We wouldn't have to guess if anyone could give us a straight warning, but apparently that's too much to ask for.

'Consider the rose, and consider a time when you have tasted its thorns before. These flowers are alike in more than Name.' That's the whole thing. As far as I remember, the only time I saw him scratched up was just before we went into the Rose Queen's place, but maybe it's just a fancy way of saying while he was her servant.