A/N: Thank you for the reviews, to answer your question guest. I have a merged chapter of the eye of the Pheonix and love in the time of dragons. And I have completely cut out episode at the end of series three the one between the queen of hearts and the coming of Arthur hope that helps. anyway without further ado.
It had been two months since Rose had seen Mordred and she hadn't had chance yet to go and see him, but he seemed to not mind the wait. He had sent her a necklace with stone on it shaped as a heart. Rose was doing her schooling with Gaius in his chambers. Morgana was seeing Morgause, and Merlin and Arthur were on a hunting trip. She smiled as she read her book.
"You seem happier since your trip to Ealdor," said Gaius. Rose gave him a smile.
"It was nice seeing mother again," said Rose. Gaius raised his eyebrow and that was when she realised that he knew about Mordred.
"Nothing to do with the new physician Mordred then," said Gaius. Rose nodded and smiled even brighter than before she probably looked like a love-stricken teenager, but she didn't care.
"You know then" said Rose cheerfully she got up and went to get another book, but Gaius pointed to the bench, and she sat on it.
"Yes, I know about Mordred, your mother told me, I am acting as your unofficial guardian, so I need to know about this stuff, don't worry though I haven't told Merlin," said Gaius.
"That's good seeing as Merlin tries to kill him every time, he sees him," said Rose.
"It's his destiny to protect Arthur," said Gaius.
"And it's mine to fall in love with Mordred, he isn't a bad guy I am making sure it doesn't happen," said Rose. Their conversation was interrupted by the door bursting open and Arthur and Merlin were carrying in Gwaine they carried him Merlin's room. Rose jumped up and got the needle and thread and some honey before running into Merlin's bedroom. Gaius checked him over and took his jacket off. Rose couldn't believe he was Camelot.
"Will he be alright" asked Arthur.
"He's strong he'll be fine," said Rose. Smiling down at Gwaine.
"The man saved my life, he's to be anything he needs" said Arthur he left the room and Rose laughed. Rose highly doubted that Gwaine knew who he was saving. If their conversation had anything to go by. Merlin and Rose watched Gaius stitch him before they left the room to leave him to rest. She picked up a book and carried on reading until she got sent to bed by Merlin.
The next day Rose woke up late morning and went to the kitchens to get Gwaine some breakfast. She wanted to get to him first to get him to keep quiet about Mordred as not everyone was going to be as understanding Gaius, Hunnith and Morgana were of the fact she was courting a druid and in Merlin's case the druid that was destined to kill Arthur. She rushed to Gaius's chambers to see that Merlin and Gaius weren't there. She went through to Merlin's room and saw that he already had some breakfast.
"Oh, hello Rose" said Gwaine happily.
"I heard you were injured saving a prince," said Rose. She sat down on a chair by the bed and put the tray on the table.
"Yeah, Merlin told me, if I had known who he was, I wouldn't had done" said Gwaine.
"Arthur isn't too bad you know, it's his father you need to watch out for" said Rose.
"Is Mordred here?" asked Gwaine excitedly looking around like he was about to come out of the cupboard.
"About that it's best not to mention him, he's banished from Camelot because he was a druid" said Rose. Gwaine looked at her and nodded giving her cheeky smile.
"I am glad to see you, the royal that doesn't act like a royal" said Gwaine.
"You can say that again" said Merlin in the doorway. He was giving Rose a questioning look.
"Can I help you?" asked Rose.
"You two seem to know each other" said Merlin.
"I met her about two months ago in Ealdor" said Gwaine calmly.
"Get yourself dressed and I'll show you around," said Rose. He nodded and tapped her hand. She got up and ruffled Gwaine's hair on the way out as a joke.
She didn't have to wait long before he got dressed and ready to go. They went to the lower town.
"How is Kara?" asked Gwaine.
"She is good, Mordred is taking care of her at the moment" said Rose quietly. She got distracted by a dress on one of stalls and went to look at it. Gwen seemed to take his eye and took a flower from a woman carrying flowers and approached Gwen.
"I believe this is yours" said Gwaine. Rose came forward and stood next to him.
"No, it's really not my colour," said Gwen. Gwaine gave a dreamy eyed look which made Rose laugh at how smooth her was.
"Let's see" said Gwaine he put the flower into Gwen's hair.
"I bet you do this with all the ladies," said Rose. Gwaine put his hands out and showed they were empty.
"No, I only have flowers for her" said Gwaine giving Gwen a cheeky smile. Gwen tried to move passed, but he put his hand out to shake her hand "I'm Gwaine" she shook his hand and went to leave but he didn't let go. Rose was unsure whether to find him hilarious or be offended and tell him off for flirting with the future queen "You haven't told me your name. You look like a princess to me. So, it's probably something like Sophia or...or Esmeralda. That's it. Princess Esmeralda" He bowed to her.
"Stop it people are staring" said Rose noticing all eyes were on them.
"Not until I get this princess's name" said Gwaine.
"It's Gwen" said Gwen quickly she attempted to get around him again, but Gwaine got in her way again.
"Let me carry that for you, I don't believe a princess should carry her own washing" said Gwaine. Rose laughed at how close to the truth he was even though he had no idea of her destiny.
"Gwaine, give it up as a bad job, come on" said Rose dragging Gwaine away from Gwen, she turned around to see Gwen was laughing.
Rose laughed and showed him around a bit more. She dropped him off at the tavern before heading back to the castle. She heard some shouting coming from the guest quarters she walked through the castle see Merlin lifting a case that was far too big for him on to a cabinet in one of the guest quarters. She saw one of the knights who looked like a thug open the case, so its contents fell all over him and a piece of armour hit him on the head knocking him over.
"Oi, what do you think you're doing" said Rose she went in and helped Merlin up he swayed slightly, he stayed on his feet, but he was a bit concussed from the way he looked.
"It was an accident" said one of the men. Rose could sense magic coming from them both and they seemed to find it funny bullying servants.
"No, it wasn't I have eyes, you could have seriously hurt him, now if you'll excuse me, I am taking Merlin off your hands, you are a knight act like one!" snapped Rose. She then took Merlin's arm and stirred him out of the room taking him to Gaius. Rose sat him on the patient bed before checking the back of his head. He had a bump on his head she touched it and he jumped.
"Ouch that hurt" said Merlin grumpily.
"I'll stick something on that to reduce swelling," said Rose. She made a salve and smeared it on the bump he kept flinching "it's alright, I am done". She smiled and sat down opposite him.
"Thanks" said Merlin.
"What are secret sisters for aye" said Rose smiling at him.
"They are awful!" said Merlin.
"They don't look like knights one of them is fat," said Rose. Merlin frowned at her with surprise.
"Neither of them is fat" said Merlin with a tone of surprise in his voice.
Rose looked around before remembering she had left Gwaine in the tavern and hadn't gone to get him back yet.
"I got to go I will be back in a bit," said Rose. She left and walked to the tavern to see what Gwaine was up to. She heard a lot of laughter and saw that Gwaine was buying everyone drinks.
"Rose my friend, have a drink" said Gwaine giving her tankard she took the tankard and put it down ignoring it. Deciding to keep a clear head.
"Can you even afford all this" asked Rose. Gwaine winked at her and shook his head before ordering another round. He got that round and Rose was ready for the fight that was about to happen she knew Gwaine had no money. She didn't touch the drink in case they decided she was in on it. Gwaine fell over and knocked into the bar man which angered him.
"You need to pay for what you have bought, then get out" said the bar tender looking cross
"I have no money" said Gwaine. The bar man looked angry and was looking at Rose.
"I can't pay, I don't have my own money yet," said Rose.
"He's your guest" said the bar man.
"Well technically he's prince Arthur's guest," said Rose. She attempted to leave but one of the bar men stood in front of her.
"No one leaves until this bill is paid" said the barman loudly. Rose sighed and then sat down at the bar and crossed her arms, she hadn't even invited him Camelot. Gwaine got propped up by a bald man. Gwen poked her head through the door and Rose smiled at her.
"Get Merlin please," said Rose. Gwen nodded and Rose attempted to negotiate.
Merlin came in quickly and noticed Rose sat at the bar before being given the bill from the bar man.
"You drank all this" said Merlin astonished at Gwaine.
"With some help from my new friends" said Gwaine happily in his drunken stupor. Rose looked around as everyone cheered.
"He says he hasn't got any money, neither does the lady Rose but she was trying to help the man, but he was too far gone in his drunken manner, looks like you'll have to pay it" said the bar man. He picked up Merlin by the collar and held him up, so they were face to face. Rose got up and moved forward slightly.
"I can't afford this," said Merlin.
"Put him down, that's an order" said Rose with authority in her voice.
"You better find someone who can" said the barman putting him down. Gwaine laughed and the man holding him up dropped him on to the ground. Rose stepped forward to stand to the side between Merlin and the barman to avoid more picking up of poor Merlin.
"He is Prince Arthur's guest; he can pay for it, come on let's go," said Rose. Merlin and Rose went over to Gwaine and helped him up. They walked him through the town and to Gaius's chambers they laid him on Merlin's bed.
"You two are the best friends I've ever had" said Gwaine drunkenly.
"You've made quite a few tonight" said Rose and Merlin at the same time he laughed which made them laugh as well.
"Oh, I'd love to see Arthur's face when he gets that bill, that Rose was a great idea" said Gwaine, she laughed. Merlin looked at him and then sat down next to the bed on a chair.
"Come on then what's is it with you and nobles," said Merlin.
"Oh nothing, I like Rose she doesn't act like she is better than everyone else, my father was a knight in Caerleon's army, he died in battle leaving my mother penniless, and when she went to the king for help, he turned her away" explained Gwaine. Rose nodded and decided to leave the men to it. She left the room and went to her chambers.
The next day seemed to go without much incident she got through the day but in the evening that is when things began to go a bit crazy. It was raining so Rose checked on the horses before heading back into the castle. She saw Merlin sneak into the two angry knights chambers she followed and listened at the door to see what was going on. She had her sword so was ready for anything that was coming after a few minutes she heard a crash and a yelp, so she burst in. Merlin was being used as target practice against the wall.
"I was turning down the bed clothes" exclaimed Merlin.
"You hear that Sir Ethan that he was turning down the bed clothes, not the thief I thought he was" said Sir Oswald.
"Oi, what's going on?" asked Rose. Rounding the room to get the side of room which Merlin was on, he looked panicked, Rose stood in front of him protectively.
"Nothing so leave my chambers now" said Sir Ethan.
"I am not leaving without Merlin so let us both go, or I stay," said Rose.
"Not happening, the servant tried to rob me," said Sir Oswald.
"Looks like I am staying then," said Rose. Merlin moved away from the wall as the last knife came too close to be hitting him and Sir Oswald attempted to run his face through with a sword.
"I thought you might be cold," said Merlin.
Rose got between him and the knight and caught the blow with her sword.
"Off course you did" said Sir Oswald. He attempted to get around Rose to get to Merlin, but Rose fought against him.
"This is not in the knight's code," snapped Rose as she fought against Sir Oswald. He disarmed her and she got her sword back and at that point he went for Merlin again he ducked.
"Is there a problem here" asked Gwaine.
"No. Now leave, get out both of you" said Sir Oswald to both Rose and Gwaine. Fat chance was she going to leave Merlin to the mercy of these thugs.
"You alright Merlin, Rose" said Gwaine going over to them both. Merlin shook his head as Rose just stared at the two thugs not taking her eye off them in case, they started a new attack on Merlin.
"I told you both to leave" said Sir Oswald.
"And I told you I am not leaving without Merlin," said Rose.
"I wasn't speaking to you" said Gwaine.
"How dare you speak to a knight like that" said Sir Ethan. Raising his sword, Rose raised her sword and Gwaine got a sword out as well everyone was armed excepted Merlin. They sword fighting for a while Gwaine would cover Rose and then she would cover Gwaine.
"Careful" shouted Merlin as Sir Oswald decided to go up behind Gwaine Rose kept herself positioned so she was stood in front of Merlin.
"Don't worry I can handle this thug" said Gwaine. They both managed to disarm their opponents Rose got a punch in as well punching Sir Ethan as he attempted to get to Merlin from the side.
Leon entered the room with some knights behind him. Rose then realised how loud it all must have been their fighting she didn't take her eyes of the two knights though.
"What's going on," said Leon. Gwaine turned around to look at Leon giving Sir Oswald the chance the hit him across the face knocking him to the ground. Sir Ethan looked to Rose, but Rose sword pointed at him.
"Don't even try it," said Rose.
"This man and girl attacked me; I want an audience with the king" said Sir Oswald. Rose rolled her eyes and dropped her sword before being restrained by two of the guards. Rose and Gwaine were taken to the throne room and forced on to their knees. Uther rolled his eyes when he saw Rose.
"Sire, this man and girl attacked me with a sword, tried to kill me" said Sir Oswald.
"Is this true, no one speak but Rose" said Uther looking at them both with shock and confusion.
"Sire, on my way back from checking on my horse in the stables I heard a crash coming from their chambers, I went in to see what was going on they had Arthur's manservant pinned against the wall throwing knives at him, when I tried to calm the situation down, they demanded me leave so I couldn't see them hurt Merlin so I defended him, he was unarmed man" said Rose.
"I stepped in to protect them both" said Gwaine.
"I tried to talk to them, it was like they were possessed, I'm sure sir Ethan will back me up" said Sir Oswald.
"I can vouch for every word" said Sir Ethan.
"You are a liar" shouted Gwaine attempting to go for them both the guards held him back.
"Hold your tongue do not speak to knight like that," shouted Uther.
"Nobility is defined by what you do, and not by who you are, and these men are anything but" stated Gwaine glaring at Uther angrily. Rose glared at the two knights as well they were going to harm a servant for no reason.
"They are arrogant thugs" said Rose angrily. Her anger was rising and so was alarmingly her magic she pushed it down but gave Merlin a look "if I start to show any signs, I am losing control you have permission to use a sleeping spell on me" into Merlin's head. She looked at him and he nodded.
"Gwaine, Rose" said Arthur warningly.
"You see how they behave" said Sir Oswald. Her magic came up again and she pushed it back down again but didn't know how long she would last.
"Speaking to us or not you had no right to attack on unarmed man for doing his job, I doubt Arthur would have thanked you for killing his man servant, that doesn't show honour" said Rose shouting. She got up and the guards held her back. She looked to Merlin, and he knew exactly what to do. She felt the relief as she was hit by a sleeping spell, and everything went black.
Rose awoke the next morning in her chambers she sat up and looked around. It took her a minute to work out what had happened. Merlin was stood in the doorway of the anti-chamber.
"You are confined to your chambers for the day," said Merlin.
"What happened?" asked Rose.
"You fainted from exhaustion according to everyone except me and you, the guards holding you jumped a mile when you fainted and let go so Arthur ran forward and caught you, Gwaine was banished, they decided you were just attempting to protect me, you have a few lectures coming," said Merlin.
"That means I'll miss the melee," said Rose.
"Yes, about that, the two knights are using a camouflage to hide their true selves I should have guessed it really when you said they were fat, they intent to kill Arthur, see you later" said Merlin running from the room. Rose sat in her room more confused than she was before. She looked out the window and watched people go about their duties. She was shocked as she saw everyone come back to the castle in good health. Morgana came to the chamber and sat down with her.
"So, what happened at the Melee" asked Rose.
"Arthur was saved by that Gwaine guy" said Morgana bitterly.
"The thugs though were awful, there are better ways of getting rid of them," said Rose. She couldn't believe that came out her mouth. Where did that even come from, she didn't want Arthur dead or maybe she did. No, she didn't. That was odd it was like her mind was conflicted between the old religion and her own thoughts. What was going on? She looked out the window again to see Gwaine leaving he waved to her window, and she waved back before picking up a book and reading it.
The end
