Chapter Text
(I've made some changes to orginal setting;
1.Freya killed a similar beast that has attacked her and she was exciled after transforming into bastet in middle of druid camp,
so no sorcererss cursing her in name of revenge for her son
2.Cursed people can sometimes recognise someone or something while being a bastet,
kinda like in orginal but only the person most important to them
3.Killing a bastet passes curse to killer
4.Transformation starts when moon comes out and moonlight shines upon cursed,
and back-to-human one starts when first ray of sunshine touches skin of bastet
5.First transformation happens the same night that you kill bastet, when you go to sleep
6.Freya and merlin were great friends, and despite the fact that merlin knew her for about three days,
he befriended her, so he wasn't exactly happy she was killed, not really romantic stuff
(although i guess that's so nice canon ship even if it has no lore and they knew each other for so little time)
7.this fiction can be read as platonic but have in mind that it was written as romantic one
(romantic stuff comes after ch 2, like it slowly starts in ch 3)!!!IMPORTANT!!!
8.Merlin did not take freya to the lake like in the orginal version but he instead stayed with arthur,
freya died in her bastet form so he couldn't do that :(
+ i created a whole orgin story of curse that i will bring later on in the story
I think those are all changes, so without further ado, the fiction itself;)
Arthur and knights, castle guards and bounty hunter Halig, cornered druid girl in the corner between some tavern and bakery.She was dressed in torn clothes, she had no shoes and looked at men surrounding her with pleading eyes filled with tears.
-Please, let me go- she asked, in quiet voice.
But none of guards or knights moved, only Halig moved closer to her,with a dagger in his hand.He was ready to kill, Uther made it clear to him that now, after the beast had killed over four people, including guards, it did not matter if the girl will live or not.Dragging a corpse to king and getting payment was all Halig wanted to achieve, but he had to admit, killing that 'creature of magic' would give him satisfaction on personal level, she has not only run away but also when bounty hunter wanted to get out some informations out of servant, merlin he was told off by the prince, a total humiliation.
But when she stepped out shadows and moonlight caressed her skin, someting shifted suddenly.She started screaming in great pain, as she fell onto cold paving stones.Her eyes changed, from calm and kind brown to deadly gold.Her skin ripped apart to reveal wings, her spined bended, her bones shifted and changed their places.It was unberable to watch, and Arthur could swear it was probably the most excruciating thing that can happen to a person (little did he knew then, he would suffer the same fate).
Without any hesitation winged panther killed Halig, and when it did Arthur could hear some of less brave run away from lower-town.But he was not cowardly or weak, he was not scared of mere beast.He had all he needed- his sword.And with few hits of it, the creature stopped attacking knights, instead choosing to defend itself.It understood that it's no longer the big-scary-bully, but a prey for humankind.It was not the same druid girl Arthur saw few moments before, it was a wild animal.
-Please! Don't!- Arthur heard someone screaming behind him, voice so familiar yet tone of it so uncharacteristic.
That last fact worried Arthur, he immidiately turned around.
-What's wrong?- he asked. -Did it hurt you?- (that seemed like the only rational reason to interupt)
-No! She won't hurt anyone if you'll let me talk to her!- merlin shouted, trying to make his way to bastet.
Arthur had not thought one thing through properly, speaking with Merlin meant letting his vulnerable back to face the anger of big cat.Merlin was wrong, the moment he finished, Freya already dug her claws in the flesh of prince's upper arm.Arthur hissed in pain.He turned to beast and took it's life with final stroke to heart, piercing it which meant killing the creature instantly without giving it a chance to escape.
-No! Freya!- merlin screamed, his words pouring with sorrow, as the few tears stroke down his face.
-You killed her!- Merlin angrily stated.
-I did- confirmed the prince -But 'she' had killed atleast four, no five people!- he tried to explain it to servant.
-Halig was a bandit with no morality!- merlin dissagred, disgusted by idea of holding anyone with magic or not, captive in cage, like an animal.
-Maybe, but it has killed before.And it would kill again- arthur reasoned. -IT was dangerous.
-There was no 'it'.- Merlin differed -HER name was Freya!-
-I'm sorry if she was your friend- Arthur tried to apologise -But, Merlin your tears will not change anything.No woman, or man is worth them-
-She's dead!- Merlin reapeated -So, if not to cry, am i supposed to dance and laugh? am i, your highness?- he asked mockingly.
Arthur slowly left, letting Merlin to process his grief properly.His servant was right, he did kill her.But it was act of defense, he was protecting Camelot from her.And unfortunately MErlin could not protect her from Camelot.She has wounded him pretty badly, the mark of four claws to remind him of this event forever.
-You should not blame Arthur- advised Gaius. -It was not his fault- he added.
-It also wasn't freya's fault!- merlin replied bitterly.
-I'm not saying that it was.It was noone's fault, sometimes unfair things happen- he stated.
-Like what? that my father left my mother alone? -(he's dadless :( )
-Hmm, i don't know.But magic ban would be a good example- suggested Gaius.
-How does it apply to anything?- merlin asked.
-Was it Y'gravaine's fault that she died? - Gaius asked, painfull memories still so raw and live in his head.
-No, of course not-
-Was it Uther's fault that he never learned to cope with loss?-
-kind of- merlin dissagred.
-Is it anyone's fault that they have magic or not?-
-You don't have a choice-
-Exactly- Gaius agreed.-Arthur did not have any other choice than to kill freya and...-
-And, what?-
-Now it's time for your conclusion!- gaius said.
-You want me to forgive Arthur?-
-Bingo! take some bandaids with you.Some knight, leon, I think told me he got injured.'Nothing that worrying but it would be better if someone looked at it' he said.Other knight with him added 'That's gonna left a scar'- (wow, so in-character...)
So Merlin took bandaids alongside few other medical supplies, and then went to Arthur's chambers.Before he walked into (without knocking per usual), he thought about giving Arthur some privacy.Maybe prince wanted to spend sometime alone (that's what prisons and castles are for afterall).
-Arthur! Can i come in?- Merlin asked, while knocking.
-Yes! please...- answered Arthur, too politely for Merlin's standards.
When Merlin entered room Arthur was laying in his bed.His wound has been treated, and bandaged.
-I see you have been already taken care of- Merlin said to injured prince.
-Yes, Guinevere, and her maid-friend helped me- Arthur explained. -Could you take a look at it?-
-Is the bandage too tight?- Merlin asked.
-No it just hurts- prince replied.
-It will hurt a bit.I can give you some pain-killers though- merlin suggested.
-Yes, i'd like some of those- arthur confirmed.
-My! what has gotten into you?-
-What do you mean?- asked Arthur, avoiding eye contact.
-Someone knocked some manners into you!- merlin teased -that's what happened.-
-Ughh, my head is killing me- Arthur complained.
-Nothing that fresh air and good medicine can't overcome- Merlin said, while opening windows, letting air, and moonlight into chambers.
Behind him, a loud 'thud' made him notice that arthur had fallen of from his bed.
-Arthur, are you alright?- Merlin asked.
The only sound that answered him was groan of pain.
-Do you need help?- he tried again.
A low growl was Arthur's reply.
A pair of huge, raven-like wings sprung to ceiling.
-Arthur?- Merlin whispered.He slowly moved to see what was on the other side of bed.
The pair of big blue eyes, meet his.But those eyes had nothing human in them, they were slit-shaped like those of a cat.But at the same time, they were so familiar and unmistakable.
-Arthur is that you?- merlin asked.
The panther, no the bastet moved closer to servant, it's tail swishing from side to side.Merlin was beginning to worry, he has seen stablehands playing with cats.And it always looked similar; first, cat needed to see something that would catch it attention... a ball of yarn for cat-play-pretend turned into the longest of snakes...second it needed to move slightly, to be more appealing, and the last... most important point, cat would be in a mood to play along...
But bastet was no ordinary cat, at it's prey was a large category of beings...from something small like mouse or a squirell, to something slightly bigger and more up for the tastes of elegant beast, human flesh and blood.
Merlin wasn't sure if freya recalled anything that happened after she transformed into bastet, he wasn't sure if it was safe to use magic around Arthur...Merlin made his decision, if the bastet-prince will strike, or try to attack him in any other way he will use protection spell that generates a shield-barier around the Arthur so he won't run away.
But Arthur slowly came closer to Merlin, and brushed against Merlin's leg purring...? (NO big cats don't purr! don't get me started! lion for example can roar but can't purr, a cheetah smaller-cat example can make a huggge range of diffrent noises but sucks at roaring, or acctual-small-cat in latin FELIS CATUS cannot roar but purrs like old refrigerator)
Merlin pulled his heart forward and started to pet Arthur, who closed his eyes (that means YOUR CAT TRUSTS YOU, because if they don't that means they don't feel safe around you, and they need to stay alert and they can't just close their little precious eyes, duh, you could attack them when they're most vulnerable) and looked contanted, happy.
Merlin slowly chanted a spell that would put bastet to sleep till' morning and hoped that human-Arthur won't remember that he did so.