I do not own the WWE or any of the characters associated with it. I only own Rose and her family.
Chapter 11
The fortnight had passed faster than Rose would have liked and having a clean bill of health for both herself and her children, she looked around the chambers she had called home for two and a half years for the last time. Sighing, she picked up Theresa from the bed as Richard tugged on her gown, telling her it was time to leave.
Rose closed the door behind her and found Morgana with a cape on. "Good day, Morgana."
"Good day, my queen. You must wear some protection, it is raining outside. The children should as well. Do we have anything for them?" Morgana inquired.
"I have an extra blanket for Theresa, but I believe all of Richard's things were packed away." Rose answered.
"I have a cape for the young boy and for you, Rose." Morgana answered, procuring one from the chest she carried. "This one belonged to Arthur when he was Richard's age. This one was mine, from many moons ago."
"It is most generous of you." Rose answered as she handed Theresa to Morgana. "I hope the trip is uneventful."
"Nothing is uneventful when you are High Queen, my lady." Morgana chuckled softly. "You will find that many will be generous to curry favor to you or your children, even to Lord Kane who rules in your husband's absence."
Rose nodded as they made their way into the courtyard where Lord Kane was waiting for them. With a heavy heart, Rose looked back at her old home as Morgana entered the carriage. Kane took Theresa and handed her to Morgana very carefully, before stopping Rose.
"My queen, I will do everything I can to find King Marcus. You know this."
"What did you put in the letter?" She asked, nervous.
"I told him we were going to the High King's castle in Anglia and that if he came within a year from now, he would everything just as he left it here. I told him I would have no choice but to marry you if he didn't come before the deadline. It will be fine, Rose."
"I don't want a war because of some silly thing Marcus heard on the grapevine." Rose sighed.
He helped her into the carriage. "Everything will be fine. I will take Richard, so that he might ride his first horse. Don't worry, the child should be fine." He closed the door and soon they were on their way.
One year had gone by and Kane married Rose as Lord Marcus had yet to be found. Rose didn't wish to anger Marcus, should he ever come back, but Kane reassured her that they would be fine. The children were very happy and played with each other at every opportunity.
Kane bedded her that night and he was surprisingly gentle, but little did he know there was an evil lurking in the shadows of his new court as High King. Two green eyes watched the passionate couple with interest.
The next day, Rose was in marital bliss. A spring in her step as she carried Theresa to the garden, she crashed into something quite large and dark.
"Watch where you are going." She said, making sure Theresa was not hurt.
"I could tell you the same thing, Rose." Marcus said, standing before her. "Is this your love child with Kane?"
"No, it's your second, human child. Her name is Theresa, after my mother." Rose answered, a chill going down her spine.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Marcus hissed.
"I did, a whole year. We thought the worst. I missed you terribly and you weren't anywhere. We sent messengers to check at the castle for you." Rose said frantically.
"So you marry my brother and think that I will let you?" He grabbed her. "You disobeyed me, Rose. I will not take this lightly. You will pay dearly for what you've done. I will raise Richard to hate you and Theresa will be sold into slavery. You have no idea what the worst is."
"Please, Marcus, had I known you were still alive, I would have waited for you. I would have begged Kane to put off the wedding."
"You seemed quite pleased to bed him." Marcus accused.
"I thought you were dead. I thought Richard and Theresa were all I had left of you." Rose began to sob loudly. "Please, let me go."
"You won't win against me, Rose. I will bring war on Britain and I will enslave you to me. You can't run from me, Rose. I will find you and I will make you serve me." Marcus looked at her.
"Marcus, I beg of you. Come with me, talk to your brother…"
"He betrayed me. He will not live to talk to me." Marcus seethed.
"To threaten the High King is treason. You know that." Rose answered.
"But you won't turn me in, you love me." Marcus said knowingly. "You can't bear to see me in agony in prison until they try to kill me. Rose, I always get what I want. I knew Kane loved you and our children. I know that he will have a child with you. I also know that I will make him suffer. If you stand idly by and not get involved, I will let you walk away without scars. But if you cross me, you will wish that I had just taken your children away and enslaved you."
"Very well, Marcus. I will do what I must to protect myself and the children. But you must give me your word in return, not to hurt the child inside me now." Rose begged.
"I will raise it as my own, Rose." He touched her face gently. "Kiss me, my queen, and you will know that I still love you."
Rose kissed him and while not immediately regretting it, she did notice he was more forceful this time with his kisses. She pulled away from him and checked that Theresa was still safe in her arms. "This is your father, my dear." She showed Marcus the baby and Marcus seemed prideful in the child.
"She will make a very good alliance for us some day." Marcus said.
"I'm sure she will, Marcus." Rose answered.
"I will be watching you, Rose. Don't forget I have ways to know if you are misbehaving. You will end up like Lady Evelyn: cold, alone, locked in a room to please me when my new wife is with child." Marcus said cruelly.
"You bedded those girls while I was with child?" Rose asked, clearly hurt.
"Of course, that's what they were groomed for. To please me." Marcus answered, then he disappeared before her very eyes.
"Theresa, we must make sure your father gets his throne back or he will bring hell to Anglia to find us and your brother." Rose was shaking visibly.