Welsh Tales from the Mabinogion:
The Tale of Math, Son of Mathonwy

Once upon a time, in the mystical land of Wales, there lived a wise and powerful king named Math, son of Mathonwy. Math was known for his great wisdom, magical abilities, and his unique requirement to keep his feet in the lap of a maiden whenever he was not at war. This was no ordinary custom; it was a necessity due to a peculiar condition that caused Math great discomfort if his feet were not held by a young maiden.

Math ruled the kingdom of Gwynedd and had two loyal nephews, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy. These two nephews were known for their cunning and ambition. Gwydion, especially, was skilled in magic and often used his talents for his own benefit. Despite their flaws, Math trusted them to help maintain peace and order in his kingdom.

Math's court was always bustling with activity. One of the key figures in his court was Goewin, the maiden who held Math’s feet. Goewin was not only beautiful but also wise and kind-hearted. She served Math faithfully, ensuring his comfort and well-being.

However, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy’s restless ambition led to trouble. Gilfaethwy fell in love with Goewin and conspired with Gwydion to meet her. To achieve this, they needed to remove Math from his court. Gwydion devised a plan to steal magical pigs from Pryderi, the king of Dyfed. The pigs were a gift from the Otherworld and highly prized. Gwydion used his magic to trick Pryderi into giving him the pigs. When Pryderi discovered the deception, he declared war on Math’s kingdom.

Math left his court to lead his army into battle, leaving Goewin unprotected. During Math’s absence, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy seized the opportunity to take Goewin by force. The battle between Math and Pryderi was fierce, but ultimately, Math emerged victorious, killing Pryderi in single combat.

Upon his return, Math discovered the treachery of his nephews. Heartbroken and furious, Math punished Gwydion and Gilfaethwy by transforming them into various animals, forcing them to live as different pairs of beasts for three years. They experienced life as deer, pigs, and wolves, giving birth to offspring each year. After three years, Math restored them to human form, and they returned wiser and more humble.

Math then sought a new maiden to keep his feet, as Goewin, who had been dishonored, could no longer serve in that role. Math chose Aranrhod, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy’s sister, to take Goewin's place. To prove her purity, Math tested Aranrhod by having her step over his magical wand. To everyone's surprise, she gave birth to two sons during the test. Ashamed and angry, Aranrhod abandoned the babies.

Gwydion, feeling responsible, took one of the sons, whom he named Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Gwydion raised Lleu in secret, teaching him the ways of magic and warfare. Lleu grew up to be a handsome and talented young man, but he faced many challenges because of his mother's curse that he would never have a name, arms, or a wife from any human woman.

Using his cunning and magic, Gwydion tricked Aranrhod into giving Lleu a name and weapons. For his wife, Math and Gwydion created a beautiful woman from flowers, whom they named Blodeuwedd. Lleu and Blodeuwedd were happy for a time, but Blodeuwedd fell in love with another man named Gronw Pebr and plotted to kill Lleu.

Blodeuwedd and Gronw plotted to get rid of Lleu. They knew that to succeed, they needed to learn the secret of how he could be killed. Using their cunning, they tricked Lleu into revealing this secret. Lleu, unsuspecting of their betrayal, explained that he could only be killed under very specific conditions.

Gronw prepared a special spear, crafted precisely according to the conditions Lleu had unwittingly revealed. One day, when Lleu was vulnerable, Gronw struck him with the spear. The magical weapon hit its mark, and Lleu was gravely wounded.

In his agony, Lleu transformed into an eagle and flew away, desperately trying to escape the pain and danger. He soared high into the sky, but his strength was failing. The wounded eagle finally found a perch on a tree, where he rested, weak and suffering.

Back in the kingdom, Gwydion soon learned of the treachery against his nephew. Determined to save Lleu, Gwydion used his magical powers to search for him. He roamed the land, following any clues that could lead him to the injured eagle.

After a long and arduous search, Gwydion finally found Lleu perched on a high tree, weak and barely holding on to life. With his magic, Gwydion transformed Lleu back into his human form. Lleu was still gravely injured, but Gwydion used his healing powers to mend his wounds and restore his health.

Through Gwydion's care and powerful magic, Lleu gradually regained his strength. He was deeply grateful to his uncle for saving his life and vowed to confront the treacherous Gronw and Blodeuwedd for their betrayal.

This set the stage for Lleu's return to reclaim his place and bring justice to those who had wronged him.

Lleu returned to confront Gronw, and with Gwydion's help, he defeated his rival, reclaiming his place as a prince. As punishment for her betrayal, Blodeuwedd was transformed into an owl, a bird that is always shunned by other birds.

With peace restored, Math continued to rule wisely, and Lleu Llaw Gyffes grew to be a great hero in the land of Wales. The tale of Math, son of Mathonwy, and the adventures of his kin became legendary, a story of magic, betrayal, and redemption.

The End