#- and Merlin going to Gwen as she's packing her things after her banishment -

[fishoutofcamelot]

Gwen and Merlin sing together sometimes while doing their chores

Bro i have this headcanon too!

They started doing chores together back in season 1, when Gwen was still showing Merlin the ropes of being a servant. He got the hang of it quickly because he's a fast learner, but they liked working together so they kept at it.

However. Gwen was a very shy person in season 1, and very easily flustered. I know a lot of people think she had lots of friends, but idk i kinda headcanon that she mostly stuck to Morgana, too shy to put herself out there. She had to work up a lot of courage to go up to meet Merlin like she did, probably with help from Morgana. So Gwen didn't start singing right off the bat.

But Merlin most definitely started singing. He's very fond of noise, and doesn't like it being quiet much. Not to mention he got the singing habit from his mom, as they used to sing together. If he and Gwen are not talking, then he's humming. And she finds it funny/endearing to hear him hum, but she doesn't call him out on it because she's worried he'll stop if she does.

After her father's death, listening to Merlin hum is a great comfort to her.

One day, she recognizes the song he's humming and can't help pointing it out. Then he actually starts singing it out loud, and without thinking she does too - she gets embarrassed when she realizes what she did, but also loved the feeling. So she hesitantly starts humming along with him while they do their chores.

Eventually, as they become closer friends and as Merlin's presence helps pull Gwen out of her shell, they evolve from humming to singing. Arthur hears them once, but doesn't make fun of them.

And then...then Merlin goes missing. And for a few days she's left to do her chores alone. There is no one to sing or hum with, and it's...heartbreaking. She doesn't want to accept that he's gone, gone like both her parents. But then Arthur says he's going after Merlin, and while she can't help being elated that maybe he'll be brought home at last, she's also terrified that Arthur will get hurt. The bandits might not have left the forest, and unlike Merlin he doesn't always come back unscathed. It's usually Merlin's job to keep Arthur safe, somehow, and without Merlin by his side she's horrified that she'll lose another friend so soon after losing her closest one.

Merlin comes back, though. And Gwen sings loudly and shamelessly when he does, not caring who might be listening in, just wanting to enjoy Merlin's presence. She knows what it's like to lose him, to do chores without him and feel the strict silent isolation of it. She never wants to feel that again.

And then she is banished. He wants to go out and help her pack her things, help her pull her cart to the border, but she won't hear of it. Associating with an exiled woman like that would put a bad mark on him. And plus, a part of her feels she doesn't deserve any help.

Being banished is painful and lonely, and in those darkest moments it isn't thoughts of Arthur or even Elyan that comfort her. It's Merlin. The one man in all of Camelot who believes in her innocence even when she herself doesn't. The one man who doesn't care.

When she's sad and lonely, she sings through her tears.

Then she becomes queen, and at first she's just relieved to be back in Camelot. Of course, her relief becomes frustration when she realizes just how hard being a queen is. But whenever she's at the verge of a panic attack, Merlin is there to comfort her with a little song. Usually those ones are off the top of his head, random lines that don't even rhyme but are usually exalting the glory of the queen.

But worlds of queens and servants are vastly apart. Merlin tries to make time for her, but he always has to follow after Arthur or do chores for Arthur. And Gwen has her hands full with queenly duties, so she can't always make time for Merlin either. He sees her stand to the side at court meetings, and he often serves her and Arthur dinner when they eat together, but it's rare for them to interact much beyond that.

She tries to get used to doing her queen duties without that familiar noise nattering at her side, and she urges to sing while walking down the corridor - but it's unbecoming of a queen, so she keeps quiet.

It's so lonely, being the queen. Sometimes she wishes she'd never taken Arthur's hand and remained a servant. She always feels bad when she wishes that, but nowadays Merlin isn't around to help her when she's upset. Just as she probably isn't around to comfort him when he's upset, either.

When Mordred arrives, Merlin hardens up and pulls away from just about everyone. Even Arthur and Gwaine. Long ago, Gwen might have been the only person able to coax an answer out of him, but now they've grown too distant. But it doesn't surprise her that Mordred ends up betraying them. She wonders if Merlin knew all along.

Well, at least there's one good thing to come of all that Mordred business: Arthur's death certainly brings her and Merlin back together.

Thanks for the ask! <3

#can you tell how much i adore gwen and merlins friendship #can you also tell how much i ship arwenlin? those kiddos are my ot3 #merlin bbc #merlin #bbc merlin #ask #fish post