City of the Underground

Caitlin's Rage

The force of the weight dropping on top of him had knocked the breathe out of Jonathan. A snarling figure now held him captive, forcing a long and thin object against his neck.

"How dare you come and look for me after you bring your new wife here!" Caitlin spat. "Does she know? Does she know your off looking for another woman while she sleeps in your bed?" she whispered dangerously in his ear.

"W-what?" he managed to choke out. His face was forced against the rough grass, making it harder to understand him. "We--did rnt't--mar-ry."

Caitlin was sitting on his back with her bow firmly against his throat. Threatening to choke the life out of him. Not that she could ever do it. But she wanted him to hurt like she was hurting. With his last words, she let the bow slacken and shifted off of him.

Jonathan drew in short ragged breathes and pushed himself up to all fours. After a couple of good gulps of air he tried to regain his balance. He stood up and rubbed at his raw throat.

"What--was that?" he gasped, pointing down to where she had just had him pinned.

She turned her back to him. Tears welling in her eyes. Tears of anger, sorrow, remorse? She could not tell.

"Caitlin." he crossed over to her and twisted her about to face him. "Answer me! What has happened while I've been away?!" he asked in disbelief. What could have taken her so far away from him. So completely filled with rage.

"What indeed I might ask," she turned harshly and threw off his grip. "I have not heard one line from you. Have not seen you in over a week. And suddenly you return with some sturdy princess wench! And then you don't even have the decency to warn me, give me time to adjust, or leave!! Of course not."

he reached over and grabbed her just behind the elbows. He carefully accentuated each word. "We-Are-Not-Married. I would never do that to you. "

"Then what in the bloody hell is she doing here John!" she cried out as she pointed to the castle.

He saw the desperation on her face. He had left her alone and without information for too long. He knew her heart, and his, hung in the balance.

"If I start the story, will you promise to listen?"

Caitlin crossed her arms, feeling like she was being tricked but let him proceed.

Jonathan began with how the princess, Kaylana, was already in love with another man and had plans to marry Him before her father announced the arrangement to her. He detailed how both he, and Kaylana, wanted to be free to marry and love a person of their own choosing. He recounted how hostile they had been to each other and then how they discovered their mutual situations. That's when he went into the plan they had devised to return to Griffith under the pretense of an engagement when they were truly planning on finding Thomas and restoring him to inheriting the kingdom. Then both parties would be free of a forced marriage.

"Even her fiancé is here." Jonathan continued.

Caitlin shook her head. She had taken in all the information but was still skeptical.

"How are we going to find him John? We been searching for two years! What makes you think he will just turn up? Because she's here? What if it doesn't work Jonathan, what then?"

Jonathan felt trapped. The only hope he had was slowly dwindling . Caitlin hardly even seemed to be on his side. Her lack of faith in their plan hurt, but it was also shaking his own resolve. What if it didn't work. He would never see Thomas again. He would have to be married and eventually he would be king. He had too much at stake for it to fail.

"The four of us will work together. Your a tracker Caitlin. With our help we must find him."

"John I've already searched and found nothing. How will this be any different?"

"We have to try!" he replied furiously. "It's our only hope."

Caitlin knew he was right, but her instincts told her they would fail. Should she throw her hopes to the wind, or fight for the fires of passion.

"All right. " she agreed. " When do we start?"

Jonathan hunched over and rubbed the back of his neck, like he always did when he was nervous. There was one thing he had not mentioned yet.

"Actually, I need to tell you. My father believes this engagement is real and has insisted on a ball here tomorrow night to announce it. To keep him from suspicion we need to go along with it." He closed his eyes, waiting for her reaction.

"Good, then I'll be attending. I'd like to see this future queen." Caitlin scowled as she drew out her last arrow and swiftly shot it at a target. A loud tear rang threw the air as it split a previous arrow in two.