Merlin risked leaving Arthur long enough to go to the kitchens and get something to eat. He ran a few scenarios through his head, for reasonable reasons why he was going down there for food. With Arthur allegedly gone away on patrol he wouldn't be able to get as much. Still, he reasoned that Arthur would have a smaller stomach so he might not need to get as much. He could always go via Uther if necessary, not that Merlin particularly relished that idea.

As it happened, he managed to go in and gather some food without any problems; no one stopped him so he swiped various meats, some cheese and bread, with enough in mind for two of them. He knew he probably shouldn't have left Arthur, but the prince had curled up on the book again in a resigned fashion when Merlin had informed him of his mission. When Merlin returned he was in the same position, but he looked up as Merlin came back, nose lifting in interest as Merlin dumped the plate down. Arthur slowly got up, stretching his front paws out, and then leaning forward did the same with his back legs, lifting one after the other to stretch it out behind him. Then Arthur trotted forward and sat down, staring at the food.

Merlin watched Arthur's progress with amusement. Arthur looked up, eyes narrowing as he saw the smirk on Merlin's face.

"Only you could adapt that easily to being in a completely different body."

Arthur's eyes remained narrow for a moment before he opened them again, giving a low meow.

"I'm just saying," Merlin said. Arthur shifted his position a little, nose questing out towards the food. Merlin moved the plate slightly. Arthur glowered at him. "We're sharing this, you won't need as much anyway."

Arthur's eyes widened, if that was at all possible and before Merlin could react Arthur dived forward and grabbed one of the sausages and a second later ran his tongue across the top of the chunk of cheese that Merlin had managed to gather. Arthur sat back, purring happily, eyes filled with challenge and triumph. Merlin's jaw dropped in shock, he stared at Arthur in disbelief. Although the back of his mind didn't seem that surprised at Arthur's behaviour, Merlin felt like risking being scratched to throttle him, the thought made Merlin's neck start to itch again. So he settled for yelling.

"But even as a cat you're an arrogant, insensitive prat!" Merlin yelled at him. "And one that appears to have forgotten that I didn't get any breakfast this morning because you decided you wanted to go on the early patrol without telling me until the last minute!"

Merlin got up and stormed up the steps to his room, muttering angrily under his breath, he flung open, and then slammed, the door to his room before crashing face down onto his bed, leaving a rather startled looking cat in his wake.

Arthur looked at Merlin's door, then down at the food, and then back up again giving a loud meow. He waited a little while and tried again, before hopping off the bench and heading after Merlin.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Merlin lay on the bed feeling a bit stupid. He couldn't really work out why he had lost his temper. Arthur in cat form was still just Arthur. Maybe that was what was annoying him. There were times Arthur just didn't seem to learn anything. Now he had stormed off Merlin didn't quite know how to get out of the situation. Going back might hint that he was in the wrong, or that he was being stupid. Arthur was probably just happily stuffing his face.

A theory that was suddenly dispelled as Merlin heard a scratching sound, and then a meow. Arthur pawed at the door to Merlin's room, putting his weight on it. Merlin heard the latch scrape and then click as it dropped. He had slammed it so hard the latch hadn't quite caught and as Arthur pushed it he eased the door open, popping his head through and then weaving his body through the gap. Arthur regarded the scene before ambling to the bed.

Merlin heard the scrape of Arthur's claws on the floor and then there was a gentle creak as Arthur jumped onto the bed. Arthur put his front paws onto Merlin's shoulder and peered down. Merlin could feel Arthur's paws flexing and hear the sound of Arthur's purring in his ear. He felt a cold, damp nose press against his earlobe, Arthur's whiskers ticking his cheek. The nose probed a little further, pushing against his cheek and then Merlin grimaced as Arthur licked him.

"Ew," Merlin said, not moving, a little concerned he might dislodge Arthur. Arthur appeared to take that as a good sign, he purred directly into Merlin's ear and then licked the edge. Merlin opened his eyes and tilted his head to look. Arthur's face dominated the view staring at him with wide blue eyes. Arthur pushed his nose against Merlin's cheek again.

"If that's an apology it's accepted," Merlin said. He moved his arm just a fraction, in a hint that he wanted to move. Arthur backed up and sat down as Merlin rolled over, and then he rubbed the top of his head against Merlin's side. Without really thinking about it Merlin stroked Arthur's back.

"All right, don't over do it," Merlin warned him. "I suppose I had better go and see what you left me to eat."

Arthur looked up and stopped purring, giving a loud, insulted sounding meow. He turned and jumped off the bed, snuck out the gap in the doorway and trotted off. Merlin got up and followed him, going out to find Arthur back on the table, and the food untouched.

"I suppose I can cut the top of the cheese off," Merlin mused, found a knife and did so, leaving that for Arthur along with the sausage, he had stolen and some of the ham. Merlin wasn't entirely sure that Arthur would want any bread, it wasn't something cat's usually ate. As he started to eat, about to ask Arthur he watched as Arthur used one paw, claws out to grip the sausage, then he looked at it in confusion, nose bobbing about. As Merlin watched Arthur made some attempt to eat it, and looking carefully it appeared that Arthur had tried to eat some before he had come to find Merlin, if the ragged holes were anything to go by.

Arthur looked up and glared as Merlin started to snigger.

"So that's what you came up to apologise for."

Arthur's eyes narrowed, but when they opened again his face took on something of a pleading expression. Still sniggering Merlin got the knife and sliced the sausage up, cut the cheese into cubes and shredded the ham. Arthur started purring again and settling down, front legs tucked up against his sides taking each bit delicately into his mouth, trying to eat them. Several fell out, half chewed, as he tried to get the hang of it. Eating as a cat appeared to be an entirely different, and difficult, concept. Merlin watched, eating quickly, trying not to laugh. Now and again, usually as a half chewed lump fell out of his mouth, Arthur looked up to assess Merlin's reaction to his attempts.

"I'd better get a saucer as well, if you want a drink."

Arthur gave his narrow eyed look again. Merlin got up and rummaged around until he found a shallow dish and he poured some water into it. Merlin got glared at suspiciously.

"All right, so I do want to see how you manage."

Arthur shuffled, still in his tucked up position, towards the bowl, sniffing at it. He rose up into a half crouch so he could dip his head, trying to lick at the water. Merlin bit down on his lip, trying not to laugh as Arthur didn't quite get the angle right and dunked his nose in. Arthur recoiled, sneezing and shaking his head, reaching up a paw to rub his nose, which almost toppled him over.

"I take that back about you adapting," Merlin said, reaching up to try and wipe the water away. Arthur hissed and lashed at him with a paw. Merlin retreated.

"That was uncalled for."

Arthur rose up and turned a circle, Merlin poured some more water into the dish, filling it right up.

"Try again," he said. He was starting to feel some concern. If Arthur was like this for a few days, struggling to eat and drink, Uther would not be happy. "You need to sort of keep your chin up a bit and just kind of lick at it, maybe."

Arthur's eyes regarded him for a moment, clearly trying to judge if Merlin was winding him up. Then eventually, his eyes still on Merlin Arthur tried again, following Merlin's general advice, lapping at the water frantically. He kept at it for several minutes, clearing at least half the bowl; although the fur on his chin was dripping wet most of the water appeared to have been swallowed. Arthur tried to lick at the dripping mess on his chin.

"Here," Merlin said, pulling his sleeve down over his hand and rubbing Arthur's chin with it, to try and dry him off a bit. "And I'll cut this up a bit more."

By the time they had finished, Arthur had drunk a little more water and managed some more of the food. He now lay on the table, back legs stretched out, and his chin on the table resting between his front paws. His eyes were on the half chewed lumps of food he hadn't managed and the saucer that he had drunk from. And he looked utterly miserable. Merlin felt a bit sorry for him, and reached up to pet his head. Arthur's protest was little short of feeble, as he flailed a paw.

"I'm sure it'll get easier."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Quite naturally, eating and drinking led to Arthur's next problem.

Merlin was reading the books and Arthur was pacing about when Gaius returned. He looked at the plate, scowling at the cut up food and oddly chewed lumps in confusion. Merlin waved his hand in a 'don't talk about it' gesture.

"Gwen came by, can you make a sleeping draught for Morgana, she appears to be having nightmares."

"Right," Gaius said, turning to look at Arthur as he trotted past. He sniffed the floor by the door and spun in a tight circle, and then sniffed at bit more.

"Is he all right?"

"I think so, he managed something to eat, and some water. I think he's a bit fed up."

"Sire," Gaius said in a low warning tone. Merlin looked at Arthur as he straightened up from the squatting position he was in. The cat eyed them in a slightly guilty fashion. Gaius turned to glare at Merlin.

"Did you set him up a litter tray?"

"No."

"Well then I suggest you do."

Merlin looked at Arthur, who paced up and down a bit more, giving a loud yowl. He turned, tail straight in the air and he jumped as liquid splashed onto the cupboard behind him. Arthur looked up at Gaius, and then turned to look at the mess he had just made. The meow Arthur made sounded like something of an apology.

"Oh," Merlin said, feeling his own face start to flush red. "Okay, what can we use?"

Well, I'm not sure," Gaius said, looking around for something. Arthur gave a rather stressed yowl. Gaius and Merlin shared a look.

"Would it be easier if I took him outside?"

Gaius looked down at Arthur, whose pacing had become increasingly frantic, his nose sniffing close to the cupboard door he had sprayed on, before looking up at Gaius.

"For a cat, that's quite normal Sire," Gaius said, trying to sound reassuring.

"I'll take him outside," Merlin said, getting up and picking Arthur up in his arms.

"For goodness sake, Merlin, be careful!"

"Yeah," Merlin said absently as he got the door open and carried Arthur down the corridor, hurrying along. Arthur wriggled in his arms. "All right!" Merlin snapped at him.

He got outside the castle to the quiet area beyond the training field and put Arthur down. Arthur looked around, and pawed the ground a little before glaring up at Merlin.

"What?" Merlin asked him, hoping that nobody came along to see him talking to a cat. "Use a bush or something."

Arthur meowed.

"You go behind bushes all the time when we're out on patrol. It's no different! Not really, just..."

Arthur spun and suddenly disappeared behind a low bush by an old section of wall. Merlin paced a bit, not really wanting to invade Arthur's privacy but he wanted to make sure was all right. After a minute or so he peered around to find Arthur pawing at the ground, yanking up clumps of grass and soil.

"Are you all right, Arthur?"

Arthur paused what he was doing and darted away from the shelter of the bush. Merlin turned to follow him.

"Did you go?"

Arthur meowed, and bobbed his head in a curt nod.

"Okay, we'll come out here again next time."

Arthur gave another meowed, not sounding entirely happy about that. Merlin shrugged.

"Hopefully it won't be too often, and you'll be back to normal soon," Merlin announced with cheery brightness. It was not appreciated. As Merlin reached down to pick Arthur up again he ran out of Merlin's reach.

"Arthur, come on, we need to get you back."

Again, Arthur dashed out of Merlin's range. Merlin glared at him.

"Don't start Arthur, we can go to your own chambers if you like, and you can curl up on your own bed."

Merlin dived forward to grab Arthur. Arthur however had too good reflexes to be easily caught. Merlin landed face down on the ground. Arthur shot off, out of Merlin's reach, dashing round a corner. Merlin scrabbled to his feet and raced after him.

"Arthur, this isn't fair."

Arthur paused, turning to look at him.

"Okay, being a cat isn't fair either, but come here, now!" Merlin hissed. The lower town was just in view now. Merlin did not need to be seen having a conversation with a cat. Arthur turned his head to glance in the direction of the town, and then he looked back at Merlin.

"Don't you dare," Merlin warned. It was a bad thing to say. Merlin dived, and Arthur streaked clear of his grip. Merlin struggled up again, looking around furtively for anyone who might have witnessed the scene.

"Arthur!" Merlin hissed loudly, having checked the coast was clear. He could see flashes of ginger fur as Arthur bounded through the grass.

"Arthur!" Merlin hissed again, chasing after him. "Arthur, get back here!"

(I guess it's entirely possible they didn't have litter trays for cats in this time period, but never mind...)