A month after Lancelot's death was when things in Camelot seemed to get back to normal. Arthur's birthday arrived and so did a circus. Rose watched with her head out the window of Arthur's chambers. She was hiding from Gwen who was wanting to get her to try on a few new dresses and shoes and she wasn't ready for that yet, so she was hiding in Arthur's chambers. The jugglers juggled and the fire breathers breathed. Merlin's head poked out the window over her. One of the jugglers caught all the balls at once.
"Look at that" exclaimed Merlin. Arthur head joined them out the window over Merlin.
"It's a man throwing stuff in the air," said Arthur.
They bought their heads out the window and into Arthur's chambers again. He stood there arms folded glaring at them.
"What's the matter with you? It's your birthday, a huge feast is being held in your honour. You've got dancers, jugglers and acrobats to entertain you. It must be a terrible burden," said Merlin. Rose took an apple from the bowl on the table and sat down on the bed.
"I am not easily entertained" said Arthur.
"I'm looking forward to it" said Rose.
"That's because you have the mind of a child" said Arthur.
"I am 14, technically I am still a child" said Rose giving a mock offended face.
"Yes, sorry Rose, what are you doing here anyway" said Arthur.
"Am I not allowed to spend time with my guardian on his birthday" said Rose in a sweet voice which made Merlin look up and look across to her.
"Come on then, let's go for a walk" said Arthur.
Arthur gave her a knowing look, he must know she was hiding from Gwen, he looked highly amused with himself.
"I would rather stay here, help Merlin with his chores," said Rose.
"If you just humour her it'll get it done sooner" said Arthur grinning.
"One of the dresses has a corset, do you want your only ward to die" said Rose folding her arms across her chest. There was a knock at the door and before she could hide Gwen came in.
"There you are Rose, come on, it won't take long" said Gwen marching over to her and grinning at Arthur as she took Rose's hand and dragged her across the room.
"Come on I have enough dresses" moaned Rose.
"No, you don't you just keep wearing Morgana's tunics and dresses and classing that as a dress" said Gwen. Arthur and Merlin roared with laughter as she was finally dragged out of the room kicking and protesting a lot.
Rose was taken to her where the dresses were and sighed. She tried on the dresses one by one and liked them there was a particular dress she loved it was a red dress with short sleeves and on the back, it had the pendragon crest on it.
"I like the red dress and the green dress, I am not so sure of the purple it doesn't suit me" said Rose.
"I think you should wear this one tonight" said Gwen pointing at the green one "this one I made to for a more special occasion like a coronation" pointing towards the red dress. Rose smiled and gave Gwen a hug.
"Thank you so much" said Rose.
They got ready for the feast before Rose went across to the window and picked her letter from the windowsill and put it under her pillow and shut the window quickly. Night fell and Arthur came to get her for the feast. Uther joined them at the door the banquet room and all three walked in and people stood up for them and bowed. Arthur sat on Uther's right and Rose sat on his left. Uther seemed happy and they sat together. He kept clinging his cut next Arthur's and Rose's goblet.
They smiled at him and then the gleeman of the circus came forwards.
"I need two volunteers" said the gleeman he looked around the room then looked to Arthur and Rose looking at them with a smile she didn't trust "prince Arthur, what better or more fitting occasion for you to demonstrate your legendary bravery" he then looked to Rose "Lady Rose, what a lovely way to show of your aim and to throw knives at your guardian". Rose laughed and they both got up nodding. "Off course" said Arthur. Rose went and stood next Gleeman as Arthur spoke briefly to Merlin, he gave Merlin his cloak and went and got tied to the wheel.
"Don't worry I'll make sure she doesn't miss" said Gleeman.
"That's comforting" said Arthur.
Gleeman shoved an apple in his mouth before the wheel began to spin. Gleeman gave Rose a knife and took her hand they threw it together. It landed in between his hand and his head she laughed at Arthur's wide-eyed expression she heard everyone cheer, they did it again and it landed between his other hand and head. He was starting to look nauseous.
"The last one will be Rose's shot, here you go try not to kill your guardian" said Gleeman. Rose looked around to Uther who nodded smiling enjoying the entertainment.
She threw the last knife and it landed in something that was not wood she looked to see it had hit the apple. Rose sighed in relief before moving forward to help the circus people get Arthur off the wheel. There was a lot of cheers and laughter she looked across to Merlin who looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Once Arthur was off the wheel he came forward and helped him with his jacket. Gleeman gave Rose an apple for taking part and Arthur and Rose sat down munching down on the apple. As the feast went on Rose started to feel drowsy and tired after certain time, she noticed Uther was equally tired.
"I wish to retire," said Uther.
Rose nodded at him and her and Gwen helped him up and they took him to his room. They walked him to his chambers. With him in between them, it was sad sometimes seeing him like this the noble king a shell of himself until she was reminded if it wasn't for him and his magic hating mania, she would have been bought up by her actual mother. They got to the chambers.
"Do you want us to put you in to bed or on the chair" asked Rose.
"The chair please," said Uther.
They placed him in his chair, Gwen left the room while Rose made sure he was comfortable she made to leave the room, but Uther grabbed her arm "sit with me, pour us a drink please". She nodded poured out two goblets and sat down on a seat opposite him. She sipped her wine and started to fall asleep. She finished the goblet and put it on the table before falling asleep.
CLANG Rose woke with a start to a sword fight between Arthur and the Gleeman she noticed Arthur was unsteady. He dropped his sword Rose got up and wobbled. Uther pushed her back down and caught the Gleeman's blow that was about to take off Arthur's head.
"It will take more than a coward to kill my son!" said Uther. They fought each other with swords everything was getting knocked over in the ciaos.
"Merlin send guards to the kings chambers now" called Rose in her head her voice was slurred.
"What's happening, I am on my way" called Merlin into her head. She noticed Uther get disarmed and got up and ran over and chucked him his sword before catching the blow meant for Arthur. She fought against and she tripped backwards over the knocked over candle holder. She dropped her sword and her head slumped down the dizziness returning.
"Anything you wish to say before I kill him" said Gleeman she looked up and he was over Arthur again. Uther got up again and disarmed Gleeman quickly with the strength she hadn't seen him show in so long.
The Gleeman got a dagger out his boot and as Uther stabbed him, she watched the dagger go into Uther's chest. Rose got up and stumbled over and pulled Gleeman's dagger out of Uther's chest. Gleeman slumped dead and Uther stood for a few more seconds.
"Father" said Arthur. He moved forward and caught him, so he was in Arthur's arms. Rose collapsed and crawled closer them.
"Guards, guards," shouted Rose.
"Oh no, I'll go get help," said Arthur.
"Don't leave me" said Uther weakly. Rose went to get up, but Uther reached out and took her hand.
"Merlin, guards, knights, anyone hurry up please" said Rose in her head the last mental message was too much, and she fell backwards and passed out.
Rose woke up feeling sick and dizzy like she had done before she passed out. She was confused she was in a soft bed she opened her eyes. She blinked a few times she had Merlin sat at the end. She looked around and saw she was in her chambers. She sat and swatted Merlin on the arm before giving him a quick hug.
"You like to take your time," said Rose.
"The guards weren't listening to me; I can't exactly go Rose has sent me a telepathic message with her magic," said Merlin.
"What happened, there was a fight and Uther was stabbed that's all I remember, how long have I been out" said Rose she was trying to remember everything.
She felt like she had been out for ages.
"You have been out since last night and its noon now, Gaius thinks the sedative they gave you was made for a grown adult not a 14 year old, I got Gwaine to come with me, I lied and said I heard a commotion and we arrived Arthur was holding Uther and you were unconscious, I went to get Gaius and while I was gone Gwaine got Uther up on the bed, so when I got there Arthur stood over his father while Gwaine was trying to get you to wake up, Agravaine came not long after and was very worried about you attempted to pick you up but I stepped in and scooped you up" said Merlin.
"That's because Morgana's threatened him that if I get hurt then he's getting her wrath, how is Uther?" said Rose.
"Uther is going to die," said Merlin. Rose stared at him in shock and before she could say anything Merlin was being called by Arthur. He ran out to find out he wanted, and Rose got out of bed and changed her clothes slowly her whole body ached, and she felt dizzy and sluggish. She looked out the window leaning against the wall. People were gathering around outside to pay respect to Uther. It was so weird she could never imagine Uther dying, it was weird she was half glad and half guilty for feeling glad. She stood there for some time the sun began to set. People bought candles to mourn Uther the man wasn't even dead yet.
There was a knock at the door which nudged her out of her thoughts. Rose turned to face the door and stumbled she caught her balance and walked closer to the door.
"Enter" said Rose. Agravaine came in looking worried and happy with himself at the same time. She looked at him and he looked at her.
"Want to come with me to tell Morgana the good news" asked Agravaine. Rose nodded and smiled before getting on her druid cloak and putting the hood up. She was wanting to see Morgana she always used to know what to say to make her feel better in general.
They got a horse and decided to share one. Agravaine got on first and then Rose got on behind him "hold on to me I am starting at a canter". Rose nodded and wrapped her arms around Agravaine's waist to be fair she would rather wrap her arms around the troll than him, but she wouldn't say that. He obviously didn't trust her, yet he was nice to her only to keep up appearances and to keep Morgana sweet. He started at canter, and it made her feel sicker than before she leant her head into his back so she couldn't see the world blur around her. They got the hovel and Agravaine got down first and helped her down. She had to lean on him a minute to get rid of the dizziness. She stumbled to the hovel, and they walked in.
Morgana turned around and pointed a knife at them.
"Is that anyway to welcome old friends" said Rose smiling at Morgana.
"I wasn't expecting to see you today, what's happened," said Morgana. Rose swayed on the spot and her legs buckled as the dizziness got too much, she got black spots dancing in her vision, time slowed down as Morgana caught her and walked her over to the bed.
"We have good news, better than we could have hoped for" said Agravaine.
"What is it? What's wrong with her?" said Morgana rounding on Agravaine quickly.
"Uther has been mortally wounded, he's on his deathbed Gaius says he only has a few days to live, the person was attempting to kill Arthur, so they drugged both Rose and Arthur with a drugged apple, so they were easy to kill, we still don't know why they wanted Rose dead to" said Agravaine. Rose groaned as she felt a wave a nausea crash over her, she heaved and again time slowed down as Morgana shoved a bowl under her chin.
"Breathe, there now, you're okay" soothed Morgana.
She finished and wiped her mouth before laying down on the bed and curling up into herself. Morgana sat on the bed and put a hand on Rose's shoulder before looking across to Agravaine "I hope the image of my face haunts him, how is Arthur".
"Devastated, the poor boy can't think straight" said Agravaine. Coming closer to the bed.
"Then we must strike while he's vulnerable," said Morgana. She turned back to face Rose, but Agravaine grabbed her arm.
"When Uther dies, the kingdom will be weak" said Agravaine. Rose groaned again and Morgana wrenched her arm out of his hold and went back to Rose. Rose let herself fall asleep feeling safe with Morgana.
Rose woke up sometime later she was confused, she was cuddled to Morgana who was asleep next to her. She got up and felt ten times better than she had before she looked around the hovel and poured herself some water from a jug and restarted the fire with her magic. Rose then sat on a chair by the fire. Morgana came over a few minutes later and sat her chair next to her so she could wrap her arm around her.
"Are you feeling better? You have been unconscious for the last day or so" asked Morgana kissing the top of the head.
"Much better thank you," said Rose.
"The sedative made you ill, I am glad you're feeling better," said Morgana. Rose leant her head on Morgana's shoulder.
"I miss you" said Rose honestly.
"This won't be forever," said Morgana. They sat like that for a while until Agravaine came in looking flustered and angry.
"My ladies" said Agravaine looking happy for a second Rose shuddered at the thoughts that he was probably having in his head. She looked at him and nodded back at him "Arthur has gone to consult a sorcerer; he intends to use magic to heal Uther".
Rose got up and walked towards the door feeling annoyed. Arthur can't call magic evil and bad then in the next breath use it when it suited him.
"I am going to go shout at Arthur," said Rose. She left the hovel and walked back to Camelot, she went to Gaius's chambers and saw it was just the physician "please tell me Agravaine's wrong, please tell me he isn't using magic to save Uther".
"Unfortunately, it is true, Merlin is going to use the aging spell," said Gaius. Rose sighed and sat down on the bench; Rose told him where she had been when she was away.
"Arthur shouldn't have told Agravaine anything," said Rose.
They sat there and waited until finally the door opened and Merlin came. Rose let out a breath of relief before getting up.
"Merlin we were worried, we thought something had happened," said Gaius. Merlin gave them a grin before running up the steps up to the library area of the chambers.
"It went to plan, apart from Arthur thinking I have something really wrong with my bladder" said Merin happily. Rose glared at him this was dangerous. Arthur would behead him in a heartbeat if it went wrong.
"Please tell me you're not going through with this, what if your exposed," said Rose.
"If I heal Uther, Arthur has given me his word that when he is king, he'll bring magic back," said Merlin.
He looked at Rose went down the stairs looking at like he had only just seen her properly he then put his hands on his shoulders "where have you been for the last day or so, Agravaine said you were hunting but I know for a fact you weren't well enough to randomly go off hunting".
"I went to see Morgana, had a reaction to the sedative in the apple and she looked after me, I am fine now, Arthur told Agravaine about using magic" said Rose she then looked him up and down "Don't change the subject, what if something goes wrong, his opinion of magic will change forever".
"We live the risk every day, I have got to take this chance, everyone is always telling me I have this great destiny maybe this is," said Merlin.
"Okay, do what you think is best," said Rose. She made her way towards the door "I am going to get changed and see Arthur then I'll come back".
Rose went to her room and drew herself a bath. She had spent a day or so in hovel she couldn't go to Arthur all dirty. She cleaned herself and her hair before getting out the bath and changing into one of Morgana's tunics and leggings. She wrote to Mordred quickly before heading to find Arthur, but she couldn't find him, so she went to see Gaius. He was alone again she looked at him in disbelief.
"He's gone to heal Uther," said Gaius. She sat down on a spot on the floor near the steps and sighed she wished she had been able to help him sort out a proper healing magic for him.
It should have been her doing the spell she was a lot more skilled at healing than he was. She read a few pages of a book before she started to feel it, a pain in her body. It started with a tingling under her skin. Then it was in her chest, and she felt it a loneliness and sadness a sense of loss and betrayal, the woman bought up as daughter betrayed him. She let out a gasp and clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
"Gaius" gasped Rose. He was at her side in a shot and got on to the floor next to her. Taking her hand and wrapping an arm around her back.
"Breathe in deeply, you're going to be okay, tell me what's wrong," said Gaius. She had a magic surge go through her it hurt it hurt so bad.
"Uther's feeling pain, somethings going wrong" said Rose before screaming as another jolt went through her.
"It's alright breathe through it" said Gaius he let go of Rose and got up. He went across to his bench and got a cloth and put some potions on to it. He then got next to her again. The pain died down and all she was left with peace.
Gaius put the cloth to her face it had smelt of lavender.
"Uther's dead," said Rose. She gasped the rest of the magic out and felt emotional and weak. There was a knock at the door and they both got up slowly. Rose faced away from the door as Gaius told the person to enter.
"We need you at the royal chambers immediately," said a guard.
They walked to Uther's chambers and she went straight over to Arthur taking his hand he squeezed her hand tightly, standing on his right and Gwen stood on his left. He looked devastated and sad. The king laid dead in his bed. It felt so weird she had felt him die why had she felt him die. She watched as Gaius checked him over and shut his eyes. He looked up to face Arthur at the other side of the bed.
"I am sorry Arthur; the king is dead" said Gaius. She looked up to look at Gaius and saw Merlin stood in the doorway. He looked shaken and upset. Gaius put the sheet over Uther's head in respect.
Rose left the room and went to her chambers. She took a goblet from the table and chucked it against the wall. Why had she felt his pain? Why had she felt him die? Why was she sorry for ever hating him or wanting him dead? It was his fault it was all his fault. She should be happy he is dead but all she could think of how he died in pain and feeling alone and betrayed. She chucked another cup at the wall and picked up a chair and chucked that against the wall. She hated that man he ruined her life and all she felt was anger.
He was dead and all she could feel was sorry for him and confused. Someone entered the chambers as she picked up another chair to chuck at the wall.
"Stop that" said Merlin. He ran over to her and took the chair of off her and then pulled her into his arms "come with me". He took her hand, and they went to the lower part of the castle. They sat down on the floor by the stairs.
"Is Arthur in there with Uther" asked Rose.
"Yeah, come here, what's wrong" said Merlin.
He pulled her on to his lap and she leant her head on his shoulder.
"I felt Uther die" said Rose.
"Morgana probably felt him die to then, she somehow managed to get a necklace on Uther that reversed the effects of my healing spell, he hates magic forever now" said Merlin in a whisper in her ear.
"Agravaine, it's got to be, I should have intercepted the necklace I am sorry" said Rose quietly.
"It's not your fault, you put yourself at risk enough by going to see her" said Merlin tightening his arm around her.
"The more I visit her the better, so I can stop things for happening," said Rose.
They both went silent and sat and waited for Arthur to come out the room. The door opened and the morning sun came in through the door hitting the wall.
"Merlin, Rose" said Arthur they both got up and faced him. She went over to Arthur and gave him a quick hug before standing next to him "It's a new day, have you been here all night".
"We didn't want you feel alone," said Merlin.
"You're both loyal friends," said Arthur. He took Rose's hand and held it. Her stomach growled and both the men looked at her with an amused look Arthur shut the door to the room with Uther in "you must be hungry" he smiled at them both.
"Starving" said Merlin.
"Me too, come on you two" said Arthur.
He started to climb the stair taking Rose with him and Merlin followed behind them. Taking on the role as the servant again "you can make all three of us some breakfast". They went to Arthur's chambers and ate breakfast together.
"This is nice, thank you Merlin, I could make you my maid" said Rose. Giving Merlin a wink and smiling to him.
"No, he stays my servant, I need him" said Arthur suddenly. He then stood up and finished the water in his cup "right, I need to get ready, Rose you also need to get ready, you are not attending my coronation looking like a mini Morgana". Rose smiled and nodded before getting up and leaving the room. She found Gwen on her way to her chambers and they went to her chambers.
"I think you should wear the red dress today" said Gwen.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea" said Rose.
Gwen helped her into the dress and did her hair down her back she looked in the mirror. She looked older in the dress which was interesting she turned around and it looked good as she spun. She put on some red shoes. Rose couldn't believe what was going on it was so weird; she was going to become the kings ward. Arthur was going to be king which meant she had to make sure she worked more at her destiny to get Gwen on the throne and to stay the link between light and dark also known as Merlin and Morgana. There was a knock at the door, and she went to the door and opened it to see Arthur stood there.
"It is time" said Arthur. He put his arm out and she linked it.
They went to the throne room and waited for people to line up in rows. Finally, everyone was in positions and they walked in. People bowed as they walked past. Once they got to the front Rose moved to stand on the right on the front row. Arthur knelt in front of the throne while Geoffrey stood next to him.
"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of Camelot according to their respective laws and customs," said Geoffrey.
"I solemnly swear so to do," said Arthur. Rose noticed his back was tense she could tell he was nervous.
"Will you, to your power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgements," said Geoffrey.
"I will" said Arthur.
Geoffrey lifted the crown in his hands and lowered it on to Arthur's head in a very dramatic fashion. Did all these ceremonies have to be so pompous.
"Then by the sacred law vested I crown you Arthur, king of Camelot," said Geoffrey. Arthur stood up and turned to face the room. Was she meant to go stand next to him or stay in line? She didn't know so decided to stay put until Arthur looked at her pointedly. She went over and stood on his right he took her hand.
"Long live the king" shouted Agravaine. The whole room was then filled the chorus of long live the king and she loved it. Arthur still looked nervous, but he seemed to be enjoying it to.
The end
