A/N This is a one off, I am thinking of starting a drabble collection and am open to suggestions. Please raead and review and give me any opinions and ideas on where to take this.

Also I need character names so any female names would be a blessing.

Hope you enjoy! Thank you EyeMyst

Bandits! Why is it always bandits?

Is it impossible for me to bump into a fluffy bunny in these woods for once? A nice travelling druid, maybe? At least they're better company, not very talkative though.

Bandits were loud, rough, filthy creatures that prowled the forests and woods around here. And everywhere I go about fifty of these beasts seem to stalk me.

All I did was walk; can they not leave me alone? Can they not go after someone else once in a while?

I thought all this whilst tied to a tree with the group of twenty or so men shouting and stuffing their faces full of bread and odd looking meats.

They had a campfire going and the smoke blew into my face. Hopefully some knight on a patrol will find this clearing, but I don't have high hopes of help coming. Even if a knight from Camelot happens across this bunch of pigs they won't do anything because I am not well known in Camelot for the right reasons.

In fact, if a knight of Camelot were to come by here, they'd probably sneak up behind me and cut my throat or shoot me with a crossbow. I didn't want this; arrows aren't the nicest of things to get wedged in your head.

The tyrant Uther still reigned but I hear that he was driven mad because Morgana betrayed him. Seems a little drastic to me but then if I think about it it's because the closest relative I have is a unicorn. Please take note of my sarcastic tone.

A shadow loomed through the smoke. One of the bandits was approaching me. His gait was more like that of a bears than a man's.

"You're a pretty one ain't you?" His voice was more like that of a bears as well as he appeared to be just growling at me.

"No! You and the people around you are so ugly that anyone who looks vaguely normal seems beautiful to you." I spat.

He chose to ignore this.

He had a sword in his right hand; never a good way to approach someone, but a way that I had gotten used to.

My hands were twisted around the trunk of the tree and a length of rope bound them there.

For the last few hours I had been slowly sawing through this rope with my fingernails, picking apart the individual strands of the thick rope.

I nearly had it now but I didn't let on anything.

I knew what he wanted to try to do, they never learn, but I suppose I had never seen this bandit so he had nothing to learn from.

Every bandit tried the same things because they were all the same, pigs.

He slashed at the tree above my head, the scare tactic. Simple, basic, stupid things.

"Grow up! Is the only thing you can hit with that sword a tree? Pathetic I've seen dogs wielding a weapon better then that!" I had my eyes half closed bored with the same routine that I had seen many times before.

"I've just about had it with your cheek; you haven't shut up since we captured you."

"You've just had enough because I outsmart you every time I open my mouth."

He grabbed my chin and forced my head back, slamming it against the tree. He pointed his sword at my throat, anger showing through his eyes.

I hadn't gotten through the rope though; I kept pulling my hands away from each other, trying to pull apart the rope.

The cold metal of the sword pressed against my neck and my hope faded. I was too slow and too eager to ridicule the bandits.

"Put the sword down, now!" A voice came from beyond the mist of the smoke.

Galloping hooves, the gentle noise of chainmail and a whooshing of a blade through the air.

More hooves these ones lighter. Unlike those of horses.

The bandit didn't move.

In a flash of white he had gone.

His sword fell; I held the hilt between both of my feet. I moved it, carefully, making sure not to cut my stomach open.

I managed to get it behind me and into my hands.

Within a few seconds I had the rope off my wrists but I still held onto it.

Standing up, holding the heavy rope I prepared to use it and the sword to defend myself against them.

Who had come? Who had bothered to approach these bandits?

Whoever they were I owed them my life; I just hope it's no one from Camelot. Any other of the five kingdoms, guards or knights, yes that'd be fine. They don't know me. Don't know I have magic.

I ran in the direction the man had vanished off to. As I had expected the unicorn was there flicking blood off his horn and wiping his cloven hooves on the damp grass.

"Artex! Let's go!" I called.

A hand grabbed my arm. "Wait!"

The voice was quiet, kind and had a familiar tone to it.

I spun around, but the smoke smothered the detail in the man, so all I could see was a mere shadow.

He was thin though I could tell that much.

"Who are you?" The voice asked.

"No one. Now let me go!" Desperation coloured my voice.

I was within Camelot's land, they were probably from Camelot and if they were this was the end of me.

"Merlin!" A shout came from the other side of the clearing. "Was there anyone there?"

"Yes here!"

The footsteps approached. I felt ill, the feeling increased as the person approached.

Blond hair shimmered in the faint sun, the smoke had started to clear and so I could see the armour shining and the crest of Camelot ablaze on his chest.

"You!" He barked as he saw me.

"Hello Arthur." I said simply, anticipating the response.