Firstly I have to apologise for taking so long to update, I got incredibly carried away with 'What the Future Holds' my robin Hood story and so this story sort of fell to the back seat, for that I am sorry. i had a very busy summer and then this chapter proved to be somewhat tricky, I had several ideas and then re workings of it until I came up with this. All poor excuses I know but i hope it goes someway to explaining why it has been a while. then I saw the new season trailer and kicked my butt into gear. Then as i was writing it, with the idea to get it down in time for tonight's series premiere I realised I had so much to fit in and that it was laready 11 pages long. Woops. So next chapter will follow on from this, as if it were a two parter.

I want to also say a big thanks for all the reviews and subscriptions, I am so happy that this little idea I had has become something that you're enjoying. For everyone who is leaving critiscm, thank you its nice to have something to work on, and I hope that I manage to weave suggestions and sort out problems with it. Isis the Sphinx, thanks for your suggestions on development, I hope I have included more of Rose's thoughts in this for you, and I hope to continue with that till the end. Sock Thief-Bandit, sorry you don't like Gwen/Arthur, this chapter has little in it but it is the route I'm taking as you have realised.

So you all know, this story is drawing to a close. I've got it all planned out so unless I fnd myself writing stack loads of description and therefore the chapters become long then we wont get past a Chapter 20 and I hope to get this completed by the time the second series is finsihed. However I definitely will be doing a sequel.

Enough of me talking! I hope you enjoy this chapter and the second series. As always please review.

Chapter 15; Light and Dark

"Someday Merlin you shall learn to wash clothes yourself!"

"We could always cheat!"

"Merlin!"

The young man giggled as he used his powers to send the pile of washing into the air. Sending it back to the table he picked his beloved red scarf from the top of the pile and tied it round his neck.

"Do you always have to wear the scarf?"

"Always" Merlin stated with a protective edge to his voice. Rose smiled at her best friend.

"So" Merlin said as he put a bread roll Rose had prepared for him into his bag "Will the hunt be lucky today?"

"Haven't got a clue"

Merlin looked at the girl in front of him quizzically. She was curled up in a chair, reading a book intently. Merlin recognised the book. They had been up half the night trying to find hidden pages, Merlin had used countless charms and spells to try and prize open pages which had been magically bound together. Now they had succeeded in their task Rose was avidly absorbing all the newly uncovered material.

Learning to manipulate and bend her gift was a tiring process. Rose wanted to choose what to see rather than being presented with it. She wanted to sift through people's futures with more precision and speed rather than being randomly shown a fact or thread of someone's possible future.

She was having great difficulty in doing so, she had supposed that her own future would be the easiest to view and decipher but so far she had drawn a blank. She had seen darkness, black and deep emptiness, so dark it was almost blue. She couldn't decide what it meant though. It was more than just emptiness; it had some meaning, held some representation. But what?

Then there was the only other strand of a future she could see for herself. A searing white light, so bright, so pure and white. It was like a golden light, it was precious, vitally important but again its significance was hidden. She knew one thing though; that the light and the dark were connected. That one resulted in the other, one was the cause of its opposite or the two happened in order. One after the other. But it was impossible to tell which way round they went. What came first, which preceded the other?

Knowing but not understanding was almost worse than not knowing in the first place. Indeed it was incredibly frustrating. Then again it was a position Rose had been in before. Learning to read her visions, coping with her gift, understanding her dreams was something she had become used to. Like Merlin had had to learn to conceal his powers and keep everyday life going without suspicion so Rose had had to too.

Arthur pointed at the knights to his left and signalled for them to move around behind the beast, the knights to his right did the opposite and enclosed the circle round. Merlin stood right behind him, making sure there were no twigs near by to stand on; he was getting better at this hunting malarkey, Arthur get less angry with him, in fact he now even trusted him with weapons and on one special occasion he had been allowed to direct a couple of Knights. They were little gestures but Merlin felt their effect, he and Arthur had a mutual understanding, and Merlin would prefer to think of them as friends now rather than master and servant. It was true they still had their moments; nonetheless their friendship was stronger than it had been before.

The Knights now surrounded the beast, a large deer, the largest Arthur had seen in his life. Merlin was dubious, was it possible that this deer was not simply a deer but something greater? Arthur clearly didn't think so and had no qualms as he shot the great animal right in the heart, it bucked, rearing on its hind legs and gave chase, heading straight for the young Prince. Merlin could hear his heart thumping in his chest. Arthur looked completely terrified – though he wouldn't admit it – and stood staring at the giant creature as it closed the distance between them, it was at this point with the beast's antlers looking more and more menacing that Arthur shook himself out of his fear and began to run, the other Knights followed suit with some even attempting to shot the beast again.

Merlin ran for his life, he wasn't as physically fit as the other Knights and he knew they would not wait for him; he focused his gaze on Arthur's back and tried to ensure he did not loose sight of it.

The deer simply did not give up, with three arrows now imbedded in its skin it still showed no signs of tiring. Merlin was now adamant that there was something about this deer; it was not normal. It hooves thundered after the group of men, each running but none getting further away from the thing.

Arthur remembered running through here as a child, his father had been sure that his son would be the best in the kingdom. The best at everything. Fighting, hunting, running, he was apt with a bow, spear, staff and sword, he could use his fists as well as his mind, he could ride a horse and jump with it, he could read a large book in a day, he was able to command a large group of men and speak and a whole room would fall silent. In Uther's mind he had the makings of a great ruler, Arthur was beginning to see the flaws in his father's training, sure, he could kill a man with a variety of tools and methods but could he really understand a just court case. He could win a jousting contest cheered on by his people but he was faced with a villager would he know their name and role in his kingdom. He could kill ten deer in a day but did he know how to cook it. He slept in a large, comfortable bed like he had his whole life yet he hadn't the faintest idea how to make a bed, but he knew that Gwen did. It seemed he could exceed himself in a variety of ways; jousting, sword play and combat, he could win a hundred of those competitions and yet couldn't perform everyday tasks; he could hardly cook, he couldn't clean, couldn't put a shoe on his horse, all these tasks were left to someone else; servants, Merlin or Gwen.

And though Uther had ordered all these lessons he had taught none of them himself, well very few himself. There had been few times when Uther had sat down and offered to help Arthur learn how to count, Arthur could safely say that for everything he had learnt he could name a vast number of teachers but his father wasn't one of them.

Arthur didn't recall taking his first step but he knew that it wasn't his father's hand he had held, he knew that John his old tutor had taught him to count and pronounce the letters of the alphabet. Ben, the stableman had taught him to ride his first horse, how to mount, gallop and jump. Bartholomew had taught him the politics of his country, the death penalty and laws against magic.

What his father had done was to ride him round their kingdom, showing him the land boundaries and what one day he would inherit. Arthur had enjoyed these occasional trips, the most part spent in silence, simply riding side by side. As he grew up these beloved trips occurred less and less and now they were a force of habit or happened when something needed to be found out, checked or enforced. Once on their way back from one of these trips it had got dark rather suddenly, and not wanting to risk the night Uther had insisted that they set up camp and rest for the night rather than attempting to journey back to the castle. Arthur being a boy of seven hadn't thought to question his father's judgement and so Uther had led him to a set of caves and there they had lit a fire and slept till morning.

It was the only occasion such a thing had happened and Arthur could remember from the four things from the escapade, firstly how to light a fire, secondly how much fun he had with his father, thirdly how happy he had been to get back to his proper bed and lastly where the caves where.

It was to these caves that he now led his Knights and Merlin. He ran, trying not to think about the deer that was chasing them all, simply focusing on the caves, and the entrance to them.

Merlin hopped over various forgotten arrows, leaped over fallen logs and trusted Arthur's sense of direction. If Arthur didn't know where they were heading then they were all doomed.

Merlin didn't really recognise where they were heading, it was a part of these woods he wasn't extremely familiar with but none the less he kept running as fast as his legs could carry him because that deer was still hot on their heels. All the Knights had abandoned hope of trying to kill the thing – was it really a deer? They were all now simply focused on the task of running from it and getting away and alive.

Finally Arthur saw the series of grey, rough rocks that housed the deep caves. He would have breathed a sigh of relief had he any breath to spare, Merlin saw the tall, imposing caves and wasn't sure if they looked much safer than the beast that was following them. Nonetheless he trusted Arthur's judgement and supposed that he knew what he was up to.

So Arthur led his Knights and Merlin up to the caves and hoped that they would all be safe.

Rose held a small basket with a number of vials in it, with Merlin on a hunting expedition Gaius had asked her to make rounds while he tended to a small herb garden he had growing. She liked the responsibility Gaius now trusted her with, she was his second assistant, she could never replace Merlin and wouldn't want to, Gaius and he shared a special bond that she admired but they had welcomed her into their little unit and for that she was incredibly grateful. She had thought that finding Merlin would be a miracle in itself and after all those years of travelling and searching, after all she had been put through to find a home was something that she never took for granted.

Loosing your parents at any age is hard, watching them burn at the stake when you are a mere six year old is traumatic. Not that Rose had let it stand in her way, she knew very well that she could have been standing next to them and she didn't ever forget her second chance at life. It was not an event she readily discussed with anyone, in her new life at Camelot she had made several friends, formed true bonds and made loyalties. Though none of them ever spoke of 'the five of us' it was clear that Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, Morgana and Rose were all very close and formed a group of very close friends.

But Rose felt that she couldn't speak to half of them about what she had been through. The issues with Arthur were clear, speak of her parents to him and she openly admitted that she knew magicians; it was possible she was magical and by going on the run she was effectively hiding from the law. Though she knew his relationship with Uther was more than strained she didn't quite know how far their friendship and loyalties would stretch, and it wasn't something she was too keen on testing out. She knew that they got on well, they had overcome hurdles, indeed for Arthur he believed Rose had helped him in forming his ideas but there were still the boundaries of their positions in society and the law. The fact that it was possible, though Rose thought and hoped not probable, that Arthur, should he find out, could throw her in a cell and have her executed. It wasn't anything new, it was the law of Camelot and both of them knew it. But Rose had this feeling – an instinct – that Arthur was different now, that he had changed from the arrogant, self-righteous prince she had first met, to the man and friend she now knew.

Then there was Gwen, who she had got on so well with once she first arrived in Camelot. They had formed a friendship quickly but Rose always felt that there was something there, it was hard to explain, but Gwen's future was an interesting one, and something that Rose feared. As of late the two had spent less and less time with each other, on occasion Gwen would sit and talk with Rose and Morgana but more often that not she'd make some excuse and leave. She'd seemed distant and changed recently but Rose couldn't quite put her finger on what it was or indeed when it was she had begun to change and follow a different path, one which led her further away from Rose.

So this left Merlin and Morgana, both who already knew of her parents death and both who had never pushed her into speaking about it anymore. She didn't want to burden either of them but she knew that she could trust both. Morgana, though the Kings' ward had never been further away from him, in practice she could still bend his ear, she still dined with him and Arthur and still held her seat next to him on official visits, competitions and banquets but they were very distant, or more Morgana was distant from him but she kept up the pretence that she wasn't. She couldn't have Uther thinking she was rude, faraway or didn't appreciate his hospitality. In this way she performed an easy lie to keep the King at bay. Rose knew that should it come down to it, Morgana could be a source of protection from the King's wrath, though she wouldn't want her dear friend to put herself in the firing line. For this reason she did not talk to Morgana about what she had done prior to her arrival in Camelot, they spent their time together speaking of their abilities, of what they saw, trying to fill the gaps of each others dreams and visions. There was also another reason why Rose did not speak of her past to Morgana, because she half knew, half feared how she would react, because of her growing distance with the King and her ignited passion for her abilities and dreams, Rose thought that perhaps hearing tales of her past, of her parents and friends deaths, of her strange encounters and unnerving experiences travelling Morgana might tip over the edge. She didn't want to provide Morgana with a trigger to drastic action but it was something that Rose questioned how much longer could be prevented.

So Merlin was her remaining friend, loyal, kind and understanding, he had known her before and she knew that he was overly pleased to have her back in his company and renew their friendship. To him he was her big brother, her carer and protector, her ally in mischief and comforter in times of trouble. He was he best friend, family and supporter all in one. She trusted him with her life but she knew he had a great future, and certainly an easier one to read than her own. She didn't want to stand in his way of becoming who he was destined to be, though they spoke of their times together previously, aided by Rose's gift for memory, they always spoke of happy times, of good experiences and memories shared. She knew he didn't like to see her upset so she didn't give him the chance to feel that unease. Nevertheless he was who she could always rely on for help.

Funny, that for a group each held so many secrets, so many hidden truths and thoughts. That each had ties and loyalties to one another and those outside their group of five and yet Rose was not sure that if she was indeed found out she could ask any of them for help. For Arthur would put his status, and future life at risk, for Gwen was recently distant and held little leverage with the King, for Morgana would risk her relationship with Uther, home and secret of her own if she helped and because Merlin would stop at nothing to help her, Rose knew that, but because of that fierce loyalty he would put himself at risk and in danger.

As Rose left her apartments on her errand for Gaius, she realised she was indeed a little alone.

"Rose!" hearing her name called drew Rose out of her reverie, and she located the source of the calling.

Gwen was in front of her in the corridor, a few feet away from her, carrying a bundle of washing, a state Rose frequently saw her in, she wondered if perhaps Gwen hid behind the linen and the washing, the numerous sheets and her job and duty.

"Gwen, it is good to see you!" And indeed it was, Rose had barely seen her as of late, let alone held a conversation with her, in fact the last time she had seen her and spent any amount of time with her was probably that snowy day, which Merlin had initiated, which was now a fair few weeks past.

With Christmas but a few days away Gwen had been busy and offered her assistance to various tasks that required help in order to make the Castle festive for the celebrations that would ensue. With such a large portion of her time spent helping at the castle, Gwen had found herself more often that not sleeping in a spare space in the castle rather than trudging back to her small abode. A fact that had not gone unnoticed by certain people.

"Yes, Morgana said she wanted to see you."

"Oh, ok." To tell the truth Rose was a little disappointed that clearly it meant that Gwen had no intention on speaking or spending time with her.

Gwen nodded and began to walk again when she saw Rose's face remember something. "Gwen," she said and Gwen stopped walking "Gaius said something about some books you'd requested or asked about"

Gwen had forgotten that conversation between herself and the court physician which had taken place not so long ago but which seemed forever ago now.

Rose continued "Yes, he said that they are stacked on the bench on the right with a note from him settled on the top."

"Thank you." Gwen smiled at the message.

"The door's open" Rose told her as the two departed.

Rose resolved to run her errands with utmost speed and then speak to Morgana. She looked down at the vials in the basket and reasoned that it should take no longer than a quarter of an hour if she used several shortcuts that Merlin and Arthur had made her aware of.

Gwen watched as Rose walked off at a fast pace. This had all fallen together very nicely, very nicely indeed.

"Give me your hand!" Arthur demanded, he could see the beast hardly a few yards away and he still had another man to get into the caves, being trained to care for themselves and no one else, Alfred wanted to climb up to the caves himself, Arthur had done it and a few others had managed. Looking into Arthur's eyes he saw fear; something Arthur always said was a weakness in soldiers. Alfred realised then that the beast they were running from was closing in on him; he stopped his attempts by himself and accepted the young prince's hand.

Merlin stood at the cave mouth and tried to manoeuvre the ugly beast using magic, it came to no avail, this beast was truly jinxed or enchanted and nothing seemed to work against it. Realising that if Arthur wasn't careful he'd end up falling down the stone wall and die with Alfred, Merlin ran out and offered his hand to Alfred too, together he thought would be easier and then Alfred's life could be spared.

The beast, however, had other ideas, and as his antlers ran through Alfred's back, Merlin stared, shocked as the light went out of Alfred's eyes and his hand slipped through his own. He turned to Arthur who was now standing up and trying to fumble with his bow to kill the beast, at least if they killed the beast Alfred wouldn't have died for nothing. The giant deer hadn't moved, seemingly shoving the sight of a dead Knight into Merlin and Arthur's eyes, it was torturous. Arthur took full use of the beast's stillness and released three arrows in quick succession into the beast's side, a part which wasn't concealed by his Knight's body.

The beast seemed to tumble, its legs gave way and he came crashing down to the forest floor, his antlers began to shrink and his hooves stretched, Alfred fell to the ground with an unearthly and sickening thud as the antlers disappeared. If there had been any prior doubt in Merlin's mind it was now clearly apparent that Alfred was gone and no amount of medical attention could save him. The beast continued these strange changes till Merlin realised what on earth was happening, he had been transfigured, this giant beast was in fact a person who must have cast several healing spells on itself, it was determined to kill, and now it finally had it's task complete, it was dying.

Arthur wasn't a fool, he knew this was magic and the killing spree had most likely been aimed at him. What was bizarre was the now human form which lay below him. The caves were positioned upon a sharp, steep, stone block, and they were only accessible by climbing up the said wall. Impossible for a deer to climb which is why they had provided such a perfect hiding spot. He now feared that this human could climb the wall and all his remaining men were not save at all. Once the transformation was complete though it became apparent that the sorcerer was nearly dead and posed no real problem. How foolish Arthur was, for he had never seen this man before, indeed this man, this sorcerer had always been hiding in the shadows. But he had been planning a deadly attack, he wanted his way and he had warned that it would happen.

Merlin was overcome with a strange sense of familiarity yet he knew he had never seen or encountered this sorcerer before. The pale skin and chestnut curls seemed so enticing and the sharp grey eyes inviting but at the back of his mind he knew this was not a good person.

He looked into the young warlock's eyes and smiled, he saw the Prince next to him and a faint cackle could be heard.

He looked back to the young man with a scarf tied round his neck.

"I am he. I am the feared. I am the giver of gifts."

The words held some importance and Merlin was furiously trying to place them.

"Tell her that she is not safe, for now, but not forever, tell her that she was right about him" and he nodded in Arthur's direction "But that though I am gone, my mission is not dead. Tell her she can't run forever."

Arthur was unnerved now. "State your name."

The sorcerer merely laughed.

"Merlin, lets go to the cave."

Arthur pulled Merlin up by his jacket, his man servant and friend clearly scared by the sorcerer's words. But they stayed long enough to watch his eyes shut and his cape blow one last time in the breeze, and then they watched as he sunk, sunk into the ground, into the earth. They saw the sorcerer die, a moment neither of them relished or wished to have witnessed but one which gave Merlin an odd sense of peace. A moment she would have liked to have known of. A moment he would tell her of.

The two friends stumbled into the cave as the rain began to fall. It came fast and thick and before long the thunder began and the lightning lit up the now dark sky.

The other Knights had found the remnants of an old fire and had set to work lighting it, adding more twigs and wood which scattered the caves floor until they had a roaring blaze to keep them warm while the waited for the storm to subside. A storm which showed little sign of giving up.

Rose knocked on the now familiar door, and waited to hear Morgana's voice.

"Come in."

Rise smiled and slipped through the door, welcoming the wave of instant heat which filled the room. Morgana had a huge fire burning in her fireplace and it was a stark contrast from the large, cold halls outside which were impossible to heat up due to their size and proportions, although beautifully decorated with holly, ivy and fir they were still cold and the warm, inviting room was very much appreciated.

"Rose!" Morgana sounded surprised to see her friend and ushered her in, waving her to the spare seat which Rose so frequently occupied. "What a lovely surprise."

Rose looked at her questioningly as she sat herself in her seat and placed her now empty basket at her feet. "Has the fire gone to your head?" she laughed "For it was you that asked me to come."

"I think I would remember requesting my dear friend to come here."

"But Gwen said that you wished to see me."

"Oh, well perhaps I made an off hand comment about missing you and she took it upon herself to direct you here. Any which way I am glad you came for I have just had a vision, which I think you'll be rather excited to hear."

"Really?" Rose settled herself in her seat, like a child preparing themselves for a story.

Morgana nodded and smiled "He's gone, Rose. He's dead, I saw it, he was killed and he's gone. You were right, he cannot hurt you anymore."

Suddenly Rose's enthusiasm dropped. She knew the 'he' Morgana was referring to, but dead? That was near impossible; he wouldn't put himself in such a position to be killed. She knew that Morgana knew his face for she had described him to her and she had seen him in dreams herself, so she could not be mistaken but Rose couldn't believe that he was gone. She had expected to feel something; relief, happiness, fortune. But she felt nothing, she simply felt numb. Morgana noted this and looked worried.

"Rose this is good isn't it?"

Rose looked up at her fellow seer "Yes, but I expected, or wanted, to feel something."

"I'm sorry, but perhaps not feeling something is feeling something. In a way?"

Rose looked at Morgana; quite often her friend made little sense when she was excited and spoke fast and quick but her sentence was like a riddle.

The conversation made little sense to her ears. She'd found nothing when she looked in there, and now her second part of the plan was failing miserably too.

She leaned her ear closer to the door, until she was pressed right up against it in order to hear better.

"I'm not mad, honest Rose. When my parents died I was sad, yes but I didn't feel a great loss, I just felt a nothing. I was neither happy nor sad, curious nor anxious, I was simply nothing. Blank emotions. You feel you ought to feel something but you feel nothing, but the nothing you feel is your something. The nothing is the gap they've left, the space that used to be them. The memories will always be there but they've gone and so you feel nothing."

"Morgana he wasn't my parent!"

Morgana stifled a laugh "Of course not but he played a role in your growing up, he made you grow up and influenced your decisions. In a way he guided you."

Who was this 'he', she wondered and what significance did he have and why was he dead?

"When my parents died I did not feel like this. When they died I wept, I felt lost, sad, not simply empty."

"You haven't spoken to me about that before."

"Oh, yes. Forget it."

"No Rose it is good, it is right for you to speak of them."

"You don't."

The point stung Morgana; it was true she rarely spoke of them and for good reason too. She felt that their deaths were very different from Rose's parents, besides, Rose had no one at least she had gained Uther.

"I suppose it is because I always felt that I had no reason to moan of them and feel sorry for myself, I have Uther, a father figure and Arthur and brother like figure, I have fortune and wealth. You lost your parents and gained nothing. It is not the same."

"I gained experience, and I gained Merlin, he is like my brother in the way Arthur is like yours. Only perhaps we are closer and do not fight so much."

"That is true. But my parents were not burnt at the stake, they were tortured and massacred."

Morgana's hand flew up to her both as she spoke, she realised the bluntness of her words and instantly regretted them. The room fell silent, and this silence was good, for in this silence they heard footsteps. Rose and Morgana's heads immediately turned to the door, and when they realised that whoever was on the other side was not coming in, Morgana got up to confront whoever it was.

Rose grabbed her arm.

"Morgana." she hissed "Stop."

"I want to know who is spying on us." She hissed back. "Do you not know how much danger we put ourselves in if we don't act now?"

"I think I know who it is!"

Morgana stopped.

"Who?"

Rose shook her head, and looked up at her friend sadly.

"Gwen."

"There is only one explanation for burning people at the stake. They are burnt if they are fund to be guilty of magic. Therefore she must be too."

"Yes, your majesty."

"We won't act yet, wait a while, and play with her mind. See if we can find more to make it an even larger conviction."

"If that is what you think best, my lord."

"Yes, here."

He slid a bag of silver down the table and she grasped the dirty money.

"Good work. You may go."

She left him and the doors closed behind her. She hated herself for what she was doing but she needed to prove herself and she needed the money, her house was not her own but Camelot's property as he had reminded her. She had to pay taxes and rent and no matter how much work she did she never had enough. He had approached her and she had accepted the responsibility, money and position it could earn her.

She still hated herself for what she did though.

He may be King Uther and she lowly Gwen, but they were her friends, distant as the got from her, as close as they now were and a group she wasn't part of anymore, they still trusted her. And she had betrayed them.