I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.

Chapter 3

The next morning Lord Marcus was up before his wife. He knew what he had done, but felt no remorse for the deed. It was the simple fact that Rose was his wife and she was there to please him. He watched her sleep soundly as if he was in a dream, but was rudely interrupted with a knock on his bedroom door.

Not pleased, he went to the door to find Lady Evelyn. "My lord, your wife was most rude to me yesterday during the feast."

"Lady Evelyn, let's make one thing quite clear: Lady Rose is my wife. She can be rude to you if you so richly deserve it and from what my brother has told me, you clearly did. Get out of my sight." Lord Marcus shut the door in her face, hoping she would take the hint.

He thought about the night before, knowing that he would have to tread gently with his bride if he was going to keep her. She shifted and opened her eyes.

"Good day, my lord." She said, terrified that he would try to hurt her again. She had bled through the night as a virgin does, but she wasn't prepared for his cruelty. "I am sorry that I offended you yesterday, but it was not my intention."

"Rose, you didn't offend me. I don't want you to apologize. I am the one who offended you. I took you without your consent and it makes me no better than those Irish barbarians." Lord Marcus came to her side, though he saw her hesitation. "You make me happy and last night I jeopardized that. I am truly sorry, my lady. Please forgive me."

She looked at him and nodded. "As you wish, my lord. I am sorry that I thought I had offended you. I just wish you would not be cruel to me. I will never disobey you unless I don't agree with you."

"What do you mean?" He asked, clearly concerned.

"I want to be involved in my child's upbringing, that's all, my lord. Don't take my children away from me when we have them." She looked at him, tears shining in her eyes.

"I won't, Rose. I promise." He hugged her, though she was wary of him. "Come now, I want to show you something. Get dressed and meet me outside in the courtyard."

He left her with a feeling that she never felt before. She was still wary, but she found him kind and accommodating. She got in a green gown and left the room with her red hair trailing down her back. She found her way to the courtyard to see Lord Marcus standing there along with Lord Adam. Her breath caught in her throat and she was unsure of what to make of all of this.

"Lady Rose, Lord Marcus asked me to join us for our ride through the countryside. We are going to have a picnic." Lord Adam admitted brightly.

"I would love to." She said as Lord Marcus took her arm and led her to the stables.

"Now, Rose, I have given you my second best horse. I am hoping he treats you with respect." Lord Marcus helped her onto the beast. "You have a way with horses it seems." He said after seeing her scratch behind the horse's ears.

"My parents used to own horses when I was young, when we weren't in so much debt." She said forlornly, wondering if she would ever see home again. "The horses were my brother's responsibility and I would play with them when my chores were finished."

"Where's your brother now?" Lord Adam asked.

"He's dead." She answered. "He died when we invaded the Irish. My mother was a spoil of war back when my father was wealthy. I'm Irish. Do you think me a barbarian, my lords?"

"Not at all, my dear." Lord Marcus replied. "We all have our secrets. Did the government know?"

"Yes, but our King at the time, Uriens, He gave my mother to my father." She started to cry. "My father bedded her every night and told her if she didn't give him children, he would go back to Ireland and kill her family."

"There's more though, isn't there?" Lord Adam asked, as he got on his horse.

"My father finally got the children he wanted. A brutal, strong boy and a complacent, shy girl. He was content with his choices. Then Lord Marcus took the lands from Uriens. My father fell into debt because Lord Marcus decreed any man who had an Irish whore had to pay double his taxes. My father could not keep up and we fell into poverty. My brother joined the king's army when he was old enough and I never saw him again. They say he died a cruel death which I suppose was fitting." She felt venom in her veins.

"What of your parents now, my lady?" Lord Adam pressed gently as they began to ride through the forest.

"My parents are in debt. They are in prison in Lord Marcus' castle and I suppose will remain there forever." She stated.

"Why would you think that, love?" Lord Marcus asked, knowing that her parents had been murdered right in front of her.

"To not pay your taxes makes you a criminal to the government. I suppose that's why I am yours now, my lord. I must pay my parents' debts." She felt the tears fall.

"I already murdered them, Lady Rose. You will never see them again. They broke the law and they had to pay the price." Lord Marcus answered coldly.

"You monster!" She screamed and made her horse obey her command to get away from her husband.

"Let me go after her my lord." Lord Adam begged. When Marcus nodded, he took off.

Lord Adam found Lady Rose by the lake nearby. He saw her looking out into the mist. She turned to see him. He hugged her and she pulled away.

"My mother used to tell me of Lady Morgana and the Fairies of Avalon when I was younger. I always imagined her being here with me. She adored telling me stories, you know. My mother would always make me some sort of meat, then sit down with me and tell me a story of King Arthur and the barbarians or of Lady Morgana and her evil Fairy ways. I always wondered if they were just stories."

"They aren't, my lady." Lord Adam told her. "Lord Marcus took the land from King Uriens as a favor to Lady Morgana. I don't think he's seen Lady Morgana in years, but without her, none of us would be here to cater to you."

She looked at him and before she knew it, she was kissing him. She giggled softly when he broke it and they laughed together under the trees. Attracted by the laugh, Lord Marcus found them pretty quickly.

"My lady I trust you are enjoying yourself?" He asked.

She nodded and answered "May we have the picnic here my lord?"

"I don't see any harm in that, love." He answered.

The men laid out the blanket and the fruit as Lady Rose looked out onto the water. She was content; water was what she loved and she loved the scenery surrounding the lake. The church on the south shore looked hulking, but Rose had no interest in the church.

"Lady Rose, you should join us." Lord Adam suggested gently.

"I don't want to."

"Come Lady Rose, dine with us." Lord Marcus pressed.

She sat as far as she could from him and wondered why he was trying to sway her. When he looked at her, he felt that he loved her, but he was unsure of the feeling. She was a beautiful Irish woman and he desired her. It's true that he took her because of her looks, but Lady Morgana had promised him a gorgeous peasant. When he saw her, he knew this was the woman Lady Morgana envisioned for him. He knew it.

"The red fiery hair to match your temper and the complacent attitude to make you feel like a man. She will be perfect for you." She had told him. Lady Morgana knew his tastes.

"Lady Rose, you are a vision." Lord Marcus breathed as her hair crossed in front of her face. The wind was kind to her loveliness.

"Thank you, my lord." She said, shyly. She looked at him and felt content. She knew he was a monster, but he showered her with kindness. He didn't want to hurt her, at least she didn't think he wanted to hurt her.

Lord Adam looked between the two and realized that she did love him. Maybe Lord Marcus was right. Maybe Lady Rose was the woman that would change him for either better or worse. Just as Lady Morgana had predicted.