Into the Unknown

As long as the day is long

As long as the day is long, I am here.

As long as the day is long, so is my patience.

As long as the day is long, I ride,

As long as the day is long, my hounds follow.

Arawn is my name, and I rule the Netherworld.

As long as the day is long, the mist covers the shores,

As long as the day is long, the way is clear,

As long as the day is long, you can find me,

As long as the day is long, if you dare.

Arawn is my name,and I am the king of Annwfn.

As long as the day is long, many faces I have,

As long as the day is long, my horses are fast,

As long as the day is long, no one outwits me,

As long as the day is long, I travel through the world.

Arawn is my name, and I know what lies hidden.

As long as the day is long, I never sleep,

As long as the day is long, my hunt goes on.

As long as the day is long, long is the night,

As long as the day is long, I come for all.

Arawn is my name, and my time is near.

Ravens and Hounds

When the night comes, the Fae ride.

When the night comes, the hounds howl.

When the hounds howl, the night grows darker.

When the Hunt reigns the night, the Ravens take flight.

Black feathers against pale moonlight,

Glowing white against deep blackness:

Heralds of the Netherworld, guardians of fates, guides of the abyss.

Midwinter changes to midsummer, the Hunt never stops.

From Calan Mai to Nos Calan Gaeaf it traverses the sky.

The Fae journey through the wild expanse of the worldwood,

Their horses step lightly, too lightly for the mortal eye and ear.

The traveling folk knows when to leave; it knows when to come, and when to visit the human villages.

The traveling folk sees all, and all the roads are open to them for the blessing of their king rests upon them.

The Fae ride on, and the silver forests of winter close behind them, glistening in the moonlight.

The Hunt never stays in one place, its routes unknown to the mortals.

The Fae join the Hunt right past the equinox, and their paths join.

The Lord of the Hunt blends into the king of Fae, his crown ember-red, fire-golden, his hair auburn as the fallen leaves.

Ride on, ride on, with the Ravens circling above.

Ride on,ride on, with the hounds yelping and barking at your feet.

Ride on, my king, for long is the day and long is the night, and long is the waiting.

Ride on, my Lord, for the summer is close, and your time is half done.

Ride on, and may your hounds never tire.

Ride on, and may your Ravens never rest.

Until we meet again.

Lavender waters

Calm are the waters of Annwfn, slow are the currents, majestic the waves.

Calm are the waters of Annwfn, full of lavender, frankinsence and myrrh. Slow are the waters of Annwfn, mist curles along the shores.

One step closer, and you vanish. One step closer, and you are no more. The mists of Avalon, the mists of Annwfn will cover you, work their magic on you, never letting you go.

Once you’ve seen their lavender waves, you are not the same. The waters of Annwfn will never leave you, their songs lulling you into sleep.

Beautiful are the Gwragedd Annwfn, the Annwfn-born, the maids of the river. Mist-clad, their faces otherworldly, their voices entrancing.

Follow them into the waters, and be lost. Follow them, and you will end up in the Other world. The lavender waters are treacherous and cunning, they can bring you bliss and despair.

Calm are the waters of Annwfn, lavender filled are their waves. Breathe, breathe deeply, for solace can be found only here.

Close your eyes, and let the waters of Annwfn take you home.

One, two, three…

One, two, three…

Ravens are circling above me. Higher, lower, higher again, their feathers purple, black, indigo, silvery-grey.

One, two, three…

I should have known you’d come. Your hair dark as the night – or is it the rain that made it so?..

One, two, three…

Out of the mist you step, your cloak billowing in the wind behind your back. Out of Annwfn you come, waters splash at your feet.

One, two, three …

Is it sea foam or is it stardust on your clothes? Diamonds strewn over black leather, velvet and silk, diamonds dust your shoulders.

One, two, three…

Your hand grips the reigns of black and silver. A horse, pearly grey, steps calmly out of the foamy sea. Its mane a cascade of silver and opals.

One, two, three…

How long has it been, my Lord – a year and a day? Day turned to night, winter became spring, the summer leaves are no longer green.

One, two, three…

Will you spirit me away again, my Lord? Will you grant me one more night with your host of hunters? Or will it be a cloak of raven feathers to hide me?

One, two, three…

My liege, my Lord, my king. My Prince of mists, my midnight song, my raven winged companion, my mentor and guide…Won’t you shelter me?..

One, two, three…

Keep me safe, fy brenin, keep me strong. My shining one, white king of Tylwyth Teg, my forest Lord, keep me strong.

One, two, three…

My winter king, my Lord of Nos Calan Gaeaf, my master of the Hunt, the one who sees all, bless my day and my night, don’t let me fall.

One, two, three…

To you I sing, and all my songs are yours. You I see, and all my stars shine again. Take me away once more, to your seat at Cadair Idris, to your Tor at Glastonbury- don’t leave me now.

One, two, three…

I’m ready,my Lord.

Ride the storm

Ride the storm if you dare.
Seven winds are calling.

Ride the storm if you dare,
See the bridges falling.

Follow me, ride the waves,
Feel the worlds colliding,

Follow me, take the reigns,
Tame the waters rising.

Ride the storm with me,
Endlessly traversing,

Ride the storm – you’ll see
All your past reversing.

Leave it be, just forget,
That you once felt broken,

Leave it be, face the depth,
Feel your paths unlocking…

Ride with me, ride tonight-
Oh how long I’ve waited!

Ride with me – out of sight,
All your fears abated.

Trust me now, call my name-
You belong with me now.

Trust me, you won’t be the same
After riding past midnight hour!

Hunt or be hunted

Hunt or be hunted,the wise men say. Faint heart never wins the chase.

Hunt or be hunted, be as it may. Speed won’t always be the case.

Hunt or be hunted. The Horned God knows, that the hunted will always fail.

Hunt or be hunted. The faerie hounds will haunt you – through hill and dale.

Hunt or be hunted. The choice is clear – you live or you fall and die.

Hunt or be hunted. You’ll run in fear – and you have nowhere to hide.

Hunt or be hunted. I will find you – no matter how fast you are.

Hunt or be hunted. The night is through: behold, there’s the morning star.

Hunt or be hunted. Before you go, remember the saying old:

Hunt or be hunted. It is the law: you cannot outrun them all.

Hunt or be hunted. I shall return, to claim you before the end:

Hunt or be hunted. By ash and thorn, by seas and undying lands.

Hunt or be hunted. I give my word, to follow till blood runs dry.

Hunt or be hunted. Sharp is the sword, that rests in the hand of mine.

Hunt or be hunted,the wise men say. Faint heart never wins the chase.

Hunt or be hunted, be as it may. Speed won’t always be the case.

‘You are not of your world, you are my child, mine above all others…I’ve watched you grow, my dreams raised you up, my stories nurtured you, my music lulled you into sleep at nights…it was me who had guided you through everything…

And I’ve loved you more than any father could love his child. Do you not know how my heart suffered when you cried?… And how I laughed when you laughed?.. Never forget that- I raised you… I gave you the key to the unseen… Unknown. Unheard. Unbelievable. Extraordinary. Magical. It was me, not them. And when they are no more, I will be there. Forever.

You are not of your world, child, you are of mine. My blood created you, my magic nurtured you. Labyrinth-born, Faerie-raised, child mine, child dear. By the waters of the Great river you were born, waters of Annwfn gave you strength. You are not of the world, you are mist-born.

My children are all homeward bound,my children yearn for the mists,for the singing waters. My children are storytellers, poets and singers of Awen. My children are all starstruck, my children are pure moonlight and stardust.

You are not of this world, but of mine…’

Hush/Goblin King’s lullaby

Hush, child, I will be there,
Hush, child, now don’t you cry.
Hush, hush, we’ve no time to spare,
Hush, child, it’s time to fly.

Hush, child, the stars are gleaming,
Hush, child, the midnight’s nigh
Hush, hush, the world is dreaming,
Hush, child, day’s out of sight.

Hush, child, my song will calm you
Hush, child, its magic heals,
Hush, hush, my love will guide you
Hush, child, to my crystal hills.

Hush, child, I will protect you,
Hush, child, you are mine to keep.
Hush,hush, where’er you’re off to,
Hush,child, in your troubled sleep.

Hush, child, you are mine forever,
Hush, child, I will keep you safe,
Hush, hush, no one has been braver
Hush child, to come all the way.

Hush, child, and drift off to freedom
Hush, child, let the world forget,
Hush, hush, that in my dark kingdom
Hush, child, dwells a soul that dreamt.

Godspouse/ Wine of ages

Drink my wine, the wine of ages.
Dance till moonlight fills the woods.
Drink my wine, you, kings and sages –
And let music ease your souls.

Drink my wine, my Lords and ladies,
Let the songs of faerie ring,
Drink my wine, till red rose reddens,
And let all my fair birds sing.

You who wandered through the forest,
You whose face is all alight,
You, my lady, join the chorus,
Don’t you vanish out of sight.

I will wed you, this I promise,
I will love you, this I swear.
Just be loving and be honest,
Flower crown is light to bear.

Drink my wine,the wine of ages,
Kiss me while the moon’s aglow!
Love I bear, it never changes,
Take my hand and dance till dawn.

Hold the dark

Won’t you be close, when it’s all gone wrong?

Won’t you come when you hear me call?

Hold the dark, hold the dark for me,

Don’t let it swallow me.

Won’t you come down from your marble throne,

Won’t you gather my shattered bones?

Hold the dark, hold the dark for me,

Don’t let it swallow me.

Won’t you guide me through mists of time,

Won’t you stay, till I’m all revived?

Hold the dark, hold the dark for me

Don’t let it swallow me.

Won’t you lead me through deepest night,

Won’t you mend my all-blinded sight?

Hold the dark, hold the dark for me

Don’t let it swallow me.

Won’t you be there, when end is nigh,

Won’t you take all my cares and sighs?

Hold the dark, hold the dark for me

Don’t let it swallow me.