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.

Fur better or worse

- Epilogue

It was almost a year since the first time that Arthur had turned into a cat and they were all out on a patrol. When they had stopped for the night and eaten, Arthur assigned himself the first watch since he wanted some peace and quiet and the rest of the knights went to bed while Merlin went to check on the horses. Arthur wasn't surprised when Gwaine and Percival sought him out, he'd noticed that something was going on since Gwaine had been unnaturally quiet the whole day. That was normally a sign that he either was up to something or a cause for worry.

"Sire?" Gwaine sounded uncharacteristically hesitant when Arthur turned around and motioned for him to keep talking.

"We wanted, that is to say, if you would, but we wouldn't have thought, you would probably not mind, if it's all right…"

"We wanted to ask for your permission to marry, sire" Percival interrupted in his deep voice, when Gwaine kept sputtering, stammering and generally not making any sense at all.

"Oh" Arthur was surprised, but mostly pleased. They were in no way obligated to ask for his permission but it was expected of the knights to do so since a marriage would inevitably bring consequences affecting their service.

"Of course" Arthur continued and couldn't keep himself from grinning widely when the pair in front of him started kissing passionately. Catcalls were heard from around the campfire and Arthur sent them back with a playful shove.

"Oh, get a room you two" he joked.

After they'd left, hand in hand, Arthur was left alone with his thoughts again. Merlin saw him standing there thinking and went to keep him company.

"So, Gwaine and Percival huh?" Arthur said and Merlin grinned.

"Yeah. About time they got it done" he answered, eyes twinkling and then his expression softened as he fondly added: "They deserve to be happy."

"More like, Gwaine deserves someone that keeps him in line" Arthur muttered but he smiled at the same time and Merlin laughed.

"That's true" he acquiesced and then they stood in comfortable silence for a while.

"How do you feel, sire? About… everything?" Merlin asked and Arthur had to think for a while.

"Good, I think" Arthur said, a little surprised himself. "I feel good. This is who I am now, you know?"

"Yes" Merlin acquiesced. "Fur better or worse, I suppose" he smirked and Arthur groaned.

"Shut up, Merlin."

Authors's note:

I had so much fun writing this story and I hope that you enjoyed it as well :-)

Thank you so much to everyone who read this and commented, it means the world to me that people read what I write and that you take the time to tell me what you about it, or make suggestions and prompts.

Thanks!

/Yogini