ROSALIA HAD LUCKILY been able to find Nimue after the Weeping Monk let her go once again. Thanks to Sister Igraine, who turned out to be actually named Morgana, they managed to flee in a small boat. The water reminded her of his eyes, and Rosalia couldn't find a logical explanation of why he had saved her again. Sure, the first time she was bait, and the violence with which he had killed her people still haunted her to this day, so why was he sparring her life when she was technically his enemy? It made no sense, but Rosalia couldn't bring herself to tell Nimue about this. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but she was determined to keep their interactions a secret. It wasn't likely that she would see him again anyway, Rosalia and Nimue were headed to Gramaire, where Arthur and the sword he had stolen from Nimue were.
After they safely made it to shore, they kept in mind Morgana's instructions: if they successfully followed it, they should encounter a smuggler who was willing to take them to Gramaire.
The two girls hid behind a tree when they heard a carriage arrive.
"You think you're hiding? You think you're smart? You've traveled upwind. Easy for dogs. You've walked through the branches and not the seam of the green. You've led me right to you. Born in the dawn..."
"To pass in the twilight." Finished Rosalia and Nimue.
The man gave them a hand.
"Hurry now. You girls are not my only stop today."
Rosalia and Nimue sat in the carriage, where a little girl was fearfully hiding behind her father.
"We found them this morning. Snake clan. They must have ran all the way from Harrow's pond. Hundred miles. Woods are full of Fey survivors. The paladins keep us busy." He revealed.
"Have you seen a little girl? About nine with brown hair. Her name is Willa." Rosalia couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, we've stumbled upon her yesterday. Took her somewhere safe."
Rosalia sighed of relief, feeling as though things might finally be somewhat okay.
"You don't know how much I love you right now. Thank you so much! And I don't even know your names."
"I'm Dizier. This is my wife, Clothilde. And no problem, we were happy to take her to Nemos. She told us all about her big sister who was fighting the Weeping Monk."
"You what?" Repeated Nimue.
"Honestly, I was just trying to erase this moment from my memory. He used me as bait so that Fey people would come and save me. And it worked. He killed them all, including Illya."
"How did you escape?"
"I don't really know..." Answered Rosalia, and it was partly true.
Eventually, as they were getting closer to Gramaire, a guard came to check on them.
"Stay calm. Show no fear." Advised Dizier.
"State your business." The guard declared.
Rosalia couldn't help but feel there was something familiar about that guard, although she could have sworn she had never seen his face before this day.
"Leather goods."
"And this is your own family." He assumed.
"My wife, Clothilde. And my nieces, Johanna and Alexandra."
He looked at them for a moment. Rosalia had trouble breathing. Nimue discretely squeezed her hand to reassure her.
"You've reached the border of Gramaire. Gates a few miles on."
He finally left. Nimue turned to her friend.
"Rosie, you should go to your sister. I don't want you in any more danger because of me." Nimue told her.
"Trust me, I don't need you for trouble to find me."
"I mean it." Nimue insisted.
Rosalia seriously considered it. She had been separated from her sister for only a few days, and while she would have usually deemed that a fun vacation, the circumstances had made her absence almost unbearable. Each moment she spent away from Willa made her heart ache.
"Then you have to promise me we'll see each other soon." She accepted.
"I promise."
Not long after Nimue and Rosalia said their goodbyes, hugging each other like it could be the last time, Rosalia glanced at the window to observe several Red Paladins heading their way. Rosalia was picking up on their intentions which couldn't have been clearer.
"Dizier, I have a bad feeling about this." Rosalia warned him.
"We don't know..." He started.
"I do. They want to kill us, just trust me on this."
Dizier made the carriage stop in the forest, where they would be hidden for a short amount of time.
"Please take her with you."
Amvri's father encouraged her to go to Rosalia. And while she was reluctant to leave him, she at least felt safe with her new friend.
"Wait... but what about you?" Rosalia argued.
"We'll save you some time but you have to go now. Follow the signs on the trees and the ground and you'll be fine. And here's a sword, just in case."
Although Rosalia accepted the sword, she still wasn't okay with the situation.
"I..."
"There's no time, Rosalia." Dizier interrupted her.
Rosalia nodded while her thoughts were running into her mind.
"I know you're afraid, it's okay to be afraid, but if you grab my hand, I promise everything will be fine." She said the same thing to Amvri as her little sister.
The two of them began running away, and no matter how many times Rosalia had the urge to turn back, she didn't allow herself to. Even when haunting screams blurted her vision because of much she was crying, she kept going, because her friends had died so that they would live.
"Are you the official children's savior now?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice. The Weeping Monk had a habit of being in Rosalia's way, and this time was no exception.
"You said you didn't harm children." Rosalia reminded him.
"I don't." He confirmed.
"Did you find anything?" Shouted a Red Paladin a little further away.
"No!" He yelled back.
He looked at Rosalia.
"You should go before they come."
And yet, she couldn't bring herself to move.
"I don't get why you would... I guess I'm trying to say thank you, again."
"Just... be more careful."
She nodded before continuing to run with Amvri.
Nemos was the safe haven they were desperately looking for, a perfect sanctuary, just like Dizier had described it. She had missed that feeling of being entirely welcomed and understood among her people. Amvri ran to a family member while Rosalia smiled, grateful she had at least someone to take care of her. But her attention was soon drawn to a little brunette with full cheeks, who was screaming her big sister's name. Rosalia never hugged someone this long and even let a few tears stream down her face.
"Willa! Oh Gods, you can't believe how happy I am to see you! Are you okay? Did you get here safely? Are the other children nice to you?" She bombarded her with questions.
"Everything's fine, Rosie. I even made some friends." Willa reassured her.
"How could you not? You're the most adorable little girl to ever exist."
"You're smothering me, Rosie."
"Oups. Sorry. I love you so much, Willa. I could never live without you."
"Me too."
That night, Rosalia was brushing her fingers through Willa's hair as she was trying to get her to sleep.
"Is he going to come back?" Asked the little girl.
"Who, darling?"
"The Weeping Monk."
"No, he's far away from here, don't worry. You can sleep now."
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We're pretty much halfway through the story. That is until season 2 comes out, if the series is renewed. I don't think there will be more than 8, maybe 9 chapters, mostly because the last episodes are filled with political stuff and I don't feel like it serves Rosalia's arc to go into details about that. It'll also prevent me from writing several chapters devoided of the Weeping Monk, which I know you're all here to see. So I'm writing this to say things will go a lot faster as soon as chapter five. Be prepared.
Like always, a vote/comment is always appreciated!