The Inquisitor and the Stubborn Ginger

[Caitrin de Archer]

It was a few days after the ball and Caitrin was on a mission. After her Uncle discovering her and Griflet in what could only be described as an intimate position she was supposed to be confined to his lands as her punishment. He had shouted at her of course, her Uncle never really used words in a loud tone so it had come as a bit of a shock to her, she hadn’t expected him to be that angry, but it was because he was concerned about her reputation, and what it would have been like if another noble had come across them in the dark. Caitrin knew why he was angry, and she could understand what she had done wrong, but she didn’t regret it.

Caitrin would never go as far to say she was a lovesick girl, she didn’t believe in love or marriage so how could that be possible? She had feelings for Griflet, and they were strong ones, but she had no idea what purpose they served. She had desired him that night, it had hurt how much she had physically wanted him. But Caitrin knew that feelings like that were skin deep. She thought she had stirred deeper emotions like that, but who could tell what those emotions were on just the second meeting? It was absurd to think you could.

Now however, Rouland had broken Caitrin’s punishment himself for one morning. She had a list of errands she had to do in Camelot for him. Her Aunt was ill and he was far too busy to complete any of them so she was left to run around after them. She had leapt at the chance, but obviously had not made that quite so overt to her Uncle who was still treating her coldly after the whole affair. He had spoken about nothing else since the ball and in a way it was starting to irritate Caitrin as she knew he was displeased, but she wished that he could leave the topic alone. It had amused him most that she had finally let a man past the speaking part of courting. Before that her tongue usually made the good men at court turn on their heels and head for the next pretty face which took their fancy.

Now Caitrin had finished her tasks, she had put the items she had to purchase back at her travel back which was attached to her mare. She now, as her Uncle wasn’t expecting her back for an hour or so she was seeing if she could try her luck at finding Griflet. She wasn’t expecting to find him, and if she didn’t she was sure she wouldn’t be too disappointed, after all she barely knew the man. Mostly she wanted to tease him at how he had acted in front of her Uncle because it was bizarre how quickly his manner and confidence had changed. She was now just wandering aimlessly through the corridors and found herself onlooking the gardens. A smile pricked her lips and she stepped out onto the grass. She only had small shoes on that morning so the grass overlapped them and brushed along the hem of her long red dress. She had donned a red, silk dress today as it was a bit warmer and the weather demanded it. Her riding cloak was back with her horse and she only had a red ribbon which was woven through a plait through her hair. She wasn’t wearing a circlet or a wimple, her red hair was exposed for all the world to see. For a few moments she just enjoyed the peace, as it was a welcomed change to her Uncle’s ridicules.

Location: Gardens in the Castle of Camelot
Timeline: A few days after the 'Untimely arrival thread'
Tags: Sir Lucan

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[lucan]

Lucan had no idea what his brother was up to, but he was sure of his exact intentions now that it looked as though he was staying in Camelot. Luc had spent most of the previous evening tossing and turning, wondering why on earth his brother was as stubborn as a mule and refused to go home. Their father would have him back – Lucan was sure of it even if Griff failed to recognise it.
A little training would help to release the tension that had slowly been building up since Griflet’s arrival. He’d sent a letter to his father – despite Griff’s protests – to let him know of his younger son’s whereabouts and that he was now under his brother’s wing, sort of. A reply – if any – should be only a day or so away, and the first time that Lucan would have heard from his father in years. He didn’t expect a ‘how is life treating you son?’ or a ‘visit anytime’ statement to be present within the letter, and it would certainly surprise him if there was.

He had some time to kill before training so he decided to take the scenic route to the training ground through the castle gardens. He hardly ever had time to come here, but apparently it was peaceful and that was something that Lucan badly needed right now. The fact that he hadn’t see Griff for a few days didn’t even help the situation, it just made him worry more about what his brother was doing. Griff was comfortable for now, but in time he’d have to just grow up and realise that he couldn’t depend on his elder brother all his life.

The harsh sight of red caught his eyes and stood out to him – in fact the woman stood out altogether. With hair matching the same colour as her dress – of course her back was turned to him. Lucan frowned – he hadn’t even seen this woman in Camelot before and he was sure that he would’ve done any other time. Perhaps she had been here for quite some time and him, being so preoccupied with keeping his brother in line, had completely not noticed her arrival at court.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin wasn’t sure how long she should be staying in the gardens, wrapped in her own thoughts. It was silly to just think that Griflet would be wandering around and would come upon her in this place. Did he even reside in the castle? Caitrin had never really thought to ask. It struck her she did not know that much about the man in that moment, she just about knew he was in dishonour with his father and that he had a brother. Next time she saw him, if she did see him again, she would have to press him for more information. She knew him, she knew his charming ways and also parts of his stubborn and over confident nature, but she didn’t know anything about his past.

She began to walk slowly further into the gardens. They were fully in bloom and she smiled as she looked at the assortment of plants; it was certainly a spectacle to behold. She hadn’t really been interested in the vegetation when she and Griflet had been here, then again neither had he. It struck her how large the gardens actually were; of course she and Griflet had only ventured a small distance from the castle because it had been so dark.

A gush of wind ripped through the gardens and her hair began to toss and tumble; at the mercy of the wind. She gave a small laugh, grabbing the ends of her hair and turning her back on the wind. It was only then she noticed there had been someone standing behind her, who she was now of course facing. She hadn’t seen this man before, or if she had she couldn’t remember him. A laugh pulled at the corner of her mouth, she wondered if he had been standing there staring at her. “Have you just been standing there watching me?” She asked him, her lips caressing into a smile as she realised that was probably not the best way to introduce herself.

She gave a small curtsey and bobbed her head, “Forgive me my Lord, I do not believe we have met before.” She stood confidently before him and pressed her lips together before fully introducing herself, “I am Lady Caitrin de Archer, the ward of Lord Rouland.” That was enough she was sure, if he wanted to inquire more about her then that was up to him. So, she waited patiently for him to introduce himself, so that the conversation could progress one way or another.

[lucan]

“Have you just been standing there watching me?”

Lucan smirked at this statement as the woman spun around and the wind had made her whirl round to make her skirts stop from billowing up. Of course she had a fiery nature, how could he have not realised that? “I’d only do that if I had your permission” he decided to reply back, a smile forming that matched the woman’s own one that she was wearing now.

She bobbed her head to him giving her apologies and introducing herself. Caitrin de Archer? Ah yes, Lord Rouland’s niece. He’d been aware of her uncle’s presence at the castle but not hers. That just went to show as to how preoccupied he’d been within the last week or so.
Lucan smiled at her before he made his introduction. “Im Sir Lucan” he told her, “it’s a pleasure to meet you my lady”. With the usual Lucan manner and charm, he did what was expected and bowed his head to her.

“How are you enjoying your stay in Camelot?” he asked, deciding to strike up some form of conversation, after all – hitting a dummy and pretending it was Griff could wait for some time.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was watching her new acquaintance carefully. She laughed at his reply, in her experience men didn’t need permission to watch a woman if they took their fancy. Perhaps this man was something different, “Well in that case you’ll have to earn my permission.” Caitrin always wondered how she managed to wind up in odd situations with men, it was always a man though wasn’t it? She didn’t particularly want to go back home anytime soon, and this man would probably prove to be quite the distraction for the morning, even if she did but tease him.

Lucan? Where had she heard that name before? She thought for a moment, she was sure she had heard somewhere he was a knight, yes that must have been where she had heard his name mentioned surely? Looking over him now he certainly looked like he was dressed as a knight of Camelot. This would be fun, she hadn’t teased one of Arthur’s men in a long while. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well my Lord.” She replied dutifully, now the formalities were done with, which were always the most tedious part of a conversation, the fun could begin.

Was she enjoying her stay in Camelot? Well it wasn’t much of a stay anymore; this was her life now and had been for years. However, recently things had got a lot more interesting with the arrival of a certain nobleman. Before her acquaintance with Griflet, Caitrin had just felt like she was lurching from one situation to the next with little control over it, now perhaps there was a small degree of stability in her life. “I always enjoy my visits to Camelot my Lord.” She gave a small sort of grin as she continued, “The company is always quite diverting.” Caitrin considered Lucan for a moment, “I hope I am not keeping you from any pressing duties my Lord?”

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[lucan]

He couldn’t help but grin at her reply, even if he did raise his brows slightly on hearing the nature of it. “Is that so?” he asked, “and how do you suggest that I do that?”
A teasing woman was Caitrin so it appeared. She and Griff would be a match made in heaven if she ever had the chance to meet his Romeo of a brother. Then again she’d most likely cut Griff into a million pieces with just one word.

“I always enjoy my visits to Camelot my Lord.”

“Im pleased to hear it” he told her, “I take it that you come here frequently then?” with her uncle perhaps? He hadn’t yet had the chance to be acquainted with Lord Rouland and wasn’t sure whether he’d want to be. He seemed like the type of man who you wouldn’t want to be caught in an argument with – let alone in an alley on a dark night.

“I hope I am not keeping you from any pressing duties my Lord?”

Lucan smiled, “I wouldn’t call sword practice a duty” he shrugged at this, “not unless it had anything to do with my brother – thankfully he has no idea that I think of him when I aim at the dummy”. He couldn’t help it, Griff wasn’t going to help himself and it made Lucan very angry indeed – especially now as he had to watch out for him as well as himself and the rest of Camelot. “Anyway, my duties begin much later so I have some time to occupy myself”.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin found herself still smiling at Lucan, but now it was more of a grin because she was in her comfort zone. This was of course what she did best. To his question she stayed silent for a moment, mulling over the many things she could say to him, but settled on a gentle tease, “Why don’t you surprise me with whatever methods you have to gain my permission?” She raised an eye brow, stepping towards Lucan and gave a wide smile, “After all, I do love surprises.”

Although Caitrin could often be found in Camelot, she did not visit the city as much as she wanted to. Then again, she had not been invited to many feasts or dances recently as the burden of Lady Morgana’s disappearance still hung heavy in the hearts of the people of Camelot so there had been little reason to celebrate. “I do not visit as often as I would like, but I do visit frequently yes.” Now of course the last time she had been to Camelot she had been attending the dance, now that was a night she would not forget in a hurry, “I was last in Camelot for the feast, and dance, the other night. Did you attend it my Lord?”

She laughed as he mentioned training with his brother in mind. She raised her eye brows a bit, she wondered if she knew his brother. Or perhaps, if he had irritated Lucan so much he had to resort to fighting against a dummy to calm his temper she wouldn’t want to meet him. “I take it you and your brother do not see eye to eye then my Lord?” Caitrin did raise her eye brows at his later words, about occupying himself until his duties hurried him away. Well it would be rude to leave a man on his own wouldn’t it? Anyway, she could make up some excuse to her Uncle to excuse her lateness when she returned home. “Would you like to walk with me? After all, walking is an excellent way to pass the time, unless you have some other way to occupy yourself?” She asked him carefully, her little grin erupting onto her lips again as she awaited his answer.

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[lucan]

“Why don’t you surprise me with whatever methods you have to gain my permission?”

His brows rose even further at this. Blimey, she was a real ball breaker. Scratching the back of his neck he let out a small chuckle. “Well im sorry to disappoint you my lady, but I have no methods of such, and even if I did then they are most certainly outdated and belong to another so it seems”.
Ah Camila – he could feel himself aching, he hadn’t seen her in a while as his duties prevented him from doing so, but he could be sure that he would find himself paying her a visit soon. “After all, I do love surprises.”

“So does my brother” he rolled his eyes. Griff liked to surprise women and Lucan with unexpected visits.

“I was last in Camelot for the feast, and dance, the other night. Did you attend it my Lord?” Lucan shook his head, “Unfortunately my duties took me away from the event, so I was only there for a little while” he answered, “it would have been the same thing anyway – sitting and watching and drinking”. That was usually the routine for himself and Yvain.

Then the conversation turned to Griff. Great. Lucan could write a book at just how much he and Griff were so different. “Pretty much” he shrugged, “he seems to think that he can get anything he wants for free and depend on others whilst he lives the high life – at the moment im having to pay to keep him here and then pay for it myself.” he sighed, “I just wish that he would realise that one day he wont be able to depend on me or other people – he needs to grow up”. Griff was like the boy who didn’t want to grow up, so Lucan expected that he would stick around in Camelot for sometime, especially if he liked the women and ale. “Anyway, I have to give him some credit – he managed to track me down all by himself, I guess that counts as something”.

A walk sounded nice, give him time to get to know who Caitrin was and whether she was like her uncle – which she appeared not to be at that moment, then again there was always a point where she could possibly turn. “Of course, were you heading in any particular direction or to somewhere specific?” he asked.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin listened to Lucan and had to say she was slightly disappointed that her little bout of teasing had to be brought to such an abrupt end. But she was not that bad a tease to still try her luck after being told that Lucan’s methods belonged to another. Ah that was always the other problem wasn’t it? Either men were too rash to have any fun with or they were taken. Well, apart from Griflet she supposed. She gave a small sort of apologetic smile and caught her confidence with ease, “Well if you don’t try then you’ll never know.” And that would hopefully excuse her actions. She didn’t feel foolish because she had been here before, and she had done nothing but jest with words so all in all she didn’t feel like she was in the wrong. He took her attentions again as he said that his brother enjoyed surprises as well, she wasn’t quite sure how to take that, perhaps Lucan was suggesting she would be better suited to his brother, whoever that was. "And in truth my Lord, I should restrain my words, and teases, to the man they belong to." Even though she wasn't sure how seriously Griflet, or herself, was taking their relationship, she should probably be keeping herself for him in a way.

There was still something at the back of Caitrin’s mind which was making her feel as if there was something she had missed. She was sure she had never met Lucan before so it couldn’t be it. So what was it? He confirmed he hadn’t been at the dance so it wasn’t anything there which was bothering her was it? Then again she had been so preoccupied with Griflet that night she probably wouldn’t have noticed him even if he had been there. She was running through the many ways she could have known Lucan, or something about him. She was a knight so it was probably something Arthur had told her at some point. She was listening to him speaking about his brother and she listened carefully. He had tracked Lucan down? Therefore his brother wasn’t from around here then.

Oh God.

Caitrin looked up at Lucan and almost wanted to laugh for a few moments. She remembered where she’d heard the name Lucan before. Griflet had told her he had a brother named Lucan who hadn’t been present at the dance for very long. Now Caitrin felt like an idiot; she had just been teasing Griflet’s brother. She was sure if he found out she would never live it down, she inwardly groaned and nodded at Lucan’s words about his brother. “Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but is Griflet Aubert your brother?” If not, then whoever Lucan’s brother was bore unmistakable identical qualities to the man who she had spent the night with at the dance.

As they were already walking there would be time to discuss Griflet on the way, if it turned out that he was Lucan’s brother. She wanted to get to know Lucan as well, because she was a curious person by nature and would never say no to a new acquaintance, “Nowhere in particular, I was just admiring the gardens. They are beautiful are they not?” She asked softly and looked up at her companion, “How long have you lived in Camelot for my Lord?”

[lucan]

"And in truth my Lord, I should restrain my words, and teases, to the man they belong to."
Well then, she was taken! It wasn’t a surprise to him, many of the women of the court were – instead he just smiled. “Well now we know where we both stand”. At least she wouldn’t try and pounce on him. “Hopefully he is worthy of these teases”.

She looked a little shocked in some sorts when he spoke about Griff. He wasn’t expecting the next words to be spoken but then again he was. Lucan groaned, “Oh no – please don’t tell me you’re another one of his conquests, and I mean that in the nicest possible way” he told her, “but in answer to your question, yes, unfortunately he is – my darling younger brother who seems to find trouble wherever he goes”.
He ran a hand down his face, great. Caitrin had already met Griff – this wasn’t exactly good but neither was it bad. “If you don’t mind me asking – I know im probably going to regret it anyway – but how do you know my brother?”

A walk would defiantly do him the world of good now that this revelation had come crashing down on him. Did Caitrin even know what his brother was like? Did Lucan even want to tell her? He’d cross that bridge if he ever came to it, but for now he had to find out more about her, and just how well she knew his brother. "Since about 18 years old - i came here to become a Knight" he explained, "and i've been here ever since, that was about eight years ago i think" he replied thoughtfully.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Lucan was right, if they both knew they were taken then they could probably progress as friends or something like that. She now wondered if she knew the woman who held his affections at court, but he didn’t ask about who was courting her so she returned the favour and remained quiet on the topic; it was none of her business anyway. She gave a short laugh at Lucan’s later comment and thought about it for a moment. “I think he is, he is certainly challenging enough with or without my teases.” That was true, Griflet was more of a challenge to cope with in a conversation than any other courtier she had ever come across, but far from it being off putting Caitrin rather enjoyed it.

So she had been right. Now she felt even more stupid, what would Griflet even think of her? Flirting with his older brother? She felt uneasy at the first of Lucan’s words though; one of his conquests? It probably would have worried her more if the exchange between her and Griflet in the gardens hadn’t happened. She had accused him then of just being ‘that kind of man’ but he had persuaded her otherwise. Anyway, she wasn’t conquered by him so it didn’t matter anyway did it? “What do you mean ‘one of his conquests?” She asked slightly defensively.

Ah, now this was a conversation she didn’t particularly want to have with Griflet’s brother. How did she know him? Caitrin didn’t act like some love sick fool because that really wasn’t her and it didn’t suit her. “I met him a month ago; he insisted to join me on one of my rides out of the city.” She gave a small sort of smile, “But then we spent the night together at the feast which I attended the other night.” Would Lucan want more than that? Or could he already guess what she was to Griflet. She didn’t want to be labelled off as some sort of conquest, and she did have feelings for Griflet and she knew that they were shared by him.

Perhaps this was the time to learn a little about Griflet’s history, but of course it would be rude to talk about Lucan’s brother all the time they were together. After all she had only just met Lucan and she was still intrigued by him, “Where about are you from?” She now asked, she couldn’t remember if Griflet had mentioned where he lived; he probably had at some point, “You have lived in Camelot for longer than I have, Lucan.” She said softly, “Do you prefer it here?”

[lucan]

This wasn’t good, not only did she know Griff but she’d also been with him at the feast the other evening. How on earth had he managed to get in anyway? Had Caitrin invited him? Lucan certainly hadn’t seen his brother there. "What do you mean ‘one of his conquests?” she was now asking. Lucan knew he had to tell her that his brother was a complete womaniser, but in the nicest and less offensive possible way.

“Lets just say that my brother likes to make a woman feel special – then scoot off without warning” he told her truthfully, “ive only been with him for a week or so and already I know his character inside out when I haven’t seen him in years”. He gave a small sigh himself, he didn’t like to admit what his brother was like to a woman who was potentially a suitor in Griff’s eyes, but he knew that he should at least give some kind of warning.

“Where about are you from?” she asked. Hadn’t Griff told her? Did she even know what kind of family that he and Griflet had come from? Not just a messed up one but in terms of status, or was Griff not bragging for once? There were so many questions that he wanted to ask that it was making his head spin just thinking about them. “Glouchedon” he told her, “Our father is Duke Corneous”.

“You have lived in Camelot for longer than I have, Lucan. Do you prefer it here?”

Lucan nodded, “I’d only return home if it was really necessary, but I much prefer Camelot. I’ve made my own life here and I’ll continue to do so until the time comes when I’ll have no choice but to return to Glouchedon”. That time being the death of his father, which he hoped wouldn’t be for a very long time.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin mulled over Lucan’s words, Griflet certainly had lived up to his brother’s analysis on their first meeting, but the second meeting had been completely different. He had been trying to seduce her when they had rode out to the forest together, but at the dance it had been her, and not him, who had made the first move really. Caitrin would have probably agreed straight away with Lucan that Griflet would probably the type to run off as soon as he got what he wanted, but she was certain after the dance that Griflet had more feelings for her than that. Caitrin was not about to put forward silly protests in front of Lucan though, no, she needed to be wittier than that. “I wonder that you can make such a judgement about someone after knowing them for such a short period of time; brother or no.” She challenged, slightly irritated. She wasn’t going to be accused of being just another woman for his brother to make a fool of.

Ah, so their father was a Duke? Well she was sure if Griflet did advance his pursuits then her Uncle would be thrilled at that prospect. If he was a Duke then they weren’t just some insignificant nobles who were just waiting to advance their status. Caitrin didn’t take much care to check her suitors inheritances usually, because it didn’t bother her. She was sure if she liked a person enough to marry them then that would be enough; her dowry was large enough for her to marry a peasant and for them to still live comfortably (Although that would never, ever happen.) “I have never been to Glouchedon.” She said softly and gave a gentle smile, “Then again, I have only really resided in Mercia and then here.” She had been to other kingdoms for fleeting visits obviously but nothing to get too excited about.

Caitrin was confused for a moment to why he would have to return home, but then of course, Lucan was the eldest brother wasn’t he? So he was to inherit. She couldn’t imagine ever going back to her Mercian home, the mere thought of it made her shudder; there had been no love for her in Mercia and she was quite happy where she was. “I can’t ever imagine going back to my original home in Mercia.” She voiced quickly, “It must be hard knowing that you will have to go back one day."

[lucan]

“I wonder that you can make such a judgement about someone after knowing them for such a short period of time; brother or no.” Why the hell was she even defending his brother? She hardly knew him!

“Oh I suppose that you know my brother better than me?” he retorted, “All im doing is giving you a warning, so as you’re aware of just how he acts.” He said this a little angered – who was Caitrin to question him? Who was she to say that he was making judgements when Griff was of his own flesh and blood. “Im not going to say I told you so when he screws things up with whatever relationship you have with him.”
He sighed, “Im sorry – I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that, it isn’t my place to”. He didn’t care whether he was or not, Caitrin deserved the warning at the least.

“I have never been to Glouchedon.” She admitted, “I wouldn’t recommend it as a day trip” he smirked. Glouchedon was beautiful, and he was sure that Cait would think that it was, but with all the memories he had of the place it pained him to think of it.

“It must be hard knowing that you will have to go back one day." She said this with some softness to her voice. Lucan could only nod in agreement – silence just tell Cait what he thought.
“It would mean that I would have to give up being a Knight” he explained, “and I couldn’t imagine that – my duty is my life, I live and breathe it and not even an inheritance of Dukedom or higher rank could change that”.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin knew she was stubborn, but Lucan obviously still had this to discover about her. She was about to dig her heels in, which meant that this conversation was only going to go badly. She pressed her lips together, now irritated by Lucan’s remarks. Who was he to warn her about what Griflet was really like. “I know what he’s like.” She remarked quickly, “I don’t need you to spell it out for me, I’m not some lovestruck little girl.” Now she was living up to her true red head name, and doing a fine job of it as well. She wasn’t seething with anger because that would be silly this early on in the argument.

His latter rant hit with her hard, so much she physically flinched. Griflet had already managed to screw things up in the garden, but then things had been alright after that, and that had been the end of that. Who was Lucan to suppose that Griflet would screw anything up, hadn’t he just said that apart from this week he hadn’t seen his brother in years? “No you should not have.” She agreed, sniffing back, “I can look after myself thank you very much.” Her words were sharp and unfriendly, but she’d never let a man get the better of her, and she would be damned if his brother was going to. She honestly believed he had some feelings for her, and that he wouldn’t do as Lucan was predicting and screw up whatever relationship they did have.

She shook her head at Lucan’s remark about his home and managed a weak sort of smile, “No, I would not recommend Mercia as a day trip either.” The kingdom was much too large, and the mountainous scenery which surrounded her home there would captivate any mind which was not used to them; Camelot’s scenery was quite boring in comparison.

Caitrin knew that the Knights of Camelot were dedicated, and Lucan was proving to be no exception to the rule. She now, as she had resided in Camelot for so long, could not imagine not serving under the Pendragons. She lived for the day that her friend Arthur would take the throne, perhaps her kind would not have to live in as much fear when he was King. It was a small hope, but there was hope nonetheless. “But surely you would not give up your inheritance to stay a Knight?” She was slightly shocked, her family was always driven by ambition and land, so the thought of giving up even an acre of land was laughable to her.

[lucan]

“I don’t need you to spell it out for me, I’m not some lovestruck little girl.” Now it was her turn to snap. Lucan wasn’t going to take this subject lying down and especially not with some ginger headcase.

“Your previous comment kind of gave me that impression – if you know so much about him, then I gather he’s told you his reasons for leaving home? Do you really want a man who would treat you in exactly the same way?” he asked. “I can look after myself thank you very much.” Came her reply.
Lucan gave an irritated groan, “Well then, I’ll let you discover just who my brother is for yourself – then you can report back to me and perhaps even surprise me, but I think I know exactly what I will hear”.

So she was from Mercia. He’d never had the reason to pass through there but he could recall the time that Bayard and his men had ventured to Camelot, along with the misunderstanding that their visitors intentions were to poison Arthur. What was it about Mercian’s and trying to prove themselves?

“But surely you would not give up your inheritance to stay a Knight?” she appeared to be appalled at the fact that he would choose Knighthood over his inheritance. Lucan just merely shrugged. “In all honesty I would make a pretty bad Duke – I wouldn’t want to leave Camelot, but I know that I wouldn’t have any choice, so no, I wouldn’t give up my inheritance, but I would find it difficult to adjust to a role I know very little about when I should be prepared to take it upon me at any time”. He told her.

He couldn’t imagine Griflet taking over the estate – for a start his brother didn’t want to and had proved that point by leaving home. “And then there would be the whole debacle of marriage” he rolled his eyes. He’d come close to that one before, but had managed to break free when he left for Camelot. It’s not that he had anything against marriage, it just seemed as though whenever a son inherited his first step (or giant leap into a bottomless hole of doom) was to find a wife and produce an heir. Lucan would rather wait until he felt comfortable before making such a decision.

Thoughts of Camila flooded back into his mind again. She wouldn’t marry him if he were to be dragged by the ankles by a horse backwards for her. She most likely wouldn’t like Glouchedon either. He wanted to see her so much and yet here he was arguing with his brother’s newest girlfriend. No matter how much he tried, he still could see Camila always being there as part of him – near or far.

[Caitrin de Archer]

There were some things which Caitrin could not stand, and being told that she was acting like some lovestruck girl was one of these things. She didn’t even have feelings like that for Griflet. They were a fling, nothing more, they had argued more than they had embraced during the dance. She supposed that Lucan thought that Griflet had told her nothing about why he had ended up in Camelot. “He told me about the woman he left home for, and the fact he was disowned; yes.” She said hotly, did he assume she had been taken in by a few of Griflet’s silly charms? Because if he did then he certainly didn’t know Caitrin at all, “How do you know that he would treat me in the same way? Or do you think that I am the sort of woman to take any man to my bed as long as he says the right words?” She didn’t care she was being crude, he was being ridiculous, and she was sure that he believed Griflet would have whatever virtue she retained and be off before she had time to blink.

Caitrin folded her arms across her chest, because obviously that was the best way to show her anger at Lucan. She held her position strongly and gave a kind of smirk, “Oh don’t worry, I’m sure you will be the first to be surprised.” How could Lucan judge their relationship so harshly? He had not been there the night of the dance, he hadn’t seen Griflet when they had been alone in the gardens, when he had actually rejected her, rather than let her see him for what he truly thought he was.

In Caitrin’s mind, Lucan redeemed himself slightly with telling her that he would not give up his inheritance and would remain a Duke. She couldn’t ever imagine anyone in her family passing up any sort of title to become a knight, or even to just marry who they wanted. She nodded quickly and brushed some hair back off her face, “At least you know where you will end up.” She pointed out, Caitrin of course would be at the mercy of whichever husband she finally settled on. She would have to move to wherever they lived, and with her families ambitions, that could be anywhere, “I will have to live wherever my husband, should I eventually acquire one, chooses to live.” Even those words were said with anger. She hated the thought of marriage, and having to ‘obey’ ones husband. Caitrin had never wanted to be under anyones control, but it seemed from a young age she had just been passed from man to man. First from her father to her Uncle, and eventually it would be from her Uncle to her husband. She just wanted to do her own thing, and not have to live under someone elses rules. But she was unfortunately a woman, and the only choice she had was the gowns she donned.

She furrowed her brow at him; didn't he say he was already taken? Therefore why was he mentioning marriage like it was some taboo topic. He was the lucky one, he was the man in the marriage and would have control over his wife, "Didn't you say you were taken?" She asked carefully, "Or are you not one for marriage?" That was also possible, not all men wanted to marry and instead left behind a heir-less estate; Caitrin was sure Lucan would not be that careless.

[lucan]

Lucan glared. This woman was getting on his nerves already and he’d only known her for five minutes “I’m not assuming you are at all – if you’d bloody well listen the perhaps you wouldn’t jump to conclusions”. “All I’m saying is to just be careful, but it’s your funeral if you choose to ignore that and end getting hurt, so excuse me for caring.” He snapped but then his expression softened. “He’ll hurt you Caitrin, at some point he will hurt you.”

Lucan said no more on the subject and instead chose to look at a tree whilst Caitrin cooled off. He wasn’t judging, but he knew what his brother was capable of. No matter whether he’d told Caitrin the truth or not, Griff would hurt her somehow. He shrugged when she told him that he would be the first to be surprised. “Well…don’t say I didn’t warn you”. This argument was at its end.

“I will have to live wherever my husband, should I eventually acquire one, chooses to live.”

Lucan was surprised that the hot-tempered woman would actually do that. Caitrin seemed more of a rebellious type to him. “Take a stand, after all you can certainly hold an argument” he smirked,

"Didn't you say you were taken? Or are you not one for marriage?"

Lucan chuckled slightly. “I’m all for marriage, but I won’t be one of those husbands who put their wives in their place. No – Camila wouldn’t have me if I asked her” he smiled to himself, “the idea of a fool for a husband doesn’t seem appealing.” Yes she’d called him a fool when they first met, now it had stuck as some kind of inside joke, “anyway, I won’t be asking her anytime soon.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin miraculously managed to calm herself down in order to not jump in when Lucan was speaking. Instead she listened quite carefully while he was speaking, using all her energy to suppress the anger which was ripping through her at the man in front of her. How could he make such judgments about her, like she would develop enough feelings for Griff to be hurt by them anyway! She of course wanted to have the last word in the argument and she drew a sharp breath; glaring at Lucan. "You don't know that." What did he know? He was Griff's brother yes, but Griff was only newly arrived in Camelot and therefore they couldn't have spent that much time in each others company. Who was Lucan to step into this; it was none of his business.

She ignored his last comment about not saying he didn't warn her. That was the last thing Caitrin needed; a man looking out for her. She didn't need Lucan's help; she didn't need anyone else. But she did leave it there, and just shot him a glare in response, so technically she had finished off the argument; just in a non verbal way.

Caitrin faltered slightly as he started talking about his own sweetheart- Camila. To Caitrin it didn't make sense to take the art of courtship at a slow pace. Caitrin was more a 'living in the moment' sort of woman, and that was how she courted. She never paid much attentions to chaperones or doing things in the correct order. She'd always been that way so why should she change her ways now? "You don't seem like a fool." Caitrin answered truthfully, "Irritating, stubborn and noble however..." She trailed off and winked at him. Of course she was but jesting, that was how she was with all men. There was always another tease around the corner; no matter what the context was.