Hi everyone! Ok this is a slight break in my imagination whilst updating my current story. To be fair I have updated that story too, but this idea came to me whilst writing the next chapter. This is a very weird idea, I know but please read it and let me know what you think. ALL criticism and compliments welcome. And although I totally wish I did I don't own Arthur or Merlin.
Merlin woke up and groaned. Today was the day that Arthur had said they were going hunting, yet again. It was the third time this week, but it was so hot, "To hot to train knights, and to hot to carry out long arduous princely duties!" Arthur had said, "So we can go hunting to keep us occupied!" Merlin had very nearly thrown the Princes, supper down him at that statement for the simple reason that although Arthur wasn't doing much, Merlin was forced to do much more work. Not to mention that Merlin hated hunting and killing innocent creatures. Merlin sighed and pulled on some loose clothing, he was so hot and sticky already, he was just about ready to go when the door opened and Arthur barged in.
"Aren't you ready yet Merlin?" Arthur smirked.
" Almost," Merlin muttered, turning around searching for something.
"What are you looking for?" Arthur asked.
"My scarf, I can't find it anywhere." Merlin looked around exasperatedly.
Arthur burst out laughing. "A scarf, Merlin it's too hot for a scarf you idiot. Now stop stalling and let's go!" He threw his hunting bag that he'd made Merlin pack last night at him and disappeared out of the door. Groaning again Merlin took one last look around the room and walked downstairs.
The forest was to Merlin's relief a lot cooler as it was under shade. But he still worked up a sweat quickly as he was forced to lug the heavy hunting gear and sometimes even jog to keep up with Arthur. After killing a large stag, two rabbits and a wolf (Which had made Arthur very happy) they both sat down under a large oak tree to rest. Arthur was slightly concerned, he'd glanced back at Merlin to find the servant swaying and struggling to stand up at all. The heat was clearly stressing and getting harder for Merlin to deal with. So Arthur had decided to rest although he'd made it very clear to Merlin that it was only because Arthur didn't want to carry back to dead animals all the way back to Camelot. After resting for a couple of hours Merlin's colour had returned back to normal and his breathing had settled. Arthur was about ready to go when he felt something slither across his right arm. Looking down Arthur practically jumped out of his skin, it was a snake. A large but strangely beautiful Albino Python. It was settled just on his arm and had fixed the Prince with a strange glare. Arthur's instincts told him to run and move but his training told him to stay still and wait till the snake grew bored of him and moved on.
After a few minutes Merlin saw Arthur was sitting very rigidly. He tuned to the Prince. "Arthur what's wrong?" Arthur didn't reply. "Arthur, what is it?" Merlin was persistent and when Arthur didn't answer for the second time he stood up and moved to the front of the Prince. Arthur desperately wished Merlin hadn't moved. The snake's pink eyes seemed to flash, it then began to move away from Arthur's arm. "What's wrong sire?" Merlin's extremely worried tone brought Arthur back to reality. His head snapped up at Merlin. "I'm…Fine," Arthur staggered to his feet and looked around the forest. "We should be getting going , my Father will be wondering where we are! Oh…my head," He looked up a Merlin who stared at him. "I'm ok really, I just feel like I've a headache coming on,"
"You should see Gaius then!" Merlin suggested but Arthur shook his hand off his shoulder.
"I'm fine!" He stressed again and started off back towards the castle. Merlin followed with caution, he knew something was wrong.
Arthur dismissed Merlin early that night. He simply said he wanted to rest as the heat was making his headache worse and he wanted to rest. His tone had left no allowance for questioning so Merlin had left after preparing Arthur's bed. Merlin settled into his bed that night and allowed thought's of the previous day to wash away into sleep.
Sunlight broke through his window bringing with it a promise of another excruciatingly hot day. Merlin groaned but the light was in the awkward place that no matter where he tried to lay he couldn't escape the rays. He sat up and moaned realising that he would probably be going hunting again. He was just about to get up and get dressed when a shout more like a cry came from the side of the bed. Merlin recognised the cry as Arthur's but wait… the side of the bed! Merlin looked over but inside of spotting the Prince, saw a snake. Not just any snake but an Albino Python snake. "Merlin," A small voice but undoubtedly Arthur's came from the curled up snake. "Merlin, what's happened to me?" Arthur asked. Merlin was in far to much shock to say anything. "What… Arthur…is that you?"
"Yesssss, But what am I, What'sss happened to me," Arthur's voice was quiet and he sounded deeply worried and nervous.
"Um…You've kinda turned into a…well Python." Merlin said meekly.
"What! I'm a ssssnake. Merlin help me! Thissss issn't' happening," The snake began to curl up even tighter and began hissing with distress. Merlin didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to help Arthur for the first time. He got up and made for the door.
"Wait," Arthur's pleading voice hissed out. "Don't leave me like thisss. You can't,"
"I'm going to get Gaius he might know what to do, just don't panic Arthur, we'll turn you back somehow." Merlin walked out the door leaving the curled up Python to settle by the side of his bed.
"Gaius, Gaius you've got to help me!" Merlin was shaking the old physician awake.
"Ugh…What is it my boy? What's wrong!" Gaius sensed the urgency in his nephew's voice and awoke with a start.
"It's Arthur, he's not human anymore, he's changed into an Albino Python!" Merlin cast a glance back at the door to his room where Arthur was curled up.
"He's turned into a what?" Gaius asked shocked.
"A python come and see, I don't know what to do!" Merlin all but dragged Gaius up to his room. He flung open the door and found the Prince in a corner of the room.
"Arthur are…you ok!" Merlin's jaw dropped. Arthur was trying his best to swallow a mouse whole!
"Sire is that you?" Gaius asked disbelievingly. The Albino nodded still trying to choke down the struggling mouse. Finally he gave up and threw up the live mouse that hurriedly scurried away.
"Arthur come here," Merlin said. "Gaius wants to look at you," The snake slithered across and paused fixing Merlin with a questioning look. "It's alright Arthur, I'm not scared of snakes come on." Arthur slithered up Merlin's leg and settled on his lap. Gaius who had taken a seat next to Merlin looked down at the transformed Prince through his glasses.
"Can you think what might of caused this sire?" He asked.
"No, well I had a headache yesssterday after going hunting. And there was ssssnake jussst like what I look like now that climbed or slithered onto me!"
"A headache and a snake did this snake do anything out of the ordinary?" Gaius enquired he had picked up Arthur off Merlin's lap and was poking and prodding him and scanning his eyes.
"Well it's eyessss changed colour briefly, when Merlin moved. But it wasss ssso brief I didn't even think it had."
"Hmmm!" Gaius pondered and poked for another moment until he handed Arthur back to Merlin. "I think I might know what caused this but I'll have to look it up first. Try not to worry sire, if it is what I think it is it's perfectly simple to undo." With that he got up and left Merlin with the Python.
"I'm sssorry Merlin I should of lissstened to you!" Arthur moaned quietly.
"Hey, don't worry we will get you back to normal somehow Arthur," Merlin reassured though the words sounded hollow, he wasn't sure. He couldn't let Arthur know he had magic and he might need magic to turn him back.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked. "I'm hungry, but I can't chew my food, how am I sssupposed to eat?"
Merlin considered the question. "We might have to force feed the food down your throat, if you can't chew!" He admitted not liking the idea anymore than Arthur would.
"Well in that cassse, I think I'd rather ssstarve!" Arthur whimpered. But Merlin was persistent.
"Hang on let's try this idea first you might not like it but if your hungry you have to eat, snakes lose energy quickly when hungry."
"How would you know?" Arthur hissed.
"I've read a little on snakes and did used to keep one, it was only small though. I found it the fields in Ealdor."
"Really, well that isss ssso interesting Merlin. But your not force feeding me, I'm uncomfortable enough without your hand down my throat." Arthur hung his head dejectedly. "I just hope Gaius sssortsss thisss out sssoon."
"Don't worry he will, I mean we will," Merlin replied stroking Arthur's scales gently. The Python looked at him surprisedly. "Oh sorry is that annoying you?" Merlin enquired.
"Actually it isss kinda relaxing, don't sstop!" Arthur hissed then curled up tightly and tried his best to sleep.
There you go, Now depending on what your reviews are I can leave it there or continue it. If you'd like to know the kind of snake I envisioned type in "Albino Python" into your image search. J