Ugly

by J M Bingham

  “Come said the Queen, Gwynneth has been waiting anxiously for the prince's arrival.

  The princess led Rupert to the gardens as his father and the Queen disappeared into the main quarters of the castle. The princess talked incessantly, Rupert, saying nothing.

  “Mother says you are an excellent swordsman, I fancy a man who can wield a sword, someone strong, brave, you know the type. “I think that's why my mother chose you, they say you're father is the most powerful warlord in the kingdoms.”

  Rupert nodded.

  “You... don't say much, do you? Replied the princess with a slight smile. “Oh well, that is alright, I shall be making most of the decisions anyhow, once we are married anyhow. “

  **

  “Ah, what a fine meal Mary said Ethelred heartily, I may call ye Mary if that's alright.”

  “I prefer not, replied the Queen coldly.

  A strange sound came from outside the door, a high moaning. Ethelred looked around as if he had seen a ghost.

  “Did ya hear that? Asked the warlord. Sounded like a wee banshee.”

  The Queen started to laugh.

  “I must say, for a warlord the Queen replied, you are very superstitious.”

  Ethelred started to chuckle heartily himself.

  “Must have been me imagination.” Ethelred replied taking a large bite out of his chicken leg.

  Then the strange sound came again, but this time even louder. The warlord stopped mid chew the piece of chicken slamming loudly down on his plate. The Queen laughed nervously.

  “So.... about the wedding, the queen stammered. “

  The dark dungeons beneath the castle were dark compared to the rooms above that the Queen was used to, but it didn't bother her, everything except the fat black rats that scurried about in and out of her dress. Two guards accompanied the Queen as they descended the steep staircase further down into the dark. The smell of death and old straw permeated the air, the cries of one prisoner became louder and louder.

  “Let me out of here!!!!.” Mary!!, Mary!!!.” the voice screeched.

  The queen went down an aisle of empty cells full of rotting bones and rusted chains and shackles until she made her way to the last cell where a decrepid old man lay upside down, his once fine clothes in tatters.

  “Ah George, said the Queen in an annoyed voice. Must we be making so much racket?, we have guests.”

  “Guests? Said the old man.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact replied the Queen, your daughter's fiancee.”

  “ Who's getting married Mary?, Eleanor? . “

  The Queen gave the king a sour look.

  “No you idiot!, Gwynneth.”

  “But... she's too young dearest.”

  “No, not really said the Queen with a slight smile.” I was her age I recall when I... met you.”

  “But that was different Mary, complained the king, you were.... “

  “What George?.” I was a princess just like her... I came from a good upbringing.”

  “We were in love Mary, said the king sadly.” “Do not force our daughter to marry just for some ridiculous alliance.”

  The queen started laughing hysterically.

  “What do you know of anything foolish man.” King Ethelred is the most powerful warlord in all the kingdoms, if I can marry off Gwynneth to his son, and we become allies, then I practically could steal the crown jewel.... power.... over all the realm.”

  The king looked sadly at his wife, a tear running down his eye.

  “Please Mary, set me free, and I shall not be a burden to you any longer.” I know you don't love me anymore.”

  “I never... loved you George”. the Queen hissed.” I only used you to become Queen.”

  “Oh Mary, the king closed his eyes.” What has become of you.”

  The queen was becoming tired quickly of the conversation. As she was leaving, the old king muttered one final haunting word.

  “I know... your secret Mary.”

  The Queen, her whole frame filling with fear, briskly left the dungeons and her husband behind

  in the dark.

  3 months later

  It had been raining all day, and the sound of pitter pattering rain fell on the stain glass window of the Queen's chambers. Tall wax candles stood around the room, the wax slowly melting down the side as the flame burned. Queen Mary of Darkwood lay in her bed reading, a chamber maid at her side, untangling her braids.

  The candles suddenly all went out. The Queen did not stir.

  “ Stop blubbering Henrietta!”. hissed the Queen.” it's nothing but the wind.”

  A dark shadow filled the wall, growing larger and larger until a figure emerged, a tiny woman in a black tattered cloak covered in ugly sores and warts. Her teeth rotting inside her mouth.

  “Who are you!!! barked the Queen, and how did you get in here!.”

  “You don't remember me my dear? Asked the old woman in a screechy voice.

  The queen felt her body tremor, but she desperately tried to hide it.

  “I have... never seen you in my life.” the queen lifted her head haughtily.

  “Ah, but you have.” replied the old woman with a smile.” I remember it well.” A pathetic little shoemaker's daughter crying in the woods over an arranged marriage.” Is that … right?.”

  “I don't know what you speak of replied the Queen, her eyes filling with tears.” now, away with you, before I call the guards.”

  The old woman didn't budge, her ugly smile growing wider and wider. The chamber maid tried to hold the Queen but Mary pushed her away to the floor, the chamber maid wiping tears from her big blue eyes, tried to run for the door, only to be stopped by the old hag's powers, frozen in place.

  “There will be no escaping me Winnifred, not this time.” replied the woman snidely.

  “You dare address me like that! Barked the Queen, “my name, is Mary.”

  The old hag wagged her bony finger back and forth scolding the Queen.

  “Didn't your father teach you better Winnifred.” We mustn't tell lies.”

  The Queen grew very angry getting out of her bed, her tall opposing figure seemed at least

  menacing to the Queen but not, to the old hag.

  “What do you want old hag!.” Screamed the Queen.

  “Payment.” was all the old woman said.

  “But I thought.... said the Queen confused.

  “You thought I gave you that potion out of kindness? Answered the ugly old woman with a wicked smile. “Guess again my pet.”

  “You were so kind to me said the Queen, I don't understand.”

  “ You see my dear, explained the witch, I didn't really care if you married the prince or not, all I wanted.... was to see if you passed my test or not... and you... failed.”

  The old hag burst into laughter.

  “What are you talking about!... there was no mention of a test.” stammered the Queen.

  “Oh but there was”. cackled the witch. When you left the forest that day, you had a choice, whether to use the potion and obtain your true happiness, or to make the right decision and marry whom your father chose for you.” “We see now why the latter choice was the wrong one, don't we dearie.”

  “It was the best decision I ever made cried the Queen, I don't understand your reasoning old woman, I brought my father out of poverty, I gave him money to pay his debts.... what is so wrong about that?.”

  “You became vain, replied the old woman quietly.” “All you care about now... is power.” “And you have it, don't you.... marrying off your only and remaining daughter to the son of a powerful warlord.”

  “You talk nonsense old woman”. barked the Queen.” “I am protecting my people, I did it out of care for my people.” Ethelred would have burned my kingdom to the ground if I hadn't made that alliance.”

  The witch watched the Queen closely.

  “Really? Said the hag itching the wart on her chin, “or was it because you wanted power?.” Ethelred controls almost the
whole realm.... that would be temptation for anyone.”

  “You know that is not true!”. hissed the queen.”

  “You... lie! barked the old hag raising up her hands. A powerful wind starting brewing inside the room, the witch cackled maniacally as she watched the Queen slowly turn into cold hard stone, a look of horror on her beautiful face.

  Once the deed was done, the old hag crept up to the now stone queen and held out her hand. A flurry of blue light slowly oozed it's way out of the statue fluttering into the old woman's hand. A look of contentment appeared on the old woman's face, as she slowly disappeared once again, into the shadows.

  Chapter 3

  The sun slowly filled the dark forest with light, the tangled and twisted trees hiding from the bright sun. In a hammock tied to two large trees, lay a small woman, with raggedy brown braided hair, and a dirty face, lying asleep. Her snores resonating through the whole wood. A sharp sound awoke the woman, and with one eye open, pulled a small shiny dagger from her dress belt.

  “Show yourself!!!” barked the woman, waving the dagger through the air. Fear secretly burrowing in her chest.

  A full head of red hair peeked out from a green bush more and more of the strange creature appearing with a button nose and green eyes, covered in freckles from head to toe.

  “Sorry miss, exclaimed the boy, I didn't mean to scare ya.”

  The little woman put the dagger sheepishly back in her belt.

  “Not at all.” replied the woman rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing in this neck of the woods anyhow?.”

  “I... got lost said the boy sheepishly.

  “You best leave soon... the woods are no place for someone like you.”

  “Then what are you doing out here then?”. replied the young man, a beautiful maid like yourself. “

  The little woman blushed.

  “I'm Wilfred, the boy said extending his hand with a smile.

  The little woman extended her hand hesitantly.

  “ Moira, the little woman blurted quietly.

  “Come Moira, replied the young man, someone like you shouldn't be alone out here.

  Moria hesitated.

  “What's wrong? Asked Wilfred giving the maid a strange look.

  “I.... can't muttered Moira, I'm... not allowed.”

  “What do you mean? Wilfred said in a bewildered voice. “No one's stopping you.”

  “Look, you are very kind replied Moira, but I must be going, it was very nice to meet you.”

  Moira fled into the bush so quickly that Wilfred couldn't keep up. With a sad look on his face, Wilfred walked back towards the little cottage that he shared with his eight brothers and sisters on the edge of a small village.

  **

  A cool blue stream floated softly down a bubbly brook. Moira sat by the water dipping her hand in and out of the water.

  “What's wrong Moira?.” came a sweet voice. “Did something happen?.”

  Moira didn't answer

  “C'mon Moira giggled the other girl her wavy blue hair bouncing as she lay by her friend in the green grass beside the stream. “we tell each other everything”.

  “I...met a strange boy in the forest today Gaia.” He wanted me to leave....

  “Well why didn't you then? .”

  “You know full well why I couldn't Gaia replied Moira quietly, it's the law of the forest. “ “ No one ever leaves. “

  “I think he fancied you Moira, giggled Gaia covering her mouth. “ It was no wonder he wanted you to leave.”

  “Don't be foolish, laughed Moira, nobody in their right mind would fancy me.”

  Moira pulled a piece of grass from the wet ground and lay it gently on the water watching it float downstream.

  “I'm too plain.”

  Gaia and Moira sat silently for a moment, both deep in thought, until Gaia piped up excitedly.

  “Tonight, go to the edge of the forest Moira, see what happens, maybe the boy will be waiting.”

  Moira shook her head.

  “I can't Gaia, I'm too afraid, I've never left the forest before, it's... my home.”

  “If I were you”. replied Gaia giving Moira a playful nudge, I would do it, who knows what could happen.”

  Moira knew what could happen, terrible things, unspeakable things, or... maybe nothing would happen. It was a worth a try the girl thought to herself as she looked up at the canopy of green above her, the blue sky barely peeking in and out of the giant wood.

  As the silver moon rose above the sky, Moira waited until the last specks of gold from the sunrise disappeared. From the edge of the forest, Moira could see a small village, smoke rising from the tall redbrick chimneys, like big black pillows just hanging in the air. There was no sign of the boy from before, but there were plenty of people like him.

  Moira carefully extended one foot on the wet grass in front of her, barely touching the ground beyond the woods. To her surprise, nothing happened. Moira laughed at herself. Just to test it again, Moira touched the outside again, this time with the tip of her toes. Again nothing happened.

  Gaining confidence, Moira stepped fully on the other side, leaving the comfort of her home behind. The light she had once seen in the trees disappeared, leaving a black abyss behind it. Looking back one last time at the woods, Moira took a deep breath and headed towards the small village.

  Wilfred finishing up the days work in the field, rubbed the sweat from his forehead. Looking off into the distance towards the wood, he dreamed of the girl he had met hours before. Like an apparition, the girl appeared, walking right towards Darkwood. Rubbing his eyes just to make sure he wasn't dreaming, Wilfred looked again. The strange girl was still walking through the tall grass, the breeze blowing her beautiful brown wavy hair.

  Wilfred indeed wasn't dreaming. Throwing down his pitchfork on the ground , the boy ran towards Moira, ignoring his mother's calls to come for supper. Meeting Moira halfway in the field, the girl was surprised as ever to see Wilfred.

  “Is it really you? Asked Wilfred in a pant as he recovered from running so hard.

  “What do you mean? Said Moira with a slight smile.” “ Of course it's me.”

  “But... you said... you... couldn't leave.” Wilfred huffed.

  “I... thought so too”. smiled Moira, “but here I am.” Foolish isn't it?.”

  “Not at all replied Wilfred happily.” “I, well, hoped you'd come.”

  Moira smiled again and blushed. She had never had a compliment before, not even from the man

  Satyrs that lived in the wood.

  “Come on, said Wilfred pulling Moira's arm, mother has made supper.”