#rivervale_lodge

"Did you know Gwydion was a bad guy?"

"Uh. no. How so?"

"Chief says when he was young, he was a bully. And then he and his buddies raped a bunch of ladies at a hold they invaded. For fun."

"Yeah that's pretty bad I.. wow. " (Tove says something in the background, hard ot make out something about getting his) "Tove is kind of like Odin, she has opinions.." One can almost see the elbow bump her dad got

"There's a whole story about after. But... like..."

"It bugs you. and. oh, Tove wants to talk to you. Is that okay?"

"...yeah.."

Tove's voice comes on "Hey, you do know that just because Gwydion was a bad man doesn't mean you've joined a bad house right? Mind you, he learned better, but that's the theme, redemption, rising above what you were and becoming greater by serving others, that kind of thing."

"..yeah..."

She twists the cord around her hand, fidgeting. "But, like, does that make him a good person?"

"My own view is that we cannot be judged by us at our worse unless we choose to remain so... Gwydion and his cousin were rapists... and it was only fitting that they learned what that was like, but Gwydion became a good man and went from bully to protector. "

"...yeah. I guess. But, like.."

"Like... like aren't some people just bad?"

"Yes, Thallian and the like ... I suppose are. And some are remoseless, never regretting anything but getting caught. Never trying to right what they did wrong. Whatever I think of Sidhe, Gwydion did try to right things. He became a nobler soul after he and his cousin were transformed. I imagine birthing pigs will humble someone"

"oh, gross..."

"oh that was part of the punishment, Math turned Gwydion and Gowein into a different animal each year, and each year the cousins mated, and produced an off spring... they had no choice in the matter. Each time they were of oppositee sexes... that's what i mean about how Gwydion learned what it was like for the lady he had wronged"

"Nooooo. Oh, shit."

"Yeah, celtic tales of old are pretty messed up, good stories, but messed up." Tove says "So when i say Gwydion did his time, I don't mean he had an easy run in the wood. He was hunted, he nearly died, and once a year, a mating. Let's put it this way, if a mortal went to jail, then came out and spent the rest of his life doing good deeds. would you say he was till a bad man ?"

"...maybe not?"

"It didn't sound that bad, just, like, being a deer..."

"Until the whole 'must mate with your cousin bit' eh? We are often who we choose to be . When Gwydion chose to be selfish and petty and a bully, he was bad. He put himself ina pit no doubt. But it is to his credit that he dug his way out, cleaned the dirt off, and not only stopped being bad, he actively went ot make sure other bad people were stopped. It was right to do so. Honorable. It was a lack of honor that led Gwydion to be a monster, and it was honor that made him a hero. That is why Honor is so important ot his.. your house"

"...maybe.."

"I mean, Chief's okay with it."

"Are you?"

In the background ("Gez that's al ot to unload on a kid")

"Working on it, I guess."

"If they don't think what they did was wrong, is it okay to hate them?"

"That's not so much for me to say," Tove says "I find.. I have some hate in my heart.. and I worry about it, nto because they don't deserve hate, but because how it eats at me sometimes. Seems the Gwydions ahve a LOT of , well, maybe not hate, but rage in their hearts for those that do harm and have no honor... maybe the Chief can teach you how to direct that if you feel the same"

"Maybe..."

"I'm not sure if I... I mean, maybe it was a mistake? How would anybody know?"

"I think... I think that Da'an has many plans for us. And maybe for House Gwydion. Maybe you're meant to be one of those who reminds House Gwydion on what it should be ... maybe you're an example of a girl who had nothing, and rose to help those who also felt lost. Maybe it's not about what you need, maybe this is something the Dreaming thinks House Gwydion needs to be better? I don't claim to be sure"

"Uh-huh..."

"Now, yoru dad is giving me that look, the one where he thinks I am talking too much when you might want a bit less to worry about. So let me just say We love you and miss you, and remember, YOU are never a mistake. Your dad chose you, and ..by marrying him, so did I. You are the luckiest most wonderful find in our world. Okay?"

She blushes, fidgeting again. "..kay."

"Now here's your dad." Phone handed over.

"Hey, Dagmar?" Jayme's voice, her DAD'S voice. It's good to hear

"Yeah?"

"About what Tove said just now?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Ditto" He says simply, earnestly, meaning it

"Thanks, Dad."

"Okay, love you. You call if you need us, you hear? Otherwise we'll be home tomorrow night"

"Uh-huh. Love you both."

"Mm" Pelased hmm "bye then."

"Seeya soon."

and it hangs up

She hangs up the receiver with a heavy sigh.

Siv peeks in, "if you don't mind me asking, how are they doing?"

"Good! They went dancing!"

"Ha. That's a Tove idea"