"Truth in Deception" (Rose)

Tossed to the uneven forest floor, I crack my head against the trunk of the tree Merlin carved for me as a memoriam. I lift my eyes, peering through heavy eyelids at none other than Roland. He roughly tears the cloth from between my teeth.

I waste no time in snapping at him, "What are you doing, you maniac! What could you possibly want from me!?"

Much to my surprise, his gaze softens, "You have no idea, do you?"

"About what?" I try to wriggle out of my bonds.

"I just saved your life!"

"By abducting me?!"
"By taking you away from that- that animal!"

"From Merlin?!"

"He, and all the rest of those inhumane beasts," he shoots a look of spite into the trees around us.

"You're wrong! They're not like that!"

"You mean to tell me Uther didn't murder your father," his darkened, gray eyes set my heart on fire with rage.

"HOW can you possibly know about that!?" I send daggers at his face with my own orbs.

"I never left- not totally. I've laid in wait, and I've seen things- enough things to know that your new friend, Merlin," he spits his name out with such bitterness, "is a liar."

"Don't listen to him!" Merlin breaks through the mesh of leaves and halts behind Roland.

"Merlin!" I cry in relief.

"HE is the one who told Uther it was magic that killed those guards! He betrayed your little family! He led the king to send his knights out to kill you all," Roland accuses, and my heart stings at his words; and Merlin's face is fraught with guilt.

"Merlin?" I squeak out, "Is that true?"

"Rose, I am so, so sorry. I had no idea, I swear!"

"Why didn't you tell me," my disappointed tone surely comes across.

Merlin's bright blue irises cloud with tears, "I was afraid ... I didn't mean to ... I never dreamed-" He can't even finish.

"See?! Even now he cowers before the truth! Come away with me- away from this traitor."

"Why should I trust you?!" I bite back, full of so many emotions that are taking their toll and spilling out. "You've done nothing but harm me in more ways than one!"

"I told you, I only did it because I know how much of a fighter you are. You always believe in the good in people. I knew you wouldn't just cooperate and listen. You never do."

I give him a cold, hard stare in response.

"I'll prove it to you," he stands me up and releases the vines.

"What are you doing?"

"Letting you choose- once and for all."

"The Truth Will Set You Free" (Merlin)

Rose is now standing in between the two of us, looking like she's wandering through a dense fog, not knowing which way to turn. This hurts me, because I want her to trust me- she needs to- but I understand why she wouldn't now. I should have been honest.

"Rose," I step towards her, "You have every right to be upset with me. But you've only heard one side. Please, hear me out." Her eyes meet mine, and I know to counter Roland. It's now or never. "I promise you there was no way around denying that magic was involved in the killings, but you must know where it stemmed from. Yes, I confirmed magic was in use ... I had no idea of your kind or anything about them. But it was Roland who strangled the soldiers. There were marks of vines about their necks. He used the same magic on them as a weapon as he did to constrain you. Look at him! I mean really look! He's right that you believe the best in everyone, but there is no good left in him. You must see that!"

I close the gap between him and me and stare him down before facing her again. "From what you've told me, he seems just the type to seek revenge. He's clearly not a fool. He knew the guards would be found. He wouldn't be so careless were it his neck on the line. He wanted them to be seen and the act to be pegged as magic of the Woodwards so your father would pay the price."

She turns and searches him with eyes full of judgment- only in the name of justice, however. Suddenly, her gaze is harsher than I have ever seen it, and her look is cold and dripping with wrath. "You did this," her words are like an execution as she begins to advance on him. I hold her back as she nearly leaps onto him, "You killed my father, you soulless fiend full of hate!"

"Your father ruined our love!"

"No," she lowers her voice, "Your selfish obsession with power did- the same lust that killed your parents. You went down the path you knew I could never follow! Your magic ruined your heart and broke mine. And now," her voice raises as a rumbling is heard from the sky, "You've gone too far." I'm not sure why, but I let her go.

"If you will not concede, you will die where you stand!" he threatens, the blackness of his demeanor seeping through his voice.

I jump at the chance to strike at him, tossing him backwards with a bit of magic. "Wrong. You touch her again, and I will kill you."

A crack rings out, and a branch crashes into his head, rendering him unconscious. I gawk at the sight and trace my eyes back to Rose. I've never seen her use magic before.

"Merlin, will you please do something for me?"

"Anything," I blurt.

"Take him to the King and turn him in," she looks away out of remorse.

"You could've just let me end it all."

"He's not worth the effort," she stands, looking back at his limp form for the last time, "Not anymore."