Merlin Fairytale Series

Chapter 4: Love Will Find a Way

Please don't kill me for this!
Gif is Merlin's (and my) reaction to when he nearly loses Rose.
Summary: When Nicholas learns of the plot Merlin was part of, his relationship with Rose is put to the test.

     Unbeknownst to what happened last night, the next morning Merlin woke up earlier than anyone else. The guilt of what he'd been sent to do weighed on his heart. Despite finally having Rose love him, he was still torn; his mother wouldn't be happy when she found out that he'd bailed on her. Even worse, he knew he couldn't continuously keep this secret from Rose. He'd have to tell her but he had no idea how.
     Just as he'd steeled his nerves to face her, Nicholas appeared, announcing he wanted to have a talk with Merlin. Merlin was nervous but Rose seemed delighted that her father was finally warming up to Merlin.
     Nicholas took Merlin far outta Paradise, as he told him the story about Karayan and what he was like. He ended the story with a, "Karayan never could let go of his hate and in the end, it destroyed him."
     Merlin felt himself grow even more guilty, if that was even possible, than he did before. "I never heard that version before. No one told me."
     "I believed so much that he could change for the better but he didn't. But you, Merlin, have a chance to change. Don't be like your father; don't waste it."
     "Well then, sir, I have a confession to make."
     Suddenly, evil laughter rang out through the valley. Both men looked into the distance to see Regina saunter forward, an evil grin on her face, followed by Charles, Callista, and several others, as well as a few dragons.
     Merlin kept shaking his head, muttering, "no, oh no!" over and over again, knowing they were both in trouble.
     At this, Regina appeared with a wicked grin. "Why, Nicky, darling, what are you doing out here all alone?" The way she said the last word made the situation all the more worse. She laughed, evilly. At last, she turned to her wayward son. "Well done, Merlin. Just as we always planned."
     Nicholas immediately shot an angry glare in Merlin's direction. "You!" He accused.
     Merlin met his gaze in confusion and panic. "No! I swear I had nothing to do with this!"
     Regina rose above the crowd as she boomed, "Attack!"
     Merlin rushed to Nicholas' aid but the king was swept up in the perfect teamwork of Regina's followers. Merlin managed to keep the dragons at bay but his mother's army was another thing.
     Luckily, Nicholas managed to escape but at the cost of Charles' life. Sure, he'd been a bully but he was family so Merlin rushed over to help him. Regina pushed her traitorous son out of the way and dug through the wreckage until she found her eldest son's lifeless body.
     Grief-stricken, she rushed at Merlin, smacking him in the face in her anger.
     "What have you done?"
     "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It wasn't my fault." He suddenly turned on her. "I did nothing!"
     "Exactly! And in doing so you betrayed your family and your home! Betrayed your father!"
     "I want nothing more to do with him!"
     "You cannot escape it! Charles is dead because of you!"
     "No!"
     "YOU'VE KILLED YOUR OWN BROTHER!"
     Merlin couldn't listen to her anymore and fled. In the meantime, Regina lamented the series of events. "That's it! Nicholas has hurt me for the last time! He took my husband, our home, our king! He is responsible for the death of my son! And now he has corrupted Merlin as well! But we shall have our revenge! Luckily for us, Nicholas is injured and weak! Now is the time to attack! We shall take his entire kingdom...BY FORCE!!" Then she laughed joyously as she readied her army for war.
     Meanwhile, Nicholas was helped home by Gwaine, Lancelot, Nyx, and Rose who immediately turned him over to Gaius. When he got better, he told them what happened but Rose refused to believe that Merlin would ever hurt her father.
     Nicholas was too angry to listen to her words, however, and banished Merlin anyway, proclaiming that he was not, and never would be, a part of the people.
     Afterwards, ensued a horrible fight between Rose and her father:
     "Father, you must reconsider! He would never-"
     "You will go nowhere without an escort from now on."
     "No! That's not-"
     "He used you to get to me!"
     "No! He loves me...for me!"
     "BECAUSE YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER!" Nicholas burst out. "You will not leave Paradise. You will stay where I can keep an eye on you...away from him!"
     "You don't know him!" (AN: Let's be honest ladies, how many of us have used this one. Feel free to put your hand in the air in the comments.)
     "I know enough to know better than to ever trust him again!"
     At this point, Rose grew so angry that she yelled out, "If I can't be with Merlin, then I will never speak to you again. You are not my father! From this moment on, I disown you!"
     And with that, she ran away.
     Rose ran away, knowing that she had to find Merlin. She didn't care what happened; she couldn't live without him. As she ran, something came over her and she sang:

In a perfect world
One we've never known
We would never need
To face the world alone
They can have the world
We'll create our own
I may not be brave,
Or strong or smart
But somewhere in my secret heart
I know love will find a way
And anywhere I go
I'm home
If you are there beside me
A dawn turning into day
Somehow we'll come through
Now that I found you
Love will find a way

     Merlin felt lost. His mother hated him for betraying the plan. Nicholas hated him because he'd betrayed the royal family and used Rose. And Rose was so forgiving that she had plead to save him. He loved that girl, no matter how completely naive she could be at times.
     He saw her wandering around the woods, singing, and he felt the need to add:
I was so afraid
Now I realize
Love is never wrong
And so it never dies
   
     Rose turned and saw Merlin and began to smile at seeing him again.
There's a perfect world
Shining in your eyes
And if only they feel it too
The happiness I feel with you

     They ran into each other's arms.
They know
Love will find a way
And anywhere we go
We're home
If we are there together
A dawn turning into day
Somehow we'll come through
Now that I found you
Love will find a way
I know love will find a way!

     They raced around and laughed, hugging, kissing, and generally holding onto each other. At one point, Merlin jokingly made a remark about them being one and Rose realized something.
      "Merlin, do you know what this means? We are one! It doesn't matter who we are or where we come from! We are all the same! We have to get back to Paradise, Merlin! We have to stop this war before it starts!"
     And, with that, the lovers raced off, back to Paradise.
To be continued...