Song of the Sea

The Elders Circle was rapidly convened. No one present had ever heard of such a thing as a golden conch. Mam and the women looked it over closely, none could remember a song of remembrance for it. Clearly it was magical and being sought after. A living wave, a dwr gwrach, here? Unheard of! What could this conch be?

Elders Circle

Ama was brought before the elders. Her grandfather smiled as she entered the circle. “Speak, child” with a voice surprisingly strong for his age. The men sat in stunned silence as she retold the story of almost drowning on dry land, and all looked approvingly at Kat as her mighty blow was recounted. Kat stood outside the Circle and stared into the fire grimly.

Ama

 

“There is more to your story, yes? Speak to us.” Ama felt her knees start to tremble but her grandfather’s smiling eyes comforted her. Her father nodded slowly with a knowing grin. “The dolphins said we were to protect the conch.”

 

Murmuring grew loud until Rwbadd stood and thundered “Yes, its true. The Beast Rune is strong with Ama. Cerunnos may have her when it is time but as my father sits here with us in flesh and his father and father’s fathers fill our Circle in spirit since we first came to this land, she is my daughter now. Lyr’s Beard you chatter like gulls! She is neither changeling nor witch! Truth be told, she can barely light a fire with a flint. Not a spell in her!”

Cerunnos

 

A few muffled guffaws and slaps on the back and Ama’s face grew red. She never knew it was unusual in the slightest to talk with the horses and dogs around the village. As she grew older, it might never have occurred to her to tell anyone. Were it not for getting caught talking to a wolf…but that is another story!

Grandfather again spoke. “Ama, we need you to talk with the dolphins again. Tonight.”

The clan all stood and walked to the shore. Waves crashed loudly and the night sky was clear and cold. Flute and crwdd combined with drums and voices to send a haunting melody over the waves. Rae stepped up to the water’s edge and began to sing…

Crwdd!

 

First one dolphin’s grinning snout appeared above the waves, then another, then a third. Soon dozens were present, all silently weaving to the music surrounding them. The shadowy forms dancing in the moonlight terrified Jon and he drew forth a knife to throw at them. Rwbadd’s meaty paw of a hand grabbed him by the head and Jon found himself dragged by his head back up the hillside.

 

Dolphins?

Ama stepped forward. A series of high pitched squeaks and barks from her and one dolphin swam forward to respond. In short order, Ama learned of the war in the deep places, a war between Manawydan and Mabon. The conch belonged to Manawydan and with it the seas were kept in harmony. Mabon saw an opportunity to take it from him and struck! The ensuing storm caused all manner of havoc in the deep…and the conch was lost to both. Lost until now. And Mabon must not get it or the seas would remain closed to all Manawydan’s allies. For Man that would be disastrous. For dolphins and mermen, it would mean death. 

With that, the dolphins disappeared beneath the waves.