A/N-hi ya! Well I am almost finished with all my Christmas shopping, now I have to sit down and actually wrap everything. Just one more week and then I am off of school (wootwoot!) I don't know about you but I am so ready for a break.

Merlin dismounted his house and knelt to take a sip from the creek. He was a few miles outside of Meriweather, the closest town with a horse trading outpost. He was hoping to find a white horse, leave and be home by lunch the next day.

Suddenly he heard a twig snap in the brush. Straightening he was about to stand when he heard a female voice say, "Don't turn around," He felt a prick in the middle of his back. "Now stand up slowly," the voice instructed.

He did as he was told.

"Good now turn around slowly, with your hands where I can see them."

Merlin turned to see a young woman in rough garb. She was wearing a tattered brown dress and leggings underneath. "Take off your jacket," she demanded.

Hesitantly he took off his brown leather jacket and lowly passed it to her. "You know if you really needed it you could have just asked and I would have given it to you."

Taking the jacket she stopped f or a moment, she looked at the sword in her left hand and the jacket in her right hand.

"You can put the sword down, I won't run," Merlin offered.

She glared, but after a moment of thought she put the sword down on the ground. "I'm taking your horse," she said as she put the jacket on.

Merlin's eyes grew wide, 'but if you do that then I'll be stuck out here on foot and I won't get to Meriweather till tomorrow."

The girl picked up her sword, "that's not my problem." Turning she started to mount Merlin's horse.

"I'm the king's servant," Merlin blurted out. "And if you take my horse I'll go bak to the king and he'll have his knights hunt you down." Merlin didn't know if that was the truth or not- in all reality he would proably be punished for letting this girl steal his horse but it was worth a shot.

The girl stopped and turned back around.

"Please," he begged. "I will be in so much trouble if I don't get to Meriweather. You can have the horse after that," he offered desperately.

The girl sighed, "I am going through Meriweather, I can take you that far then you are on your own."

"Merlin grinned, "thank you."

She held up her hand, "no thanks needed," turning around she said. "Now come on."

"You could at least tell me your name," he called out after her.

"It's Harper," she replied. "Now come on, let's get going."

A/N- Just 18 more days till Christmas, it's crazy! Alright everyone see you tomorrow, until then hit that review button till it hurts!