Fflewddur Fflam

Fflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the fictional country of Prydain, in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. He is referred to as a King, but it is made clear that he is a very minor king of a tiny kingdom at best, much less important than the High King who rules Prydain. His kingdom is described as being dreary and dull. As a result, he often leaves it to go wandering as an unofficial bard. Though he returns from time to time to rule, he once mentions that he gets the feeling that the people of his country get along just fine even if he's not there.

He is described as a tall, thin man with spiky blond hair, although in the Disney film "The Black Cauldron" he is depicted as a white-haired older man with a bit of a pot belly. The movie's Fflewddur has apparently been stripped of his royalty, or at least it never gets mentioned, and is the object of intense, disturbing attraction from the enchantress Orwen. His catchphrase is "Great Belin!" He is voiced by Nigel Hawthorne.

Fflewddur Fflam is a good-hearted soul, much less interested in the pomp and circumstance of his role than in doing right—if children wander into his throne room, he'd far rather play hide-and-seek with them than chase them out. Inside, though, he dreams of being a bard.

After obtaining a harp and practicing, he sets out for Caer Dathyl, the seat of the High King and Chief Bard Taliesin, hoping to be admitted. Unfortunately, his tests do not go at all well. However, the Chief Bard takes pity and offers him a wonderful gift in the form of a magical harp that "Almost plays itself," in Fflewddur Fflam's delighted words. Unfortunately, the harp has a flaw. Every time Fflewddur Fflam stretches the truth, a string will snap on the harp. This happens often, for he is frequently inclined to "add a little color the facts. They need them so badly." He always seems to be adding to the truth. Fflewddur's penchant for theatrical exaggeration ensures that he spends more time mending the harp than playing it; even so, he is able to make beautiful music when he is called upon to do so (or whenever he feels in the mood). At the end of "The Book of Three", Fflewddur is rewarded for his services with a magical harp string that will not break, no matter how outrageously he lies.

Even though he uses a magical harp regularly, Fflewddur has a strong dislike for magic in general, especially when it seems to be of a threatening nature to him. He steadfastily refuses even to look at magic things unless they have proven themselves to be harmless (like Eilonwy's Pelydryn) or are bardic in nature (his own harp and Adaon's brooch).

Fflewddur Fflam meets the hero of the series, Taran, and Princess Eilonwy at Spiral Castle, the home of Queen Achren. Purportedly having no ear for music, Achren imprisoned him in her dungeons, where Eilonwy mistakenly frees him on Taran's request. The three become good friends and end up sharing many adventures together.

Besides his harp, Fflewddur Fflam has another unique possession, if it may be called that, in the form of a giant house cat named Llyan, easily big enough to ride as a horse. Llyan was enlarged by a series of potions force-fed to her by Glew, an unsuccessful would-be wizard turned giant by the same potion that made Llyan grow so large. Llyan loves Fflewddur Fflam's harp music; it is often the only thing that can calm her when she is agitated.

In "The High King", Fflewddur shows his courage by accompying Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi, Doli, and the Commant Folk to hold back the Cauldron Born and infltrate Annuvin. When the group is in danger of death from the cold, he breaks his enchanted harp and has Doli set it on fire to warm them. Because of the magic of the harp, the fire burns long and warm. When it finally goes out, all that is left is the magical unbreakable string.

At the end of "The High King", Fflewddur is told he must leave Pydrain for the Summer Country as he is (distantly) related to the Sons of Don. Though Fflewddur is reluctant to leave, he is assured that Llyan will remain with him and that he will be given a new harp, which strings won't break. Before leaving, he gives the last piece of his enchanted harp to Taran: A magical unbreakable string.

As with many other characters in the "Chronicles", Fflewddur Fflam is based on a character in the "Mabinogion", a collection of Welsh legends. Fflewddur Fflam is mentioned in two of the legends as a prince at King Arthur's court, but little else is revealed about him.