-69-

Ryll woke up to the sound of something clanking. Her hand went instinctually under her pillow where she'd taken to keeping a knife. She gripped it in her hand before slowly lifting her head up. To her surprise, Gaius was rummaging through a drawer in the vanity across from her.

"Gaius?" she asked groggily. The physician stopped rummaging and turned around to look at her. "What are you doing?" she asked. She lowered the knife, but kept a hand around it. Something was not right.

"There's been an infection going around," he told her. "I was making sure that none of your things had been contaminated. It looks like this will all have to go." He pulled a box of jewelry out of the vanity and shook it. An odd look passed over his face – greed? Ryll watched him, mouth slightly agape.

"Er, okay," she said. "You can take it." She wasn't particularly attached to anything in that box but she also had no idea how an infection could contaminate a box filled with jewelry.

"You also need to take the cure for it just in case you're contaminated already," he told her, pulling a small bottle out of his pocket. "Just one gold coin and you'll be right as rain."

Ryll didn't move. "I feel fine," she said. Gaius wouldn't ask for gold. He gave out remedies to anyone who needed them. He'd never charged before. But she could think of one thing that was overly fond of gold.

"You're looking a bit pale. I think it's working its way through your system. You'll be dead by sunset."

"I'll pass," Ryll said. "Where's Merlin?"

"That useless boy? I have no idea. I'll just keep this with me if you change your mind." He took her jewelry box and left her room, looking quite cheery. That was definitely not Gaius. Ryll leapt out of bed and dressed quickly, tucking the knife into her right boot. She ran into Merlin halfway to the physician's quarters.

"The goblin-" he started frantically.

"Is possessing Gaius," Ryll finished. "I know. He just tried to abscond with my gold jewelry. Then he tried telling me I was going to die before sunset if I didn't buy a remedy from him. What do we do?"

"I have no idea," Merlin said. "I tried to do something, but I can't hurt Gaius. We need to go to Arthur."

"Will he believe you?" Ryll asked, running after Merlin as he took off toward Arthur's chambers.

"He'll have to. Gaius isn't acting himself. He spent last night in the tavern."

"What? Gaius never goes to the tavern. He also said you were 'useless.' He hasn't exactly got Gaius's personality down."

"Arthur!" Merlin called out, catching sight of the prince up ahead. Arthur had two guards at his side, and Ryll slowed, instantly suspicious. Something was going on. "Arthur, I need to speak to you," Merlin said, stopping before the prince.

"Arrest him," Arthur said.

"What?" Merlin asked as the guards grabbed his arms.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ryll asked, running after them.

"Just stay out of this, Ryll," Arthur said.

"The hell I will," she spat. "What's this about?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Arthur said. He led them down to the council chamber where Ryll kept pace with the guards, sending death glares at the back of Arthur's head. The guards brought Merlin to stand before Uther. Ryll had a bad feeling about this.

"Is it true?" Uther asked, looking down at Merlin with cold grey eyes. "You were responsible for the afflictions that I and other members of the court have suffered?"

Ryll had no idea what he was talking about, but Uther's hair had not seemed to have grown back. He wore an astoundingly silly cap on his head, but she had no desire to laugh.

"What? No," Merlin answered, sounding alarmed.

The king turned to the physician. "Gaius," he said, motioning for him to speak.

Gaius stepped forward, presenting a book. "I found this in your room. It's a book of spells and enchantments," he said, holding out the book for Merlin to see.

"He's lying," Merlin said at once. "That's not Gaius."

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked, looking confused.

"He's been possessed by a goblin," Merlin told him.

"The boy is reduced to making the most desperate and ridiculous accusations," Gaius, or rather the goblin, said. Ryll turned her eyes to him. Why was he doing this? Because Merlin had threatened him? She turned back to Uther. Surely he could see that Gaius wasn't himself?

"You seriously expect me to believe that Gaius is a goblin?" Uther asked.

"It's controlling him. Gaius is still in there...somewhere," Merlin tried to explain, sounding flustered. Ryll could see that Uther wasn't believing a word of this.

"Do you have any proof of these accusations?" Arthur asked.

"No!" Merlin cried out, exasperated.

"I fear that magic has corrupted you. It pains me more than I can tell you," Gaius said. Ryll clenched her jaw. Gaius would never say that. He would take Merlin's secret to his grave.

"I really doubt that," Merlin said, glaring at the goblin.

"My Lord, I have been harboring a sorcerer. For that I offer the most sincere apology," Gaius said. Ryll realized her hands were now shaking.

"You were not to know, Gaius. He's fooled us all," Uther said.

Ryll couldn't take it anymore. "You actually believe this?" she asked, stepping up.

"Ryll," Arthur warned, sending her a warning glance. She ignored him.

"Excuse me?" Uther asked, sending a glare at Ryll.

"Gaius isn't acting himself. I caught him trying to make off with some of my gold jewelry this morning. Goblins hoard gold. It's possessing him so of course you can't tell he's really a goblin."

"You believe this fairy tale too?" Uther asked. "This is ridiculous."

"It's not me that's fooling you," Merlin insisted.

"Silence!" Uther shouted. "You've been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. In accordance with our laws, you will pay with your life. Take him away!"

"What? No!" Ryll yelled. "He's innocent! After everything he's done for you and your son, you're just going to execute him with nothing against him?"

"This book is proof enough! Watch your tongue or you'll be joining him in the dungeons."

"I'm not letting you do this!" Ryll shouted.

"I'm the king! You have no right to tell me what I can or cannot do!" Uther yelled back at her, outraged.

"Father-" Arthur started, but Uther cut him off.

"Enough!"

The guards had nearly dragged Merlin from the room. He shook his head at her, but she wasn't going to back down. Arthur took her arm, but Ryll pulled away. "You will put him to death over my dead body," Ryll said.

"Arthur, escort her to the dungeons. She can spend the night there too," Uther said.

Ryll glowered at him. "If you keep punishing those who are loyal to you, Uther Pendragon, you won't have anyone left to be loyal to you."

"Enough," Arthur growled at Ryll, pulling her away from his father. His grip on her arm was going to leave a bruise. Ryll glared at the goblin before Arthur pulled her from the room. Just before she passed through the doors, she saw a satisfied smirk playing across Morgana's lips. Ryll realized that this was playing right into Morgana's hands. If Merlin was executed then he could not trouble her any longer.

"Arthur, you can't let Merlin be executed!" Ryll rounded on him.

The prince sighed. "I'm going to look into it," he said. "Gaius would never turn on Merlin like that. Even if Merlin was a sorcerer – which I can't possibly imagine – Gaius wouldn't let Merlin be executed."

"You believe him?" she asked. "Then why did you arrest him?"

"I had no choice. Gaius – the goblin – turned the evidence over to my father. It was too late."

"We need to get the goblin out of Gaius."

"Any idea how to do that?" Arthur asked.

"Gaius and Merlin were looking at a book yesterday. Maybe that can help. Freeing Merlin would be the most obvious way of helping Gaius."

"I can't do that."

"Are you still bringing me to the dungeons?" Ryll asked indignantly.

"I have my father's orders. I'm sorry," Arthur said. "You can't speak to him that way."

"Arthur, he wants to execute Merlin. I don't care what happens to me. I'm not seeing Merlin die."

"You really love him, don't you?" Arthur asked with a sigh.

"I do. You might not understand, but-"

"I do understand," Arthur said. Then he made a face. "Well, not him, but I understand having strong feelings for someone."

"I could knock you unconscious and escape," Ryll suggested as they started down the stairs to the dungeons. Arthur's grip tightened on her arm.

"Do you want to be sentenced to death too because I don't think that's really going to help anyone. My father will release you tomorrow most likely. I can speak with him."

"We need to help Gaius before the goblin makes even more of a mess."

"I'll speak with him," Arthur said. One of the guards unlocked a cell.

"Ryll?" Merlin's voice rang out. Arthur escorted her into the cell across from his. "What are you doing here?" Merlin groaned.

"I didn't want to miss all the fun," Ryll told him with a tight smile. Arthur looked between the two of them, shook his head with a sigh, and then left. The guard locked Ryll in. Ryll waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again. "Merlin, I'm not going to let Uther execute you," she said, reaching a hand through the bars and across the aisle. Merlin did likewise and their fingertips brushed.

"You didn't have to defend me in front of Uther like that," Merlin said. "You didn't have to get yourself thrown in the dungeons for me."

"Of course I did," Ryll told him. "I love you. I would do anything to keep you safe."

"Neither of us can keep the other safe when we're locked in the dungeons," Merlin said. "I'm going to break out though. Tonight."

"I'm coming. We've got to stop that goblin."

"You're not coming," Merlin said.

"What?" Ryll pulled back her arm. "Of course I am."

"If you escape too, then Uther will have all the more reason to be angry with you."

"We'll prove that Gaius is being possessed. Uther can't begrudge us if we rid the castle of that terror."

"I'm sorry, Ryll. I can't let you risk yourself for me like that."

Ryll frowned. "I could break myself out," she said quietly.

"Ryll, no. You've been avoiding using your magic for months. If you use it now, if you let yourself lose control…there's no telling what could happen," Merlin warned. "Please promise me you won't do that."

Ryll sighed, sitting on the floor dejectedly. "I won't," she said. In truth, she was terrified of what would happen if she let her emotions control her powers again. She'd probably bring down the entire dungeon. Last time that had happened, she'd been afraid for Merlin just like now. She shut her eyes for a moment. "I'll stay here," she said finally. "But if you need help-"

"I'll know where to find you. I just don't think we should test Uther any further. We're both walking a thin line where he's involved," Merlin told her.

Ryll nodded, knowing he was right. "I did rather shout a lot at him," she admitted. "But Arthur believes us. He's going to help."

"Good. I'm going to get Gwen's help. We need to get that goblin back in its box."

"Any idea how to get it out of Gaius?" Ryll asked.

"Not yet, but I'll figure out something," Merlin said. "You should get some rest. There's nothing we can do right now."

Ryll nodded, curling up next to the door. The floor was cold and hard, but she'd slept on hard floors and grounds before. She made a pillow from her arm and lay watching Merlin. He stood, pacing his cell restlessly. Ever since Ryll had found out that he was a sorcerer, her view of him had changed slightly. He was still the Merlin she had always known, but now she could see the power thrumming within him. His eyes had always held a certain intelligent light, but now she could see wisdom behind them too. He was rather impressive, she admitted to herself. She smiled. If only Arthur knew just how impressive his servant was.

…

Everything was going exactly how Morgana had envisioned it and it hadn't even been of her own doing. Of course she'd suffered some embarrassment at the hands of this goblin, but it had very cleverly taken care of Merlin as well as turned Ryll against Uther. She had seen the hatred in Ryll's eyes when she had confronted Uther. She might not be ready to join her and Morgause, but she was never going to forgive him for this. It wasn't the first time Merlin had been accused of something he hadn't done by Uther. Morgana just needed to keep pushing Ryll against Uther. Everything would fall into place after that.

…

Ryll awoke to the sound of warning bells. She hadn't been aware of falling asleep, but now as she sat up, she saw that Merlin's cell was empty. A moment later Arthur came striding into the dungeons. He took one look at Merlin's empty cell and then turned his blue-eyed gaze to Ryll. "Go find him!" he told the guards before speaking to Ryll. "I know Merlin doesn't have the brains to escape by himself. What did you do and why didn't you go with him?" he asked.

Ryll glowered at him. "He's got plenty of brains. It's not his fault the dungeons can't seem to keep anyone in them," she told him. "I was asleep, so I have no idea how he escaped. Did you lock the door?" she added sweetly.

Arthur glared at her. "Not helping," he said.

"Speaking of helping, have you spoken to Gaius yet?" she asked.

"Not yet. I'm going to though in the morning. He wasn't there when I tried speaking with him tonight."

"Be careful. Goblins are tricky creatures apparently. Don't underestimate it."

"I think I can handle a goblin," Arthur said.

"Of course. You can handle anything," Ryll said.

Arthur sighed. "Arguing isn't going to help anyone."

"Then quit arguing with me," Ryll suggested pointedly.

"You are impossible sometimes, did you know that?" Arthur said, shooting her a sharp look.

"I'm locked in the dungeons. I have a right to be impossible."

"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow." Arthur left without waiting for her reply. Ryll sighed and settled back down on the floor. It was going to be a long night.