Gwaine stuck to his word and took Rose to Ealdor the next week. He then left her promising to come and get her in a weeks' time, however he didn't arrive in the week. She waited a bit longer, Gwaine came about two weeks later with Percival to come and get her. On the day they came to get her, she was sat with Mordred and Kara in Mordred's house. Kara jumped slightly out of nowhere and looked at Rose with alarm.
"What's wrong?" asked Rose.
"I got a sense, a feeling; my druid camps shrine has been disturbed" said Kara she shivered and then chucked herself at Rose, bursting into tears. She caught her and hugged her tightly.
"It's okay, shush, I'll find out who did and fix it" soothed Rose. After a while poor Kara calmed down and Gwaine and Percival arrived. She said her goodbyes before going off with Percival and Gwaine.
On the journey back to the main group she was told what she had missed. Arthur and Gwen nearly got married but then Lancelot came back, and they had a kiss. Gwen was now banished. She stared at them both with shock and confusion. She always seemed to miss the important things. As she came into the clearing where Merlin, Arthur and the other knights. Merlin looked distressed and freaked out. Arthur looked distant and upset with something. As soon as he saw her walk towards him, and he came over to her and hugged her quickly before keeping her on his arm. They walked to the horses and Rose noticed they were one short before she could even mention it or suggest walking, she was scooped up by Arthur and put on his horse. He jumped behind her on the horse in a swift movement grabbing the reigns by wrapping both his arms around her waist.
They started to ride back to Camelot and Rose changed her position slightly so she could look at Arthur and was supported by his arm.
"Arthur are you okay?" asked Rose quietly.
"Why wouldn't I be?" muttered Arthur to her.
"You haven't let go of me since I saw you" Muttered Rose.
"Let's just say I have had a bad week" muttered Arthur. He went quiet again, and Rose straightened again so she wasn't leant on his arm. They arrived back in Camelot in the evening, and they got off the horse. Arthur took her hand and they walked towards the castle. When they got to the door Arthur turned to face his manservant.
"Merlin don't come to my chamber for a while I want some time alone with Rose" said Arthur officially.
"Does that mean I have some time off" asked Merlin.
"Yes, now go do whatever you do in your spare time" said Arthur. He walked to his chambers taking Rose with him. She didn't protest as he needed the company for some reason.
They went into his chambers and sat down at on the seat in front of his bed area. He looked her sadly.
"Come on what's wrong? I am sorry to hear about Gwen" asked Rose.
"I guess the knights filled you in about it then" said Arthur. Arthur then started to tell about all she had missed and his feelings over it all. Then he started to talk about an old druid camp that they had been to.
"Did anyone disturb the shrine" asked Rose.
"Not that I am aware off" said Arthur. He sighed and looked at her "Merlin was panicking while we were there". Rose started to play with a hole in the sleeve of her tunic absent mindedly "I'll get Gwen to fix that". He then looked at her in shock before his face crumpled and tears fell down his cheeks.
Rose wrapped her arms around him and pulled his head into her shoulder and rubbed his back making shushing noises as he cried into her shoulders he was devastated about Gwen; Rose felt the guilt burn inside her. Eventually he hugged back. He soon got a grip of himself and got up and sat down at his table.
"Do you want me to go?" asked Rose. Wanting to know if he wanted privacy after loosing control like that.
"Yes, you can go, thank you" said Arthur. Rose went over to him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders from behind.
"You don't need to thank me for comforting you, you're my friend and guardian" said Rose. She kissed the top of his head before leaving the room. She walked down the corridor her mind was active. How had Lancelot come back from the dead? She had a feeling she knew the answer and that caused her guilt to intensify. She walked to Gaius's chambers and walked into the room.
Merlin and Gaius were sat at their table. She sat down to join them sitting next to Merlin.
"What on earth has been going on? What happened with Lancelot? How did he come back from the dead?" asked Rose.
"You're not so lovely friend and fellow high priestess bought him back from the dead and made him a wraith, Gwen was enchanted by a bracelet and he found them kissing" said Merlin.
"Morgana! I had no idea they were even getting engage, I didn't know any of this was happening, I hate all this has happened when I was away" said Rose.
"Its not your fault, you are not responsible for Morgana's action" said Gaius patting her hand.
"My destiny is to protect the once and future queen and I have failed to do that, I am also meant to be the link between dark and light meaning I am meant to stop her doing things, I let this happen" said Rose. Merlin shook his head and wrapped his arm around her.
"Gaius is right don't worry about it" said Merlin. They had dinner before Rose went to her chambers to have some sleep.
Rose woke up the next day and got herself ready for training She put on one of Morgana tunics and her leggings before putting on her chainmail and cloak. She walked to the training ground to see everyone was gathered.
"About time you joined us" said Arthur.
"I'm not that late am I" asked Rose.
"Ignore him, he got out the wrong side of the table" said Merlin.
"Right pair up! Concentrate on counter-cutting, Gwaine you're with me" said Arthur completely ignoring his comment. Rose looked at him he had some find of stew in his hair.
"What's that in your hair" asked Leon.
"It's stew" said Merlin.
"Why do you have stew in your hair" asked Rose. Going over to him and picking some out of his hair gently so it was all gone.
"Because he was reading" said Merlin matter of factly. Arthur glared at Merlin.
"Change of plan" said Arthur. He gave Merlin a Camelot shield and helmet "we are going to practice on Merlin". He went over to Merlin and hit the shield with his sword hard Rose had jolt of fear as Merlin was knocked to the ground. She winced as he got up rubbing his arm.
Elyan approached him and smiled at Merlin. Rose felt a source of magic around him it was weird then she saw him. A small boy was stood next to him soaked to the skin and his lips with were blue. She had seen similar when Uther had been enchanted by a mandrake. He saw her staring at him and raised his eyebrows.
"You see me?" asked the boy in her head.
"Yes, I am high priestess, what are you doing her? Who are you?" asked Rose into the little boys head.
"My name is Jackson, this knight disturbed my resting place, I cannot rest, I died to protect my sister, but I don't know if she survived" said the boy into her head. It clicked into her head then. This was Kara's brother; she had felt the shrine be disturbed. She must have felt it stronger because it was her brother's spirit that was disturbed.
"Your Kara's brother, she escaped, she was rescued, and I healed her from her wounds" said Rose into his head. She was bought back to reality with a clang. She looked across to see Elyan was beating the seven bells out of the shield that Merlin was hold over his face. Arthur grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"He's had enough" said Arthur. The noise or the sound of Arthur's voice made the kid disappear as if he was scared.
The rest of the training went without much incident and lasted the whole day. Rose went back to her chamber to get changed out of her dirty clothes into one of her dresses She smiled at the dress before making her way to Arthur's chambers for dinner. She walked in to see he was looking out the window looking sad.
"Arthur?" questioned Rose. He looked across to her and gave a soft smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Merlin just gone to get us some dinner," said Arthur.
"Nice, is there a reason your staring out the window" asked Rose.
"I like to watch my subjects; I am king after all" said Arthur. Rose went over to him and put her arm around his waist. Merlin arrived with dinner and they both sat down and ate while Merlin did chores around the room. Eventually they were both done, and Merlin took the plates away.
Arthur went back to his position at the window and looked out it he was looking sombre. Rose stayed at the table unsure of what to do. That was quickly answered with the return of Merlin.
"Would you like me to make up the bed, sire, or will you be sleeping on the table again?" asked Merlin with a grin on his face. Arthur didn't acknowledge his words just looked gloomily out the window "Is this about Gwen?" that got his attention he turned to face Merlin looking slightly angry and sad "we all miss her, you more than anyone". Rose would bet a crown she knew what was going to be said next and she was right.
"You can go now" said Arthur. Rose got up and started to walk towards the door.
"Arthur…" said Merlin.
"Get out!" shouted Arthur. He looked across to Rose walking towards the door "no you stay Rose, Merlin get out".
Rose shrugged and gave Merlin a sympathetic smile as he left the room. She sat down at Arthur's table again.
"You didn't need to shout at him" said Rose.
"He knows bringing up Gwen hurts me" said Arthur.
"He's trying to be a friend" said Rose. She saw something on his desk it's looked official "here come read this and take your mind off it". Arthur came over and sat down at the table opposite her and started to read the parchment. He looked up like he remembered something.
"Do you need any new clothes at all" asked Arthur. Rose nodded, had he noticed her weight gain or was he just interested.
"Yes please, I need them a bit bigger at the moment, I think I am growing still" said Rose.
"I should have noticed that, ah Gwen would deal with that kind of thing" said Arthur. Rose reached out and grabbed the top of his hand.
"Hey, its fine, don't be so hard on yourself" said Rose. He smiled at her and then continued to read. Rose bought her hand back and found a book.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while Arthur reading his parchment, Rose was reading a book she had found on knight's stuff. They heard a movement and Elyan walked into the room looking dazed. He had a sword on his hip. They both jumped as he was stealthy in the way he came in.
"Elyan you startled us" said Arthur. He carried on standing there looking at them blankly.
"Everything alright" asked Rose. He took his sword out "what the hell are you doing". He swung it at Arthur nearly taking his head off, he swerved to avoid it. He then rolled away as Elyan stabbed towards him he stabbed the floor. Rose ran to grab her sword by ducking around him she then got her sword and ran back to the fight and at the right time because Arthur decided to fight a sword with a stool chair leg.
"Guards" called Arthur. Rose caught the blow with the sword and the two of them fought while Arthur ran out to get the guards.
"Elyan, stop, what has gotten into you" said Rose as he became more aggressive with his fight.
"He needs to answer for his crimes" said Elyan.
Rose caught the blows and not wanting to harm her friend. He did a move which made her drop her sword, he kicked it away and advanced on her she backed away before tripping on the stupid stool leg that discarded, she landed straight on her back and immediately felt winded. Arthur came back in and picked up a better stool and ran so he was between the two of them. He threw the stool and went to grab him, but he ran away out the door chased by the guards. Arthur turned and helped her up.
"Are you okay?" asked Arthur putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Yes, I am fine, a bit winded" said Rose breathlessly. Agravaine came in and looked shocked. Arthur told him what happened.
"Take her to see Gaius, she seems to be struggling to catch her breath, alert Merlin and speak to the knights, I want him found" said Arthur official.
"I'm fine, I just need a minute" said Rose breathlessly still.
"You are going to Gaius" said Arthur. She huffed and went with Agravaine before he got any ideas of attempting to pick her up or drag her there.
She walked to Gaius's chambers with Agravaine walking alongside her. She entered the room and sat down on his patient bed. Gaius and Merlin came over when they saw how breathless she was.
"What's happened" asked Gaius.
"Elyan attacked Arthur I managed to hold him off while Arthur got help, he knocked me over and I landed on my back hard and I am a bit winded but Arthur insisted you check me over" said Rose.
Merlin ran out the room followed by Agravaine. Gaius nodded and checked her over.
"You seem okay, no damage you just have to wait for your breath get back" said Gaius kindly he finished up and sat down at his desk. She went into the kitchen area and made them a cup of tea before sitting down opposite Gaius.
"Elyan is being possessed by a spirit called Jackson" said Rose.
"Oh, do you see him, I did wonder" asked Gaius.
"Yes, I see him, I wish I didn't he's a child" said Rose shuddering and she felt sick suddenly. Gaius got up and went over to his potion's cabinet. He got a potion bottle and came back to the table.
"I want you to take this, it'll calm your nerves," said Gaius. She took it and shot it immediately. She felt a lot calmer in herself, she gagged at the taste, but the effects of the potions were great.
"I think I need to lie down" said Rose feeling like her head was heavy.
"Yeah you will, get yourself to your chambers" said Gaius. Rose nodded and smiled at him before walking to her chambers. She laid down on the bed without changing her clothes and fell asleep.
Rose woke up the next day feeling sick, she immediately threw up into a pot by her bed. That was weird maybe it was something she ate. She wiped her mouth and magicked the pot clean. She then got up and washed before getting into a tunic and leggings. She put on her knight's cloak over the tunic to hide the tightness of her tunic and made her way to Gaius's chambers. She entered the room and went across to the book self and took a load of books from the shelf and sat down opposite Gaius.
"Do we know how to get Jackson peace" asked Rose.
"It'll take powerful magic to get him out of Elyan," said Gaius.
"But then what'll happen to Jackson, will it hurt him" asked Rose.
"He'll be expelled from Elyan and go back to being a restless soul, it will hurt him, but it is worth it," said Gaius.
"No, he's just a child, there has got to be another way" said Rose.
She then started to read a book about the druids. She couldn't let Kara's brother be in any more pain than he was. She read for a while until Merlin came into the room.
"Agravaine is pushing for Elyan's execution" said Merlin.
"Arthur may not have a choice to not execute him" said Gaius.
"We can't let that happen" said Rose and Merlin together.
"I wish you two wouldn't do that its unnerving" said Gaius raising his eyebrow at them both he then looked at them both "what would you have us do".
"Expel the evil spirit from Elyan" said Merlin. Rose rolled her eyes and felt annoyed at that statement how could a child be evil.
"It would require powerful magic" said Gaius.
Rose felt even more annoyed at that, he was a child that didn't deserve to go on as a spirit.
"Oi, he not evil he's a child, Jackson didn't ask to be drowned in a well there for you shouldn't be expelling him from Elyan" said Rose with annoyance.
"Oh, you see him when he appears to Elyan" said Merlin.
"Yes, and he is Kara's older brother, he died so she wouldn't die" said Rose. She slammed her book shut and got up angrily "find a painless way to get Jackson out". She then stormed out of the room taking the book with her because she knew she could concentrate better without those two deciding to use a torturous way to expel the spirit from Elyan. She went to her chambers and laid down in bed. She read for a couple more hours before nodding off her head on the book.
Rose was awoken by the warning bell sometime later she looked at the window to see it was pitch black outside. She left her chambers and ran down the corridor carefully with her sword. She met with a group of knights.
"What's happened?" asked Rose.
"Sir Elyan has escaped my lady" said one of the knights. She nodded before running down the corridor and using her tracking, she focused on Merlin and she found him quick enough in her mind. She ran down corridors and ran out of the castle. She carried on running until she made it to the woods. Elyan was stood holding a waterskin looking suspiciously at Merlin.
Behind him was Jackson standing there shaking his head. Rose came over and looked at the druid boy.
"Rose, what are you doing here" asked Elyan with confusion.
"I am here to help; I want to help you and I want to help Jackson" said Rose.
"How do you know his name?" asked Elyan.
"Rose go now" said Merlin suddenly. Jackson shook his head at his, looking distressed and upset with the idea of her leaving.
"I don't want her to go" said Jackson the words were creepy as he looked so upset.
"Sorry about this Merlin" said Elyan
"Sorry about what" said Merlin. Elyan didn't answer but knocked Merlin around the head with his water skin. Rose knelt down next to Merlin to check him over, but she could even touch him the water skin connected to her head, she fell backwards, and everything went black.
Rose came around later and it was daylight. She looked around she was in a druid camp with flags all around making a shrine for the camp. She sat up and healed her own head quickly she didn't have time for a headache. She looked across to Elyan and Jackson who were sat near her.
"You didn't need to knock me out" said Rose.
"I was worried you wouldn't come if you were asked" said Elyan. Jackson got up and went up over to her. Rose got up to and was surprised when the kid hugged her tightly.
"You healed my sister; I will be forever thankful. How old is she now" asked Jackson.
"She has just turned 12, even though she is a few years young than me I see her like a daughter" said Rose.
"Can you bring her to me?" asked Jackson smiling softly at the idea that she was looked after and being cared for.
"I can, I will use the Aswindan spell, will it help you if you see her?" said Rose.
"Yes I need to see for myself that she is safe" said Jackson. Rose nodded and got down to his level and put her hand on his soaking wet shoulder, he was so cold it stung her hand.
"Be good and stay out of trouble until I get back" said Rose. She stepped back and looked across at Elyan "I have magic, but I only use it for the good of the kingdom, Jackson can explain it to you". She then shut her eyes "Aswindan ae Ealdor". She felt the flying sensation as she flew through the air.
Rose landed on the outskirts of Ealdor and went into the village quickly. She looked around everything seemed to be normal which was weird. It was so weird how her week was being very weird, but everything was going on. Life went on as normal.
"Kara, where are you?" called Rose in her head.
"I am in our house" said Kara into her head. She smiled and ran across to their house. She walked in to see Mordred was making some healing potions. While Kara was sat at the table watching the door. Rose hugged them both before telling them about Jackson and Elyan.
"He isn't the murdering type I don't understand" said Kara. Rose felt a squeeze on her heart as she heard Kara protect her brother as he had protected her. She took her hand and pulled her into her side.
"No, he isn't himself, the way he died has affected him, spirits that are stuck in this world become angry, come on let's go see Jackson" said Rose. She looked across to Mordred as he put on his coat, she gave him a questioning look "what are you doing?".
"I am coming with you, I am a druid, I'll be able to help" said Mordred.
"Okay but if the Camelot knights turn up, I want you to hide do you understand" said Rose.
Mordred nodded and she went over to him giving him a kiss on the cheek. She picked up Kara and held on to her tightly "Kara hold on tightly, Mordred hold on to me, neither of you worry if you feel sick". Kara held on to her tightly and Mordred wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly "shut your eyes". She shut her eyes and used the Aswindan spell. Again, she felt herself flying through the air. They landed on the ground in the shrine, immediately Mordred dropped to his knees and started to gag. She gently put down Kara and started to rub circles in his back. She looked around before sitting down on the ground. They sat down on the ground waiting for Elyan and Jackson to come back.
They waited for a long while until Elyan and Jackson came back. They came into the camp and Kara got up and ran over to her brother. They hugged each other tightly.
"You're so cold" said Kara. Rose and Mordred went over to them both. She put her hand on Elyan's shoulder.
"Are you okay" asked Rose.
"Apart from being followed around by the spirit of a child and finding out there is a sorcerer in Camelot I'm great" said Elyan.
"I am not a sorcerer I am a high priestess and I have only ever used it for good, I have saved Camelot and Arthur's life so many times" said Rose.
"Why would you save the man that would see you dead" said Jackson.
"Arthur is not his father, he has shown me nothing but kindness and love, he made me a knight and he trusts me" said Rose. Mordred and Kara were looking at her with interest whereas Elyan and Jackson looked disgusted, he started to cough up water and shivering. Rose went over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. He shivered and then glowed she stepped back pulling Kara with her.
"I can't control this, I want to avenge my death, I can't rest" said Jackson coughing he then disappeared, and the light went into Elyan. He dropped to his knees and started to drip water from himself.
"What's happened?" asked Kara in a panicked voice.
"He's possessing Elyan, his physical form is weak" said Rose.
"I am going to go kill the king" said Jackson's voice from Elyan's mouth.
He then turned to face them he put his hand out to them.
"We will stay here on our own accord; don't you dare tie us up" said Rose in a voice full of authority, he looked at her and nodded. He walked out of the clearing leaving them alone. Rose sat down on the ground and pulled Kara towards her, so she was curled up on her lap, she then felt Mordred come and sit behind her wrapping his arms around her. She enjoyed the comfort and squeezed his hand.
"Well hopefully Elyan can't remember anything, or I'll being saying hello to the stake or noose" said Rose.
"We won't let that happen" said Mordred and Kara together.
They waited a long time for Elyan to get back, she was wondering whether or not go hunting and get them something to eat, she decided not to because she didn't want him to come back and assume she had gone back to Camelot. It was nightfall when Elyan came back into the camp. He was looking tired and upset.
"My plan to kill the king was unsuccessful, he knows I have you, he was going to kill me, so I told him if he killed me he'd never see you again, it was Arthur that did this to me he lead the attack on a peaceful people" said Jackson's voice through Elyan's mouth it was so creepy.
She felt a shiver go down her spine. She stood up and went over to her very wet and cold friend. She hugged him wetting her dress, she was soaked.
"It's okay, chances are he'll be come here and get me" said Rose.
"Wait I can sense something" said Kara. She got up and she was right. There was noise coming into the druid shrine.
"I am here! That what you want!" called Arthur.
"Mordred hide!" said Rose into his head. He did as he was told and went into the trees. He hid behind a tree watching their every move. Elyan grabbed Kara and Rose pulling them in front of him using them a human shield she didn't like it. She struggled and so did Kara wanting to get away from his hands. Arthur and Merlin stared at them with shock.
"My blood is on your hands. I cannot rest because of what you did" said Jackson's voice.
"I know, let my ward and the child go, you have got me let them go" said Arthur.
They stood staring at each other for a minute before Elyan let go of them both, Rose grabbed Kara's hand before they ran over to Merlin. He looked Rose up and down and hugged her.
"The child is my sister, I let her live, I gave my life for hers and I would do it again" said Jackson voice. Arthur nodded and knelt down on the ground; he had a lot of sorrow in his eyes.
"I am responsible for what happened to you. And for all the violence that happened here. When I led the attack on your camp, I was young and inexperienced. I was desperate to prove myself to my men, to my...father he was angry with me because it took me too long to find Morgana, so I had his disappointment on my mind" said Arthur crying.
Rose wanted to step forward and hug him tightly but knew he had to do this himself. She pulled Kara to her as she listened to the story of her druid camp being destroyed "I told the men to spare the women and children, but I know that some of them ignored the order. And there was so much happening. I wanted to stop it...I froze. I didn't know what to do" he cried even harder than before. Elyan walked closer to them. Kara started to cry as well, so Rose held her tighter "I can still hear the screams. I cannot right this wrong. Nothing I can ever do will change the horrors that happened that day. But I can promise that, now that I am king, I will do everything that I can to prevent anything like this ever happening again. From this day forth, the Druid people will be treated with the respect they deserve. I give you my word".
Rose's jaw dropped he was going to change the law on druids and did that mean he was going to change his mind about magic. She stood and held her breath as Jackson took a sword and stood in front of Arthur her heart pumped hard "I am truly sorry for what happened to you". Jackson chucked his sword on the ground and helped Arthur up. He then hugged him tightly.
"I forgive you" said Jackson. He stepped back and looked around Arthur "Kara come here". Rose walked over to him with Kara.
"I am so sorry you died, you died saving me" cried Kara.
"I hold no blame I am at peace now, you grow and become the woman I know you will become" said Jackson he then hugged her and then stepped back. He breathed in and then out the white light came out of his mouth and nose. Jackson and all the spirits in the shrine left the shrine. She smiled as the place lost it's dark magic. Elyan swayed Arthur moved Kara out the way and caught Elyan as he fainted. He cried as he held Elyan up. Rose held Kara as she cried into her shoulder.
After a while Arthur and Merlin took Elyan away to Camelot and Rose gave a still distraught Kara to Mordred as soon as they were out of sight. She promised to get in touch and see them soon before they left to go back to Ealdor. She then went back to Camelot and as soon as she got back to Camelot, she ran herself a bath, if she was going to be arrested for being a high priestess, she was going to do it clean. She sat in the bath and thought about Mordred and thought about her life in Camelot she didn't want it to end where would she go. End up joining Morgana, she thought about it she missed Morgana. She finished in the bath and then got into some comfortable clothes before putting on her druid cloak.
She left her room and went to Elyan's room. He was sat in bed dry and looked better than he had done in the druid shrine.
"I was wondering when I was going to see you" said Elyan he got up and went over to her. He hugged her quickly, then stepped backwards, she stared at him in shock.
"I expected you to be angry" said Rose.
"You tried to save my life, so your secrets are safe with me" said Elyan.
"Thank you, hang on secrets?" asked Rose.
"Your courting a banished druid and you a high priestess, like I said to you your secrets are safe with me" said Elyan. Rose smiled and hugged him again.
"Thank you, get some rest" said Rose. She stepped back and the left the room feeling so much relief it was like air was coming out her. She went back to her chambers and felt for the first time in the last few days things were looking up.
The end
