Amelia's POV
Amelia and Anne are walking to the former's Chambers when they hear smashing and clanging from inside the room.
They rush in to find Merlin hurriedly putting Amelia's jewellery back in the box.
Amelia clears her throat. Merlin spins around and Amelia tries not to laugh at how it looks like Merlin is holding one of her necklaces up to himself.
"I'm really not sure it suits you, Merlin." Anne giggles.
"Um, I can explain." Merlin desperately replies before realising he's practically wearing one of Amelia's bracelets.
"Please do," Amelia says with a raised eyebrow.
Merlin opens his mouth to reply when there's loud clanging and smashing in the distance. Amelia and Anne spin around.
"Merlin… what's going on?" Amelia demands to know. She then notices her bracelet from Morgause is not sitting on her dressing table like it had been earlier. "And where's my healing bracelet gone?"
Merlin sighs. "We need to talk to Gaius."
—
Merlin confessed that he was in the Library and had unintentionally released a creature that had been causing havoc all over the Castle.
Amelia, Anne, Merlin and Gaius flip through a book in Gaius' Chambers.
The correct page appears and Merlin points. "That's it."
"Seems you've unleashed a Goblin," Gaius explains, his expression serious.
Amelia winces. "I know that face. That's not good, is it?"
"Goblins are the most mischievous of creatures. Mischievous and dangerous." Gaius replies.
Merlin looks at him disbelieving. "Didn't seem dangerous."
"Believe me, Goblins will stop at nothing to get their hands on the one thing they value above all others: gold," Gaius responds.
Arthur enters. "You're needed, Gaius, for a matter of great urgency and extreme delicacy." Amelia wonders what this could mean.
"What is it?" Gaius asks.
"It's my father," Arthur admits. Now, this Amelia needs to see.
—
The four of them are following Arthur down the corridor when he abruptly stops just outside his father's Chambers and turns to them.
"I should warn you, if you value your lives, do not even think about laughing," Arthur warns them. Amelia immediately smiles.
"Stop it." Arthur snaps at her. Amelia rolls her eyes.
They enter the room with Arthur leading. Amelia notes that she can't see anyone.
"Father?" Arthur calls.
"I'm behind the screen," Uther replies. He doesn't sound pleased.
Arthur gestures for them to walk forward. Amelia, Anne, Gaius and Merlin find bald Uther hunched down in a chair behind a changing screen with his arms crossed like a grumpy child. Amelia slaps her hand over her mouth to stop any laughing.
—
"Only an enchantment could cause Uther to lose his hair like that," Gaius says as they walk away from the Chambers. "I've no doubt the Goblin is to blame. We must catch it before it does any real damage."
Merlin starts laughing, which sets off Anne and Amelia.
"Did you see Uther's face?" Anne giggles.
"Like a petulant child," Amelia remarks. Merlin and Anne chuckle.
"And what do you think Uther will do to the person responsible for releasing the Goblin?" Gaius pointedly asks. They all sober quickly.
"We need to catch it. How do we do that?" Merlin questions.
"We need to set a trap," Gaius replies. "And for that, we need gold and plenty of it."
—
Anne's POV
Merlin and Anne pull a money chest out from under Arthur's bed while Arthur's asleep. They try to quietly leave but Merlin knocks over some dishes on the table, startling Arthur awake.
"Who's there?" Merlin and Anne hide by the table as Arthur stands up on his bed and draws a sword.
"Oferbrædels ahries." Merlin whispers. The spell drops the canopy on top of Arthur and he falls to the floor in his struggle to get out from under it. Anne laughs to himself as Arthur flails under the canopy.
"Guards!" Arthur cries. This spurs them into action and they hurry out of the room. Anne is giggling the entire time.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia is even more determined to catch this Goblin as it has not only stolen her own bracelet but Morgana's as well.
That night the four of them leave a trail of gold coins down the corridor and into a Storage room for the Goblin to find.
They wait behind the door, Merlin holding a blanket, as they hear it following the trail. Amelia hears the Goblin rejoice at the sight of the chest of gold coins and watches as it gleefully stumbles towards it. Gaius closes the door and Merlin grabs the Goblin with a blanket and tries to pin it down with Amelia's help while Anne grabs the box the Goblin had originally been trapped in. The Goblin then turns into a little ball of light and escapes the blanket. Anne tries to catch it. Merlin tries to leap forward with the blanket but it disappears. Amelia, Anne and Merlin turn to Gaius, who's looking a bit startled.
"Gaius, did you see where it went?" Merlin asks.
"You let it escape, you stupid boy!" Gaius retorts and slaps Merlin on the back of the head. "And you girls are no better! Now, are you all going to just stand there like a sack of potatoes? Go after it! Go! Shoo! Shoo!" He waves a hand at the three of them. Amelia is surprised by this sudden change in attitude.
The three of them quickly leave. Amelia glances over her shoulder at Gaius with a frown.
—
Amelia, Anne and Merlin search the Castle but are unable to find the Goblin so they go to Gaius' Chambers.
"I've searched the entire palace," Merlin says as they walk in. "There's no sign of the Goblin any... what happened?!"
Amelia steps around Merlin to see what he had seen and gapes in shock at the mess the Chambers has become. Almost everything is knocked to the floor with multiple pots smashed.
"It's that pesky Goblin!" Gaius cries. "You all let it escape and it's ransacked my premises! You've got some cleaning up to do. High lady over there should help, there's no excuse." He walks past them to the door and turns when he realises they haven't moved. "Clean! Clean!" He continues to the door.
"Where are you going?" Anne asks.
Gaius turns around again. "I'm going to the Tavern." He says as if it's obvious.
"You never go to the Tavern." Amelia reminds him.
"Then I shall see what I've been missing." Gaius retorts then leaves. Merlin looks despondently over the mess.
"I'll help with this." Amelia offers.
"You don't have to," Merlin argues.
"Merlin." He turns to Anne when she says his name. "We're helping you."
—
Because of what happened last night and the fact that she lost a lot of sleep due to her missing bracelet, Amelia is becoming more and more sure that something is going on with Gaius.
Suddenly a frazzled Morgana burst into her Chambers with two bottles in her hands. After realising that their healing bracelets had been stolen, Amelia the only one knowing the missing Goblin had stolen them, the two sisters agreed that Morgana should get some sleeping drafts for them so they can hopefully get some sleep until they get them back. Morgana puts the bottles down on the table and wrings her fingers together anxiously.
"Morgana?" Amelia questions as she walks over to her sister. "What is it?"
"It's Gaius," Morgana replies. She begins pacing.
"Gaius?"
"I think he knows about us. About our plans." Morgana anxiously explains.
"Gaius?" Amelia frowns in genuine confusion. Incredulous but not for the reasons Morgana might think. Amelia is doubtful about Gaius revealing to Morgana that he knows about her. What's going on?
"He was behaving oddly then told me he knows. What are we going to do?" Morgana looks at her desperately. It's one of those moments that makes Amelia's heart yearn for the old Morgana.
"It's okay." Amelia places her hands on Morgana's shoulders to comfort her. "Gaius might be trusted but even Uther will doubt him. We're safe."
Morgana nods, looking relieved and leaves with her bottle. Amelia looks at the bottle worried, she had been thinking of taking some so she could have a nap but is hesitant as something tells her that maybe she shouldn't. She needs to talk with Anne and Merlin.
—
Amelia finds Merlin and Anne as they all walk to Gaius' Chambers.
"Have you two noticed something different about Gaius?" Anne asks.
Merlin frowns, thinking. "He seemed a bit weird this morning but he had been drinking last night," he pauses as he takes in his words, "which is weird itself."
"He apparently told Morgana that he knows she plans to destroy Camelot," Amelia adds.
"What?!" Merlin exclaims as he and Anne stare at her in shock.
"I've seen him in town selling treatment to the people." Anne then adds, shaking it off.
"Well, clearly we need to see what's going on with Gaius." Amelia declares.
They reach Gaius' Chambers and poke their heads inside to see 'Gaius' with a chest of gold and jewellery. He licks and slobbers over a few before hiding the chest. Amelia cringes in disgust.
Merlin bursts into the room. "You're the Goblin!"
"Have you lost your mind?" 'Gaius' retorts.
"No, but you have!" Amelia counters.
"Or at least it's been taken over," Anne argues.
"Don't be ridiculous." 'Gaius' scoffs.
"I know Gaius as well as I know myself, and you are not him." Merlin declares, walking over to stand directly in front of 'Gaius'.
"Ah, you've got me." 'Gaius', she should say Goblin, says sarcastically. "How d'you like my new body? It's a bit old and creaky, but it's ever so much fun." He grins.
"It's not your body, it's Gaius's. What've you done with him?" Amelia demands to know.
"He's still in here somewhere." The Goblin says casually. Amelia gapes in outrage at his careless attitude.
"Gaius has done you no harm. Leave him." Anne pleads.
"All right. You've convinced me." The Goblin replies. Amelia frowns knowing it's not going to be that easy. "On second thought, I think I'll stay where I am. I like it in here. The freedom, the gold, the beer. Did I mention the gold?" Knew it.
"If you hurt Gaius... I will kill you." Merlin threatens.
"You'll be killing him." The Goblin retorts. "You see the problem? I'm him, he's me. We're all jumbled up in here." It condescendingly pats Merlin on the cheek and leaves. Amelia huffs irritably.
—
The last thing Amelia wants to do while Gaius is possessed by a Goblin is sit in a Council meeting.
"There have been instances of vandalism around the palace, as well as a number of thefts," Arthur reports as he stands in front of his father, who's wearing a ridiculous hat to cover his baldness and Amelia and Morgana who sit on the left of him with Anne and Gwen behind them. "I, myself, was a victim. Unfortunately, the thief managed to elude me."
Amelia tries not to snigger as she remembers what Anne and Merlin told her about that.
Suddenly Amelia hears the sound of a fart being let out behind her. She and the Court turn around to stare at a blushing Gwen. Before they can get over what just happened, Morgana farts as well. Amelia turns to look at her sister with wide eyes.
"Double the Guard. I want the perpetrator found." Uther orders, trying to bring them back to why they are here in the first place but then he himself lets out a fart. Amelia sees the Goblin wink at Merlin. She realises that it's his doing. She knows that Morgana probably took that potion he gave them and Amelia is glad she hadn't herself.
"Yes, My Lord," Arthur replies dumbly.
There's a pause before Uther begins to let out a loud and long fart. Amelia is beginning to find this quite funny now she's over the shock and tries not to show it though ends up sniggering into her hand.
"The Council is dismissed!" Uther orders. Gwen and Morgana let out their own farts. "Now!" Everyone rushes out except Uther, Gaius, and Arthur. Amelia follows after her sister while Anne follows Gwen.
—
Amelia later meets up with Merlin and Anne in Gaius' Chambers to confront the Goblin. The creature walks in laughing. They give the Goblin stone-faced glares.
"Tell me you didn't think that was funny." The Goblin chuckles. "Not even a little bit? Just a teeny-weeny bit?" It holds Gaius' fingers together with only a small gap between them.
"Well, it was kind of funny," Amelia remarks. Anne and Merlin turn their glares at her.
"Now is not the time!" Anne hisses. Amelia rolls her eyes and huffs.
"If you carry on like this, you're going to get Gaius killed," Merlin warns the Goblin.
"Merlin, you underestimate me. I have cured Uther of his farting and his baldness. He is, he tells me, forever in my debt. I am a genius." The Goblin gloats.
"This has to stop," Anne says.
"I see no reason why." The Goblin replies. "Now, if you're quite finished, I'm going to the Tavern."
"Bord wiþ stende hine." Merlin's spell shuts the door so the Goblin can't leave.
"Well, well, well." The Goblin remarks as it slowly turns around. "So, you have a secret of your own, Merlin."
"Leave his body or you will regret it." Amelia threatens.
"Merlin's magic may be powerful, but I have an advantage." The Goblin replies.
"What's that?" Anne asks.
"I can hurt you..." the Goblin magically throws a dagger at them.
"Culter ic þe hate!" Merlin's spell stops the dagger and he sends it back at the Goblin, stopping it just before it reaches the Goblin's face.
"Whereas, you cannot hurt me without hurting Gaius." The Goblin finishes. Merlin reluctantly lets go of the dagger and it drops to the floor.
"We won't rest till we've found a way to force you out of Gaius's body," Amelia warns it.
—
Merlin goes off to warn Arthur while Amelia and Anne wait. They're both soon called to a Council meeting in the Council Chambers. Amelia feels the dread pooling at the bottom of her stomach when she sees Gaius standing next to Uther by the throne. Amelia reluctantly takes her seat next to Morgana. She doesn't see Gwen though she can't blame her for wanting to hide away.
Arthur soon walks in with two Guards dragging Merlin in with them. Amelia has to force herself to sit still in order to keep up appearances in front of Morgana. Merlin is let go once he is directly in front of Uther.
"Is it true? You were responsible for the afflictions that I and other members of the Court have suffered?" Uther questions. Amelia's head snaps towards the Goblin and glares, knowing he's to blame for this.
"What?" Merlin blurts out before coming over his shock. "No."
"Gaius." Uther prompts.
"I found this in your room." The Goblin presents a book. "It's a book of spells and enchantments."
"He's lying. That's not Gaius." Merlin declares. Amelia winces in second hand embarrassment. This isn't going to end well.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur asks as Uther takes the spell book from the Goblin.
"He's been possessed by a Goblin…" his voice trails off at the end when he realises how it sounds.
"The boy is reduced to making the most desperate and ridiculous accusations." The Goblin says.
"You seriously expect me to believe that Gaius is a Goblin?" Uther asks.
"It's, it's controlling him. Gaius is still in there... somewhere." Merlin stumbles. Amelia watches sympathetically. She wishes to intervene but that would complicate things.
"Do you have any proof of these accusations?" Amelia is relieved that Arthur seems willing to listen though she knows it won't work.
"No!" There's muttering in the Court.
"I fear that magic has corrupted you. It pains me more than I can tell you." The Goblin says. Amelia grumbles to herself as she notes the lack of pain on his face.
"I really doubt that." Merlin retorts.
"My Lord, I have been harbouring a sorcerer. For that, I offer the most sincere apology." The Goblin says. Amelia can't believe that no one seems to have noticed the strange behaviour coming from the Physician.
"You were not to know, Gaius," Uther reassures, placing a hand on its shoulder. "He's fooled us all."
"It's not me that's fooling you," Merlin argues.
"Silence!" Uther bellows, stepping forward. "You've been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. In accordance with our laws, you will pay with your life. Take him away!" Merlin gets pulled away. Morgana looks to Amelia with a smirk and Amelia quickly does the same, remembering that she needs to act pleased at the idea of Merlin's death.
—
Amelia goes to bed feeling emotionally exhausted from being upset and comforting Anne about Merlin to toasting a glass with Morgana.
Amelia wakes later that night to the sound of the warning bells. She sighs in relief, knowing that it's likely Merlin.
Gwen quickly pulls Anne and Amelia to her house the next day. They walk in and Amelia beams at the sight of Merlin.
"Merlin!" Anne cries. She runs toward him and they hug and share a kiss.
"Alright, enough of that." Amelia jokes. The couple pulls apart and Amelia gets her chance to give him a hug.
"Have you explained to Gwen?" Anne asks Merlin.
"Yes." Merlin answers. "I need all of your help as I don't think I can leave." He pulls the curtain away from a small window and probably then watches the Guards that Uther had ordered to search the town.
"Well, we need to force the Goblin out of Gaius." Amelia declares.
"And how do we do that?" Gwen asks.
"We don't know," Anne says.
"Anne and Amelia can try to sneak back to Gaius' Chambers," Merlin says, turning back to them. "Maybe they can find something in one of his books."
"What can I do?" Gwen asks eagerly.
"Well, we need to convince Arthur. Maybe if you speak to him, he might listen to you." Merlin suggests.
"No, I can't," Gwen argues, stepping back.
"Why?"
"Merlin do you not get it? She's embarrassed!" Amelia exclaims.
"She's right. After what happened in the Council yesterday, I'll never be able to look Arthur in the face again." Gwen insists.
"Come on, Gwen. It's not that bad. All girls do it, don't they?" Merlin awkwardly and fails to reassure.
"Not in public! And certainly not in front of the man they have feelings for!"
Amelia smiles softly at her. "You still have feelings for Arthur."
"Not that it matters now, because he will never be able to look at me in the same way again." Gwen tries to cover her unintentional confession.
"Gwen, if Arthur likes you, he likes you." Anne encourages her.
"Warts and farts and all." Merlin unhelpfully adds. Amelia thwacks him on the arm.
Gwen looks affronted. "Merlin, I haven't got any warts."
"Then... you'll talk to him?" Gwen can't resist his adorable smile and sighs in defeat.
—
Amelia and Anne return with books and are going over them with Merlin when Gwen comes back to report that the Goblin had gotten to Arthur by giving him donkey ears.
"Arthur's a donkey?" Merlin asks as if to double check what he's just heard and Amelia can't blame him.
"He has the ears of a donkey. And the voice. He- he's braying." Gwen tries to explain.
"He's... braying," Anne says. Anne is clearly trying to hold in her laughter and when the three of them look at each other, they burst out laughing.
"It's not funny, you three," Gwen tells them but she seems to be trying not to laugh herself.
Amelia sobers. "No. No, no, of course not. Arthur with the ears of a donkey, what's funny about that?" She burst out laughing again, along with Anne and Merlin while Gwen grins.
"He just looked so pitiful. I've never seen Arthur look like that." Gwen chuckles. "Did you find anything?"
"We think so," Anne says.
Merlin places his hand on a book. "If the host 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?" Gwen asks, aghast.
"Just briefly."
"Once the Goblin's out of Gaius, we have to trap it in a box lined with lead. It's the only container that will hold it." Amelia explains.
"Where do we get a box lined with lead?" Gwen asks.
"Leave that to me," Merlin says. He leaves for the Library to get the box from the Secret Chamber.
—
Gwen keeps a lookout while Merlin, Amelia and Anne make a poison and an antidote in Gaius' Chambers.
"Hurry up!" Gwen urges.
"We are doing our best. Gaius normally deals with anything to do with poisons." Anne replies.
Merlin pours the poison over the gold and jewellery in the stolen money chest.
"As soon as the Goblin's out of Gaius, you must give him the antidote." Amelia holds the bottle up as she speaks.
"We only have a few seconds or Gaius will, you know, die," Merlin adds.
"He's coming!" Gwen warns.
Amelia quickly hands Gwen the antidote and Merlin puts the chest back into hiding. They hide in Merlin's Chamber and watch as the Goblin takes out the chest and licks the gold coins.
"Ugh, that's disgusting." Gwen quietly complains.
The Goblin begins to stumble and Merlin exits his Chamber with the octagonal box with the rest following.
"You've poisoned me. You poisoned Gaius!" The Goblin gasps in shock.
"Leave his body while you still can!" Merlin warns. The Goblin exits Gaius's ear as a little ball of light and buzzes around the room. Gaius falls to the floor.
"Give him the antidote!" Amelia calls to Gwen.
Gwen rushes towards Gaius, but the goblin buzzes past her and she stumbles into a table. Gwen drops the antidote and sends dozens of other potion bottles to the floor with it. Amelia hurries over to help her.
"Back in the box." Amelia hears Anne say as she and Gwen are frantic with figuring out which is the antidote out of the mess.
"You'll have to catch me first!" The Goblin retorts.
Amelia can hear Merlin and Anne chasing after the Goblin and the locking of the box with the Goblin begging to be released.
"We don't know which one's the antidote!" Gwen calls. Anne and Merlin hurry over.
"Which one is it?" Amelia asks.
"I don't know," Merlin replies as he searches.
"He's dying!" Anne warns as she looks over to Gaius.
Merlin picks up a bottle. "I think it's this one."
Gwen gives Merlin a "Are you sure?" look and Merlin keeps searching.
Amelia picks up a different bottle. "Er... this one."
They go to Gaius. Merlin turns Gaius over and Amelia pours the potion into his mouth but nothing happens.
"Are you sure that was the antidote?" Gwen asks.
"No," Amelia replies, her voice cracking. How she wishes she still had her notes, maybe there would have been a clue.
"Gaius! Come on! Please! Come on, you stubborn old goat!" Merlin urges loudly. Still nothing. Amelia hears Anne let out a sob and puts her arm around her.
"Who are you calling an old goat?" A voice croaks from the ground. Amelia looks down to see Gaius wheezing as he lies on the floor.
They all laugh in relief.
—
They all gather in the Council Chambers. Merlin and Gaius stand in front of the throne with the box containing the Goblin on the floor. Amelia sits in her usual seat next to Morgana with Anne and Gwen standing behind them. Uther stands and Arthur sits in his seat.
"You mean to tell me it was you who was responsible for the, er... baldness, the flatulence, the boils, and Arthur's donkey ears?" Uther questions. Amelia sees Arthur feel for the ears and sniggers quietly to herself.
"I fear I was, My Lord. Or at least the Goblin was while I was possessed by it." Gaius replies.
"Magic has the power to corrupt even the most honourable of men," Uther says. Amelia rolls her eyes at the comment. She still feels angry with Uther.
"Indeed. Though, I must assure you that Merlin was entirely innocent." Gaius adds. Morgana glares at Merlin.
"Then he is pardoned."
The Goblin struggles and grumbles inside the octagonal box, drawing everyone's attention to it.
"May I suggest it is kept where no one will ever open it?" Gaius advises.
"See that it's placed in the Vaults," Uther says to Arthur. Gaius and Merlin now turn to walk away but Uther stops them. "Gaius... do you know who was responsible for releasing the Goblin in the first place?"
"I'm afraid I've no idea, My Lord." Gaius calmly replies. He and Merlin continue leaving. Amelia smirks to herself.
The Goblin continues to grumble. Uther sits fearfully in his chair. "Now. Secure it now."
—
"I believe this belongs to you," Gaius says, handing over the bracelet to Amelia in her Chambers. She sighs in relief at the sight of it.
Amelia takes it. "Thank you."
"I hope you can get some sleep now," Gaius adds.
"So, what did you tell Morgana?" Amelia asks as she slips it on. "She was fearful you knew about our 'plans'."
"Don't worry." Gaius answers. "She still believes I'm clueless to her true intentions."
Amelia nods. "Good. We need to keep her none the wiser."
"Indeed, My Lady."
—
"I see you've been busy undoing the Goblin's magic," Gaius says as they, Gaius, Merlin, Amelia and Anne, watch Arthur and the Knights train in the Training Grounds.
"As usual, I get no thanks whatsoever," Merlin complains.
"Was it not your fault in the first place Merlin?" Amelia points out. "I'm not sure you deserve any thanks."
"Wha... Arthur doesn't know that." Merlin retorts.
"For your sake, you better hope it stays that way," Gaius says. They begin walking around the perimeter.
Arthur knocks over the Knight that he's fighting and laughs. Onlookers laugh with him. Arthur's laugh suddenly becomes a bray causing everyone to pause in surprise. The other Knights stop laughing but grin silently as Arthur clears his throat awkwardly. Amelia, Anne and Merlin chuckle.
"Merlin." Gaius reprimands.
"It was Amelia's idea." Anne defends.
Amelia huffs as if annoyed but is not really. "Thanks."
"Just one more day. It's too good." Merlin begs. Gaius relents and lets out his own chuckle.