A Bit of Polite Conversation? (Aryenne)

[Caitrin de Archer]

The evening was still young, though the feasting had already finished for the most part. Caitrin already felt quite worn out with the evening on the whole give that she was already four months pregnant, and it was showing quite heavily already. Her dark green satin dress clung to her figure, and outlined her pregnant belly with ease. The novelty of the whole thing was slowly wearing off, and she was beginning to tire of the constant questions that came with her condition. She sighed a little as she ran a hand over her belly, feeling the baby stir within her. She was stood by herself at the moment, on the outskirts of the whole feast. Her husband was speaking with his brother, and was probably glad of the peace and quiet from her side for a while. Her emotions hadn’t been great for the past week or so. She wasn’t sure why she had been so hormonal since discovering she was pregnant. The physician had told her that her emotions would be all over the place, but she hadn’t really expected it to this extent.

Caitrin looked around the Great Hall, feeling slightly nostalgic. It was hard to believe that she had been here for six long years now. They had been anything but uneventful; Camelot was her home now and she couldn’t imagine moving back to Mercia. She didn’t want to go back; this was where she and Griff were making a life for themselves and this was where their children would be raised. Pressing her lips together, she looked across to where the Princess Mithian was sat with the King She really was very pretty, and if Arthur intended to marry her then Caitrin of course would wish them the best of luck. She hoped that Arthur was going to be as happy in his marriage as she was in hers. Then again, Caitrin’s marriage hadn’t been arranged, from what she had heard from the knights, Arthur had arranged this marriage for the future of the Kingdom. It was really quite admirable. Caitrin had always run away from the prospect of an arranged marriage; it had never really appealed.

The baby stirred again, and Caitrin reached for her goblet and took a sip; resting her hand on her belly in the process. It already felt like she couldn’t remember not being pregnant, which brought a soft smile to her lips. She couldn’t wait to be a mother, she was scared of course, but she felt like this was what she needed. She had been alone for so long, but now she had Griff, and the baby was on the way, and it felt like life was finally dealing her a good hand. Looking up again, she noticed a noblewoman by the end of the table, standing on her own. The girl looked like she was only in her teens or so, and Catrin walked up to her with ease, “My Lady, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting before.” She curtseyed a little, but had to stop herself before she got too low as she wasn’t sure she would be able to get back up again. “I am Lady Caitrin Aubert, who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

Tagged: Lady Aryenne Dracose
Timeline: During the welcome feast for Princess Mithian in The Hunters Heart
Location: The great hall
Time of day: Evening[/color][/size]

[Aryenne Dracose]

-Aryenne Dracose-



Who is the BETRAYER?

The KILLER in the crowd?


How dull this all was, Aryenne could think of other things that she could be doing at this very moment rather than welcoming yet another princess to the lands of Camelot to try and snuggle up to the likes of Arthur Pendragon. The idea made her roll her eyes and lips curl with distaste as she watched them talk to each other. She did not want to be here at all. Why was it that they always have to celebrate Arthur and the welcoming of another Princess? There was only ever a small enough chance that they would ever stay around for good. There was that utter fiasco with Lady Vivian, and then a near marriage with Princess Elena. Not to mention, his failed situation with that serf girl, Gwen or whatever. Now that had been a laughing stock.

She couldn't say that she had been surprised by what happened between Gwen and that knight, Sir Lancelot. After all, he should have expected such a situation to arise from somebody who wasn't of noble blood. A sigh escaped her as she glanced down at her goblet for a moment and then glancing over towards her parents. They were happily chatting it away with some other nobles, no doubt whispering power into their ears and hypnotizing people like snakes. Her parents wished to rule Camelot, and no doubt, with their bloodlines and the Dracose name strong and bold, it should have been there's. Aryenne thought they were wasting their time though, if there was any one who was going to try a stab for the crown, it would be long lost Morganna le Fey, or perhaps it was Pendragon now.

That woman had certainly caused quite a stir with the kingdom not too long ago, and Aryenne had this suspicion that she was far from gone for good. Sadly though, finding her is a task in it's own and she had not been having too much luck. Her eyes surveyed the crowd again bu there was nobody here who caught her eye. Nobody important enough to Aryenne's standards and she had very high standards indeed. She had hardly been paying attention now as she took a sip from her goblet when a noble woman showed up and curtseyed to her. Eyeing her, she waited for an introduction, "My Lady, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting before. I am Lady Caitrin Aubert, who do I have the pleasure of addressing?” The name seemed familiar to her, no doubt a friend of Arthur's but with her own name.

Her gaze flickered to her parents now who had taken noticed and nodded towards her before turning there attention back to their own conversation. Aryenne just frowned before glancing back towards lady Caitrin now and offered a smile, hoping that she wouldn't be as dull or infuriating as Lady Nora. Bowing her head, Aryenne forgo'ed a curtsy, "My very pleasure to meet you," ugh, how it pained her to be so nice, "I am Lady Aryenne Dracose...I see you are with child. How long til you give birth?"


The one who CREEPS in corridors,

And doesn't make a SOUND?

NOTES: |None|
MUSIC: |Heavy in Your Arms - Florence + The Machine|
TAGS: |Caitrin de Archer|

[Caitrin de Archer]

This was the first feast really that Caitrin had attended where her condition was visible to those around her. She had been badgered by questions all night, but she didn’t mind, she enjoyed it more than anything. Caitrin hadn’t really expected many nobles at court to pay her much attention in her condition, after all many of the people here had been quite weary of her at first. Relations between Camelot and Mercia had never been at their best, and though a treaty held at the moment there was no saying how long it would last for. Caitrin’s hand smoothed over her belly as she felt the child stir within her. It took her breath away a little whenever she thought about being a mother; there was this life within her that she and Griff would have to tend to and care for. They would be a real family, and this child would be so loved, and have everything neither of them had had during their childhood.

She smiled at her new acquaintance, wondering why she had not caught her eye before at court. There were always so many new faces that you were bound to miss one once in a while weren’t you? Caitrin wasn’t sure what to think when the young girl merely inclined her head, and didn’t do her the courtesy of a more formal greeting. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Aryenne.” From the girls accent, she guessed that she was from the noble stock of Camelot, rather than another kingdom. That would make sense of course, there weren’t many from other kingdoms; Caitrin and her husband were an exception rather than the rule. She enjoyed it though. Arthur had looked out for her when she had first arrived in Camelot, despite the way things were with Mercia he had still took the time to look out for her and now she could call him one of her closest friends.

Arthur of course had been the first person she had confided in about her condition, aside from Merlin and Gaius of course but that had been for medical reasons. She had even told Arthur before she had told her husband. Caitrin had been so afraid to tell Griff, as they hadn’t had the best role models growing up so she hadn’t known how he would react. He seemed to be coping relatively well, but he did have some time before the baby arrived. “I still have five months left, so there’s still quite a lot of growing to go.” She grinned, and ran her hand over her belly, not sure how she would be able to cope by the time she came full term given how large her bump already was. “Though five months feels like too long to wait.” Caitrin joked lightly, before deciding to turn the conversation to Aryenne, rather than her unborn child, “Are you here alone my lady?”

[Aryenne Dracose]

-Aryenne Dracose-



Who is the BETRAYER?

The KILLER in the crowd?


The moment that Aryenne had asked such a question, she soon realized that his Lady Caitrin had probably heard the same question all night. After all, when a woman was with child, that was usually the reaction, yes? Women fawning all over the main one, talking about how wonderful it was going to be and how they could see her glow. The thoughts annoyed her a little more, Aryenne didn't see what was so special about bringing a child into the world. She was certain to this day that her mother had not enjoyed it one bit. Still, the young girl knew not to allow these thoughts to get the best of her, she was here to make 'friends' and good acquaintances, not to scare everyone off. But it was tempting, friends here not her thing at all.

Lady Caitrin was still offering her a smile though, and Aryenne was beginning to wonder that if she had never heard of her before which was quite shocking considering Aryenne's own reputation. Although, for once, this might be a good thing since she was close to Arthur Pendragon, and they were always the best people to befriend, "It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Aryenne." Oh, such formalities right now. The young girl merely smiled now at her address, "There's no need for calling me lady, my parents still think me too young of the title," even at age nineteen. Parents these days. As Lady Caitrin continued to talk though, it dawned on her that the woman was not from Camelot, at least, not in her voice at least. There was still a faint hint of something else there, "Forgive me, my lady, but you are not from around here originally, are you?"

Glancing back down at her stomach though, Aryenne thought she looked quite big, so it came to a surprise when the lady announced how long she had been within child, "I still have five months left, so there’s still quite a lot of growing to go." Well, that certainly threw her for a loop. Only four months? She looked ready to pop that instant, which means that Aryenne should probably just keep those thoughts to herself, "Though five months might be too long to wait," she added on, and the young girl merely nodded her head in agreement, "I can only imagine," she said now, "Must be hard to move around with," she said, or having to fit into dresses. The conversation though, had quickly turned back to her, "Are you here alone, my lady?" That made her heave a sigh, "If only, I came with my parents," she said now, waving over towards them, "But I find them quite dull so I choose to stay away from them when possible."


The one who CREEPS in corridors,

And doesn't make a SOUND?

NOTES: |Another long wait ><|
MUSIC: |Heavy in Your Arms - Florence + The Machine|
TAGS: |Caitrin de Archer|

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin didn’t mind people asking after her condition of course, especially now it was showing properly now. Her rounded belly was only emphasised by the tight dress she was wearing; the midwife had told her that she had a while before her belly was supposed to swell to this kind of size, but Caitrin wasn’t worried about the fact she was growing quickly. She just wanted the baby to be healthy; this would complete hers and Griff’s little family, and so she was counting down the days until she would be able to hold her child. Caitrin was certain she would do everything right, not like her own family; she would love her children, and appreciate them. Caitrin didn’t want her children to grow up thinking they were unwanted, or unloved as she had. That particular cycle would never be repeated, not while there was breath in her lungs.

Well, Caitrin knew she wouldn’t have appreciated being called anything but a lady at Aryenne’s age, indeed, since coming to Camelot in her earlier teenage years she had always been called a lady. She just nodded a little, “I do not mind calling you a Lady, I know I would not have appreciated being called anything but at your age.” She smiled, hoping to come across as understanding. Then again, this could be her pride seeping through a little, as her family had always commanded respect, and that came mutually in most occasions. She had no idea really, perhaps if she had been brought up in a loving family she would not have the same expectations which she had now. She shook her head softly, “No, I am not my Lady.” She smiled a little, “I am from Mercia, my family still lives there, well for the most part.” She shrugged, “But I love it here in Camelot; I have never thought to move back.” She never would, especially given how her father was. She would not let him get anywhere near her baby.

She did wonder how big she would become; she and Griff were hardly giants, and so she hoped her belly would not swell too much. At the moment she was comfortable, but she knew that soon it would become harder to move, and more tiring. Caitrin smiled softly, “Not at the moment, it just feels like I’ve put on a lot of weight.” She chuckled, as really that was all she had done, but it wasn’t an overwhelming amount just yet. “Though I doubt I’ll be able to move much by the end.” Caitrin smoothed a hand over her belly, and felt the baby stir a little; she hoped the little one would settle before bed, so she could get some sleep.

Caitrin was a little surprised at how rude Aryenne was about her parents, especially seeing as they were not long in each other’s company. She just stayed silent for a moment, processing what she had said, “I’m sure they are not that bad?” She asked quietly, and sipped at her wine, after all, she knew the extremes of bad parenting. If the only thing Aryenne could complain about was that her parents were dull then she had little to concern herself with.

[Aryenne Dracose]

-Aryenne Dracose-



Who is the BETRAYER?

The KILLER in the crowd?


It was a good thing that her mother had not been here, she might have scoffed at the question at hand. It was rude to ask women about their babies, even if they did not mind such as Lady Caitrin fell into this category. Aryenne could not imagine becoming a mother, having to look after little children did not seem like fun. How could you ever find time to flirt with the charming knights that came to the tournaments? Even more so, being with child made one lose their figure and Aryenne could never imagine going through that, "I do not mind calling you a Lady, I know I would not have appreciated being called anything but at your age," Lady Caitrin said now. Well, she would not lie, it was a really nice to be treated like an adult. As sickeningly sweet as she was, Aryenne was beginning to take a liking to this fellow redhead.

"If that is the case, I am sure you will make a lovely mother, Lady Caitrin. You'll actually understand children," Aryenne replied coolly, a sly smile on her lips. Though, she could imagine that there were other nicer things to be called besides such 'my lady'. In fact, 'my queen' had an even better ring to it and one day, that would certainly be her title. Unfortunately, there were a lot of things standing in her way at that precise moment and those things had the last name of Pendragon. Really, it was quite annoying. Her bloodline was old as well, it extended far beyond the Great Purge. She was certain that the Dracose line had been in power at once, but now, her and her parents were stuck sitting humbly on the sidelines when all what the wanted to do was rule.

She did not have a great deal of time though to pour over her family history and ancestry though as Lady Caitrin began to speak again and yank Aryenne firmly out of her thoughts, "No, I am not my Lady. I am from Mercia, my family still lives there, well for the most part. But I love it here in Camelot; I have never thought to move back.” And just like that, Aryenne felt as if she had an opening into another world, and it floated into her hand like a stray piece of parchment. It was much better than any scathing conversation that she had with Lady Nora, who did not think so highly of her either, "Mercia? That is many leagues away. I hope I am not rude by asking this, but are you the same Mercian that is said to be friends with Arthur Pendragon, Lady Caitrin?" Hopefully Arthur had yet to slander her name to the Mercian, for she and the King simply loathed each other.

The conversation turned back to the baby though, as is the usual center piece for any woman with child. Aryenne did not mind much, with someone such as Lady Caitrin, she realized that it might be to her benefit to gradually allow the conversation to grow with comfort rather than try and force her hand which Aryenne usually did. She may be a psychotic brat, but in her later teenage years, the young girl realized that it might be more strategic to not always allow her true colors to show, "Not at the moment, it just feels like I've put on a lot of weight. Though I doubt I'll be able to move much by the end." Aryenne watched as the lady rested her hand on her belly now, no doubt there was a little child moving now, "Well, that is what servants are there for," she replied simply, "Or so I would hope." Though many servants were rather stupid.

Aryenne realized that she may have gone a step far with calling her parents dull, but it was rather hard not to. Well, her mother at least, she knew that she did actually like Lir Dracose on many occasions. He allowed her to do anything she wished so long as her mother wasn't around, "My father is not that bad, but I cannot stand my mother. She's jealous of my beauty and often tries to tell me what to do. I think I am well beyond needing any of her help or knowledge at my age."


The one who CREEPS in corridors,

And doesn't make a SOUND?

NOTES: |ta da!|
MUSIC: |Heavy in Your Arms - Florence + The Machine|
TAGS: |Caitrin de Archer|