A/N- hello dear readers, hope you are doing well this awesome day. Thank you so much to those of you, who have been reviewing and adding this story to your favorite story list.
Harper ran through the woods in a panic. She couldn't get caught, she had to get to Camelot. She didn't stop and she didn't look back, she was acutely aware of her surroundings, she could her heart pounding in her chest as her feet flew.
Suddenly she felt her ankle roll in a hole. She cried out in pain and her body collapsed in the dirt. Pulling herself up to her hands and knees she took a breath. The urgency of the whole situation forced her forward, standing she tenderly placed some weight on her left foot. Sharp pain shot up her leg. Grimacing she looked behind her, she didn't see Merlin or the men. Frowning she began to limp her way forward, she was worried about Merlin he should have caught up by now.
She was in a panic, hurt and upset she needed to rest. Easing down at the base of a tree she closed her eyes, allowing one small tear to roll down her cheek. Angrily she brushed it away, this was no way for her to be acting she had to get herself together! But there was no way for her to stop them, they just kept coming.
Suddenly she heard hoof beats, she glanced up with fear. She saw three men in red capes riding up. A man with dark, shoulder length hair leading two other younger men behind him called them to stop. He dismounted and came to crouch in front of Harper. "Miss are you alright?" Suddenly his eyes grew wide, he recognized the brown jacket she was wearing. "Where did you get that jacket?"
"Why do you care?" She asked some of the old Harper coming back. She brushed away the tears from her cheeks.
"Because," he said tightly. "It looks like my friend Merlin's jacket."
"You know Merlin?" She asked in amazement.
"Yes I'm his friend," he replied. "What have you done with him?" He demanded.
"I haven't done anything with him." She snapped back. "But I think he's in trouble."
The man sighed, "of course." He muttered, to Harper he said, "What happened."
"He was helping me run from these men that were chasing me and he stayed behind to distract the men."
The man raised his eyebrows, "he was helping you even after you stole his jacket?"
Harper shrugged, "you could say that he kind of lent it to me after I decided to let him ride with me to Meriweather."
Straitening he said to the other two men, "Alright Sir Adam you take care of this young lady here while Sir Gordon and I will go find Merlin and straiten this out." He crouched back in front of Harper, "miss my name is Sir Gwaine and my friends and I are knights of Camelot. I promise you that we will get Merlin out of…. Whatever it is that he seems to have gotten himself into."
A/N- looks like Gwaine is going to save the day!