Lludd Llaw Eraint

"*[He] literally died on a battlefield by falling badly on his own sword. He wasn’t that good.*"
―Augus Each Uisge[[Under the Influence]]
**Lludd Llaw Eraint** was a Court Seelie common fae, the husband of Crielle ferch Fnwy, and father and one of numerous abusers of Gwyn ap Nudd.

## Appearance

#### Pronunciation

* LEETH Law E-rain-t

Lludd was tall, with heavier features, and a square jawline. Lludd had an angular face and body, a straight nose, 'longer eyes fringed with thick lashes', and broad shoulders, all of which his son inherited.

When Crielle first met Lludd, the 'smell of the sea clung to his deep blue suit, the black curls of his short hair. Even the blue of his eyes resembled shallow seas rather than the deeper ones reflected in the darker blue of the An Fnwy line. He stood, far taller than she, arms behind his back so that his chest pushed outwards, standing at attention. He had a calculating gaze, a way of looking at her and the estate as though he was assessing it for its practical merits.' He was also 'more muscular than [Crielle] preferred.'

## Personality

Crielle originally thought he was 'faintly awkward'. He was also 'arrogant, self-composed, a fierce and determined creature that talked in strategy, politics, assets. His hobbies were few - hunting and the sea. [Crielle] could tell he was sensitive over his siblings becoming gods when it was likely he wasn't, no matter how long he lived. She saw an unbending strength in his gaze.' He was also sharp, harsh, and micro-managing of the servants. He was also quiet and stoic, in contrast with the other residents of the An Fnwy estate, and impatient at functions 'unless they ended with drinking or hunting or the discussion of politics'. He also kept a cross on his barque, 'making sure that he could punish his shipfae at sea whenever necessary.' He also disliked being 'slighted' on his own land: when Mafydd Brant's father killed a boar the pair were hunting on the An Fnwy estate, Lludd was very angry.

Lludd had an authoritarian voice. Gwyn also described him as 'witty'. Gwyn also said that Lludd didn't have many friends, and those he allegedly had were likely part of some strategy of Lludd's. Augus Each Uisge also noted that by 'all accounts, Lludd was a purposeful, driven, ambitious man with a cruel streak on the battlefield.'

While in Augus' home, Gwyn noted that Augus' 'fine-grained, very expensive' wood table was something Lludd would have liked, implying that Lludd liked expensive, pretty furniture. Lludd also 'collected books on war and battle', including books on torture, which he loaned to Gwyn. Lludd had a focus on learning, and was the primary reason Gwyn knows so many languages, but also focused on other pursuits (or forced Gwyn to go through with them), such as music.

When Lludd was impressed with Gwyn, he would offer 'one of those rare tight-lipped smiles'. He was also an expert at gaslighting, and blamed Gwyn for Mafydd's death. Augus noted that Lludd brainwashed Gwyn for 3,000 years, alongside Crielle.

## Life

Rhiamon ferch anFnwy secured Lludd as a suitor for Crielle. According to Rhiamon, prior to his introduction to Crielle: Lludd came 'from a respectable line, his father [was] a god in the upperworlds, and his siblings [were] all approaching god status. . . . He [spent] most of his time abroad, sailing a private navy. [He was] in a fine position to become the next War General for the Oak King.'

Lludd stated at his first meeting with Crielle that he wanted 'to consolidate the power of my family with a lineage that is better suited to the leisurely side of the Seelie fae', and that Crielle knew how 'to be a Courtier of fine standing', unlike him. He also wanted someone who could run the estate in his absence, and that he did not plan to dote upon her. Crielle decided she didn't disdain him, which was good to start with. When Crielle first turned her dra'ocht on him, he requested she not do so without his permission, which she largely acquiesced to. Once Crielle demonstrated the power of her dra'ocht more clearly, Lludd obtained charms to protect himself from it, but respected her personal space. 'Lludd deferred to her unless the matters regarded hunting or the material', which suited Crielle just fine.

Their 'bonding ceremony was a grandiose affair', although Lludd knew Crielle spent the event looking forward more to seeing her grandmother than being bonded to Lludd.

Crielle arranged for Lludd to be delivered to her chambers when she wanted to attempt to have a child. She stated that he would let her glamour him, because 'any creature with a heartsong of ruthlessness is not one I trust to make this a pleasant exchange.' Lludd consented, and seemed desirous that the event be over as quickly as possible, although it appears that he did want to have sex with her more often than he was allowed, and did not sleep with anyone else during their marriage.

It took over 32 tries for Crielle to become pregnant. When Gwyn was born, Lludd had to stop Crielle from strangling him to death. Lludd and Crielle broke the law by not fostering Gwyn out to the Unseelie Court, to avoid staining the family honor. Since Lludd and Crielle couldn't figure out how to dispose of a three-year-old but needed to hide Gwyn's true alignment, when Gwyn was three, they tied Gwyn to a table, with Lludd 'keeping a strong grip on his hair and shoulder, and telling him that if he didn't keep his light back, they would slaughter him like a boar in the hunt', and then they used a knife to dig into Gwyn's back and place the aithwick.

Lludd verbally and physically abused Gwyn from a young age, at least partially 'for not being born with the right alignment.' After Gwyn accidentally used his light to create the wasteland on the An Fnwy estate at age six, Lludd 'knocked him down' and shook him so hard that 'his mind had split into an intense, relentless headache', which prompted Gwyn to cry, and prompted Lludd to slap him until he stopped. Lludd later used the wasteland to remind Gwyn that he was a monster. Lludd also broke the law again by making Gwyn make a blood-oath, still at age six, to never tell anyone he was Unseelie. After Lludd forced Gwyn to kill Mafydd, and Gwyn was still in shock, Lludd either had Gwyn beaten or beat him himself to get Gwyn back to his normal schedule of doing things.

Lludd pushed Gwyn's martial training hard, and pushed him to battle at age 18 to try and get him killed off that way. He even had Gwyn practice dodging arrows starting when Gwyn was 20, and would continue the training 'even if Gwyn had arrows jutting from his flesh.'

At some point in his life, Lludd taught himself to resist compulsions, and also taught Gwyn. The training was torturous. Lludd also gave his support in writing 'that, should he die and Crielle decide that she had valid reasons for disinheritance, he would lend his support'.

When Gwyn was 432 years old, he was invited home for a luncheon, where Lludd feigned pride over Gwyn's accomplishments to other courtiers, and said to Gwyn, 'I would like you on one of my tours'. Gwyn knew this was intended as an excuse for Lludd to kill Gwyn during combat and explain it away as an accident in the heat of combat. Gwyn pointed out that Lludd had lost his last campaign (in fact, his last *three*), and replied, 'Perhaps you might like to join one of my tours'. This greatly pissed off Lludd, and Lludd physically assaulted Gwyn for it.

Lludd 'convinced' Gwyn to steal the enchanted sword Creiddylad from Gwythyr ap Greidawl. Lludd lied that it was the An Fnwy property. This led to the events of *Deeper into the Woods*.

Lludd died by accidentally falling on his sword during combat, some time after Gwyn became King of the Seelie Court, but prior to the beginning of *Game Theory*.

## Skills

Lludd was a falconer and a hunter prior to meeting Crielle. He used to use the longbow. He was also a tracker, a practiced war-maker, and a well-respected strategist. Though, as Augus (and Gwyn) pointed out, Lludd died by tripping and falling onto his own sword, so his skill in combat was a bit questionable.

## Relationships

#### Albion

'Albion had always thought many of Lludd's . . . methods of deception in battle were underhanded and unwarranted.'

#### Crielle ferch Fnwy

From their first meeting where Crielle considered being married to Lludd, Crielle liked the idea that he wouldn't be around her all the time. Lludd loved her, but Crielle had no interest in his love. though she found him interesting from a power standpoint. He fussed over her while she was pregnant, which Crielle didn't appreciate.

#### Gwyn ap Nudd

Although Lludd tortured and beat Gwyn, with 'whip, crop, quirt, cane' and barehanded, and forced Gwyn to kill Mafydd, Gwyn still wanted to please him, and sometimes, even managed to. Despite Gwyn not wanting to be like his father because of Lludd's cruelty, Augus has often pointed out how similar they are, including their mannerisms, even more so than Gwyn and Efnisien. Although Lludd wanted Gwyn dead, Gwyn has noted on multiple occasions that Lludd hired very good tutors for him, which helped Gwyn become a better fighter, and better able to survive Lludd's abuse. Lludd also gave Gwyn the knowledge on torture, which Gwyn later used on Augus. Lludd also taught Gwyn how to protect himself from compulsions, and encouraged him to study lost languages. Gwyn originally wanted to be a scholar, but Lludd beat him for the suggestion.

Lludd never took Gwyn with him on the sea 'because Gwyn had never earned the privilege. He had to serve on the land army, his father wanted him nowhere near the Seelie navy.' Although people think Lludd, along with Crielle, machinated Gwyn's position onto the Seelie throne, none of them supported the promotion. Gwyn has noted on multiple occasions that Lludd's death ultimately meant nothing to him. Gwyn is still terrified of his father, even in death.

#### Efnisien ap Wledig

According to Augus, Lludd and Efnisien would often hunt fae as often as animals in Ethallas forest. But even Lludd didn't like having Efnisien near the An Fnwy stables, as Efnisien was known to do terrible things to animals that even put Lludd's cruelty to shame. Efnisien would sometimes goad Lludd and Gwyn into fighting each other, for fun.

#### Eudav

Eudav and Lludd were colleagues in the military. It is not known how close they were, but Lludd must have favored him to some extent, as Eudav later joined his personal military and would sometimes visit the An Fnwy estate.

#### Penarddun ferch Fnwy

Penarddun and Lludd 'didn't see eye to eye', and Penarddun said Lludd was 'a stick in the mud'.

#### The Oak King

'Crielle and Lludd had spent their entire lives wining and dining some of the most secretive and hidden creators of wealth on behalf of the Oak King'.

## Quotations

* Gwyn: 'Lludd is dead – fallen on a sword like someone green to the field, a humiliating accident.'
* Gwyn: 'his father had said that no Welsh fae would leave the An-Fnwy estate unable to play at least one instrument and sing.'

## Trivia

* According to Augus, humans think Lludd attained demigod status or greater, despite Lludd never actually managing it.
* 'Nudd was an old name [Lludd] sometimes went by'. Gwyn was originally supposed to be called 'Gwyn ap Lludd', but calling him 'Gwyn ap Nudd' was another way his family found to alienate him.
* Since Rhiamon and Crielle were not on speaking terms for 1000 years, and Rhiamon informed Crielle of finding Lludd via letter after the end of the silence, Crielle was at least 1000 by the time she met Lludd.
* Gwyn seems to associate his father with the sea, as, when Augus pushed Gwyn past his limits, and Gwyn was thinking of his father, Gwyn thought he was at the sea.

## Folklore/Mythology

'Lludd Llaw Ereint, "Lludd of the Silver Hand", son of Beli Mawr, is a legendary hero from Welsh mythology. As Nudd Llaw Ereint (the earlier form of his name, cognate of the Irish Nuada Airgetlám, derived from the pre-Roman Celtic god Nodens) he is the father of Gwyn ap Nudd. He is probably the source of king Lud from Geoffrey of Monmouth's *History of the Kings of Britain*.

In the *Mabinogion* tale of *Lludd and Llefelys*, which influenced Geoffrey of Monmouth's work, he is the ruler of Britain while his brother Llefelys ruled Gaul. Lludd calls on Llefelys to rid Britain of three plagues then afflicting the kingdom. Philological connection suggests that there was once a memorial to Lludd at the site of St Paul's Cathedral, London, near Ludgate, which is named after him.'

Although Lludd's father in the *Fae Tales Verse* is unnamed, he is a god who rules in the upperworlds, so it is likely that he is Beli Mawr, as well.

## References

1. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 December 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/6286781. Chapter 22: Loss.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 11 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1886908. Chapter 10: Display.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 not\_poignant. "The Curse.” *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 4 August 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/2034456/chapters/4527081. Chapter 2.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 not\_poignant. "Deeper into the Woods." The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own, 14 April 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3652500/chapters/8299813. Chapter 5: V - The War General.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 not\_poignant. "The Drawn Bead.” *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 9 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1035694/chapters/2067809. Chapter 3: Full.
6. ↑ not\_poignant. "Deeper into the Woods." *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 12 April 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3652500/chapters/8263456. Chapter 4: IV - The War General.
7. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 4 October 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1956504. Chapter 17: Suffocation.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 12 December 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/6186821. Chapter 21: Fracture.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 not\_poignant. "Under the Influence." *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 24 October 2019. https://archiveofourown.org/works/21153683.
10. ↑ not\_poignant. "Deeper into the Woods." *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 April 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3652500/chapters/8404240. Chapter 6: VI - The War General.
11. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 October 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2002562. Chapter 20: Nightmare.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 21 March 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2808781. Chapter 46: King.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 *The Drawn Bead*, Chapter 1: Bold. Accessed 27 March 2021.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 5 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2059069. Chapter 25: Soldier.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 6 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3737456. Chapter 1: Massacre.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 19 June 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/9397818. Chapter 48: Exploration.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 13 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2292919. Chapter 36: Demotion.
18. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 27 October 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2030837. Chapter 23: Truth.
19. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1928111. Chapter 14: Aftercare.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 1 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2045073. Chapter 24: Oath.
21. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 13 March 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/7780169. Chapter 35: Assertion.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 November 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2101316. Chapter 27: Compulsion.
23. ↑ not\_poignant. "All That We Were, All That We Will Ever Be." *The Fae Tales Verse - canon extras. Archive of Our Own,* 18 August 2022. https://archiveofourown.org/works/40955040/chapters/103059351. Chapter 2.
24. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/3901096. Chapter 2: Orphan.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 not\_poignant. "Deeper into the Woods." *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 April 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3652500/chapters/8188004. Chapter 3: III - The Waterhorse.
26. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 10 October 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/5386955. Chapter 13: Advice.
27. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 18 June 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/4283271. Chapter 4: Suspicions.
28. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 22 August 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1826870. Chapter 5: Status.
29. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 24 January 2016. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1775002. Chapter 2: Retribution.
30. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 29 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1939118. Chapter 15: Sounding.
31. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 25 January 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2338138. Chapter 38: Underfae.
32. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 13 September 2013. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/1894662. Chapter 11: Abandoned.
33. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 3 October 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/5297393. Chapter 12: Drown.
34. ↑ not\_poignant. “Game Theory.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 7 February 2014. https://archiveofourown.org/works/915296/chapters/2390892. Chapter 40: Accidents.
35. ↑ not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 9 January 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/6826832. Chapter 25: Heat.
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 not\_poignant. “The Court of Five Thrones.” *The Fae Tales Verse. Archive of Our Own,* 20 February 2015. https://archiveofourown.org/works/1749290/chapters/7438151. Chapter 31: Rupture.
37. ↑ "Lludd Llaw Eraint". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lludd\_Llaw\_Eraint. Accessed 22 May 2021.