Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or the songs/actors I use. I only own Beatrice, and her backstory.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

For her whole life, Beatrice had spent most of it in the palace of King Uther as the court physician's cat. Her job was to help watch patients, give comfort to them, and to watch over the king's son, Arthur.

It was mid-day Wednesday, and Beatrice was pacing in the entrance of Gaius's quarters. She was not alone, the only other figures were two guards. She looked at the two of them with her pale green eyes, then started to walk away. She heard the muffled voices saying,

"Should we go after her?"

"Nah, she's a cat. She'll be fine."

Beatrice continued to walk until she reached the Square. A man was standing in front of the chopping block. His arms are tied back by strong rope. Not again.. Thought the she-cat, bowing her head. And started to walk away.

"Let this serve as a lesson to all." Said Uther, standing on a balcony and letting his voice bounce off the walls. "This man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass."

Beatrice's back was turned towards the square as Uther gave his order. She could bring herself to watch another execution.

"When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin."

Beatrice slowly turned to see the people start to dispatch. But they were all interrupted by an older woman's wails of agony.

"There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son."

Uther narrowed his eyes and frowned.

"Seize her!" He shouted

But before his soldiers could, she muttered an enchantment and disappeared in a whirl of smoke.

~.-.-.~

"I don't know how you can stand executions." Gaius commented as Beatrice looked at him. He was currently organizing… something high above the ground, a wooden balcony was all that was holding him up.

Beatrice shook her head. 'Stand them'? You should know by now that I hate them. She hissed in anger. Then she looked up at the old man. Gaius, did you forget that I am also a creature of magic? If Uther found out he would have me executed as well. Gaius's brow narrowed in confusion. "Even if he did find out, why would Uther kill a cat?" Beatrice shrugged. He has his reasons.

The creaking of the quarter's door got her attention as she she-cat looked away from her master, to see a boy in his early twenties. He was pale, with messy black hair, and a red scarf wrapped around his skinny neck.

"Hello?" He asked, before stepping inside. No reply.

"Hello?" He asked more softly.

"Gaius?" This time the boy got Gaius's attention.

He looked down so quickly that he lost his balance and the balcony's handle broke, causing the older man to fall. Beatrice's eyes widened as she let out a yowl. The boy looked around frantically before setting eyes on a bed. He forced on it, and to Beatrice's amazement it started to move with surprising speed. It stopped as soon as Gaius's body made an impact. Beatrice ran and leaped onto the bed, and on top of her master to see if he was alright.

"I-what did you just do?" Gaius asked in shock, moving Beatrice off of him and standing up.

The boy muttered something under his breath.

"Tell me!"

"Well," The boy stuttered. "I-I have no idea what happened."

Beatrice could help but roll her eyes. It was obvious that the boy did something to move the bed. He looked suspicious. And his stuttering didn't help.

Gaius looked back at the balcony. "If anyone had seen that…"

"Oh, no," The boy continued. "That had nothing to do with me. That-"

"I know what it was." Interrupted Gaius. "I just want to know where you learned how to do it."

"No I-"

"How is it you know Magic?"

"I don't!"

Gaius wasn't convinced.

"Where did you study?"

The boy didn't respond.

"ANSWER ME!"

"I-I've never studied magic or been taught."

Beatrice walked closer to the boy. It looked like he was telling the truth. But of course, Gaius wasn't convinced.

"Are you lying to me boy?" The physician asked, his tone grave.

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

He finally gave in. "I was born this way." At those words, Beatrice's ears spiked up in interest. Impossible-

"That's impossible." Said Gaius, echoing the cat's thoughts.

There was a slight pause before Gaius asked "Who are you?"

The boy looked at him in confusion, before he started clumsily taking off his pack. "Oh, Um… I have this letter." He took a letter out of his pack. "There."

"I-I don't have my glasses." Said Gaius, holding onto the letter. Beatrice thought of herself stealing the letter from his hands and reading it herself, but she predicted that he would force her to sleep outside if she did.

"I'm Merlin." Said the boy. Hunith's son? Thought Beatrice as the same time Gaius asked him, "Hunith's son?"

"Yes." Agreed Merlin, looking back at Gaius.

"But you're not meant to be here till Wednesday."

At that sentence, Beatrice latched down, rested her head on the cold stone floor, and closed her eyes. Are you kidding me…

Merlin gave her a strange look before hesitantly replying, "It is Wednesday."

Gaius opened his mouth, then simply said, "Ahh. Right then, you'd better put your bag in there."

He motioned towards the room where Beatrice slept. It was a large room, room for more than her furry body. But she had dubbed it hers ever since she had arrived as a small kitten.

Merlin proceeded to do so, but stopped in his tracks, turned, and said, "Oh, you won't say anything about-" He waved a hand at the destroyed baloney. "No." Gaius responded.

Merlin nodded, but before he could continue to walk Gaius interrupted him again. "Although Merlin, I should say thank you."

Silence. Beatrice swore she heard the hooting of an owl in the background. At last Merlin turned and walked back into the direction of her- his room. Gaius looked down at Beatrice, who mewed disapprovingly. "It's his room now." He said simply.

~Time Skip~

Beatrice crawled up the small stairs into Now-Merlin's-Room. He was sitting on his bed, surveying the area. His bag was already on the ground and he looked settled in. He paused before gazing at the closed window, standing up, and walking towards it. He then opened it and looked out onto Camelot's beautiful moon, stars, and village.

When this room has been hers, Beatrice would often do this as well. She loved the feeling of the cold night breeze upon her long brown pelt, the small lights of stars, and the smalls of the food which had been in the market during the day.

To see what he would do, Beatrice sprinted forward and leaped upon the window seal, next to Merlin. He gave her a confused look. She matched his gaze. "I guess this was your room before it was mine." He said. She nodded. He gave her another one of his confused looks. "Did you just nod?" She nodded. He sighed, before slowly lifting a hand and rubbing her back. She purred in response.

"Back there, when I was talking to Gaius, it seemed that you too were talking." Merlin muttered. Beatrice's eyes widened in alarm. "But that's crazy right? Animals don't talk." The she-cat just nodded. This was going to be a long apprenticeship.