All We Are (Isolde)

[Caitrin de Archer]

All in all, it was quite a pleasant day in Mercia. They were out of the harsh winter and they were now into spring. Caitrin loved spring, because she could finally get out of the house after having been cooped up for most of the winter. Helgund, Caitrin’s tutor and nurse, had taken her to one of the main markets in Mercia today, to run some errands. Caitrin had been so excited when Helgund had suggested it, because she couldn’t wait to stretch her legs, and just see what there was on offer in the market. Caitrin was nine years old now, and she was just tall enough to see on top of the market stalls as she and Helgund walked. Her nurse had her hand locked in hers, and would occasionally move her on. “Come on little lady.” Caitrin looked up at her tutor with a dazed sort of look. She’d been lost in her thoughts watching some of the other people at the markets. Caitrin stuck out like a sore thumb in some respects with a bottle green cloak around her finer noble clothing. Though Payton de Archer wasn’t the most caring of parents, and Caitrin had the scars to prove it, he did care about his families appearance, so he had insisted that Caitrin was donned in her finer garments, even if Helgund was only taking her to the markets. She was the youngest de Archer and she had to act like it.

Helgund looked back at her charge again, and smiled at the young child. “I’ll buy some herbs, and we can work on your medicines later, how does that sound?” She asked, and Caitrin’s eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly,

“Oh, can we?” She was an eager student, and Helgund nodded and ruffled Caitrin’s red hair,

“We can, after our jobs are done of course.” Caitrin nodded glumly, adults always wanted something when they offered something which sounded like it could be fun. It didn’t occur to Caitrin that if she got the errands out of the way they could get home quicker, she was too busy being distracted by the different sounds, sights and smells of the markets. Helgund was more focussed on the task at hand, and purchased some fabrics to make Caitrin some more clothes, as she had grown over the winter months, some herbs, and some ribbons for Caitrin’s older sisters. “We now have to visit the blacksmith to get your brothers sword mended.” Caitrin knew that Bryce had blunted it during some training out in the yard. Helgund had offered to take it to be sharpened as they were heading in the blacksmiths direction anyway. Caitrin had no idea how long it would take to mend a sword, but she hoped it wouldn’t be long. Helgund led her into the blacksmiths and began to speak to the man who Caitrin assumed was the blacksmith. Caitrin was already quite distracted, and broke her hand from Helgund’s. The nurse, who never missed a trick, looked over her shoulder at the girl, “Don’t wander far Caitrin.” The girl nodded, knowing she had permission to stray a little as long as Helgund could find her when she needed to. There was a door to the side of the room which Caitrin pushed open and it led her back outside. Caitrin would have gone back inside if it hadn’t been for the fact there was a young blonde girl there, who looked as if she was a similar age to Caitrin. Smiling at this find, Caitrin half jumped out of the door and walked up to the girl with a smile, “Hello, my name is Caitrin.” She gave a small awkward curtsey. Helgund had been teaching her how to act like a lady recently, “What’s your name?”

Tagged: Isolde
Timeline: Caitrin is nine years old
Location: Blacksmiths in Mercia
Time of Day: Morning[/color][/size]

[ladyisolde1]

Isolde was having a little break. Though, she loved helping her father mend the swords and watch him as he made various weapons (since she was too young to be able to help him with that yet), it was tiring work. Especially for an 9 year old and so her father told her to take a small break and go and run outside. She had just finished doing some cartwheels in the air when she saw a little girl had wandered into their yard. She looked like she was around the same age as Isolde. Smiling at her, the little girl curtseyed and greeted her with a polite hello and introduced herself as Caitrin, before asking her what was her name. Isolde felt very nervous because by the look of her clothes and the bright green clock she wore, she looked noble. And while her father did get a lot of business from all walks of life -- including nobles, they mainly talked to her father or mother, never her.

Realizing that she had yet to curtsy or introduce herself to Caitrin, Isolde quickly bent down in a low, somewhat clumsy curtsy and responded boldly, "Hello, Caitrin. My name is Isolde." Now what, Isolde thought to herself. They had introduced themselves but she did not know what to say or do next for she never interact or played with noble children before. Not until now...

[Caitrin de Archer]

The girl looked friendly enough, and Caitrin felt quite at ease already, though she never really felt worried or nervous about much. She never really played with girls her own age, or when she did she only got to now and again. She was the youngest in a large family, and what she wanted often paled in comparison to what her brothers and sisters wanted. It had taught her to make the most of occasions like this, and it was why she knew her nurse didn’t mind her wandering off that much. She wasn’t silly enough to run into trouble that she couldn’t get herself into. Helgund had taught her not to talk to strangers, but this little girl looked ok, and nice enough. She didn’t look as if she was going to hurt her anyway, and she was sure that was what Helgund had been so worried about when she had gone through that lesson. Anyway, she had only ever spoken about not speaking to bad men, and this was a girl. “It’s nice to meet you Isolde.” She replied politely, remembering her manners. She knew Helgund would be cross with her if she found out she had forgotten her manners. “I’ve never heard that name before, but I like it.” She declared boldly and looked around the yard with intent interest. She loved discovering new places, and that was probably why Helgund was so worried she was going to get into trouble eventually. “You can call me Cait, everyone does.” She explained, and it was true. Hardly anyone, aside from her parents, called her Caitrin all the time.

Caitrin looked about the small yard and wondered where the rest of the house was. Her father had once told her that they were special because they lived in a large house, but Caitrin couldn’t really understand that. She knew she was a noble-girl of course, and that their family was above people who were called peasants, but that was it. “Is this all of your house?” She asked, and then realised that her words might sound rude and she widened her eyes slightly, realising her mistake, “It’s very... pretty!” Yes, that was the right word to use, it certainly was quite nice. Caitrin wondered if many people lived like that. She just assumed everyone lived the same way that she did, and that everyone was just fine and happy.

[ladyisolde1]

Luckily, the girl knew what to say next. “It’s nice to meet you Isolde.” She replied politely and Isolde responded with a somewhat awkward smile seeing as this girl was noble and had the finest clothes. "It's nice to meet you, Lady Caitrin," Isolde told the girl kindly, but she wondered why on earth she was doing in her yard -- considering she probably had a bigger garden than her house and her neighbors houses put together!

“I’ve never heard that name before, but I like it.” She declared boldly at Isolde, before looking around the yard with interest. "Thank you, Milady." Isolde was touched that the girl thought so for her name was not a common name. Her mother had heard a merchant from another kingdom calling at his daughter with the name Isolde and her mother liked it so when she was born that was what her parents decided to call her. They had no idea what it meant though and Isolde has always wanted to find out.

“You can call me Cait, everyone does.” She explained to her gently and Isolde nodded her head, "Okay Cait. You can call me Issy if you want. My friends do." Then Isolde smiled brightly at her, becoming more confident and comfortable talking with this girl. For she seemed really nice and not at all like she imagined little noble girls to be like. And this made her happy.

Isolde then saw Caitrin looking around the small yard and started to feel a little anxious. For compared with this noble girl's estate her house was tiny! “Is this all of your house?” She asked Isolde, who looked shocked at her words and was about to retort; when she noticed Cait's eyes widened, with the realization of how her words might have sounded rude. Before she quickly added, “It’s very... pretty!”

"Thank you, Cait. It's very small though." Isolde said a little awkwardly, before curiosity over-took her and she asked the little girl, "If you don't mind me asking Cait, what are you doing here in the yard?" She hoped that she did not sound rude, but she really wanted to know why a noble girl such as herself was doing in a peasant's house.

[Caitrin de Archer]

It felt strange to have someone call her ‘Lady’ Caitrin. She didn’t feel like a Lady, even though she looked like one. Caitrin looked down at her clothes, and then looked at the girl in front of her. It was quite clear they were from two very different walks of life, but Caitrin pulled a face at being called a Lady. That was what her sisters strived to be, and although she did want to be a good Lady, she didn’t want to be anything like her sisters. She wanted to be more exciting and adventurous than either of them. To her, they were just boring, all they talked about was their hair, and boys and their dresses. Caitrin couldn’t understand why they just talked about boys all the time, for her, they were just silly. She just nodded at the girl in front of her, she didn’t want to tell her off for calling her a Lady, because that was what she was really.

Caitrin wasn’t sure whether she liked Isolde or Issy more. She did like the name Isolde, it was so pretty and it just sounded so different. Caitrin had never met anyone called Isolde before, so it was quite exciting in a way. “What does Isolde mean?” She asked curiously, she knew her own name meant pure, which she didn’t understand. Caitrin wasn’t quite sure how she could be pure, but Helgund had promised to tell her when she was older. Though her nurse had laughed when she’d told her the meaning of her name, and said it was ill suited to her. Caitrin had found it very rude she had laughed and not even wanted to tell her why she was laughing.

Though Isolde had been the one to say that the yard was small, Caitrin was polite enough to know not to agree with her. She couldn’t think of a good word to describe it though, she’d already said it was pretty. “It’s... homely.” Was that even a word? Caitrin had heard Helgund use it to describe somewhere once, and she wasn’t even sure what it meant. She was sure it was a good thing though, as the person she had been saying it to had been happy enough. Caitrin was probably just worrying about nothing.

It hadn’t even struck the young girl that her presence might be a strange thing to the girl, as she had just popped out of nowhere. “Oh, my nurse is getting a sword fixed for my brother.” She explained with a smile and pointed to the door she had come out of, “So I think the man in there is fixing it.” Caitrin had no idea how you fixed a sword, but she hoped it wouldn’t be done too quickly now she had someone to occupy herself with.

[ladyisolde1]

“What does Isolde mean?” Caitrin asked Isolde curiously and Isolde shrugged her shoulders, "I have no idea what it means. My mother heard a merchant from another Kingdom call his daughter Isolde, but we have no idea as to its meaning. Though I'm dying to find out." Isolde admitted to the other little girl. Hopefully she would be able to find that out one day. Caitrin reassured her that the house was fine. “It’s... homely," the other girl told her politely. Isolde knew what that word meant and smiled, touched by the compliment, "Yes it is very homely. That is what my mother always tells me. That while we don't have much, our house is very cosy and warm."

Isolde then waited to hear why the girl was in her yard. “Oh, my nurse is getting a sword fixed for my brother.” Caitrin began to explain why she was here with a smile. She then pointed to the door she had just come out of, “So I think the man in there is fixing it.”

Isolde nodded her head, "Well you have come to the right place then. My father is the best Blacksmith in Merica." Isolde could not help but boast for she thought the world of her father. "He even lets me help sharpen the swords. Though, I'm not allowed to mend them yet. He says I'm too young to do that yet." Isolde began to explain animatedly with a huge smile on her face. She loved helping her father in the forge and she could not wait till she was old enough to learn more of the art.

Then curiosity overcame her again and she asked the girl, "So you have a brother then? How many siblings do you have?" Isolde was an only child and wished that she had a younger brother or sister to play with. Though, Isolde did have many friends she could play with, it was not the same.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was quite curious to find out what the name Isolde meant, as it was quite a pretty name. She was a little disappointed that she didn’t know what it meant either, but that was probably better than knowing it and not understanding like Caitrin did. She didn’t think she would ever understand why her name meant pure. It was an odd description really. “I hope you do find out one day.” Caitrin had run out of things to say about the house really, so she just nodded with a soft smile at Isolde. She wasn’t quite sure what else you could say about a house. It wasn’t as big as hers, but her brothers had often told her that their house was bigger than most so that was that wasn’t it? Not everyone could be of noble birth, even someone as young as Caitrin appreciated that fact.

Well, if Isolde was saying that her father was the best blacksmith in Mercian then that was probably a good thing. That meant that her brothers sword would soon be fixed. Caitrin couldn’t imagine being allowed to help with things like that. She was just about allowed to use her bow and arrow, and even that was usually done only on special occasions, and when her father was out of sight. “That must be so much fun.” Caitrin enthused with a wide smile. She had always been told that men did all the work, and that ladies had to just do the work inside the house. That never really appealed to Caitrin, but it was all she knew, “I don’t think my father would let me help to do jobs like that.” Her father would rather she be like her older sisters.

Caitrin always thought she had too many brothers and sisters. She was the seventh child of Ailith and Payton de Archer, and she was often reminded of that fact. Her father had wanted another son, so she had always felt like she had been a disappointment. “I have six siblings.” She held her hands up, “So I have two sisters, and four brothers, and I’m the youngest.” She hated being the youngest. Most of the things she got were second hand, and she was always treated like a baby. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

[ladyisolde1]

Isolde smiled at Caitrin when she said that she hoped she found out what her name meant soon and for a few moments there was awkward silence. Until, Caitrin spoke about how fun it must be to be allowed to help her father in the forge and Isolde grinned. "Yes, I really do enjoy helping my father and watching him make swords and other weapons. Though, I'm dying to be able to do more than sharpening swords." Isolde told her enthusiastically and got a feeling that Caitrin was feeling a little envious of her life-style a little. Which Caitrin confirmed when she told her a little disappointingly, “I don’t think my father would let me help to do jobs like that.”

She did not know what to say to a comment like that, so she just said to her, "That is a pity. I love doing work." Isolde felt sorry for Caitrin now, though she had everything in her life, an huge house and money. But it seemed that money could not buy everything and Isolde began to further appreciate her life -- for while they did not have much, they were happy. Not to say that Caitrin was not happy, just that she had more responsibilities than Isolde since she was born within a noble family. Where as, Isolde was not and her life was a little more care-free.

Wow six siblings! Isolde could not hide her surprise at that. And poor Caitrin, she was the youngest of four brothers and two sisters. Though Isolde did not have any siblings, she had heard from her friends that being the youngest was not always fun for your older siblings tended to treat you like a baby even when you weren't.

Isolde responded with a shake of her head when Caitrin asked her if she had any siblings. "No I'm an only child. Though, there are times when I wished that I had a younger brother or sister to play around with. I mean I do have friends but its not the same is it?" Isolde asked Caitrin, wondering if it was better at times having siblings than friends.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin felt a small pang of envy when Isolde began to speak about how she wanted to help her father out in the blacksmiths by sharpening swords. She was also glad her father wasn’t here. He wouldn’t have ever been able to stand hearing about girls being allowed to help out with things that men usually did. Caitrin had always wanted to learn how to use a sword, and fight like her brothers. Instead, she had been taught how to use a bow, more for dressage purposes, and she had been sent to needlework classes. Helgund taught her sorcery, but she had to keep that a secret. That was so annoying, she could command fire and wind, but wasn’t allowed to show it off. “You’re so lucky to be able to help out you parents.” She grinned, wondering if Isolde would one day take over the blacksmiths, or was that too much? Could girls run shops, the young girl wondered.

It didn’t surprise Caitrin that Isolde loved work as well. Caitrin wasn’t sure she would love work, she just didn’t want to sit around with her needlework all day. However, she would rather be a noblewoman than be a peasant and be allowed to help out in shops. It was strange that she thought like that, but Caitrin had been brought up as a noble girl, with all the pride and superiority which went with that. She could never escape that mentality. It was who she was. “It must be fun, for you to like it so much.” Caitrin mused, though she wasn’t sure how much fun she would find it.

Caitrin wasn’t sure how she would feel as an only child. She was sure she wouldn’t like it as much, because it was easier to be ignored sometimes if you were only one in a big group of children. Her brother Bryce used to look after her as well when her father took his hand to her. He had always come to find her, and make sure she was not too badly hurt. If she was an only child she wouldn’t have had that protection. “You can have one of my siblings if you want.” Caitrin joked lightly, “I don’t have many friends, just my brothers and sisters.” And she didn’t even like most of them either.

[ladyisolde1]

“You’re so lucky to be able to help out you parents.” Caitrin grinned, and Isolde supposed that she was when she considered how others lived. "Yes, I am." She agreed, though her parents had their moments when they would get cranky at her and tell her off and ban her from helping her father in the forge as punishment. Which did not happen that much now, for Isolde loved working in the forge.

“It must be fun, for you to like it so much.” Caitrin mused and Isolde smiled again. "Yes it is fun but sometimes not so much when father has many orders and not much time to complete them." But even then Isolde enjoyed it and felt like she had a purpose in life. She even dreamed of owning the forge one day but knew it was unlikely since she was a girl and not a man. It was only at these times that Isolde wished she was a boy! Though, most of the time she was glad that she was not.

Isolde waited curiously for Caitrin to respond to her question and was a little surprised by it. “You can have one of my siblings if you want.” Caitrin joked lightly to her and Isolde laughed a little. But also felt a little sad that Caitrin did not seem to get along with her siblings. She then went on to explain that she doesn't have many friends just her brothers and sisters and Isolde got the sense that her relationship with them was not that good and Isolde felt pity for her. For surely it must be depressing and lonely to not have many friends or get along with your brothers and sisters. "Who do you play with then?" Isolde asked her lightly.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin wasn’t quite sure now she actually thought about it, that she would want to help her father with his work. After all, it did look quite boring as all he seemed to do was write letters and sign papers and have meetings with different people. However, when he went out to survey the land, now that did look like a lot of fun. You just got to go around looking at what you owned and made sure the ground had been planted properly to get food from it. Caitrin would have loved to help out there, or do anything which would make her father look at her with an inch of pride. Every time her father looked at her, Caitrin knew he didn’t like her. She wasn’t pretty like her sisters, and she didn’t act like a dutiful daughter either, so why would he like her? Isolde seemed to get along well with her father, and Caitrin was quite envious of that in a way.

Isolde’s life did seem very different to her own, and though Caitrin knew not everyone lived in manors, she didn’t think that they would be this different. She quite liked it though in a way, but she supposed she would rather live in a manor than here. No matter how much she envied the relationship Isolde had with her father. “But it seems like fun other than that?” Caitrin asked, slightly cautiously, she had no idea what it was like to work in the way that Isolde’s family did, so she had no idea whether it would be fun or not.

Though Caitrin had obviously been joking about giving her siblings away, sometimes she wished she had less siblings than she actually did. Her father had wanted another son, granted he had four already, but he had once told her that daughters were just expensive. So she had just felt like an expense since her younger days. Caitrin shrugged softly, “My nursemaid plays with me sometimes, or I make up my own games.” She didn’t really have friends her own age. Friends were made in court, and she wasn’t allowed to go to court.

[ladyisolde1]

“But it seems like fun other than that?” Caitrin asked, slightly cautiously, and Isolde knew that it was because the little girl probably did not do much work. For she was born in noble family and did not need to and she wondered what that would be like, not having to work hard to eat and live each day. It would be less stressful, she thought. "It is," Isolde assured her. For while it was hard work, Isolde liked being occupied and useful in knowing that she was helping her father earn they living. Not only that, but she enjoyed seeing how certain processes can change one thing into another, some metal into a sword.

Isolde watched Caitrin shrug her shoulders softly before she answered, “My nursemaid plays with me sometimes, or I make up my own games.”

"Oh," Isolde muttered, feeling sorry that she did not have many friends to play with. It must be sad, Isolde could not help think and it gave her an idea. "Would you like to see the wooden sword my father made me for my 7th birthday?" She asked her kindly, very eager to show her the sword for it was the best thing that Isolde owned and she loved playing with it. She hoped that Caitrin would say yes to go and see it and then maybe she might even agree to have a go playing with it.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Again, Caitrin couldn’t ever imagine working. She had once told her father that she wanted to be a knight when she grew up, or a sorceress, and he slapped her until he had drawn blood. He had told her that their line wasn’t polluted by magic, and that she would one day marry a rich lord and be glad of it. The lifestyle of marrying, and cleaning a house didn’t really appeal to Caitrin, and even though she was a few years off a marrying age, she wasn’t looking forwards to it. Her father would probably pick someone ugly for her to marry, but what she really wanted was to marry someone she loved. She just nodded at Isolde, there wasn’t much more to say anyway about that. After her father’s outburst about magic, her nurse had told her to keep her gifts secret, so now no one knew her little secret.

“You got a sword?” Caitrin asked, incredibly impressed. The only thing Caitrin ever got for her birthday was silks for her dresses, or cast offs from her sisters. Hardly anything she got was new, and her parents would never dream of giving her a weapon for her birthday. Her bow and arrows had been a present from her older brother, but her parents still disapproved of such things. Her father believed women should learn to dance, sing and make dresses, and that only boys should learn how to fight and use a sword. Caitrin disagreed of course, she loved her bow, it made her feel alive when she was lining up a shot. She never meant anyone any harm of course, but she enjoyed hitting the centre of the target. “I’d love to see it.” The girl enthused, she was so jealous that Isolde had her own sword, she was really lucky to have parents who let her have toys that were meant for boys, rather than girls.

[ladyisolde1]

"You got a sword?" Cait asked her, clearly impressed and Isolde smiled. "Well it's not a real one, of course. Dad says I'm too young to have a real one. But its wooden and still fun to play with." She hoped that her comment did not disappoint Cait because it was not a real sword. Isolde was only 8 and a half and her mother would not allow her father to give her one at least till she was 14 years old. It bothered Isolde that her mother made this rule, but she was just happy that her mother still allowed her to help her father in the forge and have her own wooden sword. That was something at least.

Isolde smiled happily when Caitrin told her she would love to see it. "Come this way then," Isolde told her before she walked towards the house and into her room.

Her room was very small. In fact it was not really a room, rather it had a wooden screen that separated her quarters from the rest of the house. Isolde started to feel a little self conscious at the smallness of her room, for she bet that Cait's room was probably as big as her whole house!

"This is my room," Isolde pointed out lightly, before she grabbed the wooden sword that was laying on her bedside table. "And this is my sword!"

[Caitrin de Archer]

To have a sword, even if it was a wooden one, still was impressive to Caitrin. She’d never even dreamt of owning a sword, because it would never happen. Girls weren’t given swords to play with, they were given a needle and thread and told to be glad of it. “Will you ever get a real one?” Caitrin asked, still in awe that Isolde had a sword at all. If she had a wooden one perhaps her parents would even be as bold to let her have a real one. Caitrin could scarcely imagine it. It would be sensational if Isolde did have a sword when she was older, Caitrin would have to watch out for her as she supposed that she would cause quite the stir. What if she was a better swordsmen than some men? Caitrin almost made herself giggle, she doubted any knight in the kings army had ever been beaten by a girl.

Caitrin obliged Isolde and followed her into the house, hoping that her parents wouldn’t mind her being in their home without them inviting her in. However, she doubted Isolde would be inviting her inside if she knew they were going to get in trouble so she continued to follow her. Caitrin kept expecting to be let into a room, but instead she was just shown behind a screen. Caitrin looked around it, and it was hard to keep a look of surprise from her face because this room was so small. Her own bedroom was quite large, as the manor she lived in was large as well. Hers was the smallest bedroom though, but looking at this, she was starting to care less and less about that fact. She was too polite to say anything about the size of the room, so she focussed on the sword instead. Her little face lit up, “It’s amazing!” She squeaked, “I can’t believe it’s really yours.”

[ladyisolde1]

“Will you ever get a real one?” The other little girl asked in awe, which caused a big, proud grin to appear on Isolde's face. "Well, my papa has said that when I'm fourteen then he will give me a real sword." She told her excitedly, before adding, "But if my mama had her way I would never get one." It was true, her mother was not so keen on her daughter using any weapons, but her father managed to convince her to accept a compromise where Isolde would be able to have her own sword when she reached fourteen. And while Isolde hated to wait that long, at least her mother had said yes to ever allowing her one. So she was contented to wait till she was of age.

Caitrin followed her easily enough, though Isolde could see that she was concerned about whether she was allowed in the house. "Don't worry Cait. My papa is busy with your nurse and fixing your brother's sword and my mama is at the market buying cloth to make dresses," Isolde reassured her, before adding, "She's a stream-stress," she pointed out.

Though, Cait tried to disguise the fact that she was surprised at how tiny their house was and her 'room', Isolde could tell. She had a talent at being able to read people's minds. But that was forgotten when Caitrin's face lilt up and she squeaked, “It’s amazing!” before she added, “I can’t believe it’s really yours.”

"Yes it is," Isolde told her before she smiled and passed it over to her, "Here, you hold it and see how it makes you feel." She suggested before she knelt down and grabbed the wooden shield that was underneath her bed. "We could go outside and have a hit if you want?" Isolde asked her, eager to have a play with her and see how good she would be with a sword.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was still just incredibly impressed that Isolde was going to get her own sword, not just a wooden one but a real steel one. Caitrin had never handled a sword, nor had she ever imagined she would be allowed to hold one. Her father hated the fact she had a little bow and arrows, so she had never thought to get anything more than that. She would be stupid not to be scared of the opinion of her father, because it could quickly become a violent opinion, which was something Caitrin knew quite well. She never told anyone about what her father did of course, she didn’t want to seem like she was naughty. “I bet you can’t wait to have one.” Caitrin enthused, she supposed if someone offered to buy her a new bow then she would be absolutely thrilled.

She still felt a little bad that she was in the house without Isolde’s parent’s permission, but the girl had said it was alright. She gave a soft smile and nodded at Isolde and nodded, she was quite impressed that her mother was a seamstress as well. She wondered if she had ever made any of her family dresses or tunics, “What kind of things does she sew?” Caitrin asked curiously. She knew how to embroider and she was going to be taught to made dresses within the year, and she was both dreading and looking forwards to that. It would be so boring yet it would be nice to be able to make her own things.

She almost dropped the sword in shock as Isolde passed it to her, and she used both hands to handle it at first. Caitrin held it awkwardly, half of her wanted to hand it back to her new friend, because Caitrin wasn’t allowed swords; she was just a girl. But her father wasn’t here to tell her off, and she was incredibly tempted, so she lifted the wooden blade a little as a small smile swept onto her lips. “I’d love to.” Caitrin said happily, still getting over the shock that she was actually handling a sword, “But can you show me how to use it?” She asked a little flustered, she’d never used a sword before and didn’t want to get this wrong.

[ladyisolde1]

She watched Cait's face and could tell that the girl was impressed that one day she would have a real sword, not a wooden one. “I bet you can’t wait to have one.” Caitrin enthused to her and Isolde smiled widely, "I can not wait. I'm counting down the days till I can get one." Isolde told her excitedly, almost jumping up and down with excitement of it.

Isolde could not help but notice the glimmer of sadness in the little girl's face and it made her wonder if her childhood or family were as good as hers. She wished she could ask, but knew that it would be rude too, not just because she was a noble rather because she barely knew the girl.

“What kind of things does she sew?” Caitrin asked Isolde curiously and Isolde smiled, "She makes all our clothes. Tunics, trousers, dresses and chain mail. Anything really. She's very talented." Isolde commented happily. She wished she had her mother's talent with sewing, instead she was good at helping her father with the forge and the weapons.

Caitrin almost dropped the sword, her face shocked as Isolde passed it to her, and Isolde held back a giggle. She watched as she used two hands to grip the hilt, uncertain. Isolde could not wait to teach her the basics, as her father had secretly taught her.


Isolde smiled as her new friend agreed to play with her and then asked her if she could show her what to do. "Of course I'll show you. I have a feeling you will be a natural at it." For Isolde could tell that Cait was determined and that went a long way when learning how to use a sword. Though, it also took a lot of practice too. "Here," Isolde instructed gently as she lent over Cait's hands to show her how to hold the sword with one hand. "Place your fingers here to grip it," she showed her by placing her fingers where they should be, like her father showed her. Then she stood back and surveyed her work. "There," she exclaimed, happy with her work. "That's better." She then picked up the shield and ran outside for Caitrin to follow her.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was still looking at her new friend in awe. She couldn’t imagine a girl ever being allowed a real sword, but she supposed she had to believe it for now as Isolde didn’t seem like she was lying. Somehow Caitrin couldn’t imagine women being allowed swords, because if you had a sword then you could fight, and then could anyone say they weren’t allowed to become knights? Maybe some women would be able to fight better than some men; that was a thought. Caitrin decided not to voice any of this, she shouldn’t even be thinking about it; her father wouldn’t want her thinking about such things. “Well hopefully the time will pass quickly.” Caitrin replied to her friend, realising she hadn’t yet replied to her.

She was quite amazed that Isolde’s mother made so much. Caitrin’s mother didn’t make much at all. Her older sisters had just started to make their own dresses, a talent Caitrin was soon going to be instructed in. She really wasn’t looking forwards to that. Caitrin was a good sewer, but she would rather do something more fun with her time like use her bow and arrow, and learn her magic. “That sounds wonderful.” Caitrin mused, and brushed her dress down, “We have a seamstress who makes some of our clothes, but I have to learn to make my own dresses soon.” She pulled a face, she hoped that everyone would forget she was due to get those lessons; she didn’t have the patience for it; even her nurse said so.

Caitrin was still in a brief state of shock that she was holding a sword. It didn’t matter that it was a wooden sword; the point still stood. She felt so awkward holding it, and she somehow felt like she was going to get into trouble even though there was only her and Isolde here. She changed the way she was holding the sword at Isolde’s instruction, and she did find that it was more comfortable. “Thanks.” She said with a wide grin as she got a feel for the sword. She turned on her heels and followed Isolde back outside; sword in hand, “What should we do now?” She asked enthusiastically, still enjoying the fact she was holding a real sword.