The Mabinogi is a collection of

folklore tales from medieval Welsh

manuscripts.

The Godess The Godess ArianrhodArianrhod said that her son, said that her son, LleLleuu Llaw GyffesLlaw Gyffes, would never marry a human , would never marry a human woman.  lleu's uncles, woman.  lleu's uncles, MathMath and and GwydionGwydion, , didn’t think this was fair, and from the flowers didn’t think this was fair, and from the flowers of oak, broom and meadowsweet they created of oak, broom and meadowsweet they created Blodeuwedd Blodeuwedd to be lleu's bride. to be lleu's bride.

Not long after their marriage, Not long after their marriage, LleLleuu left his wife left his wife in their castle, and travelled to visit his uncles. in their castle, and travelled to visit his uncles.

A few days later, a hunting A few days later, a hunting party was spotted near the party was spotted near the castle, and castle, and BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd sent sent a messenger to find out the a messenger to find out the name of their leader, he was name of their leader, he was very handsome ‘strang’ and very handsome ‘strang’ and ‘radiant’.  It turned out to be ‘radiant’.  It turned out to be Gronw Pebyr, the Lord of Gronw Pebyr, the Lord of Penllyn.Penllyn.

Once Once Gronw Gronw and and BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd met, they fell met, they fell deeply in love, and they could not hide it.  deeply in love, and they could not hide it. 

By the time By the time GronwGronw had to leave, things had had to leave, things had gone so far that he and gone so far that he and BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd began began plotting her husband's death.  It wasn't going plotting her husband's death.  It wasn't going to be easy - after all, to be easy - after all, LLleuleu was the son of a was the son of a Goddess. Goddess.

When When LleLleuu returned, returned, BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd began began telling him how worried she was that he would telling him how worried she was that he would die one day.  die one day.  LleLleuu tried to reassure her that he tried to reassure her that he couldn't be easily killed.  In fact, he could only couldn't be easily killed.  In fact, he could only be killed in very specific (and complicated) be killed in very specific (and complicated) way... way...

You'll need:You'll need: One spear that has been worked on One spear that has been worked on 

for a whole year (on Sundays only)for a whole year (on Sundays only) One tub filled with bath waterOne tub filled with bath water One thatched roofOne thatched roof One fishing netOne fishing net One male goatOne male goat

The method:The method: Place the Place the tubtub on a riverbank at on a riverbank at midnimidnightght Cover with the thatched roofCover with the thatched roof Convince lleu to wrap himself in the Convince lleu to wrap himself in the 

fishing net, and then to place one foot on fishing net, and then to place one foot on the tub rim, and one on the goat's backthe tub rim, and one on the goat's back

Stab lleu with the spear preparedStab lleu with the spear prepared

Having sent a message to Having sent a message to Gronw PebyrGronw Pebyr telling telling him to start work on the spear, she waited him to start work on the spear, she waited patiently at patiently at LLleu'sleu's side for twelve long months. side for twelve long months.

When the year's wait was over, When the year's wait was over, Blodeuwedd Blodeuwedd went to her husband and asked him again went to her husband and asked him again about the only way in which he could be about the only way in which he could be killed.  Pretending to be worried about him killed.  Pretending to be worried about him and his future, and his future, BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd did a did a demonstration of the scenario demonstration of the scenario LlLleueu had had described to her.described to her.

And as he stood, on the goat and the tub, And as he stood, on the goat and the tub, GronwGronw emerged from the shadows and struck emerged from the shadows and struck him with the spear.him with the spear.    LLleuleu turned into an eagle turned into an eagle and flew away, muttering "How on earth did I and flew away, muttering "How on earth did I fall for that one?" under his breath. fall for that one?" under his breath.

LLleu'sleu's family eventually tracked down the family eventually tracked down the eagle and turned him back into a man.  But he eagle and turned him back into a man.  But he was pretty sick, and took over a year to heal was pretty sick, and took over a year to heal and become whole again.  During this time, and become whole again.  During this time, Blodeuwedd and GronwBlodeuwedd and Gronw lived together in the lived together in the castle. castle.

LLleuleu was determined to get his own back, and was determined to get his own back, and he organized an attack on the castle.  he organized an attack on the castle.  Blodeuwedd Blodeuwedd fled into the forest and was fled into the forest and was cornered by cornered by GwydionGwydion, one of her creators. , one of her creators.

LleuLleu then returns the favor and kills then returns the favor and kills GronwGronw with a spear.with a spear.

GwydionGwydion then punishes then punishes BlodeBlodeuwuweddedd for her for her trying to kill trying to kill LleuLleu, turning her into an owl to , turning her into an owl to live in the darkness forever. It is said that as live in the darkness forever. It is said that as the owl the owl BlodeuweddBlodeuwedd still mourns for her lost still mourns for her lost love.love.

The colours of the flowers that she was created The colours of the flowers that she was created from were white and gold; it is thus most from were white and gold; it is thus most probable that it was a Barn Owl that she was probable that it was a Barn Owl that she was formed into. Uniquely beautiful with its heart-formed into. Uniquely beautiful with its heart-shaped face the Barn Owl, haunts Britain at shaped face the Barn Owl, haunts Britain at dawn and dusk, ghost-like, its phantom dawn and dusk, ghost-like, its phantom screech echoing in the air.screech echoing in the air.