Fuzz Therapy
Author: 
gilli_ann
Title: Fuzz Therapy
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Morris
Pairing: (Future) Merlin/Arthur
Summary: Arthur rediscovers the benefits of having a trusted furry companion
Word Count: 600
Prompt: 'Famous'
Author's Notes: Canon AU which adds to the shapeshifting stories. The fic title comes courtesy of Calvin&Hobbes.
Fuzz Therapy
Arthur did not get a new dog after Cavall died.
When out hunting, he made do with the hounds from the royal kennels.
Cavall had been special. The best of dogs, who followed Arthur everywhere and into any danger. A loyal friend who slept next to his bed and greeted him every morning with brown eyes and a happily wagging tail. When Arthur felt lonely or overwhelmed by his duties and the king's strict demands, Cavall provided wordless comfort. The pair of them had become famous in the villages and lower city - the handsome young Pendragon prince and his big shaggy dog, always together.
Just how much Arthur missed Cavall, he kept to himself. King Uther wouldn't approve of sentimentality or sorrow because of a mere animal. But Arthur's nightstand drawer still held Cavall's collar and a little tuft of his fur.
Now there was a new and completely different animal in Arthur's life. One that he'd neither chosen nor accepted. It had luminous yellow eyes and glossy black fur with white markings. It was silent as a ghost, and seemingly came and went at will.
The blasted cat kept invading the princely domain.
How it entered Arthur's chambers was a mystery. Morris insisted that he kept the door locked at all times, although Arthur suspected that his manservant couldn't be half as diligent as he claimed. How else would the creature get in? One of the windows usually stood ajar, true, but it was high up on the palace wall. Last time Arthur checked, cats couldn't fly.
One day when he once more discovered the uninvited furry guest, Arthur snapped. He yelled at Morris in irritation, called him useless and careless and an imbecile, and threw a metal cup in his general direction. The cat jumped to the top of the highest cupboard and hissed at Arthur from that lofty perch, distracting him from further mistreatment of his manservant.
Arthur felt strangely ashamed, and stopped haranguing Morris after that. Having an obviously disapproving witness helped him keep his temper in check.
The cat would keep out of Arthur's reach and sit around, studying him with golden inscrutable eyes. Arthur had briefly had to wonder whether sorcery was involved in some way, but decided against it. What would be the point of a magical cat?
As the days went by, he got used to his feline visitor, and didn't much mind its presence. The castle had mice and rats, after all. They needed good mousers.
One evening he even talked to it. "Who's an annoying creature? You are, you silly cat. Do you know that?"
The cat regarded him through slitted eyes, its tail lashing.
Arthur couldn't help grinning. "Oh, you didn't like that. Truth hurts, hmmm? So what do you expect me to think of your eternally standoffish self?"
The cat blinked.
"I'm going to bed. Feel free to use one of my chairs or pillows if you want to sleep too," Arthur said, stretching his aching back. It'd been a long and active day. He was exhausted.
There was a slight thump. The cat had jumped onto the bed. Arthur slowly extended his hand. For the first time, the animal let him get close enough to pet it.
"Mmmm. That's nice, isn't it?" Arthur asked and yawned, sensing tension draining from his body as he stroked the soft fur. "We're making progress, cat. If you stay the night, I'll have Morris fetch you a bowl of cream in the morning."
He soon fell asleep to the calming sound of contented purring.
But when he awoke, the cat was gone.
gilli_annTitle: Fuzz Therapy
Rating: G
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Morris
Pairing: (Future) Merlin/Arthur
Summary: Arthur rediscovers the benefits of having a trusted furry companion
Word Count: 600
Prompt: 'Famous'
Author's Notes: Canon AU which adds to the shapeshifting stories. The fic title comes courtesy of Calvin&Hobbes.
Fuzz Therapy
Arthur did not get a new dog after Cavall died.
When out hunting, he made do with the hounds from the royal kennels.
Cavall had been special. The best of dogs, who followed Arthur everywhere and into any danger. A loyal friend who slept next to his bed and greeted him every morning with brown eyes and a happily wagging tail. When Arthur felt lonely or overwhelmed by his duties and the king's strict demands, Cavall provided wordless comfort. The pair of them had become famous in the villages and lower city - the handsome young Pendragon prince and his big shaggy dog, always together.
Just how much Arthur missed Cavall, he kept to himself. King Uther wouldn't approve of sentimentality or sorrow because of a mere animal. But Arthur's nightstand drawer still held Cavall's collar and a little tuft of his fur.
Now there was a new and completely different animal in Arthur's life. One that he'd neither chosen nor accepted. It had luminous yellow eyes and glossy black fur with white markings. It was silent as a ghost, and seemingly came and went at will.
The blasted cat kept invading the princely domain.
How it entered Arthur's chambers was a mystery. Morris insisted that he kept the door locked at all times, although Arthur suspected that his manservant couldn't be half as diligent as he claimed. How else would the creature get in? One of the windows usually stood ajar, true, but it was high up on the palace wall. Last time Arthur checked, cats couldn't fly.
One day when he once more discovered the uninvited furry guest, Arthur snapped. He yelled at Morris in irritation, called him useless and careless and an imbecile, and threw a metal cup in his general direction. The cat jumped to the top of the highest cupboard and hissed at Arthur from that lofty perch, distracting him from further mistreatment of his manservant.
Arthur felt strangely ashamed, and stopped haranguing Morris after that. Having an obviously disapproving witness helped him keep his temper in check.
The cat would keep out of Arthur's reach and sit around, studying him with golden inscrutable eyes. Arthur had briefly had to wonder whether sorcery was involved in some way, but decided against it. What would be the point of a magical cat?
As the days went by, he got used to his feline visitor, and didn't much mind its presence. The castle had mice and rats, after all. They needed good mousers.
One evening he even talked to it. "Who's an annoying creature? You are, you silly cat. Do you know that?"
The cat regarded him through slitted eyes, its tail lashing.
Arthur couldn't help grinning. "Oh, you didn't like that. Truth hurts, hmmm? So what do you expect me to think of your eternally standoffish self?"
The cat blinked.
"I'm going to bed. Feel free to use one of my chairs or pillows if you want to sleep too," Arthur said, stretching his aching back. It'd been a long and active day. He was exhausted.
There was a slight thump. The cat had jumped onto the bed. Arthur slowly extended his hand. For the first time, the animal let him get close enough to pet it.
"Mmmm. That's nice, isn't it?" Arthur asked and yawned, sensing tension draining from his body as he stroked the soft fur. "We're making progress, cat. If you stay the night, I'll have Morris fetch you a bowl of cream in the morning."
He soon fell asleep to the calming sound of contented purring.
But when he awoke, the cat was gone.