issy5209<b>Title: Belts and Beltane
<b>Rating: Gen
<b>Pairing/: None
<b>Character/s: Merlin
<b>Summary: Eavesdropping on Merlin having a conversation with a cat and a horse, while mucking out the stable
<b>Warnings: None
<b>Word Count:</b>
<b>Prompt: Leather
<b>Author's Notes: Set prior to events of 4.12. A bit of silliness. And unbetaed, so any mistakes are mine.
It was the morning of Beltane Eve. All the servants were busy in the castle preparing the the evenings feast. All, that is, except one.
If you were to walk past the stables that particular morning, you would have heard some muttering and grumbling, interspersed with a horse’s soft whinney and a cats meow. You might be surprised to find that a conversation was taking place. One that concerned the King.
It started soon after breakfast when Merlin appeared in the stables and proceeded to start mucking them out. Merlin didn’t mind the stables so much, the smell of horses and the leather tack was soothing, and it got him away from a certain bad-tempered King. nbsp; A handsome dark stallion raised his head from his morning oats and said “Again? What did you do this time.” “Nothing”Merlin replied, stabbing at the hay with a fork. The horse snorted. “Really Merlin”said the black cat, perching nearby on a wall. “This is the second time this week, we all know he’s in a mood, but this is getting ridiculous”.
"I did nothing”spluttered Merlin indignantly, “Nothing at all, I just took him his breakfast as normal and on time, he took one look at it, got mad and sent me here.
“Aah” said the horse “And what did this breakfast consist off?”
“I made him porridge this morning” Merlin told the animals. “He looked at it , got angry and threw it away”.
“And...”prompted the cat. “Well, umm, I may have said something about a light breakfast and lunch due to the feast tonight”Merlin said sheepishly.
“Oh no”, said the horse, looking startled, “is that tonight? What is cook preparing for him?”
Merlin gave the horse a meaningful look “You don’t want to know; he’s thinking of going on a hunt tomorrow”
“Merlin, you must tell me”the horse all but implored,
Merlin sighed “Herb incrusted Gamon’, he narrowed his eyes “A really big one”
“Oh no”the horse all but groaned. “You have to do something and soon! He’s starting to get heavy”
“He’s missing Gwen dreadfully”said the cat smugly “and is seeking comfort in food; they must be reunited soon.”
“”I’m well aware of that Mr Know-It-All” Merlin snapped at the cat. He hadn’t quite forgiven the animal for turning up late after Elyan had been possessed, claiming he had been way-layed by a pack of mice. “And I’m trying, but it’s hard when I keep getting threatened with banishment and such. I’ld leave, I really would, if I could, but that Agravaine is up to something.”
“What are you going to do?” The horse inquired. “Well, to start with I’m going to have to get his leather belt and put another hole in it without him noticing.”Merlin sighed and went back to work.