Rhys and Meinir at Nant Gwytheyrn

Rhys and Meinir at Nant Gwytheyrn

Once, there were two young lovers, Rhys and Meinir. They courted each other near Nant Gwrtheyrn, enjoying the spectacular sea views and the shade of an old hollow oak tree. After several months of courtship, they planned to wed at midsummer in the nearby ancient pilgrim church of Clynnog Fawr.

The day dawned bright and sunny, and as was a tradition at the time, Meinir went to hide from the groomsmen who would come to find her and bear her to church.

The appointed time of the ceremony came. Rhys waited at the altar for his bride, but she didn’t come. Seconds turned to minutes and the day wore on, but still, the groomsmen could not find Meinir, and Rhys was left waiting for his bride. Eventually, anxiety turned to panic and Rhys and the congregation joined in the search. The long solstice day dwindled to dusk, and still, they did not find Meinir.

In the coming days, the whole parish searched high and low for Rhys’ missing bride, but never found her. Grief stricken, Rhys continued his search day and night, accompanied only by his faithful dog, Cidwm.

One cold night, nearing midwinter, Rhys’ search took him down the steep hill towards Nant Gwrtheyrn. The wind picked up and blew a storm inland from the sea. Rhys took shelter beneath the old hollow oak, remembering all the pleasant times he’d shared with Meinir beneath its boughs. Suddenly, a flash of lightening struck the old tree and cleft it in two. Half the bough came crashing down by Rhys’ side, revealing what had been hidden within. A skeleton clothed in a pale wedding dress, some bright hair still clinging to a tattered veil. Rhys’ heart broke, he fell to the ground and died. His faithful dog, Cidwm, lay down by his master’s side and never woke up again.

RHYS A MEINIR YN NANT GWRTHEYRN

Unwaith ym Mhlwyf Clynnog Fawr, roedd dau gariad ifanc, Rhys a Meinir. Roeddent yn arfer cyfarfod a’i gilydd dan gysgod hen goeden dderwen gwag-foliog ger Nant Gwrtheyrn, a mwynhau'r golygfeydd ysblennydd o'r môr. Ar ôl sawl mis o garwriaeth, penderfynodd y ddau briodi a phenodwyd dyddiad yn ganol haf ar gyfer eu priodas.

Gwawriodd y diwrnod yn heulog, ac fel yr oedd yn draddodiad ar y pryd, aeth Meinir i guddio rhag y ffrindiau ei darpar ŵr a fyddai'n dod i chwilio amdani a'i dwyn i'r eglwys.

Daeth yr amser a benodwyd ar gyfer y seremoni. Arhosodd Rhys wrth yr allor, ond doedd dim golwg o Meinir. Trodd eiliadau yn funudau hir ond dal, ni allai'r llanciau ddod o hyd i’r briodasferch. Trodd pryder yn banig ac ymunodd Rhys a’r gwestai priodas yn yr ymgyrch i ffeindio Meinir. A’r haul yn machlud ar ddiwedd y diwrnod hir, doedd dal ddim golwg o’r briodasferch.

Dros y dyddiau nesaf, bu’r plwyf cyfan yn chwilio bob twll a chornel o’r ardal amdani, ond ni chawsant fyth mohoni. Yn ei alar, parhaodd Rhys i chwilio ddydd a nos am ei gariad, yng nghwmni ei gi ffyddlon, Cidwm.

Un noson oer, yn agosáu at ganol gaeaf, dyma chwilio Rhys yn ei gymryd lawr rhiw serth tuag at Nant Gwrtheyrn. Roedd y gwynt yn codi a storm yn chwythu o'r môr. Cymerodd Rhys gysgod dan gangau’r hen dderwen, gan gofio'r holl amser dymunol oedd wedi rhannu gyda Meinir yno. Yn sydyn, dyma fflach o oleuni yn taro'r hen goeden a’i hollti yn ddwy. Syrthiodd hanner bonyn y goeden wrth ochr Rhys gan ddatgelu beth oedd wedi ei guddio y tu fewn: sgerbwd wedi ei wisgo mewn ffrog briodas garpiog a dafnau o wallt golau yn dal i lynu wrth y penglog. Torrodd calon Rhys yn ei union, syrthiodd i'r llawr a marw. Gorweddodd Cidwm y ci ffyddlon wrth gorff ei feistr ei feistr a dyna le y ffeindiwyd nhw ddyddiau wedyn gan drigolion yr ardal.  

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