I knew there was something dreadful about the boy the day he knelt, shivering beside Gwydion in my great hall. He was innocent then; younger and smaller. His character had nothing to do with the sense of foreboding which had been drowned out at that time by my contempt and lust for the man beside him.
Back then, I had not quite put a finger on what it was, and it had not been so strong that I gave it any mind. Now I see. It is his looks; the resemblance, so remarkably similar. It only took the power of hatred to appear in his eyes for it to reveal itself.
He is almost a man, still beardless. His bloody sword points towards the ground. His knuckles are white upon the hilt. Magg lies at his feet. A pathetic sight. His face is barely recognizable by the wide gash that opened it. And the poor princess of Llyr…her crumbled form lies mere feet behind Taran. The ugly creature weeps over her corpse.
It had been an accident. Magg had caught them at the top of the stairs, pushed her down in an attempt to block a strike from the boy. The fool stewart. I should have checked his ambition earlier but I had believed it useful.
Or had I enchanted my girl too deeply? I really had loved her in my own way. Indeed, I was ready to accept the boy she loved under my wing for her. Of course, with Taran under my control, it would have bound her to me more profoundly.
Now…my dear girl. She lies broken and dead while my warriors run away from Gwydion and his enchanted sword. Useless fools.
Her death has broken the boy, killed whatever bound him to goodness. The cold, savage, unbound hatred on his youthful, lovely face resembles Arawn's when I first encountered him. It is striking to see. Terrifying and exhilarating.
Should I kill him now? Or…no. I will not commit the same mistake again. Arawn could not be tamed; and from what I have seen of this boy, neither will he. He must die.
No sooner have I decided to end him, then he looks at me. My heart stops. I have not felt fear like this since I was a young girl. How can he look so identical!
"Arawn," I whisper. Not willfully. The name slips like a fleeing ghost from my lips.
Taran approaches me, his intent clear in his beautiful ice-blue eyes. But Gwydion runs and stops him. Suddenly Taran turns his blade on the prince! It makes me laugh! I cannot help it! It is so beautiful to see! I cannot move thought I know I should flee.
Gwydion is an experienced swordsman and parries the blow with ease. He then grips Taran's wrist to stop any further attacks. The bard and young prince of Mona manage to grab him from behind and Gwydion snatches his sword from his hand. Taran screams with such ferocious rage that his voice seems to seep into my body. How I shake with such fierce emotion! It infects me!
"He's gone berserk!"
The bard is such a fool. Of course he is a berserker. That is clear. Had I known such madness was in him, I would have taken him, rather than Gwydion, back when I held him at my mercy all those years ago. Perhaps…if I had listened to that whisper of a feeling back then.
Gwydion grabs Taran's face. Tears stream down the prince's face. Another delight. How broken his heart must be to see his children so destroyed. And indeed these two are the only children he would ever have for he cannot sire his own. I made sure of that.
Taran is breathing heavily and screams again. This time it is a wail of raw, exquisite pain. Gwydion draws back as Taran grows limp in the arms of his companions. The bard holds him close to his chest as my new love weeps into it.
Well, it is time for me to take my leave. My soul feels filled to the brim. Power is at my fingertips as I whisper a little incantation.
The Prince of Don, once so proud, now looks shaggier and more worn than ever. He turns to me and I see tempered fury in his gaze. How tedious. What did I ever see in him?
"Achren. I promise you, you will pay for this one day."
I bubble with laughter! "Perhaps I will. But not by your hand."
I snap my fingers to complete the spell. A shock wave blasts through the great hall of Caer Calur, disorienting the group of ragtags...and Taran. I take my leave with a smile.