Hime: *yawns* Hey there, I know it's been a while and I'm sorry. School has been awful, thank you for support thus far! Hope you enjoy the chapter and beyond! :)

Annabeth scowled, annoyed at the nerve of her stepmother to lock her in her own room!

Unsurprisingly, Beth's mother was not happy that her stepdaughter has gotten herself a job in Camelot and wanted to leave. She was even all packed and ready to go!

But, the two women had a row over the matter & finally the elder of the two had enough; she grabbed her stepdaughter by the arm and pushed her into the girl's room. Without giving a chance to react, she locked the door leaving Beth imprisoned in her own room. Beth kicked the door repeatedly and pounded her fists against the door, screaming for her stepmother to let her out.

After a while, Beth's voice grew hoarse so she stopped. Damn her to hell!

Annoyed, she turned around to see if she could try her luck with the window but instead, she met eyes with someone she would never expect.

Jeremiah...

Gwen frowned as she waited with the others.

Where is Annabeth?

"Maybe she changed her mind?" Mordred asked aloud.

Nobody missed the hopeful tone in his voice making Merlin and his mother snicker.

"Merlin, go check on your neighbor, we don't have time to waste daylight."

The blue eyed warlock rolled his eyes and gave the King of Camelot a mock bow before setting off to look for his childhood friend leaving behind a very unamused blonde royal in the process.

"You're so pretty Anna"

The brunette whimpered, his fingers was stroking her thighs after violating her with those vile hands of his.

Annabeth's face was wet with tears and silently prayed as hard as she could that Jeremiah won't go any further.

She doubted she would be able to live with herself if he took her virginity. Hell, no Annabeth was sure to go insane if she had to live herself.

Jeremiah kissed hard on the girl's gag where her lips should be. Anna wanted to scream. She tried to trash about earlier in an attempt to struggle out of his grasp but it seemed to arouse him even more but when she managed to scratch him with her fingernails, Jeremiah slapped her hard across the face leaving a stinging mark on her cheek.

Annabeth knew if she made it out of this, she would never be able to looked at herself undressed. Jeremiah's hold on her was strong, unrelenting and painful. She would definitely be left with bruises.

Annabeth closed her eyes, feeling Jeremiah's hot breath against her face.

Somebody help me please...

Boom!

Jeremiah turned to his left and his eyes widened seeing a familiar shadowy figure where Annabeth's window was supposed to be.

"Merlin!"

The dark figure shot out it's hand and the big buff Jeremiah was forced onto the wall; thrown as if he was a mere doll just tossed aside by an angry child. Jeremiah began to sweat as the figure came out and it was indeed Merlin. Through teary eyes, Annabeth saw him and felt relieved; that is until she felt his anger and his bloodlust pouring into the room, making the girl shiver.

Merlin stepped forward making Jeremiah whimper in fear and ever so slowly Merlin formed a smirk seeing this, "Wet yourself I see. Pathetic, who's the one on the ground crying and frightened for his life now?"

Jeremiah cried and pleaded for mercy but Merlin just watched on with a steely gaze. The warlock raises his hand and flicks his wrist, unbinding Annabeth from the restraints on the bed Jeremiah placed on her.

The moment she was freed, she ran to where Merlin was and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. Jeremiah slowly stood up as he watched them, seeing the warlock's mood lifting as he wrapped his arms protectively around Anna.

"Jeremiah, you didn't learn your lesson the last time and yet here you are attempting to touch someone precious to me. I will not let you leave here without something to remind you not to do stupid things."

Anna shivered from the harsh tone of her friend. Suddenly, she felt something soft brush over her shoulders and realized Merlin had taken off his jacket to drape it over her shoulders.

"Merlin-"

He kissed her on the forehead and told her grab her things and go to Hunith. Anna's shoulders relaxed, seeing the familiar smile. She nodded and picked up her satchel that was behind her. She pulled the ends of the jacket to cover her exposed chest.

"T-thank you."

Merlin smiled a little wider and patted her head, "Will and I told you that we'll always protect you didn't we?"

Annabeth's lips twitched gently as if she wanted to smile but couldn't so she nodded and left leaving behind a petrified Jeremiah with a very fearsome Emrys.

To say Hunith was upset was an understatement, she was downright furious after hearing a distraught Beth tell her story.

"Anna dear, let me talk to Gwen and delay your travel plans to Camelot okay? I'm sure she'll be understanding if I just explain you were-"

"NO!"

Hunith blinked her eyes in surprise but before she could say anything, Annabeth explained she doesn't want anyone to know. She just wanted to leave Camelot quickly. The village herbalist nodded in understanding once Anna finished, she knew there was no point in making Anna stay if she really didn't want to.

Arthur stared dumbfounded as a woman in a long hooded, black dress came out of the house with Hunith. He frowned, noticing the dress was long on the sleeves that the ends and the skirt as well.

A hand-me-down?

A dark forest green corset was worn over the dress, showing her petite feminine figure nicely.

For some reason, Arthur felt like the dress was reminiscent of Layla for some odd reason. A gut feeling perhaps? But of course the woman couldn't be Layla. Layla was much taller, much more curvaceous, had smaller hands and her skin wasn't tanned.

Who is this woman?

"Annabeth why are you wearing the hood up?"

Everyone watched as Merlin who suddenly appeared out of nowhere came forward to put down the young girl's hood.

"There you go."

The 22-year old looked up to see her longtime friend give her a warm smile, "You're riding with me right?"

She nods in reply silently and squeezes Merlin's hand in hers when he takes it.

"Come on"

The two moved to where Chestnut, Merlin's horse was while Mordred and Gwaine looked on, obviously curious.

What happened that is making Merlin treat Annabeth so gently?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review! ^^