"Turning" (Rose)
"I have never seen that creature's like," I comment, deep in thought about all that just transpired.
"Neither have I," Merlin replies, conjuring a classic pondering expression.
"Maybe Gaius has," I add, brightening the subject.
"Wouldn't surprise me," Merlin tilts his head with wide eyes.
"Now, just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," he feigns innocence as only Merlin can. "Just that … Gaius has been around for a great deal of time. I mean, years and years and YEARS-"
"Merlin," I lightly shove him, knocking him into the wall near our chamber doors. "That's mean!"
"You can't deny it!"
"Well, he has been around for a long time," I admit sheepishly, then quickly add, "But that doesn't mean I think he's old!"
"Sure you don't," Merlin teases as he pushes the front door to the physician's quarters open.
"Sir," I address him coolly as I step through the doorway, "Are you punishing me for my honesty?"
"Never, madam," he presses his hand to his chest and drops his mouth open.
"No matter," I wave him aside. "I'm not the one you should be worried about at the moment, anyways."
His face drops, "Thanks for the reminder."
"Revenge can be sweet," I wink.
Our banter behind us, we set to work at digging through the information in the Bestiary. Time could be of the essence, and it just feels like there isn't enough. There are so many pictures of wild thing and only two pairs of eyes to peek.
When Gaius returns, Merlin hurriedly greets him at the door, rather nervously.
"What is it you've done this time, Merlin?" Gaius asks in a knowing parental tone.
In response, Merlin lays out a rather humorous description of what we've been through this morning. Our caretaker remains quiet and listens. "And we have the book, right here … We're just not quite sure where to look," Merlin finishes.
"Here," Gaius walks over to me and takes the book in hand.
With that, we all sit, bent over the turning pages. I am hoping with this, we will be able to turn the tables as well.
"Learning" (Merlin)
Gaius opens the book near the middle and begins flipping through the pages. There are a vast number of interesting creatures. Each time he turns a page, to the right there is an artistic depiction of whatever creature that the page to the left is describing.
There were pages on ghosts, ghouls, banshees, wraiths- "That's it!" I exclaim as I point to the picture that looks almost exactly like the critter from earlier. I can't decide which is more disturbing: the drawing or the real thing?
Gaius scans the art and the information briefly. "Seems you've unleashed a goblin."
And now, taking in his seemingly incredulous expression, I realize this is more serious than I suspected. "I know that face," I pause with minor suspense. "That's not good, is it?"
"Goblins are the most mischievous of creatures - mischievous and dangerous," he answers, sounding slightly flabbergasted.
"It didn't seem dangerous," I retort with doubt. If I had known what it was from the start, I would have figured this one to be more like a court jester of goblins.
"Believe me, Merlin. Goblins will stop at nothing to get their hands on the one thing they value above all others," he says with warning, "Gold."
"Oh," Rose mutters brightly, yet quietly, as if she just pieced together a mystery.
Just then, the door to our chambers rattles open, Arthur stepping quickly over to us. "You're needed, Gaius," he informs as he approaches, "For a matter of great urgency and extreme delicacy."
"What is it?" Gaius asks solemnly, but with interest.
Arthur looks down and to the side, seeming more oddly detached than concerned. "It's my father," he says looking at the physician once more with something in his gaze that I can't read.
Gaius and I exchange a look of question, and then I glance over to Rose as her face reveals that she seems to know more of what we're about to see than anyone here, and yet, she still is puzzled.
"Do you think we should be worried?" I ask her softly as we follow after Arthur.
"Yes, but not for the reason you might think," she answers thoughtfully. Her nonchalance both unsettles me and sets me at ease. Although it is normally this way when one of us knows more about the present situation while the others are still learning.