Help is Always Given

Chapter 7

Amy Gets a Job

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The Doctor finished sorting through the clothes in the closet, so he starts counting how much money they have left. Things are generally cheap here compared to 2011, but they had only taken £25 and with what they had bought, they have only £15 remaining. If we go to the TARDIS for more supplies, someone might follow us. We have to be careful. We have to make this £15 last for a month, otherwise one or both of us might have to get a job, the Doctor thinks to himself. A job would only distract them from their mission, and they don't need distractions.

Amy walks in then and with an annoyed sigh starts ranting, "You know, guys have it so simple. They can easily relieve themselves whenever and wherever. But can women? Noooo. Did you know, they don't even have outhouses for the peasants? They only have open trenches. Trenches! You try squatting over a trench in a long, thick dress trying to cover yourself up while simultaneously trying not to wee all over your skirt!"

The Doctor can't help but laugh, and after an irritated glare at him, Amy joins in. The Doctor gets up and holds the door open for Amy after she grabbed up the small purse which held their belongings. "Now to find Merlin," he states. "He's probably off doing his servanting job. Shouldn't be too hard to find him I hope."

They weave their way through the bustling crowd of people, all doing their own things. A pair of children are chasing some chickens around, probably trying to catch them for dinner. An older man is fixing a broken pitchfork, and a few young women are hanging up herbs to dry. The Doctor and Amy decide to go through the main doors this time. There are servants bustling about doing their morning duties, getting breakfast and clean clothes to their masters.

"Excuse me," Amy says to a middle aged woman carrying a basket of clothes. "Do you know where I could find Merlin?"

"Try Gaius's or the King's chambers," the woman.

"Where are Gaius's chambers?"

"Down that way," the woman motions with her head towards the way she had come, "take a left and there'll be a door. Take the stairs down, go down the corridor, it's the last door on the right."

"Thank you." Amy barely gets it out before the woman is scuttling off in a hurry.

When they get there, they knock on the door. No one answers and the door isn't locked, so they enter. There's a bed at the far wall, lab tables filled with equipment, shelves full of different tonics and medicines, bookcases over-stuffed with books. The door at the opposite end of the room is open, revealing an unmade bed. No one was there. They head to the Royal Chambers.

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They knock and hear a faint "Enter" from the other side. Amy and the Doctor enter, but don't see anyone.

"Hello?" The Doctor calls.

"Will?" Came a voice from behind a screen. "Is Amelia with you?"

"I'm here," Amy answers.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Gwen says relieved. "The girl who was supposed to help me this morning didn't show up, would you mind helping me with my dress?"

Amy gives the Doctor a look that says What am I supposed to do? I can barely fasten my own dress up properly, let alone a more complicated one! but goes behind the screen to help anyway.

"You got my note, I assume?" Gwen asks the Doctor.

"Ah, yes. Thank you again for agreeing to make it for us," the Doctor says. "We're actually here though to find Merlin. Have you seen him?"