Bertrice Small - A Memory of Love

"Oh, Rhonwyn, you are so brave!" Katherine said breathlessly, hugging her sister-in-law. "When I saw you all come before the high board, I could not believe my eyes. Gracious, brother, you do have a well-turned leg," she teased him as she released Rhonwyn.

"Thank God you are safe, Kate!" he said, hugging her hard.

"I didn't know what was going to happen," Kate admitted, "but thank heavens for our old nurse, Wynnifred. After a few minutes the language began to come back to me, and I quickly realized they thought I was you, Rhonwyn. I was afraid to say I wasn't for fear they would kill me, and I decided that since you had grown up in such an isolated location, it was unlikely they would know I wasn't you."

"It was cleverly done, Kate, and Edward will be proud when he learns how bravely you have conducted yourself." She turned in the woman Iola. "Selfish cow, you will regret your mean spirit. Lady Katherine's servant will pick a gown from among your possessions for her mistress, and come the morning you will go from Aberforth with only what you can carry. I am certain you will find another lordling to whore for soon enough. Leave us now!"

Iola scurried from the great hall.

When she had gone Rhonwyn turned to her husband and sister-in-law. "You heard Rhys ap Daffydd's words. Until he spoke I did not know him. Many years ago when I was a child he came in the dark of night to our cottage and raped my mother. She never told my father, and I do not want her memory fouled by the tale now. Dewi, I know, will say nothing."

"I understand," Katherine said. "You have my word that I will not repeat what I have heard this night."

Rafe put his arm about his wife, and as their eyes met he gave her his silent promise.

People were beginning to stream back into the great hall of Aberforth Castle. They could hear cheering. I he sound of booted feet came marching toward them and into the chamber, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd at the soldiers' head upon his stallion, which he rode up to the dais, looking dispassionately at the three bodies draped across the high board.

"Well done, daughter," he praised her. "Well done!"

"And now, my lord tad," she replied, "you will thank Morgan ap Owen for raising me as he did."

"I do indeed thank him," the prince said, a small smile upon his lips. "But you get your eye for marksmanship from me, daughter." His look went next to Katherine de Beaulieu. "Lady Katherine, I apologize that one of my subjects should have mistreated you so. You are free to return to Haven with your brother and Rhonwyn."

"I thank you, my lord prince, for your timely rescue,^-' Kate answered him graciously, and then she curtsied prettily.

"Remove the bodies and put them outside for the dogs," the prince said, dismounting his beast and ascending the dais to stand before the hall, which now erupted into cheers.

"How inconstant and capricious are men's loyalties," Rhonwyn murmured sardonically.

"Not mine for you," Rafe said softly.

"You are certain?" She was smiling at him.

"Very certain," he assured her.

She sighed happily, laying her head upon his shoulder. Whatever memories she had once had-of love or evil-had been replaced in her heart and her mind by the reality of this man and his love for her. There could surely be no more than that in life. Looking up at Rafe, she smiled once again, saying, "Let us go home, my lord," and he nodded in agreement as he took her hand and they walked from the hall together.

Ap Gruffydd watched them go, and then he said, "Oth, Dewi. You belong to her as you always have, but before you return to Ardley, will you bring Lady Katherine home to her husband?"

"Aye, my lord," the two chorused, grinning.

He acknowledged them absently, his eyes taking in a last glimpse of his daughter. Farewell, Rhonwyn uerch Llywelyn, he said silently to himself. Farewell! And then to his surprise she turned, giving him a brilliant smile and raising her hand to him in salute.

"Farewell, Tad!" he heard her call, and then she was gone.

The prince of the Welsh felt his eyes moisten with tears. He blinked them back quickly lest anyone see his weakness. Now what the hell was he going to do with another castle? he thought.

The year between 1276 and 1277 was not a good one for the prince of the Welsh. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd had badly misjudged the new king, and Edward reacted fiercely to the man who would not fulfill his obligations as a vassal. He immediately declared war on the Welsh, which was concluded by an English victory at Aberconwy in 1277. As punishment Edward took most of ap Gruffydd's lands, leaving him with only Lesser Gwynedd and the overlordship of five lords. Finally chastened, ap Gruffydd was at last allowed to marry the daughter of Simon de Montfort, to whom he had been betrothed since 1265. It was hoped the marriage would settle ap Gruffydd down. The marriage took place in 1278.

Disputes did arise regarding the use of English or Welsh law in the prince's lands, but the peace held until 1282 when ap Gruffydd's younger brother, Daffydd, attacked Harwarden. The prince, bound first by family loyalty, was forced to go to his brother's aid and was killed at Builth. He was buried at Cwm Hir, a Cistercian monastery he favored. His wife was already dead in childbirth, and his only legitimate heir was a sickly daughter, named for his sister, Gwynllian. She was put into a convent where she lived out her life. Daffydd ap Gruffydd was finally captured and executed in 1283.

When the Welsh told King Edward that they would only accept a prince who spoke no English, he cleverly presented them with his infant son, Edward, who had been recently born at Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's former stronghold of Caernavon. Thus ended Wales's last attempt at political independence. Until the year 1999.