Editing Gwern (section)

===The Battle of the Trees===

A number of texts relate to ''[[Cad Goddeu]]'' or, The Battle of the Trees, a conflict between [[Arawn]], king of the [[Annwn|otherworld]], and the children of [[Dôn]], [[Amaethon]], [[Gwydion]] and his nephew [[Lleu Llaw Gyffes|Lleu]]. The battle was fought on account of the "white [[Roe deer|roebuck]] and the whelp" stolen by Amaethon from the Otherworld. 

A great warrior fights alongside Arawn and cannot be overcome unless his name can be guessed by the opposing force. Gwydion, the [[Gwynedd|Venedotian]] magician sings these [[englyn]]s, identifying the warrior as Bran:

{{poemquote|
Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur;
The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield;
Bran art thou called, of the glittering branches."

Sure-hoofed is my steed in the day of battle:
The high sprigs of alder are on thy hand:
Bran by the branch thou bearest
Has Amathaon the good prevailed."<ref>[http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/cadgoddeu.html The Battle of the Trees]</ref>
}}

Bran is here identified by the "sprigs of alder" (''gwern'') on his shield. A number of scholars have suggested an association between Gwern's role in ''Branwen'' and in the bardic tradition relating to the Battle of the Trees.<ref>Parker, Will. ''Four Branches of the Mabinogi''</ref>