Queens

Ros

Uther had left her and Arthur in the throne room alone. There were a few servents attending to matters near the walls but a safe distance away from the two of them. She had dismissed Merlin when she had left Prince Dane's company earlier, so now would likely be a good time to talk with her brother.

"Arthur?" She asked rather quietly, for fear of others hearing their conversation.

"I tried to convince him to spare you in this, I'm sorry Ros."

"No no, it's fine. Any time that I get away from the visiting prince I tend to treasure." He looked down at her with a soft expression. He looked tired.

"You have been spending quite a lot of your time with him recently." He brought his elbow out for her to take it, which she did as they began walking out of the throne room. "He seems to have taking quite a liking to you."

"He has, alas I seem to have pushed him away. Before coming here I told him that I did not wish to marry him."

"I'm sure father would understand. You are his only daughter after all." She knew that Arthur was just putting on a show for the people walking past them. There would be much gossip among the castle staff if word got out that Uther did not support his daughter.

"Oh yes of course, it seems that Prince Dane simply isn't my cup of tea. He is perfectly capable of being a worthy husband, however I think it would suit me better to marry someone within the kingdom." They continued this fall as Arthur lead her down to Giaus' chambers.

"Let us get some sleep aide for you from Giaus, you will need to stock up on it if we are to be traveling around the kingdom."

"Yes I agree, thank you brother." They has always had a way to communicate with one another as they walked the halls of the castle. Arthur knew that their father would have people listening to them now, she knew that he was aware of what was at stake now. Perhaps it was selfish of her to run away with Merlin, perhaps it was a mistake to leave her brother here alone. But then on the other hand, wouldn't Arthur wish for her to be happy?

When Arthur knocked on the door to Giaus and Merlin's chambers the door opened right away, the ocean eyed boy standing there with a look of worry on his face. He ushered them inside before closing the door behind the two,, looking down the corridors to make sure it was safe to talk without someone listening.

"I was worried Uther had found out," he said to Ros, pulling her into a hug after closing the door.

"I think he might have..." she whispered. Arthur picked his head up and looked at her.

"Did he say something to you?" Arthur asked.

"As he was leaving, he whispered in my ear. He said that a marriage between the prince and I would be what's best for the kingdom... and what's best for my servants." She said the last part quietly.

"Damn.. damn damn damn!" Arthur picked up an empty jar and threw it at the wall. The jar shattered and the glass fell to the floor. Both her and Merlin flinched at his outburst. "I didn't want you to feel like the kingdom was your duty, Ros. Father treats you horribly so you shouldn't need to feel like you're dedicated to the kingdom." At Arthur's words she looked over at Merlin.

"Arthur there's something I need to tell you..." he paused and looked over at her. Merlin was standing a little behind her now, as she walked over and took Arthur's hand, guiding him to a chair for him to sit down. She kneeled in front of him, his hand still in hers. "What if I ran away?"

"Ran away?"

"Yes... what if Merlin and I just... ran away, together. We could find Ana, the three of us we could live happily. You can come visit us. Father wouldn't care Arthur you cannot tell me that he would even bother looking for m-"

"Yes, he would!" Arthur stood from the chair and ripped his hand from her grasp. "If word were to get out that the Princess was missing he would have to send our guards and knights and soldiers to search for you Roselyn, they would have to." Her brother began pacing in the small room, his brow furrowed together. "He would send me, Roselyn you can't run away he wouldn't just let it slide."

"What if she faked her death?" Merlin spoke.

"Faked her death? Merlin you imbecile, you absolute idiot! Why would she fake her own death? How would she prove anything? The death of a princess is nothing to joke around with, she is not going to die-"

"Arthur!" Ros finally interrupted him. He turned to look at her, his face still red from yelling at Merlin. "I am not happy here, I never have been. You were the only one to bring me any ounce of joy." She walked over and took his hand in hers once more. "Please, my brother, let me do this. I can do this. I was never a princess, I was never someone who brought the kingdom joy like you do. They look up to you Arthur, not me."

"What will I do without you?"

"Be King, what else? Arthur I understand that you have a duty to our kingdom, you are so amazing and wonderful and they all love you. Maybe once you are king I'll be able to return, maybe this doesn't have to be forever."

"Ros, please... please don't do this."

"If I stay I'll have to marry someone I do not love. I love Merlin, I want to spend my life with him. I don't need a castle to spend my life with someone I love."

"Okay."