A/N: Thank you, thank you all my awesome and loyal reviewers! I'm so sorry that it takes me so long to update, but school is torture! You know how it is, so I won't waste your time telling you things you already have heard and experienced a hundred times, so here is the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only Jen!

I followed Arthur; teasing him about how the fire is probably someone passing through. Merlin kept smiling at my many failed attempts to persuade the prince to turn around and head another way. Arthur seemed to be getting annoyed and tried to get me to shut up. Me, being the stubborn girl that I am, didn't shut my mouth and kept teasing. Okay, so I was making the Crown Prince of Camelot feel like, well, crap, but it was for Merlin.

After another one of my jokes, Arthur stopped dead in his tracks. For a split second I was wondering if it was because the jokes finally got to him, but I knew that this couldn't-unfortunately- be the reason. Merlin and I slowly stopped our horses.

"What is it, Arthur?" I asked, honestly curious. He jumped off of his horse and bent down to touch the muddy ground. He traced the mud with his gloved hand, then stood back up looking north.

"There are tracks heading that way." He pointed to the new way we had to go. Merlin closed his eyes. Fear was closing in on us both. He got back on the tired mare and we began riding. We turned left. I had no idea how he knew where to turn, but when I asked him he said that he was following the tracks. When I looked closely at the ground I could make out faint indents, but I could barely see them at all! The trees were blocking most of the light from the sun.

Not long after did the tracks stop altogether. I breathed a silent sigh of relief, but not silent enough. Arthur looked at me smiling. "Don't worry, Jen, I wouldn't let the druids get to you." He teased. I smirked and was thinking of a witty comeback, for one was in dire need.

"Who says that they'll get to me?" Hey, it was the best I could come up with while panicking.

"Well, seeing as you can't fight…" Arthur pointed out.

"I've got Merlin!" I said gesturing to the entertained boy sitting on the horse next to me. Arthur barked a laugh.

"He can't even handle a sword, who says that he can fight?"

"Well, why can't I fight, as you said?" I challenged. Merlin smiled at this, or was he laughing…?

"Jennifer, it's not very ladylike."

"Merlin said that Morgana can fight."

"Morgana's…" Arthur fought for an explanation. "He's the king's word. She needs to know how to protect herself. That means she had to learn how to use a sword."

"I can't fight with a sword, but I can with my fists." This is somewhat true. My cousins were all boys and they loved to play tough with me. I pack a hard punch, but the actual fighting skills…

Arthur shook his head. "Girls in the fu-" he paused and glanced at his guards. "Girls where you come from don't have to be very proper, do they?" I rolled my eyes and was about to say something but a knight beat me to it.

"Sire," he spoke up. "It is noon and the horses need to rest and we need to eat." Arthur looked up at the sky and back down at the knight.

"You're right. We shall stop for half an hour, only." He glared at me. "There's a storm coming; clouds are rolling in." I looked up at the sky. The knights dismounted their horses and went to get the food we brought along. Arthur and Merlin got off as well and stared at me, who was still on my horse. "Is there a problem?" Arthur asked.

I kept looking at the sky. "How do you know that a storm is coming? You can't even see through the trees!" Arthur and the warlock chuckled and I rolled my eyes. He helped me off the animal and walked me over to the group. Merlin was smiling at the two of us. I smiled back and sat my head on Arthur's shoulder when the knights had their backs turned.

I leaned up against a tree and watched the knights dig into the food like vultures. Note to self: Don't expect much food when on long journeys with hungry men. I chuckled at how they were stuffing their faces and how Merlin was the only one eating somewhat civilized.

They finished eating and Arthur walked over to me. "You do know that you are allowed to eat, right?"

"Yeah, I know, but I'm not hungry, not really feeling like eating." I confessed.

"Then what do you feel like doing?" he asked getting closer to me. I laughed and thought about that for a second.

"I'd love to wash up!" I said honestly. "I've never, ever gone this long without a shower or a bath or something like that! Plus, my hair is getting greasy!" I groaned and slid down until I was sitting on the tree's roots. "I miss technology." He sat down with me. "I never realized how dependent I was on the basic things." I looked at him. "My basics would be like heaven to you." He smiled.

"I'll get you home." Thunder began to rumble. "If you want to wash up, then I'd suggest you do it now." My eyes lit up. Did he mean it? "The storm is coming in and we will have to wait until it clears up, anyway."

"But how?" I asked. He stood up and held out a hand for me. I took it and he led us away, keeping his hand in mine. "Normally you would still keep going, storm or no storm."

He nodded his head from side to side. "Yeah, normally, but not this time." We walked in silence after that. Finally, we reached a river. Once we got there, Merlin came running up to us.

"What are you doing here?" Merlin asked out of breath.

"Jennifer is going to bathe." He informed his servant sternly.

"Wait, in a river?" I asked a bit skeptical. They boys nodded. "When in Rome…" I muttered. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail.

"We'll leave so you can get undressed." Arthur said pushing Merlin away.

"Undressed?" I asked shocked. They didn't really think that I would get undressed when there were boys all around me, did they?

"Yes," Apparently so.

"Okay, well don't leave. Just go stand behind a tree or something." I pleaded.

"Why? Are you scared of the druids or bandits finding you?" Arthur asked dead serious. I nodded, though I really just wanted the company. "Alright." He turned his back and walked slowly to a boulder.

Well, I decided to just strip down to my underwear and keep my undershirt on. It was the closest thing I had to a swimming suit. I dipped my toe in the water. It was freezing! With much bravery I jumped in the deep water with my arms wrapped tightly around my legs. I made a huge slash that rocked the once still river. All of the shiny fish swam away from the intruder in a hurry.

Instantly, I ducked under the crystal clear water and messed up my hair. I came up to get some much needed air and ran my fingers though my locks, smoothing them out.

"Are you still there?" I called.

"Yes, is anything wrong?" Arthur asked in a worried tone.

"Nope, but I think that it's about to rain." I said looking at the threatening clouds above us. Sure enough, the little droplets came down one by one until it was pouring. I went to the side to get out, but the mud was making it too slippery. "I can't get out!" I yelled over the rain.

In a second Arthur was in front of me. He grabbed my wrists and pulled me out. I grabbed my wet pants and jacket from the tree branch I left them on. My shoes and socks I was about to slip on when I saw Arthur just staring at me. "What?" I laughed. He shook his head with a crooked smile.

"We should probably get back." He pointed to the path. I nodded and slipped on my pants with much difficulty. "Why did you want to wear pants?" he asked out of the blue.

I looked up at him and shook the hair out of my face. "Oh, that's simple. I despise dresses." I smiled at his shocked expression. "I mean I can do the girl thing, but I prefer jeans and a simple shirt." I said as I pulled on my dripping jacket.

The prince seemed amused. The wind blew fiercely and the rain came down harder. The two of us ran back to the camp. Everyone was hiding under a huge tree. Merlin was looking at the sky, observing the lightening. Arthur pulled me under the tree.

"We shouldn't be here, you know?" I said looking at Merlin and Arthur. "The lightening could hit the tree and make it catch fire. Trees are like magnets for lightening." I explained. They exchanged looks, so I continued. "Lightening comes from the ground up and trees draw the lightening. You could be electrocuted and possibly die."

"Really?" the warlock asked. I nodded and he turned to Arthur. "Maybe we should…" he gestured to the center of the camp.

"Merlin, the whole forest is covered in trees." Arthur scolded Merlin and me. I grimaced. Looking over at Merlin, I saw him muttering something. At first I thought that it was over what Arthur had said. That's when I saw his eyes flash gold. "Aw, you see? The rain is already letting up." Arthur said cheerfully.

All the knights including the prince went to get on their horses and continue this exhausting journey. I went over to Merlin. "I saw that." I smiled.

His face lit up. "Saw what?" he teased. I laughed and got on my horse- without help this time, I might add!

The clouds were still there, but it was only drizzling. I felt my now curly hair frizzing up. This bothered me and I threw it back into a ponytail. My bangs started to curl, forming a curly queue on my left cheek. Man, I miss modern- er, future technology.

"There!" Arthur shouted in a whisper, breaking me out of my trance. "There's the druids." He said with excitement in his voice. My head shot up. Glancing at Merlin, I saw that he had a bleak face. My nerves took over, giving me a horrible stomach ache. I could only imagine how Merlin was feeling.

Arthur jumped down silently from the poor animal. He peeped through the bushes. I joined him along with Merlin. I could see tents set up everywhere. People were walking around doing everyday things; washing clothes, eating, taking care of kids. They didn't look evil, though looks can be deceiving. There was one dark haired boy that was at least a foot or so shorter than I was who was staring directly at our hiding place. His eyes seemed to tell me something, something… bad. They looked so ominous. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light.

I don't know who did it or how loud it really was, but someone stepped on a twig, causing it crack. Everyone in the little camp stopped and looked around in pure panic. Only one seemed to stay calm; the boy. One man walked over to the boy and he pointed directly at us. The older man began to slowly walk our way. Arthur drew his sword, ready for anything. The knights did the same.

Arthur charged forward. Why he did this instead of running or something else, I don't know. The knights followed his lead. "Wow, sixty verses six," I couldn't help but think. Suddenly, I found myself in the middle of the battle. I looked around furiously. One of the knights was already down. Merlin was hiding behind a tree, using his magic. I couldn't find Arthur anywhere! I turned around in circles. It all seemed to go down in slow motion. Out of nowhere, Arthur called my name. Finally, I caught sight of him. He tossed me a sword. I held it in my hands.

"How do I use it?" I shouted to him over the clinking metal and screaming.

"Swing it around without hurting yourself!" he yelled. I rolled my eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Okay," I mumbled. A druid- I think- came rushing up to me, ready to fight me, the weakest link. His sword was about to run me through when the instinct to survive took over. The sword in my hand shot up to block his from piercing my skin. That's when I did exactly what Arthur had told me to do. I twirled in a circle like I always see on TV with the weapon outstretched. It was pure luck that the sword hit the man and knocked him to the ground. I kicked his sword out of his hand.

I breathed a sigh of relief. My first fight and not a scratch on me! My mini celebration was cut short when the boy I had seen earlier came walking up to me.

"Hello, Jennifer." He greeted me like we were old pals. His smile was childish and friendly, but those eyes…

"Who are you?"

"I've been waiting for your arrival, we all have." He said still smiling.

"Who are you?" I repeated.

He took my hand and dragged me gently. "In good time," There was just something that made me willing to go with him, although my gut was screaming for me to run. He brought me into a tent that was on the edge of the clearing. There was nothing else in the tent except a small bed that he gestured for me sit down on. I did so, wondering where this was going.

"What's going on? What do you mean by you've 'been waiting my arrival' exactly?" I asked skeptically.

"To answer your first question, I am a druid that's destined to do great things for my people." He said. A dark smile lingered on his face. He got serious and walked over to me, taking my face in his tiny hands. "You have to help us." I frowned. "We have been waiting for you because you are the only one who can help me fulfill my destiny."

"And what's your destiny?" I asked, ready to leave.

"To kill the person whose father hunted my people for years," he said, his eyes getting darker. My mouth fell open. "I'm to kill Arthur Pendragon."

"What, why," I breathed. "Who are you?" I demanded.

"I am Mordred."

Pure hatred washed through my body. I stood up and I raised my sword, ready to strike. Mordred beat me to it. He unleashed a concealed knife and pushed me down onto the bed. I tried to get up, but was unable to move. Mordred was looking down upon me, and in a second, the knife blade was at my throat.

A/N: Oh, please review! They mean everything to me! A trillion hugs for all of you! :)