This story takes a lot each chapter, so I lose momentum for it quite often if I don't know that people are enjoying it.

But every time someone shows their love for this story, I will continue to write. Thank you for still being on this journey with Thalia, Merlin and Arthur.

Merlin bent down to look under Arthur's bed in the ruined chamber, the prince's possessions strewn about everywhere.

'Merlin.'

He looked up at the one voice he didn't want to hear, into the face of Arthur.

'I really hope, for your sake, you have a good explanation for this.'

Merlin stood up. 'I...do have a good explanation. I'm spring cleaning.'

Arthur looked at Merlin in the usual concerned and irritated way. 'It isn't spring, and it certainly isn't clean.'

'That's because I've only just started,' Merlin spluttered. 'Yeah, you wait until I've finished. You'll be able to eat your dinner off the floor. Not that you want to.'

Noise clattered around from the corridor outside. Arthur turned around. 'What was that?'

'Why don't I go and see,' Merlin hurried, shoving past Arthur, 'and you can make yourself comfortable?' He ran out, leaving Arthur to stare around the mess of his chamber in dismay.

Merlin followed the clatter to Morgana's chambers, in time to chase away the critter and pack away the spilt jewellery and get a remark from Gwen.

Sighing at the unfortunate turn of events his day had taken, he hurried back to Gaius' chambers.

'Gaius, I got your book! But I've also, uh, may have, uh, released some sort of creature into the castle.'

'What?' Gaius lowered the bottle he was holding up to the light. 'What sort of creature, Merlin?'

'I, uh, I don't know.'

Gaius paused long enough to sigh at the warlock and set to work, flipping through books.

Finally Merlin saw the one. 'That's it.'

'Seems you've unleashed a goblin,' Gaius said.

'I know that face. That's not good, is it?'

'Goblins are the most mischievous of creatures. Mischievous and dangerous.'

'Didn't seem dangerous.'

Gaius expression was yet to change. 'Believe me, Merlin, goblins will stop at nothing to get their hands on the one thing they value above all others: gold.'

Before Merlin could say anything else, Arthur strode into the chambers. 'You're needed, Gaius, for a matter of great urgency and extreme delicacy.'

'What is it?' asked the physician, concerned.

'It's my father.'

Concerned, the two followed Arthur through the castle.

'Uh, um, not that it matters, don't even know why I'm asking,' Merlin said airily, 'but has the patrol-,'

'Not yet returned,' Arthur replied lazily, nodding to the guards as they neared Uther's corridor.

Gaius tutted, whacking Merlin lightly as they turned the corner. Arthur stopped outside the door and pointed a finger at Merlin menacingly. 'I should warn you, if you value your lives, do not even think about laughing.'

Confused, Merlin and Gaius glanced at each other as Arthur led the way in. 'Father?'

A very angry and defeated response echoed through the vast room. 'I'm behind the screen.'

Arthur gestured them over and all the more cautious, Merlin and Gaius moved around and were faced with a bald Uther, arms folded as he sat angrily in a chair.

Merlin fought very hard to keep his face straight.

'Sire?' Gaius gasped. 'What happened?'

'You tell me,' said the king, arms folding tighter, 'I woke up like this fifteen minutes ago.'

'I… I'll have to look into this, sire,' Gaius said, 'this isn't a common case.'

'I guessed that much.'

Arthur was glaring at Merlin.

'Do what you must, Gaius.'

'Sire,' Gaius bowed, and ushered Merlin out of the chamber, Arthur still glaring at their retreating heads.

On the other side of the door, Gaius' tone was still serious. 'Only an enchantment could cause Uther to lose his hair like that. I've no doubt the goblin is to blame. We must catch it before it does any real damage.'

Finally, Merlin broke and out spluttered the laugh he thought he'd done a masterful job at withholding. 'Did you see Uther's face?' he croaked.

Gaius tilted his head. 'Merlin, what do you think Uther will do to the person responsible for releasing the goblin?'

The laughter could have never been there. 'We need to catch it. How do we do that?'

'Well, if we're to do this as quickly as we can, we need to set a trap. And for that we need gold, and plenty of it.'

'Right. And how are we going to get a ton of gold? Uther or Arthur aren't going to lend us a pile of gold, and I'd rather face the goblin than take any from someone without asking.'

'Didn't Arthur win a thousand gold pieces in the last fighting tournament?' Gaius said. 'He'll never know it was gone. Assuming you can get it.'

Merlin didn't look convinced.

Night fell and Merlin crept back into Arthur's chambers, managing to get the chest of gold out from underneath Arthur's bed without issue. In his haste to escape the scene, he brushed past the dishes on the table and they crashed to the ground.

As Arthur woke, Merlin dove behind the table.

'Who's there?' came the prince's deadly warning.

The silence fired his brain and Arthur rolled upright immediately, seizing his sword from beside his bed.

Merlin winced, annoyed, and looked around. Deciding there was nothing for it, he focused his attention on the bed. 'Oferbrædels ahries.'

The canopy of Arthur's bed fell down to cover him and he flailed around. Merlin stayed to laugh as the flailing upset his balance so much that Arthur crashed to the ground with muffles yells, rolling around on the ground.

'GUARDS!'

That was Merlin's cue. He bolted.

The coin rolled across the stone floor with a crisp rattle. The trail of coins was working.

As the goblin fell into their trap, Gaius and Merlin shut the door and the Goblin yelled in outrage, turning into a golden ball of light and flying… right into Gaius..

Silence fell.

'Gaius, did you see where it went?'

Gaius shook his head to clear it, or the goblin did, and thwacked Merlin around the head. 'You let it escape you stupid boy! Don't just stand there like a sack of potatoes! Go after it!'

Merlin blinked at his mentor.

'Go! Shoo! Shoo!' flapped the Goblin Gaius and chased Merlin out.

Glancing back at the room, Merlin sighed, shook his head and searched the castle.

He gave up after a few hours of mindless searching and craved bed.

'I've searched the entire palace,' he said, walking through the door to the physician's chambers. 'There's no sign of the goblin any- what happened?'

Goblin Gaius strode out, the room in a state similar to Arthur's. Merlin blinked at the mess.

'It's that pesky goblin!' roared the Goblin Gaius. 'You let it escape and it's ransacked my premises! You've got some cleaning up to do.' He shoved past and headed for the door, turning to look at the gobsmacked Merlin. 'Clean! Clean!'

'Where you going?' Merlin frowned.

'I'm going to the tavern.'

'You never go to the tavern!' said Merlin.

'Then I shall see what I've been missing.' He left with a cross grin.

'Did you hear? Gaius beat everyone in the arm wrestling at the tavern!'

'He charged my cousin for medicine.'

'The Lady Morgana was in such a foul mood after visiting him.'

'He's probably got the worst hangover of his life!'

Merlin didn't laugh with the off-duty guards in the courtyard, instead reeled around on the balls of his feet straight back to the chambers.

He stuck his head around the door. And there was Goblin Gaius, striding around, licking three gold coins at once.

Outraged, Merlin marched in. 'You're the goblin!'

'Have you lost your mind?'

'No, but you have! Or at least it's been taken over,' Merlin thundered.

'Don't be ridiculous.'

'I know Gaius as well as I know myself, and you are not him.'

'Ah,' sighed the goblin dramatically, 'you've got me. How d'you like my new body? It's a bit old and creaky, but it's ever so much fun.'

'It's not your body, it's Gaius's. What've you done with him?'

'He's still in here somewhere,' said the goblin offhand.

Merlin squared his shoulders. 'Gaius has done you no harm. Leave him.'

'All right. You've convinced me. 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?'

'If you hurt Gaius...I will kill you,' Merlin growled.

'You'll be killing him. You see the problem? I'm him, he's me. We're all jumbled up in here.'

Merlin stared down at the goblin furiously, feeling his bubbling anger. He was about to stoke the fire and growl at the creature once again when an echo rang through the castle. 'If you don't heed my warning, in less than a few days, you'll face-,'

'Summons! Summons!'

'Ah, what's all this then,' grinned the goblin, 'play time?'

'Argh,' Merlin hissed, glancing angrily at the goblin twice before marching out for the council chambers, aware of the goblin following him.

'Summons! Summons!'

They arrived at the chamber and Merlin's anger bubbled still, simmering away as he resolved to continue his pursuit later.

Arthur arrived, and walked up to the address. 'Thank you for summoning the council, father, we have an issue to raise.'

'I see, and the patrol has returned with good news, I will have the council hear the report while we're here.'

'Excellent!' Arthur grinned, 'that's sooner than expected.'

The council settled.

'Who are we waiting for?' Morgana asked.

'Only the patrol,' Uther replied. 'Arthur, start.'

'Very well, sire. There have been instances of vandalism around the palace, as well as a number of thefts. I, myself, was a victim. Unfortunately, the thief managed to elude me.'

Merlin smirked a little, and then suddenly a fart rang through the chamber.

Everyone stared at Gwen, who rooted herself to the spot behind Morgana, wincing, mortified. Uther turned, and turned back again. Arthur stood staring at her in shock.

Mercifully for Gwen, Morgana followed suit.

Uther pressed on. 'Double the guard. I want the perpetrator found.' And then it was his turn.

Arthur and the council looked around in horror as it continued. 'Yes, My Lord.'

Before Uther could say another word the doors swung open and in walked the highest-ranked members of the patrol.

Sir Leon strode at the front, one pace behind Thalia, dressed in her armour and red cape.

Even with the disturbance of the chamber, it managed to fall silent once again at the new presence.

Even the goblin looked solemn.

Uther winced, as the patrol's faces turned at the unexpected state of the council chamber, as Morgana buried her head in her hands. 'The patrol brings only good news,' he said hurriedly, 'the council is dismissed!'

When everyone stirred, a little confused, Uther roared again.

'Now!'

The chamber cleared quickly, everyone rushing out save for Uther, Gaius and Arthur.

Thalia's eyes met Merlin's and he tilted his head to indicate down the corridor. She arched an eyebrow and followed.

'I, uh… hm.' Merlin stopped to think for a moment. 'Okay, do you know about the secret storeroom in the library?'

'Which one?'

Her response caught him off guard. 'The, uh… the one with the goblin in it?'

'…'

'…'

'Merlin.'

'Yeah… it's in Gaius.'

Thalia stared at her friend for quite a while.

'Please help me,' Merlin begged.

She was still a moment longer, deciding how she felt about the situation, and then nodded. 'I think I'll have to.' She pointed a stern finger at him. 'You're lucky I lock my chamber with magic. And I take it that business with the council just then was the goblin?'

Merlin soured. 'Yes. It was.'

'Alright. I'll no doubt be summoned by Uther in a minute, so you search for the Goblin in the meantime. Don't do anything stupid, Merlin. Goblins are wicked, annoying little creatures.'

'I'll try,' Merlin promised.

It didn't fill Thalia with hope.

'My Lady!' came the call from the doors. 'The king-,'

'Coming.'

Thalia entered as Gaius exited.

'Gaius said he will treat this,' Uther said immediately. 'Since you're back, you must help find this…' they ignored the pause, 'thief in the palace.'

'Yes, My Lord.'

'Would you…'

Arthur winced.

'Happen to know a quicker way of fixing this?'

'Tell me you didn't think that was funny,' grinned the goblin.

Stony faced and arms folded, Merlin glared at him.

'Not even a little bit? Just a teeny-weeny bit?'

'If you carry on like this, you're going to get Gaius killed.'

'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.'

Merlin wasn't taking it. 'This has to stop.'

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

Angry, and forgetting the promise he'd made less than half an hour earlier, Merlin turned around and looked at the door. 'Bord, wiþ stende hine.' The door slammed shut.

The goblin, as Merlin felt the creeping on the back of his neck worsen, turned around with a wicked grin. 'Well, well, well. So you have a secret of your own, Merlin.'

'Leave his body or you will regret it.'

The goblin wasn't fazed in the least. 'Your magic may be powerful, but I have an advantage.'

'What's that?' Merlin challenged.

'I can hurt you...' the goblin threw a dagger at Merlin with magic.

'Culter, ic þe hate!' hissed Merlin, sending the dagger to hover in front of Gaius' face.

'Whereas, you cannot hurt me without hurting Gaius.'

Merlin's eyes darkened. 'There is a way to force you out, there has to be.'

'You'd never find it even if there was,' retorted the goblin smartly.

'You've had your fun,' Merlin glowered, allowing a hint of smugness to creep into his voice, 'but if you want to live to see next week I'd leave and get back in that box.'

'And why is that?' giggled the goblin.

'Did you see that patrol that came back?'

'What of it? The knights with their little swords and this Crowned Warrior all of Camelot talks of.'

'Your kind calls her the Huntress,' Merlin pressed.

'You mean "our kind", Merlin.'

'No, I don't.' Merlin folded his arms again. 'I call her my friend.'

'No hunter has ever caught me, I've alluded them all!'

Merlin just grinned, and went to find Arthur.

He was accompanied by two guards when he found him, and hurried down the corridor. 'Arthur! Arthur, I have to talk to you.'

Arthur stared at Merlin sadly for a long moment, before shaking his head. 'Arrest him.'

The guards took Merlin by the arms. 'What? Arthur, what are you doing?'

Arthur glanced around and then nodded comfortingly, reassuringly at Merlin. 'Take him to my father,' he said and ran back the way Merlin had come.

Merlin twisted to watch him as he was frogmarched away.

'Thalia!' Arthur ran after her when he saw her in the castle.

'Arthur. What is it?'

'Someone framed Merlin for being a sorcerer.'

Fear froze Thalia to the spot. 'WHAT?!'

'For the court's afflictions.'

'Oh, is that all,' Thalia said, relieved.

'Wha…' Arthur waited for his mind to catch up. 'You know who it is?'

'Thankfully, I do.'

'We must hurry, Merlin's being escorted to the council as we speak.'

They turned through the castle quickly, reaching the chambers in time to hear Gaius, who was stood behind Uther, hold out an old leather book that Thalia hadn't seen before.

'I found this in your room. It's a book of spells and enchantments.'

Uther looked up at the footsteps. 'Ah, Thalia, perfect timing. Examine this.'

Slightly reluctantly, the goblin handed her the book.

Thalia flicked through the pages as the council watched.

Merlin watched her intently, scared but less since she had arrived.

'These are useless,' she said, 'none of these spells work. It looks like a fake.'

'Of course it isn't!' insisted the goblin.

'How would you know, Gaius?' Thalia asked, pausing to look up from the book coolly.

The goblin recovered rather well. 'Because I don't trust that boy!'

'He's lying!' Merlin called. 'That's not Gaius.'

Arthur frowned. 'What are you talking about?'

'He's been possessed by a goblin,' said Merlin, trailing quieter and quieter as he realised how silly he sounded.

'The boy is reduced to making the most desperate and ridiculous accusations,' chimed the goblin.

'You seriously expect me to believe that Gaius is a goblin?' Uther asked, staring at Merlin intently.

Merlin squirmed uncomfortably, glancing at Thalia several times. 'It's, it's controlling him. Gaius is still in there...somewhere!' he said meaningfully.

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

Merlin gritted his teeth. 'No!'

As Arthur closed his eyes in dismay, as did Thalia, the goblin spoke again. 'I fear that magic has corrupted you. It pains me more than I can tell you.'

'Not this magic,' said Thalia, indicating the book.

Uther sighed, impatience creeping over him. 'What do you know of goblins, Thalia?'

'They're wicked, tiresome creatures that wreak havoc everywhere the go. Obsessed with gold. The-,'

'Is there any way of determining if a goblin has possessed someone?' Uther asked.

Beginning to find it tedious how many times Uther had come close to sentencing Merlin for something, Thalia gritted her back teeth with a slight tilt of her jaw. 'Only by their actions.'

For a moment all eyes rested on Goblin Gaius, who blinked innocently at Thalia.

Uther groaned and waved a hand at Merlin. 'Take him away, keep him under observation.'

'Only observation, My Lord?' raged the goblin, as Merlin breathed a sigh of relief.

'Yes, Gaius, for the time being. I have no doubt we'll see him in the cells soon enough.'

The amount of times Merlin had been sentenced to death.

Thalia rolled over in her sleep, eyes blinking lazily opened as her door creaked. Sure enough, in slipped Merlin, locking the door.

'Yet another night on the chaise,' he sighed, already heading for the corner.

'What would you do without me, Merlin. What did you do with the guards?'

'Went on deliveries in the town and gave them the slip by the well.'

'Well done.'

Sensing Thalia had already drifted back into sleep, Merlin crept the rest of the way toward the corner and settled onto the chaise, looking out of the window. He didn't mind not being able to sleep in his own bed; the chaise was comfier.

Merlin woke when the door opened and heavy footsteps strode in.

'Merlin's escape the guards. Permission to crash- oh.'

Merlin frowned and rolled the blanket off himself and folded it neatly on the end of the chaise again, circling around the room.

Thalia was, indeed, already gone.

Arthur was stood halfway between the bed and the door groaning and rolling his shoulders stiffly.

'Morning!' Merlin called.

Arthur jumped ten feet into the air and whirled three times around on the spot as he chased the source of the noise in the vast room.

'Merlin?!'

'Hi.'

Arthur growled, irritated at the scare and sighed. 'You're quicker than you look.'

While Merlin stood awkwardly, waiting to see if his decision not to stay hidden was about to backfire, Arthur weighed up his options. Then he sighed.

'Are you sure about Gaius being possessed by a goblin?'

'Of course I'm sure!' Merlin insisted. 'Look at his behaviour if you don't believe me!'

'Does Thalia?'

'Of course she does!' Merlin insisted again.

'It seems so far-fetched,' Arthur sighed, shaking his head. 'Though it's obvious someone framed you.'

'Well I'm glad you believe that at least,' said Merlin, indignant.

'Just… Just stay in here until the culprit's caught,' Arthur sighed, shaking his head and leaving.

Merlin huffed after him and set about looking around the room in case Thalia had left him a note.

It was under a plate of fruit.

Going to deal with that goblin.

Merlin sighed and dug into the first fruit he reached for.

Thalia found Goblin Gaius, but not where she wanted to. She was stuck in the council chamber with Arthur, a few guards, members of court, Uther, and the pest in question.

'The guards lost Merlin in the lower town. It seems his delivery rounds are quite irregular.'

'Escape?!' roared the goblin. 'How is this allowed to happen? Incompetence!'

Uther and Arthur stared at Gaius in disbelief.

'I didn't mean to speak out of turn, My Lord,' corrected the goblin sweetly.

Uther shook himself out of the stupor first. 'Gaius is right, this is unacceptable. The guards should be punished.'

'I'll see to it personally,' Arthur promised, knowing full well he'd most likely scold them.

'Search the town, I want Merlin found.'

Gaius had already turned on his heels and walked out, Thalia bowing to Uther and doing the same.

'Yes, Sire,' said Arthur, distracted as he watched them go.

Thalia tailed the Goblin Gaius all the way to the town, where she cursed. Not only was magic impossible in the middle of the day in the middle of the bustling lower town, but the goblin had managed to escape her sight.

She was about to angrily smash a broken cart with a fist when a voice stopped her.

'Thalia? Is everything okay?'

The angry crowned priestess lowered her fist and smiled at the concerned servant. 'Gwen. I'm fine. Just lost someone in this damn crowd.'

'I heard Merlin escaped.'

'Don't suppose you saw Gaius?' Thalia said bitterly, staring off over the heads of the noisy crowd.

'Should I have?' asked Gwen, brows creasing.

'No,' said Thalia, still distracted, 'just would have made my next problem go away a lot faster.'

'What is it?'

'Gaius has been possessed by a goblin,' she said tiredly, with a bored face.

'Ah. I wondered about that. Will he be alright?'

'He will if I can get my damn hands on him,' Thalia growled, and then removed her eyes from the crowd. 'How are you, Gwen?'

Gwen's eyes widened, mortified, 'I, uh…'

'I haven't seen you since the day before I left.' Movement caught Thalia's eyes and she scanned the crowds again.

Gwen breathed a tiny sigh of relief. 'I'm doing well. Can I do anything to help?'

'Yes, go find Arthur. He can help me comb through this chaos.'

Hiding a little laugh at Thalia's sour and petty mood, Gwen swallowed nervously. 'I'll go now.'

Thalia's tension eased a little. 'Thank you, Gwen.'

Gwen, after a moment of panic, rapped on Arthur's door. 'Sire?'

Silence, a scuffle, an angry noise, silence.

Gwen didn't know how to interpret that. 'Can I come in?'

The same angry noise. Then a scuffle. Then the door opened for a second and shut again, something fluttering to the floor.

Gwen stared at it. 'Uh…'

No further noise came from inside.

Gwen picked up whatever had dropped to the floor and turned it over in her hands.

You lost the bet. It's been a week. Pay up.

It clicked not long after. Thalia's handwriting.

Giggling at the thought of Arthur and Thalia spending their time fighting over bets, Gwen hurried back to the lower town.

Thalia wasn't hard to spot. She was holding a very heavy bucket up over the heads of passers-by as she carried it for an elderly man to his cart.

'Gwen,' she smiled when she returned, 'how did it go, did you find Arthur?'

'Sort of,' Gwen frowned, holding out the note. 'There was a lot of noise from inside when I knocked on the door and then this flew out.'

Thalia put the bucket down on the cart as the man thanked her and took the note.

'I thought it meant he was sending for you.'

Thalia's brow creased slightly for a moment. 'I see.' She looked at the distance back to the castle, around the town and sighed, letting her search go. 'Thank you for your help, Gwen.'

'Anytime,' Gwen smiled.

Thalia trudged back up to the castle, up the steps, across the bridge, up more stairs, inside, up through the castle and into the usual corridor, opened the door to Arthur's chambers and walked inside.

'Most people use their English, you know,' she said, 'instead of throwing notes at people.'

… … … No response nor hint of life.

'Arthur.'

'Hrnnn.'

Thalia blinked, unprepared and started through the chamber.

She rounded the bed, faced with Arthur sitting on the floor with enormous donkey ears and scowling and froze.

Arthur glared, not liking the fact he knew what might be coming.

Thalia stood still for quite some time, and then snorted, breaking down into a fit of laughter that made her sides hurt, her eyes water and her back and arms bend.

Every time she looked up she'd see the donkey-eared Arthur and it would start all over. Her sides hurt to the point she thought they'd rip open and Arthur's deepening glare only made it worse.

M-M-M-M… Merlin.

Huh? Wha… what?

Come to Arthur's….. chambers.

I'm supposed to be in hiding.

… it's worth it.

Merlin heard the laughter two steps away from Thalia's doors and, intrigued, moved faster. It wasn't hard to find Arthur, with Thalia making such a racket.

She sobered enough, tears pouring from her eyes when Merlin appeared.

The process happened again.

Arthur glared ahead, ignoring them as Merlin froze.

Then there were two choruses of utter mirth.

Indignant, Arthur brayed at them.

It didn't help. Merlin laughed so hard he collapsed sideways onto Arthur's bed and Thalia slid uncontrollably to the floor. She wanted to stop, by that point she feared she'd pass out and her sides were in a lot of pain.

Arthur yelled at them. It sounded like a very angry donkey in the early morning wanting breakfast.

Merlin fell off the bed and landed with a thud on the floor.

Arthur glared at the pair of them, supporting themselves off the flow by their arms as they laughed in complete hysterics.

Every time they came close to getting a grip, the other would dissolve into deeper hysterics, pulling them both down, at which Arthur would groan, however quietly, and it would only worsen.

Finally, after a very humiliating length of time for Arthur, they managed to get a hold of themselves enough.

They stood there, very tall from Arthur's spot on the floor, giggling and growling at each other, telling themselves off whenever they started to giggle again. Arthur had, by that point, enough time to imagine their deaths and detainment in cells and days in the stocks several times over.

'O… ha…. Okay,' Thalia managed, unable to stop another snort leaving her as Arthur's dejected, peeved eyes moved to look at her. His folded arms didn't help. 'You…'

Merlin bent over again, trying to gasp for air.

'You… tehhh…' she snorted and wrestled for control of herself and waved a hand furiously through the air. Swaying, she pointed at Arthur. 'You, never mind. We'll deal with this. You stay here.'

Arthur brayed again, trying to ask her why she didn't just fix it.

He got his answer as the braying sent Thalia doubling over again. There was no way she'd be able to cast a spell without passing out.

'Mer… hiie… Merlin, you come with me. Let's kccc… hm let's get Gaius.'

They puppeteered themselves out of the room, directing toward the physician's chambers.

Any guards they passed assumed Thalia had found Merlin and left them to it.

They had a large drink of water once inside the chambers and finally settled down.

'How are you going to save him?'

'With a spell invented by a very angry warlock who was sick of the goblins in his garden.'

'I've got this…' Merlin fumbled around under his chair for a moment, 'box. He couldn't get out of it.'

'Well that's something. You get him into that box, then, once I'-,'

The goblin burst through the doors. 'AHA! So you've eluded the king, Merlin!'

'Enough!' Merlin growled and leaped to his feet. 'This is your last chance.'

'Oh how merciful of you,' grinned the goblin. 'I think I'll have to pass your kind offer.' He paused as he crossed to the chest of gold. 'Shouldn't you be in the cells?'

Merlin glared and glared until his patience snapped. He stepped to the side as Thalia rose to her feet.

The goblin stepped back, eyeing her.

Brows furrowed, Thalia stretched an arm toward him.

The goblin rushed to cast a spell, only to be met with Merlin's own counter.

'Puca! Ic beÓt ðu. Alýfednes!' At Thalia's command, the goblin came zooming out of Gaius, and landed sprawled on the floor. Thalia stretched her other hand out as well, eyes flashing as Merlin hurried to get to Gaius.

The two stood and watched as they felt a huge pressure centred around the goblin as it tried to stand up, barely able to lift an arm.

'Oh come on, please! I was only joking, I'll be on my way, I promise!'

Thalia's response was to increase the strength of her spell.

The goblin winced and stretched in the way Merlin recognised as it trying to transform into a ball. Thalia's first spell countered that and eventually the goblin gave up, lying on the floor.

Thalia stared at it for a moment or two longer. Then she nodded at Merlin.

Merlin nodded back and reached into the area of Thalia's spell, immediately feeling like his arm was made of lead.

Unlike all others, he was able to fight against the spell, and seized the goblin by the neck.

Thalia followed the arc Merlin pulled the goblin in with her hands, keeping the pest pinned as Merlin, with the help of Gaius, stuffed it back into the lead box.

'No, no, please! I'll be good!'

Once the lock was clicked down, Merlin let out an enormous sigh, exhausted, and Thalia let her spell fade.

'Certainly took you long enough,' said Gaius, grinning.

Thalia smiled. 'I'm sorry, Gaius. It was one of the most elusive goblins I've ever seen.'

'How many have you come across?' Merlin gasped, kicking the box. There was a grunt and a yell.

'Too many. A few years ago, once in every three times I'm sent somewhere to handle something magical, it would be a bloody goblin.'

Merlin shook his head. 'How horrible.'

'We must get this to the king,' Gaius said.

Merlin kicked the box over. 'More than happy to.'

'We'd better get Arthur on the way,' Thalia said, 'I think I can handle it by now.'

She couldn't. Not for a while. Arthur sat patiently, trying not to make noise, frown, or move. Eventually, Gaius and Merlin lectured themselves on the difference between the root systems of wugwort and gulfsblood enough that everyone calmed down.

With Arthur cured, more or less, they marched to the chamber.

'Thalia,' Uther said immediately as they entered. 'You found Merlin, then?'

'He brings a gift, sire,' said Thalia.

Merlin presented the box, dropping it unceremoniously on the stone floor.

'Ow!'

'Is that a… goblin?' Uther asked as Arthur sat down on his chair.

'That would be one, sire, yes.' Thalia rapped her knuckles on the top of the box.

'I didn't mean it!'

She whacked the top of the box.

The box fell silent.

'And this creature was indeed responsible for the, er...baldness, the flatulence, the boils, and Arthur's donkey ears?'

'The boils?' Thalia echoed as Arthur grimaced and flayed his around.

'Yes, the knights are covered in boils.'

Thalia blinked, then put a foot on the top of the box. 'Oi. Your doing?'

'I don't know what you're talking about,' sung the goblin.

Thalia booted the box across the room toward Uther's feet.

'Okay, okay, yes, yes, it was me! But I won't do it again!'

'May I suggest it is kept where no one will ever open it, My Lord?' spoke Gaius.

Uther stared at the rocking box as the goblin tried to move it. 'Thalia?'

Arthur frowned, seeing a sudden heaviness enter Thalia's eyes.

'It'll only sit there for years until someone opens it again.'

Uther frowned. 'What are you suggesting?'

The heaviness flickered away, almost as if snapping herself out. 'Nothing, sire.'

'Very well. See that it's placed in the vaults. Do any of you know who was responsible for releasing the goblin in the first place?'

'I'm afraid I've no idea, My Lord,' said Gaius pleasantly.

Uther nodded. 'Thalia.'

Thalia walked to the throne, grabbed the box by a strap and walked out, accompanied by the protests of the goblin.

They heard a thwack and it fell silent a few moments later.

Clang. Clang. Chink, chink, thwack, CLANG.

'I see you've been busy undoing the goblin's magic,' said Gaius, clasping his hands in front of him as he stood beside Merlin, watching the knights train.

'Move your feet!' Thalia yelled from the edge, as the knight nearly lost his balance as Arthur pressed the attack.

'As usual, I get no thanks whatsoever.' Merlin folded his arms.

'Since releasing the goblin was entirely your fault, Merlin, I'm not sure you deserve any thanks,' Gaius murmured pointedly.

'Wha...Arthur doesn't know that,' Merlin grumbled.

Clang, clang, ching, ching.

'For your sake, you better hope it stays that way.'

'Duc-!'

The knight fell to the ground and Arthur laughed. The onlooking nights joined in and then all of a sudden, Arthur brayed.

While the knights fell awkwardly silent, Merlin snickered and Thalia burst out laughing.

Arthur sighed, glaring at her, exhausted.

'Merlin,' reprimanded Gaius.

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