Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best inspirational books txt) 📕

If you'll excuse me now, Madame, Gruffydd awaits me in the great hall.""By all means." Joanna stood watching as Senena walked away, no moving untilTopaz pawed at her skirt. "Well, Topaz, I'm afraid you've just been dismissed as a decadent Norman trinket. Like me, no doub But she felt no real surprise.Senena was Gruffydd's cousin. She w also his choice; their marriage had come about because he wanted i^ It was only to be expected, therefore, that he and Senena shared m than a bed, that they shared a common outlook, a common enemySenena had a surprisingly lithe, athletic stride, was already VaSS the WestTower. As she did, a small figure darted out behind her.

523na did not notice But Joanna did, sharply cried out her daughter's nameElen whirled She flushed at sight of her mother, hid her hands behind her back, but not before Joanna caught a glimpse of the snowball in her daughter's fistBy the time she reached Elen, Senena had disappeared into the hall, apparently oblivious of the thwarted ambush Joanna took Elen's arm, drew her aside"Elen, what am I to do with you7 If you must throw snowballs, at least pick your victims with greater care Believe me, Senena would not have been amused "Elen shrugged "I do not like her ""Why ever not7""Because because she's Gruffydd's wife "Joanna stared at her daughter "But you've always been very fond of Gruffydd, and he of you Have you quarreled7"Elen looked down at the ground, her hair was loose, windblown, fell forward to hide her face Joanna suddenly understood, drew a sharp, dismayed breath"It's Davydd," she said, and Elen nodded"Gruffydd hates him " She no longer sounded sulky, looked up at Joanna, brown eyes full of bewilderment "The day ere we left Aber, I was playing at the waterfall Gruffydd and Senena were walking by the river When they did not see me, I hid in the rocks so I could surprise them I did not mean to eavesdrop, Mama, not really They were saying mostly silly things, the way grown people doLaughing and kissing, you know But then Gruffydd began to talk about you andDavydd He was telling Senena that you meant to deprive him of his rightful inheritance He was saying hateful things about Davydd Mama, he he even saidDavydd should never have been born1"Joanna bit her lip It was so unfair, so unjust that Davyddand now Elenshould be caught up in adult passions, m ambitions and antagonisms beyond their kenThey were too young, she thought, too young' But she had no comfort for her child, could not lie "I am so ^Orry, Elen," she said, after a troubled silence"I truly wish you could °ve both Davydd and Gruffydd But since you must choose, I'm very W you chose Davydd "I had to, Mama Gruffydd has Gwladys and Marared and ^enlhan But Davydd has only me "Never had Joanna felt so inadequate, so unequal to the task ^motherhood "The hardest part of being a mother, Elen, is that we so much to protect our children from all evil, all hurt And weCd

514"I do not need to be protected, Mama," Elen protested indignantly But whenJoanna put her arm around the girl's shoulders, Elen did not pull away, and she stayed by Joanna's side as they walked together toward the great hall.They had not yet entered the hall when they heard shouting and quickened their steps, for they recognized the voices as Gruffydd's and Llewelyn's."But you turned down the English last September, rightfully re_ fused to take part in the peace between Henry and the French Prince. Why have you changed your mind, Papa? Why should you now be willing to submit to the English?""I do not consider it submission," Llewelyn snapped. "When they offered peace last autumn, it was conditioned upon our surrender of all the lands we'd taken from them in South Wales. Of course I refused, and then I waited. It was well worth the wait, Gruffydd. Yes, I have now agreed to do homage to Henry. But in return, Guala will absolve me of excommunication and lift the Interdict fromWales. Our past conquests will be recognized. I will be invested with custody of the royal castles they call Carmarthen and Cardigan, will hold them untilHenry comes of age. The English have even agreed to acknowledge my authority in Lower Powys until Gwenwynwyn's sons reach manhood. Moreover, they""Acknowledge? Who are they to acknowledge or legitimize your rights? You're aWelsh Prince, are not dependent upon the whims, the indulgence of the English crown!""For the love of Christ, Gruffydd, when will you" Llewelyn stopped abruptly.This was not the way, and for certes not the place. "Come outside where we can talk in private," he said curtly, and turned without waiting to see ifGruffydd was, in fact, following him. By the time he'd reached the bailey, he was once more in control of his temper and determined that this time it would be different, this time he would somehow make his son understand."Gruffydd, listen to me. I know how you feel. When I was your age, I felt just as you do, wanted what you wantan utterly independent Wales, free of all foreigners, united under my control.""Is that so foolish a dream?" Gruffydd challenged, and Llewelyn slowly shook his head."No, lad, it is not. But it's a dream beyond our reach. God n decreed otherwise. We're too sparsely populated, too contentious, a we dwell in the shadow of England, a country some twenty times size of ours. We will always have to seek some sort of accomrnoda with the English. The realities of power dictate that, Gruffydd/When Gruffydd started to speak, he said, "I am not done; hear

515out. I fought against believing it, too, Gruffydd, refused to admit that my horizons could be limited, my dreams denied. I followed my heart and not my head, let my pride lure me into disaster, into a near-fatal confrontation with the King