Characters: Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, Kilgharrah
Rating: NC-17.
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; It and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
When the scruffy dog came bounding across the field and pushed him down into the grass, Merlin wasn't thinking about magic for once. Only of blue eyes and golden fur and a tongue that kept licking his face.
He tried not to laugh but the animal was so happy to see him, tail wagging hard and fast, and paws scrabbling across his now-muddy shirt that Merlin didn't have the heart to shove him off. So he lay there, brushing at soft fur, whispering doggy endearments.
"Arthur, heel!"
The dog looked up, then tried to dig himself deeper into Merlin's neck. Making soft unhappy noises, it was almost as if the animal were trying to communicate something and didn't know how.
The owner was rushing through the grass, raven hair flying, and for a moment, Merlin thought she looked suspiciously like Morgana. But that couldn't be. After all, she'd been dead for a thousand years or more.
A wet nose shoved at him, trying to get his attention. Then lifting his head, he whined at Merlin even as his paws were shredding Merlin's shirt.
"What is it, fella?"
Another soft woof, and when Merlin stared up, there was a sword-thrust of recognition.
Blue eyes, Arthur's eyes, his king trapped in a dog's body. And Morgana coming up the hill.
Merlin didn't know if it was magic or fate's wheel or the gods laughing at them both, but he'd be damned before he'd let Arthur go again.
"Don't worry, Arthur. I'll take care of this."
Scrambling to his feet, brushing his hand across golden fur, trying to comfort as much as reassure, he stared at the woman coming ever closer.
Even from a distance, Morgana's fury was obvious. Merlin wasn't sure if she recognized him or not. He'd changed his appearance over the years, but if Arthur knew who he was, then Morgana would have a pretty good idea as well. He just hoped that in her new incarnation, she wasn't quite as powerful as Merlin had become in the long centuries since he'd seen Arthur last.
"Arthur, heel! Now!"
Next to him there was a growl, low and dark, and a hard nudge against his thigh as Arthur moved forward.
At first, Merlin thought he might be trying to go to Morgana. After all, Arthur was still a dog with a dog's instincts and a natural tendency to obey his master. But instead, he thrust his body in front of Merlin's, blocking him, all the while making annoyed doggy noises as if to berate him for being an idiot.
Merlin wanted to laugh. It was such an Arthur thing to do. All those times when his king pulled Merlin back, and while using his sword to fight off foes, yelled Merlin to get behind him and then spent the rest of the time trying to keep him safe.
Protection, pure and simple, from Arthur the king and Arthur the dog.
Breathing heavily from walking up the hill, Morgana stopped a few feet away, looking first at Arthur and then at Merlin. Scowling, she said, "What are you doing with my dog?"
"No need to pretend, Morgana." Merlin wasn't about to play around. Arthur was not going to leave with her, not now, not ever. "We both know who he is."
The scowl deepened. "I have no idea who this Morgana person is but Arthur is my dog and I would suggest that you back away before I have you arrested for theft." She turned to Arthur, slapped her thigh with the leash. "Come!"
Arthur wasn't having any of it. He seemed to stand taller, his muzzle straight pointed at her, the long growl rumbling in his chest a warning.
"What have you done to him?" She said, her eyes blazing with fury.
Merlin shrugged. If Arthur's reaction had been any different, he'd almost believe that she, no matter how much she looked like Morgana, was merely an irate dog owner trying to protect their pet from some stranger. But the raised fur, the way Arthur leaned closer to him, the sounds he was making, all seemed to point to something more.
"It would appear that he doesn't want to come with you, Morgana."
"Stop calling me that!" For a moment, she looked almost innocent, then her eyes hardened, her face set in pale stone. "You are clearly have issues with this Morgana person but he is my dog and I'm not leaving without him."
Merlin had had enough of pretence. "What spell did you use on him to make him this way?"
"I didn't… obviously there is no reasoning with you." She glared at him, then shook her head and looked down at Arthur. Her voice seductive, she said, softly, urgently, "Come here, boy. Come on." She lifted her hand toward him, wiggling her fingers in a little come-to-me gesture. "I've got treats for you at home. Cume on."
If he hadn't been paying attention, he'd have almost missed the slight flutter of her fingertips, and the way she was weaving her spell, the brief flash of gold in her eyes.
Merlin shoved past Arthur."Ástynte."
As she jerked back, he said, "I will find out, you know, and I will reverse the spell, no matter how long it takes."
"Spell? As in magic? You… you are insane. There is no such thing as magic." With that, she stared at him a moment and then began to back away. "Arthur, please, I can't leave you here with a crazy person. There is no telling what he might do. Come on, boy."
Growling, never taking his eyes of Morgana, Arthur pushed himself into Merlin's leg and stood there, as protective as Merlin had ever seen him.
"I would never hurt him. Never in a thousand years." Letting his hand settle on golden fur, feeling the warmth and softness under his fingertips, he said, "And unlike you, it's his choice whether to go or stay." He smiled down at Arthur. "Although I'd prefer him to stay with me."
Arthur let out a little yip, nosing into Merlin, and then stood there, guarding them both.
Looking absolutely livid, she said, "This isn't over."
"I'm sure it isn't." Merlin would have pushed it, battled her once and for all, but there were too many witnesses in the park, too many innocents that might get hurt. "Be thankful that Arthur is unharmed. I would not be so understanding otherwise."
She scowled down at Arthur, contempt in her gaze, her voice full of disdain. "Such a good dog, so obedient, always so eager for any scrap of attention. Pathetic really how much he begged for it." Giving a sour laugh, her green eyes as remorseless as he had ever seen, she turned back to Merlin. "He'll turn on you in the end, you know. He won't be able to help it."
Arthur's answer was obvious enough. As he started to lunge for her, Merlin grabbed on, catching Arthur's fur and keeping his idiot king from doing something foolish. "Don't even think of hurting him or you will regret it."
Growling, twisting a bit under Merlin's hand, it seemed almost as if Arthur was telling him to let go, that he'd take care of Morgana. But Merlin held on. He wasn't about to allow Arthur anywhere near the witch. "She's baiting you. Once you are yourself again, we'll deal with her. Once I've figured out how to change you back."
"As if you could. Good luck, trying. Time is running out after all." With that, she laughed. "I'll be back. When he's no more use to you, Emrys. When he's not your beloved king but just a dog." Her gaze flicked down to Arthur, and she sent him a smile, twisted, vengeful. "Enjoy what little time you have left, Arthur."
"What do you mean?" Merlin tried to keep the horror out of his voice but the implications of what she was saying sent a chill down his spine.
"As if I'd tell you." She gave a little laugh. "So good-bye for now, Arthur, or rather should I say woof, woof. And I'll see you soon."
And with that, she turned around and stalked off.
Merlin wanted to go after her, find out what she meant by her threats but he knew she's only ignore him, or worse, laugh in his face. Right now, his focus had to be Arthur.
Looking down, he brushed his hand over soft fur and said, "Let's go home."
Cume = come
Ástynte = Stop