Tongue in cheek she listened to the innocent prattle of the naive, yet cluesless maid as she answered Katherines questions about Brienna and Gavin.

"Aye, they are vera much inlove, milady," she sighed.

A pique of jealousy coursed through her. Quickly clearing her throat, she asked more questions. The maid obliged and answered everything with no idea as to why the inquisition.

"Poor lass came injured, after they raided Forsythe Castle, that monster of Defoe killed her entire family," she spoke sadly.

Katherine went on to listen to the scandalous discovery of Brienna training with the squires.

"We all trully admire her, she is sweet and gentle as can be, but..." she trailed off.

Now curious as can be Katherine turned to look at the made that faced her with a nervous glance not daring to continue.

"What is it ? please continue," Katherine gave her most innocent inquisitive stare.

Nervously the maid shook her head.

"Forgive me milady I have spoken far more that what I am allowed forgive me," she quickly curtsied rushing out the chamber.

Breathing heavily she watched the maid leave.

With an oath underbreath she turned to continue unpacking her belongings. With a dubious smile she congratulated her pitiful cries at begging to stay. She was fretful of the journey and dreadfully afraid of raiders that could attack her going farther into the country side. Her pouting lips quivered and her eyes pooled with tears watched Gavin's reluctance whither.

Now that she finally gained a footing in the keep she silently plotted and wickedly decided to put it all into gear. She wanted Gavin for herself and she was not going to let some mere chit of a girl stop her. With that thought she cooly gave the woman in the mirror a cool glance. Turning she left to extract her plan for the day.

******

She descended the stairs to enter the greathall to have breakfast. She quickly hid the dislike in her eyes at seeing Gavin and Brienna sitting close and enjoying a conversation with themselves as everyone else. She notices how he leaned close and glided his finger along her jawline followed by his kiss. Averting her gaze she tried to control herself.

After they all finished the men stood and filed out to begin their morning training. She stood abruptly and she walked gingerly towards Gavin catching him in the nick of time whispering to Brienna about taking a stroll in the woods.

"Oh that would be lovely!" she clapped her hands.

Astonished at Katherines interruption she stood and watched her invite herself along.

Slowly she looked at Gavin as he spoke to her, trying to read his expression. With a smile that never reached his eyes he agreed for her to join along.

Gavin deep down did not want her along, but he could not be rude and tell her no. In truth, he cared little if she stayed or went it was of no consequence to him.

He turned to briefly look at Brienna, her expression although difficult to read he sensed her disappointment that they would no be alone. With a loving smile he rubbed her back and hugged her while they waited for her to retrieve her cloak.

"Don't worry, I am all yours tonight," he whispered seductively in ear.

The promise alone sent a shiver up her spine. Her bright pink cheeks pulled a smile at his lips.

Immediately she returned beaming with joy, she began walking with them. Somehow along the walk Brienna saw her wrap her hand in Gavins arm. Ever so often she would say something and rub his arm softly, which did not sit well with Brienna. She felt uneasy around this woman. Try as he may to include her in their conversations and have a semblance of amicable talk, but it was difficult because she knew nothing of Gavin the way Katherine did.

The side glances she would give her when Gavin was not looking or the icy glare when he would talk to her unnerved her to no end, but she brushed the feeling away.

********

In the course of a week she had managed to be present everywhere. Brienna took things very cooly with her a managed to not let her get under her skin.

She watched Brienna slowly stroll to the stables and followed. She was fully aware that she avoided her.

Lost in her train of thought while she briskly rubbed Talbot, Gavins steed, she never heard the approaching steps of Katherine until she spoke.

"I thought they had a stable boy for that," she spoke with menace to her voice.

Cooly she gave a quick glance to Katherine.

"There is but, I as well find it comforting so I dont mind," she continued her attentions with the steed.

"Hmm, I don't think it very appealing to mingle with such creatures. Men don't like their woman smelling like them. As I am sure Gavin doesnt also," her sly comment won her Briennas annoyed stare.

Brienna tried in earnest to ignore the womans slurs. Not for fear but for her own sake she tried to seek patience with her.

"I am quite surprised that Gavin with his...appetites, focused on a mere inexperienced child," she inched closer.

Breathing in deeply she continued brushing Talbot.

"Maybe he bored of woman that are old and used," Brienna retorted smuggly.

Turning she looked at Katherines nasty stare.

She watched her inch closer.

"Listen you insolent little bitch, i've set my eyes on Gavin and I mean to have him. I am not backing down," She glared with a determined fury at Brienna.

Amused, Brienna stopped and regarded her.

"Tis a pity, you obviously are very blind, or are very daft because I seem to recall , from what he assures me is that you are a thing of his past," Brienna spoke.

She walked around Katherine ignoring her fits of rage.

Before she could leave the stable Katherine whirled her around and pulled her in place by the hair with her nails in scalp she had Brienna at eyes length.

The rage that set in Briennas eyes was quick for all Katherine saw was s glimmer of steel inches from her eyes.

With a gasp, Katherine let her go. Defiant eyes clashed with enraged hazel orbs.

"If you want your stay here to be pleasant and safe , I suggest you stay the hell out of my way," she hissed pressing the dagger harder to her neck.

Breathing heavily and very angrily Katherine repeated her threat. She cared little about the dagger held inches from her kneck. Although terrified she refused to flinch. She was going to fight for him regardless,

and that was an enough warning that Katherines presence in the keep eventually posed a threat.