"Like the Wind" (Rose)
I awaken from the rays of the sun warming my cheek. I am careful not to stir brashly out of habit for Merlin's sake. He probably hasn't had a day off in ages. I will let him sleep for as long as he needs. I pull my hand away from his a bit at a time, and then I gently pick it up and place his hand on his stomach.
I hold a moment, watching him sleep. He said something to me last night. I couldn't hear it, but I could feel it. I may never find out what it was that he said, but I guess that knowing he said something of comfort to me is enough. Although, since I can detect that his words were of worth, this also frustrates me that I didn't hear them. It was good to know I still had Gaius to look after me. It is an ultimate sense of security to have someone watching over you; and now, I have been blessed with two. That is definitely something of positivity to get out of this happenstance of the worst kind.
Please, do not take me wrongly. I would swear by the kindness and hospitality of Gaius. If it were any other circumstances as to why I am here in the first place, I would be quite enjoying my time. However, I would feel utterly guilty, as if I were treading on my father's grave, to act like nothing ever happened and get on with life.
I sit up and stretch, feeling the morning breeze cross through the room. Regardless of my previous thoughts, I am lucid enough to let a smile come to my lips and linger for but a moment. I suppose sooner or later, I shall have to come to grips with the fact that my father was want for nothing but my happiness, and his death would not change that fact. Maybe, I'll try to be like the wind and go where life blows me. Clearly, I was always meant to be here. This is fate, no matter how harsh the path that brought me here was. I should give this life a chance and see where it takes me. Sudden warmth overtakes me when I hear Merlin yawn and say a sleepy, "Good morning."
"A Fresh Start" (Merlin)
I push myself off the ground and mutter through a yawn, "Good morning." Rose turns to face me, her eyes looking brighter than I have ever seen them. My heart skips a beat and I get a nervous feeling. I shake it off and ask, "How are you feeling?"
"I must say that I am surprisingly well," she smiles with poise. She sits with her knees bent up, tucked toward her chest, her back erect, "When would you like to head out?"
"Em," I pause, "I suppose as soon as we're ready."
"I shall hurry to do so, then," she stands.
"There's no rush," I assure her.
"Well, I should like to see everything in the daylight," she says in a funny tone that is hard to distinguish. It was eager, but almost a desperate type of eager, if that makes sense. I have this strange feeling that there is more to this tour than meets the eye. I wouldn't go as far to say that she doesn't care about seeing the kingdom at all, but I think that she also has other intentions by making such a trip with seeming to be the greatest of efforts.
"Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Most certainly," she nods, turning away from me. She buzzes around a little before redirecting herself towards me once more, holding the dress that she wore the night of the massacre.
"Is there something you needed?"
"I just realized something," she begins in a small, sad voice, "That I have nothing to wear but this dress, and the arm is badly torn in more than one place."
"I could get something for you," I jump ready for to do what needs to be done.
She laughs quietly and steps up to me, "Oh, Merlin," she reaches up and brushes my hair with her fingers, "Your hair is a mess."
I redden, and swipe at it with my hand, attempting to fix it. "Better?" I ask when I've finished.
"Yes," she nods, "But you missed a spot." She lifts her hand to my head once more, running her fingers, dare I say, lovingly down behind my ear, stopping at my neck. She quickly removes her hand from its position, fidgeting nervously after it is back at her side. I see that her cheeks are rosier than their usual shade of pink.
"Thank you," I say, "I need someone to help me with my sloppiness. As you can see from the 'arrangement' out there," I gesture toward the front room, "Gaius isn't one you consider to go to concerning matters of neatness."
"I can imagine," she laughs, seeming relieved from her previously introverted state. I can't help but feel like I am finally getting just a small glimpse of the everyday Rose. This intimidates me faintly, because if I was in danger of fancying her before while she was in a crisis, I am slowly landing myself in hot water.
However, there is another way of looking at this. Despite where our relationship ever takes us, whether we be eternally bound solely by fate, or we become saturated in friendship, or if ever we plunge into something more ... today is a fresh start.