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hung her neck and ears and hair with gems. Here she sang for the first time in Simon's hearing of Rhiannon of the Birds and her sorrow and her joyshow she married Pwyll, Prince of Dyfedd, and how she was accused of murdering her son Pryderi. And when she sang of the love between Pwyll and Rhiannon, how he stood by her even when she was accused of murdering her own babe, she looked at Simonand there was trouble in her clear eyes. But later, when the song was done, she told Simon she wished to leave the next day. |
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Although he was bitterly disappointed, he could not urge her to stay where he was master, and he bowed and asked, "Where shall I take you, my lady?" |
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"I will go alone or with what escort you care to send with me, but not with you," Rhiannon answered, and for the first time since they met, her eyes were lowered before him. "You have won the contest, my lord, and I must seek safety from you in flight." |
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"That is a bitter winning to me, Lady Rhiannon," Simon said. "You know I have not grown weary of you. I cannot urge my suit here where you have no recourse, no protector, but you must know that you have become more precious, more desirable, not less. The more I have of you, the more I crave." |
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"You are stubborn; you have recently seen no others. Go back to England, my lord. I will play this game no longer. So much comfort I will give you as thisyou are dangerous to me. If I have the power to hurt you, as you have to hurt me, you are better off in England. I will not marry you. Remember, I bade you not cry if you were burnt. Now let me go and do not pursue me." |
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