Chapter 3

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Life had somehow went back to its quiet pace. Nothing of any kind happened. Emma continued her rounds with Gaius whilst Merlin tended to the Prince. As for Morgana, she seemed more relaxed. As though she was finally believing that she was amongst friends and family. She and Emma had become closer since Morgause's attack on Camelot. Since Morgana had revealed herself to Emma.

Emma felt guilty regarding Morgana. She kept Merlin's magic a secret still. However, she truly started to believe that if Morgana knew about Merlin—she would feel less alone. She knew he was the only one who could truly understand the burden that came with magic. Emma couldn't. She did not have magic. She could not truly understand the weight that came with it.

Emmanuelle had just finished her rounds with Gaius. So, she went to tend to the Prince as she normally did.

"Sire." Emma smiled at the Prince as they met in one of the hallways.

"Emma." Arthur nodded back at her. "Do you know what happened here?"

Emma looked around her and only then she noticed the candelabras that were down. Different pots were thrown on the ground, shields were knocked over. She looked up at the Prince as clueless as he was and simply shook her head. They both followed quietly, the path that the thrown objects seemed to trace. A path that slowly led them to Arthur's chambers.

They found his chambers to be in the same state. Many of his belongings had been scattered on the ground. As though someone had rummaged through his drawers and wardrobe looking for something.

"What hap—?" Arthur quickly slammed his hand over her mouth, thus cutting her off. He pulled his hand away, signaling her to remain quiet. She nodded and followed him.

She stood next to Arthur as the latter stopped in front of his bed. There on the floor was her brother, Merlin, on all fours, looking at or searching for something under the bed.

"Merlin?" Arthur called. Merlin turned to them both. Both the Prince and his sister had their arms crossed over their chest. "I really hope for your sake, you have a good explanation for this."

Merlin looked behind him before answering the Prince. "I do—have a good explanation." Merlin stood up. "I'm spring cleaning."

"Spring cleaning?" Emma repeated unconvincedly.

"It isn't Spring. And it certainly isn't clean." Arthur said through gritted teeth.

Merlin scoffed. "That's because I've only just started. Yeah, you wait until I finished. You'll be able to eat your dinner off the floor." Arthur and Emma exchanged a confused look. "Not that you'd want to."

A loud clatter sounded behind them. "What was that?" Arthur and Emma turned around.

"Why don't I go and see?" Merlin suggested quickly stopped them. "You can make yourself comfortable."

"Your brother is becoming stranger and stranger each day," Arthur commented.

"You don't say." Emma sighed. Merlin was clearly hiding something from the Prince and she had every intention to find out what it was.

"Alright, new rules," Emma said as Gaius was searching—in his book—for the creature that Merlin had released. "Never open a box that had been sealed and hidden in a dungy library."

"How was I supposed to know?" Merlin asked her.

"Ever heard of 'Curiosity killed the cat?'" Emma countered.

"That's it." He said looking at a drawn picture of a small creature with long ears.

"It seemed you have unleashed a goblin." Gaius turned to him.

"Oh no, that face," Merlin said as Gaius looked at him with wide eyes.

"It's not a good face." Emma shook her head.

"Goblins are the most mischievous of creatures," Gaius informed them. "Mischievous and dangerous."

"It didn't seem dangerous." Merlin retorted.

"Believe me, Merlin. Goblins would stop at nothing to get their hands on the one thing they value above all others." Gaius argued back.

"And what's that?" Emma asked him.

"Gold."

"Great." Emma slapped Merlin's shoulder.

"Ow!"

His retaliation was cut off as someone stepped into their chambers. "You are needed, Gaius." It was Arthur. "For a matter of great emergency and extreme delicacy."

"What is it?" Gaius asked him.

"It's my father," Arthur answered somberly.

They followed the Prince to his father's chambers, wondering what could be of great emergency and extreme delicacy. Those were the words that Arthur used, although, Emma did not see any trace of great worry on his face. So, what could it be?

"I should warn you. If you value your lives, do not even think—" Arthur put his finger under Merlin's nose. "—about laughing." Emma exchanged confused looks with her uncle and brother. They followed him into the King's chambers. "Father?"

"I'm behind the screen." They heard him answer.

Gaius and Emma were the firsts to go to see the King. Uther was sitting behind the screen, pouting like a child, his arms crossed over his chest—completely bald. There was no hair on his head. As though they had fallen out during the night. Emma had to bite the inside of her cheek, it was all she could do to stop herself from laughing.

"Only an enchantment could cause Uther to lose his hair like that." Gaius started. Merlin and Emma exchanged amused looks, keeping in their laughter for as long as they could. "I have no doubt the Goblin is to blame. We must catch it before it does any real damage."

Emma and Merlin burst out laughing. Not able to contain their laughter any longer. "Did you see Uther's face?"

"It was incredible." Emma held her stomach.

"What do you think Uther would do to the person responsible for releasing the Goblin?" Gaius asked them both.

They immediately sobered up. "We need to catch it. How do we do that?" Merlin asked him.

"We need to set a trap," Gaius answered as they made their way to their chambers. "And for that we need gold. And plenty of it."

Obtaining the gold from Arthur's chambers was easy. Drawing the goblin out of hiding with the gold was easy. The hardest part came when they had to put him back in his prison. The Goblin definitely put up a fight and soon turned into a small ball of light. Fortunately, they had blocked any potential exits. And it seemed to work for a moment. The ball of light flew around the room, buzzing like a fly. But to no avail. Somehow, the Goblin had escaped them.

"Gaius?" Merlin called their uncle, he and his sister kept looking around, hoping to see the Goblin. "Did you see where it went?"

"You let it escape, you stupid boy!" Gaius snapped and slapped Merlin upside the head. "And now, you're just standing like a sack of potatoes. Go after it!" He ordered. "Go! Shoo!"

"Are you alright?" Emma asked him, confused by his attitude.

"Don't just stand there, girl! Go with him!" Gaius snapped at her.

Emma rushed out of the room, after her brother. They went through the entire palace, looking for the Goblin. For hours, they looked in every corner, under every alcove. Everywhere, they had looked and they found nothing.

"What happened?" Emma exclaimed as they came back to their chambers. The room was a mess. Pots and vials were thrown around the room. Powder and ingredients were scattered everywhere.

"It's that pesky Goblin," Gaius answered. "You let it escape and it has ransacked my premises. You got some cleaning up to do." Gaius walked up to the door. "Clean! Clean!"

"Where you're going?" Merlin asked him.

"I'm going to the tavern."

"You never go to the tavern."

"Then I shall see what I've been missing."

Merlin and Emma shared a confused look. They were both baffled by Gaius's behavior.

"What has gotten into him?" Emma asked her brother. Merlin only shook his head and shrugged.

Together they cleaned the mess made by the Goblin and went to bed. Gaius had not returned by that time. Gaius had spent most of his night at the tavern. Returning by the early hours of the following day.

"Oof, you look terrible," Merlin said as they saw Gaius' state the morning after. "How much did you drink last night?"

"You don't look so good yourself, what's your excuse?" Gaius countered.

"What?!" Emma exclaimed.

Gaius shushed her. "Too much talking. I have a head like the inside of a drum. And a mouth like a badger's armpit."

"That's what you get for drinking too much." Emma quipped.

"Make yourself useful," Gaius said to them. "Go to the market and fetch my breakfast." Merlin opened his mouth to answer. "Away! Go!"

Emma and Merlin walked out of the chambers. "Something is definitely not right with him," Emma said.

"He's acting very strange." Merlin nodded. "Do you think the Goblin might have something to do with this?"

"Perhaps," Emma answered. "I'll see what I can find during our rounds this morning."

Emmanuelle did not get to go on her rounds with Gaius. He had refused that she accompanied him during his daily rounds. Her suspicions only grew even more. Gaius always took her during his rounds. Being his apprentice, Emma had seen her chores as Arthur's servant being reduced whereas her tasks as an apprentice only grew. She didn't mind. She wasn't special like her brother, her destiny wasn't as great as the Once and Future King. But she had a purpose. And that was to make sure that Arthur and Merlin would fulfill their great destinies.

But for now, she would have to find out, what had happened to Gaius. What could have made him so? Was it the Goblin? Maybe, her uncle had been enchanted. In that case, magic would have been the answer. And only her brother could have something. Unfortunately, they would have to act quickly. Gaius' odd behavior had not raised any suspicions, yet. But soon he would.

Merlin and Emma came back to their chambers. Their services were no longer required for the moment. Merlin stopped at the threshold. Emma looked up at him before directing her eyes towards Gaius. His back was turned to them. And his odd behavior suddenly made sense as they caught him licking gold and hiding it away.

"You're the Goblin." Merlin accused him, bursting through the door.

"You lost your mind?" Goblin-Gaius retorted.

"No. But you have or at least been taken over." Merlin said.

"Don't be ridiculous." Goblin-Gaius countered.

"We know Gaius as well as we know ourselves." Emma walked over to him. "And you're definitely not Gaius."

"Ah!" He said in mock surprise. "You've got me." He looked down at himself. "I do like my new body. He's a bit old and creaky but he's ever so much fun."

"It's not your body. It's Gaius'." Merlin replied. "What have you done with him?"

"He's still in here somewhere," Goblin-Gaius answered.

"Gaius has done you no harm. Leave him." Merlin pleaded.

"Alright, you've convinced me." He answered mockingly. "On second thought, I think I'll stay where I am. I like in here. The freedom, the gold, the beer. Did I mention the Gold?"

"If you hurt Gaius—"

"—I will kill you." Emma threatened.

"You'll be killing him." He smirked at her. "You see the problem. I'm him, he's me. We're all jumbled up in here." He patted her cheek before walking away from the two siblings.

"There had been instances of vandalism around the palace," Arthur reported to the King. "As well as a number of thefts. I, myself, was a victim. Unfortunately, the thief managed to elude me."

Somebody suddenly let out a—fart. Guinevere gasped in shock as she seemed to be the one who let it out. She shook her head embarrassed as everyone turned to her. Then it was Morgana's turn. The Young Ward was as surprised as the rest of the assembly. Humiliated, by such an act.

"Double the Guards. I want the perpetrator found." Uther ordered to the prince. Before he, himself, farted.

"Yes, my Lord," Arthur replied as embarrassed as the rest of the assembly. Goblin-Gaius turned to Merlin and Emma and smirked at them.

The King's gas problem persisted. "The Council is dismissed." The embarrassment was too great for the three of them. "NOW!"

Morgana and Guinevere fled the room. While Goblin-Gaius smiled proudly at Merlin and Emma. Enjoying what had just happened in the Council chambers. They left the chambers together. Now more than ever, they needed to act and stopped the Goblin.

Emma and Merlin were expecting him. They stood together, their arms crossed over their chests. Goblin-Gaius stepped in, laughing at his own prank on the King, Morgana, and Guinevere.

"Tell me, you didn't think that was funny?" He grinned at them. "Not even a little bit." They glared at him, still. "Just a teeny-weeny bit."

"If you carry on like this, you're going to get Gaius killed," Merlin told him.

"Merlin, you're underestimating me." He replied. "I have cured Uther of his farting and his baldness. He is, he tells me he's forever in my debt. I am a genius."

"This has to stop." Emma glared at him.

"I see no reason why." He answered. "Now, if you're quite finished, I'm going to the tavern."

Merlin cast a spell and his flashed gold. The door closed before the Goblin. "Well, well, well." The Goblin turned around to face them both. "So, you have a secret of your own, Merlin."

"Leave his body—or you will regret it." Merlin threatened him.

"Your magic may be powerful but I have an advantage—" The Goblin replied.

"What's that?"

"I can hurt you."

The Goblin threw a dagger at them with his magic, Merlin stopped it with his own magic and turned the dagger against the Goblin. Stopping it merely inches away from the Goblin's face.

"Alas, you cannot hurt me without hurting Gaius."

"You are right." Emma agreed. "Just know, we won't rest until we found a way to force you out of Gaius' body."

Emma walked out of their chambers, followed by Merlin. This Goblin was becoming now a danger to Gaius as much as he was to Merlin. He knew her brother had magic. And she must act quickly. With her brother, Emma went to find Arthur. If there was one person that could help them, it would be him. They could trust him.

"Arthur!" Merlin called as they caught him in the hallways.

"We have to talk to you." Emma continued. "It's important."

"Arrest them," Arthur ordered the guards behind him.

"What?" Merlin gaped at him.

"Why are we being arrested?" Emma asked as the guards grabbed her and her brother.

They were taken to the Council Chambers. The court had already been summoned, waiting on the accused. Goblin-Gaius looked particularly smug as he stood behind Uther with a large book in his hand. Emma knew, at this moment, that nothing good would come out of this Council meeting.

"Is it true?" Uther turned to them. "You are responsible for the—afflictions that I and other members of the court have suffered."

"What?" Merlin and Emma said at the same time.

"No," Merlin answered. Emma could not believe what she was hearing. Were they being accused?

"Gaius."

"I found this in your room." Goblin-Gaius showed them the book he held. "A book of spells and enchantments."

"This is ridiculous." Emma glared at him.

"He's lying." Merlin agreed. "That's not Gaius."

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked him.

"He's been possessed by a—goblin." Merlin finished weakly which Emma thought wasn't clearly helping their case. It was the truth. Crazier things had happened in Camelot but still, it was still a hard thing to believe in.

Goblin-Gaius shook his head sadly, although, Emma was convinced he was enjoying this mockery of a trial. Because this was what it truly was. She and her brother were being accused and judged for their interests in magic.

"They are reduced to making the most desperate and ridiculous accusations." He said.

"Do you seriously expect me to believe that Gaius is a goblin?" The King questioned them.

"No, we don't expect you to believe it," Emma answered. "But we had the pretension to believe that you may have given us the benefit of the doubt. After everything, we've done for Camelot. For your son. For you. My brother and I have proven time and time again that we were loyal to you and this Kingdom." Emma glared at Goblin-Gaius. "And time and time again, you have proven that friends of Camelot become foes, at the simple mention of magic."

"Silence!" Uther snapped. He had the decency to look shameful.

"I will not be silenced," Emma said calmly. "Not when my brother and I are standing before you, being accused of magic."

Merlin did possess magic. Emma did not. The Goblin was telling the truth. Merlin had magic but he was innocent of everything else they accused them of. Uther was blinded by his hatred of magic. Innocents people had paid the price of his hatred. Others almost died for it. And yet, the King did never learn his lesson, his hatred overruled his good judgment.

"Your hatred of magic has already cost the lives of many." Emma continued. "Guinevere's father, Tom, had paid the price for it. Gaius almost died for it." Uther looked away from her. "My brother and I are innocent. And this is not Gaius. This is the Goblin."

"It's controlling him." Merlin nodded. "Gaius is still in there—somewhere."

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

"No." Merlin snapped frustrated.

"I fear that magic has corrupted them." The Goblin gloated. Emma shot him a glare. "It pains me more than I can tell you."

"I really doubt that," Merlin replied.

"My Lord, I have been harboring sorcerers. For that, I offer the most sincere apology."

"You were not to know, Gaius." Uther rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. "They have fooled us all."

Emma could not help but snort at his remark. "Yes, you are the foolish one."

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

"That's a first." Emma exhaled sitting on the ground. "Never been accused of using magic before."

"I'm sorry, Nellie." Merlin apologized.

"Merlin, I'm not blaming you." Emma shook her head. "It was only a matter of time." She smiled. "We need to prove our innocence and free Gaius. And we can't do it from our cell, so—" She looked over to the Guards.

Merlin smirked at her. He got closer to the bars of their cell. The guards were now sleeping. Merlin used his magic to steal the keys from the guards. They would have to run, they were innocent but they would have to run. It was their words against Goblin-Gaius'. Running would be easy. Proving their innocence, not so much. Not as long as the Goblin was possessing Gaius. They must force the Goblin out of Gaius' body.

Slowly and quietly, brother and sister made their way to the main yard. Avoiding, mostly thanks to Merlin's magic, the guards that were on watch. The warning bells rang. The guards by the bridge caught sight of them. Merlin and Emma without hesitation ran past them and into the lower towns.

They rushed into Guinevere's home. The maidservant was holding a candlestick, ready to strike the intruders. Merlin's hand quickly came over her mouth, muffling the scream she let out. The guards, outside, ran by her house. Looking for the siblings still.

"We need to force the Goblin out of Gaius," Merlin said. He and Emma were looking out of the window, observing the guards that were still looking for them.

"And how do we do that?" Guinevere asked them.

"No idea." Emma exhaled. She turned to her friend. "We should sneak back in Gaius' chambers. See, if we can find anything in one of his books."

"What can I do?" Guinevere asked them.

"Well, we need to convince Arthur." Merlin turned to her. "They arrested us before we could."

"What makes you think he would listen to me?" Guinevere asked them.

"Nothing." Emma walked up to Guinevere. "But we must try."

They had no other choice but to try. It was important that they did. The Goblin had exposed Merlin and was endangering Gaius' life. It needed to be stopped. Arthur—if he believed what Guinevere would tell him if he believed them—was the only one who could convince the King. There was no guarantee that it would work. It all came back to them forcing the Goblin out of Gaius' body.

"Arthur's a donkey," Merlin repeated in disbelief while Emma gaped at the news.

"He has the ears of a donkey." Guinevere held in her laughter. "And the voice. He's—he's braying."

"He's braying. Whoa." Merlin burst out laughing along with Emma.

"It's not funny, Merlin." Guinevere tried to keep in her own laughter.

"No. No, no. Of course not. Arthur's with the ears of a donkey what's funny about that." Merlin chuckled.

"He looked so pitiful. I've never seen him look like that." Guinevere said, Emma and Merlin, laughing still. "Did you find anything?"

"We did." Emma sobered up. She looked down at the book that was opened on the table. "If the host's body dies, the Goblin dies with it. So, if Gaius is dying, the Goblin will be forced to leave him."

"You want to kill Gaius?" Guinevere asked her.

"Long enough for the Goblin to leave him." Emma nodded.

"Once the Goblin's out of Gaius, we have to trap him in a box lined with led." Merlin walked over to the window. "It's the only container that will hold it."

"Where do we get a box lined with led?" Guinevere turned to him.

"Leave that to me." And with that, Merlin left.

Emma and Guinevere were now in Gaius' chambers, waiting for Merlin to come back with the led box. Emma was making a potion that would create the impression that Gaius was dying. After Morgana, Emma had studied everything she could on the various poisons and their antidotes. Far from being an expert, she knew them better than Merlin did. She knew how to administered them and which antidote to use to counter them.

However, she was reluctant to use poison on Gaius. What if the antidote was not administered on time? What then? It was risky. Did she really have a choice? After all, the Goblin was wreaking havoc on Camelot. And if they didn't kill Gaius. Uther would. They must poison him.

"Hurry up!" Guinevere urged her.

"These things take time, Guinevere." Emma countered. "I cannot afford mistakes, it could be deadly."

"Deadlier than poisoning Gaius?" Merlin raised his eyebrows at her.

"Shut up, Merlin." Emma poured the poison over the gold in the chest. "As soon as the Goblin is out of Gaius, we only have a few seconds to give him the antidote. If we fail, well, Gaius will—die."

"He's coming," Gwen told them.

Merlin quickly hid the chest of gold coins while Gwen and Emma rushed to the siblings' chambers to hide. Goblin-Gaius walked into the chambers and went immediately to the chest. He placed it on the table, opened it, and took a handful of gold coins. He smelled them and licked them.

"Oh, that's disgusting," Gwen whispered to them.

The Goblin put them back in the chest. He stood and staggered slightly. The poison was taking effect. He staggered back, confused. Merlin stepped out of their hiding with the led box. Guinevere and Emma followed him.

"You've poisoned me." The Goblin stated. "You've poisoned Gaius."

"Leave his body while you still can," Merlin warned him.

The Goblin turned into a small ball of light as he flew out of Gaius' body. Gaius fell to the floor. Emma ran to Gaius to get him the antidote. She ducked as the Goblin flew over her head. Guinevere, behind her, stumbled as she avoided the Goblin. She crashed into the table, dropping a dozen of potions on the floor.

Emma knelt next to Gaius and rolled him on his back. She placed his head on her lap. She poured the antidote into his mouth. Gaius was unresponsive.

"Come on, Gaius." Emma urged him.

"Are you sure this is the antidote?" Guinevere asked her.

"Yes." Emma watched Gaius closely. Slowly his chest rose again, his eyelids fluttered, and he awoke. Emma let out a breath of relief.

Standing in the Council Chambers, with the Goblin trapped in his box, at his feet. Gaius had told everything to the King, telling him what Merlin and Emma had already told him before.

"You mean to tell me, it was you who was responsible for the baldness, the flatulence, the boils, and Arthur's donkey ears?" Uther asked the physician.

Merlin and Emma chuckled to themselves as they observed Arthur. The Prince touching his ears as if to check they were still his own instead of donkey ears.

"I fear I was, my Lord." Gaius nodded. "Or at least, the Goblin was while I was possessed by him."

"Magic has the power to corrupt even the most honorable of men," Uther said.

Emma rolled her eyes at that. Sure, the goblin was a magical creature but magic was neither evil nor good. And merely, those actions were far from being truly evil. They were mischievous deeds. Jokes and pranks that could have cost the life of Gaius. The Goblin was as Gaius said, a dangerous creature. But evil, she didn't believe it.

"Indeed." Gaius agreed. "Though I must assure you that Merlin and Nellie were entirely innocent."

"Then they are pardoned." Emma bowed her head slightly. The goblin struggled in his box.

"May I suggest it is kept where no one will ever open it."

Uther turned to his son. "See, that it is placed in the vaults." Gaius bowed and turned to leave with Emma and Merlin. "Gaius?" Uther called. "Do you know who is responsible for releasing the Goblin in the first place?"

"I'm afraid I've no idea, my Lord." Gaius shook his head. He exchanged a meaningful look with the siblings before they walked out of the Council chambers.

The three of them were now on the training grounds, observing Arthur trained his men.

"I see you've been busy undoing the goblin's magic." He said to Merlin.

"As usual, I get no thanks whatsoever." Merlin sighed.

"To be fair, brother, I don't think you deserve any thanks for releasing the Goblin." Emma retorted. "After all, you were just fixing the mess you've made."

"Arthur doesn't know that." Merlin pouted at her.

"For your sake, you better hope it stays that way," Gaius said to him. They started to walk away. Behind them, Arthur's laughter rang before it suddenly turned into braying. "Merlin." Gaius turned to his nephew.

"Just one more day," Merlin smirked. "It's too good."

They turned to look at Arthur, all of three of them laughing at his expense.