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As far as Yassia saw this, it didn’t seem like Lady Roslyn was interested in much details of her journey or what had really moved her to make this unusual journey – or if she was, she hid it perfectly behind a very polite and courteous mask. Some things apparently never changed and weren’t different a few hundred miles apart. Yassia remembered this attitude from her earliest days, and she didn’t even think it that bad. In a courtly environment it was often necessary to hide your true emotions so you didn’t give others any reason to prey on you, attack your behind your back. Polite and distant, it was the correct way to deal with someone in a court you had only just met. A few people, like Lady Caitrin, were refreshingly different from that norm, but that didn’t make the norm a bad thing altogether. Yassia even smiled a little to herself as she listened to Lady Roslyn’s remark. This was terra firma, a safe ground to walk on, and there were definitely worse ways to spend your evening than that! Maybe they would also find some common thing they would talk about, something they shared, like a passion or a simple interest. Once they had opened up more, in the course of the evening, Yassia was sure this conversation would turn out to be splendid. And if not… well, then she would still have been spared the prospect to be teamed up with an overopinionated, boasting knight or a cavilling old woman. No, she really should not find anythign wrong with this, just because they were having a slow and polite start! “That is true, and I’m sure I will. There is nothing wrong with understanding the needs of your people, without being too lenient with them. I never would have expected to once be where they are, but I was, for a short amount of time, and I won’t negate the things I learned.” Because that would not only be immense stupidity, but also a crime.

Ah, now they were coming after all, the further inquiries, even though the lady still didn’t sound overly interested. This must be something so far from her mind, having to journey to a foreign court to make an appeal. Even from the things she had said and done until now, Yassia hazarded a guess that Lady Roslyn hadn’t had to want for much in her life. A few months before Yassia had been the same, but even then she had shown a certain interest in what lay beyond her horizon. Maybe that was in her blood? Her father had been out of his own kingdom, though not far, when encountering her mother first, and her mother had chosen to stay in a foreign land with the man she had fallen in love with, no matter what was waiting for her in her homeland. It was almost as if a circle had met his other end, now that Yassia was here. Hopefully though things would turn out the way they should. This was not her place to stay. “I’m appealing for a small military or at least solidary help in a matter of succesion”, she explained, putting it in court language. “You know how things are… sometimes all you need is the promise of help from a kingdom with a reputable name… to overthrow those who want to steal what is yours and seem to get through with it for now.”

Something in the young lady’s tone made Yassia’s ears perk up. It was a tiny nuance, just the hint of a tint, but Yassia hadn’t grown up at court for nothing. Lady Roslyn did definitely not like Lady Caitrin, and the fact that she proceeded with calling her ‘liberal’ which was the polite word for shameless, almost frivolous, only showed just how deep this animosity ran. That wasn’t the impression Yassia herself had got from Caitrin at all, but then she was new here, didn’t know things the other lady might. Gossip always surged up high wherever court ladies were gathering, and even though Yassia wasn’t one to like this or take part in it, she knew she wouldn’t be able to escape it completely. She only would be careful not to let this tint her own judgement of ther woman in any way. “Well, I don’t think I can allow myself any judgement there”, she replied softly, inclining her head. “I already realized she has yet to marry, and I also understand she is under the tutelage of her uncle and originally from Mercia, where things might be different. I am sure she means no harm in any way, even if it might come across a little… strange to others.”

It was thoroughly sweet to see Aoife acting all the grown up lady, even though she would still need a few years until she was seen as that. Yassia couldn’t remember many young ladies her age when back in Ailantha, but recently she had found her memories growing a little dim on the details, after having been away only for two years. That notion scared her not just a little, and sometimes she tried to close her eyes and envision details of some people’s faces, faces she had been surrounded with all her life, even though they hadn’t been that close. Of course Suzanna’s face was there in full detail, and sadly so was her uncle’s and cousin’s face, but all those lords and ladies she had been surrounded with became more and more shady in her memory. On the other hand, Yassia was quite sure she would never ever forget quite a few faces she had met here, and she wondered why she first had to go abroad to find lasting friendships and people that would forever have a place in her heart. Even though she had only met Aoife for a few minutes now, she was all but sure, this little lady would also claim a place there. “That’s too bad, but also understandable”, Yassia nodded with a warm smile. “Camelot is far after all. I’m sure Caitrin will understand.” Or more like: be secretly glad they wouldn’t come, even though Yassia was sure if Caitrin knew of her little niece, she’d reconsider.

Caitrin really had be honorably brave, even though Yassia still didn’t know all the details. She knew a little more now, after Caitrin had told her she had lost a child while in Morgana’s custody, and as a healer Yassia knew it took a lot for a healthy and strong woman such as Caitrin to lose a child, the circumstances must have been dire. She remembered seeing Caitrin all beaten and done, kneeling before Morgana, but before that she had really shown the evil witch not everyone in Camelot would bow to her. And in Yassia’s eyes her friend had gotten almost no thanks and no honors for her brave deeds. Everyone had just talked about Arthur and his knights recapturing the castle in a brave fight, but what had been going on inSIDE the castle… everyone had only mentioning the captioned knights as well, defying the false queen in the courtyard. But that was the way of things, Yassia guessed, the deeds of women were too often overlooked. For a while, before Morgana had shown her ugly face to the princess, Yassia had even sympathized with her… just because she knew how it felt to fight for a throne as a woman. Biting her lips in sudden amusement, she listened to the young lady’s innocent remark about magic running in the family. Oh, if she only knew…

“If that was the case, Lady Aoife, I’m sure it would be a well-kept family secret concerning the circumstances.” But at least she could dispel her worries about the current situation in Camelot. When Yassia had left, things had seemed very much under control, even though King Uther did hardly show himself in public anymore after he had been freed from the dungeons. But every word about that would be speculation and Yassia didn’t want to talk too ill about the Camelotian ruler. “Everything seems very well in Camelot now, as far as I can tell”, she agreed. “For the time being, the young Prince Arthur is keeping everything under control, and he does a good job. He will be a fine king one day, and I’m sure the alliance with Mercia will be stronger than ever.” That was enough about political niceties though, now Yassia practically yearned to reveal the secret of her happy engagement. It wasn’t often she would get such an enthusiastic listener after all, since Caitrin had already guessed it far sooner than Yassia herself had.

Leaning forward as well, a sparkle of utmost glee and slight longing in her eyes, the princess said: “It’s your second born prince, Oliver of Mercia. Our story could be one the bards one day tell, as it is so twisted and complicated, but in the end we finally found each other. And, the stars willing, he will one day become King of Ailantha at my side.”

Stars, he was so close!!! Closer than they had been in quite a while, definitely closer than at the riverbank… and maybe even closer than they had been in the Forest of Balor. Because there, they had been resting chest to back, which had been comfortable for her, but rather uncomfortable for… what they had been trying to do. Kissing. Being close. Now however, he was all but lying on top of her, and there seemed to be no inch of her body where they did NOT touch. It was almost enough to make her faint with the sheer overwhelming sensation, and yet a part of her didn’t want it to stop. This treacherous part of her wanted to get even closer to him, even though that seemed physically impossible. She wanted to melt in his arms… be one with him somehow, even though she didn’t know how that would work. But she could not have it. Of course she couldn’t. It was never good to let yourself be ruled by emotions and physical needs, it was not what she could do as future queen. She was not some gypsy, a carefree thing that would live every day like it would be her last, enjoying physical pleasures Yassia didn’t even allow herself to dream of. But that was what Oliver wanted, and he would always want it. He wanted the passion of the moment, and not the responsibility of day-to-day. The responsibility it took to rule. He had always been the rebel prince and would stay so for the rest of his life. Just that she could not be his rebel princess. She had not been born for this.

And this was why the reasonable part of her was glad she had heard someone approach. It had stopped her from letting this go to far, even though it had gone far too far already. Getting away from him seemed an impossible task, and in those split seconds between her decision, Oliver breaking away and the de Archer siblings appearing on the small clearing beside the road, Yassia was caught inside a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. She felt shame churn her stomach, shame about what she had just been doing, how easy it had been for Oliver to break into her secret fortress, to make her forget everything she wanted to stay true to. Then there was sadness, overwhelming sadness and pain that made her want to cry out, because she had had to part from him, because this moment of bliss couldn’t have lasted. And finally, there was anger, but more at herself zhan at Oliver. She should have never agreed to that chase, she had been riding into a trap with eyes wide open, and now look where it had brough them! This could never be fixed. Just when they had started to build on a fragile truce, te beginning of a friendship… this chase and the aftermath had probably destroyed it all. They had torn at both their hearts and souls again, and who knew how long those wounds would need to heal. Though… maybe she was only speaking for herself. Maybe…maybe it wasn’t like that for him. He had wanted this after all, right? Oliver probably was only annoyed they couldn’t have gone further in their fun without any commitment.

“O-okay…” she whispered, still not daring to look at him, afraid of what she might see. For a moment she contemplated refusing his hand, but she didn’t want to destroy even more of what had already been damaged, Try to make it seem normal… as if these past few minutes didn’t happen…
And then Caitrin and Jeremy were suddenly onto them, catching them right as they still saw Yassia on the ground. Oh sweet stars… and she was already blushing! Whatever they would think now!!
“It’s… it’s nothing”, she tried to appease them, though she didn’t know how good she would be at lying. Caitrin for one knew her far too well. “The horse reared and threw me off. Oliver just tried to help me up when you came. I don’t think I hurt myself too much.” Not physically... no.

Something about this whole incident only slowly caught up with Yassia’s mind, but when they finally made ‘click’ in her head, it felt like the bacony she was standing on was wavering under her feet, and she quickly grabbed the wooden railing to steady herself. First, there was the words. He had used the right words in her own tongue. It shouldn’t surprise her, since he had tried to show her on earlier occasions that he was apparently looking into her language, the first word she had ever taught him had been a curse. Maleeixo. He had remembered that with ease, and so Yassia had figured out he must have a natural talent for languages, or he just had to be very interested in HER language of all. But never in a thousand years would she have thought he would look up these words. Wife… my love… that meant he must have wanted this for longer than just his impulsive, badly timed first proposal in the stables. And the ring… the ring spoke of the same story. He had hid it in his room, for the stars knew how long, and by the looks of it, the ring was not fashionably new, it seemed to be an old heirloom, maybe from his mother. Why else than to give it to someone would he have kept it in his room, and who else but her had there been recently? All this time, while she still had been mad at him, trying to keep her distance for her heart’s sake, all this time when they had been repeatedly clashing, tearing at each other’s souls, he had wanted her. It was true, everything he had said: He had never stopped loving her, and that was the ultimate proof, if she ever had needed any.

The ring wasn’t a perfect fit, as it of course had not been made especially to her, but when Oliver slid it on her finger, and the blue stone started to gleam and glisten, it was like no other ring should ever be there, at least for now. It was their engagement ring, meant as a symbol for the union she had always wanted. It would leave her finger only to make room for a new one, and that was how it was supposed to be, how she wanted it to be. Still Yassia couldn’t quite say if she wasn’t maybe dreaming all this, because it was too much to take in, to come from writhing on the ground to soaring in the highest skies in a matter of hours. And yet here she was, wide awake and yet dead tired, in this peculiar stage where you didn’t even question things anymore, because there seemed to be no use in questioning anything. It was like feeling in the first moments of your life, completely trusting that everything would work out somehow, completely safe in the knowledge of being loved and looked after.

Yassia felt ready to burst with bliss when Oliver brought his hand to her lips and adorned it with a long, loving kiss. They would probably butt heads often enough, since they both had a temper to show, but she didn’t fear it. Underneath their differences was exactly this, the foundation being a loving adoration that would stand true through many storms to come, she firmly believed it. Then the first rays of sun sneaked over the horizon, in perfect harmony with that special moment, reminding Yassia of an old Ailanthan story she had been told by Suzannah once. She couldn’t quite recall all the details, but in that story a young girl had made a list of what she wanted to feel for her husband once. ‘I want to feel like flying without wings, I want to wake up beside him and watch the sunrise on his face. I want to know that I can say I love him, in any given time or place. And that there are small things about him only I know… and those will be the things that make him mine.’ Back then, Yassia had always brushed this off as hopeless romanticism, nothing she should ever waste a thought about, cause that was not how her life would work out. And yet here she was now, watching the sunrise on the face of her love… and knowing that all the other points on that list would most likely come true soon.

But something was off in this picture of perfect harmony, and Yassia soon realized what it was. Oliver was still on his knees in front of her, like she was some higher creature and he just a low servant. But they were equals! And even if he hadn’t been her equal in status, she would never want her love to beneath her!
”Oliver…” she murmured lowly, tugging at his hand. “For the love of the stars, please get off your knees! I told you before that I want you at my side, not at my feet. It makes me uncomfortable… like I’m a statue that is worshipped. I’m not a goddess, I’m just a young woman with flaws and faults. You soon will learn about all of those you don’t know already.”

Everything happens for a reason… yes, that had always been Yassia’s belief, and she had applied it to her and Oliver’s relationship a couple of times. It had been a tangled mess most of the time, but apparently you only needed the right thread to pull to find out what a beautiful and intricate pattern it had been meant to create. But would the promise hold this time? Was it really possible even Edmund’s interference had some reason? And if so, was the reason needed for Edmund’s sake or their own? What would come out of this? Would having been hit on the head make Edmund see he had overreacted? Or had this merely been another, one last obstacle thrown in their way, something random to remind them the fates might still not be through with them, and they should always be aware? Well, they half had been succesful in making Yassia eytremely paranoid. She might not only never take their love for granted, she also might be in constant fear of losing him. But not tonight, she decided. Let the worries catch up with her tomorrow. She wanted nothing more than a few hours completely untainted of worry and future existances. To be in the present, wholly and gladly. In a present that involved Oliver and no one else.

“Okay…” she murmured and nodded, trying to come off as convincing as she could. If she wanted to stop worrying, she better started right now. “Let’s care for that tomorrow, right? I think you hit him hard enough he might sleep sometime, and maybe when he awakes, the world will be different.” Hopefully a positive different for Edmund as well. Yassia didn’t want to build her happiness on someone else’s misery. This was not what the stars could want, right? Edmund would find someone more suitable, someone who would give him the credit he deserved. Because even if his advances had been rather unloving and calculating, she didn’t want him to end up alone and bitter. Somewhere out there would be just the woman for him, and hopefully the stars would grant him a glimpse of her. They had made her journey through kingdoms and realms towards the one man they had wanted for her, and they also made it he could come with her. So, all mean sideplots aside, the stars truly were generous.

Somehow she doubted it was really sleep Oliver had in mind there, and the sheer thought made her heartbeat accelerate and her breath quicken. She felt airheaded all of a sudden, slightly dizzy, and so was glad he carried her. She wouldn’t want to run away of course, she had dreamt of this, even if her dreams had been rather low on details. It was just the unknown part of it all that scared her, that she didn’t know what exactly lay ahead of her, and how it would be. But she trusted him, trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone before. Because instead of just having her trust to begin with, he had won it back in what had seemed an unwinnable battle.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her voice a mixture of mild teasing and genuine interest. It was true, if he really intended to do this, watch the sunrise with her, if he reall undestood the symbolism of their first sunrise together, then where would it be? One of the towers maybe?

Everyone they met on their way inside was smiling at them, which confused Yassia to no end. What were they all thinking? Had maybe… had they maybe all waited for something like this to happen? Sweet stars, had she and Oliver been the talk of the castle?! Or had Lot been saying something even in the short time he had gathered people together? Well, in any way, there he was, giving her a very warm good night wish. It must be one of the first times he actually addressed her personally. Before, he hadn’t had much reason for it, what with being Oliver’s servant and herself and Oliver being so openly at odds. She decided he deserved a little smugness about the outcome of things… and what was wrong with everyone knowing? They would know soon enough anyway!
“Thank you, Lot. For taking care of everything”, she said, throwing him a meaningful glance.
Then they entered Oliver’s chambers. She had been here before of course, to check on his wound… but how different had it been then! Then they just had settled for a fragile truce of friendship, and even that like she knew now had been continously assaulted by both their feelings for each other.

Even though she was curious as what Oliver might be doing, Yassia couldn’t tear her gaze away from the Eastern horizon, where the red glow turned more and more fiery. Only moments now… only very split seconds and the first real rays would graze her face, eagerly awaiting them. But as she had not really been paying attention, nothing could have prepared her for what happened next. Even though a part of her had known it must be coming somehow, she felt like being in a dream, when Oliver dropped to his knees, presenting her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. The blue stone seemed to glow from the inside, catching the early morning light and turning it into something wonderfully mysterious. And then the words… sweet stars, the words!
He spoke her native tongue! With an audible accent maybe, but these were the words of an Ailanthan proposal!
“How do you--?!” she exclaimed impulsively, but then clasped a hand over her mouth, feeling tears glistening in her eyes. Now was not the time for questions. Now was the time for answers. And only one answer.

“Si… si!” she got out between the fingers that still covered her mouth, but then she removed her shaking hand and took a deep breath, her next words coming strong. “Sempre si! Forever yes, my love!”

Was it over? Could it be over… this time? Somehow Yassia just felt hesitant to really believe it, as her hopes had been thwarted one time too many. Edmund’s appearance and his freakout had shocked her to the brink of a trauma. Never in a thousand years would she have believed for him to react this way. To be surprised, yes. To be taken aback maybe. But to be this unforgiving, this hateful? He had completely lost it, gone all out on rage and fury… and it really had taken a log of wood from the hands of his own brother to stop him. Now he lay there on the ground, and even though Yassia knew it wasn’t healthy, she hoped he would be out of it long enough for them to make an escape. Or what else should they do? All her plans had been called off now… or had they? When Edmund woke up, would he still demand they be thrown into the dungeons? But on what grounds?! What had they done, really? Hid their feelings from everyone, presumably leading people on? That had first and foremost led each other on, hiding their emotions from everyone but themselves. This was an unfortunate turnout of things, but it was no crime. But what would she do now? She had to leave, if she wanted help for her kingdom, she had been away far too long. But she could not go without Oliver. Would he accompany her, then? There were simply too many questions still needing some answer or the other, and yet Yassia just couldn’t force herself to concentrate on them now. Maybe tomorrow… when she had calmed down a little.

Seeing Oliver still heaving with the heat of the battle he had just been going through, Yassia had not been sure at all, if he wanted her touch, or was in any way willing to accept comfort and give it, hence her hesitant approach. But he didn’t seem averse to it at all, and so she let herself being engulfed by his comforting embrace, relishing in the enormous relief that they seemed to have battled yet another storm. “This was not your fault”, she whispered softly against his chest. “Maybe it was mine, maybe it was no one’s fault. If I had known Edmund to be so… angry, I would have never just written a letter. But then… I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted away from it all.” Could he really sort this out? Was there still a chance of this not ending in a complete mess? “How will you sort this out?”, she asked doubtfully. “Do you really think Edmund will see sense? I… I don’t want him to hate us. He’s a good man. Just… just not the man for me.”

Suddenly Lot appeared, Oliver’s faithful servant. It would have almost been funny, him appearing when all the hassle was over, but Yassia just felt too tired to feel anything but mild indifference to anything. She didn’t even feel embarrassed to be caught in Oliver’s arms. After all… Lot knew at least part of their story. He had been there in the Forest of Balor. It turned him almost into a companion in crime in Yassia’s eyes. Surprised and a little bit impressed with how Oliver handled the situation, so sure of himself it seemed, she kept quiet and let him instruct Lot on what to do. Only when he spoke of Marcus and her being wounded, she perked up.
Following his gaze, Yassia gave a slight “Oh” and winced, since the mere sight of the wound brought the pain to the forefront of her mind. But she forced it down, and shook her head: “That’s nothing. No need to wake Marcus. Just a scratch, really!” A burning, hurting scratch more like, but she was not going to point that out to Oliver. He was already feeling guilty enough as it was.

When he scooped her up in his arms, Yassia squealed in surprise, but she quickly rested her head against his shoulder, feeling the weight of everything that had come to pass finally catching up with her. And she also realized she hadn’t got a minute of sleep tonight and how exhausting everything up until this moment had been. It felt like she could just rest her head and sleep for a thousand years. And yet, she knew she also didn’t want to sleep at all now. She was tired and worn out, and yet she was wide awake, not yet able to take anything she was experiencing with Oliver right now for granted. And she didn’t want to miss a thing. It was too new, too wonderfully new. “Now what?”, she asked, turning her head to look at him.

Lot had left the door open when he had left to take out Olivers orders he had been given, and through it a dim light was seeping into the stables. Yassia had been out and about before dawn often enough to read these signs, and so she extended her good arm towards the light. “Look”, she said softly, a smile playing around her lips, “The sun will be rising any moment. It’s a new day my love.” A new day indeed, the first day of their refound love. The dawning of a hopeful and bright future.

All of Yassia’s instincts were set on flight mode now, and so she hardly took notice of Caitrin’s obvious unease about having her secret found out. They probably needed to talk about this issue in all seriousness later, as Yassia could also feel curiosity eating away at herself, since she never had come in close contact with magic and more felt like an innocent child regarding its powers than someone who was wary and afraid. She had no doubts at all that Caitrin would only use this power for good, and had hid it for perfectly good reasons, not out of malice. After all, everyone staying only so much as a week in Camelot knew how Uther Pendragon just lost all senses when it came to magic. A cold shower of fear quickly ran over Yassia’s spine as unbidden pictures of witch burnings sneaked into her head. Caitrin was extremely lucky she hadn’t been found out yet!
“Of course I’ll not say anything”, she hissed, almost taken aback by the thoughts Caitrin would really consider she would. Or maybe that was just an automatic reaction. She only gave a swift nod at them postponing the discussion, since right now she only wanted to get away, away, away!

Branches whipping at her legs and arms, Yassia stumbled through the underbrush until she reached the horses – what had been seconds seemed like years to her troubled mind. With an energetic leap driven by anxiety she mounted the horse, making sure the hood of her cloak was firmly secured over her head, and spurred the horse on with an encouraging yelp and a sharp tugging of the reins that made the slightly volatile mount rear up before it could be controlled and ushered onwards. Caitrin, it seemed, was still having a rather lighthearted outlook on the whole issue, since Yassia heard her saying: “Come on, we’ll give them a chase they’ll never forget.”
A chase they’ll never forget… I’d agree to it, if they just don’t catch us. They can’t catch us… they can’t! They would simply have to be faster than the two men, and then everything would be alright. Maybe in a few hours’ time, Yassia would be able to see it as the funny adventure it undoubtedly was, but right now her view on it was rather serious, if not maybe too serious. She tried a smile for Caitrin however, not wanting her friend to know how much this situation affected her. Caitrin might just draw the wrong conclusions… or the right ones, that was. “You bet…” she called over at her, but tried to keep her voice low as to not give herself away, then she once again spurred the horse to move faster with a demanding “YA!”

Behind them, she could now hear agitated voices and the neighing of other horses. And then Oliver’s voice, loud and clear: "They've messed with the wrong hunters," Sweet stars, how angry he sounded! This just made Yassia fear the confrontation even more and she ducked deep over her horse’s neck, praying silently it would get wings and just fly away. She knew Oliver’s temper after all. Would he insult her again, if he found out who had pranked him? Would she see that hatred in his eyes again, that unforgiving, unconditional disgust and anger? Please… no. Yassia knew she’d not be able to bear it!
Up in the distance, Yassia saw the path they were taking splitting into two separate branches. It was still a while off, but she’d rather make sure now how to go with this. Turning back in the saddle – her fear had made her direct the horse a good length in front of Caitrin’s – she called out: “Left or right?! Or split?!” Sometimes staying together was the key to success, sometimes splitting was. Seperating might at least give one of them the chance to get away unscathed… and for a very selfish and shameful moment, Yassia fervently hoped it would be her.

Yassia had to suppress a very inappropriate chuckle at the little lady’s words.Oh yes, she had very high doubts that the other members of the de Archer family would attend this wedding. If some had the guts to show up, Caitrin might even be so bold and send them back on their ways. Well, probably not really, but the picture was still highly amusing. Aoife probably didn’t even know much about how bad things seemed to stand between Caitrin and the rest of her family, so she had a very innocent look on the subject. Yassia wouldn’t dare to spoil that view though, she was still a neutral part in all of this and didn’t plan to let go of this position anytime soon. In any open conflict, her loyalties would always be with Caitrin of course, but that thankfully hadn’t happened so far, and it might be better to keep the family in the state it was now: apart. Caitrin seemed happy in Camelot, with Griff and her uncle, so there was no need to change that, right? “I can assure you they are happy indeed, which is a very fortunate incident”, she commented, having to smile at her own words, because she felt the absence of a special afterthought almost physically. Usually, when the subject of love matches came up, Yassia had always been faced with a rather gloomy perspective: Having escaped one horrid match and not seeing any progress on the horizon one way or another. Now she had her love match, which was also the most suitable match she could think of. The stars had favoured her indeed! “And concerning the wedding, I thnk it will take place in Camelot anyway, so your family would have to consider making quite a journey, if they really planned on it.”

Now the Lady Aoife was asking tricky questions indeed, and Yassia had to take a moment to think. Regardless of what she knew about Caitrin to answer these questions, could she really reveal details to someone Caitrin might not approve of? Wasn’t that betraying her confidence in some way? Maybe it was better to stay vague on most things, or claim ignorance? She didn’t know THAT much after all, she only knew that Caitrin had so far pushed through everything that had been thrown her way with remarkable strength.
“There has been a dark time in Camelot recently, where the kingdom was threatened by an evil woman”, Yassia began to explain, suddenly thinking to have found the perfect example. “But because many people, including your aunt Caitrin, who wasn’t even obliged to, stayed true to Arthur Pendragon and refused to yield to the witch Morgana’s evil power, Camelot could be saved. When Arthur returned to fight for his kingdom, he found it not beaten, but practically waiting for him and supporting him.So you see, being headstrong for a good cause, and refusing to yield to what you think is wrong CAN be suitable for a lady. It is even honorable.”

Oh, that was so sweet in its innocence! Would Yassia be travelling with more people this time?! Oh my, yes she would! And she would take someone very special with her… the one and only person that really mattered. What did she want for soldiers and armies… with Oliver alone she felt like being able to conquer the world. Her eyes had taken on a slightly faraway look for a second, as Yassia was forgetting herself and the situation she was in, but then she was thankfully reminded of the little lady’s presence and questions that still needed answering.
“Oh yes, I will have much more company on my journey back, don’t worry”, she smiled. “I would be mad to go back on my own, since that would mean I hadn’t achieved what I came here for.” For a moment, Yassia was truly at odds with herself. Could she really tell Aoife what the whole of Mercia that lived outside the castle walls didn’t know yet? But then… what was the harm? And she felt like bursting with it any second anyway!
Giving herself a slightly conspiratorial air, Yassia leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Can you keep a secret, Mylady? There is someone very special coming with me… to live with me. No one outside the castle knows it yet… but you might know him, if only by name.”

This was all cumulating at this one point, the point where she had to reveal her true identity, and everything else didn’t seem to matter for now. It was one of the tensest moments Yassia had ever been through ever since the beginning of her journey, since she just didn’t know what to expect. What would follow once he knew she was a woman? Could she really trust her luck to have stumbled upon a gentleman in these parts who wouldn’t exploit that fact? Since when had she EVER been able to trust her luck with anything recently?! And what if he knew her after all? This thought was turning and turning in her head, and whenever it came to the forefront of her mind, she could feel the ice cold stab of fear in her guts, without being able to fight it down, and the eerie surroundings wouldn’t really help. This could be the ending point of her flight, for so many reasons at once, and she was by no means prepared for it. She should have taken another way, she should not have risked it… but then she hadn’t even known much of these surroundings, she hadn’t expected to be facing difficulties yet again so soon. She hadn’t expected to have to make this journey alone either, even though she had been prepared for it in the beginning. But Mircea had insisted on accompanying her, and she had started to rely on him, had even called herself stupid for every considering daring to do this journey alone. And now he was gone. Just like that, by a cruel twist of the stars.

But before she could lose herself in a fit of self-pity Yassia rather focussed on the imminent problems, and that was first and foremost staying alive and healthy. Take it step by step… she told herself once again, like she had so often these last days when her feet had started to hurt from the unusual amount of walking. The next step was reacting rightly to his behavior, which was about to become evident any second. At least, he instantly lowered his sword, that was something at least. No matter why he did it, it was a great relief to not be directly threatened by it anymore. A sword surely seemed twice as deadly when it was pointed straight at you. She didn’t have that much experience with weapons and she didn’t desire too, he was too close for using any of her throwing knives against him anyway.
It felt like a huge load off her shoulder when his words betrayed – at least she hoped so – that he truly had no idea who he was talking to. Any subject of her uncle’s would have dropped his act by now, when the final confirmation had been reached. She was so relieved actually, she didn’t pay much heed for her words and simply spoke her mind.


“Well, and may I be the last, hopefully…” she exclaimed with a sigh and shook her head. “Of course, I didn’t plan on being detected as a woman… so, technically, I should be glad I could hold up the charade for so long.”
He was talking about danger now, and even though he might be right, Yassia didn’t quite like it. He might not even intend to, but the way he said it sounded extremely patronizing. She had come quite a way for being ‘just’ a woman, and while she had had her fair share of dangerous encounters, that didn’t mean she wasn’t still alive and kicking! He couldn’t just say that and play the big hero, just because he was a man!
“I didn’t choose to”, she replied a little bit testily. “But my… companion and I got … seperated while crossing the channel to Albion. So now, I HAVE to walk alone, whether I like it or not.” Separated… yes, that was really putting it nicely, but a euphemism was all Yassia would be able to deal with right now, else she started to delve in too deep and lose her composure. NOT in front of a stranger, no, that was unthinkable! “And anyway… if it is so dangerous alone, why are YOU walking alone?” Hmm… maybe she should tone her aggressive mood down a bit. It was all just the relief talking, her father was the same, but how would a stranger know that?