I'm very sorry for the late update but my muse had fizzled into mush. This chapter is shorter than the last. Please give suggestions to what you would like to see (I haven't done all of them, but I still haven't finished the fic and they might get into the next chapter). Anyway I hope you enjoy this one, I got lots of reviews for the last one.
Disclaimer: Colin. Bradley. Angel. Katie. Anthony. John. Why can't I own them? D:
Arthur broke out into a run as he dodged past the various cooks and their leering hands. He triumphantly skidded up the stairs and dropped the fish from his mouth once he reached the top. A darker, fluffier cat stopped next to him with a squirrel in her mouth and they all turned expectantly to see a silky black cat sidle next to Morgana, a chicken leg in her jaws. All three looked at the food they had gathered.
"Where is he?" Arthur demanded and as if on cue, a blur came running out of the kitchens, yowling.
His fur was coated in what looked like grated cheese and leek and potato soup as he bounded up the steps faster than the others.
"I think the point was to bring something back, Merlin." Morgana said slowly, as if she were speaking to a child, "I don't intend on licking that off you."
Gwen giggled hysterically. She still wasn't used to the idea of being a cat.
"I tripped." Merlin replied, "Then one of those maids stepped on my blasted tail."
Arthur rolled his eyes, "You're an idiot. You're not getting any of my fish!"
All three of them picked up their prizes and marched off, with Merlin tagging along behind, his skinny legs trying to keep up with them.
"But I don't like stealing… and it wasn't very fair. By the time I managed to grab something, the cooks were on the lookout for you three, so I didn't stand a chance."
"Shuff uff." Arthur snapped, or it would've been a snap if the fish hadn't gotten in the way of his speech.
"Shut up yourself." Merlin snorted.
Morgana slipped through an open door, followed by Gwen and Arthur, then lastly Merlin. It was an unused guest room.
The trio began eating while Merlin went hungry, his stomach growling furiously. Gwen shared some of her chicken and he was allowed to lick the bone, but he was still hungry.
Arthur had devoured the whole fish and was stretching out his legs when he spotted a mouse in the corner of the room. Narrowing his eyes he told everyone to shut up. Slowly, he began to proceed on pouncing on the little rodent. His paws silently stepped on the stone floor and the mouse was too busy sniffing about for crumbs to notice his presence.
The Prince was within pouncing distance and shuffling on his haunches, finally he jumped.
Merlin could see the terror in the little mouse's face as it saw the blond feline towering above it, and could do nothing when jaws were clamped down and its life was snuffed out. He winced and looked away. He hated hunting, even as a cat, it seems.
Arthur proudly flaunted the mouse about for a bit, before dropping it.
"I see why cats don't eat these things. They're disgusting. But I do have a good idea with what to do with it."
Gwen grinned, "If we hunt enough we could leave them in people's beds as a little 'gift'."
He smirked, "Maybe I could get this one on my father's throne without anyone noticing."
"That'd be impossible. There're guards everywhere, it'd be no use."
Arthur spun on his heels to stare at a very innocent-looking Merlin.
"That's where our lovely sorcerer-"
"Warlock."
"Warlock comes in."
"What do you expect me to do, anyway? I'm not a miracle worker. If the King finds out I've been putting dead mice in his throne, I'll be on the chopping block faster than you can say 'whiskers and claws'."
"He won't find out!" Gwen insisted.
"Never in a million years will you make me join in on your gross games."
*
"A little to the left."
"No your other left. My left."
"I believe there's only one left."
"Shut up, Merlin."
Merlin and Arthur had managed to creep into the Great Hall with a little help from the open windows and they were hiding behind a pillar, trying to guide the dead mouse into the throne. It was easier said than done.
"That's too far left, you idiot." Arthur hissed.
Merlin tightened his jaw, but said nothing, as the mouse slid across the ground.
A guard suddenly caught sight of a mouse in the middle of the room and frowned. How long had that been there, and why had no one noticed a cat coming in?
"Merlin, stop! He's noticed it. Stay here."
"Wha- Arthur, get back here!"
It was too late. The Prince was approaching the guard who was bending down to pick up the corpse. His fur was prickled and his back arched. A hiss emitted from his furry lips and he pounced on the poor man.
Other guards ran to his aid, trying to get the cat off his face, but Arthur's claws were embedded deep into the chainmail.
"No one's looking, Merlin!" He shouted across the hall, "Move it now!"
As quickly as possible, the mouse skidded across the floor and he levitated it a few seconds for it to reach the seat. When Arthur could see he was done, he sheathed his claws and jumped down from the man's head and sprinted to join Merlin behind the pillar. He had moved so quickly that no one had seen what way he had gone.
"What the hell?" Shouted the guard, rubbing the back of his head.
"Probably 'ad rabies or somethin'." Another said, "Did 'e bite yer?"
"Nah, I'll be 'right."
Arthur chuckled and kept his eyes peeled on the two double doors. He could hear the clock chiming. Any minute now, his father would enter and either, notice the mouse and demand it to be removed, or sit on it. The latter would be far more amusing.
As expected, the King arrived and marched down the room. The guards said nothing about the sudden attack of cats, and he went to his throne. Uther didn't even look at the seat before lowering himself into it. He could see next to him Merlin was shaking with silent laughter, and Arthur couldn't contain himself anymore.
The guard he had attacked looked in his direction and his eyes widened.
"Sire, I believe two cats have come in here without our knowing." The man said and Uther stood up, turning to the guard.
There, on his breeches, was the poor, mangled mouse.
The guard pointed in their direction and when Uther turned to look, the guard's eyes widened at the sight. He wasn't sure whether to mention it or not.
"I- er- Sire I believe you… you have a… er…"
The King turned and glared at the guard, "Spit it out, man!"
"The- there's a mouse… stuck to your… er…" The guard scratched his head, embarrassed, "A mouse is on your trousers… Sire…"
Uther bent over to look and the guard swallowed again.
"The- er the other side, Sire."
"Get it off me then, you blithering moron!"
The unlucky guard had to peel off the now-flattened mouse off his buttocks and he chucked it out the window, glaring at the two cats, which were scampering after it.
Merlin and Arthur were in fits of laughter by the time they reached the courtyard.
"That went so much better than planned!" Arthur managed to choke out.
"I feel sorry for that mouse!"
It took a few more minutes to calm down and by then, Morgana and Gwen had joined them and were dropping the piles of mice that they had found. Arthur retold what had happened with his father and the two women were laughing as well.
"I wish I saw his face!" Morgana cried, "It would've been priceless!"
Gwen giggled and nudged at the deceased rodents, "I believe we have work to do."
Arthur smiled, "I think we'd better leave one for the cooks. Compliments for the delicious food earlier." Gwen nodded and took a mouse in her jaws and ran off to give the present to the kitchens.
The Prince looked down at the rest of the animals, "I suppose one should be put in father's bed. Merlin, you're in charge of that."
The warlock sighed and lifted the mouse into his mouth, wincing at the taste, and ran in the direction of the royal bedrooms.
Morgana looked at him expectantly, "What do you want me to do?" She asked.
"You, Morgana, are coming with me to annoy the knights."
She grinned excitedly.
He picked up a mouse, as did she, and they ran off to the training grounds, where one of the Knights was fighting with another.
Arthur lashed his tail and ran into the heat of the fight, yowling and hissing. Morgana watched as he shoved a mouse down Sir Tristan's armour. The man yelled and dropped his sword, shaking off the cat, and trying to bend his arm around to remove the rodent from his back, but with no avail.
The Prince ran back to Morgana, "He always annoyed me. And he tripped Merlin up on purpose once. I think he deserved it."
"Quite." Morgana agreed, watching as Tristan's servant came running to his service.
*
Merlin smiled, satisfied at how the mouse comfortably sat underneath the covers. He jumped off the bed, but suddenly heard the door open. He slinked behind the curtains and watched Uther as laid his sword on the table and have a servant undress him.
There was a knock at the door and Merlin heard Gaius' voice.
"Sire, I'm afraid that four members of the court are missing," Merlin frowned. If Arthur was reported missing, there would be men searching all over Albion for him, "Two being your son and Ward."
The King cursed under his breath, "Arthur is a fool, but Morgana should know better."
"Merlin and Gwen have gone with them."
"Do you have any idea where they could've disappeared to?"
Gaius sighed, "They may have travelled to Ealdor to visit Merlin's home village again.
"I specifically told them not to go walkabouts with the feast so near. I can never trust Arthur. He's just like his mother." The last part was quieter, but perked Merlin's ears up.
He had tried to talk about Arthur's mother to him, but Arthur admitted that Uther rarely spoke about her. All he knew was that she had the same hair colour as he did, and was incredibly beautiful.
"Yes, I admit that Arthur is far too stubborn to take ideas from anyone else, and doesn't follow the very few orders he is given."
"He will be punished when he is returned. The four of them in the cells for a few nights will do the trick." He heard him sigh, "Someone really should be keeping an eye on them."
"My Ward wouldn't let him get into any trouble, I assure you. He guides Arthur away from that kind. Merlin is much too cautious to let him walk into bother."
"I hope you're right, Gaius, otherwise that useless manservant will be flogged. The stocks never seem to work for him."
Merlin's eyes widened. He didn't want to get flogged! Arthur wouldn't let that happen, surely?
"You may leave Gaius, but keep me updated on any news of my son."
"Yes sire."
Merlin heard the door close and breathed out a sigh of relief.
*
The young warlock met up with the rest of his friends once he had maneuvered himself out of the window and had slid down countless tiles and off the roof into a cart of manure.
Whoever said cats always landed on their feet clearly had not a clue about animals.
Gwen and Morgana walked side by side, hips connecting together and fur brushing against the others. Arthur, however, kept his distance from his manservant, dragging his paws behind him as they wandered aimlessly through the town. They had run out of ideas to do and everyone was tired of being cats. The novelty of catching mice was great at first, but it had finally gotten boring.
Arthur stopped in the path and frowned, sniffing the air. Merlin could tell something was up when his fur started to stand on end.
The Prince turned to look at the warlock and eyes widened.
"Merlin! Look out!"
He didn't have time to move when jaws locked with his small body and Merlin was thrown to the side, crying out in pain. He stared up in horror at the black eyes looking back at him and suddenly the excruciating stinging was released as the animal stepped back as if to admire its work. Merlin's stomach twisted as he saw what had caused him this amount of damage.
Right in front of him was one of the hunting dogs that would often accompany him and Arthur on a trip to snag a few rabbits and other sorts. He looked past the snarling mutt to see the other canines chasing his friends through the market stalls, frantically dodging pairs of legs and climbing up trees to escape the barking beasts.
Morgana had disappeared around a corner while Gwen was quivering on a branch; Arthur was also nowhere to be seen (probably gone to save his own skin). The dogs seemed to give up on the other targets and were all advancing on Merlin.
It was like on a hunt, Merlin realized. Men and animals alike always went after the weaker (and injured in Merlin's case) animal to kill. Never, Merlin thought, had he ever seen a dog kill a cat. Dogs were known to be stupid while cats were more cunning and could always trick the canines. Merlin didn't seem to have got the knack of being a cat, though.
The dogs advanced, drool dripping off their tongues, as their eyes were fixated on the prey.
A blur of black and white and suddenly a dog was howling, scampering away.
There was a sound of hissing and Merlin adjusted to see Morgana standing protectively in front of him, flicking her tail, challengingly.
The two remaining dogs backed away a little, but continued to bark furiously. She raised a paw and when a muzzle got to close and pushed her personal boundaries, the claws came out and linked with the nose. Merlin started to laugh as the canines scampered away and Morgana finally turned to the warlock.
"You can bloody do magic, Merlin, and yet you can't defend yourself! I am beginning to wonder whether you really do have a mental affliction."
"I wouldn't put it past him."
Blond obscured his view and Merlin blinked up at Arthur.
"Glad my knight in shining armour came to save me." Merlin said sarcastically, trying to stand up.
He saw Gwen behind them promptly fall out the tree she had been in and somehow landed on her feet.
Maybe it was just Merlin who couldn't be a cat.
She winced and joined the others in the alley they had sidled into.
"That looks like a nasty cut, Merlin." She says.
"At least somebody cares." The servant replied, chuckling, but as his shoulders shook, he hissed in pain. The teeth of that damned dog had gone through the skin and it hurt to talk, let alone laugh.
Arthur frowned, "Merlin, you're limping."
He looked down, and noticed that his front leg dragged along slightly more than the rest of them, "Oh."
"Observant as ever."
"Shut up, Arthur. I must've landed on it wrong when the dog threw me down. I'll be alright."
Gwen turned to Morgana, who had been silent ever since the sparring with the canines, "I was amazed by your bravery, Milady. You had those dogs cowering! You managed to defend three huge animals from attacking us. How did you do it?"
Arthur sniffed, "Bravery or stupidity? You're worse than Merlin sometimes."
"Hey!"
"Shut up. You know you're an idiot."
"No need to be a prat about it."
Morgana rolled her eyes, "I guess I didn't want to see Merlin grinded into pig feed."
Gwen smiled, "I think you were very brave."
"Yeah, Arthur just ran away." Merlin teased, looking back at his master, who was giving him a deadly glare that made him promptly shut up.
*
Morgana and Gwen decided to go off and pester some of the maids that had apparently made a rude remark about them a few days earlier. Merlin and Arthur, not wanting to help them plot a girly revenge, decided to wander through the town and see if anything exciting would happen.
They were walking side by side when Arthur locked eyes with another pair of emerald green orbs. He stared, totally gob smacked and entranced in the female cat that was approaching them. She had a slender yet long body with the sun glistening against her ivory pelt. Her paws slowly padded across the dusty path towards the two tom cats and she kept her eyes fixated on the Prince.
"Merlin… she is…"
"A cat," He supplied unhelpfully.
"Beautiful…"
Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Shut your mouth and stop drooling. You are not going to have a love affair with a cat. Who the hell are you and what have you done with Arthur?"
Arthur ignored him and stepped forward with a slight stumble, but composed himself quickly. The female cat stopped in front of him and her throat began to vibrate as she started to purr.
The warlock watched as Arthur tried and failed to form a sentence.
"I… er I'm… well what's… you are… but… yeah."
The cat looked at him bemused, then flicked her eyes over to Merlin.
"I believe your friend needs to learn how to speak. Cats like him are lucky to have got it this far in life."
With a flick of her tail, the fair cat left them, leaving Arthur in a daze and Merlin in fits of laughter.
It took a few minutes for Arthur to understand what happened and shook his head.
"Talk of this with anyone and you're going straight to hell." Arthur hissed at his companion, but Merlin just gave his trademark grin, which had unfortunately stuck with his features even transformed as a cat.
"Oh I'm going straight to hell, Arthur, but I'm dragging you down with me."
Arthur scowled and carried on his journey across town.
*
The pair encountered two very excitable children.
Arthur had been the unlucky target of their strokes, pressing their hands down too firmly across his arched back and causing him to collapse in a heap as they continued to smother him.
Their grimy fingers slid through his sleek fur and they tugged at his tail, causing him to yowl. The two boys that were grooming Arthur to death were laughing at the Prince's reactions and Merlin watched.
"When I turn back you two boys are going straight to the stocks! I bet you don't like tomatoes pelted at you, eh? Well that's what you're going to get! Ow! No, not the tail! Ah… ah… no you, ah, are going straight to hell with… ow! Merlin. Get off me!"
Finally he got out of their clutches as the boys scampered off and a girl appeared. Arthur inwardly groaned.
"Not another one! Oh and thanks for your help, Merlin, I really appreciate it."
"It's not my destiny to interfere. Besides, you never asked for help."
"Princes do not ask for help from servants!"
"Precisely."
"Oh shut up."
The girl trotted up to Arthur before he even got a chance to run and suddenly tranquility overwhelmed him. This hand was so much gentler than those stupid boys who didn't know how to treat poor animals.
Her fingers scratched behind his ear and across his cheek and Arthur found himself purring.
She closed her fingers into a fist and without knowing it, the Prince started to nuzzle at the hand, and the purrs got increasingly louder.
Jealous at all the attention, Merlin stepped forward, glaring. When the girl noticed him, she squealed in delight and rubbed her index finger and thumb together and reluctantly the warlock went over.
It must be some sort of animal instinct to nuzzle at things that you knew would receive a stroke. He rubbed his face against her fingers and across her legs while her other hand idly stroked Arthur's back. The Prince heaved a sigh and rested his head in her lap while Merlin curled up in front of her.
Just before either of the cats could fall asleep to the girl stroking across their bodies, there was a bark and both pairs of ears shot up. Two dogs were sprinting right towards them.
"Run!" Arthur yelped, scrambling from the girl's lap and up a tree, Merlin hot in his heels.
The two dogs were directly underneath them, two paws placed on the trunk of the tree while their hind legs stayed firmly on the ground. Merlin walked across a thin branch like a tightrope walker and sat down.
"There are still cuts from when those stupid dogs bit me." He muttered, "I don't want to be in their jaws again!"
Arthur smirked and sat on the branch opposite him, "Don't think I'll come to your rescue."
"I appreciate your concern." He replied sarcastically.
The two dogs growled and snapped, but both were too stupid to try any logical way of getting to them. They circled the trunk a few times and tried jumping up at the cats, but failed miserably. In the end they gave up and the Prince and the warlock could slink down from their haven.
"Earth underneath my paws once again! I seriously hate dogs."
"Dogs are alright when they aren't chasing cats." Merlin considered, "But they drag me into the mud all the bloody time when I have to walk them. They're your dogs."
"Shut up Merlin. Let's get back to the castle."
*
There were no guards patrolling Arthur's chambers and Merlin used his magic to open the door and they sidled in. Arthur pounced on his bed and began to knead at the soft blanket, groaning.
"This texture… it feels so good!"
Merlin looked at him quizzically, "You've been felineized."
Arthur shot him a shut-up-Merlin-and-get-on-this-bed-before-I-thump-you look.
Once the warlock had gotten onto the mattress, he placed a paw over the quilt and smiled, "This does feel pretty good actually."
"'You've been felineized'." Arthur mimicked in a voice uncanny to Merlin's.
Merlin yawned and decided not to snap back a sarcastic comment. That could wait till later. Kneading really did tire the warlock out.
Arthur looked out the window and frowned, "We still have a few hours left of sunlight. What do you reckon we should do, Merlin?"
When there was no reply Arthur looked down to see a black lump at his feet, claws still entangled in the fabric. The breathing was slow and even and the Prince could tell that his friend was asleep.
"Oh Merlin."
Arthur curled up opposite him, their paws slightly touching. He obediently shut his eyes and slipped away into a world where he dreamt of fresh fish and saucers of milk.
He'd been felineized.
R&R? :)