#immortal!merlin

[pippin-katz]

Immortal Merlin’s Deaths

So we know Merlin is immortal, but we’ve also seen him die, at least momentarily. In the Poisoned Chalice, his heart does stop. There’s no canon explanation for how his immortality works so we can interpret it in a lot of ways. I personally like the idea that he can die and come back, rather than not die at all.

So, here’s a list of the times I think he most likely could have died:

Death 1

Season 1, Episode 4 “The Poisoned Chalice”

Like I said in the little intro, his heart momentarily stops as a result of the poison. Gwen and Gaius are certain he’s dead for a moment before he “recovers”.

Death 2

Season 1, Episode 7 “The Gates of Avalon”

The Sidhe staff literally obliterates everyone else in the show besides Merlin. He’s out for a while before Gaius finds him considering the Sidhe and Arthur were already at the lake when he wakes up. Gaius says it’s only thanks to his “powers” that he survived. Even when he comes too, he’s completely disoriented and stumbling. 

Death 3

Season 1, Episode 13 “Le Morte d’Arthur”

This is one I talked about in my post about the fight between Nimueh and Merlin. He’s hit center chest by a fireball from a high priestess. Anyone else would’ve been killed, and we see him go pretty still before he opens his eyes again. When he does, there’s a shift in his physicality, which I mentioned could be part of his magic “restarting”.

Death 4

Season 3, Episode 1 “The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part 1”

This one is pretty obvious, considering how much the serket venom fucks him up. I wouldn’t be surprised if he died on the way to that cave and Kilgharrah gave him the enchantment to help revive him.

Death 5

Season 4, Episode 1 “The Darkest Hour: Part 1”

This was originally an honorable mention, but a lovely person ( @eruthiawenluin ) in the comments made me change my mind. I had initially included this, then removed it because we see him responsive and awake after the Dorocha hits him, but they pointed out that he could’ve died when the Dorocha touches him. The moments instantly after he’s hit, he could’ve died, and then slowly started to revive because of how powerful and deadly the attack is; it would be quick enough for the knights not to notice while they’re moving him.

Death 6

Season 5, Episode 8 “The Hollow Queen”

This boy has an affinity for getting poisoned/stung. The poison that Morgan gives him in this episode does a lot of damage, plus she basically pushed him off a small cliff. Even with Daegal’s help, he convulses really violently before going very still.

Death 7

Season 5, Episode 11 “The Kindness of Strangers”

This is another one where I think he could’ve died during Kilgharrah’s rescue. A crossbow bolt to the abdomen is definitely a fatal wound to a normal person. He struggles during this episode, even with Finna’s help. When he calls for Kilgharrah, his voice is basically a whisper because of how much it strains him.

Death 8

Season 5, Episode 12 “Diamond of the Day: Part 1″

This could be the first instance of Merlin being aware of his death. He’s dying during his conversation with Balinor. He genuinely thinks there’s no point in trying anymore. Balinor talks him out of it and tells him to walk “toward the light”. Then he wakes up in the Crystal Cave completely fine.

Honorable Mentions

Here’s some moments that he got very injured or really close to dying in that I wasn’t sure if I should include. The ones on the list are pretty easy to argue, and I could make a case for these too, but they’re not as strong.

Nonetheless, here you go:

Mace Hit

His wound from the mace has Arthur complimenting and being sincere with him, which is a damn good indicator of how bad the hit was. I could argue that he could’ve died between the rock fall and Morgana’s hut, but it felt like a stretch to say Morgana wouldn’t notice if he actually died. His wound is also still there when Morgana wakes him up, which usually he comes back mostly if not entirely healed.

Morgana’s Sneak Attack

Yeah, he’s still alive when they bring him back to camp, but the fact that Gaius had to use healing magic to wake him up says how bad Morgana hurt him. I don’t think he ever actually stops breathing, so I didn’t include it.

Falling Off a Cliff

You’re telling me, that he fell off that, and lived?! That’s a pretty high fall and some pretty rough rocks. We don’t see him directly after, though I’ll point out that he’s miraculously uninjured during their campfire talk. A fall like that should break a LOT of bones at least. Still, can’t confirm that he couldn’t survive.

Second Hit from Sidhe Staff

He gets hit with the Sidhe staff again when that guy uses the mage stone to reflect it. He’s knocked out for what seems like a lot less time though, and maybe having experienced it before his magic adapted against it.

General Being Thrown Into Things

They really should’ve come up with a clear indicator between when a character gets thrown against something and dies, versus when they get thrown against something and knocked out. The number of people that Merlin, Morgana, and Morgause kill by throwing them into a wall or a rock is a LOT, but Merlin has the same thing happen to him all the time, but he’s fine. This is more of a “he should’ve died” thing than “he could’ve died”.

Alright that’s all I could come up with, but let me know if you think I missed something and I’ll update it.

#someone wrap him in bubble wrap #boy is always getting hurt #merlin #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin thoughts #merlin emrys #immortal!merlin #the once and future fandom

[sneakyboymerlin]

Merlin: Immortality? Eternal Youth?

Gaius: Yes.

Merlin: I am going to make myself look old anyway.

Gaius:

Merlin: On purpose.

Gaius: Why?

Merlin: To pursue the illusion of mortality. To grow and age alongside my companions. To maintain a humble life, overlooked by the masses.

Gaius: Okay.

Gwaine: [breaks in without knocking] You’re not ready? I thought we were going in for the early bird special! The 50% off deal is for seniors only!

#incorrect merlin quotes #merlin emrys #gaius the court physician #sir gwaine #immortal!merlin #merlin and gaius #merlin and gwaine #merwaine #mergwaine #bbc merlin

[dragonlordofmiddleearth]

See this is the vibe I think modern!Merlin should have. Just the most chaotic old man energy

#merlin #bbc merlin #immortal!merlin #modern!merlin #the sword in the stone

[snarkyship]

when Arthur is the reasonable one

#merthur #merlin #my doodles #arthur pendragon #robbed #merlin doing some magical-related dumbassery #and arthur being like #“i don't care if you are immortal” #“you CAN'T throw yourself into a snake pit like that”

[regulusrules]

So merlin is trending, huh? Here are 5 fics you should read about those immortal idiots

1. and it will set you free series by @andiwriteordie. Arguably my favourite fix-it from so, so long. The way the author introspected about their entire lifetime was unbelievably powerful. And the way they gave Arthur agency to have had a say in the whole "destiny" debacle from the very beginning.. oh my. So creative and so incredibly loving. Honestly, all of this author's works are works of art and it's a crime against the fandom how very underrated they are.

2. Smile and Pretend by Fulgance. Yes fine I know I can't keep on recommending this author's Beauty in the Ashes of Our Lives every time I get the chance. But really, this one was just as amazing. My soft heart flutters for any and all Arthur-Finds-Out fics. Especially those where he lets Merlin come to him with it instead. aaaah. This fic is definitely one of the top tiers of the category.

3. To you I swear my solemn oaths by @regulusrules. Again, yes I know I should stop flouncing around My heart is readily yours every time I get the chance. It's my hyperfixation on fics that hyperfixate over Arthur, forgive me. TYISMSO was my first ever fic in the fandom, and I always look back at it with pride of how much faith I tried to breathe between them. They were in love, your honour. God I love those two idiots so much.

4. Fathom Me Out by @supercalvin. I don't know about you, but to me this is a requirement for our fandom. If you haven't read this fic, you haven't read anything. It is absolute brilliance— in writing, in the plot, in their characterization.. absolutely everything.

5. Still I Surface in Morning Light by @queerofthedagger. Scar reveal, but make it so good that you never stop thinking about it. I can hands-down say it's one of the best scar reveal fics I've read in this fandom. It's so intricately written and their conversations are otherworldly. The despair and love you see here.. a masterpiece.

#merlin #yes they will trend till the end of time #immortal idiots #bbc merlin #merlin fic recs #merthur #arthur pendragon #ao3 #merlin bbc #king arthur #merlin fic #ao3 fanfic #LJ recs #regulusrules recs

[captainfairygodmother]

#bbc merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #the fandom is Merlin because like him we are immortal

[flight-of-fantasy]

People when they see BBC Merlin and Merthur are still performing well on lists of TV shows and popular ships in 2022

#bbcm #merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #arthur #arthur pendragon #king arthur #arthuriana #immortal fandom #merlin fanfic #merlin fanfiction

[gaiussleechtank]

Arthur’s love language is gift giving, always has been. He realises this when he returns to a modern Albion full of all these new terms and words and definitions. Back before he died, he didn’t have the time to properly make things for his loved ones as he was the King and he was incredibly serious about his duties.

Yet when he returns to a modern world, he finds himself crown-less and with a lot of spare time. Cue discovering YouTube and google, how-to-tutorials, craft books and step by step guides.

Back in Camelot, Merlin was a nightmare to get things for, nothing flashy or expensive or Arthur would have his ear nagged off about wasting money. But now? Paper and paint seem to be limitless to Arthur and he’s just learnt what origami is.

Merlin comes across him one morning to find the returned king fast asleep and surrounded by hundreds of painted paper dragons. It’s the best gift the immortal has ever received.

#immortal merlin #arthur returns #merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #headcanon #love language #gift giving

[olli-is-a-fish]

Merlin: *pulls curtain back while Arthur is in the shower*

Merlin: Are we - stop screaming, it’s just me - are we out of cereal?

#immortal merlin thats lost all sense of social norma is so special to me #bbc merlin #merlin #arthur #merthur #incorrect merlin quotes #incorrect quotes #incorrect merthur quotes #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys

[emrys-merlin]

Death of a fandom is such an inevitable thing.....MERLIN'S FANDOM EXCLUDED

#merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merthur #arthur pendragon #morgana pendragon #we are immortal

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Headcanon that Merlin saved a lot of stuff from Camelot for when Arthur returned.

Including Arthur’s favourite wine.

But, with everything else that he was dealing with, he overlooked the fact that wine ages.

So when Arthur gets back and Merlin gets all his things out of storage, he and Arthur get way too drunk on one glass of wine each.

Like, unreasonably extremely pissed kind of drunk.

They both swear off alcohol forever after that

#bbc merlin #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #merthur #headcanon #shitpost #this is based on that 45 year old bottle of wine my grandma’s best friend found #i’m bad at tagging #reincarnated arthur pendragon #immortal merlin

[sneakyboymerlin]

“average death rate in Camelot is 5,000 people per year" factoid actualy just statistical error. average death rate in Camelot is 1,000 people per year. Merlin Emrys, who lives in the physician’s quarters and dies 10,000 times per year, is an outlier adn should not have been counted

#tumblr user smolshork made me do it #merlin emrys #immortal!merlin #bbc merlin #merlin memes #spiders georg

[rainbowsmagicandshit]

Merlin has Gold Eyes: Prompt/Idea

Magic turns eyes gold. Merlin is magic. Therefore his should be gold.

They start off blue, but the longer he’s in Camelot, the more his magic grows, the more in tune with the magic inside him he is, they slowly start to turn gold even when not casting spells.

It starts slowly, almost unnoticeable at first. Just little flecks of gold in his irises that could just be a trick of the light. But then there’s more and more. The blue is turning to gold and staying that way. There’s nothing he can do to stop it.

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin emrys #emrys #Merlin is magic #immortal merlin #merlin fanfiction prompt #merlin fanfic prompt #merlin prompt #fanfic prompt #this could either go really crack or super angsty #do with this what you will

[bloby-876]

I REALLY LIKE the idea of Arthur, Gwen, and the knights coming back out of the lake without a Merlin there to meet them.

And they're like super confused (and soaking wet) and either a random pedestrian takes pity on them or they have to figure shit out on their own but either way they get accustomed to modern society eventually and one of them gets curious enough to look through history books.

At first, they're just learning about the past because it's interesting (and they want to find something about Merlin) and someone points out a particular painting that looks like the knights of the round table???

so they start paying a bit more attention.

And even though there aren't many photos for the older times, There's this interesting name that keeps popping up.. Emrys, I think it's called?

#merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #bbc arthur #immortal merlin #fic ideas #knights of the round table #merlin prompt #bbc gwen #merthur

[silverdrws]

MI6 has found evidence pointing to an immortal being known as Emrys, they have complied pictures and people encountered over the past hundred years.

Many speculate that this being is “Merlin” from the supposed legend of King Arthur.

Latest sighting, Near the lake of Avalon

#merlin #merlin au #merlin fanart #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #random little au i thought of while i procrastinate my comic #also the chance of the govt not noticing merlin and his immortalness is like really low #silverdrws

[theroundbartable]

Arthur: you can't go out there, you'll die!

Merlin: no, I won't! I don't believe in death, so I can't die!

Arthur: Merlin.... Oh, goddamn it, Leon, explain to Merlin why this is wrong!

Leon: Sire?

Arthur: you can't seriously think he's right!

Leon: ... Well, I mean, I don't believe in death either and I haven't died yet, so his logic is kinda sound

Arthur: and how old are you, Leon?

Leon: 430-ish, I think?

*Gwaine walking past*

Gwaine: humans live for 400 years and already think they are Immortal *rolls eyes*

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin bbc #arthur #concept #am i making everyone immortal? #yes #yes i am #Gwaine #leon #immortality