I think it would be insanely funny if after Arthur’s death everyone returns back in time to the place they were the day Merlin arrived in Camelot. But like, everyone thinks they are the only ones who has returned. We see it all from Merlin’s pov, who’s traumatised and wondering why the fuck Arthur is so much sweeter to him this time around and keeps saying ‘thank you’. He wonders why Lancelot shows up earlier, why all of a sudden Gwaine is there three years too early, saying he got hurt in a tavern bawl and needs a physician. He wonders why Leon keeps pretending like he didn’t just accidentally see Merlin do magic. Why Gwen keeps giving him these knowing looks. And why Morgana doesn’t seem as afraid as she used to when she was figuring out that she had magic. Everyone is trying their best to change history for the better, thinking they are alone with this duty... and then one day when uther is dead and they are sitting around the round table, merlin steps forward and is like: ‘I need to confess that I have magic, but also that I have returned from the future.’ And everyone just whips around and is like ‘YOU TOO??!’ And then they realise that they’ve all returned and wasted their time thinking they were alone.
Magical orb that puts a crime count on everyone's head (while Arthur is king), counting the crimes based on the established laws. (Crime count in brackets)
Gwaine (127): this is an outrage
Arthur(3): I am as distraught as you
Gwaine (127): no, no. You don't get to say that! I've worked my whole life on this crime count and I've got less than THEM?
Merlin (847): *crosses arms* protecting Arthur comes with a cost. What I don't get.... Is THIS!!!!
I love that one scene in the cup of life episode where Arthur and Gwaine are peacocking about who’s the better fighter and Merlin is just like: “shut up, you’re both pretty. But hey, maybe don’t try and impress slavers, dumbasses! Let’s go.”
And it fucking works?!
Merlin was absolutely in charge of all the knights lives 100% of the time, even if he let them think otherwise for their pride occasionally.
the absolute whirlwind of things happening here is crazy. mr prince and mr does-whatever were just flirting by talking about killing each other. magic man then interrupts and rips them a new one, because, really, he's the one who got them out of there in the first place. and you just KNOW they're both having very interesting feelings about it.
Thinking of a kinda gen Merlin scenario where Arthur finds out Merlin likes men and at first it's kinda uncomfortable with Merlin being like "I don't look at you like that or anything" and Arthur is awkwardly trying to process this but then after a moment he's like. Well why not. You got something to complain about???? Am I, a handsome prince and fierce warrior, not desirable enough for you???? And he's genuinely outraged for not fucking reason and Merlin is like God fucking dammit of course he would be insufferable about this too. So naturally he goes "well I've seen better" and Arthur is like "do tell" (disbelievingly and exasperatedly -because obviously his servant has rubbish taste, and quite frankly Merlin is in no position to have such high standards) and Merlin has this thing where his mouth moves faster than his brain whenever Arthur needs to be put in his place so he goes, immediately and without hesitation, "Gwaine, for one" and Gwaine, who is present along with the rest of the knights when this happens, looks oddly pleased at that and is literally preening for the rest of the week (Merlin lets him have this)
I haven't thought about how this would end but probably with Gwaine and Arthur fighting for Merlin's attention (yes even if Arthur is straight and not in love with him)(Gwaine would elope with Merlin in a second)