Parting of the Ways (Yassia)

[Caitrin de Archer]

It was not very often that Caitrin de Archer could define herself as a vein woman, but she felt like one now. Well, it wasn’t so much that she was being vein, she just didn’t want everyone to know what had happened. Jesu, everyone might even think that it had been Griff who had done this to her. This wasn’t getting any better, and the quicker she could get home the better. Every time Caitrin passed a window she paused to catch a glimpse of her reflection, and winced every time, as if she had expected the image to improve. One of her cheeks was swollen, with a gash across it which was still sticky and would start bleeding again if she banged it. The eye above her cheek was blackened, and it was hard to keep it fully open, but the other injuries were ones that would not be apparent to anyone but Griff. Both her sides were bruised and bloodied, along with her arms and legs. She was wearing a long sleeved dress today, so nothing else was showing, and even with her face she was trying to hide it with her hair. It was to no avail though, and she was getting some stares from the servants as she wound down the hallways in the castle.

Her greatest fear was that her father would still be lurking around. She wouldn’t put it past him. There had been a guard on the door after he had left, so he hadn’t been able to get back at them, but there was nothing to stop him getting to them out here. No, she didn’t want to give him the opportunity, that was why she was leaving in such haste, and why she was up so early to do this task really. She had to tell Yassia that they were leaving. Her friend wouldn’t forgive them if they just upped and left. Even now Griff was overseeing their luggage and things to the carriage, so everything would be ready for when she got back. Caitrin ran a hand through her hair shakily, she couldn’t stay here, not with her father’s presence looming over their heads. She didn’t want to put Griff in his way again, her fiancée had come off from the encounter a lot worse than she had.

In a way, this news was softened by the fact that Caitrin knew that Yassia had Oliver now. She had always suspected there was something there, that neither of them had been accepting. Though Caitrin had only been as smug as was proper yesterday, and now she couldn’t find the energy to be jovial or happy, but she would do so for her friend. She knew how much this would mean for Yassia and Oliver, and of course if they were invited to the wedding then they would come, despite the fact Payton would be around. Caitrin doubted that he would be invited to the wedding anyway. Eventually Caitrin found herself outside Yassia’s chambers, and she knocked on the door softly, “Yassia, it’s me, can I come in?”

Timeline: Series 3-4 gap
Tagged: Yassia
Time of Day: Morning
Location: Castle of Mercia[/color]

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

There was this fey smile on Yassia’s lips that just didn’twant to go away. And every time she caught a glimpse of it in the mirror she was looking in right now, it broadened into a blissful, bright smile. There was just no place for anything else in her right now. Not since Oliver had promised her to never leave her, and the two of them had been drowning themselves in their overwhelming love for each other. Was such an amount of love and happiness even possible, and was it allowed?! Was SHE allowed to feel like that? So completely out of it, her thoughts taking flight every other second and having to catch herself every other minute from staring into space? Her fingers were entangled in her hair, trying to form it into some presentable hairdo, but failing since she just couldn’t bring herself to concentrate.

If Oliver had been on her mind often before their happy reconciliation, he was so constantly now. Every minute away from him left her yearning for his return. It was completely crazy, but for once she did not mind the craziness. The reasonable part of her mind also told her this would not last forever, and so she saw no reason why not to indulge in it WHILE it lasted. Everything was perfect… and for once Yassia felt strong enough to believe that her luck would hold. That everything would STAY perfect. Slowly moving her tongue over her lips, she still imagined to feel Oliver’s goodbye kiss on there. He had to attend to some business concerning the decision of the council meeting, but he had promised her he won’t be long. She still needed to provide him with more information about Ailantha, all she could remember, he had said, and yet Yassia somehow doubted they would get much explaning and learning done… there were just so many other things to catch up on, and Oliver’s presence, to be honest, proved to be quite distracting.

A soft knocking on the door pulled Yassia from her slightly guilty thoughts, and she left her hairdo half finished, moving to the door instead of just asking whoever was calling on her to come in. It had become a reflex over the past months and years, she always wanted to be prepared for whatever might await her.
No one could have prepaired her for what she had to see now though. Hearing Caitrin’s voice through the door, her face broke out into a wide smile once more and she opened the door with a motion full of verve. “Cait! It’s wonderful of you to drop by, I was just—“ she started to exclaim gleefully, but then her eyes fell on her friend’s appearance, especially her face, and her breath caught in her throat. The words died on her lips and her hand darted to her mouth, covering it in shock.

Caitrin’s face was bruised, one of her cheeks was sporting a gash which must have been inflicted on her by a harsh slap – or several. The truth, the horrid truth would only slowly sink in. Her friend had been beaten, badly, and she was in a horrid state. Someone had dared to touch Caitrin! “Who…?!” She breathed, feeling her shock being replaced by simmering anger. “Who did this to you?!” That it could have been Griff didn’t even occur to Yassia at that moment, too strong was her belief in their love and Griff’s heart of gold. He would never raise a hand against Caitrin. But then who had?!

[Caitrin de Archer]

There was just a dull ache now where all her bruises and cuts lay, and Caitrin had to occasionally bite her lip for fear of groaning or moaning out in pain. She didn’t mind so much showing her anguish in front of Griff, because he had seen the best and the worst of her, and he had been there during her father’s little episode, so he understood. Others probably wouldn’t and she wouldn’t appear weak, not in front of anyone. It wasn’t in her nature, from childhood she had always appeared stronger than she actually was. She had never thought it a bad thing until recently really, but she found that she actually had a lot more pride than she had ever thought. Caitrin bit her lip slightly as her arm brushed across her side. That shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did. She knew it was little more than bruising, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear, knowing where it had come from. Caitrin was worried as well that after seeing her appearance, servants and other nobles might start to talk, and she didn’t want that either, because the blame might find itself lying with Griff, even though he too was harmed. She wouldn’t be able to stand that, but if it did come to that then she would stand up for him, and she would stand by him. She loved Griff more than anyone else in the whole of Albion and the seven kingdoms. He had put himself in harm’s way so that she had only had the edge of her father’s temper.

It seemed like an age until her friend opened the door, and Caitrin tried to smile for her, and pretend that everything was fine, but she could tell from the expression on Yassia’s face that she could tell something was wrong. Well, you couldn’t exactly hide a gash on the cheek could you? That alone was a tell tale sign that something had happened she supposed. “I’m fine.” Caitrin was quick to say, and looked up and down the corridor. She just bit her lip and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her, allowing them some privacy, and she ran a hand through her hair shakily. The whole event was somewhat of a blur in her mind, for most of it she had been curled up on the floor, just a piece being thrown about between her father and her fiancée. “It wasn’t Griff.” She half blurted out, but she felt like she needed to say it, in case her friend was thinking it. She knew Yassia wasn’t that close to Griff, but surely she knew him well enough to know he would never raise his hand to her? Perhaps Caitrin was doing her friend a massive disservice, but still, it needed to be said.

But the question still needed to be answered, that much Caitrin was aware of and she looked down at the floor and then back to Yassia. “You know I told you, while we were riding, that I didn’t want to see my father during our stay in Mercia?” She took a deep breath and bit her lip slightly, and ran her hands along the fabrics of her dress, “He-he paid me a visit last night. He lost his temper and- oh – you would not gasp at me if you saw what he has done to Griff.” Her love, Jesu, she had put him in harms way. Griff’s face was so bruised and battered that she now panicked every time she placed a kiss upon his skin. “But he’s-he’s fine, we’re both fine, but that wasn’t what I came to tell you.” She bit her lip, this wasn’t going to sit well with her or Yassia, but it was going to have to come out sooner or later. Caitrin could afford to spend some time here with her friend for a time before she went back to Griff; that much friendship she could extend at the moment. She felt terrible, Yassia had been through so much, and yet Caitrin was running away from her at the drop of a hat, but Yassia had Oliver now, and Caitrin hoped that would be enough.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

That Caitrin was obviously in distress needn’t be pointed out. Yassia still couldn’t believe her eyes as she stared at her friend, numbly thinking: ‘what now, stars? What have you thought up now to thwart my happiness?’ But this wasn’t first and foremost about her of course, it was about Caitrin, only about Caitrin! Sweet stars, what had happened to her?! Until this question was answered, Yassia knew her thoughts would be buzzing around in her head like a roused beehive, making her antsy and extremely worried. Following Caitrin’s eyes down and up the corridor, seeing no one there gladly who would ask annoying questions or spread unneeded gossip, she hastily stepped back and beckoned her friend through the door, closing the door tightly behind her. She could not speak any more until she would be provided with more information. Only the stars knew what wounds were still hidden under Caitrin’s clothes. Now not only Yassia as a friend was roused, but the healer in her as well. Her fingers practically itched to take a closer look at the bruises and to relieve Caitrin’s pain with a few helpful remedies.

A disbelieving snort escaped Yassia’s lips when Caitrin tried to play down what had happened to her, even claiming she was fine. “I might not be a native of your language,but as far as I know a friend in obvious distress and pain, bruises and cuts and the stars know how many other hidden blemishes do stretch the meaning of ‘fine’ beyond recognition.” That still didn’t answer the question who had done this to her, though, and for Yassia the question was becoming immensly important. What kind of enemies could Caitrin have, and more so, who would even dare to raise a hand against her?! It had to be someone feeling superior to her, someone who had no respect whatsoever for her, or someone wanting to put her in her place. Maybe it was also someone harbouring a silent grudge… maybe not even necessarily against her. Oh sweet stars no… for a moment a certain face rose before Yassia’s inner eyes and it made her shudder. A mask of hate, eyes flaming in anger, directed at more than just one person…. But no, that wasn’t possible… that COULD not be, it was ridiculous, made no sense!

“It wasn’t Griff.”
Caitrin’s voice pierced Yassia’s horrid imagination, and for a moment she wasn’t even sure what her friend had said, until belatedly the meaning came to her. “Wha—no of course it would not be Griff, that’s completely out of question”, she muttered, more distracted than decisive.
But then she listened with growing horror to what Caitrin had to say. That really couldn’t be what she was implying, right? Her father… her own father! They had talked about him occasionally, and Caitrin had made it clear that she didn’t want and didn’t need her father’s approval to her marriage. That he most likely would be against it,… but that she didn’t care. Now look where not caring had brought her!
”My goodness… Cait!” she whispered, not knowing what to do or to say. “How… what was he even doing here?! Who told him?! And where is he now?!” Payton de Archer… what a monster he must be! But he would pay for this! If Oliver knew about this… he would have him punished for sure. Caitrin might be his daughter, but now she was first and foremost Oliver’s guest, and Payton had violated the sacred right to hospitality and in turn had brought shame on the royal family, not being able to protect their guests from such an assault.
”But… what do you mean? What else would you want to tell me?”

[Caitrin de Archer]

It felt quite strange standing here in front of Yassia, and to have her fussing over the state she was in. However terrible it sounded, and however bad it made Caitrin herself sound, she did not feel that her appearance was that out of the ordinary once you put her father into the conversation. She had come off a lot worse than this as a child, and back then she had been more stubborn, and less able to fight back. If Yassia had seen her growing up perhaps she wouldn’t have been so shocked, but this abuse had been going on for as long as Caitrin could speak her own mind. In her father’s eyes women weren’t there to speak up, or speak their minds. He had always wanted her to be like her sisters, quiet and obedient. Caitrin had just always wanted to be like her older brothers, and be wild and free, and learn how to use swords and ride a horse. She had only got her wishes in some respects, she could use a bow with moderate skill and ride a horse. She had thinly escaped the fate laid out for her sisters though, Caitrin was always grateful of that fact, even though it had meant that her intended husband had died before his time. It was grim, but she couldn’t lie to herself and the world and say that she was truly sorry.

Of course Yassia wasn’t going to just accept that she was fine, she knew her friend too well to hope that. No doubt she would fuss over her, it was a nice sensation in some ways, to have a friend who did care about her that much. She’d always missed that in her childhood, she’d had her nurse, but that was it, and after that she had just been left alone. “It’s just cuts and bruises,” Caitrin was almost trying to make light of it, “It’s nothing too serious, honestly please do not worry yourself.” She knew Yassia would still worry and fuss, but she didn’t feel that bad, well, she did, but Caitrin was never one to be dramatic and look for sympathy from her friends and those around her. She just got on with whatever life threw at her, and she always would.

She wasn’t even that sure why she had been so quick to tell Yassia that it wasn’t Griff, she supposed that it was just because she was that terrified that everyone would think it was him. Jesu, Griff would never raise a hand to her. She just ran a hand through her hair slowly, she loved Griff so much, and she had let all of this happen. She still couldn’t believe he wanted to marry her after what her father had done, but by marrying her he was taking her out of her father’s influence for good, and for that Caitrin was just completely grateful. She couldn’t even begin to explain why she had said it, so she just nodded at her friend, no, Yassia would have always known that it wasn’t Griff. The questions relating to her father were a little harder to stomach though, and Caitrin took up a seat by the fireside, gesturing for Yassia to join her, before she answered them. She just wanted to sit, and feel like something in this situation was normal, because at the moment this felt completely surreal, “He-he paid me a visit late last night, he wound Griff up and they just-“ The scene was flashing, “I don’t know how he found out, but he’s not there now, he left, Griff saw him off.” That was mostly true, but Yassia didn’t really need to know the ins and outs of the fight. He had just been so brave, just for her. No one had ever stood up to her father like that; not even her elder brothers.

Now this was the question Caitrin didn’t really want to answer, but that was odd in itself because it was what she had come here to tell Yassia. She bit her lip and looked up at her friend, she felt so guilty in a way, Yassia should be enjoying the euphoria which came with being a freshly engaged woman, not sitting here worrying about her wellbeing. “Griff is taking me back to Camelot, I asked him to, I can’t stay here Yassia, not with my father looming over us.” She drew a quick breath and looked to the floor before looking back up at her friend, “I already feel like I put Griff in harms way, I can’t let it happen again.” Yes she, Caitrin de Archer, was running away. Though her fiancée would usually say he was the one to run away, this time it was her, and she wasn’t enjoying the sensation.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Cait just kept on playing it down, and Yassia was torn between annoyance and admiration. Could she have ever been so brave? Could she have waved it off if someone manhandled her in such a horrid way? If Caitrin was so negligent about that fact, how much more must she have endured during her childhood! That couldn’t have been the first time, else Caitrin would be far more shocked, disbelieving. She seemed hurt and in distress, but the way she talked about it made Yassia fear the worst. No, in her friend’s shoes, she wouldn’t have been able to cope so well. Yassia still remembered the time shortly after escaping from Vortigern’s clutches. He had mistreated and threatened her like that, she must have looked much like Caitrin after those horrible days. But back then she had had Mircea to raise her up again, to be there for her, hold her in the first nights when the horrible nightmares had threatened to take her sanity away. So many people had called her strong already, but Yassia knew she wasn’t strong. Not in comparison to most people. She just had learned not to show her weakness too much.”Even JUST cuts and bruises shouldn’t be on that face of course and wherever else!” she insisted with a slight eyeroll. “And even JUST cuts and bruises need treatment. If you don’t want to see the court physician Marcus about it, then I could help you, if you want.”

At least that would make her feel like she could do SOMETHING. At the moment Yassia was rather overwhelmed by helplessness, and that was a feeling she really did not like. Had she thought that feeling helpless about your own situation was bad, she now experienced how much worse being helpless about someone else’s situation was. Caitrin had been hurt and not only had Yassia not been there to help her out, she also had no power to help her out now. She could only try to rein in her anger, and even with that she was not very succesful.
Numbly, Yassia followed Cait towards the fireplace and sat down opposite her friend, wringing her hands in her lap to at least feel like she was doing something – or keep them from doing something, of that she was not quite sure. It still didn’t want to get into her head… that a father could treat his daughter such. Hit her without any regards for her wellbeing, let his anger out with her being the literal whipping boy. Yassia’s own father had had a temper too, but she had never seen him raise his hand against anyone, not even the servants. He could shout the roof off the palace, and he might throw things in someone’s general direction, prefarably plates full of food and goblets with various liquid in it, but in all his anger he had never degraded and humiliated someone by laying a hand on him or her.

“He-he paid me a visit late last night, he wound Griff up and they just-““I don’t know how he found out, but he’s not there now, he left, Griff saw him off.”
With her jaw clenched tight, Yassia grinded her teeth as she listened to Cait’s hesitant explanation. Last night… last night, when she had been happily oblivious of the world around her in Oliver’s arms, her friend had to go through such an ordeal. Shouldn’t she have felt anything?! Wasn’t there the saying of friends feeling each other’s distress? But no, Yassia had been blinded by bliss and her personal happiness. How could she?! Guilt churned her stomach like boiling acid. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there”, she said quietly. “I’m sorry you and Griff had to go through this alone. Your father would have never dared such an outrageous thing with me or Oliver present. I’m so terribly sorry we weren’t there for you when you needed us. And I fervently hope”, a grim light was flashing up in her eyes, “that Griff gave him a right kick in his behind – forgive my uncourtly wording – when he saw him off.”

Deep in her heart of hearts, Yassia had already dreaded the result of what Caitrin had told her now, and she found it horribly confirmed in Caitrin’s next words. No… this couldn’t be true…!
”You’re leaving?” she exclaimed. “Now?! Back to Camelot?! But Cait….!” But even as she voiced her protest, she knew it to be childish, stubborn. She wanted Caitrin to stay because of herself, and because of Oliver. But Caitrin and Griff had to think of themselves and each other now first and foremost. They had dreaded this outcome ever since coming here… and now it had happened, though Yassia would have never dreamt it would be that worse. An unpleasant scene, yes… but violence?!

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin had known that Yassia would fuss, and therefore she wasn’t surprised when she was speaking of treatments and physicians. The bruising was sore, but the only cut was the one at her face, well excepting her split lip of course, but that too would heal in time. She kept thinking that she should have been able to fend her father off, she was a grown woman. She wasn’t that young girl who had fled out of the solar in tears the first time he had split her lip. She still remembered that day vividly. She’d hidden herself away at the back of one of the store cupboards for hours, and it had only been when Helgund had come to her hiding place with words of comfort that Caitrin had finally been coaxed out of her hiding place. She’d been certain from that day that her father hated her, and that opinion had never changed. Caitrin returned the hate, and it was only worsened by what he had done to Griff. She loved Griff, and she had done so much so they could be happy, and her father had sought to bring her haven down upon her head. “The only cuts are these.” She gestured to her cheek and lip, “The bruises, they’re sore, but they aren’t the worse I’ve ever had. Do you think the cut needs looking at?” She wouldn’t go to the court physician because they would just ask questions. She knew Yassia would just do this out of the goodness of her heart and that meant so much to Caitrin at the moment.

Amongst many other feelings, when she thought of how Griff had acted last night she could only feel pride. She was so proud he had acted in the way he had. He had just been protecting her and her honour, and she had been unhelpful, aside from a few instances. Griff had come off a lot worse than she had, and he’d taken every blow for her, and she knew that. Even though the circumstances were horrible, and disgusting, Caitrin couldn’t help but feel pride when she realised how much her husband had put on the line for her safety. He’d just done it without a second thought, and no one had stood up to Payton de Archer like that before, and she doubted anyone would again. Caitrin looked across at her friend with sad eyes, she didn’t like this situation at all. She didn’t like what she was about to do to Yassia anymore than she enjoyed carrying the scars her father had given her, though she would prefer the latter to the former any day. “He wouldn’t have cared.” Caitrin said rather bluntly and winced as she moved. The bruises on her ribs, from where her father had kicked her, were still incredibly sore. She’d hardly had any sleep either, though there had been guards on the door she’d kept panicking, thinking that he would come back to finish what he had started. “He came to prove a point.” And he’d done just that, or at least tried to. Griff had seen him off though, he’d tried so hard to break the hold that Payton had over her. She couldn’t help but give a small smile at Yassia’s latter words, she knew how polite Yassia was, and to break that convention on hers and Griff’s behalf was touching, and she nodded in answer to her question, “He did, or at least he tried to. Oh, Yass, he was so brave.” Griff had always paled in comparison when Lucan was brought into the picture, as he was a knight, so Caitrin always felt quite defensive towards her fiancée. He was just as brave and noble as Lucan was, he just did what he did in a less conventional way than Lucan had chosen.

Caitrin couldn’t look at Yassia without feeling guilty. The arrangements to come to Mercia had always been temporary, and though they weren’t cutting their trip by much, she was sure that she and Griff were doing the right thing. They couldn’t stay here with Payton lurking around. She couldn’t let him hurt Griff again. Caitrin finally looked up at Yassia, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t stay here anymore. I always told you I didn’t belong in Mercia anymore, and my father has made it impossible to stay here much longer.” She bit her lip and tried to smile at Yassia, “But you have Oliver now, he’ll help you to go home where I could be of little use.”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Caitrin just confirmed Yassia’s worst fears when she said these bruises were not the worst she had ever had. So her father HAD mistreated her before, and even worse on previous occasions it seemed. The mere thought made a shiver run down Yassia’s spine, she was lucky she had never been manhandled by someone she should have trusted in all her life. All those treating her ill, luckily few as there even were, she had never expected anything else of. But a father?! It was a miracle Caitrin still could have such a positive and affirmative outlook on life, if her attachment figure of her childhood years – or at least the one who should have been that – had spurned her trust so horribly. A part of healing, her mother had always told her, was not about healing the outward wounds, but the inward. Being treated nicely after a shocking event, especially a purposeful beating, was a very sensitive, but at the same time crucial affair. Even if the cuts only needed marginal treatment, she would act as a friend and treat the cuts with a slightly antiseptic and refrigerant ointment consisting of mostly of ribwort and mint.“It’ll only take a second”, she promised with a warm smile and walked over to her bed to retrieve her medicine bag, taking out a small jug with the salve. “Make sure your hair’s out of the face and close your eyes”, she demanded with a soft, soothing voice, then dipped her fingers into the ointment and applied it softly on the cut cheek and also a little on the split lip. “Ripwort doesn’t taste that well, but it’s no harm. Push through, my dear!”

Yassia couldn’t quite believe that Caitrin’s father really wouldn’t have cared if she, as a princess and future queen, had been present when he tried to assault his daughter, but then, she was in no mood to argue her case further. Maybe Payton de Archer really had not a bone of decency inside him, there surely were such people on this earth. It saddened Yassia beyond belief that her friend had to suffer under such a person, and that it was no one else but her father! But sadly, things were as they were, and there was no use in being tangled up in ‘what if’s and ‘if only’s.
“What point please was there to prove? That he is a monster?” Yassia scoffed and shook her head. “I bet you knew that before he came and beat you up. And knowing you, he won’t be able to stop you and Griff. The marriage is decided and whatever he does, he can’t change it. So in the end, it was rather YOU who proved a point to him”, she tried to cheer Caitrin up. “Physical violence will not win a confrontation, and Griff stood up to him, showed him his limits.” Then Caitrin confirmed her supicion and almost sounded proud, which Yassia thought to be a good sign. If Caitrin put her trust in Griff that he could protect her from her troubles, then it would only be beneficial for their union. Even though Caitrin was a fairly independent woman, she, too, seemed to need the reassurance of safety, and Yassia could understand that. Should she ever have the luck of finding a man before she returned to Ailantha, she would expect of him to be her shield against all evil as well, especially against her uncle and cousin.

Her hope for Caitrin having been beaten but overall victorious were smashed though when she saw the conviction in her eyes. There might be no convincing her otherwise that their departure was immediate and maybe eben final… There was a stubborn streak in Yassia that wanted to protest on, to convince Caitrin of staying, since something like that could not possibly be returned, but another part knew her friend too well to think that might be succesful. And could she even blame her? Her visit had been more than spoilt and it had only been temporal anyway, the important part with the pre-wedding party being succesfully over. That Yassia would stay behind no one could have foreseen, and yet being left by Caitrin now, who had been her support and counsel in so many things, made Yassia’s panic return. She’d have Oliver, of course… but he could not provide her with the same things as a female friend could. Her mouth suddenly turning very dry, she stepped forward and gently hugged her friend. “You have no idea how much I WOULD need you and of how much use you could be, but… I see why you can’t stay. Just… promise me one thing, if you can: Come back for the wedding. Please.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin should really have thought about getting the wound treated properly before now, but ever since the incident had happened, her thoughts had been somewhat dazed, and she hadn’t exactly be thinking straight. Her thoughts had mainly been on getting out as quickly as possible, and protecting Griff from further harm. There had been a guard on the room since Payton had left, with strict instructions to not let Payton anywhere near the couple on any account. Caitrin brushed some hair back off her cheek, and tucked it behind her ears so it wouldn’t stick in the wound. The ointment stung a little, and Yassia was right that the ointment didn’t taste nice at all. She pulled a small face, but did nod as she did push through, the pain was needed so that the wounds would heal. Soon there wouldn’t be any physical symptoms of the attack, all that would be left was the memory, “Will the cut scar?” She asked in a more serious tone, because she just wanted to know if her father had given her this scar to wear for life, or whether it would heal.

Really, all Payton had just been trying to make his presence known through violence, and he had wanted to show Caitrin that it might have been many years since they had parted, but he could still have that control over her, and he always would. That fact still scared Caitrin, and it always would, which was one of the reasons that she was running back to Camelot, where she felt safe. As she listened to Yassia, she felt a little reassured by her words. In her childhood, Caitrin had often been subject to her fathers beatings by herself, and she had just put up with them, and accepted them as a fact of life. If it hadn’t been for Helgund, Caitrin supposed that her childhood would have been completely terrible, and that she would have been quite untrusting of men on the whole. Helgund had always told her that her father was the exception, and that one day she would escape him. Though it had taken her a while, Caitrin was now settled with Griff, and he was her way of escaping. Griff was there to protect her now in his rather unconventional manner. “He’s never been any different.” Caitrin explained and winced slightly, “Myself and Griff will still be getting married, you’re right, I know you are, but it’s hard to see it like that right now.” She managed another small smile, because at the moment it was hard to see the positives in what had happened. Everytime she looked at Griff she felt immense guilt. She had let it all happen in front of her eyes, she’d leapt in to stop her father too late.

Caitrin didn’t want to leave Yassia in such a rush, and it wasn’t in the slightest the ideal scenario. Really, Caitrin felt incredibly bad about leaving Yassia at such a time, but she knew she couldn’t stay here much longer. They had stayed much too long already. When Caitrin had agreed to make this trip she had only expected to stay for the pre-wedding feast, and to be taking Yassia back with her to Camelot. Everything had changed now, and though that wasn’t a bad thing in Yassia’s case, Caitrin felt like she had overstayed her welcome, and that her father had just cemented that fact. She belonged in Camelot now, with Griff and Rouland. She did want to just go back home now, and sooner rather than later. She was shocked in a way that Yassia would think that she would miss her wedding. Of course Yassia might miss her wedding as she and Griff had not set a date yet, but Caitrin would not miss the union of Yassia and Oliver for anything. “Of course I will come to the wedding, Griff and my Uncle will come as well, if they are invited, mind.” She gave Yassia a small smile, “I would not miss it for anything.” Though she would be coming with her own personal guard next time. She would not put herself, or her family in harms way again.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

A small smile crept over Yassia’s face as she watched Caitrin twist her mouth at the supposed bad taste from the ointment. It was a good sign when a patient could be bothered about things like that again, it meant their thoughts weren’t solely occupied by what had happened anymore, they had somehow moved on at least a little bit. Well, Yassia had always known Caitrin to be strong, and seeing her in distress like this had made her realize just how bad it must have been. She fervently wished she had been there, even if that meant she might have put herself in harms way. And she was doubly glad Caitrin had had Griff by her side to protect her, even though it sounded as if he had been battered and bruised as well. When she moved her fingers over the cut as gently as she could, she detected no heat radiating from the skin around it, which was a good sign, thank the stars. Even though she couldn’t be a hundred percent sure, she shook her head at Caitrin’s question. “By all I see it should not. The cut is not too deep and it doesn’t seem to be infected. It might be visible for a few days or even a few weeks, but there will be no scar left after the skin has thoroughly healed. Just keep it clean and…” she smiled quickly, “you might even allow Griff to kiss it once in a while… Saliva works against infections as well.”

Yassia nodded in understanding when Caitrin put it that way. Of course, the bright side of such an incident could only be viewed in hindsight, and Yassia had it much easier in that respect, as she wasn’t directly affected by it. It had taken her quite some time to see the good in all that had happened to her, as many things only had worked out over time, and only when you looked back you saw it as the twisted, steep path that had led you to were you were now. For her, it had all worked out miraculously well, and she hoped Caitrin would be able to shrug this off and continue her life with Griff. They had battled through so many storms already, they would be able to fight this one too! “It is a sad fact that some people never change”, she agreed softly and sighed. “And sometimes there is no other reconciliation for a matter than seperation. If two people can’t be in one place together, they need to be kept apart. I know it is hard to look at it that way right now, but just think about it: Had your father been a different man, you might have never left Mercia. You might have never met me… or even Griff.” Yassia finished with a shrug. It wasn’t for human beings to know why the world worked as it worked. Only sometimes, in rare occasions, they were granted a glimpse of the eternal plan of the universe. These moments were rate, and sacred. Yassia only had had such an epiphany once in her life: A little more than a day ago, when things had suddenly fallen into place.

The quickly and energetically given promise of Caitrin’s made the matter at least a little bit better for Yassia. To know that Caitrin would venture back to Mercia when everything was sorted out for the wedding was a great consolation and would turn this rushed goodbye at least not into a farewell forever. That would have to be faced eventually, too, but at the moment Yassia didn’t feel up to that kind of strain at all. Even the thought made tears burn behind her eyes. It was true… ever she had admitted herself to show her feelings for Oliver, she had become a bit more sentimental in general. Was that what love did to you?
“Of course they are invited!” she agreed firmly. “I’ll tell Oliver to restock the wine supply in foresight.” Now the inkling of a smile played around her lips, but it was quickly replaced by a frown. “And I know for sure who will NOT be invited and be banned from the castle grounds on utmost vigilance. Marrying the second song of the king of Mercia should provide me with at least a small influence on these matters.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin hoped that her face would not scar All in all it wasn’t a deep cut, but she had known less serious wounds to scar. She had no interest in sporting her father’s anger on her face for all to see. When she got home to Camelot she certainly wouldn’t be making an appearance at court until she was fully healed. Arthur would not believe her if she lied about how she came to get her injuries, and she knew he would be annoyed, and she had no wish to fan the flames of distaste between Camelot and Mercia. She would retire to her estate, her Uncle would not be surprised at her state, he had warned her of her father again before she had left Camelot. He knew how dangerous his brother could be, but Caitrin had gone anyway and she had promptly ignored her Uncle. She was incredibly regretting coming here in many ways. Of course she had enjoyed her time with Yassia and Oliver, but somehow it all seemed to be pushed to the back of her mind when she thought of her father. “Griff needs no invitation.” She gave a soft smirk, even as early as her father leaving the room, Griff’s mind had been on other things. She had liked that in a way though, because even though things had looked terrible, he had still been more concerned with cheering her up than worrying about his own wellbeing.

In a way Caitrin wished that her father had changed in a way. Perhaps it was a naive hope that he would ever be proud or approve of what she had done. She smiled sadly at the floor, and bit her lip. Throughout her childhood, her father had never been interested in anything she had done, excepting to reprimand her. Most of the time, Caitrin had been forbidden to go to court because of her bruises, in case something was said about it. Caitrin bit her lip and ran a hand through her hair. Though she supposed Yassia was right, because had her father not sent her to Camelot then she wouldn’t have had anything that she did now. “If he had his own way, I would have been married off as a young woman.” She had been engaged once, and had only been spared the marriage because the man she was supposed to marry had died in battle before she had been walked up the aisle. She preferred the marriage she had now, after all, she loved Griff, and she would try to be a good wife for him. “But you are right, and I can’t wait to be married after all.”

Well, at least next time they journeyed to Mercia they would be better prepared. They would certainly be bringing a personal guard, that was for sure. Her Uncle would be with them as well, which did make Caitrin feel a little better. He wouldn’t be much help though after a bottle or several of wine. “You’ll defiantly need to restock all the wine.” She smirked, knowing between Griff and her Uncle would be taking advantage of having the alcohol on demand. The fact Yassia was already considering having her father banned from the proceedings should have settled Caitrin’s nerves, and it did to an extent but she was still grateful. “And I will be travelling with a guard.” She mused, bit ashamed so much had to be put in place because of one man, “But thank you, I really cannot wait for the wedding. When are you thinking of tying the knot?” She asked with a wide smile, sure that Oliver and Yassia would not wait long before speaking the vow.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

If anything, that remark about Griff had further managed to get Caitrin’s mind further off what had happened and what she might have to deal with, and that was partly why Yassia had said it. Normally she didn’t like to start this insinuation game, as she was still a little uncomfortable about personal affection between people and what it could entail, as she had simply been raised to view most of these things as not suitable for public discussion. But such times called for different measures, and the main goal in dealing with a patient, however shortly, was always to make THEM comfortable, not yourself. That had been taught to Yassia as well, by her mother, and whenever her courtly upringing collided with her healer mind, she eventually would always overrule the courtier inside her. Because appearance was never as important as anyone’s wellbeing and even less in a situation such as this. “That might be true”, she commented with a smile. Really, now she even felt like she wasn’t talking about things she didn’t understand anymore, because even in a few days you could learn quite much about love and physical attraction. “But tell him nevertheless it’s a healer’s advice on top of it, it might amuse him.” And amusement was probably what they both needed right now to get over the traumatic experience as soon as possible.

Since Caitrin had always been very monosyllabic about her past – and as Yassia now thought probably for a very good reason – all of this was practically news to Yassia. Caitrin might have hinted at escaping marriage by a hair’s breadth, but of course Yassia didn’t know any details. She would also not venture further where she wasn’t explicitely invited, so if Caitrin wasn’t ready to reveal more, Yassia would not press the matter. “And that probably wouldn’t have been a man such as Griff”, she only remarked with a wink. “Sometimes it’s really a pleasing thing to know that we both won’t have to settle for second- or third-best. Makes me wake up with a smile since two mornings in a row.” And since Ailantha was a bit different in family laws, her uncle Guifré had not automatically become her guardian after her father’s death, the crown council had. Once she had diminished her uncle’s influence on that council, no one could stop her from taking Oliver as her husband and king, of that she was sure. Guifré was the only obstacle to overcome, not an easy one perhaps, but at least the number was limited. “What do you think will change for us married women?” she asked curiously. “We must keep in touch about that and exchange experiences. Like, if taking the vows makes being together any different.”

The joke had been well-taken and Yassia made a mental note to really tell Oliver to consider heaps of wine – if he didn’t already think of it himself that was, it was possible after all, since he at least knew Griff by now and might have heard stories about Rouland’s drinking habits. “We only have to get to a certain point and after that diluting it with water might go unnoticed, so I won’t leave Mercia impoverished. I’d hate to take that reputation with me, you know? There might be enough resentments from the court I simply take away their prince to a far off land.” What their surroundings would say might have not mattered in the first few hours of bliss, but slowly Yassia started to remember her responsibilities and all that came with it. If Oliver was to go with her, it was unlikely they ever would return for a longer period of time, or even be able to make this journey, as it simply was so long. She would be returning, but Oliver would leave his whole life behind, his family and everyone he knew. Might he not regret that one day? Their love seemed so strong nothing could tear them apart right now, but she didn’t want his people to dislike him for going. That would surely weigh down on him in some way. But for now, Caitrin’s problem was more important than her own concerns, and so she focused again on that.
“A guard might be really wise, but make sure to pick a good one. Not some mercenary”, she commented, tinting the last word with a hint of disdain. “And I think we’re aiming for sometime next month, to get all preparations under way first.”

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin knew that Griff would never forgive her father for what he had done. Not that she ever expected him to, but she knew that he would have been hurt by what had happened last night, more because of the effect that Payton had had on her, rather than him. She had seen it in his eyes, and even afterwards, the amount of times he had told her it wasn’t her fault, and that the blame belonged with her father was just... overwhelming. She hadn’t believed him at first, because she’d never had any reason to. Since childhood she’d thought that her father hated her because of something she’d done, whether it was because she had been disobeying him, or because she hadn’t been a boy, but she’d always felt that blame. She’d gone against her father anyway, but she’d never felt like it was his fault. Griff had been the first person to really drive home to her that her father was in the wrong, not her. It was an empowering thought, and she had a new found confidence from it in some respects. However, it wasn’t enough to make her stay and try another round with her father. She’d had enough and she was going home. Caitrin did however manage a small smile at Yassia’s words, “I shall tell him, no doubt he will use it as an excuse.” Knowing Griff he probably would as well. Caitrin didn’t mind of course, it amused her more than anything.

Well no, her father didn’t have a man like Griff in mind for her. From what Caitrin could remember, the man she had been betrothed to had been an old warlord, whose wife had died. He was a good friend of her fathers, so naturally he sold her his daughter. Caitrin shuddered a little at the thought, she was so glad now that things had happened as they had. She knew she would have such a happy life now with Griff, and that she would always be loved, and she would love him so much in return. “It’s true, we can be happy in our own choice of marriage.” Caitrin knew that Griff would make an excellent husband, because they completed one another. He might have been trying to stalk her when they had first met, but they had come a long way since then and things had quickly progressed since then. “We shall keep in touch, make no mistake of that.” Caitrin promised her friend with a grin, though she doubted much would change for her as a married woman as she and Griff had been living as if they were married for some time now. Most of the time he lived at the estate, and they probably had more intimate knowledge of each other than most married couples, “I doubt much will change from the way me and Griff live at the moment. Your life will change more than mine, I expect.” No doubt Yassia would see a greater change than she would. After all, Yassia had more morals than Caitrin did in those respects. “Well, until I fall with child, of course.” Caitrin knew her life would change an immense amount when she became pregnant, because she was determined to do everything herself, without nurses or maids. No, her children would have a more personal upbringing.

Grinning at Yassia, she nodded as her friend mentioned diluting the wine with water. That probably would be the right way to go. After all, no one could knock back wine quite like her Uncle. He would no doubt be looking forwards to the wedding just because of the wine and food he would receive after the proceedings. “Well, I’m sure the betrothal will have broken a few hearts at court.” Oliver was a good looking man, and a lot of women had been vying for his hand for many years now with no luck. “I’ll be using my Uncle’s guards, they’ve been watching me since I first came to Camelot.” They would all die for her, though she didn’t want them to of course. They were sworn to protect her family, and that was all she needed and wanted.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia gave another encouraging smile in Caitrin’s direction, not really knowing what else to say. She had never tread on this ground before, and even though Caitrin appeared quite firm about it all again, there might still be things brewing below the surface Yassia could not see or fathom, and she didn’t want to tread on any toes by assuming too much or too little. Best keep the lightheartedness of the moment going, but that also brought some problems with it: The danger that Caitrin might think Yassia was taking this too lightly, which she certainly wasn’t! But maybe she was thinking too much yet again, like she apparently liked to do. How could someone with such a temper such as her be a worrywart and over-thinker at the same time? It was surely an annoying phenomenon! “And I’m sure Griff also knows just what to do to cheer you up and make the world seem lighter”, she commented with a smile that bordered on mischievous. She wouldn’t become the mistress of hinting at certain things in her lifetime, but at least now she knew what she was talking about. “I am so glad you have him, else I might be worried sick about you now. Tell Griff I count on him, okay? To be not only your future husband, but your friend as well, the friend I can’t be for you while we’re apart. You think he can manage that?”

She nodded fiercely, when Caitrin said they would stay in touch, even though even after all those time she hadn’t come up with a suitable way to make this work. “I just wished messages wouldn’t take that long to be delivered, but alas human messengers, even when they ride as fast as they possibly can, they might need a month to cross the seas and find their way down into Ailantha. And in a month, news really can be out of date.” But then again, she had known that when first coming here, and in the end, it was her own ‘fault’ for getting so attached to a noblewoman of Albion. “Sometimes I wish I could just pack you two up and take you with me, like I take my Oliver”, she sighed, but had to smile at the same time as well, imagining it in front of her inner eye. “Wouldn’t Griff love it further down south anyway? “ But of course that was no option to speak of, Caitrin and Griff belonged to Camelot now, just like Yassia belonged to Ailantha. Some things would just never work out, and the stars had good reasons for not making them work, even though those reasons might not be detectable on first sight. Even if Yassia should never return to Camelot in all her life, she knew she would leave a part of her heart behind here, with Caitrin, Griff, and even Kaye, that grumpy old man.
Caitrin might be right about her life not changing all that much, after all, Caitrin had practically been living with Griff ever since Yassia met her, and that was now more than a year ago. In Ailantha, such things might not have been possible, but Yassia found nothing wrong with it. After all, they WERE heading towards marriage, and soon everything would be ‘in order’. Her own life however would change massively, since when she became Oliver’s wife, she would also hopefully become queen soon… and Oliver her king. But then, with ‘certain’ things, only reserved for marriage, they also hadn’t waited until the vows were spoken… “May that be soon, you being with children, I mean”, she said to distract her mind a little from the way it was taking.

Once upon a time not so far away, Yassia might have been jealous at thinking Oliver had had other women than her, but then she knew it to be a well-known fact, and his self-assured attitude and the little rebellious streak were just those things she loved about him. Could she really blame other women for falling for that as well? And him being… advanced in some things had certainly made the last two days a little less akward. She trusted Oliver completely, and she knew that while he had had women before her, he would never intentionally hurt her by messing around with another. He needn’t even make that promise.
“I know I made myself quite the catch”, she replied with a pleased smile. “But I’m sure all those broken-hearted ladies at court will know that he might not have been the man for them. The stars didn’t want it.”
Caitrin taking the guards she trusted was the best idea imaginable and Yassia could only approve of it. “That is really best. Never trust some mercenaries, they might sell your hide for a bag of money.” Of course there was the old resentment against mercenaries coming through with Yassia, but she was sure Caitrin would understand her comment.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Yassia was right in thinking that Griff knew how to lift Caitrin’s spirits. He had done so many times before, and even last night he had made her feel so loved and special even after her fathers attacks. She had thought that he would have just gone, or not wanted to be near her after what her father had done. She had felt like a liability in some ways, to the one man she truly loved. He hadn’t left of course, the thought had never entered his mind, and instead he’d just been a comfort, and he’d been the one to tell her that it wasn’t her fault, and that it was her father who had been the cause of everything. He had been the first one to ever suggest that, so it had been quite hard to accept, but slowly it was becoming ingrained on her mind, it wasn’t her fault and it never had been. “He does.” Caitrin agreed, a little twinkle in her eyes. “He’ll always keep me safe.” Caitrin finally said, because she really believed it, “And he’ll be there for me, I know he will, so you have no reason to worry.” She reassured her friend, but really she was reassuring herself as well. Caitrin would always have Griff, and she knew that now more than ever. She knew he was going to stand by her side, no matter what happened, and they would always take care of each other. “But Oliver must also look after you, on my behalf.” She pointed out and gave her friend a warm smile.

Caitrin frowned a little at the problem which Yassia had posed her with. There were quite a few ways of communicating across the kingdoms, but most were slow and used messengers. There was a way though, one that the de Archers had been using for many years now. “Well there is one way, it might work, but might not.” Birds, mainly doves and even larger birds had been tamed by some of the aviaries in Mercia to carry messages over many leagues of land. “My family have conveyed messages by birds for years now, the trainers here have managed to get their birds to travel for many miles across different kingdoms with letters.” It had been a technique mostly used in war, but had now found a commercial base as well, “Perhaps this would be a more suitable way to convey our letters?” She did laugh though, at Yassia’s little idea about packing her and Griff off with them. Not too long ago Caitrin probably would have taken her up on that, and enjoyed the sensation of adventure and travelling to far away lands. Caitrin would love to see the south, but she now had a home, a proper home with Griff. It had been the first time that Caitrin had ever felt that she had had a real home. Once she became Lady Aubert her and Griff would mainly take over the estate from her Uncle, allowing him to retire in a sense. “I’m sure he would, if it was warmer that is. But I think my Uncle is quite looking forwards to taking life a bit easier from now on.”

The warm homely smile did not leave Caitrin’s face as Yassia began to speak of children. Caitrin did want to be blessed with children soon, though obviously such things would be left until after the marriage. She was always protected against little accidents, as she knew that she couldn’t get pregnant again before she had a ring on her finger. Too many people would talk, and call the children bastards. No, the children would wait until after the marriage, but she did want a large family. She had come from a large number of brothers and sisters, but they had had the potential to be so loving, it was her fathers hatred which had meant that home life was constantly spiteful and hard. “Well, I do want a large family. Though you mustn’t tell Griff that. I’m hoping to show him one child at a time.” She winked at her friend, she wasn’t sure exactly how many children she wanted, but she did want quite a large brood.

Ah yes, Caitrin sometimes forgot how much weight Yassia put on her belief in the stars and other such things. Caitrin believed praying to gods, and the spirits was the way to go, as did most of Mercia, but it was nice that Yassia had not forgotten her God’s though she had been in Albion for so long, “I am sure they will come to respect Oliver’s decision. Once you are wed no one can dispute it.” Caitrin pointed out reasonably before nodding at her friends latter comment, “I know, I would only allow men I trusted to guard my family anyway.”