What do you want here, Gruffydd? Llywelyn interrupted wearily. I am sure you have not come to tell me of the inevitability of war in Wales.
No. Gruffydd glanced at Joan. I should like to talk to you alone.
Are you afraid of talking in front of me? Joans tone was mocking. Are you about to put some new hare-brained scheme to your father? He wont listen, you know. You have tried his patience too far!
Father! Gruffydd exploded. Does this woman speak for you now?
Silence! Llywelyn stood up stiffly. I will hear no word against your step-mother. Ever. Do you understand? I want you to leave Aber now. We can have nothing else to discuss.
We have to talk, father! Gruffydd leaned forward threateningly. My God, if you dont listen to me here, Ill make you, later. Youll regret the day you turned me from your door!
In the window embrasure Eleyne put her hands over her ears miserably. Why did it always have to be like this? Why couldnt Dafydd and Gruffydd be friends? It was her fault. Joan. Her mother. Eleynes eyes went to her mothers face, noting the intent, hard expression, beautiful and youthful still in spite of Joans forty-one years, the firm, uncompromising mouth, the steady blue eyes, so like, did Eleyne but know it, her mothers father, King John.
As if feeling Eleynes gaze upon her, Joans attention flicked briefly towards the window and mother and daughter exchanged hostile glances. To Eleynes surprise, however, Joan, distracted, said nothing and her gaze returned thoughtfully to her husband.
Enough, Gruffydd, Llywelyn said slowly. If you threaten me, I shall have to take steps to contain you.
Eleyne caught her breath, horrified by the threat implicit in the words.
I do not threaten you, father
You threaten the peace of this country.
No, its Dafydd who does that. You have set him against me! You set the people against me! This is my land, father. This was my mothers land - there was no mistaking the emphasis in the words as he glared across his father towards Joan and if it came to a choice between Dafydd and myself the people would choose me.
The people have already chosen, Gruffydd. Two years ago, the princes and lords of Wales recognised Dafydd as my heir
No, not the people! Gruffydd shouted. The people support me.
No, Gruffydd
Do you want me to prove it to you?
There was a long moment of silence. When Llywelyn spoke at last his voice was hard with anger. What you are suggesting is treason, my son.
Why do you let him talk to you like this, father? Dafydd interrupted at last, abandoning his position by the door. This confirms everything Ive told you. Gruffydd is a hotheaded fool. Hes a danger to everything you and I believe in
He broke off as his brother hurled himself across the room and grabbed him, groping for his throat. As the two young men reeled across the floor, Llywelyn closed his eyes in bleak despair. When he opened them, his face was calm and resolved.
Guards! There was no trace now of fatigue in his voice. Guards
No. Stop! Please - Eleyne catapulted herself from the window seat and threw herself at her brothers. Gruffydd, dont! Please stop!
But the guards were already there, leaping up the stairs two at a time, pulling the princes apart, as Llywelyn himself dragged Eleyne away from them. It took three of them to hold Gruffydd and as he struggled furiously to throw them off Dafydd retired to the far side of the room, mopping a cut lip on the sleeve of his tunic.
Take him away and lock him up, Llywelyn commanded.
No, papa, you cant! Gruffydd is your son! Eleyne clung to his arm. Please, he didnt mean it
What is this child doing here? Llywelyn shook her off.
I gave orders she should be sent away before we got back, Joan put in quietly. The Lady Rhonwen has seen fit to disobey me.
She has not! Eleyne turned on her furiously. We all knew you had no time for me, so we were leaving this afternoon. You came back too soon.
That is enough, Eleyne! How dare you speak to your mother like that! She loves you, as she loves us all! Angry, Llywelyn watched as his guards dragged Gruffydd from the room. They could hear the young mans curses echoing down the staircase until they were out of earshot. For a moment Llywelyn stood gazing at the empty doorway, then he turned his attention back to Eleyne, looking thoughtfully down at the child with her long untidy hair and her rumpled pale blue gown. His face softened. Go. Go and find Lady Rhonwen and tell her you are to leave at once. Where is she to go? He turned to his wife, half regretfully. As a rule he enjoyed the company of his youngest daughter.
I gave orders she should be sent away before we got back, Joan put in quietly. The Lady Rhonwen has seen fit to disobey me.
She has not! Eleyne turned on her furiously. We all knew you had no time for me, so we were leaving this afternoon. You came back too soon.
That is enough, Eleyne! How dare you speak to your mother like that! She loves you, as she loves us all! Angry, Llywelyn watched as his guards dragged Gruffydd from the room. They could hear the young mans curses echoing down the staircase until they were out of earshot. For a moment Llywelyn stood gazing at the empty doorway, then he turned his attention back to Eleyne, looking thoughtfully down at the child with her long untidy hair and her rumpled pale blue gown. His face softened. Go. Go and find Lady Rhonwen and tell her you are to leave at once. Where is she to go? He turned to his wife, half regretfully. As a rule he enjoyed the company of his youngest daughter.
They can go to Llanfaes. Eleyne needs to concentrate on her lessons. There is no room here at Aber and there are too many distractions. Joan sounded irritable.
Llywelyn put his arm round Eleyne and, pulling her to him, dropped a kiss on her unruly curls. So, go to Rhonwen, little one, and tell her you must go now.
Yes, papa. Eleyne shot a baleful look at her mother and then at her brother. You wont hurt Gruffydd
Of course I wont hurt him. He must cool his heels for a while, thats all. Llywelyn smiled gravely. Go now, Eleyne
II
The princes hall of Tindaethwy at Llanfaes had been rebuilt soon after the fire when Eleyne was born. Situated at the south-eastern corner of the island of Anglesey, it faced across the strait towards the great northern shoulder of the Welsh mainland. Rhonwen and Eleyne, with their attendants and guards, rode from Aber that afternoon across the meadows and marshland and over the sands to where the boats waited to take them to the small busy port at Llanfaes. It was a glorious September day, the sun gilding the water, the sands and the mountains as the horses cantered towards the sea.
Eleynes cheeks glowed as they always did when she rode. She smiled across at her companion, Luned, who rode at her side. Race you to the boats! Already she had kicked her pony into a gallop. Luned rode gamely after her, screwing up her eyes as the muddy sand, rough with worm casts, flew up in clots from the ponys hooves.
Rhonwen, following more slowly, sighed, thinking of the great war horse on which Eleyne had ridden at Hay. The Princess Joan had decreed that a rough-haired mountain pony was good enough for her youngest daughter. Eleyne, strangely, had accepted the dun pony and hugged it, and had not as far as she knew once gone to her father and asked for something larger or faster or with prettier markings. She had christened the animal Cadi and they had become more or less inseparable.
Now at the edge of the water Eleyne reined Cadi in, laughing, and slipped from the saddle. She looked up at Rhonwen who had followed more sedately. Are we going to spend long at Llanfaes?
Rhonwen frowned. We must stay as long as your mother commands it.
Or my father. He may call me back.
Im sure he will if not at once, then certainly when the court moves to Rhosyr. Rhonwen smiled.
Eleyne sighed. That sounded like a typical adult attempt to avoid the truth. She pulled the reins over Cadis head and rubbed the ponys chin. What will happen to Gruffydd?
Rhonwen frowned. She had made it her business to find that out before they had left Aber. He is being taken under escort to Degannwy. Your father has ordered that he be held in the castle there for a while.
Held there a prisoner? Degannwy, a great castle built of stone in the Norman fashion like the newest parts of Aber, stood on the northern bank of the Conwy River on the eastern side of Llywelyns lands. Beyond it, behind the mountains, lay the great earldom of Chester and beyond that the hinterland of England.
Thats what it sounds like.
So hell be out of the way, while Dafydd is at fathers side the whole time?
Rhonwen nodded.
Thats not fair.
Life is never fair, cariad. But Gruffydd will find a way to make your father trust him again. Youll see. Rhonwen smiled. Go on. Are you going to lead Cadi on to the boat? If she goes, the others will follow.
The narrow strait was warm and flat calm. Sitting in the leading boat, Eleyne stared at the receding shore, her eyes following the foothills up towards the distant mountains, hazy in the light of the golden afternoon. Wisps of cloud hung around the invisible shoulders of Yr Wyddfa, drifting into the high cwms where already the shadows were gathering. Her fathers land, the country of her birth she trembled with suppressed excitement. Eleyne loved the mountains and she loved the sea and here she had both. She leaned over the side of the boat and stared into the glittering water, watching the whirling patterns made by the boatmens oars, then she looked at Luned who was sitting beside her and she smiled. Her companion had, as usual, gone slightly green the moment the ferry pushed away from the sand.
Luned had been introduced into Eleynes nursery by Rhonwen when the two girls were three years old. In a family where the nearest sister to her in age, Margaret, was ten years her senior, Eleyne would have had a lonely childhood without her. Now the two girls were friends. Later, Luned, an orphan from birth, would become Eleynes maid. Both understood and accepted the situation happily. For both the future seemed very far away.
Eleyne turned back towards the far shore, trying to pick out the cluster of stone and wooden buildings low on the hillside which made up the great llys of Aber, but before she could make them out she was distracted by a flotilla of small ships which had appeared on the sea between them and the mainland. She watched, her eyes screwed up against the glare, seeing them wallow in the heavy swell which had developed near the shore.
Were nearly there. Luneds voice at her elbow startled her. I can see Cenydd with the others waiting on the quay!