Merlin as Arthur's familiar/Arthur's shapeshifter falcon AU
@dsabian , @theplatanitosqueal , @stressed-but-chill , @gregre369 , @chaosofbelievers , @thelordofabsolutelynothing , @another-tblr-fangirl , @aceauthorcatqueen , @smileytrinity , @tiny-and-witchy , @wako-weirdo , @a-very-tired-ravenclaw , @schiwalkers-ineffability , @natsu2501malo , @dearfuturelyn , @thedollopheadofcamelot
In Morgana's chambers. Morgana and Gwen with the chicks that are now 3 weeks old.
Morgana: (putting the chicks their neckerchiefs) purple for Guardian, blue for Rain, green for Blizzard, orange for Brave and yellow for Wary.
Chicks: (chirp happily on the table) 😊😄😊😄😊
Gwen: Shouldn't we wait until they fully grow up? What if they later choke on them?
Morgana: Oh, that won't happen, the neckerchiefs are- (stops herself) Ahm... I'll change them before that happens.
Arthur: (knocks from outside)
Morgana: Come in!
Arthur: (enters) Where are my babies? 🤗 (goes to them)
Chicks: (chirp, moving their wings and jumping, happy to see their father) 😃😃😃😃😃
Arthur: There you are. You look regal! (extends his arms to the table)
Chicks: (move their wings like flying, but really they just jump to Arthur's arms)
Morgana: Awww, even Wary jumped. Fatherly life has really changed you.
Gwen: (also in aww at Arthur's behaviour) If you are like this with your merlins, I can't imagine how would you be with your actual children, my lord. Your future wife will be more than happy.
Arthur: ...
Morgana: ...
Gwen: (worried) Did I say something wrong?
Morgana: No! Nothing at all. Gwen could you bring me some flowers, please? The ones I have are already withering
Gwen: Eh... sure. My lady (bows), your highness (bows and leaves).
Morgana: (To Arthur) I'm so sorry.
Arthur: (smiles, reassuring) Don't be. Guinevere was just being nice. It's not her fault she doesn't know Merlin and I are together.
Morgana: Where is him by the way?
Arthur: Hunting. (Laughs a little) I literally have 50 hunters at my disposal, but he still prefers to hunt the chicks' food himself.
Morgana: (Laughs too) He can be almost as prideful as you sometimes (turns to the door and gets sad)
Arthur: (concerned) What is it?
Morgana: Nothing, it's just... I hate hiding things from Gwen. Before I knew I was a sorceress, we told each other everything and now... (sighs) I know I have you and Merlin and that’s a relief itself, but... most of the time I feel like I can't be myself.
Arthur: Merlin told me something similar. That he hates having to hide all the time. He didn't say it like that, but I know that's what he meant. (Sighs) I'm sorry.
Morgana: It's not your fault.
Arthur: But still, I'm sorry. You shouldn't live in fear. Nobody should.
Chicks: (chirp in Arthur’s arms)
Morgana: (shakes her head) No more sad talking. In fact, I wanted to tell some wonderful news!
Arthur: Really?
Morgana: (very excited) I finally got your birthday present!
Arthur: ...
Arthur: Morgana, my birthday was a week ago.
Morgana: Yeah, but then the disastrous feast happened and you were grounded and I didn't have it quite right at the moment to be honest, but-
Arthur: Have WHAT right? 🤨
Morgana: Don't freak out, but it's a spell that-
Arthur: (almost yells) A SPELL?! You wanted to do magic on my birthday?! 😨
Morgana: No infront of everybody, of course, just to you! Or really ON you.
Arthur: (yells) YOU WANTED TO PUT A SPELL ON ME ON MY BIRTHDAY?! 😱 What were you thinking?! 😡
Morgana: Stop yelling! 😠 It's a complex spell, but is pretty harmless even if it goes wrong and I think you will find it quite useful.
Arthur: I don't care! You know I trust you with my life, Morgana, and I'm open to magic, I really am. But I don't need-
Morgana: Even to understand what your chicks are saying? 😏
Arthur: ... what? 😧
Morgana: There's a spell that can help you understand other languages. It used to work only with human languages, but Merlin and I perfected it and now it can be use to understand other animals too.
Arthur: I... (his eyes water with emotion and looks at his chicks) I'll be able to understand what they say?
Morgana: Merlin says their vocabulary is pretty basic still, but he thinks you'd like to hear it.
Arthur: (nods still emotional) I'd love to, I'd really love to. (Composes himself) And it would be nice to hear what Merlin says behind my back in his bird form too. 🙄
Morgana: (giggles) Sure. So, wanna try?
Arthur: (worried) But Gwen-
Morgana: She always takes her time when she looks for flowers and she always knocks before entering. We'll be fine.
Arthur: (sighs) Alright. What do I do?
Morgana: Well, first, you should sit. You might get dizzy for a bit.
Arthur: Okay (sits on the bed carefully so he doesn't drop his merlins) Now what?
Morgona: Now just stay still and close your eyes.
Arthur: (does it)
Chicks: (copy Arthur and do it too) 😌😌😌😌😌
Morgana: (puts her hands on Arthur's head and chants, her eyes turning gold) Þurh minum gewealde ond þinum mægen! Grið gehiere mid þisse feorhberend!
Arthur: (Gets a headache) Ow!
Morgana: (concerned) Arthur! Are you alright?
Guardian: Papa! 😨
Rain: Papa hurt? 🥺
Brave: Who hurt? 😠
Blizzard: Big female hurt! 😡
Wary: Nooo! Papa! 😭
Arthur: (in shock) They... they talked! 😧 (Laughs in joy) I can hear them! Morgana, it worked! I can understand them! 😃 (brings his chicks closer)
Morgana: (just as excited) Really? What are they saying?
Arthur: (eyes watering with emotion again) They... They call me papa. I know they do. Merlin told me they did, but hearing it is...
Morgana: (Smiles, moved) I know. I'm glad you can finally hear it.
Blizzard: (throws himself at Morgana while chirping loudly) You hurt Papa. I hurt you! 😡
Morgana: (catches Blizzard with her hands that are wearing leather gloves) Wow! Careful! you can't fly yet.
Blizzard: (chirps and pecks her hands furiously) Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt! 😡
Morgana: (can't feel a thing due to the gloves. Amused, giggles) What is he saying?
Arthur: (Laughs softly) He's mad because he thinks you hurt me. Blizzard, stop it. Aunt Morgana didn't hurt me.
Rain: Papa no hurt? 🥺
Arthur: No, Rain. Morgana just gave me the most wonderful gift. (To Morgana) Thank you. (Thinks for a moment) Wait, can they understand me?
Merlin: (from the window in his bird form) Kinda. (Lands on the floor and takes his human form) We talk english and falcon around them constantly, so you could say they're bilingual.
Arthur: (surprised) Merlin! How long have you been there?
Rain, Wary, Brave and Guardian: Mama! 😄😄😄😄 (jump from Arthur's arms to the bed to the floor and go to Merlin)
Arthur: (amused, to Merlin) Mama? 😏
Merlin: Shut up 😒 (sits on the floor and his chicks jump to his lap) Oh, I love your neckerchiefs! Your aunt Morgana did a great job! 😊
Morgana: Oh! Do they call me auntie?
Merlin: No, but just because there's no word for that in falcon. They call you Big Female though.
Morgana: Cause I'm big?
Merlin: And because you were the only female they knew for a while besides Rain. Now they are kind of aware you hold some autority around the castle, so they think you are the leader of females or something like that. So really they mean 'great female' when they call you that.
Morgana: Oh! (smiles) I'll take it as a compliment then.
Blizzard: (Still in Morgana's hands and keeps pecking at her) Hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt 😡
Merlin: (scolds) Blizzard, stop pecking your aunt or no food for you 😠.
Blizzard: (stops and lowers his head in shame, chirping) Sorry, Mama 🥺.
Merlin: Now come. Food is ready. (Moves the dead bird he just hunted on the window with magic until it is in his hand)
Blizzard: Food! 😃 (jumps from Morgana's hands to the floor)
Guardian, Rain, Brave and Wary: (jumping in place) Food, food, food! 😃😃😃😃
Merlin: (throws the dead bird in front of him)
Guardian, Brave, Wary and Blizzard: (go to the dead bird and start tearing out the meat theirselfs)
Rain: (gets off Merlin's lap, but doesn't go to the dead bird)
Merlin: Rain go eat.
Rain: (shakes her head)
Arthur: (concerned, aproaches) Why don't you eat, Rain?
Rain: (chirps) No tear meat. No eat.
Arthur: Oh, you want me to cut it for you? Okay, let me-
Merlin: (sternly) No! she has to tear it herlself. Rain, eat now 😠.
Rain: (shakes her head)
Arthur: There's really no problem, I can-
Merlin: (raises his voice) NO! 😠 (To Rain, more sternly) Rain eat or no food for you!
Rain: (sturbornly shakes her head again)
Merlin: (furiously stands up and goes to Arthur) This is your fault! 😡
Arthur: Wha...Why? 😧
Merlin: You spoiled them too much! You think other chicks refused to eat if their parents don't bring their favourite bird? Or if you don't give them the part of the bird they want? NO! They eat what they are given! And they eat by theirselfs when they turn 3 weeks, but Rain doesn't want to eat by herself and it's because of you!
Arthur: (now angry too) What's the problem in them having taste?! 😡 If I'm perfectly capable of giving them what they want-
Merlin: Nature is not going to give them always what they want! 😡 Nature won't give Rain her bird in tiny little pieces and on a silver plate!
Chicks: 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Morgana: Uhm... guys? 😥
Arthur: I know how nature is! But she won't live in nature tomorrow. She's a chick still. You're being too hard on her!
Merlin: I'm not! If she doesn't tear her own meat now, how will she learn how to hunt? How will she survive?
Arthur: You're talking like this will decide her future forever. It's just one meal!
Chicks: 😢😢😢😢😢
Morgana: Guys? 😰
Arthur: Maybe she's a slowlearner, didn't you think of that?
Merlin: If her brothers already can, then she can! She's just being a brat just like-
Arthur: Just like what? 😠
Merlin: Just like you! 😠
Chicks: (chirp crying) 😭😭😭😭😭
Morgana: (yells) Guys! 😡
Rain: No fight! No fight! 😭 (Pecks the dead bird) See? I eat, I eat! No fight, please! 🥺😭
Guardian: I feed sister in nature 🥺. No fight! 😭
Brave: I fight nature! Mama and Papa no fight! 😭
Blizzard: Nature make Mama and Papa fight! I hate nature! 😭
Wary: What is a nature? 😭
Arthur: (almost in panic) No! Babies, we are not fighting! (Kneels close to them to comfort them)
Merlin: (does the same, reassuring them) We are not fighting, I- (takes bird form so they can understand him better and flies to them) Mama and Papa are not fighting, we were just talking. I'm sorry, don't cry.
Gwen: (from the door, drops the vase with the flowers, mouth open in shock) 😨
Morgana: (turns to the sound, completely pale) Gwen?
Gwen: I... I'm sorry. I knocked, but nobody heard... and there was shouting and I was worried.
Arthur: (very serious, stands up infront of his family protectively) You saw.
Gwen: (too quickly) No! I mean, yes, but I won't tell anybody, I swear!
Morgana: There's no need for you to be afraid. Merlin has magic, but he's good.
Gwen: And is a man.
Morgana: Yeah, that too.
Gwen: And a bird.
Morgana: Sometimes.
Gwen: And has magic.
Morgana: I think we already established that.
Rain: (scared) Mama, what happen? 🥺
Guardian: Papa okay? 🥺 why Papa angry?
Merlin: Papa is not angry, just worried.
Guardian: Why? We in danger? 😧
Brave: A predator! 😨
Wary: Nooo! No predator! 😭
Blizzard: Where? 😠 I fight predator.
Merlin: (comforts them) No, there is no danger and there is no predator. Nothing will happen to you (thinking) I'm the one in trouble here. (chirps to the chicks, trying not to cry) I... I love you a lot, my chicks.
Arthur: Don't be dramatic, Merlin. Nothing will happen to you either. (aproaches Gwen, warnly) Guinevere if you dare-
Guard 1: (Enters sudenly) Sire! What happened?
Guard 2: (Enters too) We heard noises.
Blizzard: Predators! Attack! 😡 (lets a war chirp and goes to attack the guards)
Brave: Predators die! 😡 (goes to attack too)
Guardian: I protect brothers! 😡 (follows them)
Rain: (hides behind Merlin)😲
Wary: (hides behind Rain)🥺
Guards: (just look down how 3 chicks peck their boots furiously in silence) ...
Arthur: (holding back a laugh) Well, as you can see, my merlins can be sort of loud.
Guard 1: But, sire, we heard fighting and something breaking-
Gwen: That was me. Sorry, I was... clumsy and droped a vase. (points the broken vase on the floor)
Guard 2: I see. (turns to Arthur) We apologize for the intromission, sire.
Arthur: Don't. You were just doing your job. You're dismissed.
Guards: (bow) Sire. (close the door and leave)
Arthur: (lets a sigh of relief. To Gwen) Thank you.
Morgana: Yes, thank you so much, Gwen.
Gwen: (smiles) I told you I wouldn't tell anyone, didn't I? And it's not like my word would mean anything against the one of the prince and the king's ward anyway.
Guardian: (jumping happily) Predators leave! 😃
Brave: (jumpinp happily) We win! 😄
Blizzard: Come back! Fight! Die! 😡 (goes to the door)
Arthur: (picks Blizzard up before he gets to the door) Enough fight for you. (crouches and extends his free arm to Guardian and Brave) You up, there's glass on the floor.
Brave and Guardian: (jump to Arthur's arm)😊😊
Gwen: Uh... Can they... I mean, are they like-
Arthur: (laughs softly as he stands up again) No, just Merlin. They're common falcons. But Merlin and I adopted them as our own.
Gwen: As your own? (Looks at Merlin still on the floor with Rain and Wary) You mean you two are...
Arthur: Yep.
Gwen: Oh...
Morgana: (holds Gwen by the shoulders, gently) I know is a lot to take in. I have my own secrets as well. But everything in it's time. For now the only thing you must know is that magic is not what we were tought it was. Magic is not evil.
Gwen: Well I know Merlin isn't. He's been here for around a year and has done no harm. He even saved Arthur’s life once.
Merlin: (chirps) Much more than once, really. He'll be dead if it weren't for me.
Rain: Mama fight? 😧
Wary: Mama strong! 😊
Arthur: True. He protected me since then. I didn't know he was a man at the beginning either. Not even Merlin knew. It's a long story.
Gwen: Well, I would like to hear it, if you let me.
Morgana: (more than happy) Of course! We'll tell you everything.
Arthur: Or Merlin can tell you himself! Right, Merlin?
Merlin: (takes human form and goes to Gwen) Hi, I'm Merlin! It's nice to finally present myself properly 😊 (extends a hand)
Gwen: ...
Morgana: Gwen?
Gwen: (faints)
Morgana: (catches her before she hits the floor) Gwen! 😨
Arthur: Uh... Maybe it was too soon. 😅
Merlin: You think? 😒
Chicks: Mama kill predator! 😃😄😃😄😃
Okay, I know up close they don't look so graceful. But look!
They are still so small! 🥺🤧
Also, what do you think about Merlin and Arthur’s parental methods?