Okay, I'm back with probably one of my favorite chapters yet! Hehe, hope you all like it! I know how some of you are going to feel about the ending... :D Just read and find out!

Thank you Superfan44, Isolde Auckley and Merida37 for the reviews! Again, ya'll are 'Super Awesome.' :D Thank you thank you thank you! :D

Also, thank you Merida37 for favoriting and following, I was wondering if you were going to get around to reading this. I'm so glad you like it so far, I hope you update your story soon! :D

Okay, here's the next chapter! Please review, thank you! :D

-Shire from CollieandShire

Chapter Six

The Escape

The sound of thundering hoof beats and a flash of movement caused Fredrick the German to whirl around and catch sight of the red-haired girl galloping full-speed away on a large black horse.

Fredrick swore under his breath and shouted angrily in German. He thought about killing the king in sheer spite but decided against it, he couldn't waste precious time- the girl who was his only link to getting back to his time period and back to his homeland was getting away!

Fredrick thought fast-he'd never reach the child on foot. He'd have to steal a horse and catch up with her, then he'd be able to force her to repeat whatever she did that threw them back in time.

Fredrick leapt into action and ran towards the direction he'd seen the horse come from-after all, where there was one there must be more.

Skidding around the corner he came to an abrupt halt and stared, his mouth dropping open as he beheld another red haired girl who looked exactly like the one that had just escaped!

They locked gazes for a second and the girl froze, her eyes wide and her face horrified.

"How-" he began, but before he could finish the girl leapt onto the brown horse she was with and kicked him into a gallop.

"Heyhhaa!" she screamed, heading straight towards him.

Fredrick jerked himself out of the way just as she ran past him, barely managing to escape the horse's flying hooves. He fell to the ground, dazed and watched as she sped out the castle gate and towards the forest.

This is impossible. Two redhead girls who look identical? Impossible or not, one of them was the key to getting back to nineteen-forty-two and he wasn't going to let that slip out of his hands.

He jumped up and spotted a tall white draft horse with a halter on. He grabbed a lead and raced towards the equine, throwing open the stall door and causing the horse to jump back a little and snort.

"Easy there." He murmured. He'd grown up a farm with horses and was quite familiar with them, thus giving him a little advantage in this chase.

He clipped the lead on and looped it around the horse's neck, skillfully tying it into a knot to make a set of reins.

Leaping onto a feed-box he jumped onto the horse and dug his heels into its sides.

The horse took off like a shot, racing after its stable mates at breakneck speed.

Fredrick cocked his gun and mentally calculated how many bullets he had left in it and if he needed to reload. Five. If he was lucky and this horse was fast enough, he should be able to catch up with the two nuisances and find out which one he needed-and which one was expendable.

~oOo~

Elinor's heart leapt into her throat as the German raced through the gate on horseback. No, no! This wasn't part of the plan!

The queen pounded down the stairs into the servant's quarters, followed by Gordon, Ian and Matthew. She ran out the door into the courtyard and raced towards the stairs to the cellar.

With lightning speed she flew down the steps and unlocked the door, shoving it open.

There stood Fergus and the lords, along with the triplets and the lord's sons. The sudden light from the sun into the dark cellar caused all of them to shade their eyes and blink several times to adjust.

"Fergus!" Elinor cried. "Fergus, the man has left!"

"Too bad, I was gettin' ready to barge this door down and wring his scrawny neck!" Fergus exploded, his Scottish temper flaring.

"Fergus!" Elinor admonished. "He's after Merida and Marissa!"

"Marissa? Who's-"

Elinor pushed Fergus past her and up the stairs. "Never mind who, ye have to go after them! He'll kill them!"

The words were enough to send Fergus leaping up the stairs two at a time. "Come on ye sorry bunch of warriors!" he yelled at the lords. "We got to save me daughter!"

~oOo~

Angus slid to a stop so quickly Marissa flew straight over his neck and onto the hard ground. Oww. She moaned inwardly.

She leapt up just as Merida came crashing next to her, Raider also throwing her. "Raider!" Merida screeched.

Both girls froze as they stared at the stones that encircled them, towering over them and casting menacing shadows.

"This is where Angus threw me last time." Merida whispered.

"The Ring of Stones." Marissa said in awe, temporarily forgetting that Merida's plan had gone wrong and the German was right behind them. She was completely absorbed by the eerie feel and sense she got standing in the center of this strange structure and her heart pounded against her chest. Merida's did too, in fact so loudly Marissa could hear it.

"Are ye okay Marissa?" Merida asked timidly. "I can hear your heart."

"I can hear yours!" Marissa exclaimed.

The next instant someone flew by them as Elinor's horse Snowflake dumped her German rider into the center of the stones. The horse then ran to join Angus and Raider behind the trees.

"Ack!" Merida and Marissa screeched, leaping back.

The German wasted no time, he leapt up and whipped out his gun, aiming it at Merida. "I don't know which one of you is za girl from za future, but rest assured I vill kill both of you if you so much as move!"

Marissa swallowed and glanced at Merida. I can't drag her into this, I have to give myself up. It's over.

"I am Marissa, I'm the one yer lookin' fer." Marissa stammered, stepping forward.

The German eyed her suspiciously, glancing her over. "How do I know for sure you're not covering for your friend?" he gestured to Merida.

Marissa opened her mouth when Merida announced, "Yer right. I'm Marissa, and I can prove it."

Marissa stared, wide-eyed as Merida pulled out the Lugar Marissa had left in her skirt pocket. "She wouldn't have a gun, would she?" Merida said, glancing at Marissa.

"Give me the gun." The German ordered, opening his other hand.

"Merida, what are ya doin'?" Marissa gasped. "Why are ya doin' this? What about yer Mother and Dad?"

Merida didn't answer as she handed the gun over to the German and Marissa hoped this was part of some master plan she had.

The German seemed satisfied with Merida's proof as he examined the Lugar. "Good Mädchen ." He grinned. "Now I have no use for your friend."

As fast as he turned to fire on Marissa a enormous black figure crashed into the Ring of Stones and rose up on it's haunches with a mighty roar.

"Mor'du!" Merida gasped as the German whirled around to face this new threat.

"Goot Nacht!" he yelped as he stared up at bear, dropping the Lugar Merida had handed him.

Marissa was rooted in place, she'd never in her life seen a bear so big and black, standing straight up he had to be at least fifteen feet tall!

The German on the other hand reacted instantly, he whipped out his other pistol and fired five shots into the black monster in rapid succession.

It didn't even seem to bother Mo'rdu. He came down on all fours and with one swipe of his paw threw the German into one of the stones. The man hit the rock with a sickening thud and fell to the ground without even so much as a cry of pain. With a gulp of terror Marissa knew he was dead.

The young girl screamed as the huge beast turned towards her next. What was she going to do?

"Marissa, run!" Merida yelled, grabbing her hand and jerking her along.

The huge bear lounged at them, swiping his devilish paw at the two Scottish girls. Merida dropped to the ground in time but Marissa didn't move fast enough-the bear caught her with the tail-end of his swipe and knocked her ten feet away.

Marissa was sure her heart stopped as the bear rose up on his haunches, ready to fall on her and eat her with one gulp. Only one thought raced through her mind as Mor'du roared. I'm sorry Daddy! I'm sorry for how I acted the day you left!

~oOo~

Merida rolled over onto her back as Mor'du rose on his hind feet and roared again, standing over Marissa and ready to gobble her up.

Instinctively she reached down for her quiver of arrows. Instead her hand bumped against an object on the ground and she realized it was the Lugar the German had dropped.

Merida snatched up the gun and stared at it helplessly. I don't know how to do this! Seconds turned into hours as she watched Mor'du dive for his kill.

Dear God, please let this be right!

Merida aimed the weapon at the monstrous bear's head and pulled the trigger that looked like a crossbow trigger. BANG!

All Merida could do now was pray she'd hit her mark as Mor'du fell on top of Marissa.

*Smug Grin* I assume that if you want to read the last chapter you'll review, right? *Evil laugh* Yes, that's right! End of the line-I mean chapter, readers! ;) Review if you want to find out what happens next! :D

-Shire