| Rhiannon's Story
In the Mabinogion of Welsh mythology Rhiannon first appeared
as a beautiful otherworldly woman dressed in gold and riding
a white horse. Lord Pwyll, a nobleman, became besotted by
Rhiannon and sent his horsemen to find out who she was. After
three days, he finally chased her himself but could not catch
her. Eventually he called for her to stop for the sake of
Love and she did so. Rhiannon was promised to another, but
made an agreement with Pwyll to be his bride. After some trickery
to free her from the agreement with the other man, Pwyll and
Rhiannon were married.
After three years Rhiannon gave birth to a boy and whilst
Rhiannon slept he was cared for by 6 midwives, but the baby
disappeared.
Fearing their punishment, the midwives sought to imply that
Rhiannon had murdered her child.
Pwyll imposed a penance on Rhiannon for her alleged crime,
to remain in the court of Arberth for seven years, and to
sit every day near a horse-block outside the gate telling
her story to all that passed. In addition, she was to carry
any willing guest to the court on her back.
At the stable of King Teyrnon a mysterious beast came to
take a newborn foal; Teyrnon stopped the beast and found the
child outside the stable. He and his wife adopted him. The
child grew to adulthood in only seven years and was given
the foal which had led Teyrnon to the stable. Teyrnon realized
who the child was and returned him to Pwyll and Rhiannon,
who named him Pryderi (care).
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