The High King

Kaw, on Doli's shoulder, bobbed up and down while Taran gently ran a finger over the crow's sleek feathers.

'Farewell,' Kaw croaked. 'Taran! Farewell!'

'Farewell to you,' Taran answered, smiling. 'If I have despaired of teaching you good manners, I have rejoiced in your bad ones. You are a rogue and a scamp, and a very, eagle among crows.'

Llyan had padded up to rub her head affectionately against Taran's arm, which she did so vigorously that the enormous cat nearly knocked him off his feet.

'Bear my friend good company,' Taran said, stroking Llyan's ears. 'Cheer him with your purring when his spirits are low, as I wish you might cheer me. Stray not far from him, for even such a bold bard as Fflewddur Fflam is no stranger to loneliness.'

Fflewddur himself had drawn near, and in his hand held the harp string he had taken from the fire. The heat of the flame had caused the string to curl and twine in a curious pattern that seemed without beginning or end, constantly changing as from one melody to another even as Taran looked at it.

'I'm afraid it's all that's left of the old pot,' Fflewddur said, offering the string to Taran. 'Truthfully, I'm just as well pleased. It was forever jangling and going out of tune…' He paused, glanced behind him nervously, and cleared his throat. 'Ah­? what I meant to say was that I shall miss those snapping strings.'

'No more than I shall miss them,' Taran said. 'Remember me as well and fondly as I remember you.'

'Have no fear!' cried the bard. 'There's still songs to be sung and tales to be told. A Fflam never forgets!'

'Alas, alas!' wailed Gurgi. 'Poor Gurgi has nothing to give kindly master for fond rememberings. Woe and misery! Even wallet of crunchings and munchings now is empty!'

The tearful creature suddenly clapped his hands together.

'Yes, yes! Forgetful Gurgi has one gift. Here, here it is. From burning treasure house of wicked Death-Lord, bold Gurgi seized it with catchings and snatchings. But his poor tender head was so filled with fearful spinnings that he forgot!'

With this, Gurgi drew from his leather pouch a small, flame scarred, battered coffer of unknown metal and held it out to Taran, who took it, studied it curiously, then broke the heavy seal which kept it locked.

The coffer held no more than a number of thin, closely written parchments. Taran's eyes widened as he scanned them, and he turned quickly to Gurgi.

'Do you know what you have found?' he whispered. 'Here are the secrets of forging and tempering metals, of shaping and firing pottery, of planting and cultivating. This is what Arawn stole long ago and kept from the race of men. This knowledge is itself a priceless treasure.'

'Perhaps the most precious of all,' said Gwydion, who had come to study the parchments in Taran's hand. 'The flames of Annuvin destroyed the enchanted tools that labored of themselves and would have given carefree idleness. These treasures are far worthier, for their use needs skill and strength of hand and mind.'

Fflewddur gave a low whistle. 'Who owns these secrets is truly master of Prydain. Taran, old friend, the proudest cantrev lord will be at your beck and call, begging for anything you choose to grant him.

'And Gurgi found it!' shouted Gurgi, springing into the air and madly whirling about. 'Yes, oh yes! Bold, clever, faithful, valiant Gurgi always finds things! Once he found a lost piggy and once he found evil black cauldron! Now he finds mighty secrets for kindly master!'

Taran smiled at the excited Gurgi. 'Indeed, you have found many mighty secrets. But they are not mine to keep. These will I share with all in Prydain, for by right they belong to all.'

'Then share this, as well,' said Dallben, who had been listening closely and now held out the heavy, leather- bound volume he had kept under his arm.

'The Book of Three?' Taran said, looking wonderingly and questioningly at the enchanter. 'I dare not…'

'Take it, my boy,' Dallben said. 'It will not blister your fingers, as once it did with an over-curious Assistant Pig-Keeper. All its pages are open to you. The Book of Three no longer foretells what is to come, only what has been. But now can be set down the words of its last page.'

The enchanter took a quill from the table, opened the book, and in it wrote with a bold, firm hand:

'And thus did an Assistant Pig-Keeper become High King o f Prydain.'

'This, too, is a treasure,' said Gwydion. 'The Book of Three is now both history and heritage. For my own gift, I could give you nothing greater. Nor do I offer you a crown, for a true king wears his crown in his heart.' The tall warrior clasped Taran's hand. 'Farewell. We shall not meet again.'

'Take Dyrnwyn, then, in remembrance of me,' Taran said.

'Dyrnwyn is yours,' Gwydion said, 'as it was meant to be.'

'Yet Arawn is slain,' Taran replied. 'Evil is conquered and the blade's work done.'

'Evil conquered?' said Gwydion. 'You have learned much, but learn this last and hardest of lessons. You have conquered only the enchantments of evil. That was the easiest of your tasks, only a beginning, not an ending. Do you believe evil itself to be so quickly overcome? Not so long as men still hate and slay each other, when greed and anger goad them. Against these even a flaming sword cannot prevail, but only that portion of good in all men's hearts whose flame can never be quenched.'

Eilonwy, who had been standing in silence, now drew close to Taran. The girl's eyes did not waver from his as she held out the golden sphere.

'Take this,' she softly said, 'though it does not glow as brightly as the love we might have shared. Farewell, Taran of Caer Dallben. Remember me.'

Eilonwy was about to turn away, but suddenly her blue eyes flashed furiously and she stamped her foot. 'It's not fair!' she cried. 'It's not my fault I was born into a family of enchantresses. I didn't ask for magical powers. That's worse than being made to wear a pair of shoes that doesn't fit! I don't see why I have to keep them!'

'Princess of Llyr,' said Dallben 'I have waited for you yourself to say those words. Do you truly wish to give up your heritage of enchantment?'

'Of course I do!' Eilonwy cried. 'If enchant­ments are what separates us, then I should be well rid of them!'

'This lies within your power,' Dallben said, 'within your grasp, and, for the matter of that, upon your finger. The ring you wear, the gift Lord Gwydion gave you long ago, will grant your wish.'

'What?' Eilonwy burst out, in both surprise and indignation. 'Do you mean to say that all the years I've worn my ring I could have used it to have a wish granted? You told me nothing of it! That's worse than unfair. Why, I could simply have wished to de­stroy the Black Cauldron! Or to find Dyrnwyn! I could have wished Arawn conquered! Without the least danger! And I never knew!'

'Child, child,' Dallben interrupted, 'your ring can indeed grant you a wish, and one wish alone. But evil cannot be conquered by wishing. The ring will serve only you, and grant only the deepest wish of your own heart. I did not tell you before because I was uncertain that you truly knew what you longed for.

'Turn the ring once upon your finger,' Dallben said. 'Wish with all your heart for your enchanted powers to vanish.'

Wondering and almost fearful, Eilonwy closed her eyes and did the enchanter's bidding. The ring flared suddenly, but only for a moment. The girl gave a sharp cry of pain. And in Taran's hand the light of the golden bauble winked out.

'It is done,' Dallben murmured.

Eilonwy blinked and looked around her. 'I don't feel a bit different,' she remarked. 'Are my enchantments truly gone?'

Dallben nodded. 'Yes,' he said gently. 'Yet you shall always keep the magic, and mystery all women share. And I fear that Taran, like all men, shall be often baffled by it. But, such is the way of it. Come, clasp hands the two of you, and pledge each other your troth.'

When they had done so, the companions pressed around the wedded couple to wish them happiness. Then Gwydion and Taliesin went from the cottage and Dallben took up his ashwood staff.

'We can tarry no longer,' the enchanter said, 'and here our ways must part.'

'But what of Hen Wen?' Taran asked. 'Shall I not see her one last time?'