Page 49 of Kings and Monsters

Merlin had seen Rosa a total of three times in what felt like days. Time was trickier than normal when riding with the Hunt. Gwyn's magic had pulled them through the Underworld, the human world, through the far reaches of the Aos Si, and back again. Gwyn was taking a very circuitous way back to the Night Courts, and though Merlin wasn't sure why, he knew Rosa had something to do with it. Gwyn hadn't let her leave his side, forgetting Merlin and Arthur completely. The bounty had been removed from his head, and after the first night, they were each given a horse and told to keep up.

"There's nothing you can do but trust Rosa to bargain on our behalf," Arthur had told him over and over.

"I do trust her. It is Gwyn with Rosa that I don't trust."

For the first time since Arthur had woken, they had been alone, and they finally began to talk, renewing their friendship all over again.

Arthur had wanted to hear everything that had happened since he slept. Like Bleddyn, he had smacked Merlin in the back of the head when he'd found out about the curse that had left Merlin crippled for centuries. Like Rosa, Arthur had been gentle and forgiving when he heard of his darkest failures.

It was at twilight on the fourth day when the Hunt dropped from the sky and rode to the great tree of the Night Courts. A group of Unseelie warriors who had been riding out halted, instantly moving into a defensive formation at the sight of the thundering, mounted warriors flying towards them. Merlin moved as close to Rosa as he could, but she had the confrontation well under control.

"General Madoc, how kind of you to ride out to escort us back to Bleddyn," Rosa said in a sugary sweet voice to cover the blade edge underneath it. Madoc looked like he was going to piss himself. He stared wide-eyed at Rosa, sitting comfortably in the saddle in front of the Lord of the Hunt. She looked a part of them, her long braid loose from the wind and entwined with greenery and feathers. She had the look of madness and violence in her eyes, and Merlin was suddenly very afraid.

"Lady Seren Du, Lord Gwyn, it would be our pleasure," Madoc rallied, bowing in his saddle.

"After you, pet," Rosa growled, her hand resting onGaeaf Storom.

Madoc whistled a signal to his men who turned and began riding back the way they came. Rosa exchanged a few low words with Gwyn, who actually smiled under his helm.

"Fuck, fucking fuck," Merlin swore.

"What is it?" Arthur whispered tersely beside him.

"Rosa is in trouble," Merlin hissed. He shot a magical alert to Bleddyn and hoped the power of the Hunt didn't block it.

By the time they reached the entrance to the Night Courts, Bleddyn was waiting. He stood beside Eirianwen, and both looked tense and confused. Bleddyn's eyes rested on Merlin once before bowing to Gwyn.

"My Lord of the Hunt, welcome to the Night Courts," he said courteously. Gwyn dismounted his horse, signaling that Merlin and Arthur could do the same before he lifted Rosa gently downfrom the saddle. Bleddyn's frown disappeared as Rosa flung herself into his arms.

"I told you we'd be back," she declared.

"Who is this wild creature, and what happened to my daughter?" Bleddyn said, kissing her forehead.

"Look what Gwyn taught me," Rosa declared with childish enthusiasm. She took two bronze blades from her belt and began to flick them swiftly from one hand to the other in a deadly blur. "Did you know you can use your magic to command the fire forged in the blades?" She tossed them high, caught them, and slid them back into her belt.

"I did. Very impressive, dear heart," Bleddyn slipped a possessive arm around her shoulders before fixing cold green eyes on Gwyn. "I'm interested to hear all about the things you decided were suitable to teach my daughter."

Gwyn smirked in amusement at the challenge.

"It has been an age since I've talked war with a Seren Du, but it would seem we are to be allies once more," he said. "I will leave my Hunt to camp outside while we talk tonight. They will ensure the borders are protected so no one will be sneaking in…or out."

"Thank you, my Lord. Any additional help you are willing to give, we will be most grateful for." Bleddyn released Rosa and embraced Merlin closely, whispering low enough for only him to hear, "What the hell did you do?"

"Later. Keep smiling," Merlin replied. "Lord Gwyn, allow us to show you the same hospitality you were kind enough to show us."

The streets inside the Court were almost empty for the evening, and those that lingered vanished at the sight of the Hunt. Merlin didn't know what reputation Gwyn had amongst the Unseelie, but no one was going to dare to look at him. Once they had settled their new guest into his chambers, Bleddyn allbut grabbed Merlin by the scruff of his jacket and dragged him into his rooms.

"What happened?" Bleddyn demanded. "You were meant to protect Rosa, and now Gwyn is treating her like she is his consort."

"Relax, Bleddyn. It's not what you think," Rosa said, coming in behind them with Arthur and Eirianwen.

"Give us five minutes to breathe, Father. It's been a long few days," Merlin grumbled. "I spent most of my time trying to ensure the Hunt didn't pass Arthur about like a party favor. They wanted to eat him like a little cream puff."

"To distract them he taught them how to gamble," Arthur said, taking off a fine fur cloak. "We cleaned them out until they were happy to ignore us."

"I only taught them how to play. They were the ones that decided to gamble." Merlin started to take multiple knives, arrowheads, stones, bits of old coins, and delicate feathers from about his pockets. "Besides, we had to do something because Gwyn took off with Rosa, and we weren't allowed anywhere near them."

Every head in the room swiveled to Rosa slumped on a couch by the fire. "Thanks, Merlin. For the record, I had no say on whether you came anywhere near us."

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