Welsh Tales from the Mabinogion:
The Tale of Lleu Llaw Gyffes

Once upon a time in the enchanting land of Wales, I, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, was born under rather mysterious circumstances. My mother, Aranrhod, was put to a test by my great uncle, King Math. She was to step over a magical wand to prove her purity, but instead, she gave birth to me and my twin brother, Dylan. My mother, ashamed and angry, abandoned me. But my wise uncle Gwydion took me in and raised me as his own.

Gwydion was not just a great magician; he was also kind and patient. He taught me everything I know about magic, warfare, and life. I grew up in his care, learning the ways of the world. Even though I was a bit naive, I always tried to see the good in everyone and believed that kindness would always win in the end.

Despite Gwydion’s efforts, my mother cursed me. She declared that I would never have a name, arms, or a wife from any human woman. This curse weighed heavily on me, but my uncle was determined to help me overcome it. Using his cleverness and magic, he tricked my mother into giving me a name, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, which means "Lleu of the Skillful Hand."

Next, Gwydion disguised me as a shoemaker and made shoes for my mother. When she saw how skillful I was, she commented on it, unknowingly giving me my name. Later, Gwydion tricked her into arming me by conjuring a war that required me to defend myself. With these challenges overcome, Gwydion and I focused on finding me a wife.

Using his powerful magic, Gwydion, along with King Math, created a beautiful woman from flowers—oak, broom, and meadowsweet. They named her Blodeuwedd, and she was as enchanting as the flowers from which she was made. We married, and I believed I had found true happiness. Blodeuwedd was kind and gentle, and our life together seemed perfect.

One day, I had to leave home to visit King Math. I trusted Blodeuwedd completely, so I didn’t worry about leaving her alone. During my absence, she met a handsome stranger named Gronw Pebr. They fell in love, and Blodeuwedd, feeling trapped in her life with me, conspired with Gronw to get rid of me.

When I returned, Blodeuwedd used her charm and cunning to trick me into revealing the secret of my vulnerability. I explained that I could only be killed under very specific conditions. With this knowledge, Gronw prepared a special spear and waited for the perfect moment to strike.

As the fateful day arrived, Gronw struck me with the spear while I was in a vulnerable position. Gravely wounded, I transformed into an eagle and flew away, desperate to escape the pain and danger. I found a perch on a high tree, weak and barely holding on to life.

My loyal uncle Gwydion searched tirelessly for me, using his magic to track my whereabouts. Eventually, he found me in my eagle form, perched high in the branches. With his powerful magic, Gwydion transformed me back into my human form and used his healing abilities to mend my wounds.

As I recovered, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness for Blodeuwedd’s betrayal. But I knew I had to confront Gronw and bring justice to those who had wronged me. With Gwydion’s support, I returned to face Gronw. We met by the River Cynfael, where Gronw attempted to shield himself with a stone. However, my spear struck true, and Gronw was killed.

Blodeuwedd was transformed into an owl by Gwydion, forever destined to live in solitude. Though my heart was heavy with the weight of betrayal, I learned valuable lessons about trust, love, and resilience. With the help of my wise and loving uncle, I overcame the challenges set before me and grew stronger and wiser.

I continued to live my life with kindness, always striving to see the good in others, even if I had been a bit naive. My story became a tale of hope and redemption, reminding all who heard it that even in the face of great adversity, one can find strength and wisdom.

The End