Mystical Cats, Political Cats, Hypocritical Cats; Merlin
Title: Mystical Cats, Political Cats, Hypocritical Cats
Authors: mydoctortennant
Pairings/Characters: Uther, Merlin, Arthur, Gwen (A/G), OC
Warnings: Corny plotness?
Disclaimer: Not real. Despite birthday wishes and night time prayers to Santa (all Hail Amy Pond!) Merlin still isn't mine!
Rating: PG
Summary: When somebody wants Uther out of the question (but doesn't want to become a murderer) they aim to incapacitate him...
Author Notes: For my weird, but adorable, first friend in the fandom mustbethursday3 who has a whacked out imagination. I love you bb. Title comes from the Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats from the musical Cats... I thought the three adjectives fitted Uther v.well.
My Merlin Prompt Table
In a land of myth and a time of magic the fate of the kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy; his name? Merlin.
Beyond the reaches of Camelot lies the Caves of Mignon. Inside they are dark, damp, and dripping as the water rushes through them into the river that leads to the neighbouring Kingdom. Here the people are reigned over by King Cenred, a young king in comparison to those around him and higher respected by his own people.
He treats them with the respect that he wants them to treat him with and they do so. They like him. He does not enter into things lightly, only heading into battle if he believes he can win. Within his lands sorcery is not frowned upon. It is seen as a haven for those who have been driven from Uther’s Kingdom. It is a welcomed force and one the King embraces as an ally rather than a threat.
Down in the caves, hidden from the world lives the Warlock Wilhem; banished from Camelot twenty years previously when the Great Purge ridded the kingdom of magic and those who possessed it. For years he plotted the revenge he sought on the King of his old home.
He wanted to seize the right moment. Wait for a time when Arthur, the King’s son and the heir to the throne of Camelot, was old enough to reign over the Kingdom without the influence of his father and his hatred of magic. In a time when the young Prince would accept magic and allow the lands to be run with the power harnessed by those who lived there.
He’d seen the good shine through Camelot. Through the Prince and his manservant. A boy who had so much power that even those with little ability could feel it. Could sense the good that the boy had in his heart. Wilhem waited for a time when Arthur knew of this boy’s powers and had begun to trust in the ways of sorcery like his neighbouring King.
Arthur drew an ally in sorcery.
Now was Wilhem’s chance to take heed of his wishes, return to Camelot and seek his revenge.
x
Under the cover of darkness a cloaked figure moved through the city of Camelot. Through the lower towns where the likes of the simple commoners lived by candlelight to the Upper Town and the homes of the Knight’s and nobles stood tall and proud through to the Castle. The home of royalty.
The guards he passed paid him no heed. No ounce of attention to a weary traveller coming home. Walk with enough sense and purpose and nobody dares question your whereabouts. Move through the castle with your head held high enough and those of lesser birth think you a noble. They daren’t question you or your motives and you can move freely towards your destination.
You can, for instance, sneak into the chambers of the King whilst he is sleeping and cast your magic. Nobody will notice, especially the King. So blind to what is right before his eyes. Too caught up in distrust and anger to forge alliances in what he is scared of. He, unlike his son, is destined to fall through no fault but his own. He has made enemies of his people and they aren’t likely to forget it.
The friendships he made are dwindling. Nobody can trust a King who can barely trust himself.
X
This was embarrassing. Very embarrassing.
Merlin looked down into his arms and frowned. He struggled against the animal in his arms and tried not to panic. Running down the corridor towards his master’s chambers door, clutching the animal to him.
When he reached the door he fumbled trying to open it.
The creature in his arms took its chance; using Merlin’s chest as a springboard and leapt away speedily racing off in the other direction.
Merlin looked after it and quickly weighed his options, chase the animal to no avail or enlist Arthur and Gwen and sort the problem out without alerting Gaius to his serious faux pas.
He chose Arthur.
He bumbled into the Prince’s chambers readying his explanation.
And what an explanation it was.
“Merlin,” Arthur greeted, unaware to any sort of problem, “I assume you finished the list of chores I gave you.”
“Yes, well,” the manservant cleared his throat and looked sheepishly to the floor an shifted his feet, “mostly-“
“Merlin...”
“We have a problem,” he admitted ready to duck behind the nearest chair away from any flying objects that might come his way.
“We or you?”
“The whole of Camelot.”
“The whole of Camelot?” Arthur repeated slowly, looking at his servant across the room with a quirked eyebrow. What on Earth had Merlin done now?
“Yes!”Then Merlin grabbed the back of the chair. He straightened it as he spoke quietly into the top of his neckerchief. “It’s... it’s the king.”
“What about him?” Arthur asked still eyeing his servant with the utmost suspicion.
“Something happened.”
“What happened?”
“He... well... he’s a cat.”
“He’s a cat?”
“Yes.”
“Have you been on the cider again, Merlin?”
“No.”
“What have you been at?”
“I was reading and well, he turned into a cat.”
“You turned my father into a cat?”
“Yes.”
“You turned my father into a cat?”
“I didn’t do it deliberately!” Merlin flinched as Arthur’s hand rested over the pot on his side table. It truly had been an accident. He had been reading his magic book as the King had come to see Gaius (quick hiding skills had meant that Merlin kept the book open on the table and Uther had overlooked him completely - as was usual - and carried on in his quest to find the court physician.) He’d then turned into a cat. Right before Merlin’s eyes as he’d carried on reading his book.
Arthur took a deep breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Throwing things, although satisfying, wouldn’t help, “Where is he now?”
“He ran away.”
“He ran away?”
“I couldn’t keep hold of him and open the door at the same time. And he got away.”
“You really are an idiot.”
“I need your help finding him,” It had been slightly easier for Merlin to confide in his mishaps to Arthur since the Prince had discovered his magic. It hadn’t been a good time. Arthur had sat on the fence about it for a week before he ruled that he would keep Merlin’s secret, especially from his father. Gwen had convinced him that Merlin only kept his secret to protect Arthur; having him know endangered him, “I don’t want Gaius finding out.”
“Finding out you turned the King into a cat?” the only thing to keep Arthur from laughing was the matter at hand. If it had been anybody else he would have given into his laughter a while ago, but this was the King. His father. His father was wondering around the castle as a cat? He could scarcely believe it.
“Yes, must you keep saying that?”
“You turned my father into a cat!”
“A relatively pleasant one.”
“Are you saying that my father is unpleasant usually, Merlin?” the accused tilt his head and looked at Arthur pointedly, “Okay, point taken.”
“We really need to find him. And soon!”
X
Gwen had seen a number of cats in the lower town - she’d happily give them scraps of leftover food - but she’d never seen them venture into the courtyard before.
She gathered her cloak and crouched before the animal, calling it to her, clicking her fingers. The animal happily trotted the small distance and head-butted her hand. She scratched him behind the ear and smiled. He was incredibly friendly, “Where’ve you come from, little man?” she cooed as the cat rolled onto it’s back and started to purr. She ran her fingers over his stomach and the cat swiped at her, “Not so keen on that, hey? Come on, you look ravished, Let’s get you to the kitchen. I’m sure there is some left over ham from the King’s breakfast.”
Gwen scooped the cat into her arms. It didn’t even struggled against her as she moved towards the cloisters towards the servants hallways to the kitchens.
The other end of the corridor Merlin and Arthur appeared, arguing as ever as they approached her. Gwen heard their heated banter before she even laid eyes on them. She smiled to herself and continued towards them.
“It’s big and grey and angry looking,” the younger explained sounding like he needed some convincing himself.
“How can a cat look angry?” Arthur asked trying not to laugh in his servant’s face.
“It’s all scowly and...” Merlin scrunched up his nose, “grr...”
“Helpful, thanks.”
“You asked!” The pair of them met Gwen part way down the corridor. Arthur faltered, which didn’t go unnoticed by Merlin who smirked before he noticed the cat in Gwen’s arms and gawked at it.
“Guinevere.” Arthur greeted.
“Sire,” his expression set itself in a warning scowl but he didn’t say anything, she would never relent.
“What are you doing with a cat?” he said momentarily forgetting quite what it was he and Merlin had been looking for.
“He was in the courtyard. Lovely little thing, I was going to give him some ham from the kitchens.”
Merlin elbowed the Prince and looked pointedly at the cat, “What?”
Merlin pointed, “That’s him.”
“That’s who?” Gwen enquired looking at the cat in question.
“You just called the King ‘lovely’ and ‘little’,” Merlin said with a mirthful smile on his face.
“Excuse me?” Gwen asked nearly dropping the cat in her shock. Had she heard what she thought she had? Surely not?
“That’s,” Arthur looked between the cat and his idiot for a servant, raising an eyebrow, “That’s my father?” he asked Merlin who nodded. It was nearly as funny as the time the King had lost his hair, but Merlin stopped himself from laughing.
“What?”
Both males looked to her, “It’s his fault,” Arthur said pointing to Merlin with his thumb.
Gwen’s grip on the cat loosened again. Uncomfortable in its new position, the cat struggled free from her grasp and bound onto the low wall of the cloisters, prancing down it, “What on Earth?”
“It was an accident.”
“An accident? And now the King of Camelot is a cat walking along the-“ she looked down at the wall, “Where did he go?”
“That’s not good.”
“No Merlin, it isn’t.”
“Find him. I need to make sure nobody finds out about this,” Arthur commanded suddenly completely serious.
“Right,” Arthur turned and headed towards the court rooms. Gwen smirked at Merlin, amusement dancing in her eyes, “Don’t look at me like that.”
“You turned the King into a cat, Merlin, how should I be looking at you, exactly?”
“Let’s just find him before somebody else does.”
X
Arthur rounded into the Throne Room and sighed when he found it empty. He turned back and headed back towards the Great Hall. He hoped against hope that he found that in a similar state, but chances were he would find somebody who needed addressing.
He opened the door to find the hall, as he imagined with a single person at the other end of the hall with his back to him; “Father? What are you doing here?”
The King cleared his throat and turned to face Arthur, “I am often in here, Arthur.”
“Quite,” Arthur attempted to smile.
“Was there something you wanted?” The King asked.
“Not at all, it’s fine,” he excused himself and pulled the door to behind him. Merlin made him look like a fool and in front of Gwen. He was going to pay.
Arthur would have fun dreaming up a punishment for him.
X
Casting spells and committing the crime of sorcery is something that is hard to do correctly. No matter how much experience you have things can always go wrong and more often than not they do. Casting a spell on the King of Camelot can go wrong if you are not there to supervise at every possible step. It can wear off. It can go wrong.
Watching through his crystals in the Caves of Mignon, Wilhem watched the King of Camelot be fussed over in the arms of a servant, titter of on his own before, without shadow of a doubt, turning back into a cat.
Wilhem growled in his frustration, taking out his crystals and cocooning them in his hands as he started once again to chant.
X
“I can’t find him anywhere,” Gwen said as she spotted Merlin down the corridor.
“He’s completely disappeared.”
“It’s a big place, maybe we just keep missing him.”
“Doesn’t matter,” the pair of servants looked towards the voice of the Prince. He didn’t look happy. Far from it. His arms were crossed and his gaze was fierce. He appeared from the Great Hall, seemingly unworried by the current situation.
“We need to find him before somebody else does,” Merlin said as if it weren’t obvious enough.
“Oh I found him!”
“Where?”
“In the Great Hall.”
“The Great Hall? That’s not good.”
“No, Merlin, it is not. Neither is sending me on a wild goose chase.”
“What?”
“My father is in the Great Hall.”
“Then why didn’t you grab him so I can turn him back?”
“Because he’s not a cat!”
“What? He was, I swear-“
“Swear on this Merlin, you will be cleaning out the stables every day for the next month. Any speck of dust in my room with be another hour in the stocks. Make me look like a fool again and I will swear to make your life a living hell.”
“Arthur-“
“I will not be made to look an idiot by anyone, do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly.”
“Now get to it.”
“Yes Sire,” Merlin skirted away as quickly as he could. His eyes to the ground, not even looking to Gwen for reassurance as he scuttled past her towards the stables.
“You shouldn’t be so hard on him.”
“He made me look like an idiot.”
“He was trying to help.”
“There is nothing wrong with my father. I highly doubt there ever was.”
“Give him the benefit of the doubt. He trusts you. He wouldn’t have told you if he didn’t need your help.”
“Like he didn’t tell me he was a sorcerer until he needed me to bail him out?”
“You know it wasn’t like that.”
“Now you’re defending him?”
“He’s my friend, I’ll stand by him as long as I have to. Now excuse me; I have work to do.”
X
The stables had never been so clean. There was fresh straw on the floor and new hay in the nets for the horses to eat. The walls were washed and the door fixed. Merlin had polish every piece of metal work until he could see his face in them. There was a wheelbarrow full of waste outside of the stable door ready to be taken to the heap.
Merlin admired his work with a satisfied smile on his face that quickly disappeared. The King had transformed into a cat, he had seen it with his very eyes. Why didn’t Arthur believe him? Maybe the spell had worn off. Merlin would have been grateful if it had, but his luck was never in.
He moved off to take the wheelbarrow of manure to the heap. There was something grey and furry sat on top of it. Merlin squinted at it. It was the cat.
“Oi, get!” he shouted at it, waving his arms at it frantically making it run away, “Stupid cat.”
X
The grey tabby trotted around the corner away from the nasty magician. It ran up the steps into the castle. It carried on its vertical journal running up the stone steps inside and down the corridor.
It came across an ajar door and sniffed at it. It smelt familiar.
The cat nudged the wooden door open with its head, pushing into the room. It looked around briefly catching a glimpse of something dangling from the hangings around the bed near the far wall. A flash of light shone out as the sun hit the gem of the amulet. The cat approached it, with an intense desire to knock it from its perch.
The tabby bound onto the bed and leapt at the offending object.
After several attempts it hit the jewel to the floor.
It bounced and skidded to a halt under the bed.
The cat jumped off the bed after it, but on landed a pair of hefty feet collided with the floor.
“What on earth?”
X
Uther called a private dinner with his son. He hadn’t had much chance to talk to him since Morgana’s more recent departure. He needed normalcy after the day he had just had.
“They tell me the lower town is striving.”
“Reports have show that with the new well to the west they townsfolk are finding it easier to trade. The market is selling well and merchants from outside the city are coming to trade their stocks. Overall I would suggest that it is at current a success.”
“This is good news.”
“Training is going well also, the army is stronger than ever,” Arthur looked to his plate and loaded his fork with food, “Camelot is back to normal,” he looked up expecting a response but never getting one, “Father?”
He frowned and looked about the room.
Nothing.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and checked beneath the table.
The grey tabby sat on the King’s chair. It quickly decided it was much too uncomfortable and bounded from it, “Oh sweet lord,” Arthur said through his breath, “Merlin was right?” Arthur took off at a run, abandoning his dinner, and followed the cat to wherever it was heading. Merlin would certainly pay for this.
Arthur tracked the creature along several corridors before he realised that the creature was heading out into the night, “Oh no, oh no!” Arthur repeated to himself and stated to run. He needed to catch the cat, his father, but he ventured out too far. He couldn’t risk anything happening to him.
It saw the flash of a familiar figure leaving the otherwise empty courtyard, “Gwen,” he called out, “Guinevere, turn around.” She did so reluctantly turning to face the Prince. She was used to him stopping her in her tracks, but she was still trying not to think about gutting and quartering him into miniscule pieces for being a prat, “Don’t let him out of the courtyard,” was all he could manage as he bounded over the cloister wall, his father between the pair of them.
“Not with the cat again.”
“That’s my father.”
“I’m not falling for that again, Arthur, how stupid do you think I am?”
“Guinevere, please just grab it; it likes you,” she glared at him. She rolled her eyes and crouched before the animal for the second time that day. She didn’t even have to call for it before it bounded over to her, “Thank you,” Arthur offered sincerely as she stood with the animal in her hands, “Do you think you can hold onto it until we reach my chambers?”
“Merlin’s is closer.”
“The less people that know about this the better. Just make sure you hold onto him.”
X
Even when she was sat in one of the chairs around Arthur’s table Gwen didn’t let go of the grey tabby. It had settled in her lap, soon falling asleep in a ball. She still didn’t believe him that it was Uther. It was a strange thought to behold if it was. The King was asleep in her lap. She was subconsciously running her fingers through his fur. There was definitely something wrong with this picture.
Arthur had escorted her back to his chambers, made sure she wasn’t about to let the cat go any time soon and took off without another word to go and retrieve Merlin from his quarters (or wherever it was he had ended up) so he could sort his mess out.
They shouldn’t have been much longer. It wasn’t as if Merlin lived that far away.
Gwen shifted slightly but the cat did not wake. It moved slightly readjusting its position on her lap but did not attempt to run.
“For the love of Camelot,” Gwen rubbed her fingers over the bridge of her nose and up over her forehead. This wasn’t something she needed. She had the King of Camelot asleep in her lap and not in a good way or in fact the right Pendragon.
There was a spark, a split second later there was an enormous weight on her lap. On seeing the new addition to her lap she screamed. Uther Pendragon was no longer a cat and he was no longer asleep. He jumped from her lap and away from the chair.
“My lord.”
“What did you see?” he demanded looking straight at her sternly. He knew this girl, Morgana’s old maid, she’d been a member of their staff for a good decade or more, “What did you see?”
“Everything, my lord. The Prince bid me keep an eye on you whilst he finds the cure,” she answered as truthfully as could without revealing Merlin’s magic and securing his sentencing to death.
“Cure? There is not cure for sorcery! I am the target of an attack.”
“My lord, the Prince is doing all he can to figure out who has done this. I am sure he will find out soon. It may be best for you to stay here.”
“Just who do you think you are? You cannot give me orders, girl,” she bowed her head. She had to remember this was Uther she was talking to. Unlike Arthur he would never be receptive to her thoughts, no matter how much sense they made, “I have a kingdom to run. I suggest you get back to work.”
“Yes, my lord,” he left before she could. She bit on her lip and looked to the door. If he turned back she’d be in big trouble from everybody not just Arthur. She could run after the king, keep an eye on him, or she could wait.
“I’m not falling for this again, Arthur. I told you earlier he was a cat and you didn’t belive me, why should I believe you?” she heard coming up the hall. They obviously hadn’t past the King in the corridor. She ran to the door, greeting them quickly.
“He’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“He changed back.”
“Oh sweet lord.”
“Arthur, he knows that I know. He wouldn’t listen to me. He knows it’s sorcery and he knows you’re trying to find out who did it. He doesn’t know it was Merlin.”
“He wouldn’t believe me if I told him that is was. This is Merlin. He’s an idiot.”
“Either way he’s gone. The only thing keeping him from announcing this ‘treachery’ at curt is because he’s too embarrassed. The fact that I know at all had him riled beyond belief. He’s not going to tell anybody about this.”
“We need to find him,” he turned to Merlin, “You need to find out how to turn him back.”
X
Book after book Merlin ransacked, trying to find any spell he could to do with transfiguration and cats. He came across information about pharaohs and Egyptian gods but no spells. He searched through his magic book time and time again but found nothing. There was nothing of the sort in the book.
“It wasn’t me,” he declared to an empty room.
In the higher reaches of Gaius’ chambers Merlin came across a book on transfiguration. In it was a section about felines. He scanned the pages quickly. An image of a stone, clear and glistening by description. This was what they needed to find.
He ran from the room, passing Gaius, quickly greeting him as he zoomed by him.
He spotted Gwen standing outside of the Great Hall. No guards were posted, undoubtedly told to move off by Arthur who was keeping his father under his watchful eye until they could find a cure.
“We need to find a crystal.”
“A crystal?” Merlin ran past Gwen grabbing her arm and dragging her away as he did so.
“It’ll be somewhere that has close vicinity to Uther long an elongated period of time.”
“His chambers?”
“I think so. Once we find it, we smash it. The curse will be lifted and Uther will be his sunny self again,” the world they were used to with the King barking out orders to servants left right and centre. A world of hiding. It was good in a way, Arthur wasn’t ready to be king.
x
He wasn’t ready for this.
Arthur stood watching his father pace the room. Neither Pendragon said a word. The air was pregnant with anxiety. Neither knew what to say, knowing no words could make the situation better in anyway.
As his father paced Arthur’s eyes never left him.
He didn’t even blink in surprise when the king transformed into a cat before his eyes.
“Hurry up, Merlin.”
x
The pair of servants burst into the king’s chambers easily enough. Merlin headed for the wardrobe cabinet whereas Gwen headed straight over towards the bed. They pulled out draw after draw searching for anything remotely resembling the stone they were searching for.
Gwen threw his pillows from his bed, stripped it of the bed sheets in search of the crystal. She looked up. In the glint of sunlight she could see a chain. Only a few links were there. She looked about the floor, it certainly hadn’t been in the bed.
She pulled up her skirts and knelt down. She looked beneath the cabinet as her eye trailed towards the underneath of the bed. She moved the fallen quilt and sure enough she saw what had fallen from the canopy. She tugged on the chain, “Merlin!”
The boy came racing towards her, “That’s it!”
She slammed it into the floor. It wouldn’t break. She moved her hand and Merlin drove his foot into the floor. Once again the crystal didn’t shatter, “What do we do?”
Merlin lifted the stone from the floor and dangled it in front of his face. Without a word he stared at it, his eyes flashed amber and the stone obliterated before them.
X
Arthur kept his eyes on the cat. He searched the room, every door was pulled closed, every window latched and locked. There was no escape for the cat, which put Arthur at ease a little.
Then, right before his eyes, the cat was surrounded by a light. It span and shone bright as the cat transfigured into human form.
X
“Did we do it? Did it work?”
“I have no idea.”
X
Down in the Caves of Mignon, Wilhem stood alone.
His intent had never been to kill the king. Murder solved no issues and only went to prove Uther’s point that magic was used to evil and caused death and destruction in its wake. Ruling the king out of capability was enough to please Wilhem. He wanted a fair ruler. A man who would gave each person fair trail and never judge a sorcerer by the negative tainting of others.
He would try again. One day he knew he would succeed.
X
Gwen stood with Merlin in court as Gaius informed the King of an illness sweeping through the lower town. People were hallucinating, imaging a plethora of crazy things. He suggested that this was what had ailed him and Gwen in turn.
The King looked to the serving girl with a quick glance. She couldn’t look at him in return.
Arthur saw the look pass but never sought to question it. All was fine. His father was cured of his curse, the magic undone.
They never knew who had cast the magic, but with it gone they wouldn’t think to seek out the perpetrator. No long term damage had been done.
Authors: mydoctortennant
Pairings/Characters: Uther, Merlin, Arthur, Gwen (A/G), OC
Warnings: Corny plotness?
Disclaimer: Not real. Despite birthday wishes and night time prayers to Santa (all Hail Amy Pond!) Merlin still isn't mine!
Rating: PG
Summary: When somebody wants Uther out of the question (but doesn't want to become a murderer) they aim to incapacitate him...
Author Notes: For my weird, but adorable, first friend in the fandom mustbethursday3 who has a whacked out imagination. I love you bb. Title comes from the Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats from the musical Cats... I thought the three adjectives fitted Uther v.well.
My Merlin Prompt Table
In a land of myth and a time of magic the fate of the kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy; his name? Merlin.
Beyond the reaches of Camelot lies the Caves of Mignon. Inside they are dark, damp, and dripping as the water rushes through them into the river that leads to the neighbouring Kingdom. Here the people are reigned over by King Cenred, a young king in comparison to those around him and higher respected by his own people.
He treats them with the respect that he wants them to treat him with and they do so. They like him. He does not enter into things lightly, only heading into battle if he believes he can win. Within his lands sorcery is not frowned upon. It is seen as a haven for those who have been driven from Uther’s Kingdom. It is a welcomed force and one the King embraces as an ally rather than a threat.
Down in the caves, hidden from the world lives the Warlock Wilhem; banished from Camelot twenty years previously when the Great Purge ridded the kingdom of magic and those who possessed it. For years he plotted the revenge he sought on the King of his old home.
He wanted to seize the right moment. Wait for a time when Arthur, the King’s son and the heir to the throne of Camelot, was old enough to reign over the Kingdom without the influence of his father and his hatred of magic. In a time when the young Prince would accept magic and allow the lands to be run with the power harnessed by those who lived there.
He’d seen the good shine through Camelot. Through the Prince and his manservant. A boy who had so much power that even those with little ability could feel it. Could sense the good that the boy had in his heart. Wilhem waited for a time when Arthur knew of this boy’s powers and had begun to trust in the ways of sorcery like his neighbouring King.
Arthur drew an ally in sorcery.
Now was Wilhem’s chance to take heed of his wishes, return to Camelot and seek his revenge.
x
Under the cover of darkness a cloaked figure moved through the city of Camelot. Through the lower towns where the likes of the simple commoners lived by candlelight to the Upper Town and the homes of the Knight’s and nobles stood tall and proud through to the Castle. The home of royalty.
The guards he passed paid him no heed. No ounce of attention to a weary traveller coming home. Walk with enough sense and purpose and nobody dares question your whereabouts. Move through the castle with your head held high enough and those of lesser birth think you a noble. They daren’t question you or your motives and you can move freely towards your destination.
You can, for instance, sneak into the chambers of the King whilst he is sleeping and cast your magic. Nobody will notice, especially the King. So blind to what is right before his eyes. Too caught up in distrust and anger to forge alliances in what he is scared of. He, unlike his son, is destined to fall through no fault but his own. He has made enemies of his people and they aren’t likely to forget it.
The friendships he made are dwindling. Nobody can trust a King who can barely trust himself.
X
This was embarrassing. Very embarrassing.
Merlin looked down into his arms and frowned. He struggled against the animal in his arms and tried not to panic. Running down the corridor towards his master’s chambers door, clutching the animal to him.
When he reached the door he fumbled trying to open it.
The creature in his arms took its chance; using Merlin’s chest as a springboard and leapt away speedily racing off in the other direction.
Merlin looked after it and quickly weighed his options, chase the animal to no avail or enlist Arthur and Gwen and sort the problem out without alerting Gaius to his serious faux pas.
He chose Arthur.
He bumbled into the Prince’s chambers readying his explanation.
And what an explanation it was.
“Merlin,” Arthur greeted, unaware to any sort of problem, “I assume you finished the list of chores I gave you.”
“Yes, well,” the manservant cleared his throat and looked sheepishly to the floor an shifted his feet, “mostly-“
“Merlin...”
“We have a problem,” he admitted ready to duck behind the nearest chair away from any flying objects that might come his way.
“We or you?”
“The whole of Camelot.”
“The whole of Camelot?” Arthur repeated slowly, looking at his servant across the room with a quirked eyebrow. What on Earth had Merlin done now?
“Yes!”Then Merlin grabbed the back of the chair. He straightened it as he spoke quietly into the top of his neckerchief. “It’s... it’s the king.”
“What about him?” Arthur asked still eyeing his servant with the utmost suspicion.
“Something happened.”
“What happened?”
“He... well... he’s a cat.”
“He’s a cat?”
“Yes.”
“Have you been on the cider again, Merlin?”
“No.”
“What have you been at?”
“I was reading and well, he turned into a cat.”
“You turned my father into a cat?”
“Yes.”
“You turned my father into a cat?”
“I didn’t do it deliberately!” Merlin flinched as Arthur’s hand rested over the pot on his side table. It truly had been an accident. He had been reading his magic book as the King had come to see Gaius (quick hiding skills had meant that Merlin kept the book open on the table and Uther had overlooked him completely - as was usual - and carried on in his quest to find the court physician.) He’d then turned into a cat. Right before Merlin’s eyes as he’d carried on reading his book.
Arthur took a deep breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Throwing things, although satisfying, wouldn’t help, “Where is he now?”
“He ran away.”
“He ran away?”
“I couldn’t keep hold of him and open the door at the same time. And he got away.”
“You really are an idiot.”
“I need your help finding him,” It had been slightly easier for Merlin to confide in his mishaps to Arthur since the Prince had discovered his magic. It hadn’t been a good time. Arthur had sat on the fence about it for a week before he ruled that he would keep Merlin’s secret, especially from his father. Gwen had convinced him that Merlin only kept his secret to protect Arthur; having him know endangered him, “I don’t want Gaius finding out.”
“Finding out you turned the King into a cat?” the only thing to keep Arthur from laughing was the matter at hand. If it had been anybody else he would have given into his laughter a while ago, but this was the King. His father. His father was wondering around the castle as a cat? He could scarcely believe it.
“Yes, must you keep saying that?”
“You turned my father into a cat!”
“A relatively pleasant one.”
“Are you saying that my father is unpleasant usually, Merlin?” the accused tilt his head and looked at Arthur pointedly, “Okay, point taken.”
“We really need to find him. And soon!”
X
Gwen had seen a number of cats in the lower town - she’d happily give them scraps of leftover food - but she’d never seen them venture into the courtyard before.
She gathered her cloak and crouched before the animal, calling it to her, clicking her fingers. The animal happily trotted the small distance and head-butted her hand. She scratched him behind the ear and smiled. He was incredibly friendly, “Where’ve you come from, little man?” she cooed as the cat rolled onto it’s back and started to purr. She ran her fingers over his stomach and the cat swiped at her, “Not so keen on that, hey? Come on, you look ravished, Let’s get you to the kitchen. I’m sure there is some left over ham from the King’s breakfast.”
Gwen scooped the cat into her arms. It didn’t even struggled against her as she moved towards the cloisters towards the servants hallways to the kitchens.
The other end of the corridor Merlin and Arthur appeared, arguing as ever as they approached her. Gwen heard their heated banter before she even laid eyes on them. She smiled to herself and continued towards them.
“It’s big and grey and angry looking,” the younger explained sounding like he needed some convincing himself.
“How can a cat look angry?” Arthur asked trying not to laugh in his servant’s face.
“It’s all scowly and...” Merlin scrunched up his nose, “grr...”
“Helpful, thanks.”
“You asked!” The pair of them met Gwen part way down the corridor. Arthur faltered, which didn’t go unnoticed by Merlin who smirked before he noticed the cat in Gwen’s arms and gawked at it.
“Guinevere.” Arthur greeted.
“Sire,” his expression set itself in a warning scowl but he didn’t say anything, she would never relent.
“What are you doing with a cat?” he said momentarily forgetting quite what it was he and Merlin had been looking for.
“He was in the courtyard. Lovely little thing, I was going to give him some ham from the kitchens.”
Merlin elbowed the Prince and looked pointedly at the cat, “What?”
Merlin pointed, “That’s him.”
“That’s who?” Gwen enquired looking at the cat in question.
“You just called the King ‘lovely’ and ‘little’,” Merlin said with a mirthful smile on his face.
“Excuse me?” Gwen asked nearly dropping the cat in her shock. Had she heard what she thought she had? Surely not?
“That’s,” Arthur looked between the cat and his idiot for a servant, raising an eyebrow, “That’s my father?” he asked Merlin who nodded. It was nearly as funny as the time the King had lost his hair, but Merlin stopped himself from laughing.
“What?”
Both males looked to her, “It’s his fault,” Arthur said pointing to Merlin with his thumb.
Gwen’s grip on the cat loosened again. Uncomfortable in its new position, the cat struggled free from her grasp and bound onto the low wall of the cloisters, prancing down it, “What on Earth?”
“It was an accident.”
“An accident? And now the King of Camelot is a cat walking along the-“ she looked down at the wall, “Where did he go?”
“That’s not good.”
“No Merlin, it isn’t.”
“Find him. I need to make sure nobody finds out about this,” Arthur commanded suddenly completely serious.
“Right,” Arthur turned and headed towards the court rooms. Gwen smirked at Merlin, amusement dancing in her eyes, “Don’t look at me like that.”
“You turned the King into a cat, Merlin, how should I be looking at you, exactly?”
“Let’s just find him before somebody else does.”
X
Arthur rounded into the Throne Room and sighed when he found it empty. He turned back and headed back towards the Great Hall. He hoped against hope that he found that in a similar state, but chances were he would find somebody who needed addressing.
He opened the door to find the hall, as he imagined with a single person at the other end of the hall with his back to him; “Father? What are you doing here?”
The King cleared his throat and turned to face Arthur, “I am often in here, Arthur.”
“Quite,” Arthur attempted to smile.
“Was there something you wanted?” The King asked.
“Not at all, it’s fine,” he excused himself and pulled the door to behind him. Merlin made him look like a fool and in front of Gwen. He was going to pay.
Arthur would have fun dreaming up a punishment for him.
X
Casting spells and committing the crime of sorcery is something that is hard to do correctly. No matter how much experience you have things can always go wrong and more often than not they do. Casting a spell on the King of Camelot can go wrong if you are not there to supervise at every possible step. It can wear off. It can go wrong.
Watching through his crystals in the Caves of Mignon, Wilhem watched the King of Camelot be fussed over in the arms of a servant, titter of on his own before, without shadow of a doubt, turning back into a cat.
Wilhem growled in his frustration, taking out his crystals and cocooning them in his hands as he started once again to chant.
X
“I can’t find him anywhere,” Gwen said as she spotted Merlin down the corridor.
“He’s completely disappeared.”
“It’s a big place, maybe we just keep missing him.”
“Doesn’t matter,” the pair of servants looked towards the voice of the Prince. He didn’t look happy. Far from it. His arms were crossed and his gaze was fierce. He appeared from the Great Hall, seemingly unworried by the current situation.
“We need to find him before somebody else does,” Merlin said as if it weren’t obvious enough.
“Oh I found him!”
“Where?”
“In the Great Hall.”
“The Great Hall? That’s not good.”
“No, Merlin, it is not. Neither is sending me on a wild goose chase.”
“What?”
“My father is in the Great Hall.”
“Then why didn’t you grab him so I can turn him back?”
“Because he’s not a cat!”
“What? He was, I swear-“
“Swear on this Merlin, you will be cleaning out the stables every day for the next month. Any speck of dust in my room with be another hour in the stocks. Make me look like a fool again and I will swear to make your life a living hell.”
“Arthur-“
“I will not be made to look an idiot by anyone, do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly.”
“Now get to it.”
“Yes Sire,” Merlin skirted away as quickly as he could. His eyes to the ground, not even looking to Gwen for reassurance as he scuttled past her towards the stables.
“You shouldn’t be so hard on him.”
“He made me look like an idiot.”
“He was trying to help.”
“There is nothing wrong with my father. I highly doubt there ever was.”
“Give him the benefit of the doubt. He trusts you. He wouldn’t have told you if he didn’t need your help.”
“Like he didn’t tell me he was a sorcerer until he needed me to bail him out?”
“You know it wasn’t like that.”
“Now you’re defending him?”
“He’s my friend, I’ll stand by him as long as I have to. Now excuse me; I have work to do.”
X
The stables had never been so clean. There was fresh straw on the floor and new hay in the nets for the horses to eat. The walls were washed and the door fixed. Merlin had polish every piece of metal work until he could see his face in them. There was a wheelbarrow full of waste outside of the stable door ready to be taken to the heap.
Merlin admired his work with a satisfied smile on his face that quickly disappeared. The King had transformed into a cat, he had seen it with his very eyes. Why didn’t Arthur believe him? Maybe the spell had worn off. Merlin would have been grateful if it had, but his luck was never in.
He moved off to take the wheelbarrow of manure to the heap. There was something grey and furry sat on top of it. Merlin squinted at it. It was the cat.
“Oi, get!” he shouted at it, waving his arms at it frantically making it run away, “Stupid cat.”
X
The grey tabby trotted around the corner away from the nasty magician. It ran up the steps into the castle. It carried on its vertical journal running up the stone steps inside and down the corridor.
It came across an ajar door and sniffed at it. It smelt familiar.
The cat nudged the wooden door open with its head, pushing into the room. It looked around briefly catching a glimpse of something dangling from the hangings around the bed near the far wall. A flash of light shone out as the sun hit the gem of the amulet. The cat approached it, with an intense desire to knock it from its perch.
The tabby bound onto the bed and leapt at the offending object.
After several attempts it hit the jewel to the floor.
It bounced and skidded to a halt under the bed.
The cat jumped off the bed after it, but on landed a pair of hefty feet collided with the floor.
“What on earth?”
X
Uther called a private dinner with his son. He hadn’t had much chance to talk to him since Morgana’s more recent departure. He needed normalcy after the day he had just had.
“They tell me the lower town is striving.”
“Reports have show that with the new well to the west they townsfolk are finding it easier to trade. The market is selling well and merchants from outside the city are coming to trade their stocks. Overall I would suggest that it is at current a success.”
“This is good news.”
“Training is going well also, the army is stronger than ever,” Arthur looked to his plate and loaded his fork with food, “Camelot is back to normal,” he looked up expecting a response but never getting one, “Father?”
He frowned and looked about the room.
Nothing.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and checked beneath the table.
The grey tabby sat on the King’s chair. It quickly decided it was much too uncomfortable and bounded from it, “Oh sweet lord,” Arthur said through his breath, “Merlin was right?” Arthur took off at a run, abandoning his dinner, and followed the cat to wherever it was heading. Merlin would certainly pay for this.
Arthur tracked the creature along several corridors before he realised that the creature was heading out into the night, “Oh no, oh no!” Arthur repeated to himself and stated to run. He needed to catch the cat, his father, but he ventured out too far. He couldn’t risk anything happening to him.
It saw the flash of a familiar figure leaving the otherwise empty courtyard, “Gwen,” he called out, “Guinevere, turn around.” She did so reluctantly turning to face the Prince. She was used to him stopping her in her tracks, but she was still trying not to think about gutting and quartering him into miniscule pieces for being a prat, “Don’t let him out of the courtyard,” was all he could manage as he bounded over the cloister wall, his father between the pair of them.
“Not with the cat again.”
“That’s my father.”
“I’m not falling for that again, Arthur, how stupid do you think I am?”
“Guinevere, please just grab it; it likes you,” she glared at him. She rolled her eyes and crouched before the animal for the second time that day. She didn’t even have to call for it before it bounded over to her, “Thank you,” Arthur offered sincerely as she stood with the animal in her hands, “Do you think you can hold onto it until we reach my chambers?”
“Merlin’s is closer.”
“The less people that know about this the better. Just make sure you hold onto him.”
X
Even when she was sat in one of the chairs around Arthur’s table Gwen didn’t let go of the grey tabby. It had settled in her lap, soon falling asleep in a ball. She still didn’t believe him that it was Uther. It was a strange thought to behold if it was. The King was asleep in her lap. She was subconsciously running her fingers through his fur. There was definitely something wrong with this picture.
Arthur had escorted her back to his chambers, made sure she wasn’t about to let the cat go any time soon and took off without another word to go and retrieve Merlin from his quarters (or wherever it was he had ended up) so he could sort his mess out.
They shouldn’t have been much longer. It wasn’t as if Merlin lived that far away.
Gwen shifted slightly but the cat did not wake. It moved slightly readjusting its position on her lap but did not attempt to run.
“For the love of Camelot,” Gwen rubbed her fingers over the bridge of her nose and up over her forehead. This wasn’t something she needed. She had the King of Camelot asleep in her lap and not in a good way or in fact the right Pendragon.
There was a spark, a split second later there was an enormous weight on her lap. On seeing the new addition to her lap she screamed. Uther Pendragon was no longer a cat and he was no longer asleep. He jumped from her lap and away from the chair.
“My lord.”
“What did you see?” he demanded looking straight at her sternly. He knew this girl, Morgana’s old maid, she’d been a member of their staff for a good decade or more, “What did you see?”
“Everything, my lord. The Prince bid me keep an eye on you whilst he finds the cure,” she answered as truthfully as could without revealing Merlin’s magic and securing his sentencing to death.
“Cure? There is not cure for sorcery! I am the target of an attack.”
“My lord, the Prince is doing all he can to figure out who has done this. I am sure he will find out soon. It may be best for you to stay here.”
“Just who do you think you are? You cannot give me orders, girl,” she bowed her head. She had to remember this was Uther she was talking to. Unlike Arthur he would never be receptive to her thoughts, no matter how much sense they made, “I have a kingdom to run. I suggest you get back to work.”
“Yes, my lord,” he left before she could. She bit on her lip and looked to the door. If he turned back she’d be in big trouble from everybody not just Arthur. She could run after the king, keep an eye on him, or she could wait.
“I’m not falling for this again, Arthur. I told you earlier he was a cat and you didn’t belive me, why should I believe you?” she heard coming up the hall. They obviously hadn’t past the King in the corridor. She ran to the door, greeting them quickly.
“He’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“He changed back.”
“Oh sweet lord.”
“Arthur, he knows that I know. He wouldn’t listen to me. He knows it’s sorcery and he knows you’re trying to find out who did it. He doesn’t know it was Merlin.”
“He wouldn’t believe me if I told him that is was. This is Merlin. He’s an idiot.”
“Either way he’s gone. The only thing keeping him from announcing this ‘treachery’ at curt is because he’s too embarrassed. The fact that I know at all had him riled beyond belief. He’s not going to tell anybody about this.”
“We need to find him,” he turned to Merlin, “You need to find out how to turn him back.”
X
Book after book Merlin ransacked, trying to find any spell he could to do with transfiguration and cats. He came across information about pharaohs and Egyptian gods but no spells. He searched through his magic book time and time again but found nothing. There was nothing of the sort in the book.
“It wasn’t me,” he declared to an empty room.
In the higher reaches of Gaius’ chambers Merlin came across a book on transfiguration. In it was a section about felines. He scanned the pages quickly. An image of a stone, clear and glistening by description. This was what they needed to find.
He ran from the room, passing Gaius, quickly greeting him as he zoomed by him.
He spotted Gwen standing outside of the Great Hall. No guards were posted, undoubtedly told to move off by Arthur who was keeping his father under his watchful eye until they could find a cure.
“We need to find a crystal.”
“A crystal?” Merlin ran past Gwen grabbing her arm and dragging her away as he did so.
“It’ll be somewhere that has close vicinity to Uther long an elongated period of time.”
“His chambers?”
“I think so. Once we find it, we smash it. The curse will be lifted and Uther will be his sunny self again,” the world they were used to with the King barking out orders to servants left right and centre. A world of hiding. It was good in a way, Arthur wasn’t ready to be king.
x
He wasn’t ready for this.
Arthur stood watching his father pace the room. Neither Pendragon said a word. The air was pregnant with anxiety. Neither knew what to say, knowing no words could make the situation better in anyway.
As his father paced Arthur’s eyes never left him.
He didn’t even blink in surprise when the king transformed into a cat before his eyes.
“Hurry up, Merlin.”
x
The pair of servants burst into the king’s chambers easily enough. Merlin headed for the wardrobe cabinet whereas Gwen headed straight over towards the bed. They pulled out draw after draw searching for anything remotely resembling the stone they were searching for.
Gwen threw his pillows from his bed, stripped it of the bed sheets in search of the crystal. She looked up. In the glint of sunlight she could see a chain. Only a few links were there. She looked about the floor, it certainly hadn’t been in the bed.
She pulled up her skirts and knelt down. She looked beneath the cabinet as her eye trailed towards the underneath of the bed. She moved the fallen quilt and sure enough she saw what had fallen from the canopy. She tugged on the chain, “Merlin!”
The boy came racing towards her, “That’s it!”
She slammed it into the floor. It wouldn’t break. She moved her hand and Merlin drove his foot into the floor. Once again the crystal didn’t shatter, “What do we do?”
Merlin lifted the stone from the floor and dangled it in front of his face. Without a word he stared at it, his eyes flashed amber and the stone obliterated before them.
X
Arthur kept his eyes on the cat. He searched the room, every door was pulled closed, every window latched and locked. There was no escape for the cat, which put Arthur at ease a little.
Then, right before his eyes, the cat was surrounded by a light. It span and shone bright as the cat transfigured into human form.
X
“Did we do it? Did it work?”
“I have no idea.”
X
Down in the Caves of Mignon, Wilhem stood alone.
His intent had never been to kill the king. Murder solved no issues and only went to prove Uther’s point that magic was used to evil and caused death and destruction in its wake. Ruling the king out of capability was enough to please Wilhem. He wanted a fair ruler. A man who would gave each person fair trail and never judge a sorcerer by the negative tainting of others.
He would try again. One day he knew he would succeed.
X
Gwen stood with Merlin in court as Gaius informed the King of an illness sweeping through the lower town. People were hallucinating, imaging a plethora of crazy things. He suggested that this was what had ailed him and Gwen in turn.
The King looked to the serving girl with a quick glance. She couldn’t look at him in return.
Arthur saw the look pass but never sought to question it. All was fine. His father was cured of his curse, the magic undone.
They never knew who had cast the magic, but with it gone they wouldn’t think to seek out the perpetrator. No long term damage had been done.