MG12CSI16:
Nope, the good news just keeps on coming, poor Arthur ;-)
Thank you!

Vaughntronic:
You're very welcome!
Also ouch, that's some way to lay heavy pressure on the author… I'll try my best to keep your mental well-being at a good level ;-)

Nance:
I think Leon needs therapy anyway, it's not healthy to be that serious all the time… ;-)

MrsMagnusB:

We'll see what happens, but I'm all for love 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.

Shifty business

A human cat or a cat-human?

"I'm a what?" Arthur Arthur stammered.

"A shapeshifter, sire" Gaius repeated.

"A what?" Arthur said again, still sounding unbelieving. The knights and Merlin looked equally shocked.

"Are you sure, Gaius?" Merlin asked when he managed to pull himself together. Gaius nodded.

"There is no other explanation that I can think of" he answered.

"But…" Merlin said in disbelief. "The only shapeshifters are people with..."

"People with magic" Gaius finished the sentence for him. "Yes, I'm aware of that, but I really can't find another explanation. All the kings' symptoms points to this." Merlin looked like he wanted to object and opened his mouth but seemed to think better of it and frowned instead of saying anything.

"The only way that Arthur would be able to change between an animal and a human form is that he is a shapeshifter" Gaius continued.

"That would explain the irregularity of the shifting and the lack of control" Merlin said thoughtfully. "I mean, Arthur's had no tutoring on how to shift consciously or…"

"But I'm no wizard" Arthur interrupted desperately. I don't have… magic."

"It is true that most shapeshifters are magical, sire" Gaius acquiesced, "but there are some cases, very rare, in which a person without magic has the ability to shift as well." Gaius hesitated slightly before he continued. "These are cases where magic has been used to aid the conception of a child."

"Oh" was all that Arthur said.

"We would need to contact the druids for an absolute confirmation, sire, but I dare say this is the only possible way that this could have happened." Silence fell as they all considered this.

"But why did this happen now?" Leon broke the silence after a while. "I've known Arthur for most of my life and it has never happened before."

"I can only guess, but I believe that the potion that Merlin used, intended to change his appearance, may have triggered Arthur's dormant ability to shift" Gaius answered.
"But it just comes and goes" Arthur objected. How is it an ability when I can't control it?"

"Normally, a shapeshifter would be discovered as a small child and given tutoring on how to shift consciously between their human body and their animal form" Gaius answered. "It is something that one can control, if given the proper training."

"So what you're saying is that I need to practice, otherwise I can turn into a cat anytime?"

"I'm afraid so, sire."

"Brilliant" Arthur sighed. He seemed lost in thought for a while, staring into the fire quietly.

"We'll send word to the druids and ask them to meet me" he then said. "But it has to be a secret. No one can know about this yet." He looked around at everyone and received small nods from everyone after Merlin had translated what he'd said. "Merlin, you should go, and take Gwaine with you" Arthur continued.

"Seems like we have a mission, sir knight" Merlin smiled and told Gwaine. They both turned to leave and Arthur hastily added:

"Keep him away from the bloody tavern, Merlin!" Merlin cheekily saluted him and closed the door. A second later Gwaine burst out laughing, no doubt because Merlin just told him what Arthur had said.

"Those two" he muttered under his breath. "Right, then" he said, and Gaius translated, while turning to the others. "It seems like I'm hiding in here today as well. Leon, will you inform the council that I'm still not well?" Leon nodded and left. "Elyan, can you tell Gwen?"

"Of course, sire."

"Good. And Percival, if you could…" Arthur paused and stared at the large knight. "Is that a hickey?" he asked curiously and Gaius seemed to have some trouble translating that. Percival blushed furiously.

"I, I…" he stammered, shifting his weight from foot to foot, and Elyan laughed mercilessly at the sight of him.

"Just go with Gwaine and Merlin" Arthur said to put him out of his misery and Percival all but ran to the door.

"About the time they did something about it" Elyan commented, still laughing.

"Yeah" Arthur acquiesced. "It was getting annoying to see them dance around each other like two blushing maids." Gaius had even more trouble translating that.

Merlin returned a couple of days later and told him that the druids had agreed to meet him, if they were granted a safe passage, and Arthur couldn't really deny them that, given his own condition and the fact that his manservant not only had magic but also used it with his whole-hearted support. The meeting was supposed to take place in three days' time.

"So am I a human cat or a cat-human?" Arthur, now in his human form, asked Merlin later that evening as he turned the bed down.

"Neither, you're…" Merlin started to answer but Arthur interrupted him.

"Yes, yes Merlin I know, I'm a shapeshifter. Arthur sighed. "But how do I explain it to people? I don't know anything about this." And it was true that while Gaius did his best to explain what he knew to the king, there were still many questions unanswered, and that weighed heavily on Arthur's mind.

"Gaius knows a lot and he's explained everything he knows. Already with that, you know more than most" Merlin tried to comfort him but Arthur continued to stare moodily in front of him. "The druids' knowledge of shapeshifting is even greater and they'll be able to tell you everything you need to know" Merlin continued and Arthur turned to face him.

"I don't even feel like me anymore" he said quietly. "My body does things that I don't understand and I can't control it. I feel so… helpless." Merlin stopped what he was doing and went to sit down beside him.

"It will be okay" he promised. "It will be fine." They sat together in silence for a while.
"Well, I guess I'll have to legalize magic now, won't I?" Arthur then asked rhetorically with a small smile.

"I daresay you will, yes" Merlin grinned.