So What's the Deal with Llew? Part Two: Llew's Dooms

Continuing our story, as told by the The Mabinogion, Arianrhod is so incensed at Gwydion's treatment of her that she lays a "tynghed" upon the child that will one day be called Llew.  (A tynghed (tynghedau is the plural) is a "fate, doom or destiny".) The first is that he shall have no name save that which she gives him.

Remember however, that Gwydion is both a magician and a trickster. He disguises himself and the boy and goes to Arianrhod's castle. While they are there, Arianrhod witnesses the boy pick up a stone and strike a wren between "the tendon and bone of its leg". If you've ever seen a wren, they're pretty tiny, so this was a rather amazing shot.

Arianrhod says something to the effect of "what a fair little sure-shot!" (I've also seen "fair" translated as "golden" or "lion" and "sure-shot" translated as "skillful hand". One website offers the possible translation of "flowing vigor".) Inadvertently in saying so, she gives the boy a name and he becomes Llew Law Gyffes. Gwydion, of course, can't help but reveal himself and gloat, whereupon Arianrhod lays a second doom on Llew. This time she says that he will bear no arms (that's weapons, folks) unless she gives them to him.

Of course Gwydion isn't going to leave that one alone either.  He disguises himself and Llew once again and they go back to Arianrhod's castle. This time Gwydion creates an illusion of an army coming to attack the castle. Having few warriors there to defend the place, Arianrhod runs into the storeroom and grabs a spear and some other weapons and tosses them to Gwydion and Llew, asking that they defend the castle.

Thrilled with himself, Gwydion again reveals himself, as well as the fact that Arianrhod has by her own hands given the boy weapons. Arianrhod lays a third doom on Llew. This one says he shall have no wife of any mortal race upon this earth.

Here the trickster begins to trick himself. Had Gwydion left the whole thing happily alone, Llew would probably have been fine. Instead, Gwydion decides to create a golem, an artificial woman made of flowers. Blodeuwedd (or "Flower Face") is made of nine flowers: oak, meadowsweet, broom, cockle (burdock) , bean, nettle, chestnut, primrose, and hawthorn.

Unfortunately, Blodeuwedd becomes Llew's final doom - and one that Arianrhod did not set.