Part 3 Connor reflects back some time....to weeks before..before he had lost her...when they had been caught inside the Roman fort....
"Connor, what are you doing here?" said Cat distracted.
"What am I doing here?" He asks half surprised.."What are you doing here?" asked connor.."Why did you leave without a word of where you were going?" He said.
Her back was facing him, He put his hand on her arm to get her attention, "Catlin...are you listening to me...what's going on here?"
"I had to find Molly." said Catlin pulling her arm away.
Connor didn't understand..."Why didn't you wait? We could have found her together."
"You're going to get us caught." she said, scouting the area.
"We shouldn't be here in the first place...we can still leave...and come back when we have a few more heads with us." said connor.
"No, I have to find Molly, be quiet, I hear someone coming." she said, raising her head just a little....
Connor put his hand on his sword...he could hear the footsteps as well. He pulled on Catlin's sleeve to follow him, Cat. silently obeyed.
"Who goes there!" yelled a roman soldier..Catlin stands up to face the roman and slices through him, he fell dead on the floor. Blood trickling from him onto the floor. The running thumps of the oncoming soldier hoard could be heard.
"Run connor!" yelled Catlin as she ran behind him.
Before they knew it, they had been surrounded. They both dropped their weapons knowing that if they fought it would make things worse. The soldiers wasted no time in holding their hands behind their backs.
Walking there towards them were Molly and Longinus..side by side..."Molly?" asked Connor. She looked down at the ground in shame. Longinus smiled at Catlin. Catlin only sneered back. He walked closer as did Molly. Longinus grabbed Catlin's face.
Connor was enraged by this, "Don't touch her!"
"Or What? What will you do Prince?" he said looking at Connor, Longinus returned his gaze towards Catlin..."I thought you told me she was dead." said Longinus..directing it towards Molly...
Molly now looked at Connor who is now looking at her in bewilderment...."I thought she was." she replied...holding her head up high now.
Connor looked hurt..the betrayal was great....he had trusted Molly.
"No matter..she's more good to me alive than dead at this point in time." He said letting go of her face...Catlin looked the other way.
He waved his hand to the soldiers indicating to take them away. Catlin and Connor are dragged down the steps towards the cells. Meanwhile Longinus is still standing in the corridor with Molly. "I saw the way you looked at him." He said almost jokingly.
"What way?" asked Molly coyly.
"Don't play games with me, you love that boy." said Longinus looking out onto the fort. "but...." said longinus now turning to face her..."He loves another." now he smiled.
Molly looked surprised. "Who?" she asked getting closer to longinus, touching his arm.
"Does it really matter that much to you? The boy will be dead in a couple of days." said Longinus walking away..
"Who?!" yelled Molly.
Longinus stopped...without turning around, "As if you did not know, how could you not see the one who has fought with him, side by side, spilled blood for him...how did you not see that?" with that Longinus continued to walk away.
Molly knew whom he was speaking of...it was Catlin. But what did Longinus know. Could he really know the prince's heart? ****************************************************************************** Now they were both tied in Chains..."Cat? Why didn't you tell me?" asked Connor sadly.
Catlin sighed..."How could I? She's Fergus's daughter..and you...you...nevermind." she said looking out the iron bars.
" I what?", asked Connor impatiently.... when he got no response, "Now isn't the time to keep things from me."
Catlin looked at him.."The way you are with her..the way you look at her..it's clear that you two love one another..or that you love her..how could I have possibly told you of what she had done?, it would have broken your heart."
Connor was silent for a moment...Catlin had now hung her head low. "Molly and I...." said Connor.
Catlin lifted her gaze towards him...
"I don't love her the way you think I do Catlin." said Connor. "She was someone I trusted...and confided in....but I was never in love with her...how could I be, when my heart belongs to someone else?"
Catlin sighed....Clair... how could she have forgotten about his first love....."oh...I'm sorry Connor...I hadn't thought of your love for Claire, I...don't know what to say, I feel like a fool..I should have told you..but I wanted to spare you the hurt." she said.
Connor smiled, "Cat...I wasn't talking about Claire."
The conversation abruptly ended when Molly entered the cell they were being held in...both of the prisoners stood straight and lifted their heads.
"Connor." said Molly without feeling. She stepped closer to him.
Connor looked the other way, he didn't want to look at her.
"I had to do it Connor." said Molly, now pleading.."This isn't what it looks like."
"It looks like you're in allegiance with Longinus." said Connor now looking at her..."Isn't that what it is?" said Connor angrily.
"Yes..but.. " said Molly.
"You betrayed us..you betrayed the land..you betrayed the father." said connor.
"Longinus as ruler is what is best for this land....I have not betrayed the father..Connor you must understand." said Molly placing her hand on his face..."I love you. Like I have loved no other."
Connor turned his gaze away and looked at Catlin..she was looking back at him...
"Look at me..." said Molly turning his head with her hand gently.."I can get you out of here..you can escape..I don't want you to die."
"That isn't up to you." said Catlin.
Molly ignored Catlin..."Please understand." said Molly to connor.
"You have allied yourself to evil, I will never understand that." said connor.
"In time..you will see what I have done is for the greater good of this people. Leave...I'm offering you a chance to be free." said Molly dangling the keys to his chains in the air.
"And my friends..what of them? Am I to leave them here to die? I thought you knew me better than that..." said connor refusing her offer.
"Accept my offer. I love you connor." said Molly pleading with him once more.
"But I don't love you. I'm don't give up what I believe in as easily as others." said connor coldy.
Molly stepped away from him, she was hurt..."You love her don't you!?" she yelled pointing at Catlin....Catlin looked defiant, but she was surprised. Connor said nothing. Molly went to Catlin..."You love the slave whore you saved....it's her you want?" said Molly looking at Catlin but still yelling at connor.
"Molly..." said Connor, fearing what she might do.
Molly took out her dagger..."She is a waste of air...she is used...she is not right for you." said Molly using her dagger and lightly tapping along Catlin's smooth uncovered stomach.
Connor pulled on his chains...but Molly ignored him, her focus was now on Catlin...
"Molly! Leave her alone!" Yelled Connor.
Molly laughed. She put the dagger down and smiled, "I admire the fact that you didn't tell him about me, it shows you care..." she said to Catlin. "Don't worry Connor, I won't hurt her too badly...." She said turning around to face connor, she gripped her dagger tightly and spun around, pushing the dagger in catlin's side..catlin let out a gasp, that was all she could do..molly pulled the dagger out, letting the blood spill.
"NO!!!!... Catlin...oh.....no.....cat." he said looking at her..
"Connor?" said Catlin weakly...she closed her eyes..the pain was vivid..she felt dizzy.
Molly approached connor now...connor pulled on his chains, he could have killed Molly. She had the dagger up high, with catlin's blood dripping from it..she took her fingers and wiped the blood off..with those same fingers she touched his face..."Now you wear the blood of the woman you have chosen to die with." said Molly, walking away.
Moments felt like hours, there was nothing Connor could do to help her..she was bleeding to death..."Cat...cat...!" he yelled.
Just then guards approached the two prisoners once more..this time in thier hands they brought clothing of some sort...they unlocked their chains, where Connor immediately went to Catlin, who slumped onto the ground...the guards pushed him away as he struggled...they stripped them both of all their old clothing...the guards laughed in doing so...They slipped a white dress onto Catlin..the blood bled through the clothing..and they dropped her on the ground...she was still awake...the wound was deep, but not mortal. They dressed Connor to match Catlin...a long white tunic..with breeches.., they didn't bother to put them back in chains...and then left the cell....Connor crawled over to Catlin..."Connor.." she said weakily smiling...
"I'm sorry Catlin...I'm so sorry..." He held her in his arms...."Please stay with me.."
"Always." said Catlin.
He could now feel the blood on his hand...despite her condition.....she looked beautiful..even now in the face of death...with the blood stains..her smile was still there.
"I love you Connor...I want you to know that...I always have." She wearily clung on to him.
Connor closed his eyes..how could he have let this happen..."Catlin..." He took the ring on his hand, took it off and slipped it on her hand, her delicate hand...the hand he had wanted to hold for so long. "I love you with a love I never thought I would find again. We belong to one another." He said as he cradled her. Catlin just closed her eyes.
More footsteps could be heard. It was now Loginus again, but this time with Diana. He ordered the guard to open the cell. Diana turned away in disgust.."What happened to her?" she said covering her face with a sheer cloth. Longinus observed, he squatted down....Connor put up no fight..if Catlin died he hoped he would too. He held on to Catlin, who now was laying very still, she no longer had the strong grip on connor as she did before.
"She has been wounded at a point that is not mortal..not for the time being anyway...she's slowly bleeding to death..whoever did this knew what they were doing."
"So it couldn't have been our guards." said diana slyly..."It's ruined now...I can't have her bleeding all over the place tonight." She was pouting.
"No...it's not ruined. It's...just more complicated." said Longinus standing back up. connor seemed to be in a daze, ignoring him. "Guards...call Molly to come to me." He said staring at connor. The guards obeyed immediately.
"Molly? What for?" asked Diana.
"Who else could have done this?" said Longinus.
"That doesn't make sense." she said.
"It makes perfect sense Diana...Molly loves this prince." he said pathetically.
"Oh." said Diana frowning.
Longinus squatted down next to connor..."How does it feel to know she's slowly dying? To hold her in your arms knowing there is nothing you can do?"
Connor turned to face him..one tear strolled down his face. He didn't reply to his question. He turned away from him, holding Catlin closer to him.
Molly walked towards Diana..Diana didn't like Molly much...and ignored her. "Yes? Longinus."
"There you are dear...come closer to me." he said. She slowely approached him. "Did you do this?" he said in reference to Catlin
"Yes I did." she said angrily.
"Why?" he asked. "She'll die without the proper attention."
"And?"
"And?!" He said standing up and facing her...he grabbed her by the arms pulling her and throwing her down towards them.."Look at them!!! Take a good Look...." he said yelling, then calming down.."You have complicated things for us Molly, you have made her a martyr"
She began to sob.."because he chose death with her..rather than life with me." she stopped sobbing and stood up.."It was his choice really." She looked at Longinus.
Longinus smiled. "You know hate."
"Aye." said Molly. " and I want to leave now."
Longinus waved his hand in approval. Molly ran out of there.
"What? That's it.?..if I would have done this you would have sent me to die with them." said Diana.
"You are already dead inside Diana..there would be no point." Longinus walked out of the cell. "Get them ready for tonight." He said talking to the guards..he looked at Diana...and held her hand pulling her away from the cell, watching the guards.
connor was still in his own world....cradling catlin...he thought of all the times they had fought together...all the conversations they had had...everything..his feelings... his feelings for her, he loved her with all his heart and soul..he couldn't lose her now. He got up..lifting her a little, she gave out a little moan..."I'm sorry cat." he said to her...he layed her on the floor..on her back, making sure she was as comfortable as possible..he looked at his hands..bloodstained...matching his clothes...He focused his attention back to Catlin..she was breathing so slowly..she was slipping..he had failed her.
The guards came back in following Longinus's orders. Connor instinctively protected catlin, putting himself between her and the guards. "Move out of the way!" shouted one guard while pushing him against the wall. The other guards dragged Catlin's body out of there., Connor was being held back up against the wall, "Let go of me!" he yelled.
"Wait!" said Longinus to the guard who had been dragging Catlin out of the cell. "Let her go."
Longinus knelt down beside her, he put one arm underneath her neck and the other under her knees.
"What, in the name of the Gods, are you doing?" asked Diana.
Longinus lifted her up, Catlin was barely conscious, "Connor?" she said weakly.
"Let her go! Leave her!" He pushed the guard with all his strength, but the other guard now held him back.
Longinus began to walk away with Catlin in his arms....Catlin began to cry..with the last bit of strength left..."Connor!! " her sobs took the best of her..Diana walked quietly behind them.
"Catlin!!" Connor shouted, stretching his hand out for her...the guards pushed him back with all their strength now...knocking connor out again.His world went black.
"Connor, what are you doing here?" said Cat distracted.
"What am I doing here?" He asks half surprised.."What are you doing here?" asked connor.."Why did you leave without a word of where you were going?" He said.
Her back was facing him, He put his hand on her arm to get her attention, "Catlin...are you listening to me...what's going on here?"
"I had to find Molly." said Catlin pulling her arm away.
Connor didn't understand..."Why didn't you wait? We could have found her together."
"You're going to get us caught." she said, scouting the area.
"We shouldn't be here in the first place...we can still leave...and come back when we have a few more heads with us." said connor.
"No, I have to find Molly, be quiet, I hear someone coming." she said, raising her head just a little....
Connor put his hand on his sword...he could hear the footsteps as well. He pulled on Catlin's sleeve to follow him, Cat. silently obeyed.
"Who goes there!" yelled a roman soldier..Catlin stands up to face the roman and slices through him, he fell dead on the floor. Blood trickling from him onto the floor. The running thumps of the oncoming soldier hoard could be heard.
"Run connor!" yelled Catlin as she ran behind him.
Before they knew it, they had been surrounded. They both dropped their weapons knowing that if they fought it would make things worse. The soldiers wasted no time in holding their hands behind their backs.
Walking there towards them were Molly and Longinus..side by side..."Molly?" asked Connor. She looked down at the ground in shame. Longinus smiled at Catlin. Catlin only sneered back. He walked closer as did Molly. Longinus grabbed Catlin's face.
Connor was enraged by this, "Don't touch her!"
"Or What? What will you do Prince?" he said looking at Connor, Longinus returned his gaze towards Catlin..."I thought you told me she was dead." said Longinus..directing it towards Molly...
Molly now looked at Connor who is now looking at her in bewilderment...."I thought she was." she replied...holding her head up high now.
Connor looked hurt..the betrayal was great....he had trusted Molly.
"No matter..she's more good to me alive than dead at this point in time." He said letting go of her face...Catlin looked the other way.
He waved his hand to the soldiers indicating to take them away. Catlin and Connor are dragged down the steps towards the cells. Meanwhile Longinus is still standing in the corridor with Molly. "I saw the way you looked at him." He said almost jokingly.
"What way?" asked Molly coyly.
"Don't play games with me, you love that boy." said Longinus looking out onto the fort. "but...." said longinus now turning to face her..."He loves another." now he smiled.
Molly looked surprised. "Who?" she asked getting closer to longinus, touching his arm.
"Does it really matter that much to you? The boy will be dead in a couple of days." said Longinus walking away..
"Who?!" yelled Molly.
Longinus stopped...without turning around, "As if you did not know, how could you not see the one who has fought with him, side by side, spilled blood for him...how did you not see that?" with that Longinus continued to walk away.
Molly knew whom he was speaking of...it was Catlin. But what did Longinus know. Could he really know the prince's heart? ****************************************************************************** Now they were both tied in Chains..."Cat? Why didn't you tell me?" asked Connor sadly.
Catlin sighed..."How could I? She's Fergus's daughter..and you...you...nevermind." she said looking out the iron bars.
" I what?", asked Connor impatiently.... when he got no response, "Now isn't the time to keep things from me."
Catlin looked at him.."The way you are with her..the way you look at her..it's clear that you two love one another..or that you love her..how could I have possibly told you of what she had done?, it would have broken your heart."
Connor was silent for a moment...Catlin had now hung her head low. "Molly and I...." said Connor.
Catlin lifted her gaze towards him...
"I don't love her the way you think I do Catlin." said Connor. "She was someone I trusted...and confided in....but I was never in love with her...how could I be, when my heart belongs to someone else?"
Catlin sighed....Clair... how could she have forgotten about his first love....."oh...I'm sorry Connor...I hadn't thought of your love for Claire, I...don't know what to say, I feel like a fool..I should have told you..but I wanted to spare you the hurt." she said.
Connor smiled, "Cat...I wasn't talking about Claire."
The conversation abruptly ended when Molly entered the cell they were being held in...both of the prisoners stood straight and lifted their heads.
"Connor." said Molly without feeling. She stepped closer to him.
Connor looked the other way, he didn't want to look at her.
"I had to do it Connor." said Molly, now pleading.."This isn't what it looks like."
"It looks like you're in allegiance with Longinus." said Connor now looking at her..."Isn't that what it is?" said Connor angrily.
"Yes..but.. " said Molly.
"You betrayed us..you betrayed the land..you betrayed the father." said connor.
"Longinus as ruler is what is best for this land....I have not betrayed the father..Connor you must understand." said Molly placing her hand on his face..."I love you. Like I have loved no other."
Connor turned his gaze away and looked at Catlin..she was looking back at him...
"Look at me..." said Molly turning his head with her hand gently.."I can get you out of here..you can escape..I don't want you to die."
"That isn't up to you." said Catlin.
Molly ignored Catlin..."Please understand." said Molly to connor.
"You have allied yourself to evil, I will never understand that." said connor.
"In time..you will see what I have done is for the greater good of this people. Leave...I'm offering you a chance to be free." said Molly dangling the keys to his chains in the air.
"And my friends..what of them? Am I to leave them here to die? I thought you knew me better than that..." said connor refusing her offer.
"Accept my offer. I love you connor." said Molly pleading with him once more.
"But I don't love you. I'm don't give up what I believe in as easily as others." said connor coldy.
Molly stepped away from him, she was hurt..."You love her don't you!?" she yelled pointing at Catlin....Catlin looked defiant, but she was surprised. Connor said nothing. Molly went to Catlin..."You love the slave whore you saved....it's her you want?" said Molly looking at Catlin but still yelling at connor.
"Molly..." said Connor, fearing what she might do.
Molly took out her dagger..."She is a waste of air...she is used...she is not right for you." said Molly using her dagger and lightly tapping along Catlin's smooth uncovered stomach.
Connor pulled on his chains...but Molly ignored him, her focus was now on Catlin...
"Molly! Leave her alone!" Yelled Connor.
Molly laughed. She put the dagger down and smiled, "I admire the fact that you didn't tell him about me, it shows you care..." she said to Catlin. "Don't worry Connor, I won't hurt her too badly...." She said turning around to face connor, she gripped her dagger tightly and spun around, pushing the dagger in catlin's side..catlin let out a gasp, that was all she could do..molly pulled the dagger out, letting the blood spill.
"NO!!!!... Catlin...oh.....no.....cat." he said looking at her..
"Connor?" said Catlin weakly...she closed her eyes..the pain was vivid..she felt dizzy.
Molly approached connor now...connor pulled on his chains, he could have killed Molly. She had the dagger up high, with catlin's blood dripping from it..she took her fingers and wiped the blood off..with those same fingers she touched his face..."Now you wear the blood of the woman you have chosen to die with." said Molly, walking away.
Moments felt like hours, there was nothing Connor could do to help her..she was bleeding to death..."Cat...cat...!" he yelled.
Just then guards approached the two prisoners once more..this time in thier hands they brought clothing of some sort...they unlocked their chains, where Connor immediately went to Catlin, who slumped onto the ground...the guards pushed him away as he struggled...they stripped them both of all their old clothing...the guards laughed in doing so...They slipped a white dress onto Catlin..the blood bled through the clothing..and they dropped her on the ground...she was still awake...the wound was deep, but not mortal. They dressed Connor to match Catlin...a long white tunic..with breeches.., they didn't bother to put them back in chains...and then left the cell....Connor crawled over to Catlin..."Connor.." she said weakily smiling...
"I'm sorry Catlin...I'm so sorry..." He held her in his arms...."Please stay with me.."
"Always." said Catlin.
He could now feel the blood on his hand...despite her condition.....she looked beautiful..even now in the face of death...with the blood stains..her smile was still there.
"I love you Connor...I want you to know that...I always have." She wearily clung on to him.
Connor closed his eyes..how could he have let this happen..."Catlin..." He took the ring on his hand, took it off and slipped it on her hand, her delicate hand...the hand he had wanted to hold for so long. "I love you with a love I never thought I would find again. We belong to one another." He said as he cradled her. Catlin just closed her eyes.
More footsteps could be heard. It was now Loginus again, but this time with Diana. He ordered the guard to open the cell. Diana turned away in disgust.."What happened to her?" she said covering her face with a sheer cloth. Longinus observed, he squatted down....Connor put up no fight..if Catlin died he hoped he would too. He held on to Catlin, who now was laying very still, she no longer had the strong grip on connor as she did before.
"She has been wounded at a point that is not mortal..not for the time being anyway...she's slowly bleeding to death..whoever did this knew what they were doing."
"So it couldn't have been our guards." said diana slyly..."It's ruined now...I can't have her bleeding all over the place tonight." She was pouting.
"No...it's not ruined. It's...just more complicated." said Longinus standing back up. connor seemed to be in a daze, ignoring him. "Guards...call Molly to come to me." He said staring at connor. The guards obeyed immediately.
"Molly? What for?" asked Diana.
"Who else could have done this?" said Longinus.
"That doesn't make sense." she said.
"It makes perfect sense Diana...Molly loves this prince." he said pathetically.
"Oh." said Diana frowning.
Longinus squatted down next to connor..."How does it feel to know she's slowly dying? To hold her in your arms knowing there is nothing you can do?"
Connor turned to face him..one tear strolled down his face. He didn't reply to his question. He turned away from him, holding Catlin closer to him.
Molly walked towards Diana..Diana didn't like Molly much...and ignored her. "Yes? Longinus."
"There you are dear...come closer to me." he said. She slowely approached him. "Did you do this?" he said in reference to Catlin
"Yes I did." she said angrily.
"Why?" he asked. "She'll die without the proper attention."
"And?"
"And?!" He said standing up and facing her...he grabbed her by the arms pulling her and throwing her down towards them.."Look at them!!! Take a good Look...." he said yelling, then calming down.."You have complicated things for us Molly, you have made her a martyr"
She began to sob.."because he chose death with her..rather than life with me." she stopped sobbing and stood up.."It was his choice really." She looked at Longinus.
Longinus smiled. "You know hate."
"Aye." said Molly. " and I want to leave now."
Longinus waved his hand in approval. Molly ran out of there.
"What? That's it.?..if I would have done this you would have sent me to die with them." said Diana.
"You are already dead inside Diana..there would be no point." Longinus walked out of the cell. "Get them ready for tonight." He said talking to the guards..he looked at Diana...and held her hand pulling her away from the cell, watching the guards.
connor was still in his own world....cradling catlin...he thought of all the times they had fought together...all the conversations they had had...everything..his feelings... his feelings for her, he loved her with all his heart and soul..he couldn't lose her now. He got up..lifting her a little, she gave out a little moan..."I'm sorry cat." he said to her...he layed her on the floor..on her back, making sure she was as comfortable as possible..he looked at his hands..bloodstained...matching his clothes...He focused his attention back to Catlin..she was breathing so slowly..she was slipping..he had failed her.
The guards came back in following Longinus's orders. Connor instinctively protected catlin, putting himself between her and the guards. "Move out of the way!" shouted one guard while pushing him against the wall. The other guards dragged Catlin's body out of there., Connor was being held back up against the wall, "Let go of me!" he yelled.
"Wait!" said Longinus to the guard who had been dragging Catlin out of the cell. "Let her go."
Longinus knelt down beside her, he put one arm underneath her neck and the other under her knees.
"What, in the name of the Gods, are you doing?" asked Diana.
Longinus lifted her up, Catlin was barely conscious, "Connor?" she said weakly.
"Let her go! Leave her!" He pushed the guard with all his strength, but the other guard now held him back.
Longinus began to walk away with Catlin in his arms....Catlin began to cry..with the last bit of strength left..."Connor!! " her sobs took the best of her..Diana walked quietly behind them.
"Catlin!!" Connor shouted, stretching his hand out for her...the guards pushed him back with all their strength now...knocking connor out again.His world went black.