Match Made In Hell

[Vortigern]

-------He knew that their words of questions would remain unanswered. Until she stopped lying to him, and to herself, and admit what she had done. Then... well they could carry on with the next appropriate course of action. He was not even sure what that was. Since this entire thing was hardly appropriate. For him anyway. How was it remotely appropriate that he had slept with a woman like her, one that he did not even like; one that he had spent the entire previous evening arguing with! How had one thing led to another? How could the mood between them have shifted so much? Surely not just from alcohol. No. She had planned this. Yes. Of that he was certain. "Apparently, you do not!" He retorted when she said she had enough rank. "You wanted a child with royal blood. And now look what you have done!"

-------Part of him hoped she did become with child, for he would never admit it was his. And she would have to live it it for the rest of her life. Then again, he did not want something that she carried in her womb to be of his blood. How demeaning! "Do not pretend that you wanted otherwise and do not lie by acting clueless! You had far more to benefit from this than I!" For him, it was humiliating. For her, it was a chance to have a royal baby. When she blamed him, he just felt his anger build. "How dare you blame me!" The thought that he had done this, or been a part of having facilitated this, was nauseating. "I would never have lay with you with a conscious mind! Therefore, you did something to me. Drugged me, or perhaps enchanted me!" Sorcery was not something far from his mind either... it seemed that anything was possible as this point.

-------He despised her tone. Her 'command', ordering him to turn around. Ordinarily, he would have argued, telling her that she can not tell him what to do. But in this situation, he knew that if he argued or remained stubborn and refused to move, then it may seem like he wanted to just stare at her in her state of undress... which would then lead to the possibility that he had wanted this, or had something to do with it. Which he did not! So with that logic, directing an intense glare at her, he turned around. "Watch your tone with me," he added. Just because he did not want this to become a habit of hers; of addressing him in such a way. Just because he had complied, did not mean she should think she could get away with ordering him about... just like he was not going to let her get away with forcefully seducing him!

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin’s feelings of shock had now been replaced with ones of fear. She could have just ruined her life, and she couldn’t even remember how it had happened. Her head was still throbbing, she remembered sitting down to drink last night, and that was the last thing that was clear. Caitrin made a quick decision to never drink ever again, or at least not until her headache died down. Lord, this was worse than the headache she’d been given by the bandits sword yesterday. She looked up to him angrily, as if that was unusual, “I would not want your child if you were the last man on earth.” She hissed at him, biting back her angry tears. Oh God, she couldn’t have a child yet, she wasn’t married, especially the child of a man who would hardly be a part of her life. She was panicking, she knew she was panicking, but the situation demanded no less.

Caitrin couldn’t stand to even think about the possibility of her being pregnant any longer. The next month, until her next flux, was going to be unbearable, and then if it did not come, well she couldn’t even think about that. She could be disinherited or anything; she had no idea how her Uncle would react. Her eyes widened as he told her she could have enchanted him. No, she wasn’t going to sit here and take that, not here, not in Camelot. “When are you going to get it through your thick skull? I did nothing!” She didn’t care that insulting him wouldn’t help, she was angry and upset, and anyone who knew her would have known to stop by now, before she got any deeper into her anger.

She was glad at least he complied with her wishes and did turn around. She didn’t trust him not to look, and of course he had to make one comment didn’t he? So Caitrin quickly pulled her dress on over her head, quickly lacing it up at the back. It still felt moist from yesterday’s downpour which was a little irritating but she could change the dress when she got home; at least her cloak was dry. She didn’t grab it yet though, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. She just wanted to go home, she wanted to leave and never see this man again. “Right you can turn around now.” She informed him, brushing down her dress as if that was going to help at all, she felt and looked awful. She looked up at Vortigern with quiet anger and loathing for the man who had landed her in this situation; how could he not accept he too was to blame?

[Vortigern]

-------Vortigern did not believe a word she said. The more she denied it the angrier he got. Why could she not just admit that she was responsible for this. Then they would not have to talk in ridiculous circles as they seemed to have spent all day doing so yesterday. And apparently, spent all night doing something else of an entirely different nature. The thought of what they had both done with each other made him inwardly cringe. To think, he had set his standards so low when he was so used to keeping them elevated. Revolting indeed. "Well clearly you wanted something from me, and damn you for getting it!" Because whatever she had done, had made him sleep with her. If they were in Soleria, he would have her killed for this. Or rather, kill her himself to give him that satisfaction of being the one to do it.

-------The anger on his face grew when she continued to deny it. When she said he had a thick skull. "And when you are going to let go of your stubborn nature and just admit what you did!" He doubted she ever would. Her stubbornness was what made her so infuriating. It had made her company yesterday intolerable and the same was said for the present, as he was stuck in a room with her. When she then said that he could turn around, Vortigern had no desire to do so. He did not want to see her face. But he could not just remain standing there like. At least she was dressed now. At least they were both dressed. Yet, the question now arose: where do they go from here.

-------His eyes searched the room, clearly looking for something. "Where is my vest?" He demanded accusingly. Obviously, she had to know where it was since he had not been coherent last night. Had she taken it? Tried to steal it? It was worth quite a bit of money, though as a noblewoman what use for money would she have. Perhaps she just wished to earn boasting rights; that she had stolen his clothing. Damn her indeed.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was getting sick of protesting her innocence with this man, he was just unbelievable. What did he believe she had done to him exactly? It took two to commit the act, and she doubted he had been unwilling with whatever had happened. Now just looking at him, it made her sick that he had been the one to take her maidenhead, she couldn’t remember anything, he could have forced her for all she knew and she would be none the wiser. She chose to laugh at his words, but it wasn’t a hearty laugh, it was more one of disbelief, “I wanted nothing from you.” She said coldly, “You clearly wanted something from me, and gained it.” There, she was throwing her own accusations at him, he had wanted her virtue, she was sure of it, and he had bloody well got it.

When he said she had a stubborn nature Caitrin felt like it was the final straw. A part of her wanted to just break down and cry, she hadn’t done anything, why could he just not see that? Perhaps it was denial on his part, she had no idea and she really didn’t care but it was hardly fair for him to take it out on her! She didn’t cry however, she didn’t show any emotion other than anger because she didn’t want to give Vortigern the satisfaction. “You are impossible!” She declared angrily, “I did not do anything! I want to know what you did.” She didn’t care she was being crude, or rude, or unladylike with her words, if he was going to shout at her she was going to shout back.

Caitrin furrowed her brow as he asked her about the whereabouts for his vest. She looked about her side of the bed aimlessly and pressed her lips together, shrugging softly, “Well I’m not wearing it am I?” Was her sharp reply. She tried to cast her mind back to the night previous and put her hand to her head, this headache wasn’t going to let up anytime soon was it? “I think you left it drying downstairs.” It was at that point Caitrin remembered the cloak she had left drying on the chair, she quickly picked it up and threw it around her shoulders, that would give her some warmth at least.

[Vortigern]

-------Vortigern could not believe this! Now she was trying to really shift this around, and place the blame on him. Like hell if he would allow her to dare do such a thing! Not only that but she let out a sound of amusement, even if it was more of a scoff than an actual laugh of amusement. It was still completely unappreciated and cause to find further annoyance. "What the hell could I possibly want from you!" His voice spoken with evident distaste. "You have absolutely nothing I want. You are the one who would stand to gain from this." Mostly by having a child of noble blood. Dear god. Would she come to his father and say that she was carrying his child? Vortigern could deny it and call her a delusional psychopath with a mental affliction.

-------But he knew his father, and he knew how family orientated Gildas was. He would investigate and uncover the truth. If she did that... Vortigern would make sure she was dead the moment she stepped foot into Soleria. "It was a waste of my time!" Meaning, she was not all that good. Quite frankly, Vortigern did not remember a moment of it, right now anyway, but he was just angry that she had accused him of making this happen. Of having the audacity to suggest he could benefit from this. And now she was shouting at him! Vortigern may have grown expectant of her rudeness and clear disregard for respect to those of a higher rank... but that did not mean he was going appease such behavior. Or act like he approved of it.

-------He glared at her, as this seemed to be the expression that she most genuinely brought out in him. "Remember who you are speaking to!" He snapped. She ought to remember such a thing for he was not far from forgetting it. "Stop attempting to blame me for this!" He knew, deep deep deep down, that they could argue about this until they were both blue in the face and void of their voice... and it would not solve anything. It would not answer anything and both of them were far too stubborn to admit defeat. But he had his pride and his ego and he could not just let it go... especially not for her. Ah. Wonderful. More sarcasm from her. "Well thank god you are actually wearing something, since you were clearly too eager to remove your clothing last night." Again, he did not remember anything but he was obviously blaming her for this.

-------Which meant... she would have been the one to instigate and facilitate it. What a nauseating thought. When she did answer his question, she did so with far too much clarity. "Ah ha!" Point proven! "So you do remember!" Just as he had suspected! She was responsible for all of this! He could not remember worth a damn what had happened, nor where he had left his vest. Yet, she seemed to recall the memory with far too much ease. And she had even been watching him closely to have seen where he put his vest. Instead of showing gratitude for informing him of the whereabouts of his expensive article of clothing, he acknowledged it as a confession; an admittance of guilt. Now, they really knew who to blame for this.

[Caitrin de Archer]

What could he possibly want from her? Had he seriously just asked that? He was a man, therefore he only really wanted one thing from a woman and he had got it, she had no idea how but he had got what he wanted. “My virtue.” She said bluntly, almost with pangs of regret and a small sense of loss, she could now no longer say she did have her virtue and that felt like strange new territory. “Do you think I wanted to carry the child of such an arrogant fool?” She half hissed at him, “You are honestly one of the last men on earth I would want to father one of my children!” He had touched a nerve, that much was obvious, but Caitrin wanted nothing to do with this man, she didn’t care how disrespectful she was being towards him, she was angry so she wasn’t thinking straight. “It was a waste of my time too.” Was all she could think to reply to his words, she didn’t even care he was insulting her abilities, she was still annoyed he thought she would want his child; even the thought made her cringe inwardly.

She was tired of him throwing his title in her direction and him expecting that to be enough. She couldn’t care less who he was, or how much power he had, she would treat him exactly the same as she would treat anyone in this situation. “I find it hard to forget seeing as you keep reminding me.” She pointed out casually, folding her arms slightly across her body and glaring back at him, “Have you not noticed yet that I don’t care who you are?” She had not given him the respect that royalty usually demanded from the moment she had met him, but he had not given her any respect in return so she could see little issue with her actions.

Caitrin did not respond to his words about not blaming him for what had happened as they had already argued that little point out too much, and it was all becoming rather repetitive. Neither of them were going to back down, that much seemed true, so she left that little comment alone and continued with his next one. “As were you it seems, well if your state of undress this morning was anything to go by.” She could not have removed all his garments; if he even was considering thinking that then he was a bigger idiot than she had previously thought. She didn’t remember removing her dress, he had probably done that but of course he would never admit to that would he?

Caitrin made a mental note to just not offer any help to this man ever ever again in her entire life. Every time she tried to help he usually had a way of turning things against her, like now. She had a vague memory of seeing his vest downstairs next to the fire, and that was it. How could he blame her for the entire evenings proceedings from that one small memory. “I said I think!”She protested, putting her arms to the side, honestly what was wrong with this man; she had only been trying to help. “That is all I remember of last night, I don’t even remember how I got to bed.” That much was true, Caitrin was sure she had sat down with the man at some point in the evening, but further than that she could not comment.

[Vortigern]

-------Her virtue?! Once again, he scoffed at the mere suggestion. He may not remember much upon arriving at the inn, but he did remember the conversations that had taken place on their way here. "Did I not tell you how worthless your virtue was?" He reminded, not that he thought she would have been so quick to forget. They had quite an extended discussion about it. Another waste of his time. Every second he spent with her was a waste of his time! "Why would I waste my time trying to obtain something so worthless?" He did not care about her virtue. He would have felt far less revolted had he not taken it. Some men may boast and brag about having been given a woman's virtue. For women could only give it away once and there was some sort of pleasure in that.

-------But to Vortigern, it was not something he would boast about. It was something that he regretted and wished he would forget happened all together. It was humiliating! Had she been a princess or queen it would have been different. But her lower rank made this all the more embarrassing. "You give yourself far too much credit," he added. Did she really think he would concern himself with taking her virtue? He cared nothing about it! It was the most insignificant thing to him, so to hear otherwise, made him want to quickly dismiss the possibility. In fact, he was quite offended that she had even suggested it. "You would want the child for the blood that would run in its veins!" Vortigern knew that doing this for the sake of having a child, would be to give birth to a future king or queen, rather than gain the personality of the father. "You were obviously desperate." Yes; quite desperate indeed.

-------When she claimed it was a waste of time for her too... well, Vortigern was not about to go easy on her. If she wanted to bring her virtue into this, then he would throw that back in her face. "Well you certainly gave up quite a lot for a 'waste of time'." Meaning her innocence; her virtue. It meant nothing to him, but must mean something to her, as it did to most woman. There was a reason she had still been a virgin, and he knew it was not due to lack of male attention. Perhaps she was waiting for the night of her wedding. Or perhaps even waiting for a man that she would fall in love with. Whatever the reason, she could not take back her actions. She had given up her virtue to a man she disliked, and he would remind her of that, if only to cause her distress over her reckless actions.

-------He knew she did not care, but that did not make it any easier to tolerate. He would still demand respect from her, which only added fuel to the fire of their never ending arguments about just about every aspect of conversation. "You should care! You are a fool if you do not." For he had power! He had title! He had wealth! He had so much more than she did and he would use every bit of it if only to make her crumble to her knees. As far as his state of undress went... it had been highly embarrassing. For her to look at him when he was completely stripped of clothing, especially since she was the one who had put him in such an unclad form. "Again, it was all your doing." He could not imagine himself eagerly stripping off his shirt and pants to... well, to do what they did last night.

-------Vortigern was obviously not going to let her revealing comment slide. Despite her effort to back track a little bit or talk her way out of it. "And you honestly expect me to believe that?" He asked, obviously disbelieving every word she spoke. "You seemed to quickly come up with an answer as to the whereabouts of my clothing." His vest; the first article she must have stripped from from him! "You spoke with enough clarity, that it probably is downstairs. Because you put it there." His words were spoken with such certainty, for he could not imagine it any other way. He felt the pounding in his head only intensify the more they argued about this. He still did not feel strong enough to go outside and commence their return to Camelot city. He was dreading it... since they were be journeying to the city together. Just what he needed: more Caitrin de Archer... Not.

[Caitrin de Archer]

“Well you took the time to claim my virtue, therefore it can’t be that worthless.” She snarled at him, if it hadn’t been worth his while to take her virtue she wondered why he had taken the time to claim it at all. Therefore her virtue had to hold some worth and he had taken it, she had the evidence for that much. Then a part of her thought that it really didn’t matter if her virtue was worth anything because she didn’t have it anymore, so now it really was worth nothing.

This was not a topic which Caitrin felt particularly comfortable with, and it was one she was taking offence with easily. She could be pregnant with his child which made their argument all the more chilling and worrying. She tried to keep a brave face on though, to show weakness in front of this man was the wrong thing to do. Caitrin stepped up to Vortigern and just glared at him for a few moments, “I would not curse my offspring with your blood; royalty or not.” To provoke this man would probably be putting herself in more danger, but she wanted to insult him as much as he had insulted her.

Caitrin faltered as he pointed out she had sacrificed her virtue with relative ease. She hadn’t really thought about it like that before. To be honest, the reason Caitrin had still been a virgin before this night had been because she’d had standards of some sorts. There had been many men, and many opportunities but none of them really understood her, they’d never really taken the time to so she hadn’t given them anything but sparks of hope that they might one day hold her favour when she looked for suitors for marriage. They never did, but Caitrin was not a romantic, she was not waiting for her true love because she did not believe in love. She fell silent and did not reply to Vortigern. What had she done?

Pressing her lips together Caitrin could not help but raise an eye brow. She never considered herself a fool for not giving an idiot like the one in front of her respect so she just shrugged, “Well call me a fool then, you are not in Sorlia now, I can speak to you as I wish.” He wouldn’t like that, but did she really care? Not in the slightest. Again Caitrin did not rise to his comments about this being all her fault, because she was tired of going back and forth in this conversation without either of them giving in. Really they were both too stubborn for their own good, but Caitrin could clearly see the sense in not continuing the same argument for too long, after all she supposed that Vortigern must have a headache as well.

Caitrin rolled her eyes as he continued to accuse her of knowing everything just because of her vague memory of his vest. “Of course that makes perfect sense! I put your vest downstairs, yet both of us were up here this morning?” Either Caitrin was missing something or he was just too stupid for words, she was going with the latter. “Remind me not to try and help you again.”

Caitrin had had enough, no, she’d had enough yesterday when she had just met the man but now he really was testing her patience. She just wanted to be home, in her room or anywhere really which didn’t involve being anywhere near this arrogant Prince. She pressed her hand to her head again, her head felt awful, it was almost like the pounding made her want to be sick but nothing was coming up. That, combined with the wound the bandits had given her yesterday, just made her head unbearable. She pressed her eyes for a moment, not allowing her eyes to moisten with the amount of pain she was actually in; physically and emotionally.

Without a word to Vortigern Caitrin pulled her cloak around her shoulders and left the room, slamming the door behind her, she just needed some air and to be away from him. She made her way down the stairs, ignoring the stares of the inn keeper as she made her way outside. She didn’t want to think about how much of a fool she must have made of herself yesterday in front of everyone in the tavern. She didn’t even look round to see if she had been right about the vest, she hoped someone had nicked it last night if she was being truthful, then again that would just cause her more earache from him wouldn’t it? There was no winning with Vortigern was there?

Luckily the morning air was cool and fresh, and for a moment Caitrin’s headache seemed to numb a little. A small tear ran down her face, she just felt stupid and pathetic, she was irritable and she was sick to death of arguing with a stuck up little Prince who thought the mere drop of his title should earn her respect. She rubbed her cheek, ridding it of the moist liquid and told herself to stop being so stupid; what good would getting upset about any of this get her? She pressed herself up against the tavern wall and just contemplated the walk ahead, she knew her way from here, if she wanted she could just leave now and never see Vortigern again. Funnily enough, that option was becoming worryingly tempting.

[Vortigern]

-------"Because you made me!" He spat out when she claimed that he took the time to claim her virtue. Good god. It was like talking in complete circles with her. He had already explained how worthless her virtue was to him, and so therefore, could not have possibly been in his right mind to spend the time taking it. Yet, she was backtracking, only making him reiterate his words. "Do you need me to recap the entire conversation we just had?" He added, annoyed with her. Annoyed being an understatement at the moment. When she went on to say that she would not 'curse' her offspring, he just scoffed once again. "You claim you would not, yet, you very well could have."

-------While he still thought she had planned this, she could very well be pregnant. And therefore, she would have no choice but to give birth to his child. Now that was a terrifying thought: her carrying his child. He could easily separate himself from it, but he would still forever carry that knowledge with him. And every time, it would make him cringe. Her remark about her having the liberty to speak to him. It was of course irritating to hear, but not the most irritating thing she had said or done. So he dismissed that particular comment and focused on her next one which mocked his logic. "You really are a complete imbecile," he insulted. "We were obviously downstairs first. Who knows what you did to me before we came to the room. Perhaps you got an early start to removing my clothing." Now why was that so difficult to believe?

-------They obviously had been downstairs before they had come up here. For they had to acquire the key to this room somehow. "You have never helped me. All you did was admit your guilt by being able to recall last night's events. When you so innocently claim that you remember nothing." Even if it was just pointing out where his vest had been. It was still something; more than what he remembered. Once silence followed and she seemed to be greatly affected by his words or probably the circumstances right now, she abruptly left the room. The first feeling that filled Vortigern was relief. Relief that she was finally gone and he could have a moment of piece and quiet. He stood there so that he collect his thoughts. Well, actually to attempt to stop the pounding in his head. It was far easier to do so without her incessant chattering. After several moments, finally ready to get out of this wretched place, he stormed out of the room.

-------He stopped downstairs at the tavern, noticing his vest on the chair. Bloody woman was right. He grabbed, aware of the few gazes that rested on him. He went to the innkeeper. She looked vaguely familiar, but Vortigern did not care about pleasantries. "Did you have a good night with your fiance?" She asked with a small wink and jovial smile. Vortigern just stared at her. What the hell was she talking about?! His... fiance? Oh. Is that the cover they went back? That sounded vaguely familiar too. But he was in too much of a mood to respond to it. "What is the quickest way back to the city of Camelot?" He asked her. She gave him instructions, informing him that there was no more shortcuts apart from the path that led them to this inn. Wonderful. Hopefully Caitrin was already well on her way so that he would not have to tolerate her insufferable company.

-------Without a thank you, he put on his vest and began to walk to the door. Why should he have to thank her anyway. He was a prince and she was simply performing her duty as a worker; a lower citizen expected to comply with his command, even if it was just a question. He opened the door and exited, the bright sun causing him to blink rapidly a few times until his eyes adjusted to it. He looked around, at first not noticing her presence. Until he looked again and... wonderful. There she was. And what was that stain on her cheek? Great. She was crying. Vortigern hated over emotional women. Then again, all women were over emotional. He had grown up with five sisters and was constantly annoyed whenever they cried or whined. "Your pitiful state will not evoke any sympathy. So save your useless tears for someone who cares." And with those coldly spoken words, he began to walk towards the path that he knew they would once again, have to share.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Again Vortigern insisted on reminding her that she could be pregnanct with his child. The more he said it the more real the threat was, and the realism of the situation was finally beginning to set in. She froze for a moment, she honestly did not know how she would cope if she did discover she was carrying his child, she didn’t want to be. She just glared up at him for a few moments before finding some suitable reply, “And you could have fathered a child with a woman far below your rank.” She said half sarcastically, she wanted him to feel the embarrassment and worry that she was feeling right now. If she was pregnant she was sure she would never search for Vortigern, nor ever ask for his assistance with the child in a financial state; she didn’t want to raise his bastard and she certainly never would.

Of course they had been downstairs first, did he think she was a complete idiot? She rolled her eyes at him, he was coming up with the most absurd situations that he could possibly think of just to hide his own guilt; she was sure of it. She threw her hands to the side, “Because clearly you were that eager to sleep with me you allowed me to take off your vest downstairs.” He had a hand in this, his hunger for a mans pleasure must have played a part in this; Caitrin had been warned about men like him, but she had never really taken it seriously until now. And now it was too late. “I am innocent of this, you are to blame.” Was all she had to say to him as she glared coldly at him before half running outside to bask in the cool air, and the pleasure of not being anywhere near him.

Some part of Caitrin just wanted to curl up and just not move for the foreseen future. She just felt dirty, used and just awful in general. She didn’t want to cry, it just wasn’t her. She was Caitrin de Archer, the one who usually kept everything together, the one who never let anything show and yet here she was, just showing her vulnerabilities. She felt another small tear run down her cheeks, she wasn’t even sure why she was crying, no one would care. It wasn’t even that no one would care here, no one would care wherever she went. Her Uncle wouldn’t care, neither would her aunt, it was times like this that Caitrin just felt completely isolated and began to hate her situation.

She hugged herself, the dress was still damp but it was bearable for the next few hours at least until she could get home. She hoped to god her Uncle was going to be out when she returned, she honestly wasn’t sure she could stand another bout of arguments anytime soon. She was usually on form, but she just wanted to be left alone to either worry her situation to death or just try to forget about this whole ordeal.

Of course being left alone was the easy option and she didn’t need to look round as the door opened to know it was him; of course it was going to be him. She put her head back on the wood of the tavern and knew that now her eyes must be red and puffy, but she wasn’t expecting any sympathy and wasn’t surprised when she didn’t get any either. She pressed her lips together, feeling some of the moisture from her tears lining the flesh of her lips. Caitrin had passed the point of caring with this man, she’d stopped caring a long time ago. “I don’t want your sympathy.” She spat back at him, crossing her arms across her body defiantly; he was never ever going to touch her in any way again, she would make sure of it.

He was storming off in the direction of Camelot, and she pushed herself off the tavern wall and began to follow him down the only road to Camelot. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him, but after yesterday she didn’t want to be down a forest road by herself; if bandits attacked then hopefully they would go for Vortigern first, he did after all have his vest back.

She rubbed her eyes with the cuff of her sleeve, sniffing back and trying to focus her vision, her tears weren’t really making her headache any better. “I see you found your vest then.” She pointed out. Caitrin had honestly been hoping it had been stolen, what kind of men were in these taverns to leave a perfectly good vest just lying in the corner? She sniffed back again, her eyes still filling with tears, she just couldn’t help herself. She didn’t want to show how actually vulnerable she was, but right now Caitrin didn’t feel like herself, and Vortigern wasn’t helping.

Notes: Sorry this post is so long again, Caitrin went off on one, its a bit OOC for her but eh she's emotional

[Vortigern]

-------Vortigern only grew angrier at the fact that she felt the need to remind him that he'd bedded a woman far beneath his station. He would forever live with that disgust. Internally though. She would have the burden of a child. And as a unwed mother, it would be worse. She would live with shame and be ostracized from society. Hopefully. Then again, it was not as if he wanted her to get pregnant. His blood was far too pressure to be mixed with hers. They were just throwing the blame back and forth to each other. He knew he was right. And she should just accept that. Though it was clear that neither were so submissive. It only made him despise her further. Having seen her outside, and her defensive remarks of her not wanting his sympathy, Vortigern felt that familiar surge of annoyance he constantly did in her presence. "Then why the hell are you crying?"

-------He snapped angrily. "If you insist on making those whimpering noises for the entire journey back to Camelot, then stay well behind me so I do not have to hear you." A demand, not a request. It was not as if she was even whimpering. But the last thing he needed to deal with was an over emotional woman. Her stubbornness and outspoken nature was bad enough. When she commented on finding his vest, he shot a glare at her. "It was precisely where you said it was." He did not mean that in a good way. But more, a way to further blame her. "So do not tell me you remember nothing." And that was that. She remembered it and that was as good as an admittance of guilt.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin was not ready to be a mother in any sense of the word, and she certainly was not ready to be a mother to any child of this vile man's. Though quite frankly she may not have a choice, and that was what was distressing her so much. He had clearly taken advantage of her, and it was fine for him, he could go back to Sorelia and have nothing more to do with her. She could have to bear the burden of this meeting for the rest of her life, and that was why she was crying. Although she wasn't about to grace Vortigern with a full answer, he didn't deserve that. "Because I want to, and I shall continue to for as long as I want."

In a kind of act of defiance she actually stepped closer towards him and wiped her eyes on the cuff of her sleeve. She found her tears drying, but it was nothing to do with Vortigern of course, no, she just knew that her tears would really do her no good. They wouldn't reverse the evil which this man had caused her, and it wouldn't tell her if she was pregnant or not so she sniffed back and wrapped her arms around her waist in a comforting way. "I'll stand where I want."

Jesu, this man really was impossible. "I remembered where your vest was, that is it. Don't use me to cover up the fact that you obviously took advantage of me!" She was angry now, angrier than she had ever felt herself becoming in her entire life. She couldn't handle this mental torture, it was the fact she couldn't remember what they had done which made it worse. Just how drunk had they both been? Perhaps he'd even drugged her, quite frankly, she wouldn't put anything past him.

[Vortigern]

-------She was not only ignoring his commands, but she was openly defying him. The nerve of this woman! Did she think that just because she could potentially be carrying his child, that it gave her the right to act this way? Well she was wrong. When she took a step closer to him, he took a step away. She should be walking behind him, as those of a lower class should. They should fall behind royalty; not act as if they were of equal worth. Her continuous denial of remembrance was really hitting a nerve in the prince. It was not as if he would have more respect for her if she just admitted it. For he had no respect for her to begin it. It would just involve less debate if she owned up to what she did. So that he could think of a suitable punishment as well.

-------He abruptly stopped walking and turned to face her, standing directly in front of her. Towering over her as he peered down at her insignificant self. "Do not blame me for the fact that you made yourself a whore!" His words were meant to insult, so he wasn't the least bit delicate in how he phrased them. In fact, he wanted them to sound harsh for they were the reality of the situation. "This is all your doing! Just because you may have regrets for having whored yourself for a child, do not blame me for taking advantage!" Though she probably did not have any regrets... she had clearly thought this all through. "And if you are with child because of your evil ploy, then do not expect anything from me either! It will be your burden to bare with!" And her's alone. He would be as dis-involved as humanly possible.

-------Angrily glaring at her, he was not quite finished. His volume of voice decreased a bit, but still held that intense anger in it. "Prostitutes would have more of a conscience than you do," he mumbled. Prostitutes being regarded in a rather negative light, especially for those of a higher class. He was of course suggesting that she had less worth than one; less of a conscience; that she had become worse than a prostitute. Solely because of what she had done to him! With these words, he then turned to continue to walk forward. Knowing that she would not lag too far behind... unfortunately.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin, as Vortigern took a step away from her, merely stepped closer towards him again. She was not letting him away with acting all high and mighty around her, she did not have to respect his status as he had not earned her respect, and they were not in Sorelia. Well, that was how she saw it anyway. She was quite shocked as he stopped and began to tower over her. Of course she didn't flinch straight away, and she stared back at him defiantly.

As he spoke however, she did physically flinch. How dare he use such crude language to describe her! She had not been aware of her actions, therefore she could not be held to account for them, this was his fault, and he was not going to shift the blame onto her. She couldn't even repeat his words, no, she would not lower herself to his crude level. "I did not make myself anything!" She protested hotly and just glared up at him, "You took advantage of me, so the fault is yours to bear. Do not try to shift your own greedy actions to me!" Caitrin had been called many things in her time, some even unsavoury things, but none had ever been so crude or just vile. Then again, she already knew how vile Vortigern was, it was not surprising he should have such thoughts.

Then of course he took it one step further, and Caitrin was just speechless for a moment. He turned away from her and began to walk back in the direction of Camelot, but Caitin did not continue walking just yet, she was still in shock. She then, her head kicking into gear, half ran forwards, her cheeks flaring up with anger. "And the lowest of men would have more of my respect than you do, and would probably be better suited to the role of Prince." There, she had insulted his heritage, if there was one thing he had shown himself as proud of, it was the fact that he was a Prince, and would one day be King. She had no issue in insulting his competence in this role, on the contrary she would rather enjoy it.

[Vortigern]

-------Was she denying that she made herself a whore? Really?! Vortigern would not stand for her naivety. "The blood on the sheets suggests otherwise." His words were bluntly spoke. He was calling her even more of a whore because she had not only given herself, but also her virginity. Something that he did not want. And yet, something he was holding over her. Because once it was given, it could not be taken back. Some women treasured it, planning only to give it to the man she married. Caitrin no longer had that choice. While it was revolting that he had slept with her, he would remind her of what she had willingly given him. By force of course. "It was not my greed that caused the occurrence of last night!" Greed for what? For her? He scoffed. Never! "It was more your promiscuity than anything else!" A whore was promiscuous; they went hand in hand. So Vortigern decided to call her both.

-------For once he found her not by his side and enjoyed what few seconds of peace he gained from this. But when she returned to being closer to him, she certainly made up for lost time. Her words hit yet another nerve. As did they all, but this time, it was in direct reference to his birthright. Was she truly suggesting that someone like a servant would be better suited as a prince?! Vortigern was not shy in expressing what he thought of those of a lower class. They were unworthy and completely insignificant. So her suggestion, or insult rather, infuriated him. His temper flared and no longer leaked out through words, but this time... through actions. In one swift and quick motion, he raised his hand and struck it across her cheek. It was not a punch, but a harsh slap. One that he hoped caused pain, perhaps even left a bruise. But more importantly, it was meant to teach her a lesson.

-------She was not the first woman he has slapped, and he doubted she would be the last. She had after all deserved it. It was only a miracle that he'd not done it sooner. He really should have; the moment she started mouthing off to him yesterday, he should have struck her as he did now. "How dare you say such things!" His voice was as angry as his gesture indicated he was. He had no weapon to threaten her with, so this was all he could do. Or perhaps, it would only encourage a bit of creativity."Do not test my patience woman. For you may find yourself returning to Camelot far more impaired than you ever could imagine." He had physical strength and where he lacked a weapon, he would make up for in this.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin shook her head at his comments and folded her arms defensively. She half scoffed, how was he still denying that he had used his methods to force her into what she had done. There was no other explanation. He was a man, no matter how much he professed he would not lie with someone below his rank, sometimes it was a matter of convinence and Caitrin had been completely vulnerable last night, and he had taken full advantage of that. "Do not deny that you took advantage of my state last night." She pressed her lips together harshly, "It was your greed that caused this, you used me for your own purposes." She half spat the last bit at him, but she had earned the right. She had been through enough to care about upsetting him in any way.

Caitrin did not have time to step out of Vortigern's way before he struck her cheek. She yelped out as his hand made contact with her cheek. She hadn't been expecting him to turn quite so quickly, and her cheek was now stinging uncontrollably. She couldn't look up at him for a few moments as she was blinking away the tears from the shock and the pure pain. Even when she raised her hand from her cheek, she could still feel where he had struck her. Though this would not stop her defiance, his first blow had been out of surprise, he might not get such a lucky blow the second time.

Standing up to him defiantly, with her now red cheek, and almost squared up to him. She wasn't going to just back down because he had struck her, no, it would take a lot more than that. "I am not afraid of you." She said rather bluntly, he had hurt her already in the most intimate of ways, so she would stand strong, and take whatever he was going to throw at her."My words were true, would you like me to repeat them?" She raised her eyebrows, her tone mocking and just once again suggested that he was not fit to lead anything, and it would certainly not aid his temper.

[Vortigern]

-------Denial. She was living in a world of denial. Horribly delusional as well if she truly thought that it had been his 'greed' that controlled his actions. When he had been the one who had been compromised. He knew she drugged her with something. But of course she was not going to admit it. She never would. He may not have known her for long, but he knew her long enough to be certain of this fact. Which only made their conversation more infuriating. He had struck her as a quick angry reaction to her words. And his only regret was that he had not done so with a blade in his hands. Though the action, showing physical impact, had no emotional impact.

-------For she continued to show him defiance, and 'courage'. What she believed was courage anyway. When in reality, it was stupidity. Now that the first action was out, he was not going to hold back. He would only hold back enough to not kill her. Though if she pushed him far enough... well, time would tell. He had killed people for far less, but in Sorelia. Where the laws were what he made them to be. "Do not be afraid then," he began to say, with a deadened calmness that it's underlying tone was menacing. He grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm behind her, now standing directly behind Caitrin. His grasp on her wrist tightened as he pulled back her arm, further and further.

-------It would not yet break, but that was not due to his lack of strength. Only with the hope to cause her pain. With him behind her, and standing so close, he did not need to shout. But there was clear anger in his tone of voice. "Be the foolish woman that you are, and say the words again." It was a daring taunt for her to say them. To speak the words at such a moment, where he would snap her arm out of her socket. For the time being, he was only twisting it more, hoping that it caused her pain.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin just wanted to get home, and out of this man’s company as soon as she could. She was sure he had taken advantage of her, though of course he would never admit it. He had made it perfectly clear that he didn’t lie with women below his social status. Well, last night was the exception, and she had been vulnerable enough to be his target. He did not reply to her, which Caitrin saw as a positive, perhaps he was even admitting his guilt through his silence, as it was his guilt to bear and not hers. She therefore did not raise the topic again straight away, as for the moment she could not be bothered arguing with them. They matched each other in stubbornness, which unfortunately meant that they often went round in circles with these sorts of arguments.

She still stood defiantly opposite him, and kept her strength. He did not scare her, and neither would she let him in the future. She held her breath as he spoke, and hardly had time to react as he grabbed her arm and twisted it around her back. The pain ripped through her until tears were biting in her eyes. However she didn’t beg, why would she give him the satisfaction now? “I am not afraid of you.” She repeated again, but this time her words were strained and gritted. The only thing she could focus on was the searing pain in her arm which was increasing by the second. She was finding it increasingly hard to bite back her tears, which were born out of pain and nothing else. “Let go of my arm.” She demanded of him, again her words were said with whatever strength she could muster, and she hoped her defiant tone still rung through.

No, even as the grip on her arm increased she was sure she would not break. Inside her head was screaming at her to stop this, to see sense and just beg of him to stop. But unfortunately her stubbornness was not about to let up that easily, and especially not to Vortigern. “It is not foolish to speak the truth.” She half groaned at him breathlessly. Her arm was really starting to hurt now, but no, she would not break. But neither did she repeat her earlier words, instead she used her spare hand to try and break the grip on her other arm. She had to do something, she would do anything but beg to him.

[Vortigern]

-------She was not afraid of him. And that was because she had not seen what he was capable of. Other than a small slap and a now twisted arm. Part of him hoped that one day she came to Sorelia to witness his wrath. The other part of him hoped he never saw her again. When she claimed that she was not afraid of him, he twisted her arm even further back. His fingers pressing so hard into her arm, that he hoped it left bruises. He hoped it caused her pain. Because she deserved so much worse. "I would have thought that by now, you would know not to make demands." Because she was worthless. And he was the one of higher rank. "But yet again, I overestimate whatever semblance of intelligence you have." He twisted it even further back now.

-------Knowing that it would take only a few more inches to fully pull it out of her socket. "You must believe you are so brave. So courageous for defying me." He did not think she was either. She was delusional, naive, and she had drugged him! "But you are neither. You forget the power I hold over you now." If it could not be emotionally or mentally, then it was at least physically. "So cry. And beg for your life. Give me a reason to let you live." Because right now, all he could think of was how much he wanted her dead.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin had never really known pain like this before. Half of her wanted to scream out that she was sorry, just to make him let go. The pain just pulsed through her, it was all she could think about, even her defiance was taking second place in her thoughts. The sensible side of her brain was just telling her to give in, and let him have this mental victory, because the pain just wasn't worth it. Even his words hit her with their harsh coldness and she bit her lip; she wasn't going to cry, not now.

If Caitrin had thought things couldn't get worse, she was slowly realising how wrong she had been. The pain was becoming unbearable and she could feel the tears in her eyes. It was natural to cry, this was possibly the worst pain Caitrin had been in in her entire life, so it was unsurprising that she needed to cry. However, that didn't make it any less irritating. To cry was almost admitting defeat, and showing that he was causing a reaction. She had already been through so much over the last day, Jesu why couldn't he just let her go?

All too suddenly Caitrin felt completely incapable of being in control, mentally or physically. The tears were choking in the back of her throat, and it almost felt as if they were burning against her skin when they began to fall. She honestly couldn't take this anymore, "Please, just stop." Was all she could choke out. It wasn't just the physical act she wanted him to stop, it was everything. She couldn't take the mental torture anymore, knowing what he had done to her and that she could be with child as a result. It was all too much and she just wanted it all to stop.