Welsh Tales from the Mabinogion:
The Dream of Macsen Wledig

Once upon a time, in the magnificent Roman Empire, there lived a powerful emperor named Macsen Wledig. Macsen was known far and wide for his strength, wisdom, and the vastness of his empire. Despite his great power, Macsen was a just and kind ruler, loved by his people and respected by his enemies.

One warm afternoon, after a long day of ruling his empire, Macsen decided to rest. He lay down on his golden couch and soon drifted into a deep sleep. As he slept, he had a wondrous dream that would change his life forever.

In his dream, Macsen found himself in a land of breathtaking beauty. He walked through lush green valleys and climbed tall, majestic mountains. The rivers sparkled like jewels, and the flowers bloomed in every color imaginable. As he journeyed through this enchanted land, he came upon a magnificent castle unlike any he had ever seen.

The castle was grand and splendid, with high towers and walls adorned with precious gems. Macsen entered the castle and was greeted by the most beautiful maiden he had ever laid eyes on. She had golden hair that shimmered in the sunlight and eyes as blue as the summer sky. Her name was Elen, and she was as wise and kind as she was beautiful.

Elen welcomed Macsen with a warm smile, and they spent what felt like days together, talking and exploring the wondrous land. Macsen felt a deep connection with Elen and knew he had found his true love. But just as he was about to declare his love for her, he awoke from his dream.

Macsen was heartbroken to find himself back in his palace, far from the magical land and his beloved Elen. Determined to find her, he summoned his advisors and told them about his dream. He described the land, the castle, and Elen in great detail. His advisors, seeing the determination in Macsen's eyes, set out to search for the land from his dream.

They traveled far and wide, crossing mountains and rivers, but the land seemed impossible to find. Just when hope was fading, they arrived in Britain, a land that matched Macsen's dream perfectly. They found the grand castle and, to Macsen's delight, Elen.

Elen welcomed Macsen and his advisors warmly. Macsen declared his love for Elen and asked her to be his empress. Elen, who had dreamt of Macsen as well, agreed with a joyful heart. They were married in a grand ceremony, and Macsen made Elen's brothers, Cynan and Adeon, rulers of parts of his empire.

Macsen and Elen ruled together with wisdom and kindness, bringing prosperity and peace to their lands. Elen used her knowledge to help build strong, safe roads across the empire, ensuring that people could travel and trade freely. These roads became known as Elen's Ways, and they connected the distant corners of the empire.

Macsen's dream had led him to his true love and brought great joy and unity to his empire. The story of Macsen and Elen became a legend, a tale of destiny, love, and the power of dreams.

The End