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The St. Dynwen's Day Feast

Historical Note

St Dynwen's day is in fact the Welsh version of Valentine's day which is celebrated on 25th January rather than 14th Feb. I decided to use this day as it gave me a bit of historical realism as the medieval world did not recognise St Valentine's day romantically until the 14th Century -- nearly 500 years after the events on which this story is based.

The story itself is based in one of the last Viking raids on North Wales, which took place in 854 - 856AD on Anglesey (or Ynys Mon as it is known as in Welsh, translates into English as the Isle of Mona). Although the invasion was led by Gorm and his death is largely attributed to Rhodri Mawr -- the king of Gwynedd (aka Lord Gwynedd in this tale), there is no account of exactly how he was killed, giving me a little bit of creative licence.

You may also have noticed that I have put some of the dialogue, especially Gorm in a different language. The language is Icelandic and, as well as Faroese, is the closest surviving language to Old Norse, which was spoken by the Vikings at the time. I've done this for linguistic purposes so you can understand what the people of the time are going through (many of the local Welsh probably wouldn't have been able to speak Norse). If you are Icelandic and you are reading this, then I apologise in the past. Google Translate was used for the translation!

One last word, the erotica part of this is quite short (compared to the rest of the story) and comes at the end. If you don't like this, then you know what to do.

Welsh pronunciation and words

"Dd" is pronounced "th".

"F" is pronounced "v"

Cwtch - A cwtch is very hard to describe to a non Welsh person. Its more intimate than a hug or an embrace and is best described as a loving hug.

And now onto the story...I hope you like it! Feel free to leave constructive criticism.

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"Thwack!"

The large Viking warrior's legs jumped from underneath him as the staff swept them clean out from underneath him. With the momentum caused by his own legs, the warrior was unable to control himself, and he fell flat upon his back. His eyes opened wide in surprise -- how had the smaller man managed to do that? Then, realising where he was, the warrior struggled to get back up, but before he could, a spear blade descended and pierced through the armour he wore and buried itself in his chest, ending his life.

Taliesin Prydderi placed his foot on the now lifeless corpse and pulled the spear free of its latest victim, looking around and frowning as he did so. Only the night before, he had sat with his young travelling partner, Eifion and promised the scared young boy that he wouldn't leave him during the battle. Now, the heat of the battle had pulled them apart from each other. He had broken a promise once and it had cost him dearly. He wasn't about to break another.

"Eifi!" he roared above the din of the battle even as another Viking blade came for him. He swiftly dodged the blade and countered with a thrust of his own aimed at the Viking's side. It found home and sank deeply into the Viking, piercing his heart and killing him almost instantly. "Eifion!" He roared again.

Taliesin himself was a squat man, with curly brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Up to three summers past, he had been a warrior in Lord Gwynedd's elite personal bodyguard. That had been until an event involving Lady Gwynedd had resulted in his banishment on pain of death. However, the chance meeting with Eifion, sole survivor of a Viking raid and as it turned out, the sole source of knowledge of the Viking plans to invade Ynys-Mon had changed that. Now the former Warrior Bard was back in a favour of sorts with Lord Gwynedd, helping to defend the kingdom against the Vikings.

A blur in his peripheral caused him to react, bringing his spear upwards and to his right. A loud half metallic, half wooden sound along with the appearance of an axe head told him that he had caught the blade just in time. He followed the axe blade along its hand to see Another tall blond Viking warrior challenged him, armed with a hand axe in one hand and a shield in the other. The warrior's build, combined with a blonde braid poking out from underneath the helmet told Taliesin that this warrior was female. It didn't matter though; Norse warriors were just as deadly whether male or female -- a bit like the Celtic ones.

This moment of study caused Taliesin to delay a little too long -- the warrior saw her chance and yanked sharply on her axe. The squat man was yanked forward onto the incoming wooden shield the Viking held and he crashed headlong into it, losing grip on his spear in the process. Taliesin fell to the floor, head exploding in pain. But even as he fell, he knew that he had to get back up -- a fallen warrior doesn't stay alive for long. Ignoring the pain in his head, he forced himself to roll to the Viking woman's left, springing back upright.

They stared at each other for a few moments, both gathering themselves. Taliesin was still alive, but he had lost his main weapon. He did have a dagger as a side arm, but that meant coming within range of the woman's deadly axe and shield combo.

He drew the dagger. Despite the odds, Taliesin felt calm as he decided that she would have to strike first. Fortunately for him, the simple act of drawing the dagger caused her to do just that -- the woman laughed a loud booming laugh and swung at him.

It was what he was waiting for. Taliesin dodged the first blow with ease. Then he dodged the shield that came immediately after. Then the Viking's backswing came next, which nearly caught him off balance. He staggered back a few steps before recovering. Sensing a moment of victory, the woman to charged forward, axe raised.

Taliesin waited until the very last moment, as the axe was falling for his head to jump underneath the arc of her swinging arm. The axe fell behind him limply. At the same time, he raised his blade up and drove as hard as he could into the woman's side.

He couldn't have planted the blade better if he had tried. It landed in between her ribs and found the soft flesh, digging into her and piercing a lung. Taliesin quickly twisted the dagger and withdrew it, causing the blood to flow from the open jagged wound. For a moment the Viking warrior twisted round to face him, unaware that she had been struck. Then, as the pain and realisation set in, she dropped to her knees, dropping the weapon. Taliesin took the opportunity to move in and delivered another blow to her neck. Then another. Then another. Viking blood sprayed the air and flecked across his face as Taliesin continued to deliver blow upon blow until finally, the woman fell face down dead.

Taliesin drew a long breath. The fight had only lasted a few seconds, but it had sapped a lot of energy from him. He sank to his knees...

That was when he saw him.

Eifion was in the thick of battle, fighting only with a knife. It looked as if the boy had lost his bow and was now in a frenzy, stabbing left, right and in front of him as a horde of Vikings descended on him trying to cut him down. But far from succeeding, the small blond-haired boy, who was less than half the size of a fully grown Viking, was using his size to his advantage as he skipped away from his attackers and landing decisive blows with the knife.

Taliesin felt a small burst of relief and pride. The boy was doing ok. He allowed himself a small smile.

But that was when he saw another Viking, much larger than Taliesin could ever imagine was working his way towards Eifion. He was bare chested, although his bare torso was covered in tattoos. On his head he wore a horned helmet, underneath which a thick black beard sprouted forth. He wielded a large two-handed battle axe, with which he hacked down the Welsh defenders as if they were wheat to be harvested.

Taliesin recognised the man as Gorm, the Viking Chieftain.

He was heading straight towards Eifion, who hadn't noticed him approaching him.

The boy didn't stand a chance!

His tiredness suddenly replaced with dread, Taliesin sprung up and headed towards Eifion, snatching up his dropped spear in the process.

"Eifi!" he shouted as loud as he could. "Eifi, look out!"

Eifion's blood was up. All the pain and distress he had suffered over the course of the last few weeks had resulted in a fearsome rage which had welled up within him and strangely had provided the fuel he needed. What's more, Eifion found that with this new-found bloodlust, he was enjoying exacting revenge on the Viking raiders!

His hands were a blur as he cut and stabbed his way through what seemed like a horde of Vikings. He had lost his bow and arrows a while ago, but Eifion didn't care. He wanted Viking blood. He wanted to see it spray out of their evil bodies as he hacked them. He wanted to smell it, feel it. He wanted the rivers and pools on Ynys-Mon to run red with it, and the trees to glow red with Viking blood. He wanted to sacrifice them all to the Gods. Most of all, he wanted revenge!

The boy was laughing, murderously and uncontrollably as he continued to stab his way through the Vikings. Taliesin had been wrong. He hadn't needed the fear after all -- he had needed the anger!

Eifion stabbed into the belly of a Viking warrior and slashed across, feeling satisfaction as the Viking fell screaming, clutching at the gaping hole as his intestines fell out. As he turned, he felt a shadow fall across him.

"Ég hefði átt að drepa þig þegar ég fékk tækifærið, drengur!"

Eifion turned to the source of the loud, unintelligible sound. A giant, larger than anything Eifion had seen in his life stood, wearing a horned helmet and brandishing a large axe, which he held in two hands. The giant was bare chested and covered in strange markings, that looked satanic

Eifion suddenly felt the elation he had felt earlier abandon him, to be replaced with fear. Taliesin had never mentioned having to face demons! Suddenly he felt that this was it. He was going to die and then end up in the deepest darkest pit of hell, unable to see the rest of his family again. He felt despair descend and pick at his soul, even as the demon screamed and raised his axe.

"Eifion! Nooooo!"

Suddenly a force slammed into the young boy as the demon axe fell, shoving him out of the way of the falling blade. It dug into the ground where moments earlier Eifion had stood.

The boy struggled momentarily against the force holding him down.

"Eifion," the voice said. Then louder as the boy continued to struggle. "Eifion! It's me!"

Eifion stopped struggling and looked at the friendly face of Taliesin. He had obviously gotten him out of the way as the giant was about to land the killer blow. Eifion grinned, his heart elated.

"Taliesin! You came back!"

But the older man's face remained grim.

"You've done well, Eifion, but get out of here. He's too strong for you"

As if on cue the giant roared, as a demon would as he had been robbed of his prey.

"You don't stand a chance against that monster, Taliesin!" Eifion cried, a sense of foreboding rising.

In response, Taliesin got off the boy and turned to face the giant.

"Go," he yelled at Eifion. "I'll keep him busy."

"But..."

"GO!"

A tear fell from Eifion's eye. He had already lost his entire family. And now his only friend in the world was about to face a terrible demonic being alone. He didn't want to feel that loss again.

"Did you not hear me Eifi-bach," Taliesin started, as he picked up a fallen warrior's sword. "Get out of here, now!"

The boy couldn't take any more, he turned and slowly walked away as the Giant roared one last time. As he turned, he heard Taliesin cry out "Come on then you limp dicked Viking bastard!" Moments later he heard steel clash on steel as the two engaged in battle.

Gorm was strong, Taliesin couldn't deny that. Every clash of axe on sword sent reverberations through his arm and down his spine. He also had the advantage of not being tired, whereas Taliesin had been fighting for the best part of twenty minutes. Gorm was also very skilled as a warrior -- that much was obvious as every time Taliesin moved, Gorm would deftly parry the blow as if he knew it was coming. Gorm's attacks on Taliesin, however were a different story. The Welshman was barely catching the Viking berserker's attacks.

Eventually, the inevitable happened. Gorm feinted a strike and Taliesin, in his tiredness reacted, leaving himself open. Gorm could easily have struck with the axe, but instead opted to strike with his closed fist. It impacted on Taliesin's eye with a sickening crunch and the man staggered backwards several steps before collapsing on the floor, dropping his weapon.

Gorm looked at the fallen man as he crawled about aimlessly and smiled. Realising that the man was no longer a threat, he lowered his guard and walked calmly up to Taliesin. He grabbed the man and pulled him up to his feet before grabbing him one handed by the neck and lifting him cleanly off the ground. Taliesin struggled feebly against the Viking's grip as Gorm smiled again at him.

"Þú hefur barist vel, kelt," he said with a wickedness. Then his grip tightened and Taliesin felt the breath being sucked from him. "Deyja nú, og hitt kristna geð þitt ásamt fordæmingu í helvíti," the Viking chieftain grinned.

Despite the impending death, Taliesin managed a smile. In his eyes, he had already won. But the whole point of the exercise was never to win. It was to stop Gorm from killing a defenceless 12-year-old boy whom Gorm had poured misery and despair onto by razing his village to the ground. Hopefully, he had gotten away.

Taliesin's vision had tunnelled now, and the sounds of battle seemed far away. It wouldn't be long now. He touched the wooden love spoon that he had carved three summers ago. Maybe eventually it would find its way back to its intended recipient. He truly hoped so, he had missed the girl since the day he was banished. If he couldn't see her again, then at least she should know how much she had meant to him. Hopefully Eifion would get away and make something of himself too. Maybe even one day be a lord, who knew...

Suddenly and without warning, Taliesin crashed to the ground. The air came rushing back into his lungs and with it, the sounds of battle. The man, struggling to regain his breath looked up, wondering what was going on to see Gorm staring off to his right with an arrow protruding from his shoulder. Taliesin followed the arrow to see a small boy with blond hair some 20 meters away holding a bow and arrow.

"No!" Taliesin screamed, even as Gorm set off towards the boy.

Taliesin had started to walk away, but as he had gotten a safe distance away had turned to look at the battle. He could see Taliesin, armed with a sword struggling to defend himself against the Demon. Each blow deflected seemed to take Taliesin further and further away.

Eventually, Taliesin took a blow from the demon. He staggered back then dropped his sword and fell to the ground. The demon paused for a moment and then lowered his weapon as he walked towards Taliesin.

It was at this point that Eifion knew he couldn't just turn away. Taliesin had protected him and looked out for him since he had bumped into him. Now he needed help, Eifion wasn't going to just leave him -- in a way, Taliesin was all he had now. Even as the demon picked up Taliesin and started to choke the life out him, Eifion looked around, desperate for a weapon. He had no weapon at all, the dagger he had been using had been dropped when Taliesin had tackled him into safety. There was a sword, but that was far too big for the 12-year-old to wield effectively. What could he use???

It was then that his eyes fell upon the bow. It was his hunting bow, that he had restrung to take full size battle arrows. Stuck in the ground, there were 8 arrows. He could use these!

He snatched up the bow and the first arrow. As he strung the first one, he sized up the target. He was about 30m away, far away, but he had taken rabbits out from this distance before.

Okay, here goes. Pull, aim...Go!

The arrow left the bow with a loud twang and shot off towards its target. Seconds later it buried itself in the demon's giant shoulder. It immediately dropped Taliesin and turned to Eifion. The demon glowered at Eifion and the young boy defiantly returned the stare. Eifion no longer felt any anger, fear or the bloodlust that had grasped him earlier. He only had clarity. The demon had to be slain.

The demon also sensed that this was the final confrontation and started towards Eifion as he notched another arrow. The second arrow lodged itself in the giant's chest, but it didn't seem to stop his approach, far from it, he broke into a run.

Another one. Eifion let fly and the arrow struck home again, this time lower down on the demon's left side. Again, it didn't seem to slow it down, merely enrage it as the demon let out a loud war cry. He was now maybe halfway to Eifion, he may get one more shot in, two if he was lucky.

Arrow number four was fired. This one landed in the demon's knee. A bit of a rubbish shot Eifion thought to himself, but it did slow the demon down to a hard jog as opposed to a full sprint. He was now less than 10m away and Eifion could see the blood running from the holes from where the arrows stuck out. Still it kept moving, jerky like a possessed scarecrow.

He was running out of time and Eifion knew it, so he hurried the next shot. The demon raised it's hellish war axe.

"Stattu hærri barni svo ég geti fjarlægt höfuðið af herðum þínum!" it growled in it's demonic tongue.

Eifion responded by loosing off his last shot.

"Twang!"

"Thud!"

The final arrow struck dead centre of the demon, piercing through his heart, smashing through its spine and sticking out of its back, causing him to stagger in his run. But even so, the arrow barely stopped him. Eifion was now out of time. The giant was upon him and there was no time to loose another arrow. Fear gripped the boy as the hell axe fell.

Then everything went black.

Eifion found himself trapped, unable to see and uncomfortably hot. He could no longer hear the battle he had been in previously but could feel a crushing weight on his chest that whisked away all his attempts to breath. He decided that he must be dead. He had to be. His arrows had failed to stop the demon and had failed everyone. He had ended up in Hell because of his failure to stop the heathen Vikings.

Panic overtook the young boy and he started to hyperventilate. Here he was, his soul in hell and pinned down to await whatever punishments that the devil and his demonic host had in store. He struggled to breathe, trying to fight the bile rising in his throat. But even as Eifion struggled a small voice of reason acted from somewhere inside him. He couldn't possibly be dead. He wouldn't be struggling to breath if he was, was that right?

Even as Eifion thought this, the bulk was lifted off him and he was bathed in a cold harsh light. The air filled his lungs was rejuvenating and suddenly Eifion's 12-year-old mind snapped back into focus. He found himself staring into the beaming face of Taliesin framed against the dull grey sky.

"Eifion," he breathed excitedly. "You're alive!"

Eifion continued to suck greedily on the air that had given him his life back.

Taliesin pulled the boy into an embrace, close to tears. "Thank God, my dear boy, you're alive!"

The march back to Gwynedd Hall took 3 days, by which time it was January 25th. -- St Dynwen's day. A day of worship followed by a small feast had originally been planned, but Rhodri had sent riders ahead with news of the army's victory over the Viking would be invaders. By the time the warriors arrived back at Gwynedd Hall, the small dinner had been upgraded to a grand feast and there were celebrations and tumultuous outpourings of joy, the like of which Eifion had never seen before.
After a short prayer session, giving thanks for the victory and safe return, the army had been allowed a few hours to wash the mud and blood off themselves before dressing into their finery and returning to the great hall for the feast. However, being merely an exiled bard and an orphan, Taliesin and Eifion had no finery, as such they were simply awaiting in the chamber that had been allocated to them. Eifion watched as Taliesin played once more with the love spoon carving that was tied around his neck.

"Tell me about the necklace." Eifion said.

Taliesin looked up from his idle play. "What?"

"Tell me about the necklace," Eifion said again. "Who is it for?"

For the first time since the battle, Eifion noticed a sadness in the older boy's eyes.

"Well," Taliesin breathed. "It was for a girl that I was very sweet on from when I was 16. Her name was Nia."

At the sound of her name, Taliesin sighed deeply.

"Oh, sweet Nia! How she was a beauty! A beautiful flame haired beauty with big brown eyes and she had the loveliest finest bosom that a man could ever ask for! I was in love with her, Eifi-bach. I really was. I was ready to marry her!"

"What happened?"

At this Taliesin looked sad once more. He fingered the mini spoon tied around his neck with twine once more.

"Lord Gwynedd is what happened." Taliesin replied. "You see, although I was once one of his personal guard, and a fine one too, I was still the son of a lowly shepherd, with no title and merely a bard's ability to add to my reputation as a warrior. Nia is his cousin. If I were a lord of some sort it. may have been acceptable, but for the son of a Pig farmer to marry his kin--- now that he couldn't accept. So, he got Lady Angharad to attempt to seduce me one day. When I refused, she lied and said that I had taken her against my will."

Now Taliesin looked at the stone floor, with its black sheepskin rug sadly. "When the news reached Lord Gwynedd, he would have had my head, had it not been for the favour that I had with my peers. So instead of executing my good self, he stripped me of my rank and banished me from these very same halls, never to return."

Eifion looked at his friend sadly. He had never seen his friend so distraught, and it had explained a lot about why he had been so apprehensive about returning to this place. Even so, having now heard the tale, there was one more question he had to ask.

"What happened to Nia?"

Taliesin looked at the young boy teary eyed. "I don't know, boy. That was 3 summers ago. I haven't seen her since. She is probably married now... to some lord."

This last bit was squeezed out, as if Taliesin had suddenly choked on the emotion of it all. Eifion realising that he may have pushed the man too far, rushed to his side.

"That is a sad tale," he started, pulling the man into a hug. "But you cannot give up hope now. I didn't give up on you, and that is how the Giant was felled. She will be waiting for you."

Taliesin looked at the boy through tear stained eyes. What he saw looking back at him was genuine concern and belief. At that point, he could have wept even further -- the boy was completely innocent to the workings of a great hall! There was no way that his long-lost love would have waited. Even if she had wanted to, she would have been forced to.

But even as he looked at Eifion, the boy sparked off the tiniest spark of hope within Taliesin's soul. It wasn't much. But it was enough to calm the man down, if only a little.

"Oh Eifi-Bach," Taliesin sighed. "If only the world ran on your optimism, it would be a better place! But I do feel a little better for your efforts. Thankyou."

Eifion was about to reply when the door knocked and the large oaken door opened to reveal an old woman, in her late thirties, full and buxom with the maturity that brings. In her large strong arms, she bore a pile of clothing and two pairs of shoes -- Eifion wondered how she could carry it all.

"Here we are gents, some fine clothes for you both to wear..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell upon Taliesin and then flashed momentarily with recognition and surprise. Eifion looked at Taliesin. His eyes were open with recognition as well. For a moment, Eifion thought that there was going to be a joyous occasion.

But as soon as it had arrived, it went again as the old woman regained her composure. "Here are some clothes for you both," she said curtly, dropping her cargo upon the bed. She then turned and strode towards the door. As she reached it, she turned around. "The Feast of St Dynwen begins at six. I trust that you will be there for then."

Then she left the room and the door shut with a loud thud.

Eifion looked back at Taliesin. The whole episode had been very abrupt and confusing. "Was that...?"

"That," Taliesin began "That was Sara Hen. She was Nia's nurse maid." Then more thoughtfully, "I'm surprised she recognised me, actually...Wait!"

As soon as Taliesin had mentioned who she was, an idea had formed in Eifion's head. Snatching the first thing he saw -- a small old doll, that he assumed Nia would recognise, He bounded for the door.

Outside the door, Sara Hen was walking down the spiral staircase when she heard swift footsteps approach behind her.

"Hey, Wait!"

She turned around to see the young boy that she had just spoken to earlier bounding down the stairs towards her. He stopped before her, breathing slightly laboured.

"And what would you want, young man?" she asked.

"The boy eyed her questioningly. "You're Sara Hen, aren't you? You looked after Nia when she was young?"

At this Sara put her hands on her hips and stared at the boy sternly. "I've looked after a lot of Nia's in my time, boy."

"Nia, Rhodri Mawr's cousin? I'm sorry, I don't know her surname"

"Frych."

"That's the one!" the boy said confidently.

Sara was getting a little annoyed with the young whelp now. "What do you want, boy?" she asked, frustrated. "Come on, spit it out."

"Does she still live?" the boy asked.

Sara took a deep breath. It was all she could do to prevent herself from attacking the boy. "Not that it matters to you," she started firmly. "But yes, she still lives." At this, she leaned in closer and hissed. "And that boy you're with, Taliesin? He broke her heart he did."

"He was banished." Eifion said quickly. "There was a plot from Lord Gwynedd himself to stop him from marrying Nia."

Sara Hen frowned. She had known all about the plan as she had overheard Lord and Lady Gwynedd plotting to seduce Taliesin in an attempt to stop him from marrying above his station. She had gone along with it and remained silent or else she would have been on the block too. Now the boy knew. A pilgrim from the Holy Isle had once said that a time would come when she would have to right past wrongs, was this the time now?

The boy continued. "Has she taken another husband?"

"No" Sara replied, trying to be firm, but her voice betrayed her softening to the little boy. "She could never marry after Taliesin left."

"Hmm," Eifion said. "Would you give her a message?"

Sara simply nodded.

At this the boy held out an arm. In his outstretched hand was a teddy that Taliesin had owned, Sali Mali he had called her, and he had used it to charm Nia to some extent.

She took the toy from the boy.

"Tell Nia Frych that Taliesin Prydderi has returned." The boy began. "And he wishes to meet her at the feast of St Dynwen tonight to give her a gift that he should have done a long time ago..."

The Great Hall of Gwynedd was transformed with the feast and celebration. Where before the room had been dark, cold and foreboding to any traveller, now it was brightly lit as torches burned brightly, giving out adding warmth and light to the room in both a real and atmospheric sense. The colours of Gwynedd, Green and Red, hung proudly on great tapestry drapes that fell from the rafters. In the middle of the room was a large table filled with delights from every corner of Gwynedd -- suckling pig spit roasted and hung over an open fire, roast lamb with mint and garlic, A huge tub of goat stew. Of course, there was mead and ale. Lots of it -- this was a double celebration after all.

Eifion and Taliesin had dressed out of their dirty smocks and were now both looking resplendent. Eifion was in an all green outfit with gold trim and a small red tartan cloak about his shoulders. Taliesin on the other hand was wearing the same red cloak, but with a black and silver lined outfit -- the uniform of the personal guard. They stood off to one side, lurking in a darkened archway whilst a bard played a lute and sang of Lord Gwynedd's prowess on the battlefield, even taking credit for killing the Viking leader, Gorm. Although this was least on Taliesin's mind.

"Why have you brought me here?" Taliesin asked. "I don't want to be stood here listening to this excrement, I can play better than this. Lord Gwynedd didn't even kill Gorm -- you did!"

Eifion smiled at him in reply. "You just wait here. You'll see."

Taliesin took another sip from the wooden cup of mead he carried. "This is bloody useless. What am I waiting for Eifion?"

Eifion looked up at the older man, a slight hint of frustration beginning to show. "Patience, Tal. The best things come to those who wait."

Taliesin rolled his eyes at the young boy. "You know, sometimes you are so annoying with your..."

"Hi."

The second, more feminine voice made Taliesin look up -- and he did a double take as he did so. Stood in front of him was someone he never thought he would see again.

Nia Frych. She was just as beautiful as he remembered her. Her red hair falling in curly rivulets about her pale face. Wearing a red and gold flowing dress, Taliesin could not help but notice the way that it billowed and fell about her shapely figure -- her broad shoulders, rounded ample breasts and wide feminine hips. She had a regal look about her, which wasn't wrong -- she was the cousin of Lord Gwynedd after all.

There was no mistaking it, Nia Frych was beautiful. Taliesin's heart leapt, he couldn't' quite believe that she was here.

"Hi," he stammered, still in shock. It was all that he could manage. He looked down at Eifion. How had he managed to arrange this?

In reply, Eifion smiled back at him. "I'm going to go see what else is going on around here." With that, he was off, heading straight towards the head table and Lord Gwynedd.

Taliesin watched on as he approached the Lord and lady and began to converse with them. First arranging a meeting with Nia and then going to talk to Lord Gwynedd himself without a care in the world! He had certainly changed from when Taliesin had found him on the road to Pentyrch, cold alone and afraid.

He felt a warmth at his side and Taliesin turned to find Nia had stepped closer to him. "He's a brave boy."

The bard smiled in reply. "Yes, he is."

"How have you been?"

"I've been ok," Taliesin replied. "You?"

"I've been ok too."

There was something in her voice that made Taliesin turn to face her. She looked at him, a mixture of old buried emotions bubbling to the surface.

Taliesin felt them too. The emotions of three summers ago bubbling up inside him and hitting the dam that he had built to protect himself from the hurt. The pressure built before it suddenly burst, and everything came out.

They reached for each other at the same time, pulling each other into a tight embrace. The feel of Nia's softness against him felt good to the bard, and he felt her start to sob into his shoulder.

"Oh my god," she breathed. "I've missed you so much."

Taliesin pulled her closer, not wanting to let go and taking in the sensations of her that he hadn't felt in a long time. "I've missed you too, my love," he whispered in her ear. Then he remembered the spoon that was around his neck. Reluctantly, he released her from the embrace and pulled it out from underneath his tunic. He then ripped it free of his neck, holding it out to her.

"I meant to give this to you three summers ago, Nia. I wanted to ask you to marry me, before everything happened."

The girl was speechless. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that this would happen. Going from losing the man she loved to banishment to some supposed faux pas to him suddenly being alive and well, and still having passion for her! Nia herself had never been able to move on from that day, refusing every suitor that came along. Now the man she had really wanted was here, stood in front of her and offering his heart!

She reached out, took the love spoon from him and examined it. It was intricate. Taliesin had obviously spent a lot of time carving the spoon out in the first place, with intricate knots entwined with hearts. But she was amazed at how well looked after the spoon was since it had been carved almost 3 years ago. Taliesin had even managed to embed tiny emerald, amber and sapphire gemstones into the wood.

"Oh, Taliesin," she breathed. "It's beautiful."

It was in this moment that she looked up into Taliesin's blue eyes and took in his form. His broad muscular torso, his chiselled chin. His mousy brown tousled hair and his bright blue eyes. Immediately she knew what she wanted to happen next.

Taking him by the hand, the cousin of Rhodri, King of Gwynedd led him away from the bustle and noise of celebration.

"Come with me."

Taliesin allowed himself to be led away from the main party and through a side door. She then led the warrior-bard up a set of stairs, across the landing and up another flight of stairs again. From his past knowledge of the Hall, Taliesin realised that he was in he royal quarters, reserved only for royal family members and very special visitors.

Nia led the man to the end of the hall, towards a set of double doors where two guards stood. Nia stopped briefly, but only to address them.

"You will not allow anyone to come in here until I say so, even Lord and Lady Gwynedd. Do you understand?"

"But..." one of the guards started, but Nia cut him off.

"Anybody! Do you understand?"

The forcefulness of Nia's voice overrode the guard's obvious loyalty. "Yes, my lady."

She opened the large oak door and stepped inside, pulling Taliesin with her.

Inside, the room was spacious. Rugs lay everywhere on the stone floor. There was a dresser table to one side. Aon the other side of the room, a large fire roared gently from a huge hearth, but in the middle of the room was a large oaken four poster bed.

"Nia," Taliesin began as he closed the door behind him. "Is this...?"

He didn't get any more out because in that moment, Nia pushed herself against him, pulling his face down into a deep passionate kiss.

He reeled back, surprised for an instant, but then passion and instinct took over and he returned the kiss feverishly. His arms encircled her waist, feeling the curve of her hips and the softness of her body underneath the dress that she wore. He felt a stirring in his groin, followed by a tightness as his desire arose.

They pulled away from each other, lips parting with a loud smacking noise. Then Nia pulled him away and led him to the bed in the middle of the room.

"Nia, is this..."

"Yes," the girl replied, with a glint of mischief in her eye. "It is."

Taliesin smiled, knowing what was on the girl's mind. It was here three years ago that Lady Gwynedd had tried to seduce him. Now, Nia was going to complete what she couldn't. She would probably tell Lady Gwynedd as well afterwards, just to annoy her.

The young redhead sat down on the bed and undid the belt buckle on his trousers. Taliesin felt his heart beat faster in anticipation.

Nia looked up at him with seductive playful eyes as she pulled both his trousers and underpants down. "Now take me Taliesin, my love. Take me on the royal bed."

"Yes, Lady Frych." As he said this, Taliesin kneeled to her level, gently pushing her backwards and placing his hand on her calf. He slid it slowly up the woman's leg, smiling inwardly as Nia moaned softly. Her moans continued as his hand went further and further up her leg. She parted her legs slightly, inviting him further and further up, and Taliesin obliged as his hand went under her dress and gently massaged the inside of her thigh, moving slowly upwards until he felt the new, yet familiar sensation of her heat.

He looked at Nia. Her eyes were wide open with both desire and pleasure. She looked so alluring. Taliesin couldn't help himself as he pulled her undergarment to one side and gently massaged her pussy, which felt wet with desire. In response, Nia gripped the back of the boy's head and pulled him in for a deep and meaningful kiss.

Their tongues entwined, performing a merry sexual dance as his hands moved about her. Taliesin had been with women in the past, but right now, there was no other woman he desired more than Nia Frych. He tasted her breath, smelt her smell and felt her heat and warmth as he relished in the sensory overload she was giving him.

Nia moaned again as Taliesin stroked and massaged her. She had waited three long summers and had denied many suitors, wishing that the stories about Taliesin and Lady Gwynedd were not true. Only a few hours ago her nursemaid, Sara Hen had delivered a message given to her by a small child and told her the true story of how Taliesin had been exiled. She had still been unsure as she had met Taliesin again in the great hall, but now, as he stroked and massaged her the way he was, she was sure that Sara had told her the truth. The way he was loving her spoke volumes and as Taliesin finally part her lips and slip a finger inside her as he searched for her spot she knew -- this was a man who had always been truthful to her and hadn't done anything to betray her. Nia's heart was filled with joy, magnified as Taliesin's fingers found her spot and started stroking. It was all Nia could do but ride the waves of pleasure that surged through her body.

"Mmm, God, yes," she moaned in between kisses. "I've missed you so much."

Taliesin said nothing. He just looked at Nia with loving, yet determined eyes as he worked his thumb onto her engorged clitoris. The pleasure in her intensified and the girl started to quiver, feeling an orgasm build up inside her. Taliesin smiled at her, feeling the juice from her tightening pussy trickle onto his fingers as she approached an orgasm.

"Oh yes," she breathed, a little louder this time. Then again. "Yes!" her leg shook as she said this and for the first time, she registered the boy's throbbing cock on her belly.

She looked down, catching a glimpse of Taliesin's manhood as he continued to play with her femininity. It was a large as she remembered it. Long and thick. The head was bright red, desperate to get inside her.

Nia was instantly overcome with lust. She wanted it inside her. She wanted Taliesin inside her. She wanted to feel him as he ploughed her with his tool and feel him quiver and twitch as he planted his seed inside her.

"Fuck me," she managed to breathe.

"What?"

"I want your seed Taliesin," Nia blurted out, a little louder than she had intended. "Give it to me!"

The response was instant as Nia felt the fingers leave her. With it, she felt her approaching orgasm subside, which left her a little bit disappointed, but she knew an even bigger one was coming as Taliesin lifted her dress so it was bunched above her hips and manoeuvred himself so he was above her. They paused together for a moment looking at each other taking the sight of each other in a silent communication, then she felt her lips being parted, followed quickly by a filling satisfaction as Taliesin entered her. The feeling grew as Taliesin went deeper and deeper into her, sending sparks of desire through her body

She looked up at Taliesin, who also had a dreamy far away look on his face.

"Oh, I've missed you."
Taliesin smiled as he entered Nia. He hadn't expected this to happen at all, but what was happening now was beyond his wildest expectations. The love of his life had not only accepted him, but she was accepting him fully!

The warmth and wetness of Nia was accompanied by a gentle tightness, which invited and caressed him more and more. He wilfully accepted the invitation, going deeper and deeper, allowing himself to be enveloped in her womanhood until he was completely immersed in her. He looked at her amd she was looked back at him, a look of pure joy and relief on her face.

"Oh, I've missed you." She gasped.

"I've missed you too, Nia. I love you."

"I love you too, Tal."

At this, Taliesin started moving inside the redhead, slowly at first as he savoured the feeling of being inside her. The girl shuddered as he moved, enjoying the feeling just as much as him. Taliesin started moving faster sending pleasure bolts through them both. Nia started to move in rhythm with Taliesin and soon they were moving in harmony, experiencing each other in ways that they could never have dreamed of before. The world around them melted away until there was only the four-poster bed, Nia and Taliesin, the couple enjoying each other's sexual energy. The red headed girl started panting. Then she started moaning. Then she started screaming as Taliesin's pace increased from a gentle rock, to a steady beat, to a full-on hard pounding.

After a while, Nia felt her pussy start to twitch as an orgasm bubbling up within her. "Ohhhhhhhh," she moaned. Then louder "Ooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" "Oh, Taliesin!" she finally screamed as her body started to thrash as the orgasm hit.

Taliesin felt her tighten around him, which pushed him over the edge himself. "Oh God," he breathed. Then louder. "Oh God!" Then finally as his orgasm hit, "Niaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Their eyes locked as their bodies took over. Nia looked up at Taliesin, his face locked in absolute pleasure and amazement. This was the perfect moment she thought to herself. She would love to be here forever as she watched her lover orgasm into her. She loved him and at the same time, she knew that she was about to finally have his seed after so many years. She smiled inwardly at the thought, spreading her legs just that little bit further.

Taliesin looked down at Nia. She was certainly beautiful, but she was even more beautiful in orgasm -- her red hair framing her pale round face like an angel bathed in light, brown eyes wide open with delight and wonder. He loved her, he knew. Making love to her was the best thing he had done with his life to date. He smiled. For the first time in a while he was exactly where he wanted to be.

Then the moment was over. Nia's woman hood started to twitch uncontrollably, gripping and pulling Taliesin's member deeper within the girl's Venus flower. At the same time, Taliesin's orgasm boiled over and his manhood twitched violently, sending stream, after stream of his seed into Nia. Nia felt his twitch and sighed with both satisfaction and release as her womanhood began greedily sucking and milking Taliesin. She wrapped her legs around the warrior-bard, pulling him closer and deeper into her. She didn't want to lose a single drop of his seed.

The couple stared at each other as their orgasms subsided. Taliesin felt his manhood deflate, spent inside Nia. Nia smiled at him as they both pulled each other into a long loving cwtch.

It was Taliesin who spoke first. "I love you Nia Frych."

Nia sighed as she cwtched him back. "I love you too Taliesin Prydderi. Happy St Dynwen's day"

At this they both looked at each other and smiled. It indeed had been a happy one. St Dynwen herself would have been proud.
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