Ahhhhh, a great ending to the series. Arawn Deathlord is defeated,
the Sons of Don leave the land for the Summer Land and Prydain is now
fully in the hands of regular humans. This was quite the logical
conclusion to what we read in Taran, Wanderer.
Since I have read this before, and since the series is predictably
middle grade, there was no surprise about Taran. That’s no slight
on the book or the writing. It is just something for any adult reader
to take into consideration if they were going to read this for the
first time.
I don’t have a lot of words right now. I enjoyed this just like
I’ve enjoyed all the previous books.
The End.
The
story begins only days after the conclusion of Taran Wanderer. With
winter approaching, Taran and his companion Gurgi return from their
wanderings to Caer Dallben after getting news from Kaw the crow that
Princess Eilonwy has returned from the Isle of Mona. Indeed, they
find her at home, along with her escort King Rhun of Mona and the
former giant Glew, who had been magically restored to human size by a
potion from Dallben.
Before
Taran can propose to Eilonwy, the bard-king Fflewddur Fflam and his
mount Llyan arrive with a gravely injured Gwydion, Prince of Don.
Servants of Arawn had assaulted them and seized the magical black
sword Dyrnwyn. Fflewddur also states that Taran was involved in the
ambush, baffling everyone. With Achren's help, the truth is
determined: Arawn himself has come from Annuvin to the verge of Caer
Dallben in the guise of Taran, in order to lure Gwydion into the
ambush.
Because
Dyrnwyn may be pivotal as a threat to Arawn, Dallben consults the
oracular pig Hen Wen to determine how it may be regained. During the
reading, the ash rods used to communicate shatter and the two thirds
of Hen Wen's answer are discouraging and vague. When Gwydion heals
sufficiently, he sets out with Taran and others to meet with King
Smoit. Gwydion insists that he alone should enter Annuvin to seek the
sword, but Smoit's Cantrev Cadiffor is on the way. The small party
divides, as Rhun and Eilonwy intend to visit the ships of Mona en
route.
When
Gwydion, Taran, and others reach Caer Cadarn, they are imprisoned by
Magg, the treacherous former Chief Steward of Mona, who has entered
service with Arawn and taken over the fortress. When Eilonwy
approaches with the other party, she detects something amiss and they
cautiously send Fflewddur Fflam to the fortress as a bard. After
entertaining the soldiers for a night, he returns with the bad news.
Then the companions encounter Gwystyl of the Fair Folk outside the
stronghold, en route home after closing the waypost near Annuvin,
personally bearing final observations to King Eiddileg about
preparations for war by Arawn's forces. With Gwystyl's assistance and
store of magical smokes, fires, and concealments, the companions
break in and free the prisoners. The plan goes awry, however; King
Smoit and his men are finally able to regain control only by Rhun's
intervention, which costs his life.
Learning
from Gwystyl of the activities in Annuvin, Gwydion turns from the
quest for Dyrnwyn to planning for battle at Caer Dathyl. Gwystyl,
Fflewddur, and Taran leave to gather support, respectively from the
Fair Folk, the northern realms, and the Free Commots. Kaw, sent out
by Taran to reconnoiter the enemy, is attacked by Gwythaints while
spying near Annuvin, but manages to reach Medwyn, who asks all the
creatures of air and land to oppose the forces of Arawn. Taran, Coll,
Eilonwy, and Gurgi muster the Commots, who rally to their friendship
with Taran, and sends them marching in groups to Caer Dathyl while
the smiths and weavers rallied by Hevydd and Dwyvach work day and
night to equip them.
Soon
after Taran and the last Commots reach Caer Dathyl, King Pryderi
arrives from the western realms. In council he announces his new
allegiance to Arawn, for the good of all, because "Arawn will do
what the Sons of Don have failed to do: Make an end of endless wars
among the cantrevs, and bring peace where there was none before."
He is rejected utterly but permitted to return unharmed to his army,
and at the next day the battle begins. Although the Sons of Don and
allies initially have the best of it, the Cauldron-Born arrive en
masse before evening, overwhelming the allies and razing Caer Dathyl
to the ground.
With
High King Math killed, Gwydion is proclaimed the new High King. With
the bulk of the Cauldron-Born deployed outside of Annuvin, Gwydion
determines that the best chance is to attack while it is guarded by
mortal men alone. He will lead the Sons of Don to waiting ships on
the north coast and attack by sea, while Taran leads the Commots to
delay the Cauldron-Born's return march, as their power wanes with
time and distance from Annuvin.
Taran
and his army are able to hold the tired Cauldron-Born warriors beyond
arm's length by brute force, and turn the march from a straight and
easy route into the rugged hills, although Coll dies in battle.
Thanks to a company of Fair Folk, and to the animals sent by Medwyn,
they destroy most of the Huntsmen who accompany and lead the undead.
At last the Cauldron-Born break free of the hills and return to the
lowland route. Regaining strength as they near Annuvin, it would be
futile for the exhausted allies to meet them head-on again, so
inevitably they take the long, easy route to Arawn's stronghold.
Taran
and the remainder of his army finally reach Annuvin by a combination
of the direct route, a mountain path of Doli's, and a secret pass
over Mount Dragon shown to them by Achren. Taran sees that victory is
nearly in Gwydion's hands, but also that the Cauldron-Born are about
to reach Annuvin. In his alarm, Taran nearly falls off Mount Dragon,
but is saved by the now-grown Gwythaint he had rescued so many years
ago (The Book of Three). In a desperate attempt to fight off a group
of Cauldron-Born who have discovered him on the mountain, he rolls a
rock at them, and discovers Dyrnwyn in the hollow the stone occupied.
Wielding Dyrnwyn, Taran slays the undead warrior who approaches to
slay him, and at that instant all of the Cauldron-Born die as one.
Taran's
group enters the fray, and the battle continues through the halls of
Annuvin. Taran is almost deceived by Arawn - who has taken the guise
of Gwydion - into giving up the sword. After the chaotic defeat of
Arawn's forces, the companions gather before the Great Hall. Achren
identifies Arawn in the form of a nearby serpent preparing to strike
Taran and grabs him. He strikes her fatally, but Taran kills him with
Dyrnwyn. With the death of Arawn, the stronghold of Annuvin bursts in
flame and falls in ruins, destroying all of the magical implements
inside; only Gurgi manages to save several scrolls containing
knowledge of farming, smithing, and other crafts. The sword Dyrnwyn
begins to fade, losing its magic.
The
allies travel to Caer Dallben, where Gwydion tells them that in
victory the Sons of Don, with all kinsmen and kinswomen, must return
to the Summer Country. Indeed, all those who still have magic will
depart, and the Fair Folk and Medwyn have closed their realms to
outsiders. Dallben and Eilonwy must also go, and others who have
served well, Taran among them, are given the chance to accompany
them. Taran proposes to Eilonwy at last, and she accepts.
The
Sons of Don plan to leave the next day. However, Taran becomes
uncomfortable about his decision overnight. The witches Orddu, Orwen
and Orgoch appear before him and reveal that they too are departing,
and leave him with an unfinished tapestry depicting his life. He
realizes there is much work to be done to rebuild Prydain, and he has
made many promises; so he determines to remain behind. Eilonwy is
able to willingly give up her magical nature in order to remain with
him, and the two are married.
Dallben
reveals that with this last quest, Taran has completed a path
prophesied in the Book of Three whereby an orphan of "no station
in life" would succeed the Sons of Don as High King. Dallben had
traveled to seek such a one and try to hasten the day of Arawn's
defeat; on this journey, he found a baby, hidden in the trees beside
a battlefield and without any token of parentage, and took it in
under the name Taran. Taran receives many gifts, including The Book
of Three itself, although its powers, like all magic in Prydain, have
also faded away with Arawn's demise, leaving it only as a mere
chronicle of Taran's life. With Eilonwy by his side, Taran accepts
his new responsibility and is hailed by his friends and battle
companions as the new High King.
