"The Casualties" (Rose)
"Alright," Merlin lets out an accomplished sigh after a few light moments of silence, "We should be free to scrub the floor now."
"I assume you have tools for this?" I tilt my head to the side.
Merlin gives me a momentary look of question, then it vanishes, "Ah, I forgot you wouldn't exactly know about cleaning floors, now would you?" I shake my head shyly. "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head about it. I'll teach you everything you need to know." He holds up his finger, signaling that he will return, and briskly walks out of the room.
I find myself blushing from his comment. He should not be allowed to flatter me so without thinking through what he is actually saying. I decide upon forgetting about it. I am here to learn.
Merlin is only gone long enough for me to think that minor thing through. He saunters right back through the door with two wooden buckets in hand. He sets them on the floor, and pulls a now sopping wet and sudsy cloth. "It's simple really. You take a bucket, and I take a bucket, and we scrub the floor using these rags."
"You're right. That is simple," I nod, "I think we should start on opposite ends of the chambers and meet in the middle, and then head for the door."
"That sounds like a plan," Merlin affirms, "I'll help you with your bucket." With that, he lifts it and carries it to the side I choose. He places it down, rougher than he should have, and water sloshes right onto my shoes and the hem of my dress. "I- I am so incredibly sorry," he stammers.
I giggle, "Oh, Merlin, it's fine," and then finish by muttering, "I'll get you back," under my breath.
"What was that?" he looks at me with confusion.
"It was nothing!" I feign innocence, "I just said that I will let you get back ... You know, to your side of the room and your job." I playfully shove him.
"Good thinking," he jogs across to his own bucket.
After much time passes scraping the bits of dirt away, we meet in the middle. This is where I will exact my revenge. I go to dip my cloth back into my brown and soapy water when I let out a shrill scream and skitter away from the thing.
"What is it?!" Merlin jumps to his feet, coming towards me protectively, alarm covering his face.
"Th-there's something in my bucket!" I cry.
"I'll go check it out," he walks away to examine the situation. I take a couple of tentative steps behind him. "There's nothing in here but dirty water and browned bubbles," he informs me.
"A-are you sure?" I continue to cautiously approach.
"Absolutely," he looks over his shoulder at me with a reassuring smile, "Come see for yourself." I shake my head vigorously in response. "Come now," he reaches out his hand for me to take and motions me forward. I grab his hand and crouch down next to him. "See?"
I lean over and scream once more, "Merlin! You're blind! There is so something in the water!"
"No, there isn't!" he tries to calm me.
"Yes, there IS!" I pick the bucket up and splash it onto him. His mouth drops from the soaking, and from shock. He wipes the soap from his eyes and glares at me playfully. "See?" I ask casually, "I told you so."
"The only thing," he steps toward me, "That is going to be in a bucket, is you." He lunges at me, both of us bursting into laughter. I try to run away but my feet are not steady on the sleek, wet floor. I manage to keep my bum off the ground and elude Merlin for a moment or two until I dash past Arthur's window and am horrified by what I catch a glimpse of. In the flash of the second, Merlin then catches me, and our feet slip out from under us. And for the second time today, we are sprawled onto the cobblestone. I feel him laughing hard and struggling to breathe underneath me, a feeling that would normally fill me with indescribable warmth. But right now, my very blood has run cold, and I don't know what to think, let alone feel.
"Unwelcomed Surprises" (Merlin)
My laughter fades as Rose remains stiffened and quickly pushes herself off me. Her breathing is ragged. "Are you okay?" I take in her complexion, which is shockingly paler than usual.
She doesn't answer as she slowly rises to her feet and cautiously steps toward the window. She sidesteps and presses herself to the wall next to it. "What is it?" I ask, hurriedly.
She leans over just slightly and peeks around the corner of the stones. Everything is still. I don't know why, but I'm holding my breath.
She suddenly recoils and spins around, crashing her back into the wall. Her eyes are wider than I thought possible and she looks as if she might faint. I leap up and find myself nearly instantly at her side, "What is it? What did you see?" I attempt coax her to tell me.
"Look out there," she replies in a hushed, frightened tone. "Look out there and tell me what you see."
I crouch down and mimic her earlier movements. As I peer through the glass, I am surprised to see the silhouette of a man at the edge of the trees near the castle walls. I keep my eyes fixed on him.
When I don't move from this position for a short time, she questions in a small, "There's someone outside ... in the woods ... Isn't there?"
I don't even have to answer. I turn around to see her bury her facing in her hands, shaking her head, "No, no ... No."
"Who is it?" I ask in a gentle manner, stepping in front of her.
"I hoped I was seeing things, or going completely insane even. Why is this happening? Why is HE here?! Of all people ..." she trails off and begins to shake from fear.
"It's going to be all right," I wrap my arms around her and hold her.
She shakes her head once more, "No," she looks up at me with teary eyes, "You don't understand ... I-it's him!"
"It's who?"
I wait for her response, touching her cheek, wiping away a fallen tear, as she opens her mouth, lip quivering, her voice just above a whisper, "Roland."
((From the author: DUN DUN DUNNNNN. Soooo, my lovely readers, what do you think of this sudden appearance? Are you excited? Scared? Both? ...you should be.))