Thank you for your comments and thoughts on the last chapter! They're greatly appreciated, keep it up! Here's chapter 3, hope you all enjoy! Leave me a fav/follow/review and let me know what you think!

Merlin was waiting for Arthur as he returned from the afternoon patrol with the knights in hopes to find the man using magic they spotted the day before. His shoulders were tense with stress as this day turned to be a troubling one indeed.

Arthur dismounted his horse expertly, handing the reigns to Merlin as the rest of the patrol put their horses to rest.

"Did you find anything?" Merlin asked in a low voice, just in case any unwanted ears were prying.

"Nothing," Arthur shook his head curtly, before looking at Merlin again, "Terrowin?"

"In his chambers for now," Merlin shuffled his feet, "He summoned me this evening."

"What for?" the Prince looked surprised.

"As an aid in his investigation," Merlin tried to hide the fear and disappointment in his voice. Arthur didn't seem to notice, "he requested me to be his guide."

"Very well. If that is his orders, then it shall be done. I trust you will adhere to his every word. He is a guest of my father and should be treated with the utmost respect, no matter his...personal views," Arthur gave a slightly warning look to Merlin, urging him to stay in line so the cruel witch hunter wouldn't suspect him of anything. It was a friendly gesture.

"Of course," Merlin dipped his head.

"And what of this girl you were supposed to be seeing tonight?"

Merlin blushed, clearing his throat.

Arthur smirked, "Don't think I had forgotten, Merlin. There are not many nights where I find you preoccupied with a girl."

Merlin's cheeks flushed red, but he tried to conceal it, "But with my services to Terrowin tonight, I find it unlikely I will be able to meet her."
"Nonsense!" Arthur clapped him on the shoulder, "You will meet with this girl tonight and I shall expect to hear of your adventures come the morning. Who is this lucky woman?"

"I'm sure you're just beside yourself with anticipation," Merlin chuckled, "her name is Ms. Adelaide, from the Lower City."

Arthur nodded proudly, taking some confidence in Merlin's venture with his proposed date. However, his expression hardened after a moment, "Merlin, I...I urge you to...regarding Terrowin, l…"

"What is it?" Merlin furrowed his brows and looked at the struggling Prince.

He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something meaningful, but shook his head after a moment, "Just...do as he says, as I mentioned before."

"Of course."

Arthur nodded once, curtly, then stalked off back into the castle. Merlin was left to put his horse back in the stables, wondering what the Prince truly wanted to say.

Darkness took the sky within hours, signaling the time for Merlin to meet Sir Terrowin in his castle chambers. He climbed the steps with difficulty, every bone in his body willing for him not to go and meet with the infamous witch hunter. Yet, he had to obey his orders.

Merlin knocked on the doors hesitantly, "Sir Terrowin? It is Merlin, the servant you employed to assist you in your investigation."

The door creaked open after a few seconds, sending chills down his spine. Sir Terrowin's sinister voice echoed through the halls, "Enter."

Merlin took a cautious step inside, feeling his heart race.

He waited at the door politlely, awaiting the hunter's instructions. Terrowin was standing by the wooden table of his bedroom. On the surface lay an arsenal. Merlin felt his skin prickle nervously as he eyed torturous weapons, such as knives, picks, axes, flails, rope, barbed wire, and other frightening tools.

"Shut the door."

Merlin did as he was ordered, though he felt hesitant about being locked in a room with this notorious witch hunter.

"Come here."

The servant walked towards Terrowin, whose back was turned to him, and stood a foot away.

"Merlin, was it?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"What do you see here?"

"An array of weapons, my Lord."

"That's right," a maniacal smile spread across Terrowin's lips, "aren't they beautiful."

Merlin gulped, "Yes, my Lord."

"Do you know the best way to kill a witch, Merlin?"

"No, my Lord."

He wielded a hefty looking axe that gleamed against the candle light, "Many prefer to burn her, until all that remains of her corpse is a withered husk. I prefer a much slower, more painful alternative," he chuckled, eyes filled with bloodlust, "chop off her limbs, hear her begging and screaming, and then cut off her head."

Merlin felt nauseous, but had to respond, "Very good, my Lord."

Terrowin turned to him suddenly, and Merlin wanted to shrink away from his observant gaze, "Sit."

"I'm sorry?" servants didn't sit, they were not meant to sit equally to their master.

"You heard me, boy!" Terrowin growled, "Sit!"

Merlin released a shaky breath, but sat on the wooden stool right beside the frightening weapons. His eyes often flitted over to them as a precaution.

Terrowin began to circle his chair. His black armor looked like it was forged of the strongest obsidian. The crimson red snakeskin that covered his arms and detailed the armor's surface looked like churning blood. Gaius was right, the armor did possess a dark power. Terrowin himself did not have magic, but his protection radiated a magical essence.

"You must be wondering why I decided on you to be my aid in this investigation," Terrowin's voice sounded like a snake's hiss, "but the answer is simple. You are Prince Arthur's servant, the closest person to Camelot's future king. You know things, young Merlin, you've heard things I'm sure of it. As vehemently as you attempt to deny it, we both know it to be true."

Merlin tried to hide his shaking hands as the hunter continued.

"Now, I am going to ask you this only once, Merlin, and I urge you to think very carefully about your answer before we proceed," Terrowin stopped right behind him, concealing him from Merlin's view, "do you have magic?"

Merlin didn't even think twice, "No, my Lord."

Terrowin crouched close to Merlin, his mouth by his ear as his hands clenched his shoulders tightly, "Are you telling me the truth, Merlin?"

"Yes, my Lord," it took everything in him not to make his voice falter.

Terrowin did not say a word as he stood tall again, his eyes still examined Merlin, "As for the Prince?"

"Prince Arthur?" Merlin shook his head, "As I mentioned before, Arthur does not have magic. He detests it, like his father."

"We shall see," Terrowin said in a dark voice, "the investigation begins tomorrow morning, do not be late. We shall raid the houses one by one until we find this magical man who dares infect Camelot with his disease."

Merlin stood, itching to run to the doorway. Yet, his duties as a servant called him. He approached Terrowin's bed and began to unfold the sheets, preparing it for the hunter. Terrowin walked over to his weapon's table again, sharpening his knives. Merlin took a quick glance at his armor, noticing the intricate carving of the ivory. He had to suppress a gag knowing that it was made of human bones.

The armor's magic seemed to be calling to him, reaching out to Merlin. Gaius said the armor could be used to protect its owner and detect magic, but it would need to be activated by some spell. He was sure Terrowin had alternate means in harnessing this power, but he had to discover what these means entailed. Merlin knew he had to be careful in working with this hunter, as his life depended on it, but he needed to put a stop to him without using his own abilities.

Merlin finished tidying the bed and retreated towards the door. Terrowin did not acknowledge him again as the servant slipped out of his chambers and rushed down the hall, far away from the hunter's bedroom.

Merlin was panting by the time he reached the fresh open air of Camelot's night. His lungs sucked in deep, grateful breaths as Merlin attempted to regain his bearings. He survived, he did as he was told, he endured his responsibilities as Terrowin's servant.

Now, he could meet with Adelaide. She would be waiting for him in the Lower City. Merlin felt himself relax as he exited the guarded gates of the Upper City and descended into the valley below.

He walked quietly, approaching the bridge that connected both parts of the kingdom. The moon shone high in the sky, illuminating the land below in a pale blue glow. There was not another soul in sight, and the flickering lights of the Lower City glimmered in the distance.

A rustle in the bushes behind him startled Merlin.

He jumped, immediately turning to the source of the sound.

Something tackled him from behind, throwing Merlin to the ground. He struggled and kicked, attempting to escape. He could feel it was a person who attacked him, a grown, strong man. Terrowin's face appeared in his frantic mind, and he tried to yell for help. A hand clenched his throat, cutting off his windpipe and his cries for help. Merlin felt himself trapped in the choking hold of this stranger as the jagged edge of a knife pressed into the skin of his throat.

Merlin felt himself gasping for breath, but his struggling eased when he saw the knife's serrated edge dangerously close to his neck. A gruff, panting voice spoke in his ear menacingly, "I've finally caught you!"

Merlin tried to see who it was or recongnize the voice to no avail. His body was yearning for air and he could see black dots start to creep up at the edges of his vision.

"You're coming with me, sorcerer," the voice said as the man began pulling Merlin to the edges of the woods. Merlin looked at the elegant castle of Camelot's Upper City, where Arthur was surely sleeping by now, with no idea of Merlin's predicament or location as blackness seized Merlin and he lost concsiousness.

Next chapter coming soon! Leave me a fav/follow/review!