The Tale of Branwen, Daughter of Llyr 

Once upon a time in the magical land of Wales, there lived a kind and brave princess named Branwen. She was the daughter of King Llyr and grew up in a happy kingdom ruled by her brother, Bendigeidfran. One day, the King of Ireland, Matholwch, sailed across the sea to ask for Branwen’s hand in marriage. He wanted their two kingdoms to be friends. Bendigeidfran agreed and Branwen sailed with Matholwch to Ireland to be his queen. 

At first, Branwen was treated with respect and lived happily. But one of her half-brothers was angry that he was not asked about the marriage, and in his anger, he did something very wrong that upset Matholwch. Over time, some people in Ireland began to treat Branwen badly. She was no longer treated like a queen and had to work in the kitchens.  

Branwen did not give up hope. She made friends with a small starling bird and trained it to fly across the sea with a message asking her brother Bendigeidfran for help. When the bird reached Wales, Bendigeidfran was very sad to hear what had happened.  

Bendigeidfran gathered his followers and went to Ireland to bring Branwen home. There were plans and surprises, and a battle began between the two kingdoms. Though the fighting was fierce and many were hurt, Bendigeidfran made sure Branwen was safe.  

In the end, Branwen returned to Wales with her brother’s companions. She had shown great courage and hope, even when times were hard. Her story reminds us that love, strength, and kindness matter most, even when life changes in unexpected ways.  

The End