Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Something quick and fluffy and fun to post on my shiny new Merlin ff account. :)

My headcanon is that Merlin is a complete cat person and doesn't like dogs licking and pawing him - based on how he reacts when the statue-turned-real-dog jumps up at him. Idk, just thought fastidious!Merlin was rather adorable. And Arthur coming to his rescue! I'm still not sure how Merlin managed that, but it was too cute not to write. :D

'We - we did it!' Merlin huffed delightedly and crashed into his chair, lolling his head back and flopping his arms by his sides. 'I can't believe we actually did it!' He grinned up at Gaius. 'Come on. You're pleased, too, admit it!'

Gaius looked at him from under mismatched brows. 'Hmm,' he said, and Merlin waited hopefully until he smiled, too, his eyes twinkling. 'You did it.'

'What? No!'

'This time, Merlin, it was certainly all your doing. You were practicing, weren't you? All night.' Gaius's face softened and he reached out to lay his hand on Merlin's shoulder, giving it a little shake as Merlin smiled up at him.

Then they heard the barking, coming from the direction of Merlin's room.

'Ah,' said Merlin, and Gaius gave him the eyebrow again.

'Merlin. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that sound, would you?'

'Er.' Merlin rubbed the back of his neck and looked at him appealingly. 'I had to practice on something, Gaius! And the statue was just... I don't know, it was right there and I thought...'

'Or didn't think. You couldn't have chosen an engraved butterfly, or something a little less... exuberant?'

Merlin gave him a hopeful sort of smile, all apologetic ears and wide eyes. 'Come on, Gaius. It worked!'

Gaius shook his head at him. 'Well, I hope that you have a plan to remove it from my chambers, that's all. We are not keeping a dog here, no matter how much you may want one.'

'I don't!' Merlin protested. 'Really, I don't! I like cats.' He shuddered. 'Urg, that dog. It's all licky. And paw-y.' He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, so that it stuck up at wild angles.

'Well, you put it there,' said Gaius firmly, 'and no-one else is going to remove it for you, so I suggest you get moving.'

Merlin stared at him for a moment, an idea dawning in his eyes, then made for the door. Gaius, sighing, heard something like 'Arthur likes dogs!' from down the passageway.

Gaius never knew quite how Merlin had persuaded, or wiled, the Crown Prince of Camelot to come and take the dog away for him. All he knew was that Prince Arthur had come striding in, Merlin tagging adoringly at his heels, saying 'You really are completely useless, aren't you, Merlin?' The tone was perhaps nine tenths affection to one tenth exasperation, if that, although neither of the two would have admitted anything of the sort.

And Prince Arthur certainly knew how to handle dogs. In five minutes the creature was fawning over him as he rubbed its head and ears and back, laughing. Merlin hovered at a safe distance and watched Arthur admiringly and the dog warily.

As they left, Arthur was explaining to Merlin what a fine dog it was and how odd it was that it had just turned up in the chambers; he was sure that he would have remembered seeing it around the castle. Merlin was doing a good job of looking perplexed and nodding in agreement, Gaius noted.

After that, Prince Arthur of Camelot acquired a rather fine black-and-tan hunting dog that quickly became his favourite; no-one quite knew where it had come from, not even the prince's manservant. And a little while after that, some might have noticed that the manservant could sometimes be seen with a tiny, inquisitive black kitten; and the prince, instead of telling him to drown the creature, seemed to tolerate its presence.

'Honestly, you're such a girl, Merlin.'

'What? You gave him to me! Besides, you're snuggling him into your shirt - which makes you the girl.'

'Merlin. I am not the girl. Because I'm not the one cooing over a kitten. Awwww! So fluffy! Look at his little paws! Awww!'

'I don't sound like that!'

'Yes, you do.'

'(Prat)'

…

'OW! Let go of me! You and your stupid dog!'

'Valiant is a good dog. Best I've ever had.'

'I still can't believe you called him that.'

'Well, it's better than calling a kitten Colin.'

I couldn't resist; the dog and the kitten practically named themselves. ;) If you were wondering, I'm probably more of a cat person, myself.

This is rather a mismatch of styles, because I was trying things out and getting a feel for the characters, but I hope it was an enjoyable bit of fluff anyway!

Please leave a review and let me know what you thought! :)