A/N: Thanks for the reviews. To the guest yeah Mordred will be more in the story later on, say from witch's quickening onwards we see/hear more from him and Rose doesn't know that she is Merlin's sister, the only characters in the know are Merlin, Gaius and Hunnith for now ;). Pendragon Dynasty thank you for the review I did find myself laughing at that line myself when reading back.

It had been a few weeks since Rose had met Mordred and had her argument with Kilghara and Merlin. All was forgiven and they were all talking again like normal. Merlin and Rose always fought like brother and sister they would argue then in the next breath be talking about something trivial. Rose was on Patch her horse in the courtyard Morgana and Gwen were getting on their horses. They were going on a journey to Morgana's father grave. They were being escorted by some guards and knights. Merlin came over to her horse and gave her a smile.
"Stay safe" said Merlin.
"You to" said Rose. He gave her a smile.
"Be back by nightfall" said Arthur to the guards. They all set off on their journey the guards and knights circled round the three women, and they got into the forest before someone spoke.
"You two seem quiet" said Morgana
"I am fine, just a bit tired," said Rose.
"I'm fine," said Gwen. Morgana gave them a cheeky smile and a nod.
"I've been wondering if maybe it's to do with a man or boy," said Morgana. Rose gave Morgana a confused look "druid boy" added Morgana into Rose's head. Rose laughed and smiled at Morgana glad that she was embracing her gifts rather than running away from them.
"When do I get to meet nice men?" asked Gwen.

Rose looked at her, oh dear things must not be going well with Arthur. Saying that she was destined to be the once and future queen once Arthur was king. There was no way Uther would allow Gwen to marry Arthur, so it had to be after Uther's passing. She felt her heart skip a beat when it came to Mordred, they had been sending each other letters on the raven and it was like having a secret friend who was there for her. Yells and shouts pulled her rather rudely out her thoughts as they were attacked by bandits the knights fought against them and the women were pulled of their horses. Rose managed to fend a few of them with her sword but she knew it wasn't enough they were outnumbered.
"My ladies follow me" said Sir Robert. Before he could lead them anywhere, he was shot in the back. Rose winced at the blood and attempted to follow Morgana's instructions she ran forward but before she could move another step, she felt a sharp pain to the back of the head, and everything turned black.

Arthur and Merlin were in the council chambers with everyone else including the king.
"Morgana's party hasn't arrived back yet there is no sign of her or Rose," said Arthur. He looked worried but not as worried as Merlin was. His secret little sister was missing, and the mental messages weren't going through to Rose, so it was either she was unconscious, out of contact or worse. He refused to let himself panic.
"Send riders to the outlying villages. I want every guard, every sentry looking for them," said Uther. Arthur nodded and gave orders to the guards and left the council chambers with Merlin.

Rose woke up with one hell of a headache she sat up and immediately regretted it as her head was swimming. She looked around her surroundings, she was in a bright coloured tent. She could hear shouting outside she got up and wobbly walked to the entrance of the tent.
"How could you do this you bought me back the servant! She's useless to us" shouted a man loudly he grabbed Gwen's face and she stood favouring one leg.
"We still have the lady Morgana's ward" said another bandit from nearby.
"Get her" said the one in charge. She walked out the tent herself not fancying anymore rough handling she went and stood next to Gwen and stood tall even though her head was killing her.
"Could you stop shouting," said Rose. The one in charge gave a dirty look before giving Gwen Morgana's clothes.
"Put them on" said the one in charge.
"What are you going to do to me" asked Gwen. Rose took Gwen's hand and squeezed it hoping to give her that form of comfort.
"Hengist has never met the lady Morgana before, for all you know you could be Uther Pendragon ward, she can't be her, she's too young" said the guy in charge.
"I will not impersonate my mistress!" said Gwen.

The leader grabbed Rose and held a sword to her throat.
"Do it or I will kill her where she stands!" shouted the leader. Gwen nodded quickly and took the clothes.
"I'll wear them, just let her go," said Gwen. The leader pushed her to Gwen, and they were both taken to the tent. Rose sat down on the mat and felt at her head. Gwen got changed and then came over to her and sat with her. Rose put her head on Gwen's shoulder.
"What happened? Did Morgana get away" Asked Rose. Gwen nodded and wrapped her arms around Rose. Rose took comfort from the warmth of being hugged by Gwen.
"She got away she is going to get help; you're going to be okay," said Gwen.
"My head hurts," said Rose.
"Here let me take a look" asked Gwen. She got behind Rose and looked at her head. She prodded at a part of her head which made Rose wince in pain "you have a dry cut, and you have a bruise". Rose nodded and laid down on the matt and wrapped a blanket around herself.
"Merlin" called Rose in her head. Nothing came back she sighed they must be out of range of contact. She fell asleep.

Arthur and Morgana walked into the council chambers. Uther hugged her and held her close to him happy to see that she was alive.
"It's such a relief to see you safe. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting you," said Uther.
"They still have Rose and Gwen; you need to send help Rose was injured hit round the head, she was unresponsive, and I escaped to get her help," said Morgana. Merlin's heart sunk to his stomach as he heard that she was injured no wonder she wasn't answering his mental calls.
"I believe they were Mercian. We've received reports that Hengist has crossed the border," said Arthur.
"Hengist" said Uther.
"You must send a rescue party," said Morgana.
"If Hengist is holding her, it would take a small army to rescue your maid and your ward!" said Uther matter of fact sort of way. Merlin gritted his teeth at the suggestion of abandoning Rose he would go and get even if he had to go completely alone.
"We can't abandon them," said Morgana.

"How many men would you sacrifice for a maid and a child is probably already dead," said Uther. Merlin twitched at that comment. He dug into his magic and felt Rose's life force. She was still alive he could sense it.
"As many as it take, I came here to get help for Rose she is my ward, I promised Hunnith I would take care of her! Gwen gave herself up so that I could live escape, I owe her my life" said Morgana angrily.
"It is sad about Rose, they'll be honoured," said Uther.
"I don't want them honoured I demand they get rescued, the sooner we get Rose the sooner she can get help, Gwen is more than a maid she is my friend and Rose is like a daughter, please save them," said Morgana.
"A servant and an injured child would be no use to these people, chances are they are already dead" said Uther sadly. Morgana shook her head and looked around the room for support from anyone.
"Please, we can't give up hope, Rose is a child, Arthur please I'm begging you do something" said Morgana tears were pricking her eyes as she desperately looked for anyone that would get her ward and friend back to her safe and sound.
"My father is right there is nothing we can do" said Arthur.
"How can you say that, how can you live with yourselves all off you" screeched Morgana. Gaius escorted her out of the room.

Rose woke up sometime later and they were moved from the tent and were put on horses. They were taken to a castle Rose felt even worse than before her head was swimming and she felt sick. She wanted to just go back to Camelot and see Morgana and Merlin. She just hoped that help was coming but it didn't feel like it. They arrived into the castle and Rose took Gwen's hand to give her a bit of comfort as they were stood in front a scary looking man.
"Kendrick, I was worried you had got lost" said Hengist.
"May I present the lady Morgana and her ward the lady Rose," said Kendrick. Hengist looked down at Rose and attempted to stroke her hair, but she moved her head away from his hand.
"She is barely a lady, she's a child" said Hengist.
"I demand you release us at once!" demanded Gwen moving so Rose was behind her back.
"Once Uther pays your ransom" said Hengist. Rose suddenly felt a wave of dizziness she wasn't feeling too good her head was killing her and she just want to lay down. She swayed on the spot as the adults spoke making sure she stayed stood up. They got taken to a dungeon and Rose looked at Gwen.
"You need to sit down, your dead on your feet, how long have you been dizzy" asked Gwen. She helped Rose sit on the one bed that was in the dungeon.
"It came on suddenly," said Rose. Gwen did some checks on Rose looking into her eyes and checking on her head. She gasped as she looked at the head wound "what's the matter?". Gwen ripped up some of her own dress and wrapped it around Rose's head. It made her head sting and Rose groaned.
"Your head has got worse, you have a bump and it's purple, I think it's infected" said Gwen. Rose appreciated her honesty. Gwen sat next her, and Rose laid down, so her head was in her lap feeling exhausted.

Rose didn't remember falling asleep so when she had been woken up sometime later, she was confused. Two guards came into the cell.
"Oi you two get up you are going for dinner" said one of the guards. Gwen got up and went towards the door.
"I'm not hungry," said Rose. The guard came over to her and dragged her to her feet and shook her.
"That was not a request!" shouted the guard. He pulled her towards the door and Rose's dizzy and nauseous state made her feel weak and made her stumble.
"Let go, I'll walk on my own" said Rose she had a slur to her voice which she wished she hadn't as she had been trying to sound menacing and strong. She hated feeling so weak and unwell it was taking her back to when she was dying nearly a year ago. It scared her being so dependent on people. The guards let go of her and she stumbled as they lead both Gwen and Rose to the dining room.

They were sat down at a long table and the smell of food in front of her turned her stomach, the meat was raw. She looked ahead as everyone shouted around her Gwen held her hand under the table and Rose would squeeze it every so often to ground herself.
"The lady Morgana and her child are bored; we must entertain our royal guests" said Hengist getting up. Rose groaned she just wanted to lay down not be entertained. It was probably going to a bear or fight or something. Hengist nodded to someone and the cage door was opened. Two men came into the arena she felt Gwen tense when one of them faced them he was good lucking and he oozed nobility and he had a kind face "Only one of you will leave the cage alive". Rose watched them fight and was interested by a move it was a very Arthur move he had taught her that. Maybe he had been a knight once. She carried on watching Gwen winced every so often and seemed to care about the wellbeing of this man and soon the good looking one won. He spared the opponent and left the cage to stand in front of the main table, Hengist chucked a bag of money at him "What's your name?".
"My name is Lancelot" said Lancelot. Rose noticed that Gwen seemed to tense again when he said his name.
"You have proved yourself to be a skill full warrior, you have impressed the lady Morgana and the lady Rose" said Hengist.
"My ladies" said Lancelot. He was giving Gwen loving looks. Rose had the urge to tell him to back off because this maid was destined for someone else, but she didn't because that would be weird.
"Next time do not expect or give mercy, release the Wildereon" said Hengist.

Rose looked around Lancelot to see that the cage door was shut and the door leading out was opened and an awful creature came out. She stood up. Gwen attempted to pull her back down, but Rose batted her away.
"No" shouted Rose. She ducked down and went under the table attempting to help the man in the cage once she was on the other side of the table she was grabbed by Lancelot, and he hugged her holding her head, so she wasn't able to see or hear it. Soon it was over, and she was let go. Lancelot and Gwen exchanged a look at each other. Hengist came around the table to stand in front of her. He roughly grabbed her and pinned her over the table, so she was facing him. the impact of it made her hit the back of her head on the table her head exploded in pain, and she had black spots in her vision.
"Do that again and it'll be you next!" shouted Hengist in her face. Rose felt fear go through her as he screamed in her face.
"Sorry, let go, I'm sorry" begged Rose. She didn't care how weak she was in so much pain and it was worse than ever before. He was pinning her down deep breathing into her face.

Rose put her hands on his shoulders and attempted to push him off her when that didn't work, her magic bubbled at the surface and she let it not caring at this point she put her hand back on his shoulder and her magic burnt his skin and she kicked him. Hengist let go of Rose quickly and Rose straightened up immediately was about to fall but Lancelot caught her and picked her up and held her in his arms.
"Take them to the dungeon! Separate cells, punishment for the child's attack" shouted Hengist looking at his burnt shoulders in astonishment. He did something with his sword around her head. She was unsure of what he did because she was feeling dizzy and tired. Maybe doing magic wasn't the best idea.
"But she's a child, she's injured!" said Gwen.
"Dungeons now!" shouted Hengist. Rose felt herself pass out as she was being walked out the room.

Rose was feeling worse when she woke up the next time. She was in the dungeon still, so they hadn't been rescued yet. She saw a man with black hair sitting next to her wiping her head of sweat. Her vision was blurred.
"Merlin?" asked Rose hopefully.
"No, it's me Lancelot, they separated you from Gwen after you used magic on Hengist" said Lancelot. Rose attempted to reach up to touch her head, but Lancelot moved her hand away. He kept his hand on her hand and Rose squeezed it as a form of comfort. He squeezed her hand back and gave her a kind smile.
"Is Gwen okay? Did she see my magic?" asked Rose.
"Yeah she's fine and no she didn't, she thinks you kicked him and you're getting punished for that, just stay calm, I'll get you both out of here alive" said Lancelot. A jolt went through her head and she winced.
"My head hurts" said Rose. She slowly sat up something felt weird with her hair. It was very weird she was used to feeling it on her neck, but it wasn't there. Maybe it was up, she touched around her hair. It was short, it had been cut and it was short "my hair". She let some tears fall down her face.
"Hengist's way of punishing you," said Lancelot. He pulled her to him and rubbed her back in circles as a comfort.
"My head hurts and now my hair is gone, does it look bad?" asked Rose.
"No, it doesn't look too bad, you look very similar to Merlin though with your hair short," said Lancelot.
"I want to go home," said Rose.
"I will not let you die I promise," said Lancelot. A jolt in her head made her feel sleepy and she let herself fall asleep in Lancelot's arms. Probably not the right thing for her destiny as he was in love with Gwen and she was destined to marry Arthur but Rose the child feeling ridiculously unwell thought it was for the best.

Lancelot was at his wits end he was meant to be freeing Gwen from her cell, but he couldn't wake up Rose she was completely unresponsive and deathly pale and sick looking. He stared at the child on the bed. Her dress was dirty and ripped, she had a rag around her head over her now cut hair. She did look like Merlin the more he looked at her the short hair, the skinny but lanky body and the magic the magic was almost instinctive. The only difference being that she was smaller than Merlin. He attempted again to get her to wake up, but she stayed stubbornly unconscious. He picked her up and he ran to Gwen's cell and opened the door.
"She won't wake up" said Lancelot as she ran over to him. They ran out the door and made it to a tunnel "take Rose and run down the tunnel it'll take you to the trees outside the castle".
"I can't leave you," said Gwen.

Lancelot gave Rose to Gwen, and she took her.
"It's alright you have shown me love, you reminded me of who I am," said Lancelot. Gwen looked at Rose then looked to Lancelot then ran down the tunnel. She ran with Rose in her arm. Until they got caught and taken back to the cage. They were pushed into the cage. Gwen and Lancelot were sat back-to-back Rose was laid in the corner of the cage.
"Release the Wildereon!" shouted Hengist. The cage opened and the Wildereon came out the tunnel sniffing at them it screamed, and someone climbed over the cage to protect them. He removed his scarf and everyone in the cage except Rose because she was unconscious was happy to see.
"Arthur" said Gwen. He uncut Lancelot and Gwen's ropes and pulled Gwen behind him so they were protecting Gwen and Rose.
"What are you doing here?" asked Arthur.
"Saving Gwen, you," said Lancelot.
"Likewise, and Rose off course," said Arthur. He gave Rose a worried look. "Stay behind us, we have to get to the tunnels". Gwen picked up Rose and cradled her as she stayed behind both men.
"MERLIN!" shouted Arthur. He was on all fours "don't sit there cowering lets go". Merlin ran over and climbed over the cage and landed on the floor. Arthur pulled him up and put him behind him. Merlin took Rose from Gwen.
"You two go, I'll hold them back," said Lancelot. Gwen nodded and ran with Arthur. Merlin stood with Lancelot and bought the gate down with a spell trapping Hengist.

Rose was waking up her head felt like it was floating, she felt a load better than she had before. She was wrapped up in something soft, but she still felt a bit cold though she managed to her eyes opened. She was outside in a wooded area she was wrapped up in a red cloak. She sat up and looked around Merlin was sat near her.
"Rose, here drink this" said Merlin giving her some water. She drank it slowly and it tasted good she never realised how thirsty she was. She finished the water and gave him a smile.
"I am so glad to see you," said Rose.
"How are you feeling," said Merlin. He pulled her into a hug and kept her in the hug so she was cuddled up into him.
"Tired, I have a headache and I am confused, what happened" asked Rose.
"Me and Arthur came and rescued you and Gwen, I healed you," said Merlin.
"I was scared, they cut my hair because I used magic on Hengist" said Rose sadly. She put her hand to her head, and she felt her head it was still short but had been made neat.
"I fixed it, with Gwen's help of course," said Merlin. Rose squeezed him again. He squeezed back. She then moved away from Merlin and looked around the campsite. Arthur and Gwen were laying at the same side of the campsite and Lancelot was packing his stuff up.
"Lancelot, you're not going are you" asked Rose.

She had got to know him well the only voice she heard that wasn't shouting or screaming at her for the last few days. He came over to them after he finished packing his bag. He squatted down so he in front of Rose and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I do need to leave, Uther doesn't like me much, do me a favour take care of yourself and them" said Lancelot pointing at Gwen and Arthur "most of all look after him" he nodded towards Merlin.
"Thank you for looking after me, I hope to see you again soon" said Rose. Lancelot kissed the top of her head before getting up to shake Merlin's arm before heading off into the woods. Merlin got up and went over to the fire stoking it up again. Rose had so much going through her head and it was so strange. She was free from her captivity, and she was free from Hengist's clutches. She was going home to see Gaius and Morgana. Merlin sat by the fire cross legged, Rose went over to him and sat down next to him.
"Merlin" said Rose. She felt like her emotions were getting the better of her, the relief with the extra fear was making her feel emotional, she let out a sob. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on to his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head into his shoulder. He rubbed her back in circles.
"Your safe now" said Merlin in a soothing voice. Rose nodded and let Merlin sooth her until her eyes became heavy and she fell asleep.

Rose woke up some time later to see that the camp had been packed away. She got up feeling ten times better than she had done in the last few days. She went over to Arthur and snuck up behind him tapping him on the back. He jumped and turned around to face her.
"You're alive then," said Arthur.
"I am, thank you for coming," said Rose. He went to shake her hand, but she swatted it away and gave him a hug around the middle. He patted her head and hugged her back.
"Let's get you back to Morgana before she turns up herself," said Arthur. He took her hand, and they were led to the horses. There were only two horses.
"I don't mind walking," said Rose. At that comment Arthur picked her up and put her on the horse before she could complain.
"She'll need to have someone with her on the horse" said Merlin.
"Okay, so Gwen get on this one, I'll get behind Rose" said Arthur.
"I'll walk," said Merlin. Everyone got on their horses except Merlin which made her worry about it. Arthur got behind Rose and got hold of the reins. She leant back into him making herself comfortable.

The ride was a comfortable one they didn't stop and soon they were in Camelot and Rose had never been so glad to be back. Merlin helped Rose down and she let him lead her to Gaius. She was happy to see him.
"I'm so happy to see you," said Gaius. He bypassed Merlin and hugged Rose. Rose hugged back before being moved over to a bench. Rose was checked over by Gaius.
"Is she alright Gaius? When we found her, she had an infection in her head, she looked weak, I used yarrow and rose petals and my own magic" said Merlin anxiously.
"You did a good job, she is all but healed, just a bit of exhaustion, did he cut your hair as a punishment?" asked Gaius.
"Yes, Hengist decided to cut my hair to scare Gwen" said Rose. There was knock at the door and they looked round to see Arthur standing in the doorway.
"Morgana wants her child back, come on Rose" said Arthur.
"Does that mean I have to walk" said Rose with a groan she was so tired; and she had to go up and down stairs to go back to her chambers.
"Come on, up you get," said Arthur. He stood her up and then picked her up. She was never to thankful to be picked up in her life. He carried her from the room and to her guardian.

The end.