Amethyst49:
Thank you! Gotta love bromance ;-)

MrsMagnusB:
Thanks :-)

Eloeehez:
Neither did I to be perfectly honest but the plot bunny (eh... plot kitten...?) just wanted it and who am I to say no? That's baically a nice way of explaining that I really have no plan when I write ;-)

Nah, I'm guessing he was too busy laughing himself, and thinking of Percival... ;-)

Vaughntronic:
Maybe a little wrong, but aren't we all?
Thanks!

Nance:
Yeah, maybe he did... But I guess Arthur knows not to bite the hand that (literally) feeds him? ;-)
Oh, I love Garfield, maybe that's why?

Phanstarlight:
Thank you!
More cuteness to the people! ;-)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in the series, I'm just borrowing them from BBC to play with a little and I promise to give them back when I'm done. No copyright infringement is intended and I don't make any money from writing fanfiction.

In the flesh (fur)

Joyous news, frustrating setbacks and some interesting revelations…

"Rise and shine" Merlin called out cheerily from the other room and Arthur pretended not to hear. To keep up the pretence of being ill he had to stay in Gaius' chambers and the bed there was nowhere near a comfortable as his own. His whole back ached and he didn't have enough room to move around properly. The sun was too bright, the room was not enough airy and Merlin was too awfully happy first thing in the morning. He groaned, grabbed the covers with both hands and pulled them over his head. That's when he realized…

"I'm back!" Arthur gasped, torn between excitement and relief, jumping out of the bed. Judging by the sounds from the other room, Merlin apparently dropped whatever he was holding and came running.

"Merlin! I'm me again!" Arthur beamed at his manservant.

"In the flesh, so to speak" Merlin smirked from the doorway, and that was when Arthur realized that he was in fact stark naked. Hastily he yanked a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around his waist but not even Merlin's comment could cloud his joy today.

Leon, who'd been taking turn with the other knights to guard the door, peeked his head through the doorway when he heard the commotion and grinned widely to see that his king was back to normal.

"Sire, it's good to have you back."

"Thank you, Leon. It sure feels good to be back." Arthur stretched and relished the feeling of standing on two legs again. "And it sure feels good to be able to talk to someone else than Merlin" he added teasingly and turned to Merlin who rolled his eyes.

"Get me my clothes, Merlin" Arthur ordered. "And some breakfast. Some real breakfast, that is. And tell all the others to come down here." Merlin huffed.

"I liked you better as a cat, sire" he said and promptly ducked behind Leon to use him as a shield when Arthur attempted to cuff him over the head.

When Merlin returned a little later, with a laden breakfast tray and Arthur's clothes in his hands, he found a welcome surprise in the hallway.

"Gaius!" He grinned widely at his mentor. "Did you come back just now?"

"Yes." Gaius smiled back at him. "It feels good to be home again." He stepped into his chambers and raised an eyebrow as he took in the books haphazardly strewn over the whole place, the remains of yesterday's evening meal still on the table and some overturned baskets on the floor, the contents scattered. "Although I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed to see the state of this room."

"That" Merlin pointed at the herbs, "was not my fault." And it wasn't. The night before, Arthur had caught the scent of catnip again and had desperately raffled through the baskets to find it before anyone had the chance to stop him. Gaius looked at Merlin steadily.

"I see. And the rest?"

"That might be somewhat my fault" Merlin admitted. "But I'll let Arthur explain. Sire?" Arthur didn't answer and Merlin frowned. "Sire?" he repeated a bit louder and Leon appeared in the doorway looking slightly awkward, gesturing towards something in the room and Merlin took a step forward to get a better look.

A large ginger cat sat on top of the covers that Arthur had wrapped around him only a short while ago.

"Meow" it said miserably. Merlin looked at Gaius and groaned.

"Oh, no. Not again."

Gaius looked confused and Merlin hastily began to explain what had happened during the past few days when he'd been away.

"… and then I came back with the breakfast and then he was like this." Merlin gestured towards Arthur who was now caught under Gaius' scrutinizing gaze.

"Hm, I see. Seems like you've had your work cut out for you then" he remarked. "What happened this morning, sire?" he asked Arthur.

"I felt dizzy and then I must have blacked out because I don't remember anything until I woke up like this again. What is happening to me?" Arthur asked desperately.

"I'm not really sure, sire" Gaius answered. "Last time it was the potion, now it seems that the transformation comes from within yourself." He turned to look for a book.

"I've been possessed?" Arthur asked anxiously at the same time as Leon blurted out:

"Gaius? But how can you…?"

"He has magic too" Merlin explained swiftly and handed Gaius the book he was looking for before the old man had the chance to say anything more about the messy state of the room. "And yes, Arthur knew" he added in answer to Leon's unspoken question.

"Well, now I really need a drink" the knight said feebly and sat down.

Meanwhile Gaius had found what he was looking for and read intensely.

"No sire, I do not believe that you have been possessed, not the way that you think anyway" he concluded but Arthur didn't look particularly calmed by the statement and Leon went from being worried to alarmed. "I might know what has happened to you but it shouldn't be possible, surely not" Gaius continued, mostly mumbling to himself, and opened another book.

"Sir Leon, did you see what happened?" he then asked.

"We talked and suddenly he looked disorientated and he didn't seem to hear what I said to him. He started swaying and his eyes were all glossy and unfocused. And then…" Leon swallowed, "… he changed."

"I see" Gaius murmured, as if this was the confirmation he needed. "Merlin, could you get me that book from your room, please?" At the same time as Merlin went to get it the door burst open and the rest of the knights entered.

"Gwen's away helping a friend, she left early this morning" Elyan said to explain his sister's absence and then his eyes widened when he saw the cat. "But didn't you say that…?"

"That he was back to normal?" Merlin supplied. "Yes I did, and he was, but now he's apparently a cat again." He handed Gaius the book and the old man let out a triumphant "ah!" when found the right chapter.

"Would anyone have the decency to tell me what is happening?" Arthur demanded agitated.

"I just needed to verify something, sire" Gaius answered and immediately drew the eyes of the rest of the knights.

"You too, Gaius?" Gwaine asked bemused. "I guess I should've known" he chuckled. By now Arthur was practically bouncing with impatience.

"What. Is. Going. On?" he growled and Gaius looked at him, mostly compassionate but also with a look of reproach for the tone of voice and Arthur immediately felt embarrassed for the way that he'd spoken. Whatever had happened, it wasn't Gaius' fault.

"Sire, you're a shapeshifter."