bruceybabe

Review/recap of Merlin Ep 201

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:11:20 GMT

Wow! What a start to the new season. Here my review/recap of The Curse of Cornelius Sigan.

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 2.01

The show opens and apparently Uther's got the builders in. Digging an underground chamber (new wine cellar? Torture chamber?) only for one of them to bust the gas pipe. Oh wait! It's just bad air from a long forgotten tomb. Filled with lots of treasure. (Ooooh! Shiny!)

Cut to Arthur in Bed. (savour the moment)

Poor Arthur can't sleep because of all the noise. So naturally he calls for Merlin... who just happens to be outside his door. Arthur gets out of bed ...shirtless....(*stares*.....er, where was I?)

Arthur tells Merlin to tell the workers to stop. Merlin is none to keen as they're working on the King's orders but in the end he obeys his ~~Prat~~ Prince.

The curious labourers investigate the tomb room, and oh look there's a large glowing blue heart shaped jewel embedded in the sarcophagus. That's not suspicious at all. Like a moth to the flame one of them is drawn to it, and as gets close, he stands on a stone that triggers a trap. (oops!)

Merlin arrives as everyone else runs out screaming. So he goes to see what the fuss is about, and finds the dead guy all grey and bulgy-eyed (no wonder all those burly blokes screamed like little girls).

Cue Titles.

We have Gaius looking serious and pensive as he looks at the body. He too is drawn to the Big Blue Heart (BBH)

Gaius triggers the trap, a dart is fired from a statue of a raven. Fortunately he has Merlin there to save him. With a levitated plate. Gaius is grateful. The plate is dented.

The royals arrive and Uther's happy with his new found wealth. Wants to know which ancestor to thank for it. Gaius says he will look into it. (Who else?)
Uther assigns Arthur to guard the new stash.

Cut to an Inn and one of the workers is talking to another man (that bloke from the office and POTC) about the treasure. POTC guy cons the treasure whereabouts from him, and the fact that Prince Arthur has the key needed get at it.

Oh and the only person with access to the Prince's chambers is his servant (Oh oh, I can see where this is going and holy cow another shirtless Arthur shot....*drools*...erm right..)

Cut to Merlin with Arthur's horse, Arthur uses him as a mounting block (talk about your boss walking all over you!) Only for Arthur plus saddle to slide off the horse. (Prat fall *snicker* ... get it?). The girth strap hasn't been tightened properly.

Merlin's apologetic and confused, Arthur's annoyed. Iin steps POTC guy offering to help and soon ingratiates himself with Arthur. He's offered a place as a beater on the hunting party.

Oh and his name's Cedric.

Merlin is a bit peeved.

Cut to Gaius Ace Detective as he works out who the tomb belongs to. He goes back to look at BBH. (Guess the chamber's only locked at night) and finds an inscription around it

We cut to the forest and the hunting party. ( I'm not sure what game they're after, as the beaters are beating grass that's two inches high... if that!)

Arthur's out in front (of course) when a really big boar comes charging at them, Arthur throws his spear but it's only a glancing blow. Cedric panics and drops his spear and Merlin uses magic to throw it. He kills the boar, saving Arthur in the process. Unfortunately Cedric takes the credit and poor Merlin has to keep his mouth shut.

Arthur offers to reward Cedric who asks for a place in the Royal household, and a grateful Arthur agrees.

Merlin's not happy!

Cut to unhappy Merlin at home grousing a bit to Gaius, who tells him about what he's discovered. The tomb belongs to Cornelius Sigan the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived. Until he apparently got a bit big for his britches and was executed by the then King. Sigan was also trying to find a way of defeating death itself. (Oh oh!)

Gaius goes to the throne room to warn Uther of the danger, but the King is less than impressed with the whole curse story. Passes it off as foolish superstition. (Boy, he really hasn't learnt anything from season one has he?)

Morgana wakes up from a dream about a raven. She calls for Gwen who comforts her.

Merlin brings Arthur his breakfast only to find Cedric has beaten him to it and rather grandly at that. He's also apparently finished all the chores except mucking out the stable. Guess who gets that job.

Merlin's really not happy!

Morgana tells Gaius about her dream. She's afraid the premonitions are coming back, but Gaius tells her not to worry and he'll have Gwen give her something stronger to help her sleep.

Morgana: “Like a blow to the head?” ( Hee! Morgana rules!)

Cut to Merlin mucking out the stables. Cedric throws a smoke bomb at Merlin's feet, which knocks him out and he falls to the ground (face landing in some manure. Poor boy!). Cedric chases all the horses out and they stampede through the town, which gets Arthur's attention.

We go back to Merlin who looks like he's sleeping, which is how Arthur finds him. Merlin wakes confused and Arthur is angry once more at his servant's apparent failure.

Cedric steps in, all fake concern, claiming Merlin's just tired and he'd be more than happy to take over if Arthur were to give Merlin the evening off. Merlin knows Cedric is up to something and tries to get Arthur to listen, unfortunately he loses his cool and calls him a “clotpole” (snicker).

Arthur is none too pleased. He tells Merlin that Cedric will take over for the evening and he better decide if he wants to continue as his servant.

Merlin goes home a bit depressed, Gaius notices and talks to him.

Merlin: “I just want him to trust me. See who I truly am.”
Gaius: “One day he will”
Merlin: “When? Everything I do is for him, and he thinks I'm an idiot”
(Awwwww!! *pets Merlin*)

Gaius tells him to be patient that he and Arthur have a destiny (yep the d-word again).
But it can wait as Camelot is in trouble. Gaius has figured out the inscription and it says anyone who removes the BBH will release Sigan's soul. (Not good!)

Cut to shirtless Arthur (Man that's three times this ep, they're really spoiling us!) putting away his keys and going to bed. Cedric under the guise of dowsing the candles steals them. He knocks out the guards with another smoke bomb and enters the chamber. Despite all the gold and jewels he can't resist the lure of the BBH and prises it out. A blue mist is released and it enters Cedric. He drops the BBH which is no longer blue. His eyes go black.

Merlin wakes up to the sound of a raven cry, and knows something is wrong and goes to the tomb, Arthur and Gaius is are already there. Arthur raises the alarm. Gaius has found the no longer blue heart. Gaius wonders who could have got in, Merlin tells him Arthur has the only key and quickly realizes it had to be Cedric.

He goes to tell Arthur, who like his father has a hard time believing in curses and escaped souls. He thinks Merlin's an idiot (or drunk) and tells Cedric to escort him from the castle.

Merlin sees Cedric and attacks him, they scuffle to Arthur's bemusement and Merlin at one point accidentally knocks Arthur down (totally Cedric's fault but don't think Arthur sees it that way).
Arthur eventually grabs Merlin and has him locked up. (Yep he's back in jail, it's like the good old days again!)

That night Cedric/Sigan casts a spell which brings the castle's gargoyles to life. They then attack the citizens of Camelot. Uther tells Arthur to hunt them down.

Next we have a scene with Uther and Gaius where the latter basically says 'I told you'. (Only in a nice 'I'm just a humble servant please don't kill the messenger kind of way). Uther convinced Sigan can be defeated again despite Gaius' dire warnings. Gargoyles batter the castle and bits of ceiling fall down. Uther doesn't look quite so sure anymore.

Arthur and his Knights (sounds like a band) confront Gargoyles, they don't have much luck. (but the formation does looks better than in the Gryphon episode, so I guess all the training was good for something) They still suck at the fighting of magical creatures though, and Arthur is hurt.

Merlin breaks out by magically blowing the cell door off. (Go Merlin!)

Gwen saves Arthur by pulling him out of the way, then again by knocking him to the ground to avoid a swooping gargoyle, and ends up on top of him. She takes him to have his injury seen to, and Arthur rambles a bit and eventually thanks her. (Gwen looked rather bemused – Arthur looked constipated. I'm still not seeing the Gwen/Arthur thing)

Uther seals off the castle, Arthur argues that people are still out there, and goes out to help them against Uther wishes. (Go Arthur!)

Merlin sneaks in to talk to Gaius, tells him he has to help Arthur. Gaius tells him only the Great Dragon has the knowledge to defeat Sigan. Apparently Gaius knew all along that Merlin went to see him. Merlin isn't happy that he has to see the lizard.

Arthur goes back to fighting monsters.

Merlin goes to GSD's cave and asks for help. Dragon comes down eventually but isn't too pleased with Merlin, points out Merlin told him he didn't want his help ever again. (Totally making Merlin work for it)
He tells Merlin he doesn't know where his loyalties lie. (Erm... I'm pretty sure they're with a certain blond prince).

GSD eventually agrees to help in return for the promise that Merlin will free him one day. Merlin doesn't really trust him but in the end has little choice but to agree. Dragon breathes on him and magically mind melds with Merlin (No seriously, he does!) to give him the knowledge he seeks.

Cut to Arthur getting smacked down by a monster and his knights retreat (just when I thought they were getting better). Arthur is alright but cut off from escape. The knights return to the castle and barricade the doors. Uther realizes Arthur isn't there and demands they go back for him, even trying to go himself but one of the knights stops him. The Gargoyles batter the castle some more.

Arthur is unconscious and Merlin arrives to save him. (good timing that)
Merlin destroys the Gargoyle which gets Cedric/Sigan's attention. Sigan tells Merlin he's wasted on Arthur who doesn't appreciate him. Offers instead to teach him how to use his powers to rule instead.

Merlin refuses.

Merlin: “Better to serve a good man than rule with an evil one” (Awwww! He still loves his prince. Even when he's a prat and has him locked up!)

Sigan tells him if he won't join him then he'll take Merlin's power for himself. Cedric collapses and blue mist leaves his body and travels over to Merlin. Who quickly chants a spell as the mist enters his body and he too collapses to the sound of a raven's cry. His eyes open and turn black. (Oh noes!)

Gaius goes looking for Merlin who appears out of the fog.

Merlin grins and holds up the now blue again heart. (though I'm not sure when he picked that up) He's won. A very pleased Gaius hugs him.

The tomb is resealed. Uther tells Gaius that this only proves he was right and they must crack down on sorcery even more. (Apparently killing everything that's even vaugely magical is Uther being cmplacent – go figure!)

Arthur goes to see Merlin. Tells Merlin he may not have been entirely wrong about the situation, though he refuse to admit he was actually right. He says despite his recent actions and calling him a clotpole he needs someone to clean his armour.

Gaius looks at Merlin as Arthur leaves and repeats “Clotpole?” (totally cracked me up)

The end.

To come in future eps:

Jousting.
Charles Dance
“Your wife is a troll sire” (*Snicker-snort*)
LANCELOT!
Merlin caught holding a dress to himself (*Snicker*)
OMG!! MORDRED!!

Tempus Fudge-it!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:14:18 GMT

Whoa! Where'd the the last few months go?

Seriously I can't believe it's autumn already.

I apologize for disappearing, but between reading spn big bang fics (there were a lot this year) and spending time on the Nintendo Wii I got for my birthday, I kind of fell of the radar for a while.

On the plus side the new series of Merlin starts this weekend (whoo hoo!!). Hopefully it will get me back into the fandom and maybe even writing again.

I'm also looking forward to the new Strictly this Friday! (the weekends are definitely looking up!)

(RL) WooHoo!!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:51:44 GMT

I don't have to do jury service!

It turns out they had too many people and offered me the choice of opting out.

Of course It's possible I'll be chosen again at a later date but hopefully not. *fingers crossed*

I don't want to offend anybody as I know Jury service is important, but as a long time sufferer of M.E/C.F.S, I was really dreading it. At least now I won't have to worry about struggling to stay awake though someone's trial (lucky them!).

*off to celebrate*

(RL) The Jury is in...

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:19:32 GMT

..or will be in a couple of months and I may well be on it.

Yep this Christmas brought me a summons for jury duty in the new year.

And to top it off the local court house isn't all that local. With no direct train or bus service and I don't drive. So as my dad retired last year, he gets to be the lucky person to be my chauffeur ferrying me the thirty odd mile round trip every day. For at least two weeks.

*sigh* I know it has to be done, but it's going to be a pain in the bum. I really hate getting up early. :(

Sorry for spamming my flist, I just needed to rant for a moment.

Merry X-Mas

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:16:53 GMT

As this is the last time I have Internet access, before disappearing off to my Brother's for a few days, I would like to wish everyone on my flist

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Eat, drink, be merry and I hope everyone gets what they want for X-mas.

Peace and Love
Debbie.

Review of Merlin Ep 13

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:33:11 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.13

HOLY ARTHUR'S BOOTS BATMAN! *MAJOR FLAIL*
Okay now that's out of my system on with the review.

We open to Arthur, Merlin and three knights creeping through the forest. Another hunting trip? Apparently as Arthur asks Merlin for his spear. (not that spear you pervs or am I projecting?)
Merlin promptly drops it.

Arthur: "Do you have any natural gifts?"
Merlin: "No."
Merlin: "I'm not naturally rude and insensitive"
Arthur: "Just naturally annoying" (ha! So married!)

They continue to catch the creature
Arthur on seeing Merlin looking nervous: "don't worry I'm sure it's more frightened of you than you are of it"

Of course at this point the audience sees the huge honking monster appear behind Arthur.
Who turns round sees it, does a double take, drops the spear and legs it. (*snicker*)
Everyone else is not far behind. Merlin trips and falls, Arthur and another knight come back for him, as the Arthur and Merlin escape the knight falls behind. (oh dear)

As everyone regroups Arthur asks Merlin who's missing (There are only four knight Arthur surly even you can keep their names straight.) Merlin tells him it's Sir Bedivere (I didn't catch the name properly but that's what it sounded like anyway). We then then hear a scream from off camera. (another one bites the dust)

Titles.

Cut to throne/council room where naturally Gaius has the answers
Gauis: "It sounds like a Questing Beast"
Arthur: "But that's just a myth!" (*snort* seriously they say that every week surely they should be used to it by now?)

Uther orders Arthur to gather the palace guard and kill it (deja vu). We learn that Gauis saw such a beast on the night Ygraine died, but Uther refuses to acknowledge it might actually be dangerous as Gauis makes out. (deja vu all over again).

We cut to Gaius' chambers where Gaius tries to convince Merlin instead. Apparently one bite from the creature kills and there is no cure. (Right. I can't see where this is going, nope not at all).

Montage of blurry images and Morgan wakes up screaming. Gwen rushes in to try and comfort her and they end up hugging. On the bed. (Heh! I don't usually fem-slash but even I could see it)

Cut to the courtyard the next morning and Arthur giving another stirring speech to the troops (all five of them). He tells them they are the best Knights around (Jesus I really don't won''t to see what the worst are like).

Everyone: "For the love of ~~boyyay~~Camelot"

A hysterical Morgana runs out of the castle and gloms onto Arthur begging not to go. A rather confused ans surprised Arthur tries to pry her off without much success and Merlin explains she must have had a nightmare and offers to take her to Gaius. Arthur looks grateful at that and she's eventually carted off.

Cut back to forest and they track the creature...to a cave. (God the originality stuns me)

They enter the cave lighting torches and they split up. (because of course thats what you should do when going after a large dangerous magical creature. Though I do love the fact that Arthur pairs himself with Merlin)

Once again the creature appears behind them (I swear I did a pantomime "he's behind you" at the telly there). They finally sees it and Arthur pushes Merlin out of the way, and waves his sword at the beast (no seriously he does, he just kinda waves it around) the Questing Beast is not impressed and smacks him down.

A frantic Merlin yells and waves his torch to distract the thing and when it turns to face him he uses magic to lift Arhtur's sword and kill it. Bright flashy lights and a lot of flailing later, the creature dies.

Merlin runs to Arthur shaking him to see of alright only for him to notice his hand is covered in blood. Arthur's blood.

Merlin: "SOMEBODY HELP ME!" echoes around the cave.

Cut to Arthur lying on a table in Gaius' chamber's.
Gaius: "He's been bitten"
Merlin: "I tried to save him"

Gaius tells the others to get the king. Merlin races to his room for his magic book. Gaius aks him what he's doing the king will be there ant moment. Merlin doesn't care.
Merlin: "Gaius he's my friend"

Merlin goes through his book and tries various spells but nothing works. Uther arrives and Merlin hides the book. Uther says he'll carry Arthur to his rooms.
We see Uther carry Arthur across the courtyard, everyone stopping to watch him pass, until his grief gets the better of him and he drops to his knees crying. Four knights run in and carry Arthur inside. (Anthony and Colin's expressions here broke my heart)

Merlin goes to the Dragon. He belives he's failed Arthur. The GSD tells him there is still hope.
Merlin: "I will do anything" (he loves his prat you see)

Dragon tells him as it was old magic that hurt Arthur, only old magic can save him. Merlin must go to the Isle of the Blessed.
GSD: "Arthur must live no matter the cost" (yeah that doesn't sound good)

Merlin gives the dragon a heartfelt thank you and leaves.

When Gauis finds out where Merlin plans to go he tries to talk him out of it. They argue and once again the 'heavy price' is mentioned. A life must be given in return.
Merlin: "Whatever the price, I will pay it gladly"

Cut to Arthur lying in his bed, sweaty and moaning. (typical we finally get Arthur without his shirt and it's because he's dying and half his torso is covered in bandages, still I'll take what I can get)

We cut to Merlin getting ready to leave and Gaius gives him a rabbit foot for good luck. He seems embarrassed by it and tries to take it back but Merlin won't let him.

Merlin rides off.

Cut to Sick Arthur and Uther who goes to comfort him. (I love ASH here)

Cut to Merlin continuing his journey with the dragon's voice over giving directions for the audiences benefit I assume, as Merlin has a map.

Back to Arthur and Gwen takes over from Gauis in mopping his sweaty brow and give a rather nice pep talk, and hold his hand. (a moment for the A/Gw shippers)

Cut to exterior night shot of the courtyard where the people of Camelot are holding a candlelit vigil.

Gaius talks to Uther, tries to offer him hope that Arthur's not dead yet.
Uther: "I don't believe in miracles" (Oh Uther, I mean it's not like we have every week or anything.)

Merlin reaches the lake and oh look there's a handy boat waiting. It doesn't seem to have oars so Merlin uses magic to make it go. He reached the ruins on the Isle and the place seems deserted.

Oh wait It's Nimueh. (She has a rather creepy smile if you ask me *shiver*)
Merlin not impressed though he is a little surprised as she's tried to kill them both before. Merlin offers his life in exchange for Arthur's (it's getting to be a bit of a habit that)
Merlin: "His life is worth a hundred of mine" (Oh Merlin! We really have to work on those self esteem issues)

Nimueh agrees to help Arthur. He needs to drink water from the cup of life (Holy Grail?) to be cured. She makes it rain and holds up the cup, then transfers the water into a flask which she gives Merlin.

Cut to Merlin riding like the clappers. Goes to Gauis and gives him the flask. Gaius is suspicious.
Gaius "Who's life did you bargain?"
Merlin: "Everything will be alright"

Gaius eventually concedes and gives the water to Arthur. Uther catches them and is suspicious. Gaius makes up a story of a last ditch cure attempt. Uther buys it and stays with Arthur when they leave.

As they walk down the corridor Morgana grabs Merlin (looking like a heroin junky) and tells him it's not over yet.

Arthur wakes up and seems surprised to his father asleep with his head on the bed.
Arthur: "Someone watching over me" (Yep hordes of fangirls oh and Merlin of course)

Gaius tells Merlin the good news.

Gwen returns and is happy to see Arthur awake. Who apparently remembers her talking to him and he teases her over it.

Cut to - It was a dark and stormy night in Camelot.

Merlin looking pensive.

A cloaked female figure hobbles through the castle gates past two guards who do nothing to stop her.(Camelot's finest at work again)

A shaking knobbly hand reaches for the door to Gaius rooms.

Oh wait! It's another of Morgana;s dreams as she bolts upright in her bed.

Cut to sleeping Merlin, rabbit floor clasped in his hand. He wakes up and goes to find Gaius. Who is crouched over a cloaked figure on the floor. Oh! Not a dream after all.
Gaius tells him to stay back by he is ignored. We get a look at the woman on the floor. Gasp! It's Hunith, Merlin's Mum and she doesn't look good.

Merlin goes to the Dragon. Accuses him of knowing his mother would get sick. The dragon reminds Merlin he said he would pay any price and isn't very sympathetic at all. He tells Merlin that Arthur has to live so magic can return and he can be free. Which a bad thing to say as a hurt Merlin realizes he been used. GSD tries to reason with him.
GSD: "I am your Kin" (what Merlin part dragon?)

An angry Merlin tells the Dragon he'll see to it he's never free. Dragon is rather pissed at that and flames Merlin only for him to totally block it. (Go Mer! and take that you giant backstabbing iguana)

A distraught Merlin wants to return to the Isle to save his Mum. Gauis tries to dissuade him. Merlin tells Gauis that he always taught him to do what was right. He's made up his mind.

Merlin: "I need to say goodbye to Arthur" (AWWW! Of course he does)

Merlin goes to see Arthur in his rooms, doesn't knock. Arthur thinks Gauis saved him, odd smile from Merlin at hearing that.

Merlin: "We need to talk."
Arthur: "You still don't get it, do you, Merlin? I decide when we have to talk."
Merlin: "Not today."
Arthur: "I sometimes wonder if you know who I am."
Merlin: "Oh, I know who you are. You're a prat, and a royal one"
Arthur: "Are you ever going to change, Merlin?"
Merlin: "No. You'd be bored."

Merlin: "I'm happy to be your servant until the day I die" (God Arthur, figure it out)

Merlin leaves, and returns to his mother where Gwen is looking after her. Merlin and his Mum say their goodbyes, both believing they'll be the one dying. (break my heart again why don't you writers)

The next morning merlin prepares to leave and notices Gaius isn't around. Finds a letter that been left for him. Gaius has gone to the Isle in his place. "you are the Son I never had" (*wibbles*)

Merlin rides out after him.

Gaius meets Nimueh and offers his life for Merlin's, to her amusement.

Merlin arrives but Gaius is already lying on the ground. She tells him his mother is safe.
Merlin: "Did you kill him?"
Nimueh: "It was his choice" (creepy smile again)

They have a show down.
Nimueh: "With my help, Arthur will become King"
Merlin: "~~No bitch~~ I will make him King"

Magic duel, Merlin goes down his chest smoking, hole in his shirt (OH NOES!!)
Nimueh standing over him : "Shame" She turns and walks awy.

Only Merlin's eyes open and he gets up, and boy is he pissed.
Merlin: "You should not have killed my friend"

Merlin calls up a storm and brings down lightning on Nimueh and fries her ass(GO MER!!), and with scream and an explosion she is gone.

He goes to Gaius and cradles his body and screams to the heavens. Only He isn't dead. Killing Nimueh means Gaius doesn't need to die. (YAY!!)

Gaius: "we'll make a warlock out of you yet"
Merlin: "Do you believe in me now?"
Gaius: "Well, I would do, if you would just stop the blasted rain." (*snicker*)

They laugh and we crane out.
Shot of the Isle and the Dragon screaming "Merlin NOOOOO!!!!!"
Morgana wakes from a nightmare.

(DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!)

The End.
At least no cliffhanger, thank the heavens.
MERLIN WILL RETURN. (YES!!... but not for a year NO!!)

Fic: Mulish Behaviour and Woolly Thinking (Merlin)

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:59:03 GMT

Title: Mulish Behaviour and Woolly Thinking
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (pre-slash)
Rating: R (for swearing)
Summary: Accidental magic. Merlin is an ass and Arthur is.. well, you'll see.
Word count: 1388
Warnings: Crack with a dash of angst.
Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be. :(

Author's note: A short crack fic I wrote to take my mind off the upcoming finale. Enjoy.

Arthur looked around the small farm house with a frown. Recent crop failures and sick livestock had raised accusations of sorcery on the man he'd already had his men escort back to Camelot.

Unfortunately he had already searched most of the place and found no signs of anything that could be connected with magic.

He stifled a sigh.

“He could be innocent you know.” The voice of his manservant broke through his thoughts.

“I'm aware of that, but accusations such as these cannot be ignored. Which is why we're here, looking for evidence.” He snapped.

“But what if you don't find anything? You really think your father is going to take that man's word that he's innocent?” Merlin continued, to his increasing annoyance.

He was about to respond with a suitably scathing retort when a glint of reflected light, from near the unmade bed, caught his eye. Closer inspection revealed a small bluish-green stone lying on the floor. He picked it up and tried to study it more clearly in the dim light filtering through the small windows.

The stone seemed to have strange symbols carved into the surface. “It seems he might not be so innocent after all.”

“I guess you get to watch the execution with a clear conscience then.”

He turned his head sharply to look at the other man who seemed almost as surprised as he was at the comment.

“God Arthur, I'm sorry” Merlin said, the remorse clear in his voice. “I don't...”

He angrily cut the dark haired man off before he could continue. “Shut up Merlin.”

He wasn't sure which was more painful. That Merlin had brought it up or that he wasn't entirely wrong. His father's paranoia concerning magic was no secret.

His hand clenched into a white knuckled fist around the stone as his anger got the better of him.

“Sometimes Merlin, you can be a complete ass!” His snarl quickly turned to a yelp as the stone in his hand grew warm and started to glow. There was a flash of light and a loud popping sound from behind him which made him turn again to look at his manservant.

Who was no longer there.

Instead there was a skinny scruffy looking mule, wearing a rather bewildered expression, standing in his place.

A mule which was awkwardly wearing Merlin's cloths. From the blue scarf around it's neck, the shirt and jacket hanging oddly across it shoulders and forelegs. The trousers stretched to almost bursting at the seams on it's haunches and hind-legs, it even had boots on it's hind hooves.

He blinked, but the scene in front of him stayed the same. The donkey moved its head to look at itself before quickly returning to look back at him. It made a hic-coughing braying sound. Which cut off abruptly as the animal snapped it's mouth closed, and went slightly cross-eyed as it looked down it's own nose.

/Oh Fuck!/ Was his first thought.

/Oh Fuck! I've turned Merlin into a mule!... With magic!!/ Was the second.

/OH FUCK! Father's going to KILL me!/ Was the third and he couldn't prevent the flinch as it crossed his mind.

He looked at the now inert stone in his hand.

Then back at Mule-Merlin.

“Er.. Return to normal.” Waving the hand holding the stone at the animal.

Nothing happened.

“Be a Man.”

Still nothing.

“Mule be gone....”

“...Don't be an ass?”

The look of incredulity mixed with disappointment on the donkey's face was so familiar, that any lingering doubt that this was indeed his manservant was quickly dispelled.

If only the spell itself were so easy.

“I'm trying my best alright!” He told it, feeling slightly foolish for talking to an animal.

He looked out the window and realized it would be growing dark soon. If he didn't return, his father would send men out to look for him.

He bit his lip as he pondered what to do.

“Look Merlin. I might have to return to Camelot without you.” At the narrow eyed look he received he quickly continued “Just long enough to inform my Father I 'll be absent for a few days and then I'll come back.... I promise.”

The mule snorted and stamped a hoof.

He sighed “I can't very well take you with me can I? How would I explain this?”

He frowned “Though I suppose if you weren't wearing clothes.” His frown deepened as he wondered how exactly one went about undressing a mule.

“I suppose I could cut them off.” he murmured.

The donkey laid it's ears back and bared it's teeth and it gave another harsh bray.

“Damn it Merlin I don't know what else to do. You're a pain in the neck but right now I really wish you were back to your normal annoying self.”

He nearly dropped the stone in surprise as it once again glowed. A flash and a pop and Merlin, the human Merlin, stood before him once more.

“Oh thank God!” He exclaimed, before quickly dropping the stone on to the table as though burned.

He watched as his servant readjusted his clothes and bent down to pull on his left boot which had half slipped off.

“Well that was fun.” Merlin said, the sarcasm clear in his tone.

“Er yes... about this...” he said waving a hand between them “Obviously my Father can't..... I mean I don't...”

He felt a wave of relief flow through him as Merlin interrupted with a grin.

“Don't worry Sire. Your secret is safe with me.”

~~~~~
Uther watched as his son gingerly unwrapped the cloth bundle he was holding to reveal a bluish-green stone. He looked closer and saw symbols etched into the surface.

“What are the symbols Gaius? Do you know?” He asked, and the court physician looked over his shoulder to peer at the stone.

“Well some of them appear to be Druidic in nature, but I'm afraid I won't know for sure, or as to there exact meaning without more research Sire.” Was the response.

He stifled a sigh at the predictable answer.

He reached out to pick it up.

“Careful father.” He heard Arthur say “Er... I mean we don't now what it's supposed to do ...or anything.”

He looked up sharply at his son's nervous tone.

He wondered if Arthur was hiding something from him and narrowed his eyes as his son exchanged glances with his manservant. He had to fight the urge to roll his eyes as he realized whatever it was involved the dark haired youth.

Sometimes he wished his son would get this growing infatuation out of his system by just bedding the boy and be done with it.

He picked up the stone and looked more closely at the strange symbols. He would wait until Gaius had finished his research to officially pass judgement, but he was certain he would be proved right in thinking the man sitting in the dungeon was guilty of sorcery.

“Father I really think it would be best to er... handle the stone as little as possible.”

He arched and eyebrow at his heir “Indeed. You have some reason to believe it dangerous?”

He watched his son swallow and glance again at his servant. “Er.. Well not exactly... That is I don't believe... It's just I don't think it wise to mess with anything magical.... Not when we don't know what it's for.”

He stared at his son struggling to mask his surprise at the stammering reply which was so unlike him.

He sighed. “If you have something to say, please say it. I did not raise you to be so woolly headed.”

He gasped as the stone in his hand glowed and grew warm to the touch. There was a blinding flash of light and a loud popping sound. He could hear the gasps of the people around him as he blinked the bright after image from his eyes.

When he could finally see, he looked towards his son.

Only to see a strange creature standing in his place, wearing Arthur's clothes.

The animal was the size of a small horse, had a long neck and legs, a slightly sheep-like face and a long woolly coat.

Uther blinked again and looked at the stone in his hand.

/Oh Fuck!/

The End.

I made some dodgy fanart to go with the story. Please bear in mind I made these with only a basic paint program and a mouse. Though if I keep getting ideas like these I might actually have to invest in a graphics tablet. :p

Author's Note 2: I can't take complete credit for Alpaca Arthur as I modified it from a picture taken from here at the Heartwood Farm website.

12 Days Meme

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:01:13 GMT

On the twelfth day of Christmas, bruceybabe sent to me...

Twelve salamanders drumming

Eleven jensen ackles piping

Ten movies a-leaping

Nine x-files dancing

Eight bones a-milking

Seven heroes a-swimming

Six ncis a-laying

Five blo-o-o-ood ties

Four tv shows

Three bradley james

Two stargate atlantis

...and an angel in a buffy.

Brawwhahah! 11 Jensen Ackles' and 3 count them my Merlin flist fans 3 Bradley James'
and an Angel in a Buffy?!! Ooh er missus!
And yes I do realize I sent them to myself *snicker*.

Review of Merlin Ep 12

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:15:44 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.12

Not much in the way if Arthur/Merlin this week, but Morgana rocked.
On to review:

We open with Tom the blacksmith (Gwen's dad) bringing her a present of which she is grateful. (though possibly slightly suspicious of, if like me, she wonders where he got the from).

We cut to a rather dodgy fake looking set of hot coals that Tom is apparently working melting lead.
A Mysterious hooded figure appears in the shadows. He pulls out a piece of amber stone (no fossilized mosquitoes, I looked) He proceeds to use the stone (it's magic you see) to turn the lead into gold. The stone makes an eerie sound and wakes up Merlin even though he in bed in the castle (the smithy being in the town outside).

Tom a little bit agitated at the use of magic (understandably). He is in fact proved to be right to be so as Arthur and his Merry Men barge it. The mystery man gets away but Tom is arrested.

Cue titles.

Cut to Gaius and a sleepy confused Merlin. He explains he sensed powerful magic. Before he can go any further Gwen rushes in to tell them about her father.

Morgana argues with Uther over Tom's arrest when he refuses to listen she appeals to Arthur who once again tries to convince his father he maybe going a bit overboard.
No dice.

Morgana: "He deserver a fair trial!
Uther: "And he'll havet one and be found guilty" (yep sounds fair to me Uther).

Cut to jail cell and Tom explaining to his daughter he didn't know about the sorcery, who in turn explains it to Gaius and Merlin. Cut to Gwen asleep in Merlin's bed as he and Gaius talk about what might be happening . It sounds like alchemy. (no really!)

The next morning Morgana goes to see Gwen but of course she isn't there, she still in Merlin's bed (who presumably bunked in with Arthur for the night). Morgana finds the magic stone, it makes the eerie sound again and Merlin hears it, she decides ti keep it and hides it in her room. Then she goes to see Gwen at Merlin's place but she's still asleep.
Morgana and Merlin discuss Tom's chances, Morgana thinks he has no chance as Uther already made up his mind.

Morgana then sneaks into Arthur's room and steals one of his keys (he really needs to hide better, Merlin at least needed to use magic). The key is apparently the for the jail cell Tom's in and Morgana gives it to him (why exactly does Arthur have this key? Wouldn't the jailer have it?).

Cut to Merlin talking to Arthur trying to get him to admit what happening to Tom is wrong but Arthur sends him away. (the pensive/guilty look on Arthur's face as Merlin leaves makes me wonder if maybe he agreed after all and was taking his frustration at being unable to prevent it out on Merlin).

Cue the great escape.
Okay so Tom uses the key (leaving it in the door = doh!)and luckily there are no guards (there never are when people are escaping I've noticed). Eventually someone doesnotice and raises the alarm. Uther takes the news as proof of guilt (though he already thought that so a bit redundant really) and orders Tom killed on sight. The guards find him and kill him even though he surrenders.

Cut to Gwen sobbing and wailing over her father's body (which broke my heart).

Morgana storms in to confront Uther who isn't pleased. She ends up threatening him and he sends her to the dungeons and locked in chains. (A different more roomy cell. Though why you need the extra room if the occupant is chained to the floor, I have no idea).

Cut to Merlin asking Gwen if she's alright (which a stupid question Merlin, honestly).
Arthur enters and tells Gwen she still has her job and home and to ask for anything if she needs it. (Arthur came across as genuinely contrite and uncomfortable here I felt sorry for him, and for poor bewildered/confused Gwen too.)

When Gwen goes home that night she's grabbed by the mystery man (who I forgot to mention was called Tauren), and he demands the stone's return.She's to bring it to the Darkling wood (or else).

Gaius finds the answer in one of his ~~Encyclopedia Britannica~~ books.

It's the ~~philosophers~~Mages stone.

Cut to Arthur freeing Morgana. She returns to her chambers and finds Gwen there. Gwen is concerned when she notices the welts on Morgana's arms (what was she doing in those chains to get bruises like that?). Morgans in return is concerned for Gwen and tries to send her home, which is when Gwen admits she's afraid too because of Tauren. Morgana tells her she'll send the Knights of Camelot after him.

Cut to Merlin hearing the stone call again as Morgana takes it with her as she leaves the castle. Merlin follows. (it's a good job she doesn't turn around as hes about 10ft from her at one point)
He follows her into the Darkling wood where she's surrounded by Tauren and his men. He doesn't trust her and wants to kill her but Morgana convinces him she wants Uther dead too and offers to help them do it. Merlin overhears.

Cut to a troubled Merlin in Gaius chambers and the latter notices something is wrong (not hard when he asks for salt and gets an apple *snort*). Merlin denies anything is wrong says he has to leave. Almost walking into the broom cupboard by mistake (*snicker* Oh Merlin!).

Merlin goes to see the ~~wizard~~ Slash Dragon. (Who snores which I thought was cute) He a bit snippy with Merlin (still upset Merlin didn't listen to him about Mordred or Excalibur apparently). He tells Merlin Uther is the enemy that as long as he lives Merlin will never be free to use his magic and fulfill his destiny (blah, blah, blah). Merlin is understandably reluctant to be a murderer. (I loved Colin's woobie/conflicted face here *hugs him*)

Cut to yet another show down with Morgana and Uther. She apologizes (unconvincingly) amd then lays a guilt trip on Uther about her father's death (he died under Uther's command). Uther seems surprised at how much she holds him responsible.

Cut to Merlin acting even more woobie/conflicted complete with bouncy leg movements (cute). He asks Gaius if he thinks Uther is a good king or if it would be better with Arthur. Gauis thinks Arthur is still too young/inexperienced.

Uther approches Morgana and tries to connect with her, even apologizing for upsetting her. She seemingly accepts and suggests they visit her father's grave. He agrees. (I smell a trap).

Sure enough that night she goes to the castle gate (seriously why is it never guarded? People can walk in and out whenever they please!) and passes on the info to Tauren.
Merlin is once again dropping those eaves, and hear it all.

Cut to next day and the party riding out with Merlin watching from the window of Arthur's chambers.
(actually I'd like to note at this point something I failed to notice until my second watching of the last ep, but Arthur has redecorated his rooms. To impress a certain manservant maybe?)

Gwen comes in and talks to him. Merlin is impressed with how she's handling everything. Then he asks if she had the power to kill Uther for what he did would she take it. She says no, Merlin is surprised at first but as she explains that it would make her as bad as Uther he realizes she's right and leaves to save the day.

A quick stop to read up on a spell and grab something wrapped in a cloth from under his bed (I though sword at first).

Cut to Uther and party ride to their destination as Tauren and his men watch. They appraoch the grave and Morgans convinces him to leave the guards behind, (silly man).

Cut to Merlin running (and he supposed to have run the whole way?!),he finds the gurads dead. (oh and it's not a sword he got but the staff he nicked of the Sidhe man from ep 7. which is Cool!) He blasts the bad guys. (in the back which isn't very sporting but probably easier).

Uther reaches the grave (which is all on it own in the middle if nowhere for no other reason than it makes a great ambush site if you ask me). He then sticks his sword in to the ground (seriously why?). Morgana and Uther kneal before the grave and talk about Morgana's father (I can't remember his name).

Uther tells her what a great warrior and friend he was. Admits he has a temper and that he was wrong about Tom.

Tauren spies Merlin and use the Mages stone to reflect the staff's spell back at Merlin and he's knocked out. (ouch)

Morgana is shocked Uther admitted his mistake and begins to have second thought, just in time to see Tauren sneaking up on Uther. She cries out and it gives Uther enough time to dodge the killing blow and they wrestle for a bit. Uther is saved when Tauren is stabbed in the back by Morgana with Uther's sword. (Oh so that's why he stuck it there, apparently Uther's a bit of a seer himself).

Edit: Or not, as joymaro tells me she used her knife to do him in.

Merlin wakes up in time to miss the action but gets to see a really long hug between Uther and Morgana (I will not ship. I will not ship).

Cut to Gaius talking about Morgana saving the king and how he wonders if Merlin had anything to with it. Merlin deflects and Gaius complements his modesty.

The end.

Next time: Scary monster, Badly wounded/dead Arthur?. Grieving Uther. Morgana has another dream. Merlin goes somewhere in a boat and confronts Nimueh "You should not have killed my friend" (Merlin looks quite fierce/evil there)

Well they can't kill off Arthur but it's certainly going to be interesting to see how they resolve it. Can't wait for Merlin to kick butt and save his prince (again).

Fic: Gloves On (Merlin M/A - Adult)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:36:15 GMT

Title: Gloves On
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: none.
Summary: Porn and gloves. Gloves and porn. Yep that's about it.
Word count: 646
Warnings: Smut, PWP.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters. But will gladly take them if offered.

Author's note: Holy moly and Al Capone, I wrote Pr0n!!

He moans softly as leather clad hands stroke his naked body. Slowly tracing over his chest, scraping over his nipples and down his sides until they come to rest on the thighs of the man straddling his hips.

He lifts his head to look at his lover, greedily taking in the lust darkened blue eyes. The blonde hair given fiery red and gold highlights by the dancing flames in the hearth.

His breath quickens as the blonde leans over him, hands encased in the soft supple riding gloves come to rest either side of his head. He can hear the creak and rasp of the leather as fingers clench around the pillow. He can feel his lover's pendant tickle along his collar bone and throat as his lips are taken in a hard kiss.

Lips press hungrily against his, a tongue swipes along his lips and he allows it entry, duelling and caressing it with his own. Hot breath and slick saliva mix as the kisses deepen until the burning in his lungs force him to pull away with a gasp.

Panting for air he stares at the other.

“Arthur” He sighs breathlessly.

“Please” He pleads even though he's not certain what he's asking for.

Arthur smirks as he pulls back to sit on his thighs, firelight streaking his naked body in moving pattens of light and shadow. He feels one gloved hand move along his neck, a finger running gently across the breast bone and continuing on down to circle his navel. Then lower still to curl around his hard length.

He can't prevent the groan that escapes him and arches up into his lover's grip. Arthur strokes up once before releasing him, and he can't prevent the mew of disappointment as he watches the other man move to kneel to one side.

He feels a surge of frustration when the blonde stops but it quickly transforms to anticipation when he see Arthur dip two gloved fingers into the jar of liniment resting beside the pillow. He spreads his legs to allow one slick finger to press into him, gasping at the pleasure/pain of being stretched.

Arthur prepares him quickly and it doesn't take long before he can feel his lover's cock start to fill him. The blonde moves slowly and with care but he's not in the mood to wait. Hooking his legs around the prince he pushes himself down onto the invading hardness.

He feels Arthur still for a moment before the blonde moves a gloved hand to stroke over his cheek and lips and he turns his head to pull one leather encased finger into his mouth. Suckling the digit, the bitter, earthy taste of the worn material exploding on his tongue.

A smile crosses his lips as it's the prince who moans this time, as he pushes deeper into him. Arthur replaces his finger with his tongue and they kiss deeply once more.

They move together, finding the age old rhythm, pleasure building until it can no longer be contained. He clutches his lover close as he rides the waves of ecstasy rolling through him, explosions of light behind his eyes, and he feels Arthur tense above him as the prince finds his own release.

They lie entwined the air cooling their sweat slicked bodies. Arthur's hands caress his sides and he looks down to watch the brown leather move along his skin.

“You realize I'll never be able to wear these gloves for riding again. Well.” He hears and feels the rumble of his lover's laugh. “Not the kind that requires a horse anyway.”

He smirks “Sorry.”

He gets a snort in response “No you're not.”

He can't prevent the grin “No. I'm really not.”

He tugs on Arthur's pendant to pull him close enough to kiss.

“Next time.” Arthur softly whispers against his lips “You're wearing your scarf.”

Dear Santa...

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:50:30 GMT

Hee! Saw this on my flist and couldn't resist having a go.
*snicker* Asscrackistan! My kind of country.

Also inspired by drjenny88 I rigged my prize. Well if she can have Colin Morgan I'm having Bradley. ;P

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

This year I've been busy!

Last week I helped trixdanascully across the street (6 points). Last Monday I ruled Asscrackistan as a kind and benevolent dictator (700 points). In April I gave wordsindreams a Dutch Oven (-10 points). In March I broke creedfic's X-Box (-12 points). In May I put money in insanityoutlet's expired parking meter (14 points).

Overall, I've been nice (698 points). For Christmas I deserve Bradley James!

Sincerely,
bruceybabe

Fic: Of Tests and Magical Creatures (Merlin)

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:56:35 GMT

Title: Of Tests and Magical Creatures
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: G
Spoilers: For Episode 1.11
Summary: 3 missing/extended scene drabbles for Ep 11
Word count: 3x100 words

Merlin ran into the clearing and stumbled to a halt as he noticed Arthur lying on the forest floor.

"Arthur?"

The Prince looked up at him and he had to suppress a gasp at the anguish in the other's blue eyes.

"I failed. I failed Merlin, and now Camelot will suffer for it."

Merlin reached out a hand to help Arthur to his feet. "We'll figure something out."

"How?"

"I don't know yet, but we can't give up hope."

The blonde took a deep breath "No. No of course not." He offered a shaky smile to the dark haired man.

~~~~~

Arthur wakes slowly, struggling to bring the blurry world into focus.

The first thing he truly sees is the grinning face of his manservant, and realizes the warm pillow he's resting on is actually the dark haired man's thighs.

He blinks up at Merlin, trying to understand why he's lying on the other's lap.

Memory sluggishly returns. “Shouldn't I be dead?”

Merlin smile grows impossibly huge. “It was a trick, it was only a sleeping draught.”

He blinks again as he processes this. “Well that's good. Er.. I did pass right?”

Merlin laughs “Yeah. You definitely passed.”

Arthur grins back.

~~~~~

They watch the newly reborn Unicorn as it turns to gaze at them.

“Oh Arthur. Isn't it beautiful?”

The Unicorn turns and walks back into the forest. Merlin steps forward a couple of paces trying to keep the creature in view as long as possible, before it disappears back into the foliage.

The Prince looks at the expression of awe and wonder on the other's face, eyes bright with unshed tears. The dark hair curling in the slightly damp air, pale skin glowing in the tree filtered sunlight.

“Yes “ He agrees “Beautiful”

His eyes never leave the man before him.

Review of Merlin Ep 11

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:56:22 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.11

We open on a rather picturesque view of the forest. Sunlight filtering through the trees.

Cut to Arthur, Merlin and a couple of knights creeping through the woods. Arthur in his leathers again with a crossbow. (I find it interesting the knights are still in armour whilst hunting)

They hear twigs breaking, there's something up ahead. So Arthur sends his men to surround it. Sending Merlin in ~~as bait~~ to flush it out.
Merlin is understandably reluctant.

Merlin: "But you just said you don't know what it is. It could be dangerous"
Arthur: "Lets hope so" (*snicker* Of course IMO Arthur just wants to impress his beau by saving him)

Merlin goes anyway, picking up a branch on his way to defend himself with.

Only to look in awe (loved Colin's expression here) when it turns out to be a unicorn. Merlin is mesmerized by the pretty (if somewhat scruffy) horny pony. Twig snaps and Merlin remembers about the hunting party and tries to shoo the unicorn.

It doesn't listen and Arthur shoots it. Merlin comforts the fallen creature as it dies and is rather upset. (my heart broke for crying Merlin)
Arthur's rather impressed with himself, but not of Merlin's tears and recriminations

Arthur: "Don't be such a girl" (I found myself both snickering and wanting to slap Arthur upside the head at that).

Merlin sees someone behind the others but then he vanishes before anyone else does. (Mmmm! Who could that be?)

Cue titles.

Arthur enters the throne room and gloats to pops that he's bagged a unicorn and shows him the horn.
Uther shows off his horny length to Gaius who's less than impressed.
Apparently there's a legend (when isn't there) that killing a unicorn brings bad luck.

Arthur gives his chore list to Merlin who isn't listening instead he's looking out the window looking all woobieish (is that a word?).

Arthur: "A face like a wounded bear" (Er not the analogy I'd have gone for, what with wounded bears being rather dangerous - unless he was referring to the Pudsey)

Merlin tells Arthur he doesn't think he should have killed the unicorn. Arther defends himself, they were hunting and you kill things on hunts. (*nods* yep that makes sense in an Arthur kind of way).

Arhtur finds rat droppings near his bed, orders Merlin to find it.(Given Merlin expression I think he was mentally comparing Arthur to a rat at this point). Arthur leaves as he's been summoned by his father.

Cut to Arthur and Uther standing in a rather wilted looking field. The crops are dying.
Gaius runs tests but both he and Merlin suspect sorcery. (Shocker. Not!).

The food is rationed as the animals start dying off too. There's little to go around so Uther proclaims looters are to be executed (Big surprise. He's really not happy unless he cutting someone head off is he?).

Then the water dries up. (Oh noes!)

Gaius tells Uther it's the work of sorcery. (Yeah I think we knew that thanks)

Gaius catches Merlin trying to turn sand back into water, surprising Merlin when he doesn't tell him off and instead wishes he could. But Apparently it's beyond Merlin's power.

Cut to Arthur proclaiming martial law and sending the troops out to enforce the curfew.He catches Merlin leaving the castle , who tells him he was trying to catch the rat.

Arthur: "So you have been outwitted by a rat."
Merlin: "It's said that rats are very intelligent."
Arthur: "More intelligent than you, it seems." (hahahaha!)

Arthur tells Merlin to go home as it would be embarrassing if he has to arrest his own manservant for breaking curfew. Before he can though Arthur see someone and takes off after him and Merlin follows.

Merlin completely fails to understand Arthur's hand signals (*snickersnort*). Arthur has to tell Merlin to go the other way and cut off whoever they are chasing.

They meet up without finding them and try again. Again they fail. Arthur says they must have gone past Merlin who denies seeing anyone. (Of course neither seem to consider the stairs they're standing next too.)

A man appears, he says his name is Anhora, and he's the keeper of the unicorn's (didn't do a very good job did he?). He tells Arthur what happening to Camelot is his fault because he killed the unicorn and he will be tested. (hope it's multiple choice.)

Arthur Of course thinks it's Anhora. Tries to grab him but he disappears.

Cut to Gaius and Merlin having breakfast.

Merlin: "Where'd you get the water for the tea?"
Gaius: "Fortunately you forgot to empty your bath water."
Merlin: " We're drinking bath water?"
Gaius: "It's not so bad. Maybe a little...soapy." (BRAWHAHAHHAHA!!*donkey bray laugh* ILU GAIUS)

Cut to Arthur finding a hole in his boot. The rat is hungry too.
Merlin tries to talk to Arthur but he refuses to admit he might be at fault, that it's Anhora's doing.
Arthur: "You cannot trust a single word a sorcerer says" (ouch!!)

Arthur thinks he knows where Angora will be next so they have a stakeout.

Merlin falls asleep. (awww!)
Arthur berates him before they go back to watching. Arthur sees someone and calls Merlin over (I laughed when he actually says Psst!).

They sneak up on someone, (I love Arthur doubting double take at Merlin's nod of understanding his hand signals this time *snicker*).

They find a looter.Who gives a sob story about his starving kids (original much?), Arthur falls for it though (big softy that he is), and even gives the man a bag of grain. (I'm thinking this is the first test).

Gwen spots water dripping from the water pump and finds it's back to normal. (Yep someone finally remembered to pay the water bill.)

Cut to Arthur and Merlin drinking (god, they're noisy gulpers aren't they?).
Merlin suspects it was a test too, and tells Arthur so. Arthur still not quite ready to believe yet.

Arthur: " See if you can find some food" and leaves.

Merlin kills the rat. (I can so see what's coming, and also: Poor ratty!)

Gwen smuggles food out to give to the people (Awww!)

Cut to Merlin and Arthur in the latter's chambers and I think Arthur finally beginning to believe. Merlin gives him a bowl of soup.

Arthur: "What kind of meat is this?"
Merlin: "Pork"
Arthur: "It's not pork" "It's rat isn't it?"

(Arthur face!*snicker*) Then Arthur forces Merlin to eat the soup instead. (I'm sure this was meant to show Arthur meanness but I got distracted by Arthur's breathing down Merlin's neck as he eats. Also Merlin's face!*snickersnort*)

Morgana enters and asks if Arhtur has anything to eat. (HAHAHAH! the evil smirks on the boys faces!)

Cut to the forest again and Tracker!Arthur. Arthur sees someone and is off again but this time Merlin can't keep up. Arthur comes across a camp and in it is the looter from earlier. Who proceeds to taunt Arthur and eventually Arthur can't take any more and challenges him to a fight.

Arthur wins but as he strikes the man down he disappears and Anhora is there to tell him this was the second test and Arthur failed it. Camelot will suffer. Arthur pleads for his people not to suffer for his mistakes but to no avail.(*hugs* Woobie!Arthur. I was also rather entranced by Bradley's bum in those tight pants when he was lying there on the ground.)

Cut to Merlin and Gauis talking. Merlin knows Arthur beating himself up over failing his people. Then they eat beetles (EEWWWW!!).

Gaius says they're supposed to taste like chicken(Ha! Had a Stargate flashback there!).

Merlin: "That tasted nothing like chicken" (poor Merlin *snicker*)

Cut to throne room and Arthur explains they've nearly run out of food so Uther tells him to save it for the army. (Bit shortsighted there Uther) Arthur wants to ask their neighbours for aid (yay! for the once and future king). Uther won't agree and tells Arthur to give the order. Arthur tells his father it's one order he'll haver to give himself. (Yay! again. Though when Uther mentioned pride I thought this was the third test)

Cut to balcony scene with Arthur and Merlin (not the Romeo and Juliet variety). Arthur tells Merlin he's responsible for whats happening and Merlin tries to comfort him. (Bless him!).

Cut to Merlin seeking out Anhora and pleads with him to give Arthur another chance.
Anhora: "You have faith in Arthur"
Merlin: "I trust him with my life" (flashback to last ep and a sense of foreboding).

Anhora tells him the final test is to be at the Labyrinth of Geldof er..I mean Gedref.

Cut to Merlin helping Arthur out on his armour and asking to be allowed to go with him. Arthur orders him to stay. (yeah that'll happen).

Arthur rides out, Merlin follows. (No surprise there)

Arthur reaches the labyrinth,

(Whoa that's pretty big labyrinth and one I think they nicked from the Goblet of Fire).

Arthur enters first, shortly followed by Merlin. (There's a crane shot to show them on parallel courses, but never meeting.) Merlin finds Anhora and accuses him of being unfair as he's setting a trap for Arthur, only to be told the trap is for him. Gets grabbed by vines (Isn't that nicked from Goblet of Fire too?).

Arthur finds his way out onto a beach. Where he finds Merlin sat at a table. Anhora watching from the side. He asks for Merlin's release but is told he's part of the test.

I think Arthur is both annoyed and amused by Merlin disobeying him.
The final challenge: There are two goblets one filled with poison one not. They can only drink from one goblet. (*snort* I figured it out straight away)

Flashback to poisoned chalice as they argue who gets to die.
Arthur: "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me."
Merlin: "I find it hard to believe myself."

Arthur: "I'm glad your here Merlin" (AWWW!!!!)

Merlin figures it out (finally), they have to poor the contents of one goblet into another.
Arthur: "You're a lot smarter then you look" (*Sporfle*)

The Arthur distracts Merlin with the old cliche: "What's that?" *point over shoulder* which Merlin falls for. He quickly drinks and then collapses. Merlin rushing to his side.
(a lot of touching, stroking and shaking ensues). Merlin is rather distraught and begs Anhora to let him take Arthur's place.
Merlin: "You've killed him! I was meant to protect him!" (Aww! *Hugs woobie!Merlin*)

But Anhora's a sneaky bugger, it was just a sleeping draught. As Arthur was willing to sacrifice his own life the curse is lifted. (I must congratulate hils for predicting this so accurately in her fic. She must have channeled Morgana or something).

Cut to Camelot partying it up.
Uther ask if Arthur killed the sorcerer and Arthur rather cleverly lies by omission telling his father he won't be a problem any more.

We go back to the forest to see Arthur and Merlin burying the horn. Arthur apologizes for killing it. Only for hoof beats to sound in the background and Merlin points to something behind Arhtur. It's the Unicorn! !YAY!!)

Anhora voice over telling us (and them?) that the breaking of the curse also brought Uni back.

The end.
Next time on Merlin: Gwen dad's involved in something he shouldn't be and gets in trouble. Morgana threatening Uther. GSD telling Merlin to kill Uther!?! (WTF!!)

Fic: Cat-alyst (Merlin M/A)

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:04:51 GMT

Title: Cat-alyst
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: none.
Summary: Continued crazy capers concerning certain cat characters. Contains cuteness.
Word count: 3053
Warnings: Crack, fluff, a bit of romance
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters. Unfortunately.

Author's note: By popular demand here's the sequel to (Cat-astrophe). It follows directly on from that fic.

Gaius hadn't been wrong to predict Uther's temper upon hearing his son might possibly remain in cat form for months.

The guards outside the King's chamber exchanged worried glances as the raised voice, that could be heard even through the thick doors, began to be accompanied by loud crashes and thumps that indicting objects being thrown, and maybe even furniture being overturned.

They didn't move from their posts however as Uther's temper was legendary and as sorry as they felt for the physician they really didn't want to lose their jobs.

Or their heads.

An hour later when Gaius left the King's quarters, he looked a bit wild eyed but didn't seem to be harmed.

Their sympathy shifted to whatever poor soul would be required to clean up the mess.

~~~~~

Gaius returned to the Prince's chamber, taking care as he opened the door to watch for any small furry forms near his feet. He needn't have worried as they were both sat in front of the renewed fire burning in the hearth.

He frowned as he realized how close Merlin-cat was sat to the flames. “One of these days he's going to set himself on fire.” he told the two women in the room.

Morgana turned to him and laughed “You'd think he'd be too hot, what with all that fur. How did it go?”

Gaius sighed “Better than I expected, or his aim is off. Also I regret to inform you my Lady, that the King has ordered you to refrain from further visits here.”

“What!” Morgana cried out surprised “Whatever for?”

Gauis looked slightly embarrassed “Well as we don't know exactly when they'll turn back and they are likely to be. Well, unclothed. The King thought it best you not be here to see it.”

Morgana looked more annoyed than anything “Well really, that could be months away.”

“Or today for all we know” He reminds her.

“Technically they're naked now.” Said Gwen then looked that like she wished she hadn't.

Everyone shifted awkwardly in silence for a moment.

“Yes well “ Gaius paused to clear his throat roughly “Those are the kings orders. He's also decided as long as there's a guard on the door they need not be attended all hours of the day. Once I've ensured the room is cat proofed of course.”

“It's ridiculous I'm going to talk to Uther” Morgana stated and swept regally from the room, Gwen trotting along behind her.

~~~~~

The first thing Gaius arranged, was for a fire-screen to be brought to the room. Merlin-cat had already singed his whiskers and Gaius didn't want to tempt fate.

The second was a makeshift tray full of soft dry earth to be placed behind the screen in one corner to act as a feline chamber pot. No one wanted to risk them out side after the fiasco in the main hall and the wall hanging. Nobody liked the idea of possibly having to fetch the Prince from a tree.

One of the more interesting decisions made by the king was to assign the guard who'd injured Merlin-cat the duty of emptying and refilling the tray twice a day.

The third was a talk with the kitchen staff about regular meals of cooked meat to be sent to feed the cats. He deliberately specified cooked meat due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of their return to normal. He doubted either boys would want to wake up with bellies full of raw meat. He also obtained a heavy earthenware bowl which he'd placed out of the way to be used as a water dish.

The last thing was to sit on the floor and look at the room from a cat's eye view. After several minutes he realized he had no clue what he was looking for, and settled on ensuring all cupboards and chests were firmly closed.

~~~~~

Over the next few days everyone settled into the new routine.

The guard with toilet cleaning duty learned to watch where he put his feet, and it was rather amusing to see the large burly man, tiptoeing carefully, avoiding eye contact with the growling feline Prince who would always place himself between Merlin-cat and the soldier.

Gaius went back to treating patients, but spent most of his free time with the cats. He soon learned to be careful when taking meals in the room though, as Arthur-cat was quite adept at sneaking up and stealthily stealing food of his plate, if his attention wandered even for a second.

Gwen was also a frequent visitor, as the guards may have been directed to prevent Lady Morgana from entering, but not her maid. She said it was because she missed playing with Merlin-cat, but Gauis suspected she was also passing on anything of interest she witnessed to her Lady.

As he healed and he was able to move more easily Merlin-cat proved rather playful. He would often be found playing with the strip of material Gwen had provided or pouncing on shadows cast by the fire or flickering candles.

He also had a fascination with moving water. Whenever someone refilled the water bowl he'd watch the stream of water moving from one vessel to another, sometimes even batting at it with one paw. Though he would flinch if he accidentally flicked droplets onto himself.

Arthur-cat was more standoffish, rarely permitting himself to be petted. He did have a knack for finding the strangest places to fall asleep in.

More than once Gaius, drawn by the sound of the princes snores, would find him wedged in the gap between the wall and various pieces of furniture, or atop the canopy of the four poster bed. He also never played very often, and then only with the other cat.

Which is why it was so surprising when one day Gaius entered the room only to be nearly bowled over by two furry missiles charging around the room at breakneck speed.

His first thought was to assume Merlin-cat had annoyed the Prince as the latter was the one doing the chasing. It was only when the two disappeared under the bed, only to emerge a few seconds later positions reversed, that he realized it was a game.

Both were wild eyed, pupils wide so no blue could be seen. The fur of the tails raised so they appeared twice as large as normal. Ears half laid back against their skulls. They looked crazed and feral.

He had to stand very still with his back to the door to avoid a collision as neither cat seemed to be paying any attention to watching where they were going. Arthur-cat sent the empty platter, which had held their breakfast, spinning across the floor and Merlin-cat ran straight through the water bowl, leaving a trail of wet footprints across the floor.

This carried on for several minutes and then both cats stopped, and without looking at each other they both moved to curl up by the fire and groom themselves.

Gauis simply blinked in astonishment before moving to sit down. He stared at the two felines as they proceeded to act normally, no trace of their earlier antics present. He wasn't sure if this was normal behavior or, as he was beginning to wonder, the spell had caused some mental affliction in the two as well.

His confusion only grew when one night Arthur-cat successfully caught a mouse. Gaius watched as he appeared with the unfortunate rodent dangling from his jaws and moved to drop it in front of Merlin-cat, looking rather smug. Gaius snorted the Prince's showing off.

Merlin-cat looked at it rather blankly before prodding it with a paw, he then turned to mew inquisitively at the other cat who if anything looked even more pleased with himself. Arthur-cat nudged the mouse closer to his friend and then rubbed his cheek along the other's head, before sitting down to wash his own face.

Which is when Gaius understood.

It was a gift.

The grey feline lay his head down on his forepaws and starred unblinkingly at it for some time.

~~~~~

Two days later the witch who'd cast the spell, they never did find out her name, disappeared. Seemingly vanishing out of a locked cell, without any of the guards noticing.

It was fair to say King Uther was ever so slightly annoyed.

A huge man(woman)hunt was begun. Every house in Camelot and surrounding town was searched, the people questioned. But to no avail.

She was never seen again.

The King summoned Gaius to discuss how the revelation that the witch was possibly more powerful than first thought, would have on the lasting effects of her spell.

As Gaius left, the two felines asleep curled together on the Prince's bed, he knew he was in for a long night, and hoped uncharacteristically that the King's shoulder would be playing up again.

It would make ducking easier.

~~~~~
~~~~~

Awareness came slowly as he fought against waking, but two things made themselves impossible to ignore.

He was naked.

He was curled up with, one arm wrapped around, another body.

Which was also naked.

He opened his eyes and even in the dim light he could make out the mop of dark hair with an over sized ear sticking out of it.

He closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again.

Nothing changed.

He was on his own bed in his own chambers, no sign of his clothes, and he was lying next to his equally naked manservant.

His first thought was to wonder how much he'd drunk the previous night.

A faint noise caught his attention as Merlin turned over and blinked sleepily at him.

He knew the exact moment the situation became clear to the other man, as his eyes widened. Merlin looked down at their naked bodies and letting out a startled yelp, rolled back off the bed, disappearing from view.

A few seconds later his head appeared to peer over the edge of the mattress. He quickly pulled the sheet up over his lap as he faced the other man.

“Erm..I'm sure this isn't what it looks like” He winced as he heard himself speak.

Merlin frowned before speaking slowly “The last I remember we were at the banquet.”

He noticed his servant wasn't entirely naked after all, he was still wearing his scarf, though at the moment it looked more like a choker or collar.

Lifting a hand to his own neck he felt the familiar weight of his pendant only it was resting just under his Adam's apple not on his breast bone. He caught Merlin looking at him oddly and realized he hadn't answered the man.

“Er.. yes the banquet.” He frowned as the memories returned “There was a woman, the hag with the cat she..”

“Cast a spell.” Merlin finished.

His frown deepened “That doesn't explain what happened or wait! Why did it affect you too?”

Merlin's expression became embarrassed “Oh I er.. may have tried to push you out of the way.” he grimaced “Guess it didn't work to well.”

“Oh well, I suppose I should thank you for trying. So what do you think the spell did? And urgh! Is it just me or does your mouth feel funny too?” He asked his servant.

Who looked confused “Funny how?”

“Well an odd taste and my tongue feels kind of...furry.” Her explained and put two of his fingers into his mouth to scrape over his tongue. A look of horror crossed his face as he pulled out actual strands of fur.

“What the ..?” He leaped out of the bed and ran to the water pitcher and quickly poured some water into a cup and rinsed his mouth out, spitting into the basin. He repeated the action several times until the odd taste was gone.

Of course that's when he remembered he was still naked.

Looking back over his shoulder he could see Merlin, still crouched by the side of the bed, watching him and also still naked.

It was possible he was slightly hung up on that fact.

He cleared his throat, that suddenly felt rather tight. “I don't suppose you know where our clothes are?”

Merlin blinked “Well I imagine you'll have some in your clothes chest, mine on the other hand..” He trailed off with a shrug.

He found his attention drawn to the movement of the muscles of the other man's shoulders and chest, before forcing his gaze back to Merlin's face “Right the clothes chest.”

The chest currently sat at the other end of the room, which suddenly seemed awfully far away.

Merlin was closer and must have realized this too as with a resigned sigh he got up and moved over to it. The other man moved with more grace and dignity than he would have thought possible given the circumstances and found he couldn't take his eyes off him.

The dark haired man opened the chest and sat back slightly in surprise, “Oh! It looks like someone put mine in here too.”

He found himself frowning again “That implies someone knew you'd be needing them. Here I mean. What in all that's holy did that spell do?”

“Well I've been thinking about that, before she cast the spell didn't she say something about being the size of..”

He cut in as he understood what the other man was saying “She shrunk us!” and then remembered what he'd pulled out of his mouth.

“She turned us into cats.” Merlin said

“She shrunk us and gave us fur...er.. what?” as he belatedly registered the other man's words.

Merlin looked at him like he was stupid. “She blamed you for killing her cat and wanted revenge, by making us see the world from his point of view or something. Well revenge on you, and I just came along for the ride.”

“Er right.” He blamed the nakedness for his sudden drop of intelligence. Merlin had pulled out two sets of clothes but had made no move to put them on, or hand him his.

The other man seemed to notice this at the same time, as he suddenly blushed, and moved to grab his shirt and hold it in front of himself.

As he turned he became aware of the bruising along Merlin left side and shoulder.

Merlin followed his gaze and exclaimed in surprise. “Oh I never noticed” Before frowning “They don't hurt.”

“They look old. Several days at least.” He commented before frowning himself “It must have been painful when it happened though, they cover nearly your whole left side.” He found himself reaching out a hand to trace the marks.

It wasn't until Merlin gasped that he even realized what he was doing. He quickly snatched his hand back.

He felt his face grow warm, “Er I er...” He tried to explain but found he couldn't. Not even to himself.

Merlin looked at him stunned.

They both stood silently for several seconds.

“Well. I guess we should get dressed and go tell someone we're back.” He said awkwardly.

“Yes.” Merlin agreed.

He forced himself to reach past the other man to grab his breeches. His arm rubbed against Merlin's and he froze.

He looked at Merlin and he would swear that the other man was holding his breath. He swallowed painfully as his mouth went dry.

“Arthur” The slightly breathless way Merlin said his name was all it took to break something inside him.

He moved to pull the other man to him and claimed his lips in a searing kiss. Merlin's hands dropped the shirt and moved to slide around his back. Shifting even closer until they where pressed against each other.

He manoeuvred them back to the bed as they traded kisses. Pushing Merlin back to lie on the mattress he quickly covered the other's body with his own. He kissed and licked down his lovers throat until he came to the scarf. He nuzzled his way back up take an earlobe gently in his teeth, tugging lightly, before pulling back to steal another deep kiss.

Merlin's fingers kneaded the muscles in his back and felt legs entwine with his own. Tongues dueled for dominance and their bodies ground against each other.

Which is when the door opened and a guard walked in.

Both of them froze, still entwined, arms around one another.

They watched as the guard who had four thin parallel scars down one cheek, picked his way carefully across the room. He picked up a tray near one wall which looked to be filled with dirt, turned around and walked back out. He never once lifted his gaze from the floor at his feet.

Hearts pounding and feeling slightly mortified at the close call they pulled back to look at each other.

Merlin gave an embarrassed little laugh, “I suppose it stands to reason someone was taking care of us.”

“Yeah. I should go lock the door.” He could feel the heat in his own face as he spoke.

“What if he comes back? Or someone else?” Merlin asked.

“They'll knock, and we tell them were getting dressed.” He answered.

Merlin looked amused “You're assuming either of us will be that coherent.”

“Fuck!” He said resignedly.

“Not right now Sire” Merlin laughed.

He couldn't stop the flinch “Don't. Don't call me that. Not here. Not like this.”

Merlin expression softened “Sorry.” he pressed a soft kiss to his lips “Arthur.” He felt a shiver at the breathy way his lover said his name.

He found himself rubbing his cheek against Merlin's and the other man laughed. He pulled back and frowned at him. “What.”

“Arthur.” Merlin grinned “You were purring!”

He blinked “I was not!”

If anything Merlin's grin grew wider “It's okay. It's kind of cute.”

“CUTE!!!” He yelped outraged. He moved to grab the other man but Merlin nimbly rolled out of the bed and took off running, he quickly went after him.

He chased Merlin around the room ending up dodging around the table as the dark haired man tried to keep it between them.

It was several seconds before they noticed Gaius standing open mouthed in the door way.

The end.
(I mean it this time)

Review of Merlin Ep 10

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:47:48 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.10
A belated review as I was babysitting my niece last night and have just gotten around to it. I may have got carried away too, it's er.. quite long.

We open to a quiet idyllic village, children laughing in the background.
Then several riders come charging in and everyone runs screaming.
The riders are lead by a scarred and bearded Julian Bashir otherwise known as Kanan.
(His men look a bit a dodgy as a couple are wearing gimp masks, makes you wonder what they get up to back at their camp)

They search the place looking for someone and they eventually find him, Kanan wants their harvest, the village doesn't want to give it up. Hunith (Merlin's Mum) complains and gets backhanded for her trouble. Kanan says he'll be back in a week, he and his men ride off.

Cut to Camelot and Hunith arriving and meeting up with her son, who is understandably pissed at seeing his Mum's black eye.

Cue titles.

We return to find Hunith in an audience with Uther as she explains the situation. Here we find that Merlin's home isn't actually in Albion but a neighbouring kingdom. The king there won't get off his fat ass to help so she has come to Uther.

"You're our only hope" (Obi Wan Kenobi)

Arthur and Morgana both try to convince Uther to help and Hunith even gets on her knees and begs (Merlin didn't look happy at that), but Uther doesn't want to start a war with another kingdom and so can't. (I can actually understand Uther's decision, even though I feel for Merlin and his Mum.)

Cut to Arthur and Merlin on the roof balcony. Arthur wishes he could help and Merlin understanding why he can't telling Arthur he has to leave his service. Arthur teases Merlin calling him the 'worst servant he's ever had', which Merlin accepts rather well actually and Arthur wishes him luck.(Was it me or was Bradley's voice a bit husky in this scene?)

Gwen helps Merlin pack some armour and offers him a sword, which he swings about rather ineptly and proclaims it "very swordy" (He's so adorable.)

He wonders how he's going to carry it all but enter Morgana warrior princess and she explains she and Gwen are going too. Merlin is rather cutely perplexed by this. She tells him she owes him for helping with the driud boy (which I misheard as 'jew boy' at first *facepalm*, also I want that outfit of Morgana's. Do you think M&S carry it).

Cut to Gaius and Merlin as Gaius fusses over him making sure he's packed everything including one the funniest lines ever as he hands Merlin a bottle of wine and warns not to drink it all at once:

Gaius: "I know you. One sniff of a barmaids apron, and you're singing like a sailor" (Brruuahahaha *donkey bray* OMG I love Gaius! Also lightweight Merlin is now canon. We so need fic!)

A rather touching father/son hug between them.

Then cuts to them riding off. Then onto the camp scene where Hunith and Merlin talk as Morgana and Gwen sleep. Hunith is worried someone's going to find out about his magic, but Merlin tells her not worry as no one ever does. (I'm pretty sure thats more luck than skill but don't burst the boy's bubble).

Hunith goes to bed and Merlin blows a dragon. Er..from sparks from a burning ember I mean. At first I thought GSD but then realized its the Pendragon crest (aww he misses his beau already!)

Cut to everyone asleep until merlin wakes up when he hears a horse approaching. Quickly grabbing his sword he goes to investigate, but ends up with a sword pointed at his back.

"I'd ask for your money, but I know you don't have any." (Yay it's Arthur)

Merlin sqeees right along with me, spinning round with a huge grin on his face and nearly takes Arthur's head off, but he's good at ducking so it's all good.

Arthur tells him he looks ridiculous with a sword and Merlin trails after him (like a big bouncy puppy) back to camp.

M/A talk as they sit by the fire (Arthur playing with the same phallic bit of wood Merlin was blowing on earlier, *snicker*.) Merlin thanks him for coming and Arthur pretends it's no big deal.

Cut to Kanan's men searching the village again. Where one finds their hidden stash of grain. Kanan is mad.

Cut to a quick interlude of the famous five riding on.

Then back to Kanan as the farmer, Matthew tries to explain, but evil guy's having none of it and beats him up, Just as he's about to kill him a dagger flies past him to embed next to where he's standing and Arthur rides in (big damn hero that he is.)

Arthur fight a Zorro wannabe and wins and the rest of the bad guys join in, but only after Kanan tells them too. (they've been taking lessons from Arthur's knights)

Merlin ends up fighting with a rather large scary looking guy and has to resort to magic too win. He makes the baddies sword go all hot and glowy (because that won't draw attention), and then kills him, but one of the villagers had seen (oops!).

Morgana saves Arthur life by KICKING BUTT! She then taunts him about it. (Heehee!)

Kanan and Men leave in a huff. With The usual "I'll be back, you'll regret it, blah, blah, blah".

Merlin has a confrontation with the villager who saw him use magic, but it turns out it's alright as he's apparently a friend called Will, and he already knows. (Pheww! That's lucky, *snort*)

Will: Last I heard you were skivying for some prince"
Merlin: "No, I wouldn't say I was skivy"

Of course Arthur promptly orders him about which really convinces Will I'm sure. ;)

Arthur gives a speech to the villagers about standing up for themselves but Will accuses him of only being after glory and he's only making it worse. No one listens to him though and the villagers agree to fight.

Merlin tries to talk Will around but he won't listen.

Merlin: "I trust Arthur with my life." (Awwww!)
Will: "He knows your secret then?"

At Merlins look, Will tells he's living a lie. (ouch, but kinda true)

We cut to Arthur and Merlin sleeping together.
Okay so it's in room full of people, and they're on the floor, tops to tails, and they're not actually asleep. (but that's just for appearance sake I'm sure)
They talk about Merlin's life before he came to Camelot, and Arthur asks why he left the village. Merlin hesitates and Arthur sticks his foot in his face.

Arthur: "Stop pretending to be interesting and tell me" (I luv him)

(Cute moment! I also now have a Bradley foot fetish to go along with the eyes, mouth, hair, hands, wrists.. er where was I?)

They talk a bit more about Merlin trying to fit in. Then they go to sleep after Arthur tells Merlin "to get the candle". (which for reason I sighed happily at.)

The next morning and Merlin is helping Arthur get dressed.

Morgana: "Not learned to dress yourself yet?"
Arthur: "Why have a dog and fetch the stick yourself? No offence Merlin."
Merlin: "None taken." (The insults are foreplay or something I swear)

Arthur's apparently not keen on Hunith's cooking so Gwen eats it instead.

Then after everyone else leaves Hunith talks to Merlin about Arthur.

Hunith: "He must care for a great deal" (Ha! Even his Mum sees it)

Will and Merlin talk when he goes off to chop wood, where we hear Merlin once nearly drooped a tree on someone when he used magic instead of an axe. Will asked why Merlin left he explains his Mum made him when she found out Will knew the secret. Will asks what's more important protecting the secret for Arthur's sake or defending his village. (Does Will comes off as a jealous ex-boyfriend in this scene or is it just me?)

Cut to Arthur training villagers. Morgana and Gwen talk about including the women, but when they ask Arthur about it, he dismisses the idea.

Cut back to night, everyone sleeping except Gwen and Morgana who talk about why Arthur came. For Merlin of course. Which Merlin overhears because he's not asleep after all. (Hee!)

The next day as Arthur talks to the villagers, a scream sounds and they run out to find Matthew has been killed and sent back on his horse with a message from Kanan. Will blames Arthur for it. Arthur, bless him, looks devastated. (*hugs*)

Merlin once again tries to talk Will around but, when he doesn't agree to use magic, Will leaves.

Merlin talks to Arthur (Hunith eavesdropping in the background) explaining that Will's father was killed fighting for his king which is why he doesn't trust nobles. Arthur wonders if he wasn't right to doubt him and Merlin gives him a pep talk, convincing him that they can do it, he just needs to believe in them.

Cut to the that night as Arthur talks to everyone. Gwen once again tries to get the women involved and they won't take no for an answer this time. So Arthur agrees and gives a stiring speech complete with dramatic music. (or the 'Braveheart' moment as I like to think of it). Theres also a reference about them being equal as they sit in a circle around the fire pit (Writers really went for subtlety there).

Hunith tells Merlin she regrets asking for his help because she knows he's planning on using magic tomorrow and she's afraid of Arthur finding out.

Merlin: "Maybe it's supposed to happen this way, and if he doesn't accept me for who I am, then he's not the friend I though he was." (I really hope he is)

Gwen brings Arthur some food and when he turns his nose up at it she scolds him as it's all they have. More Gwen back peddling that she's so good at, but he admits she's right.
(One of the first truly A/G shipper moments I've seen this series. To me anyway.)

Cut to Merlin trying to help Arthur with his Armour but he tells him to attend his own. There's a rather touching moment when Arthur helps Merlin instead (only one bracer but I flailed anyway).

Merlin tries to tell Arthur about the 'big secret', which Arthur misunderstands as Merlin being afraid, but before Merlin can clarify, Morgana interrupts because the baddies are coming. (Doh!)

Everyone hide as the baddies approach. Waiting until they are all in the village and then they spring their trap. they raise a fence so the can't get out and Morgana tries to light a fire behind them. She fails and Merlin's off to get to her, dodging arrows all the way. (I love him chainmail)
He uses magic to do it (he's turning into a right pyro).

The baddies are blocked in. Which is when everyone attacks. Cue montage of various fight scenes, Gwen kicks butt to save Hunith, and Merlin looks quite chuffed when he kills someone without using magic.

Then we see a rider approaching Merlin from behind, but it's okay as Will jumps in and saves him.

The villagers are outnumbered and are being pushed back, So Merlin breaks wind.
By which I mean he calls up a mini tornado to blow the baddie away. It works but Arthur sees. (OOPS!! but windswept Merlin is gorgeous)

The villagers win, as the bad guys run away.
(I winced at the guy being dragged by his horse, as I know from experience how painful that is).

All the bad guys that is except Kanan, who challenges Arthur. They fight, rather dirtily too, lots of kicking and pushing. (I was half expecting hair pulling)

Arthur wins (naturally) and bad guy dies dramatically.

Arthur then confronts Will and Merlin.

Arthur: "Who did that? I know magic when I see it." (Really?!)

Merlin tries to explain but Kanan it turns out isn't quite dead yet and tries to shoot Arthur in the back with his crossbow. (where did that come from anyway?)
Will pushes him out of the way and get shafted. (He's going to take the blame I know it)

They carry him inside and Will takes the blame for the magic. (Yep, I knew it)

Arthur: "You're a sorcerer?"
Will: "Yeah. What you gonna do, kill me?" (gotta love deathbed humour and this boy has it in spades)

Everyone leaves Will and Merlin alone and Will tells him he can continue his destiny with Arthur. Merlin comforts his friend as he dies. (I cried a bit and really wanted to hug Merlin. Someone hug the lad damn it *sniff*).

Cut to funeral pyre (just the one even though several villagers died). Arthur talks to Merlin about Will, thinking it was about his friends magic he was trying to explain earlier, (Someone really needs to smack him upside the head with a stuffed badger).

Then we get Hunith explaining to Merlin he must return to Camelot for the sake of the boyyay! Don't believe me? Here's the actual dialogue:

Hunith: "You belong at Arthur's side. I've seen how much he needs you. How much you need him. You're like two sides of the same coin."
Merlin: "I've heard that said about us before."

(That's because it's destiinnnyyyy!!!! And seriously his Mum's channeling the GSD, how awesome is that?).

They say goodbye and we cut to the four musketeers er I mean our four heroes riding off into the not sunset.

Next time on Merlin: We have a unicorn! Oh! Well we did have. Arthur brings down a curse on Camelot (OOPPSS!!). More goblets of ~~fire~~doom.

Fic: Cat-astrophe (Merlin)

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:52:38 GMT

Title: Cat-astrophe
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (if you tilt your head and squint)
Rating: PG
Spoilers: none.
Summary: 'It was a fairly normal evening in Camelot.'
Word count: 4823
Warnings: Crack, fluff, a bit of angst.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters. Unfortunately.

Author's note: So a few days ago I posted a cracky fanart of Arthur and Merlin as cats. Well after several requests I have written a fic to go with it. Enjoy.

It was a fairly normal evening in Camelot.

If by normal it was meant there was a feast of epic proportions with lots of visiting lords and dignitaries attending. Which Merlin considered, after the last few month of living here, was not far from the truth.

Camelot was apparently an extremely popular place to visit.

This meant that once again he was dressed in the royal servants tunic, carrying a heavy pitcher of wine whilst trying desperately to stay awake as the banquet dragged on, because it would never do for the prince's cup to run dry.

Merlin in a small act of rebellion still wore his blue neck-kerchief.

So far no one had noticed.

All in all an average evening in Albion's capitol.

Which is when the doors of the hall were flung open by a scruffy old woman.

They crashed into the walls with enough force to make everyone in the hall jump and turn to stare, before rebounding closed on the guards who had been following closely behind her. From the muffled thuds coming from the other side of the now closed doors they would not be entering after her any time soon.

The women herself stormed across the room with a determined expression on her face as she bore down on the king's table. Her clothes were ragged and dirty, as was her face. Her long grey hair was a tangled looking birds nest, and in fact on closer inspection might actually have a bird living in it.

One of the more alert castle guards stationed in the room quickly made to intercept her. But the old gal was apparently nimble on her feet and dodged out of his grasp. Strong too, if the way she swung her satchel into the man's face causing him to crumple like wet laundry, was anything to go by.

Several knight gathered at the table quickly drew their swords and moved to stop her. Unfortunately as the they were all rather drunk at this point they ended up not only getting in each other's way but prevented the still sober guards from reaching her as well.

She stopped in front of the king and screeched at him, “I demand justice. Your son killed my Willy and now he must pay.”

Everyone froze.

Arthur rose to his feet and pointed a finger at the woman. “I did no such thing.”

Uther rested a hand on his son's arm, silently ordering to stay calm. He leaned forward resting the other arm on the table. “You realized that's quite an accusation to make towards your Prince. One I will not take lightly. “

Either she didn't hear the warning in the king's voice or chose to ignore it. “He killed my little Willy, and I will not rest until justice has been served. You nobles” she sneered at the word “You think you can do anything riding about on great big horses, without a care in the world, and my poor Willy” her voice started to shake with emotion.

“My poor sweet little Willy didn't know any better, didn't think to look before running onto the path.” Tears were streaming down her face and the whole hall was riveted in place by the dawning horror invoked by her story.

Arthur once again tried to protest and once again was stilled by his father's grip. Uther looked at her with a cold and unforgiving stare. “I think if such a thing had taken place I would have heard of it before now.”

The woman wailed, causing the people closest to her to wince at the sheer volume “You're as heartless a beast as your son. And my poor dear sweet Willy, will never again play in the grass or chase mice and I'll never again hear that sweet meow at the door.”

The hall was silent.

Until a choking sound emerged from a red faced Crown Prince as he gaped at her. “A cat?! You're talking about a CAT??!!!” The outrage and disbelief in Arthur voice was clear.

The woman looked eyes with the blonde man, her expression one of hate and a hint of madness.

Merlin felt a stir of unease go through him.

She spat at Arthur “My only family in this cruel world, and I will not rest until he has been avenged. You think it's alright to charge around on that animal of yours without looking where your going. Well see how you like it when your the size of my Willy.”

Which naturally is when she pointed one long bony finger at the prince and started casting a spell.

In the bloody crowded great hall where Merlin couldn't do a sodding thing about it.

So he did the next best thing, as the nimbus of light surrounded Arthur, he tackled him to the ground.

That's when everything went black.

~~~~~

Uther watched as finally one of the guards grabbed the old witch and using the hilt of his sword knocked her out.

The damage however had been done as he looked down at the pile of clothing where his son and his manservant used to be.

A lump formed in his throat and the urge to scream rose up in him like a wave.

Then the clothes twitched.

He gasped and looked closer as two furry forms dragged themselves out.

The first was a smoky grey except for a mop of long black fur on the top of it's head and four white paws. It had a blue neck-kerchief around it's neck.

The larger of the two cats, for that's what they were, was a tawny brown, except again four white paws and and a mass of long golden blonde fur on the head. It also had his son's pendant dangling around it's neck.

They both had blue eyes.

As the tawny cat turned to look at him, he recognised his son in the creature.

Oh heavens!

He started sneezing.

~~~~~

Gaius quickly sized up the situation, and with a mental sigh moved towards the king. “Perhaps you should step back Sire, it would appear you have an allergy to cats.”

Uther glared at him, but the effect was lost somewhat with the king's rapidly reddening and teary eyes. He did however step back.

Gaius looked down at the animals in front of him. The Arthur-cat had one of his back legs caught inside a boot, and was struggling to get free. The Merlin-cat was looking around himself curiously.

Arthur-cat let out an annoyed yowl and Merlin-cat turned to look at him. He blinked, then moved to sit on the boot, keeping it in place, as Arthur-cat finally wriggled free.

Arthur-cat promptly sat down and started to groom himself. Merlin-cat snorted and turned back to looking around the hall.

“Do you think you can reverse it Gaius?” Uther asks causing Gaius to sigh “I don't know Sire, it entirely depends on what kind of enchantment she used.”

Uther nods “I'll have her executed in the morning, no, make that tonight.”

“Ah Sire, until I can determine exactly what she did, it might be prudent to keep her alive. As she is the only one, at the moment, likely to know how to undo it.” Gaius quickly informs the king.

Uther looks annoyed “Very well, put her in a cell.” He nods to the guards, who pick her up and drag her out of the hall.

Gaius becomes aware that the guests are all staring at the two small forms sat next to the king's table. He turns back to Uther, “Perhaps it would be wise to move them somewhere else?”

Uther nodded "Take them to Arthur's chambers and make sure someone is with them at all times. I don't won't any further harm to come to my son."

Gaius bowed slightly "Wise choice Sire." Before bending down and holding a hand out to Merlin-cat, who sniffed it and then rubbed his head along the fingers. Gaius moved carefully, petting Merlin-cat for a moment before picking him up. Of course he now had his hands full.

"Given your reaction to them Sire perhaps I should collect the prince." Morgana interceded as she moved closer, a look to Uther for permission who granted it with a nod and a wave of his hand.

She approached Arthur-cat who stopped grooming to stare at her warily. "Come now Arthur" she said softly "I'm sure you'd rather be away from prying eyes until you get back to normal."

She held out a hand as Gaius had done, but at that moment a crash resounded through the hall.

One of the visiting lords who had been leaning precariously out of his seat to get a better look at the now feline prince overbalanced to land sprawled on the floor. Bringing half his table ware with him.

Both cats reacted instantly. A brown streak shot across the hall towards the doors which the earlier guards had left open, a grey one following closely behind after jumping out of a surprised Gaius' arms.

"The doors. Shut the doors, don't let them out!" yelled Gaius.

One of the servants managed to slam them closed in time, but the two cats didn't stop, only veered to run to the nearest table.

As one of the knights tried to grab him, Arthur-cat jumped up onto it and with a flying leap landed clinging to one of the wall hangings. Which he quickly scaled until he was just out of reach, a low growl emanating from his throat and tail lashing. Merlin-cat went under the table and seemingly disappeared.

Chaos erupted as everyone either moved to try and help or shout advice on how to handle the situation.

Everyone stilled and fell silent as the king's voice cut across the room. “Honoured guests stay in your seats, guards make sure all the doors remain closed. No one is to be allowed in or out until I say otherwise. Sirs Erec, Lucan and Daniel” he turned to look at the three most sober knights “if I could call upon you to help retrieve my son and his servant.”

They of course agreed. The three of them gathered under the wall hanging and paused looking up at their growling prince. They quickly whispered amongst themselves before Erec and Daniel moved to grip both edges of the material.

Lucan removed his cloak and held it open, he nodded at the other two and they yanked the wall covering down and Lucan caught the falling cat and quickly wrapped the cloak around the struggling form, creating a makeshift sack. Loud drawn out yowling filled the hall, and sharp claws poked through the material in various places as the prince struggled inside.

The knight deftly keeping his hands away from the claws moved to place the bundle in front of the king. Who had to step back as another sneezing fit overcame him.

Erec and Daniel peered under the table where the grey cat had disappeared but after a few moments they looked at each other and shrugged. They turned to face the king and Erec looked nervous as he spoke “Er..Your majesty I'm afraid we can't seem to locate the other ..er ..the servant.”

There was a beat of silence in the hall as everyone looked on.

Then a smoky grey form leapt onto the table next to the squirming bundle that was the prince, and meowed at it. The bundle stilled and the yowling stopped. A second of silence before a second faint mew could be heard coming from inside the red cloak. Merlin-cat gently placed a paw to the fabric and meowed again. The claws were retracted and the bundle stayed still and quiet.

For a moment no one was sure how to react, but then Gaius moved to grab Merlin-cat, who didn't resist, but the physician kept a firmer hold anyway. “Sir Lucan if you'd be so kind as to bring the Prince to his chambers.”

~~~~~
Upon reaching the prince's chambers Gaius motioned for the knight to deposit the bundle on the table. Who did, but made no move to undo the makeshift knot.

Morgana and Gwen entered the room shortly after them and at Gaius' look Morgana explained “Someone will have to stay with them and it wouldn't be fair to place Sir Lucan in such a position, and I believe you'll be returning to your own rooms to do research.”

Gaius sighed and nodded “You are correct my lady, if you're sure you'll be all right?”

Morgana assured him they'd be fine and moved to release Arthur-cat from his prison, ensuring the door was closed first. As soon as the cloak was unfastened Arthur-cat leapt out and stalked to the banked fire. He sat down and proceeded to groom his ruffled fur.

Gaius let Merlin-cat down and he too approached the fire, pausing briefly to look at the other cat before sitting next to him, and turning to stare into the flames.

Sir Lucan quickly retrieved his cloak and politely excused himself and left the room. Gaius watched the two small forms in front of the fore for a few moments, before he too excused himself.

As Gwen stoked the fire, Morgana sat in Arthur's chair and looked at her charges. Merlin-cat still stared unblinkingly at the flames apparently hypnotised by them. Arthur-cat continued to wash himself.

Morgana laughed “I had no idea you were so vain Arthur” she told him. Gwen smiled at her “But all cats are aren't they?”

Morgana though about that “Perhaps, but so far I've yet to see Merlin groom himself.” This time Gwen laughed “True, but perhaps that says more about Merlin than Arthur?”

They grinned at each other.

Movement caught their attention as Arthur-cat sat up right, gaze locked on the other side of the room, ears pointed forward. He sat frozen for a second before moving rapidly across the room to crouch staring under his bed.

Merlin-cat had turned to watch him as well, head cocked slightly to one side.

Arthur-cat suddenly bolted under the bed and there was a scuffling sound and then a squeak. A tiny grey shape scampered out from under the bed, Arthur-cat on it's heel's, the chase continued for several seconds around various bit's of furniture, neither gaining or losing ground.

Merlin-cat decided to aid the hunt, but unfortunately one paw got caught in the over sized neck-kerchief he still wore and tripped right into the other's path, causing the two to go down in a tangle of legs and fur.

Arthur-cat pushed himself up watch narrow eyed as the mouse squeezed under the chamber door. He swatted at Merlin-cat's ear with one paw before stalking to curl up in front of the fire, back pointedly turned.

The grey cat just continued to lie in a heap looking forlorn. Gwen taking pity on him knelt down to untangle the kerchief, she looked at him a moment and found herself refolding it and retying it around his neck. Loose enough so should he return to human form it wouldn't strangle him but hopefully short enough it wouldn't trip him again.

She looked up to see Morgana's questioning look and smiled embarrassed “He didn't look quite right without it.”

Morgana smiled at her maid in return. “I understand.”

Gwen looked down as Merlin-cat stroked his head along her leg and she moved to pet the dark strands of fur on his head “It's odd though, how much they look like themselves, I mean considering.” She looked embarrassed again.

Morgana nodded in agreement though “I know what you mean. Their personalities too “ She added the last as she noticed Arthur-cat was watching with one half open eye, and an air of disinterest, at Gwen fussing the grey form of his servant.

Apparently she wasn't the only one to notice, as Merlin-cat moved cautiously to approach the other.

Arthur-cat opened both eyes and the two stared at each other in silent communication for a few seconds, then Arthur cat sighed and shifted to one side slightly, allowing Merlin-cat to curl up on the hearth stone next to him.

Where they both then seemingly fell asleep.

~~~~~
Gaius returned with an armful of books a couple of hours later, suggesting he take over while the women got some sleep as it was getting rather late. They agreed telling him they'd be back in the morning. As they left neither cat so much as twitched.

Gauis continued to look through his books trying to find any reference to transfiguration spells, and how to reverse them. He had just reached an interesting looking chapter when his view was blocked by a face full of fur. He reared back to look at the grey face staring up at him.

“Merlin, I'm rather busy at the moment.” He picked him up and moved him across the table, before returning to his reading.

Merlin-cat moved to sit in front of him, again on top of the book. Gaius sighed, he picked him up and this time placed him on the floor.

He had been reading for several minutes before becoming aware of an odd scraping sound, he looked up and to his horror saw Merlin-cat was gnawing on the corner of one of his books.

“MERLIN!” he shouted causing the small form to jump and turn to face him with large wide eyes.

He immediately felt a pang of guilt for scaring him, as in this form his ward really didn't know better. He slowly reached out a hand and watched as Merlin-cat looked at it warily for a moment, before seemingly forgiving him and moving to rub his head along his fingers.

He looked to the fireplace and noticed Arthur-cat was watching him suspiciously.

He felt sharp teeth chew gently on his index finger, and looked down at the grey animal in front of him. That's when he realized that whilst Arthur had eaten at the feast, Merlin didn't normally have his own supper until after his duties where finished. He must be starving.

Looking around the room to only see a bowl of fruit, he felt like a fool. He petted Merlin-cat briefly before moving to the door “I'll go get some food. I won't be long, so you behave.” It felt odd to be talking to animals but at the same time it didn't seem right not too.

Luckily he hadn't gone far before he was able to flag down another servant and ask for some meat cuts to be sent to Arthur's rooms.

He quickly returned and with some trepidation opened the door and entered the chambers.

Everything was exactly as it had been, except there was no sign of either of the felines.

He shut the door behind him and swallowed the feeling of panic telling himself they had to be here somewhere.

He looked under the table and chairs.

Nothing.

He looked under the bed.

Nothing.

Except wait there on the floor, a familiar red pendant, he reached for it and put it in his pocket. But where were they?

The panic started to return. Then he noticed the lump in the bed linen. Pulling back the sheet there was Merlin-cat curled up dozing. He sighed in relief before he realized he hadn't yet found the prince.

Apart from the pendant he still hadn't discovered hide nor hair of the prince himself, when a knock sounded on the door. He quickly moved to open it and took the plate of food from the servant thanking and dismissing him. He turned back to find both cats sat staring at him from the table.

“What the..” he blinked in surprise, before sighing and placing the plate on the table.

Merlin-cat immediately set to wolfing down as much as possible. Arthur-cat reached out a paw and used a claw to hook a slice and pull it off the plate towards him. He ate slowly and surprisingly daintily, whether a remnant of his princely upbringing or because he wasn't as hungry, Gauis wasn't sure.

Gaius looked at the brown feline “So where were you hiding hmm?” Of course he got no response.

He'd noticed Merlin-cat's shortened kerchief and on a whim he pulled the prince's pendant from his pocket and quickly retied it and then dropped it back around the tawny neck.

The blonde furred head lifted to look at him and then down his own nose at the red stone resting on the tawny chest.

He couldn't help the smile at the prince's slightly cross-eyed expression, before deciding to leave them to their meal and returned to his research.

~~~~~

In the morning Morgana and Gwen returned to find Gaius asleep, head resting on folded arms at the table.

A loud snoring carried across the room.

Morgana exchanged amused grins with Gwen, as she gently shook the man awake. He woke with a snort and blinked blearily for a moment before realizing who was in the room with him “Oh I'm sorry I must have nodded off for a moment.”

“Nothing to be sorry for, you must have been up most of the night, did you find anything?” Morgana asked.

Gaius sighed heavily “I'm afraid nothing useful. It's rather difficult to find a way to reverse a spell when you don't have books on magic. Most of the information I have is gathered from stories. Myths and legends of things that happened long ago, if they indeed happened at all. I'm afraid the woman responsible was less than forthcoming when I questioned her as well ”

Then he frowned “What is that?” Which is when the women noticed the snoring hadn't stopped.

All three turned to look at the two furry shapes in front of the fire, which was now little more than embers.

Arthur-cat was curled in such a tight ball that his head, tail and paws couldn't be seen.

Merlin-cat was lying stretched out on his back, all four legs in the air, mouth slightly open, his tail lying so close to the remaining embers it was a wonder he hadn't set himself alight.

Gwen was the first to break, a giggle escaping her, before she clamped a hand over her mouth. Gaius was biting his lip, and Morgana said quietly with a smile “He's lucky Arthur hasn't smothered him in his sleep.”

Which is when Merlin cat woke up and rolled over to lie on his side, yawning widely and stretching.

The snoring continued.

Morgana let out a cut off choking sound as she stared at the tawny form. “Oh Arthur!” she said before a wicked grin stole across her face.

Gaius had a feeling that when Arthur returned to his two legged form he was in for a surprise the next time he had a run in with the king's ward.

Merlin-cat got up to approach them, sniffing at Morgana dress, rubbed against Gaius' leg, before moving to Gwen. She knelt down to stroke him, laughing as he purred. “He's really friendly.”

Gaius smiled at her “They seem fairly intelligent and even display similar character traits to their human selves. It's also possible a part of him remembers who you are, and knows he can trust you.”

Gwen remained on the floor, pulling out a long thin strip of material that she'd tucked into her sleeve, she started to tease Merlin-cat with it.

Gaius returned to his books and Morgana offered to help picking up one the book and moving to sit once again in Arthur's chair. As she passed the still sleeping form she gave it a nudge with her foot.

Arthur-cat woke with a snort that tuned into a sneeze and he blinked before turning a baleful stare at Morgana. She laughed lightly “Oops!” She exclaimed with insincere contrition. “Though at least now it will be quieter in here.”

Arthur-cat moved to join the game Gwen and Merlin-cat were playing, the two felines contending for possession of the piece of fabric for a while, but he soon got bored and went to sit on the table.

He continued to watch though, his gaze never leaving the grey cat.

Gwen soon extended the game getting up to move around the room trailing the material behind her as Merlin-cat gave chase and pounced. Every now and then she would through it into the air to watch as he would leap for it, showing a level of grace and agility the human Merlin never did.

Morgana and Gaius would occasionally look up to watch in amusement for a few moments before returning to their books.

A loud knock resounded on the door, before a guard strode into the room “The king asks for a status repor...” He never got to finish the sentence as his foot connected with a grey furred object in his path.

Everyone watched in shock as the small body was propelled to hit a table leg with some force and lie stunned. The guard had just enough time to be relived it wasn't the prince when a screaming brown mass launched from the table towards his face.

He quickly threw up an arm and felt sharp stabs of pain as needle like teeth sank into the flesh of his hand. He rapidly used his other hand to keep the creature away from him but wasn't entirely successful, and when Gaius managed to grab the tawny form by the scruff and pull him away, the guard had four bloody parallel lines running down his cheek.

Gaius struggled to hold the spitting and growling animal and Morgana quickly stepped in to speak to the hapless guard. “You really should get those seen too, and please tell the king that Gaius is still working on it.”

The guard didn't hesitate, bolting out the door and slamming it shut behind him. And not a moment too soon as Arthur-cat broke free, who thwarted, snarled at the closed door before turning to approach his fallen friend.

With a wary eye on the prince, Gaius moved to touch the injured feline, but Arthur-cat just watched silently. Gaius quickly ran his hands over the small body, Merlin-cat occasionally letting out quiet bleats of pain.

Gaius sat back “Well he's smaller than my usual patients but I can't feel any broken bones, I think he's just badly bruised. He'll be sore for awhile and I'll keep an eye on him but I don't think it's anything serious.”

Both women let out exclamations of relief.

Arthur-cat mewed quietly and received an equally soft reply, as Merlin-cat struggled to his feet. He took a couple of wobbly steps and it was clear he had a rather pronounced limp as he moved his left foreleg stiffly.

The feline prince moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with his servant allowing him to lean on him as they walked slowly to the sun warmed floor by the window. Merlin-cat awkwardly laid down and Arthur-cat lay next to him, one paw thrown over the other cat to hold him in place, as he started to groom him.

He looked like a mother cat fussing over a kitten.

Gwen had to put both hands over her mouth to stop the laugh this time. Gauis shook his head, a fond smile on his face.

Morgana expression looked down right evil.

~~~~~
Several hours later Gaius re-read a passage in one of his oldest books, before closing it with more force than was necessary.

“Gaius? Do you have something?” Morgana asked.

“I'm not sure. All the stories I've found involving transformations involve rather powerful spells of sorcery and take large levels of magic to maintain” He answered her.

Gwen frowned “But she isn't is she? A powerful sorceress I mean.”

Gaius looked at her “Well sometimes looks can be deceiving, but in this case I'm inclined to agree.”

“What does that mean for Arthur and Merlin?” Morgana questioned.

Gaius sighed “Well I'm fairly certain it means the spell will in time wear off on it's own.”

Gwen perked up “But that's good news isn't it?”

“Unfortunately I have no idea how adept the old woman was or how powerful. It could be days... or months.” He told her.

They were all silent for a moment before Morgana spoke up “Well. It's better than the alternative but Uther will not be pleased.”

Gaius winced.

At that moment a strange hacking cough sounded through the room.

They all turned to see Arthur-cat coughing up a furball as Merlin-cat watched in bemusement.

Gaius dropped his head into his hands.

Oh yes, he couldn't wait to tell the king.

The End.
The fanart that inspired the story is (here)

Edit: There is now a sequel (Cat-alyst)

Fanart: Cracky M/A pic

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:12:20 GMT

A cracky fanart of Merlin and Arthur as cats. A bit naff as my paint program is very basic, but what the hey!

Fic: Reintegrate 3/3 (Merlin M/A)

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:51:41 GMT

Title: Reintegrate 3/3
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (sort of)
Rating: R
Spoilers: spoilers for episodes 1-7
Summary: “Whoa! Deja vu!” They say together and then look at each other in surprise.
Word count: this part 3200. (Total 9015)
Warnings: Angst, romance, some crack in there as well. Reincarnation of main charcters.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters, but the new versions are mine.

Author's note: Yay! It's finally done. A bit more angst this chap but a bit of boyloving too. Enjoy.
(Part 1) (Part 2)

He stands at the entrance to the park, but hesitates from entering.

All day he's tried to keep himself from thinking about the upcoming encounter. Even considering not coming at all. He's spent the last couple of hours just walking around the streets, but in the end his decision was inevitable.

He likes Andrew, actually if he's honest with himself it's more than like. The thought of not seeing him again is not something he wants to consider.

He also wants answers and while there's no guarantee the other man has them, he has to try.

He takes a deep breath and walks to the large grassy area where the concert is being held. It takes a few minutes of scanning the crowd to spot the others gathered near a patch a copse of trees. They have several blankets spread out on the ground and a cooler of drinks. Lance sees him and waves him over.

His stomach roils with a mix of dread and anticipation, but as he walks closer he realizes the familiar blonde figure isn't among them.

The others great him, which he distractedly returns. He looks at Megan. “Andrew not coming?”

She snorts and rolls her eyes “That stupid cow Sophie intercepted us on our way in, and gave some sob story about an ex that's out to get her or something. It's probably complete crap but, he's a sucker for a damsel in distress so, he agreed to help her out. Give him a talking to, that sort of thing.”

He not sure if he's relieved or not that the moment's been delayed. Then he frowns as what she's told him sinks in. “He went alone?”

Megan nods looking annoyed “Lance offered to go with him, but the thick headed idiot told us not to bother, that we shouldn't all miss the beginning of the show. Last I saw him she was dragging him off towards the lake. It's more than likely she's just tryin....”

He knows she's still talking but he can't hear her. A dull roar began in his head at the word lake and grows stronger until he thinks it might deafen him. A sharp spike of pain lances through his skull and the world seemed to spin. He's vaguely aware of people around him, talking, reaching for him, before...

/He's running through the trees, dodging fallen branches and leaping over roots that almost seem to reach for him.

There's no time.

He falls as he trips over an unseen obstacle in his path. The air is knocked out of him as he lands heavily. He has to keep going. He pushes himself up and staggers back on his way, picking up speed as he goes.

His legs and lungs burn but he can't stop.

He comes to the tree line.

There's the lake ahead.

Only there are two figures where there should be three.

NO!

He can't be too late.

He spies the abandoned staff lying at the man's feet, and whispering ancient words he calls it to him.

As the figure turns he doesn't hesitate, the words falling from his lips without having to think to call them forth.

The man disappears in a beam of crackling light. He hears the blonde girl cry out, from where she stands up to her hips in water, the pain in her voice echoing that in his own heart.

He shows no mercy. He can't.

As soon as she's gone he drops the staff ,and struggles out of his coat, even as he runs to the water.

Calling desperately.

Receiving no answer.

He dives, searching the murky water for any sign.

There!

A dull gleam, sinking away from him.

He reaches and grabs cold metal, fingers scrabbling for purchase in the rings of the other's mail.

He kicks with all his strength pushing to the surface.

They break free in a cascading fountain of water. He gasps for air already pulling the man in his arms closer and struggling to the shore.

To still.

He's too still.

It can't be too late.

It can't be../

Eyes he doesn't remember closing open, to see his friends gathered around him. They look worried.

Lyn's the first to speak “Marlon are you alright, what's wrong?”

There's a trace of panic in her voice and he notices he's lying on the ground. “I..” he has to stop and swallow as his mouth is to dry to talk, “I'm not sure.”

It was like the dreams only he was awake. That thought scares him, but as he remembers what the dream/vision showed him, the fear finds a new focus.

Andrew!

At the lake.

With Sophie. Sophia?

He scrambles to his feet and throws out a vague answer to Lyn about a migraine and he starts running for the lake. He leaves the path but somehow knows exactly where he's headed.

He bursts from the tree line to see two blonde figures ahead. One male, one female. He's standing tensely, the rigid line of his back clear even from this distance.

She places a hand on the side of Andrew's face and moves to kiss him.

No!

His hand reaches towards them and the girl stumbles back as though pushed.

He reaches their side as Andrew helps her up with a faint look of disgust on his face.

He gets a good look at her for the first time.

Long blonde hair, blue eyes in a youthful face.

Buts it's not her.

She's not the girl from the vision.

“Marlon?” Andrew asks.

He's confused and bewildered. He'd been so sure.

“Marlon?” Drake's voice is louder and a hand touches his arm. He blinks and looks at him.

“I'm sorry. I thought...”

He sees the girl Sophie glaring at him as she dust's herself off.

Which is when it hits him.

He never touched her.

He'd used magic.

That's when the clapping begins.

He turns to see another women, long dark hair, pale skin and eyes that are an almost unnatural shade of blue. She's the one clapping.

“I knew he'd be your downfall.” She spoke lightly but her eyes stare at him with an intensity that sends a shiver down his spine. A name floats to the surface of his mind.

“Nimueh”

Her laugh is girlish and delighted. “Very good Merlin.”

That name again.

His name, and not.

“What's going on?” Andrew is staring at her with a frown.

Nimueh's eyes flicker to him briefly as she speaks. “Nothing you need worry about. You were just the bait.”

Sophie who's been silent speaks to the other girl, confusion clear in her voice “Naomi? What are you talking about?”

Nimueh laughs again “Silly girl, so easy to manipulate. You've served your purpose and now it's time for you to go.

“What! But that's not...” She doesn't finish the sentence before Nimueh interrupts her. The same language he's been hearing in his dreams flows almost lyrically from her lips. “Faran hám, þé willan gemunan nánwiht.”

Sophie stops and blinks before walking away towards the path. Face blank and movements wooden. Drake calls out to her but if she hears she gives no sign.

“Aww! Are you worried about her, that's so sweet.” she says insincerely “but don't worry she'll simply go home and forget she ever saw you.”

Andrew looks both confused and angry “Who are you? What's going on?”

“I needed the right lure for my trap” Nimueh mocks “Sophie's little act got you here and I knew he'd be sure to follow.” She turns to stare at him, “The dreams made sure of that.”

He can't prevent the surprised sound he makes. “You. You're the reason for the dreams?”

She smiles “Of course. I needed you to remember who you were. To remember how to use your magic.”

“I don't understand.”

Her smile turns into a sneer as she continues “It took me centuries to break free from your spell, to escape that forsaken lake. But doing so weakened by ability to perform magic. I need to take the power of a strong sorcerer to return to my former strength. You were the most gifted I've ever known. The fact you were the one to enslave me in the first place just makes this all the sweeter. I kill you and your power is mine, and I can be as I was once more.”

Andrew steps forward “If he's the only one you want why send me the dreams too?”

Nimueh looks at him in surprise “You weren't suppose...” she stops and her expression hardens “No matter, I have what I came for.” She moves closer but Andrew steps between them.

She snarls at him “Onheren” and moves her hand in a sharp gesture to the side. Andrew is thrown into the air towards the trees. He feels a sharp stab of terror and helplessness shoot through him, his hand comes up as if to grab the other man and feels a wave of warmth pass over his body.

Drake's flight slows, but he still hits a tree with enough force to leave him stunned on the ground at it's base.

He lets out a sob of relief that the man is even still alive. Nimueh's laughter brings his attention back to her.

“Why?”

She sneers again “I already told you..”

“But why the dreams, if you need to kill me to get my power or whatever it is you want, why not just do it, why involve him?”

Her eyes seem to flash with her anger and screams at him “You think I didn't try? This isn't the first time you've returned Merlin, that your soul has been reborn. You must have done something the first time, a way to seal your magic. Killing isn't enough, coercion doesn't work. I realized the only way was to get you to unlock it yourself.”

She laughs again with a manic edge, and it becomes clear she's insane.

“What little ability I have fades with each attempt, I had to be sure you would do it this time. There has only ever been one for whom you would make any sacrifice, take any risk for. The only one who could force you to overcome the spell of your own making. You have no idea how long it took me to arrange for you to be together again. You and your precious king. And it worked, and far faster than I ever hoped. You must really love him”

The last sentence is spoken quietly, with a tone of wonder and possibly a trace of regret. Before hate twists her face once more. Her hand rises, arm extended, the palm facing him and she begins to speak.

He gasps as it suddenly becomes harder to breathe, his body feels heavy.

Nimueh voice grows louder, chanting now, and his heart stutters in his chest.

Then it stops.

She falls silent and the weight disappears.

He looks up and Andrew is stood over her fallen form, a tree branch held in his hands.

He scowls down at her “You should have taken in a few movies while you were waiting, everyone knows it's the villains bragging expatiation speech that gives the hero time to kick their ass.” Then he twirls the branch with one hand in a very familiar manoeuvre.

Like it was a sword.

He can't help asking. “Arthur?”

The blonde freezes for a moment before looking at him. “No..and yes.” he looks slightly bewildered. “I'm not sure. I mean I'm still me, I just seem to remember being someone else...Okay, that made no sense.”

He laughs “Actually I know exactly what you mean. So you've been getting dreams too?”

Andrew blinks at him “Yeah, it was weird. I kept dreaming I was in a castle or riding about on a horse. Then there was all these sword fights. Only you were in all of them. Every time I turned around there you were, once you were even wearing this odd hat...”

He listens in disbelief “Wait! You're telling me that while I was seeing you, or sometimes both of us, almost dying in strange and horrible ways. You were prancing about and seeing me in a hat?”

“It was a very odd hat. Lots of feathers... And I don't prance!”

“God you're such a PRAT!"

“Yeah well, you're an IDIOT!”

They stop.

“Whoa! Deja vu!” They say together and then look at each other in surprise.

The giggle that erupts from him catches him by surprise. Andrew's mouth twitches and it's not long before they're both laughing. He struggles to stop and catch his breath wiping tears from his eyes.

“You think we'll remember more?” Andrew finally asks, growing serious again.

“I don't know. On the one hand they were being sent by Nimueh, on the other, from the way she acted, you weren't supposed to get them at all. I guess we just wait and see. “ He responds.

“Yeah. Speaking of the she-devil” He nods to her unconscious form at their feet.

As he looks at her, words form in his mind, and a hint of memory. “I think” he speaks slowly “I think my former self knew this might happen and took precautions. I'm pretty sure I just remembered the spell for binding her.”

Andrew looks at him silently for a moment. “To bind her? In the lake? Because that's what were really talking about isn't it. I'm King Arthur, you're the sorcerer Merlin and she's the Lady of the Lake. From the legends. Right?”

He shares the other incredulity but knows deep down the truth of it. “Yep!”

That earns him a sardonically raised eyebrow “Profoundly said.”

They stand awkwardly for a few minutes.

Drake nudges him with a shoulder “Well what are you waiting for?”

He swallows nervously. “Yeah. It's just I've never actually cast a spell before. You know, as me?”

A hand cups his chin and turns him so he's looking into the other man's eyes. “You'll be fine. You've already used magic when you needed to. I think it's a part of you. I have faith in you. ”

A thumb strokes along his jaw “Besides if you don't she'll wake up and kill us both.”

He snorts “Nice! No pressure or anything!” Strangely though he does feel better.

They move her so she's next to the water edge. “I feel kind of guilty. For doing this to her. I mean I'm basically putting her in prison for a really long time, maybe forever.” He tells the other man.

Andrew nods seriously “But what choice do we have, a normal prison could never hold her, and she's to dangerous to leave free. She was going to kill you, and from what I overheard earlier, not for the first time” he pauses to grimace “Which is just too creepy to think about.”

He sighs knowing Drake is right. Okay he can do this.

“Ic binden þé tó pæt mere tó endemæst. Ic þé tó pæt gelógian tó éones.”

Nothing happens.

He sighs in frustration. Then takes a deep breath and tries again.

“Ic binden þé tó pæt mere tó endemæst. Ic healde þé tó pæt gelógian tó éones.”

At first he thinks he's failed again but the water near the shoreline starts to glow from beneath with a golden light.

He repeats the spell a third time.

The water rises with a muted roar, to form a funnel that moves towards them, to cover the prone form of the dark haired sorceress. It spills outward to swirl around her, covering and hiding the woman from view. Then it recedes quickly back, leaving the bank empty but for the two of them.

The light moving under the surface heads quickly towards the centre of the lake before fading. The ripples of the water slowly ebb away.

Everything returns to normal.

They stand in silence. Looking out across the water.

He feels a hand slip into his, fingers entwining in a firm but gentle grip.

The feelings flooding through him are almost overwhelming, he doesn't know where to begin to pick them apart. He turns to look at the man at his side. “Well, I don't know about you, but I could do with a nap.”

The blonde laughs loudly. “Me too.”

~~~~~

/He's standing in front of the other man, helping him to remove his armour and clothes. A job he's preformed many times before.

This time feels different.

His hands linger, running over the body beneath his hands.

As skin is revealed with the removal of the shirt, his fingers slowly, gently run along a muscle down the arm, tracing a line along a vein at the wrist.

His hands eventually come to rest on the broad chest before him. His gaze lifts to look into lust darkened blue eyes that look out from under a fringe of golden blonde hair. He feels the other's hands come to rest on his own hips.

They gaze at one another, drinking in the precious view before them. Slowly heads move, tilting as they meet. Light pressure of slightly chapped lips against his own. Soon the pressure grows as lips move, part and the kiss deepens. Tongues gently stroke one another as they explore.

The hand on his hips move to slide up his back into his hair pulling him impossibly closer. He gasps as a hardened length rubs against his own. His own hands move from between them to caress the naked back of his lover. Who pulls back ,and he makes a sound of protest, getting a chuckle in return.

He understand when the blonde's hands move to pull at his clothes. He moves to help but instead ends up entangling them both in his shirt.

Another light laugh and a quick gentle kiss. He stills and allows the other to continue unaided.

When they are both naked, his lover takes his hand and leads him to the bed, covers already drawn back. They lie side by side, hands roaming the other's body, eyes memorizing every line and curve. Eliciting gasps and sigh as they find sensitive places.

He pushes the other man onto his back and moves to straddle him. Knees framing his lovers hips. He leans down so their lips almost touch, breaths mingling in warm puffs of air.

“Arthur” He breathes softly afraid anything louder will break the spell that has nothing to do with magic. Not the kind he's used to anyway.

His lover smiles “Merlin”/

He wakes with a jolt, breaths coming quick and heavy. He's hot and covered in a fine sheen of sweat, his heart beats too fast.

He's also hard as a rock.

Well, that was different.

He hears a quiet huff of laughter in his ear and turns to look over his shoulder at the blonde man sharing his bed, who tells him “I'm really hoping you just had the same dream I did.”

Which is when he becomes aware of the other man's erection digging into his hip.

He quickly rolls over to lie on top of his companion, looking into lust darkened, love filled, blue eyes.

“Arthur?” he breathes.

His lover smiles “Merlin.”

The end.
*evil cackle* That's all folks.

Author's note 2: The old english used in the spells came from an online translator site that only does one word at a time so I have no doubt the grammer and context are probably completely off. Sorry to anyone who knows the language.

Taking a leaf from the show the spells are supposed to say:
“Faran hám, þé willan gemunan nánwiht.” = "Go home, you will remember nothing."
“Onheren” = "Move"
“Ic binden þé tó pæt mere tó endemæst. Ic þé tó pæt gelógian tó éones.” = "I bind you to this lake for eternity. I hold you to this place for eternity everlasting."

Review of Merlin Ep 8

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:23:38 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.09

Wow this just gets better every week.

We open in a dark crpyt.
Nemueh casts a spell over on of the tombs.
It cracks open and a hand appears. (IT'S ALIVE!!)

We cut to the great hall.
Arthur on his knees before Uther.
"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the.."..oh wait!

Apparently Arthur's come of age and is being crowned well.. Crown Prince. (which is a git because I've been writing him as one already in all my fics. DOH!)

cute moment between Gwen and Merlin when she calls him on the fact he's actually proud of Arthur. Merlin says it the socks. (Maybe it a fetish?)

Crash of breaking glass as a knight on horseback breaks through the conveniently placed stained glass window. (That's gonna be a bugger to replace, also is the horse a zombie too?)

The Black Knight throws down his gauntlet and issues a challenge as the wind whistles through the hall. (I was expecting tumbleweeds in the background)

Sir Owain takes up the challenge before Arthur can.

A duel to the death. (oh no!)

Cue titles.

Cut to Gauis making soup. Merlin quizzes him on the BK, Gaius denies all knowledge. (Methinks someone is fibbing.)

Arthur is annoyed someone else gets to play with swords instead of him. Morgana worried for Owain asks Arthur to stop the fight or take his place, but it's against the rules so he can't.

Gaius goes to see Geoffrey about BK crest. It belongs to Tristan de Bois.
Gaius goes to see Uther and tells him this, Uther's a bit jumpy. Ah, Apparently Tristan been dead for 20 years. And Uther was the one who killed him.

Cut to Merlin dressing Owain for battle. (Wait he dresses other knights now? Huh, Arthur's there too. Condemned man's last threesome?)

Owain asks Arthur his chances "I know no one braver," (yeah I notice you didn't actually say if he was any good there Arthur)

"Remember all it takes to kill a man is a well aimed blow~~job~~"

Sweet moment when Gwen passes on Morgana's token for Owain.

Owain and the Black Knight fight, (hey that rhymed!)

Uther and Merlin look a bit bloodthirsty here.

Owain stabs BK, only he acts like nothing happened. Owain gets his butt kicked and dies. Cut to Morgana's token on the arena floor, blowing pathetically in the breeze.

Bk throws his gauntlet again. Uther grabs Arthur to prevent him taking it. So Sir Pallinor takes it instead.

Merlin tells Gaius he's sure the BK was hit and should be dead. Gaius says maybe he already is.

Arthur and Uther argue. Arthur even more annoyed about someone else getting the fight scenes.

Meanwhile Merlin and Gaius go to the crypt.

Gaius: "Not scared are you?"
Merlin: "No. I love crypts. I wouldn't be caught dead anywhere else." (He! Merlin I saw what you did there.)
Gaius is impressed with Merlin pryo skills.

They find Tristan empty tomb.

Gaius explains Tristan was brother to Ygraine who was Uther's wife and Arthur's mother. He blamed Uther for her death, challenged him to a duel and lost, and cursed him with his dying breath. (don't they alway.)

He must be a wraith. (He sucks the life out of you with his hand.. oh wait wrong show)
No mortal weapon can harm him.(getting to a be theme that, good job Merlin arrived when he did eh?)

Cut to the fight between Pallinor and BK. Once again the latter is stabbed (good job he's already dead) and once again it's the other guy who dies.

Gauntlet thrown - only it's Arthur's and he issues the challenge himself. (He really wants that fight scene)

Uther is ever so slightly pissed off. He tries to forbid him from fighting, then tells him it will be his death.

Arthur: "There cannot be one rule for me and one for the rest." (shades of round table?)
Arthur: "I'm sorry you have so little faith in me Father" (That line broke my heart)

Cut to Merlin talking to Gaius he's worried about Arthur and wants to use Magic to save his Honey.
Gaius: "Merlin, it's too dangerous."
Merlin: "I don't have a choice." (Squee!)

Uther and Gaius talk, where we learn magic killed Ygraine and ther's something about Arthur birth that Uther won't tell his son, not even to stop him fighting an undead Knight.

Merlin sneaks up on BK and sets him on fire, but it doesn't work and he runs like a scared rabbit.

To barge in to Arthur's chambers who snarks at him about knocking.

Merlin: "you have to pull out" (mind straight to the gutter)

Merlin tries to talk Arthur out of fighting, Arthur twirls his sword. Merlin gets a bit desperate and Arthur threatens Merlin with his sword. (Bad Arthur!)

Nimeuh appears to taunt Uther. Where we learn she used magic to get Ygraine pregnant at Uther's request, only the magic took her life. (Dammit I actually felt a bit of sympathy for Nimueh here)

Merlin's broken into the library and gets caught by Geoffrey, Merlin talks him into helping.
Merlin: "I'm sort of in a hurry"
Geoffrey:"Yes, you young people always are." (snicker)
Merlin learns swords madewith dragons breath are pretty darn powerful.

A visit to Gwen to get a sword.
Gwen: "I'd grant you anything." Then some cute and funny back peddling.

Uther actually visits Gaius where he tells him he's taking Arthur's place. Then asks Gauis to keep his oath of keeping Arthur in the dark.

Gwen gives Merlin the best sword her father has. Merlin runs straight to the GSD to ask to him to breath on it. takes some convincing as he's relucant to let such a powerful sword falls into the wrong hands. Gets Merlin to promise that no one but Arthur will wield it. (Yeah like I can't see what 's coming there)

GSD huffs and puffs and yay! New shiny magic sword with it's own dramatic soundtrack.

Cut to Gaius drugging Arthur and putting him to bed. (stoned Arthur is kind of adorable)
Gaius then locks him in.

Cut to Merlin admiring the sword, and then so does Uther. He tells him he's taking Arthur's place and he sholu help him get ready. (geez is Merlin the only manservant in Camelot or has Arthur been bragging about his skills so everyone wants him?)

Merlin tries to distract uther from taking the new shiny sword but fails.

Then we find Uther has indeed noticed the boylove!

Uther: "You show the most extraordinary loyalty"
Merlin: "It's my job, sire"
Uther: "Beyond the line of duty"
Merlin:"Well...you could say there's a bond between us" (SQEEEEE!!!)
Uther: "I'm glad. Look after him" (Okay as Uther thinks he's about to die that last line was particularly poignant)

Uther takes on the BK. AS Arthur sleeps, until finally woken by sounds of combat.
Only Arthur's locked in and though he tries to kick the door down he fails to get out.

Uther continues to fight and knocks BK's helmet off so we can see Zombie Knight in all his prosthetic glory. Uther is eventually victorious. Which annoys Nimueh no end.

Uther notices he shouldn't have been able to kill the wraith and shows Gaius his sword. Gaius of course realizes it's no ordinary sword but keeps quiet.

Arthur storms in and throws a tantrum. (he realllyy wanted that fight scene)
Uther completely derails him by telling him he means more to him than the entire kingdom.

Arthur who though he was a disappointment is touched by this (As was I)

So naturally to cover the moment the joke and mock fight. (They act like a normal father and son here, it's great, I particularly like Uther booting Arthur up the bum)

Cut to Merlin and Gaius having supper. Adorable moment as Gaius hints he knows Merlin did something with the sword and Merlin never out right saying he did.

Then the GSD pages Merlin. Merlin tries to expalin it sooo wasn't his fault the king got his hands on the sword. The GSD is MAADD!! Tells him he must get rid of it so Uther can't use it again.

GSD: "Take the sword where no mortal man can find it." (What about women you sexist lizard.)

So of course Merlin throws it in the lake. (He looked like he might cry here. He's obviously distraught at losing Arthur's new sword before he could give it to him. Now he'll have to think of something else to give him for Christmas.)

The end.
Next weeks ep: Merlin goes home to fight Julian Bashir?!

And ooh does Arthur find out about the magic???

Fic: Reintegrate 2/3 (Merlin M/A)

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:20:58 GMT

Title: Reintegrate 2/3
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (sort of)
Rating: R (only swearing for now)
Spoilers: some spoilers for episodes 1-7
Summary: 'He swallows involuntarily, and it dawns on him. This might be worse than he thought.'
Word count: this part 2983
Warnings: Angst, romance, some crack in there as well. Reincarnation of main characters.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters, but the new versions are mine.

/He's in a gloomy poorly lit tunnel. There's a dampness and and odd foul smell in the air.

He sees a blonde haired figure holding a lit torch in one hand and striking out with the sword he holds in the other. Trying to drive back the dark deformed creature before him.

And failing.

Sharp teeth and sharper claws slash at the man.

No, this couldn't happen.

The torch. The creature was shying from the flame.

Yes the torch.

Alien words fall from his mouth and yet they seem to come from his very soul.

An explosion of fire, heat and blinding light, he staggers back/

He wakes abruptly as he lands on the floor with a resounding thump. He lies there, next to his bed, gasping for breath and heart pounding once more. This dream hadn't been as distorted as the others. He's certain now that the figure in them looks like Andrew.

Looks like, but isn't.

As he calms he can't help wonder where these dreams are coming from and why.

Perhaps his subconscious is trying to tell him to stay away from the other man, but that doesn't really make sense.

The threat is always aimed at the blonde, not himself. The fear comes from not knowing if the danger can be stopped in time. A fear that grows stronger and clearer with each new dream.

~~~~~

He tries to dismiss them, blaming the increasing stress of his studies. For the next few days it even seems to work. The strange dreams don't return.

The weekend approaches and the upcoming game. The one Andrew's playing in. He knows he's making a bigger deal of it then he should be. It was a random comment from a guy he barely knows, but he can't help feeling nervous.

Saturday arrives and he's once again standing next to the main sports field. At least it's not so early this time.

He doesn't play or watch football normally, but even he can see that Andrew hasn't been kidding. He rules the pitch. Every time Andrew has the ball he out shines them all. Moving with a speed, precision and grace that's breath taking.

Although it's possible he might be slightly biased.

Whem the game ends, Andrew's team victorious, there's a lot of backslapping and jokes flying.

He wonders if the other man will even remember he'd be here. That he was asked to be.
Just as he's telling himself he's a fool and moves to leave. A familiar figure breaks from the crowd.

The blonde hair is sweat soaked and plastered to his head in damp curls. His face is still slightly flushed and wears a genuine smile.

He's beautiful.

He swallows involuntarily, and it dawns on him. This might be worse than he thought.

“Hey you made it. So you see, I am indeed awesome.” The words are arrogant but the tone is friendly.

He laughs lightly “Yeah. Okay. I concede the possibility. On the football field at least.”

Andrew throws a sweaty arm across his shoulders “So some of us are going to the pub after. You coming?”

He blinks “Er..isn't it a team thing.”

“Not really. It's for anyone who wants to hang out and talk about the game.”

Alright so this is embarrassing. “I'm not really a fan of football, I just came to watch you.” He realizes how that sounds and quickly adds, “You know because I was hoping you'd be bad and I could laugh at you.” Oh man that was lame.

Andrew just laughs “Sorry to disappoint. And that doesn't stop you buying me a celebratory drink.”

He eyes the other man in amusement “Why am I always the one buying you drinks?”

The blonde grins “It's my winning personality.”

As he's sat in the pub, surrounded by strangers talking about stuff he has no clue about, he blames that smile. Once again he's agreed to something without thinking it through. Because of that smile, than again maybe it was the laugh. Or his surprisingly serious blue eyes.

Oh god.

He was turning into a girl. A teenage girl with a crush.

Somebody shoot him now.

Andrew returns with the beers. Dramatically placing one of the bottles in front of him with a flourish. “Happy now?”

He eyes the bottle before looking at Drake. “You didn't spit it in it or something did you.”

That gets him a laugh in return. “Hah! No, I would never do such a thing.” The overly innocent look isn't reassuring.

He drinks it anyway.

Andrew proceeds to give him a crash course in the rules of football, which he only half understands. Some of the other's gathered around, suitably horrified by his ignorance, chip in now and again.

Before he knows it he's actually having fun, and the morning's gone.

As he walks the route back to the flat he can't help glancing at the man at his side. “You do know I'm not a girl right?”

He gets a raised eyebrow in return “You know I had noticed that.”

“Then why exactly are you walking me home? Afraid something will happen if I don't have a big strapping lad along to defend my virtue.”

Drake chortles “Well I do know Kung Fu.”

He stares at him, not sure if he's being serious. “Okay Keanu, if we get mugged I'll let you deal with them. Though you didn't answer my question.”

Andrew shrugs “It's on my way. And dude, I'm totally Morpheus.”

It's his turn to laugh “Yes, I can see the resemblance, and on the way to where?”

Drake actually starts to look a little uncomfortable. “You live off Oakley right? Brentwood flats?”

“Yeah.” he says surprised.

“I know someone who lives there, other than you I mean.”

Okay. Brentwood flats is actually a converted three story house, each floor a separate apartment. Which is why he needs a room mate to afford the place. Since it's unlikely the blonde is visiting Lance and it's doubtful its Old Man Rogers either, that leaves...

“Megan. Megan Farley. You know Megan Farley?”

The blonde shrugs again. “Yeah her family and mine are in the same business. We practically grew up together.”

Huh!

“Small world. You know she and my friend Lyn have become really close friends themselves.” And Lance sometimes plays football with the guy. “So how come we've never met before?”

Andrew looks uncomfortable again. “Megan and I don't really see each much any more. She kind of broke ties with her family. Thought they were trying to run her life or something. Thinks I'm an idiot for not following her example. But Dad likes me to look in her and we were close once.” His face takes on a bemused expression “I have no idea why I just laid all that on you.”

“I asked.”

They arrive and he lets them in. They stop in front of his apartment door “Well Megan's flat is just up the stairs.” Andrew looks amused “Which you already know right? 'Cause you've been here before.” God he sounds like a moron. “So er..yeah see you around.”

Drake nods at him and starts to turn away, but pauses to look at him, his expression becomes serious.

“What?”

The blonde just stares at him for a moment before he shakes his head and says quietly “There's something about you. You're different from everyone I've met.”

He's not sure how to take that. “Er..thanks? I think.”

Andrew smiles slightly “It wasn't meant as an insult.”

“Okay.”

“See you around Merlin.” Drake turns and jogs up the next flight of stairs.

As he walks into the flat he stops short, did Andrew just call him Merlin?

He shakes his head.

He must be hearing things.

~~~~~

/The blonde man holds an ornate metal cup in his hand.

It lifts towards his lips.

He sees his own hand reach for it. Pull it away.

There are others in the room, but he sees only the concerned blue eyes looking into his own.

He drinks.

Pain. Can't breathe. So hot. Falling. Blackness.

Wait.

There!

A figure on horse back, a forest, glowing eyes stare from under a fallen tree. A dark haired girl.

Don't.

A roar. A flash of a blade. The creature falls. A girls innocent smile turns cruel as the man turns away.

A cave.

Darkness the light struggles to breach.

Don't go.

Falling rock and skittering movements in the darkness.

Don't let go.

So dark. Too dark.

The alien words fill his mind once more.

Blue light.

Up. Must get up.

Fingers reach for a yellow flower.

No! Taking to long. The skittering beyond the light gets louder. Closer.

Faster. Move faster.

There!

The night sky.

Safe.

Blackness./

He bolts awake, his stomach rebels and he barely makes it to the toilet before he's throwing up. He swears he can taste wine and something else that reminds him of Lyn's herbal teas.

He shivers.

He moves to the sink and rinses out his mouth. Leaning on the basin to stay upright.

Just when he thought the dreams where gone and he sure this is the worst one yet. For the first time his own life had seemed in jeopardy. Yet the focus had still been the blonde man.

Andrew?

He doesn't know any more.

He whole body shakes and his knees refuse to hold him. He sinks down to sit leaning against the bath tub. It's cold on his back, but he can still feel the echo of pain and fever, so he welcomes it.

His head falls back and his eyes close.

He opens them again as he feels someone gently shaking his shoulder.

“Marlon. Are you okay? What's wrong?” Sweet Gwendolyn.

“Marlon?”

The furry feeling in his mouth tells him he must have fallen asleep. He looks at Lyn and tries to summon the energy to answer her. “It must have been something I ate.” He's not sure why he lies, except for the need not to worry her.

“You look terrible. Maybe you should see a doctor.” He can hear her concern.

“I'm sure I'll be fine, and thanks by the way, I'll have you know people would kill for my complexion.”

She laughs but it's not an entirely happy sound.

“Well if you're making jokes, you can't be too bad” She doesn't believe that, but he knows she's letting him off the hook.

He loves this woman.

He tries to stand and when he wobbles she's there to steady him.

“Good thing it's Sunday, eh!” He tells her as she helps him to his room and the bed.

This time the laugh is more genuine “Anyone else would be wishing it was Monday so they had a legitimate reason to skive classes.”

He was thankful to collapse on his bed. Curling on his side. “Do you want me to get anything?” Lyn asks “I'm supposed to meet Megan later but I can.. .”.

He interrupts her “No! No thanks, I'm alright. I'm just going to get some more sleep.” And pray he doesn't dream.

~~~~~

When he finally emerges it's after noon. He shuffles into the kitchen and spots Lance sitting at the table, a text book open in from of him, and a mug of what smells like coffee held loosely in one hand.

“Still alive then.” He can almost feel the assessing look his friend gives him.

He grabs a couple slices of bread and drops them in the toaster. He turns to look back at Lance. “Lyn told you.”

The other man snorts “She told me you weren't feeling well, but I think the fact you like something the cat threw up, and then dragged through a hedge backwards, might have clued me in.”

Geez. Does he really look that bad?

“Yeah well, we can't all look like we stepped out of a fashion mag. You do know when we go out people think you're the gay one.”

Lance blinks at him “They do not.”

“Yeah. It's the hair I think.”

“My hair?”

He tries to keep a straight face at his friends perplexed expression. “C'mon man. You use like, fifteen different products on it and it shows.”

This earns him an affronted glare “I do not. You're exaggerating.”

He can't help the incredulous laugh that slips from him. “Lance we're room mates. I have, strangely enough, occasionally looked in the bathroom cabinet. I doubt Lyn would use anything with the words 'For Men' written on it and that stuff isn't mine. ”

Lance pouts. “Whatever. Looking good does not make me gay.”

The sound of the toast popping up distracts him for a moment.

“I never said it did. Just people stereotype you know. All queers must be hairdressers or fashion designers or something. I'm just saying looks can be deceiving.”

He spread a thick layer of butter on his toast and looks up to see Lance staring at him strangely.

“What?”

“You're good at that.”

He blinks confused. Lance must notice because he clarifies “Deflecting people away when they're concerned about you.”

He frowns “I don't!”

His friend just shakes his head, and then nods at his plate “How can you eat that?”

He looks down at his blackened toast . “What? I like it well done.”

Lance snorts again “There's well done, and then there's charcoal.”

It's a familiar argument.

He tears off a piece of his toast and lobs it at the other man, where it lands on his head. Lance's hands immediately go to his hair and pulls it out, before charging off to the bathroom.

He laughs so hard he has to grab the table to stop from falling out of his chair.

~~~~~

Another week goes by, and if he dreams he doesn't remember them. Instead there's a strange feeling of unease that never truly leaves him. He's not sure if it's worry over the dreams returning, or something else.

He knows his friends are worried about him.

So when there's a charity fund raising weekend being held at one of the local parks, he gets talked into going along.

It's a slightly chilly Saturday afternoon, that the three of them meet up with Andrew and Megan as well as fellow classmates Ryan, Kaleb, Tristan and his girlfriend Isabelle.

They walk around the Funfair that's been set up, each taking turns at the games. It's not long before teams are declared and it becomes a competition. The couples naturally pair together, Ryan and Kaleb side with Megan, each unsubtly vying for her attention, much to her amusement.

Which leaves him with Andrew.

Lance and Isabelle are evenly matched at the shooting galley. Andrew and Ryan rule the ring toss. Kaleb beats everyone at 'test your strength'. Which is no surprise as the guys built like a bear.

He watches as Drake takes his turn at the coconut shy, throwing the balls and striking several but failing to knock down more than a couple. None of them have had much luck here, and he's beginning to think the game is fixed.

Then it's his turn. His friends mocking jibes ring in his ears as he throws. He manages to knock down two pretty quickly but he reaches his last ball and he's still needs one more to win. He throws again and strikes a coconut causing it to wobble but it stays in it's cup. He can hear the other laugh behind him.

He narrows his eyes and wills the stupid thing to fall.

He blinks when it does. Huh! It must have been better throw than he thought.

He spins to look at the others who are all exclaiming in shock and surprise. “Hah! Take that losers!”

The guy in charge of the stall looks bemused but offers him his prize anyway.

A foot tall stuffed yellow bear.

Right just what he needs. On a whim he hands it to Andrew. “There you go. To remind you of my awesome skills with nuts.” Than has to resist the urge to smack himself in the forehead because, Jesus! He didn't just say that!

Luckily the other's don''t seem to hear him as they're already moving to the next stall. Drake himself seems preoccupied staring at the bear he's now holding. Probably because straight guys aren't usually given cuddly toys, except maybe by their girlfriends.

He's obviously on a roll tonight.

Before he can say anything however, Andrew gives a quick grin and tucks the thing under his arm.

It stays there for the rest of the day.

~~~~~

/The world is cast in silvery greys by the moon.

The man is crumpled on the ground before him, battered and bloody.

So very still and a wave of despair flows through him.

He places a hand on the other's chest and the relief is dizzying as he feels the continued rise and fall.

Then a screech from the tree line makes him aware the danger hasn't passed.

An armoured figure, on a grey horse, charges past him with lowered lance.

With another ear splitting scream the creature lunges forward, carried on by it's monstrous wings, claws and beak extended.

Once more the strange language falls from his lips.

The lance shines with an unearthly glow, leaving ghostly trails in it's wake.

An almost blinding burst of light as the weapon strikes./

This time when he wakes he doesn't move. He stays staring at his shadowed ceiling as his body calms. He may not understand what the dreams mean, but he knows now what's triggering them.

Andrew.

Every time he sees him, one of the strange dreams shortly follows.

If he only understood why.

He glances at the clock, it's early Sunday morning. They'd all agreed to meet up again, at the park, for the charity concert tonight.

Which means he'll see Andrew there.

For the first time, he's not sure he wants to.

~~~~~

TBC
Part 3

Author's note: The yellow bear is a nod to Pudsey from Children In Need. Bradley and Colin looked so cute I couldn't stop myself.

Fic: Reintegrate 1/3 (Merlin M/A)

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:40:04 GMT

Title: Reintegrate 1/3
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (sort of)
Rating: R (only swearing for now)
Spoilers: will be some spoilers for episodes 1-7
Summary: 'He looks into the mirror, and for a brief second it's someone else looking back'
Word count: this part 2832
Warnings: Angst, humour, romance, some crack in there as well. Reincarnation of main characters.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the 'Merlin' characters, but the new versions are mine.

Author's note: So this bunny been around a while but it was reading a comment made by fengtianshi that got me writing it. She mentioned she would like to see the boys waking up in the present day. Well they do and they don't here as this is a reincarnation fic. Yes you read that right. Er.. is it AU if the show's canon happened in a past life?

Author's note 2: I've never been to university so this is based on what I've seen on TV and my own college days. So please feel free to point out any mistakes. Also Castleford University is made up, so any resemblance to a real place is coincidence.

Reintegrate

He's at a lame ass party being thrown in the Student Union bar, one he hadn't even wanted to come to, but his best friend Lyn and her boyfriend, his room mate, Lance, had dragged him along regardless.

As he makes his way to the bar, he notices a handsome blonde man at the edge of his vision.

Tall, athletic, popular and so far out of his social circle he might has well have been on another planet. He's holding court among several fellow students, who look to be hanging on every word.

He already knows who the man is of course, everyone at Castleford University did.

A member of almost every sport related team/activity the University is affiliated to, and extremely good at all of them. This had earned the place a lot of good publicity. Which combined with his wealthy father's continued donations had earned him the nickname ' The Prince of Castleford'.

A group of giggling female undergrads swarms across his path forcing him to change course rather sharply to avoid being trampled. This has the unfortunate effect of causing a collision with someone else. He turns in time to watch the bottle of beer the other guy's holding spill it's contents all over the table in front of him.

Everyone gathered around quickly grab napkins, tissues and even the cardboard beermats to mop it up. He has a brief moment to appreciate the efficiency of it, before an irate voice brings him back to the man he's knocked into.

The very man he was just thinking about.

Andrew Drake.

"You moron. Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, it was an accident" he waves a hand at the rapidly disappearing stampede of girls on their way to god knows where. The loo's probably. "Not much room in here." he tries to explain.

"Whatever. Get me another drink." An order not a request and, even though he'd been about to offer to do just that, he feels a flare of annoyance at the pretentious tone.

"Oy! There's no need to be twat, I told you it was an accident." The blond turns to actually look at him for the first time. A rather cold unforgiving glare.

“Like I care. You spilled my drink. You get me a new one.”

He briefly considers arguing, but as the other man has several rather large friends he decides against it. Discretion being the better part of valour and all that.

He sighs and agrees. “Yeah all right.”

He finally makes it to the bar and as he's about to give his order, a new thought wings it's way across his mind.

“Hey” he calls to the barman “If you make the girliest drink you can think of, and deliver it to the blonde guy over there,” he nods to Drake “I'll throw in an extra fiver.” He throws in his best flirty grin, and heh, score! The apparently not so straight barman agrees to do it.

He quickly returns to his own table, where Lyn and Lance are so engrossed in snogging they probably haven't even noticed he's been gone.

Nothing like being a third wheel to make for a great night.

He hears the commotion from across the room behind him, but refrains from looking, though he can't prevent the smirk.

He's taking a swig from his beer when the other drink is slammed down in front of him.

“What in the hell is this?”

Good question.

Served in a large cocktail glass, it's pink, very bright almost florescent pink, with sugar around the rim. It has paper umbrellas and glacé cherries on cocktail sticks all over the place, honest to god ribbons spilling artfully out of it, and bloody hell! Is that glitter?!”

Where, in the name of all that's holy, had the barman found all that in a student uni bar? Or known what to with it? It's with that disturbing thought that he looks up into the irate blonde's face.

He struggles to keep his expression innocent. “What? You asked for another drink, you didn't specify what kind.”

Andrew's eyes narrow “You little bastard!”

He findsd himself grinning as he responds. “Consider it negative reinforcement. If you hadn't been such a twat you'd have gotten a beer.”

The other man pauses for a moment, before his lip twitches, and slowly a smile spreads across his face.

A hand is offered and an unnecessary introduction given.

“Andrew Drake.”

He hesitates a moment before accepting and offering his own name in return.

“Marlon Ambrose.”

Andrew lightly punches him in the shoulder “You've got balls Marlon, but you're still a moron.”

That said, the other man reaches down and snags Marlon's beer, before making his way back to his own group.

He turns back and notices his friends are now looking at him. Lyn like she isn't sure if she should be amused or resigned.

Lance just laughs and tells him “There's something not right about you Marlon.”

Marlon laughs in return and looks again at the weird monstrosity in front of him.

Maybe tonight hasn't been a total loss after all.

~~~~~~

/A dark hall, covered in cobwebs, shadowy figures slumped over tables.

An eerie voice singing haunting half understood words.

An old women's face a rictus of hate.

A flash of light on metal./

He wakes with a start. Heart beating slightly too fast. Unsure exactly what about the dream he finds so disturbing.

He sighs. He probably shouldn't have drunk that cocktail without knowing what was in it, but dammit he'd paid for the stupid thing.

He rolls over and looked at the clock. 5 am, he decides it's not worth going back to sleep. He gets up and turns on the light, and digs out his textbook for that mornings class.

He might as well get a head start.

~~~~~

On his way to class he looks out of the corridor window, which overlooks one of the sport fields, and finds himself stopping as he notices a blonde figure.

Andrew.

Who's watching some of his team mates, standing with his hands on his hips. One foot slightly behind the other. A frown of concentration on his face.

He feels a frown forming on his own face, at the tug of familiarity at the other's stance. He can feel something tickling at the edge of his mind.

One of his fellow class mates claps him on the shoulder reminding him he's due in class, and whatever it was disappears. He mentally dismisses it.

It's probably something he's seen in the papers or university newsletter.

~~~~~~

It was late evening before he returns to the flat. Letting himself in, he hears voices coming from the kitchen.

Walking into the room he sees Lyn leaning on the kitchen counter, gossiping with her dark haired friend Megan Farley, who lives in the flat above them. Lance is sat at the small dining table, where several mostly empty plates indicate the meal they must have just finished.

Lance looks bored as he plays with the peas on his plate. The other man hates peas but Lyn, determined to get her boyfriend to eat more healthily, always gives them to him anyway.

He's obviously walked in mid-conversation as he hears Megan talk. “I don't know what he was thinking going out with her. Everyone knows she's a total man-eater.”

He moves to the fridge and grabs a beer. He opens it and turns back and almost chokes on his first swallow as he realizes Lance has arranged the peas to form an SOS. The girls must have been going on for a while.

Never let it be said he didn't help his fellow man.

“So ladies what are you talking about.”

Both women turn to look at him with the same look of surprise, as if only just noticing there are others in the room. Lyn fills him in.

“Robbie's been dating Sophie and she's broken his heart. Like that's a big surprise. And now Naomi has apparently moved in to 'comfort' him, and he's letting her, even though every one knows she's as bad as Sophie. The poor boy is going to be a real mess before the end of semester.”

He blinks and even knowing it's a mistake he can't stop himself asking “Who?”

He can see Lance making an abort sign with his hand from behind the girls, but it's already too late.

Megan glares at him “Honestly Marlon don't you pay attention to anything outside your books. Sophie Teague and Naomi Laker, otherwise known as the Bitches of Eastwick. Several of the guys Sophie's dated have disappeared, dropped out presumably. Though I admit the rumour she's a serial killer who takes them home to eat them is a personal favourite. And don't get me started on Naomi.”

He hadn't wanted to get her started on any of it, and he certainly wasn't going to admit he didn't know who 'Robbie' was either.

“Right sorry.”

Megan sighs before turning to Lyn. “Maybe we should go to my place Gwen and leave the boys to,... whatever it is they do.”

Lyn laughs “Alright” before she pauses and asks her boyfriend “You don't mind do you sweetheart?”

She doesn't seem to notice as Lance quickly throws a paper towel over his plate to cover the pea message. He smiles at her “I don't mind in the least my love, it'll give me a chance to play Tomb Raider.” He says referring to his Playstation3 game.

Lyn laughs again and the girls quickly grab their things and leave.

Lance turns to look at him and sighs “I love my Gwendolyn, sweet angel she usually is, but I swear when she talks about those two she turns into a right harpy.”

He shrugs “That's women for you.”

Lance snorts “Like you'd anything about it queer boy.” he says with affection.

He cocks his head slightly to one side as he looks at the other dark haired man “You know I always think of a comic book sidekick when you call me that. Fag Man and Queer Boy or something.”

Lance who's just taken a swig from his own drink, splutters and chokes. “Jesus fuck!” he rubs at his nose having snorted some of his beer. “Don't say stuff like that without warning a guy.”

He grins “What? You started it. And really like I'd ever be someone's sidekick.”

Lance shakes his head “There's something seriously wrong with you Marlon.”

He grins even wider “So you keep telling me.”

Lance grins back as he rises to his feet. “Whatever. I've got a buxom brunette waiting for me.”

He snickers “Lance, man did you seriously just use the term buxom?” He eyes the other man suspiciously “Have you been reading Lyn's romance novels again?”

Lance glares at him and responds sharply “I've never read a romance novel in my life!”

He walks up to his friend, places his hands on the other's shoulders and stares earnestly into his eyes. “Lance. Old buddy. Old pal. The first step in getting help is admitting you have a problem.”

Lance just rolls his eyes.

~~~~~

/He's standing surrounded by a sea of faceless people. Shouts, screams and cheers deafen him.

Before him two figures dance around one another in a swirl of red, yellow and green.

Harsh clangs and scrapes of metal on metal.

Flash of red eyes and sibilant hissing, large glistening fangs in gaping maws./

He jerks awake, heart pounding. He doesn't know where the dream came from or why, like the one the night before, it affects him so much. He's had plenty of weird dreams but never had they, even when distorted and fragmented as these, felt so real.

He gets up and moves to the bathroom. The other bedroom door is shut but he tries to be quite and not wake Lance, and possibly Lyn if she stayed over. Once he gets there, he turns on the cold tap and splashes water over his face.

He looks into the mirror, and for a brief second it's someone else looking back.

He blinks.

He sees his own reflection.

Right, because who else would it be?

The lack of sleep is obviously catching up with him.

He returns to his room and collapses on the bed. His last stray thought before sleep reclaims is to wonder why the figure in red had looked like Andrew.

~~~~~

He's rudely awakened the next morning by Lance as the other man bounces on his bed.

“Yo Sleeping Beauty! Wake up! Were gonna be late.”

He groans and tries to pull the pillow over his head but his friend gets there first and throws it into a corner. He glares blearily him. “Does that make you Prince Charming, cause I knew you weren't as straight as you claimed, though there are easier ways to get a kiss.”

Lance snorts and bestows a sloppy kiss on his temple. “Up and at em, Bitch. You promised you'd watch me play today.”

He gives the other man a dirty look, “Aren't fag hags supposed to be women? And what game?”

Even as he says it he remembers.

Lance is playing a football match on campus this morning, and he'd agreed to go cheer him on. “Oh come on I was drunk when I said that, I mean come it's..” he glances at the clock “Feckin hell it's 6 o'clock, you bastard!”

Lance grins “Yeah it's an early game and I promised to help set up before hand.”

“What's to set up? It's a bunch of overgrown kids kicking a ball about.”

The other man gasps and holds a hand to his heart in mock horror “Sacrilege, you dare insult the beautiful game, you heathen!”

Then he spoils the effect by laughing “Come on, I thought loads of fit blokes showing off their legs would be right up your alley.”

He snickers “I'm not that kind of boy.” at his friends confused expression he clarifies “Alley's”

Lance looks at him in disbelief “You dirty minded sod.” before frowning and pointing a finger at him”And don't think you've distracted me. You are going. If I have to carry you there in your PJ's”

He can't help laughing “Kinky! Is Lyn going?”

“Yeah, but she'll meet up later.”

“Hey. How come she gets out of getting up at the asscrack of dawn?”

Lance looks at him pityingly “Hello! She's my girlfriend. I piss you off, you don't talk to me for a week. I piss her off, I don't get laid for a month.”

~~~~~

So here he is watching a game he doesn't like, played by people he mostly doesn't know, watching his friend and room mate kick a ball about. Lyn's stood next to him cheering on her beloved.

He needs to get better friends. He needs to get other friends period.

He feels a hand land on his shoulder and hears a familiar voice say “Hey Moron.”

Andrew.

He turns to face him. “It's Marlon.”

The blonde grins “That's what I said.”

He rolls his eyes “Still a twat then?” He frowns as he realizes “you're not playing?”

Andrew smirks “Observant aren't you.”

He raises an eyebrow “That you're still a twat or that you're not playing? Yes, because they're both so hard to spot. And it was a question.”

Drake laughs “I'm in another team, we'll play whoever wins here in the next match. I'm checking out the competition.”

“Isn't that cheating?” He says to avoid thinking about the weird twist in his gut whenever the blonde laughs.

“It's not like they don't watch when I play.” Is the answer.

He can't help laughing “What just you? Not the rest of the team?”

Andrew grins “Well I am the best.” It's spoken with mix of arrogance and smugness. It should be annoying but he can't help but feel drawn to him.

Andrew continues “Why don't you come? You can see me in action and then you'll see I'm telling the truth.”

He finds himself helplessly agreeing, and the blonde smacks him on the arm before wandering off.

Oh Crap!

He turns back to the game in front of him, but catches Lyn watching him from the corner of his eye. He faces her as she starts talking.

“Marlon? What are you doing?”

“What? Nothing.”

“You just told Andrew Drake you'd watch him play football. You hate football, you're only here because Lance is your friend.”

He sighs “I don't know. He asked. I agreed. There wasn't much thinking involved.”

Lyn looks as serious as he's ever seen her “He's straight.”

He blinks owlishly at her “Yeah.”

She sighs in return “Just be careful. I don't like seeing you hurt.” She puts her arm around his waist and hugs him. Resting her head on his shoulder as she continues to watch her boyfriend.

He knows she's right but, it doesn't stop the growing feeling inside him, it might already be too late.

~~~~~

TBC
Part 2

A.N. 3: A note on their names, Andrew means manly and Marlon means wild falcon, I couldn't resist. ;P

Fic: Hunting At Night (Merlin M/A - Uther's pov)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:56:14 GMT

Title: Hunting At Night
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (Uther's pov)
Rating: pg
Spoilers: minor references from eps 6-8
Summary: 'He isn't blind'
Word count: 989
Warnings: angst, character study.
Disclaimer: Don't own Merlin, Arthur or Uther.

Author's note: This was supposed to be a tongue in cheek look from Uther's pov regarding Arthur's continuing use of 'I was hunting' as an excuse.
Uther had other ideas.

As the last grey of twilight fades into true night, he stands at the window of his chambers.

A silent sentinel looking down at the courtyard below. Lit torches and braziers providing enough light to see several men-at-arms move towards the barracks, their shift at an end. A young servant girl hurrying on her way, a small bundle held tightly in her arms.

A slim dark haired man leading two horses from the stables.

His hands move to grip the window sill as his gaze focuses on him.

His son's manservant.

/”I was wondering if you'd care to join me for dinner this evening?”

“I'm sorry Father, but I'd planned on going hunting tonight. Perhaps tomorrow?”

“You've been doing that more often of late.”

“I enjoy hunting, and it's hardly new for me to do so when time allows.”

“Yes. But I don't remember in the past, it being quite so regular an occurrence. Especially at night.”/

As he watches, his son dressed in dark leather and suede, moves to join the other with the horses. They begin checking tack and gear with an ease. and synchrony of movement, around one another that speaks of much practice and experience.

He watches as his son lightly punches the other man on the arm. A gesture which is returned. The distance is too great for sound to carry, but as the blonde throws back his head, his memory provides the echo of his son's laughter.

Sharp pain runs up his fingers and he looks down at his white knuckled grip upon the sill. He forces himself to let go.

He looks up to see the two now mounted figures as they start to make their way to the castle's main entrance.

Their steeds walking closely beside each other. His son riding with one hand on the reins, as the other moves in emphasis of whatever topic he's sharing with his companion.

He continues to watch even after they've passed through the gates and are no longer in view. He will not see them again until they return, at the earliest, late the next morning.

/”Hunting at night holds it's own challenges, and I like to test myself”

“It's certainly more dangerous, you take far to many risks for someone in your position.”

“It's not like we're going to the other end of the country Father. I promise we'll never be more than a few hours ride from the castle. Close enough to the patrols should there be any problems.”

“We? Are you taking someone with you?”

“I'll be taking Merlin.”

“...Your servant...Just him?”

“Well someone has to carry everything, but other than that, I don't need anyone else.”/

He's not certain how long he stands there before the chill, leeching through the window, impels him to move to the chair by the fire. Reaching for the wine he left on the table.

He remembers when he was the one riding out, though it was battle campaigns and peacekeeping more often than hunting that led him from Camelot, and for a far greater time.

When his son was the one left waiting. Welcoming him home with laughter and smiles and childish embraces. Before he learned to control his behaviour, and mask his emotions. The boy becoming a man. The son a soldier and leader of men in his own right.

Before the burden of duty, and chains of etiquette, bound them to their current course.

He had done little to prevent it he knew, for that was the order of things. As it had been with his own father. So easy to grow cold and formal. To keep a safe distance.

It makes the contrasting ease his son has interacting with the boy all the more clear.

He isn't blind. He sees the bond between his son and his servant. Growing ever stronger as time passes. He knows it's already to late to break it without cost.

His son complains about his manservant to everyone who will listen, but if others were to do the same he would defend him just as clearly.

To their credit they have tried to act as they should in public. Usually only revealing themselves in times of great stress or peril. When concern leads to over familiar touches and words. When titles and stations are forgotten.

/“Didn't you say he was an idiot, that he scares the game away. Certainly you return as often empty handed as you don't. Perhaps you should spend time with someone more skilled.”

“Well yes. He can be, but how else is he to learn. And I already told you I prefer to hunt alone.”

“Yes. You did.”

“...Father...If you prefer I can always cancel...”

“No!..No, you've already made plans. I have no wish to disrupt them. Please. Enjoy your hunt, and good luck.”

“Thank you Father, I'm sure I will.”/

With the exception of the great hunts, the larger more dangerous beasts requiring many skilled people, it's true his son prefers to hunt on his own. Has indeed done so many times.

Now he is far more likely to take the servant with him. Not for his skill for truly his son brings back less, despite the increasing number of trips into the woodland.

Alone.

Except for a dark haired youth.

Who has been granted admittance into parts of his son's life that he himself hasn't been welcome for some time, if ever.

A loud crack and spark of flame from the fire bring him back to the present. He shouldn't brood on such matters he tells himself.
His son is a nobleman, and hunting is a common past time. The taking of a servant is merely common sense.

If there is affection there it is no more than his own friendship with the court physician.

If this last thought brings a bitter taste to his mouth he smothers it with a swallow of wine.

Fic: An Idiot's Tail (Merlin M/A)

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:22:49 GMT

Title: An Idiot's Tail
Author: Bruceybabe
Fandom: BBC's Merlin TV series
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: NC-17 (to be safe)
Spoilers: I'm assuming you know who the boys are.
Summary: The title says it all really
Word count: 1306
Warnings: A bit of crack mixed with smut
Disclaimer: Don't own either of the boys. (Except in my head).

Author's note: Typical, my first time writing either crack or smut in this fandom and I put them together.
The crack was inspired by lastling's wing fic! The smut is entirely my fault. (Yay! I finally broke my pg barrier)

Arthur couldn't stop staring.

He was entranced, hypnotised.

His eyes following every twitch and jerk of the sinuous movements before him.

A hand appeared into his line of sight breaking the connection.

“Arthur stop staring at my arse you ass.” Came the annoyed voice of his manservant.

His head snapped up to glare at Merlin. “I was not staring at your arse, I was observing your..” He couldn't believe he was going to say it.

“..tail.”

Because yes Merlin, had somehow managed to give himself a tail.

A long, thin cat-like tail, covered in soft looking black fur the exact same shade as it's owner's hair.

“And don't call me an ass, if anything that's you for doing that to yourself!” Arthur snapped at the other man.

“Well it's your fault I was trying to do the spell which caused it” Merlin snapped back.

He couldn't believe the young wizard's audacity. “My fault? How exactly is it my fault? I don't remember holding a sword to your throat.”

“Because I was trying to mend your shirt and Gwen wasn't available!” Merlin responded.

He blinked at his servant for a moment wondering if he'd missed part of the discussion. “What does my shirt have t...” Merlin interrupted before he could complete the question.

“I'm no seamstress alright. I was trying to give myself the knowledge I needed to repair it. Only I mixed up the translation. Instead of making me a tailor...”

“It made you a tail?” Arthur struggled to keep a straight face. Manfully trying to suppress the bubble of laughter fighting it's way up his throat at Merlin's forlorn face.

He failed.

He laughed so hard his stomach hurt and he had tears, actual tears running down his face. Every time he tried to stop the expression on Merlin's face would set him off again.

Eventually though the need to breathe finally forced him to regain control.

Merlin was standing with his arms folded across his chest and his tail was lashing from side to side.

He looked like a pissed off tom cat.

Arthur was slightly horrified to realize he thought it cute.

“So er..” he had to stop and clear his throat “Why didn't you just get me a new shirt? It's not like I can't afford it.”
The expression on Merlin went through an odd transition from annoyance to resignation to something like affection, before settling on embarrassment.

“It was your lucky shirt”

He spoke so quietly that Arthur had to strain to hear. “ My what?”

“Your lucky shirt. The one you always wear under your armour when fighting in tournaments.” Merlin told him.

Oh!

He wasn't sure how to react, caught between being mortified that Merlin had noticed and oddly touched for the same reason. So he did what he always did in such situations.

He ignored it.

“Yes well.” He waved a hand vaguely at his servants behind. “That doesn't explain why you didn't get rid of it before you came to my chambers.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. “Because you sent for me before I had the chance. I could hardly tell the messenger that 'No I can't come at the moment as I've been illegally doing magic and now I have an extra appendage I need to see to!'”

He couldn't really argue with that, though it did bring up another question “How did no one see it?”

Merlin face became an interesting shade of pink. “I sort of wrapped it around my waist under my shirt and hoped my coat would hide the rest.”

He sighed. “Really Merlin, how you haven't been caught yet is truly a wonder.”

The warlock's expression became indignant. “I'm not that bad.”

His agitation causing his tail to lash once again. Arthur reached out and grabbed it.

It was warm, and he couldn't help but marvel at the soft silky fur, as it curled around his wrist tickling the flesh.

At his servants look he defended himself “What? All that flitting about was distracting.”

He let go but the tail remained securely around his wrist. He looked to Merlin with a raised eyebrow. The other man seemed as surprised as he was.

“Er, sorry. I'm not used to controlling it yet , and I swear at times it has a mind of it's own.” Merlin contritely answered his unspoken question. The dark haired warlock then frowned in concentration as he stared at it.

Nothing happened.

The only movement the occasional twitch at the tip.

Curious, he found himself helpless to prevent his other hand coming up to stroke along the silken surface where it lay against his skin.

Merlin made an odd choking sound, and he quickly looked up. His first thought that he'd hurt him somehow but, seeing the new flush and half lidded eyes on the other's face, he realized it wasn't pain he was causing.

Oh!!!

With a wicked grin he gently tugged on the appendage, forcing Merlin to move closer, until they were pressed against one another. The other man swallowed visibly and the tail almost painfully tightened it's hold.

“What do you say we find out just what it's capable of?” he asked.

Without waiting for a reply he pulled Merlin towards the bed. Telling the other man as they walked.

“Though getting clothes off with that still attached to my hand might be a problem.”

He laughed as the tail quickly unwound and dropped from it's place.

“I think you have more control over it then you think you do.” he told the stunned wizard, before hauling him close and kissing him.

Mouths opened and their tongues duelled, hands clumsily reaching to tear and pull at inconvenient clothes. There was one pained yelp when he misjudged and trod on the tail, and then finally he had Merlin naked on his bed.

He lay next to him and reached out to run one hand over his lovers chest and side. Before sliding round to the small of his back to the base of the furry appendage, down its length, drawing it through his hand, stroking the fur as he went.

Merlin let out a moan arching his back, pushing his body to rub along Arthur's own. He lent down to kiss him again, hand coming up to cup the other's cheek. He feels fur stroke along his leg, as Merlin teeth gently nips at his lower lip.

Their legs entwine as they move together. Hands move to caress along each other's backs. Hard cocks sliding against each other, sweat and pre-cum easing the way. Breathes come faster and deeper. Merlin's tail tickling a trail up and down his back, buttocks and thighs.

The pace quickens as they rut upon one another. Grips tighten to the point of painful.

Until at last, Merlin comes apart with a gasp of Arthur's name, and he follows not far behind.

He falls back to lie facing the ceiling, pulling Merlin to lie over him. The dark head tucked under his chin. As their breathing settles he notices the tail has wrapped around his upper thigh, anchoring him to the man in his arms.

His body feels heavy and sated and he can feel sleep tugging at him when he hears Merlin's drowsy question. “What did you need me for?”

It's a struggle to comprehend the other's meaning “Hmm?”

“Before when you sent for me, what did you want?”

He wracks his brain for a moment. “You know, I really can't remember.”

He cutting remark he expects doesn't come. Craning his neck to look at the warlock's face he realizes he's fallen asleep.

With a mental snort he allows himself to follow.

His last conscious thought is that he hopes Merlin remembers where he went wrong with the spell, it wouldn't do for him to do it again.

Well, not by accident.

Author's note 2: I seem to have developed an obsession with Merlin messing up his magic.
So be prepared for further fics with Incompetent!Merlin and the weird, wacky and wonderful hi-jinks that ensue.

Not so Quick Review of Merlin Ep 8

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:29:54 GMT

Contains major spoilers for Merlin Ep 1.08

Cor this was a dramatic ep wasn't it.

Transcribed mostly from the notes I made during the ep.

We open with a man holding hands with a boy as they walk through the market/ town.
The we have what looks like a drug deal going down.

"Do you have the stuff?" shifty eyes"
"Yes I'm sorry, but I've shopped you to the narc's" guilty look (not real dialogue)

The guards come running so the the man and boy do the same (run that is) straight into the heavily fortified castle (of course).

Where they are attacked by FlyingNinja! guard. The man uses magic on him and the other guards to allow the boys escape.

Cue Titles.

Echoy boy's voice, confused Merlin until he realizes it's telepathy.
The boy asks for help and Merlin does (naturally).
The go charging through the castle before barging into Morgana's room
Merlin tells her he's keeping the boy from the guards and luckily she covers for them.
It becomes apparent the boy is hurt (on no!).

In the next scene Arthur is actually defending the druids (thats who the man and boy are) to his father. (go Arthur!)

Arthur: "Showing mercy can sometimes be a sign of strength". (I love you Arthur!!)

Uther however has none of it and executes the druid man. To the horror if our characters (except Uther obviously).
The axe falls and all the mirrors in Morgana's room crack (Whoa! that's a lot of bad luck).

Then we have Merlin trying to be subtle in his questioning of Gaius about druids. (He fails).
Gaius tells him it's best not to get involved. Merlin agrees. (Liar, liar, pants on fire!)

Merlin: "I'm always careful, you know me".
Gaius: Yes, unfortunately I do" (Hehehe!)

We have a few touching moment with Merlin and Morgana as the latter tends to the boy.
Morgana: "What if magic isn't something you choose, but it chooses you". (LOVE that line)

Morgana and Uther have dinner together (could they sit further apart? director trying to be clever with the foreshadowing?).
Arthur walks in sparking tension between him and pops. As the old man is annoyed at the boys continuing lack of being caught.

We cut to the boy who now has a fever (oh noos!).
There's a knock on the door. It's Arthur, he has to search the room.
Morgana tries to distract him from noticing the boy and Merlin hidden behind a curtain.
Merlin notices the boys boots are still in plain sight (oops) so he uses magic to make them walk on there own. (These boots are made for walking, so that's just... oh! er sorry).

(I also love the fact the backround conversation is Arthur complaining he can't find his manservant *snicker*)

There's a brilliant double bluff here from Morgana, she tells Arthur where the boy is and he thinks shes having him on.
Arthur: "Why don't you go back to brushing your hair all day or whatever it is you do." ( Oh Arthur! Your off your game, that's so lame)

Merlin tries to treat the boy himself leading Gaius to think he's interested in medicine which leads to a looong anatomy lecture apparently. (though I have to wonder if Gauis was suspicious here).

Merlin tends the boy who call him Emrys (Whoa!), and that the druids know all about him (double whoa!).

So of course Merlin goes to the cryptic wonder the Slash Dragon.

"Grrr arrghh!" as SD jumps out of shadows.
"Whoa! you scared the bejezus out of me!" (not real dialogue)

The SD tells him he shouldn't help the boy and that there's a lot about Merlin that Merlin doesn't know (yeah helpful that).

Cut to boy who's cross-eyed with fever. Gwen worries over Morgana.
When Merlin arrives Morgana guilt trips him into asking Gaius for help with the boy.
Who in turn guilt trips Gaius.
Who i think takes pity on the boy because of merlin piss poor job.

Gaius: "Well it's obvious. You're no physician". (snicker)

Cut to Morgana and Merlin fighting over who helps the boy escape the castle. There's a secret passage apparently.
Arthur has the key (who else?).

Cut to Merlin sering Arthur soup (awww!). Who then uses magic to nick his key.
Only Arthur hears the jangle it makes. Which leads to the funniest scene in the whole episode.

Where Arthur tries to track the sound he's hearing and Merlin keeps moving the keyring behind him.
Then Merlin pulls the classic "over there!" pointy finger over Arthur shoulder, before lobbing the keyring into the soup for some reason.
Luckily Arthur leaves in a strop rather than eating the rest of his soup, so Merlin can fish them out in peace.

Cut to Morgana getting the key off Merlin and she and the boy start the escape. Strangely Morgana's dressed as Little Red Riding Hood (because a bright red cloak is so useful when sneaking around the castle at night) Luckily all the guards are clomping about rather loudly so they manage to avoid getting caught until a servant spots them and tattles.

During the search Arthur finds his key missing, and orders the sounding of the alarm.
(The bells, the bells, Esmar...er sorry)
Cue more searching (rather loudly), Morgana and the the boy make a break for it, and get caught. (oh nooooss!!)
Morgana pleads for Arthur to let the boy go, I think he would have except he's surrounded by daddies guards so he can't.

Angsty scene between Morgana and Uther. Uther grabs her by the throat. (I think he's a bit annoyed). Poor Arthur tries to fade into the stonework.

Arthur tries to negotiate with his father (he's come a long way since ep1 hasn't he). As usual hard headed Uther ignores everything he has to say.

Morgana is waiting in his chambers and tries to guilt trip him into helping (there a lot of that in this ep isn't there).

Cut to Merlin looking rather uncomfortable at executioner sharpening his axe. (well who wouldn't)

Merlin walks in on Morgana and Arthur planning, Morgana asks for him to be included, Arthur doesn't argue (good boy).
This quickly leads to Arthur asking Merlin to help him.

Conflicted merlin consults the Great Mystic Slash Dragon, who's a bit stroppy at being ignored and again tells Merlin to let the boy die.

This leads to Merlin asking Gaius for advice without actually telling him anything.

Merlin: "I'm going to do nothing" (Ouch! and was I the only one to see shades of Gaius from ep6 here?)

We have a scene where Gwen asks Morgana about her attachment to the boy. (writers trying to tie in the legends perhaps?)

Then we're off to the dinner with Uther and Morgana again. As she plays contrition to the hilt and Uther falls for it.

We cut to Arthur tear gassing the prison guards (resourceful isn't he?). He breaks the boy out. ("Come with me if you want to liv...oh sorry )

Arthur reaches the grate where they're supposed to meet merlin...only he's not there!
Arthur: "He'll be here" (oh! double ouch!)

(For whom the bells toll.. oh wait sorry) The alarm sounds. Arthur prepares to fight his own men. (WOW!)

Telepathic guilt trip (yes another one) from the the boy to Merlin who's curled up miserably on his bed.

It works and Merlin off to the rescue.

"Where the bleeding hell have you been?"
"Sorry got stuck in traffic." (not real dialogue).

Arthur tells Merlin to tell his father that he's gone on a hunting trip (yeah cause you haven't used that one before, if he really hunted that often there'd be no game left. Arthur one man extinction level event).

Arthur and the boy ride off into the night.

Cut to Angry and suspicious (and ever so slight scary) Uther as he finds out about the boys escape.

Cut to Arthur returning the boy to his people,

Arthur: "Wait I don't even know your name?"

(It's Anakin Skywal..oh wait sorry).

Boy: "My name is Mordred" (Dun dun durnn...dramatic music)

Fad out on Arthur's rather attractive profile.

The end.

Next weeks episode: OMG! ZombieKnight! , Magic sword, and wait what's wrong with the Slash Dragon?!?

Yay! What every Spn fangirl wants to hear!

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:47:54 GMT

SUPERNATURAL - Do you have what it takes to be Hunter ? ? ? ?

WOW ! Hunting is Definately for You ! !

WOW, you really know what your talking about when it comes to Demons, Spirits, Montsers and everything else that goes bump in the night.... Im sure Sam and Dean would be happy fo you to tag along ! ! ! :) :) :)

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