They came out of the forest as the sun was beginning to set it was a truly beautiful sight with the white walls of the castle and the houses with fires already lit, smoke coming out of the chimneys and flickering lights at the windows. Camelot. Igraine looked on at the castle, that was where she wanted to be but it was unlikely she was going to be living there again for quite a while.
They made their way down through small villages soon coming to the city itself where they dismounted and carried on by foot leading the horses to the jousting arena. There were many tents outside it, it was clear that there was soon to be a jousting tournament. "Go in that one there I will catch you up soon" Robin pointed to the one he meant and then turned away taking both horses, finding a guard they began a quick discussion leaving Igraine on her own. She walked towards the tent Robin had mentioned feeling uneasy who would she find, did Uther already know she was here? Had he been told? Was Merlin in there with Arthur or Rose, was it going to be empty or a trap. She pulled herself together and walked into the tent.
Pulling back the flap she could see Rose waiting for her. Igraine smiled it felt great to see her best friend once more. Rose was dressed in red chain-mail made out of a mixture of rubies, diamonds and some sort of metal. Rose looked only around 13 to 14 even through she was Uther's older sister. Her real age was somewhere around 90, where as Igraine's was a few thousand. Rose's hair was a dark blonde it was curly and thick. Sometimes she would put a bit of red in it. It flowed down her back today, she didn't often wear it down.
Rose stood up and hugged her friend they were smiling now. Rose invited Igraine to sit down next to her and they began to chat about what had happened since Igraine had been gone. Rose had just got to the bit about when Merlin became Arthur's manservant when Robin walked in. Rose was told about Eeleor's new name of Robin and agreed to use it. "Are you taking part in the joust then?" Robin asked. She laughed, "of course, I wouldn't miss it, Uther doesn't know I'm taking part. I've asked if I can be on a different side of the tournament to Arthur. I know it sounds like I'm scared to fight him, but I don't want him to go out quickly because I'm fighting him." They all laughed. "So what can I do to help?" Asked Igraine.
"Well if you stay by me, and help me with my armour you will soon see Uther and Arthur. We are going to introduce you to Merlin tomorrow, we can trust him I promise." Igraine agreed . To this. Robin and Igraine were showed where they were to sleep.
Rose went up to the castle to see her brother, Uther Smiled as she entered the room she was now in a long flowing bright red dress with long sleeves. It was floor length and very beautiful. She no longer seemed to walk but glide instead.
Rose was the only one of his many sisters that he liked and he was always glad to see her. She hadn't been to Camelot for just over five years and he had missed her. Arthur and Morgana loved her too. She had helped with their upbringing in Igraine's place. She was the one who had brought Uther up, for their mother had never cared for him and their father was always away. Uther had been the only boy and their father feared he would never get a son. If their father hadn't got a son then Rose was to get the crown that was very clear. Rose was the oldest out of all the children, but looked the youngest now.
She walked up to where he was sitting, sitting down next to him she watched him eat for a moment. "Will you be joining me at the opening of the tournament tomorrow?" He asked hoping she would be. "Oh, I will be there!" She replied and he knew from this she wouldn't be joining him. He had hoped she would stand by him as he started off the tournament. "I haven't seen your name down on the list so you are either not taking part or going under another name!" She carried on smiling trying not to show that he had put his finger on what she was doing. Uther knew her so well he was going to work it out and she hadn't really not wanted him to know. "But of course I will only know who you are when you remove your helmet at the end of the tournament.
In this tournament each knight kept their helmets on and only took them off when they lost. When at the end they had a winner the knight who had lost would take off their helmet and then the winner of the whole tournament would remove their's. It was a good way of doing it for it kept the crowd entertained trying to guess by the style of that knight's fighting. Rose had been knighted by their father but instead of Sir it had to be changed to Fair Rose. She was the only female knight ever and she was proud it be so.
"How is Arthur? Is he taking part in the tournament for I've not seen him?" She looked at him for an answer, but she had to wait for him to finish his mouthful. "He's the same as always, you know what he's like." She nodded at this. Yes, she certainly did know. "Yes he is taking part, but he was on guard duties. I was down at one point and so was his servant I think." She smiled.
"Yes I saw you both. I was talking to Merlin for quite a while." Uther smiled. "So what have you been up to while you've been away" "Oh, this and that knight stuff mostly" Uther laughed at this, it was clear she wasn't going to tell him anymore than that by the look on her face. "Did you come second instead of first in a tournament or something!" He teased.
"No, because Arthur the amazing has never lost a fight" She returned in a sarcastic tone. Uther grinned and turned his head away, Rose had won. Again. Rose had won against Arthur many times. "And Morgana how is she?" Uther was glad she had changed the subject, he told her of the fire and the kidnapping. Rose didn't seem surprised for she already knew this much.
