"Red Death" (Rose)
One color, and one color alone, seems to encompass me: red. There is red everywhere. My own uniform bears it, and the garments of the warriors around me, stained by this same color, only a deeper shade. While others are focused on trimming down the opposing side's numbers, I scramble my way to the ladders. Aid is given to me to push them down into the sea of enemies below. I do not have to strike at another man. I feel guilt ridden at the mere idea. I do not seek to be anyone's cause of death. However, I do not wish this red death on any of those fighting for the safety of Camelot. I will do what I must.
Arthur is to my right shouting for his father who appeared sometime in the midst of the fighting. Uther screams his protests as Arthur attempts to drag him away from the heat of the battle. He grapples out of his grasp, and in the same instant, one of the arrows that are continuously flying overhead in hopes of piercing a victim strikes him in the leg. I push away from the wall and rush to assist Arthur, but am forced backward by another wounded soldier being hoisted up and dragged away by two others.
My mind spirals out of its thought process when Arthur commands us to pull back and another figure emerges into sight- Merlin. He skitters to a halt, looking alarmed. My eyes widen and my gaze darts to the ground in hopes of passing by unrecognized as I scramble away from the incoming drove of the opposing force.
I avoid Merlin and come around to Arthur's right, lagging behind enough to see the burst of flames buries the frontline of the approaching enemy soldiers. Out of those that witnessed it, solely I know from whence it came.
"Help" (Merlin)
Arthur struggles with the weight of his father as he guides him farther from the battle, as I keep my look out for obstacles, I notice a small, wary soldier cautiously eyeing his efforts. Upon our change of direction, the soldier stops in his tracks and watch after us. As he sways undecidedly about whether or not to follow us, a red curl of hair falls from under his, or should I say her, helmet. Everything stills for a few seconds as we make eye contact and a silent, distant understanding passes between us.
Distractedly, I take in the fact that Arthur is gawking at me, so I use this to my advantage. "I'll be right back, my lord. I'm going to get help." I swiftly separate from the two of them and hurry over to my sneaky little friend. "Don't say anything," I say before she has the chance to speak. Her hazel eyes search my face, looking both brave and confused. I quickly tuck her hair back into her helmet and try to smile before anyone might get the opportunity to notice. "The king is in need of a guard. Come with me," I tell her in a more authoritative voice at least to keep up the appearance of being official.
We jog up to them and round up the back as Uther leans against the well. "You must get back to the battle. We're losing the lower town," he commands Arthur through gritted teeth.
"It's already lost, Father," Arthur responds in an informative tone.
"And the citadel?" he asks, his voice showing his pain as Arthur tends to his leg.
"Safe for now," he says, finishing dressing his father's wound.
"It will stay that way," Uther says in a strange manner.
"You have to trust me, Father. I know what I'm doing," he yanks on the bandage, completing his work and rising to his feet. "You must rest. When you're well again, you'll still have a kingdom. I can promise you that," he assures Uther before grabbing Rose's arm, sending chills up my spine. "You, with me," he pulls her alongside him, back into the fight.
I don't look over my shoulder at first, because I'm not keen on being reminded that I found her, only to lose her again. She's going to get herself hurt ... or even worse. But I didn't say anything to or in front of the others because she took a great risk in doing what she did. I don't want her to end up in the dungeons or anything of that likeness.
Another soldier joins me on the way and helps me drag the King into the palace to a spot where he can catch his breath and not injure himself any further. I leave him, knowing that someone will care for him further as quickly as possible. "Where's Gaius?" I ask Gwen in passing.
"I don't know," she says as she steps away to continue nursing those who need it.
I press on to the doorway and see the physician, who alerts in a hushed voice, "Morgana's disappeared."
The endless reasons of the purpose behind thing swim through my head as I stand there bewildered. "Did you see where she went?"
"Well, I had thought that she set off in the direction of her room, but when I got there, she was gone. It's as if she vanished," he looks as puzzled as I am.
"If she's up to anything, we'll find out," I say with confidence.
"Speaking of finding, did you see her anywhere?" he inquires about Rose.
My heart sinks. I don't want him to know the danger she's put herself in, but he's going to find out eventually. "She's out there," I mutter cryptically.
"In battle?" he gapes. "Why didn't you stop her?"
"I tried, but Arthur was there, and he took her back into it just after I pulled her out."
"You should have said something," he scolds.
"I didn't want to risk her landing in hot water with the King or Arthur, for that matter," I defend my position. "Look," I sigh, "I don't want her fighting any more than you do, but I can't blame her, and I know she can take care of herself. I'll make certain she's safe. We just have to trust her to do that when I can't."
He clamps his mouth shut and says nothing more. I take my leave to go locate the whereabouts of the traitor in our midst.