CAUTION TO THE WIND
Bad news seemed to be attracted towards Lady Rosalie, because she'd been smothered with it over the past weeks in which she had already suffered greatly at its hand. Arthur felt terrible for having to be the one to convey even more of it, but he had no choice. Lady Rosalie had the right to know the state of her people. He feared however what she may do once she found out. She hadn't been very pleased when her father forced her to stay in Camelot, and Arthur was sure she wouldn't be any happier to stay under the given circumstances.
He knocked on the door, feeling jolts of anxiety travelling through his veins. Why do I have to be the one to tell her? He thought to himself.
The door swung open and there stood a content seeming Lady Rosalie. It was never a pleasure to be the one raining down on someone's parade, but it was time to tell her.
"Hello Arthur." Lady Rosalie greeted solemnly. "Is something wrong?" She asked, immediately reading Arthur's uneasy expression as if he were an open book to her.
"You might want to sit down for this one, Rosalie." Arthur suggested, stepping into her chambers and cordially escorting Lady Rosalie to one of the chairs.
Lady Rosalie sunk down into the chair, her eyes full of questions as she looked up towards him. "What is it Arthur? What have you come to tell me?" She asked, many possible alibis running through her head. Perhaps he had found out that she was a sorcerer and was going to come to squeeze the truth out of her. And she would not lie to him, she decided. If he asked straight out whether or not she wielded the power of magic she would not dare to tell nothing but the truth.
"It is Longford." Arthur said quietly, a wave of relief washing over Lady Rosalie but at the same time a whole new worry arising as she held her breath. "A messenger arrived at Camelot today, claiming the walls are about to fall. Your father has crowned you to be his heiress and to carry on the Hawthorne Legacy." Arthur paused for a moment, wanting to let it sink in.
Lady Rosalie's lips began to tremble, feeling the tears well up in her eyes she looked away. I should have been there, for my people! Her mind cried. My magic would have saved them.
"He sends his love and goodbyes." Arthur finally whispered, his hand reaching for Lady Rosalie's.
Appreciatively Lady Rosalie eyed him; Arthur frowned seeing the tears roll down her fair cheeks. With his thumb he wiped them away, holding her face in his hands.
"I'm so sorry, Rosalie." He said in the most sincere and quiet voice. Lady Rosalie fell into his arms, beginning to sob. This was too much to handle, too much to censor. She couldn't be like a princess or take it as a man like she'd always been taught. This was simply too much.
After a while Rosalie finally pulled away, wiping her tears. "If you do not mind, I would like to be alone for a while." Lady Rosalie said, stepping away from Arthur.
Arthur got up on his feet and slowly nodded his head. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything." He said, waiting a moment or two to see if Lady Rosalie was willing to reply. She wasn't. So he left, feeling Lady Rosalie's pain within his own heart. It hurt him too to see her like this.
Once Arthur had left the room, Lady Rosalie pressed her ear to the wooden door. She could hear Arthur's breathing on the other side of the door. Her back leaned against the door, while looking down upon her chambers in which she'd endured pain, love and everything in between.
She realized it was time to leave, letting her kingdom fall without having been there to do anything about it was simply not an option. Rosalie searched the room for a scrap piece of parchment. Dropping a feather into the ink, in her beautiful cursive handwriting she wrote:
To everyone,
I thank you for your hospitality and the generosity you have all shown me during my stay here. I could not be more grateful. My time has come to leave, I am afraid. Hearing my people are suffering is something I cannot ignore. By now I have probably already left the border's of Camelot, so do not try to come after me. It is my duty, I owe it to my people.
Forever,
Lady Rosalie Hawthorne
This was her only option. If she were to tell anyone that she was throwing herself into the lion's den, the chance would be quite minimal that they would allow her to go. Especially if that person were Merlin or Arthur.
She laid the parchment out on the table, setting a burning candle on one of the edges so it would be illuminated, even after the fireplace had doused and she was already long gone. Rosalie started to gather some of her things, tucking them all in a rag bag. She wouldn't take too many belongings with her; she knew that after she arrived at Longford Castle the chances of her being alive were very little. But death wasn't nearly as painful as having to live with the fact her people died and she was given a way out.
Pulling on an emerald green cloak she raised the hood over her head, silently tiptoeing out into the hallway. Thankfully it was completely empty. With her feet barely touching the ground it seemed she walked as quickly as she could down to the stables. She hadn't expected anyone to be there at this time of the day, nightfall was almost upon them by now.
It seemed Merlin was unfortunate enough to be stuck with mocking out the stables, a chore he had most probably let slip past him, and was now forced to catch up on. Even though Rosalie knew there was no way she would manage to sneak past Merlin unnoticed she at least had to try.
"Who's there?" Merlin asked out into the darkness when he heard the rustling of feet which shuffled through the hay.
Lady Rosalie froze, trying her hardest not to move a muscle whilst Merlin's eyes darted through the dark corners of the stables.
"Lady Rosalie?" He then suddenly said as a lantern flickered over her figure. She let out a sigh of defeat, revealing herself. "What are you doing out here this time of night?" Merlin asked confused, but already having a theory up his sleeve.
"I could ask you the same thing, Merlin." Lady Rosalie replied, deflecting his question as she walked over to her horse.
"You're not thinking of riding out at night, are you? Where are you going?" Merlin questioned, instantly following her, prepared to stop her if he had to.
"Merlin, you can't stop me. I have to go help my people. I won't be able to live with myself if I just sit by and let them be slaughtered off like bags of meat." Lady Rosalie exclaimed in a whisper, as she arose into her saddle.
"At least let me come with you." Merlin blurted out. He realized that was a stupid think to ask, it wasn't as if he could contribute, unless he used his magic that is.
"No, I'm not dragging anyone else into this. This is my responsibility." Lady Rosalie declined, shaking her head as she pulled onto the rains.
Both their attention was suddenly drawn to a loud noise which sounded like the castle's front doors slamming open. Merlin ran over to the door of the stables, seeing an enraged Arthur emerge through the doors, Guinevere helplessly trailing behind him while clutching onto a small piece of parchment.
"Sire, I'm afraid she must've already left." Guinevere's voice sounded from the courtyard, Arthur didn't reply, he was already making a beeline for the stables without a second thought.
"He's coming for me." Lady Rosalie whispered in panic. She could try to make a break for it by simply galloping out of the stables with her horse, but she knew it would hurt Arthur. This was not how she had planned it, her departure was supposed to be quick and discreet, but now everyone was making a fuss about it.
Merlin was certainly not going to help her escape out of this one seeing as he didn't want her to leave any more than Arthur did.
Helplessly shifting her gaze from Merlin to the approaching Arthur she bowed her head down. Unless they agreed with her proposition, she wasn't going anywhere tonight – she knew that for sure.
Arthur entered the stables, his gaze first falling upon Merlin, but before he could shout at him he noticed Lady Rosalie was there too. Releasing a breath he marched over to her. "Did you really I think I was going to let you go to New Hampshire all by yourself? It's dangerous out there, Rosalie. There are bandits everywhere, not to mention many men who would love to hold you captive or even worse have your head." Arthur scolded, knowing it was only out of love, even if it did not sound anything like that.
"Arthur, I have to go." Lady Rosalie simply replied, not knowing what else she really could say.
Defeated, Arthur nodded his head. "I know." He understood where she was coming from. If he were to have been put in the same position, his actions would've been equivalent. "That is why Merlin and I are coming with you."
"We are?" Merlin divulged unintentionally, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Merlin." Arthur sneered in a hiss, and then he turned around to see the silent maidservant; Guinevere. "You must tell my father, Merlin and I have left on a hunting trip."
Obediently Guinevere curtseyed. "Of course, sire."
"Well," Arthur said casually. ", let us go then, shall we?"
The three of them rode out until the sun had completely faded away and the moonlight was the only thing left to guide them through the depths of the forest. The journey for Longford Castle would take them at least a few more hours, but the mighty three were all tired, and needed a rest.
They stopped near a lake where they set up camp, Merlin building a fire to keep them warm and ward off the creatures the lurked in the shadows of the forest and Arthur being the first who offered to keep watch.
Whilst Merlin and Lady Rosalie lay by the fire, Lady Rosalie looked at Merlin. She glanced at Arthur and was quite sure that he was out of earshot.
"Merlin," She spoke urgently ", when it comes down to it I will not try to mask who I am. I will do whatever is necessary to save my people. Even if that means allowing Arthur to find out."
Merlin's eyes widened with shock, but of course he understood. "I understand." He whispered back.
Lady Rosalie managed a half smile before she closed her eyes and dozed off into a deep slumber. They had a long day ahead of them.
