Week 12 Story: Rhiannon's Flight

Rhiannon Mabinogi had always known she was beautiful. It had turned into a running joke in her family: their spaceship lacked a figurehead, and if Rhiannon was ever too sassy, some person or other would threaten to make her their figurehead. Not that she was ever worried - with her quick wits and tongue, there was little she could not get herself out of.

Spaceship. Link. 

Except her impending marriage to that baseless cur Gwawl.

Okay, so maybe he wasn't really a baseless cur. Probably she had just been reading too many stories of her ancestral homeland. But she did not like him, and she certainly did not love him. At every port he called at he took the best of the planet's resources without heed to the needs of its inhabitants. All he wanted to do was monopolize the space economy. And once he had blockaded the Mabinogi home port, there was nothing her father could offer but Rhiannon herself. Maybe baseless cur wasn't too far from the mark, she thought as she adjusted her veil.

Now the Mabinogi were a proud bunch. As her father walked her down the aisle, he whispered in her ear, "Humiliate him, Rhiannon. Humiliate him."

This she was already prepared to do. She activated the portal-maker hidden on the dress, and left Gwawl screaming at the altar. She went first to collect her pod and cloaking device, then took off through time to the land of her dreams, the ancient homeland of the Mabinogi, where the man who had enchanted her across the pages dwelt.

She calculated her course to arrive at the mounds of mystery, which the people of Dyfed believed led to another world. It was easy for her to cloak her pod so that it resembled a horse. She kept it at a speed just faster than whatever the speed of her pursuers was, until the king himself, Pwyll of Dyfed, came riding after her. He called out to her to stop, and she slowed.

"Of course I will stop. It would have been easier on your horse if you had asked me earlier."

Rhiannon. Link. 

"Where have you come from lady? And what are you here for?" His eyes shown with wonder and admiration.

"From a land far away, a land of mystery."

"You are indeed most powerful, my lady. What brings you to my humble land?"

"You, my king. I flee one I do not love to find the one I do, that I might marry him."

There was no doubting King Pwyll's response as he gazed at her. Gwawl would certainly come after her, but she would be ready for him.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabinogion, link.

Author's Note: In the original story, Rhiannon comes from the Otherworld through a magical mound. She rides on a horse that is always just ahead of her pursuers, until Pwyll, the king, calls out to her. She is fleeing from an unwanted suitor and is in love with Pwyll. I liked her sassiness and wanted to give more of an explanation of her background. I replaced magic with sci-fi tech.

Reading Notes: The Mabigonion, Part B

I was initially confused by the part about weirs, so I looked them up. Apparently it's a type of small dam that can trap fish. In this story, the fish are harvested yearly. Except when a baby is harvested instead.

One of the most striking things to me was the extensive use of religious language and references in Taliesin's songs. His story itself is reminiscent of the story of Moses, who was drawn up by a princess out of the water. In the last song he connects it to the history of the British (or Britons, or Brython, which comes from the Welsh spelling) in contrast with the Saxons. It's important to remember that British is not synonymous with English and originally meant the Celtic inhabitants and their languages. Well, some of the languages - the Gaelic ones are in a slightly different branch, though more closely related to the Brittonic languages than to say, English/Anglo-Saxon and the Germanic languages. 

Pre-Anglo-Saxon Britain, Brythonic area in red. Link.

I did not originally picture it, but when Taliesin was first singing to and about Elphin, he would have been a baby. How cute would a baby bard be, singing away far more intelligently than his age. I know there's a movie called Boss Baby - maybe I could write a sequel called Bard Baby. Though the original story reminds me of a musical, what with Taliesin bursting into song all the time. I don't know whether they sing in Boss Baby. People even get kidnapped, and there is a villain they have to outsmart.

The theme of boasting and honor is key to these stories. How is reneging on a word directly dishonorable but using magical means not? Like the bottomless bag or the hollies in the race? It is interesting that boasting in and of itself does not negate honor.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabigonion, link.

Reading Notes: The Mabigonion, Part A

I am looking forward to reading the Mabinogion, as it was one of the stories I discovered when I was looking ahead.

I found this table of Welsh orthography to be useful for pronouncing the names, since Welsh spelling, though straightforward, is different from English spelling.

I am particularly fond of Rhiannon's character, although I do not understand why she is in love with Pwyll. Was it because of what she had heard of his character? Had she met him before? What is the source of her magic powers, like her ability to stay ahead of anyone that Pwyll sends after her or the magic bag that she makes? I like how sassy and decisive she is. Some of my favorite quotes that show her sassiness are below.

Rhiannon. Web Source: Wikipedia.

"I will stay gladly," said she, "and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it long since." 

This is after Pwyll has been chasing her and sending soldiers on horseback after her, none of whom were able to catch up to her.

"Never did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast done."

This is after Pwyll promises a man any boon, and he then asks for her hand in marriage. I like how even though she is head over heels in love with Pwyll she does not hesitate to criticize him. It would be fun to rewrite the story from her perspective.

I feel bad though that she had to bear such a penance though she had done no wrong. To constantly have to admit to such a terrible crime as eating one's child while completely innocent and probably grieving would be miserable. How does she not turn out bitter and angry?

It's nice to read a story that's all connected, instead of a bunch of short stories. The flow helps it move faster.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabinogion, link.