Merlin Fairytale Series

Chapter 1: And So It Begins

Hey, what's going on in everybody's world? Please comment and let me know.
Above picture is Regina.
Summary: A child Rose and Merlin meet, becoming friends. Unfortunately, they cannot be friends because they are on separate sides of the war.

     Years passed and Rose was now an adventurous child. She was mischievous and hated that her family was so overprotective of her. This was why she always snuck away from her father's guards. And it was for this reason that she met Merlin.
     And that is how the story really starts!!
                         * * * * *
     As usual, Rose snuck away from the castle, avoiding her father's guards. Nicholas's old friends, Gwaine and Lancelot, followed her.
     However, seeing as neither Gwaine nor Lancelot were good at being sneaky, they got caught but not before making Rose fall over a cliff into the river.
     Panicking, Lancelot jumped over the cliff as well, to rescue Rose. Now, it was Gwaine's turn to panic. "Oh no! Uh...let's see...gee, Nick, the good news is we found your daughter. The bad news is we dropped an idiot on her. Is there a problem with that?"
     At that moment, Lancelot appeared, dragging Rose behind him. She struggled to escape his grasp. "She's ok." They both determined.
     While Gwaine and Lancelot argued over what to do with her now, Rose escaped, headed to the very place she had been forbidden to go: the Outlands.
                           * * * * *
     Honestly, the Outlands didn't seem as bad as Rose's parents had lead her to believe. And they had told her a number of times how bad the Outlands were. Yet it didn't seem all that bad.
     As Rose continued her walk, she noticed that the sky glowed red and the land itself was a barren wasteland. But as far as Rose could see, the place was uninhabited.
     Rose was so busy looking around that she ran into someone!
     She tripped, landing in the dirt. The stranger she had bumped into jumped to his feet.
     "Who are you, Princess?"
     He stalked towards her menacingly. Rose backed up, never turning her back to him.
     "What are you doing?"
     "My father says to never turn your back on an Outsider!"
     The boy smirked. "You always do what daddy says?"
     "No!"
     "I betcha do! Betcha your daddy's little girl!" He started to walk away, clearly showing his disdain for the idea. "I, on the other hand, can take care of myself."
     Rose was now able to get a better look at the boy. He was taller than her, thin and pale. His hair was black as night and he had beautiful blue eyes. His clothes were ragged and worn but this was to be expected from a life without the luxuries that Paradise afforded.
     In turn, the boy took a good look at the innocent looking red-head with eyes that seemed to change color with her mood.
     He was so focused on Rose and why he didn't hate her that he didn't realize he was in danger.
     "Look out!"
     The boy turned to find a pack of wolves headed straight for them. He ran, Rose following.
     "Quick! Follow me!"
     The boy continued running but Rose stopped and let out a growl towards the wolves who ran the other way. The boy raced back and stared in surprise as the wolves left.
     "How'd... how'd you do that?"
     "I'm kinda an alpha. I can control wolves."
     "That was really brave. You saved my life. Thanks!"
     "You're welcome."
     "You should go. A pretty princess like you won't be safe here."
     "Oh? So suddenly you care about me?"
     "Normally, I wouldn't but you saved my life. I feel the need to repay the favor. I can save you from the dragons here but from the other Outlanders, that's beyond my power."
     "Can I come back tomorrow?"
     "It's dangerous."
     "I'm not afraid." Here she paused before asking, "What's your name?"
     "Merlin."
     "I'm Rose." She smiled at him before hugging her new friend. "See you tomorrow!"
     Then, she left.
                          * * * * *
     When Rose returned to the Outlands the next day, she taught Merlin how to play and he taught her how to hunt. Over the next few weeks, the two played, fought, and talked.
     Rose confided that her parents were too strict and Merlin admitted his mother was exactly the same way. Rose told Merlin that she dreamed to one day travel the world. Merlin told Rose he'd give anything to live a life free from worry of others of his kind and where to get his next meal.
     During this time of bonding, neither one of them realized that Merlin's mother, the spiteful Regina, had been watching them.
      Meanwhile, Nicholas had grown curious as to where his daughter disappeared to everyday so one day he decided to follow her.
      Rose and Merlin were playing together when there was suddenly a loud growl and Nicholas appeared, staff in hand, large black wolf at his side.
      The two children recoiled in shock but before they could recover, another loud growl was heard and Regina appeared, a black and purple dragon at her side.
     "Regina!" Nicholas growled.
     An evil grin spread over Regina's face. "Nicky, darling!" As she prepared herself to pounce, several more figures joined Nicholas. Nicholas's wife, Anastasia, appeared at his side with Nyx at his other side. A number of guards and noblemen/women appeared behind him. "Anastasia!" Regina sneered.
     "Regina!" Anastasia sneered right back.
     Nyx walked forward and grabbed ahold of Rose, towing her back to her father as the adults argued.
     "Enough of this!" Nicholas boomed. "This is the second time you have attacked the royal family, Regina. By all means, I should punish you to the full extent of the law. However, I'll give you one last warning. Stay away from Paradise, you stay away from my daughter, and return to your home. And you will be spared."
     "Spared? You killed my husband, the father of my children, you banished us from your presence, and you blame me for your daughter's inability to do what she's told!"
     "Silence! Your husband brought his death upon himself and you are no better! Be gone, Regina, or you will not like what comes." He advanced, expecting Regina to submit but she instead stood tall and proud.
     "You would not attack a mother-to-be, oh noble king?"
     Nicholas froze in his tracks and looked Regina up and down. Sure enough, there was a small but noticable baby bump. "No I would not because unlike your sainted husband, I have honor."
     Regina scoffed. "Honor? Merlin here was the last born before you exiled us to these lands. And you've condemned countless others. There is no honor in that."
     "Karayan murdered my father. And you have attempted to murder my family before. I cannot take the risk that your son will be any different."
     "One day, Nicholas, I will have my revenge. I swear it!"
      "Take your boy and get out!" Nicholas said in disgust. "We're finished here!"
      Regina grinned, evilly. "Over? Oh no! This has just begun!"
      With that, Regina grabbed Merlin and mounted her dragon, flying off. Nicholas walked over to Nyx, grabbed Rose from her arms then he and Anastasia mounted the big black wolf and rode off, the rest following.
      Just before the two families were out of earshot of each other, Rose and Merlin whispered goodbye. They would not see each other again for many years....
                           * * * * *
      Once Rose, Nicholas, and the rest reached Paradise, Nicholas ordered everyone to head back to the palace. He wanted to be alone with his daughter. They obligingly left.
       "Nick, be gentle with her. She's just a child." Anastasia told her husband.
      Nicholas nodded. "Off to bed, love."
      Once Anastasia left, Nicholas turned to Rose who was being uncharacteristically quiet.
      "Rose, what were you thinking? You could've been hurt. And Nyx tells me that you have snuck away everyday. What's going on?"
      "He's my friend."
      "Rose, I know it may seem like he is but that boy would've had you killed if you'd stayed. You're still young and inexperienced."
     Rose had heard this speech more than she cared to. "I know, I know. I need to be more careful because you won't always be here and I have to carry on the family line as queen." Then, she added, "But what if I don't wanna be queen?!"
     "Being queen is in your blood. And so am I. We are one." At this, Nicholas began to sing: