A/N: Thanks for the follows and favourites. I don't own Merlin.
It was the night of Rose's 12th birthday she had a good day and a few nice gifts. Her favourite being a shield with the dragon logo and a rose in the corner. It was from Arthur, and it matched the sword he had got for her for her last birthday. She had got a ring from Mordred which was cute, and the stone was bright blue. She wasn't old enough for a feast for her birthday, so she was happy with the meal she had with the royals.
Unfortunately, it would have been nice if Merlin could have been at the table rather than serving her. She looked over to Morgana to see that she was sleeping soundly. Morgause had given her a healing bracelet to help her sleep and it worked. She saw Merlin sneaking out the castle looking suspicious. She was still in day clothes, so she wrapped herself up in shawl and followed Merlin to the lower town. He got to the tavern and then broke a girl out of the cage that is usually used by bounty hunters. A man came out of the tavern and looked at the cage with confusion then anger.
The tavern sign fell on his head but didn't knock him out. Merlin and the girl ran in the opposite direction and Rose sent a sleeping spell at the bounty hunter before following the duo to the tunnels. They got to the end of the tunnel and Merlin turned around and jumped when he saw Rose standing behind him.
"Rose when did you get here?" asked Merlin.
"I followed you out the castle," said Rose. Merlin took his jacket off and attempted to put it around the girl. The girl jumped backwards looking nervous.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I thought you might be cold," said Merlin. The girl looked at them in complete awe at them both.
"Why did you do that?" asked the girl.
"Do what," said Rose.
"Help me," said the girl.
"I saw you and well it could be either of us in that cage," said Merlin.
"You have nothing to be afraid of we are here to help you," said Rose.
"I'll be back in the morning with food and candles," said Merlin.
"You'll be alright till then, get some rest, my name is Rose by the way, this is Merlin," said Rose.
"I'm Freya" said the girl she seemed to relax around them. She took Merlin's offered jacket and put it around herself.
"I'll see you in the morning Freya," said Merlin. They both started to walk away once they were around the corner.
"Thank you," said Freya. Merlin went back and smiled at her before they both went back to their chambers.
The next morning Morgana went on a journey to visit some friends she was leaving Rose with Uther and Arthur to look after. So, Rose had ended up being dragged to a session of Gaius and Uther doing paperwork in the council chamber. Rose sat at the end of the table reading a book about healing potions. The bounty hunter walked in with two knights they bowed to Uther.
"Halig, you come baring gifts," said Uther.
"Druid girl, unfortunately she escaped last night" said Halig.
"Well don't worry, we'll find her, we'll give you some guards to help," said Uther. Halig came closer and around the table.
"You need to warn them sire, the girl is cursed, the druid camp kicked her out" said Halig. Rose looked up at that with a shocked expression that isn't like the druids to just turn on their own.
"Sire, may I be excused?" asked Rose. Uther nodded and Rose left the room. She left the room and accidentally walked straight into Arthur "sorry".
"It's all good, hey fancy doing some training with me and Leon?" asked Arthur.
"Yeah, I can try my new shield you got me," said Rose. She went to her room, got changed and got her equipment before heading to the training field. They did some sword work before heading on to maze work. She was floored once and the rest of the time she managed to floor Leon and Arthur. The last exercise was based on enemy attack and phalanx. She did the phalanx with them.
"And if someone tells you to retreat, you do what," said Arthur. Rose rolled her eyes and huffed a sigh.
"You retreat," said Rose.
"What don't you do?" asked Arthur.
"Act like a hero and jump in front of you," said Rose. Arthur clapped her on the shoulder before dismissing her for the evening.
She went to her chambers ate some food and stored some food in her bag from her lunch before heading to the lower town to see how Freya was. She saw Merlin walk straight into Halig by accident. He ordered two guards to grab Merlin and they walked him to the dungeons. Rose went to chase them down then remembered herself Rose the child ward of the king's ward had no power over these people. She ran straight to Arthur's chambers and burst in the door.
"Arthur, you need to come with me now, Halig took Merlin away to the dungeon and is going to hurt him" said Rose quickly. She grabbed his hand, and she ran towards the dungeon. They could hear Halig shouting.
"Hold him down" said Halig. Arthur and Rose rounded the corridor.
"Halig" said Arthur. Merlin was being held to a chair while Hengist held his fist in a threat close to Merlin's face "What do you think you're doing?".
"We caught the boy acting suspiciously sire" said Halig in a dangerous voice. Merlin flinched as the fist was still very close to Merlin's face.
"Merlin" said Arthur.
"He could be harbouring the girl and he is going to tell us where" said Halig he swung his fist back, Rose stepped forward ready to act in case this man hurt Merlin, but Arthur grabbed his forearm before the fist made impact.
"Leave him alone" said Arthur he got Merlin out the seat and crossed his arms other his chest to show dominance.
Rose smiled deciding that she could leave, she left the dungeons and went to the tunnels under Camelot. Freya was crying.
"Are you alright?" asked Rose.
"I was worried I scared Merlin away," said Freya.
"No, he's just getting himself in trouble," said Rose. She gave Freya the food and gave her a blanket that she had in her bag.
"Thank you" said Freya.
"It's alright, so how long were you in the cage for?" asked Rose. She was fascinated to know why she had been kicked out of her own druid camp it must have been something bad to make a peaceful turn on their own.
"A few days" said Freya. She heard movement and turned around to see Merlin was there. Rose noticed that there was an atmosphere between the two of them.
"I'm going to leave you two alone" said Rose. She got up and hugged Freya and then hugged Merlin he hugged back. "Behave yourselves". She left the tunnels and went to her chambers. Gwen had drawn her a bath for when she got back in. She got in the tub and relaxed into the rose petal smelling bath. The bath was nice and hot good for the muscle relaxation after the workout she had done with Arthur.
The next morning Rose awoke early and went to Gaius's chambers. She sat with him not very long before someone sent for them.
"There have been some bodies found in the lower town" said the guard.
"Lead the way" said Gaius. The guards lead them to the two bodies, Arthur and Uther were already there. Rose squatted next to Arthur and stared at the bodies. It was a man and woman both had been attacked by a wild animal.
"A bit early to be dropping dead" joked Rose. Gaius chuckled at her comment. Arthur also chuckled at the comment.
"It looks like it's from a wild animal" said Gaius. Rose looked around the bodies there were no animal foot prints only human footprints.
"Have you ever seen an animal like that" said Uther.
"The thing is it was raining last night so if it had been a bear or wolf, they would have left marks" said Arthur.
"Unless it was a magical creature" said Rose suddenly.
The attack started around the same time Freya arrived that couldn't be a coincidence surely. She shouldn't have left her alone with Merlin.
"What makes you say that" asked Uther.
"A human couldn't make these marking on someone and if it isn't an animal, it has to be the druid girl that escaped," said Rose.
"Good point, Rose go with Gaius and help him with his reading, Arthur be on high alert" said Uther. Rose was happy with that instruction and Gaius and Rose went to his chambers. She picked up a book on magical creatures and so did Gaius and they started to read.
"Rose I think I have found it," said Gaius. Rose went over to him and read over his shoulder.
"So, it is the druid girl," said Rose. She read the passage that they kill at midnight and it's a curse they turn into a beast where they can't stop killing, Merlin was in danger.
They carried on reading about Bastet into the night. Merlin came home from work and was in a very happy mood. It was like he had never been happier before in his life. While Merlin wasn't with Freya, she was going to speak to her.
"I will see you later," said Rose. She got up and walked out of the room. She went straight to her room and got a dress from her chambers. She then went to the tunnels under Camelot.
"Hey Freya," said Rose.
"Hi Rose," said Freya. Rose gave her dress which was from Morgana's wardrobe.
"Are you a Bastet" asked Rose. A bit too blunt for her liking but it was best to get to the point with people dying and Merlin either in danger of being caught or killed by the Bastet.
"Yes, a man attacked me, so I killed him, his mother was a sorcerer and she cursed me for killing her son," said Freya. Rose sat down next her to put her arm around Freya.
"I am so sorry, someone cursed you," said Rose. Freya seemed surprised by Rose being sympathetic towards her. It must be a hard life for Freya having to worry about not killing anyone. Rose gave her a squeeze before heading through the tunnels. She went back to her chambers and picked up a book and laid down on Morgana's bed. Rose didn't like it when Morgana wasn't around, she missed her even though she hadn't been gone that long.
The next morning another body was discovered in the lower town. Rose ended up helping Gaius put the body at the back of a wagon. Same markings as before, Arthur was getting information from the people around that may have saw it. Uther came down the road looking angry and concerned.
"Another attack?" asked Uther.
"Same markings on this one as it was yesterday" said Rose.
"Any tracks this time" asked Uther.
"No, just footprints, the men that saw it, saw it as a winged cat" said Arthur. Gaius and Rose met eyes and Rose told him with her eyes to keep quiet for now.
"So Rose was right this is a magical creature, Gaius do you have any idea?" asked Uther.
"We will need more time to investigate" said Gaius.
"Come on you always have a theory about these things" said Uther.
"Anyway, Gaius and I will let you what we know by the end of the day, my lord" said Rose.
She linked arms with Gaius, and they walked to the physian's chambers. Rose shut the door behind her and faced Gaius "Merlin helped the druid girl escape, I helped only because Merlin nearly exposed his magic in front of Halig, the girl is a Bastet, she told me I tried to ask her to leave but she wanted to wait for Merlin".
"Thank you telling me, I know it must not have been easy," said Gaius.
"I don't want to betray his trust, but I don't want him to get hurt," said Rose.
"It's alright, can you go for a bit I want to speak to Merlin alone when he gets back," said Gaius. She nodded and left the room. She went to her chambers and read a book for the rest of the day, she looked out the window and saw yet again Merlin was going to the lower town again. Rose got changed before heading to the lower town. She saw Freya run into a dead end with all the guards and Arthur chasing after her. Rose joined that group subtly moving herself to the front of the group.
"No one ever escapes me" said Halig. The bell started to ring as it turned midnight, Freya fell on to all fours and started to scream loudly. She was transforming into a beast of nightmares, but all Rose could feel was sorrow for her she was in pain whilst transforming. The beast attacked and killed Halig she couldn't help feeling glad about that he was an awful human being.
The beast went for Arthur and without thinking Rose put her sword in to Freya's shoulder to protect him. He gave a smile of gratitude. The wound in her shoulder was deep and Rose felt the guilt roll of her. The creature limped into the square of the castle howling in pain. All the knights were surrounding it. Rose stood to the back of the group not wanting to hurt her any more than she was. The creature was looking at Merlin who was behind them. The stone gargoyle came down from above them and they all jumped out the way of it. In the distraction Freya flew away and Merlin ran after her. Rose made sure the knights were okay before running after Merlin.
They were in the tunnels and Merlin had got Freya into Morgana's dress. She was bleeding heavily and was barely awake.
"Freya I am so sorry," said Rose. Her guilt was still building, and she didn't mean to hurt her she was just protecting the prince.
"It's alright Rose, I have no ill feeling," said Freya. Merlin picked her up and they went to some horses with Merlin got on the horse with Freya in his arms. Rose got on the second horse, and they rode out to a lake. It rained on the way to the lake soaking all of them to the skin, but it was strange because she didn't feel cold. At the lake Merlin laid her down on the grass. Merlin still held Freya while Rose knelt next to them.
"You remembered" smiled Freya weakly.
"Of course," said Merlin with a sad smile.
"I am so sorry for fatally wounding you," said Rose.
"I am so sorry for what that sorcerer did you," said Merlin. Freya took Rose's hand weakly. Rose held it.
"Neither of you have nothing to apologise for," said Freya.
"There must be something we can do," said Merlin.
"Some way to save you," said Rose. Freya smiled up at them with a touched expression. She squeezed Rose's hand.
"You have already saved me, you showed me love and friendship, you Rose have released me from my life of killing and hurting people," said Freya.
"I don't want you to go," cried Merlin.
"One day Merlin and Rose, I will repay you," said Freya.
Her grip on Rose's hand went lax and she died letting out her last breath peacefully. Rose got up then and moved away giving Merlin some time alone with Freya to get her ready for burial. Merlin put Freya on a boat and pushed the boat on to the lake. Rose moved forward then and took his hand. He held her hand back which was good she was half expecting him to rip his hand away. They walked into the water so that the water was to their ankles. Merlin did a spell that set the body on fire.
They walked out of the lake and walked back to the horse. They travelled in silence back Camelot, maybe Merlin was angry with her for killing Freya. Rose went straight to her chambers after getting back from the lake. She sat down on the floor under the window and started to cry openly. She was a cursed woman and a victim of a terrible attack and Rose had killed her. She had to though it was between Freya and Arthur and in the moment, she picked Arthur over Freya. There was a knock at the door, and someone entered the room. She saw the boots round the bed, and she looked up to see it was Arthur he came and sat down next to her pulling her into his lap, so her head was on his shoulder.
"What's the matter" asked Arthur in a calm voice.
"I killed the creature, but she was just a girl that had been cursed, it feels like I killed an innocent person, but I know she was about to kill you, I couldn't let that happen," cried Rose.
"It's okay, it may not seem it, but most young knights get like this after their first conflicted kill, its completely normal" said Arthur soothingly. Another person came into the room, and she looked up to see it was Merlin. He also got on to the floor next to them.
"Nobody blames you for anything," said Merlin. Those were the words Rose needed she started to control her emotions a bit more hugging Arthur back.
"I won't make a good knight" said Rose sadly.
"Oh, you will, last night you showed advanced skill, I would rather you didn't join in on the fighting, but I know you will never disappoint" said Arthur encouragingly "now get up Rose and we'll go have some breakfast you must be starving". Rose nodded and got up feeling a lot better than she had done before she still felt bad about killing Freya, but the alternative outcome would have been a lot worse, and Freya had told her she had been set free.
The end
