Math, son of Mathonwy
part 9
The next day he sought to go, and she hindered him not.
"Be mindful," said Gronw, "of what I have said unto thee, and converse with him fully, and that under the guise of the dalliance of love, and find out by what means he may come to his death."
That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And the day they spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting. And at night they went to rest, and he spoke to Blodeuwedd once, and he spoke to her a second time. But, for all this, he could not get from her one word.
"What aileth thee," said he, " art thou well?"
"I was thinking," said she, "of that which thou didst never think of concerning me; for I was sorrowful as to thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I."
"Heaven reward thy care for me," said he, "but until Heaven take me I shall not easily be slain."
"For the sake of Heaven, and for mine, show me how thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding is better than thine."
"I will tell thee gladly," said he. "Not easily can I be slain, except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I am struck must be a year in the forming. And nothing must be done towards it except during the sacrifice on Sundays."
"Is this certain?" asked she.
"It is in truth," he answered. "And I cannot be slain within a house, nor without. I cannot be slain on horseback nor on foot."
"Verily," said she, "in what manner then canst thou be slain?"
"I will tell thee," said he. "By making a bath for me by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the cauldron, and thatching it well and tightly, and bringing a buck, and putting it beside the cauldron. Then if I place one foot on the buck's back, and the other on the edge of the cauldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause my death."
"Well," said she, "I thank Heaven that it will be easy to avoid this."
No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was ready. And that very day he caused her to be informed thereof.
"Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been thinking how it is possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?"
"I will show thee," said he.
Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael. She caused also to be collected all the goats that were in the Cantrev, and had them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn Kyvergyr.
And the next day she spoke thus.
"Lord," said she, "I have caused the roof and the bath to be prepared, and lo! they are ready."
"Well," said Llew, "we will go gladly to look at them."
The day after they came and looked at the bath.
"Wilt thou go into the bath, lord?" said she.
"Willingly will I go in," he answered.
So into the bath he went, and he anointed himself.
"Lord," said she, "behold the animals which thou didst speak of as being called bucks."
"Well," said he, cause one of them to be caught and brought here."
And the buck was brought. Then Llew rose out of the bath, and put on his trowsers, and he placed one foot on the edge of the bath and the other on the buck's back.
Thereupon Gronw rose up from the hill which is called Bryn Cyvergyr, and he rested on one knee, and flung the poisoned dart and struck him on the side, so that the shaft started out, but the head of the dart remained in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle and gave a fearful scream. And thenceforth was he no more seen.
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Pwyll