I'm currently undergoing the torture that is exams and started writing this as a break from studying. Writing the stress off me kinda thing. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this but I hope you enjoy nonetheless!

Edit: Fixed punctuations! Many thanks to Time's Quill! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin! Lancelot does! Erm I mean BBC or something...

"Now, I'll only be gone for a week, so Merlin." Gaius paused, waiting until he had Merlin's full attention. "Merlin." He repeated more sternly this time. Merlin glanced up from the magic book he was reading, "Hmm, yes?"

"Have you heard a word I said?" The old physician asked, a look of annoyance crossing his features as Merlin merely smiled a little.

"Sure, you're leaving for a while to investigate an illness in one of the border villages. I know, I was there when you received the order." Merlin answered quickly, turning back to his book. He had found a most interesting spell in it and had been dying to try it out. It was a tricky one though so he'd been spending the last couple days using all his spare time studying it. Merlin was so engrossed in reading that he missed Gaius' weary sigh. The old man stalked over to his apprentice and briskly snatched the book away from him.

"Hey!" Merlin's protest died down when he saw the serious look on Gaius' face. A moment of silence followed.

"So now that I have your attention," Gaius started again, "as I was saying I will be gone for about a week, maybe longer, so if there are any patients needing treatment here in Camelot you will have to attend to them."

"Me?"

"Yes, you Merlin or do you see another bumbling apprentice around here?" Gaius smiled amused at Merlin whose expression went from shocked to slightly indigenous and ending in worry.

"But Gaius, I'm not a physician!" Sure he'd helped Gaius a lot over these past years but that was nowhere near enough experience to actually treat people. What if he made a mistake? What if he prescribed the wrong draft? He wasn't ready for this!

"Don't worry Merlin, you'll be fine. You know the most common illnesses and for anything else, well, I guess you will have to read up on my life's work instead of this then, hmm?" There was glint of amusement in the old man's eyes. Merlin rolled his eyes slightly.

"Gaius I'm serious, what if something goes wrong?"

"So am I Merlin. I believe in you." He said it with such finality that Merlin was left speechless. The faith Gaius had in him was a bit overwhelming but he couldn't help but feel proud.

"Okay then. I won't disappoint you Gaius." He said gravely. Gaius nodded approvingly, "There, that's more like it. Now I can leave in peace." He got his medicine case and coat, checking everything over once more until he was sure he had everything he'd need.

"Oh and Merlin," he said almost as an afterthought as he handed the young warlock's magic book back at him, "don't do anything stupid." His eyes went from Merlin to the book and back, clearly indicating he was hinting at magic related incidents.

Merlin smiled broadly, "You know me."

Gaius gave him a long look, one eyebrow raised high. Merlin could just see him thinking the words, 'that's exactly why I'm warning you', but the old man remained silent. Merlin just smiled even wider until Gaius broke out in smiles as well. Gaius gave him a pat on the back, "I'm off then."

"Have a safe trip."

That very night…

"Halt! Show yourself!"

The guard's voice echoed throughout the dimly lit hallway. Merlin ignored the call and quickly skirted a corner. Calls for help and proclamations of intruder followed but Merlin didn't pay them any heed; he didn't have the luxury.

Great, just great. Okay think think...

Merlin desperately searched his mind for a possible escape route as he kept running. The hallways he was so used to travel along all seemed the same to him in the darkness. Or maybe it was because he was panicking. He wasn't sure and it didn't matter. He had to get out and fast.

The alarm bell rung.

It was now or never, Merlin knew. Before long the castle would be flooding with guards and knights. He contemplated stopping and feigning confusion but the footsteps pursuing him hadn't let up. It would be too dangerous to stop now. It was a good thing he was used to running around a lot.

Lights flickered in the hallway in front of him. Merlin skidded to a halt, rapidly looking around for a way out. A few doors lined both walls of the hall he was currently in. He had to choose one, but he had no way of knowing if the rooms were vacant or not. The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, closing him in and trapping him like a rat.

On pure instinct he threw open the door closest to him on the left. He entered and quietly yet quickly closed the door behind him. He was met by a pitch dark room. Its occupants were either not present or fast asleep. Merlin let out a sigh of relief and took a moment to calm his rapid heartbeat and catch his breath.

The guards had gathered a little outside the room. Merlin could hear their confused murmurings, most likely deciding on their next course of action. The relief he had felt mere seconds ago disappeared as he realised he was really trapped now. It would only be a matter of time before they checked this room and he had no valid excuse to be there. Unless he was the culprit.

Why do they only do their job when it concerns no real danger?

Merlin sighed. Getting annoyed at the guards wasn't going to get him anywhere. He needed to disappear. Merlin's eyes went wide, the spell! He could try the spell he'd been studying all this time! But would it work? Merlin could hear the guards outside moving around again. The creak of a door carefully being opened reached his ears. He had no choice; it was now or never. The spell had to work.

Merlin took a deep breath and concentrated. He went over the words once more in his mind before he uttered them. His eyes glowed gold and almost instantly a mind-numbing pain coursed throughout his body. Merlin, completely taken by surprise by the spell's side effects, let out a scream loud enough to draw the entire castle's attention. But as fast as the pain had come, so did it disappear. When Merlin noticed he was able to see much more clearly into the dark he knew the spell had worked. He lifted his left hand –or now paw- and turned it over, studying the result. The fur was as dark as the night. He had no time to further examine his new form however for the guards had all gathered in front of the door, ready to storm inside. Merlin could hear them much clearer now, every footstep resounding in his mind, every whisper as clear as if they were yelling right in his ear. He took a glance around the room, deciding on the dresser for his hiding spot. He wanted to run over to it but running on four legs instead of two proved an entire different experience. A small mewl escaped him as he fell and tumbled over to his destination. A bit disorientated he scrambled up, accidently stepping on his tail in the progress, and clumsily crawled underneath the furniture.

The door flew open and guards flooded inside. Their torches instantly lit up the entire room. Merlin shuffled back as far as he could, taking care not to accidently crush his tail this time. The appendage felt strange and foreign to the warlock and he wasn't really sure how manoeuvre it yet.

The guards searched the entire room. Behind every curtain, underneath the bed, in the closets, everywhere an intruder could hide. Merlin had to admit he was rather impressed by their effort. Now only if they were this vigilant when it concerned a real intruder...

A few minutes later the guards, concluding the room was safe, left again. As expected they neglected to look under the small space underneath the dresser. Merlin supposed it was normal; no human could hide under there anyway. A cat on the other hand…

Thinking it wise to wait until the commotion was over before he returned to his quarters, Merlin tried to get as comfortable as he could in the narrow space. After some struggling he managed to settle in a position he deemed normal for a cat. Now that he had time he took in the rest of the transformation. For as far as he could see his entire pelt was pitch-black. Merlin figured the colour depended on the caster's hair colour and deducted that his eyes were probably still grey-blue. What really surprised him though were the whereabouts of his clothes. They had seemingly disappeared into thin air with the exception of his neckerchief which had shrunk to fit his feline form. It was a nice touch to the spell, Merlin mused, and it prevented any compromising situations where a sorcerer would have to leave his clothes behind and be stark naked when he reverted to human form. Or at least, Merlin hoped that was how it worked.

With the adrenaline of chase leaving his body, he could feel how tired he was. A nap would be in order and seeing as he wasn't going anywhere soon he might as well. Laying his head down on his paws, he softly drifted to sleep.

A loud rasping sound echoed through Merlin's mind, instantly waking him up. His head shot up colliding with the dresser. Merlin let out a pained groan. Through barely open eyes he took in his environment, memories of last night's adventure slowly returning to him.

Right, I'm still a cat.

Merlin could hear someone walking from one side of the room to the other. The footsteps sounded heavy and solid, making Merlin believe their owner was most likely a knight. Curious, he crept forward a little and peered from underneath his hiding spot to see whose room he was in. He was just too late; the knight had walked behind the screen to dress himself. Quite a considerate knight for him to dress behind a screen even though he was all alone in his room. Or at least thought he was. Merlin shuffled back a little again and decided to wait. If it were a knight he'd leave as soon as he was dressed and not return until late in the evening. Arthur kept them almost as busy as him.

That reminded Merlin he was already late for his chores. And Gaius wasn't around to cover for him either so he'd best think of a believable excuse. Not that it really mattered what excuse he'd come up with, Arthur would just make him muck out the stables again anyway.

Well, at least Gaius is not around to use the tavern as an excuse. That counts for something.

Arthur probably already thought he had the worst alcohol addiction in the entire kingdom. His thoughts were interrupted by more footsteps and he quickly crawled forward to see their owner. His eyes lit up when he saw who it was. A Cheshire grin on his face Merlin crawled out of his hiding spot. He opened his mouth to call his friend's name but,

"Meow!"

Merlin blinked confused. That wasn't right. He tried again.

"Meow!"

This wasn't good. Not good at all. Merlin's eyes darted back and forth as he thought about what to do. He tried saying some more things but all that came out was different forms of meowing. In his panicked state he hadn't even noticed that he had successfully drawn his friend's attention. The knight was standing over him, but Merlin paid him no heed. Merlin felt dread hold his heart as realisation dawned on him. He couldn't speak so that means he can't say the reversal spell. But maybe it would still work if thought it at the same time he attempted to say it?

It's worth a try.

Merlin stared in front of him, eyes glued to a single point to maximize his concentration. He spoke and thought the spell simultaneously. A string of meows resonated through the room.

But nothing happened.

It's probably really obvious whose room that is, huh?
Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Till next time~!

Chibiscuit