As promised here is another chapter for you. I hope that you enjoy it. By the way, who else thought the series premier for Merlin was amazing! Anyway, here you go. Enjoy and please review :-)

Sir Tristan was so tired, but he was still awake. He could hear things around him, yelling and swords being unsheathed. He heard a man talking about a message for Amora, what message was that? After some muffled words he heard a clear and commanding voice, Amora. How did he make it to Camelot?

The last thing he remembered was telling Ragland where Amora was to save the boy's life. As a reward Ragland beat him senseless and from the intense pain he was felling in his stomach he was stabbed as well. After that everything was a blur, but he knew the only place Amora would be was in Camelot so he must be there.

Suddenly he was grabbed by the collar and tossed to the ground; sending pain through out his body. He tried to cry out in pain but he couldn't, he was so tired. He heard more yelling and then a soft voice calling to him.

"Tristan." Amora said

That was Amora, he would recognize her voice anywhere, he had to warn her, he had to explain why he betrayed her. He suddenly found the strength to open his eyes.

"'mora." His voice was weak but he was able to talk.

"Gods, Tristan what happened?" Amora's eyes were filling with tears, he must look awful if he was causing her to cry.

"Ragland...he knows." He was trying to warn her but he was having such a hard time focusing.

"Shh, it's alright. Just save your strength, I'll need you beside me." Tears were escaping her eyes as she tried to reassure him, knowing that he was beyond saving. He was so beaten and was loosing so much blood.

"No, I have...to tell you. He was going to kill...the boy if I didn't...tell him where you...were." He was coughing, he was beginning to taste blood in his mouth.

"Tristan, what boy?" She asked.

"He took him...killed his family. He's still there...Ragland knows...where you are." His vision was growing dark but he had told her. He only hoped that she would stay safe.

"It's alright Tristan, nothing will happen to me. I can take care of myself, you taught me, remember?" She smiled at him.

"Please...stay safe. You have been...my closest friend...Amora." He was beginning to feel numb, he couldn't even feel her warm hand on his face.

"Please, don't give up Tristan. I need you to hold on." Amora was having a hard time fighting back the tears as she watched the only friend she ever had slowly dying before her.

"Amora..." He looked into her green eyes as his world faded, and he knew no more.

Amora watched as the light left his brown eyes and his breathing stopped, but she didn't want to believe it.

"Tristan?" She shook him gently, trying to bring him back.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, it was probably Gwaine but she couldn't bring herself to look. She shook him again.

"Tristan?" She was trying not to breakdown in front of the knights, the warrior in her knew not to show emotion when a man dies, but this was Tristan. How could she not cry when she had just lost her truest friend.

She felt another hand on her shoulder, this one was strong and heavy. The owner of the hand knelt down beside her and turned her face to him. It was Arthur, she saw sadness and anger in his eyes.

"He's gone, Amora." He told her gently, he could see the tears that she was holding back and knew that she was close to breaking.

"Merlin, take Amora to her chambers." Arthur said.

Amora shook her head "I can't leave him like this."

"We will give him a proper burial. Please, go with Merlin." Arthur told her.

Gwaine helped her to her feet and placed a kiss on her head. Merlin came and gently took her arm and lead her away from the scene. As they were leaving they could hear Arthur giving orders to take Tristan to Gaius and for the knights to meet in the council chambers immediately.

Amora felt numb, she barley noticed as Merlin lead her through the corridors to her chambers. Ella tried to talk to her but Merlin just shook his head at her, she left the room as Merlin set Amora down at the foot of her bed. He knelt in front of her and placed his hands around hers.

"Amora?" He said. She had not said a word and he was worried that she was in shock.

She slowly looked into his blue eyes, tears falling from hers, "He was my truest friend. He rescued me." she said quietly.

"I'm so sorry." He said. He knew how she felt, he had lost those who were close to him and knew that feeling of emptiness, that you would never see them again.

Finally she could not hold in her tears any longer, she began to cry openly and didn't care that Merlin was there. Merlin stood up and sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her. She fell into his embrace as her body shook with quiet sobs. Once she had finished crying she stayed there, wrapped in his arms, comforted.

After a while she pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. She took a shaky breath and walked to her window. The guards were already building the pyre for Tristan's body. Merlin watched her for a moment and then asked what had been plaguing his mind since this all began.

"Who is Ragland, Amora?" He asked.

"A barbarian who kidnaps people to either torture or sell into slavery." She said, anger clear in her voice.

"What does he want with you?" He asked her.

She took a deep breath and turned to him. "I killed his brother out of revenge, he had killed Gwaine, or so I thought. He's been hunting me ever since."

"Was he the one who gave you those scars?" He asked quietly.

It took her a moment to answer him and when she did her voice shook with anger. "Yes."

They sat in silence for a while before Amora cleared her throat and walked over to where her sword and dagger were. The dagger had been another gift from Gwaine, it was long with a gold hilt and their family crest pressed into the blade. She began to strap them around her waist, it was a stark contrast to the flowing red and gold dress that she was wearing.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked as he walked over to her.

"I'm going to the council chambers." She replied.

"Armed?" Merlin asked. It wasn't unusual by any means for swords to be in the chamber but for a lady to wear them was strange.

"I'm going to be ready for him. He will find me, Merlin." She gave him a serious look before walking out the door, Merlin close behind.

*Merlin*

Arthur and the knights were already discussing how to proceed with the situation. Obviously a member of court had been threatened, but not only that, it was their friend who was threatened. There was a mad man who was torturing men for information on her, killing families to get it. And he had killed a knight of an allied kingdom. This man had to be stopped.

Gwaine was fuming for most of the meeting, thinking of the things the bandit had said to his sister. He wanted nothing more than to kill the man then go after whoever this man was threatening Amora. The problem was they had no idea where to find Ragland.

They had been going over ideas for some time when Amora burst into the chamber, sword and dagger at her side. Merlin came in behind her giving an apologetic look to Arthur. Gwaine went over to her.

"Rora, what's going on?" He asked her gently.

"I'm here to help." She replied, looking at Arthur.

"My lady, I don't know how you can." Leon replied, he wasn't trying to scold her, he just really had no idea how she could help.

She had given up trying to get Leon to call her Amora, he was too stuck in his ways to change. "I know Ragland. I know how he thinks and what he will do. I also know where you can find him." She replied.

Arthur looked at her "How do you know this."

She took a deep breath, it was time they knew what had really happened that day she was taken.

"Ragland saw Gwaine and I traveling and wanted me for himself, so he ordered his men to kill Gwaine and to bring me to him. When I wouldn't let him get near me he strung me up between two trees and whipped me, trying to make me obey him. I lost count after a while, when he stopped he knocked me out and tied me to a tree. When I woke in the night I heard him bragging about the things he would do to me before he sold me as a broken women. I wasn't about to let him so I began to peel my back off of the tree so I could fight back in the morning. At first light a group of knights raided the camp and rescued me, Sir Tristan was the one who freed me. I found a sword and killed the man who I thought had killed Gwaine, knowing that he was Raglands brother."

As she finished the knights were speechless and angry. Arthur had his hands balled into fists, Elyan looked disgusted, Lancelot was staring at nothing, Percival and Leon were just staring at her. Gwaine however was red with anger, suddenly he punched the table in the middle of the room, and no one made a comment, they all wanted to do the same thing.

"He's been after me ever since, he followed me to Bayards court and began to threaten them if he did not hand me over. The knights and I began to track him and found his hideout, but before we could do anything his men attacked and killed several members of court and ravaged several of the villages. Bayard decided to send me to Camelot for safe keeping while he and his men tried to figure out how to best handle the situation. I can guarantee you, he will not stop until I am dead by his hand, and nothing will stand in his way."

"You said you know where he is, can you tell us?" Arthur asked.

"I will show you where he is." She replied with confidence.

All the heads in the room turned to look at her, was she really suggesting that she go with them.

Gwaine looked at her, "What do you mean you will show us?"

"I'm going with you." She gave him a determined stare. He ran his hands through his hair as he sighed and tried to calm himself down.

Arthur walked around the table and stood in front of her. "No, your not. You will be giving him what he wants."

"I don't care, I will not allow any more to die on my behalf." She replied sternly.

"Amora, I'll not allow it." Arthur said in an authoritative voice.

"I don't care if you don't allow it. You can't get there without me." She was getting angry.

Percival spoke "Amora, your not a knight."

"The hell I'm not, just because I've not been knighted. I can fight just as well as any of you and you know it." She replied.

"You're not going and that's final." Arthur was beginning to raise his voice at her.

"Perhaps you misunderstood me princess, I am the only one who knows where to find him and I'm going with you." She yelled back.

Gwaine grabbed her shoulders roughly and turned her towards him. "No you're not! I don't care how well you fight I will not allow you face him." He yelled at her.

"Damn you! If you hadn't shielded me in the first place none of this would have happened!" She yelled back at him.

He flinched back as if she had slapped him, she realized then what she had said.

"Gwaine, I'm sorry. I...I didn't mean it." She could see the hurt in his eyes. She knew that he blamed himself for what happened.

He let go of her shoulders and turned away from her. "Yes, you did." he said.

She went behind him and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, I don't blame you. It's just, I have to do this Gwaine. I have to end this before anyone else gets hurt." She said gently.

"If you want to go and get yourself killed, fine." He looked at her and walked out of the room.

"Gwaine." Merlin called after him and followed him out of the room; leaving Amora with the knights.

Arthur walked to her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "Amora, I know you want to avenge Tristan's death. But, I will not allow you to risk your life, we care too much about you to see any harm come to you."

"I'm sorry, my lord. You'll find him beyond the forest of Ascetir, there is a fortress that has fallen to ruin. It used to be inhabited by Jarl, the slave trader." She looked at him with sad eyes.

Arthur knew this place, it was where Merlin and him had been reunited with Gwaine. "I know it. Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"Don't underestimate him, this isn't a usual group of bandits. These men are assassins, rapists, and murderers. They are highly skilled, you will need a small army if you are to defeat them." She told him.

Arthur turned to the knights, "We will leave at first light."

A palace guard walked into the room just then, "Sire, we are ready."

"Thank you." Arthur took Amora's arm and they all walked down to the courtyard.

The pyre was finished, Tristan had been wrapped in a blue fabric in honor of his Mercian heritage. The knights, Gwen and several villagers gathered around to honor him. Gwaine came up to her and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry, Rora." He whispered to her.

"So am I." She said.

Arthur took the torch the guard had given him and lit the pyre. After a while people began to leave until it was just Amora and Gwaine.

"Gwaine?" She said.

"Hmm." He looked at her and saw sadness in her eyes.

"I don't blame you, you know." She told him.

"I know, you were angry. I would be too. I would probably feel the same way if anything ever happened to Merlin." He said.

"He's a good man. I am glad that you have a friend in him." She gave him a small smile.

"I've noticed how he looks at you, I think he fancies you, Rora." He gave her a crooked grin.

"What? No, we are only friends. Besides Percival is already courting me." She told him, they turned their back to the pyre and began to walk into the castle walls.

"Not yet, you haven't even had your first outing with him. Besides, he's too tall for you." He said.

"Too tall?" She laughed.

"You barely reach his chest. How would you kiss him?" He teased her.

She slapped his arm. "Gwaine!" She was smiling now, which was what Gwaine had wanted in the first place.

They reached her chambers and he entered with her. Ella was waiting for her.

"Amora, I'm so sorry." Ella went to her and gave her a hug, Amora held her tightly.

When they released each other Amora noticed Gwaine had placed himself at her table with his feet up and was drinking a goblet of wine.

"Make yourself comfortable." She teased.

"Already have." He grinned at her.

"Ella, will you help me change into my armor?" She asked her.

"Of course." Ella went to the wardrobe and got out the gray dress and chainmaille armor.

Gwaine stopped drinking and looked at his sister. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to the training field." She answered, she walked behind the screen as Ella helped her change.

"Why?" Gwaine asked her.

"It helps me think, I need to clear my head." She told him.

After a few moments she was ready. The gray dress was worn with black buckled boots, her chainmaille tunic came to a point around the top of her thighs, the leather corset strapped over one shoulder then had buckled straps to hold it in place. The sleeves tucked into the wrist guards she wore and she had a leather belt and scabbard that held her sword and dagger. Her hair had been braided down the back and tied with a leather strap.

"What are you going to do?" Gwaine asked her, he had to admit, she looked quite intimidating.

"Hit a practice dummy a few times and shoot some arrows." She told him as she grabbed her burgundy riding coat, she put her arms through the sleeves and threw the extended coat over her shoulder, even still it only reached her knees.

Gwaine laughed, "That clears your mind?"

"Yes, I was raised by you remember." She smiled at him.

"Some lady you are." He walked with her out of her chambers and down the hallway. He laughed to himself.

"What's so funny?" She asked him.

"Nothing, I just never though I would call you lady." He grinned at her.

"I never though it either, or that you would be a knight. What changed your mind? You always said that no noble was worth dying for." She asked him.

"Arthur, he's a good man. He's one worth dying for." He told her. "I better get back to the princess before he gets angry that I'm skipping out."

"I will see you tonight, I want to talk to you before you go out tomorrow." She told him.

*Merlin*

Amora always felt relaxed when she had some form of weapon in her hand. She was good with a sword but when she was in Mercia she became an expert marksman, or woman. She was good with a crossbow but she preferred a bow. She stood with her shoulders relaxed and the bow taunt, she took a breath and released the arrow; sending it straight to the center of the target.

She set the bow down and smiled to herself, Tristan had taught her how to properly shoot an arrow. There were so many things that he had taught her, she would miss him more than she could express. She had been on the field for a few hours now and was getting tired. She decided to go back to her chambers, then she would see if Arthur needed anymore information from her. As she walked back from the training field she passed Percival.

"Amora, how are you?" He asked her, concern in his voice.

"I'm fine. Shouldn't you be with Arthur?" She had put up her wall, no emotion.

"We are going back to council within the hour, I'm making sure the stable hands know we will be riding out tomorrow." He told her. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry about Tristan; you cared for him, didn't you?" He asked.

She fought to keep her emotions at bay "He was my closest friend and aside from Gwaine the only person I have ever cared for." She told him.

"I'm sorry about today, it would have been nice to ride with you." He said.

"It would have been, but I need some time. I can't think of anything other than Ragland going to hell where he belongs." She told him.

"I'm sorry, I must speak with Arthur." She left him before her anger turned to tears.

She decided to speak with Arthur now before council, she quickly found her way to his chambers and knocked on the doors.

"Enter." Came the voice from inside.

She opened the door and saw Arthur sitting at his desk, Merlin was polishing armor at the table. He gave her a small smile and continued working.

"Ah, Amora. What can I do for you?" Arthur asked as he set down his quill.

"I came to see if you needed any more information from me regarding Ragland." She said, she stood tall and confident, the warrior.

"What you have told us has been enough for us to form a plan of attack, thank you." He told her.

"May I ask why you are dressed for battle?" He asked her, he was hoping that she was still not thinking about going out with them.

She gave a sheepish grin, "I was taking out some frustration on practice dummies and targets."

Merlin gave a chuckle, "You are defiantly related to Gwaine."

"Well if that's all, I was beginning to worry that you were still trying to come with us." Arthur said as he stood up and walked to her.

"No, I know that if I go I would cause more harm than not. Can I ask you a favor though?" She asked.

"Of course." Arthur replied.

"Watch over Gwaine, I know that it is not your place to do so, but he is all I have left in this world." She said.

"Gwaine is one of my best knights, I'm sure that he will be fine, but I will look after him." Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Arthur." She gave him a smile and turned to walk out of the room. She stopped at the door and turned back to look at him.

"And Arthur, be safe." She told him.

Arthur gave her a nod and a smile, and Merlin said goodbye to her. She walked to her chambers, her heart heavy with worry over what would happen tomorrow. She should be going with them but she knew that battle was lost. She passed the guards that Arthur had placed as protection outside her chambers. She gave them a smile, they didn't smile in return, they were stone faced and actually quite intimidating. She wondered what Arthur had told them to make them so fierce.

When she entered her room Ella was waiting, she took her cloak and placed it in the wardrobe.

"Would you like to prepare for bed?" Ella asked her.

"Not now, I don't think I will be sleeping tonight. Why don't you go home, you could use a good nights rest." Amora gave her a smile.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, I can manage on my own." Amora assured her.

Ella bid her goodnight and went home. Amora was looking into the fire warming her room when a soft knock sounded on her door.

"Yes?" She said.

Gwen walked in and gave her a smile "Am I intruding?"

Amora gave a sigh and walked over to her, "Not at all, I could use company right now."

Gwen went to her and gave her a comforting hug "I'm so sorry Amora."

"So am I." They went over to the table and sat down.

Amora opened up to Gwen, she told her everything. About Ragland, about Tristan, and how afraid she really was.

"You know that Gwaine would never let any harm come to you, or any of the knights for that matter. They've all grown quite fond of you." Gwen told her.

Amora smiled, "I know, it's just Ragland is so unpredictable. I know he wants to kill me but I don't know how he intends to get me. He must know that once that message was sent I would not leave."

"Then why did he send the message if he knew it wouldn't do him any service." Gwen asked.

They sat in silence for a moment when suddenly the alarm bells began to sound. Amora grabbed her belt and latched it to her waist, ready for anything. She went to the door.

"What's happened?" she asked the guards.

"Just stay inside, we will take care of it." One of the guards assured her.

She closed the door and turned back to Gwen. "What is it?" Gwen asked her.

"I'm not sure. Unless..." Amora paled, of course. The message was just a way to get one of Raglands men inside, to get to her.

"Gwen is there a back way out of the servants chamber?" She asked urgently.

"Of course." Gwen went to the door quickly and opened it. She gave a gasp and in seconds Amora knew why. The bandit had escaped and now held a sword to them. Gwen backed away quickly as Amora drew her sword.

"Hello again girly, I would drop that if I were you." He taunted.

"What makes you think I would do that." She snarled at him. He gave a loud whistle and the two guards entered her chambers, locking the door behind them.

"What's going on?" She asked them angrily.

"We ain't no guards, we killed them a while ago; we've just been waiting for the right moment to get you to Ragland." One of them said as the other walked behind her.

Suddenly she heard a small cry from Gwen as the other guard pulled a dagger from his belt and placed it at her neck. Amora went to strike him but he pushed the blade harder into Gwen's neck and blood began to run down her skin. Amora backed up, but still had her sword ready. Fear was finding it's way to her heart as she could not think of a way to get out of this.

"Like I said, I would drop it." The man said again.

Amora looked to Gwen once more, the false guard began to run the blade slowly across he neck as Gwen screamed.

"Stop!" Amora cried, she held her arms up and lowered the sword. Gwen was looking at her with terror in her eyes, the cut was not too deep but it was enough the get a good amount of blood running down her neck.

"Now, were taking you to Ragland. He's got plans for you." The man smiled cruelly as he pulled a rag from his pocket and began to walk towards Amora.

She tried to back away but the other guard grabbed her from behind and held her. She struggled and looked to Gwen, the other guard had taken the blade from her neck and hit her with the hilt of the dagger just above her temple. Gwen slumped to the floor as a small trickle of blood came from this new wound.

"Gwen!" Amora struggled harder until she heard a snap, pain shot through her arm as she dislocated her left shoulder trying to escape. Finally the man got the cloth her her face, covering her mouth an nose. The scent was foul and overwhelming but she could not escape it. She slowly began to loose her strength and blackness was closing in on her vision. She finally collapsed in the mans arms. The bound and gagged her and took of through the servants chambers.

*Merlin*

At the sound of the warning bell Arthur and the knights dropped all they were doing and waited to find what was happening. Gwaine suddenly felt terrified, but the emotion was not his own, he had no reason to be afraid. Arthur noticed his friend go stiff and a look of confusion on his face.

"Gwaine?" He asked.

"Somethings wrong." Gwaine said.

The knights looked at him "What do you mean?" Lancelot asked him.

"I don't know, just, somethings not right." he said. Suddenly he felt a horrible pain in his left shoulder, he screamed as he grabbed his arm, Arthur went to him.

"What just happened?" He asked him.

"My shoulder it just hurt, there's no reason for it though." Suddenly he understood, they all understood, it was Amora.

Gwaine looked at Arthur, "Amora!" He said.

They all ran from the room swords drawn, Gwaine and Arthur leading the way. They raced through the corridors until they came to Amora's chamber, there were no guards. They all held their swords ready as Leon went to open the door, they found it locked. Arthur looked at Percival, the large knight took a few steps back; took a deep breath and ran at the door. The door burst open as they all ran through only to find no one there, the looked at each other with dread in their eyes. Suddenly they heard a small moan from behind the table, Gwaine raised his sword and slowly walked toward the sound, the rest of the men all ready for attack. As he rounded the table he saw Gwen crumpled at bleeding on the floor.

"Gwen!" He cried. The knights all ran forward, Arthur dropped his sword and ran to her side, he placed her in his lap as he called for someone to fetch Gaius, Percival ran from the room.

"Gwen?" Arthur called to her as she began to stir.

She opened her eyes and they were confused for a moment, then fear filled them as she tried to get up.

"Amora!" She was held back by Arthur, she was dizzy but she was able to find Arthur's eyes.

"Gwen, what happened." Arthur asked, concern filled his voice as he looked at her.

"They took her, the bandit took Amora to Ragland!" Gwen said quickly.

All their hearts filled with dread, the very man they were trying to protect her from had found his way to get to her. And if any harm came to her they would never forgive themselves.

Sorry for such a long chapter. As I said, I don't have much time to write so when I do it just kind of pours out :-) I hope that you enjoyed and I promise there is some action to come. Please review :-)