So this is it. The final chapter. I would just like to say a big thank you to you all. Every single one of you who reviewed, all of you who liked this enough to add to your favourite stories lists or to your story alerts. To anyone and everyone who offered help and constructive critiscm, for those who proof read chapters and helped me when I got stuck. All of you helped me continue with this and keep writing and have made this probably my favourite story so far to write. Each review has put a smile on my face and I cannot say thank you enough.
I really hope you enjoy this, I have had the end of this written out since I started this over a year ago now and hope that this all makes sense and that you like it as much as I hope. I have a sequel planned, please do let me know if you think that's a good idea. If I do write it - time providing - it would probably appear to coincide with series 3 of Merlin. So keep your eyes peeled.
Are you sitting comfortably. I hope so. Then let us begin...
Chapter 19; So the Legend Begins
Rose ran. She ducked low branches, the dark began to settle in and the shadowy clouds above threatened rain. Trees rushed past her, and mud splattered the hem of her dress. Her hair began to loosen and stray curls fell down from the up do they had been in. A few early leaves had started to spring up on branches but the air remained cold and there was a small breeze which whistled through the trunks and up the pathway she was running down. Rose tried to ignore all these elements and just concentrate on the distance; the horizon.
Merlin squeezed her hand, and she looked up at him and smiled the best she could manage, if it was possible the pair found a hidden store of energy and pushed forward faster. Rose looked to the horizon point and recalled how they had ended up here.
Morgana had run from Uther's chamber, she knew she had limited time to save Rose. With any luck she could get to her before the Knights. She knew they would wait, arm and regroup before they attacked. She might just have time to save her best friend from her impending demise. Morgana tried to shake the thought from her head, her heels clacked on the cold, stone floor as she made her way to Gaius's apartments where she reverently hoped Rose would be.
Morgana's eyes blazed with anger, determination and a hint of sadness that she would not let overcome her. Her hair, perfectly brushed by Gwen bobbed up and down as she neared Rose's home. Her cheeks had a slight blush to them from the running, she forgot all manners, now was hardly a time for them, as she burst through the door and looked Rose in the eye.
"You have to run."
Suddenly the quiet and peaceful room turned into one full of tension and fear. Morgana grabbed the door which she had banged open and gently closed it, as if it would stop the Knights getting through. Gaius, Merlin and Rose got up from sitting at the table and walked over to Morgana.
"He knows." Morgana nodded at Rose's statement.
"He's ordered your arrest and death, I'm so sorry."
Rose shook her head "It isn't your fault." She smiled at her friend.
"You have to go, now before he can get to you."
Rose turned as she heard Merlin running to their room. She supposed the emotions were too much for him and he needed space to compose himself and think it through. She smiled softly, she would have liked to have said goodbye. She had so much to say to him.
Instead she turned to the man who had offered her his home, who had given her food, accepted her for who she was and had given her happiness. She looked at Gaius and smiled.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything you have done for me, I am so grateful. You have no idea how much so."
Gaius pulled her into a hug, and blinked to get rid of the tears which threatened to fall. "You have given me great happiness, and a little trouble too." Rose laughed "Thank you."
He released Rose from their moment of tenderness and she turned to Morgana. The woman who had thrown her up against a stone wall at the start, who had become her friend, her confident and her fellow seer. She could not begin to think of how to thank her. Morgana closed the gap between them and pulled her into her arms, they both shed tears for what they knew they were to loose.
"Thank you for making me see magic as a gift, I am so sorry for keeping you here."
Rose let go of her friend and smiled. "I chose to stay, I could have left before."
"But…"
"Please no buts. I am proud to be your friend and don't regret anything we did; the conversations or the staying in Camelot. Please don't either."
Morgana nodded. "I shall never forget you Rose."
"And I you."
Rose knew time was against her, it seemed it always was. She turned to the bedroom door, she had so frequently walked through and knew Merlin was behind it. "Merlin," she called out "I have to go…"
She turned back round to face Morgana and Gaius one final time.
She remembered what she had gone to see Morgana earlier about. "Morgana, you have to forgive her. It wasn't her fault. You and I both know that. I've made my peace with her, now you should too. You two are friends."
Morgana nodded and Rose smiled. But Morgana knew she could not, she would not forgive Gwen for this ultimate betrayal, she would let Rose think she would for it was the kindest thing but she couldn't.
"We've both seen her future. We know what her destiny it, what great things she is going to achieve, what she is going to do now."
Morgana smiled. She would do everything in her power to stop that.
Then Rose heard the door crash open and Merlin's feet run behind her, she turned to look at him, to look into his eyes one last time, to hear his voice, to hug him, to be in his arms. Instead she saw him and a look of confusement passed over her face; he had a backpack on his shoulders and the one she had brought with her in his hands.
"Lets go." He said.
She shook her head, in shock, denial and refusal. "No, Merlin."
"Yes, Rose." He smiled.
"I can't, you have a life here. Friends, a job, a destiny. I can't drag you from that."
"I don't care, these past months have been some of the best of my life, with you, and I don't want to leave you now I've found you again. I am going to go with you and we can live the rest of our lives out together. Forget Camelot, forget Arthur, the destiny, forget it all." He put his hands on Rose's upper arms so she was between his palms. She stopped shaking her head. "I'm not letting you go, and I'm not letting you die, so I'm going with you."
Rose couldn't argue with it. She didn't want to leave any of it, least of all Merlin.
"It's nearly dark, stick to the shadows and you should be able to get out before Uther raises the alarm, and closes the gates hoping he's got you caught. Go now." Morgana ordered, smiling at her friends and wishing she could go with them. She knew, however she was needed here, and though Uther had not declared her a witch she had an idea he was playing some game with her and see intended to play it with him to the end.
Rose and Merlin hugged Gaius and Morgana one final time before Merlin took Rose's hand in his and they opened the door and disappeared into the dark.
Gwen saw him. He saw her. He turned to the Knights and ordered them to go the armoury and get themselves ready. Then he turned to her and smiled.
"Guinevere."
"Arthur." She couldn't help herself but to smile slightly. Then the reality of the situation came over her and she looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" He looked genuinely upset to see her distress.
"Arthur I have done some awful, and you'll hate me for it, but that, for now, is beside the point. You have to stop the Knights from what they are about to do."
"What have you done? Whatever it is I would not hate you. Tell me Gwen and I may be able to help you." He paused "I can't call off the Knights though."
"It is not I that needs your help but Rose. Who you have been asked and ordered to kill." Arthur looked down at the floor. "I was the one that told Uther." Arthur looked up at that, he shook his head in denial. "I was in need of money, he was going to raise rent. You can't hate me more than I hate myself but I've stopped and he'll make me pay for it… Sorry, I should not disgrace the king, least of all when he is your father." She paused and when he did not ask her to stop or retract her words she took it as his consent to continue "She does not deserve to die and I shouldn't have said what I did. Please, Arthur, help."
Arthur nodded, "I see what you did. I can't stop the Knights but I can try and get there before them. You lied about her to get the money you needed and you knew that if you didn't give Uther information he would hurt you. I can get Rose out of this."
Gwen stopped smiling "No Arthur, I didn't lie. You don't understand…"
"No, I do perfectly, and I don't hate you for trying to save yourself. I will help Rose and in doing so help you."
With that he left and Gwen stood there shocked. He walked on a mission to save Rose, not before taking Gwen's hand to kiss it.
Gaius looked up to see Arthur at the door. He swallowed and plastered a smile on his face.
"Arthur, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I'm looking for Rose."
"She's not here."
"Where is she?"
"Haven't seen her all day." The lie rolled off Gaius's tongue easily, he would lie to protect her and Merlin.
Arthur walked over to the table they had been eating at before and eyed the three bowls. Half-eaten and lukewarm. Then he turned to Gaius.
"Gaius, I need you to tell me."
"Arthur, I can't."
"I'm here to help!" Arthur said exasperated "In a few minutes the Knights will arrive with an order to arrest or kill Rose and if I don't find her that is exactly what they will do."
"They ran. I don't know where, they were going to try and get a horse and if they didn't manage that then they were going to run, for their lives."
"They?"
"Yes, Rose and Merlin."
Arthur started to move to the door. Then he turned back to look Gaius in the eye. "I will get them back."
"Thank you."
Then the prince left to save his friends and in doing so began on a path which he would he would have but one chance to return from.
They had done as Morgana had told them, clinging to walls, hiding in the shadows, the castle was eerily quiet and there were only a few moments when guards passed them and their cover risked being blown. All the time Merlin kept Rose's hand in his, though it was an act of chivalry and kindness he also needed it for support and help too. The pair made it to the stables and Merlin tried the door, his idea was to borrow one of Arthur's horses and then to return it in the near future. He should have remembered that the door was locked and there as neither time to get the key or to attempt to unlock the door with magic. So they had simply run, getting to the gates and finding them open they had passed through unnoticed and managed to get out of the castle without too much worry. As they entered the edge of the forest they looked back at the great white stone castle and let out a small sigh. Then Merlin looked into Rose's eyes and she knew that though they had to give a lot up, they had kept each other and in this way their lives would not be so bad. So they had run, into the forest, running for their lives.
They ducked low branches, the dark began to settle in and the shadowy clouds above threatened rain. Trees rushed past them, and mud splattered the hem of Rose's dress. Her hair began to loosen and stray curls fell down from the up do they had been in. A few early leaves had started to spring up on branches but the air remained cold and there was a small breeze which whistled through the trunks and up the pathway they were running down. They tried to ignore all these elements and just concentrate on the distance; the horizon.
Merlin squeezed her hand, and she looked up at him and smiled the best she could manage, if it was possible the pair found a hidden store of energy and pushed forward faster. They worked together, supporting each other, pushing forward, never letting go off each others hand. Merlin helped Rose over fallen logs and tree trunks, lifting her off them and settling her back down on the ground. Always pushing forward, never looking back. Looking to the future and trying to keep the past at bay.
They were far from Camelot when she heard the horse's hooves. The padding, the thundering sound of a horse edging nearer and nearer. Rose pulled Merlin to a stop as the horse reached their backs. She turned to see who had caught them up. It was Arthur.
He leapt off his horse and looked at her.
"Why have you stopped?"
"I'd rather look the man who's going to kill me in the eyes."
He shook his head "I'm not here to kill you; I'm here to help you!"
Merlin smiled, he knew his friend could be trusted. He had hoped Arthur would see sense.
"I'll take you back to Camelot and we can protest your innocence. I'll talk to my father see what I can do. I'm not letting you two leave Camelot, we'll show them all your innocence," he paused, taking in Rose's falling face "You are innocent aren't you?" he asked desperately.
She looked him in the eyes.
"I have magic, and in the eyes of the law that makes me guilty." Arthur shook his head; this wasn't possible, this wasn't fair. "Arthur," she let go off Merlin's hand and stepped closer to the Prince "Don't you see, you've been friends with me, can you see that not all magic is bad, we're not all evil and deserve death. You can see that can't you?"
Arthur turned to Merlin.
"You knew? You knew this?"
"Yes, I knew. I too --"
"No, Merlin." Rose stopped her best friend before he said too much. Before he revealed something that needed to wait a little.
Rose turned to Arthur. "Not all magic is bad, Arthur. You can see it. I know you are bound by your father and law to kill me but I'm begging you spare Merlin."
In that moment Arthur had to make a choice. He had a decision to make. Something that would change him, something with great impact. He could either follow this path he had just begun or he could turn back round and forget he'd ever walked down it. He chose to continue. He chose, in that moment to follow a different way, to defy his father, to ally with magic and to begin the legend.
He led his horse over to the edge of the trees, unloaded it of its weapons and patted its flank; he knew it would find its way home.
"We haven't got much time, if we can run to the edge of this part of forest then we come to the lake," Arthur looked at Rose and she smiled remembering it "If you can get to the other side of it then you'll be safe."
So the three ran. Three parts of the legend. Arthur, Merlin and Rose, ran from the Knights, ran to the lake. Into their destinies, their futures, into the legend.
Rose's legs began to feel numb, as if they weren't really hers. She looked to her left and saw Merlin and then Arthur. She pressed forward; she had to reach the lake. The magical lake. The lake which had left her silent, transfixed, which she had visited on Christmas day which now seemed a lifetime ago. She could feel it the closer they got, the still water, the fir trees, the magic of it all.
The Knights weren't far behind them and as the three got closer to the water they could hear the thunder of many hooves. Arthur stopped them.
"Why are we stopping?" Merlin looked at Arthur as if he was mad "We need to keep on going."
Arthur looked at his friend solemnly "We have to stop; they'll catch you up if you keep running and shoot you till you're dead."
Arthur unsheathed his short sword and threw it to Merlin; the warlock caught it and held it in his hand. Arthur took the bow and quiver from his back and handed them to Rose. He unsheathed his new sword, the one he had received for Christmas, the one made by Gwen but he still didn't know she was the giver. He took it in his hand and held it in front of him. Then they waited, caught their breath and watched as a dozen Knights rode forward, their red cloaks billowing and their grey horses galloping, came to the lake.
They caught sight of Arthur and he held onto his sword even tighter. He had trained these men; some were older than him, a few younger. They were people with families at home, a few had wives and children but he knew what they were about to do and he couldn't let it happen.
"You can turn around now, it's not too late," he said in the strongest voice he could muster "Pretend you didn't see us, go back home."
"Uther gave us an order and we intend to see it through." One of them shouted.
"Then you give us no choice but to fight." Arthur said.
The Knights responded by dismounting their horses and unsheathing their swords. Then the fight began. A fight for life. Arrows sprung and filled the sky, swords crashed against each other, the sound of metal against metal filled the air, screams, curses and shouts rang in the ears of those fighting. With Arthur's expertise, Merlin's swift and quiet magic and Rose's true aim within a few minutes the Knights were a quarter of their size. Arthur ran one through with his strong sword, Merlin whispered words causing another to fall but Rose's opponent dodged her arrow and she realised with horror that the quiver which was lying by her feet was empty. The archer standing in front of her knew his duty, and as she took steps back and to the side trying to reach her friends he looked into her eyes and released. His aim was also true. Rose fell to the ground, with the arrow in her stomach and Merlin's head whipped round as he heard her cry. Arthur saw his friend fall and he rid the place of any further Knights.
Merlin fell down by Rose's left side on his knees and grabbed her right hand in his left.
She smiled at him.
"Didn't see that one coming!" she laughed at the irony, and then immediately regretted it, wincing at the pain. Merlin shook his head as tears began to fill his eyes.
Arthur walked over to his friends.
"You didn't deserve this; you've been a good friend to me. You have taught me things I should have already known."
"Look after Morgana."
"I will. I'm sorry Rose."
"You did what you could, you made your decision and I am thankful for your help."
Arthur smiled, he couldn't put into words how he felt. He patted Merlin's shoulder, leaving the pair to give them some privacy.
Rose struggled for breath and Merlin held her hand tighter. She smiled at him. He looked down at the arrow sticking out from her stomach.
"Merlin," she called and his head turned to face her "One day the world will know your name; you will be an English legend, but only if you work with him. He has decided to help fight with us, he has picked his side and defied his father and he is your true friend."
"I can't let you go." Merlin's tears spilled out and splashed Rose's face, as if it were raining.
"I realise now why I came, what my purpose was. Aside from everything else. I had to give you something, it's not too late."
Merlin remembered the dragon's words when he met him the first time after Rose had come. He had known that Rose had great purpose in coming here.
Rose lifted her left hand and pulled on Merlin's shirt, painfully she lifted her upper body as far as she could and he leant down. The kiss was painful, emotionally and physically, tears fell down Rose's and Merlin's cheeks and it happened with the knowledge it could never happen again. But it was beautiful and perfect, as it finished Rose's hand left his shirt and he opened his eyes as he felt her lips leave his and she breathed in deeply and then smiled. He looked at her and she looked at him. A bittersweet end.
Rose slumped as gracefully as possible to the floor and smiled at Merlin. Then she winked and he couldn't help but smile back.
"Good Luck, Merlin," he shook his head, he didn't want her to go, he couldn't let her go not now, not when he had so many unanswered questions when he needed her so much, more than ever. "I'm not gone forever. I'll be there when you need me most."
Tears ran down both of their cheeks and Merlin's continued to fall onto Rose, and she looked up at him through the rain of tears. She looked into his eyes and his hers as she struggled for breath more and more until she let go, let go of the light, of her final breath and welcomed the darkness as her eyes closed. Merlin shook his head in denial and pulled her close to him, letting go off her right hand he had been holding onto so tightly and it fell to the side and into the water, into the aquamarine lake.
So the lake began to rise, but Merlin oblivious did not notice the magic, did not see the water climb but Arthur saw and ran over to his friend and grabbed his arm, pulled him back and they ran as the water rose higher and higher and a bright, blinding light shone across the lake. Merlin turned around, his hand shielding his eyes, as the light began to shrink he let his hand fall.
And he smiled.