Thankyou for all your helpful reviews from last chapter, each one made me smile. Another thanks for new subscibers, so glad everyone seemes to be enjoying this.

So here is the latest chapter, hope you enjoy and as always please review with your thoguhts or consructive critiscm.

Chapter 13; Hope?

The fire burned away warming up the room. It was a very cold winter and Morgana didn't like it. Small pieces of ice made the paths slippy and Uther miserable. Still convinced that there was a greater cause for this weather he and Arthur had been clashing frequently. It caused tension between the members of the court and Morgana felt the need to try especially hard with both of them, everyone could see how angry Uther was getting and Arthur seemed to provoke him constantly. Morgana was glad of Gwen and Rose's company and they'd often spend hours sitting in her room gossiping and giggling till the ice thawed and it was warmer outside.

The difference in Morgana was clear to see, having someone to talk to about her gift made her more comfortable and less irate. She didn't snap so easily and she felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders, she no longer had to keep it all inside but could openly speak – to a certain degree – and she felt as if someone finally understood her. Not that she was in any less of a safe or stable position, Uther was still a large threat and she couldn't risk being over heard. It hurt her to keep it from Gwen as she was her trusted friend but she didn't want to put Gwen in Uther's firing line and couldn't risk someone blackmailing Gwen. She hoped that in hiding the truth from her she was causing her friend less pain, even though it wasn't something she felt good about.

The door swung open and Rose crept inside, smiling at the warmth of the room. She took her seat and grinned at her new friend. Rose was surprised at how easily she'd slipped into Camelot's routine, and she felt as if she had been living here for years rather than weeks. Not that she took it for granted, she was highly aware of the danger she was in, her unstable and precarious position especially as she was right under Uther's nose. She was thankful for the friends she had made and the home she now belonged to but she feared being found out and hurting innocents in the process.

There had been several moments when she had wanted to blurt it all out to Gwen or Arthur. When she had wanted to defy Uther and show him that magic could be harmless, but she didn't dare. She couldn't guarantee their reactions and enough people in Camelot already knew her secret. She couldn't afford another knowing, it was too greater risk.

So she and Morgana talked about everything, their visions, their dreams, fears and worries for the future. Being close to one another seemed to strengthen their visions and they were able to fill in the gaps of each others dreams. A subject that hadn't been broached was Rose's meeting in the forest a few weeks ago. Rose knew that Morgana had seen something, but it hadn't been a subject she'd wanted to discuss. Morgana on the other hand was less reluctant to keep it under wraps, she was worried for Rose – and to be honest herself – the seer she had seen in her vision was strong and she had sensed Rose's anxiety and fear. What if he knew about her? What if he hadn't disappeared forever? He didn't seem to be one to give up and she wondered how long it would be before he reappeared and what damage he may cause then.

She brought the topic up gently, not wanting to hurt Rose. She asked her gently, explaining that she had seen the two in intense conversation in one of her visions and feared for not only Rose's safety but Camelot's.

"He's gone now" Rose almost whispered "He won't come back. If he does it won't be for years"

She looked into Morgana's eyes, and Morgana saw the truth there. This is what Rose hoped, this is what she believed to be true but at the same time she knew that he could always come back and she was never truly away from him. She could never truly consider herself safe from him.

Arthur was thinking. His head was far away in thought and as a result he bashed into Gwen coming the other way.

"I'm so sorry" He lent down and attempted to fold the sheets of linen she had been carrying precariously.

He watched the young woman fold with speed, perfection and expertise. His pathetic sheet looked like a mess. The corners didn't match up and it had all folded in on itself, getting caught up from the inside and as a result it was like a large white mound rather that Gwen's crisp, smooth line. He blushed and smiled sheepishly while Gwen refolded his failed attempt; she gathered the pile back into her arms and stood up, as did Arthur.

"Here" he said, easing her load by taking the top few sheets "Where we these heading?"

"Your room actually sire"

"Oh" Arthur was puzzled; he knew Gwen was Morgana's chambermaid but he wasn't aware that she took care of his bedchamber too.

He was cross with himself for his arrogance and ignorance. He had no idea who made his bed, who tidied his clothes and the mess he made. It was simply done for him and he didn't give it a second thought. It had always been done for him, in fact he struggled to recall a time when he'd had to do it himself, rather anything for himself. It seemed he offloaded his responsibilities and worries onto someone else and didn't give it a second thought. Why? Well, he supposed, because he hadn't been taught differently, this was how he'd been brought up and he wasn't used to any other way. Arthur considered himself a mature man yet he couldn't do a simple task such as making his bed or folding a sheet of linen. How was he supposed to make a great King if he couldn't do simple tasks for himself?

It was at this point that Arthur realised he didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps; he didn't want to take the glory for the fighting and the law when he couldn't be a useful man. He couldn't be satisfied being a king with a gold crown upon his head when he knew that unknown maids tied up his messes behind his back and he couldn't even name them. He supposed it had been Gwen, who walked next to him now, who had made his bed and put away his clothes for the last umpteen weeks. He supposed but he didn't know. This put him to shame and Arthur was determined that it wouldn't be something that happened again.

He smiled softly at Gwen as they walked next to each other, the linen shared between them on the way to his room. To Gwen he was a strong handsome prince and she a lowly maid. Arthur imagined for a moment that they were equals, walking together.

Arthur began to form his kingdom's ideas because of a sheet. And Gwen.

Rose walked over to the door to see who it was knocking so fervently. Gaius was out helping Camelot's ill and Merlin had run off, saying something about an errand but saying he shouldn't be too long. Rose was all alone and so felt fearful as he slowly opened the door.

It was Arthur. He seemed…ecstatic, surprisingly happy considering his constant arguments with his father. Rose and Arthur hadn't spoken properly since their surreal meeting in the forest a few weeks ago. They hadn't really crossed each other's paths since then but Arthur's face was one that coloured Rose's dreams. In them he seemed happy but sad, one moment he would be angry, the next strong, wilful and happily determined. He was hard to gauge and Rose struggled to understand his purpose in arriving here.

"You look…better than when I saw you last" Arthur started, stepping through the doorway that Rose held half-opened. She smiled meekly, hoping this wasn't the cause of his visit. She hadn't an excuse or a reason for her being there that would cover up her true purpose.

"You looked mad, almost possessed" he continued "You look less so now" he grinned.

Rose simply nodded, her smile spreading.

"I realise we haven't spoken for some time but I have great news"

Rose inwardly groaned, last time Arthur had come here it had been to invite her to join the Knights. She hoped this wouldn't be a similar piece of news.

"I've begun to understand, and I haven't a clue why I'm telling you this" Arthur laughed "But I felt it was you who should know, well I think it was you that helped me, I've decided how I want to run my court. How I will be king."

Rose looked at him slightly shocked, this wasn't gentle conversation or a small piece of news this was drastic, huge. Arthur was telling her the foundations of his reign.

"I don't want to be like my father, I don't want his kind of rule or reign, I want a fairer court, a more mature and responsible one. I want one of equality and fairness, of justice and reason" his laughter had subsided and instead stood a determined young man with revolutionary ideas. This was the Arthur Rose had seen in her visions.

"Arthur, I may have challenged your perceptions but I wasn't urging you to commit treason!"

Arthur grinned "Rose, this isn't treason; these are simply ideas, thoughts, and beliefs! Simple ones now, but ones I can develop, use to change Camelot for the greater good! You, you helped me do this, at first I thought you were just the same, another somebody telling me that I would be King but you challenged me, you did something others wouldn't dare; you changed me"

"So when you're beheaded for treason, you're going to take me down with you"

"No! Don't be silly, my father won't kill me for this. He'll simply dismiss it as young, naïve thoughts. He doesn't understand this for a start…"

"And your father seems to have a habit of killing what he doesn't understand"

Arthur laughed as if Rose had made a funny joke, and when he laughed he felt happy, light. All the oppression he had felt for years, the foreboding of his reign and the dread he related with it seemed to be floating away. For the first time he looked forward to the day when he would be King, when he could govern Camelot's people. He had the start of his Kingdom, he had the fundamental ideas. He had a glimmer of hope.

Merlin walked in to a warm room, he saw Rose and Morgana standing solemnly in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames. He coughed lightly to get their attention and to break their somewhat trance. Morgana turned around and saw Merlin standing by the door; he was staring at Rose as if his life depended on it. Morgana had taken to watching the young man and his mannerisms; he had been present in many of her dreams and he had always seemed to be a somewhat mysterious character to her.

"Morgana why are you here?" Merlin asked, getting straight to the point and sounding slightly blunt in doing so.

Morgana turned round to her friend and smiled, moving her hand to reach for a small vial on the bench behind them.

"Just collecting this" she said in answer to Merlin's question.

Morgana was used to lying; in fact she was rather good at it, not a talent she wished to excel at but one she did. She grinned at Rose and then turned to leave, as she walked past Merlin and out of the door she smiled at him, holding the vial in front of her as if for emphasis and Merlin fell for her lie and assumed there to be some medication for her dreams in the vial rather than a few drops of water and lavender oil.

Rose smiled at Merlin as he walked over and stood where Morgana had previously been, the fire roared as it burned and a few sparks spat at the pair before the flames.

"What did you put in there?" Merlin asked, wondering what had caused the small splutter of inferno.

"Wood" came the simple reply, and she wasn't lying, indeed wood it was.

"I'd prefer you to have it; I have no use for it and as you said it is a good bow"

"Rose, we do not need the weapon, keep it, it was a gift"

Rose had the bow balanced on her palms, offering it to the prince. He did not want the strong, yew bow and he didn't understand her fixation with ridding herself of it. She certainly was a strange character and it seemed of high importance to her to be rid of the thing. Still Arthur persisted in her keeping it and without another argument or point to make Rose let the argument fall. She should be pleased that he was thinking for himself, thinking for Camelot not trying to offload this bow on to him. This was a moment of great importance and she was seemingly ruining it.

As he walked back to his chambers Arthur was puzzled. Rose was opposed to fighting, yet skilled with a bow, she didn't agree with murder and death yet offered him a weapon. She wasn't like everyone else; there was something about her which Arthur couldn't put his finger on. Something special.

Morgana watched as her friend placed the bow into the flames. The fire enveloped it and the wood began to burn, the string became a line of fire and the yew crackled and simmered. Rose stood up from her kneeling position and Morgana saw the flames reflect in her eyes. Rose blinked and turned to her friend; the flames were gone. Just like that; magic.

Morgana vaguely understood what they bow meant, Rose hadn't gone into too greater detail but she knew it had something to do with the figure in her dreams, the figure in the misty forest, the one that Rose feared so greatly. The arrows had been reduced to blackened sticks by the time Morgana entered Gaius's rooms and Rose stood before them with the bow in her hand. She'd asked Morgana to be there with her, moral support or something. A figure to reassure her that she had done it and she hadn't simply imagined it. She had to get rid of this bow.

In burning this bow Morgana supposed Rose felt some sort of closure, the end to a horrible journey. Bust she also doubted whether the burning of a bow could give her friend to release and stability, it symbolised the end, the demise of this odd acquaintance but Morgana knew Rose could never be truly rid of him. He held too great a power over, too many memories and words exchanged to all be forgotten in the burning of a bow.

Then Merlin had walked in and Morgana had to lie again.

Merlin looked at Rose, who continued to watch the flames flicker.

"Rose, what kind of wood?"

"From a yew tree"

Merlin looked down from the flames and his eyes locked on something white, so light against all the black charcoal. He bent over and picked it up, standing straight he opened his hand and there, resting on his palm was a small white feather. Like the kind you'd get on an arrow.

"Rose they were gifts"

He was confused, you didn't burn gifts, you didn't reduce them to black powder, you were supposed to cherish them and look after them.

"It wasn't a gift"

"Rose who gave that to you?"

"He won't hurt me anymore" It wasn't an answer to Merlin's question and it sounded as if she was reassuring herself rather than Merlin.

"Who is he?"

"I was just a girl…" a small tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly rubbed it away. She turned to Merlin and smile; genuinely.

"I've got a home here and I'm safe now"

Merlin smiled back and opened his arms and Rose gladly accepted his embrace.

After years of travelling Rose had found what she'd been looking for. A home. Now he was gone she could fully enjoy it and she knew that in time Camelot would be something special.