It was a cloudy morning in early spring and Merlin was scouting ahead of Prince Arthurs hunting party; the only sound that penetrated the eery silence was the soft footfalls of his chestnut gelding. Before he could react an arrow had flown past his left ear and was now embedded in a tree behind him, chaos ensued as the sounds from a surprise attack reached his ears from further up the path.

Merlin looked around him in bewilderment; expecting to see a hoarde of bandits encirling his horse, but the target of the robbery seemed to be someone else. Urging his horse into a canter, Merlin followed the sounds of swords scraping against eachother and what he supposed were the screams of the unfortunate victims. The noise subsided into a heavy silence as Merlin reached a clearing in the woods, expecting to see a scene of utter carnage. He came to a halt in stunned silence. All the bandits now lay dead, their bodies littered around the clearing. A lone figure knelt in the middle of the battlefield, blood staining their pale travelling cloak.

"MERLIN!" came Prince Arthurs irritated shout, "WHERE ARE YOU?!" Merlin looked behind him , as if waking from a trance. Before Merlin could react Arthur and Sir Leon apeared through a thick patch of bushes, carving a path for their horses with their swords.

Merlin turned round to see the travellor attempt to get to their feet, attempting to hide the horizontal gash on their stomach, which oozed blood onto their cloak. Arthur dismounted his horse and approached the travellor, "It's alright, we're not going to hurt you" he said "are you injured?"

"It's only a scratch," the travellor replied "I've had worse"

They attempted to stand, but collapsed, leaning heavily on the dark horse behind them; their breath shallow and strained.

"What's your name?" Arthur asked, offering a gloved hand to help them stand "I am sure my father would allow you to stay in Camelot until you have recovered"

Shrugging off the hood of their travelling cloak, The stranger replied "My name is Electra Pembroke, Arthur Pendragon"

Dark hair cascaded down the girls back as she clambered to her feet, grinning at Arthurs shocked expression, "What? did you expect me to be a man or something?"

"But...how did you..."

Trying to hide her pained grimace, Electra replied "That is for me to know and you to find out if you ever annoy me enough, your highness"

"You think you can beat me?" Arthur replied, a smile playing on his lips

"Try me,"

Sir Leon walked his horse forward "Sire, we need to get her back to Camelot..."

"Alright then, i would have won anyway"

Electra's eyes flashed cheekily and she muttered under her breath "Yeah right..."

It was then that Merlin notice the horse, it's head was pale grey, the colour of clouds on a winters morning. It tossed its raven mane nervously as Arthur approached it, helping Electra.

Merlin heard her voice in his head, addressing the horse, "He's here to help us Zeus, don't give me away..." Merlin looked closer at the horse, only to see a completely different creature in front of him; the colours remained but huge wings now sprouted from it's sides; the feathers tipped with lilac and a long silver horn appeared between the creatures ears. Merlin had only seen these creatures in books before, Gaius told him that unicorns could not be tamed, they had only been seen in fleeting glances on midsummer night. And here was one standing in front of him, lowering itself onto it's knees so Arthur could help it's injured rider onto it's back.

Nearly an hour later, the three horses entered the gates of Camelot. The long ride had left Electra exhausted and pale, but she seemed determined not to show weakness, for some reason.

She had spoken little on the way to Gaius' chambers, and left him with questions swirling in his head. Who was she? Was she dangerous? Could she be like him?

As if to answer his unspoken questions he heard Electras voice in his head "It's easier if i show you..."