Vaughntronic:

Thank you :-)

Yeah, it'd be really interesting to find out what he really thinks… Not as open with his feelings as Merlin is…

Phanstarlight:

Well, you never know… Mohahahaha ;-)

Nance:

I've always imagined that once he'd made up his mind he's pretty stubborn… Won't let the council get in his way of something that he thinks is really important

Guest:

Thank you, glad you like it :-)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in the series, I'm just borrowing them from their respective owners 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.

Of new laws and sharp claws

A feast for the faithful and a dungeon for the deceitful…

The banquet was about to start and Arthur felt somewhat more alive after he'd had some sleep. Merlin helped him dress, insisting on doing so solely with magic since it was now allowed, and the result was somewhat disastrous. Merlin, who'd slept too little and spent too much time running around like a nervous colt the last couple of days, lost concentration at a critical moment and somehow turned Arthur's read cloak into a dress. After that Arthur deemed it was better getting dressed himself and spent a considerable amount of time to do that. Then, at last, they went down to the great hall.

Arthur knew that he couldn't expect too much since he'd sprung this idea the very last minute, but he still wanted to have a banquet, both to celebrate the changed laws and also to give him an opportunity to share his thoughts about it with everyone invited. He wanted to provide his version, not for people to have to rely on the castle gossip, and he wanted it to be clear that from now on no one performing magic were to be persecuted.

He ordered the kitchens to do their best with the time and the resources that they had, he told them that he wanted the evening to be memorable but that he also understood that they'd not been given the ideal conditions to provide this. But when the doors to the great hall were opened he was momentarily stunned. Something like this he could never have imagined.

In gratitude for his act of legalizing magic, all the servants who'd had to hide their magic, or knew someone who'd been forced to, had gone out of their way to create a real feast. Garlands of flowers that Arthur knew with outmost certainty didn't grow at this time of the year decorated the walls, hung from the ceiling and covered the tables. There was food in abundance and wave after wave of serving maids brought out new plates with different dishes, one or two of them even bold enough to murmur a quick spell to make the plates fly through the air and land on the tables.

Cook personally delivered the largest apple pie anyone had ever seen and carefully set it down right in front of Gwaine who looked confused. It was safe to say that the affection that he held for cook, and in particular for the apples that she had in her storage room, was not mutual, and he'd been chased from the kitchen with a wooden spoon more than once. He opened his mouth and closed it again as the knights beside him all sniggered.

"Merlin told me what you did for him" Cook said. "You're a downright rascal, that's for sure, but your heart's in the right place." She leaned over the table and smacked a loud kiss to his cheek before heading back down to the kitchens and left Gwaine speechless.

"Should I be worried you'll leave me for her?" Percival asked raising an eyebrow and Gwaine pushed an elbow into his side.

"Don't be daft" he muttered as he picked up the knife and cut himself a thick slice of the pie. After the first large bite he closed his eyes and all but moaned. "Hm, I may have to take that back. It's fantastic." Percival nicked the rest of the pie out of his hand, ignored Gwaine's shouted protest and shoved it into his mouth.

"I think that I would forgive you if you did" he said and reached out for another slice.

"Not happening" Gwaine smiled and simultaneously pressed more pie into his hand and a kiss to his lips.

Arthur was amazed to see so many people come up to him and thank him, to tell him about their magic and maybe even show him a small enchantment or two. He received so many handshakes, hugs, bows and curtsies that he lost count and all the time he saw Merlin's radiant smile. It was impossible not to be caught up in the excitement and Arthur felt better than he'd done in a long time. But as the banquet went on, he was getting more tired and realized that he would soon become a cat in front of all these people if he didn't leave. He could already feel the first signs of the shift and waved to Merlin to help him out of there without anyone getting suspicious.

Under the guise of refilling the king's cup Merlin came up close to his side.

"Merlin, get me out of here" Arthur hissed and Merlin immediately understood why.

"Act drunk" he whispered back and Arthur tossed back the contents of his cup, sloshing most of it down his front and staggered to his feet. Merlin hastily put one of Arthur's arms around his shoulder and pretended to help him walk back to his chambers. As soon as they were safely away from prying eyes Arthur stopped acting drunk and started looking pale instead. Merlin yanked open the door to the closest empty room and hastily pushed Arthur inside. He locked the door, then turned around and met Arthur's large yellow eyes. The cat looked a little gloomily at Merlin who sat down cross-legged on the floor.

"I just wish I could control it better" Arthur sighed. "But I was so tired and I couldn't stop it from happening. I would've liked to stay at the feast." The last sentence was added with a pout.

"You'll get there, sire, if you just keep practicing." Merlin reached out and patted Arthur's head. "It's already better, the transformation is easier and you're less dizzy" he continued encouragingly and Arthur purred softly and clambered onto Merlin's lap. "You'll get this down in no time." Merlin kept on stroking the soft fur and soon Arthur was deeply asleep. Merlin smiled and eased his legs away from under the cat. Arthur just opened one eye lazily and as soon as Merlin had scooped him up in his arms he was asleep again and Merlin decided it was time to take king Mittens to his chambers and put him to bed.

"I heard that, Merlin" Arthur grumbled sleepily.

"Of course you did, sire, especially when you have these…" Merlin said and tugged lightly at one of Arthur's large, silky ears. Arthur pulled his ear out of reach and ignored him.

Merlin made sure no one was snooping around before carefully stepping out into the hallway and starting to walk towards Arthur's chambers. But when he turned around a corner a dark shadow suddenly stepped up behind him and hit him forcefully over the head.

The attack was totally unexpected and Merlin crumpled at the floor, blood streaming down his face. Arthur had fallen from his arms and just barely managed to scramble out of the way so that Merlin didn't fall on him. Merlin struggled to put the words together to cast a spell but his eyes were unfocused and his arms shook as he tried to push himself from the ground.

Arthur, panicking and frustrated, tried and realized that he couldn't change back. He was steadily getting better but now, when he easily he could have saved Merlin in his human form, he was stuck as a cat. The attacker raised his weapon again to deliver the fatal blow and Arthur reacted out of instinct. He darted forwards with a loud yowl and sunk his teeth deeply into the attacker's ankle. The man howled in pain and Arthur bit down deeper and dug his claws firmly into the man's flesh to hold on as he jumped around. The man kicked out violently and Arthur felt his paws slipping. With a dull thud he was hurled into the stone wall and felt himself crash onto the floor, the world spinning wildly around him. He mewled at the sharp pain that suddenly radiated from his ribs, they were most likely broken, and shook his head to try to clear it.

His attack, brief as it was, had given Merlin some time to recover and Arthur not so much saw but felt an enormous burst of energy that slammed the attacker into the opposite wall and left him in a heap on the floor. The sounds had drawn the attention of the guards and Arthur could also see some of the knights approaching. He dimly registered that Merlin was in front of him, face worried and bloody, trying to ask him something but Arthur couldn't really make out the words. Arthur felt himself being carefully lifted up and then lost consciousness.