Okay, my lovely reviewers and readers. I found the time to write another chapter thankfully. I might not be able to update as quickly anymore, my computer is dead, my dad takes his laptop which is what I write on, to work everyday. I do have the family computer to write on, but I hate that one. I will try my best to get these chapters written and posted as quickly as I can but I ask that you be patient with me. Thanks, hope you like this chapter. Review responses at the end of the chapter like usual.

If anyone here read Narendial or at least knew about it, would you please give me support on this story since that other one just died in a deep hole. I've gotten some reviews in this story for improvement on my story, but Narendial was just raved about as being a horrible story. I had big plans for that story, but they just committed suicide, so I'm trying to rewrite it. When I do get it posted, if anyone reads LOTR, will you please read my story and let me know what they think? The original Narendial was just burned into the ground about all the things wrong in it that didn't fit in with Tolkien's stories. I was also blatantly called a mary-sue and I don't want to seem like one. I hope this story will not turn out like Narendial, I really have high hopes for this story and everything about it. Thank you guys for supporting my story and me as a writer as other people don't seem to like my writing. I've lost faith as a writer and wish that I can regain pride in myself, my writing, and my beautiful readers.

Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur, but I do own Emma and her brother.

Faded Roses in a Heart
Chapter 7
Appearances
Emma's POV

"Who are you?" asked one of the mercenaries standing guard in front of Marius' estate. There were serfs all around us as the knights and I rode to the guards. I was on SunDance next to Arthur and Bors in front of the other knights.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Tristan after what happened last night, but I really didn't want to have the chance. I wasn't sure what he meant by giving me that rose, but I wouldn't dwell on it as I had more important things to think about. I placed that rose in my bag this morning so I wouldn't lose it. I turned off my thoughts as I saw a short, chubby man walk up to Arthur.

"It is a wonder you have come! Good Jesus, Arthur and his knights," the man said as he blatantly ignored me as all other important Romans did. I didn't feel comfortable around them anyways, as they reminded me too much of my father. I vaguely wondered where my brother could be right now before erasing that thought. I just hope he is doing as well as I am.

I looked back up when I noticed a boy walk up by Marius. I supposed that this was Alecto and we could bring him to safety without any trouble. Marius was throwing the serfs around to get them back to work as Arthur dismounted from his horse.

"If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land. So you're coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian's Wall myself," Arthur said angrily. The other knights and I got off our horses and watched the scene play out. "My lord. Lady, my knights are hungry."

Marius' wife left and shortly after, Marius and his son went after her. I grinned slightly at the thought of richly cooked food.

"What has brought that smile on, I wonder?" Gawain asked me noticing my happy expression.

"The thought of food actually cooked," I replied chuckling. I suddenly remembered something that Arthur said back at Hadrian's Wall and have been meaning to ask about. "Um… Gawain, do you suppose Arthur was serious about me being his charge?"

"Of course, Arthur doesn't say anything that he doesn't mean. Plus, you've improved vastly in your training. You won't need it much after this mission seeing as how we are reaching our freedom. Then again, you never know what might happen," Gawain finished thoughtfully.

Hearing Arthur yell, I turned to see him near an old, decrepit man hanging from a chain. The old man couldn't even stand and his bones were clearly visible. Arthur took Excalibur and cut the man's chains loose. Serfs rushed forward to help the man at Arthur's command as he revealed the reason as to his appearance. The serfs start to leave and get ready to leave as Tristan rushes in and over to Arthur. I walked up to the two with the other knights to better hear what Tristan had to say.

"They have flanked us to the east. They're coming from the south, trying to cut off our escape. They'll be here before nightfall," Tristan told Arthur slightly out of breath.

I looked towards Dagonet who was beside me and wondered who Tristan was talking about.

"Who's coming? The Saxons?" I asked hoping that I was wrong in my questions. Dagonet looked towards me and nodded, looking despaired at the thought of the Saxons.

"Arthur? Who are these people?" Tristan asked looking around at everybody.

"They're coming with us," Arthur replied.

"Then we'll never make it," Tristan said. I hoped that wasn't the case, because even though I really wanted to help these people, the thought of the Saxons and what they were capable of was more frightening. I shamed myself quickly though. These people deserved to live as much as I did, and if in trying to help them we got caught… Well then I would fight to the best of my ability to protect them.

I noticed an older lady near me that was trying to pack all her things while attempting to restrain her two little children who looked scared. I walked over to her in hopes of being able to help. She looked up at me and I took the two small children from her and settled on the ground with them. She looked grateful as she continued her packing.

"What are your names?" I asked the boys who were gaping at me unconsciously. They looked surprised when I spoke and visibly jumped.

"Sorry, I'm Alexander and my brother is William," the older boy said. They looked around at everyone before fixing their gaze upon me once more. "What's happening?"

"Well, I don't think that I should be the one to tell you that," I replied nervous with telling them the truth. "I think that you should help your mother collect your possessions now. If you need anything, I'm Emma."

I saw them nod in reply before I stood up and walked over to the other knights. They were crowded around a small, stone building. Arthur was near the door and brandishing Excalibur towards the mercenaries. Arthur moves to the hut when the guards back off at his threat.

"What is this?" Arthur asked them as I stood closely to Galahad to watch Arthur.

"You cannot go in there. No one goes in there. This place is forbidden," someone said. I wondered about why they would need guards around it if no one went in there. It was obvious that one would need a big weapon to break down the stone blocking the entrance. Marius distantly yells something that I did not catch as Lancelot and Galahad tried to redirect Arthur's attention.

"Dagonet," Arthur said nodding his head towards the building. Dagonet pulls out his axe and breaks down the stones. Behind them is a door that I suspected lead to somewhere important.

"Key," Arthur commands towards the guard who insisted that it was locked from the inside. Dagonet resumed chopping at the door with his axe until it breaks. Arthur entered closely followed by Gawain, Lancelot, and Dagonet. I followed in with them also before backing out as they appeared to be dungeons. No matter how strong I wanted to be, I could never forget my experience with my father and my cell. Tristan placed his hand upon my shoulder noticing my discomfort at the building.

Arthur soon came back out holding a woman. Dagonet also had a little boy in his arms and Lancelot carrying a man's arm over his shoulder. I didn't pay too much attention to the man as Arthur settled the woman upon the ground.

Moving closer to the group, I help Dagonet with the young boy. Arthur requests water for the unknown lady and I run to grab some for the boy. Handing it to Dagonet, he lets the boy drink before letting us know that his name is Lucan. Someone comes over and checks Lucan.

"His arm is broken. And his family?" asked the man. Dagonet shook his head and I felt an urge to soothe the young boy. I knew exactly what it was like to be in dungeons and have no family left. My case was slightly different, but it was still similar. I smiled at Lucan as he caught my gaze.

I heard Arthur and others talking about the woman when I bent down next to Dagonet.

"Hello Lucan. I'm Emma," I told him hoping to make him feel safer. He nodded and I took that as a good sign. "I'd like to help you. How long were you down there?"

"About two weeks miss," Lucan said and I felt a stronger sympathy towards the boy. Dagonet wasn't paying attention to us anymore as he watched the other knights.

"Well Lucan, after a while I'll find you some food and we'll make sure you feel better and start healing," I said putting my hand on his shoulder. I let him drink some more water before looking towards Arthur. Arthur ordered the monks to be sealed back up before noticing the woman pass out.

Everyone finished gathering everything for our trip back to Hadrian's Wall. The lady and Lucan were placed in a carriage to be healed further and kept warm. I watched Bors grab the man Lancelot had dragged out of the building. They had cleaned dirt and blood off of him and he looked much better. I noticed he had short light auburn hair that was not unlike mine. He looked to be aged around twenty and had a makeshift sling on his arm that was broken.

Taking a further look at the familiarity of the man, I gasped aloud as I realized who it was. Bors and the other knights looked towards me when they heard my outburst. I was taking a few steps toward the man when he raised his head and eyes to meet mine. His eyes were a darker blue than mine but I knew they belonged to no other.

"Well, hello there little one," the man said kindly grinning towards me. The other knights looked surprised as the man seemed to recognize me.

My last coherent thought, before I was succumbed to darkness, was that I had finally found someone I had been wondering restlessly about… My brother.

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Sorry to leave it as a cliffy, but I thought that would be a good place to stop for now. Hope you liked my surprise. This chapter seemed to definitely be more focused on Emma instead of the knights. I hope you're proud of me! Please review and let me know what you think. I love to hear your thoughts, be it good or bad. If anyone can figure out the meaning of the rose and the title, I will give them my homemade chocolate chip cookies! Oh yeah, and if you can figure out what I'm working on with the ending and what my plans are for this story and the abrupt ending (which is what is going to happen soon), then they'll get… one billion dollars! (pinky to mouth) hehe

Love, Archer

Review responses for chapter 6:

LANCELOTTRISTANBABY: thanks for reviewing! I hope that I didn't get Tristan too ooc but I had to have the interaction there for later reasons.

tHe vOiCe WiThiN: thanks for letting me know what you thought. I think I am finally getting where I want Emma's character to be. I hope she's not too mary-sue or anything. I'm trying to really make her character flow into King Arthur without losing the personality that I've made for her. Hadrian's Wall is her haven and home. She relies deeply on it to be her safeguard to protect her. She is definitely going to become more outgoing with the knights as time goes on. The rose is very significant at the end and I can't wait to write that part. I'm not sure how many chapters exactly but I will be ending this a little before the actual movie ends. The end of this story will actually come during the fight scene. But don't worry, Emma will not die. Thanks for reviewing.

tlm1633: thanks for reviewing. I wasn't sure how to have her brother enter and I don't have everything completely planned for him yet. I appreciate your ideas and I will take them into consideration for later chapters. Her brother will have some significance with the Saxons but I won't say how. Maybe next chapter. Thanks again.

KnightMaiden: thanks for reviewing. Don't worry, even though the movie ends soon and so does this story, there will be more… haha, sorry but I have lots of great plans for this story that I will not reveal until later. I like to keep you guys wanting more. Just kidding.

alexkathrine: thanks for reviewing. I'm trying my hardest with Tristan but he's stubborn. Hehe, no really. I don't want to make him too ooc but that rose scene was REALLY important and I needed to fit it in right there. Don't worry, I won't make him too open about things and totally screw up his characterization. He will need to open up sooner or later though. Not much is known about Emma to the knights also though. Thanks again.

HyperSquishy: thanks for reviewing and reading my absolutely fun story! I don't think I will include romance just yet into this story (hint hint). She'll be paired with someone sooner or later, I just don't know who yet. Thanks again.

Elfvamp1-13-97: thanks for reviewing. As for your question… maybe! No one knows yet… (giggles suspiciously) anyways the end will be coming up soon and everything will be revealed! Thanks again.

You guys make me ridiculously happy by liking my story and appreciating it. Narendial was bluntly… a piece of crap. I'm ecstatic to see that this one is doing so well, as is Innocence, when my other story was clearly trash (according to some people). Thanks for supporting me and my story. I love criticism and any help I get cause it help me to become a better writer for the future. I love all my readers and reviewers and thank them profusely for actually taking the time to read something that I have concocted. Thanks again, my loyal readers/reviewers, you make my day a whole lot brighter than a box of rainbows.