Author's note: Hello there, guys. Extremely sorry for the super late update. But life is hell in medical college and I won't be able to update any time soon either. This is a short chapter but I hope you will like it. I haven't written for more than a month. So the writing might not be good as it once was. Sorry again in advance.

Alright then, let's get on with the story.

Chapter 37

Midnight Snooping

Arthur Pendragon sat upwards with lightning speed from sleep. He had seen a horrible dream. But he couldn't remember what he had seen. He felt uneasy and restless. Beside him, his wife was sleeping peacefully. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and got out of the bed.

He went to the balcony adjacent to their chamber to clear his mind. It was a night of half moon. Silver pale light lightened the landscape of the great city of Arcaenia below. Magical blue lights were dancing here and there illuminating the circular city. Arthur was fascinated to see the magnificent sight.

He remembered the nights when he had looked down on the streets of Camelot from the tower of the king. Although Camelot's nighttime sight's beauty was nothing compared to the sight he was seeing now.

The blue balls of light were like large fireflies and they looked exactly like the blue sphere which had shown him the path when he was lost in the cave of Balor. Gaius had told him that it was Merlin in his deathbed who had sent that sphere to guide him. Arthur could still remember the soothing feeling it had brought to him in the dark depth of Balor.

' How could that kind of magic be evil? ' Arthur thought solemnly and for the umpteenth time in the last two years he again came to the conclusion that the so called ' Great Purge ' was nothing but a planned, ruthless genocide. All in the name of freeing the land from the ' evil ' of magic.

The soft gale of wind and the moonlight soothed his mind but the sense of foreboding that came after seeing his forgotten dream remained. He knew something ominous was going to happen soon. But his inability to know what might happen was making him further restless.

Heaving a deep sigh, he kept on watching the streets of Arcaenia illuminated with blue and silver light. It was then when he had seen him. A tall figure clad in a black cloak walking out of the white gold tower. He kept walking through the royal garden and after that, he kept walking northwards. It was clear that he was going towards the exit of the inner city. No one would have been able to figure out who might be there under the hooded cloak. But that figure seemed very familiar to Arthur. And the way the figure walked made him more suspicious.

Before knowing what he was doing, he too was out of the tower with a bag of supply ( He brought all the edible things from his chamber ) which would be sufficient enough for a week's riding and was following that hooded figure. He didn't know why he was doing it, but something in his mind told him that he should follow that figure.

But he didn't know that this small action of his would grant him the thing he had been craving for the last two years.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Merlin could feel that someone was following him. He had felt it when he was walking through the streets of the capital, he had felt it when he boarded the ship to cross the lake.

He tried to feel who the stalker was with his magic but he was unable to reveal it. Merlin was surprised. He should've been able to detect the identity of his stalker. He had only been able to pinpoint the location of his stalker but not their identity which meant the stalker had strong magic running through their veins. Almost as strong as his own magic.

Who could it be? Merlin mused.

The only one in Elmet who had such strong was Freya but she had promised him that she wouldn't leave the city on their son's life. Merlin was damn sure that Freya wouldn't break her promise as her and his mother's staying in the city was of paramount importance for their plan.

So the question was: who was it? Merlin could still sense his stalker's presence while riding through the woods of Arcaenia. He was riding for the Jerall mountains. Ten saddled horses were waiting at the bank of the lake. Merlin rode on his own stallion, Gilgamesh. The rest of the nine horses were for Gilli, Nayem, Alator, Roy and his other chosen soldiers of Elmet who would play their role in the second part of their plan.

Merlin's another veteran whisperer, Natasha had gone to Amatan capital city and she had sent news to Merlin that King Sauron had increased the magical defense of the city tenfold. Sauron would get an instant warning if any men or women not pledged loyalty to him came within one hundred mile radius of the city. The Amatan borders were closed even for her allies and the kingdom was in a state of emergency. Natasha had only been able to infiltrate Amata and act as the king's one of the closest councilor because she once had vowed a blood oath to Sarrum surrendering her loyalty to Amata.

In reality, she had been a sleeping agent under Alator's order. She remained at Sarrum's side and lately at Sauron's side so that she could act as a spy when the time came.

And the time came when Merlin ascended to the golden throne of Arcaenia. Natasha came to Arcaenia and Merlin released her from the blood oath using his power of ' The Calling '. After that, she pledged her loyalty to Merlin and his previous lord was none the wiser.

Now Natasha was playing a vital role for the sake of Elmet. She was one of Sauron's closest ' friends ' and thus the magical barrier was unable to detect her as a threat. After all, the Erestris king was unaware that she had switched side.

Merlin had learnt the details of the magical barrier from Natasha through the Arch of Communication. And unfortunately, she wasn't powerful enough to dismantle the barrier. So, it had fallen up to Merlin, the greatest warlock of all time to do the job. He would go through the Jerall pass as there was the southern starting point of the barrier.

He would ride for the Amatan capital while penetrating through the barrier. The nine riders of Elmet would follow him closely behind and would stay at the nine focal points of the barrier spread through the Amatan countryside.

Their job would be to prevent the barrier from mending itself as Natasha had said that the barrier would never demolish and would keep mending itself unless the caster himself who was Sauron was killed.

In a word, Merlin would crack the wall and the nine riders would make sure the cracks remained open for the main army of Elmet to enter into Amata led by Master Vendrick Drangleic.

Yes, they would strike now. Now while their enemy was still licking their wounds. They would eliminate the threat once and for all.

But Merlin was still feeling restless. His stalker was still behind him and according to plan, no one should be following him. He had been stalking him silently for three full days. When Merlin stopped, he stopped. When Merlin rode, he rode. It was a little creepy. The Elmetian king was playing cautious as he had no idea if his stalker ( who had the potential to be a strong opponent if their paths crossed ) was a friend or foe.

He had almost reached Jerall mountains and whether he liked it or not, he would have to know the identity of his stalker as he had no intention of jeopardizing their plan.

He could sense his stalker's presence almost six hundred yards away. He teleported himself near the camp of his stalker. His stalker was sharpening his sword with his back facing towards Merlin. The man ( His muscular figure made Merlin sure of which sex he was ) was wearing a hooded travelling cloak and his face was covered.

Silently, Merlin brought out his Uchigatana and with lightning fast speed hurled himself toward his stalker placing his sword at the stalker's back.

" Who are you and what do you want from me, stalker? " Merlin said in an authoritative voice. His stalker became stiff but Merlin could sense that he was not afraid.

The stalker craned his neck and looked towards Merlin. He slowly lowered his hood and in the light of campfire, an utterly surprised Merlin found out the identity of his stalker.

He yelled aloud.

" What the hell are you doing here, Arthur Pendragon? "

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry again for the shortness. Please drop me a line. Will you? I appreciate each and every review you post me and if you want to criticize me, please do it by sending the review as a user not a guest. ( I want to learn from each of you and I won't be able to do it if I can't talk to you ) Next chapter: Tommen Erestris. I will try to update in ten days. Until then, be safe.

Happy reading and have a good day ( or night ).

Assassin of Syria.