The Snow Spider

Don't worry. I'll be back before Mam and Dad wake up.

It's four years to the day since Bethan went.

We still don't know where, we may never know where.

Cos it's time, Gwyn. Time to find out if you do have magic.

All I can think of is how if he hadn't asked her to go up

there that night, then Bethan would still be here.

I do have magic!

I think she might be Arianwen, the Snow Spider.

Is it you?

Bethan?

Was it Bethan?

Was it her?

Can't you make another web like you did yesterday,

just so I can have another look?

SPIDER SQUEAKS.

Does that mean yes or no?

SPIDER SQUEAKS.

You must be able to.

I might see something else. A clue?

SPIDER SQUEAKS.

Gwyn?

Gwyn?

Make sure you fix that gate later.

I've got to move the ewes tomorrow, so it needs doing today, OK?

OK, Dad. Don't worry, I'll do it when I get back.

Gwyn... Gwyn... Gwyn...

It's happening, Gwyn.

Your heart's desire, bach, like I said!

I don't even know if it was Bethan.

I mean, how can it be? It was four years ago.

She would have grown. And the web.

It didn't last long enough for me to know for certain.

Have faith.

It says here, in the Mabinogion, then Gwydion's son subdued the land

and ruled over it prosperously.

And thereafter, he became Lord of Gwynedd.

Well, that Lord of Gwynedd, he was our ancestor.

And so was Gwydion.

And their blood, Gwyn, runs in your veins -

strong, powerful,

laced with magic.

You have that magic. You'll find the answers.

She was a witch, you know. Who?

My great-grandmother.

I've never told anybody before, but she was.

She was 100 years old and I was ten.

That's when she first told me the stories of our ancestors

and Arianwen.

And when she gave me the gifts.

The brooch, the whistle, the seaweed.

And the broken horse.

Yes.

Yes, and the broken horse.

I was frightened of that horse from the start.

She tied a label to it, "Dim Hon",

not this.

She told me to lock it away, but I was too scared.

So when my mam wasn't looking, I put it in the fire.

It wouldn't burn.

Not even the label.

But why give it to me if I'm not meant to use it?

Cos it needs a guardian, Gwyn.

A proper magician to look after it.

I don't have your abilities.

You are strong.

And possibly more powerful than we can imagine.

You and that beautiful Snow Spider.

And, well, I won't be around forever, will I?

So, you put that horse somewhere safe and forget about it.

And when you remember, you put it somewhere else and forget again.

Right.

Well, off you go. Go on. Away with you! I'm a busy woman, you know!

Get to school. Ta-ra, Nain. See you later.

Come on, Gwyn.

Hey, Alun.

You OK?

What happened to bird-watching before school? 50 minutes, I waited!

Did you hear me?

I'm so sorry. I forgot.

You've got a lot of making up to do, Griffiths.

I come in peace!

What now? Now, then, cariad. You might be grown up,

but you're not too big for your mam to smack your bottom.

You OK, love?

Yeah.

The other day was about Gwyn.

About me being a grandmother.

Today, well... Today, I'm here for you, as your mam.

We will get answers.

Look, Mam,

I'm sure you mean well,

but I last saw my daughter four years ago.

Four years, not a single sighting of her and, yeah, it is hard.

So I don't want any more lectures about hope, OK?

Because hope hasn't brought Bethan back.

Not yet.

There you go, Gary. Yes, Alfie.

Hey, Dewi. Look who it is.

All on your own, Alun? Where's your little birdie pal?

Poor Alun! No-one to babysit him today!

I need to use another one of the gifts, to see that girl again.

The seaweed? The whistle?

SPIDER SQUEAKS.

This?

SPIDER SQUEAKS.

But there's no wind.

Galwa ysbryd dy gyndeidiau...

Dywed pwy wyt ti...

Nain said to give it to the wind.

But how can I if...?

Galwa ysbryd dy gyndeidiau...

Dywed pwy wyt ti...

Get down!

Arianwen, what's happening?

Rydw I'n Gwydion ap Math a brawd I Gilfaethwy.

Rydw I'n Gwydion!

The patterns. It's the same as on Nain's book.

It doesn't show.

Gwyn? No!

No, not yet!

Gwyn?

Am I going to have to come up there? Gwyn?

Gwyn?

Gwyn?

Sorry, Mam. Didn't hear you. I had my headphones in.

Did you now?

Maybe that tablet wasn't such a good idea after all!

Turn the volume down, please.

I don't want to have to come up there every time

I put supper on the table.

I'll be down in a minute.

What was that?

Who were they,

those voices?

I can hear them!

Children!

Is one of them Bethan?

Hello? Bethan?

Hello?

Alun!

Hey!

Speaking today, are you?

You were like a zombie yesterday!

I'm sorry, Alun. I've been... busy.

My dad's given me some jobs to do.

You know what he's like.

Well, you're here now, aren't you?

Have you heard of Gwydion, the magician?

The children's entertainer from town? No, from history, way back.

You mean... the Mabinogion, the myths. Yeah!

Mared told those to us a few years ago, turned people into birds

of prey and had those, um, mad battles with monsters and demons.

Yeah, that kind of thing. Why?

Well, I think he's an ancestor of mine.

An ancestor! Yeah, that's what my nain says.

What? He's from a story.

You can't be related to a story! Yeah, but what if...?

And you can't go believing what your nain says either.

Why not? Because she's bonkers, of course!

Gwyn!

Come on.

Come on!

Come on, let's go. Come on!

He left the gate open again. Now, we go. Come on.