Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter twenty-nine: The tears of Uthur Pendragon part two and goblin's gold.

Gwen was sitting waiting, she hadn't slept hardly at all last night. She was so worried about Merlin, she knew he had lived but the last she had seen of him was, being carried away by a dragon after being stung by a Serket and left to suffer for hours.

To make matter worse, Arthur was being a prat. He was king, he had to make decision that affected the whole kingdom, yet he couldn't seem to understand Merlin had done the same. He just kept getting angry and blaming Merlin. Merlin had been forced to make hard decisions, the fate of the kingdom resting on those decisions.

Arthur needed to get over it. Gwen understood he was shocked at finding out his best friend had magic and had made difficult decisions. But Merlin was still Merlin. He had warned Arthur time and time again, and Arthur had never listened…. None of them had listened, well Gwen had. But even the knights refused to listen to Merlin's advice sometimes, it was unfair on Merlin…. He had tried his best.

Arthur sits down beside Gwen. "I wanted to say sorry about yesterday…. I didn't mean to get angry at you and I shouldn't have yelled."

Gwen smiles slightly. "It's okay…. You really need to stop getting angry about the decisions Merlin makes, all of them are done for the good of the kingdom. You are king you should understand sometimes you have to make sacrifices to gain in the long run."

"He let the dragon live, Guinevere! It killed many people and almost destroyed the city!"

"And that shows that Merlin is capable of mercy! It shows his heart is kind! It shows he is Merlin, the Merlin we know and love and always will be! If Merlin had not let the dragon go, who would have saved him from the Serkets?"

Arthur sighs. "I couldn't have done that…. If that was me in his place…."

"It shows Merlin is a good person," Gwen smiles. "An honourable person. Someone who is willing to forgive those who are sorry for the things they have done. He is still the same person Arthur, you said you wanted him to return and you want to lift the ban on magic, yet, you cannot even forgive a friend who has been forced to make hard decisions."

"I know," Arthur mutters. "It's just…. Hard. He was…. Is my best friend, but he didn't trust me."

Gwen looks at Arthur. "So this is about the fact he didn't trust you? How could he? If he told you, you were honour bound to hand him over to your father. If you didn't you be breaking the law! Committing treason! Merlin never wanted to put you in that position, where you had to choose between him and your duty to Camelot."

Arthur sighs. "He could have told when I became king."

Before Gwen had chance to reply, Taliesin appeared before them.

"For you to truly understand, young Pendragon, you must see reason. Merlin has done everything he has done to protect you and your kingdom. He even used magic to save Uthur in the past, even though Uthur would have killed him if he ever found out."

Arthur nodes. "I know."

Gwen sighs. "Can we hurry up and start, I have to see Merlin's okay!"

Taliesin smiles. "You and Merlin are close, I see. I know he has often panicked when you've been in trouble."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The screen shows Merlin lying on the ledge in the dragons cave, twitching and shivering and his breathing is slightly troubled. But alive much to the relief of everyone watching.

"Thank god he's alive," Gwen mutters. "The dragon healed him, thank god."

Elyan smiles at his sister. "You know he's still alive, there is nothing to worry about."

Gwen glared at her brother. "I have watched my best friend get stung by Serkets and I have every right to be worried…. He may have lived, but that doesn't stop the fact it happened and none of us knew about it."

Gwaine smiles. "Imagine that, waking up with that massive dragon sitting over you."

Gaius smiles. "Kilgharrah is quite protective of Merlin…. Merlin was until a short while ago the only kin he had."

"Least he was saved," Leon mutters. "That's all that matters…. It must have been so painful."

The scene changes to Arthur storming into Gaius chambers.

Tristan looks at Arthur. "He almost dead and all you were worried about was an archery session."

Arthur shifts slightly. "I didn't know he was dying."

Percival shakes his head. "You could have been slightly more considerate, Gaius was quite clearly worried."

Later that night Morgana slips into Uthur's room.

"She really did hate him didn't she?" Isolde mutters. "I have never seen someone take such pleasure in causing another pain."

Gwen smiles sadly. "She used to be so kind."

Back in the dragon cave Merlin once again wakes up.

"Only Merlin could be worried about the fact he slept to long," Gwaine mutters. "He wasn't the slightest bit bothered he nearly died."

Percival smiles. "And he's worried about Camelot."

Leon smiles. "Merlin does have a lot of courage, the dragon is right."

Gwaine's jaw dropped as he saw Merlin riding on the dragon, but he them smiles.

"Don't get any ideals Gwaine," Leon mutters. "Only dragon lords can ride dragons."

"I'm sure Merlin can allow people to fly with him." Gwaine answers.

Gaius chuckles. "Kilgharrah only lets Merlin ride him when there is no other option, so I doubt he would let Merlin take someone with him."

"Like Merlin needed any more pressure." Elyan mutters. "'The fate of Albion rests in your hands' How Merlin can cope with all that pressure is a miracle."

The scene changes to show Merlin running through the castle to Gaius's chambers.

Gwaine smiles. "He didn't answer the question."

Gaius nodes. "It can be so hard to get a straight answer out of him sometimes."

"Straight to the point though," Elyan mutters. "Morgana is plotting with Morgause."

Gaius smiles. "You learn to believe Merlin, he never lies about people…. Even if he does hate them."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

In Uthur's chambers, they find the place a mess and Uthur cowering in the corner. Merlin quickly finds the root and destroyed it.

Gwen glances at the ring she had on, it was the same one as Arthur's mother was wearing in the vision Uthur saw.

Gaius sighs. "Mandrake roots, they are horrible things."

Percival nodes. "Merlin was lucky he made it back when he did, I don't think the Uthur would have lasted much longer."

Gaius nodes. "The mind is a fragile thing. Those visions bought old memories to light, ones he tried so hard to forget."

Merlin and Gaius return to there room and decide what to do about Morgana.

"It must have been hard, knowing Morgana was the one betraying Camelot and not being able to do anything about it." Tristan mutters.

Gaius nodes. "It was, from then on it was up to Merlin to try his hardest to stop her at every turn. I helped the best I could, but if Uthur had ever heard us speak about her in such a way, he would have had our heads."

Elyan looks at Gaius. "I thought Merlin heard the whole plan, he was quite close to them."

Arthur shakes his head. "No he only heard there was a second part to the plan."

Morgause watches from her crystal as Cenred's army continues to march towards Camelot. While Leon and a patrol watch as the army marches hidden room view.

Back in Camelot Merlin wakes Arthur up.

Gwen glare at Arthur. "You really can't survive without Merlin can you? That room…. How did you create such a mess in two days?"

Arthur shrugs. "It just happened."

"He was right, he was dying. And you didn't believe him." Elyan mutters.

"And I think Merlin knows better than anyone what it feels like to have the fate of the kingdom resting on his shoulders." Percival adds.

Gwaine laughs. "'I'll have you for breakfast' you do know how wrong that sounded right?"

Arthur just glare at Gwaine.

"All the makings of a great king, Arthur." Leon smiles. "You need to work on your aim, Merlin didn't get hit by any of those objects."

"Which is a good thing." Gwen adds. "You really shouldn't throw things at him, he had just recovered from nearly dying."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Morgana watches from her window as Arthur and Merlin walk through courtyard. Before going to Uthur, only to find the root gone.

"She's a good liar," Isolde mutters. "I would have believed her. Looking for an earring, quite believable."

Gaius smiles. "I holds Merlin's word above all others, I can not think of an occasion where he has been wrong."

Gwen shivers as Morgana threatened Merlin. "She really hated him, didn't she?"

Taliesin speaks up. "Morgana was never told she was the source of the enchantment, Morgause on told her Merlin poisoned her because of the magic she had."

Arthur glances at him. "But why? Wouldn't Morgana have known, she has magic after all? Merlin had magic and the enchantment affected him."

Taliesin shakes his head. "You forget she never knew he had magic, so she thought it was just her magic keeping her safe."

Later after that patrol has returned, Arthur calls the council together to decide what needs to be done. While Morgana and Merlin just glare at each other.

"That must have been a hard thing to decide," Isolde mutters. "Going to war like that."

"We couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness," Arthur answers. "We had to show we were strong even when our king was ill."

Tristan nodes. "Camelot is strong, but you had a traitor. You cannot fight a war on to fronts."

Elyan laughs, as he watches Merlin tell Arthur he will protect him. "Merlin always protects you, Merlin probably have the power to rival any god and yet you said it like it was bad thing Merlin was going to protect you."

"I didn't know he was powerful." Arthur answers. "I didn't know he was always saving us."

"He was saving you all the time, Arthur!" Gwen exclaimed. "Did you truly never notice?"

A day's ride from Camelot, Cenred and Morgause meet.

"He really would do anything to please her." Gwaine mutters. "Sad really."

Percival nodes. "I wouldn't have trusted her."

"Could he really not see he was being used?" Elyan mutters.

Leon shakes his head. "Cenred was blinded by his own lust."

Back in Camelot, Arthur and Gwen talk.

"Gwen is right, worry is not a wise council." Gaius nodes.

Arthur smiles at Gwen. "Your support and council is always welcome Guinevere, even when I don't want to hear it."

Gwen smiles. "And I will always be here to support you."

As Camelot prepares for battle, Morgana goes to see her sister.

"That staff," Percival mutters. "It looks powerful."

Gaius nodes. "Rowan is often a wood used for staffs, for rowan is the tree of the goddess."

"So I would be right in guessing Morgana used it to summon the skeletons?" Leon asks.

Gaius nodes. "You would, Morgana simply had to say the spell and the staff used its own power."

"Skeletons?" Tristan asks.

Leon nodes. "An army of them."

Isolde smiles, as she watches Merlin drag food up the steps. "I take Arthur gets in a bad mood if he doesn't eat."

Gwaine smiles. "He is, but his moods are even worse if Merlin's not around…. Merlin used to disappear for weeks sometimes. When that happened every one kept out of the princess's way."

Isolde laughs. "It just shows he cares."

Arthur scoffs. "I was in a bad mood because I had no servant."

"As I remember," Leon smiles. "You had George, Merlin was always so keen on making him, his replacement."

Arthur groans. "Don't remind me."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Cenred's army surround the castle and Arthur watches his army prepare, before Merlin readies him for battle.

Gwaine grins. "See that, Merlin told you about you destiny. Maybe if you had listened to what Merlin tells you, you would have worked it out a long time before now princess."

Arthur glares at Gwaine. "My destiny has nothing to do with Merlin's magic."

"Have you not been listening," Tristan snaps. "Merlin's magic has everything to do with your destiny. He is the one who has protected you and will help you unite the lands."

Isolde places a hand on Tristan's arm. "Tristan is right, without Merlin protecting you and guiding you, you would never be who you are today. Without magic Merlin would never have been able to protect you."

"And Arthur can never give a complement." Gwaine grins. "Merlin is wise, and the best friend you could hope for and yet Arthur still can't give him a complement or show him how much he cares."

And so the battle begins, waking Uthur from his sleep.

"Well it's good to see you don't send your men in first," Tristan mutters. "You lead them."

Arthur nodes. "Kings who send their men into war, but do not lead them are cowards."

"So like Cenred then," Elyan mutters. "He just stood and watched."

As Uthur makes his way into battle, Merlin warns Gaius to keep an eye on Morgana. And so Merlin heads out to find Arthur. Meanwhile Uthur has just joined Arthur on the front line, but is shot and Arthur calls a retreat. Merlin uses magic to summon flames across the enemies' path to stop them from advancing.

Gwaine laughs. "Merlin used magic in front of two armies and no one noticed, no wonder he finds it so easy to hide."

Elyan smiles. "It stopped their advance, I bet Merlin could have beaten them all on his own."

Leon nodes. "But I doubt Merlin would have wanted to."

"He only uses magic when there is no other way." Percival agrees. "He knows the damage he can cause and he uses his power wisely."

Gaius sighs. "He has a good heart and that will never change…. It just makes the losses he suffers all the more painful."

Gwen smiles sadly. "Merlin suffers so much and yet gets so little in return."

Back in the castle Morgana sneaks away and Gaius follows.

"She was hiding behind the door," Gaius mutters shaking his head. "I should have checked."

Gwen shakes her head. "She would have killed you, if you had found her."

Elyan nodes in agreement. "She most definitely would have, I don't think it would have mattered whether it was you or not. She would have killed whoever it was."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Merlin helps Uthur to get his injuries treated and Gaius warns him Morgana has gone. Morgana makes her way down to the burial vaults and uses the staff.

"What was that?" Leon asks. "It was like Merlin got hit by a shock wave."

"That," Gaius explains. "Is what happens when strong magic is used. The sudden increase of power, is like an explosion filling the world around it. It will affect Merlin like that, because the fabric of his being is magic its self. For normal sorcerers they will feel the change, but not be too badly affected it depends on the level of power."

"So that's why Morgause didn't seem affected by it?"

Gaius nodes. "She simply felt the level of power shift, like you would feel the temperature change."

Gwen gasps in horror as the first skeleton breaks free from its tomb. The others look slightly horrified as more skeletons break free. They all knew you couldn't kill a skeleton, they were only bone after all.

Taliesin shivered. "Such dark magic, for someone so young."

In the court yard Arthur finally finds Merlin. Only for the skeletons to appear shortly after.

Gwen looks at Arthur. "Where did you think he was? He can't just follow you around all the time."

Arthur sighs. "Things just feel safer when Merlin's around."

Gwaine shivers. "Merlin looks horrified…. And I can see why!"

"God," Percival mutters. "They look worse than the immortal army were fought."

"Hey see that," Elyan grins. "Merlin cut its arm off!"

Arthur rolls his eyes. "He's still an idiot."

Back in the make shift hospital, Merlin tells Gaius to seal it off.

"He was brave, going to try and stop Morgana like that." Gwen mutters. "She could use magic, because Merlin knew she had it. But be couldn't or otherwise Morgana would find out."

Elyan shivers as Merlin enters the vaults, to find Morgana there. "He has some nerve, I'll give him that."

Percival nodes. "Facing Morgana alone, not many are foolish enough to do that."

They watched as Merlin and Morgana battled, Merlin truly wasn't half bad with a sword.

"He not bad with a sword is he?" Tristan mutters. "But Morgana is clearly quite skilled."

Isolde smiled. "He's quite good at dodging too."

Gwaine and Gwen cheer as Merlin destroyed the staff after dropping the ceiling on Morgana.

"I am glad he destroyed that staff." Leon smiles. "We wouldn't have lasted much longer."

With the skeletons gone, Camelot army forces Cenred's man out of the city and Cenred calls off the attack.

"Hmm," Gwaine mutters. "Seems Cenred does have a brain."

Percival rolls his eyes. "Anyone who continued the attack would have been an idiot."

Elyan laughs. "Cenred was no fool, he was cowardly but sly. But he knew when something was hopeless."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

In the great hall, Morgana is hailed a hero.

"That must have been hard," Isolde mutters, shaking her head. "Watching the person who caused it all, take the credit."

Tristan nodes. "Merlin must have hated that. He almost single handily won the battle and Morgana took all the credit when it was her doing in the first place."

"I'm glad Merlin knows when to hold his tongue," Gaius mutters. "I feared he would have claimed Morgana the traitor right there."

Gwaine nodes. "I guess that's why Merlin got fed up of 'living in the shadows'. Everyone else got the credit for his hard work."

Elyan nodes. "If it wasn't for Merlin's bravery Camelot wouldn't be standing today."

Arthur looks at the screen. "Merlin is brave…. Braver than many of the knights back in Camelot."

"Lancelot once told me: Merlin was the bravest of us all." Percival mutters. "Now I know why…. I always thought it was because he followed us in to battles and always stood up to those doing wrong."

As Gaius and Merlin sit down to eat they talk about Morgana.

"Uthur was blinded by love," Gaius sighs. "And that love killed him."

"Dragoon killed Uthur not Morgana." Arthur answers.

Gaius didn't answer.

Gwen sighs. "Merlin was right…. She became so angry and bitter. She hated everyone…. Even me and I was once her best friend."

Gwaine laughs as Merlin tells Gaius nothing could make him like Morgana, only to change his mind when Arthur came storming in. "Good old Merlin, he'll never change."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

In a time of myth and a land of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy, his name…. Merlin.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The scene appears of Merlin entering the library in search of a book for Gaius.

Gaius smiled. "Geoffrey always puts work first…. I can see why Merlin gets so annoyed about always having to wait."

Gwaine laughs. "Good luck with finding a book that hasn't been seen for years."

"East is that way!" Elyan laughs.

Percival smiles. "Imagine if Geoffrey hadn't told him, he would have been looking for hours."

Leon laughed. "Just Merlin luck that the book is on the top shelf."

Gwaine smirked. "I didn't know there was a secret room in the library!"

Arthur looked surprised. "Doesn't look like anyone has been in there for years."

"A book on magic?" Gwen asks, as Merlin picks up a book.

Gaius nodes. "It appears so, what type of magic I don't know."

"Did that box just growl?" Isolde asks, as Merlin tripped over a box.

"I think it did," Tristan answers, as the box makes noises again. "He's going to open it, isn't he?"

Gwen jumps as the goblin bursts out the box.

"What is that?" Leon asks.

"A goblin." Gwen answers, she had helped Merlin catch it.

"Well, that is one creepy looking thing." Gwaine mutters.

"It's a goblin," Gwen repeats. "Not a thing."

Leon shakes his head, as the goblin starts throwing things. "Trust Merlin to release a goblin."

"To be fair, he didn't know what was in the box." Percival defends Merlin.

"When something is trapped in a box, it's usually trapped for a reason." Elyan answers.

Gaius shakes his head. "Uthur trapped many harmless creature of magic too. It could have been anything."

"Good luck with that," Gwaine laughs, as Merlin tries to get the goblin back in the box. "You are going to need it."

The Knights all laugh, as Merlin fails to catch the goblin and it escapes into the castle.

Gaius shakes his head. "Least he got the book."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"I like this goblin," Gwaine grins. "It totally ruined Arthur's room."

Gwen glares at Gwaine. "You do relies Merlin was the one who had to clean it up, as well as catch the goblin."

"It could have been worse," Arthur mutters. "That could have been Uthur's room."

"You don't seem to bothered by the fact a goblin ruined your room?" Leon mutters.

Arthur smiled. "My room had never been cleaner after Merlin finished."

"Spring cleaning," Gwen shakes her head. "Why do we even believe what Merlin tells us sometimes?"

Elyan laughs. "I got a feeling that goblin is going to cause Merlin a lot of trouble."

Percival smiles. "I bet morgana really enjoyed her room being messed up like that."

Leon frowns. "Her healing bracelet, I didn't think she took it off…. I don't think I have ever seen her without it."

Everyone laughs as Gwen catches Merlin picking up all Morgana jewellery the goblin had thrown around.

"I think it did suit him," Arthur mutters. "He is a girl after all."

Gwen slaps Arthur's arm. "Don't be mean."

Gaius and Merlin find out what the creature is just as Arthur comes in asking for them.

"A matter of great importance," Leon mutters. "I hope for Merlin's sake the goblin hasn't been spotted."

"Oh no," Gwaine mutters. "It was just Uthur, no harm done."

Arthur glares at Gwaine. "He was my father."

"We know princes."

Arthur watches as he warns Merlin not to laugh. "If any of you laugh, I swear you'll be put in exile forever."

Gwaine smiles. "That won't be a problem for me, Merlin said I was welcome to stay in his kingdom whenever I needed to."

Arthur just glares at Gwaine. "Don't laugh."

Arthur, Gaius and Merlin enter Uthur's room, to find him hiding behind a screen.

Gwaine instantly bursts out laughing as he sees Uthur with no hair, Elyan shortly follows and in a matter of seconds they are both rolling on the floor laughing.

Percival covers his mouth in try and hide the fact he too is laughing, but the tears of mirth that slide down his cheeks are a dead giveaway.

Leon tries his hardest to keep a straight face, but just can't keep from smiling and soon is chuckling quietly.

Isolde and Tristan hold each other for support as they laugh, they had hated Uthur and the way he ruled and to see him with no hair was worth the hardship.

Gwen was laughing softly, while Gaius couldn't help but smile. At the time he had been too scared of what would happen to Merlin is anyone found out he released the goblin, to actually see the humour of it all.

Arthur just stood their glaring at them, but couldn't help the small smile that forced its way on to his face.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

So Gaius and Merlin come up with a plan to catch the goblin. But for that plan they needed gold and lots of it. So later that night, Merlin steals Arthur's chest of gold.

"Merlin is good at hiding," Gwaine laughs. "Hide behind the chair."

Leon smiles. "It was dark, so it was a good spot to hide in."

Elyan looks at Arthur. "Like who ever had sneaked into your room was just going to admit it."

Arthur rolls his eyes.

Everyone bursts out laughing as Merlin dropped the curtains of Arthur bed on him.

"Princess, I never knew you could be beaten by something that wasn't even alive." Gwaine laughs.

"Shut up, Gwaine."

Elyan grins. "I love how Merlin just hung around to watch."

Percival nodes. "Wouldn't you? That was so un-princely!"

And so Gaius and Merlin set up the trap.

Gwen smiled as the goblin fell into their trap. "It wasn't cleaver was it, a trail of gold leading to a box of gold had to be a trap."

"It was blinded by greed." Gaius muttered. "But goblins are dangerous creatures."

Everyone watched in shock as the goblin possessed Gaius.

"That isn't good." Elyan mutters.

They watch as the goblin possessed Gaius ruins his chambers and forces Merlin to clean it up while he goes to the tavern. Where he wins as arm weasel and some gold. The following morning he yells at Merlin.

"I think Merlin has noticed something is up with Gaius." Percival mutters.

Elyan nodes. "But what can he do about it?"

Leon watches as Gaius talks to Morgana. "How did we miss Morgana being evil, if even a goblin could spot it?"

Gaius shakes his head. "I knew Morgana was evil, the goblin may have just used the information I knew to be true."

They watch as Gaius began charging for the medicine he was giving the towns people. And even Gwen.

Gaius looked ashamed. "I feel so bad for doing that."

Gwen place a hand on his arm. "It wasn't you it was the goblin, you have nothing to feel bad for."

Gaius sighs. "I should have been able to fight the hold the goblin had on me."

Taliesin shakes his head. "Goblin have strong and ancient magic, only those of high power can fight the control of a goblin."

Everyone laughs as Gaius treats Uthur and slaps his head.

"You looked like you were having way to much fun doing that…. Well the goblin does!" Gwaine grins.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Merlin works out Gaius is the goblin, after he walks in on him licking gold.

"Finally!" Gwaine mutters. "He's worked it out."

Gaius smiled. "Merlin and I know each other so well, I am glad he cares enough to protect me even if he doesn't know how."

Gwen smiles. "You are like a father to him, Gaius, he will always protect you."

Gaius smiles. "He is like a son to me, I could not ask for a better blessing than Merlin was, when he turned up in my room all those years ago."

"What the goblin said was true wasn't it?" Leon mutters. "He couldn't harm the goblin without harming Gaius."

Taliesin nodes. "That is true."

Elsewhere in the court room, the council is in session. And Gwen started passing wind.

Gwen hide her face in her hands. "I have never been more embarrassed in all my life."

"Don't worry, Gwen," Isolde comforts her. "It happened to Morgana and Uthur too."

Gwen shakes her head. "It was still so embarrassing."

Back in Gaius quarters, Merlin is waiting for Gaius to return.

Gaius shakes his head. "He should never have let the goblin know he had magic."

Percival nodes. "I can see how that would end in trouble."

"That was amazing!" Gwaine grins. "Did you see that with the knife? It was awesome."

Arthur sighs. "Aren't you the slightest bit bothered that the goblin now knows Merlin has magic?"

Gwaine shakes his head. "Merlin is alive isn't he, nothing that bad could have happened."

Gaius makes his way down to the library where he insults Geoffrey.

Gaius shakes his head. "I called one of my oldest friends 'fatty'."

Gwaine laughs. "You've spent too much time with Merlin, he's always calling Arthur fat."

Arthur glares at Gwaine. "I like to see how you feel if you got called fat."

"Now you see, Arthur," Gwaine explains. "I'm not fat, unlike some people, so no one would ever have reason to say I am."

"I AM NOT FAT!" Arthur yells.

Percival grins. "Merlin is always adding holes to your belt, sire. Maybe it time you lay of the feasts, don't think?"

Arthur glares at them. "I'll have you know I am the king! I have to attend feasts."

"Oh no," Gwen gasps. "He's got the spell book."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Elsewhere in the castle Merlin is looking for Arthur, but gets arrested.

"He got arrested for sorcery!" Isolde exclaimed. "That goblin must have really wanted him out the way."

Gaius looks positively horrified. "I still can't believe I did that, hand him over like that."

"Gaius it wasn't you, it was the goblin." Gwen comforts Gaius.

Leon shakes his head. "Like the king would have believed Gaius was possessed by a goblin."

Elyan nodes. "He had to try."

"He was sentenced to death," Tristan mutters. "Morgana looked pleased about that."

Percival nodes. "She was the only one besides the goblin, who was. With no Merlin to stop her, think of the things she could do."

Later that night Gaius is at the tavern, when he nearly gets in a fight with Leon.

Everyone looked slightly shocked as Gaius spat mead all over Leon.

Gaius looks ashamed. "I am so sorry, Leon."

"No," Leon answers. "It's okay, it was the goblin not you."

"Some knight you are, Leon," Gwaine mutters. "Drawing a sword on an old man."

Later that night, Merlin escapes the dungeons using magic to steal the guards' keys.

"Neat spell," Gwaine grins. "Next time we all get kidnapped or Morgana takes over the castle, remind Merlin to use that spell. It will save us spending days in a cell."

Percival nodes. "It would be really useful."

They watch as Merlin goes to sneak past the guards as the warning bell is sounded.

"Good thing, he's a fast runner." Elyan mutters. "Or he would never have got past those guards."

Gwen who is woken by the alarm bell and hears someone in her house only for Merlin to come up behind her.

"Merlin really does know how to scare people, doesn't he?" Gwaine mutters.

Gwen shakes her head. "I was more surprised to see him there, than anything else."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The following day Arthur informs the court that Merlin escaped.

"I surprised Uthur didn't arrest Gaius for speaking out in such a way." Percival mutters.

Gwaine grins. "Look at that, Arthur isn't a complete idiot, he's worked out there is something up with Gaius."

Back in Gwen's house, Merlin is trying to work out a way to force the goblin out of Gaius. He asks Gwen to speak to Arthur.

"Too embarrassed to speak to him," Elyan mutters. "It happens to everyone you know Gwen."

"Yes, but not in public." Gwen answers.

Leon smiles. "Least Merlin convinced you."

Gwen nodes. "I was glad I could help."

Back in the castle Arthur is watching out his window, not long after Gaius appears.

Gaius goes pale. "I would never look forward to Merlin being hung."

Arthur nodes. "I know, it wasn't you Gaius it was the goblin."

Gwaine gasps. "Did you really admit Merlin was right?"

"No," Arthur mutters. "I simply said he was telling the truth."

Elyan shock his head. "You got knocked out with a pot."

As Gaius leaves he passes Gwen, well hides as she passes. After entering Arthur's room, Gwen finds Arthur.

Arthur just went slightly red and wouldn't meet anyone's eye, he knew what was coming.

Gwaine bursts into uncontrollable laughter as he sees Arthur with donkey ears. "That goblin was brilliant."

Elyan smiled. "Only Gwen would find that adorable."

Gwen smiled. "It was sweet, the ears were so soft."

Percival laughed. "I bet you would never have lived that down if Merlin had seen you."

Leon nodes. "He does call you an 'ass' a lot. That would have proven his point."

Back at Gwen's house, she informs Merlin of Arthur's condition.

Elyan looks at his sister. "You can't tell someone it's not funny, while you nearly laughing yourself."

Gwen smiles. "It was funny, Arthur looked so helpless."

"So Merlin comes up with a plan." Percival mutters. "It's about time."

"Yeah but that plan is to kill Gaius." Leon answers.

Gaius sighs. "It was a good plan and the only plan, I'm glad they took the risk."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

And so Gwen and Merlin set up their plan.

Tristan glances at Gaius. "Did you not teach him about poisons?"

"I did teach him about them," Gaius answers. "But I was always the one who treated people who were poisoned. There is a difference in knowing and dealing with something."

"Gwen, you looked disgusted." Elyan mutters. "He was only licking gold."

Gwen smiled. "I know, but think of all the people who have held those coins."

Percival looked worried as Gwen lost the antidote for the poison. "That must have been horrible, losing the bottle like that."

Gwen nodes. "I was terrified, losing it meant Gaius would die."

"Thank god Merlin caught the goblin." Leon mutters.

"Thank god Merlin found the antidote."

Gaius smiled. "Why Merlin thought yelling would help I'll never know."

Back in the council chambers, Gaius confuses that he was possessed by a goblin and was responsible for ever thing that happened.

"Why my father had to tell the whole court I had donkey ears, I don't know." Arthur mutters, still embarrassed.

Gwaine smiled. "So that goblin is in the vaults."

"Don't even think about releasing it Gwaine." Arthur warns.

Leon smiled. "I take it that was one of Merlin's less dangerous adventures."

"Less dangerous! He was sentenced to death." Elyan exclaimed.

Percival smiles. "We should have guesses he had magic…. How many times has he been accused of sorcery now?"

Arthur smiled. "He would never have been caught…. He was too safe."

Gwen nodes in agreement. "We only know because he chose to save Isolde."

The scene changes to Arthur and Gwen awkward meeting in the hall way.

"Awkward." Gwaine mutters.

Arthur and Gwen smile at each other.

The scene changes to show Arthur training while Merlin and Gaius watch. As Arthur laughs he suddenly brays and Merlin and Gaius laugh, after Merlin pleads to let the spell stay for one more day.

"MERLIN!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hey hope you liked that, some people said they wanted Arthur to accept Merlin's magic more so hope he appeared more accepting in this chapter :)

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.