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PRIODAS
(Marriage)

    Allor is prepared with flowers, leaves and fruit.   A crown of flowers
     and the two rings are in readiness.   Y Gangen Haf (The Summer
Branch - a form of maypole) is decorated with coloured cords
or ribbons.   Math's Stang is necessary.
Bread, salt & mead.

   The messenger will perform the Bidding.   The Kaer is raised and the
     invocations made.    The two people come to stand before Yr Allor, the
     man on the woman's right.   The people are ranged in a semi-circle
              behind, holding a canopy of flowers over the pair.

Ks. "First Parents of The House,
         In loving perfection united,
         I call Ye to join these two children
         By Your Loving Radiance and Power
         That their living henceforth be as one.
         Let hand take hand for comfort
         As two hearts weep in sorrow;
         From the eyes of each
        May like laughter shine
         As two minds share one joy;
         Let the paths of their spirits blend
         To echo but one measured tread
         Upon this lowly cantrydd."

The man and woman come forward to Yr Allor, taking
each their OWN ring holding them touching on Y Carreg.

Ms. "Twain are the shining links
         From Fandwy's eternal chain
         That lie within The Gate of Abred.
         Lo now in mortal time they touch,
         And in the touching,
         Close each upon the other."

They take the rings to Gate of Morn and hold them in the smoke.

Ms. "Endless is the toiling loom
         In Colur's lofty tower
         Where they who so desire
         An hand may reach
         To weave new colour
         In their unseen garments.
         This night two cloaks their colours blend -
         Weft upon weft,
         Warp upon warp,
         Garment with garment."

They take rings to Gate of Noon and pass them through fire.

M. "Within Kaer Gwydyon
         A forge-fire burns unceasingly
         Wherein is fashioned many a blade
         Rais'd high for good or poised for ill.
         Reach far within its fiery depths
         And find ye there an ember fierce and bright
         Which may be grasped alone
         By lovers in their ecstasy.
         Draw from its heart the blessing
         Of contentment and of love."

At Gate of Even they dip the rings in water.

M. "A ferryman there waits
         By reeded margin of Kaer Wydyr's flood.
         Though one alone may venture forth
         In vessel frail and brave the floodtide,
         Behold I show ye both a wonder.
         If each can make but half the stature of the self,
         Then each will complement the other
         And indeed may cross as one.

At Gate of Night they touch the rings to earth.

Ms. "Before Kaer Aranrot
         Stand two armed sentinels.
         Though one the task and one the gate,
         The might of both shall hold the keep
         'gainst all that doth molest
         When strength of one alone
         Would swiftly be o'erwhelmed."

They replace the rings to lie touching on Y Carreg.
Woman stands at Yr Allor, man at Gate of Noon.
They face across Kaer.

K.   "Let Mam Y Ddayar, lady,
         Be thine inspiration and thy shield.
         Be thou the spirit of thine hearth,
         Secure in plenty and in love,
         With children's laughter
         To caress the heart.

He places the crown of flowers on her head.

         Upon thy brow shall ever stay
         The blooms of beauty and desire,
         Yet in this crown thou wearest
         Be no flowers of oak, nor broom,
         Nor yet of meadowsweet,
         For as Blodeuwedd may'st thou never be -
         But constant and responsible withall."

Woman is given a vessel of earth with twigs.
Man takes a lighted brand.

Ks. "Forth to her waiting and her longing
         Come, the lord of every dawning.
         Thou her courage, thou her vision;
         Thou to grant her each petition;
         Thou the hope of every morrow;
         Healer of her every sorrow.
         Cleave forever to her side,
         Thou her light and thou her guide."

    During the above, the man comes forward
to the woman and lights the fire in the vessel of earth.
    Math's Stang is placed from The Gate of Abred
pointing to centre.Woman stands astride this, facing
the Gate.   Man holds staff just clear of the ground.

K.   "Through The Gate of Abred
         Thy daughters shalt thou welcome,
         Born of thy flesh and in thine image -
         Each as gracious as Teleri and Enrhydreg;
         Fair as Gwen Alarch and Kreiddylad;
         Each bless'd with the beauty of Olwen
         And the grace of Tangwen.
         Be theirs th'enchantment of Rhiannon,
         The faithfulness of Kigfa,
         And may they live
         The full years of Ellylw to surpass."

Ks. "Here too may The Gate open to thy sons -
         All mighty men of Kaer Dathyl.
         On them shalt thou see
         The mighty hand of Drwst
         And skills of Glwyddyn.
         Theirs be the courage of Anoeth,
         The valour of Dwn.
         Henbeddestyr shall grant
         Wings to the feet,
         And from Sol
         Shall the gift of endurance
         Increase their strength.
         Be the fairness of Sandde
         Upon each young brow,
         The inspiration of Taliesin
         The noonday of each mind,
         And through all,
         May each spirit shine forth
         With the glory of Cethtrwm."

The Stang is replaced. Yr Yscwyd is placed in the
centre, with the man and woman on either side -
the man facing Morn, the woman Even.

The man is given a vessel of water which
he holds out to the woman. All gather round.

Ks. "Behold ye a further mystery.

        'Tis true the heart fires and desire of man
         The passions of his mate inflame.
         Yet should he be denied the power of womankind,
         Would these remain as still and cold
         As water in The Dark Lord's Reign.

Lo 'tis every woman's hidden art
To move the inner tides of man.

Here the woman is instructed to blow on the water.

         And, as Penarddun's handmaid here below,
         May pour his secret soul into
         Whatever mould she may decide.

Woman lifts water in her cupped hands and pours it back.

         In many ways then, lord,
         Thy mate hath need
         Of all thou may'st do,
         But in many many ways,
         Thy lady will THEE guide
         And so direct.

Ks. & K. anoint each with the family seal.

Ks. "In this thine anointing,
Be thy life o'erflowing
In abundance of all thou desirest."

Mead is dedicated by man and woman.
Each is presented with the Bual by Ks. and K.
They each drink from it.

Ks. takes Y Carreg on which lie the rings.
She stands on Yr Yscwyd between the two,
raises Y Carreg aloft and turning says:-

Ks. "Even as the Castle walls
         Did witness the journey
         Of these precious circles
         Through the four Kaerau,
         May they impart their strength
         To these entwined links
         That they defend those they adorn
         From all that may endanger
         Their union and their love."

Man and woman now stand on Yr Yscwyd,
man facing Morn, the woman Even.
A light is held over them.

They each give a ring to the other,
first the woman to the man saying:-

       "With The Lady to uphold me,
         Her Eyes to watch o'er me,
         Her Breath to sustain me,
         I take thee to mine hand and heart
         This night of gleaming memories.
         As long as night waves dance
         'neath Penarddun's smile,
         So long will I love thee,
         Lord (lady) of all my tomorrows."

Ks. places left hand on man's head,
right on the woman's, saying:-

Ks. "Bendith Y Mamau, merch a mab Y Gwerin."
(The Blessing of The Mothers, daughter & son of The Warband)

Y Gangen Haf is placed between the pair who now embrace.
Everyone present takes a cord and circles
the two, binding them together.

K.   "One are they as earth and sun
         Who walk in blessedness and light.
         One are they as sea and moon,
         With love as deep as Winter's night.
         One are they as Parents High,
         Until they seek the Turning Tower;
         E'en as The Warband's Queen and Prince,
         Brenhines Don; Beleu Mawr."

All "O let the lord his bride embrace!
         Their love all ill and want shall chase.
         With happiness their life be gown'd;
         With children be their union crown'd.
         Grant to the lady a 'cup of good cheer',
         And to her lord an 'unerring spear'!"

Bread and salt are dedicated and
then shared by all.

Folk songs such as "Pe cawn i hon" and
"Y Deryn pur" may be sung here.

K.   "Brenhines Y Plant,
         We thank Thee for granting Thy Presence
         On this lowly Cantrydd.

Ere Thou withdrawest to Kaer Rigor,
Ffarwel, Arglwyddes."

Ks. "Prince and Father of all,
We thank Thee for blessing this mighty hall
With Thy Presence.

Ere Thou withdrawest to Kaer Rigor,
Ffarwel, Arglwyd."

Ms. "Perthynasau Mawr
And Sentinels of The Gates,
We thank Ye for Your vigilance.

Ere Ye ride forth to The Four Kaerau,
Ffarwel, Kedymdeithyon."

Diod-Offrwm

Ks. "Hir einioes a hir ddyddiau a hir flynyddau hardd
         A gaffoch i fyw'n ffrwythlon fel pur blanhigion gardd,
         Gael gweled plant ac wyrion yn llawnion yn un llu,
         A thyma ni'n ymadael, ffarwel yn iach i chwi."

        (Long life, long days and long lovely years be yours,
         To live a fruitful life like the pure plants of earth,
         Seeing many children and grandchildren,
         And now we take our leave - farewell and good health to you.)

Y DEFODAU