Editing Gwydion (section)

===The Battle of the Trees===
A large tradition seems to have once surrounded the [[Cad Goddeu|Battle of the Trees]], a mythological conflict fought between the sons of Dôn and the forces of [[Annwn]], the Welsh [[Otherworld]]. [[Amaethon]], Gwydion's brother, steals a white [[Roe Deer|roebuck]] and a [[Puppy|whelp]] from [[Arawn]], king of the otherworld, leading to a great battle.

Gwydion fights alongside his brother and, assisted by Lleu, enchants the "elementary trees and sedges" to rise up as warriors against Arawn's forces. The [[alder]] leads the attack, while the [[aspen]] falls in battle, and heaven and earth tremble before the [[oak]], a "valiant door keeper against the enemy". The [[Hyacinthoides non-scripta|bluebells]] combine and cause a "consternation" but the hero is the [[holly]], tinted with green.

A warrior fighting alongside Arawn cannot be vanquished unless his enemies can guess his name. Gwydion guesses the warrior's name, identifying him from the sprigs of alder on his shield, and sings two [[englyn]]s:

:"Sure-hoofed is my steed impelled by the spur;
:The high sprigs of alder are on thy shield;
:[[Bendigeidfran|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."