As always a big thank you for all the lovely reviews.
I can't believe we're into double figures! Thank you all so much for helping me get this far, this is the fastest moving story I have written on and all your reviews have helped me so much.
This chapter is for Abi, for all her ideas and for her loyal help. Thank you!
Chapter 10;A change in the laws?
Rose flopped down onto the bedroom floor; she lent her back against the side of her bed and looked around at the mess that was her and Merlin's room. Uther would have a field day in here; it was full of books of spells and enchantments, full of objects which no normal boy should own. Full of the knowledge that two seemingly ordinary people should not have.
Rose was young for the ability she possessed, the things she had seen; witnessed and the knowledge she knew, she had grown up to fast, too quick. She was wise beyond her years and had seen things that no young girl should have to see, made choices that a girl of her age shouldn't have to make. She was safe, she thought, in Camelot with Merlin and Gaius, and her friends; Morgana, Gwen and Arthur, but she wondered if any of them had had to face the things she had done.
She sighed lightly; opening one of the books she had managed to find in the library and sought to find out a way to channel her gifts and powers.
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Morgana stepped softly down the corridor and nodded at a guard as he opened the door for her, she walked into the room, Uther sat in his throne, Arthur looking decidedly impatient standing before him. Various Knights of Camelot filled spaces in the room and all eyes were upon Morgana as she sat down, all eyes apart from Uther's. His remained fixed on his son and wondering as to what he may possibly have to say.
"I know of a fantastic archer, who is strong, consistent and talented" Arthur started and the ears of the room were listening to him and the eyes watching him. "And I believe that this archer would be an asset to our Knights, a jewel in our crown; a link in our chain."
"Arthur, if you wish to invite him to join you then you do not need to call an audience, you simply need to ask this fellow" Uther said, trusting his son's judgement.
Arthur paused, this idea had been to please his father, yet he had a sudden feeling that his idea was not quite going to work in that way "Father, this person is not a fellow or a him"
Uther looked carefully at his son, who looked slightly…scared of him. He frowned and stared directly at hi son, urging him to speak.
"This archer is a she; a girl" Arthur, somewhat timidly,
A small chuckle sounded from a group of the Knights but was quickly silenced by Arthur's glare; he refocused his attention to his father
"Father, I am asking you to reconsider some of the laws we have in place, this is why I called this audience"
Morgana sat stiffly in her chair, she had not seen this, and she had not known what Arthur was going to do. She lowered her voice and spoke softly "Excuse me your highnesses, I do not feel so well, I think I shall retire to my room and let you two sort out this matter" she stood up and began to walk before anyone could object and sighed as she heard the door close behind her, she carried on walking down the hallway until she turned the corner.
And then she broke into a run.
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Merlin opened the door and smiled when he saw Rose, sitting awkwardly with her head resting on his bed, deep asleep. He gently stepped across the room, carefully avoiding the one creaky floorboard and lowered himself to the floor and sat opposite his friend. He eased the heavy book out of her hands and looked down at the page it was opened at. He skim read it taking in the information about seers, he had no idea how she had managed to find a book such as this in the library, Uther had banned books that made any reference to magic at all, this book was swimming in magic.
The magic bound the book together, each page a small testimony to the forbidden power. It was swathed in it, dripping with enchantments, spells and knowledge that shouldn't exist in Camelot. But Merlin was completely and utterly absorbed by it, the book was like a magnet, to hard to resist, and the more he read the further he delved the more he wanted to know and the harder it was to put down.
So when Rose stirred in her sleep he did not realise, when he hands tensed and relaxed he did not see, when she lightly thrashed around he did not notice. It was only when she whispered his name did he look up and realise that something wasn't quite right. He'd heard it said that to wake someone from a bad dream was very bad luck indeed, it could kill them in fact but he was far from listening to old wives tales, village tittle-tattle and Rose was in trouble, she was not alright. And he supposed that normal rules did not necessarily apply to extraordinary people such as him and Rose, so he shuffled along the floor and gently lay a hand on Rose's forearm and when nothing changed, he carefully took her shoulders and shook her ever so slightly until her eyes flew open and she cried his name.
And then he drew her into a hug and told her that everything was going to be alright, that it was just a bad dream. But with Rose, there was no such thing as good and bad dreams, as nightmares and fantasies, when she slept there was simply the truth and the future; what lay before them. So while Merlin held his friend in his embrace and murmured soothing words to her they both tried to forget that what he was saying was the lies and they both tried to forget the horror-stricken look on Rose's face when she woke up and the tears that had made tracks down her face.
Morgana burst through the door. Forgetting all sense of manners and decorum she looked around in search of her friend, at that moment Merlin stepped out of his room and gently shut the door behind him. Morgana strode up to him.
"Have you seen Rose?"
He looked at her slightly bewildered by her sudden and unexpected entrance
"Yes, she's through there "he said gesturing towards the bedroom "But I don't think that now is --"
"Merlin" she pleaded "I need to see her!"
"She's tired and needs to sleep"
Though both knew that this was the last thing Rose needed.
"Arthur will come through these doors any minute, and if I am seen here then I will be in deep trouble and Rose will be caught out! I have to warn her!"
"Morgana?" Rose tumbled in to the room looking decidedly dishevelled.
"Rose! It's Arthur; he's planning to ask you to join him"
"What?!" Merlin exclaimed, turning his attention back to Morgana "He barely knows her, he can't marry her!"
Rose looked at Morgana in a complete state of shock.
"No! Merlin, don't be ridiculous. He wants to ask you" she said looking back at rose "To join the Knights of Camelot"
Silence fell over the room as Morgana finished speaking, and due to this silence the group of three friends heard the steady walk of boots outside. Realising that Morgana was stuck in the room; Merlin grabbed her wrist and half-dragged her across to his room, shutting her and himself in there. As he passed Rose he looked into her eyes and tried to gauge what reaction she might give, she glanced back at him and lifted a finger up to wipe away any remains of her previous tears.
As one door closed another one opened and Arthur walked into the room, and smiled when he saw Rose.
She mustered up her energy and smiled politely back and walked over to him, hoping that this would not be too painful.
"Rose, I know I am not you're most favourite person right now but I want the chance to make it up to you"
"Arthur, we disagreed on something that's all"
"Rose, I have a proposition for you, an amazing offer."
Rose swallowed, knowing what he was about to say, "Really?"
Arthur looked into her eyes and grinned, sure he was about to make up for their disagreement, make her a very happy girl "How would you like to join the Knights of Camelot, be our best archer?"
Despite the small amount of time Morgana given her to prepare an answer she was still completely shocked. Her eyes grew wide and she simply said the one thing on her mind, "Arthur, I can't."
"No, I've spoken to my father, its ok."
Rose shook her head "No, I mean, I don't want to."
"But you said it yourself; just because you are a girl doesn't mean you should not have the chance!"
"It's not that."
"Then what? What is your point?"
"The point is you kill innocent people who you don't even know, and you don't care. I cannot do that."
A tear ran down her cheek and she turned away trying to wipe it away when Arthur placed his finger under her chin, gently lifting it upwards so she would face him, he leaned closer to her and their eyes gazed into each other's.
"Have I killed someone you knew?" he asked softly
Rose swallowed and cleared her voice, speaking gently
"Yes. You called one fat, the other slender." she paused and frowned at him ever so slightly "Arthur, I knew them, they weren't magicians, they were good people."
Her voice picked up pace though she still spoke in a quiet tone, it now sounded accusing, angry and hurt rather than upset "They gave me food and drink, they cared for me when I was lost, and they showed me the way to Camelot. They told me tales of this place. That although Uther was killing those with powers one day the great prince Arthur would be crowned king and that he would restore the kingdom to its former glory." she paused and he looked sadly at her, then she whispered
"But they were wrong, you are no different from your father, you end the life of another without a second thought."
"Rose…"
"What gives you the right to choose when another's life is up?"
"I am the prince." he said, though he knew full well that this was not a reason she would accept, and neither did he.
"So because you were born into the noble family that makes you better? You are still a human Arthur, you may wear a crown on your head, have a warm bed to sleep in each night, and a servant to watch over you but you are no different from the rest of us. I will not join your Knights."
"Rose you would make an excellent knight of Camelot. You are the best archer I know." he half-pleaded with her
She shook her head and said softly "Maybe, but I will never kill someone for who they are. I cannot condone what you do, I do not agree with it. I must turn your offer down."
Arthur looked at her and wished he could walk over to her and wipe away the tears that glided down her cheeks; instead he turned away and left the room.