Sorry for the long gap in posting. There was a different story taking over. Recap; Uther has been tuned into an Alsatian, found by Arthur, named Rex by Merlin and not claimed by any nobles...
"Here Rex" Merlin crouched down and tapped the floor with two fingers "Come here boy"
Not likely
Merlin advanced on him, holding out the plaited leather "Come on boy, it is elaborate" Rex growled
"Alright have it the hard way" Arthur's voice came from behind him. Before he could resist both men jumped on him, Arthur pinning his back legs down and Merlin attempting to get the collar around his neck.
No I will not tolerate this. I am the king of Camelot.
All that came out was barks and a snarl
"Now Rex don't get nasty"
What am I supposed to do then, behave?
He lunged against their grasp but too little too late. The collar was tied tightly around his neck
Merlin sat back on his heels "well that was fuss over nothing Rex, and you hurt my arm by laying on it"
Good
He saw anger in the dog's eyes "Now just calm down... Hey" Rex shoved past him and vanished out the door. "Arthur, Rex just escaped. I'll go and find him"
Gaius stared as the dog rammed open his door, dragging a bag in its teeth. He was even more astonished when the contents came tumbling out
"What do you want with Arthur's old alphabet bricks Rex?"
The Alsatian ignored him, pulling out bricks and turning them over, knocking some aside and putting others into a line.
On the physicians floor appeared a sentence
I AM UTHER
"Gaius have you..." Merlin entered stopped mid sentence, walking round the dog to join his mentor "Oh God... Ohhh God no"
The dog ducked his head in a nod.
"How?" Gaius recovered his wits
The dog rearranged the letters to form; TAUREN
Both men looked at each other "He used a spell?" the dog nodded again
"Did it sound like..." Merlin swallowed and forced himself to not use the natural accent that now came with his saying spells "A hine sar hafao"
Rex/Uther barked and jumped up, bobbing his head in a nod.
The men glanced at each other again
"Rex why don't you go up into Merlin's room, I seem to recall he bought you a bone as well as the collar" Gaius suggested and forced himself not to laugh as the dog shot up the stairs.
When he was gone Merlin tuned to the physician
"What do we do now? The Book is in the room with him! There's no way I can get it out..."
Gaius hushed him "you don't have to... I was looking through it earlier" he gestured to the pile of papers on a side table. Merlin dashed to it and yanked out the book. He didn't waste time searching but yanked off the clasp and thought of the spell Uther had identified. The pages rustled as they moved before falling flat again.
"Ah"
"What does it say?" Gaius lent over
"Absolutely nothing I can understand" Merlin frowned, "it's all written in Old Tongue, I don't know enough to translate it..." He paused "Ah HA! But I know this bit; gestillan hagorún means cease enchantment."
"what's after it?" Gaius peered down to read the next line
"the spell..." Merlin turned so he was facing his room then closed his eyes and pointed a finger up at the door.
"eftcyme mennisc" he whispered the words.
eftcyme mennisc; Return Human in Old English