8. SECRETS
Feelings of love were not something to be trifled with. There was nothing stronger than it, not even magic could break a strong bond of true affection. Could Lady Rosalie however manage to hide it? Arthur had practically confessed his love for her in the most romantic way she could possibly begin to phantom, but still something held her back. And we all that something was not just anything.
That night Arthur had said: "I do not need your reply right away, take your time." With those words he had left Lady Rosalie to be in her chambers, more confused than she'd ever been, caught in this controversial matter.
There was really no one she could speak to about this, aside from Merlin. But then again she did not want to be a bother. For a moment she even considered leaving Camelot for good, returning to her people, the place she actually needed to be. She knew she could not, not right now anyway. Being away from Arthur would hurt too much.
Keeping her distance from him had done her no good so far. She had fallen for him. The entire time she'd been dancing around the edge, but now she was sure of it: she loved Arthur.
In the early morning she'd gone down to the training grounds, to watch Arthur and his eligible knights once again. He was so fierce and a true leader figure. She admired that about him.
It didn't take too long for Arthur to note her presence, and he announced a quick break for the knights. He eyed Lady Rosalie, gesturing her to follow him into one of the tents. Lady Rosalie obliged.
"Listen Rosalie, I want to apologize for last night. I know it must've been quite inappropriate and perhaps overbearing-." Arthur began to ramble nervously.
Lady Rosalie rested her finger on his lips, silencing him. "Do not be silly, Arthur." She quietly said, drawing her hand back and folding it together with her other hand.
Arthur straightened his posture, his lower lip trembling. "Why have you come to see me?" He asked in a small voice, daring to look her in the eye while he said so.
Lady Rosalie took in a breath. "I wanted to tell you that, over these few weeks, even though I had no intention to, I've come to care for you." She admitted. "Deeply.'
Arthur suddenly brightened up, he had not expected Lady Rosalie to come to him and tell him this. Sure, he had drawn the conclusion that on some level she must feel more than just a friendship-like affection for him, but he'd never expected this.
"Do not doubt my affections for you." She whispered quietly, allowing her delicate fingers to trickle down the rough skin of Arthur's cheeks, that still had a little morning stubble.
Joy filled Arthur's heart as he folded his hand around hers, brightly smiling. "I shall announce our involvement to my father immediately." He claimed, grinning from ear to ear.
However, shock filled Rosalie's eyes, as she began to shake her head. "No, no. You mustn't Arthur." She insisted imploringly, already trying to think of a reason why she wanted to keep their affair hidden from Arthur's Father: Uther.
"Why not, my love? For it is something I want to share with the entire kingdom!" Arthur exclaimed, his joyful mood slightly dampened by this.
"It's just," Lady Rosalie began ", let's just take it slow. Keep this to ourselves for a while. You know?"
As if she had bewitched Arthur (which for the record: she hadn't) he obeyed her command, nodding his head. "You are right." He smiled down at her. "After all, we have all the time in the world." Yes, Arthur was sure of it that he had found her: the one he was going to grow old with. Lady Rosalie was the one for him.
"I've got to go." She then said. "I'll see you." Rosalie granted him one last smile before she then swiftly slipped out of the tent and hurried off, leaving Arthur breathless once again.
When the training was over and Arthur, accompanied by Merlin, was walking back towards his chambers it was easy to see that something was bothering him. Merlin had come to know his master well enough to notice that.
"Is something wrong, Arthur?" He asked, opening the door for him as he marched right in, without looking at Merlin.
His face softened as he turned to Merlin, appreciating his concern. "It's nothing really. I don't know why it's upsetting me actually." But then again, he'd never had 'really' felt this way about anyone before. "Rosalie doesn't want my father to know about our involvement, I just don't understand. She didn't really give a reason." Arthur flopped down onto the edge of his bed. "Rather absurd."
Of course Merlin knew the reason, but he felt more obligated to stay loyal to a fellow sorcerer than to Arthur as of the moment. He swallowed hard, putting on a pensive face as he rubbed his chin.
"That is quite strange." He then mumbled in agreement. "But you know, she's going through a rough time. Perhaps she doesn't want to appear to be ignorant of her people, by announcing her involvement with a prince." For a moment Merlin felt quite proud he'd managed to come up with that spontaneously, because it did sound like it could actually be a real reason.
Arthur perked up a little, thinking it over for a moment. "I never would've pegged you to be the type to understand women, Merlin." He stated with a laugh, Merlin half-smiling as he arched an eyebrow.
"Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?"
Before Arthur could answer that, the unnerving noise of a galloping horse which entered the gates of Camelot drew their attention. As Arthur shot a glance out of the window, he saw the rider carried the colours of the House of Hawthorne: Lady Rosalie's family.
No words needed to be exchanged as both lads sprinted out towards the courtyard to greet the man, who seemed exhausted from his long journey.
"You are Prince Arthur." The man panted, as he sluggishly slid off of his horse, barely being able to carry his own weight. "I have a message for the Lady Rosalie." He then barely managed to utter.
"What is it then?" Prince Arthur asked, gesturing his knights to support the man who struggled to stand.
"The walls of Longford Castle will fall shortly, leaving the Kingdom of New Hampshire vulnerable," The man wheezed. ", Lady Rosalie as only remaining heiress to the throne shall be the one to carry on the Hawthorne legacy. The king sends his love and his goodbye." The man suddenly fell down onto his knees, his head slamming against the pavement. What the knights had failed to notice was that the man was injured in his leg. Who knows how long he'd been bleeding like that?
"Bring him to Gaius!" Prince Arthur roared in command, watching how his knights lifted him up, carrying him over to the court physician's chambers.
"Are you going to tell Lady Rosalie yourself, sire?" Merlin asked, dreading his answer. This was not news you wanted to be the carrier of, but Arthur felt that he had no choice. It was his duty.
"I'm afraid so." He muttered, grimly setting off towards the Lady Rosalie's chambers.
While Arthur was gathering the strength to confront Lady Rosalie, Merlin had joined his knights who had brought the messenger to Gaius his chambers.
Gravely Gaius had looked down upon the injured man, as he was laid out onto the table. Examining his leg, he started to scurry around his chambers, his hand trailing along different vials and pots.
"Will he be alright?" Merlin asked in quiet voice as Gaius snatched a large pot from one of the higher shelves, starting to smear some of the salve onto the injured leg.
"I have stopped the bleeding. I hope this salve shall prevent any infection, if the man isn't suffering from one already." Gaius replied, austerely looking at Merlin. "I do think he'll make it, eventually."
Merlin's eyes shot towards the door, the knights had left Gaius' chambers and they were all alone, aside from the wounded messenger of course.
"Is something wrong, Merlin?" Gaius asked, as he set the pot back into its rightful place. "You seem troubled." He remarked.
Letting out a deep sigh, Merlin ran his hand through his dark, short hair. "I can't tell you. It wouldn't be right." He replied vaguely, shaking his head.
This poked at Gaius' curiosity, as he walked over to Merlin. "You can trust me with anything, Merlin. Remember that."
Merlin looked over his shoulder, the knights that had brought the messenger in had left but still, he wasn't going to risk the unconscious man lying on the table to eavesdrop them. He walked into his room, gesturing Gaius to follow him
"Now what is this all about, Merlin?" He asked, watching as Merlin closed the door.
Merlin rubbed his forehead and turned to face Gaius. "Lady Rosalie's a sorcerer." He announced abruptly. "And no, that is not all." He then continued, seeing Gaius' surprised facial expression. "Arthur is in love with her. Completely besotted. And she shares his feelings too."
Gaius folded his hands together, pensively looking down upon them. "That is a very complicated matter, I see." He commented. "If Arthur were to discover Lady Rosalie's true nature, she would be killed by Uther's knights. He would never accept it, even if Arthur would. "
Groaning to himself Merlin slumped down onto his bed, resting his head in his hands. "I know." He moaned with a frown.
"It would explain however why King Edmund severed all contact with Uther so suddenly twenty years ago. He didn't want Uther to find out his young daughter was a sorcerer." Gaius speculated, sitting down next to Merlin on the bed. "You must not worry yourself over this, my young boy. I am sure that if even you can manage to keep that head on your shoulders, so shall Lady Rosalie."
Merlin gazed ahead of him with no point of focus, just staring out towards the wall. "I sure hope so." He murmured quietly.
