The unlikely group stood there for a few moments, the man in the long, brown coat grinning at his companions. Appearing to realise the rising discomfort of the situation, the man stepped forward.
"Sorry. Where are my manners? I'm the Doctor, this is Rose," he gestured to the blonde woman, "and you already know that's Jack."
"A man of medicine?" inquired Gaius, stepping closer into the group and speaking for the first time since the sudden arrival of their guests.
"I dabble." Was the reply.
"If you don't mind me asking; Doctor, was it? Where exactly do you come from?" probed Gaius. "You are not dressed like anyone we have encountered before and your methods of travel are, how should I phrase it? Odd."
The visitors looked at each other, conversing with their eyes, before the Doctor spoke again.
"We come from a place named London, many miles away, most people haven't heard of it. It's a small place, strange fashions, hence our odd attire." Rose and Jack nodded in agreement, almost too enthusiastically.
"And how exactly did you appear in our quarters?" Gaius continued distrustfully.
The man looked unsure at how to answer. Before he could formulate a response Rose stepped forward.
"Magic." She stated, leaving silence in her wake.
The Doctor raised a hand to his forehead in frustration, Jack covered his mouth to hide an escaping laugh, and Rose realised that maybe she was too hasty in her answer.
"What she means to say is-" the Doctor started, only to be silenced by Gaius' severe look. Merlin, on the other hand, exhibited a boyish grin that gave Rose hope that she hadn't completely screwed things up.
"Magic is forbidden in this land; our King, Uther Pendragon, decrees it." Gaius intoned, casting a disapproving look at the young wizard.
"We'll get out of your hair then." the Doctor began, walking backwards. "Maybe we'll bump into you some other time," he suggested, retreating into the Tardis.
"Yeah," Rose called with a smile as she followed after him. "Nice meeting you guys."
"See you around handsome." Jack flirted with a wink at Merlin, before he too exited the room, leaving Gaius and Merlin behind.
"Well, that was interesting." Whispered Merlin, only to ask at seeing Gaius' dumbstruck face: "What?" Turning to face the Tardis, he was just in time to see it disappear before his very eyes.