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It was safe to say that Caitrin picked up on the ambiguity of Maeve’s words. She wondered why the woman was being so mysterious about her origins. There were many reasons for that of course, and Caitrin took the wise decision to not press Maeve further on her origins, if the woman felt trusting enough to reveal these details to Caitrin then she was sure she would in time. Then the focus of the conversation turned to Caitrin and her personal origins. She faltered slightly, did Maeve mean where had she come from today or where was she from originally? “I am from Mercia originally, my family still lives there.” She gave a small cough before she continued, “But I was sent to live with my Uncle, Lord Rouland, around two years ago as I am now his ward.” There was not much more to tell that was relevant to the conversation really. Caitrin could have gone into the reasons why she was sent to Camelot in such quick haste but that wasn’t relevant, and it wasn’t something Caitrin just told anyone and everyone.

Caitrin was glad at least that Maeve took her words of thanks at face value, as that was how they were meant. She did not expect to receive any help in the actual holding of the cup, but Caitrin sipped the water slowly, only then realising how thirsty she was. She felt slightly better just after that small amount of water, at least now her throat did not hurt as much. As Maeve lifted the cup Caitrin coughed again but smiled at the woman, thanking her once more.

She listened carefully as Maeve revealed that although she was a healer, her companion held more skills than she did. Caitrin wondered therefore why he had left, surely if he could help Maeve in her healing he should have stayed? “Have I offended your companion?” She asked softly, it was a valid question after all as the man, Haldir, had been pretty sharp to leave once Maeve and Caitrin arrived at the makeshift camp, and he could hardly have been offended by Maeve’s presence could he?

Maeve’s choice of words struck Caitrin as rather odd as surely there could be no other way to heal her arm than to let his heal on its own? However, she did not chase up the words as perhaps she just meant that her medicines could only bring pain relief. Caitrin was slightly downhearted in a way that she had been so stupid as to break one of her own limbs, after all, it meant that she would not be able to go out riding for some time, she wouldn’t even be able to complete the stitching on one of her new garments. But, at least she had not done herself a worse injury, she was still thankful of that. “I would appreciate something for the pain?” Caitrin asked hopefully, her arm just wouldn’t stop hurting no matter what position she put it in. The offer of a splint was also well received, “If it’s not too much trouble?” She asked with a small smile, she knew Maeve well enough now to know that it would not be too much trouble for the young woman, and it was something which Caitrin was still wondering about. Not many in Camelot would be as caring as Maeve was being, not that anyone would particularly wish Caitrin ill, but many would have just taken her home, or perhaps even looked the other way.

Protection? Had he honestly just said that? Caitrin half scoffed and widened her eyes at him. That was one thing she could not stand, and if Griflet had really thought he was protecting her on their first meeting then that just made the memory of the whole event even more irritating. Her arms were now tightly crossed against her chest, “I didn’t need your protection.” She pointed out irritably. To be honest, Caitrin had been involved in enough trouble on the forest roads to really know better about riding off on her own, but that was not the point. She doubted that Griflet could be really much use in a fight, but she supposed that was really something which would be proven in time; sort of. “I would have been perfectly fine on my own.” She even gave a small nod of satisfaction, there, she was pleased with that little retort. Caitrin’s safety had always been something she had wanted to keep in her own hands, and she hated it when men presumed she was weak and helpless because of her gender and size; she was neither and it frustrated her that the world couldn’t see that.

Caitrin felt slightly patronised at his words and it really wasn’t helping her mood at the current situation. She managed to hold a glare at him and raised her eye brows but shook her head nonetheless. No, she had not honestly thought it would be that easy at all, but it had been a nice thought to hold for those few moments. She was watching Griflet carefully and her fingers twitched as the impulse to simply grab the reigns from him pulsed through her. She stepped forwards, trying to put her plan into motion but before she could he mounted the horse and she was forced merely to look up at him. Well wasn’t this fabulous?

She kept her arms folded at him, wanting him to know just how much she was annoyed at this current situation. It was probably having little effect as Griflet had all the control of the situation he wanted now didn’t he? A few thoughts popped into Caitrin’s head, at first she just thought of walking back to her Uncle’s manor, it was not far after all. However, then she would have to endure Griff’s torments and teases from the unreachable point of a saddle all the way there, and that was not something she wanted to put herself through in a hurry. Her next thought was to merely gain her seat on the horse by removing its current occupant; that of course could work, but no doubt Griff would moan about that too for the foreseeable future.

She bit her lip, not because she was flirting with him, but because she was actually thinking for a few moments. Then, half swallowing her pride she rested one hand on her hip and smirked up at him, “Do you think I would just let you leave me here?” She asked him seriously and then, without waiting for an answer, she grabbed the saddle of the horse and pulled herself onto it. She sat astride the beast which she knew was uncharacteristic for a woman but Griff had already seen her ride like this before so he shouldn’t find it too shocking. However, the difference was this wasn’t one of her riding dresses so her the hem of the dress rose up to just below her knee, showing off her hose. She felt a small twinge of pink go to her cheeks but ignored it and fiddled with her dress for a moment before turning her attentions to the matter in hand; she was already up here now, even if her hose was partly on show.

She turned back to Griflet, realising then that she had nothing to hold on to. She pressed her lips together, she could pretend that she was going to hold onto the side of the saddle, but they both knew she would not be able to keep a tight enough grip. Instead, and rather hesitantly at first, she slipped her arms around Griff’s waist and locked her hands around his tummy, to give her support. He still felt warm against her skin but she tried to not let it distract her for the moment anyway. “Do not think this is a regular occurrence.” She warned him mockingly but her smile rather ruined the effect of her words and she shuffled slightly forwards so that their bodies were touching.

Caitrin could not remember being in so much pain for as long as she could remember. She had broken her arm as a child, which was she was sure she had suffered the same injury today. Now she was more concerned about getting her strength back as quickly as possible, after all, she might be missed by her Uncle at some point. As Maeve told her it was a language from far away Caitrin nodded at her thoughtfully. Apart from Mercia and Camelot, Caitrin could not boast to be well travelled at all. Well, she supposed she was more travelled than some noblewomen her age, but still she had never encountered the language which Maeve and the man had spoken in before. “Where are you from?” Caitrin then found herself asking, she knew she should probably not press Maeve for details, but the woman had spoken in her tongue in front of her so surely Caitrin had some right to know?

Caitrin thanked Maeve again as she helped her to the bed, Caitrin was sure she would have merely collapsed next to the horse without the woman’s aid. As Maeve adjusted the blankets surrounding Caitrin’s body Caitrin smiled, “Thank you.” She found herself saying again, even though Maeve had told her no thanks was necessary it just felt wrong to not thank her for the work she was doing. Now that Maeve mentioned it she was insanely thirsty, perhaps that was why she was finding it so hard to speak; her throat felt so dry.

“Just some water please.” She didn’t think she could stomach any food just yet, she wasn’t sure if it was the throbbing in her head or just her state in general but Caitrin was feeling slightly nauseous. She inched herself up so she was sitting rather than lying down and her left arm was still clutching at her right, trying to keep it in a position where the pain was less; everything just hurt. “Are you a physician?” She asked Maeve almost seriously now, she knew it was a long shot, but perhaps this woman really could help her. She knew there was a wound, or something wrong with her leg, and then there were the other injuries she had sustained of course; she needed them looking at really. “It’s just my arm, I think its broken.” She couldn’t hold the said arm out because that would hurt her even more but Caitrin just wanted assurance that Maeve could bring her some relief at least, even if she could just numb the pain for a few hours.

Caitrin had to say from what little she had seen of Camelot and its ways, she would be more than at home here. Of course it was only early days and she didn’t want to let her guard down too easily. She had shown her Uncle the true extent to her personality right from the off and he had not sent her back to Mercia yet so either he saw potential within her or her father had given him a lot of money for her ward ship. He had gone out of his way really to secure her happiness, and now the King himself seemed to be concerned with her wellbeing as well. It felt odd as she had come from quite a large household where she had been left to see after her own interests.

As the King asked her of Mercian formalities she settled a bit, of course this was a section of the conversation she would feel completely at ease with. Mercia was defiantly stricter than Camelot, or perhaps that had just been her experience of it. After all, her father had always been harsh on her because they had all been responsible for their family’s reputation.

“Mercia, in my experience, is a lot more formal than Camelot sire. I have lived there all my life and I was never once invited to dine at the King’s table.” She had only ever seen their king once or twice, as she had seldom been allowed at court, “I was very rarely at court as I am the third daughter and was therefore seen as unimportant.” She looked to her Uncle who seemed a bit surprised at her honesty but did he did not voice a concern so Caitrin presumed she had not insulted him. “Is the same true in Camelot my Lord? Or do noble families usually submit most of their family to court?”

There was of course the matter of warfare in Mercia, and perhaps the King would be more interested in that than her issues with being obscure and unimportant. “I found that most Mercian families were quite driven by ambition, especially ambition through warfare. My own father, Lord Payton de Archer, is an accomplished warlord so he was always involved in King Bayard’s campaigns.” She gave a sad sort of smile, her fathers ambitions had almost ruined her family many times over, he was constantly in and out of favour depending which way the battle went and it had almost wrecked her mothers nerves. “I do not believe that Camelot is governed by such warlike motives?” She asked the King, almost with a hint of nerves.

Then of course was the issue of magic, for a moment she wondered if she should bring it up as Mercia was not prejudiced against those with magic whereas Camelot persecuted everyone who even so much as came into contact with an incantation. She took a slow breath and gathered her courage for the words she knew she should speak. “And of course my Lord, Mercia does not have the sanctions on magic which Camelot has in place.” She paused, she did not want to sound as if she was supporting magic or disapproving of the King’s laws so she continued in haste, “But it seems that Camelot is in much better order because of the presence of such sanctions.” She left it there because she was probably quite deep in the hole she had dug for herself. It had hurt to say that and she felt slightly sick, she felt like she was betraying her kind but she had to do what she could to survive; what good would she do for her kind if she got herself killed? Perhaps one day she could help Camelot to see the good that magic could do, but until that day came she would keep her head down and abide by Uther’s laws.

Roulands ears had pricked up as the King mentioned some sort of conference between the different kingdoms. It would surely be beneficial for him if Camelot were allied with Mercia as then he would not have as much bother when he intended to visit his family. It would also be easier to navigate a marriage for Caitrin from either kingdom when the time came, which he was sure it would not for some time. At the King’s question he sat forwards in his chair and gave a small sort of smile, “I was only fifteen when I was married off within Camelot my Lord King, so I never had the chance to fight on Mercia’s behalf.” He stopped thoughtfully, his upbringing had been quite strict as had Caitrin’s, “But when I was growing up the focus was mainly on us to learn how to fight and defend our Kingdom. From a very young age I was taught the ways of a Knight even though I was only the second son.”
He thought of his own son Dristan’s upbringing, he’d taught the lad to fight yes but there had been no expectation for him to actually use his skills for anything but self defence. “I can see the differences in raising a son in Mercia and Camelot quite clearly as my son’s upbringing was quite mild in comparison with mine.”

The small vial Merlin had brought with him was still sitting rather uselessly on the dresser. Keeping one eye on Merlin, to ensure he didn’t leave prematurely, she grabbed the vial from the dresser and drunk the liquid within it quickly. It tasted vial, as these things usually did and she gave a small cough before replacing the vial on her dresser; hopefully it would cure her headache at least. She looked back to Merlin and gave a soft smile, “Tell Gauis thank you for the remedy, I shall visit him soon.” Soon, but not today she was sure of it. It was not late in the day, but she was going to have a lie down after she had had enough of tormenting Merlin as she was sure that that would also help her headache somewhat.

To say Caitrin was amused at Merlin’s little ramble about how he was just interested in her circlet, rather than wanting to play dress up with it, was an understatement. She pressed her lips together, not sure whether or not to believe him. Had he not seen a circlet before? Surely he had seen them in other noblewomen’s chambers if he did these sorts of deliveries for Gaius on a regular basis. “Have you just always been interested in circlets then? Or did mine take your particular attention?”

The panic in his voice was amusing and Caitrin was almost inclined to laugh, but didn’t. Instead she let out a small smile and looked over Merlin. He certainly was confident for a servant, perhaps that was why he lasted in Arthur’s company; who knew. She was still giving him a small smile, even when he stressed how much he did not want to play dress up. Well this was all going smoothly wasn’t? She noticed how uncomfortable he was, which showed her that when he said he wasn’t playing dress up he was probably telling the truth. Perhaps he had just had a moment of interest. Even if that were true, it was hardly going to help him now, after all, Caitrin had caught him red handed or so to speak, and so she was going to exploit it as much as she could.

Caitrin knew that Merlin probably wanted to be as far away from here as possible, she probably would if she were in his position, but she wasn’t so she could enjoy exploiting it for the moment. She set her jewellery back down on the dresser and crossed her arms about her body, it wasn’t a threatening gesture, it was more of a quizzical one. Now what was she going to do about this one? He certainly wasn’t giving her the respect, or title, that she deserved as she was well above his rank, however if he was Arthur’s servant she did not want to chastise him too much as she didn’t want to offend her friend.

Eventually she thought of something and unfolded her arms and leaned on her dresser with a small smirk caressing her lips, “Perhaps we could go and tell Arthur what you have been up to together.” She gestured to the door, she was sure Merlin had no intention of telling Arthur what he had been up to in her bedchambers, so it was obviously up to Caitrin to either tell Arthur herself, or further humiliate the boy in her own company.

Caitrin shifted herself again so she was fully sitting up, the most pain was now coming from her arm. The pain in her head was waning slightly, though she had no idea why that would be, perhaps the distraction of conversation with this woman was keeping her thoughts from her painful head. She moved her left arm to cover her right and held it for a few moments. The bone looked like it was setting at an odd angle; had she broken it? That wasn’t an impossible scenario, she had probably broken it when she had landed. Maeve seemed to know what she was doing, perhaps she could look at it once they were at the camp that they spoke of.

Caitrin watched intently as the horse that Maeve called then arrived at her side obediently. The word which Maeve used to call the horse to her side was an unfamiliar one in Caitrin’s tongue and she smiled slightly, “Is that your horse’s name?” She asked softly, if it was then it was a beautiful name. Caitrin knew if she had been riding her mare, Lily, this afternoon then none of this would have happened. Unfortunately Lily was injured at the moment, which had meant that she had taken the horse that had caused her to be in this state this afternoon. Horses was one topic which Caitrin loved and understood, horses were not like people, they did not desert you and they were loyal; Lily was loyal to Caitrin at least.

Utter amazement struck Caitrin as the horse simply lowered itself beside the pair of them. The horse and rider must be incredibly close. Then came the next question of Caitrin actually managing to get up to straddle the horse. The thought of getting up still set heavy in her mind but she breathed out slowly and nodded in answer to Maeve, “I am.” And she started to shift her position. She used Maeve’s hand to help start to lever herself up into a standing position. Her right arm was no use whatsoever, but her left hand was at least doing the job. Caitrin managed to stand up, still clutching Maeve’s hand in fear she would fall if she let go. Caitrin had never put so much faith in anyone in such a short acquaintance, but she felt her trust was not misplaced. Caitrin’s legs felt wobbly beneath her and she felt rather dizzy, and ill; the quicker they could get to this camp the quicker Caitrin could rest. She nodded again at Maeve, indicating she was ready to be led to the horse.

Caitrin managed a small smile at Maeve as the woman announced it was an honour to make Caitrin’s acquaintance. She wondered if the woman knew her family at all, of course they were quite well known in Camelot, but the main and more well-known branch of her family resided in Mercia where they were well-known for all the wrong reasons. Caitrin luckily did not share her ambitions for war and conquest as the rest of her Mercian family seemed to hold. She didn’t really see much point in war, it was too dark a topic for her. Caitrin had been brought up with stories of the Great Purge so anything to do with destruction always hit a raw nerve with her as it served as a reminder of how lucky she was to hold magic and still be alive in Camelot. “It is an honour to meet you too.” Her face had lit up slightly, a friendly face in Camelot was always a welcomed one to Caitrin, too many people nowadays only looked after themselves and gave little attention to others.

“Thank you.” Caitrin said softly, giving a small chesty cough as Maeve helped her to sit up. Her head lolled around on her shoulders for a few moments before she gathered the energy to straighten it and hold her head in the one position so she was focussing on the woman intently. She nodded as the woman advised her to stay put, she did not feel like moving anytime soon anyway; even the thought made her feel a bit ill. Now she was sat upright she looked down at her right arm as it was still throbbing. She tried to move it but she winced as that caused her even more pain; she wasn’t doing that again in a hurry.

Maeve spoke of a camp and it took Caitrin a few moments to register what she was saying. She had only just met Maeve, but she was inclined to trust her somewhat as if the woman wanted to harm or rob her she would have already done it wouldn’t she? However, the thought of some water seemed like a perfect idea, she had only just noticed how dry her throat and chest was so Caitrin gave another small nod, “As long as I am not troubling you too much?” It was a rather uncharacteristic thing of Caitrin to say, but she figured being polite with Maeve was the right thing to do, the woman was helping her after all and she had nothing against her, “But, how shall I get there?” Now that was a more pressing question, if the camp was not far away Caitrin was sure she could manage to walk the distance if helped, but she hadn’t managed to even get to her feet so she had no idea exactly how far she could walk.

Caitrin of course knew Richard was only being so serious with her because he had a job to do, and that job included her which was why she presumed he hadn’t left yet. Just because she knew these things didn’t mean she couldn’t still have fun with Richard, after all if he wasn’t just going to leave her alone they were going to be alone for some time; why waste a morning sitting and talking when action could be taken? “I do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t change it.” She winked at him again; his reaction was quite a fun one to deal with and she was telling the truth. He was being serious because of the job, but she could make him see that to be less serious would just be more fun, perhaps then he’d give up this fanciful nonsense about getting her back to her Uncle’s as well; which she was certain would never happen.

Caitrin wondered how far she could push Richard before he cracked one way or the other. She had already caught him glancing at her chest so she knew that he wasn’t completely immune to her. However, that could have just been a moment of weakness, which was not unheard of, and she might just push him to leaving her alone if she continued her advances. If he cracked in the other way then she would just take it from there; she didn’t mind either way.

Caitrin watched, slightly amused as Richard started to shuffle away from her. His denial was admirable but he could hardly run from her forever could he? Plus he was only edging further up the bed towards her pillows, and he was running out of room. She shuffled up with him, only letting out a small smirk and half a laugh escape her lips as he asked her to keep her hands to herself. Now that was just asking for more wasn’t it? Well it was in Caitrin’s eyes and that was all that mattered really wasn’t it?

She shuffled up the bed as well, but instead of sitting on the bed she swung her legs up so that she was sitting fully on the bed next to Richard, rather than dangling her legs off the side of it. She raised her hand again and traced small circles at the top of his shoulder, letting one finger brush the exposed flesh of his neck before drawing back slightly, “Have you not learnt yet that I probably won’t do anything you ask?” She raised an eye brow, now moving her hand back to the flesh on his neck, brushing the backs of her fingers against the warm skin and gave him a grin as she continued her work. “Things could get a lot more interesting.” She mused, now finding the small strands of hair at the back of his neck and fiddled with them, “If you just stopped being so serious for five minutes.”

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.