Branwen: The Struggle by Angie Skelhorn

Branwen: The Struggle

By Angie Skelhorn

The role of myths and legends is to relive old memories, restore old traditions and to allow the past to become a tangible reality. The story of Branwen allows us to gain wisdom. Even when things go wrong we can learn from the experience. As a queen, Branwen lived in misery. Due to a war that was no fault of her own, her two brothers were killed. Her only child is sacrificed and the love of her husband is taken away.

The Goddess Branwen was the daughter of Llyr. She had four brothers, Bran, Nissyen, Manawydan, and Evnissyen. Bran became King of the Island of the Mighty, Britain. He was the Keeper of the Cauldron of Re-birth. Manawydan was respectful and an aristocrat. Nissyen was brotherly and known to make decisions for the good of all. Evnissyen was known as an unruly trickster, the personification of a malicious mischief maker.

Matholwch, the King of Ireland, decided to take Branwen as his bride when she was of marriageable age. He sailed to Britain where he asked King Bran for his sister Branwen's hand in holy matrimony. King Bran discussed the proposal with Manawydan and Nissyen. They agreed the union would be beneficial for both kingdoms. The couple, the countries and the people happily joined together.

The reception went on into the wee hours of the morning. Quietly, Branwen and Matholwch retired to their chambers and consummated their union. Next morning, Branwen's brother Evnissyen, returned from his travels. He noticed that there were horses that he had never seen before resting in the stalls in the barn. The caretaker told him of his sister's wedding to the King of Ireland. Evnissyen felt that such an important decision should not have been made without his input. Enraged, he slaughtered Matholwch's horses with his blade. The tale of the gruesome deed spread quickly.

Immediately King Matholwch and Queen Branwen prepared to leave Britain's shores. King Bran offered to replace the horses as well as a handsome amount of silver and gold. Matholwch declined. As only the grandest gift would do, Bran compensated Matholwch with the Cauldron of Re-birth.

When the newlyweds returned to Ireland the people fell in love with Queen Branwen. They were in awe of her beauty and fairness. Branwen gave the kingdom a future king, named Gwen. Branwen's popularity soared. Matholwch's advisers and close associates schemed behind the new mother's back. Over time they convinced her husband the King that she also needed to pay for her brother's offense to their royal property. Branwen was stripped of her comforts. She was forced to cook for the entire court. At night she slept alone, forbidden to see her husband and son. The butcher had been told to strike her at least once a day to keep her in her place. Branwen complied and suffered for three long years. Finally, she could bear no more.

Branwen accessed her witch powers and shape-shifted into a starling, her token bird for protection, hope, family unity, and communication. She flew to Britain and communicated her fate to Bran. She then returned to Ireland in fear of the wrath of her husband's advisers, but with hope that she would be rescued. King Bran gathered his armies and traveled to Ireland. He was determined to save his sister. He lay down and stretched his enormous body from side to side of the river Shannon. King Bran's armies marched safely to the other side. King Matholwch was defeated. In order to bring peace he declared that he would no longer mistreat Queen Branwen and he would offer his son kingship.

To please King Bran, Matholwch promised to build a castle large enough to house Bran's immense frame. Bran's ego was sufficiently fed and he agreed to drop his battle swords. The Irish built the huge building with hidden motives. Evnissyen decided to inspect the construction. In different corners of each room he found leather bags on wooden pegs. Curious, he opened the leather bags and uncovered the Irish plot against his brother. In each bag was a warrior, covered with flour, waiting to fight. One by one, Evnissyen squeezed the head of each warrior until it burst. Still suspicious of Matholwch's motives, he tossed Gwen into the fire during his kingship. Branwen dove into the fire to save her only child, but was stopped. A battle broke out between the two kings and their people. King Matholwch was determined to win. He commanded that his dead warriors be tossed into the Cauldron of Re-birth. Each came back to life. Bran's army became outnumbered. Evnissyen gave his life in an attempt to stop the slaughter. He sneaked into the Cauldron and stretched his body outward until the magical pot cracked and broke open. It was too late to save King Bran's life.  He had become mortally wounded in his heel by a poisonous spear.

Branwen accompanied Bran's seven trusted men to his burial. Branwen could not overcome the sadness of losing her two brothers, her child and the love of her husband. She died of a broken heart shortly after Bran's death. Matholwch, unskilled, abused the powers of the Cauldron of Re-birth. He, too, was killed and his land was left barren. One must wonder why Branwen did not access her magical powers and right the wrong for herself. Could it have been done out of wifely duty? Might she have complied because her brothers Bran, Nissyen and Manawydan felt it was best? No matter what the reason was, poor choices were made all around. Branwen should not have relinquished all her free will to others.

In Branwen's day and time women had few rights. There was no choice of individual style. Females took what was offered and learned how to conform. Today, if we are in a weakened state that can break us, hope and belief will help us forget. We have a choice to listen within and take responsibility for our lives. When one comes under great pressure and hardships, it is human not to think in a straight line because our emotions play a large role in our decisions. Most of the time we try to please everyone and, in the end, we please no one. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what is needed. There are so many situations one gets one's self into, where what might first appear to be an obstacle is often a great learning experience. Life is a learning process, a journey of discoveries as we learn by the obstacles that are overcome. The dilemmas are to teach us to be a good person and a better friend. Our events change all the time to put right what goes wrong.

There is guidance in all things. We go through phases--forgive, forget and let go. New opportunities come to put things back in proper order. When everything seems to go wrong, miraculously, everything starts to change for the better.

Author Bio: Angie Skelhorn is the fifth child born into a farming family located south of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. She is hard at work on her novel, "On the Edge."

Her website is http://witchskel.weebly.com