Some years after Rhiannon was written Stevie was sent, by a fan, the Mabinogion which surprised Stevie how much her song was like the story of Rhiannon. Rhiannon's story is one of love and magic. Rhiannon was a queen in the "Bright World" which is far above our own. She fell in love with a mortal man and gave up her powers and her world to marry him. The only power she was left with was her power of insight, enabling her to see into the future. Rhiannon had three magical birds, one emerald green, one golden, and one snow white. The three birds could sing the dead to life and the living to sleep. The birds would only come in time of great need to help heal and end suffering.

The story begins with Pwyll, Prince of Dyved who while on a hunting trip, encounters Arawn in the Otherworld. Arawn has lost his power and needs to trade places with Pwyll, so he can kill Havgan. It is on Pwyll's journey to find Havgan he first see's the Maker and her birds, Rhiannon. "A woman sat there, and it was from her that the light in that place came. Her body shone like the sun, her on thin garment hid it no more than water would. Her hair shone, it streamed red gold to her noble, high arched feet, which were tender and rosy white as the apple blossoms. But when Pwyll tried to look at her face, he could not, his eyes fell, so he knew that She was no woman, but a Goddess. Three birds flew round her head,and their song was sweet. One was as tenderly green as the leaves, one shone white as snow, and third flashed like a sunbeam. She sat there whittling at an ordinary piece of applewood, and she was making images of birds. When ever one was finished the wood quivered, turned to feathered flesh, and the new bird flew away singing for joy of life and wings." She tells him if she ever can come back to his world she will be his wife.

Pwyll kills Havgan and returns home. Three years later, while he is climbing the great Mound, he sees a bright light! "It is a horse and rider! The horse's white, flying mane shone like moonbeams, and the rider's flying golden hair shone like the sun." He trys to catch up to her, but no matter how fast her rides towards her he cannot catch her. Pwyll calls out to her and she does stop. Rhiannon tells him to come to her in a year and day and she will wed him,and tells him her father wishes for her to marry Gwawl, against her will. Pwyll returns to her a year later, but makes the mistake of offering a guest,whom he doesn't know is Gwawl, anything he wants. Rhiannon is forbidden to warn Pwyll. He wants Rhiannon, but she tells Gwawl the wedding feast is half eaten and tells him to return in another year and a day. She comes to Pwyll, who has returned outside to the Mound, to remember this dream, and when he awakes she has left him a small leather bag. When they return a year later for the wedding feast of Rhiannon and Gwawl, Rhiannon tricks Gwawl with a magic bag that Pwyll dares him to enter, which he can't get out of until he promises never to seek Rhiannon again. Finally, she is able to marry Pwyll! "They sat there, they ate, and drank and laughed until it was time to go to sleep. Then by the light of that silver gold moon that shone as bright as any earthly sun, Pwyll and Rhiannon left that lovely hall; they went together to her chamber. To her bed, that was made all of flowers, dove soft, fragrant and unwithering. There at last his arms clasped her and she gladly gave him her maidenhead"

Three years pass by and no child is born to them yet. The men from the Holy place ask that he take another wife. Pwyll asked for one more year. Pwyll asks Manawyddan to sleep with Rhiannon, as he can no longer have children since his journey to the Other world. Manawyddan using druid powers to make Rhiannon only see Pwyll and not his self. In May a son is born to Rhiannon and Pwyll. But during the night the baby is taken away and Rhiannon smeared with blood from a new born pup so it appears she has eaten her child. Her punishment is for seven years she must stand in front of her Lords home and tell all what happened then carry them inside on her back. A few years later the child is returned to Rhiannon and Pwyll. There is much more to the story, so I would recommend you read the books!!!

As Stevie said in an interview in 1979, "In that sleep there will be no pain. An in that non-existence of pain, there will be happiness, because it was only given with great love. And this was in a haunted song, at a charmed hour, and this was the angel of my dreams....because that's the birds of Rhiannon....which always are there if you need help. And you may black out, and that's what they do, and they take it from you. And you wake up and it's alright. And that's the haunted song of Rhiannon."

The Hard Rock Cafe put a picture Stevie painted of Rhiannon, on their signature series t-shirts to benefit the Special Olympics.

For more information on the story of Rhiannon click here: Mabinogion

Maker Of The Birds

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