We Will Not Break (Morgana)

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin had lost track of the time that she had been down in the dungeons. She’d been thrown in here after refusing to shift her allegiance from Uther and Arthur to Morgana. Everyday felt much like the one that had gone before it, and she wasn’t quite sure how much more of it she could take. It was the uncertainty which was the worst, the fact she didn’t know what Morgana had in store for her. She wasn’t sure if she was just being left to rot in here, or perhaps until she begged for mercy, or perhaps Morgana already knew what she wanted to do with her. She shifted uncomfortably in the corner of her cell. She’d curled herself up in the corner, just trying to ignore the odd cries in the dungeon and the comings and goings of the guards.

She managed to brush a few strands of hair off her face with her hands, as both her hands were shackled together rather crudely. The chain from her hands stretched onto the wall. She wasn’t quite sure why she was being treated with such caution, it was hardly like she was a high risk prisoner. It just made her feel ridiculous, like nothing about her status mattered, even here. At least the chain was quite long, so she wasn’t that restricted in where she could move about her small cell. That was something at least.

She sighed and sat up; her back against the wall. In the small amount of light that was poking through the cell, a small glint of silver reflected from her finger. The engagement ring Griff had given her before he had left was still firmly on her finger. She still felt so stupid, she’d thrown Griff out over a misunderstanding, and the more time they spent apart, the more she could see that. However, it had been months, and he still hadn’t come back to her. God knows where he was. As long as he was safe Caitrin knew she would feel a little more content, however, she would never know that for sure, and until then it just added to the pain.

She couldn’t think of Griff most of the time, because every time she did it just brought her emotions back to the forefront of her mind. Shifting slightly, the chains from her hands began to clang against the stone floor of the dungeons. Biting her lip, she tried to not let it show how much this was getting to her. She just wanted to go home, and be with her Uncle. She didn’t want to stay here a moment longer, but she didn’t want to submit herself to Morgana and change her loyalty to her. She was still certain in her loyalties.

Tags: Morgana Pendragon
Timeline: During 'The Coming of Arthur'
Location: The dungeons[/color]

[mpend]

She had expected some sort of resistance, but for this particular girl to do so seemed like a slap in the face to the now-queen. Morgana grit her teeth a little as she moved down to the dungeons, her head held. What made Caitrin so loyal to Uther and Arthur? She, like so many others, had refused to change her allegance, but why? Were they truly such great sovereigns? Yes, Morgana was being harsh and unkind right now, but then most rulers were at the start of their reign, weren't they? If they would only give her some time, they would see that her rule was much much more benefiting to both magic and nonmagic users alike.

As the Pendragon reached the door to the dungeons, she paused. She had heard of the strife between the lady and her beloved - perhaps she could use that to her advantage. Warp Caitrin's mind enough to make her worried, perhaps even enough to make her beg for Morgana's absolution. A grim smile crossed the Queen's features. Yes. That would be the right way of going about it.

As she entered the dungeons and moved to the lady's cell, she chuckled at the pitiful sight before her. A raised eyebrow and a quick hand movement had the guard unlocking the door, and Morgana moved inside, smiling with a sugar-false sweet smile at the wretched maiden. "How do you like your new accomidation, my Lady?" she quipped with a smile. "I am afraid it is not... quite what you are used to.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin sighed as she leant her head against the stone wall of her cell. She just felt weary, not tired so much, but just weary. She just didn’t want to be here any longer. She wasn’t that good at being still, and contemplative at the best of times, but now she had both forced upon her by her circumstances. As she shifted, her chain shifted with her. That was another thing that she was becoming sick of, the sound of the chains whenever she moved.

Caitrin just looked up at Morgana as she entered the cell. Her hatred just burned up inside her, what had they all done that was so wrong for her to take the throne for herself? Caitrin had always thought that Morgana loved Uther and Arthur, nothing had ever suggested otherwise at court. This was a woman she had once drank alongside, and seen by Uther’s side. Now she had taken over Camelot, by force. Caitrin really couldn’t understand it, but the more she thought about it, the more she was sure she didn’t want to understand it.

As Morgana spoke, Caitrin drew herself up, though that was made a little more difficult because of the shackles around her wrists. She could already feel the metal rubbing against her slender wrists but she resisted the urge to wince. She didn’t want to let Morgana have that satisfaction. The chain stretched with her as she drew up to her full height and she smirked at Morgana, “It would be a lot more comfortable if your men could take these off me.” She held up her wrists in disgust and glared on at the woman. She still couldn’t see why she was forced to wear them, she was in the dungeons, wasn’t that humiliating enough? Caitrin smiled patronisingly back at the false Queen as she finished speaking. She didn’t recognise any authority which Morgana now held, she only had to suffer what had been forced upon her.

[mpend]

The look in Caitrin's eyes was enough to make Morgana chuckle a little, and she watched with some amusement as the other woman just looked at her. "What?" she asked. "Do you not think the position of Queen suits me, my Lady?" She chuckled again. "You see how the Kingdom is now - is it not better off with me as its Queen?"

At the comment regarding the chains, Morgana raised an eyebrow. "I did not ask whether you wished comfort, Lady Caitrin," she spoke sternly. "I merely asked if you enjoyed your new abode. Do you know how many people have been in this dungeon? So many, in the past. And now you must join them," she smiled. "Of course, there is a simple way to free yourself. It requires nought but your word and promise. A simple enough thing to give, I think."

The Queen moved over, reaching forward and taking Caitrin's chin within her fingers, gripping tightly. "If you are expecting Arthur to come and save you, I woudl not bother," she stated quietly. "Like the coward he is he has fled, and Uther is a prisoner who is broken and sobbing in my cells." she smirked. "You see the power I have wraught. I would not cast aside my words so easily, for there are no Princes or Kings to protect you, and you can hardly protect yourself. It will be easier and.... less painful... for you in the long run to swear yourself to me and my cause."

[Caitrin de Archer]

There was not any part of Caitrin which approved Morgana as Queen. There had been talk of magic being restored to the Kingdom, and perhaps that was the only thing which she had truly sympathised with. She hadn’t told anyone she was a sorceress of course, because it was all just talk, and nothing had really happened anyway. Her secret was still close to her heart, and she still stubbornly refused to reveal her magic to anyone. Caitrin drew her eyes up to Morgana and smirked bravely, “Perhaps it is that I believe the crown looks better on another head.” Though Caitrin had no particular loyalties to Uther, she was fiercely loyal to Arthur and already believed he would make a great King. She didn’t want Morgana to have what wasn’t rightfully hers, she wanted Arthur to one day sport the crown, and for him to be the one to rule Camelot, not Morgana.

Of course there was nothing said on removing the chains, though Caitrin hadn’t expected there to be. Her arms were already starting to hurt as they were holding up the weight of the chains around her wrists, and it was starting to ache. As Morgana finished her little speech, about Caitrin giving her word and promise, the young noblewoman scoffed and was almost inclined to laugh. Did Morgana honestly think that it would be that easy? She hadn’t been down here because she wanted to, she was down here because she was still loyal to Arthur and Uther. “Do you think that I change my allegiance, and offer my word so quickly?” She asked quickly, after all, why should she just change her alliance to Morgana? She had only changed her alliance from Bayard to Uther because she had switched Kingdoms, and she had been young then. She was older now, and more stubborn, and refused to break so easily.

As Morgana took her chin in her fingers, her reaction was to try and pull away straight away but her grasp was quite tight. It didn’t hurt, she just didn’t enjoy the sensation. She couldn’t even lift her own hands to bat Morgana away as they were shackled uselessly together. Though Morgana’s words were starting to sit heavily with her, she was still determined that she was not going to submit herself so easily. “I have never said that anyone else would protect me.” She pointed out, though her words were half muttered as Morgana still had hold of her chin. “I will not submit myself to your reign; you are wasting your time.” She half spat her words, but she was stubbornly defensive of her words. She couldn’t physically protect herself, but she could still verbally defy the false queen.

[mpend]

The woman's brazen words made Morgana frown, her eyes narrowing a little. "Really?" she spat, giving a soft laugh. "And why do you think that, Caitrin? Do you think that the foolish King, Uther, deserves to wear it atop his head? Or do you, like so many others, cling onto the prayer that perhaps my brother will do right by the Kingdom?" her voice dropped its sarcasm. "Perhaps he would be a good King, perhaps Arthur would do better than his father before him. But some people would never be safe. And that is why I had to do what I have done, Caitrin. To protect the people who have suffered under Uther's hand, who would further suffer under Arthur's rule."

The woman's next words brought the Queen out of her thoughts, and she frowned, realising she had said them aloud, and also frowning at Caitrin's words. "You would be wise to," she stated softly, a hint of warning in her voice. "Why do you act so, Caitrin? Do you truly have so much faith in Arthur? He has fled the Kingdom, he has abandoned you all in favour of safety! What does that tell you? What kind of King does that make him?" her voice filled with scorn. "A true future King would have challanged me, but Arthur did not even try!" she laughed softly. "Perhaps he realises what sort of King he would make, and is making things easier for me."

As Caitrin continued to defy her, Morgana's eyes narrowed, and the hand that was not holding the woman's chin rested against Caitrin's cheek. "You would be wise not to cross me, Caitrin," she warned softly. "You are alone in this cell, and if I chose to I could leave you here for quite some time," she warned. "And what about your friends, hmm? I doubt you would want them to suffer because of your stupidity..."

[Caitrin de Archer]

Honestly, Caitrin never had held any particular loyalties to Uther. From the moment she had met him in court she had been quite weary of him. She still held the belief that Uther had always suspected her as sorcery, as when they had first dined together he had considered her with suspicion. Arthur however was a different matter, he was a close friend and he was the first friend she had really had when she had moved here to Camelot from her native home of Mercia. True, in their younger days they had flirted with each other, and had often teased one another, but now they were quite close friends, and nothing would break that loyalty. She did still pray that Arthur would return to the Kingdom, and she held onto that belief. Though even she had to admit that it was becoming harder and harder to keep that firm belief as the time she spent in the dungeons increased. She felt completely alone down here, though she wouldn’t be voicing any of this to Morgana of course, she didn’t want to fuel whatever hold the woman felt she had over her. For now she wanted to remain strong and stand her ground, or else her time spent down here would be in vain.

As Morgana spoke again, Caitrin bit her lip, trying not to give her emotions away too much. She just wanted to appear strong in front of the false Queen, as she still felt strongly that Arthur would return to save them. She couldn’t believe that Arthur would just leave them in the hands of Morgana’s rule. “Arthur will not just abandon us.” She said firmly, trying to make her words sound convincing, “He will still be King of Camelot one day.” She didn’t mention Uther that much, as it was only Arthur she was concerned with. Obviously she didn’t wish any harm to Uther, but she would always had rather seen her friend on the throne rather than his father.

The warning was a little late seeing as Caitrin had once again defied Morgana again with her words. The woman’s hands were still at her hand, and they shifted to her cheek. She flinched slightly, no one but Griff had touched her cheek before and she didn’t enjoy the sensation. It stirred memories she’d rather forget, but she remained somewhat composed and glared on at the woman. “Leave my friends out of this, it is me who defies you; not them.” Caitrin wouldn’t have any of her friends put in danger because of her actions, she couldn’t allow that to happen.

[mpend]

Morgana smiled a little, patronisingly. "You care a great deal for Arthur," she acknowledged. "I can see why. He is kind, caring, and seems to have developed a taste for the commonplace girl," she paused. "but he will not come back. I know my brother, Caitrin. If he were to return, he would have done so by now. He has abandoned you, all of you, knowing that he has failed Camelot, his father, and the people he once called his own." She rested a hand on Caitrin's shoulder, letting go of her cheek, a pitying look in her eyes. "It is better you rest your hopes on me than him, for he will never return to this land, I wager."

The Queen laughed softly. "I have touched upon a nerve," she teased. "No, Caitrin. Your friends are a part of whatever you are a part of - no matter whether you wish them to be or not. So I would think carefully if I were you. Do you wish to see them suffer? Because you will, if you do not give me the respect I deserve." she smiled. "If you swear allegance to me, I may treat them kindly. Those who have sworn allegance have found me to be merciful. Would you really deny yourself the comfort of the Queen of Camelot's friendship?"

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin nodded at Morgana’s words, after all, she did hold a lot of loyalty towards Arthur, and she did care for him. It was hard not to. When Caitrin had been injured by the dragon attack in Camelot, Arthur had come to see her. He had always cared for her, so she in turn would always care for him. Of course that was only in a friendly way, perhaps once they had flirted with each other, but they were older and wiser now. It still felt odd for Morgana to address Arthur as her brother, and it was something which didn’t feel right to Caitrin. The pitying look which the woman was giving her was patronising in Caitrin’s eyes, she was not some young foolish girl, she was a woman, and she knew exactly what her actions would lead to. “He may still return.” She replied stubbornly. Caitrin still felt incredibly weary about putting her faith in Morgana in any sense. She didn’t trust the woman in short, and how would Caitrin know that swearing her allegiance would mean she was unharmed?

The young noblewoman’s heart began to thud in her ears, and a blind panic washed over Caitrin. It was the first time she had felt herself falter under the false Queen’s look. But she had been in the dungeons for days now, and it was starting to take its toll. She didn’t want to be here anymore, she wanted to be at home; getting on with her life. “Please, do whatever you want to with me, but leave my friends out of this.” Caitrin wasn’t sure what she sounded like, she was half begging, but mostly pleading. She could deal with actions against her own body, or at least she would try to, but she didn’t want to get anyone else wound up in her actions. Her hands were heavy with the chains, and she shifted to try and make it more comfortable. Of course it was in vain, nothing made it more comfortable. “They will swear their allegiance to you, it will only be me who defies you, and I will not swear my loyalty so freely.” She was trying to stand her ground as long as she could. Caitrin was tired, and weary, and she wasn’t that sure how long she would hold out for.

[mpend]

The Queen smiled as a flash of fear braved its sight into the lady's eyes. It appeared she had found the lady's weakness. Now all she had to do was exploit it. "I beg to differ," she stated calmly. "For whilst you defy me, so to do your friends. They will lead by your example, I fear. So you see, it is more important than ever for you to admit to my rule." Morgana smiled a little. "If you do, I promise you will be relinquished from these chains and this cell. If not, then I cannot guarentee the safety of either yourself or those you name as friend."

Morgana paused, meeting Caitrin's eyes. "Do you not wish to be freed from here, to see the sunlight outside? It is a beautiful day. If you swear your allegance to me, I may even treat Arthur kindly if he should return to Camelot. Of course, he will never be King nor rule, but I may treat him kindly..."

[Caitrin de Archer]

If Caitrin hadn’t been worried before, she certainly was now. She pulled against the chains slightly, almost without realising she was doing it. She wanted to be rid of them, but she hadn’t lost sight of why she was down here just yet. “They will not follow my example.” She almost said that confidently, but she was running out of things to say. Caitrin had many friends in Camelot, and of course her Uncle was here as well, and she didn’t want any of them put in the line of fire because of her. “I only ask for their safety, not my own, as I have acted alone in this matter.” It felt like she was getting nowhere in this conversation, and perhaps she wouldn’t, but she was finding it harder and harder to stand up to Morgana with the fear of her friends being in danger at the forefront of her mind.

Caitrin bit her lip, and swallowed slightly though her mouth was mostly dry. She would treat Arthur kindly? As much as she wanted to believe those words, something was telling her not to be so trusting of this woman. After all, she had locked all the Knight’s down here, and she had taken over the Kingdom, but she had taken over Uther’s Kingdom, and not Arthur’s. She bit her lip nervously, she just wanted her friends to be safe, more than that, and she wanted to help protect them. Caitrin had never been an idle woman in any sense, and she was always one of the first to act, even in this sense. For now however, she was not quite sure what to do. “Why should my loyalty mean so much to you, that you would treat Arthur kindly?” She asked, but not with as much confidence as her earlier words. She still had doubts, and they were dominant in her mind no matter how much she wanted to believe Morgana. “Should you not be treating Arthur kindly because he is your brother?” She turned the question back to the Queen, as even though the fact that Morgana and Arthur were siblings, she could still question the relationship.

[mpend]

"You cannot ask for one thing without expecting something to be asked of you in the same instance!" Morgana's voice sharpened a little. "Come, are you so foolish? Do not be so stupid, you must know you are at my mercy!"

The Queen's smile regrew as Caitrin asked her questions. She met her eyes. "Because I know of others who you know, who are close to Arthur. Your allegance will go a long way in convincing them to be loyal to me, and in turn Arthur." she laughed softly. "The fact that he is my brother means no such thing! If he were not my brother he could not attempt to challange me. Although I confess I do not expect him to do such a thing now, when he has not bothered in the last few days, but even so." she shrugged. "As I say, his allegance to me will go a long way. And thus your allegance is important."

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin knew she had been asking too much, and she flinched a little as Morgana’s voice sharpened in its tone. Caitrin wasn’t in a position of power, and she knew that. She bit her lip slightly, and looked down at the chains which were currently binding her wrists. “I merely ask that you leave my friends out of this. As it has nothing to do with them.” She was still standing her ground, no one else was going to suffer because she was too stubborn to accept the new Queen. No, this was her fight and her fight alone. She didn’t want anyone else to put themselves in harm’s way because of her.

As her eyes met the Queen’s once more, she almost felt a shudder run down her spine. It had been so easy at first to deny Morgana’s reign, being locked up in the cell’s was easier than the words the Queen was giving her at the moment. It put everything in Caitrin’s hands, and it put more lives in danger than just her own which was unbearable for the young woman. Caitrin was stubborn, and she was usually so good at standing her ground, but right here and now, she was starting to doubt even her own strengths. What good was she against Morgana, she was nothing really, she was a Mercian noblewoman trying to cling onto the life she had here in Camelot, and at the moment she was failing miserably because of her stubbornness. “Nothing I do will make Arthur loyal to you, you are deluding yourself if that is what you believe.” She snapped back at the Queen. Why would anything she did swing Arthur’s opinion? Or indeed the knights and the other friends who Caitrin had at court. “I will not swear my allegiance to you, my loyalty rests with Arthur.”

[mpend]

At the woman's defiant words, Morgana felt fury rush up inside her. She growled in annoyance, and strode so her eyes were less than an inch away from Caitrin's. "You make a foolish choice in turning me into an enemy," she growled in warning. "As you have chosen to defy me, you will be among those who will be forced to watch as I deal out punishment to Arthur... should he choose to show his face in my City."

The Queen smirked a little. "I wonder, how would Arthur cope, do you think, to be treated so in front of those who once saw him as their Prince? Do you think he will call for mercy, beg for reconciliation? I have heard that the process of being hung, drawn and quartered is a most painful one. Most men scarcely manage to stay conscious throughout the procedure. But with Arthur, I would make him," her lips twisted into a cruel smile. "And I would force Uther to watch his son's death. How do you think they would cope, those two? What a waste, a shame, when they could both be saved from such a fate," Morgana shrugged. "But alas, it seems your own pride is stopping you from saving another."

[Caitrin de Archer]

Though Caitrin should have felt fearful, she didn’t tremble as Morgana walked closer towards her. Instead she stayed defiantly and tried at least to stand her ground. The thought of watching Arthur’s punishment bit through her, and she did falter somewhat. She wouldn’t be able to bear her friend in such a position. Caitrin didn’t reply to Morgana’s words, as there was nothing more to say, if she was going to force her to watch Arthur’s punishment, if it ever came around, then she would. Caitrin would not stand here and beg for mercy so freely, especially when she knew it would not be granted.

The punishment that Morgana was describing was starting to make Caitrin feel ill and queasy. She was now battling with her emotions, and her urge to retch as Morgana spoke. A small tremble ran up her spine at the mention of the punishment. Caitrin had never been one for public executions, but for one that she cared about? That was just unbearable. A part of her told her to have faith that Arthur would not be captured, and that he would liberate the city. But it had been days, and there had been no word of an army being raised, and everything from Caitrin’s point of view seemed hopeless. She prayed that her friend did come back to collect his birthright, but she wasn’t sure how long she could cling onto that belief. “I don’t believe you would spare him that fate on my behalf.” She could feel herself getting emotional, but it was natural after all, after hearing such a punishment applied to one of her own friends. She was right in her words though, Caitrin knew she was not important enough to make that much of a difference, but there was still that small flicker of hope which told Caitrin that it might spare Arthur his fate if she submitted herself to Morgana. As of yet, it was just a small hope.

[mpend]

"Will you truly take that risk?" Morgana asked, intregued. "Do you care for Arthur so little that you would take the risk of possibly sparing him such a horrendous thing? I did not think you cared so little for him! I am sure if he were to know of how you dismissed his life so, he would be beyond hurt." She smiled a little. "Perhaps your heart truly does not care for anyone but itself." she shrugged. "If you were to conceed to me, then Arthur would be granted special permission, to remain in Camelot as my guest, but not as King or as Prince. He would be treated with respect, where as if you do not meet my demands, I can assure you his last hours in Camelot will be filled with pain and fear. Have you ever seen someone hugn, drawn and quarted, my Lady?" she sneered the title.

"It is not an enviable death. Indeed, there are ways to make it last for hours... in fact with Arthur, I could make it last weeks, and it would be your doing."

[Caitrin de Archer]

For the first time in the conversation, Caitrin began to doubt herself. She went to answer straight away, and sharply to make it clear that Caitrin would never swear her loyalty to Morgana. But as she spoke of Arthur, and how her actions went against him rather than for him, she was half inclined to believe her. Her heart began to thud in her ears, and for a few moments she felt rather weak. No, she had never seen anyone hung, drawn and quartered, and she was sure that she never wanted to. Breathing in sharply she could feel the fear in her eyes, and it wasn’t for her anymore, the fear was for Arthur. As hopeless as his situation seemed, she still didn’t want any harm to come to him. She was his friend, and she would do what she could to protect him, even if he didn’t want or even need her help, because that’s what friends did for one another, though she wouldn’t expect Morgana to understand that. She had turned her back on Camelot, and all those within it.

She was still silent, but she knew she had to make an answer at some point. She trembled slightly as she tried to make an answer, but once again fell silent. Her situation suddenly felt quite real, and she finally looked up towards the Queen, and met her eye line. “Just stop, please.” She couldn’t take anymore of Morgana recounting the things she would do to Arthur, it was starting to ache and Caitrin couldn’t bear it. “How many others have you promised this to?” She now asked dryly, she didn’t have the strength for this anymore, she didn’t want to submit her loyalty to Morgana, but if she did submit herself today, it wouldn’t be loyalty she would be giving the new Queen. Caitrin still had no faith in the woman, she didn’t even trust her to keep her word, so why would she swear her allegiance on such a claim? “I do not trust your words, how would you ever back up such a claim?” She still had some fight left in her; Morgana had not taken it all just yet.

[mpend]

Watching Caitrin, the Queen knew she was close. She was playing a dangerous game, pulling on heartstrings and messing with emotions, but Caitrin had handed her an unfortunate card to play with. Morgana was somewhat delighting in using it, too. Silently she wondered whether she could truly do as she had suggested; do such a thing to Arthur. To torment Uther was one thing, he had made her fear her own identity, made her hate herself for so long. But Arthur... had Arthur truly done any wrong? Morgana was unsure, but she knew soon she would have to make a choice.

Caitrin's words snapped her from her thoughts, and gave the lady a soft smile. "What exactly do you mean?" she asked softly, her voice the voice of the Morgana Caitrin knew - the kind and caring Morgana. "What have I promised whom? You are the first I have spoke to of my plans for my brother. You must be aware I do not wish to do such things to him, but I will have to if the people refuse to bow to me, to make a point, a scene of commitment." she sighed softly. "How would you wish me to back up such a claim?" she responded.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin knew when she got emotional then things started to go wrong for her. It was easy to stay in control when she had control over her emotions, but now she could feel that control slipping, and it worried her. Biting her lip, she looked down at her chains and shifted them, trying to move the weight off her wrists. It didn’t work of course, but at least she had tried. She could feel the metal biting into her slender wrists, and she didn’t really want to think what they looked like now. At the moment they just ached, but apart from that, physically at least, she was fine. At least she had been spared most of the hardships that the other knights had been put through. Caitrin had only been in the dungeons for a few days, but it already felt like she had been here for so much longer.

At first, Caitrin didn’t believe Morgana’s words of course, why should she be the only one she had told her plans to? What made her so special? Shouldn’t a similar trick have been tried with the knights, and other members of the court? “Why have you not tried your words with the Knights?” She was challenging the Queen now, rather than outwardly defying her. If she was even going to consider trusting Morgana, she had to know what she was letting herself in for first. Really, Morgana had a point, and Caitrin wasn’t quite sure how such a claim could be backed up. She would need her trust for it to be backed up, something Morgana didn’t yet have. She shrugged, almost like it didn’t matter, and raised her eyes back to the woman, “I’m sure if my loyalty matters that much to you, you will think of something.”

[mpend]

There was an implication to Caitrin's words, and Morgana did not like it. Her lips curled into a vicious smirk, and she shrugged lightly. "There are other tactics to use on men such as they," she replied softly. "Other methods of... pursuasion, one might call them." The Queen smiled sweetly at Caitrin, stepping forward a little.

The lady's words made her pause for a moment, and she arched an eyebrow. " Do you really wish to prolong your stay here, in these cells?" she asked, intregued. "I could have you back in a warm bed in an instant, and yet you continue to defy me, to aggrivate me. Why is that, Caitrin? Is it just that you are a foolish girl with no knowledge of the world? Or is there another reason? Are you still hoping Arthur will come and save you?"