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Dallben
Dau Gleddyn
Don
Dwarfs
Dyrnwyn
Dallben. A powerful enchanter who watches over Caer Dallben. Extremely old, Dallben takes to meditating between sessions of teaching Taran in his chamber. Dallben owns The Book of Three, which Taran is sure tells Dallben everything. After Taran runs after Hen Wen and meets Gwydion, Gurgi tells them the Horned King and his men grumbled about flames after they went to Caer Dallben. Gwydion assures Taran that Dallben likely used his powers to turn the enemies away, for "a beetle could not creep into Caer Dallben without his knowledge" [p. 41].
Dallben comes from the druid or mystic Dadweir Dallpenn (who is mentioned in "How Culhwch Won Olwen" in The Mabinogion as Dadweir Blind Head—"dall" means blind); originally, Alexander considered making Dallben blind, but it would interfere too much with certain elements of the stories [8].
Dau Gleddyn. One of the cantrevs of Prydain's southern regions. The armies of Dau Gleddyn join with the Horned King on his march against Caer Dathyl.
In The Mabinogion, there is a place called Deu Gleddyv in the southwest part of Wales. When Arthur and his men chased a giant boar called Twrch Trwyth from Ireland, it passed through Deu Gleddyv and killed all men and animals there. Alexander likely drew the name from ancient Wales for one of Prydain's cantrevs with no necessary connection.
Don. Lady of the Summer Country and wife of Belin, King of the Sun. Her descendants, such as High King Math and Prince Gwydion, are called by her name: the Sons of Don, Children of Don, or House of Don.
In The Mabinogion, Don was the sister of Math son of Mathonwy rather than his ancestor. Gwydyon and Gilvaethwy were her sons, and Aranrhod her daughter; they lived with Math at Caer Dathal in northern Wales. Don also had sons named Govannon and Amathaon, whom Culhwch had to seek out to help him accomplish the tasks Chief Giant Ysbaddaden demanded before Culhwch could marry his daughter Olwen. People in Prydain speak of the Lady Don with respect and even awe, but the Welsh tales don't convey such a feeling.
Dwarfs. See Fair Folk.
Dyrnwyn. The sword Taran and Eilonwy take from the king's barrow beneath Spiral Castle. Some of the inscription (in strange symbols) on the black scabbard is scratched out, but Eilonwy can read what is left: "Draw Dyrnwyn, only thou of noble birth, to strike the..." [p. 105]. Another symbol, suggesting power, shows on the scabbard. Later, Taran tries to draw the sword to protect Eilonwy, but his arm is burned, and he becomes unconscious.
Lady Charlotte Guest mentioned Dyrnwyn in her notes about The Mabinogion. She said it belonged to Rhydderch Hael and was one of the thirteen most precious things of Britain. The entire blade would burst into flame if anyone but Rhydderch drew it—whereas in Prydain, the flaming blade was one of Dyrnwyn's properties if drawn by anyone with the right to use it [8]. Either way, not very many people can draw the sword; in Prydain, Gwydion becomes Dyrnwyn's bearer and can draw it whenever he wants. Alexander's slightly less selective Dyrnwyn becomes important in The High King, when again Taran tries to use the sword.