Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Gwythead and Gwydion

Math had two nephews, Gwythead and Gwydion.

Gwythead was a strong warrior, whose skills in arms were unmatched throughout Math's realms. In trials of sword or lance, Gwythead was always first among Math's liege kinsmen.When he was a young boy of nine, he bested two of the kingdom's greatest swordsman. He was perhaps the greatest swords yet seen. But still, he was merciful in as well, never drawing his sword in earnest lest it be to protect the weak or to defend the honour of his liege lord or kinsmen.

Gwythead spent his days hunting the forests and wilder lands of his holdings and spent his evenings in his Great Hall. His table was always well provisioned, and any traveler could find a night of safety and refuge in Gwythead's hall. He had a particular love of music, and the wandering bards found themselves well-received in his keep, so much so that they often spent several weeks in his company. As such, his halls were always filled with music and laughter.

Gwythead's younger brother Gwydion, was a powerful sorcerer and could change his form into that of the beasts of the land and the birds of the air. So too, was he able to converse with the many beasts and birds, and so he learned many secrets of the untamed places that men dare not go; but spending so much time with the wild things instilled in the prince a similar wildness as well. It was rare for the Gwydion to spend more than two or three nights in any given place.

It was not uncommon for the young prince to take the form of a hunting hawk or a great eagle. He would fly throughout his lands surveying the works of his people, from the highest lord to lowliest waif. Ofttimes, he would stop here or there at the halls of his liege lords or the cots of his craftsmen to inspect the planting of grains or the sheering of sheep. Indeed, in this way Gwydion became well known to every petty knight and artisan  in his holdings, and for this he was well-loved.

The Princes had many great adventures and the tales of their deeds were sung by the bards in the far corners of the Nine Realms, and some of those stories and told herein.

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