Here's the next little ficlet - the inspiration for this comes from the Keep the Magic Secret forum, and also from the episode 'Sweet Dreams'.
Please enjoy... maybe you might want to start your own advent calender!
Gwen was more than a little surprised.
She had been innocently making her way towards the castle when a stray chicken suddenly ran across her path. Nothing unusual there.
What was surprising was that Gaius was chasing it, his arms spread out in front of him, hair and robes flying loosely. "Come here!" The physician called loudly, earning many stares from the townsfolk. "Come back here, my pretty Esmeralda!"
Gwen blinked, wondering if she was still dreaming. When she reopened her eyes, Gaius was still there, chasing the chicken off into the distance.
"Gwen," a breathless voice said behind her. She turned to see Merlin; his face flushed as he glanced from her to the street. "Gwen, you didn't happen to see Gaius, did you?"
"Well, I certainly did," Gwen replied, still somewhat stunned by the encounter. She gestured down the street. "He was heading that way." She paused, then added "Apparently chasing a chicken."
Merlin ran his hands through his hair, looking extremely flustered. "Thanks so much." He quickly took off in the direction she'd pointed in.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Merlin hadn't meant for anything to happen, honest. He was just carrying a small vial filled with clear liquid that he had found in one of the guest bedrooms when he accidentally spilt it - all over Gaius's sleeping face.
Gaius has jumped up, shouting, and Merlin had cowered - but then he had noticed that Gaius wasn't scolding him. No, Gaius was calling out for someone he didn't know, someone named Esmeralda.
It was only after Merlin noticed the feather clinging to Gaius's pillow that the old physician had ran off. Merlin immediately pursued him, and was surprised to discover that Gaius could be quite fast when he wanted to be.
Now, Merlin watched, his eyes wide, as Gaius strided towards him, a large chicken clutched firmly in his arms.
"Merlin," Gaius said happily as he approached his ward. "I'd like you to meet Esmeralda." He dipped his head and lightly kissed the chicken's beak. "I'm sure you two are going to get along great."
Merlin was pretty sure it was going to be extremely hard to break this spell.
