Goblin's Gold (Merlin 2)

Chapter 2

The Trap Backfires

“That’s it!” Merlin tapped the drawing of a goblin in the book Gaius had shown him.

“Exactly, it’s a goblin. Just like I said,” Kiara rolled her eyes lightly, and started to re-pin her hair. If they were going to be running around the whole of Camelot to try and find this creature, she wanted to make sure she could see.

“Kiara’s correct,” Gaius nodded, “It seems you’ve unleashed a goblin.” He looked at Merlin with a somewhat worried look.

“I know that face, it’s not good, is it?” he questioned

“Goblins are the most mischievous creatures. Mischievous and dangerous.” Gaius repeated, and Merlin glanced at Kiara.

“You said they were fun?” he questioned, with a raised eyebrow.

“They are fun,” she smirked lightly, “Especially when they’re messing up Arthur’s room.”

“Oi! I have to tidy that,” he complained, but rolled his eyes – clearly not really offended by Kiara’s joke. “He didn’t seem dangerous though,” he turned his attention back to Gaius, trying to reassure himself that he didn’t unleash some kind of monster.

“Believe me, Merlin,” Gaius replied, “Goblins will stop at nothing to get their hands on the one thing they value above all others.” Both Kiara and Merlin listened to Gaius curiously. Despite the education in both magic and magical creatures that Kiara had received throughout her life as a Druid, she did not know every detail about every creature – especially those which were not consider evil.

“Gold.” Gaius explained, glancing between the two of them.

“I could always make a spell to –” Kiara began to speak, but cut off immediately as she heard footsteps at the door. She was incredibly glad that she hadn’t finished her sentence, for Arthur himself worked in. However, he did seem distracted and he spoke directly to Gaius as soon as he approached the desk he was sitting at.

“You’re needed Gaius,” Arthur informed him, his voice and face both deathly serious. “For a matter of great urgency and extreme delicacy.” He explained, hardly even glancing to Kiara as he passed her to stand closer to Gaius.

“What is it?” Gaius asked, an eyebrow rose in surprise.

“My father,” he replied, already turning to lead them out of the room.

“May my apprentice attend?” Gaius asked quickly, before standing up and following the prince. Arthur regarded Kiara with a look of suspicion, and shrugged his shoulders. For all intents and purposes Kiara was staying with Gaius for as long as it took for him to teach her all that he knew. In reality Kiara was actually using Camelot to hide away, for knights had attacked her home and her people. She was unsure when it would be safe for her to return to the other Druids, and using a covering story as being Gaius’ apprentice was as good as any other. She enjoyed helping people in need, anyway.

“My father wants as few people as possible to see him in this way.” The prince replied, “But he trusts your decisions, Gaius.”

The three men glanced over towards Kiara and she smiled lightly, “I wouldn’t want the king to feel…uncomfortable. I can stay here and help you find a cure, Gaius, for whatever it is.”

Kiara moved over to the book Gaius and Merlin had been reading from while the men left and she flickered through the pages to find more information about the goblin. There must been some kind of way to make sure that the creature didn’t do any real damage, or cause any more trouble. She was fairly confident in her abilities to cast a spell which would allow her to trap the creature, but it would have to be more power than the goblin’s own magical powers. That would be too dangerous to use in the residence of a magic-hating king, for if it went wrong the truth about Kiara could easily be revealed, one way or another.