Merlin as Arthur's familiar/Arthur's shapeshifter falcon AU
LINK TO THE OTHER PARTS: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 (You're here) , PART 6
After the third day Merlin doesn't come back from his visit to Claws' partner, Arthur gets worried and send search parties to look for him. Merlin said he'd be back soon. He wouldn't just leave and abandon him. Something wasn't right. Something bad must have happened. The prince is now in the middle of the Woods shouting his bird's name while other knights keep searching their surroundings.
Arthur: Merlin!
Knight 1: Sire, it's getting late. Maybe we should-
Arthur: No! We're not leaving until we find him!
Knight 2: (approaches running) Sire! I think I found something.
They follow the knight and they find the corpse of a dead merlin and a torn red neckerchief in the grass beside it. There's other corpse of a bigger falcon, obviously not a merlin. The crime scene is clear to Arthur. Both birds died fighting each other.
Arthur:...
Knight 2: I'm really sorry for...uh... your loss, your highness. I know he was very dear to you.
Knight 1: Yeah, he was a.. a really good hunter and... died with dignity! Like a warrior! He was-
Arthur: That's not Merlin.
Knight 2: (surprised) But, sire, the neckerchief is there. It must be him!
Knight 1: And that’s clearly a merlin.
Arthur: Yes, that's the neckerchief and that's a merlin, but it's not MY Merlin. Because THAT merlin is a female.
Arthur can't really blame his knights for not noticing. Even merlins confused Merlin for a female most of the time. But he knew the patern of his feathers well enough. Arthur doesn't know how the neckerchief ended there, but if it is there Merlin can't be far. Soon enough, he hears a familiar chirp.
Merlin: (chirps loudly from a tree)
Arthur: Merlin! (Turns to the sound and, as soon as he lays his eyes on Merlin, he's filled with joy and relief) Thank the gods! What are you doing there? Come down!
Merlin: (shakes his head and chirps in sorrow)
Arthur: (concerned) You can't? Why? Are you hurt?
Knight 1: (whispers to other knight) he's talking to the bird?
Knight 2: Get use to it (looks more carefully the branch Merlin is in) Sire! There's something under the bird.
Knight 1: Wait! Is that a... nest?
Arthur: (in realization, looks at Merlin and then looks at the dead merlin at his feet) Brownie?
Later in Arthur's chambers. Arthur and Morgana comfort a very distraught Merlin who is in his human form holding a nest with 5 eggs as close and as carefully as he can. The three are sitting on the bed.
Merlin: (sad but with no tears left to share) I was too late. I couldn’t save her. And the eggs were alone and needed incubation so I couldn’t leave either. I'm sorry I worried you.
Morgana: (with a hand on his shoulder) We completely understand, Merlin. Don't worry.
Arthur: (with an arm wrap around Merlin) I wish I had come sooner. You shouldn't have grieved Brownie alone. (Confused) Why couldn't you just use magic to transport yourself and the eggs here if you didn't want to leave them? You've done that before.
Merlin: (looks at the nest) Eggs are so fragile, I didn't want to risk them breaking in the way. Besides... (cuts himself and blushes a little)
Arthur: What?
Merlin: (smiles at Arthur) I knew you would come for me.
Arthur: (looks at him lovinly) wait (sudden realization) you didn't leave the nest at all? How did you eat?
Merlin: ...
Arthur: (sighs) I'll bring you some food. Want something in particular?
Merlin: Larks, please 🥺
Arthur: (doubts for a second but then kisses him quickly on the cheek before leaving)
Merlin:... 😳😊☺️
Morgana: Are you going to put those little ones somewhere?
Merlin: (looks around) I think Arthur's window is a good place. Do you think he'll mind?
Morgana: I'll make sure he won’t.
Later. Arthur and Morgana at Claws' grave now also Brownie's grave.
Arthur: At least now they are together.
Morgana: Well done, Arthur. Now you left 5 merlin chicks orphan.
Arthur: (ofended) Hey! Brownie's death wasn't my fault!
Morgana: But if you hadn't killed Claws, he would've been able to protect Brownie and his eggs!
Arthur: Oh, come on! That falcon was more than twice his size. He wouldn't have had a chance.
Morgana: Well, now we'll never know. (Sighs) How did Uther react when you told him you brought a nest with 5 merlin eggs with you?
Arthur:...
Morgana: You haven't told him?! 😨
Arthur: You know how much I had to fight for him to let me keep Merlin! You think he's going to let me keep 5 more?
Morgana: So what are you planning to do?
Arthur: Well, merlin eggs hatch in days time. We can hide them until then. Once they are out of their shell I can leave them in the wood-
Morgana: Oh, no. You're not abandoning those merlins! You killed their parents so now you are going to take responsibility!
Arthur: But-
Morgana: Responsability I said! Now if you excuse me, I'm going to make five more neckerchiefs (she leaves)
Arthur: ...
Arthur: What just happened? 😧
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