Blodeuwedd the Owl: A Welsh Tale of Betrayal, Transformation, and Revenge
Llew and Blodeuwedd were very happy in their union. However, one day, while Llew was away, Blodeuwedd hosted a group of hunters led by Gronw Pebyr, Lord of Penllyn in Merioneth. When Gronw and Blodeuwedd met, they immediately fell in love. They spent the night together, and the next day began plotting how to get rid of her husband.
Gronw told her to find out how Llew could be killed. When Llew returned, she coaxed the information from him. The conditions were these: he had to stand on the bank of a river, with one foot on the back of a goat and the other on the edge of a tub prepared for his bath. The only weapon that could kill him had to be made over the course of a year and crafted only during Sunday services.
Blodeuwedd relayed all this to Gronw, who began preparations. A year later, Blodeuwedd asked Llew to show her how he could balance between the goat's back and the edge of the tub. When Llew got into position, Gronw hurled a spear at him. Llew transformed into an eagle, let out a terrible cry, and flew away, never to be seen again.
Gwydion searched for him throughout the land until one day, following a sow behaving strangely, he arrived under a tree where an eagle was perched. Gwydion realized he had found Llew and cast a spell to return him to human form. After nursing him back to health, he accompanied Llew to seek revenge on Blodeuwedd and Gronw.
When Blodeuwedd learned of Llew’s return, she panicked and fled with her servants. All her servants drowned while crossing the river. Gwydion captured Blodeuwedd and punished her by transforming her into an owl, saying:
"You will never dare show your face in daylight for fear of other birds, whose instinct will be to strike you wherever they find you. You will not lose your name: you will still be called Blodeuwedd."
And so, even today, the owl is known as Blodeuwedd.
