard his fortress, princedom and Blodeuwedd Are now possessed by another. |
| Gwydion |
Give us shelter Arianrhod. |
| Arianrhod |
No lands, no wife, no son, no heir. |
| Gwydion |
Give us shelter Arianrhod. I can heal him. |
| Arianrhod |
Why should I help you? |
| Gwydion |
You're his mother. |
| Arianrhod |
You're his father, my sister brother. |
| Gwydion |
I can make him whole again. |
| Arianrhod |
You're his father, Gwydion. You know this to be true. |
| Gwydion |
Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not. |
| Arianrhod |
Have you forgotten that stormy night When we were Math's young charges, You, me and Gilfaethwy? Have you forgotten? The two of you came to my bed. You'd been drinking and fighting. Gilfaethwy was in some frenzy Made wild by mead and lust and anger. He raped me. Or tried to. I used all my strength To fight him off. My own brother was an animal He hit me and hurt me but failed to penetrate me. Sleep stayed his violence. I lay numbed and hurting. Then you, you Gwydion, my sister brother climbed upon me Pinned me down and forced yourself inside me. Ever the coward, you stole your brother's Exhausted prey. You are Llew's father. |
| Gwydion |
I remember nothing of that night. |
| Arianrhod |
My life was changed forever Gwydion. Since that night my thoughts are run through With darkness. I've trusted no-one. Loved no-one. Not you my brother, and not Llew our son. |
| Gwydion |
I'll heal my son without your help. |
| Exeunt. |