The Beast Uglig

Chapter 4- Taking the reigns

Meraidi strolled around her room her hand furiously swiping back and forth across her face trying to stem the flow of tears that gushed forth from her eyes. She glanced at her packed bags and in that instant knew that she would not go, knew that she would not follow her brother and the one who possessed her heart for her father needed her. She knew it would be easy to follow and to stay would be far harder but she knew she was needed where with the others she would be but a hindrance. She pulled the things from her bag and stuffed them roughly back into her drawers once more, only Hilwen her maid would know she had almost gone.

She felt dearly in need of occupation to take her mind from the miseries of her situation so she strolled around the castle trying to think of something to do. Eventually she came across the throne room where she met a woman.

"Please ma'am." The woman swept a deep curtsy and bowed her head. "I cannot seem to gain an audience with your father, might you ask the guards to let me see him it is most urgent?" Again the woman curtsied.

"Why do you not tell me your problem and I will see what I can do to resolve it."

"Well I was wondering if I might get some provisions for my family and some aid if it would not be too much for Uglig burnt the dam that held out the water 'bove our valley and it flooded down and has flooded us all so it has. Our houses are all knocked down and our fields waterlogged so we have no food."

"How were we not told of this before now? When did this happen? Of course you shall have all you need and we might send out some men to rebuild your homes if we can spare them."

"Thank you kindly miss, if your sure?" Meraidi felt this woman doubted her authority and this put her on her mettle.

"Of course I am. Pathed, Gehan," two guards jumped to order, "go with this lady and show her supplies, take dried food that will last and escort her to her town and take some men if to help with the rebuilding." Again she was looked at uncertainly and to her annoyance she felt herself blush. "Go if you please." They left but sent some uncertain glances back.

She felt now she knew her purpose whilst the knights went on their mission, she must govern Deraim and through it all of Imrandir.

She continued to her father's room and went in softly. Kneeling beside his chair with one of his hands held in hers she said. "Father, I hope you will not mind but I have sent some food to a village damaged by floods and some men to aid in the labour of rebuilding."

"No my sweet why should I? Do as you please, now your brother is gone I hope you'll be helping out more; I'm an old man you know." He patted her cheek affectionately but with an unseeing look in his eyes.

She felt better now she had permission to do as she pleased, she knew she would have to, there was no way Gwin could do anything; he was old and frail. Without Erion Imrandir was effectively leaderless.

She went on round the castle not sure what to do but feeling she must do something to prove her authority to all those who would doubt her. She headed down the stone passages lit by torches though it was only midday for these were the passages that led beneath the castle down, down to the kitchens, the cellars and the dungeons. She glided past the warm homely smells of bread that wafted out of the castle kitchens and down; she was not quite sure where she was going but this way seemed right. She kept going until she was in the dark and musty dungeons far below the castle gates.

The two guards on duty there rose at the entrance but seemed loath to let her pass, crossing their spears in an attempt to block her path.

"Let me pass please, I wish to enter the dungeons." She spoke with the icy dignity which she hoped it would quell their suspicions and force them to let her pass.

"Excuse me ma'am but do you really want to be a going down there? Nasty criminal types. Your father wouldn't like it!" He was a kindly soul, the guard, and he meant it for the best.

"I am perfectly sure and I think that in my own home I should be free to move as I will." She only just refrained herself from stamping her small foot on the ground in a gesture of annoyance that she had kept with her since she was a child.

"Well ma'am if you’re sure... May I ask what you will be wanting to do down there for?"

"I-I don't know. But I wish to pass so let me go through please." She faltered. Fate had guided her foot steps and she was not going to stop now. Reluctantly they stepped aside and she was permitted to enter. She looked with disgust on the faces of those men. The men who broke the bounds of friendship and honour and murdered or injured their fellow man. Why had she come here? The cold dank air attacked her skin and she drew her cloak further around her. But still she kept on going deeper into the dark.

"Meraidi?" One of the prisoners shrouded in shadows looked questioningly up into her face.

"Who is that? Who spoke?" Meraidi spun round but the man had already shrunk back into the darkness; ashamed to be seen. "Come forward and show yourself. I demand to know who you are!"

Slowly a man bent downwards covering his face with his hands crept out of the impenetrable blackness of the back of his cell and towards her.

"Lonan? Is that you?" She ventured closer still to the cell. Lonan had been her nurses husband. He had lifted her onto her first pony and had always been a good man.

"Yes ma'am." He kept as far away from her as he could and his voice was filled with self loathing and sorrow.

"How came you to rest in such as place as this? Who put you in here? Why was I not told?" Meraidi's sweet face was contorted in sorrow.

"Taxes ma'am. I could not afford to pay 'em once they were raised to pay for folk's lose because of Uglig. My Wife's nephew was ailing so we had to pay for the doctor, once that was gone we didn't have anything left for the taxes so I was put in here, that’s all there is too it ma'am." He said his piece mournfully and avoided the contact of her eyes.

"Dear Lonan, why didn't you appeal?"

"Well ma'am the King being sickly 'nd all and Erion being more interested in the army there was no one to appeal to if you get my meaning."

"I will not stand to have people such as you locked in my dungeons! I will get you out immediatly." She turned sharply on her heel and half walked half ran back to the guards of the dungeons. "I command you to release Mr. Lonan from this jail AND to give him enough money to get him and his family back on their feet."

The exchanged glances of trepidation. "I-I am not sure I can do that ma'am, sorry."

Meraidi's eyes flared and she stamped her foot hard upon cold unforgiving stone. I said release him!"

"Sorry ma'am but its more than my jobs worth."

Meraidi swept onwards and upwards again. In a matter of minutes she was standing in front of her father again. "Father, I beseech you; please release Lonan from the prisons. He does not deserve to be there. Allow me please review the lists of prisoners and judge those who rightfully ought to be there and those who don't!"

"My sweet life, do what seems right. Have I not already said this?"

"Yes, my father, but the guards do not respect my authority!" He slowly removed from his smallest finger on his left hand the seal of Deraim.

"Take it child and see then who will defy you."

"Thank you father!" She stretched out her hand and received the gift. Bearing the ring as though it was a precious piece of glass she hurried down the stairs and back to the guards of the prison. "Release him! Do as I bid swiftly and bring me the records of those imprisoned."

Thus bearing the ring of Deraim her ruling was secured. She spent long hours poring over the books and giving all she could to those who needed it. Many emerged blinking into the light of day who had been imprisoned wrongfully it seemed, beneath the castle of Deraim.