Gwynn ap Nudd, King of the Fair Folk...

Well, Court of the Hawk has had its official release and is now available worldwide. This story is a bit different than my previous novels published by The Wild Rose Press. Although this one has a ghost (who I promise will eventually get his own story), Court of the Hawk is probably more fantasy, than it is paranormal, but it still has its paranormal elements, like a shifter for instance, who won't get his own story. And in a round about way (as the mind goes) that brings me around to Gywnn ap Nudd, king of the Tylwyth Teg, who is very much part of the tale. However, I have used some creative license when it comes to the mythical Welsh Faerie king...well, a lot actually...you'll have to read it to see what I mean.

Gwynn Ap Nudd is a son of Nudd, who is a son of Don the mother-goddess and Beli, the god of death. In the early Welsh poems, Gwynn is known as a god of battle and of the dead. As time went on, historians described Gwyn as one whom God placed over "the brood of devils in the world of Annwn, lest they should destroy the present race.” Finally, the Welsh people came to know him as king of the Tylwyth Teg, the Welsh fairies or the Fair Folk.

In the ancient Black Book of Caermarthen, we find the poem that depicts him as the mighty god of war and death. As the hunter of men's souls, Gwynn knows when and just where all the great warriors will meet their demise. Then, riding upon his demon horse, accompanied by his demon hound, he gathers their souls from off the field of battle from which they fell. They are then taken to the otherworld where he rules over them.

But that isn’t the only thing he’s noted for...

 An illustration of the Fairy King and Queen from 1910. Artist unkown.

 In the tale of Culhwch and Olwen, he is noted as the bitter rival of Gwythyr fab Greidawl, for the love of Creiddylad, known as "the most splendid maiden in the three islands of the mighty, and in the three islands adjacent.”  According to legend, Creiddylad was betrothed to Gwythyr. Not to be denied his true love, Gwynn waged perpetual war against Gwythry for her heart and hand. 

Each man in turn, stole her from the other, until the matter was referred to Arthur, who decided that Creudylad should be sent back to her father. He then decreed that Gwyn and Gwyrthur "should fight for her every first of May, from henceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever of them should then be conqueror should have the maiden. I suppose that means that not only is the battle still waging, one is due to occur again shortly. 

I wonder who will win this time around?  Do you have a preference?