Mischief Managed (Caitrin, Oliver)

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia had been quite looking forward to this moment, ever since reaching Mercia, and now after what had happened the other day even more so. Only two days had passed since that unexpected meeting with Oliver down by the river, and she felt more confused than ever. Ever since settling in Mercia, Caitrin had savoured her time with Griff, just like she should, but Yassia just needed a little more advice right now, and so when she had asked her friend to go for a ride with her, she had been glad Caitrin had accepted. It was hard even deciding with what to begin first, and so Yassia kept silent for the first part of their ride, until they reached the meadows below the castle walls.

Before this landscape had meant nothing to her, had been like a blank white sheet, but it was fascinating to see how soon a location could be laded with a meaning, even though you just had passed the spot once. She would surely always remember the riverbank now and the meadow beyond, where she had practiced archery under Oliver’s expert tutelage. The reminiscence alone brought back all those confused feelings and she quickly returned her attention to Caitrin, the landscape and the foreign mount beneath her. Since she had not brought her own horse, she had been asking for a steed from the stables of Mercia, and so far she didn’t regret her choice. The horse might even be a little too tame for her taste, but at least she could risk letting her mind wander without the prospect of being thrown off the next second.

Letting her mind wander, however, might not be such a good choice. Yassia tried to work against it with all her might, but she just couldn’t get Oliver out of her mind. Every little thing he had said and done was repeated over and over in her mind, was being analyzed and of course over-interpreted. She should stop this, she knew it very well. There was no hope for more than what already was, and she should be content. Oliver would remain her dear friend, and in time she would learn to ignore her body’s wishes, would ignore the tension that went on between him and her. Like he did. He seemed to cope so well, he probably had all but forgotten. But then, it had been HIM tricking her into kissing him… or had he even wanted that?
There was no use in this, and certainly no sense. She had hoped the time in Mercia would clear it all up, but it had become even more complicated, now also adding Edmund to the picture. Were his intentions truly so innocent and merely friendly?

Sighing aloud, Yassia once again forced herself to stop thinking, and turned to Caitrin, attempting a smile. “So… how have your days been so far, my dear?”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin de Archer had found the last few days rather strange. It was odd to think she was waking up every morning back in Mercia, and not Camelot. It was weird to think that she was now looking upon the hills of the north, rather than the forests of Camelot when she went out for a ride. She kept getting flashbacks to her childhood, after all, most of her life had been spent in Mercia, even if it was a part of her life she mostly glossed over. Griff was still finding it hard to adjust to the cold. She’d left him in bed this morning, as Yassia had wanted a ride out with just the two of them and that was it. Caitrin was going to try to use the time to gather her thoughts, whilst checking up on her friend at the same time. She knew Yassia must be used to going to different kingdoms, and adapting to their way of thinking, but Mercia was different in a way. She knew people here, and there was already talk about her being here. Caitrin’s arrival was nothing special in comparison to a princess from a far away land. Caitrin didn’t pay much heed to gossip, but she had heard two of the maids wondering about Yassia’s place in Mercia, and why she was here in the first place. They had concluded she would marry one of the princes, and no surprise which one they settled on. Caitrin would never tell Yassia of such things of course, she wasn’t sure she wanted to marry either of them at all.

At the bottom of Caitrin’s mind of course, she was over thinking Yassia’s problems as a sort of scapegoat for her own issues. After all, she had finally been confronted with her Mercian family after trying to ignore them for her entire time in Camleot. Jeffrey’s arrival couldn’t have been more mistimed really when he had walked in on hers and Oliver’s conversation. Though Caitrin had been quite fond of Jeffrey, she hadn’t wanted him to know about her wedding until her family actually had to know. She was intending on telling them after the vows were said, as even her father could not undo what was done before an alter, no matter how much he wanted to. There was a knot at the bottom of her stomach, she knew her father would call upon them soon, and he would try to talk her out of her impending marriage. He wouldn’t like Griff because he wasn’t his choice, and he wasn’t Mercian. Heck, he wasn’t even the first son. But Caitrin loved him, and her father would never change that.

Caitrin stroked the head of the mare she was riding, and smiled gently. She wasn’t as interesting as the mare, Lily, Caitrin had back in Camelot. However, she was proving good enough for this journey anyway. She was quite feisty, just not feisty enough for Caitrin’s particular taste. She always enjoyed getting a feel for the horses personality at first, because once you knew what you were dealing with then everything else just fell into place. She looked across at her friend as she spoke, and gave a warm sort of smile. Yassia had been quite quiet this morning so far, but then again so had Caitrin. Perhaps they both had a lot to mull over. “Strange, it’s been harder than I thought it would be to adjust back into my Mercian ways.” She admitted softly. She couldn’t be the woman she had once been in Mercia, so much had happened since then, and she was so used to living under the Pendragon’s that she now felt like she was in a foreign court even when she was at home. She was even starting to feel homesick. “How about you? How are you finding my homeland?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Thinking of Caitrin’s situation was so much easier than thinking of her own, probably because it wasn’t her shoes to fit in. Yassia always had liked the role of adviser, but she couldn’t seem to follow her own advices most of the time. So she rather stuck to giving them, and distract herself with the problems of others. That usually didn’t work well with seeking advice on her own accords, but until now she hadn’t had many reasons to get it anyway. Only Oliver had made her life so terribly complicated. And there she was, thinking of him yet again.

What had Caitrin on the other hand been up to? Had she already met up with her family, introducing Griff to them? And how would they have reacted? From what Yassia had learned of Caitrin’s family, she had found she would probably not like them much. The odd ones out were Caitrin and her uncle, both living in Camelot now, maybe for a reason. Griff and Caitrin were somehow similar in some aspects, so if Caitrin’s family had a problem with her, they might as well have a problem with Griff. But that was all nothing but speculation, and Yassia didn’t want to assume anything, until proven wrong or right by Caitrin herself, so it would be best to ask questions first.

“Really?” she assured when Caitrin told her she found it difficult to settle in her homeland. “Why is that, you think? Because you’ve been away too long, or because you suddenly find you feel more at home in Camelot than here?” It must surely feel different to come back to the place you grew up in after such a long time. Yassia herself had been only away for a year and a few months, and yet she already wondered what would have changed in Ailantha, so she thought she could feel Caitrin’s confusion quite well. “Have you already met up with your family? I’m so sorry I haven’t had the time to catch up sooner, but Prince Edmund is taking up most of my time, and if he doesn’t, Oliver is, with his crazy stunts.”

There he was again, right back in the conversation. How did that always happen? And even now, when she tried to think about Caitrin’s next question, he found his way back into her mind. How did she like Mercia? Well it surely had some unexpected perks.
“Well, it’s very … northern”, she said with a little laugh. “I’m sure Griff would agree on that part, but other than him, I really like it. The landscape has this kind of quiet melancholy to it. I went down to the river the day before yesterday.” She tried to make it sound nonchalant, but she was probably failing. Too much was connected now with that trip towards the river.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Well, at least the typical Mercian weather had held off for their ride. It wasn’t raining, all in all it was quite a mild morning, and they couldn’t have picked more perfect weather to go out on a ride really. She was so used to the Camelotian weather, which was nice most of the year round, that being back home was a bit of a culture shock. Home. Jesu, could she even call here home anymore? She would have done without hesitation a few years ago, even when she had been living in Camelot, but it didn’t feel like she belonged here anymore. It felt like she was visiting rather than coming back home. Perhaps that was a tell tale sign that Mercia would never be her home again, and that she was more than settled in Camelot with Griff by her side. He would never want to move to Mercia anyway, he already hated the weather and they had only been here for a few days.

Caitrin hadn’t felt like she had done much since returning home, she had just been getting used to the Mercian ways, and had been reacquainting herself with the castle mostly. She hadn’t been back to her family’s estate yet. A little shudder ran up her spine, she wanted to go back to her old home, but she wasn’t sure how that would go. After all, her father would be there, and she would have Griff with her most probably so the experience wouldn’t be pleasant in any sense. However, she did want to show Griff where she had grown up, and perhaps in a way she also wanted him to see why she was the way she was, and let him see the man who had caused everything in her life. She hated her father, and it wasn’t a term she used lightly, but there was no emotion or empathy between them at all. When she looked back now, and saw how he had affected her adult life so much with the way he had been with her as a child her anger just swelled and grew.

She had almost forgotten Yassia’s presence for a few moments, but she smiled at her friend’s concern, “I think I am just more used to Camelot, I think it feels much more like home there now.” It was true, she was even missing her Uncle, that was how drastic it was getting. She didn’t feel like a Mercian noblewoman anymore, even though that was what she would always be called. “I saw my brother yesterday, he called upon Oliver and I happened to be with him at the time.” Now, that had been awkward. Jeffrey had looked so different, he was older, and more worn than the youthful man Caitrin had left six years ago. She still loved him though, she supposed that was unconditional in a way, “But I haven’t seen anyone else yet. No.” She brushed aside Yassia’s concern over her neglect of company, “Oliver will always be Oliver.” She replied as Yassia began speaking of his stunts, “What has he done now?” She asked with an amused grin, she needed something to brighten up this trip at the moment, because it just felt like a massive mistake at the moment.

Northern was probably the best way to describe Mercia, “He just hates the weather.” Caitrin said and pulled a face slightly. She’d been boiling in their room and still Griff insisted that the fire had to be on all the time. She couldn’t understand him sometimes. “Oh, did you go by yourself?” She asked with furrowed brows, if she would have asked, Caitrin would have probably joined her, “The rivers around here are very scenic though, did you enjoy yourself?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia wished there was more she could do to make Caitrin more at ease with the situation, but that would probably be something her friend had to go through alone. Hadn’t Oliver asked her first to accompany him back to Mercia, she might even have felt guilty for asking such a thing of her friend as well, seeing how lost in thoughts and slightly uncomfortable she was now. But then, maybe this was a face everyone needed to go through: finding one’s place in the world. And sometimes you had to go back to an old place to realize it was no longer where you belonged. A shower ran down Yassia’s spine as she thought of her own home. What if the same happened to her, when she returned? What if she found out that the people had long since carried on with their lives as best as they could, and had forgotten about this princess who ran away and was by now probably dead? Where would she go then? Could she bear to journey another two months back to Camelot and stay there? Or would she simply… give up? Oh dear, her thoughts were running wild again indeed, maybe she was going crazy after all.That could so not be healthy! It was time she focused on other things again!
The little story about her brother finding her with Oliver brought an impish smile to Yassia’s face and she leaned forward in the saddle, eager to hear more. “And what? Did he accuse you two of doing something nasty, drew his sword and gave Oliver another wound?” A few days before she might have felt a sting of unease when it came to the subject of Oliver and Caitrin alone in one room, but that was gladly not the case anymore. There might be no better cure to ridiculous jealousy than nearly losing your best friend, apparently. Caitrin would have checked on his injury or something, being the sweet friend she was. But then there was another worm coiling in her guts, instead of the one called jealousy. Had they talked about her? If yes, what had Oliver said? And what was the most inconspicious way to get it out of Caitrin?
”I was talking about his injury anyway”, she assured Caitrin. “I mean, seriously, the blame is equally divided between both brothers. I don’t know what upset Edmund so much he lost all caution, but I bet it was something Oliver said or did. Have they always been like that?” After all, Caitrin knew them both, she would probably remember things from way back.

Was there letdown in Caitrin’s voice as she inquired of Yassia’s trip to the river? She couldn’t be completely, sure, but she still felt a little bad. Maybe she should have asked Caitrin to come along. But then, her incentive to go out there in the first place had been because she wanted to be alone, with nothing but fond memories as company. Memories of a time when life had still been simple. And then Oliver had showed up and her life had gotten even more complicated. It must be some sort of curse.
“Yes, I wanted some time to think”, she tried to explain. “I went out alone, to look for some herbs and just get a few things straight, and then I ended up taking a bath in the river.” Yassia felt heat rising up in her cheeks, and she knew that she could very well say it now, as Caitrin would inquire more anyway.
”And then Oliver came along… totally unexpected.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

The incident with her brother had been so ridiculous that Caitrin couldn’t help put a hand to her face and start laughing. She looked across to her friend with an air of mischief and just general laughter. Well, Yassia was half way to being right. If Jeffrey had thought Oliver was going to take her honour, he was six years too late for such assumptions anyway. She had her fun with Oliver many years ago, but now they were just good friends, and she was happy with that arrangement. She was engaged after all, and she supposed Oliver would eventually have to marry whether he liked it or not. He was second in line to the throne of Mercia after all, that was if his brother died without issue of course. “My brother jumped to the wrong conclusions, of course.” She explained, this was probably the most gossip Yassia was going to get out of her anyway, for she would not speak a word of what Oliver had said about Yassia during their little meeting, “He heard us talking about a wedding feast, and thought we were talking about it for ourselves. Though he was just as surprised I was engaged without my father’s blessing.” Well, Caitrin didn’t need her fathers blessing, as crudely speaking she was her Uncle’s property, not her fathers anymore. However, it probably would have been good manners to at least ask him, or tell him, neither of which she had done naturally.

Caitrin shrugged at Yassia’s question. She didn’t know Edmund past simple formalities. Oliver had been a close friend because he had been such good friends with her brother, so he had been round at her estate quite a lot while she was growing up. She had never had that sort of connection with Edmund though, “I’m not sure, I don’t know Edmund that well, you have probably spoken more to him over a few days than I did in fourteen years.” She chuckled lightly, she didn’t like Edmund that much anyway. She couldn’t explain why, but he just wasn’t the type of person she went for, which was saying something for Caitrin, especially with men, “I suppose boys will be boys though, they’re bound to get caught up in the moment now and again.” Caitrin didn’t see that much point in seeing too much into a simple skirmish. It was expected for them to both be competitive, and they had probably just got too caught up in the moment.

She didn’t feel hurt Yassia hadn’t asked her to accompany her to the river, as she’d probably been craving the time by herself. Caitrin could understand that. When she had been fresh faced in Camelot, she had wanted her own space because this was a new kingdom and she hadn’t been used to the customs. It surprised her though that Oliver had been down there as well. She was quite taken aback and wasn’t quite sure what to think. “Oh.” Was all she could manage straight away, and she double took her reaction, “What did he have to say for himself?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

It felt good to laugh just like that, getting highly amused about an incident they both found funny. Oh how Yassia wished she could have been there. To see the faces of them all three when thrown into such an awkward situation. It must have been priceless, and especially for an observer, who wasn’t involved into any of this. It was never quite as funny when you were living it yourself. Yassia might be a good sport, but she could find it hard sometimes laughing a matter off, if it was her being involved in it. Maybe afterwards, but never quite in the very same moment.
”Oh dear!” Yassia chuckled, biting her lips to get at least some control again, but the mental images she was painting in front of her inner eye were just too amusing. “Now that would have been something indeed, Oliver marrying the sister of his friend behind the back of the very same! I think I would be hopping mad, were it me!”
Did she hear a slight tint of annoyance in Caitrin’s words or was she imagining that. Yassia knew all too well what a hassle it could be, being forced to marry someone by your father or a similar instance. She vividly remembered the fights she had had, trying sway the crown council of Guifré’s ill intentions. It had made her look like a silly, stubborn child, and that had been the exact thing Guifré had been aiming for. She had been fighting a losing game, and therefore her only chance had been fleeing. She could understand Caitrin doing all this without her family’s consent.
”Well, knowing you, your brother and your whole family will simply have to accept it”, she stated confidently. “You have me, your uncle and most importanlty a Prince of Mercia to back you up in case things should get nasty!”

Caitrin was of course right with her point of view, and for a moment Yassia chided herself inwardly for being so silly. Had she forgotten how it was between boys, even if they were already men? Caitrin probably knew that so much better, since she had been growing up in a large family. Yassia’s only male attachment figures around her age had been quite separated from each other; first Ramon alone, and then later Mircea alone. Would she be more relaxed about this topic if she had had more than just one brother and a stepbrother? Or was this about Oliver after all? He could have gotten himself killed! Just a few inches deeper and the sword would have sliced his heart. And if he hadn’t reacted so swiflty after all, it would have been his head, and not his shoulder. Or was she overreacting again?
”You’re right”, Yassia consented with a sigh and made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “Let’s forget about it.”

Somehow Yassia hadn’t expected to see Caitrin in such a loss of words, after she had revealed her activities of yesterday to her. Yes, of course, it HAD been unexpected, but… should she really be so appalled? Yassia had been appalled at first as well, but somehow she had forgotten about it along the way.
”He said he sneaked out of the castle to take a ride. It was all completely accidental”, she explained to Caitrin, hoping that would make the matter a bit clearer. Though what had followed then… had that been so accidental, at least on Oliver’s part?
“Oliver just wanted to take a bit of water and then leave again to… give me some decent privacy, but Arrow thought otherwise – his horse”, she added after brief consideration, not sure if Caitrin was familiar with the horse’s name. “He pushed Oliver in the river… and somehow then this impossible person thought it funny to feign a heartattack. Of course I freaked.” Yassia sighed. The words were bubbling out of her like a waterfall, there was no stopping them. She hadn’t even intended to get so much into detail!

[Caitrin de Archer]

Though it was funny to look back on now, at the time the incident with Oliver and Jeffrey hadn’t been funny in the slightest. She’d neglected to tell her family se was coming home, or that she was getting married to Griff. She still hadn’t told her father, though he probably knew from Jeffrey by now. It was a worrying thought because her father would think nothing of barging in here in the middle of the night, demanding to see who dared to claim the hand and fortunes of his daughter. Payton wouldn’t like Griff, because of many things, but mainly because he hadn’t chosen him for her, so he already had a quarrel with him. Caitrin would try and defend him of course in front of her father, because it was her duty because she should have really sent word with her messenger to her family in Mercia to tell them about her engagement. However, none of them were invited to the wedding, so it didn’t matter anyway did it? “Jeffrey was close to being extremely angry, but everything was quickly resolved.” She assured Yassia with a soft smile. “That’s the problem with the men in my family, they tend to act first and think later.” Well, that statement included Caitrin as well, but the difference between her and her brothers was that she didn’t have a sword at her belt, she just had her words. And her womanly ways of course.

Caitrin chuckled softly and nodded at Yassia’s words and nodded. She wasn’t going to give up on Griff just because her family disapproved of him. Her Uncle had given his blessing to the union and he was her guardian so he was the only one who needed to give legal bearing to the union. He would be giving her away, she was his ward. Her father could disapprove all he wanted, but it meant next to nothing. “My father can disapprove all he likes, he has no legal power over me.” Caitrin said rather smugly, “But it is good to know I have the support of such good friends.” She mused softly and nudged on her horse. Hopefully her father would be away for the duration of her trip, so he could leave her in peace.

The topic of Oliver and Edmund didn’t seem that difficult to grasp for Caitrin. She had grown up in a household that was quite dominated by men, so she knew how easily skirmishes broke out. A few words could turn men to the sword, so it didn’t concern her that much. Perhaps Yassia didn’t have that experience so she saw something more in it. If there was something more in it then it would reveal itself in time wouldn’t it? She just nodded in agreement at Yassia and flicked her hair to the side. Hopefully one day Edmund and Oliver would calm down. After all, one of them would end up ruling Mercia eventually.

Caitrin rolled her eyes as Yassia told her what Oliver had got up to. It didn’t surprise her in the slightest that Oliver had thought up such a prank to scare Yassia. It was his way to be the least serious he could possibly manage. It was something she had been taken in by in her younger years, but not so much anymore. She had had to grow up in Camelot, but she supposed Oliver was just as he ever was. “He shouldn’t have scared you like that.” Caitrin said, half scolding. Though the situation seemed a little strange in Caitrin’s mind anyway. Yassia and Oliver in such close proximity? Together? She pressed her lips together, “What happened then?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Act first, then think later. Somehow Yassia couldn’t help but finding this way of going through life very familiar. There was not only Caitrin often enough acting that way, she had seen it on Oliver on countless occasions. The incident by the river had been just another example of that, how he had taken a joke far too far, because he had not thought of the consequences. Judging by his reaction, the kiss had been spontaneous and not planned all along. He probably had just meant to scare her a little, in revenge for the teases she had given him earlier. But he had acted irresponsible in any way, and then things had turned out of proportion for a moment. They both had forgotten how things were and were supposed to be. Inexcusable really, but understandable at least on Yassia’s part. But what had been his motivation? Had he really not thought anything at all?In reminiscence of all he had put them through with his thoughtlessness, Yassia grimaced. “That’s not a common Mercian trait by any chance?” she asked with a slightly pained smile. “It seems I’ve met a few Mercian men who sport a certain amount of thoughtlessness and since I haven’t met any of your brothers yet, I can hardly speak of them.” Would she one day be introduced to other parts of Caitrin’s family, perhaps? The thought held a certain thrill, even though Caitrin wasn’t too fond of her family apart from Rouland. It just might be interesting to compare and see where Caitrin was a chip off the old block and where she was unique. Yassia had no doubt however the uniquity would win out any day.

Yassia smiled and took in a deep breath of the fresh, slightly humid air around her. It had rained last night and some of the humidity hadn’t vanished from the air yet. Maybe it never would, maybe Mercia was supposed to feel that way. It wouldn’t surprise her. Patting her horse’s neck absentmindly, she listened to Caitrin’s comment and gave a chuckle. “I bet he might regret that soon enough”, she teased, “giving you under your uncle’s care I mean. Rouland consents to your marriage and your father can spew fire all he wants. If that is what he will do of course.” What would have happened if her own father had lived a little longer? He had never pressured her into chosing a husband while still living, even though it had been an occasional topic. Since the desaster with Vortigern, he had abstained from presenting her with wishful candidates, only had probed her once in a while, if any of the young earls or lords that came to the castle occasionally, had sparked any interest in her.

There was still no telling what Caitrin really thought about the incident Yassia just started to tell her about, and slowly, Yassia became uneasy. Was Caitrin maybe mad at her? Had she done something wrong? Well, of course, it had not been the most proper thing on earth to do, not sending Oliver away straight after he had revealed himself, but then whatever had followed she couldn’t have foreseen, right?
”Of course he shouldn’t have!” Yassia agreed a little defensively. “And I was quite mad at him once I found it out he had played a prank on me. It might have been a harmless joke, but he should have stopped once I started panicking.” Though, could she really put all blame on Oliver? What had followed then, still made her cheeks flush in embarrassment. But then, she wasn’t really embarrassed about the kiss itself… she was embarrassed about her own reaction to it.

“I checked his breathing and there was none – of course, as he held his breath”, she scoffed. “So I propped him up on the riverbank to revive him…” Yassia blushed even more and she cast down her eyes. “I gave him the Kiss of Life… and that’s when he dropped the dead man act. He kissed me.” Again she swallowed, feeling the need to come clean. “And for a moment, I have to admit, I responded. I was just not able to think straight.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin smirked slightly at Yassia’s remark. It was true of course the Mercian people were a little more upfront and tended to think with their sword rather than their head. That was probably why Caitrin’s own temper was too quick to jump to other measures, rather than thinking everything through first. She was all too quick to jump up with her remarks as soon as she lost her temper, and Caitrin knew that about herself at least. Her whole family was the same, but perhaps the Royal family was not too different either. After all, they had been quick to march on Camelot when Bayard had been imprisoned by Uther. It had only taken a matter of days for the Mercian armies to be threatening everyone on the borders. It hadn’t surprised Caitrin at the time, and it certainly didn’t now to look back on it. “Well if you met my brothers then your opinion would be confirmed in your mind.” She assured her friend. Her brothers did have a good head on their shoulders, luckily none of them took too much after their father, but they were incredibly egotistical and of course they were utterly obsessed with warfare. “So perhaps it is a Mercian trait, along with being hot headed.” She gave a soft chuckle as she nudged on her horse, but she knew her friend knew about Caitrin’s temperament already.

Well Payton might regret giving his daughter over in the sense that he couldn’t choose her husband, but Caitrin didn’t care one bit. She hadn’t seen her father in six years, and apart from the odd letter here and there to demand why there hadn’t been a wedding yet, and why she wasn’t with child of course. Payton was somewhat obsessed with his male line, and Caitrin almost didn’t want sons because of it, though she wouldn’t care if she did. She would love her children unconditionally if she was blessed with any more after the one she had lost. She bit her lip, that wasn’t to be thought of now was it? “My Uncle has already given his consent.” Caitrin said rather smugly and held up the hand with the ring on it, “For once we actually did something conventionally, well sort of. My Uncle’s already given the wedding his blessing, so my father will have to live with the fact. I’m not even sure I’ll want him at the celebration.” Why would she want the man who had made her childhood utterly miserable at her wedding? It didn’t make logical sense to her, but of course the de Archer’s would be represented at the wedding in the form of her, her Uncle and her cousin Dristan if he came home for the celebration.

The fact Yassia couldn’t speak about the event without blushing made Caitrin feel quite smug in a way. Oliver had hardly given her any insight into his and Yassia’s relationship, but she felt like she was getting it played out now in front of her eyes. Oliver had always been good at keeping his emotions to himself, and though Yassia was in her own way as well, she knew Yassia too well for her to hide such an overt show of emotion from her friend. She knew there had been something else between Yassia and Oliver, she had just known it. Griff would probably say she was meddling, but she didn’t care. Perhaps she was getting this all wrong, but it was quite exciting anyway, “So you kissed him back?” Caitrin asked with a smug sort of knowing grin on her face. She knew Yassia wouldn’t go further than that, or at least she hoped not, but it was still a strange way for a relationship to develop. She couldn’t get over how much Yassia was blushing and Caitrin gave a soft smile, “Or do you want to compose yourself before you answer that?” She winked, letting her friend know she was of course jesting, but her cheeks were now scarlet, and Caitrin wasn’t letting this one drop.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Rash and hotheaded… if that was being a Mercian trait, then the people of Albion were surely not as different to the Ailanthan people than Yassia might have thought. After all, Caitrin and her had seen before that they could find a match in each other temper-wise. The thought of how she had gone off at her friend still made her guts churn, even though she had been far from being her worst. Still, losing her temper at a friend was not how she should have acted. These wounds she had also inflicted on herself, acting thus, would take a while to heal. Whenever her temper got in her way, she really switched off her brain, and spoke without thinking first. The Ailanthan people, especially the women, were feared for their temper fits, while the men usually were a little more considerate. Her father Diodore had been a kind man, considerate and fair – until he worked himself up on something, then hell hath no fury indeed.
“I think Mercians would be very welcome in Ailantha”, she quipped. “They would easily blend in… but I am glad for one reason Mercia is not closer to Ailantha than it is: They would probably constantly be on the brink of war, because either kingdom might take any criticism or anything else as a mortal insult.” It was a true miracle Ailantha had only be at war once in all his history, with how its inhabitants often behaved. But then, they were a fairly insignificant and small kingdom, and had no desire to play a part in greater politics, maybe that had helped in staying more or less peaceful.

Yassia’s eyes focused on the ring on Caitrin’s hand momentarily. Of course she had seen it before, but now she saw for the first time that it was more than a symbol for Griff’s and Caitrin’s love. It was a symbol of her freedom as well. It would show her father – if he ever got to see it – that things were already settled, that the betrothal had been agreed on by Caitrin’s new guardian, her uncle Rouland. It was as well a sign of defiance as it was one of love that would soon be legalizes.
The words Caitrin used next were rather harsh in their content, and it made Yassia’s ears perk up. Would she really rather not have her father present at her wedding? She had known before that the relationship between father and daughter was practically nonexistant, but that would be like cutting all the ties. Yassia couldn’t help but compare this to her own wedding, should she ever have one. How she would wish her father could be there, to see her through this event which probably would be nothing but a call of duty. It would also take place in Ailantha, so there could be no one present from the people she had learned to love here. Kaye for one, and then of course Caitrin and Griff. But then, she had other things to think about than a wedding any time soon, so why bother about such gloomy thoughts now?
“Well, your wedding will be your day!” she encouraged her friend, forcing a smile on her face. “You can decide who you want there, and if his presence will make the day worse than it otherwise would be, then don’t invite him.”

Caitrin’s obvious smugness didn’t make this matter any easier for Yassia, and when she was prompted on the subject, she buried her face in her hands for a moment and groaned, feeling the hotness of her cheeks against her relatively cool fingers. She must resemble a bright red apple by now, or something even worse… why had she even started on the subject? Had she really thought it would make her feel better?
“Yes. YES! I did kiss him back… but only for a moment!” she tried to explain, and suddenly the anger was back as she thought of the incident. In Oliver’s presence she had kept it at bay, as he had quite a way to make her forgive him, but now there was no Oliver present. She was alone with her memories, and that brought her annoyance back to the surface. “Then I pushed him away, of course. I mean, how dare he?! HE was the one telling me no one must know we ever even met before, he was the one telling me he wanted to be ‘friends’. I know you have a term for this, which probably describes what he is after. ‘Friends with ‘benefits’’. But I won’t stand for it! Not I! Who does he think he is, anyway? Trying to pick the sweetcorn out of everything, without the commitmen?!”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin knew exactly what Yassia meant in saying Mercia and Ailantha would constantly be on the brink of war. She had been subject to Yassia’s temper before, and she wouldn’t want to meet others who would be of the same disposition. She could handle the tempers of those in Mercia because she had grown up alongside most of the people who passed her in the court, but in a different kingdom she probably wouldn’t feel as comfortable at all. She couldn’t remember if Yassia had seen her temper before, she couldn’t remember losing it in front of her before, the only time she had truly lost her temper recently had been in front of Griff months ago. From that he had run off, and he’d only come back months later, thinking she hated him. She hated her temper sometimes, it never served her any useful purpose, but she was less unruly than she had been as a child. She had always been winding up her brothers and sisters, and even her father on occasion. Being the youngest she had used her temper to make her voice heard, though as she had grown older she had found other ways to make her voice heard. “Then we should be glad Mercia is buried in the north, so we can only be annoyed with ourselves.” She gave a soft grin, though there was peace between Mercia and Camelot it was only stated on a flimsy piece of paper. It made her nervous on occasion but she knew she had no reason to worry, if war came it would come, and she would flee. Of that she was certain, she would not be pushed into taking sides, and neither would her husband.

After the words had been spoken, Caitrin supposed they had been a little harsh. She had never told Yassia about her father, and though she thought he deserved everything she was saying, Yassia didn’t have that side of the story did she? Caitrin wasn’t ungrateful, nor had she ever been, and if her father had been cruel but fair then she would have respected him as a daughter should. However, her father had just been cruel, and she would do everything he had not when she had a child of her own. His method of parenting had mainly consisted on treating his children as he treated his soldiers, if you did not comply, you were punished. Caitrin had spent most of her childhood breaking into her mother’s room to use her powder to hide her bruises. She didn’t want others to see how much her father had touched her. The thought made her shudder slightly, though her friends words brought a gentle happiness back into the conversation once more. “And Griff’s day.” She reminded Yassia with a grin, “But he won’t want my father there either, so that will be one thing we will be agreeing on for the wedding guests.” She grinned to herself, her father would not hear of the match until she was up the aisle if she could help it, even her Uncle agreed that was the best thing to do. Even Payton could not do what was done before the Gods. “Have I ever told you about my father?” Caitrin then asked, looking across at her friend, not sure if she had or not.

The fact her friends blushes were growing worse by the second just increased Caitrin’s smugness. She had hoped that there was something more to Yassia and Oliver’s little words. From the way Yassia had spoken about her hunter when they were just getting to know each other she had hoped the same feelings were being inspired. To be slightly crude, if Oliver were not interested in Yassia he would have found another woman to occupy his thoughts, that had been the man Caitrin had known as a girl, but she had played on that trait once. “How do you know he does not wish the commitment?” Caitrin asked almost casually, though it did sound like Oliver to wish to pick the ripen fruit to see if it was to his liking. Though it would repulse Yassia, Caitrin was of the same mind as Oliver in a sense. It had not taken long for her to get to know Griff between the sheets. Heh, perhaps this too was a Mercian trait, “What did he say? When you pushed him away I mean.”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

A country that was constantly annoyed with itself wasn’t a very good solution either in Yassia’s eyes, but she returned the careless grin and nodded. This was a carefree ride after all and not supposed to be laden with real political talk, just with mindful, cheery banter, as far as Yassia was concerned. She had enough to ponder about already, without getting politics on her mind now as well. Inwardly she had to grin at herself. Her life had slowed down with all this waiting in Camelot, so suddenly she wasn’t used to it being fast and complicated anymore; served her just right. However much she disliked it, Yassia herself was still in a state of war with the rest of the world and her fate, and it wouldn’t do her any good to become soft and relenting, just because she wanted to be comfortable. Her task was not yet done, and it would not be for quite a while, even though things were looking up now.“As long as that won’t lead to Mercia annoying itself to extinction, I am all for that solution”, she quipped. “After all, it would be a pity to let such a beautiful country and so much potential go to waste.” Now she cited a phrase her nursemaid Suzannah often had said when Yassia had thrown a tantrum in younger years. “’The steam you let off could cook a thousand warm meals and feed your people’”
Not that the inhabitants of Ailantha had been anywhere near starving – as much as Yassia knew – but the point still stood and had always made her feel a little guilty – or she would just laugh at the silliness of this phrase and forget her anger, which brought on the same result: she calmed down.

Now that Caitrin decisively asked, Yassia realized they hadn’t spoken about her father much at all, even though the princess thought to have captured a few certain vibes whenever the subject steered so much as near him. In her head, she had formed the odd opinion about a few things, but she never had heard it actually spelled out from Caitrin herself. She had not wanted to pry, of course, so she had kept quiet about it, until now the subject had been brought up. Even now, she knew, she had to tread very carefully, as this was sure to be a sore spot for Caitrin, and the least Yassia wanted was to make her friend unhappy. Not on this day, and on no day at all.
“You’ve always been very vague”, she replied softly, hesitating yet again. “But I couldn’t help but notice that there seems to be little love lost between you both. I am sure there is a good reason for this, but you don’t have to tell me anything, Caitrin. This is your life and your story.”

As far as Yassia was concerned, Caitrin was asking the completely wrong questions! Wasn’t it obvious that Oliver didn’t want any commitment according to the way he had treated her the past few days ever since they met again? Given, their argument had destroyed much of what had been there when they parted for the first time, but it had not been her telling him whatever happened back then needed to remain a secret. She had not been ashamed for it, even though it had all been highly unseemly… but it turned out he was ashamed of it.
“I know it because on the day we left for Mercia he came to me, to apologize, but also to ask me that we keep what happened in the Forest of Balor a secret for all time to come. No one should ever know. Doesn’t that tell YOU he wants to forget about it all and forget about me as well? It does tell me so.” Yassia took a deep breath and then sighed. She didn’t really want to relive this particular moment, since it was so full of unease, pain and other confusing feelings to her, but she knew that she owed Caitrin the truth, if she was willing to listen to her.
“He apologized for scaring me by playing dead”, she shrugged, sighing. “And again emphasized that he was being a very bad ‘friend’ indeed. The kiss was never mentioned again.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Mercia was an incredibly hot headed country, where men tended to rule by the sword, but that was how they had always lived and how they would always live. Caitrin had never had a problem with it when she had lived here, but she supposed she had never known any better. She had assumed that every kingdom was quite similar. She did sometimes miss Mercia, though she would probably miss it more if her father wasn’t here. It was her father she had the main problem with in the Kingdom, if he were not here she wouldn’t mind moving back tomorrow. “Well we’ve never led ourselves to extinction in the past, I’m sure we’ll manage.”Caitrin pointed out with a grin, her own family was always quite militarily strong, and they had always used that to their advantage. The de Archer’s were fearsome in their own rights, and she had sometimes loved the prestige that that brought along with it in the Mercian courts. Her family name didn’t mean as much in Camelot, in fact it meant very little apart from the fact she was Mercian.

Really, Caitrin knew she should tell Yassia about her father because no doubt he would make an unwanted appearance during their time in Mercia. She was surprised he hadn’t already come to seek her out, it was just like him to pry in her life after all. Since she became betrothed to Griff, his letters to her had stopped, and she assumed he had cut her off, of perhaps that was just wishful thinking. “Well he’s bound to pop up before we leave.” She pointed out rather reasonably, “His name is Lord Payton de Archer, and you’re right in thinking there is very little love lost between us.” She didn’t want to go into all the details of her childhood in front of her friend, after all, she didn’t want Yassia to start feeling sorry for her for something which was really beyond anyone’s control now. “I just had a difficult childhood, that was all. It wasn’t a very loving home.” That was one of the reasons that Caitrin was so determined to get her own family right. She would never want her children to go to sleep thinking they were unloved, or that they were a burden. No, any children born between her and Griff would be so loved.

Everything about Oliver and Yassia just struck Caitrin as odd. There had to be other things at play here, because none of it made sense. Why would Oliver want the incident in the forest to remain a secret if he then proceeded to kiss Yassia when they were on their own? Caitrin pressed her lips together, she couldn’t imagine what was going on here, and she couldn’t advise Yassia on what to do if she had no idea what to say herself. Oliver did always have a habit of lurching from one woman to the next in court, much like Caitrin’s own brother Jeffrey. She looked over at her friend and shrugged, “Maybe he is getting his head around something?” She suggested, because she had no other idea, “Perhaps you should just see how it goes. Oliver has always been rather changeable after all.”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

There was no doubt both Ailantha and Mercia would manage just fine, if being kept forever apart, Yassia thought with a slighly wistful grin. And who knew, maybe if Yassia managed to get Mercia’s military help in winning back her kingdom, there would be a lasting alliance forming. Alliances usually were made with adjoining kingdoms, since only that was really profitable, but then times were changing and you never knew when even an alliance with a kingdom across the channel would come in hany. All Yassia knew was that she would be deeply indebted to King Bayard and she hoped he would not exploit that in ways she’d rather not have. There was nothing concrete springing to her mind right now of course, but just like with alliances, you never knew when it came to debts. They could bite you in the backside before you knew it. “I’m glad to hear that, after all, I might still be needing Mercia’s help, and would hate to see another hope floating down the drain”, she commented, only half joking. There was still Camelot and Arthur of course, but Yassia had been in Camelot now long enough to know that this kingdom might just never settle down enough to think about sending military forces a few hundred miles south. So, right now, the generous offer by Edmund and the council meeting in a few days was her best shot.

A difficult childhood… that was very vague indeed, but Yassia knew better than to pry. Caitrin would reveal her as much as she would want to reveal, and Yassia had no right to know more. That would be trying to betray her best friend’s trust. She herself had had a wonderful childhood in comparison, with parents that went to their greatest efforts to show how much she was loved. Up until her fourteenth birthday, Yassia had been the perfect little princess, and she treasured that time. Even after turning harder and colder, King Diodore had still never let his remaining child suffer for a horrid twist of fate, and their relationship had always been amiable, companionable. The only thing she could compare Caitrin’s childhood to was when she thought about her cousin. He had surely suffered in his own way under his dominant and sometimes even vile father, her uncle Guifré. That wasn’t any excuse for what he had done and maybe would continue to do, since Caitrin’s example clearly showed that you could have a heart of gold even with an unloving childhood.
“Thanks for the warning” she said with a tentative smile, then reached over to touch Caitrin’s arm. “Lord Payton… how about you pay a little servant boy to hide around the castle gate all day so he sees whenever your father arrives. Then he’ll run to us and while I’m trying to hold him off long enough, you and Griff escape into the woods, so I can safely say you’re not around and SO sorry to not be able to meet him?”

Yassia didn’t quite understand what Caitrin might be meaning with Oliver ‘getting his head around something’, but there really was no use in mulling over this topic any longer. Either things would work out between them somehow, or they would not and she would just have to try and start to forget him for good. If Oliver was changeable, then maybe he was just a little TOO changeable in Yassia’s eyes. If his love for her had not been anything but a flash in the pan, who was she to hope for more? Who was she to abase herself in craving for his attention? She really had other things to think and worry about!
“Well, at least the archery lesson that followed after our impromptu picnic was fun”, she said a little dismissively and spurred her horse into a trot, looking up ahead towards the forest. “You’re the location expert, my dear, where shall we go? Keep outside of the forest or go within?”

[Caitrin de Archer]

It was sometimes easy for Caitrin to forget that Yassia was here on political means as well as a friendly visit. Caitrin was just here as Oliver’s guest, and though Yassia was as well, she was here to find support for her cause as well. Caitrin had always hoped, since she had met Yassia all that time ago, she would be able to take back her throne. She was sure her friend was a more than capable Queen, perhaps even more so now that she had spent so much time away from Ailantha. She had seen the way other monarchs ruled over their kingdoms so perhaps she would take that back with her. Caitrin wasn’t sure, and she was grateful of the fact she would never have to worry about anything apart from ruling her own household. She could cope with that. “I am sure Mercia will aid you.” Caitrin said softly, though she hoped that the King did not send her family to fight the cause, though they were perfectly able knights of course.

Hmm. Though Caitrin felt nothing but disgust when her father entered her thoughts, she wasn’t sure she would run away from him. That would prove she was still scared of him, she had run away from him when she had been a child, often with a fresh bruise on her little cheeks. She shook her head at her friend, she wouldn’t be running and hiding from her father, not his time. If he raised a finger on her then she would have him thrown out of the castle, and she could return to Camelot with her head held high. Weakness had never been a thing the de Archer’s showed willingly, and Caitrin was no exception, perhaps her father was counting on that, “I won’t run away from him.” Caitrin said a little too firmly, and she smiled at her friend, letting her know that she wasn’t offended by her words, “If he has the courage to come and pass judgement then I will have him do so to my face.” Pride was another Mercian trait that Caitrin had retained throughout her time in Camelot. They faced things square on, and the women were expected to be as strong as the men most of the time.

Caitrin decided to leave the topic of Oliver and Yassia for the moment, because she really was baffled by it. She had thought her relationship with Griff, in the offset at least, had been complicated enough. Listening to Yassia now, it made Caitrin realise how easy her own courtship had been, and she was grateful for that now. She and Griff had their troubles, they had their low moments, but they were still both here, and they were both very much in love. Caitrin looked up, she’d hardly been taking in where they were. Oh, the woods she used to play in as a child were just coming up ahead. “We should go through the forest of course, what fun would there be in avoiding it?” She asked with a grin, and then found herself laughing, “I did tell you the tales of women being chased by knights through these woods didn’t I?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Caitrin’s support in that matter was deeply reassuring for Yassia, and she flashed her friend a thankful smile. After all, if anyone would be able to measure how Mercia would react, out of these two at least, it would be the redhaired Mercian, having grown up here and knowing the people who would be responsible deciding over Yassia’s fate after all. There was no guarantee of course, there never was, but Caitrin’s sureness was a step into the right direction and left Yassia with at least a little less anxiety. Time would tell, she guessed, and up until this moment there was nothing she could do but wait, try to not worry too much and at the same time try to keep from mortally wounding (in the figurative sense of course) any of the persons that could be important for the decision to be made. That would be alright with Edmund, since he seemed to like her and also liked to spend time with her, but if Edmund was right, she’d need Oliver’s support more than anything, since his ‘golden tongue’ might be the deciding factor in swaying the council. Just great…
“It would be wonderful, if they did!” she agreed, but then a wistful smile crossed Yassia’s face. “But I fervently hope that the threat of a skilled band of soldiers in my back will be enough to convince my uncle he has lost. I don’t want to start a war.”

To be honest, Yassia hadn’t really believed that Caitrin would be running, it didn’t seem to be in the young woman’s nature, and Yassia had always admired her for her ability to stand her ground. This was just another example. Yassia had suggested it more to show her support than anything, but now she realized that a confrontation between Lord Payton and his daughter might be as much a tremendous affair as it might be necessary. For the father, Caitrin might still be the same girl that had moved to Camelot and rather went out of the way than staying in his vicinity, but Yassia needn’t be told that Caitrin probably would have changed and matured in that time away from her dominant father. And he would need to see that, to realize he no longer had a hold on her. Maybe Lord Payton would be as surprised to see his daughter changed as Guifré the usurper might be to see Yassia had not run to pave him the way but to fight back. For Caitrin’s sake, Yassia wasn’t sure what to hope for best: That there would be a confrontation, or that there would be none.
“Right on!” she cheered however and winked at Caitrin. “I’m sure he will be surprised to see how firm you are in this subject, and he will have no choice but to accept. You’ve outgrown him.”

Even though the story had not been mentioned for years, Yassia immediately recalled how they had been lying in the garden of Caitrin’s estate, stargazing and telling each other stories. One of these stories had been a custom Yassia had found to be irritating at best: where Mercian knights chased women through the forest as some kind of sport. Some of them, Caitrin had told her, had not wanted to be chased, and even though Yassia had been practically growing up in an Ivory Tower, she had seen enough of the world meanwhile to know what that could possibly mean. Back then, it had not meant much to her, since she never would have really thought to find herself in Mercia one day – and that with such unexpected ‘ties’ to it as well. Now she couldn’t help but wonder if Oliver had ever participated in such games. Well, knowing how he was and judging by the odd comments she had been heard dropping, she didn’t doubt he had. He might have even been at the forfront of it all.
“Surely I remember!” she said and suddenly eyed the forest a little more warily. "And that makes me wonder if we two really should head there!” But nevertheless she spurred her horse on and followed Caitrin, not wanting to be a spoilsport

[Caitrin de Archer]

Hmm. Caitrin didn’t really like the sound of war, despite the fact that she had grown up in Mercia, and she had probably learnt the art of war before she had learnt how to curtsey and act like a lady. After all, war affected all levels of society, many forgot that, but the de Archer’s didn’t. Though Caitrin didn’t hold much respect for her family on the whole, she did appreciate that her brothers had taught her about war, and how it raged through the kingdom. Women had to be strong for their families, and she had taken that through her whole life. “Well hopefully you will be spared a war.” Though there was always a victor in war, everyone lost something in war. Men were lost, fathers were cut down before getting to know their children, and wives were made widows. War truly was an ugly affair of sorts, and not one she would wish on anyone. She did want Yassia to regain her throne, but the thought of lives having to pay for that conquest made the hairs on the back of her arms stand on end. That was the way of the world though, and she could run and hide from it and ignore the prospect but she was naive to imagine it would never happen. War was as much a fact of life as breathing was; unfortunately. “You know you always have my support Yassia, even if that only counts in morale.” She couldn’t exactly offer men, money or weaponry, but she could support her friend in spirit. It wasn’t that amazing, but it was something.

Her father would probably be unfazed at how much she had changed, perhaps he would still assume he had some sort of hold over her. She wasn’t a child anymore, she was a young woman and she was about to embark on her own life with her own family. Her father couldn’t change that, her Uncle fully supported her marriage with Griff and that was all she needed. Caitrin wondered if he would still dare raise a finger to her, she hadn’t seen him in many, many years now but she supposed his temper hadn’t changed at all. If anything it had probably gotten a lot worse. She couldn’t imagine him getting on with Griff at all. Payton had always valued men on their skills on the battlefield, Caitrin wasn’t sure if Griff could even hold a sword. “Well I haven’t seen him for years now, maybe he’ll have cut me off in his eyes.” Hopefully she thought bitterly.

Her friends worries made Caitrin just smile warmly at her. Really, the only women who were ever caught tended to be the airy fairy ones who really did want to be caught anyway. They were then usually married off at great haste. It wasn’t pretty, but it was their culture, and she knew that. “We’ll be fine.” Caitrin promised, she had a small dagger at her hilt, as was the norm. She couldn’t exactly go around with a sword, she wouldn’t know how to use it anyway. A dagger was different, her brother had taught her to use it, and though she was rusty, she knew which end to use if trouble did arise. “I wonder if there are any hunters out today, though I am already taken, so I am sure you would attract more attention than me.” Caitrin pointed out with sparkling eyes. She couldn’t get a man to chase her, but Yassia could. Caitrin nudged on her horse into a faster stride as the forest passed them by, “How far should we go?” She asked, half laughing at the sensation of riding through the forest. Somehow she just felt content, and free for the moment.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

The thought of war was a nasty one indeed, and for a moment Yassia fretted, afraid she might have killed the mood of the day already, with her quick and thoughtless remark. These were her problems after all, nothing Caitrin would need to be concerned about – unless of course members of her large family would be sent back with Yassia. Then it would of course be her concern, even though Yassia could only guess how close Caitrin still felt to any of them. Blood might always be thicker than water, especially in times of war, however, and Yassia would hate to cause Caitrin any discomfort with her decisions and demands. But then, if she wasn’t ready to cause anyone discomfort, she could stay here and abandon all hope of gaining her birthright. Sometimes, big things had to come with an even bigger price.
Caitrin might not think her morale support might be of any value, but there Yassia strongly begged to differ. Completely taken by surprise by this frank show of support and affection, Yassia felt a soft blush coloring her cheeks and she bit her lips, momentarily fighting for composure. How on earth did she really deserve such a friend as Caitrin? When she thought she could trust her voice again, she said: “And you should know that that means more to me than an army of thousand men, Caitrin! Never doubt that for a second… thank you.” It sounded bleak to her own ears, but there were simply no words to express her immense gratitude.

Yassia couldn’t really imagine how it must feel to be cut off by your own father – and maybe even feeling glad about it. How destroyed or non-existant a relationship had to be, if you considered that the better option than continuing an endless struggle – at least that was the impression Yassia thought to get out of Caitrin’s behavior even though she didn’t exactly voice it. It was only a relief that no matter how her father would react, there was no changing Caitrin’s future for the worse now. Griff and her had made up after their fight, they were happily engaged and soon to be married, they would start a new life in Camelot and soon have a loving family of rheir own. Caitrin’s father only seemed to be a minor blemish in the picture, something that could be overlooked as soon as it was out of mind again.
“Maybe that would be for the best… however harsh that sounds”, she stated softly, cocking her head at Caitrin. “Then you could get him out of your mind. Or would his approval mean that much to you?”

The princess gave a breathy laugh and momentarily tensed in the saddle, as her horse leapt over a small log, then as she straightened up again, she flashed a slightly weary grin at her best friend. First she said they would be fine, and then she practically presented Yassia to them on a silver platter?! How was that fair, please?!
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?!” she joked. “If you want to play matchmaker today, forget it, dear! I still have my throwing knives and I will give any pursuer a good chase! And anyway… do you think they’d really CARE if you’re engaged or not?” Well that of course depended on who the men were, hunting in the forest, if – of course – any at all. There was no saying there would be any, so why fret about uncrossed bridges?
Yassia firmly told herself to stop worry and just savour the day as it was. It was long since she last had felt so much leisure at her command, spending the first half of the day riding out and not caring for more than a few minutes ahead.
“As far as we can I’d say!” she called back and pulled her horse a few inches ahead. “But maybe we should stay a little quieter from now on. After all, we don’t want to scare away possible game… or hunters.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin wished she could just help Yassia gain back her crown. It wasn’t her place to do anything apart from be a friend to Yassia in this matter, and she knew this. Her place was at home now, with Griff and she had to create herself as Lady of the Manor. She had already been doing that, but once she married Griff it would be more official in a sense she supposed. She would be a woman with her home and her own family while Yassia was running off to war to claim back her crown. It was a stark contrast, and one which was quite worrying to Caitrin in a sense. She didn’t want her friend to be in danger, or to put herself in danger, but she supposed she would have to accept that as a fact of life in a way. She was always born to be a Lady, whereas Yassia was born to be a Queen. They both had to take their different paths and accept the difficulties along the way. “I wish I could send men with you.” Caitrin said, almost longingly, “I wish I could offer you something more than luck.” She did feel a bit silly just offering her luck, but she had nothing else to give. She wasn’t a warlord, and she didn’t command a large enough estate to offer any trained men.

Caitrin had never thought of what it would feel to get her father’s approval for her marriage, mainly because she didn’t really care in the slightest. Her father hadn’t even been part of her thoughts when she had agreed to marry Griff, so he wasn’t going to be part of her life now. She was going to marry Griff and become Lady Aubert, and she would look after Griff in the same way he would look after her. Caitrin had now made up her mind that her father wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near her wedding. After all, she wanted to spend her wedding day with people she cared about, and with people that cared about her. Her father didn’t fall into either category. She couldn’t care less if she never saw him again. “I don’t want his approval, it wouldn’t make any difference if he liked Griff or not.” It wouldn’t matter because she really didn’t care what her father thought. She was a grown woman now, it was too late for amends, though she doubted her father wanted to make amends of any sorts.

Well it was true enough, if a man’s appetite was wetted, and if the opportunity was there then no, it would not matter if she were engaged or not. After all men weren’t ones to ask first and take later, especially the ones who went out on a hunt, “True enough, perhaps we shall find a more noble catch in that case.” She nudged her mare on and looked round as Yassia suggested keeping a bit quieter. Caitrin rolled her eyes at her friend, “When have I ever been able to stay quiet around men?” She asked with a grin as her mare picked up the pace. Even as she did, she could hear voices in the distance. She recalled some talk of a hunt from the castle that was out today, but she wasn’t sure. After all, there was always a hunt of some sort going on, “Can you hear that?” She asked softly and slowed her horse down so she could hear the voices clearer. She defiantly could hear something.