A/N: I don't own Merlin.
Rose had been in Camelot for a few weeks and felt like she was slowly settling into a life in Camelot, she was the lady Morgana's ward, and she would be introduced as the lady Rose. She still found it weird when people would call my lady. She wasn't sure if she would ever get used to it. She had gone from a girl sleeping on a wooden bed in a small village to sleeping in a four-poster bed in the Lady Morgana's anti chamber. It felt so bizarre, and it was like a weird dream she was going to wake up from at any moment. She took a while to get used to having people do things for her. She had everyone shocked when she poured out her own drink at dinner one time. She had tried to sneak into knight's training but most the knights freaked out so Arthur comprised and would give her private lessons in sword skill and combat. She wasn't allowed to go on hunting trips yet.
Everyone was gathered around in the council chambers waiting for the hunting party to come back from their hunting trip. Arthur came in with Merlin carrying a unicorn horn on a pillow, Rose's heart dropped into her stomach causing her breath to catch in her throat. That was very cursed to kill a unicorn it was meant to cause doom. Gaius looked equally upset and concerned.
"A unicorn horn to show off in the halls of Camelot" said Arthur happily how could he so calm. He had killed a unicorn and a unicorn are magical creatures pure of heart. She had learnt that recently in one of Gaius's books. She really enjoyed her lessons with Gaius she would learn about history, medical work and how to behave as a ward to the lady Morgana. Rose looked sadly at the unicorn horn it must have been so beautiful and pure.
"What's the matter Gaius" asked Uther. Gaius stepped forward.
"Unicorns are rare and mythical creatures, there are legends that says the bad fortune will come to anyone that slays them" said Gaius. Rose nodded slightly and saw it then a man in white robes in the doorway he was there and stared right at her. He then disappeared; Rose looked around noticed everyone was starting to leave the room.
Rose got up and went after Gaius and Merlin she caught up with them and linked Merlin's arm. They walked across the square Merlin was tense, so Rose squeezed his arm.
"Why would he kill a unicorn? Doesn't he know how dangerous it is" said Rose.
"It wasn't just that the unicorn looked so innocent and beautiful" said Merlin. Rose gave Merlin a look and Gaius was watching them both with interest.
"I get hunting to eat but he doesn't eat unicorns" said Rose angrily. Merlin nodded at her in agreement.
"He's a hunter, it's in his blood, whereas you two are something completely different" said Gaius.
"It was so prettiest thing I have ever seen I so wished you two had seen it" said Merlin.
"Yeah it's a rare sight, there aren't many left" said Gaius.
"Poor unicorn" said Rose.
"MERLIN!" called Arthur's voice from somewhere nearby Merlin and Rose rolled their eyes at the exact same time. Merlin gave them a grin before getting to work. Rose walked back to Gaius's chambers with Gaius. She had got to know him quickly in her few weeks of being in Camelot. She loved to learn about the history of Camelot, and she loved it when Gaius would teach her to be a good member of the royal court.
Rose was in her room later she was reading her book in bed. She felt sleepy the words on the paper was becoming bleared. Her eyelids drooped and she fell asleep. She was in Camelot, but it was broken the fields were dry and the water was sand. That made her nervous the dream felt real very real not just a dream. The dream changed the whole of Camelot was falling everyone died one by one of starvation and thirst. She was in a room full off dead people that scared her she screamed and woke up with a scream bolting upright in bed. She panted and shut her eyes. She was startled by a pair of arms wrapping round her. She opened her eyes to see Morgana she hugged back. Clinging on to Morgana for dear life. Her heart racing.
"It's okay it was only a dream" said Morgana stroking her hair back.
"It felt real" said Rose. She looked out the window to see it was light now. Morgana moved back and took her hand. Taking her to the table. She poured her out half a cup of water. The jug was now empty.
"Here, drink this" said Morgana.
She drank it quickly the water seemed to help her calm down. Gwen bought them their breakfast and Rose couldn't get her dream out of her head. It felt like a vision rather than a dream, she hadn't had a vision in a while, but she knew the difference sometimes Rose could see into the future but not often. Rose touched her head she had a bit of a headache. She was also wanting an excuse to see Merlin.
"Are you okay if I go to get a headache draft from Gaius?" asked Rose. Morgana nodded at her and Rose walked to Gaius's chambers on the way there she heard mutterings about the crops all dying overnight. She got into Gaius's chambers both Merlin and Gaius looked up when she walked in.
"I need to talk with you," said Rose.
"What's wrong" asked Merlin.
"I had a vision about Camelot dying from famine and drought," said Rose.
"Are you sure it wasn't just a dream" asked Gaius. Rose shook her head and Merlin pointed at the bench for her to sit down. She did so and he put a vial in her hand.
"No, it was real, I have done it before, dreamed about something that came to pass, we have to stop this," said Rose. She held up the vial to her face eying it with suspicion.
"Drink it, it's a headache draft, it'll also help your throat," said Merlin. She shot the drink down in one swig and felt a lot better. She had a rush of relief her head felt better, and her throat also seemed better. She didn't realise it was hurting until it was gone.
"Thank you, the crops have died but we still have water," said Merlin.
As the day went on the news got worse not only did all the eatable plants died and then the water turned to sand. She ended up sat in Merlin's room with Merlin the next morning sending magic at a bucket of sand between them.
"It's the unicorn curse isn't it?" asked Rose.
"Looks like it" said Merlin. Rose rubbed her head sadly as she sent another jet of magic towards the sand bucket the door opened, and Rose jumped Gaius was giving them a look.
"We were just" said Rose. Gaius gave her a kind smile and sat down with them.
"I was hoping you were trying to get us more water, your magic combined is what we need right now" said Gaius. Rose sighed and laid back against the wall feeling defeated.
"It's not working" said Rose tears annoyingly pricking her eyes.
"It's alright, I have heard you aren't great with going without food so Hunnith suggested I made you a draft that will still give you the nutrients you need" said Gaius. Rose looked at Gaius to Merlin since when was Hunnith in contact with Gaius about her surely it should be Merlin.
"Thank you, I bet she is worried about Merlin to" said Rose.
"No not particularly she is worried about it affecting your recovery" said Gaius. Merlin and Rose looked at each other with a confused look.
Later, that day Rose and Merlin were in Arthur's chambers they were catching a rat Merlin was walking around the chambers while Rose sat on Arthur's bed. It was dark.
"So, your mother is worried about me" said Rose. Merlin nodded and gave her a smile.
"yeah but she has always treated you like her own, since you were born" said Merlin. Rose yawned and put her head against the wall "come on, bedtime Rose" Rose groaned and stood up Merlin put his hand out for her take which she did they walked outside.
"Hey" shouted a voice nearby Rose jumped and they turned to face Arthur "you do remember we are on a curfew".
"I was hunting the rat and then taking Rose back to her chambers" said Merlin.
Rose nodded she saw something out of the corner of her eye she turned to face it. It was the man from the other day she stared at him and he beckoned them to towards him. Rose grabbed Arthur's sword from his hilt without him noticing.
"Intruder" shouted Rose and ran towards the man. It didn't take long for the other two to chase after her they got to the dungeon. Arthur pointed for Merlin to go left as he went right. Rose followed Arthur and they walked round.
"We lost him" said Rose.
"Looking for me" said the man. Merlin put Rose behind his back and him and Arthur did a protective stance in front of her. Rose rolled her eyes the guy was an old man and looked harmless what's the worst he could do.
"Rose go to bed" said Merlin. She rolled her eyes and went up the stairs and went to bed. She laid down in her bed and fell to sleep quickly feeling exhausted.
Rose woke up and stretched out. Morgana and Gwen came into her area of the room looking exciting. "The water is back" said Morgana. Gwen poured her out a drink and gave it Rose. Rose drank it happily the taste of water was amazing.
"I never knew water could taste so good" said Rose. They sat at the table and ate the rations before going about her day normally. She did her usual lessons in her schooling and everything seemed to be going well except for the food shortage and their impending doom this was until she was walking down the corridor towards her room. She saw the old man from the night before standing in front of her chambers, she was about to speak but he lifted his arm up and had a powerful sleeping spell thrown at her. Everything turned black.
Rose was laying on something hard and weird feeling she opened her eyes to notice she was on a beach. The old man stood over here.
"Where am I?" asked Rose.
"Labyrinth of Gedref, not to worry soon to be high priestess of the old religion, you are bait for the mighty Emerys" said the man. Rose gave him a puzzled look; she didn't know an Emerys and what on earth did he mean soon to be high priestess. Like he had read her mind he explained "Emerys is also known as Merlin and you are destined to a high priestess, my name by the way is Anhora keeper of the unicorns".
"Does Merlin know you have me then?" asked Rose.
"Yes" said Anhora.
"How long have I been here?" asked Rose politely.
"Since last night, you have slept well without your bad dreams" said Anhora. He knelt next
"Sorry about the unicorn, I didn't agree with it, the poor thing didn't deserve to die" said Rose. She didn't know why but she had a trust for him, he was calm and gentle even though he had kidnapped her the magic that came of him wasn't to hurt people. She sensed that about him.
"Merlin approaches, I must do something do not worry you are in no real danger" said Anhora his eyes flashed gold and she was tied up with ropes that came out of nowhere they weren't tight.
Anhora disappeared and Rose struggled against the rope it was itchy and annoying. It wasn't long though until Anhora was back this time with Merlin he was sat in a seat at a table. With two glasses on. Rose was sat up against a rock by the beach.
"You had no right to take Rose" said Merlin.
"I had to get you here" said Anhora. She could feel the anger coming from Merlin which surprised her slightly. It wasn't long until they were joined by Arthur, he looked at both and rolled his eyes.
"Merlin, Rose" said Arthur. He was shocked but also looked slightly annoyed.
"I'm sorry" said Merlin.
"Let them go!" said Arthur angrily.
"Take a seat, it's time for you test" said Anhora ignoring the demand.
"I'll do the test if you let them go first" said Arthur.
"They are a part of the test" said Anhora. Arthur sat down and glared at them both.
"I told you stay at home, Rose you have no place in these matters" said Arthur. Rose rolled her eyes angrily at Arthur.
"I didn't have a choice, Anhora kidnapped me because you killed a unicorn" said Rose hotly.
"In front of you are two goblets one is wine and one is poisoned, both goblets must be emptied but only one cup can be picked up, you have 3 minutes to decide if you do not do it in the time frame both get given to Rose" said Anhora.
He took a sand timer and put on the table; the sand started to trickle into the bottom. Everyone on the beach went stiff except Rose, she knew she was in no real danger neither was Arthur and Merlin. She watched both men discuss it Merlin was desperate to do it, but Arthur ended up drinking the poison. Rose attempted to get up and Anhora clicked his fingers and the ropes disappeared.
Rose was dragged back to Camelot after Arthur came around and taken straight to Gaius to check her over. She sat on the bench while Gaius checked her.
"Is this really necessary, he didn't hurt me he just used me as bait for Merlin" said Rose.
"I noticed that, did he say anything to you" asked Gaius. He sat down next to her and pulled her on to his lap wrapped his arms round her waist.
"He said I was soon to be high priestess of the old religion" said Rose. She turned around into Gaius and laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm round his shoulder. She was tired so let herself relax "What is a high priestess?"
"It is a woman of magic they are powerful, I'll give you a book, if anyone asks why you have it say it's to do with your schooling" said Gaius. Rose nodded and yawned "don't fall asleep on me, I won't be able to carry to bed". Rose nodded and stood up Gaius then got up and gave her the book. She took the book to bed with her.
The end
