Treat Me Like A Criminal (Cenred)

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

She didn’t know what was going on. All she knew was that this was not right. Not right at all. Just two hours ago, she had been walking unknown woods supposedly on her way towards Camelot, and then suddenly there had been these men breaking from the underbrush, seizing her almost without a word. First she had thought them to be bandits, but they were no savages, however brutal they acted. No, their weapon were good, and they had horses, behind them had to stand a mighty master. That had eased her panic a little, as at first she had been strongly reminded of what had happened to her mother and brother, being slaughtered by mercenaries because of their obvious wealth. Yassia didn’t look wealthy at all, and those men looked soldiers commanded by some master. It just didn’t make any sense!

Or it DID make sense, but the sheer thought was so dreadful she put it away immediately in a far corner of her mind. She was so close to her destination, she could not be seized by her uncle’s long arm, reaching all the way across the continent and over the channel! It simply was ridiculous! Some terrible misunderstanding, that was all!
They had cast her over a horseback like a sack of flour, without any dignity at all. She didn’t look the princess part and therefore couldn’t expect such treatment, but this was working against all conventions of hospitality. She didn’t even know what she had done wrong, for crying out loud! And as she had been gagged and blindfolded, she neither could protest, nor actually say where they were headed.

She only could trust her hearing, and after two hours of the dull thumping of horsehooves on either grass or leafy ground, she suddenly was aware of crossing wood, and then the distinctive clacking of iron horsehoes on stone, echoing from some surroundings. A courtyard? Then Yassia had been dragged up stairs, always stumbling and roughly being jostled, and then, finally, she had been cast on the ground. It hurt as her knees scraped over straw covered stone, and she gasped and coughed as the gag reminded her annoyingly that sounds were forsaken to her.
Then… nothing. For a few moments no one spoke and she just heared moving around the room. Defiantly the princess lifted her head, as if she could see through the rag covering her eyes, staring forward.

[Deleted]

The doors to Cenred’s chambers burst open. He looked up as the guards’ marching in dragging another possible victim to his demise. Cenred liked nothing but to play with sharp and pointy things, and now his day was getting even better. He shoved the last of his grapes into his mouth and stood up.

Cenred’s second in command headed towards him and bowed. “Ah!” he clapped his hands together, “The latest catch…well, what have you got for me?” Cenred asked

“Trying to cross the boarder into Camelot sire” the guard replied and cocked his head to where they’d thrown their prisoner to the floor “Very pretty too” he raised his brows.

Cenred looked down to where he caught sight of his prisoner wearing a dress, “Pretty stupid if you ask me” he growled and ripped the blindfold from her. “I see…” he mused at the sight of her and turned back to the guard. “Trying to cross the boarder you say?”

The guard nodded, “Yes my lord– no others with her, just this one”

Cenred frowned. This woman was clearly a noble, and alone? Perhaps a little lesson in obedience and a reminder of the customs in his kingdom would do her some good.

“Leave” he turned to the other guards who nodded and exited the room. Looking down at the girl on the floor he smirked. “Crossing the boarder? Naughty, naughty” he tutted

He sat back down and looked back at the girl. “Do you know what happens to people who try and cross the boarder?” he asked.

No reply.

“Well then I’ll tell you” he leant forward on his chair, “People who try to get past me and into Uther Pendragon’s kingdom get hurt…very hurt – it’s a dying shame” he smirked – no pun intended there in the slightest.

He drew his dagger from his belt and placed it’s tip under her chin, lifting it up slightly so as her neck was exposed. He then made sure that she was looking him straight in the eye.

“You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life”.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Finally… a voice. But soon Yassia decided she would have liked it better to be silent. There was something about that voice that made her shudder, shower after shower running down her spine. Even if she couldn’t see yet, the princess decided this particular voice, hoarse, husky even, had to belong to a villain straight out of the book. Who other than a villain would abduct people wo had done nothing else but walking?
The answer was in the conversation the villain held with his goons. So she had unwillingly crossed the border into another… kingdom? If so, this guy had something to say here… but who was he? At least Camelot was nearby? That was something, even if she had gotten lost.

Then the blindfold was ripped from her eyes and the gag removed equally brutally. Squinting against the brighter light, Yassia tried to catch a glimpse of the man holding her in custody for now. What she saw made her shudder inwardly once again, but she forced it down. Yes, the perfect villain, but she couldn’t show any fear. It mustn’t be! So she fought also down the pain he had caused her and worked on not letting his words get to her, even if just the mention of ‘pretty’ made her cringe inwardly. But this was the ultimate test of her courage and nobility, retaining her composure even now. But then something unexpected happened, the man ordered his guards to leave and Yassia, who had just worked up the courage to speak out, fell silent immediately, panic tightening like a fist around her guts. No, this wasn’t right! She didn’t want to be alone with… with this MAN! Her hands were still tied behind her back, she couldn’t do anything!

He was playing a sick game, that she realised when he spoke.
“People who try to get past me and into Uther Pendragon’s kingdom get hurt…very hurt – it’s a dying shame”
Yassia’s head darted up to look at him in confusion. Did he think her a fugitive? But she was just passing through, and had crossed borders unknowingly. Just a misconception, like she thought! She had to put this right!
But once again, before she could speak, he drew his dagger from his belt and placed it under her chin. The princess couldn’t surpress a gasp as the cold metal touched the delicate skin on her throat. Her heartbeat accelerating and her mouth suddenly getting very dry, she swallowed, which brought the blade dangerously closer.

But she had to work up the courage now, now or never! She was of noble blood, he couldn’t treat her as such!
“Put that dagger away!”, she hissed, and tried to put all fear from her voice. “Who do you think you are?! I was just passing through and lost my way, and you treat me like a criminal! How dare you, whoever you are!”

[Deleted]

“Put that dagger away!”

Cenred chuckled – she had more spirit than a wraith! Especially when it came to carrying on that sentence. He got up and rested one hand on his throne, casually. “Who do you think you are?! I was just passing through and lost my way, and you treat me like a criminal! How dare you, whoever you are!”

“You will not speak to…” one of the guards who were watching from the corner started to answer, but Cenred held up his hand to shut him up. He didn’t need anyone defending him, it would make him appear a weak and meagre man or so he usually thought. He could deal with this himself. He had ways of making people talk.

“Lost your way?” he mused and sat back on his throne turning his dagger over and over in his hands. “I’ve heard that one before.” So many people in their time had come up with the most ridiculous excuses of trying to cross the boarder. “The best one was, “I was exercising my dogs…” his eyes flickered to gaze at her again.

“Why shouldn’t I give you the treatment that you deserve? You, after all, were the one who got yourself into this situation. “ He told her, “You’re lucky I haven’t damaged that pretty little head of yours yet – most people would be screaming for mercy by now, but you…you are something else…”

A small smirk was playing on his lips. He liked new toys, they were so much fun to manipulate, especially if they were unaware of his status, which was very rare.

She couldn’t have been from any neighbouring kingdom though, if she had been then she was very brave to be attempting to enter Uther’s realm.

“Who do I think I am?” he answered the first part of her question.

He got up and walked to the table to pour himself a drink. “Im King Cenred, and I think you’ll find that I can treat you as I like”.
Taking a sip from the goblet he looked over his shoulder to where she was still on the floor. “Now…are you going to tell me who you are, and why you were crossing the boarder? Or do I have to do something I won’t really regret to get it out of you?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

At least he removed that dagger from her throat. But Yassia was not so vain and self-assured to think he had done it because of her command. Oh no, she knew men of his like. Her uncle had been such, though she only had learned it until it was too late. And Goncal, his son, had been just like him, just a little weaker. Whoever this man was, he was sure of his position of power, used to do whatever he pleased. Either he was a vassal of a king that didn't care much what his trusted tenants did as long as they kept their estate in order, or... was he the ruler himself? She would have to pity this kingdom, if yes!

His accusation vexed her to no end. How dare he assume she was lying?! Yassia was used to her word being taken at face value, whether she posed as a commoner or not. A word was a word! "Believe what you want, it doesn't change the fact that it is true!" she snapped and glared at him, braver now that he was a little away from her. Physical proximity was an issue for her, always had been, and she prayed with all her might he wouldn't find out about this weakness, for he was surely the type of man that would exploit this to his utmost advantage.
"You would really threaten to hurt me, just because I was passing through your domain by accident?" she asked, still not quite willing to believe it. "What kind of man are you? You will never get me to 'scream for mercy'" her voice was full of contempt, even if she knew she might be digging her own grave with her behaviour. But the feared Ailanthan temper once again had gotten the better of her.

KING Cenred? Now that was really something! Yes, now she recalled to have heard this name being spoken of in some taverns she passed by. Fearful whispers, hushed voices, straying glances accompanying the little that was said. Congrats, Yassia, she thought bitterly. Now you know what mess you got yourself into...
"So... a king", she said, raising her chin defiantly still, her every word dripping with disdain. "You won't touch me, King Cenred, as I am of royal blood as well!" She had not wanted to say it, but this was no time to be overly secretive. Sometimes a status could not only be a curse, but a blessing, meaning protection. She had to risk it now, or he, so she was certain, would not hestitate to stoop to different means. Yassia saw it in his eyes. "I am Yassia Dyfrène, Princess and designated Queen of Ailantha! And before you laugh it off, I have proof!"

[Deleted]

This one was different. Usually by now Cenred would have had one of his men remove her and take care of the next step in the dungeons, but he was more intrigued by the second – especially when she answered back. "Believe what you want, it doesn't change the fact that it is true!"

“Hmmm” he replied, a little bored, “I like my version better” he mused.
Cenred’s version was always right and it would be no different this time, woman or not.

"You would really threaten to hurt me, just because I was passing through your domain by accident?”
“You were crossing the boarder to Camelot!” he became angry now, “Passing through or not – no one crosses the boarder. Why were you anyway? Obviously you wanted to head in the direction in Camelot. I suppose this has something to do with Uther Pendragon” he growled. She was obviously in league with Uther. “What business do you have there?”

“What kind of man are you? You will never get me to 'scream for mercy'"

“Silence! You will only answer when the king asks you to!” one of the guards grabbed her wrist but Cenred shot him a glare. The guard let go and stepped back into the corner that he had stood in before hand.

Cenred crouched down to her level and smirked. “Believe me, you haven’t seen half of the man I am yet” he glared at her; she was starting to really push his buttons now. She had no right to speak back. “And I suggest that you don’t – unless you want to keep that pretty head of yours” he laughed and stood up.

His guards laughed to, he finally put a hand up to silence them, and “Come gentleman, we mustn’t laugh at the lady” he shot her another icy look.

“You won't touch me, King Cenred, as I am of royal blood as well!" She sounded so determind at this, oh how very wrong she was.

“I suspected as much - a noble of some kind” he leant back against the table and folded his arms, “Not a spawn of Uther Pendragon are we? A daughter he doesn’t know exists? If you are then I have even more of a use for you”

If she were Uther’s secret daughter then he would have a field day using her to his advantage, although Uther couldn’t have possibly managed to bag himself another woman after his first wife. He was practically a recluse for crying out loud! The chances were unfortunately slim, but he could hold out some hilarious hope.

"I am Yassia Dyfrène, Princess and designated Queen of Ailantha! And before you laugh it off, I have proof!"

Cenred raised an eyebrow, “Queen. Yassia?” he rolled the name on his tongue, “Of Ailantha? Not from around here then”. He paused, “So tell me your majesty” he bowed mockingly to her, “what proof do you have for me?”

He returned to his throne and sat down, “and it had better be something good, because when I become bored …I have to find ways to amuse myself” His hand rested on the hilt of the sword on his belt.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

As much as she hated to admit it to herself, Yassia really started to fear for her life now, or at least for her general safety. This Cenred really was no one to mess with lightly, and she might have really made the biggest mistake of her life by trespassing on his territory. How could she possibly find a way out of this mess? This man was like a cat of prey in the mood to play with its victim. Who knew what he might think up next?! It was an unspoken rule you better did not make any cat of prey angry, and she had done just that. Oh her stupid defiance and temper! Why couldn’t she just lay low for a bit?
And now he mentioned Uther Pendragon. Yassia knew enough of politics to know that she had to tread carefully now. She was not a member of any league here, so she couldn’t very well take up the cudgels for a king she barely knew, on the other hand, she DID want something from the king, and if it was only his willingness to let go of one of his knights so they might work out a plan to get her throne and crown back.
“Not that I have to answer you in any way, but no Uther Pendragon is not my prime concern in this matter. I take it you don’t like him?” she answered with another question.

The rogue’s grip around her wrist hurt, and she angrily jerked her hand away, thinking of the bruises she might get out of this encounter already. Being tossed on the floor had not been healthy either. But she could call herself lucky if bruises was the only thing she got out of this.
Sometimes it was clearly better to not say anything, and what could she have possibly replied to his threats? So all Yassia did was keeping her chin up, showing that she was not broken yet, but also not willing to be the one keeping this argument going. It was not HER fault she was here!

Yassia couldn’t keep a snort from breaking through her lips though as he entitled her an offspring of this foreign king she had never seen in all her life. Right! This just got more ridiculous by the second. Had it been late spring, Yassia would have assumed to be a victim of what in her homeland was called dia broma – prank day. Cenred’s face however suggested that he really considered this possibility. What was it with him and Uther? It was unnerving to be in the middle of something she had not even the slightest idea of!
“Déu meu, no!” she exclaimed. “You couldn’t be more wrong! I know very well who my parents are, and they are by no means related to this Uther Pendragon!”

His flout was acid and Yassia had a hard time not snapping at him again. How dare he pronounce her title in such a derisive way! Where was the respect she deserved? There was not much dignity in kneeling on the floor and nothing regal in having your hands tied behind your back. And just that proved to be the biggest problem now. Her proof, her father’s royal signet ring and a piece of parchment testifying her birth and origin was tugged away safely in the bodice of her dress. Only the chain did show on her neck, but there was no way of reaching it without her hands. And other hands doing this for her – it was unthinkable! Degrading and disgusting!

“If you want your proof, King Cenred, you will need to untie my hands”, she stated, hoping to sound as if there wasn’t even another option to think of.

[Deleted]

“Not that I have to answer you in any way, but no Uther Pendragon is not my prime concern in this matter. I take it you don’t like him?”

Cenred snorted, “don’t like doesn’t even begin to define the term” he shot her a cold look, “and you don’t ask the questions here, I do – now I won’t ask you again, Why were you crossing the boarder?”

He was getting bored with this game now, and this ‘Queen’ really didn’t want to be bringing out his angrier side – he’s only just managed to slightly calm himself from shouting at practically everyone who crossed him wrongly that morning.

“You couldn’t be more wrong! I know very well who my parents are, and they are by no means related to this Uther Pendragon!”

He chuckled, “well im glad to hear of that – trust me, you wouldn’t want to be related to that tyrant in any shape or form.
Thank goodness for that. If she’d been related to Uther he would have had her taken away immediately – after a little more mockery.

He was seriously thinking about throwing her in the dungeon now. He walked to the window ad turned back to Yassia. “Now – I suppose that you think im just going to let you free once I see this ‘proof’ that you have? You’re wrong – people of your supposed position who end up here don’t end up walking out as free as a bored just because they are of the same status.”

“If you want your proof, King Cenred, you will need to untie my hands”

He tutted at this. “Who do women always feel the need to make things harder than they already are gentleman?” he looked around at the guards who were chuckling along.
Cenred nodded to one of the guards who came over to Yassia and stood beside her.

“Untie the lady’s hands” he instructed “after all we can’t be awaiting the proof of the Queen now can we?”

He looked to Yassia, one hand on the hilt of his sword. “But if you so much as try anything – I will make the last thoughts very memorable indeed” he warned and sat back down on his throne.

“Well? Im waiting…”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia was highly tempted to snap back something along the line of: ‘Well, if you won’t ask again I don’t have to answer’, but she thought better of it. Now was not the time to let her temper run wild, not at all! Cenred meant every word he said, she saw that. He would not hestitate to hurt her in whatever manner he saw fit, and the princess could well live without that. Why was he still insisting on wanting to know why she had crossed that darned border she didn’t even see? To people living here the landmarks might be known, just as she herself knew well where Ailantha ended and another kingdom began. Rivers were such landmarks, or even just tiny creeks, mountains, hills… but as far as Yassia recalled, she had not come past any prominent landmark where they had snatched her right off the pathway.
“I didn’t cross any border on purpose, how often do I have to say that until you believe me?!” She sounded exasperated. “I was on my way to Camelot, as I am visiting a relative there, but I didn’t know the way so I must have crossed this invisible border. It’s not like they are well marked, you know!”

Should she have mentioned the relative or not? Maybe that would make him think up some vile plan of ransom or the other, but she didn’t care. Leon didn’t know she existed. As long as Cenred didn’t find out about her precarious state of some kind of political fugitive, all was fine.
“Then what DO you want to do with me?” It was a question born out of curiosity as well as desperation. Some part of her still thought this to be a sick joke. A very sick joke but still a joke. The other part was slowly beginning to understand, and the sheer thought filled her with anger and dread. “You can’t very well keep me here against my own will! And why should you? I’m not of any use to you!” she stated boldly, chin still up.

At least he was granting her this little piece of dignity. Yassia didn’t dare to think this might be a turning point for the better, but she kept any snide comment bitten back, even though it cost her much. This was also not the time to be taking too many risks. Rubbing her aching hands to get the blood flowing again – and also to hide how much they trembled – she then reached with the left hand into the inside of her worn riding dress, right over her heart, to first retrieve the ring dangling from a chain and then her many times folded pergament of her birth certificate she had hidden inside her bodice.
“I may be a woman but I’m not stupid, King Cenred”, she commented, offering him the said things. “I know I would not get far ‘attempting anything’, so I just bide my time and wait until you grow tired of your games.”

[Deleted]

He watched her, obviously she was either carefully choosing her words or contemplating her own fate should they be the wrong ones. Cenred raised an eyebrow and Yassia then began to speak

“I didn’t cross any border on purpose, how often do I have to say that until you believe me?! I was on my way to Camelot, as I am visiting a relative there, but I didn’t know the way so I must have crossed this invisible border. It’s not like they are well marked, you know!”

“Well then i must forgive you for your poor navigational skills” he nodded smoothly, “but however invisible the boarder may be, many people know when they enter my land and Uther Pendragon’s”. Many people also never lived to tell the tale, and as much as Cenred wanted to tell Yassia this, he decided to spare her the pause for thought.

He leant forward in his chair, “and what relative might this be then?” he stared at her with eyes that were the coldest black and the hardest not to mention. “Seeing as you are royalty I highly doubt that any relative of yours would be a commoner”.
He knew what she was thinking and he liked it. She was digging herself into a deep hole, one that would end up being 6 feet down.

“You can’t very well keep me here against my own will! And why should you? I’m not of any use to you!”
“You are now – infact you could be of a very good use to me” he sat back. He could use her for information in exchange for her life should she breathe a word of it to anyone. Information didn’t necessarily have to be about the Pendragons, but of anything in Camelot that he could seek to cut off Uther’s hold. “How much would you like to stay alive?”

He saw he retrieving something from her dress, “ah the proof” he took it from her and unfolded the worn and slightly torn paper. He passed it to his second in command who gave him a look of slight suspicion. “It appears that her majesty was telling the truth – who’d have thought we’d be entertaining royalty.”

Cenred passed the paper back to Yassia – “So why is it that a Queen would leave her kingdom to make for a place of tyranny?” he asked

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

His tauntings were many tiny needles pricking at her composure. He knew how to place them well, these words. ‘Poor navigational skills’, this was not only insulting, he still made it sound like he didn’t believe her, that he knew better than that, that she was lying just to save her own skin – which wasn’t working well anyway.
Cenred switched topics with alarming speed, probably hoping to catch her off guard and make her blurt out something she regretted telling him, before her mind had caught up with her mouth. But Yassia had been raised in a court, she knew well how to resist a probing mind, even though it most likely had come in the face of nosy ladies before, wanting to know who her heart belonged to for example… this was a far more serious matter.

He was right of course, she had set this trap up for herself. She had to admit now her relative was of some importance, he would not believe otherwise anyway. But it wasn’t a lie she didn’t know who her uncle Leon really was. She had to find out first when she came to Camelot, maybe he wasn’t even alive anymore… but that was a risk she had to take.
“His name is Leon Griffiths”, she replied, deciding to be monosyllabic. Maybe, though that was a far fetched hope, this name WAS even known to this wretched king, so she might find out about him before she even reached Camelot.

Him telling her she might still be of good use to him sent an indistinctive shiver down her spine. She didn’t want this, she hated feeling used. What was on his mind? And where was the possible loophole she could escape through? There had to be one!
“Of course I don’t have a death wish”, she snapped, glowering at him. Showing rage was such an easy distraction from her fear that seemed to have captured her into a fierce choke hold. “But I also won’t be game to your schemes. Not if I can help it!”

Yassia was relieved he handed the documents back, putting them safely into her bodice again, while turning a bit away from Cenred, so she upheld at least the image of privacy. It was unseemly for any man being present while a lady had to adjust her bodice!
And then his question again, did he never grew tired of them? Though a tiny voice in her head told her it was more healthy for her wellbeing as long as Cenred still was talking. Once he was out of questions and still bored, he could turn to other means of entertainment… like torturing her just for fun, she would put nothing of that sort past him.
Again she chose to be as monosyllabic as possible. “When circumstances make her!”
She couldn’t very well tell him about how she had fled from her uncle. Ailantha was far, but now she was as close to her worst nightmare than she ever thought she would be: getting used as leverage for BOTH her uncles. And the one paying the higher price would win…

[Deleted]

The name of her relative rolled on his tongue. He'd heard of a Sir Leon being spoken about from various sources but didn't know if this was the same Leon Griffiths. "Hmmm, interesting" he mused."I've only ever heard of a Sir Leon, and he is apparently a Knight of Camelot".

He chuckled when Yassia said that she had no wish to die. "Of course" he smirked, "Nobody does - but unforseen circumstances could change things" he told her. "and schemes? why i don't know if i should be flattered or offended" he sat back a little more, "but then again, you did say you didn't have a death wish..."

Cenred knew that he could use her to his advantage, the cost ultimately was her keeping her life. If he could have her go to Camelot and get any kind of information then surely that was worth living for? And no one would even have to know. She'd keep her life and Cenred would have what he wanted. Then again you couldn't really trust a woman these days. Cenred still didnt trust Morgause - not that he'd expected to from the start. He knew what she was capable of and she knew what he was capable of. Not exactly a partnership made in heaven when all you did was constantly disagree on attack stratergies and plans all the time. He looked back down at Yassia, "Not exactly a deal breaker is it?".
He watched her slip the birth certificate back into her bodice and raised an eyebrow. "I must say that you are quite a woman - for a Queen that is" she was a real deal breaker.

"Now...back to the subject of you wanting to stay alive...."



________________________________________________

OOC - Cenred really isnt talking as much today! sorry!

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

A knight of Camelot?! Despite the tight spot Yassia had got herself into, she felt her heart leap at his words. So it was true! Her uncle had not only become what he had yearned to be after all her mother had told her about the Leon she remembered, he even was still alive – not a given with the dangerous life knights led!
On the other hand, with Cenred knowing who she was talking about, she put herself into an even more precarious position. Knowing someone meant knowing his weaknesses, even if he had only heard of him meant he could use this to his advantage. And this man would use anything to his greatest advantage, Yassia was sure of that. So she hid her excitement well, trying not to even batter an eyelid to this news.

She did roll her eyes though at his talk about circumstances. Now that was just utter rubbish to scare her. He might mean it, but then again he might not. Yassia knew enough about politics to know that leverage, if it was to be used, needed to stay alive. As bad as it would be to be used that way, at least as long as she WAS of use to Cenred, she would live to see another day.
“I don’t think anything even could offend you”, she stated with another glare. “Your pride is too big for that – be careful you don’t stumble over it!”
It was out before she could make herself shut up. Bad move, Yassia… bad…!

What in all the Gods name was on his mind? Yassia was in the weird state of wanting to know and at the same time not wanting to know, in fear of what might be revealed to her. His gaze upon her made her shiver involuntarily, and the way he placed his words of a beginning bargain right after those where he ‘appreciated’ her womanhood were not set to comfort. Yassia knew he probably was just playing another game, wanting her to think just that, fear him for what he might do to her – but for now it was also working, though she had to be careful to hide most of it.
“Yes?” she pressed on with fake nonchalance. “That sounds like the beginning of an offer to me. And as I have some difficulty in ignoring you right now, you might as well proceed!”

It was a bold act Yassia put on with the last of strength and willpower she had left, making it sound as if SHE was the one granting an audience, even if she was still kneeling on the floor. Being brought up in the snake pit the Ailanthan court could be sometimes despite her father’s leveled rule, had led to her develop these skills of concealing and deception. But she was very well aware of how close she was to crumbling. One prick with the right needle at the right place, and her charade would burst.

[Deleted]

He wasn’t surprised at her rant. Him? Pride? Well that was rich! She hadn't wounded him. Cenred was too bored of verbal confliction now.

“Well, well! The lady has spirit!” he looked around to his guards who were all chuckling along. “Pride has nothing to do with this I’ll have you know – just the pure satisfaction that I know that out of the war we’re both fighting against one another, we know exactly who will emerge the winner”.
Yassia was practically fighting against him in a war of not just words, but of the mind.

Cenred pursed his lips “and perhaps I should be the one warning you about stumbling Yassia, because anymore words like that from that mouth of yours and you’ll end up falling instead” he gave her a menacing look.

He was going to make her fall alright – if not physically but mentally. He could keep her here for sometime and soon she’d go made at seeing nothing but four walls and the odd rat or two. Most of his prisoners had gone mad within months of being cooped up in his cells. It was a slow form of torture, and quite a good one at that. In the end he held up his hand and gestured for one of the guards to come over.

“Take her back down to the cells – I’ll speak with her later, right now the lady needs some time to think over her actions, and their consequences” he told them

“Im warning you Yassia – whatever your opinion of me may be, and I think we can both see that you’ve made that perfectly clear – I am not one to be messed with. If you cross the line, I’ll make sure that you know about it – starting with that ‘Leon’ of yours” he watched her, hopefully that should knock some sense into that mind of hers, and then looked to the guards. “Take her away!”

He raised one hand and gave a mockingly small wave. “Bye, Bye”

__________________________________________

OOC: Sorry, he's a bit OOC today [/color]

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

This was so not going well. Not that Yassia hadn’t known this before, but his words just rubbed it into her face this time. She had a right might objecting to his claim of him being victorious in their struggle, just to be spiteful and show him she wouldn’t give in, but in her heart Yassia already knew he was right. She couldn’t win this battle on her own, no matter how much ‘spirit’ she showed. Cenred was on his very own ground, had a dozen men alone in this room to answer his every command, wheras she was a stranger and without any protection at all. He could mark her as a criminal as long as he wanted and keep her in custody.

Custody…! It only now dawned on Yassia what that would mean, and it made her gasp and inch away out of sheer instinct, pride having no say in this matter. He was joking, right? This was another of his cruel jokes! He couldn’t really be implying that…
“To the cells?!” she exclaimed, struggling fervently against the rough hands gripping her arms from behind. “You can’t do this! I am of royal blood, I demand some respect! You cannot shut me away in a stinking cell like a common criminal!” She might be digging her own grave with shouting at him like she did, letting her temper roll free, but in this very moment Yassia couldn’t care less. The prospect of a dark, cold cell had been one step too far. She couldn’t take this, she wouldn’t take this!

Then again, there was nothing she could really do about it, and Cenred knew that as well, apparently having the time of his life watching her futile fight against his guards. They didn’t care for what she did, just hauled her brutally to her feet and dragged her backwards, regardless if she wanted to come along or not.
“What do you mean, ‘starting’ with Leon?” she called out desperately towards the cruelly grinning king, as she was still facing him while being dragged out of the room. “What are you going to do?”
Good God, what had she done?! Had she now dragged her uncle she didn’t even know down with her as she had given Cenred his name? This thought filled her with utmost despair, even crowding out the ire boiling inside her. What sort of a nightmare was this?!

Sending one last glare in Cenred’s direction the doors were shut in Yassia’s face and she was pulled mercilessly onward, down into the deepest part of this wretched castle. All the way down she didn’t stop fighting and squirming, but it was futile. It even made her plaguers laugh, causing them to call her ‘wildcat’ and even more unseemly names.
“See you later sweetheart, and greet the rats!” One of them teased as he pushed her into a dark, damp cell onto equally damp and half-rotten straw.
Only with the greatest amount of willpower she kept from crying. She only retreated into a corner, hugged her knees and waited for the cat to come and play with the mouse once again – hoping he would come soon and at the same time dreading it.

[Deleted]

He watched her struggle like a lamb to the slaughter. She was now shouting that she was royal, blah, blah, blah – she couldn’t be treated like this, blah, blah, blah. “ He slammed his fist on the table.

“When you enter my Kingdom, Princess, “ he spat, “I shall treat you as you deserve to be treated, which is like all the rest... a criminal” How was it that one prisoner could make his blood boil? Oh wait, she was a woman that’s why.

“I don’t give a rats tail as to whether you’re a member of the royal family or a farmer’s wife! Do not think that you can try to tell me what I can and can’t do – I’ve warned you about what im capable of and you are now slowly teetering on the mark of overstepping that very thin line”. He growled.

As she was being dragged out by two of his men she was shouting about Leon, ah yes, the famous Leon. He made a note to remind his men to do some homework into who this Leon Griffiths character was. He already knew he was a friend to Camelot, so it would be easy with both a location and a full name. “I wouldn’t let any thoughts of what I may do to him cross your mind – they’ll be just as worse as you could possibly imagine” he sat back and watched her try to fight her way out of the hold. It was a failure from the word go.

He waved again as the doors closed and her glare was cut off of his sight. “Don’t you just love a woman and her morals?” he chuckled to the last guard left who nodded. “I’ll pay her a visit later, whether she welcomes it or not I want her to know just how far im prepared to go to bring her down and crush her – I want more information about this Leon she talks about – send one of the men to do some digging”. He ordered

“Yes sire!”

Cenred relaxed into his throne a little more and drunk from his goblet. It was good to be king.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

---

Time was an odd thing to pass when you had no means to count it. No sun to watch moving over the sky in her graceful and determined path, no hour candle blazing and burning down steadly. Only the sporadic, inordinate trickling of water and the occasional cheeping and squeaking of a rat, which sent Yassia bolt upright and shuddering every time it happened. She had seen them out of the corner of her eyes already a few times, but until now, thank the stars, none had dared to come closer.
What might happen if she had to spend a night in here, she didn’t even dare to think of. They might get bolder when she slept, scuttling closer, maybe even crawling over her body, their naked tail swishing over her mouth - - she bit her hand hard to keep from screaming. She never had thought herself to be such a wimpy girl, but the time here – minutes, hours or what it was, had been fit to cure her of that notion.

Meanwhile her mind was also tormented with what might go on in King Cenred’s mind right now. What was he planning to do? With her? With Leon?
It was the special way of a dimly lit, damp and cold vault to send your mind and imagination into overdrive. Suddenly the worst seemed possible, even the most likeable option! And as nothing was happening right now, the visions she got became more gory and scary by the second. He could do most anything to her… she knew that now, and the problem was he knew that as well. The tiny spark of hope that he would refrain from anything because of a bit of humanity left inside him had been quenched quickly. Oh, he would do as he saw fit… and not knowing what it WAS he saw fit didn’t make this easier at all.

With thoughts like this she spent an indefinite period of time, until she heard footsteps and muffled voices outside the thick wooden door and a moment later the rattling of a key in the lock.
It cost her much to actually leap to her feet, move her stiff muscles swiftly enough, but at this moment the tiny flicker of pride she had left inside her flamed up again. Whatever Cenred would throw at her – she would face it upright, not cowering!
The cat had come to play another round with the mouse… but as far as the mouse was concerned, she would not go down without a fight!

[Deleted]

It hadn’t taken long for his men to track down who this ‘Leon Griffiths’ was – information for a price was good when it meant that the other side actually paid the price. Mind you, they had to be silenced; you couldn’t trust anyone these days, not even allies who you had met before.

Cenred listened intently as the guards had returned with what they wanted., plus something extra, the body of the man who had kindly offered his services. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” he asked huskily, prodding the body with his foot to make sure this wasn’t some kind of joke, “after all, you could’ve been so worried for your own lives when you found that you had no information, that you decided to kill some random man in order to make it seem like he’s paid the price?”

“He gave us the information you wanted sire, Leon Griffiths is one of Uther Pendragon’s freedom fighters” the guard replied. Cenred snorted at the expression, “He’s one of the highest in command when it comes to the Knights – apparently he does many patrols around the forests and near the boarder – if we’re lucky we might even have more of his men, perhaps him being killed when they find that they’ve ‘accidentally’ set foot on your ground”

“A knight of Camelot, I should’ve known” Cenred smirked, “Perhaps I should tell our royal guest the good news, it looks as though she might be staying here longer than she thought she would be – I’ll try and shake it into that little brain of hers that in order to spare her life, she needs to do something for me in return” the guards looked at one another and knew that Cenred meant, “It’s only a tiny bit of information after all, and for what? Keeping her life and title”

He headed down to the dungeons and wrenched the peephole open on the door. He looked inside to see Yassia sitting huddled against the wall, looking rather like she was deep in thought. She got to her feet. He closed the peephole and unlocked the door.

“I think it’s time we had another little chat – ive found out some of the most fascinating things about this Leon of yours” he watched her expression, “Now, shall we have a civil conversation this time? Or do I have to put a muzzle on you?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Of course it was him. Who else would be coming? Some knight in shining armour battling her out and taking her away on some white steed? Pathetic! No, she would have to deal with what she got, and that probably was a very smug and nevertheless cranky mad king named Cenred. What might he have come up with by now? Yassia found she somehow didn’t even want to know. And then again, of course she did want to know lest the tension of NOT knowing tore her apart. Whatever scrape she had gotten herself into by now, this was by far the most dangerous and threatening to everything she was made of. Who knew what Cenred could make her do? He had all the power in his hands – for now. That didn’t mean of course she would step aside and let him do whatever he pleased. Yassia Dyfrène, Princess and designated Queen of Ailantha was not ready to give up yet. She had come too far for that!

Was it the cold down here that made her shudder the tiniest bit (to her great dismay) or was it his voice even? Fascinating news about her uncle Leon? If it pleased him it could not be anything good – for her. Trying to get control over her facial expression, Yassia listened to his short introduction. The time in the dungeon, however short or long it had been, made it more difficult to hide her emotions even now. Rats, cold and dampness were not befitting for composure and countenance as it seemed. Taking a slow, deep breath Yassia pushed the overwhelming fear in the back of her mind, so it would not be visible in her eyes. Did it work? Too bad there was no mirror down here, she might have to watch out for Cenred’s own reaction to tell.

“I don’t know what’s very civil to this surroundings to begin with”, she commented with fake nonchalance, “but don’t let me stop you. I will not be the one giving this conversation an uncivil turn, so you might as well say your piece. I’m listening.”
Was that going too far again already? Yassia couldn’t tell how far Cenred’s patience would stretch. It was a thin line between not giving in and open challenge. A tightope she now had to walk very carefully.

Would he really put a muzzle on her, something so very undignified that would turn her from a captured princess with a well said point to an annoyingly barking dog who need to be shut up to not cause a headache? Oh, it was not a question of if he would dare, Yassia was sure he would, only that then he would get no information out of her at all. And he still seemed to need her for that. That was the only thing she might be able to count on. Pillars of salt, pillars of sand…

[Deleted]

He saw Yassia stand up and wait patiently until he was in. Cenred closed the door behind him and the lock clicked shut. The caged animal wouldn’t be escaping anytime soon. He calmly circled her and began to speak. He decided to go for a ‘civil’ approach first if civil is what she didn’t except from him. He could play the part well and it had convinced many victims in the past. It was fun and also quote amusing at the same time, to see their faces full of relief and then change dramatically when they realised that it was all for show. It was like a blow to the chest for them, and a wave of enjoyment for him.

Perfect.

Time for the show to go on.

“It doesn’t take long for me to find out certain little snippets that are interesting. In fact what I’ve found out about Leon is not exactly news to my ears.” He told her, “after all – I should’ve guessed earlier on about who he is and what he stands for…”

Cenred stated narrowing his eyes at her and then headed over to the door and stopped by it. He watched her darkly and then slammed his fist hard against the door

“YOU FAILED TO MENTION THAT HE’S A KNIGHT OF CAMELOT!”

He could feel himself inhaling and exhaling quite loudly. He knew he had to calm down but the thought of a blood relative of one of Uther’s minions being in the same room disgusted him. But he had to keep his cool, otherwise he wouldn’t get anywhere with the little princess girl.

“You forget that I have so many spies working the boarder for me that they know exactly who Sir Leon is and where I can find him. And believe me if you set one precious foot out of place then I shall make sure that you will never remember it”

Cenred leant against the door casually and looked at Yassia. “So I think we need to re-think our little plan about getting that information don’t we?” he smirked