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

we have to talk whilst there's time Do you still want Amlyn to lead the vanguard7"He waited, and then repeated, more urgently, "Gruffydd do you not hear me7Gruffydd, answer me1"Even then, Gruffydd did not respond, not until Tudur reached out, grabbed his arm Gruffydd's stallion reared, and he reined it in a semicircle until he'd gotten it back under control His face was drained of all color, Tudur had never seen him look so shaken"Gruffydd, what is it7""I cannot do this, Tudur " Gruffydd's mouth twisted "God help me, but Icannot'" And with that, he suddenly spurred his horse forward, ignoringTudur's shocked protest, the baffled cries of his men As if racing his own regrets, he set the stallion at a dead run toward his father's camp"I lewelyn1"Llewelyn was conferring with two of his captains, spun around at Ednyved's shout All around him men were pointing, staring at the lone nder galloping toward them Ednyved was now at Llewelyn's side he, 'oo, had recognizedGruffydd, and he said hastily, "Do not do anything rash, Llewelyn Make sure it is not a trick of some kind "But Llewelyn was not listening He'd already turned, was swinging JPmto the saddle "Hold our men here," he said, then gave his stallion lts "ead, rode out to meet his son"hen Gruffydd was fifty yards away, Llewelyn reined in his unt, waited for his son to come to him Gruffydd had some trouble inPP'ng his horse He'd always had a heavy hand, in his agitation to° hard upon the reins and the stallion reared up again, sending and clods of grass flying, assume you want to talk " Llewelyn was startled at the sound of l,]s assume you want to talk " Llewelyn was startled at the sound of Ln voice, it sounded so cold and unyielding, revealed nothing of nner turmoil

536IGruffydd had acted on impulse, had not thought out what he wanted to say. He could only blurt out the truth. "I thought I could fight you, Papa. I truly did.""And now you cannot?""No." Gruffydd shook his head helplessly. "I saw your banners and I knew ..."Unsure what to do next, he slid from the saddle, waited as Llewelyn dismounted, too. Although they were now close enough to touch, still the words would not come. Gruffydd was well aware of the magnitude of his offense, but he was not able to humble himself, not even now, with so much at stake. He slowly unsheathed his sword, held it out toward Llewelyn. "I submit myself unto your will, Papa," he said, in unconscious echo of Llewelyn's own submission to John at Aberconwy, adding tautly, "What mean you to do?"Llewelyn took the sword, and then handed it back. "I mean," he said, "to forgive you," and Gruffydd's pride dissolved in a surge of anguished emotion."Christ, Papa, I'm sorry. I never wanted it to come to this, I swear it.""Neither did I, Gruffydd." And stepping forward, Llewelyn embraced his son, while hearing the distant shouts of both armies, the reprieved cheering of brothers and cousins spared a war none of them had truly wanted.LLEWELYN'S encampment at Llyn Myngul was a scene of reunions and rejoicing.Campfires flared like beacons in the dark, and the summer wind carried the sounds of singing for miles as the two armies mingled, celebrated far into the night.Ednyved had been looking for Llewelyn for some time, at last found him walking alone by the lakeside. It was a night of rare beauty; the sky was filled with stars, and the placid waters of the lake reflected an infinity of shimmering pinpoint lights, the luminous sheen of a crescent moon. But Llewelyn appeared oblivious to his surroundings. He seemed deep in thought, started visibly asEdnyved came up beside him."Will Gruffydd come back with us to your court?"Llewelyn nodded. "Yes. We talked about it and he's agreed to return. I do not plan to leave Meirionydd yet, though. I want to do some further scouting in the Dysynni Valley, look for a suitable site for castle."Ednyved was quick to comprehend. "I see. You mean, then, tor claim Meirionydd and Ardudwy."

537"Yes " Llewelyn stopped, turned to face the other man "I have no choice, Ednyved," he said bleakly "I love my son But I can no longer trust him "5LLANFAES, NORTH WALESOctober 1222"NcINo' No, I'll not do it I'll not marry him ""Elen, what are you saying7" Joanna rose, moved quickly toward her daughter"We thought you would be elated The Earl of Chester has no children, his sister's son John is his sole heir Do you not realize what that means7 Upon his father's death, John became Earl of Huntingdon, and he'll one day inherit the earldom of Chester, too You'll be marrying into one of England's greatest families Moreover, John is a first cousin of the Scots King Your father and Icould not hope to make a better match for you ""But I do not want him1""Elen, I am trying to understand, I truly am But I do not see why you would balk at the marriage John is not a stranger to you, you met him at Shrewsbury two years past He's a personable youth, well mannered and agreeable You're nigh on fifteen and he's almost seventeen, so your ages are quite suitable And this marriage will make you Countess of Huntingdon, and eventually Countess ofChester So why, then, are you so reluctant7"Elen said nothing, but her mouth was still set in mutinous lines, ar>d Joanna reached out, turned the girl to face her "Elen, listen to meT1111 not deny that this marriage is very important to your father But we ^ant you to be happy, darling If you have a valid reason for opposing the marriage, now is the time to tell me Why do you not want to marryJohn the Scot7""I do not like him, Mama "Exasperation and bafflementfamiliar emotions to Joanna where

538her daughter was concerned. "But you do not know him well enough to make a judgment like that," she