The Epic Battle of Annwn’s Slue

 Often truth is stranger than fiction, and real events often become the inspiration behind the stories I create for my new works on parables. This is a peek at Chapter 7 of something I am currently working on, this one is a bit different from the previous 6 chapters.

The Epic Battle of Annwn’s Slue

One cloudy morning in early spring, between rain showers Annwn went forth to patrol the borders of his domain. As he was crossing the slue, Annwn spied a stranger wearing armor ahead. Annwn, the mighty warrior pounced forth and called out a greeting, “Ho! Stranger! I bid you welcome to Annwn’s kingdom!”

The stranger saying nothing unsheathed his weapons and brandished them in the air in challenge. “Ho, Ho!” Cried Annwn, “If it is a fight instead of a welcome you seek, then lets have at it!”

The combatants squared off, circling and taking the measure of the other. Annwn spoke again saying, “Ah! I see by your armor and colors that you must be seeking revenge for your countryman who I slew near this spot a year ago. I had offered him a welcome, but he smote me in the nose with a mighty blow, so I vanquished him quickly and left his shattered remains as a feast for the carrion birds and flies. This too shall be your fate if you insist upon this folly!”

The stranger uttered not a sound but continued offering his challenge to fight. The combatants squared off, Annwn smote the ground a mighty blow causing the earth itself to quake. The stranger blocked and parried, with his sharp weapons as Annwn boxed, and feinted. A right, a right, then a left, he threw. Turf was tossed high in the air as they came together in mortal combat. The ground quaked from the blows the vegetation was ripped from the soil exposing bare earth so fierce was the fight. Then Annwn landed a mighty blow sending the stranger sailing high into the air and into a mat of thick grasses where he lay stunned, yet unhurt thanks to his heavy armor.

So swift was the blow and so hasty was the flight of the stranger that Annwn stood perplexed at the sudden disappearance of his foe. The battle lust had come upon him, so Annwn sought the stranger all around, seeking to put an end to the battle of tooth and claw. But the stranger had vanished. Thinking the stranger must have been dashed to atoms, Annwn quit the battle scene and completed his patrol. He circled back seeking the stranger’s remains, but they were nowhere to be found. The stranger had recovered, but realizing the folly of challenging so great a warrior the crayfish hid among the tall grass by the flowing water. The rain had returned so Annwn, the mighty Doberman Pinscher, fearing he would melt from the force of the light rain falling from the sky, decided to quit the great outdoors for the dry comforts of his soft bed where he could dream of epic battles, and fierce chases.