Chapter 2

Think! Arthur, think… where would you go if you were a teenager running away from the house?

Arthur had been looking for her everywhere in the neighborhood He was beginning to lose hope. Perhaps Rose didn't want to be found and she had every reasons. But Arthur was determined to bring her back home no matter how long he had to search for her.

Across the street was the small Excalibur Park, which was often frequented by children and teens. Arthur couldn't believe he hadn't thought about looking out there. He crossed the street jogging towards the park and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her.

Rose was seated crossed legs on the grass her back resting against a large greyish stone. She had her arms wrapped around herself; her eyes were puffy and red from crying, her nose slightly pink. Rose had learned not to get attached to people too easily, but with Arthur she somehow felt safe, like he somehow cared about her.

Arthur slowly approach the girl careful not the frighten her. As soon as here eyes caught sight of him, she quickly stood up and walked away swiftly.

" Rose wait! Please, let me explain," Arthur said following her close behind.

She didn't turn back. No, instead Rose continued to run even faster hoping Arthur would have lost his breath and would have been forced to stop running. Unfortunately for her, Arthur was accustomed with racing since he had always been playing football ever since he was young boy and he was still practising it now during his free times. So with all this good physical condition, Arthur easily managed to catch her.

" Rose, please just listen to me, would you?"

" I don't want to. Leave me alone. I do not need your pity," she replied her voice cold and harsh trying with all her strength to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.

Why is she mad at me? I haven't done anything wrong to her.

" What happened with Vivian was a big misunderstanding and I apologize. Please know that I won't ever let this happen again. I promise," Arthur looked at her straight into her hazel eyes. He saw the pain, the hurt, and the fear.

" Vivian treated me like rubbish and you know what Arthur? I do not blame her because that's what everybody thinks I am. One would think I should get used to it. " Rose sniffed wiping away tears with the back of her hand," But that's not what I am," she added.

Rose hated to show her vulnerability. She way was stronger than that.

" She shouldn't have done that. Vivian is sometimes really quick to judge, but honestly I'm sure that if you give her the chance to apologize, if you get to know her better you will grow fond of her and she will do too," he paused making a face at the pedestrians who were staring at them then returned his attention back to Rose. " Just come back, please," he whispered.

" I don't want to go back your house. I shouldn't… I-I shouldn't have ask you for anything," a single tear ran down her face.

"Rose, please don't say that. I want to help you. I can tell you've been through a lot, but please let me be there for you. I- I want to get to know you better. All I ask is for you to trust me, please Rose,"

Arthur's words were sincere and she knew it, but she still hesitated.

"Does Vivian live with you?"

"No she doesn't and let me worry about her. So what do you say Rose? Are you coming back?" Arthur asked softly a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The young girl looked at him for a moment then ran into his arms hugging Arthur tightly. For the first time in her entire life, someone actually cared about her well being and it touched enormously. At the beginning, Arthur was a little surprised by the gesture then began gently stroked her curls grateful that she was giving him a second chance.

" Come on let's go,"

They went back to Arthur's flat walking in a comfortable silence.

" Hum, Arthur?"

" Yes"

" You, hum, run surprisingly fast for someone your age"

" Pardon me? For someone my age!" he feigned to be hurt," For your information young lady I am only twenty seven years old, which is still very young"

" If you say so," Rose shrugged smirking.

" And how hold are you?"

" Fifteen, now that's what I call young," Rose answered causing Arthur to roll his eyes smiling just slightly.

She's teasing me… that's a good sign.

" I don't know who my biological parents are. Never met them and perhaps it's better that way," Rose shrugged taking a sip of her orange juice, " All I know is that they are still alive, somewhere? I've had six different foster families ever since I was born. None of them really gave a fig about me"

While Arthur and her were having breakfast, Rose decided on her own to open up to him about her past, her life, her parents…

" Who were those boys assaulting you? Why did they do this to you? " Arthur pointed the bruises on her neck.

Rose bit her lower lip as the painful memories resurfaced in her mind.

" Helios and Cenred were my stepbrothers from the family I was presently living with. They've always hated me. I don't understand what I have ever done to them, but they just did. Yesterday when you found me, I was trying to escape from the house and they followed me and –" Rose wasn't able to continue, it was too painful.

" I am so sorry for what you've been through. No one should ever have to experience that," Arthur whispered reaching for he hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.

" It's not your fault, " she replied looking away her voice was so sad, her eyes glassy with tears.

" I promise you that no one will ever hurt you again. You have my word"

I know… I trust him. I can't explain why, but I do.

°°OOO°°OOO°°OOO°°

Later in the evening, Rose had been watching an old James Bond movie on the television when she fell asleep on the sofa during the middle of it. Arthur thought carrying her back to her bedroom, but feared he would have woken her in the process. So instead, he went to her bedroom and grabbed the blanket then returned back to the living room. Arthur placed the warm sheet over her and turned off the telly.

The doorbell rang and Arthur went to answer it.

" Hello clot pole," Merlin said grinning as he stepped inside Arthur' s flat. He headed towards the living room removing his light brown jacket setting it on a nearby table.

" Wow! Since when did Vivian's hair become that curly? Did she have a perm or something?" Merlin asked puzzled at the sight of Rose's golden curls.

" That's not Vivian Merlin. It's Rose," Arthur sighed shaking his head.

" Rose? I've never seen her with you before. How do you know her?" Merlin arched an eyebrow.

" It's a very long story Merlin. She is a teenager I found yesterday when I was heading back home from work. She was being assaulted and I sort of saved her. She had nowhere to go, so I brought her to my flat," Arthur explained.

" What! Did you call the cops! "

" No," he answered simply.

" Arthur why!," Merlin practically shouted.

" Merlin would you stop talking so loudly?"

" Oh right, sorry," he whispered now, " but why didn't you-"

" Because she wouldn't let me do it. She said if I call the cops they'd bring her back to the public assistance and it's definitely not the best thing for her Merlin," Arthur justified.

" Wow, that's quite an issue there," Merlin said running a hand through his dark hair. " What are you going to do? Surely you can't keep her here eternally,"

" I- I don't know Merlin. I think I'm going to wait a bit and figure out what to do"

" Don't wait too long though Arthur, they will soon start looking for her,"

Arthur sighed. Merlin was right, like always. He grabbed his right the shoulder shoving slightly him towards the door of his flat.

" Where are we going Arthur?"

" Pick up some dinner for the three of us,"

" Oh… I can cook you know," Merlin offered.

" Merlin we don't even know if she'll like your cooking. So it's best to just buy some food all teenagers eat, like I don't know fish and chips."

" Right," Merlin said scratching his head, " Wait, are you suggesting that my cooking is rubbish and tell me since when did you become an expert in adolescents eating habits"

Arthur sighed rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

" You really are impossible. You know that Merlin,"

" Yeah, I do," he grinned opening the door.

°°OOO°°OOO°°OOO°°

"Oh hum, Rose this is my best mate Merlin. Merlin, this is Rose," Arthur said bringing three plates on the dinning table where Merlin and Rose were setting forks, napkins and glasses before going back to the kitchen to make some tea for Merlin, bring some orange juice for Rose and some milk for himself. Arthur adored milk.

" It's nice to meet you Rose," Merlin smiled warmly at her.

" Nice to meet you too Merlin," she smiled back shyly.

Merlin… it's quite an unusual name.

" I know," Merlin answered as if he read her thought.

" How did you-"

"Don't tell anyone, but I am a wizard," he whispered.

"You are," Rose chuckled.

"Alright, alright you two it's time to eat now. Rose, go wash your hands and you too Merlin! " Arthur ordered bringing the different drinks to the table.

" Yes, King Arthur," Merlin and Rose replied at the same time then laughed as they realized it.

" Since when did you and Merlin know each other?" Rose asked taking a bite of her fish.

" Merlin and I went to the same high school. He came in the middle of the year and we became good mates pretty much right away"

" You forgot to mention that you were quite an arse back in high school. One arrogant pratt"

" Don't believe him. He's jealous because he was a total geek with an Irish accent and everyone kept teasing him,"

" You're Irish? You don't sound so much like one,"

" Yeah, I'm originally from Armagh, northern Ireland and since it's been like five years that I live here in London, I sort of lost my accent a bit"

They finished eating occasionally chatting and laughing.

Merlin received a call from his girlfriend Freya. She needed him for something, but didn't specify what. Rose took a bath and changed into Arthur's sister old pajamas he found in a bag she must had left at his flat a while ago.

It was almost ten o'clock and the two of them sat on Arthur playing a card game called speed. Arthur clearly under estimated her. Rose was very fast and clever. She quickly disposed of her cards in no time while Arthur was struggling with his.

" I won! Come to mummy" Rose exclaimed gathering all the candies she gained.

" Only because, I let you win!"

" Oh, yeah right," she chuckled.

" I believe it is time for you to go to bed young lady, isn't it?" Arthur said glancing at the time on his alarm clock.

Rose laughed fully aware now that he was a bad loser.

" Arthur, thank you for everything you're doing for me. I really appreciate it a lot"

" There's no need to thank me,"

" There is every need Arthur,"

Arthur smiled," Goodnight Rose"

" Goodnight Arthur," she replied leaving his bedroom closing the door behind her.

Arthur turned off the bedside lamp then pulled the blankets over him. Eventually, he fell asleep.

A/N: For those who might still wonder when Guinevere is going to appear. Answer: next chapter I promise. Thank you so much for taking your time to read my story and don't forget to review! Comments, thoughts, are highly and always appreciated. I always love reading each and everyone's comments.

–BelieveFaith