Peredur son of Efrog

Peredur son of Efrog is the fifth chapter contained within The Mabinogion, following the original Four Branches. It is a parallel to Crétien de Troye's Percival. It centres on Peredur, the son of Efrog, who is raised by his mother in the forest with no knowledge of the world, or the harm that men do after she had lost all her sons to fighting, save Peredur. However, several knights passed by and met the young Peredur and explained what it was to be a knight. Instantly, Peredur knew his path in life and with an old horse and makeshift equipment. His despairing mother gave him final advice, insisting that he attend the court of King Arthur to learn to be a good knight. Each piece of advice he would follow, except, it seems, her final advice to rape women he met. This led to his meeting a beautiful woman, and wife to The Proud One of the Clearing, where he requested food and aid, but he made no motions upon her. Her husband, however, did not believe her afterwards and she was condemned by him to never remain in one place, forever moving from location-to-location. Upon arriving at Arthur's court, he is roughly treated by Cai, but two dwarves marvel at Peredur's arrival. When they show such interest in Peredur, Cai severely beat the two dwarves. He gives Peredur a quest; to slay an evil knight nearby that had just insulted Queen Gwenhwyfar. Owain went to find Peredur, thinking he would be killed, but found he had soundly defeated the knight and welcomed him as a Knight of Arthur. However, he refused to attend the court until he had gotten recompense upon Cai for his treatment of the dwarves and left. Every knight he overthrew, he sent back to Arthur to tell them of his deeds. Peredur found a mysterious fortress, within it the king who was lame, likely the Fisher King himself. The king taught him to wield a sword, the next fortress there was another old king who also taught him swordplay and this man revealed that he was Peredur's lost uncle, as was the man in the previous fort. Here, boys carrying a bleeding spear passed by, as well as women carrying a head on a platter, but, adhering to the advice his mother once gave, he asked nothing of these and he left. He came upon a woman in need, whose husband had been killed. She was his foster-sister and their mother had died after Peredur left. The dwarves at Arthur's court had been there at her behest, waiting for his arrival. He defeated the man that killed his foster-sister's husband and forced this new knight to take his foster-sister as his wife to take care of her and go to Arthur's court. At this time, Arthur had to act in seeking out Peredur himself as Peredur would never return to court himself. Peredur came to an earldom where the lady was in a state of poverty, attended to by nuns. She had refused to wed the son of a neighbouring earl and so the earl attacked. Her own father dead, there was no hope until Peredur. He defeated each challenger of the earl, until he defeated even the earl himself, and restored the lady to her rightful place. He was not seeking a wife, but he did love this woman. As he left, he came upon the wife he had first met upon leaving his mother, who was still travelling, unable to stop. He defeated her husband, The Proud One of the Clearing, and forced him to admit his guilt to all ion his treatment of his wife. He was tasked with defeating the Witches of Caerloyw, and when he defeated one of them, she realised he was Peredur; foretold to be the one to kill the witches. So she, and the witches, agreed to teach him horsemanship and that they would not terrorise the land again for sparing them. Soon after, he was reminiscing about the lady he loved, when knights approached him, including Cai. He defeated each of them as they rudely harassed them, wounding Cai. Gwalchmai approached, calmly, and was able to wake Peredur from his dream and join Arthur's court officially. At Caerllion, he fell in loved with a lady named Angharad Law Eurog and he vowed never to speak to a Christian again until she loved him back. When he came to the Round Valley, he was trapped by giants, who were pagans, and was forced to defend himself, killing the king's own sons until the king finally surrendered and allowed Peredur to leave the valley. Upon his initial return to the court, he refused to speak, because of his vow, and was attacked by Cai for ignoring him. However, he later defeated an enemy knight in combat, earning the mantle "The Mute Knight" and finally Angharad Law Eurog admitted she loved him for his bravery, and he was able to speak again. A later adventure, Peredur arrived at a court where the king attempted to kill Peredur. He was The Black Oppressor, and after being defeated he told Peredur how his eye had been taken by the Black Serpent of the Cairn at the Mound of Mourning, and within the serpent was a stone that could create gold. For his crimes, Peredur slew The Black Oppressor, but journeyed to seek out the serpent and the stone. On his way, he came to the court of the Sons of the King of Suffering. The sons would be killed each day by a lake monster, but were revived by magical ointment, that worked only on them. Peredur promised to kill the beast, despite them advising he not for fear of his death. A woman approached him and offered him a magical stone that would allow him to see the creature, so he could kill it, but only if he agreed to marry her. He accepted and was able to kill the lake monster, freeing the suffering sons. Soon after, an earl approached him, Edlym Gleddyf Goch, who wished to learn from Peredur as a squire. They came to the court of Countess of the Feats and her retinue. Though Peredur defeated the knights to win a place beside the countess, he lied when she revealed that she was in love with Edlym, stating that he was the greater knight and Peredur followed him. Though now with a lover, Edlym still followed Peredur to the Mound of Mourning where they defeated the many knights and kings that wanted the stone. Peredur went in alone, killed the monster and took the stone. He gave gold to the kings who cooperated with him and then gave the stone to Edlym for him and his new wife. Still on his travels, Peredur came to a pretty valley filled with mills. A miller gave him lodgings and loans, explaining that the Empress of Constantinople was there and many wished to be her suitor. Peredur was able to win the tournament and only after being pressured to meet with the empress, did he go. When alone with her, she asks if he remembers his promise to her and he does; she was the woman who gave him the magical stone to defeat the lake monster and she marries him. Back at Arthur's court, an ugly maiden arrived, from the Castle of Pride, to condemn Peredur. He had not asked about the spear or severed head in the land of his uncle, and now the lands were under grave threat. Likewise, a woman arrived to accuse Gwalchmai of killing her brother. They both set off. Gwalchmai arrived at a court where he was also accused of killing a brother, but the earl there allowed him to leave after some fighting and the knight agreed to return to solve this false accusation. Meanwhile, Peredur was seeking information on the Fortress of Wonders, when he became friendly with a girl and was imprisoned by her father on the presumption of his ill behaviour with her. She set him free several times so that he could win her father's rival earl. When it was revealed to him that Peredur was the one winning his battles, he released Peredur with directions to the fortress. At the fortress, he found one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain; a gwyddhwyll game that played itself. He grew angry with it and threw it in the lake. The ugly maiden appeared and tasked him with killing a tyrant, which would restore the board to its rightful place. He was then tasked with killing a vicious stag of the forest, which upset another woman who gave him the further task of summoning an undead knight. After these tasks, the rusted-knight vanished with his horse and he had to walk across a mountain until he finally reached a fortress where he met a lame old man, his uncle, and Gwalchmai. A boy revealed that he had been disguised as the women he had met to bring him here and that the head he had once witnessed had been the head of Peredur's cousin, killed by the Witches of Caerloyw, who had once taught Peredur to ride. Alongside King Arthur and his retinue, the knights fought the witches and won.
== The Mabinogion ==
=== Peredur in the Old North ===
Earl Efrog was an earl in the Old North (Efrog means "York"Page 244, Explanatory Notes, ) and he had seven sons. Efrog made his wealth from wars and tournaments, rather than from the land he owned. Six of his seven sons took after him, and they all went to fight. Ultimately, all of them died in battle. The seventh son, Peredur (otherwise known as Percival in the works of Chrétien de Troyes), was too young and was spared this destiny. Seeing the deaths of her other sons, Peredur's mother retreated to the forest with her remaining son, taking a retinue of women and old or weak men that had no interest in war. All were forbidden speak of weapons and horses. Despite this, Peredur demonstrated great strength when he rounded up two wild goats that had lost their horns from their behaviour, much to the surprise of allPage 65, Peredur son of Efrog, .
One day, three knights arrived in the area. Gwalchmai (Gawain, later reported as nephew of King Arthur, also one of the Three Men of the Island of Britain who were Most Courteous to Guests and Strangers), son of Gwyar, Gwair, son of Gwystyl, and Owain, son of Urien (both likely historical figures given fantastical form in literature). The knights were following a knight who had shared apples at the court of King Arthur. When Peredur approached them, he agreed to answer their questions if they answered his and he proceeded to enquire about everything that made them knights, a new concept to the boy, from their equipment and the equipment of the horses they rode. Peredur was instantly determined to join them and went to tell his mother, who fainted at the mere mention. He found himself an old nag that he determined to be suitable and used makeshift objects as his knightly equipment. Before he departed, his mother came to him to offer him words of advice on becoming a knight. She told him to attend to the court of King Arthur, where he would meet the greatest knights in the land to learn from. He had to say the Lord's Prayer to any church he passed. Should he find food, but no one offering it to him, he should take it for himself. He was to go towards any scream he heard, especially those of a woman. Any jewels he found, he should give to others to gain renown. Should he meet a beautiful ladyPage 66, Peredur son of Efrog, , he was to make love to her, or even rape her, because it would make him a better and braver manPage 67, Peredur son of Efrog, . 
With these guidelines in mind, he set forth. For two days and nights he wandered without food or drink. He came across a pavilion in a desolate forest, which he mistook for a church and spoke the Lord's Prayer before he approached. Seated on a golden chair outside the pavilion was a beautiful woman who wore a gold ring and a gold frontlet (ornamental headpiece) that was adorned with precious stones. He saw the table held food and he explained his mother told him to take food whenever he found it. The maiden offered it to him freely. He then explained his mother also told him to take precious jewels whenever he found them, and she gave her ring to him freely. He kissed her and then departed. After he had gone, the lord of the pavilion returned and found the horse's tracks. The maiden informed the knight that the rider had been a strange, young man and was forced to declare that the stranger had not seduced her. Unfortunately, the Proud One of the Clearing didn't believe her and deemed that she would not be permitted to remain for more than one night in any place, forced to move from bed to bed each day. He was determined that he found find the stranger and seek vengeance for the shame.
=== Peredur Versus Cai ===
Peredur resumed his journey to the court of King Arthur but before he arrived, another man arrived first. This stranger marched upon Gwenhwyfar, snatched the drink from her hand and threw it into her face. He then struck her across the head (a great grievance, a legal grievance, done to a queen during the periodPage 245, Explanatory Notes, ). He declared that anyone who would challenge him for the goblet he stole from the queen and the harm he had done to her, should pursue him to the meadow. The knights present were fearful for the brashness of the stranger's act would suggest that he was a man of tremendous strength or magical enchantment that they would surely die should they face him. Peredur arrived, mounted on an old nag with untidy gear (a parody of the hero's arrival) where he was met by Cai. Peredur announced he had come to be ordained as a knight by Arthur, to which Cai criticises the boy for his appearance and the other knights laugh and throw sticks at him, keen to forget the attack on the queen. A dwarf, who had stayed at Arthur's court for a year, then arrived and recognised Peredur. The dwarf had been silent for the whole year he stayed at the court, but upon seeing Peredur, he bid the boy welcome and called him a "flower of knights" (flower being a chivalric term), which earns him the ire of Cai. Cai condemns the dwarf for being silent all this time and only now speaking to praise a slovenly boy. He struck the dwarf until he was rendered unconscious. Soon after, the wife of the dwarven man, a female dwarf, appeared and she, who had likewise been mute all year, welcomed the boyPage 68, Peredur son of Efrog, . This earnt her a kicking from Cai, until she was also beaten unconscious. He then ordered that Peredur ought to face the knight in the meadow, retrieve the goblet and bring back the knight's possessions and then he would be ordained as a knight. Peredur marched out to meet the villain, but the knight in the meadow demanded that he return to the court to fetch Arthur to fight him, or else another gallant knight. Peredur, however, would not be unswayed and goes in to attack. The knight landed a blow on Peredur, cutting between the shoulder and neck. Peredur stated that this was not the manner of play he had engaged in with his mother's servants and would fight in the manner he was used to. He threw a dart at the man, which pierced the knight's eye and ran through the back of the head to slay himPage 69, Peredur son of Efrog, .
Back at the court, Owain, son of Urien, is angered at Cai's treatment of Peredur. He stated that the situation would be bad for Arthur and the reputation of the knights. Either the boy has been overthrown, embarrassing them all as the knight would believe Peredur a nobleman, or the boy is dead, which has the same outcome, except it would also be Cai's responsibility for sending out the fool to his unwarranted death. So he decided he must go and find Peredur himself. Owain discovered Peredur dragging the body of the knight as he had been unable to remove the knight's armour. Owain helped him get the armour off and gave the armour and the knight's weapons and horse to Peredur. Owain affirmed that Peredur would be ordained a knight, to which Peredur is willing - however, he declared he would never set foot in Arthur's court unless he challenges Cai to battle for the insult the tall knight had done to the unfortunate dwarves. Owain returned to court to report the events, while Peredur went on his way. During his travel he came across a knight who asked of Peredur's origins. The boy told him that he is in service to King Arthur's court, to which the man then admitted that he pillaged Arthur's lands and actively murdered those in his service. A fight ensued and Peredur was victorious, when the villain pleaded for mercy. Peredur granted it, if the knight would go unto Arthur's court to turn himself in, report who had bested him and that Peredur still would not come to Arthur's court until he had faced Cai. The man agreed and did as bade. Thus Peredur did the same to sixteen knights and sent each unto Arthur with the same reportPage 70, Peredur son of Efrog, , which caused Arthur to reprimand Cai for his behaviourPage 71, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== Peredur's Forgotten Family ===
Eventually, Peredur arrived at a lake within a desolate forest, where there was a large stronghold on the shore. There he met an old man sat beside the lake, while boys were fishing on the lake (possibly this is the Fisher KingPage 246, Explanatory Notes, ). The man, who has lame and slow to move, went to the fortress and Peredur followed. Within, the lord's retinue helped Peredur dismount and welcomed him before he joined the old man in talk and dining. The old man then asked Peredur if he could wield a blade, to which Peredur admitted he didn't know, but he believed he would be if he had ever been taught how. The old man asserted that if he could play with sticks and a wooden shield, he would learn. His sons were to demonstrate, but Peredur asked which of them was better. The father said the blonde boy could defeat the auburn haired boy, and so Peredur challenged the blond boy. They fought with sticks until one drew blood from the other and it was Peredur who won. The old man marvelled that Peredur might one day become the greatest swordsman in the land. The man then revealed to Peredur that he was actually his uncle, the brother of his mother. The man then stated that Peredur must remain there to learn manners and knightly etiquette. He was to forget the words of his mother and instead learn from his uncle. He should not ask of something strange, unless it is explained to him. He said it would not be Pereduir's failure, but his own for not teaching him everything he needed. With his uncle's permission, Peredur went to explore the land and he travelled through the forest until he came to a meadow and found a fortress there. When he entered the court, he found a grey-haired man there with many young boys who welcomed him to dinner. At the end of dinner, the man asked if Peredur knew how to wield a blade, to which Peredur, again, said he would if he had ever been taught. The old man asked him to take up a sword and strike the iron column within the room. Peredur did so until the colum split in two. The man asked him to put the pieces together again, and they merged as good as new. He struck it again and again, and patched it together each time, until the sword itself broke in twain. Though the man asked Peredur to attach them back together again, as before, neither sword, nor column, would attach. The man deemed this meant the training was donePage 72, Peredur son of Efrog, . The man declared that Peredur was the now the best swordsman in the kingdom and that he had yet one more task ahead of him to complete his training. He then revealed that he was his uncle, brother to the man he met the previous night. As Peredur talked with his uncle, boys entered carrying an overly large spear, from which three streams of blood poured from its socket. The boys at the court started to weep at the sight, but his uncle did not comment on it at all and Peredur did not ask. After, two women entered, carrying a platter of blood with a man's head upon it (this scene is a reflection of the 'Holy Grail' scene in Chrétien's Perceval, but the grail is the platter with a head upon it. The spear would later be seen as the Spear of LonginusPage 247, Explanatory Notes, ). The women wailed and screamed so much, few could tolerate it. Still, Peredur did not ask questions and, later, retired to sleep. The next day, with his uncle's permission, he left the court and continued his exploration of the forest. He came across a woman who was dragging a dead man to a horse, trying to put him onto the saddlePage 73, Peredur son of Efrog, .
Lacking the strength, the body would fall to the ground and she would cry with each failed attempt. He asked if he could assist, but she lamented and cursed him. She revealed that she was his foster-sister and that when he departed from his mother, she suddenly died because of him. The dwarves at Arthur's court had been in service to his mother and they attended the court to await his arrival there. Now, the man dead before them was her husband, who had been slain by a knight in the vicinity. She told him not to confront the knight, lest he be killed too. Peredur felt it was wrong to be blamed, and that he would help her bury her husband and, with her guidance, find the villain and take revenge for her and her husband. This was done and they found the knight. After defeating him, the knight asked for mercy, which Peredur granted on the condition that he return to Arthur and explain who defeated him and that he still wished to take vengeance on Cai for the assault on the dwarves. He also demanded that the knight take his foster-sister as wife and treat her well, for he had taken her husband without cause. The knight did as told, took her as wife and went to Arthur. There, Owain was certain that Peredur would never come to court and Cai would never venture out. Arthur was determined that he would seek out Peredur himself and force the confrontation between themPage 74, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== The Woman He Loves Best ===
Peredur came to another fortress in the desolate forest, which was covered in ivy. The vegetation was thickest around the fort. A red haired boy appeared above the gate and opened it for Peredur to enter. Within, Peredur found eighteen red-haired boys that all appeared the same and wore the same clothes who offered him service. Soon afterwards, maidens came in and Peredur was struck by the beauty of the leading lady. She had the whitest skin, blackest hair and reddest cheeks that he had ever seen. She welcomed him with an embrace and they sat to eat when two nuns entered with bread and wine. Though the maiden wanted to give the most food to Peredur, he insisted on sharing it with everyone equally. When he asked if he could sleep, permission was granted. In his absence, the red-haired boys declared that the lady must offer herself to Peredur, either as his wife or mistress. She said this was not acceptable or proper as Peredur made no overtures of courting her. They said they would leave her to her enemies if she did not do this. With tears in her eyesPage 75, Peredur son of Efrog, , she went to Peredur's chamber. He awoke to find her there, crying, and asked what was happening. She explained that she was the only daughter of the former earl of the land. The son of another earl had wanted her as his wife, but she had refused and her father would not force her to wed him. When her father died, she inherited the lands. Because she continued to resist the marriage, the earl went to war with her and stole her lands save for this final fortress. The red-haired youths were her foster-brothers, who defeated her and the fortress until now. However, they had now run out of food and the only food to come in was from the nunnery, who barely had food for themselves either. Should the earl finally capture her and kill her entourage, she would be abused, perhaps given over to the earl's stable boys. Thus, she offers herself to Peredur to do as he wished with her, if he would help them to escape or else defend the fortress. Peredur agreed he would, but he would not take advantage of her. The next day, she woke Peredur with the announcement that the earl's forces had descended upon the land. He rode out and met many of the earl's knights in single-combat, defeating them all. By the afternoon, a great knight challenged Peredur but was defeated also. He asked for mercy, which Peredur granted. He revealed that he was the head of the earl's retinuePage 76, Peredur son of Efrog, . Peredur laid out his terms; he would become a prisoner of the lady of the fortress, he would relinquish his claims over any lands that had once been hers, and he would provide food, drink, weapons and horses to the fortress. The lady was overjoyed and they celebrated. The next day, Peredur went to the meadow again and defeated many of the earl's knights until a very arrogant knight approached and was, also, defeated and begged for mercy. The knight admitted he was the earl's steward. Peredur made the same offer, the steward would become prisoner, relinquish the lands he had claim over within the lady's territory, and grant enough food, drink, weapons and horses for two-hundred men. The third day and, once again, Peredur defeated many until, eventually, he overcame the very earl himself, who asked for mercy. He laid out the same terms; he must relinquish the entire earldom back to the lady, give them enough food, drink, weapons and horses for three-hundred men and he would be under her authority. Peredur remained with the lady until the affairs were all settled and the tributes all paid, and she had her earldom under control. He asked permission to leave, to which she asked if that was what he really wanted. He admitted he did, and that he only remained this long as he loved herPage 77, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== Witches of Caerloyw ===
After leaving her lands, stating that she could always call upon his aid, he met with a woman who approached him. She explained that she was the woman he had once met, wife to the Proud One of the Clearing, and that she was forced to move from place to place on her weary horse by her husband. Peredur, recognising this was because of him, vowed to resolve this for her. Soon after, he found the man and defeated him. When he asked for mercy, it was granted but he must admit to all that she was proven innocent of the charge to all who would listen and admit that he was defeated by Peredur for the insult he gave his own wife. He resumed his travels and upon a mountain, he came to find another fortress. Within he was met by the lady of the fortress and welcomed to dine. However, after the meal, she advised he sleep elsewhere because there were witches in these lands. She explained there were nine witches, together with their father and mother, as the Witches of Caerloyw (Witches of Castle of Glow, or "The Shining Fortress"). The lands were laid waste by them and that they were almost upon this last fortress, staying here would be his death. He offered to help them should trouble arise if they allowed him to stay and so he did. At dawn, Peredur heard a screamPage 78, Peredur son of Efrog, and outside he defeated one of the witches that was attacking a watchman. She explained that it was foretold that Peredur would defeat her and that she would grant him weapon and horse and teach him to ride. He granted her this mercy on the condition she would vow never to attack the lands of the countess again, to which she agreed and he rode to the witches' abode where he learnt to ride and chose his weapons and horse that they offered him. Afterwards, he stayed with a hermit and snow fell in the night. Outside he witnessed a raven feed on the body of a dead duck, killed by a hawk, and was the whiteness of the snow, the redness of the blood and the blackness of the raven and was reminded of the woman he lovedPage 79, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== Joining Arthur's Court ===
Nearby, King Arthur arrived and saw the knight from a distance. He sent a squire to find out if this is Peredur, but Peredur was so deep in thought of his true love that he made no answer. The squire attacked, but Peredur knocked the squire to the ground. Several more knights were sent, and each were knocked to the ground and he would give no answer. Finally, Cai himself was sent up and spoke with his usual lack of manners and Peredur struck him with his spear. Cai was knocked out, though his collar bone was broken. The other knights rushed in and though initially worried he would die, they came to the decision he would be fine with a physician to set the bone. Peredur was still lost in his thoughts, despite the crowd of knights, so they left and brought Cai to Arthur's pavilion where he was tended to. Arthur had great love for Cai and sympathised with his pain. Gwalchmai thought it rude to have interrupted the stranger's thoughts and decided to approach and ask politely, without trying to disturb the man. Cai, bitter, said he believed Gwalchmai would easily bring back the knight because Cai had already worn him out so much and then suggested this was the usually manner in which Gwalchmai defeated opponents. He would not need anything but thin cloth as armour as the knight would be in no state to fight. Gwalchmai told Cai not to vent his anger on him, but agreed he would bring the knight back, though without the need of battle. Thus, while armed and armoured anyway, Gwalchmai approached Peredur slowly and politelyPage 80, Peredur son of Efrog, . Gwalchmai explained he is from Arthur's court and that Arthur wished to speak with him, if he was finished with his thoughts. Peredur explained he had been thinking of the woman he loved when he was rudely attacked. He then asks if Cai is still at the court. Gwalchmai confirmed that it was Cai who he had just defeated and seriously wounded, to which Peredur was happy that he had begun to avenge the dwarves. He gave his name to Gwalchmai, and Gwalchmai in return. With a friendship forming, they went back to Arthur's pavilion. They removed their armour and went to the king, hand-in-handPage 81, Peredur son of Efrog, . Arthur was elated and apologised for the mistreatment that Peredur had received and that he would never have allowed Peredur to leave, had he known Peredur's bold deeds in advance. Likewise, he was welcomed by the queen, whom he had avenged, before they set off for CaerllionPage 82, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== Vow of Christian Silence and The Round Valley ===
The very first night at Caerllion, Peredur met with a beautiful woman, Angharad Law Eurog. He admitted he could love her above all women, but she instantly refused him as she did not love him, nor care to. He then vowed he would not speak to any Christian again until she confessed she loved him best. The next day, he marched out on horseback until he reached a forest where he found black houses near to a steep rock, where there was a winding road. Upon the rock was a chained lion. Beside the rock was a pit, filled with bones of men the lion had eaten. Peredur attacked the sleeping beast and cut the chain so it fell into the pit. The knight continued on his way, around the rock, until he came to a fair castle and, outside, he met a large man with grey hair. Here he found many boys. The man cursed his gatekeeper, which Peredur realised was the lion, and they all went inside the castle. He joined them to dinner, where he met a young woman who gave him sad looks. When he asked what was wrong, she told him that she loved him, but she knew he would soon die. The black houses that Peredur had seen where homes to giants who were vassals to her father and that they would kill him tomorrow. This land was known as the Round Valley. The girl arranges that Peredur's steed and weapons would be lodged with him. In the morning, the giants arrived. The girl pleaded with her father to allow Peredur to go if he promised not to reveal the location of the Round Valley to outsiders, but he refused. Peredur then killed many of the soldiers that attacked him, without a single harm befalling himselfPage 83, Peredur son of Efrog, . Peredur is able to defeat and kill the lord's two sons and only then is he willing to negotiate with Peredur and asks the maiden to request mercy from Peredur. He agrees, but asks that he go to Emperor Arthur to relay the exploits of Peredur's good service, to which the nobleman agreed. He also demanded that they be baptised, but affirmed that the valley would remain in the king's possession and inherited by his heirs. He tells that no Christian had ever left the lands alive before Peredur and that he would go to Arthur and receive the faith. Peredur is thankful that he did not actually break his promise to Lady Angharad Law Eurog, as these people were not Christians. The next day, the king and his followers went to Arthur's court and were given permission to retain the Round Valley. Peredur, on the other hand, resumed his journey, but came across no dwellings for a great distance. He heard tell of a serpent that lay upon a golden ring that would destroy all dwellings for seven miles around its territory. Peredur sought the creaturePage 84, Peredur son of Efrog, and slew it and took the ring, all the while avoiding speaking with any Christian people. He began to become homesick for Arthur's court, however, and his new love-interest, the Lady Angharad Law Eurog. So he returned to court, but as he drew near a group of knights approached him, led by Cai. Though Peredur recognised them, he could not speak to them due to his promise. They, however, did not recognise him, so upon being badgered by Cai, Peredur silently moved on. Angered, Cai attacked and wounded Peredur through his thigh. Still unable to speak, Peredur rode on. Gwalchmai chastised Cai for his unwarranted assault and went with Peredur to court. He asked Queen Gwenhwyfar to have the knight's wounds tended and resumed his errands with Cai. During this time, as Peredur healed, a strange knight came to the meadow and demanded to battle the knights of the court. Every knight that rode up to fight was soundly defeated by this stranger until, eventually, King Arthur himself decided he would defeat the intruder. Peredur heard of this from the servants that were getting the king's horse, and he rode out quickly to get to the intruder before Arthur. He challenged the knight, but he did not push head-on into the fight, even as the intruder charged at him. At the last moment, Peredur struck the knight a blow beneath the chin, sending him flying some distance awayPage 85, Peredur son of Efrog, . This fight earnt him the name "The Mute Knight". As he returned from the fight, he was met by Angharad Law Eurog. She proclaimed it a great shame that he was unable to speak, for she had fallen in love with this valiant knight. Thus, his vow was completed and he professed his thanks and love for her in return. Now able to speak, he was reconciled with the knights and renewed his friendshipsPage 86, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== The Black Serpent of the Cairn ===
One day, Arthur and Peredur were hunting, based out of Caerllion ar Wysg. Peredur chased a stag with his dog, which was able to catch and feed on the animal. But Peredur noticed a dwelling and at the front of the hall were three men playing a game called gwyddbwyll (a board-game akin to chess, where a player's king must reach the edge of the board to escape, while the opponent will attempt to block the king with his pawns. Similar to the Irish game fidceallPage 248, Explanatory Notes, ). As he neared, he noticed three maidens dressed in golden garments of noblewomen. He came and sat with them, when one of the women burst into tears. She admitted she would hate to see such a handsome man killed and proceeded to explain that their father, lord of the land, slays any who enter the lands without permission. The men playing gwyddbwyll got up to leave as another man entered. He had black-hair and one eye and after he rested, he noticed Peredur there. One of the maidens asks her father to show patience and spare Peredur, to which her father agrees. As the night went on, they ate, talked and drank. Intoxicated, Peredur asked how the king could claim to be so strong, yet has lost an eye and wishes to know how it happened. The king then said that one of his rules is that any who ask him this would be killed, but his daughter reminded him of his promise and explained Peredur was drunk. The king agreed, for her sake, to spare his life for the night. The next morning, however, the king came to Peredur, already dressed in his armour, and demanded that Peredur awaken so that he could meet his death. Peredur pointed out that the lord was armoured and asked that he either remove his armour, or grant Peredur armour, to even the fight. The king underestimated Peredur, stating that he could choose whatever weapons he liked. The king was defeated by Peredur and asked for mercy. Peredur agreed, on the condition that he explain who he is and what happened to his eye. The man explained that he is known as The Black Oppressor, as he would terrorise and oppress his neighbours. His eye was taken by the Black Serpent of the Cairn. At the Mound of Mourning, there is a cairn within the mound, within the cairn in the Black Serpent, and within the serpent's tail is a magical stone. When the stone is held in one hand, the user could summon gold to the other handPage 87, Peredur son of Efrog, . The Black Oppressor then gave an account of the journey that Peredur would need to take to reach the Mound of Mourning. First, he would reach the court of the Sons of the King of Suffering, so named because a lake monster eats them each day. He would then reach the Countess of the Feats, named for the three-hundred knights that relay to guests the feats of each of her retinue. After leaving her court, he would reach the Mound of Mourning, which is surrounded by three-hundred pavilions that guard the serpent. Finally, as the Black Oppressor had oppressed his people, and beyond, for so long, Peredur slew him. As conqueror, the man's daughter offers up everything to Peredur, the land, riches and whatever maiden he would wish to marry. Peredur, however, wants none of it, and gave them permission to marry whoever their hearts desired. He marched out on his quest to the Mound of MourningPage 88, Peredur son of Efrog, . 
When he reached the territory of the Sons of the King of Suffering, he found only women, who welcomed him, until he saw a horse approach. Upon the saddle was the corpse of a dead man. The women tended to the body by placing it into a bath and applied a magical ointment. This restored the man to life, and upon being restored the man boldly welcomed Peredur to the court. Two more men arrived in the manner, as corpses in need of restoration. They merely explained, as Peredur had heard from The Black Oppressor, that they were being killed each day by a lake monster. When, the next day, Peredur asked to accompany them, they refused him. If he were to die, nobody could restore him to life again. However, Peredur secretly followed them anyway, but when he lost sight of them, he came across a beautiful woman instead. She spoke to him, stating that she knew he was bound for the lair of the monster. She believed that the monster would win due to its cunning. Its lair was in a cave and outside the cave was a stone pillar from which the monster could see everyone who entered the cave, but nobody could see the monster. It used a poisonous stone spear to kill all who trespass. However, she then offered him a magical stone that would allow him to see the creature and render him invisible to it. In return, he would have to promise to love her above all women. He, happily, agrees. She granted him the stone and said he must look towards India (used to create a sense of the exotic) when he wished to meet her again. He entered the river valley, which was bordered by two meadows. In one meadow he saw a herd of white sheep, in the other only black sheep. As the sheep crossed to the next meadow, that sheep would change colour. Growing upon this unnatural divide was a tree, half of it fresh and new, the other half burning from roots to branches. He noticed a squire sat upon a mound with two greyhounds and as he approached, he saw three paths leading from the mound; two wide and one narrow. He asked the squire where each led. The squire explained that one of the roads led to his court and that Peredur could travel there immediately, or he could wait with him for his hunting pack to return, claiming his dogs to be the greatest hunting dogs Peredur would see and that he would welcomed to court for the night. Peredur bid him thanks, but he would not stayPage 89, Peredur son of Efrog, . The other path, the man explained, went to the town, while the third, narrow, path went to the monster's cave. Thus, Peredur reached the cave to face the beast, armed with the stone in one hand and the spear in the other. He quickly found the creature, able to see it, and killed it by cutting off its head. He took the head and found the three reborn-princes at the mouth of the cave. They offered Peredur half of the kingdom and the choice of one of their three sisters. Though Peredur had not been seeking a wife, he admitted he might have wed one of the sisters had he been inclined to wed. With that, he left the Sons of the King of Suffering. He didn't go far when he heard someone approaching from behind. He found a young knight clad in red armour. He wished to become the squire of Peredur. He introduced himself as Edlym Gleddyf Goch (Edlym of the Red Sword), an earl from the eastern lands. Peredur was surprised Edlym would seek to become his squire as he, too, was an earl of the same rankPage 90, Peredur son of Efrog, .
With his new companion, Peredur and Edlym reached the court of the Countess of the Feats. She explained that whoever overcame the three-hundred knights of her retinue would be able to sit and eat with her and that she would love him above all men. Thus, Peredur defeated all three-hundred men and was permitted to sit with the countess. She was thankful that Peredur was so brave and handsome, as she was not able to be with the man she truly loved. This, she revealed, was Edlym, though she had never seen him. Peredur quickly explained that Edlym was his companion and that he sought to challenge her retinue on Edlym's behalf; though he was certain Edlym could have done far more than Peredur could, had he wanted to. The countess thanked Peredur, and that night she and Edlym slept together. The next day, Peredur resumed his journey to the Mound of Mourning, but was met by Edlym, who still wanted to go with him. When they found the pavilions, Peredur tasked Edlym to request that the occupants come to pay homage to Peredur Baladr Hir (Peredur Long Spear). Within, however, Edlym is threatened that they would kill him, except it is illegal to kill messengers. They find it arrogant for an earl to expect kings and earls to pay him homage. Peredur demanded that they pay homage or fight him, so they chose to fight. Peredur defeated the owners of a hundred pavilions, and did the same the next day. The third day, however, a hundred pavilions chose to pay him homage. They explained that they were guarding the Black Serpent until it died within the Mourning Mound. He told them to await his return and when they asked to accompany him, he refused them. He would gain no praise if he were attended, he would go alone. He went within, killed the serpent and retrieved the magical stone. He repaid those that joined him for their costs of staying at the Mourning Mound, and in return they had to swear themselves to his service. To Edlym, he permitted him to return to his woman, the countess, and then gave him the stonePage 91, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== The Empress of Constantinople ===
Peredur came to a pretty river valley that was filled with many pavilions and lot of watermills and windmills. When he approached a mill, the miller welcomed him in. Peredur asked to borrow money to buy food and asked of events in the valley. The miller explained that there were so many visitors that all these mills had to be constructed to feed them. The visitors were here because the Empress of Constantinople was here, who has arrived to seek the bravest man as she has no need of wealth. The next day he went to the tournament. Through the window of one pavilion, he could see a beautiful noblewoman and became mesmerised. He remained there, transfixed, until after the tournament had come to and end. He returned to his lodgings and had to borrow more money from the miller, though the miller's wife was angry. However, the next day, Peredur again became mesmerised at the sight of the woman and had to return for another night and more money. This happened a third time, still seeking money. The fourth day, as he stared once again, he received a blow from the miller, who had followed him, who ordered him to turn away, or go to the tournament. Happily, he went and overthrew all that challenged him. He sent his defeated opponents to the empressPage 92, Peredur son of Efrog, , but sent their horses and armour to the miller's wife to guarantee he would repay her. After many more victories, the empress sent word for the Knight of the Mill to attend her. He refused, and then refused the second messenger she sent. The third time she sent one-hundred messengers and that they were to take him by force. He fought them all, tied them up and threw them all into a ditch. The empress asked for advice of a wise man, who offered to go to speak with Peredur himself. He asked that Peredur attend for the sake of his lover, and so Peredur went. He was joined by the empress and they spoke. The next day, during a similar conversation, a dark-haired man entered with a golden goblet. He offered it to the empress to bestow upon any man who would fight him. Peredur requested the challenge and, after drinking from it, he gave the goblet to the miller's wife. Another, larger, man entered with an animal claw shaped into a goblet and also offered it up to the one who would fight him. Peredur accepted, drank and gave the goblet to the miller's wife. A third man entered, bigger than the last two and with red curly-hair, offered up a crystal goblet to the empress to give to any who would fight him. She gave it to PeredurPage 93, Peredur son of Efrog, , who drank and gave the goblet to the miller's wife. He then rode out and killed the three men the next day before he returned to the empress' pavilion. There, she asked if he remembered the promise that he made to her when she gave him the stone, revealing herself to be the woman who aided him against the lake monster with the Sons of the King of Suffering to the reader. Peredur admitted that he did remember and he ruled with the empress for fourteen yearsPage 94, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== Gwalchmai's Quest ===
King Arthur was in Caerllion ar Wysg, one of his chief courts, and seated in the court were four knights; Owain son of Urien, Gwalchmai son of Gwyar, Hywel son of Emyr Lllydaw and Peredur Baladr Hir. Riding a yellow mule, a woman with black, curly-hair and skin blacker than blackest iron and pitch. She was ugly with sagging features, flaring nostrils and mismatched, deep-set eyes of piercing green and black. She had long, yellow teeth, her back was hunched, her hips wide and bony. She was scrawny except for stout feet and knees (this character is seen as a parody of sovereignty and the concept of the beautiful maiden). She greeted four of the men, except for Peredur. She criticised him for past events and deemed him unworthy of the strength given to him by fate. He had been with his uncle and witnessed a bloody spear being carried by boys and the other wonders, but he did not question their meaning or cause. She claimed that if he had asked then the uncle would have recovered and the land would have been at peace. Instead it is war torn with many men dead and women left widowed and unprovided for. She turned to Arthur and gave him information. Her home was far off, the Castle of Pride. There were sixty-six knights and five hundred ordained knights with their women there. Any knight that wished to gain fame from combat could do so there. However, she also said that a greater glory could be had as there was a castle under siege and within a maiden who needed to be freed. Gwalchmai and the others were worried about the besieged maiden, but Peredur was now worried about the spear he had failed to speak ofPage 95, Peredur son of Efrog, .
As they all readied themselves to leave, a knight entered and greeted four of the men, except for Gwalchmai. The stranger declared that Gwalchmai had killed his father through treachery and deceit. Gwalchmai pledged this was untrue and he would fight for his honour. The knight wished to fight in the presence of King Arthur and gave the location for their battle. Peredur rode with Gwalchmai some of the way, but eventually they split on their own quests. Gwalchmai came to a valley with a fort and from the fort rode a knight upon a palfrey, a light-horse, that was lively and excited. Gwalchmai reported to the knight that he was from Arthur's court. The knight welcomed him and gave him a ring as a sign to the guards that he was to be allowed entry. He told him to go to a specific tower where his sister was. He did as bid and was welcomed by the maiden and sat by the fire for dinner until a grey-haired man entered. He was horrified to find Gwalchmai there, proclaimed the maiden a whore and marched out. She advised that the door be barricaded, but when Gwalchmai reached the door, the man had already arrived with thirty others. Gwalchmai managed to block the passage with a gwyddbwyll board. When the earl arrived, the grey-haired man protested that it was not right that Gwalchmai should be here, declaring him the one that slew the earl's father. The earl shunned the man and went inside to speak with Gwalchmai. He made the man welcome, but stated that he should not have come to the fort for his transgressions. Gwalchmai admitted that he was on a quest for Arthur and had not come to the court on this matter. He agreed that he would return in one year, upon completion of his other quest, to either admit or deny this allegation against himPage 96, Peredur son of Efrog, . He continued on his way the next day, but his story ends herePage 97, Peredur son of Efrog, .
=== The Fortress of Wonders and Return to the Witches of Caerloyw ===
Meanwhile, Peredur was searching for the black-haired woman. He came to an unfamiliar land and came across a rider that appeared to be a priest and asked for his blessing. The priest sneered at him for wearing armour on Good Friday, and Peredur confessed he had not realised as he had been travelling aimlessly for a year. He continued on his way until he eventually found a fort and when he approached it, he found the priest again and asked for his blessing again. This time, the priest was more welcoming and demanded that Peredur remain there, as these were not days to be travelling. Peredur wished to resume his quest, but the priest insisted and he remained for four days. The priest gave him directions across the mountain to a river valley where the king, who remained there over Easter, would have information to access the Fortress of Wonders. When Peredur approached, he met the king with his hunting party. He gave Peredur a guide to his court, where he would be under the care of his daughters, and he would help him upon his return from the hunt. The guide, a boy, led Peredur to court, where one of the daughters warmly welcomed the knight. She appeared very friendly with Peredur and would laugh at everything the knight spoke. The boy went back to the hunting party and reported that he believed the king's daughter was lover to the new knight, or that he soon would be from the girl's behaviour. He suggested to the king that he send strong men to capture Peredur until the truth could be discovered. The men arrived at court and threw Peredur into the prison. The maiden went out to her father to ask why he was doing this, but he merely vowed that Peredur would not be leaving the jail. She returned to the captive and promised she would ensure his stay in the jail would be equal to the king's abode and she even brought him her own bed. The next day, there was a great commotion in the city. The maiden reported to Peredur that the nearby earl, who has the power of a king, was due to do battle with the kingdomPage 98, Peredur son of Efrog, . He asked the maiden to grant him horse and armour and that he would go to the battle, but he promised to return to his cell afterwards. He granted him a pure red cloak to wear over his armour and a yellow shield. During the battle, Peredur overthrew many of the earl's knights and, as promised, returned to his cell. When the princess asked her father of news in the battle, he reported that an unfamiliar knight had performed best and described that he had worn a red cloak and bore a yellow shield. She held Peredur in high esteem after that. This happened over three days, but Peredur always returned to his cell before any could identify him. On the fourth day, Peredur slew the earl himself. The king celebrated with his daughter, as he now owned both earldoms that the deceased earl had controlled. She confessed that she knew his identity and told him of Peredur in the cells. The king welcomed Peredur out of the cells and brought him to seat with him at dinner. He was willing to grant Peredur half his kingdom, the two earldoms he had won and his daughter's hand in marriage, but Peredur had not come seeking a wife. He just wanted information on the Fortress of Wonders. The princess promised he would have a guide and all the food and drink he needed for his journey. She then confessed that she loved him bestPage 99, Peredur son of Efrog, . The king said to Peredur that the Fortress of Wonders lay across the mountain and that it lies at the centre of a lake therePage 100, Peredur son of Efrog, .
Once there, he found a game of gwyddhwyll, playing itself (one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain is the gwyddhwyll of Gwenddolau son of CeidoPage 249, Explanatory Notes, ), but when the side he supported lost the game, he took the pieces and threw the board into the lake. The black-haired maiden, who had first affronted him at Caerllion ar Wysg, then arrived and condemned him for his actions, arguing that, overall, he does more harm than he does good. He had now thrown the empress' own gwyddhwyll board into the lake, and she would rather lose the whole empire than that. She does suggest that he could get it back if he journeys to the Fortress of Ysbidinongyl, where the ruler is known to ravage the empress' lands. She agreed to guide him there and Peredur defeats the black-haired man, who begged for mercy. Peredur agreed, but only if he restored the board to where it ought to be. Upon returning to the Fortress of Wonders, the maiden condemns him again for sparing the man that would destroy the empress' lands and that the man had not returned the board where it ought to be. Thus, Peredur returned to the Fortress of Ysbidinongyl again and killed the man. Upon returning to the Fortress of Wonders yet again, the maiden told him he would not see the empress unless he defeat an oppressor of the forest. She explained that there was a stag there with deadly, single horn as long as a spear. The stag ate the canopy of the trees, killed the other animals and drank the pond dry so that the fish would die. She allowed him use of the empress' own hound to aid him hunt the stag. The hound lured out the stag and, as it charged at Peredur, he moved to cut off its head. A moment later and a majestic woman approached him from the forest on her horse. She lifted the dog first and then the stag's head, along with its collar, onto the horse. She condemns him for killing the most beautiful thing in her forest, but he could redeem himself if he went to the hillside, where he would find a slab at the base of a bush. There he would need to call for a man to fight him three times, then she would forgive his crime. Peredur did as bid and when he called out for the third time, a man arose from beneath the slab, upon a scraggly horse and clad in rusted armour. During the battle, Peredur dismounted from his horse to battle the rusted-knight, but at that moment the knight vanished, along with both his own steed and Peredur'sPage 101, Peredur son of Efrog, .
Now on foot, Peredur traversed the mountain until he found a fortress in the valley on the other side. Within, he found a lame, grey-haired man and his friend Gwalchmai. In the stable, he could see Gwalchmai's horse, as well as his own. When he came to the table, Peredur was made welcome. A yellow-haired youth approached Peredur. He revealed that he had been the black-haired maiden in disguise, he had led Peredur to kill the tyrant at the Fortress of Ysbidinongyl, the stag, then the rusted-knight. He had also been one of the boys who had carried the severed head on the platter, in Peredur's earlier years when he first met his lame uncle. The head had been of Peredur's cousin and that it was the witches of Caerloyw who had murdered him. He also told that he was, himself, Peredur's cousin and that it was foretold that Peredur would avenge the death of his brotherPage 102, Peredur son of Efrog, .
Peredur and Gwalchmai decided they should request aid from Arthur in dealing with the witches. Arthur's retinue marched forth and during the battle, one of the witches slew a knight before Peredur. It happened again, as she killed a second before him and after the third, Peredur was able to hack his sword into her helmet with such force that the helmet, and the armour she wore, split in two. With a scream, he called out to her fellow witches that it was Peredur who attacked - the man who had learnt horsemanship from them and was fated to slay them. The witches were unable to escape and Arthur's retinue destroyed them all.
== References ==
=== Literature ===
==== Academic Sources ====
Category:The Mabinogion Tales