A/N - Here's chapter 2! Hope you all like it! :)

The sound of clashing swords and angered shouts reached Esme's keen ears. Finally, some action, she though to herself. Pulling on her cloak, she skidded through the forest. The harsh rain poured down unforgivingly on the woodland, creating a misty haze as it splashed to the warm earth. The mud created by the downpour made her short trek through the woods rather difficult. She slipped and slid her way downhill towards the commotion that was disturbing the usually peaceful silence. Several red caped men were battling a large band of forest rouges. Idiots, she thought, anyone should better than to pick a fight with a ring of bandits this big! With a sigh, she drew her own blade and rushed down to help the caped men. Her excellent sword skills allowed her to put down a relatively large number of bandits in almost no time at all. The remaining thugs, seeing what they were up against, decided to retreat. She motioned for the other men to follow her. She wound her way through the trees with ease, stopping at a seemingly small grey hut. The group stepped inside, eager to get out of the icy rain. Esme tossed her cloak on the ground and moved to start a fire, not once turning to look at the men she'd rescued.

"Throw your capes over there." she said, gesturing to a basket beside her, "You can use the bed sheets to dry off." The men stood, mouths gaping wide open, the same thought reeling through each of their minds, their savior had been a woman? Who was she? Why did she help them? And where on earth did she learn to handle a blade the way she did? For the first time, the girl turned to face them, her dark hair stood in a tangled mass on top of her head, still drenched from the rain. Her pale skin set off her crimson lips and strangely familiar warm eyes. She looked over the men, not giving one of them a second glance, not until her eyes met with that of a tall, dark handsome man. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened with shock,

"Gwaine?" she whispered. He looked just as shocked as she,

"Esme?" he asked, though it wasn't really a question. He barely had time to think before he found himself reeling back from a sudden harsh blow to the face.

"You selfish prat!" she exclaimed. "You left me out here to fend for myself!" She thrust an accusing finger in his face as she spoke.

"I was going to come back..." he offered weakly.

"Yeah, I'm sure." she scoffed.

"I'm sorry?"

"That doesn't fix it." came her blatant reply. The other men didn't know what to think, normally, they would have been amused at such a situation, but the pained expression on Gwaine's face told them that this was no laughing matter.

"Who is she, Gwaine?" piped a tall raven-haired man.

"She's my sister."