Fflewddur Fflam
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Fflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the imaginary 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.
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 "all but plays by itself", in Fflewddur Fflam's delighted words. Unfortunately, the harp has a flaw. Every time Fflewddur Fflam stretches the truth, which he is inclined to do "to improve the story", a string will snap on the harp. Fflewddur's penchant for theatrical exaggeration ensure 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.
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 gigantic 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. Lyan loves Fflewddur Fflam's harp music; it is often the only thing that can calm her when she is agitated.
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.
| The Chronicles of Prydain |
|---|
| Characters |
| Princess Eilonwy > Fflewddur Fflam | Taran | Gurgi | The Horned King | Arawn | Gwydion | Dallben |
| Books |
| The Book of Three (1964) > The Black Cauldron (1965) | The Castle of Llyr (1966) | Taran Wanderer (1967) | The High King (1968) | The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain (1970) |
| Other media |
| The Black Cauldron (film)>The Black Cauldron (film) | The Black Cauldron (video game) |
| Other |
| Caer Dallben > Cauldron-Born | Dyrnwyn |
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