Chapter 4: Miranda

After walking Sofia to school the next day, Miranda comes home and sits down at her workbench. She looks to her left and sees the gift she received last night, sitting idly in the vase. The rose is just staring at her. She wills it to tell her who it's sender was. But the object of her favorite color sits there, looking at her, taunting her. It's a mystery she just couldn't solve. Does she have a secret admirer? Or perhaps it was just a gesture of kindness from someone? She doesn't know. But she hopes to find out. Just who could have given her that beautiful rose? She shakes the thoughts from her head and refocuses her mind on her work.

Not knowing what prompts her to do so, she opens a drawer and pulls out the sack of coins that the insufferable king rewarded her with the previous day. She dumps them on her work table and begins to count the coins. Upon reaching the end, she groans. Picking up the sack and shoving it into her briefcase, she walks into the other room. She grabs the parchment that the king had given her and unrolls the scroll. She scans the page three times, looking for a date of some kind that would cause the guards to decline her entry.

She closes it after not finding one and keeps that firmly clasped in her grip. She picks up the briefcase and locks the shop door. She then begins the long trek to her destination. She arrives and presents the parchment to the guards at the front gate. They give her a skeptical look, but hand the parchment back and let her through. She runs into Baileywick first when the guards open the front doors of the castle.

"Mr. Baileywick, sir?" Miranda calls out to him.

He turns and looks at her with a smile. "Widow Belthazar? What brings you here?"

"Regrettably, I have some…unfinished business with King Roland. Will you please take me to him?"

"With all due respect, ma'am, he's not your biggest fan."

"Yes, he's made that abundantly clear. But I really need to talk to him."

"Alright, but if he starts yelling, don't say I didn't warn you."

"I know how he can be. But I also know how to get him backed into a corner."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he mumbles and Miranda hears.

Baileywick stops and gestures toward a door. "He's behind the door with the gold plaque. I wish you well," Baileywick says.

"Thank you kindly, sir," Miranda replies. She inhales deeply and lets it out. She approaches the door with her heart pounding and knocks.

"Enter," the voice behind it growls. "If you dare," he adds.

Miranda smiles and opens the door. "I dare," she says, shutting it behind her.

"I've been expecting-" Roland looks up and gasps. "You," Roland shouts. "What are you doing here?"

"It's good to see you too, your majesty," Miranda says with a brief curtsy.

"Yeah, right. What do you want?" Roland says, crossing his arms over his chest.

Miranda plasters a smile on her face and walks over to his desk. She takes two coins out of the sack and holds them out in her hand. He looks down at them, then up at her. "What are these for?" he snaps.

"You gave me too much money."

"Huh, I would have thought you'd hang on to whatever money you could get, being a commoner."

Miranda tries not to wince at his stinging words. "You're right in that I may be nothing more than a worthless commoner to you, but at least I am honest and pay my dues. Please take them. I know you want them for yourself more than anyone else."

Roland uncrosses his arms and looks down at her outstretched hand. He takes the two coins, lightly brushing his fingers against her palm. She pulls her tingling hand away and sees him raise an eyebrow at her.

"How do I know you're not lying just to prove me wrong?"

Miranda shrugs. "Well, I could have kept the two extra coins, but instead, I came all the way back here, knowing I would have to see your despicable face, and returned them to you. And still, you question my honesty?"

"I see your point. Please, forgive me."

"Why?"

He sighs. "Because that's the kind of person you are; forgiving."

That was unexpected. "And what makes you think you know me so well?"

"Your actions speak louder than words. I don't have to know you personally to know you're a forgiving person."

"You don't know me. You don't know me at all. And if you think, even for one fraction of a second that you do, then you are dead wrong."

"You dare tell me I'm wrong?"

"Because you are."

"I just finished giving you a compliment, saying what a forgiving person you are. What is your problem?"

Miranda crosses her arms. "I think you know."

"Do you honestly think I'd be asking if I did? What is it?"

"You want to know what my problem is? I'll tell you what my problem is. My problem is you."

"Me? Why am I a problem for you?"

"You-you don't even realize it do you?"

"Realize what?"

"Have you ever actually walked, or rode through the kingdom?"

"Of course I have."

"Then open your eyes and look around. Watch how happy everyone in the kingdom is. Watch the joy they have in their eyes. Watch the children dance and play in the streets. Watch your servants in the castle whistle while they work. Watch how people cheer when you come riding through town. Watch the people thriving in the countryside and the smiles on their faces. Just try it and tell me when you see any of that."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I can't make the choice for you. But I can tell you that you should think more about the kingdom, than yourself." Miranda turns to the door.

"Ms. Belthazar, wait."

Miranda turns halfway around. "What?"

"Please, forgive me."

"I'm not sure I should."

"And why not?"

"Because you're a short-tempered buffoon who can't see the forest for the trees."

"You take that back this moment!" he shouts.

"How can I take back what is the truth?"

"Alright, now you've done it." Roland snaps his fingers and two guards come rushing in.

"Take her away," he barks.

"Yes, sire," the guards say.

Miranda looks at Roland who has a scowl on his face. It's the last thing she sees before she's whisked away. She can vaguely feel the strong grip of the guards on both of her arms as they push her down the steps to the dungeon.

Flashback

Miranda was hiding behind a bunch of crates aboard a rocking ship. A man was standing in front of her. She'd heard a rumor from the few that there was a stowaway on the ship. Her heart started pounding in her chest.

"The cap'ain won't be too happy to hear about this," a crew member said.

"Especially not when he finds them. I feel sorry for whoever it is."

Miranda gulped. The captain sounded ruthless. She knew she'd have to be careful not to get caught. She jumped when she heard the stomping of boots come her way.

"Did any one of you scurvy scallywags think to check behind this pile of crates?"

"No, sir. We didn't."

"Do it now," the man's voice growled.

Miranda fought back a gasp. She quickly looked around as they began moving the crates. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Her heartbeat quickened as the fear of what they'd do to her settled in. Only one crate was hiding her now. She watched with terror as a hand reached behind it and pulled it away. She felt so naked there before them, so bare and exposed. She looked up at the crew. One of them had a black hat on. The captain, she knew.

"It's a girl," one of the crewmen said.

"Yes, thank you. I'm aware of that," she captain remarked. He looked at her again. "Get up," he said. She obeyed without hesitation. "What are you doing aboard my ship without my consent?"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude uninvited."

"Yes, you did. Or you wouldn't be a stowaway. Tell me. Why are you on my ship?"

Present

As Miranda is thrown down on the cold bench in the cell, one thought is going through her mind that she can't ever shake. Sofia.

A/N: Another chapter guys! What's happening to Miranda? Roland locked her away in the dungeon! What's going to happen to Sofia now? Tell me what you think in your reviews! Also, I know this flashback doesn't make any sense to the story, but it will later, trust me.