Luned: a Cymric Arthurian Heroine (She of Great Desire or The Fortunate)

Synonyms: Eluned Ddedwydd
Cym: She of Great Desire or The Fortunate

She is the heroine of the Mabinogion of Owein (also known as Iarlles y Ffynnon 'The Countess of the Spring'). As has been proposed by Ifor Williams, Luned represents a shortened form of Eluned, derived from the components el- (many, much) and (i)un- (desire) along with the the feminine ending ed (she), yielding 'She of Great Desire'. In the Norman versions of the Arthurian romances Eluned became Lunette with its own lunar meaning because of the name's association with the moon La lune. In Cymric usage the initial 'E' of Eluned was lost and the name bacame Luned, though whether the 'Luned' in the tale of Owein represents a conversion back to the original Cymric from the Norman tales or is a survival of the native name can only be guessed at. However the possibility that the French Lunette is based on an original Cymric figure such as that of Eluned Ddedwydd cannot be entirely dismissed. Indeed, some evidence supporting this hypothesis can be derived from the tale itself in that the figure of Luned is a chivalric oddity. She represents a strong female figure, playing a pivotal role in initially saving Owein, in marrying him to her mistress (though in a further adeventure at the end of the tale it is Owein who saves Luned(.

In the tale itself, Owein seeks to display his prowess as a knight by flighing the black knight (who defeated his friend Cynon) guardian of the spring/water-source of the tale's alternate title. During the course of combat Owein mortally wounds the knight. Somehow, however, he manages to mount his charger and rides towards his castle, with Owein in pursuit. The structure they come to is vast and splendid and they come to the gates, through which the black knight was allowed ingress. Owein spurs his steed after his foe, but as he entered the gate-room the portcullis is dropped. This strikes his steed behind the saddle, cutting the beast in two and taking away the roundels of his spurs by his heels. Owein was now trapped between the portcullis and the inner gates.

Through an apeture in the gate Owein can see a street with houses on either side. There he sees a maiden with yellow curling hair and a frontlet of gold upon her head. She was clad in yellow satin and had boots of mottled Cordovan leather upon her feet. She approached the gate and desired for it to be opened. Owein responded that it was no more possible for him to open the gates from his side than it was for her to open it from hers. The maiden expressed her regret that Owein could not be released, for she had seen none more faithful in the service of ladies than he and every woman ought to succour him — the most sincere friend and devoted lover. Whatever was in her power to do, she would do it to secure his release.

She gives him a ring, telling him to wear it upon his finger. If he wore the ring's stone within his hand and closed his fist about the stone he would be concealed and as long as he concealed the stone its powers would also conceal him. Soon, the men of hte castle would come to seek him out and put him to death for killing their lord and they would be much aggrieved for not finding him. Meanwhile, the maiden would sit on a nearby horseblock and when the doors were opened Owein should approach her and place a hand upon her shoulder to indicate that he was nearby. Then she would lead him to safety.

This was done, and she took him to her large and ornately-decorated chamber. There she allowed him to wash and prepared meat for him. Owein ate and drank until late in the afternoon when a mighty outcry was heard in the castle. The maiden told him that the nobleman who owned the castle was receiving extreme unction. A couch was prepared for him and Owein went to sleep. In the middle of the night they heard a clamour announcing the black knight's death and in the morning came the funeral procession and hte host that filled the street was so large that Owewin could see neither its bounds nor its extent. Following the funeral train Owein beheld a lady with bloodstained yellow hair folowing over her shoulders and about he a dress of torn yellow satin. And she struck her hands so violently together that it was a marvel that her fingers were not bruised. She was the fairest woman Owen ever saw and her cry was louder that those of the funerary trumpets or any other person gathered there. He fell instantly in love with this beautiful woman and he enquired of the maiden as to who the lady was. The maiden responded that she was her own mistress, the Countess of the Spring, the wife of the knight that Owein had slain yesterday.

Owein proclaimed his love for her and the maiden promised th aid him in claiming her hand. After washing Owein's head and shaving him the maiden sets him to bed and makes her own way towards the castle where she will woo for him. In the castle itself there was nothing but mourning for the Countess would not bear the siight of anyone through grief. Yet Luned camt and greeted her respectfully though the countess did not respond. The maiden bent towards her mistress and asked her why she would answer no noe that day.

'Luned', the Countess said, 'what change has come over you that you would not visit me in my greif?' It was wrong of you, and I having made you rich. It was wrong of you that you did not come to me in my distress. That was wrong of you.'

'Truly,' Luned responded, 'I thought that your good sense was greater than this. Is it right for you to mourn after that good man, or for anything else that you cannot have?'

'I say unto god,' replied the countess, 'that were it not repugnant to me to put to death one whom I have succoured I would have you executed for making such a companion. As it is, you will be banished.'

'I am glad,' said Luned, 'that you have no other cause to do this other than that I would have been of service to you where did not recognize that which was to your advantage. Henceforth, evil betide the first of us to make reconciliation towards the other — whethere I seek reconciliation of you, or you of me.'

With that Luned made to leave and the countess beckoned her to return. 'In truth,' the countess said, 'your disposition is evil, but if you know that which is to my advantage, tell it to me.'

'I shall do so,' said she, 'for you know that except by warfare and the use of arms it will not be possible for you to retain your posessions. Do not delay in seeking someone who can defend them.'

'How can I do that?' enquired the countes.

'Unless you can defend the spring, you cannot defend your dominions,' replied Luned, 'and no one can defend the spring except a knight from Arthur's court.'

Luned avows that she shall go to Arthur's court and will not return without bringing a champion with her. She pretends to set out, butt returns to her chamber instead and tarries there the length of time it would take to journey to Arthur's court and back. At the end of this time she dresses and sets-off for the castle where she brings the Countess glad tidings — that she has found a champion. Luned returns home and the next day Owein arrays himself and sets out for the castle. The countess is glad to see them, but gazing upon Owein she sees that he does not look like a traveller and becomes more certain that he was the one who killed her lord.

Luned says that this is all the better for the countess, for Owein was obviously stronger than her lord and all the more suited to defend her realms. The countess sends them away and prepares to take counsel. Calling her subjects together she shows them that her earldom is undefended and can only be defended by forcee of arms. Then she gives them a choice — either one of them takes he to wife or she marries someone from elsewhere and thus did Owein become the Countess of the Spring's husband.

For three years did Owein defend the spring against all comers but by this time Arthur starts to miss Owein and believes that he is lost. Along with Gwalchmei their retinues set-out to seek Owein. They come to the spring and there they fight the defending knight — and each in their turn is defeated by him — all save Gwalchmei, whom Owein does not recognize because he is wearing new raiment, until Gwalchmei's helm is split and his visage is revealed. The combat is ended and Arthur invites Arthur and his kinsmen to a feast in their honour. Arthur then sends a missive to the countess, beseeching her that Owein might go with him for the space of three months. The countess assents, but only reluctantly.

Back with his friends in Arthur's court Owein tarries for three years rather than three months. So long had he been away that a rider was sent to him and she took the countess' ring from his hand. So sorrowful did this make Owein that he arrayed himself, left the court, and wandered the distant part of the earth to wander amongst wild beasts. He dwelt there until his armour had decayed and he became emaciated and starved. Half dead, he is found and succoured by a widowed countess and in payment for her care he delivers her from a besieging earl.

Moving on through deserts and desolate places Owein comes to a wood where he hears loud yelling and saves a black lion from a serpent. Further on, Owein makes a fire and with the aid of the lion he gains a roebuck, skins it and sets some of the meat to cook. Whereupon he hears a loud sighing and calls out towards the voice: 'Who are you?'

'I am Luned,' responds the voice, 'the hand-maiden of the Countess of the Spring.'

Owein enquires as to why she is there and she responds that she is imprisoned on account of a knight from Arthur's court who married the countess. He stayed with her for a short time but soon returned to the court of Arthur from whence he had not returned. But he was the friend that she best loved in the whole world. However, two of the countess' pages traduced him and called him a deciever. She told him that they were no match for him so she was imprisoned in a stone vault under sentence of death, unless that knight could release her by a certain date — which was the day after the morrow.

'And are you certain that if this knight knew of your plight he would come to your rescue?' Luned responded in the affirmative and Owein divided the cooked meat between them and they talked far into the night. The following morning he asked Luned where he might spend the night and she directs him to the castle of a generous earl. There he spends the night and after several adventures on the way Owein and the lion eventually reach the meadow where Luned was. When he came there he saw a fire and two youths were leading the maiden to cast her into the flames.

Owein enquired of them as to what charge they had against her and they related the same tale that luned had told him the night before, adding: 'Owein has failed her, thus we are taking her to be burnt.'

Owein proffers himself instead of this 'Owein' they are expecting. They accept and attack him. However, being tired from his earlier combats Owein was hard pressed by them. All the while the lion came to his defence and the youths complain bitterly of this so Owein placed the lion where Luned had been held captive and blocked the door with stones. But Owein was pushed back and became hard pressed by the youths and the lion roared to see him in trouble and bursting through the wall he savaged the youths and they were slain.

Owein returned with Luned to the domains of the Countess of the Spring and from ther ehe took the countess to Arthur's court.

Apart from this tale, where she is best known, Luned is also known from the Trioedd Ynys Prydein (appendix III) which gives the ring of Eluned ddedwydd (Eluned the fortunate) as one of the thirteen treasures of the Island of Britain and indicates that Eluned was the original form of her name.

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