The Lady of Lake Fan Fach
Morwyn Llyn y Fan Fach

by pupils and teachers
of Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire Wales

original illustrations by Rachel Waters
music composed and arranged by Lucas Palanek

Intro

We do hope you will enjoy the legend from my little village – Myddfai – in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in south west Wales. Thrilled that our first e-book is our legend!

I thought children could create e-books of local stories and I was delighted that Mrs Griffiths – head teacher of our local secondary school Bro Dinefwr in Llandeilo – loved the idea!

We hope you will be inspired by what these children have achieved and will want to record your stories too. The project was student led. It had to be an extra-curicular activity – no space in the school timetable! Students aged 13 and 14 wrote their version of our Legend: they wrote and acted in the play, and Lucas wrote the music and recruited other student musicians. I’m very proud of what they, with encouragement from their teachers, have achieved. However, this is not the end of our story! One of the great things about an e-book is that it can be edited – we will add the next chapter. This legend turned into history – the Physicians of Myddfai – court Physicians to The Lord Rhys. We believe that they wrote the first herbal in the world!

All over the world there are grannies & children and STORIES!

We can now record ALL the stories! The only equipment you really need is a mobile phone! You could decide to involve the whole community – as they did in Llandovery – just a roller coaster drive away from Myddfai. https://youtu.be/br52io7sfa8 is an illustration of how a community came together to tell a story. The youngest ‘actor’ a babe in arms; the oldest, Dai is over 80. I will be pleased to send you a presentation, the concept and how to do it.

You can record your history; culture; traditions – create e-books of your stories. Once on line they can be saved forever and ever – Amen

Looking forward to seeing your stories.

My next step is to get some funding for a super duper website to house all your stories.

I want the books to be a free download but would welcome your help via localgiving.org/appeal/grandmasdigitallibrary

God Bless
Val

Mrs Valerie Wood-Gaiger MBE

valwoodgaiger@aol.com or contact me via Learn with Grandma on Facebook

The Lady of the Lake

High up in a hollow of the Black Mountains of South Wales is a lonely sheet of water called Llyn y Fan Fach. Here, many years ago, there lived a lonely shepherd boy with his widowed mother. Following the death of his brothers in the war, the young boy soon started to take on more responsibility on the family farm, Blaensawdde.

The boy began to happily learn the ways of farming and soon became skilled, understanding more about growing crops and looking after animals than any other farmer around.

‘Mother’, the boy said one day, ‘is it not time for me to find a wife?’

‘Who will you marry?’ asked his mother.

‘That’, said the boy, ‘I do not know yet.’

Not long after, the young man was sending his cattle up to the mountain to graze. The sun was beating down; the sky was as blue as sapphires and the water was lapping at the lakeside. The air was so sweet, that the young man fell asleep. Just then he thought he heard a voice calling to him in his dreams:

‘In drowsing and in dreams
Naught’s what it seems;
All’s an illusion
That grows from delusion.
If your true love you’d see,
Then see her in me;
So quick, lad, awake,
And look on the lake.’

Quickly he sat up and rubbed his eyes. There on a rock was a woman more beautiful than any he had ever seen, singing her song. She was so beautiful, queens of the world could not equal her in her beauty.

She was combing her hair, which was as shiny as gold. Her neck was as white as the foam on a wave; her lips were as red as the reddest foxglove and her eyes as blue the summer sky. Suddenly his heart began to pound, and he could not believe the sight before his eyes. “I must be dreaming,” the shepherd remarked, “because I wish so to find someone to love.”

The young man was afraid he would frighten the lady away, so he held out some cheese and bread that his mother had baked for him. The beautiful maiden glided across the lake and took his offer of food. The food however was not to her taste and she declared:

‘Too hard is your bread:
Not with that I’ll fed.’

At this she plunged back under the surface of the water and the young man feared she had gone forever.

When he returned home, he told his mother what had happened with the hard-baked bread.

‘True son,’ his mother replied, ‘I did bake the bread harder than usual. The young lady must have feared she would break her tooth. Do not worry, all that is wrong can be mended before morn,’ and without delay she set about baking another loaf of bread.

The next morning the young man set off to the lake once more, hoping to see his true love again. Minute followed minute and hour followed hour and still the beautiful lady did not come. Eventually, just as he was giving up hope, she appeared. She was as beautiful as ever, as she sat upon a rock combing her golden hair.

The young man called to the lady and again offered her the bread and goat’s cheese he had brought for his lunch. This time however the lady cried:

‘Too soft is your bread:
Not by that I’ll be led.’

No sooner had the words left her lips, than she again plunged beneath the surface of the water.

When the young man returned home once more, looking sad and weary, he told his mother what had happened.

‘True son,’ she said, ‘I did bake the bread softer than I usually do, but do not fear, this time it will be perfect.’

Again the next morning, the young man drove his cattle up to the lake as usual. All day he waited, though there was no sign of his beautiful lady. Then just as he was about to return home, she appeared through the mist.

‘Maiden,’ he cried. ‘Unless you love me, it is no better for me to live than to die’.

‘A pity,’ she said, ‘for someone as young as you to die,’ and as the young man held out his bread for her, she ate a small piece.

To his delight, the lady thought the bread had been baked perfectly this time, and she said:

‘True baked is your bread:
And with that I’ll be wed.’

‘But remember,’ she added, as he jumped for joy on the bank, ‘if during our marriage you strike me three causeless blows, you shall lose me straightaway and forever.’

She had barely finished speaking when she plunged below the surface of the water, returning with her father and twin sister. The two girls were identical in their beauty and the young man struggled to tell them apart.

‘I hear you wish to marry one of my daughters,’ said the bearded gentleman.

‘Yes,’ replied the young man, ‘if she does not marry me I fear I shall die.’

‘A pity,’ answered the older man. ‘To marry my daughter, just tell me which of my daughters it is that you love. Is she on the right or on the left?’

The young man fell silent, he had no idea. He started to speak, but then fell as dumb as a doorknob.

‘Well,’ said the girls’ father, ‘either you grow dumb or I grow deaf.’

At this point, desperate to help her beloved, one of the sisters moved her foot ever so slightly forward to show that it was her. No-one else saw the movement, but it told the man which sister he loved.

‘This,’ said the young man, ‘is the woman I love.’

‘You are correct,’ said the girls’ father. ‘You may marry my daughter, but just remember, if you strike my daughter three times, you will lose her forever.’

As a present for their wedding the gentleman agreed to give the couple as many sheep, cattle and goats as his daughter could count in one breath. At this, she tightened her eyes and took the mightiest breath she could, counting faster than a fly-wing’s beat. Just as she had finished counting, the animals came splashing out of the lake, baaing and mooing as they did so. The family said their farewells and the couple returned to Blaensawdde to start their lives together.

Soon the couple were married and together produced three fine sons. They lived at Esgair Llaethdy about three miles from the lake and were as happy as any couple could be. Then one day during the spring, the couple attended the christening of one of their neighbours’ children. The husband was ready to go, though his wife was taking a lot of time.

‘Lady wife,’ he called, ‘why are you not ready yet?’ and he tapped her gently on the arm.

‘You forget your manners husband,’ she said. ‘Do you not recall our agreement not to strike me a blow? Pay more attention next time,’ and from that day on they agreed to be much more careful.

It was in the summer when the husband and wife were invited to a wedding. All of the guests were full of joy and happy for the newly-married couple; the bride looked as pretty as a picture and the groom as handsome as a film star. As the happy couple were being greeted by their guests, the lady burst into tears.

‘Wife, wife,’ the man urged, tapping her on the arm, ‘why are you weeping at this happy time?’

‘I weep,’ said his wife, ‘because their troubles are just beginning and so are ours as that is the second blow you have given me. Be very careful not to strike a third.’

Much time went on and the couple were as happy as ever. One sad day in autumn, the couple attended a funeral of one of their friends. Everyone there was full of grief and hurt, but at the most serious part of the service, the man was astonished to hear his wife burst out laughing.

‘Please wife,’ the husband urged tapping his wife on the arm, ‘is this really the place for laughter?’

‘I laugh,’ she told her husband, ‘because the dead man’s troubles are over and so is our marriage, for that is the third causeless blow. Farewell husband, forever,’ and she left the funeral and returned to Esgair Llaethdy.

When she got back to the farm, she called all of the animals to her and the sheep, cattle and goats all followed her up the mountain. Under the silver moonlight, the lady, accompanied by her animals, splashed into the lake, leaving no trace behind them.

Morwyn y Llyn

Fry mewn pant yn y Mynyddoedd Du yn Ne Cymru mae llen o ddŵr unig o’r enw Llyn y Fan Fach. Yma, sawl blwyddyn yn ôl, roedd bugail unig yn byw gyda’i fam weddw. Wedi i’w frodyr farw yn y rhyfel, cymerodd y bachgen ifanc fwy o gyfrifoldeb o ‘r fferm deuluol, Blaensawdde.

Roedd y bachgen wrth ei fodd yn dysgu’r dulliau ffermio a chyn bo hir roedd yn fedrus, ac yn deall mwy am dyfu cnydau a gofalu am anifeiliaid nag unrhyw ffermwr arall yn y cylch.

‘Mam’, dywedodd y bachgen un diwrnod, ‘onid yw hi’n bryd i mi ffeindio gwraig?’

‘Pwy fyddi di’n priodi?’ gofynnodd ei fam.

‘Mae hynny’, dywedodd y bachgen, ‘yn rhywbeth nad ydw i’n ei wybod eto.’

Yn fuan wedyn, roedd y dyn ifanc yn gyrru ei wartheg i fyny’r mynydd i bori. Roedd yr haul yn danbaid; roedd yr awyr mor glir â grisial ac roedd y dŵr yn llepian ar y lan y llyn. Roedd yr aer mor felys, cysgodd y dyn ifanc. Yna credodd iddo glywed llais yn galw arno yn ei freuddwydion:

‘Wrth hepian a breuddwydio
Dydy pethau ddim fel y credir;
Rhith yw popeth
Sy’n tyfu o rithdyb.
Pe baet yn gweld dy gariad,
Yna fi yw honno;
Felly, ar frys, lanc, deffra,
Ac edrycha ar y llyn.’

Eisteddodd yn gyflym a rhwbiodd ei lygaid. Yno ar graig roedd y ferch brydferthaf a welodd erioed, yn canu ei chân. Roedd hi mor brydferth, ni allai breninesau’r byd gymharu â hi o ran prydferthwch.

Roedd yn cribo ei gwallt, oedd mor sgleiniog ag aur. Roedd ei gwddf mor wyn ag ewyn y don; roedd ei gwefusau mor goch â’r bysedd y cŵn cochaf ac roedd ei llygaid mor las ag awyr yr haf. Yn sydyn dechreuodd ei galon guro, ac ni allai gredu’r olygfa oedd o’i flaen. “Rhaid mod i’n breuddwydio,” dywedodd y bugail, “am fy mod cymaint o eisiau ffeindio rhywun i’w charu.”

Roedd y dyn ifanc yn ofni y byddai’n brawychu’r ferch a byddai’n diflannu, felly estynnodd beth caws a bara a bobodd ei fam iddo. Llithrodd y forwyn brydferth ar draws y llyn a derbyn ei gynnig o fwyd. Ond nid oedd y bwyd at ei blas a dywedodd:

‘Rhy gras dy fara:
Nid wy’n ei fwyta.’

Ar hyn plymiodd nôl dan wyneb y dŵr ac ofnodd y dyn ifanc ei bod wedi diflannu am byth.

Pan ddychwelodd adref, dywedodd wrth ei fam beth a ddigwyddodd gyda’r bara cras.

‘Gwir fab,’ atebodd ei fam, ‘fe bobais y bara’n grasach nag arfer. Rhaid bod y wraig ifanc yn poeni y byddai’n torri ei dant. Paid â phoeni, gellir unioni popeth sydd o’i le cyn y bore,’ ac yn ddi-oed aeth ati i bobi torth arall o fara.

Bore trannoeth aeth y dyn ifanc i’r llyn unwaith eto, gan obeithio gweld ei gariad unwaith eto. Aeth y munudau’n oriau ond ni ddaeth y wraig brydferth. Ymhen hir a hwyr, fel yr oedd yn anobeithio, ymddangosodd. Roedd mor brydferth ag erioed, wrth eistedd ar graig yn cribo ei gwallt euraidd.

Galwodd y dyn ifanc ar y forwyn ac unwaith eto cynigiodd ei ginio o fara a chaws gafr iddi. Ond y tro hwn dywedodd y forwyn:

‘Mae dy fara’n rhy feddal:
Ni fydd hwn y f’arwain.’

Cyn gynted ag y llefarodd y geiriau, plymiodd unwaith eto dan arwyneb y dŵr.

Wedi i’r llanc ddychwelyd adref unwaith eto, yn edrych yn drist a blinedig, dywedodd wrth ei fam beth a ddigwyddodd.

‘Gwir fab,’ dywedodd, ‘fe bobais y bara’n feddalach nag arfer, ond paid â phoeni, y tro hwn fe fydd yn berffaith.’

Unwaith eto, bore trannoeth, gyrrodd y dyn ifanc ei wartheg i’r llyn fel arfer. Arhosodd yno trwy’r dydd, er nad oedd unrhyw olwg o’i forwyn brydferth. Yna, pan oedd ar fin dychwelyd adref, ymddangosodd trwy’r niwl.

‘Forwyn,’ dywedodd, ‘oni bai dy fod yn fy ngharu, dydy hi ddim yn well i mi fyw na marw’.

‘Trueni,’ dywedodd, ‘i rywun mor ifanc â thi farw,’ ac wrth i’r llanc estyn ei fara iddi, bwytodd ddarn bach.

Er mawr foddhad iddo, roedd y forwyn yn credu bod y bara wedi’i bobi’n berffaith y tro hwn, a dywedodd:

‘Pobwyd dy fara’n berffaith:
A gyda hynny fe’th briodaf.’

‘Ond cofia,’ ychwanegodd, wrth iddo neidio mewn llawenydd ar y lan, ‘os wyt yn fy nharo’n ddiangen deirgwaith yn ystod ein priodas, bydd di’n fy ngholli ar unwaith ac am byth.’

Prin oedd wedi gorffen siarad pan blymiodd dan wyneb y dŵr, gan ddychwelyd at ei thad a’i efaill o chwaer. Roedd y ddwy ferch yr un ffunud yn union yn ei phrydferthwch a chafodd y llanc anhawster gwahaniaethu rhyngddynt.

‘Rwy’n clywed dy fod am briodi un o’m merched,’ dywedodd y gŵr bonheddig barfog.

‘Ydw,’ atebodd y llanc, ‘os na fydd yn fy mhriodi rwy’n ofni y byddaf farw.’

‘Trueni,’ atebodd y gŵr hŷn. ‘Er mwyn priodi fy merch, dywed wrthyf pa un o’m merched rwyt yn ei charu. Ydy hi ar y dde neu’r chwith?’

Aeth y llanc yn dawel, doedd dim syniad ganddo. Dechreuodd siarad, ond yna roedd yn gwbl fud.

‘Wel,’ dywedodd tad y ferch, ‘rwyt ti naill ai’n fud neu rwyf i’n fyddar.’

Yr adeg hon, yn daer i helpu ei chariad, symudodd un o’r chwiorydd ei throed ychydig i ddangos mai hi oedd yr un. Ni welodd neb arall y symudiad, ond roedd y llanc yn gwybod pa chwaer a garai.

‘Hon,’ dywedodd y llanc, ‘yw’r ferch a garaf.’

‘Rwyt yn gywir,’ dywedodd tad y ferch. ‘Fe elli di briodi fy merch, ond cofia, os bydd di’n taro fy merch deirgwaith, byddi di’n ei cholli am byth.’

Fe anrheg priodas cytunodd y gŵr i roi i’r pâr ifanc gymaint o ddefaid, gwartheg a geifr ag y medrai ei ferch eu cyfrif mewn un anadl. Wedi clywed hyn, caeodd ei llygaid a chymerodd yr anadl fwyaf posibl, a chyfri’n gyflymach nag ewig. Wedi iddi orffen cyfrif, ymddangosodd yr anifeiliaid o’r llyn, gan frefu. Ffarweliodd y teulu a dychwelodd y pâr ifanc i Flaensawdde i ddechrau ar eu bywyd priodasol.

Cyn bo hir priodwyd y pâr ifanc a ganwyd tri mab iddynt. Roeddent yn byw yn Esgair Llaethdy tua thair milltir o’r llyn ac roeddent mor hapus ag y medrai unrhyw bâr fod. Yna un diwrnod yn ystod y gwanwyn, aeth y pâr i fedydd un o blant eu cymdogion. Roedd y gŵr yn barod i fynd, ond roedd ei wraig yn cymryd ei hamser.

‘Wraig,’ galwodd, ‘pam nad wyt yn barod eto?’ a tharodd hi’n ysgafn ar ei braich.

‘Rwyt ti’n anghofio dy foesau, ŵr,’ dywedodd. ‘Wyt ti ddim yn cofio ein cytundeb i beidio â’m taro? Bydd yn fwy gwyliadwrus y tro nesaf,’ ac o’r dydd hwnnw ymlaen cytunon nhw i fod yn llawer mwy gofalus.

Yn ystod un haf gwahoddwyd y gŵr a’r wraig i briodas. Roedd y gwahoddedigion i gyd yn llawen a hapus ar ran y pâr ifanc; roedd y ferch briodas yn dlws dros ben ac roedd y gŵr mor olygus â seren ffilm. Pan oedd y gwahoddedigion yn croesawu’r pâr ifanc, roedd y forwyn yn beichio wylo.

‘Wraig, wraig,’ dywedodd ei gŵr, gan ei tharo ar ei braich, ‘pan wyt ti’n crio ar yr adeg hapus hon?’

‘Rwy’n crio,’ atebodd ei wraig, ‘am fod eu trafferthion ond megis dechrau fel y mae ein rhai ninnau oherwydd dyna’r ail dro i ti fy nharo. Bydd yn ofalus iawn rhag fy nharo am y trydydd tro.’

Aeth llawer o amser heibio ac roedd y pâr mor hapus ag erioed. Un diwrnod trist yn yr hydref, aeth y pâr i angladd un o’u ffrindiau. Roedd pawb yno’n llawn galar a thristwch, ond ar adeg ddwysaf y gwasanaeth, synnwyd y dyn i glywed ei wraig yn chwerthin.

‘Os gweli di’n dda, wraig,’ dywedodd y gŵr gan daro ei wraig ar ei braich, ‘ai hyn yw’r lle i chwerthin?’

‘Rwy’n chwerthin,’ dywedodd wrth ei gŵr, ‘am fod gofidiau’r dyn marw drosodd fel y mae ein priodas, gan mai dyna’r trydydd ergyd diangen. Ffarwel ŵr annwyl, am byth,’ a gadawodd yr angladd a dychwelyd i Esgair Llaethdy.

Pan gyrhaeddodd y fferm, galwodd ar ei hanifeiliaid i gyd a dilynodd y defaid, gwartheg a geifr hi i fyny’r mynydd. Dan olau lleuad ariannog, aeth y forwyn, a’i hanifeiliaid, nôl i’r llyn, a diflannu’n llwyr.

The Lady of the Lake - Script

Narrator: This is a tale of love and despair
No happy ever afters will you find there...

Deep in the heart of the Brecon Beacons
A young man called Rhiwallon who
After a hard day
Needed a brew
So he went home to his mother
Who was like no other
As she baked
Her feet ached

Rhiwallon: Mam I’m home

Mother: How was your day son?

Rhiwallon: Very good thanks Mam! How was yours?

Mother: Busy making bread for you my hard-working son.

(Rhiwallon thinking, pondering)

Rhiwallon: Mother is it not time for me to find a wife?

Mother: Who will you marry Rhiwallon?

Rhiwallon: That I have not worked out yet.

Mother: How about the Jones’s daughters? Their very pretty.

Rhiwallon: Mam they only had two sons.

Mother: Oh I did not realise.

Narrator: The very next day
Rhiwallon is on his way
To tend to his sheep
He then fell asleep
By the beautiful lake
Of Llyn-y-fan

Rhiwallon: Oh my! It’s warm today. I think I’ll take a break and rest for a moment.

Narrator: Rhiwallon awakes
And looks over the lake
He sees a beautiful lady swimming
And he starts grinning
As he watches her brush
Her long silky hair

Rhiwallon: Oh my dear maiden how fine you look today! May I offer you a small token of my affection? A small slice of bread and some goat’s cheese that my mother kindly made for me.

Narrator: The beautiful lady slowly glides
Across the peaceful lake
To where Rhiwallon was standing
She decided to taste the bread
Rhiwallon was handling

Maiden: This bread is too hard. I shall not eat this piece of bread.

Narrator: The beautiful Lady dives back into the lake
Without a second glance
Not giving him a second glance...

Rhiwallon: Please, please I beg of you to return!! Beautiful lady of the lake...

Narrator: A splash on the water was all that was left
And Rhiwallon thought he’d lost his chance

Rhiwallon: Mother, Mother I urge you to bake another loaf of bread! Softer this time for the beautiful lady of the lake of whom I wish to marry.

Mother: Alright my precious son, I admit I had overbaked it today. I apologise sincerely for my mistake.

Narrator: The very next morning
As the day was dawning
Rhiwallon returns to the lake
Wanting a second chance
He sat all day in the hay
The clouds turned devilishly grey
As he went on his way
The lady made an elaborate display of combing her long golden hair.

Rhiwallon: My dear maiden I have brought you a softer loaf of bread and a finer slice of goat’s cheese. I beg of you to try some my mother made especially for you.

Narrator: The lady glides across the lake
And tries the bread with dread

Maiden: This bread is too soft, how dare you feed me such a horrible loaf of bread.

Narrator: The lady of the lake disappeared
Rhiwallon feared
That he’d lost his love
He felt really ‘weird.’

Rhiwallon: Mother the Lady of the lake said the bread was too soft this time what are we to do?

Mother: I admit, that I made softer bread than usual. I will make it just perfect next time. I promise you.

Narrator: The very next day
Rhiwallon began his way
To search for his beloved
He took the perfect bread
Hoping they would be wed
He waited all day
Sitting in the hay
He began to give up hope
And he felt he couldn’t cope
When once again she appears...

Rhiwallon: Oh my dear I thought you never would arrive! I have been waiting all day for you. I have brought the best loaf of bread and the finest goat’s cheese in all the land. I hope it’s perfect for you my dearest.

Maiden: This bread is absolutely delightful, we shall be married on the condition that you pass the next task.

Rhiwallon: What is the task my beautiful....?

Narrator: The lady dives and returns
And young Rhiwallon learns
That she’s a twin
And he gives a wide grin

Father: Well, Rhiwallon, you have captured the heart of my dearest daughter! If you wish to marry my daughter then you must tell me which one of these ladies is your true love.

Narrator: The maiden lifts her foot
Rhiwallon notices she’s not barefoot

Rhiwallon: The maiden on the left is my beloved I wish us to be married good Sir!

Father: There are some conditions to your marrying my daughter...

Rhiwallon: Yes ..... whatever you desire.

Father: Listen carefully, If you strike my daughter 3 times without cause, she shall be banished back to me in the lake for the rest of eternity and you, Rhiwallon, shall never see her again.

Rhiwallon: Yes kind sir! I will never strike your beautiful daughter. Come with me my sweetheart and we shall be wed on the morrow.

Narrator: It is the morning
of the wedding
And the joy is spreading

Vicar: Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to witness the union of Rhiwallon and the Lady in holy harmony, which is an honourable estate, that is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly. Do you Rhiwallon take the lady of the lake to be your lawfully wedded wife for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse,in sickness and in health?

Rhiwallon: I do

Vicar: Do you the lady of the lake take Rhiwallon to be your lawfully wedded husband for richer, for poorer, for better, or for worse, in sickness and in health?

Maiden: I do.

Vicar: I can now pronounce you man and wife.

(The couple kiss)

Father: Congratulations my new son-in-law and my dearest daughter! As my gift to you, you can have as many cattle and sheep as my daughter can count in one breath.

Maiden: Oh.....thank you Father

Father: AND remember our agreement Rhiwallon.

Narrator: Soon after the wedding
Three boys were born
Cadwgan, Gruffydd and Einion

The morn came it was a Christening day
What a grey day it would be.

Rhiwallon: Why aren’t you ready yet sweetheart? We’re going to be late. You need to hurry.

Narrator: The lady is late
Rhiwallon will not wait
A tap on the arm
Will cause alarm
Her father did appear

Father: That is your first strike Rhiwallon. Two more strikes and your wife will be banished back to the lake forever more.

Rhiwallon: Oh my goodness! I sincerely apologise! I didn’t mean for that to happen! Please forgive me! It will never happen again!

Father: I do not forgive you. We had an agreement. Two more strikes and she will be banished back to the lake.

Narrator: Rhiwallon knew he’d done wrong
But knew he had to stay strong
Banishment was near for the couple here
The invitation to the wedding came
There was happiness all around
And too his shame
His lady shed some tears

Rhiwallon: Why are you crying? This is such a happy occasion! The joining of two souls...doesn’t it remind you of our wedding?

Maiden: I cry because their troubles are just beginning for them....they have a lot more grief in store for them.

Narrator: Another tap on the arm
Causes more alarm
Once again her father did appear

(The guests freeze as the father appears)

Father: Be warned that is your second strike one more strike and your wife will return to the lake, and so will the livestock that I gifted you.

Rhiwallon: Oh my goodness! How could I be so inconsiderate? I sincerely apologise once again for my mistake. I will ensure that this never happens again!

Father: This is your last chance! If this ever happens again, she shall be banished back to the lake with me for eternity.

Narrator: A poof and he’s gone
The lady’s face looks drawn as she felt like a pawn
In the game of love and despair
Soon after,
A dearest friend has passed away
A funeral there is today
There’s heartbreak in the air
A laugh sounds from all around

The guests begin to glare
It’s the lady who’s a laughing
Her laughter was just fleeting
From memories of a happier meeting...

Rhiwallon: This is inappropriate my sweetheart. This isn’t the place or the time for laughter! What is so funny?

(Rhiwallon gently taps her on the arm.)

Maiden: I am laughing because of the happy memories we shared...... all his troubles are over. Like our marriage ...that is over too.....as that is the third time you have struck me.

(The father appears for the final time and the funeral guests can’t see the father, they mime throughout this scene in slow-motion: small movements – so that the audience aren’t distracted)

Father: Come with me darling daughter. It is time for you to return to the lake, your marriage is over. I am disappointed in you Rhiwallon!

Narrator: The unfortunate events
Caused her to leave
Hanging on to her father’s sleeve
And Rhiwallon could not believe
That he could be so naïve...

Rhiwallon: Nooooooo! Come back my love! Come back. I love you! Please don’t leave me! What about our children?

(All the funeral guests look at him puzzled.)

Narrator: The darting eyes
Could not disguise
The agony in his eyes

Back to the farm Rhiwallon goes
to tell his mother all his woes
Rhiwallon crumbles in a heap
At his mother’s feet.

(Rhiwallon’s mother comes out running)

Mother: Rhiwallon, I’ve been waiting for you to return son. It’s the livestock, they’ve disappeared – Someone’s taken them! And where is your beautiful wife?

Einion: Father, where’s mother gone?

Mother: Rhiwallon Rhiwallon all the animals are gone! Tell me... what happened?

Rhiwallon: Mother, boys, I profoundly apologise! My wife has left me and returned to the lake with all the livestock.

Mother: Oh my goodness Rhiwallon! Are you ok?

Rhiwallon: I’m heart-broken mother.

Narrator: Years go by
And the boys decide to look
For their mother
So they followed a brook
Then to the lake they did wonder
And saw their mother over yonder!

Gruffydd: Cadwgan, Einion! Come quickly I found Mother!

(The lady of the lake is sat on a rock by the side of the lake.
The sons run towards her.)

Einion: Mother!

Cadwgan: Mam, Mam.

Maiden: My three beautiful sons! How long has it has been since I last saw you? I have missed you all so much! I love you! How’s your father?

(The sons look at each other with sadness in their eyes.)

Gruffydd: Mother. Father passed a few years ago, after you returned to the lake.

The Maiden: I’m so very sorry my dear sons...I did not intend for any of this to happen.

(The lady of the lake begins to cry,
her sons hug her to comfort her sadness.)

Narrator: This mythical legend
We have told today
So should you find love
Don’t throw it away...

The End