865 To Rhowenna's great relief, her father did not die. But he never quite recovered from the treacherous attack upon his life, either, being plagued thereafter with a sudden weakness that would come upon him when he had taxed his strength, and a shortness of breath he had never suffered before. Although the royal manor had not come under assault, as had been feared, the King worried about the security of his kingdom, nevertheless, afraid that because of the attempt upon his life, Glamorgan or Gwent had come to view Usk as a tasty morsel and was intent on devouring it. For this reason, when he learned that Cerdic, a prince of Mercia, was in search of a wife, Pendragon sent messengers to Cerdic's court, proposing an alliance between Usk and Mercia, and offering Rhowenna as Cerdic's bride to seal the bargain. Rhowenna herself knew nothing of this, however, until the day when her father called her before him to tell her what he had done, and that Cerdic had agreed to the proposal and to take her to wife.
