Fanfic: Merlin the cat
Title: Merlin the cat
Author: gal_znai
Rating: PG (correct me if I'm wrong)
Warnings/Spoilers: vague spoilers for all episodes, pre-slash
Summary: Merlin messes around with a spell and turns himself into a cat...
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. I don't own Colin Morgan in a cat costume. I don't own anything!!!
A/N: My first Merlin fanfic. A big thanks to softheartedgwen for being my beta. You are the reason this story is even readable.
Merlin the cat
Merlin had spent all evening reading the book of magic Gaius had gifted him soon after his arrival to Camelot. He had been so engrossed in it, that he hadn't even noticed nightfall. He had found an interesting passage about self-revelations.
Apparently you could conjure an animal spirit that was the manifestation of your sub-consciousness to gain a deeper insight into your own mind. Merlin wondered what kind of animal would represent his mind. Would it be something big and dangerous or strong and elegant? What if it was a worm?
Maybe there were some things you shouldn't know about yourself after all.
Shortly after Merlin decided to stop for the night and head off to sleep. He hid the book first remembering the last time he hadn’t put it away properly. Before putting it in its hiding spot however he couldn’t help but reread the incantation carefully. Just out of interest, Merlin assured himself.
Sleep did not come easily to Merlin that night. While waiting for the peace sleep normally grants he couldn’t help but admit to himself that he was quite fascinated by the idea of conjuring an animal spirit. How could an animal show him something about himself that he didn't already know about himself after all? Absent mindedly he murmured the incantation, repeating the strange words like a mantra before finally dozing off.
***
The next morning Merlin was woken by the sunlight streaming through his small window. Maybe he shouldn't have stayed up that late, he thought to himself. He felt strange. To be exact, his bed felt strange. And his clothes seemed to be different. That was never a good sign…
Merlin opened his eyes and looked around. He was shocked to see that everything around him looked much bigger than last night. How was that possible? Had he shrunk?
Merlin tried to rub his eyes thinking maybe he was still partially asleep. He jumped. “These are NOT my hands. These are paws. Paws? But paws belong to animals. Not humans.” Merlin frowned and furrowed his brow. What on earth could be going o- “Magic? Of course, it's magic. It's not the first time something incredibly weird and magical has happened to me. I should stop being surprised...”
Merlin was about to swear at his misfortune but he only managed a silly sounding meow.
There was no way denying it. Merlin was a cat.
He tried to remember what could have been the reason for his transformation. It didn't take much to figure out that his conception of “to conjure an animal spirit” was not the one the author of the book had had in mind. Merlin had imagined some transparent ghost-like animal appearing from thin air and telling him exactly what he needed to know or something of that sort. Well, obviously he had been wrong. Now he was trapped in the body of a cat. He had turned into his animal spirit.
Worst of all, he didn’t think he was able to get back his human form. Merlin could do magic without reciting spells but only when it came to moving things or reflexes. He doubted that he had an automatic reflex for this kind of situation. If he had he'd be human again by now, wouldn’t he?
The initial shock started to fade away and Merlin busied himself by trying to work out how to undo the spell. Maybe reciting the counter spell in his head would be enough?
Clinging on to that thought, Merlin tried to get the book out of its hiding place. After falling over a couple of times and getting confused by more than two feet Merlin managed to get to the book. It took him a while to find out what the tail was for. Opening the book with his paws was a tedious business and very frustrating indeed. Talk about a workout. Eventually, he found the specific page he needed.
Oh no.
The author didn't say anything about a counter spell. It just said that the spell would wear off when the insight had been given. If he’d wanted a cryptic message he’d have gone to the dragon!
The dragon. He was able to hear him in his head, wasn’t he? Surely the dragon would understand him by reading his mind...
Merlin quickly scrambled to leave his room in order to go down to the dungeons. The dragon must know how to get out of this mess.
***
It took him ages to get there. His surroundings had changed in size so much that he needed to think carefully every time he had to turn a corner. After all he didn't want to get lost in the castle in his current state.
Talking to the dragon did nothing to ease his current state however. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up. The dragon had chuckled at him and told him pretty much the same thing as the book. He would become human again after his self-revelation.
“And what am I supposed to do now? I can’t turn up for my duties like this and Arthur most definitely will not understand... “
“The young Pendragon might not understand consciously but after all you are two sides of the same coin...” he heard the dragon rumble.
A narrowed look sent at the dragon, Merlin was tempted to say “whatever” but the only thing he could manage was an annoyed “meow”.
***
He didn't have much of a choice. He made his way to Arthur's chambers. After all he had to protect the prince in some way if anything dangerous came up; Even if he had to use his claws.
Before Merlin could sneak into the room however, Arthur opened the door violently. The expression on his face said it all: Where is that lazy idiot?
When Arthur saw Merlin he blinked. He looked puzzled and blinked again. He looked around the hall making sure no one saw him before he bent down. He looked at the cat in a curious way.
“Hello kitty, what are you doing here? Did you get lost?”
Arthur spoke in such an endearing way that Merlin would have laughed if that had been possible. Instead he grinned like a Cheshire cat.
“Looks like Arthur has a soft spot for cats. Didn't think he'd be a cat person.”
Apparently Arthur was a cat person because he started stroking the cat's - Merlin's - head affectionately. Merlin was surprised. He wasn't used to Arthur being gentle, and certainly not in a physical way. Despite his shock Merlin couldn't suppress the cat reflexes. He purred.
He was lucky that cats didn't blush.
All of a sudden, Arthur stood up quickly. A servant had appeared in the corridor.
Merlin was a little bit irritated because the stroking had stopped. Not willing to admit it to himself that he had enjoyed the petting, he concentrated on Arthur. So Arthur didn't want anyone to see him playing with a cat. That was certainly not manly and probably not very princely either he supposed
“Must be hard to have to maintain the image of a prince,” Merlin wondered.
Arthur hardly ever looked vulnerable. He was hiding any soft side he might have very well. It was difficult to look beyond his prattish pride. Merlin had spent many months as Arthur's manservant but this was an entirely different side to him.
***
Eventually Arthur didn't bother to wait for his manservant figuring he’d find him later. Maybe he’d make him muck out the stables. Merlin followed him to his training session. He watched Arthur for a while thinking how to limit the damage caused by his transformation. If Merlin didn't show up at all and neglected his duties completely Arthur might think something was wrong. Or he might sack him.
Merlin decided to go back to Arthur's chambers and create the illusion that he did show up after all.
***
As it turned out Merlin's magic did still work to some extent. He had no problem fulfilling his duties to the extent of the Prince's chambers. Cleaning Arthur's things and tidying up was manageable thanks to his magic.
Now came the difficult part. He had to get some food for the evening and Arthur would want to bath after training. Now how was he going to arrange that?
What followed were many hours of sneaking around the castle while levitating various objects and bringing them to Arthur's rooms. Surely Merlin would laugh about this when things got back to normal. For now however he was rather terrified that someone would see him. Uther didn't have any pity with human sorcerers. Merlin doubted that being an animal would help him.
After he’d finished his chores Merlin jumped up on Arthur's bed to glance over the room. He had to admit that being a cat and doing magic was rather exhausting and so he lay down to relax for a moment or two.
***
Arthur returned to his rooms in the evening. When he inspected his chambers he noticed that the room was tidy, dinner had been left on the table and even a hot bath had been prepared for him. He concluded that Merlin had overslept and had arrived soon after he’d gone to training.
‘Merlin probably didn't want to listen to yet another speech on the virtue of punctuality and didn't wait for me. He's not getting away with this. Tomorrow he won't be able to avoid me. If it's necessary I'll hunt him down,’ Arthur thought to himself, smirking at the possibilities.
Still thinking about Merlin's punishment, he undressed himself and got into the bath. He didn't notice the slumbering cat on his bed.
***
Merlin woke up when the surface he was sleeping on had moved. He glanced around and saw Arthur sitting on his bed watching him. He’d fallen asleep? He was caught off guard and didn't know what to do so he stared at Arthur who just smiled.
Merlin was irritated by the softness in Arthur's face like he had been in the morning. ‘Okay, Merlin. You are a cat. Act like one before he thinks you are some magical beast that is here to kill him.’
He wasn't an expert on cat-like behaviour so he did the first think that came to mind. He started licking his fur. ‘Okay ew, bad idea.’
Thinking of the next best cat behaviour he looked up at Arthur. “Meow?” he tried.
“Now how did you get in here? Huh? Did Merlin let you in? You know, you remind me a bit of him. That oblivious look in your eyes...” Arthur said before trailing off.
He reached out and started stroking ‘the cat’ again. Merlin was more than embarrassed to find out that he couldn't do anything against the purring once again. He gave up resisting after a while though telling himself that any normal cat would be glad to be treated like that. Merlin had to keep up the appearance that he was exactly that after all. A normal cat.
Somehow in the time before Arthur went to bed he came up with the idea to spend some time playing “catch the string” with Merlin. Merlin hadn't been prepared for that kind of exercise so he ended up very tired after their game.
He thought that he should leave the prince alone now as he watched the Prince when the game ended. However his plan was foiled by Arthur, who took him in his arms before walking over to the bed. Arthur then got into his bed and placed Merlin right next to him.
All candles had been blown out but Merlin was still able to see. So being a cat had its advantages after all.
Although he was quite able to stand up and leave the room, Merlin didn't. Arthur put his hand on his furry back. Merlin was certainly tired and he liked the warmth in Arthur's bed. It was certainly warmer than his back at Gaius’.
Curled up next to him he listened to Arthur breathing and wondered whether anybody had ever seen the gentle side of Arthur like he had today. Did anybody know the Arthur who enjoyed playing silly games with a cat? Was he the first to witness an Arthur who was so carefree and affectionate? Merlin often called Arthur a prat but he knew that there was more to him. He was brave and he could even be selfless.
It was somehow funny that Arthur never treated him like that. He had saved his life so many times and yet there remained a distance between them. It got shorter from time to time but something was always there to keep the two separated. He wished that Arthur would trust him enough to let him see that other side. Why would he choose a cat over Merlin? Of course, never mind the fact that Merlin was that cat.
‘And somehow despite all his prattish attributes I still love him. At least I know now what to love him for...,’ Merlin mused before falling asleep.
***
Arthur was woken by a particularly annoying sunbeam the next morning. He mumbled something incomprehensible before rubbing his eyes and finally opening them. Arthur wasn't sure whether to believe his eyes or not.
‘Now that is more than unusual,’ he thought.
There was Merlin, lying next to him in his bed; completely naked.
Arthur didn't know what to think or say, so he just stared.
~The End~
Author: gal_znai
Rating: PG (correct me if I'm wrong)
Warnings/Spoilers: vague spoilers for all episodes, pre-slash
Summary: Merlin messes around with a spell and turns himself into a cat...
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. I don't own Colin Morgan in a cat costume. I don't own anything!!!
A/N: My first Merlin fanfic. A big thanks to softheartedgwen for being my beta. You are the reason this story is even readable.
Merlin the cat
Merlin had spent all evening reading the book of magic Gaius had gifted him soon after his arrival to Camelot. He had been so engrossed in it, that he hadn't even noticed nightfall. He had found an interesting passage about self-revelations.
Apparently you could conjure an animal spirit that was the manifestation of your sub-consciousness to gain a deeper insight into your own mind. Merlin wondered what kind of animal would represent his mind. Would it be something big and dangerous or strong and elegant? What if it was a worm?
Maybe there were some things you shouldn't know about yourself after all.
Shortly after Merlin decided to stop for the night and head off to sleep. He hid the book first remembering the last time he hadn’t put it away properly. Before putting it in its hiding spot however he couldn’t help but reread the incantation carefully. Just out of interest, Merlin assured himself.
Sleep did not come easily to Merlin that night. While waiting for the peace sleep normally grants he couldn’t help but admit to himself that he was quite fascinated by the idea of conjuring an animal spirit. How could an animal show him something about himself that he didn't already know about himself after all? Absent mindedly he murmured the incantation, repeating the strange words like a mantra before finally dozing off.
***
The next morning Merlin was woken by the sunlight streaming through his small window. Maybe he shouldn't have stayed up that late, he thought to himself. He felt strange. To be exact, his bed felt strange. And his clothes seemed to be different. That was never a good sign…
Merlin opened his eyes and looked around. He was shocked to see that everything around him looked much bigger than last night. How was that possible? Had he shrunk?
Merlin tried to rub his eyes thinking maybe he was still partially asleep. He jumped. “These are NOT my hands. These are paws. Paws? But paws belong to animals. Not humans.” Merlin frowned and furrowed his brow. What on earth could be going o- “Magic? Of course, it's magic. It's not the first time something incredibly weird and magical has happened to me. I should stop being surprised...”
Merlin was about to swear at his misfortune but he only managed a silly sounding meow.
There was no way denying it. Merlin was a cat.
He tried to remember what could have been the reason for his transformation. It didn't take much to figure out that his conception of “to conjure an animal spirit” was not the one the author of the book had had in mind. Merlin had imagined some transparent ghost-like animal appearing from thin air and telling him exactly what he needed to know or something of that sort. Well, obviously he had been wrong. Now he was trapped in the body of a cat. He had turned into his animal spirit.
Worst of all, he didn’t think he was able to get back his human form. Merlin could do magic without reciting spells but only when it came to moving things or reflexes. He doubted that he had an automatic reflex for this kind of situation. If he had he'd be human again by now, wouldn’t he?
The initial shock started to fade away and Merlin busied himself by trying to work out how to undo the spell. Maybe reciting the counter spell in his head would be enough?
Clinging on to that thought, Merlin tried to get the book out of its hiding place. After falling over a couple of times and getting confused by more than two feet Merlin managed to get to the book. It took him a while to find out what the tail was for. Opening the book with his paws was a tedious business and very frustrating indeed. Talk about a workout. Eventually, he found the specific page he needed.
Oh no.
The author didn't say anything about a counter spell. It just said that the spell would wear off when the insight had been given. If he’d wanted a cryptic message he’d have gone to the dragon!
The dragon. He was able to hear him in his head, wasn’t he? Surely the dragon would understand him by reading his mind...
Merlin quickly scrambled to leave his room in order to go down to the dungeons. The dragon must know how to get out of this mess.
***
It took him ages to get there. His surroundings had changed in size so much that he needed to think carefully every time he had to turn a corner. After all he didn't want to get lost in the castle in his current state.
Talking to the dragon did nothing to ease his current state however. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up. The dragon had chuckled at him and told him pretty much the same thing as the book. He would become human again after his self-revelation.
“And what am I supposed to do now? I can’t turn up for my duties like this and Arthur most definitely will not understand... “
“The young Pendragon might not understand consciously but after all you are two sides of the same coin...” he heard the dragon rumble.
A narrowed look sent at the dragon, Merlin was tempted to say “whatever” but the only thing he could manage was an annoyed “meow”.
***
He didn't have much of a choice. He made his way to Arthur's chambers. After all he had to protect the prince in some way if anything dangerous came up; Even if he had to use his claws.
Before Merlin could sneak into the room however, Arthur opened the door violently. The expression on his face said it all: Where is that lazy idiot?
When Arthur saw Merlin he blinked. He looked puzzled and blinked again. He looked around the hall making sure no one saw him before he bent down. He looked at the cat in a curious way.
“Hello kitty, what are you doing here? Did you get lost?”
Arthur spoke in such an endearing way that Merlin would have laughed if that had been possible. Instead he grinned like a Cheshire cat.
“Looks like Arthur has a soft spot for cats. Didn't think he'd be a cat person.”
Apparently Arthur was a cat person because he started stroking the cat's - Merlin's - head affectionately. Merlin was surprised. He wasn't used to Arthur being gentle, and certainly not in a physical way. Despite his shock Merlin couldn't suppress the cat reflexes. He purred.
He was lucky that cats didn't blush.
All of a sudden, Arthur stood up quickly. A servant had appeared in the corridor.
Merlin was a little bit irritated because the stroking had stopped. Not willing to admit it to himself that he had enjoyed the petting, he concentrated on Arthur. So Arthur didn't want anyone to see him playing with a cat. That was certainly not manly and probably not very princely either he supposed
“Must be hard to have to maintain the image of a prince,” Merlin wondered.
Arthur hardly ever looked vulnerable. He was hiding any soft side he might have very well. It was difficult to look beyond his prattish pride. Merlin had spent many months as Arthur's manservant but this was an entirely different side to him.
***
Eventually Arthur didn't bother to wait for his manservant figuring he’d find him later. Maybe he’d make him muck out the stables. Merlin followed him to his training session. He watched Arthur for a while thinking how to limit the damage caused by his transformation. If Merlin didn't show up at all and neglected his duties completely Arthur might think something was wrong. Or he might sack him.
Merlin decided to go back to Arthur's chambers and create the illusion that he did show up after all.
***
As it turned out Merlin's magic did still work to some extent. He had no problem fulfilling his duties to the extent of the Prince's chambers. Cleaning Arthur's things and tidying up was manageable thanks to his magic.
Now came the difficult part. He had to get some food for the evening and Arthur would want to bath after training. Now how was he going to arrange that?
What followed were many hours of sneaking around the castle while levitating various objects and bringing them to Arthur's rooms. Surely Merlin would laugh about this when things got back to normal. For now however he was rather terrified that someone would see him. Uther didn't have any pity with human sorcerers. Merlin doubted that being an animal would help him.
After he’d finished his chores Merlin jumped up on Arthur's bed to glance over the room. He had to admit that being a cat and doing magic was rather exhausting and so he lay down to relax for a moment or two.
***
Arthur returned to his rooms in the evening. When he inspected his chambers he noticed that the room was tidy, dinner had been left on the table and even a hot bath had been prepared for him. He concluded that Merlin had overslept and had arrived soon after he’d gone to training.
‘Merlin probably didn't want to listen to yet another speech on the virtue of punctuality and didn't wait for me. He's not getting away with this. Tomorrow he won't be able to avoid me. If it's necessary I'll hunt him down,’ Arthur thought to himself, smirking at the possibilities.
Still thinking about Merlin's punishment, he undressed himself and got into the bath. He didn't notice the slumbering cat on his bed.
***
Merlin woke up when the surface he was sleeping on had moved. He glanced around and saw Arthur sitting on his bed watching him. He’d fallen asleep? He was caught off guard and didn't know what to do so he stared at Arthur who just smiled.
Merlin was irritated by the softness in Arthur's face like he had been in the morning. ‘Okay, Merlin. You are a cat. Act like one before he thinks you are some magical beast that is here to kill him.’
He wasn't an expert on cat-like behaviour so he did the first think that came to mind. He started licking his fur. ‘Okay ew, bad idea.’
Thinking of the next best cat behaviour he looked up at Arthur. “Meow?” he tried.
“Now how did you get in here? Huh? Did Merlin let you in? You know, you remind me a bit of him. That oblivious look in your eyes...” Arthur said before trailing off.
He reached out and started stroking ‘the cat’ again. Merlin was more than embarrassed to find out that he couldn't do anything against the purring once again. He gave up resisting after a while though telling himself that any normal cat would be glad to be treated like that. Merlin had to keep up the appearance that he was exactly that after all. A normal cat.
Somehow in the time before Arthur went to bed he came up with the idea to spend some time playing “catch the string” with Merlin. Merlin hadn't been prepared for that kind of exercise so he ended up very tired after their game.
He thought that he should leave the prince alone now as he watched the Prince when the game ended. However his plan was foiled by Arthur, who took him in his arms before walking over to the bed. Arthur then got into his bed and placed Merlin right next to him.
All candles had been blown out but Merlin was still able to see. So being a cat had its advantages after all.
Although he was quite able to stand up and leave the room, Merlin didn't. Arthur put his hand on his furry back. Merlin was certainly tired and he liked the warmth in Arthur's bed. It was certainly warmer than his back at Gaius’.
Curled up next to him he listened to Arthur breathing and wondered whether anybody had ever seen the gentle side of Arthur like he had today. Did anybody know the Arthur who enjoyed playing silly games with a cat? Was he the first to witness an Arthur who was so carefree and affectionate? Merlin often called Arthur a prat but he knew that there was more to him. He was brave and he could even be selfless.
It was somehow funny that Arthur never treated him like that. He had saved his life so many times and yet there remained a distance between them. It got shorter from time to time but something was always there to keep the two separated. He wished that Arthur would trust him enough to let him see that other side. Why would he choose a cat over Merlin? Of course, never mind the fact that Merlin was that cat.
‘And somehow despite all his prattish attributes I still love him. At least I know now what to love him for...,’ Merlin mused before falling asleep.
***
Arthur was woken by a particularly annoying sunbeam the next morning. He mumbled something incomprehensible before rubbing his eyes and finally opening them. Arthur wasn't sure whether to believe his eyes or not.
‘Now that is more than unusual,’ he thought.
There was Merlin, lying next to him in his bed; completely naked.
Arthur didn't know what to think or say, so he just stared.
~The End~