Mererid mab Meuric

Syr Mererid mab Meuric was a Mynydd knight and swordswoman who is counted as among the greatest Mynydd fighters to have lived. Contemporaries and Mynydd historians often praise Mererid for her fighting skills, dedication to duty, and some religious figures compare her to Sirona herself.

Coming from humble origins, she was the daughter of a farmer from Glywyssing who aspired to rise through the ranks despite her low social status; training from an early age, she trained in the longsword with a vagrant Mynydd warrior who also had many aspirations named Caerwyn ap Wynfor. She gained notoriety for defeating Syr Gwilim of the Cadwiaid in single combat, who was considered the greatest swordsman of that contemporary period.

She soon became a member of the Cadwiaid of Mostyn, the Gawead Chief of the time. Protecting her Chief's life, she personally foiled several assassination attempts and lived up to the tenants and duties required of her. She gained extreme popularity for never raising her sword against the smallfolk when ordered, disobeying orders during a period of civil unrest.

When Caerwyn ap Wynfor began to challenge the members of the Gawead to one-on-one duels to the death, members of the Cadwiaid were dispatched in order to murder the upstart man from Dyfed; Syr Mererid, at that point the Feistiaid y Mynydd, stayed behind with her chief. When Caerwyn managed to make his way back to Dyfed, he challenge Mostyn to a duel -- only for him to select Mererid as his champion.

When Caerwyn told Mererid to surrender, she responded thusly:

"Mae'r Cadwiaid yn marw, ond nid yw'n ildio"

Which translates to 'The Cadwiaid dies, but it does not surrender'. Caerwyn and Mererid dueled to the death and though Caerwyn was the victor -- though it was bittersweet. The bards often describe Caerwyn and Mererid as lovers or at least extremely good friends.

The subject of many songs, Mererid has been immortalized as a great hero and figure of duty in the face of death; she is often invoked by women who aspire to become great warriors and has largely been canonized by the smallfolk.