It was the feast of Beltane and it had been a week or so since Mithian had left. Rose had grown a few inches taller and the stomach had flattened out again which she was glad about. Rose was on the night-time guard with Elyan and Leon in the lower town. She had offered to the guard duty and swapped with Percival rather than go to the feast because she couldn't be bothered with the feast. She stood between Elyan and Leon on the battlements looking down on the lower town.
"Did you see that" asked Elyan. He pointed into the distance to see a yellow and orange glow waved in the distance. They stared at it a few minutes.
"Maybe someone is signalling to someone in the city," said Leon. They looked around to the castle but no nothing was there. Rose frowned and turned back to the lower town. Two guards that were at the other end of the lower town were choking and coughing.

Then the lower town completely erupted into fire and smoke. They all ran down there as quick as they could, Leon shouting orders at the guards as they ran along. They got down and immediately it was obvious what caused the fire as the fumes of Alcohol mixed with the smell of smoke.
"Form a line to the well" shouted Elyan. The knights around them started to do as they were told, they started to throw water on the fire, but it wasn't enough "we need more water, NOW!". The noise was loud people screaming, crying, the fire raging and the knights shouting orders at each other it was a lot to take in and then a new noise was added the noise of shouting men.

Rose and Leon looked at the same time to see an army of men running towards them carrying torches with them. Rose heart dropped this had to be the Morgana's work.
"Forget about the water," said Leon.
"But if we can't…." said Elyan. Rose nudged him and pointed at the army running towards them he stared at them in horror "How did they breach the gate!".
"We can't worry about that now, Quickly, sound the alarm Elyan! Inform the king, Leon with me" said Rose. Elyan ran back to the castle as Leon and Rose got their swords out. They began to fight with the enemy she got herself so she was defending the end of the lower town so that they couldn't get into the castle.
"Retreat! Lead the people to the woods," shouted Leon. Rose retreated to the square and carried on fighting the enemy there. The warning bell was ringing and all she could hear was people screaming and yelling.

Suddenly she was grabbed from behind by someone in a red cloak and pulled her around so more of the enemy could see her she struggled against them.
"Tell Morgana to retreat or I will kill Rose" said the voice of a Camelot knight a sword came to her throat, she was relieved when he released her and fell to the floor dead. She turned around and saw it was a dark man who had saved her. He was the enemy. This was Morgana's doing what reason would he have to save her. She nodded at him in thanks and began to fight a few more of the enemy but really not putting any effort into it because they weren't putting effort into it. She ran into the castle and began fighting people there. She then dodged as another knight tried to do what the first one did. Now she was really confused. She ducked and dodged as she ran through the corridors trying to get to the hospital ward. Again, she was grabbed from behind.
"Tell Morgana to leave Camelot or I'll kill her ward" shouted another knight of Camelot.

Rose rolled her eyes as again she felt something come to her throat only this one was a knife and it cut her a bit. She kicked him but he didn't let go. Again, this knight went limp and fell down with a sword in his back. She turned to see the dark man again she nodded her thanks again. She then ran down the corridor and fought against a few more of the enemy. She got grabbed at a few more times by the Camelot knight but she managed to duck and dive away from them. It was like fighting with both enemy and the Camelot knights. She was being ganged up on and she didn't like.
"Rose, where are you?" called Morgana's voice in her head. She ran down the corridor and then down another corridor. She carried on running and fighting as she went along.

Rose joined Percival and Gwaine as they were running and fighting as well, she would cover them, and they would cover her, she looked at them. All three of them ran into the room where the wounded were and locked the door.
"How do we stand?" asked Gaius the room had a few wounded knights in and Merlin and Arthur, he was holding up his chainmail over his ribs. He looked relieved when he saw her. Sir Benning came over to them and stood with them he had a cut on his face.
"The citadel is over run we can't hold them off much longer," said Percival.
"How long until they are here" asked Gaius.
"Minutes at best," said Rose.

She looked across to her fellow knights to see if they agreed with her, but Benning was glaring at her. He looked very angry with her. Percival looked equally annoyed but at Benning who was still glaring at her like she had done something wrong or she had bought the Southrons in no that was Agravaine.
"They're coming for Arthur, if they find him, they'll kill him," said Merlin.
"We must get him to safety while we still can," said Percival.
"Arthur would never abandon his people" said Gwaine.
"He'd rather die" added Rose.

This made Benning glare at her more, but she ignored it, she would speak to him later about if she had to but right now the important things were to survive the battle and get Arthur to safety "we must barricade the door, give them as much time as we need".

Merlin nodded as they started to barricade the door. The looks she was getting from Benning and the other knights in the room she wished she was on the other side of the door. They finished and ran over to Arthur who was dazed and confused.
"We have to go sire" said Merlin.
"Of course," said Arthur getting up. Rose looked at Merlin and he gave a look. He had used magic to take away Arthur's will and to make him easier to reason with. He looked really out of it. He stood up and looked at them all.
"Then let's go," said Percival.
"We'll use the postern gate" said Rose going to go with them, she walked with them to the door however Benning grabbed her arm and glared at her pulling her away from that.
"You are going nowhere Rose!" said Benning angrily. He pushed her back into the main part of the room.
"We'll hold them off as best we can" said Gwaine.

He shook arms with Percival, Rose ran over to Arthur and hugged him quickly before Benning pulled her away from him. She got out of his grip and went back to the middle of the room. Getting ready to say goodbye to Merlin.
"Gather your things, Gaius" said Merlin looking desperately at Gaius, looking concerned for his guardian.
"You go Merlin, I'll slow you down," said Gaius.
"Gaius, no," said Merlin.
"You must know it's for the best," said Gaius. Rose was watching the door waiting for it to open. She could see that Benning was still glaring at her out of the corner of her eye. She was starting to wish she were going with Arthur and Merlin.
"No if you stay here…," said Merlin.
"No time to argue, I'm sorry" said Gwaine pushing Merlin towards the other door. Merlin looked defeated as he went after the other men.
"I will keep him safe I give you my word" called Rose after him.
"Protect our king," said Gaius.

Merlin left the rest of the knights leaving Gwaine, Benning, Gaius and Rose standing in front of her door, in one swift movement Benning took his sword out of his sword holder and got hold of Rose so his arm was around her shoulders and the sword to her neck.
"Let go of me!" said Rose struggling against him. The struggling made the blade come against her skin and cut it.
"Benning what on earth are you doing!" asked Gaius urgently.
"King Arthur once said that if things looked dire to make it look like Rose was in danger, now she is genuinely in danger because she is the traitor, she should be killed for the traitor she is" said Benning angrily. He bought the sword down but replace the sword with his arm this made her gasp for air.
"I didn't…. Let me go... can't breathe" gasped out Rose. It was harder to breathe the tighter he got as his desperation seemed to get worse.
"Let her go, Benning or so help me I'll kill you where you stand" shouted Gwaine.

Pointing his sword at him. Rose attempted to struggle but he held tighter. She couldn't breathe she needed air. The door blew open and Morgana came into the room with her soldiers.
"Let her go" said Morgana.
"Stop this attack and retreat, then she'll be released" said Benning angrily. How dare he use her as bait, how dare Arthur tell the knights to use her as bait. She was getting weaker as she attempted to gasp for air.
"let her go! She isn't the traitor" said Gaius. She stamped on his foot hard which made him loosen his grip as he hopped on the spot, she then moved her head to the side and elbowed him in gut.

He let go and Rose ran forward. She gasped for air and stumbled, sat herself on the table and she took deep breaths.
"Your victory is short lived Morgana." said Gaius. Morgana glared at them before turning around.
"Prepare the horses we're going on a hunt," said Morgana. She then turned around again quickly to face the room "wait" she put her hand out and blasted Benning back with magic then magicked the knife into his body killing him "these two the dungeons" pointing to Gaius and Gwaine "her the throne room, gently she is not under arrest".

Rose got up and let the dark guy lead her out the room and to the throne room. There were two thrones and Rose took of her cloak and threw it across the room then sat down on one of the thrones and curled herself up on it, she pulled her legs up underneath herself and leant on the back.
"What's your name?" Asked Rose.
"My name is Helios my lady," said Helios.
"It's just Rose, thank you for saving me before," said Rose.
"You're welcome now sit up I need to do something about your neck" said Helios he got her discarded cloak and started to tear the material into strips. She sat up and he wrapped the strips around her neck and nodded "are you struggling to breathe or talk".
"No not really, my throat hurts and I just feel really tired" said Rose honestly. Once he was done, she went back into her past position on the throne and shivered slightly.
"I need some water and a blanket!" ordered Helios to his men. Rose eyes started to droop as the adrenaline she had been feeling ebbed away from her, a man came into the room with goblet of water and a blanket. Helios shook out the blanket and put it over her "sit up and drink this then I'll leave you alone". She sat up drank the water and went back to her position. She let herself fall asleep for a bit.

The door opening loudly woke her up sometime later, she sat up and Morgana came in and gave her a sympathetic smile. She came over and sat down on the throne next to her, she took Rose hand and squeezed it. Rose ached around her neck and shoulders, but she felt better than she had done before.
"They got away, are you alright?" asked Morgana.
"I am alright, I think, I ache but I am alright, Helios sorted me out" said Rose.
"Thank you, Helios," said Morgana looking up to him as he was stood by the throne, he leant on it in a flirty way, she changed her position so her legs was under her as well so she could speak to him.

Rose smiled at her fondly before turning around as the door opened and Agravaine came in. He looked smug and full of himself.
"All quarters of Camelot are now under our control. Some knights have fled to the woods, but those that did not escape are either in here, in our dungeons or dead" said Agravaine. He was still looking smug with himself; he was looking dreamily at Morgana.
"Very good" said Morgana. She looked up to Helios then looked at Agravaine. Rose sat there and an idea came into her mind. Did Agravaine know about Arthur's order? He had to because he was his uncle and had been helping Arthur with the army and the knights.
"Have the people welcomed me as their queen" asked Morgana.
"They swear loyalty to no one but Arthur" said Agravaine.
"I thought no less, burn their crops" said Morgana. Rose stared at her in shock she couldn't mean that at all that was crazy. She shook her head and turned to face Morgana.
"Or maybe it might be an idea to speak to the people and show that you are just as deserving for their respect" said Rose. Morgana stared at her for a minute thinking about it.
"Okay, I'll go with that idea for now, this place will never accept me without force" said Morgana. Rose felt so bad that Morgana felt that way that the only way she'd get respect would be to burn the farmers crops and starve everyone.

She hoped that Merlin was okay, well from the link that was between them he was alive.
"Agravaine did you know that Arthur had ordered the knights that whenever it looked dire and Morgana was involved to make it look like I was in danger" asked Rose calmly.
"I did know however it was only meant to be pretend, not actual harm" said Agravaine. Rose got up at that and shrugged away the blanket and pulled up the bandages that were around her neck showing him the scars of what happened. She also felt bruised as well so assumed there was a bruise there.

It hurt to think that they thought it was okay to do this and not even speak to her about this. The knights that did this to her was not pretending and they would have killed her if it hadn't been for Helios.
"This isn't pretend, non-off the knights that used that tactic last night were pretending, I have a right to know if I am going to be used as bait, I was a knight of Camelot and I was fearing them last night not the people attacking" said Rose angrily.
"What of Arthur" asked Helios. He looked equally as angry as Morgana did, she nodded and Elyan got bought into the room. Rose looked across at him and he gave a look.
"I am going to go write some letters, if that is okay Morgana" said Rose.
"Yeah off you go" said Morgana. Rose left the room quickly not wanting to deal with watching him get tortured she hated it all.

Rose got to her chambers and shut the door. She went across to her table and sat down at the chair. She got the paper and began to write a long letter to Mordred about everything; the battle, Camelot falling, the knights strange new order of using her as bait, her injuries, Morgana's idea of being queen and everything she was feeling at the moment. It took her a while to write. While she was at the end of her letter, she had just signed it Morgana came into the room looking happy with herself.
"Arthur is headed to Ealdor, so I am sending Agravaine after them" said Morgana.
"He can't harm the villagers, Arthur and Merlin have no right going there putting Ealdor at risk" said Rose. She went back to her letter adding a PS at the bottom telling him about Arthur and Merlin arriving and the army that was after them. She folded up the letter and magicked the raven to the window and sent the letter to Ealdor.

Morgana sat down at the table and started to look at the papers on the desk. Rose went and sat on the bed putting her legs underneath her again. She picked up a book that was the bed side table and began to read. Agravaine entered the room sometime later and stood at the table in front of Morgana.
"I thought I told you to leave at once" said Morgana.
"My men are ready" said Agravaine.
"Then what are you waiting for" asked Morgana.
"I just wanted to say goodbye" said Agravaine.
"Consider it done" said Morgana scowling at him, he really had it bad. In a sense Morgana used his attraction to her as a weapon to get her to his bidding, whereas she didn't need to use Rose any of that because she wouldn't turn her back on Morgana.
"And to ask you to take care" said Agravaine.
"Why? She has nothing to fear" said Rose from her spot on the bed, she didn't even look up from her book.
"Despite all that has been achieved, you must remain cautious, there is danger at every turn, you can trust no one, not even Helios" said Agravaine.
"She's got me, she has always had me, and she will always have me, I would never let anything happen to her" said Rose.
"No one but you is that it?" questioned Morgana angrily sitting back and glaring at Agravaine, Rose came over and stood behind Morgana.
"Rose and I are your one true ally, my lady, we are your true friends" said Agravaine.

Rose smirked it was like he was about to break into song, it was sweet but very over the top and very obvious that Agravaine was jealous of Helios "I personally would do anything for you".
"I appreciate your loyalty Agravaine that is why I have entrusted this mission to you" said Morgana.
"I understand. of course, I do. I only wish it did not take me from your side where I can best protect you" said Agravaine.
"Find Arthur and you need never leave my side again" said Morgana. She smiled as Agravaine bowed and went to leave the room.
"Agravaine, do not harm the villagers, you are there for Arthur not anyone else, that is an order" said Rose.

He nodded and bowed to them both. He left the room, she then looked at Morgana "He has targeted Mordred in the past, I am worried".
"He dares not do that; I spoke to him about it" said Morgana.
"Yeah but what about Hunnith, Merlin would put his own mother in danger, plus he's useless at tracking" said Rose. She nearly said our mother, she was so anxious why did Merlin have to go to Ealdor. Could he not head to anywhere where the love of her life, their mother and Kara were? It was a double edged sword it was either stay and wait to find out something had happened to Mordred, Kara and Hunnith and stop Morgana killing everyone in Camelot or going after Agravaine and potential coming back to a Camelot with no fields and no people alive left. The idea came to her and she smiled.
"Try not to worry, that bruise is huge" said Morgana stroking her neck, she went over to the mirror and gasped her neck was a mess. It had a scar and was completely purple.
"Wow, I am going to go get something for it" said Rose, she got up and left the room.

Rose went to the physian's chambers and got some ointments for the bruises and got herself a bucket of water and took it to her usual spot looking over Camelot. She got the bucket and put it on to the seat next to her.
"wæfemess Mec draca feolagacipe" said Rose her eye glowed gold and she saw her brother in the water he was safe in the woods. He was with a group of people she didn't recognise she looked further in. Arthur was there he was hugging a tree. Why was he hugging a tree? It made her laugh; she saw Merlin open a box and a very pretty woman point a dagger at him "bearhtm".
"That's none of your concern" said the woman. She even sounded pretty.
"I'm sorry. It's just, I recognize that smell. That is frankincense isn't it?" said Merlin. A man came up behind the woman, poor Arthur was still hugging a tree and knocking on it. He looked ridiculous in peasants' clothes that were too big for him.
"What if it is?" asked the man.
"Must be worth a fortune" said Merlin.
"It must be" said the man. Rose decided at that to call it a day, he was safe and that is that mattered he had ended up in a group of smugglers and poor Arthur was still under a spell. Her eyes flashed to gold and the water went back to normal. She left the bucket there and decided she was going to check on them in the morning.

Now was keeping the people that were there in the kingdom alive. She left the bucket on balcony and walked down the corridor towards the kitchen. She went in and got some bread before heading to the dungeons knowing it probably wasn't enough, but it was better than nothing, she didn't want Morgana to starve them. She got the dungeon and saw them all sitting there looking broken and tired.
"Open the door to the cell" said Rose with authority to the guard he just stared at her "I am the queens ward and I demand you open this door unless you want me to go get Morgana herself". He jumped and quickly he opened the cell. She went in and shut the door behind her she took the bread out her bag. She gave them a piece of bread each.
"You have become my new best friend" said Elyan.
"I know it's not enough, but I am trying, I won't let any of you die, I am sorry you're all in here I am not a traitor if I play the part I can help you" said Rose.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, come here, it's alright, we understand you're no traitor, you are the only person I know who would find out her friends were keeping something from her and still apologise" said Gwaine pulling her into a tight hug, she hugged back quickly. She then hugged Gaius and Elyan before leaving the cell. Preparing herself for more of the trials to come being the ward of queen Morgana.

The end