Hi there again! First off let me thank you for all the favorites and follows. You have all shown such patience and have been so great. I know there isn't much to start off with in the beginning, but keep hanging in there with me and it will get better. Speaking of hanging in there, I have a new chapter for all of you! I hope you enjoy it and of course please review.

I don't own Merlin. Only my plot/characters.

The clashing of steel rang throughout the green forest. The Valley of Kings still held its ominous vibe and Arthur's men struggled. Their king was injured and no Merlin was in sight! Sir Gwaine seemed to be fighting towards a lady in black clothes with black hair and deathly pale skin. When Gwaine reached the lady, Isabella suddenly walked off.

"Hey! I thought you wanted to see?" the young man hissed at her.

"Yes, but we already know the outcome, so what's the point? Besides...I got to at least see half of what I wanted." she answered grabbing her phone and pushing a few buttons. Nero's Promises started to resonate around them.

"Suit yourself...But this enemy isn't one I remember...and Sir Gwaine isn't smiling now."

Isabella briskly came back to the pot.

"Well, well...the mighty Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot. You don't seem to be at a great advantage right now. What shall I do to you? I know! I'll turn you into a toad and let you watch helplessly as I torture your beloved King! Ahahahaha!" the lady in black raised her hand to him, and then stopped abruptly. "No, that's impossible...I smell blood!"

"Well, quite a bit was shed from your men." Gwaine smirked.

"This blood I smell only comes from one lineage. You wouldn't understand mere mortal." she spat glaring up into the sky.

Isabella hit the young man's arm repeatedly as the woman's eyes bored into her own, stealing her ability to speak.

"What's your name young one?"

"She...she's speaking to us." Isabella whispered.

The young man looked puzzled.

"She did? I think...she's only communing with you Isabella."

"Shh, you fool!" Isabella gasped. "You just gave her what she needed!"

"Ah, Isabella...I welcome you whole heartedly as my sacrifice. Come." a dark voice rang around them over the music.

The woman raised her hand to the sky and began chanting.

"Don't sit there and stare! Close the window!" Isabella snapped hitting her friend out of his daze.

He flipped pages in his big brown book furiously. Suddenly the windows in the apartment burst open. The books started floating; pages tore from the young man's grasp as a fierce wind surrounded Isabella. The wind whistled, her hair came undone, and she locked eyes with her friend. She reached her hand out to him, and he mirrored her. A flash of light, a glimmer of gold in her eyes, and she disappeared in front of him!

Gwaine looked up where the witch was looking and wondered what delusion she was suffering from now. Before he could ask though, a sound was heard.

"Ahhhh!" Thud!

Gwaine groaned as a new weight caused his bruised back to meet the forest floor. Just as soon as he was growing accustomed to its softness, it was ripped from his reaching hands. He stood up and saw a young lady with long cherry brown tresses being dragged to the witch.

"Release him. He can return with his king...for now. This treasure is worth much more." the woman rasped.

Gwaine was shocked.

"Wait! Leave her! Witch!" he called out.

Isabella looked back and locked eyes with him as he was punched in the gut. He still reached for her on the ground. Isabella resisted as the three men struggled dragging her with them.

"You really don't want me. I'm nobody...a poor defenseless simpleton of a maiden...Really!" she babbled.

"You are anything but." the witch turned to her. "I shall enjoy this. Take her to the meeting spot. I will await you there." With that, the witch disappeared, leaving Isabella with three men.

"I think your lady is mistaken! Why don't you just let me go? You could say some creature got me?!"

The men stopped and one pointed a sword to her.

"You are important to our mistress. We will deliver you...but that doesn't mean we can't have our fun first!" his sword tip touched her skirt at her bust.

Gwaine finally got up, grabbed his sword, and ran after the girl. He paused as he saw the witch disappear. He got up when the man put his sword on Isabella. Isabella slid her fingers on the edge of the sword.

"And where exactly do you think you are pointing that young man?" she hissed. "Weren't you taught how to handle a sword properly, and to show a woman respect?!"

She grabbed the sword, turned, and elbowed the man in the gut. He dropped, leaving two men to guard her. Gwaine was trying to get to her in time and was rushing down the hill. The men rushed to her. She blocked one with a piece of wood from the forest floor, and smacked the other. The smacked one was stunned as she knocked the other out with the hilt of the sword. He went behind her and she sighed.

"Allow me to show you why they invented the 'jock.'"

She kicked back and turned, slapping him on the other cheek. Gwaine arrived as she panted. He stared in amazement.

"Got ya!" a man yelled out going to grab her.

She turned and the man ran straight into the sharp sword. He fell slowly from the sword and she lowered it holding her tender wrist to her cold lips. Gwaine stared in wonder at the lady's back. A strange black dress, long wavy hair with leaves weaving through it, and a sword dripping with blood at her side. A few moments passed. She dropped the sword suddenly and without looking back at him, she marched back to the spot she fell at. He followed and watched her stop abruptly and look into the sky fiercely. Arthur limped to them with Merlin's help.

"Who's this then?" Arthur groaned.

The lady froze for what seemed an eternity, and then with wide eyes turned to the king. She smiled and as Merlin and Arthur stepped closer, she fainted. Gwaine caught her and groaned once more, kneeling on the ground. Merlin stared at the lady seriously as Gwaine and Arthur exchanged curious looks.