And so we made our way to Dyfed. With us travelled the 5 other survivors of the war. As we rode, and when we made camp, the young Bard Taliesin sang the songs of the land, of hill, of valley, of lake and mountain stream. He told the tales of the Old People, the songs of standing stone and sacred mound, and the time passed as sure as night follows day. 

Verse 1

There was a time I was sure,

I might see my home nevermore,

The blood and the tears of the war,

Would last forever.

Our King gazes over the sea,

Two blessed ravens fly high and fly free,

And I pray that I’ll always be,

Here forever.

Bridge

Where high water falls into valleys below,

And Merlin’s great mountains are painted with snow.

The circles of stones whisper stories of long ago.

Chorus

For if ever I may roam,

From the Stones and Bones of Albion,

The land and sea my home,

My heart will always remain.

How I need to hear the songs,

From the Stones and Bones of Albion,

This is where my soul belongs,

The Shining Brow singing from every tree,

The birds, the beasts, 

Sing the Stones and Bones of Albion.

Verse 2

Hear as Song of the Wind,

Joins with the voice of the Bard as he sings,

Of magic and cauldrons and Kings,

Forever,

Sing of the Wisdom of trees,

How the Druids told all of their Lore to the bees,

Reflected in all that he sees,

Forever.

Bridge

As the high water falls into valleys below,

And Merlin’s great mountains are painted with snow.

The circles of stones whisper stories of long ago.

Verse 3

What are these visions I see,

Of oak, of broom, of meadowsweet,

Of eyes that yearn to be free,

Forever,

Two dragons take to the wing,

A sword is drawn from a stone he sings,

A boy born to be King,

Forever.

And so the four of us, with our entire retinue, made our way up the hill of Gorsedd Arberth, just as my father had done. 

What possessed me to make that suggestion? 

I thought, at the time, it was free will, but hindsight is a powerful thing, and of course, I soon understood that it was once more the influence of Annwn, gently guiding my fate, as it always had done.

Verse 1

An uninvited guest,

Whispered words only I can hear,

Such a kind request,

Come, it says, there is nothing there to fear.

My feet upon the land

Where years gone past my Father trod before

Shadow silhouettes,

Phantom hands they open up the door.

Chorus:

Won’t you come and walk with me

It’s how the story goes

Such a wonder there to see

On this hill

This hollow hill

Once more. 

Verse 2

In my mother’s eyes,

The path has gone there’s nowhere left to run,

Lightning fills the sky,

The darkened moon creeps across the sun.

Whispered magic words,

Bind us in this tragic rendezvous

And from between the worlds,

Annwn’s breath comes ever seeping through.

Verse 3

North, south, west and east,

The mist withdraws. See what is revealed,

No building bird or beast,

No corn or farmer working in the field.

Have I gone insane?

A puppet hanging from another’s hand,

Am I the one to blame?

Have I brought this curse upon the land?

As Rhiannon rode out from Glyn Cuch into the sunlight the shadow-figure pursuing her stopped, let out an anguished cry, and disappeared back into the forest. The castle stood in the valley below, its gate, and the door to the inner keep lay open.

Verse 1

I can feel you near,

Come to me now,

There’s nothing to fear,

What do you see?

Surrender now,

Your curiosity.

I am,

The Universe touched by Divinity,

I stand, 

With endless chains into eternity.

Chorus

I will not boil for one foresworn,

Spells cast in a gathering storm,

Pour vengeance, malice, blood and scorn,

And from the void your will,

Your will is born.

Verse 2

Yes I have your son,

Run to him now,

The spell is nearly done,

Reach out your hands,

To shining pearls,

You still don’t understand,

His eyes,

Wide with fear this feels just like a dream,

The prize

As doors they close upon your silent scream.

Verse 3

The castle slowly turns,

Beneath me now,

A kindled fire burns,

Breath of the Nine,

A shroud of mist,

Now that you are mine,

See how,

We fade away, as darkness starts to fall,

And now,

An ocean roars beyond these castle walls.

That morning he snatched the glove from above the fireplace and walked the path to Gorsedd Arberth. Along the way he cut two twigs from a blackthorn tree which he fashioned into small poles, a hook on each end, then he cut another to form the gibbet. He appreciated his handiwork as he climbed up to the top of the hill. Once there he pushed the first two twigs into the earth, balanced the third on the two hooks, then got out a small piece of twine, fashioned a noose, and tied it to the crosspiece of the tiny gibbet…

Verse 1

Empty lands and barren fields,

For 7 years is all I have known,

I have known.

Who is this approaching me,

On Arberth’s hill I see I’m not alone,

Not alone.

The poet shakes his head and his decree,

“This act it is beneath you can’t you see?”

Offers me a pound to set it free

Set it free

Chorus

It’s a thief and it will be a thief no more,

I will hang it in accordance with the law,

With its little legs a-dangling it will sway

I swear that it won’t see another day,

Now be on your way

Verse 2

A tiny twig, a length of twine,

And this evil thief will soon atone,

Soon atone,

But who is this approaching me,

On Arberth’s hill I see I’m not alone,

Not alone.

A Priest shakes his head and his decree,

“This act it is beneath you can’t you see?”

Offers me three pounds to set it free

Set it free

Verse 3

The little noose around its neck,

Soon this thief will be as cold as stone,

Cold as stone,

But who is this approaching me,

On Arberth’s hill I see I’m not alone,

Not alone.

A Druid shakes his head and his decree,

“This act it is beneath you can’t you see?”

Offers 7 pounds to set it free

Offer all the horses I can see,

And all the bags they’re carrying to me,

To set it free

Chorus

It’s a thief and it will be a thief no more,

I will hang it in accordance with the law,

With its little legs a-dangling it will sway,

The Druid asks how much he needs to pay,

I say you have an unhealthy love of mice,

The Druid says to me name your price,

Name your price