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Yassia gladly took the seat beside Caitrin and leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes for a split second. It didn’t stop the whirling memories and pictures, but it did give her at least the inkling of a moment of peace. The princess had always thought that you could sort everything out with the right amount of determination and logic, but apparently she had now found the one thing that was as evasive to her logic as water was to grasping hands. How should she ever make sense of this mess? Where should she even start? Both her and Oliver had now tossed in so much and had meddled past and present together in a gordic knot that was impossible to untangle. And bottom line of it all was that he still didn’t know if he could believe her. Though she hadn’t even done so much! Why could he not forgive her the same thing he had done? Why was he so adamant in thinking she had ‘played’ him on purpose? Nothing was farther from her mind!

Caitrin’s open expression of shock would have caused Yassia to laugh in any other circumstances. Her face was just priceless and her voice as well with which she spoke his name. But now she didn’t even manage much more than a weary, lopsided smile that sooner faded than it had appeared. So she had been at least right. Caitrin knew him, and thus could maybe tell her something about him.
But then, knowing Caitrin as the flirtatious woman she was, did Yassia even want to dig into this deeper? What if she discovered something she didn’t want to know? Once again the picture of Lady Electra’s rapturous facial expression assaulted Yassia’s mind and it was all she could do not to ball her hands into tight fists. Which just caused another wave of confusion. Why was it getting to her so much? She had no claim on Oliver, had she? He was a free man and could do whatever he wished… and yet… the line her thoughts had straying to made her almost regret asking Caitrin about him… sweet stars, could you be any more pathetic? What in the heavens’ name was wrong with her?!

”Yes”, she sighed, trying to stop her thoughts from galloping away into directions she hadn’t even reached with Caitrin yet. “Oliver was the very same huntsman. I recognized him at once… though he took a considerable longer time recognizing me.”
The revellation that Caitrin had spoken with him should not come as a big surprise, but Yassia still felt a tiny prick of some stinging feeling she could not even name. Why was Oliver making it so difficult for her?
”If you have spoken to him…”, she hesitantly began, unsure if she really should voice what was practically burning on her tongue, “…did he… say something? Or did he appear different?”

She shook her head at herself quickly, heaving another sigh. “Forget I asked that, it was stupid. No, what I really wanted to know is: How well is the ‘very well’ you know him? I mean… what kind of man is he? I must admit I can’t tell you anymore. I thought I knew him… but it turns out I did not know him at all.”

“Nothing can--I mean it’s fine. I can’t very well leave you in this condition, can I?”
Nothing can—Nothing can??!! What had he wanted to say? And why had her heart leaped with these two words that practically could mean anything? She shouldn’t be so stupid to believe he would have said something along the line of “nothing can be more important” or such – that was truly pathetic and ridiculous and couldn’t have been born out of anything but wishful thinking induced by too much whiskey. Truly Yassia, be careful to not lose it! You’re not that kind of girl, are you? Never lose sight of who you are, not even under such circumstances! If you do anything stupid now, you will probably regret it for the rest of your life!
But the reasonable voice had a hard time getting through to Yassia as she was becoming more ‘devil-may-care’ every second. On the other hand, she was very glad for his correct behaviour. Many a man would have taken advantage of the situation long ago. Not so Oliver.
”Oh believe me, I’ve stumbled over some people who would”, Yassia retorted, rolling her eyes. “No, you might think it is granted to help someone out in need which makes you a good man. But not everyone thinks that way.”

It might not be the thing every girl wished for, being compared to a thistle, but Yassia was very content with it nevertheless. In any way, it had brough their conversation to a less confusing, still joking level again. And it wasn’t even that wrong, yes? Thistles had thorns just like roses did, but they were safe from being picked because no one thought them worth the hassle. A thistle could live her life in peace without being constantly flattered and abused for her outward beauty. And then Yassia had always thought thistle blossoms quite beauitful. Their beauty was more subtle and hidden than that of most flowers, but it was there.
”It sounds perfect.” Yassia gave him a cheeky grin. “The olive tree and the thistle… what a curious mixture indeed.”

Why had she been speaking of a mixture? Was she now implying that the two of them should in any way belong together? What kind of new madness was that? And yet, it sounded perfectly right when it left her mouth. This was heading into an entirely wrong direction, but Yassia did not know how to alter its course… or if she even wanted to! That was the most alarming things of all. First it had only been acting unseemly out of necissity, but now that the need for desperate measures was gone, why couldn’t she take a step back and become her distant self again? Was it truly only the alcohol speaking out of her? Or was some of this also his doing?

“Then I’d gladly stay and feed you all the dinner that your stomach could take in,”
Very unlike her, Yassia could feel a chuckle that almost bordered on a girlish giggle break rise up in her chest. She hadn’t been fed ever since she was a little child, and certainly not ever by a man… but then again… what about it? No one that knew her could see her now and think anything of it! This was an extreme situation and normal conditions didn’t apply to those. So why be a spoilsport and deny it?
“Here you go, princess. Eat your fill,”
Yassia couldn’t help but wince when he called her by her true title and for a split second a cold fist seemed to reach for her heart. How does he know?! Paranoia swept over her like a tidal wave, until her brain kicked in and told her that he had been most likely joking. And she better now replied in jest as well. Hopefully he had blamed the wincing on her wound and nothing else!
Opening her mouth dutifully, she took a spoonful of the stew, savored the taste quickly and then swallowed.
”Why thank you, Mylord”, she joked back, raising him to an at least similar status. “Not bad for a bunch of huntsmen!”

Yassia could almost feel the confusion she had now ignited in Caitrin as well, and it made her sigh wearily. Just great! She had been going at this the perfectly wrong way, though she could not find how she could have done it better. This matter was just too confusing to deal with in general, she should not have burdened her friend with it in the first place. No… but then again, how WAS she supposed to deal with this alone? Again pictures of the previous hours whirled through her mind, making this every so much more diffcult to focus on. What she had seen in his eyes was mostly distrust and even contempt, anger and all kinds of unpleasant things. And yet… sometimes she could have sworn to see a flicker of something else there… just for a second and quickly masked… but then that might also be nothing but wishful thinking.

She didn’t expect Caitrin to remember much from a vague mentioning of some huntsman months and months ago, and so thought it easier to recapitulate the encounter that was still so vivid and precious in her mind, even though Oliver’s current behavior had done much to blemish it. What of it had been the sole outcome of too much whiskey being consumed by them both and what had been true? Then again, today when they had met he had been drunk as well, and he had not been in the least as nice as he had been back then… it just did not make any sense!
”Well…” she started with a sigh, raking a hand through her hair, “what I told you back then is that he shot me out of accident, then treated my wound and… that I liked him, but knew that this was never going to work out, he a carefree huntsman and me, a princess with the weight of a kingdom’s future on her shoulders.”

Again she let go a sigh, almost smiling now, though it held a bitter edge. “I don’t remember if I told you that his name was Oliver. Turns out he ‘forgot’”, she let airquotes accompany the word, “to mention that he also sports a very fancy title.”
Yassia swallowed and looked at Caitrin, all the confusion and hurt and a few other emotions she could not name herself evident in her eyes.
”It’s part of the reason I come to you, apart from me needing a friend’s advice. You might know him, his true name is ... Prince Oliver de Mercia.”

Yassia’s head was whirling, her thoughts tossing and turning inside her mind, tripping over each other, shouting at each other… in all honesty right now she would have liked to tear her head off her shoulders and be done with it all! And she wasn’t even drunk! No, it was not alcohol that caused her to be so painfully confused – it was a man. Something Yassia would have never thought possible. Then again, this was not any man, it was Oliver! And Oliver just had this way of getting under her skin, though how he managed it she couldn’t tell. Ever since stumbling over him making out in that dark corner with Lady Electra – the sheer rememberance of the scene made her ball her fists in unfathomable anger – she had become entangled in a web of completely conflicting emotions. There was ire, for the most part, white hot ire directed towards him for behaving like the jerk he did. There was pain as well, stabbing pain everytime he showed his contempt and distrust towards her openly. And yet… she could also not shake off the random twinges of giddy happiness that came over her every time she saw his face…

Groaning, Yassia stopped her determined stride towards her guest chambers and leaned against a cold stone wall, burying her face in her hands for a moment. There they were again, the conflicting voices in her head, fighting for dominance. Which of them should she listen to, which of them could she believe? It was all too much, really, she could not sort this out on her own. Not after the many ups and downs she had gone through during the past few hours. Their meeting in the corridor… when he had suddenly danced with her… the shouting match in the garden afterwards… what could any living soul make out of this? Her mind was thoroughly overburdened with making any sense out of it, and slowly Yassia feared she might go crazy. This was definitely the closest thing to crazy she had ever been. She needed help, she needed advice. She needed – a friend!

Suddenly it seemed like a ray of light was breaking through the tumbling, chaotic fog in her mind, illuminating one very special thought and making it seem clear as the light of day. There was only one person she could think of who may be able to help her with this. Caitrin. Apart from Romily and for a very different reason, Caitrin de Archer was the one person Yassia considered a true friend. They were so similar in some aspects, had been to similar problems and pains, and yet Caitrin was far better versed in the ways of the world, carefree and sure of herself. If anyone could make sense of this mess, it would be Caitrin. Not to mention that she also had much experience with men in general. And then another thought crossed Yassia’s mind and nearly made her smile. This was perfect… Caitrin had grown up in Mercia! Maybe she knew Oliver from years and years back, and could tell her what sort of man he was? Because right now, Yassia could not be any more unsure about him. He had shown so many faces to her already, which was the true one?

Now, with at least the outline of a plan firmly set in her mind, Yassia altered her way in a determined stride, ending up in front of Caitrin’s door shortly after. She only hoped she would not disturb Caitrin and Griff… now wouldn’t that be the perfect ending to this horrible day?!
Tentatively, she knocked on the door, calling through it. “Cait? It’s me, Yassia. Can I come in?”

"All right, all right! I get your point,"
Yassia couldn’t help the smug smirk that spread over her face, hearing that. That was clearly a round going to her! Success! And all that with him not getting overly mad, he really could take what he dished out, that was a very rare and precious trait in every person. Yes, this was definitely her idea of fun, and she hoped it would last for a little while longer, even though this particular subject seemed more or less through. Sometimes you just had to stop, lest the topic got overstrained and overused. The least thing Yassia wanted was to appear boring. And she had won this round anyway, so why prolong it?
”I’m sure it will”, she nodded giving her face a very serious expression, before she let the grin break through. “After the people finally memorized the title of course, and don’t just go with: ‘that song about the bloke, the beast, and the girl’.”

"We can't have that." "Although...I...uh...don't mind staying with you until you're...I mean she's had the sense to listen to us, be a good girl, and heal quick..."
Somehow the joking part of the conversation had turned into something rather awkward, but Yassia wasn’t even sure how it had happened. One moment they were joking, the next he was stuttering and she was desperately trying to avoid his gaze because if she had held it she was sure something unforgivable would have burst out from deep within her. She was a fool even to think such things, like that she wanted him to stay with her for longer than just until the wound had healed, and the stars prevent she ever voiced them! But in her current state, with a tongue loosened by alcohol, she was not sure whether she could keep it inside her if she kept looking at him. But something she DID have to say… just… what?
In the end, she decided to keep it half-joking, half-serious, trying her best to mask her true intentions but not sure how succesful she was with it.
”Well… maybe you’ll have a better influence on her than I will? I… I don’t mind you staying either. I just hope this…” she made a vague gesture including their surroundings, “doesn’t keep you from something.” For all she knew, he could have a wife at home, desperately waiting for his return…

"Shush..."
Yassia’s brows darted up in surprise and amusement. The nerve! She had never been shushed before in all her life, not even by her parents. It simply wasn’t seemly to shush a princess. But then again, how would he know? She was just another girl to him, and somehow Yassia found she was not in the least offended.
And then what came next made her eyes widen in a feeling close to shock. Was he being serious? He might be inebriated, but what was the saying: In vino veritas, in wine lies truth? And whether it was wine or whiskey didn’t matter, right? He thought her beautiful… that made a shower of happiness run down her spine and she could not help the dazzling smile that spread over her face in response to it. But then she started. As princess she was used to being told she was beautiful, but the commoner she posed as, would she? Certainly not!
”Oh now you shush!” she retorted and lightly slapped his arm. “You’re flattering me. I’m far from being as beautiful as a bunch of flowers. How about a bunch of thistles instead?”

And the awkwardness just kept coming! Or was it even awkward and not simply too good to be true? He made it more than clear now that he liked her… and she liked him… yes she saw that now. What a twist of fate indeed…
Oh, goodness, Yassia, stop being ridiculous! He’s a huntsman! She chided her self. And you’re not a nomad! This ends here, right HERE and NOW! Get a grip, girl!
So she did not reply to his last remark, did not in any way hint at that she liked their current position, felt safe in his arms. Her tongue was practically burning with the effort of keeping still, but she HAD to, she simply could not do this!

And yet, her mind deceived her yet again. She should have taken the rightful step, as he asked her if she wanted to lie down on the mat. She should have said yes. But she didn’t. She told herself that too much unnecessary moving would not be good for the wound that only now started to heal, when in fact all she wanted was to stay in his arms longer. How pathetic! But she could not help it.
”I… think it’s good as it is now”, she whispered, blushing slightly under the chuckles of the other men. They had obviously been found out, and it was a shameful situation. But the will of her body was stronger for now. “Not too much moving, and anyway”, she tried to appear reasonable, “if I wanted to eat something I cannot do this lying down. And I don’t think I am strong enough to sit up by myself yet.” That might all be true… but it was not the healer speaking out of her now. It was the woman unwilling to let go of his touch.

“I can accept great ego, but nuisance? I am being a great nuisance? Prove it.”
He wanted proof now? Oh, she could give him that and at length! She just needed to channel the annoyance she could still muster up at him – though hard it was! – and focus on the things he had done. One: he had shot her, two: he had therefore deterred her from her journey, three: he was on a good path on misleading her towards drinking alcohol which was by no means suitable for any woman and a woman of her status even less!
”Do I really have to go into detail there?” she chaffed and grinned up at him. “But of course, your wish shall be my sole command. The fact alone that I am right here right now, lying on the ground, instead of slowly reaching the outer periphery of this forest should be proof enough, yes? But then again”, now she changed the tone of her voice into a fairly patronizing one to tease him further, “you were quite acceptable in cleaning up your mess, so I might say… only half a nuisance. Now doesn’t sound that well? Oliver the great half-nuisance.”

She had not expected him to play along with her little childish act of talking to her own wound, but apparently he didn’t think it beneath him to take up the silly joke and prolong it. The way he talked about the wound now was as if he was talking about a living person, a stubborn child maybe. It was a slightly peculiar line of thinking, but in a way, both her and Oliver had be responsible for creating this wound, and so it could well be considered their ‘child’. Even though the sheer delicacy of these thoughts that lead her on a dangerous path made her blush slightly. Goodness, did she have NO control over her thoughts anymore?!
Mimicking his concerned facial expression she heaved a sigh. “Well.. judging the body it is attached to, I fear it might simply be too stubborn. What is the saying… like mind, like limb?” At least that was the equivalent in her own language and it fit to the situation rather nicely.

Yassia didn’t even think about it anymore as she took the bottle from Oliver, taking another swig of whiskey. That liquid could really grow on you… she nearly spat it out though, when she heard him say:
“What kind of a word is passable? I’m not a salad bowl that you can pass around the dining table. I am not passable!”
Fighting hard to swallow first, which caused again pain to flame up in her shoulder, she was torn between wincing, swallowing and giggling wildly at his outburst. Her face turned red with the effort and she raised her right hand to fan it to regain some air. She couldn’t quite tell why she was so very amused by his words, but she simply was. “You are not?” she panted once she had enough air to do so. “But you MUST admit, the resemblance is uncanny!”
Now she was just being silly, but granted, he was too. Yassia had no idea where this may lead, it might just end with her dying of laughter. Not that she would complain. A mischievous smirk spread over her face at his next words. He was starting on languages now? Oh, two could play at this game!
”Hand?” she retorted,furrowing her brows in mock confusion. “I can’t see what hands got to do with this… some hands… no, no I think you get it wrong, Oliver. You were pretty close though. I think you meant to say you are a handFULL. Now, to that I can agree.”

The moment was over far too soon. Not only the one they shared in this enchanted silence, but also the one following afterwards. Yassia would have never imagined she would wish a painful experience as the dressing of a wound to last longer. But that was oddly enough how she felt. Long since she had stopped to think about just how unseemly this whole experience was, it was simply not worth worrying over. Why couldn’t she simply savor the feeling of being comfortable in his arms? He tried to be gentle, and that he was, practically cradling her in his arms so she did not need to move much. She could even feel his warm breath on her neck as he was dressing the wound, and the sweet tingling on her skin made her want for him to stay there.
But then his friends were returning one by one, and suddenly Yassia started to become self-conscious again. Sighing a little herself, she waited for his friend to do what he said, awaiting the imminent departure.
”But if this is your sleeping matt I’m using, Oliver”, she mumbled, “where will you sleep?” The slightly suggesting air of her comment escaped her whiskey-clouded mind completely.

He was still not getting it. Was he blind or dumb or both??!! Could alcohol really mess with your brain so much?? Yassia was sure she had never been THAT drunk in all her life. To cloud her judgement in that way, being rude to people, and being just annoyingly BLIND. She had practically hurled everything he needed into his face, and he still couldn’t put it together! How pathetic was that please?! Or was there something he just didn’t WANT to see? Had he tried to forget her that much, had she left such a bad impression he would rather stay blind for all eternity than admit she was standing right in front of him? Before that thought could make her heart sink too much, she heard his next words:
“The young lady who taught me those words was the most amazing woman I have ever met in my entire life. She’s everything you aren’t.”
That was like a tug at her heartstrings and a hard slap into the face at the same time. It left Yassia’s mind blank for a serious amount of time, not able to process what she had just heard. She had taught him these words, and so he was referring to her when he said she was the most amazing woman he had ever met. But this was the Yassia he remembered. The one he failed to recognize now he obviously despised.

Yassia could not muster a decent reply, she was speechless for once, unable to word her shock, her sadness and her anger. That one was even able to feel such a horrible mix of emotions at the same time she had not even known before. And now she was hopelessly overextended and could not deal with the situation at hand – which made her slightly glad for the interruption that now presented itself. Her mind still elsewhere – but not so very far away indeed – she tried to keep track of what Lord Bayard and his elder son were saying. But the most prominent part of her waited anxiously for Oliver’s reaction. How would he take this revellation? Would he speak up? Lose his countenance and run of? Seek to apologize? No, the latter probably was nothing but wishful thinking. Then she heard the gasp. Shock, obviously. And she felt his eyes on her like flaming knives piercing into her skin. Flaming knives, indeed… was he looking for the resemblance he had failed to see before?
And then, of course, he fled. Not far at least, but he still escaped the scene for the moment.

In fact, Yassia could not even blame him, she so wanted to do the same, but courtesy kept her rooted on the spot, trying to answer their kind questions to her best ability, even though she was only half processing them anyway.
”I am indeed far away from home”, she agreed, inclining her head a little. “And not so much on my own free will I may add. But that is a long story. I have passed through most of the southern kingdoms on my way from the shore up north, but ever since then I was rather content to stay in Camelot.” But she couldn’t deny either that of late she had felt rather restless. In the beginning, the journey had been nothing but a necissity, but now Yassia found herself to feel even a little caged sometimes, missing the new experiences you made on every new day of a journey.
Now Prince Edmund was inviting her to Mercia… even though Yassia had planned to go there for a few days with her dear friend Caitrin long ago, so far it never had worked out in their favor and they had always postponed the trip. Now there was another opportunity presenting itself… and yet Yassia was more inclined to say no, politely but definitely. An itch in the back of her neck told her there might be some catch, even if she could not see it yet. A few unpleasant encounters on her journey had made the princess rather suspicious to any offerings.

That was when Oliver piped up again.
“I don’t think the princess would want to travel that far north. It’s a long and perilous journey to Mercia … Don't you agree, princess?”
Oh he was challenging her alright!! Just as she had seemed to calm down a little, Yassia’s blood started to boil again. What did he know of her?! Nothing!!! ‘Not used to hardships of travel’??!! Oh, she would show him!
”By no means, PRINCE Oliver”, she retorted with a fake calm tone, giving him a smile. Only by looking close you might detect the hard edge around her mouth. “I can’t imagine a journey to Mercia in such illustrous and well prepared a company being more dangerous than what I have been through on my way here. Cockatrices are not the only dangerous beings on the prowl in forests after all”, she added as a bitter jibe, only for him to understand.

Then she turned to his father and brother again and gave them a rather dazzling smile, which cost her more than she would have thought possible. “So I would feel honored to accompany you to Mercia for a few days. I always wanted to visit there.”
Now she had agreed to it only to spite Oliver, which might not be the best of reasons concerning how they treated each other right now. Would she ever get a chance to explain? And why was it HER having to feel all guilty? He had failed to mention his heritage as well!! Both had thought it didn’t matter, as neither of them had imagined to see the other ever again. And now they had stumbled over each other, they needed to deal with the consequences. Thank you indeed, stars, for making my life even more twisted…

Wasn’t it slightly unfair that Oliver could laugh out so freely and made her laugh in return, when Yassia had to bite back this wonderful means of communication because it brought her too much pain? Then again, even holding it back forced her muscles to tense and that did not go without pain either. So what was the lesser evil?
She enjoyed hearing him laugh however. Many men she had come across had a rather unpleasant laugh, too loud, too boisterous, sometimes even mean or dirty. But Oliver’s laugh, however hearty, was never too much or out of place. It was even rather charming. And aside from the laughter she also enjoyed what caused it in the first place. Joking around with him like that made her feel oddly carefree. For once in a very long time the demons where at bay. The hurtful memories, the fear of the future, the hardships of the journey, she could finally forget them. HE made her forget them, made them seem so small in comparison to the enjoyment she witnessed now.

And what he suggested was such a funny image, but Yassia had no difficulty envisioning it. A tavern crowded with people, laughing, dancing and celebrating her as the hero she was for outrunning a beast like the cockatrice.
“Of course, we shall”, she quipped and chuckled, wincing afterwards. “And then we’ll ask a poet to compose a ballad about ‘Fearless Yassia, the cockatrice and the huntsman Oliver’. It will become a popular song throughout Albion, and everyone will remember us for all eternity. But joking aside…” she gave a little sigh. “Dancing sounds wonderful. I love dancing, but I think in my current condition I would have to refrain from it.“
Oh, if only she could do any of this! Celebrating in a tavern, dancing freely. But it was not her world. He might take her for an ordinary nomad, those people just wandering around because they were too restless to stay in one place for long. But Yassia had a destination. And she better reached it soon, every day more was a lost day. And yet… this talk almost made her want to forget her duty for once. Just live… in the moment.

The mentioning of cliff jumping made her grin. He must think her really reckless to suggest that. The image Oliver had of her was probably profoundly wrong, but she felt no need to correct him. Let him think what he wanted! The real her would not be able to converse with him as openly as she did right now, so why spoil the fun? Not to mention that she could not trust anyone with her true status anyway. It had misled her too often already.
“There sadly are no cliffs where I come from”, she explained. “At least not those with water underneath them to break a fall. But I like throwing daggers, and consider myself fairly good with it. My brother taught me years and years ago.” Throwing daggers was also very unseemly for a princess, but Yassia couldn’t deny it, just like her healing skills, had already come in handy during her journey.

Yassia blinked in surprise at Oliver’s next words. Had she just heard him right? Had he truly called her ‘perfect’?! And it hadn’t even sounded like one of those stereotyped compliments men liked to use on women… he had sounded like he meant it… what was going on here? But her already slightly dizzy mind did not want to dwell on the how and why too long, it was content to deal with the simple words. And with the wonderful feeling the simple speaking of her name by him left in her…
“Far from it I fear”, she replied with a genuine sigh, but gave him a thankful smile. “Do you know what Oliver means? I have no clue, to be honest, but I am sure it is something very good. You deserve a good name.”

Just a little sting?! Well didn’t he have some nerve!! Yassia would have liked to retort with a biting remark about how he should be the one trying it out next time, but she didn’t want to be ungrateful, and might not be able to voice something without screaming anyway.
Soon, though it seemed like an eternity, the burning died down to a bearable degree and Yassia relaxed into Oliver’s arms. It might not be the most seemly thing to do, but right now she could not care less. She was comfortable, that was all that counted for now.
“It’s fine”, she whispered and looked up at him, not wanting him to shoulder all the blame. “I am fine, Oliver. Now the worst is over.”

The nerve of it all! This was so not the Oliver she remembered! Yes, they had bantered before, but it had always been in jest, never using such a bitter and insolent edge. Who did he think he was, talking to her like that! She had seen him slightly drunk before and he had been very civil, so that would NOT count as any excuse. He might not know he was insulting a princess and future queen, but that didn’t make it any less insolent to any woman at all! He should know better! But it was more than evident he didn’t. Well, she was not going to back down on this one either, farewell courtesy!
”Dirty? Yes, especially your mind!” she scoffed, resisting the urge to show her disdain in a far less suitable way, spitting on the ground before his feet. That was maybe what he deserved, but she would not let him drag her down to his low level! “But no thanks, I make no secret out of my contempt for you! I wonder, is this your true face? Have I been so mistaken?”

Yassia couldn’t quite understand the hurt she felt at these words that had just left her mouth. What was she thinking? She had never seen much in him anyway, yes? It had been a nice encounter, but it had been tainted by too much pain in general. And she had never thought to see him again. And yet here he was… and was thoroughly losing any fondness there might even have been vaguely for him in her heart.
She could see the shock in his eyes at being slapped and it filled her with not just little satisfaction. There, take that, insolent knave! She quickly wondered how many girls had had the guts to slap him before. Or was she the first? Well, if anything it would explain his brazen behavior.

The next time though he was too fast, and Yassia gasped as she felt her wrist being grabbed like with an iron clasp. Goodness, he was strong! And his eyes were burning with ire now as well… had she maneuvred herself into more trouble than it was worth again? What would he do now?
And yet, she showed no fear, her anger still crowding anything else out as she stood there, panting heavily and so close to him that she could practically see every little detail of his face…
He broke the spell when releasing her hand and the anger returned at full force. Taking a step back, Yassia crossed her arms and glared at him. “You might not remember me, Oliver, but I certainly remember you! After all, our encounter left quite a lasting mark to me!”

Examining her wrist that was still showing the imprints of his fingers around it in fiery red, she lowly grumbled. “Maleeixo, if that leaves ANOTHER lasting mark I demand recompense this time!”