#it would also be nice to see arthur take care of sick!merlin too

[manyprofoundbonds]

#merthuredit #merlinedit #bbcmerlinedit #mr-merlinedit #merthur #bbc merlin #*edits #otp: thank you #i just really love the fact that merlin was #CRADDLING ARTHUR'S HEAD #gosh give me more merlin taking care of sick!arthur please #and him craddling arthur's head #and caressing his face #and just being really tender??? #and soft and domestic??? #it would also be nice to see arthur take care of sick!merlin too #all worried

[merlinfic]

❄️ Fic Lists for the Holidays! ❄️

Hi y’all! Happy holidays! We hope you all have a fantastic (and safe!) day today!

As a note: obviously, these lists are (and will be) in no way comprehensive of all the fics that the Merlin fandom has to offer, but we hope you enjoy! Be sure to keep a look out for one more list next week!

The fifth theme is of course: Christmas/Yule! Have a great holiday everyone! :D

And This Is How I See You by Emjayelle

Summary: For months now they've been casually meeting in the lobby of their building, and Merlin's been harbouring a (totally not creepy and perfectly normal and not at all pathetic) crush on his neighbour, Arthur. As luck would have it, they both suddenly find themselves on their own for Christmas, and well… They say there's nothing like a bit of holiday cheer to bring people together. (And pancakes. And toys. And no matter what Arthur says peppermint tea is a legitimate thing. Also cake.)

As Long As We Have We by lady_ragnell

Summary: Arthur thinks he's going to have to spend Christmas alone--at least until he somehow acquires a whole house full of strays.

Blue Christmas by SlantedKnitting

Summary: Arthur's alone on Christmas for the first time in his life and he almost can't cope until Merlin steps in to quietly take Arthur home to Ealdor for the holiday.

Fried Chicken For Christmas by BlueSimplicity

Summary: When Vivian makes a comment to their friends, insinuating that Arthur is not the most passionate of people, hurt and embarrassed, Arthur decides to make her a homemade Christmas feast to prove that he can be romantic. After he almost sets the building on fire three times, help comes to him in the form of his neighbour from 514, a tall lanky fellow named Merlin, with two of the worst behaved dogs Arthur has ever encountered, who offers to teach him how to cook.

Except, as their lessons progress, Arthur slowly comes to realise that Vivian may not be the one he really wants to cook for. But only if he has the courage to let go of all of his fears, and reach for the one thing he truly wants for Christmas.

WARNINGS – This story contains an exploded microwave, opaque blob, a blorp, and mentions of inappropriate sexual acts performed on turkeys. But also, a little bit of holiday cheer and a whole lot of love.

gold rush by acciomerlin

Summary: "Did you bring me flowers, Merlin?"

"Uh, no?”

Arthur gestured to a spot on the table behind him.

“What’s that, then?”

Merlin slowly twisted around to see what he was pointing at, dread curling in his gut. Primly placed on the tabletop was a bouquet of red roses.

“Er, someone else must have left them there. I have no idea where they came from,” Merlin lied awkwardly.

As if on cue, a rose fell out of his jacket pocket and Merlin's stomach dropped a thousand feet beneath the ground.

OR

It's Yuletide, the newly appointed Court Sorcerer of Camelot is pining and his magic decides to do something about it.

In for keeps by Anonymous

Summary: Merlin and Prince Arthur have been in a relationship for a while, unbeknownst to others. Arthur is ready to take the next step and make them official, but Merlin isn’t yet. The restrictions on his life and the mere idea of the lack of privacy seem too much for him to bear.

Separated over Christmas, overworked and overwrought, an accident befalls Arthur.

Cue a worried Merlin racing overnight on a trouble-ridden trip to Scotland on Christmas Eve.

Well, the course of true love, never did run smooth...

Let Me Tell You a Story (and show you my heart) by Emrys MK (mk_malfoy)

Summary: Arthur, newly crowned King of Camelot, gets sick at Yule, his favorite holiday of the year. He is disappointed that he will miss the festivities, frustrated because Merlin is telling him what to do, and feels awful because every bone in his body aches. Through it all, Merlin, ever the faithful servant, takes very good care of Arthur.

Maybe this Christmas by Anonymous

Summary: It’s almost Christmas and all the flights at JFK airport in New York have been cancelled due to a storm. Stuck at the airport, Arthur, a young businessman on the verge of burnout, meets Merlin, a yoga teacher from Cardiff. Sparks fly and what starts out as a heated, head-over-heels Christmas romance has the potential to become more - much more.

If it weren’t for the baggage both of them bring with them…

Mistletoe by swiftonthedownside

Summary: At Yuletide celebrations, visitors from the north bring with them a treasured tradition—and with it, a whole heap of trouble.

Basically an AU where less stuff has gone wrong, Morgana isn’t evil, etc. Takes place the year Arthur was crowned Prince of Camelot.

Rarely Plain and Never Simple by Anonymous

Summary: For once, it would be nice if Merlin’s favourite winter festival could pass without having to fend off any deadly magical threats. But something about Yule just seems to bring out the absolute worst in people. Year after year, he enters the season full of hope for an enjoyable party, only for his hopes to be dashed by a deluge of disasters. Still, despite being waylaid by an overly perceptive knight, a curious prince, and a naughty baby dragon, he is cautiously optimistic that this year will be different... until a sorcerer arrives at the citadel who threatens to punch a hole in all his dreams…

To Make The Season Bright by ingberry

Summary: Merlin swaps houses with Morgana Pendragon over Christmas only to end up with a house guest that wasn't part of the deal.

Underneath the Mistletoe by tehfanglyfish

Summary: After Gwen tells Arthur about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe, all he can think about is how it would be a nice way to work up the courage to finally kiss Merlin. It's too bad that Merlin is pining after someone else. And to make matters worse, rogue mistletoe keeps appearing in Arthur's chambers.

Also known as the one where Arthur pines for Merlin, Gwen makes a move, Merlin's magic has a mind of its own, and Percival and Gwaine get a much-needed push.

warm and real and bright by ariadne_odair

Summary: “Did you miss me?” Arthur asks.

“Not in the slightest,” Merlin lies baldly, and laughs when Arthur digs him in the ribs. “Will sends his regards.”

Arthur snorts. “No, he doesn’t.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Merlin agrees. “He had several thoughts on me being courted by a Lord.”

“I just bet he did,” Arthur mutters. “I am more curious to know your thoughts on the matter.”

-In which: Lord Arthur Pendragon is courting one Merlin Emrys, Arthur is absolutely not pining whilst Merlin is away, and Gwaine gives advice that is (very) occasionally useful.

We Could Always Be This Way by idlestories

Summary: Merlin and Arthur are married, Camelot is flourishing, and it's the holidays. It's snowing, and Merlin owes Arthur a dance.

#fic list: christmas & yule #merthur fic rec #merlin fic rec #theme: holidays #merry christmas and happy holidays everyone!!! #hope you all have a great day regardless if you celebrate anything today! #enjoy your day! #mod danielle

[ittybittycommitty]

Next chapter of my g/t rewrite of BBC Merlin!

Part 1-Part 2-Part 3

Chapter 2

Merlin had been staying at the Physicians chambers for a month now. He had finally settled on a routine that allowed him to study as he pleased but also help Gaius with keeping the place clean as well as making potions. He had almost been spotted a couple times in the first couple weeks, but now he had gotten used to the times that patients usually came in.

It was the middle of the night, and Merlin was awoken by Gaius rummaging through his supplies.

“Gaius? What’s going on?” Gaius looked up at Merlin.

“There’s a small town to the East that desperately needs medical assistance, I’m going to ask Gwen to take care of this place and the patients, you’ll have to be extra careful when you come out… I’m leaving some food in the emergency cupboard, and if I don’t come back in two weeks use the escape route to the kitchens and the forest as we planned alright?” Gaius drabbled on, obviously worried about leaving Merlin.

“Don’t worry, I left town all the time before you came here,” Gaius said, walking up to Merlin.

“Gaius, I’m not worried, I’m sure I can handle on my own,” Merlin said reassuringly. Gaius sighed and smiled.

“I’m sure you can my boy,” Gaius grabbed his satchel and headed for the door. “I’ll see you in two weeks, hopefully less,”

“Good luck,” Merlin called out as Gaius left.

Merlin wanted to get ready before Gwen came by, grabbing food and water and storing it on his little ledge. He also piled a couple extra books in front just in case.

He had seen Gwen many times before, she seemed nice, and always came to check up on Gaius even when there were no patients around. Even though it was a nice gesture, it had made it difficult for Merlin to get some time off his ledge. Sometimes he wondered why someone that nice would want to kill him, it felt wrong. But even with the fear of death he still liked her, and was excited to see more of her these next two weeks.

Sure enough, when morning came the girl came in, humming to herself. Merlin watched as she started cleaning up the mess Gaius had left in his rush the night before.

In the days following she would come by every now again, leading a patient into the chambers, and treating them promptly. She probably had to keep doing her everyday duties and let people know to come find her if they needed help. And even though she kept a smile while around patients, Merlin saw her collapse in exhaustion as soon as they leave. He felt bad, he wanted to help her but he knew he couldn’t. Hopefully she could handle it on her own.

But it only got worse. There was an outbreak of a rather common sickness, but it was extremely contagious and required medicine. Gwen was given permission to stop her duties as a servant and started sleeping in the physicians chambers in order to save time and spend more time making medicine. Merlin had no chance to leave his ledge in this time except in the night. He decided he would start doing a little to help with the medicine at night and hope she didn’t notice. Slowly he upped his help each night. Gwen was none the wiser, she was too exhausted to notice any changes and was relieved that she had made more medicine than she realized.

All was well until they ran out of one the key ingredients for the medicine. Gaius had assured her that what he had left her would be enough, and the letter he had sent her recently made it apparent he could not leave his post anytime soon.

“Oh god, this is awful, I have no idea where to find this herb,” Merlin bit his lip. He knew where to find it, but how could he tell her? He had to make a choice. Stay hidden and let more people fall sick as Gwen watches unable to help or help out and get caught, most likely leading to his death. It was an easy choice. He climbed down from his ledge and stood on a table behind Gwen.

“I know where it grows,” Merlin said quietly, Gwen snapped around. She didn’t see him at first and looked around frantically.

“Who said that?”

“I did,” She looked down and saw the small boy standing tall in front of her. She bent down slowly and got a closer look.

“You’re…” She started, a conflicted expression spread across her face.

“I know, but you need my help, I can lead you to where those herbs grow,” She backed up and sat down, holding her head.

“How would you know?” She asked, looking at the ground.

“Gaius showed me, he takes me on his herb collecting errands often,” She looks up at that.

“You are friends of Gaius?”

“Yes, I’m here under his care,” Gwen laughed nervously and ran her fingers through her hair.

“What a crazy old man… Who else would-” Merlin crossed his arms.

“Okay, get over your shock, we need to get those herbs to stop the spread,” She straightened herself and looked back at the sprite.

“Alright, sorry,” Merlin nodded. He looked confident on the outside, but on the inside, his heart was racing faster than it ever had.

“So… How should I carry you? We could use this bag or I have a pocket…”

“You’ll need all the space in that bag for the herbs, you can put me in your pocket,” As much as he hated the idea, it was only logical. She nodded and put out her hand to him. Merlin gulped and jumped onto it. Her hand fell a little at the impact and she gasped softly.

“You’re heavier than I expected,” Merlin breathed and focused on his balance, trying not to grab onto her hand to steady himself. She lifted him over to her middle and slipped him in her pocket located just below her waist. Merlin plopped down onto something crunchy. He reached below him and picked it up. It was a dried flower, probably forgotten by Gwen a while ago. He poked his head out and presented the flower.

“Forget something?” He said with a small smirk. She blushed and grabbed it from him.

“Heh… Sorry,” He retreated back inside and stayed still as she quickly fled outside.

“Gwen!” Merlin heard an unfamiliar voice call out to her as they were heading across the courtyard.

“Oh, hello Arthur,” She said, a hint of unease in her voice.

“I just wanted to ask how you were doing… You’ve been in the physicians chambers for days,”

“Oh I’m fine, I’m heading to the forest to collect herbs for more medicine,”

“Oh! I’ll come with you!” Merlin bit his lip, hoping Gwen can come up with an excuse to keep him away.

“Oh… I don’t think you need to-”

“Nonsense Gwen, this is to help the kingdom!”

“Don’t you think there’s something else more important you should be doing? More princely duties?” Merlin squinted his eyes. Wait… Princely? Was this Prince Arthur she was talking to??

“I would say this is a high priority, seeing as half the kingdom is infected by this sickness,” Gwen didn’t know how to talk herself out of this, so she nervously nodded.

“Alright, you can come… But you should bring a bag of your own to collect herbs,” Arthur nodded and ran off. Gwen quickly hid in a dark alley and pulled Merlin out.

“I don’t suppose you can tell me how to get to the herbs now can you?” Merlin rubbed his neck.

“Well I was relying on this information a leverage so you wouldn’t kill me…”

“I won’t! I promise… Anyone who is Gaius’s friend is my friend too,” She assured the boy, who looked rather scared at this point. Merlin sighed.

“Okay, here’s how you get there…” Merlin gave her instructions vaguely and quickly.

“Gwen?” Arthur came running back into the courtyard and saw Gwen gone.

“Here!” Gwen said rushing out of her hiding spot to join the Prince.

“What were you doing back there?” He said, looking at her suspiciously. She smiled nervously.

“Oh nothing just… Talking to a friend,” He seemed satisfied with that answer and they walked out of town together. Merlin listened silently as the two talked. Though it was mostly Arthur complaining about his duties and his knights. Merlin rolled his eyes multiple times, wanted to make a snappy remark. He at least wished Gwen would say something, but she just listened politely.

Luckily Gwen was able to find the herbs from Merlin’s instructions and she and Arthur were able to gather enough to stuff both their bags to the brim. She rested a thankful hand on her pocket as they headed back. Merlin blushed in embarrassment at the gesture.

As they entered Camelot, a couple of knights came rushing up to them.

“Sire!” Arthur turned to Gwen.

“I’ll see you later Gwen,” He said and ushered the guards elsewhere to converse. She gave a sigh of relief and hurried to the physicians chambers.

As soon as she closed the door she reached into her pocket and pulled Merlin out. He breathed heavily.

“Are you okay?” She said, setting him down on the table. He bent over and took a few more big breaths.

“Yeah, it was just stuffy in there,” She blushed nervously.

“Sorry… But thank you so much for helping me, you risked a lot,” He straightened up and looked up at her. He flushed and smiled.

“Now, time to make some more medicine! Do you think you could help me?” She asked nervously.

“Oh you have no idea how long I waited for you to ask that,” Merlin smiled and jumped over to the beakers. She looked at him, confused. He laughed.

“I’ve been wanting to help you, but until now I could only make a few extra in the night,” She stared in disbelief down at him.

“Really? That was you?” They both got to work and Merlin nodded up at her.

“Thank you… I’m so glad you’ve been here to help me,” They both smiled at each other.

#gt #giantess #giant #tiny #g/t #wholesome giantess #bbc Merlin #Merlin #arthur #Gwen #Morgana #sprite #giant/tiny #gt writing #gt story #fanfiction

[lchufflepuffcorn]

The uncle of you dreams (Sirius Black x HalfBlood!Reader)

Words: 2854 Warning: Anxiety ( mild description of anxious and stressed reaction), Paternal and maternal characters. 

I do not own this art, it belongs to it’s creator. 

Author note: I do feel like an angsty second part would be very easy to make, but I won’t unless it’s requested, because I care for your heart (and mine). But I do have an idea!! You can check out my masterlist here, and my requests are open!! 

Lily and James wanted the night for themself, and you could understand that. With the war going on, could you blame them? They asked Sirius if it would bother you to take care of Harry for the night, "and maybe in the early morning," had said James while Lily wasn't listening. So, of course, when your boyfriend asked you, you accepted. While not having any kids on your own, you were only twenty, after all, you loved them. Adored them even. It was a plan that you had for some time now to have children in the future. 

You were alone when they dropped Harry at your house, as Sirius had not yet returned from his job, frankly, you were not expecting him for the night either. Sometimes, you just knew that the job he did wasn't for the Ministery of Magic. You weren't stupid either. Today was no exception; he was working secretly for the Order. 

"Sorry to bother you today," started Lily sheepishly as the baby began to play with your hair with his chubby little hands, his eyes full of curiosity. You move one strand of it so he could play with it better. You didn't mind that he tugged it with all the joy that contained his little heart. 

"Not at all!" You responded with a smile. "Have a good night you to, I'll take care of this little boy."  

"We'll be back sometimes tonight," concluded James with a wink in your direction, kissing Harry one last time on his forehead before pushing Lily out of the house carefully, she had the tendency to stay in the door frame for ages. You ruffled Harry's hair, at six months old, the small boy's hair was almost as thick as Sirius'. 

You waved them goodbye, helping Harry do the same as they got out of your little house. It was nowhere as big as Sirius' childhood house. As he was from a pureblood family with money, even if he did run away, James' family had a big place too. In your family, money was not growing in the trees, but love was abundant. Since your father was disowned by his parents, and your mother came from a muggle family, you didn't live in a palace, but it wasn't that bad. Your house, where Sirius and you now lived, may have been small. But it had everything you needed. With its two rooms, kitchen and living room meeting each other and only one bathroom, you were lucky enough to have a backyard and a garage. Which was great for your car and your boyfriend's motorcycle and a few other things too. Has your childhood was mixed between muggle style and wizard-style, Sirius was more than okay to integrate daily objects of the muggles into your home. Because for one, you knew how they worked already and two, he loved living like a muggle. Your work as an aurologist and Sirius's inheritance from one of his disowned uncle was enough to pay for that house and the necessities you liked having. It was the little you could call yours -home- and feel safe during those crazy times.  

"Are you gonna spend the day with me, Harry?" You asked in a sing-song tone, the baby giggled, but started to move, trying to get out of your arms, so you placed him on the ground. In the middle of the living room, Lily had put his toys so he would be comfortable. And you knew that in the guest room there were more toys for Harry. 

Sirius was hardly one to word his emotions, he showed his affection by the likes of gifts and actions. One example was the never-ending presents he gave Harry each time he could. Your boyfriend would also be very touchy with the child, or you as if Sirius wanted to prove his love doing so. He really was like a dog in that way. For Harry, when you would have him for the day, Sirius had a tendency to present himself under his dog form. He'd wag his tail like crazy when the baby started to laugh hysterically. Harry loved animals. 

Your cat, the one you first bought to become your helper at Hogwarts, slowly crept up of his hiding to meet the newcomer. Archimedes -named so after Merlin's owl in the Disney version of King Arthur- knew Harry, but he wasn't a very affectionate cat, to begin with. You knew that Lily's cat was still with her, too, so the child was used to it, so you let him play, while you started cooking dinner. Because of the composition of the house, it was easy to still keep an eye on your nephew.

The war was making everyone anxious, with James and Sirius both Aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix; it was not making it any easy on Lily and your's nerves. But Lily too was a member of the Order. You weren't, officially. Giving pieces of information on the side was not really dangerous, as long as you didn't mention it. Well, no, actually, it was hazardous, but you were not mentioned anywhere on official papers, you were not on ay pictures of the Order, except one, and only three people had that picture. Lily, Remus and yourself. Even if by the extent it meant that James and Sirius too had that picture. The people who were there when the exchange of images happened were the three of you. 

Yet, what was the most infuriating was the numerous time both Sirius and James faced The Dark Lord. Remus was working undercover in a mission with other werewolves, so he was absent most of the time. But James and Sirius, it was like they were saying The Dark Lord's name just to face him and prove themselves. Peter was the calmest of them all, even if sometimes he seems a little too nervous.

You heard Archimedes miauling, and your eyes went up immediately. Your cat was usually very silent. Harry had stuck the cat in his little hands and pulled it on his lap to pet it. You smiled, walking back to the neat and sunny living room, sitting on the ground near the boy to gently pet the cat with him, talking to the baby. 

"Is Archimedes kind enough to let you pet him?" Harry giggled gleefully at your cooing. You chuckled. 

After playing some more with the clearly grumpy but unmoving cat, you decided that it was time to eat as Harry was starting to lose interest. And so the night went on well. You ended up playing on the ground with Harry. Your book and pages of the essay you were trying to write, now long forgotten on the ground. The one thing you dread is actually the sleeping part. You could still remember the last time Harry slept at your home. 

Sirius had come home from work that afternoon, and James had been rushed to the hospital, so you proposed to take Harry so that Lily could go with him. Sirius wasn't in the best mood, but for the sake of his godson, he put a smile on his face. Sirius was still to get used to having a little ball of emotion near him at all times. He usually was the ball of uncontrolled emotion in the group. 

That night, Harry made a mess and threw a tantrum the very second you tried to get him to sleep. Trying to leave your arms every time you were near the crib and throwing his cuddy toys. You spent most of the night to make him stop crying, in the hope that Sirius would just, somehow, block the sound. He usually had to sleep his seven hours to be smiling the next day. But that night, Sirius just came in the room to hold the four months old baby with tired eyes but kind smile on his lips. He took him out your arms gently, kissing your forehead. 

"I'll take him. James said that Harry normally slept with them. We could try..." After some time him Sirius' arms, Harry went silent, sleeping soundly on his uncle shoulder. You could see Sirius' eyes shining brightly, even in the dark. "He sleeps with us, maybe we'll sleep longer." He had whispered, looking up at you. You agree to that. Sirius looked too much in love with the baby in his arms for you to refuse. 

You woke up two other times that night to feed and change the baby, Sirius watched you feed the boy, but he changed him when Harry cried the second time. The very next morning, after Lily came back to take Harry, he told you that he wanted children too. 

"Maybe not right now, but when all this s'over, I'd love some mini you or I run around the house." 

Lily did tell you that Harry was now sleeping in his own room, but he was getting fussy after his bath, trying to get out of the small bed you had for him. He even, somehow, floated out of bed, back to the living room when you went to retrieve the mail outside. Making a mess playing. So you just sat in the chair near the bed and rocked Harry until he fell asleep. Scared to move, you stayed there.  

 It was late, nearly midnight when Sirius came back, apparating before the portal of the front yard. The lights of the house were off, but that wasn’t unusual at that hour, you could be reading in the bedroom, only visible from the backyard. He was tired, he back was aching, his day had been hell, James had left early, and he was just not in a good mood. To be fair, he really only wanted to bury his face in your neck because he missed you. 

What made him nervous was the unlocked door. Indeed, you would not make that mistake, not during those awful times. But then again, the house was protected, and the neighbourhood was very nice. So he entered the house without making any sound, in case you would be sleeping. But the picture of the house he was faced with made his heart drop down his shoes. It was a mess. Not a very big mess, but a struggling mess, which you were not used to doing. Feeling suddenly cold and very sick in the stomach, bile rising to his throat, Sirius drew his wand before him. "Lumos." In the living room, he could see toys, tossed around as if someone had walked through them. A book was on the ground, pages all over the place. Archimedes was nowhere to be seen either. No sound was heard, and by the look of the toys, Harry was here. Neville didn't own small red shoes with snitches on the side. 

That's when Sirius' heart speeded, and a vague of hot came for him. He could feel his heart banging in his throat. A sound made him jump. Without hesitating further, he sped through the staircase. In the dark, he felt safer, like this, he could concentrate better on what was going on around him. "Nox."

The first room, yours and his is empty. You are nowhere to bee seen, the covers aren't even disrupted from their making. But your wand is on the ground, near the window, with Lily's bag for Harry's necessities. He goes on for the second room, sounds are perceptible from behind the door, small cracking and hushing. He places his hand on the half-closed door, readying himself to push it, dreading what could be behind it. 

He opens it, his wand before him, a spell ready on his lips. 

But was only you, with Harry in your arms, an arm before you, your only way to protect yourself really. His eyes scanned the room, but as he saw nothing, his wand lowers, and he steps inside. He makes his way towards you, feeling his shoulder less heavy than ten seconds ago. His heart still hammers in his throat, but he knows that both of you are safe. He kisses your cheek. 

His arms around you, hugging from behind, he just watches you rock Harry, back to sleep. The door opening made him open his eyes. "You scared me…" he grunts in your hear. You don't move, but Sirius knows that you understood. "The door was unlocked, there was a mess, I thought someone had broken in while you were with Harry." 

You can still feel him shaking slightly. You rest you back even closer to his chest, while Harry yawned. You can hear Sirius' smile in his breath as he watches his nephew. He kisses your cheek again. "Go make yourself ready for bed, I'll take him. He'll sleep with us tonight." You just nod. 

You wake up groggy, as Sirius fumbles out of bed, frantically searching for his wand in the covers, Harry sleeping soundly in the crib next to the bed. "Take Harry, there's someone in the house. Go to James'." Sirius' says before leaving the room. 

Your mind is still so foggy you don't understand what he said until he walks out the door, shutting it nearly close by reflex. You jump out of bed and carefully take the baby in your arms as to not wake him up, but before you can move, flashes of red and blues lights illuminate the room, as the door didn't close all the way. You freeze, but when the light stops and has you prepare to apparate at James and Lily's house, you hear voices that you recognize. 

"Peter, geez man. You can't just come to people's houses like that!" Sirus seems relieved, but your too frantic to think about something else, so you apparate anyway in an alley near your nephew's family house. When you know on the door, it's Lily who answers. 

"Are you all right?" She askes. And you explain what happened as she lets you in. 

"And I'm sorry I let everything at home, I just reacted. When Sirius said that there was someone in the house, I panicked!" You ramble. James, who was sitting in the kitchen when you entered, jumps out of his seat when he hears that. 

"Someone?" 

"I think I heard Sirius say Peter, but I didn't stay to listen." James nods, kiss Lily on the cheek and apparates. 

Lily takes her son in her arms as he started to wake up and whines, but her face does not trouble as if she's trying to make you feel better. "I'm really sorry, Lily…" you start, but she cuts you short.

"No need for that, I think that Sirius would die first before something happens to you and Harry. And you did your best, bringing him back here for safety. It was selfish of us to ask you to take him yesterday…" 

You wave her off. As Lily brings her son to the kitchen to make him eat, she proposes a cup off tea, and you can't just say no. 

Some times pass before James, Sirius and Peter come back to the house, Sirius just sits next to you, close to his nephew, but his arms wrapped around your shoulders. James whispers something in Lily's ear. You know, in your guts that's its Order related, otherwise, why would James whisper. They're not Unspeakables… So you turn to Sirius to whisper to. "I'll go back home…" He nods, but raise at the same time as you do. 

"We'll leave, there's still a mess to clean up at our house. If there's anything new, just use the chimney. "The others just nod in response, you kiss Harry's head as he plays with the mud that had once been his food. Kiss hug everyone before living, Sirius hot on your trails. 

James and Lily's house wasn't that far from yours but, you didn't have a bus pass, of money, and you were still in your pyjama, so locking your arm with Sirius' you apparated to your front yard. In silence, you walked in. 

"Hey, (Y/N)" Sirius' voice was hoarse as if he hadn't spoken in weeks, you turned. "What do you think about us. Being married? As in, starting our own family?" 

"Why?" You asked suspiciously. You knew him, Sirius wasn't able to be serious for more than three hours straight. Which was long passed by now. So if that was a joke, and you knew he was able to do something like that, he did it before, you were not going to be played again.

"Just asking…" he shrugged nonchalantly. 

You shrugged too, turning your back to him to clean up the living room. "I would like having a family, maybe not now, it's too crazy. But I would like that. And I would be happy if it was with you if you want that too… being married, I mean." 

You turned to face him once more, the 'why' still on your lips when your eyes registered your boyfriend kneeling, a red box made of velvet in his hands. "Yeah, I would want that too."

#Sirius Black #sirius black imagine #Sirius Black x Reader #Harry Potter #Harry Potter fandom #harry potter imagines #The marauders Imagines #The marauders #Padfoot #Padfoot imagines #Dadfoot #Dadfoot!Sirius #Paternal!Sirius Black x Maternal!Reader

[loki-lover84]

Season 01 Episode 03: “The Mark of Nimueh”

Guinevere had started spending more time with Brenna and I much like we used to, she’d been requesting our help with some tasks that had unfairly been assigned to her so of course we were more than happy to help her, I still felt a little uncomfortable around her though, I’m convinced that both her and Merlin like one another and don’t want to get in the way of my friends happiness but I also wanted that happiness for myself. I’d had a free morning and planned on going riding by myself, Brenna of course refused to let that be the case and wanted to join me which of course I allowed, I’d dressed in one of my more simplistic outfits a woodland brown shade of leggings, a faded white blouse with a dark corset belt, a dark brown pair of boots and a leaf green cape, my hair lowly tied back just so it was out of the way. I was about to mount H/n when I saw Gaius and Merlin pulling a heavy cart behind them, in a blink of an eye Gwen was there and he stood talking to Merlin before handing him a purple flower from her bouquet they spoke briefly once again, before Merlin and Gaius continued on the purple flower sticking out of the top of his blue neckerchief. I looked away mounting my trusty H/n before clenching the reigns tightly and galloping past Gaius, Merlin then Gwen without so much of a friendly smile accidentally leaving Brenna and her horse Raven in our dust.

All I wanted was a nice calm serene ride and now, I’m agitated and upset pushing H/n to their limits. I shouldn’t care this much, yes I’ve got to know Merlin better, yes I like him even more and yes I know his secret, I know he has magic but for all I know Gwen could know and feel all of these things too. What Merlin and I have isn’t special, it’s less than my bond with Gwen, with Arthur, with Morgana, with Brenna, heck probably even less than my bond with Uther. So why is it getting to me so much.

“Hey, Y/n you might want to slow down a bit, I’m sure you don’t want to take out all your frustrations on H/n.” Brenna yelled from behind me on a sprinting Raven.

I pulled the reigns slightly indicating for H/n to go at their own speed.

“What’s bothering you? You were perfectly fine, and looking forward to your morning ride and now you’re racing ahead as if you’re running away from something. I’d honestly thought you’d be glad Uther consented to you leaving the castle grounds so you didn’t have to sneak out but-“

“It’s Gwen.” I spoke cutting Brenna off.

“What’s wrong? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s perfectly fine I dare say she’s even beyond that, I think she’s in love.” I reply.

“Well isn’t that a good thing?” Brenna asked as she rode beside me.

“Yeah of course it is just; I wish she were in love with someone else.”

“Why? Who is she in love with?”

“I think she might be in love with Merlin and…I think he feels the same about her. For all I know they’re already courting.”

“I doubt that they’re courting but, why is it bothering you so much?”

“I’m not sure.” I sighed, our horses stayed at a steady walking pace as we talked about other events in our lives but my mind focused on trying to come up with an answer to Brenna’s question.

An hour or so had passed by the time we decided to head back, I was feeling better despite still not achieving a conclusion. We dismounted in the courtyard and led our horses back to the stables before bumping into a rather on edge Arthur.

“Y/n. You’re alright.” Arthur exclaimed checking me over.

“Yes, I ‘m alright. Shouldn’t I be?” I asked confused at Arthur’s relief.

“There’s a plague spreading around Camelot and it’s very deadly we don’t know what it is but we know it’s some kind of sorcery.”

Fantastic something goes wrong in Camelot it’s magic. Uther finally let’s me go riding and now I’m back to being forced to stay in the castle and do nothing whilst the people of Camelot die.

“So what’s going on as of now to prevent it?”

“Father’s ordered me to lead some of our guards in tracking down the sorcerer behind it all.” Arthur answers, “You should probably get inside and let Morgana know you’re okay, she’s been worried about your absence.” I nodded my head leaving my horse for the kind stable boy to attend to.

As I made my way into Morgana’s chambers, I was barely even a step in when I was tackled into a tight hug from my sister.

“Thank goodness you’re okay!” She sighed in relief however still not letting me go. “I’ve been so worried.”

“I’m perfectly fine, I promise. It is ironic though, the one the one time I’m allowed outside the castle grounds, a plague infects Camelot.” I laugh in attempt to lighten the mood.

“You do realise that privilege has probably been revoked.”

“I’d go one step further and say it’s definitely been revoked.”

“Please pay attention to it though Y/n, for once listen to Uther. For me.” Morgana pleaded I couldn’t exactly refuse her and I wasn’t stupid.

“I promise.” I say leaving her room to get myself a drink.

Guinevere ran right past me sobbing, she was on her way to Gaius’s by the looks of things, as was I to see if there’d been any developments on the sickness situation. Merlin sped past me a bucket of water in his hands which did seem a bit odd, I was about to take a sip from my goblet when in a flash it was smacked out of my hand, it’s content spilling onto the ground.

“Merlin! Why did you do that?” I snapped as he’d appeared in front of me, I was dehydrated and desperately wanted a drink since I hadn’t drank anything since last night.

“Don’t drink that, in fact don’t drink any water.” Merlin ordered.

“What? Why?”

“Gaius and I believe the plague is being transferred through the water supply.”

“Couldn’t you just have used your magic and made my water safe to drink?” I huff feeling a headache coming on.

“You should probably keep your voice down, at this rate I think you want to see my head cut off. And also, Gaius told me not to use my magic for this, that we’d find another solution.” Merlin said as we walked to Gaius’s chambers.

The door was open and I could hear Gwen crying and pleading inside. When we entered Gaius was explaining the situation to her before apologizing to her. Gwen turned around tears streaming down her face as she ran from the room, I fled too wanting to catch up with her, to see if there was any way I could help her. Upon catching up to her I pulled her in for a hug.

“Gwen, what’s wrong?”

“It’s my father, he’s been infected Y/n.” She cried, “He’s all I have. There must be something they can do.”

I rubbed her back soothingly as her sobs came harder and less controlled.

“Don’t worry, I’m certain Merlin and Gaius will be able to come up with something for you and your father before it’s too late. Take the rest of the day off, Brenna and I will do the rest of your tasks today I’m sure Morgana will understand.” I coo to her in attempt to calm her down.

It must’ve worked because she’s pulled away and wiping away some of her tears before nodding and leaving the castle to spend the day with her father. I walk back to Gaius’s room and see Merlin is nowhere in sight.

“Y/n, can I help you?” Gaius asks his attention now on me.

“ Well yes, I was wondering if you could make me one of the draughts you used to do to ease the pain of my headaches.”

“Certainly, is that all?”

“No, where’s Merlin?” Gaius nods his head to the wooden door leading to the back room.

I smile and thank him as I walk over to the door and enter without knocking, quick as a flash Merlin shoves the book he was reading under his pillow before seeing that it was me.

“Didn’t mean to startle you, I just…I know Gaius said no magic but, it’s Gwen she’s only got her father she can’t lose him.” I say firmly.

“I know.” Merlin says pulling out the book from under his pillow. “And she won’t once I’ve got this spell perfected, he should be fine.”

Oh…of course he was already doing it. Why wouldn’t he be? He does love her after all.

“Right…I’ll leave you be then.” I say before hurriedly leaving and turning in for the night.

The next day Arthur had hurried out to the lower town to interrogate Gwen’s father as word spread that he was no longer sick which was great, Merlin must’ve done it however looking at it now and Gwen’s father being the only one to have survived did make it seem a bit suspicious.

“Y/n come quickly!” Morgana pleaded.

“What’s going on?” Brenna asked confused by my twins outlandish intrusion.

“It’s Gwen. They’re arresting her. They think she’s the sorcerer.”

I leapt up and ran to the throne room where Uther would inevitably pass his judgement on her Brenna directly behind me and Morgana a bit after her. We arrived at the throne room before anything happened and saw a pleading Gwen on the floor.

“He got better. He’s recovered, I didn’t do anything.” Gwen begged.

“I believe you.” Morgana says marching in with us.

“Perhaps this disease is not always fatal.” I say standing my ground beside my friends. “Have you thought of that?”

“Perhaps he recovered naturally.” Morgana adds.

“And what of this poultice that was found?” Uther asks calmly.

“What poultice? I don’t know anything about a poultice.” Gwen states.

“It was found in your house.” Uther says standing up from his throne to talk down to Gwen. “Undo this enchantment. Put an end to this contagion.”

“I can’t!”

“I can show you no mercy.”

“I am not a witch! I don’t know how to stop the illness.”

“If you will not undo your sorcery you force my hand, I must find you guilty.”

“But I can’t, I’ve told you-“

“It is my duty to pronounce judgement. Under the circumstances, I have no choice but to sentence you to death.”

“No.” Gwen whimpers.

“I can only that when you die, this evil plague dies with you.”

With that Gwen is dragged away still pleading her innocence.

“Are you seriously that blind! She’s clearly innocent,  yet you chose to believe otherwise because if you don’t then you have to face the fact that you don’t actually know what you’re doing!” I growl at Uther my glare piercing through to his soul.

“Silence! You will not take that tone with me, you will not disrespect me in front of the court. Need you be reminded what will happen to you if this behaviour continues!” Uther seethes venomously his glare just as harsh and yet I don’t back down.

“You can lock me away for a week, as long as you spare the life of a clearly innocent girl that’s done nothing but serve us and love her father.” I challenge I’m about to take it to a whole new level when Morgana intervenes.

“I know Gwen. She’s my maidservant, not an enchantress.”

“Have you ever seen an enchantress?” Uther asks coldly. “Believe me they bare no sign of the mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye.”

“I’ve seen the way the girl works. Her fingers are worn, her nails are broken. If she was a sorceress , then why would she do this, why would she kneel on a cold stone floor, morning after morning, when she could make these things happen with a snap of her fingers? Like an idle king.” Morgana finishes.

“You have no right!” Uther hisses at her.

“Yu have a right to cast judgement on-“

“I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom. I take no pleasure in this.”

“You’re sentencing the wrong person.” Morgana’s voice comes softer this time not wishing to rile Uther up any more.

“She’s right, Y/n too. You hear the word ‘magic’, and you no longer listen.” Arthur joins.

“You saw yourself…she used enchantments.”

“Yes, maybe. But to save her dying father, that doesn’t make her guilty of creating a plague. One’s the act of kindness of love, the other of evil. I don’t believe evil is in this girl’s heart.”

“I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I have suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance. If there is the slightest doubt about this girl she must die or the whole kingdom may perish.”

“I understand that.”

“One day you may become king. Then, you will understand. Such decisions must be made. There are dark forces that threaten this kingdom.”

“I know. Witchcraft is an evil, Father. So is injustice. Yes I am yet to be king and I don’t know what kind of king I will be. But I do have a sense of the kind of Camelot I wish to live in. It will be where the punishment fits the crime.” Arthur speaks calmly trying to meet Uther on even ground.

“I fear you are right. She’s played with fire. And sadly she must die by fire.” Uther says before swigging the contents of his goblet leaving, Morgana exits the throne room in the opposite direction.

“Arthur, we can’t let her die she’s innocent.” I say.

“I’m aware Y/n but at this point I don’t know what we could do to prove her innocence.”  Arthur says as he two leaves the room leaving Brenna and I alone with two guards at the main entrance.

We decide to go and see Gwen in the cells to see how she’s coping but on our way down my sister rushes past us trying to fight her tears.

“Brenna, you go ahead. I need to see if my sister is okay.” I say hurrying after her. “Morgana, talk to me what’s wrong?” I ask despite being fully aware of the situation.

“She’s our friend Y/n. She’s going to pay the ultimate price for a crime she did not commit.” Morgan cries holding onto me.

“No she won’t. I won’t let that happen to her or anyone else that’s falsely accused.” I promise.

“How can you be so sure you heard Uther-“

“It’s me, I’m not going to randomly start listening to what Uther says and agree with it if I don’t, I fight him. Yes he may not like me as an outcome however; I’d have done the right thing, something Uther gets to say he does on the rarest of occasions.” Morgana was silent for a moment as we separated.

“Please help her.” She eventually whispered before walking away, with a new sense of determination I snuck past the guards as Brenna distracted them for me.

I heard voices as I approached, Merlin and Gwen.

“It’s all right. Don’t worry about me. There’s no point crying about it. I mean, I’m not saying that you were going to cry about me. Obviously I don’t think that.” Gwen stammered.

“Oh Gwen.” Merlin whispered, “I can’t have this happen.”

“Please, one thing. You, you don’t have to. But…”

“What?”

“Remember me.” Gwen asked, my heart broke at her words.

“You’re not going to die. I’m not going to let this happen.” Merlin vows as he turns and leaves making me hide behind one of the convenient stick out-ish walls that are all over the castle as he runs right past me.

I step out and slowly approach her, her brown eyes glossy and wide from the tears that currently stained her cheeks. Guinevere was the most innocent and kind soul around, practically everyone in Camelot was friends with her or were at least pleasantly acquainted with her. If the public were allowed to give their verdict they’d all say she was innocent despite the heinous accusations.

“Gwen.” I spoke softly not wanting the guards to know I was there.

“Y/n what are you doing here? If you were to get caught goodness knows what King Uther would do.” Gwen said startled by my presence.

“It’s okay, I can look after myself. But now I’m here to look after you, I promise you Uther will not have his way, you will live I’ll see to that personally.”

“Y/n don’t make promises you can’t always guarantee to keep.” Gwen replied as a fresh tear fell down her face. “Could you promise me something else though? If I am to die tomorrow, please look after my father, he doesn’t have much and I know my death will consume him so please, show him the kindness you show to me and everyone else you encounter, don’t let him fall onto a dark path.” I kept her gaze, I could feel her hopelessness and her sorrow.

“I promise. If that day comes I promise you he’ll be in good hands.”

“Thank you.” Gwen whispered as I took my leave, Brenna once again following after me once I was passed the guards and rounded the corner.

“Y/n Uther is holding a court in process now if we hurry we could try intervene in some way. Brenna spoke causing me to run up the stairs and take the quickest route that would lead us the passage way at the front of the court room.

Upon arrival the double doors burst open and a semi-out of breath Merlin appeared.

“It was me. It was me that used magic to cure Gwen’s father. Gwen is not the sorcerer. I am.” Merlin boldly announced causing Gaius to stand abruptly.

“Merlin! Are you mad?” Gaius spoke in efforts to discourage him.

“I cannot let her die for me. I place myself at your mercy.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Gaius tried as he faced Uther.

“I do.”

“Then arrest him.” Uther ordered taking his seat at the head of the table.

“Father, please I can’t allow this. This is madness! There’s no way Merlin is a sorcerer.” Arthur spoke quickly.

“Did you not hear him? He admitted it.”

“He saved my life, remember?” Arthur tried once again.

“Why should he fabricate such a story?” Uther then asked.

“As Gaius said, he’s got a grave mental disease.” Arthur attempted causing everyone to look over at Merlin.

“Really?” Uther spoke unconvinced as Arthur crossed his arms and nodded even though his face clearly gave away the fact that he was lying.

“He’s in love!” I blurt stepping into the room properly making everyone’s attention including Merlin’s to land on me.

“What?” Merlin asked taken aback by my accusation.

“With Gwen.” I continued to Uther.

“I am not.” He tried.

“Yes, you are.” Arthur said quickly siding with me, it stung slightly if Arthur could see it, it had to be true.

“I saw you with that flower she’d given you.” Arthur too nodded his head as he approached Merlin.

“But…I’m not in love with her.” Merlin said his eyes locked on mine.

“It’s all right.” Arthur said wrapping his arm around Merlin’s shoulders.

“You can admit it.” I added.

“I don’t even think of her like that!” Merlin snapped his eyes never leaving mine.

“Perhaps she cast a spell on you.” Uther teased before laughing making Merlin fall silent for a moment.

“Merlin is a wonder, but the wonder is that he’s such an idiot.” Arthur spoke shaking Merlin  whom remained quiet. “There’s no way he’s a sorcerer.”

“Don’t waste my time again. Let him go.” With that Merlin was released and Arthur moved back to his original position at the table.

Not sure of what else to do Merlin awkwardly left, Gaius soon politely dismissing himself to follow after the young sorcerer. Brenna lightly tapped my shoulder and signalled for us to take our leave back through the way we’d entered. We were making our way to the physician’s quarters when we saw Gaius and Merlin leaving it.

“Wait.” I called Brenna and I catching up to them.

“Ah, Y/n. I’m afraid my dear we can’t stop for too long your draught for your headaches is on my bench if you’d like to help yourself?” Gaius spoke.

“Thank you Gaius but, that can wait. Where are you two going?”

“We’re going to try to find out what is causing this disease to prove Gwen’s innocence.” Merlin answered actively avoiding looking at me, he must be angry that I told the court about his love.

“We’ll come too.”

“Y/n. I’m afraid I must insist that you don’t, this could be dangerous.” Gaius attempted to dissuade but, I was having none of it.

“No! I made a promise to myself, to Gwen and to my twin sister! I’m proving Gwen’s innocence whether you let me or not.” Gaius smiled, his eyes filled with pride.

“Of course, you and Brenna may join us but it could still be dangerous.”

“I’m not afraid.” I spoke confidently as Brenna nodded in agreement her face showing an equal amount of determination.

We walked just outside the castle grounds and along the side wall following it around until we reached a wooden door, Gaius pulled out an old key and unlocked the door as we hurried inside. There was one flaming torch at the entrance and the room only had a dark murky set of stairs that lead downwards, Merlin picked up one of the potential torches that lay on the dusty stone ground and lit it off the main flame creating our own source of light as we continued down the uneven steps. Upon reaching the bottom we found other torched lit along the walls granting extra visibility however, Merlin still kept a hold of his.

“This water supplies the whole town. Take a sample.” He spoke to Merlin as we approached a large basin filled with water.

To do as requested, Merlin handed the torch to Brenna before he searched through the satchel grabbing a vial and scooped up some water. Once he’d put it away securely in the bag Brenna handed the torch back to Merlin as we turned to leave.

“Let’s take it back and examine it.” Gaius spoke.

“Well I don’t know about you guys but that wasn’t remotely dangerous.” Brenna said a silly grin on her pale face.

There was a sudden roar behind us and a splash of water causing us to all turn back to the basin. After seeing nothing but suddenly no longer feeling completely safe we hurried back to Gaius’s.

“It was an Afanc.” Gaius spoke after finding something in one of his many books.

“An…A what?” Merlin asked looking down into the book.

“A beast born of clay and conjured up only by the most powerful sorcerer.” Brenna responded making us look at her in confusion and bewilderment.

“Now we have to find a way to defeat it.” I said.

“But where?” Brenna asked as we all looked up at the collection of books Gaius possessed.

“That could take days. Gwen’ll be dead by then.” Merlin spoke anxiously.

“Have you got a better idea?” Gaius asked a smirk made its  way onto Merlin’s face as he hurried away.

“Well seen as though he’s ran off we best get started.” I spoke up as I grabbed our first set of books to begin our search for information.

We’d made our way through a fair few books scanning the text on every page for anything about an Afanc,  Gaius ended up leaving to go on his supply run promising to be back as soon as he could. I’d moved onto another book when Merlin burst in looking at every book title and occasionally skimming through some text, but Brenna and I remained focused on our task at hand.

“Merlin, what are you doing?” A curious Gaius asked an energetic Merlin, as he entered and placed his satchel down.

“Looking for a book.”

“Care to tell me which one?”

“A book on elements.”

“Elements?”

“Yes. Which one would I find them in?”

“Most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of scientific process.” I spoke up my eyes never leaving my book.

“But, how will they help me kill the Afanc?” Merlin asked.

“Well the Afanc is a creature made of earth and water, that’s two of the four base elements.” Brenna answered.

“What about the other two?”

“Well, perhaps they will destroy it.” Gaius suggested. “You want fire-“

“Wind and fire.” I interrupted putting my book down.

“How did you find this out?” Gaius asked Merlin.

“Erm…I just knew, ya’know. Part of my powers.” Merlin replies, my eyes widen in shock, I’d already assumed that Gaius knew but I’m pretty sure Brenna didn’t and here they were off handedly talking about it in front of her.

“What else do your powers tell you?”

“That I’m one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously.” Merlin says quickly.

“And who’s the other?” Brenna asks seemingly unfazed by all the other revelations.

“That’d be Arthur.”

The door creaks open and in comes my sister.

“They’re bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen’s innocence.”  She speaks.

“We’re trying.” Gaius replies.

“Please just tell me what I can do to help.”

“We need Arthur.” I say standing up.

“Arthur?” My sister asks.

“There’s a monster-“ I begin.

“An Afanc in the water supply that’s what’s causing the plague.” Merlin continues as walks toward Morgana.

“We must tell Uther.” Morgana insists.

“The Afanc is a creature forged by magic. Telling Uther would just blame Gwen for conjuring it.” I say and she nods.

“So what are we to do?”

“We need to destroy it. Then the plague will stop and Uther may see sense.” Merlin says.

Personally I wouldn’t bet on those odds but we have to have faith I suppose.

“And that’s why you need Arthur.” Morgana says having caught up with the situation.

“He’s our best chance.” Merlin says firmly.

“But he won’t want to disobey the King.” Brenna states, Morgana’s eyes flick between us.

“Leave that to me.” She says confidently as she goes to locate Arthur.

Gaius hands Merlin the key to the door from earlier and he leaves, me following closely behind him as Brenna and Gaius remain. Merlin and I wait for Morgana to hopefully show up with Arthur in the courtyard so that we can kill this creature and save Gwen’s life. We wait by the makeshift burning stake seeing Arthur and Morgana approach as we lead the way, Arthur drawing his before we even leave the courtyard. We reach the entrance, this time Arthur and Morgana light the torches and carry them as we head to the stone basin.

“You better be right about this Merlin.” Arthur says taking the lead.

There’s a low rumbling growl which startles my sister making her stop and gasp, whilst Arthur scans the area.

“You two should stay here.” Arthur says to Morgana and I.

“We’re coming with you.” I say forcibly.

“No.”

“Scared we’ll show you up?” Morgana teases.

“Father would slam us all in chains if he knew I’d endangered you.” Arthur speaks honestly making me wince at the memories of my last chaining.

Morgana looks at me sympathetically before making her decision.

“Good thing he doesn’t know, then.”

“I’m telling you, turn back. You could get hurt.”

“So could you…if you don’t get out of my way.” With that my sister walks forward taking the lead.

“How’re we gonna find it?” Morgana asks after we hear the Afanc’s growl again.

“Just hope we do, before it finds us.” Merlin says as we continue on.

“Stop!” Arthur calls as we all turn back around.

“What?” Merlin asks before we see a sudden movement.

“It’s just a shadow.” Arthur dismisses, so we continue our search.

“Spread out.” Arthur suggests, there were only three directions to go so I went with my twin.

Within a couple of seconds we hear Arthur grunting and hurry back to him.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Are you alright?” Morgana adds.

“Yeah.” Arthur sighs.

“Did you see it?” Merlin asks hurrying back to us.

“Yes.”

“What did it look like?”

“It, it’s quick.” Arthur right as my sister screams and the beast roars. “Where is it?”

“I think it’s gone this way.” Merlin calls as we follow him.

The Anfac grumbles as is slowly prowls towards us.

“Arthur, use the torch!” I command as he advances toward the creature.

Next to me Merlin begins to chant a spell of some kind whilst Morgana and Arthur are busy with the Anfac, I notice something I’d never noticed before though Merlin’s eyes go a beautiful shade of gold when he casts a spell. For a moment I’d completely forgotten the Anfac was there as I gaze in amazement at Merlin before a gust of wind winds through the tunnels and manipulates the flame on Arthur’s torch allowing it to consume the Anfac. We leave the tunnels after making sure the beast was indeed dead so that we could share our triumph as Arthur sends word to Uther.

Morgana, Merlin and I meet with Brenna and Thomas her father before we rush down to the prison cells, thankfully I’d been granted access seen as though I was with Morgana and we hurried to see Gwen. The moment the cell gate was opened Thomas ran in and hugged his daughter tightly overwhelmed with joy and relief.

“Thank you.” Gwen said to my sister as she parted from her father.

“Don’t thank me. It was more Merlin and Y/n.”

“Really?” She asked.

“He’s more the real hero here.” I said putting a smile on my face.

“I don’t know what to say.” Gwen sighed looking up at Merlin.

“I didn’t do anything.” Merlin laughed uncomfortably.

“I’m grateful to you all. Come on, Gwen.” Her father says as he ushers her out of the cells but not before Brenna pulls her in for a hug and leaves with them leaving me, Morgana and Merlin in the cell.

“Merlin, I wanted you to know…your secret’s safe with me.” Morgana says a serious expression on her face.

She saw, she heard I didn’t think she had but I was relieved that I now needn’t worry about hiding Merlin’s truth from my sister.

“My secret?” Merlin says acting oblivious.

“Merlin, don’t pretend. I know what you did.”

“You do?”

“Saw it with my own eyes.”

“You did?”

“I understand why you wouldn’t want anyone to know.”

“Well obviously.” I murmur.

“But I won’t tell anyone.” She says smiling up at Merlin as he smiles back at her. “You don’t mind me talking to you about it?”

“Er, no. You have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden.” Merlin replies giddily as my sister laughs, I feel like I should’ve left already but for some reason I remained.

“Well, you can continue to deny it, but I think Gwen’s a very lucky woman.” Morgana finally says, so she didn’t see his magic and she too had picked up on their fondness for one another.

“Gwen?”

“It’s our secret.” Morgana says smiling as she places her finger to her ruby red lips prior to walking away and Merlin lets out a sigh.

“Well, it’s not much but, I still know. I haven’t forgotten and I haven’t told anyone.” I smile at him shyly trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah that’s true, you know, Gaius knows, my mum knows.-“

“Brenna knows.”I add.

“What? I thought you said you didn’t tell anyone.”

“I didn’t. She was in the same room as us when you and Gaius were talking about a book about elements, heck she even explained some things to you.” I defended before walking away from him.

Who does he think he is? Thinking that I’d betray someone’s trust like that. I think as I storm up to my chambers to retire for the evening after a hectic day. Brenna knew her services wouldn’t be required for the rest of this evening to I didn’t have her to worry about barging into my room as I began to strip out of my dress and corset abandoning my clothes on the ground before making my way over to my chest of draws and pulling out a night gown when I hear my chamber door slam shut. Instinctively I hide my exposed body behind the night dress.

“Y/n, Gaius asked me to-“ Merlin began before his eyes landed on me.

“MERLIN! Turn around!” I screamed at the raven haired boy, once he did I ran behind my changing screen and put the dress on.

Once I’d regained my modesty, I stepped out from behind the screen and picked up my abandoned clothes and put them in my laundry hamper.

“You can turn around no Merlin. What is it you wanted?” Merlin turned around to face me a familiar vial in his hand.

“Gaius told me to give you this, said they’d help with your returning headaches.” He said placing the vial down on my table.

“Thank you Merlin. Is there anything else you wanted?” I asked my cheeks still slightly flushed from the earlier incident.

“There is one thing.” Merlin said as he walked over to stand directly in front of me.

“Yes?” I questioned trying to slow my pounding heart.

“Why did you tell Uther I’m in love with Gwen?” Okay not what I was expecting if I’m completely honest.

“Well it’s just kind of obvious that she likes you and that you like her, so obvious that not only did Morgana notice but Arthur has done too.” I reply avoiding giving him eye contact.

“What does Brenna think, you value her opinion don’t you?” Merlin urges.

“Well…she thinks you like someone else.” Not entirely a lie.

“And who would that be?” He asks taking a step closer to me his eyes shining with mischief.

“I…I don’t know, she didn’t say.”

“Are you quiet sure of that My Lady?” He says suggestively, this time leaning closer to me.

“I’m honestly not entirely sure of anything right now.” I laugh anxiously not knowing how else to react to his intense line of questioning and closeness.

“What if I were to prove to you I didn’t love Gwen?”

“I seriously don’t know how you’d manage-“ I was cut off by Merlin’s soft lips landing upon mine, my eyes instinctively closing, I’d never been kissed before I didn’t know how to respond.

His lips moved against mine encouraging me to copy his movements as one of his arms slithered around my waist pressing me tightly to him, my right arm cradled around the back of his neck giving me some more support and deepening the kiss. Once I finally realised what was happening I pulled away.

“I’m sorry Merlin, I didn’t mean to…” I couldn’t finish my sentence I was blushing, my heart was pounding and I felt conflicted.

My friend is in love with him, I know she’s in love with him, I can’t be kissing him! I’m ruining her chance at happiness. But I could also be ruining my chance at happiness.

“No, please forgive me that was too forward of me.” Merlin stammers his cheeks pink as he straightens out his clothing, “I just thought…never mind.”

“Merlin. What did you think?” I ask eagerly as he scurries away bumping into some of my furniture, his confidence long gone his clumsiness now returning.

“Nothing, it doesn’t matter.” With that Merlin leaves.

I was overwhelmed by everything that had just happened. Why would Merlin kiss me? He likes Guinevere doesn’t he? Maybe he was just caught up from all the excitement earlier with the Afanc. If ever there was a time to have a Seer to show you or tell you your future. Attempting to push all my thoughts away and out of my mind I drank my requested draught from Gaius and staggered to my bed hoping to put this all behind me.

#bbc merlin x reader #bbc merlin #bbc gaius #merlin x reader #merlin x gwen #friends to lovers #jealousy #unreciprocated love #soulmates #arthur pendragon #morgana's twin #morgana's sister #morgana #kissing #camelot #king uther #uther pendragon #arthur x morgana #Magic #fluff #awkward #chivalry #Nimueh #oc

[boykisserbuckley]

your mess is mine

This is a commission piece I wrote for the lovely @taylortut​, who asked for sick Merlin being stubborn and Arthur taking care of him. I did my best to deliver ;)

(you can also read it on AO3)

Merlin was, once again, being sent out to do Gaius’ job. This time it was a wave of illness in a town not far from Camelot, but Gaius was needed in the castle, so he was sending the next best thing. Merlin didn’t really mind having to help out when Gaius needed something done, but he wasn’t technically the castle healer, even if he lived with him. And, of course, there was the added bonus of Arthur being a pain in the ass any time Merlin had to do anything that didn’t involve him. 

“I’m not letting you go alone,” Arthur insisted, for about the fourth time since Merlin had brought this up with him. 

“Yes, you are,” Merlin said, “It’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before, and there’s no point in you catching it and bringing it back to the castle with you.”

“What if it’s Morgana?” Arthur asked. 

“Why would it be Morgana?”

“Why wouldn’t it be Morgana?”

“Because she has no reason to target a random village we’ve never been to?”

“Well, if it is Morgana,” Arthur said, “It’s not like you can protect yourself if something were to go wrong--”

“Thank you for your incredible confidence in my abilities,” Merlin cut in. 

“--and I wouldn’t want to have to go through the trouble of finding a new manservant on short notice,” Arthur continued, ignoring Merlin’s interruption. As usual. 

“Right, of course not,” Merlin said, lifting a single eyebrow, “Wouldn’t want to inconvenience you by dying, or anything.” 

“Exactly!” Arthur responded triumphantly. “So I’m coming.” Merlin frowned, but let it slide. He couldn’t actually force Arthur to stay if he was dead set on following, as much as he might want to. 

“Fine,” he muttered, “but don’t get in the way.” 

Within the hour, they were on their way. From what little information Gaius had gathered, they knew that this illness wasn’t deadly, so long as the patient could get treatment. The problem was simply that this town was small enough that it didn’t have a proper physician who could handle what they were dealing with, so they’d sent word to Camelot to beg for help, and in turn Gaius had sent Merlin. He’d do what he could when they got there, maybe stay a few days to make sure the patients took a turn for the better, and then they’d go home. Easy.

Merlin knew it was something he could have handled by himself, but he was secretly pleased with the knightly entourage Arthur had insisted on bringing along. Sure, he didn’t necessarily believe this incident was Morgana related, but it was nice to have his friends with him anyway. They could be infuriating, but making this journey alone would be far less entertaining. They bantered back and forth around him as they rode, helping the time to pass far more quickly than it would have if he was on his own. 

It was early evening by the time they reached the village, but not quite dark yet, which meant Merlin still had some time to get started. He got himself set up in the inn, but was gathering his supplies and heading out before the others had even finished climbing the stairs. 

“Are you the physician from Camelot?” the woman that greeted him at the door of the infirmary asked. 

“That’s me,” Merlin responded easily. She gestured him in and he stepped past her, looking around for a place to set down his supplies. 

“We’ve been putting the patients up in the room just through there,” she said, nodding her head towards a doorway in the far wall. Merlin could hear muffled coughing from inside. She stepped up and opened the door for him, leading him through to the makeshift sickbay. The room was filled with beds, separated as much as they could be in the small but crowded space. The people laid up in them looked miserable; most were asleep, though fitfully, but the ones who were awake were shaky and coughing harshly. Merlin winced in sympathy at an especially rough sounding cough to his left. 

“I’ll just get started here, if that’s alright with you,” he said to the woman. She smiled at him kindly. 

“The sooner the better,” she said. “I have a bit of business to tend to, but I’ll just be in the front room if you need any assistance.” 

“I’ll have more than enough assistance in about a minute, probably,” Merlin said. Just as he said it, the door creaked open again and Gwaine poked his head in. He turned back almost immediately. 

“Found him!” Gwaine called behind him, and then the door opened wider as the rest of the knights piled into the room, followed closely by Arthur. 

“See?” Merlin flashed a grin at the woman, who looked surprised at seeing so many people suddenly in her infirmary. 

“Well, you won’t be needing me then,” she noted. “But don’t get too loud in here, many of the patients are sleeping, and they need the rest. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Merlin agreed readily. She smiled again and ducked out of the room.

“You could have told us where you were going,” Arthur grumbled as soon as the woman had left. Merlin shrugged. 

“I assumed you could figure it out,” he said, “I mean, I came here to help with a plague. This is where the sick people are. It’s not too hard to put the clues together.” 

Gwaine snorted from behind them. Arthur just rolled his eyes. 

“Just tell us what you need us to do,” he said instead of quipping back, for perhaps the first time since they’d known each other. Maybe for once, he recognized that there were people who needed help more than they needed their bickering. At that realization, Merlin sobered up a bit too, nodding towards the patient just beside him. They seemed to have just woken up. 

“Come help me see what we’re dealing with,” he said, turning to the patient. Arthur followed suit. 

Over the next while, Merlin checked temperatures and handed out supplies. He directed Arthur and the knights to wherever he thought they were needed, and they let him take charge with minimal ribbing. They settled into an easy rhythm. By the time night had well and truly fallen, they’d made good progress. Even so, when Merlin looked up and took in the room, he knew there was so much more to do, and the sooner he could get it done the sooner these people would be back on their feet. 

The knights filtered out slowly, heading back to the inn to get some well deserved rest. Gwaine clapped him on the back as he passed, muttering some joke about not staying out too late. Arthur stayed longer than the rest, hovering around Merlin and whatever patient he was working on, under the half-hearted pretense that he didn’t want to leave Merlin to walk back by himself. After another hour, though, even Arthur couldn’t hide his yawning. 

“You’re no help here if you pass out on top of a patient,” Merlin griped at him. “Go back to the inn. I’ll finish up and head back in a bit.” 

“Merlin--” Arthur started, but Merlin cut him off. 

“Morgana isn’t here, she would have done something by now if she was. I don’t need an armed guard to walk to the inn, it’s barely across the street. Go. You’re useless if you fall asleep here, and I’m not about to carry you back if you do.”

“Well, that’s no way to talk to a prince,” Arthur muttered, looking mildly chastised, but there was no heat behind it. 

“No, but it is the way you tell a friend to take care of himself.” 

“Oh, coming from you?” Merlin chuckled at that, despite himself. 

“Get out of here,” he said, “I’ve got more patients to tend to.” 

Arthur narrowed his eyes and gave him a once-over, glancing between him and the door, as if debating whether it was worth it to do what he said. Merlin gave him a pointed look when he stifled another yawn. Arthur shot back a glare, mouth twisted in apparent displeasure at the thought of leaving Merlin to fend for himself, but eventually his exhaustion won out. He headed for the door, and Merlin relaxed a little. One stubborn patient put to rest, only a countless number more to go. He eyed the darkening room critically, lit a few candles, and got back to work. 

The next few days passed in similar fashion. Merlin spent the day in the infirmary, stayed later than he probably should, and collapsed into bed for an hour or two of sleep before the cycle started again. The morning of their last appointed day in the village found Merlin stretched out in his bed, blinking awake to the sun and a steadily mounting headache. What he wanted to do, almost desperately, was roll over and go back to sleep. But he could hear someone moving in the room next to his, and he knew he had to get up and put himself together enough to get back to work. He groaned softly to himself at the thought, but pushed his blankets away and sat up anyway. 

Even as he took a moment to rub at his forehead in an attempt to massage the pain away, Merlin knew he couldn’t spend too much time dawdling. There were still patients stuck in the infirmary who needed his help, and he didn’t want to leave them waiting if he could help it. 

A quick knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts, bringing everything back into focus. He still hadn’t gotten out of the bed. He wasn’t entirely sure how long he’d been sitting there. 

“Get up, Merlin, it’s morning,” Arthur called through the door. Merlin started to respond, but Arthur’s footsteps were already retreating, towards the inn’s tavern if he could hazard a guess. The knights were probably already there. Merlin forced himself up, trying to ignore the fatigue that slowed his movements. 

By the time he’d gotten himself dressed, he felt better, if only slightly. The throbbing at his temples had faded to a more manageable ache, and he felt more awake now that he was up and moving. That was good, because he knew he had more work to do, and he didn’t want Arthur to catch on and worry him to death before he could finish. Besides, he was just tired. He’d finish up early tonight and get some sleep, and he’d be good as new for their ride back to Camelot. No big deal, and no need for his friends to worry about it. 

He shuffled down to the tavern stifling a yawn. Percival looked up from shoveling what looked like egg and potatoes into his mouth when Merlin sat down. 

“You alright, Merlin?” he asked, giving Merlin a once-over. 

“Just tired,” Merlin deflected. He caught Arthur giving him a suspicious look out of the corner of his eye. He ignored it. He was fine, and he didn’t need Arthur trying to fix something that didn’t need fixing. The others seemed more than satisfied with his answer, digging back into their food eagerly. Merlin picked at his own food for a few moments, but decided in the end he’d rather get down to the infirmary and away from scrutiny as fast as possible. 

“I’m heading back to the infirmary,” he said as he got up, offering no other explanation. He all but fled the room, wanting to get away from Arthur’s irritating scrutiny. The same woman from before nodded to him as he entered the infirmary, heading straight for the back room. The sluggishness he’d felt as he woke up was easily ignored now that he could give himself a task, and he got right back to work without a second thought. The knights arrived not too long after, and he pointedly ignored their glances as he directed them to where they should be working.

It wasn’t until hours later, when he thought about taking a break--just sitting down for a moment--that Merlin realized maybe this wasn’t just the lack of sleep getting to him. He paused briefly after finishing up with the man he’d been working on and glanced longingly at the chair beside the bed, wondering if he could just rest for a minute. He was so tired. His head was still pounding, and now that he was concentrating on himself, he could feel the itch that threatened a cough in the back of his throat. 

“Merlin?” Arthur’s voice startled him, and he realized belatedly that he’d been staring at the chair for longer than strictly necessary. He shook himself out of it and forced himself to look up, catching Arthur’s eye. 

“You sure you’re alright?” Arthur asked, quietly enough that the other knights wouldn’t hear it. The naked concern in his voice was surprising, for once not covered up by teasing insults or bravado. It threw Merlin off enough that he almost wanted to admit that he wasn’t; he thought that honestly, if he sat down right now, he might not get back up for a while. 

He’d been pushing himself too hard. He was well aware of that, having stayed up helping patients well into the early hours of the morning nearly every night, barely stopping to rest. He wasn’t even entirely sure he’d eaten anything last night. He definitely hadn’t been taking the proper precautions to protect himself from the illness he’d been trying to treat.

Which actually made things make a lot more sense, Merlin realized when the cough threatened again. He must’ve caught it as he was working. Maybe that meant he should take it easy, like he would recommend to anyone else in this situation; but then again, he wasn’t anyone else. People still needed his help, and it’s not like he could transmit it to the patients anyway, because they already had it. So he could just keep working through it, right? It wasn’t that bad yet. With that in mind, he plastered on his best innocent expression and flashed a smile at Arthur. 

“I’m fine,” he assured him, clearing his throat quietly to cover up a cough. As long as he kept his distance from Arthur and the other knights while they worked, they’d be fine too. He could still finish what he started, and he could rest later. 

So Merlin ignored the fatigue dragging at him, pushing himself to stay focused and keep moving. He ignored the way his stomach rolled sickeningly when Gwaine suggested they break for a meal. He barely took notice of Arthur watching him, too intently concentrated on acting normal. 

“Merlin!” Arthur called from across the room, forcing Merlin to look up. His eyes narrowed like he was analyzing him, and Merlin opened his mouth to respond, only to be caught off guard by the coughing fit he’d been forcing back all afternoon. He doubled over, feeling like he was hacking up a lung, and realized belatedly that maybe this was worse than he thought. He fought to get himself back under control, and by the time the coughing subsided, the knights had gathered around him with Arthur right up front. 

“I knew you weren’t fine,” Arthur said. Merlin straightened and tried to shake his head in disagreement. He regretted it when his vision swam out of focus briefly. 

“No, no,” he muttered, voice more hoarse than he thought he should sound, “I‘m okay, I swear.” 

“No, you’re not,” Arthur insisted, “you’re burning up, and you’re an idiot for ignoring it.” 

“That’s rude,” Merlin protested mildly. Arthur was right, though, as much as he hated to admit it. He’d been so focused on staying focused that he hadn’t even noticed how his vision had gone hazy, how his hands shook.

“Come sit down, you look like you’re about to fall over,” Arthur said, keeping a hand on Merlin’s arm when he swayed slightly. Merlin pulled back, though it was half-hearted.

“Arthur, I still have to--” 

“No, Merlin, let the knights handle it.” Arthur guided him to a chair, and reached for the pitcher of water on the table next to it, pouring some into a cup he’d produced from somewhere. Merlin was finding it harder to keep up with what was going on around him. 

“We’ve been watching you work for days now,” he continued, pressing the cup into Merlin’s trembling hands and coaching him to take a sip. “They know what they’re doing. They’ll finish up, and I’ll take you back to the inn and make sure you get some actual sleep.” 

“Arthur,” Merlin practically whined, but there was no real force behind it anymore. 

“No arguing,” Arthur said, as if reading his thoughts. “You clearly can’t take care of yourself, so I’m going to have to do it for you. I’m still the prince, so I will make that an order if I have to.” 

Merlin sagged in the chair and resorted to just nodding. It was like everything he’d been pushing back had hit him all at once as soon as he sat down, and he found himself not wanting to argue the idea of resting. Arthur grinned at Merlin’s agreement and clapped him on the shoulder, nudging his hand to get him to take another drink of the water. He turned away to say something to Percival quietly, and then he was back, helping Merlin to his feet and back to the inn. By the time they made it to the room, Merlin was so exhausted he all but collapsed onto the bed. 

“Thanks, Arthur,” he murmured, already half asleep. 

“You’re too much trouble,” Arthur grumbled, but when Merlin cracked an eye open, he caught the smile on Arthur’s face. He huffed out a breath, settled further into the mattress, and let his eyes close again. He trusted the knights, his friends, to take care of whatever else needed to be done before they headed back to Camelot, and he trusted Arthur to take care of him until then too. With that thought in mind, he finally allowed himself to drift off into sleep. 

Commissions ~ AO3 ~ Ko-Fi

#bbc merlin #fic commission #merlin #Arthur Pendragon #gwaine #percival #sickfic #merthur if u squint #idk what else to tag but this was fun! #taylortut #merlin fic #b!writes

[hayleysstark]

Top five Merlin whump moments 👀

The call-outs and wig snatches have started up AGAIN, i see, and this time, i’m not even going to attempt to defend myself against it. merlin whump clears up my skin. waters my crops. ends the wars. cleans the oceans. saves the narwhals. this list is literally going to save the world. use it wisely.

5. The Gates of Avalon

Holy fuck, just check out this delicious piece right here. The slam into the wall is fantastic enough on its own, but the powerful magic behind the blast literally nearly kills Merlin, and the impact with the stone left him with a nasty concussion. Which he has to completely ignore to run, like, what is it? Seven miles? Through thick wood? To get to Arthur and save his life? Oh, yeah. This is the good stuff right here. So blessed. So moved. Never going to take it for granted. Always going to give back. Thank you.

4. Beauty and the Beast

Oh, holy Jesus, this one is just so good. He is literally trapped in a tiny cave, with a raging fire, and little oxygen, for a whole damn night. And, to really ramp it up, he exhausts the fuck out of his magic trying to get past the massive rockfall Catrina caused on her way out. Has anything better ever happened in the history of cinema??? Respectfully, I think not. Aside from the others higher up on this list, of course.

3. The Poisoned Chalice 

Even if this was all a little gentler than the Merlin’s dying from magical poison angle, it’s still a very nice piece of whump all around. just !!!! look at it !!! the writhing, the sweating, the pale, waxy look to his skin, the barely coherent mumbles, the heavy breaths - this is the only true sick Merlin for me. And, like in The Gates of Avalon, we see him save Arthur’s life while he can barely hold himself together. Tell me the “whumpee takes care of somebody else while in the throes of their own agony” trope doesn’t just hit all your fuck yes buttons.

2. The Kindness of Strangers

This one is pretty much a no-brainer - in fact, it almost won first place! This one’s got it all - the blood, the winces, the grimaces, the heavy, labored breaths, the one hand always clamped around the wound because it hurts too bad to let go, and the crawling! Oh, the crawling! He can’t even stand up! This one definitely holds a very special place in my heart for when I’m craving that extra dose of Merlin pain to get me through a rough day!

Also, Merlin gets whumped a lot, so let me toss out a few honorable mentions before we get to the last pick!

A Servant of Two Masters

Whether it’s the scene where he’s hanging by his wrists in Morgana’s hovel, or the moment the mace gets him and he crumples to the forest floor, this episode has got it going on in terms of whump. Safe to say, if we’d had a thousand more like this one, I would not have complained a bit.

The Hollow Queen 

For the second, and final, time in the series, Merlin has to fight off the effects of a deadly poison and, on top of all that noise, he also takes a nasty fall off a cliff, and gashes up his leg so badly, he has a noticeable limp for the remainder of the episode. Need I say more?? 

The Diamond of the Day 

This one has just got it all. The myriad cuts and bruises on his face and hands? The screaming? The sobbing? The frenzied, panicked scramble to get out of the cave because he knows Arthur is meant to die today and he has to be there to save him? And, maybe the best part of all, the desperate terror that the loss of his own magic has brought out in him?? Absolutely, utterly exquisite! 

and, for the winner! 

1. The Tears of Uther Pendragon

This is the beauty that beat out The Kindness of Strangers for top spot, and I bet y’all can immediately see why. This is an absolute masterpiece of whump (yes, even without the lovely little bonus of the magic-binding chains Morgause left Merlin shackled in, this would still take first place.) The expressions. Oh, my god, the expressions. The way the whole world stops, for a minute, right after Merlin’s hit. The way the camera freezes on his shocked, agonized face. The way he slowly sinks down to the ground, totally silent, literally in too much agony to even think of doing magic. The way Merlin, after Kilgharrah has rescued him and brought him to safety, literally can’t do anything but literally writhe and whimper even after Kilgharrah has done his best to heal the wound. The way Merlin has to push through the pain to save Camelot again.

ohhhh my god. okay. due to personal reasons, i will now be rewatching The Tears of Uther Pendragon.

thanks so much for the ask, derpnerd!! 💚

ask me my “top 5″ anything

#ask #yesthatderpnerdwithnolife #look y'all........ this list makes me sound like a raging sociopath and. i dont even regret it.

[emrysarthurpendragon]

Breath in, breath out

Merlin sat anxiously in their car. A couple of days had passed since they first met Arthur and now, they were heading to the hospital together. The lady Morgana dialled his mum and told them Arthur was alive and ready to have visitors. Still, one thing was bothering the little boy… Arthur was going to live with that woman. He hated her. He found Arthur and he wanted him to stay with them, in their domain with plenty of rooms and even ONE domestic! Since his parents told him the news, Merlin had been pouting on his sit and mumbling about life being unfair. His parent’s chatters broke the silence until they parked not far from the hospital. Merlin jumped from the vehicle and took his father’s hand from one side, his mother’s from the other. They walked together to a desk where a kind woman shows them to where Arthur’s room was. In an attempt to ease the boy’s fears, they let him stay in the children service, where Merlin stopped for a moment, next to an activity room filled with various sick kids of all ages. A teenager with long brown hair and sparkling eyes. He was playing guitar before he noticed his new spectator and wink to him.

There was music there in the derriere

Like a language that we all could understand

I remember the day that I earned my first pay

When I played in a small pick-up band

 There I spent my youth, and to tell you the truth

I was sad to leave it all behind me

For I learned about life, and I found a wife

In the town I loved so well

 Merlin blushed when the older boy knelt in front of him. Something was happening … they both felt it. Merlin wanted to cry, because he missed this boy so much … and it was stupid, because they never met!

 But when I returned, how my eyes have burned

To see how a town could be brought to its knees

By the armoured cars and the bombed-out bars

And the gas that hangs on to every breeze

Now the army’s installed by that old gas-yard wall

And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher

With their tanks and their guns, oh my God, what have they done

To the town I loved so well

Now the music’s gone but they carry on

For their spirits been bruised, never broken

They will not forget but their hearts are set

On tomorrow and peace once again

For what’s done is done and what’s won is won

And what’s lost is lost and gone for ever

I can only pray for a bright, brand new day

In the town I love so well

 Scenes from a long-forgotten battle made him shiver and Merlin stepped back. These were from his nightmares, the one he had since forever. The ones he talked of with his grandpa Gaius, who never judge him or call him crazy. He shared them with his parents too, and they sent him to a doctor. A kind man who let him draw on many papers. The other day, he drew a big Dragon with yellow scales! His name was… Kikigarah!

“Merlin, what’s wrong?” his mother’s called and Merlin shook his head. If he started being weird again, the doctor will make him take yucky medicine. Instead, the boy smile and pointed to the musician.

“I like music! Can he play for Arthur?” he asked, and notice how the teenager chuckled when Merlin made decision without asking him first.

“Who is Arthur?” the stranger asked, standing again so he can greet young Merlin parents properly. From his place, Merlin still wondered where he met that boy before. “I’m Gwaine, I play for the kids when I don’t have school,” he explained.

 “What’s that smell?” a huge man asked, and an older Merlin stared at the direction the smell came from.

“Gwaine! Pull these feet of your back into your boots! We’re all going to die!” he yelled, throwing a rock at him.

“Ouch! It hurts!” the Gwaine from the fake world.

“Well, you hurt our noses!”

 The moment vanished. What if it were true, Merlin wondered? He had to protect Arthur from dangerous scent. Just in case. Maybe with some tissues or with a hug, so he can hide his face in his hair and smell his shampoo. His favourite with strawberries and apples!

“Arthur is my friend!” Merlin claimed, “He does not know it yet, that’s all!”

Both adults and Gwaine laughed at the claim. Still, the little boy was not done yet. Gwaine asked who Arthur was and, of course, he had a duty to be as precise as possible.

“His bad daddy killed his mummy and now, he’s hurt. But my mum and dad are nice and kiss a lot! It’s not all parents, I promise!” he said, “And Morgana killed the bad daddy, so now Arthur is safe and I want to…”

“Merlin, stop. You can’t tell these things to Gwaine. You’ll make him uncomfortable.” Balinor said. Merlin lowered his head and whispered a quick ‘sorry’. He just wanted to answer properly, and as a six-year-old, he didn’t realise some things were private. Except his parents’ bedroom. He knew not to break in when there were giggles from his parents in it. They were trying to make him a little sister, even if Merlin couldn’t fathom how laughing in a bedroom was going to help them. Maybe they did not know they had to ask Santa. Instead of rummaging his thoughts, Merlin took off when he noticed chamber number 28, where Arthur was supposedly waiting for them. With a happy squeal, Merlin pushed the door open and barely avoid colliding with Morgana. The beautiful woman laughed when she saw him but earned nothing from Merlin, except a disdainful glare.

“I don’t like you,” the child murmured. He turned his gaze to the bed, where Arthur blinked lazily. “You’re awake!” Merlin yelped, not even noticing he was the one who woke the other boy. There was a strange mask on his face, making him look like a fish but the oblivious child just ignores it as he sat on the bed.

“Hi Arthur! I’m Merlin! You remember me?”

Arthur nodded, still slightly confused. He stopped crying about his mum a couple of days ago, but he never expected to meet Merlin again. Still, he seemed more friendly than strange now, and it eased the blond orphan. Merlin acted as a friend and with no such thing as pity in his eyes.

“Dada told me you’re going to live with Morgana. If you don’t want, just tell me so I adopt you! I can! I just have to write it on a paper!”

“I… I like ‘Gana…” Arthur whispered, confused by Merlin’s words. He also felt touch by the way the brunet kindly offered to give him a new home.

“What? But … but she’s old!” Merlin pointed, like it was some huge con. Only then did he notice all the adults were staring at them with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “Can you all go outside, please? It’s between and Arthur and I! Except Gwaine, we want the music!” he ordered. The ‘olds’ laughed, not even bothered by how Merlin talked because they knew he was a good child deep inside. Gwaine took a sit next to the two six-year-old with his guitar still in hands.

“You know, kids, I think we are quite the trio,” the teenage boy laughed. “Arthur, Merlin and Gwaine, all from the round table. Do you want a song about King Arthur and his merry companions?”

“The merry companions are with Robin Hood!” the two kids corrected, exchanging a smile while Merlin cuddled with Arthur. Merlin who was always so scared around other kids most of the time, felt at home here.

“So, this is a song about King Arthur and his Queen, Guinevere.”

“I don’t like it,” Merlin pouted.

“You did not even let me start!”

“Arthur loves Merlin and Merlin loves Arthur. Like mummy and daddy,” the younger boy claimed. “Grandpa Gaius says it’s okay for boys to love boys and girls love girls. Grandpa is always right. I say Merlin and Arthur are married!”

Behind him, Arthur blushed. Merlin realized he probably think the wrong things and they both turned red while Gwaine laughed. In another life, the teenager would have teased them but now, he just shook his head and let his finger started a lullaby about a beloved King and his lands. A land of magic, with mighty knights and flying dragons. It took a minute before Merlin’s rubbed his eyes and sucked his thumb. Arthur started dozing off too, his breathing slowing down under his oxygen mask. The one he wore since he first came here and struggled to breathe with his broken ribs.

 Gwaine smiled at the two sleeping forms. Something inside him wanted to protect these children, like an older brother. Arthur, with his bruises covered body. Merlin and his good nature. With much care, the teenager left the room, where he met the adults.

“They fell asleep. I uh… I should go home. I have works to do … well … uh … goodbye?” Gwaine murmured.

“It was nice meeting you, Gwaine. Feel free to come again later,” offered the woman he thought was Arthur’s guardian. Morgana, was it?

“I will,” he promised with a bright smile.

 They were all going to meet again. Maybe not now. Maybe in a couple of weeks, months or years. He felt like something was about to happen. A change they all needed. Something about Merlin and Arthur, even if they were far too young to change the world.

#whumptober2020 #no.13 #oxygen mask #merlinbbc #fic #sfw

[panharmonium]

as an addendum to this, because every time i spend too much time on arthur my fingers start to itch - it’s important to remember that the people who end up suffering the most from arthur’s crisis of leadership in season 4 are the same people who suffer under uther’s regime.  gwen, gaius, merlin - it’s all the usual suspects.

gaius, i treated pretty thoroughly over in that other piece.  gwen - well, god, just LOOK what happens to her!  she gets dumped, first of all - after all of arthur’s ‘it doesn’t matter that you’re a servant; when i am king things will be different and we can be together’ - yet the minute arthur actually becomes king he walks that right back.  and that’s after gwen has just spent a YEAR caring for arthur’s ailing father - who, by the way, happens to be the same asshole who murdered gwen’s own father and tried to have gwen herself executed twice.  then gwen’s enchanted, and NEVER EXONERATED (i hate that episode; it’s the only episode of merlin that i refuse to rewatch), and then she’s banished from her home - like, okay, if arthur legitimately thinks she cheated on him, fine, i understand breaking it off, but a regular person can’t just evict their ex from her own house and kick her out of the country.  that’s a function of ugly royal power dynamics, right there.  

and honestly, yet again, merlin’s the one who ends up taking care of gwen when the regime fails her.  just like in ‘to kill the king,’ he’s the one who shelters her.  he rescues her from morgana, he heals her wounds, he sends her to his mother.  

and merlin himself - well.  merlin is pretty damn tired of arthur, by the end of season 4.  

he has every right to be.  arthur’s being a dick for the vast majority of this season.  he has his moments, like i said - but most of the time, he spends this season treating merlin with...something less than the respect merlin deserves, let’s say.  

arthur’s primary expectation of merlin this season seems to be “sit down and shut up.”  merlin notices that.  by the end of season 4 merlin has got in this habit of like...talking to himself, or nominally talking to gaius when gaius isn’t actually listening, and every time he does it, it’s to complain about how sick he is of his situation.

like here, after two separate occasions of asking arthur if he’s all right and being told to get lost:

merlin: i am done trying to be nice to arthur.  i cook, i clean, i'm always there for him, not to mention saving his life more times than I care to remember.  do I get any thanks?  no.  all he ever does is shout at me.

gaius: *doesn’t listen*

merlin: now you're ignoring me.  great.  I might as well not even exist.  ‘hello, my name's merlin, don't worry about me, i'm not even here - ’

and during the whole princess mithian episode:

merlin: i don’t know why i bother.  i should leave him to it, let him make his own mistakes, see how he gets on without me.  i should resign.

gaius: *examining a piece of paper, says nothing*

merlin, louder: i said i should resign.

gaius, vaguely: quite so...

merlin: gaius, you’re supposed to say ‘no, no, he needs you, even if he doesn’t realize it.’

gaius, about the document he’s examining: there’s something not quite right here...

merlin: exactly.

this exchange is followed by “now i have to go hunting.  i hate hunting.  thanks, gaius, you’ve really made me feel a lot better,” and off he goes without gaius ever really having heard what he was saying.

it would be easy to just write this off as complaining, but it’s different than the kind of complaining merlin’s done previously.  merlin has become like...meta-textually aware of the cage that surrounds him, by this point - he knows that when he expresses a desire to stop giving everything up for arthur’s sake that gaius is going to tell him ‘no, no, you have to keep doing it.’  and it’s telling, that every time merlin expresses these feelings, they falls on deaf ears.  gaius doesn’t even hear him saying it.

merlin can’t say ‘i don’t want to do this anymore’ in any way that matters.  the universe doesn’t hear that.  it isn’t allowed.  

that bit with i might as well not even exist.  ‘hello, my name’s merlin, don’t worry about me, i’m not even here’ - it’s really only played for half a laugh, like - it’s really not that funny.  under the thin sheen of sarcasm, that’s how merlin actually feels.   

i think it’s worth it to remember that we just lost lancelot, and lancelot was the only one of merlin’s friends in camelot who saw merlin for who he was.  without him around, merlin feels alone and invisible.  

and it’s also worth it to remember that merlin’s not wrong to feel this way.  he’s not wrong to feel ignored and alone, and he’s not overreacting to arthur’s behavior, either, because you know what?  when it comes down to it - when merlin needs help - when gaius goes missing and merlin is certain something horrible has happened - arthur leaves merlin twisting in the wind.  merlin tries to speak honestly to arthur about it, but arthur only listens to agravaine’s lies.  he hangs merlin out to dry.  

there’s just no trust.  no trust extended to gaius, who has been nothing but loyal all arthur’s life.  no trust extended to merlin, who even by arthur’s limited understanding has done so much for arthur’s sake, and who has been correct literally every time something like this happens.  he is so easily discounted.  so easily disbelieved.  so easily condemned.  imagine how it must feel - to know that he has given up so much for arthur, and that arthur can still so easily choose to ignore him.

ultimately, what it comes down to is this: arthur likes to make dramatic rescues, but he’s not good at everyday caring.  and even though merlin has been telling arthur since season 1 ‘you must learn to listen as well as you fight’ arthur still hasn’t learned this incredibly basic lesson.  

by this point, merlin is getting tired of trying to teach him. 

#this is such a rough episode #i hate how alone merlin feels #it ain't right folks #the once and future slowburn #meta #tag disclaimer: i'm rewatching because I NEVER FINISHED SEASON 5 #please be gentle and avoid spoilers in my inbox thank you love y'all

[noxleyfin]

Merlin Imagine: Leon’s Daughter

→ a/n: I don’t know any of the actors personally nor do I own them or their characters. What’s written below is fiction and should be thought of and treated as such. I am essentially using them as a name-claim and face-claim. I’m creating my own character and using the actors as background characters, and just using their name and features for details. I do not directly associate the actors with any ideas used in my writing. This writing is to be used for entertainment and fictional purposes only. → summary: Leon has secret, what happens when he can’t hide it anymore? → warnings: sickness? bad writing → word count: 1.4k → completion:  done → (Y/N) - Your Name

3rd Person POV

Sir Leon…

Easily one of the most well-known and important knights to the kingdom of Camelot. Not just for being one of the Knights of the Round Table, but also training and leading many men in and out of bloody battles. Everyone who knew him trusted him with their life; it was easy to. He was like an open book, no secrets to keep and nothing ever out of order in his life, or so everyone thought.

•••

Thursday, Sometime in Summer 8:48 a.m. [Training Day] 3rd Person POV

Sir Leon’s day wasn’t exactly going to plan. To start, he woke up much later than usual due to getting back from Guard Duty late last night; second, his training knights just weren’t advancing like they were supposed to be. Instead, they sat around and messed around instead of practicing their form. They reminded him of Gwaine in that aspect, but at least he had the decency to eventually quit the jokes and get to work. That led him to 3, the worst thing of all: his daughter was sick and he wasn’t able to get the nice old lady next door to watch her. She was busy with her own sick relative and although she’d expressed her apologies multiple times, Leon was still pretty peeved. 

At the moment, instead of heading to the training fields (like he should have been ten minutes ago), he was sitting on the edge of his daughters cot, stroking her soft hair and mumbling a lullaby under his breath. She’d been sick for a few days but it hadn’t been this bad yet. Leon was ready to take her to Gauis but he didn’t want to risk the questions he would no doubt get from Arthur and the rest of his friends. 

His daughter let out another weak cough and Leon decided against whatever he was just thinking. He carefully reached his arms under her knees and gently lifted her into his arms, adjusting her so she was still wrapped tightly in her blanket. She let on a small whimper and curled into Leon’s chest. 

“It’s alright, (Y/N). We’re going to get you some help,” Leon whispered and made haste for the door on their cottage. 

Once he was outside, he hurriedly strolled down the path. He weaved in between the commoners, ignoring the glances of those who didn’t know of his child while smiling tensely at those who did. Coming through the courtyard gates (while silently thanking that he didn’t have to pass the training field to get there) he made his way through the long corridor and up to Merlin and Gauis’ chambers. 

“Gauis!” He called, promptly startling the old man who was mixing a tincture of some sort. 

He turned after he’d recovered from his brief moment of shock and was confused to see Sir Leon standing in his doorway holding a bundle and looking quite anxious. 

“Sir Leon!” He exclaimed, “Shouldn’t you be at training? What’s that?” Gauis inquired.

“Oh Gauis, you’ve got to help me. It’s my daughter. Please.” Leon set the bundle down and pulled the blanket back to reveal a little girl who looked deathly pale. 

Gauis immediately went straight into ‘Physician Mode,’ completely ignoring the ‘daughter’ part, knowing it was a secondhand issue that could be discussed later. He poked and prodded at the little girl, trying to figure out what was wrong when he discovered it.

“It’s nothing serious-” Gauis was cut off by a loud sigh of relief but nonetheless, continued, “However, it’s not something that will go away in a day. I’d like to keep her here until it passes through. Is that alright, Sir Leon?” He finished, staring at the terror-stricken father. 

“Uh yes, yes that’s alright.” Leon responded absentmindedly; he was too busy keeping an eye on his daughter (whose chest was rising and falling at an unsteady pace). 

“I’ll look after her now. Shouldn’t you be off to training?” Gauis asked.

That seemed to snap Leon out of his trance. 

“Oh bloody hell,” he cursed. “Arthur’s going to kill me! Thank you so much Gauis. I’ll see you later.” With a swift kiss to (Y/N)’s head, he was out the door and sprinting towards the training grounds. 

•••

When he finally arrived, he knew he was in for it. No one held a sword and none of the training dummies were set up to train with. Leon’s training knights weren’t even on the field; the only one’s there were Arthur, Lancelot, Gwaine, Percival, Elyan, and obviously, Merlin. They were standing in the middle of the field talking when they heard the distant sound of footsteps and turned around. 

“Sir Leon!” Arthur called ‘cheerfully.’ “What brings you here today?”

“Ehm, just training, Milord.” Leon responded with audible nervousness in his voice.

“If I remember correctly, training started nearly half an hour ago, did it not?”

“It did, Milord,” Leon said, defeated. 

“So why in the hell are you late to training?!” Arthur snapped causing the poor man to nearly jump out of his skin. 

“I know there’s no excuse, Sire, but-,” Leon was cut off by Arthur. 

“You’re damn right there’s no excuse but if you must, go ahead. Out with it Sir Leon.” Arthur waved his hand in a ‘say it’ motion. 

Leon knew this was the time but he wasn’t ready. Sure, Merlin would no doubt find out later when he returned to his chambers, but he didn’t want everyone to find out. 

He stared at the Knights looking like a gaping fish. Lancelot began to get concerned. This wasn’t the brave leader he once knew. The man in front of him looked terrified to say the wrong thing, very unlike his Leon.

He walked forward and clapped Leon on the shoulder, speaking gently to him, “What is it Leon? I’ve never seen you this nervous before.” He asked, his concern growing more and more as more silence rang out. 

“Well I uhm, uh,” Leon rubbed his face and gathered himself, putting on his stern, knight facade before he spoke almost steadily, “I was taking care of my daughter.”

Silence rang out and Lancelot’s hand dropped from his shoulder as a result of his shock. Arthur looked astonished, Percival and Elyan were gawking from where they stood, Merlin’s eyes went so wide Leon was afraid they would fall right out of their sockets, while Gwaine just looked downright offended. 

“Daughter?!” Arthur just managed to choke out before he went silent again. 

Leon nodded. “Yes, my daughter. I had just taken her to Gauis and-,” and for the second time today, he was cut off, this time by Merlin.

“Wait, why did you have to take her to Gauis? Is she sick?” He asked worriedly. 

Leon nodded grimly. 

“Leon…I, I’m sorry for my behavior towards you. It was not right for me to scold you like that.” Arthur apologized but it sounded far more awkward than anything. 

“It’s alright, Arthur.” Leon decided to drop the formalities. “If you don’t mind, I would like to go check on how she’s doing?” He asked hopefully. 

Arthur nodded. “Of course, Sir Leon.” 

Leon smiled and began to back away towards the opening in the fence. Before he got too far away, he called over his shoulder, “You can come meet her if you want.”

Before he knew it, 5 knights and a servant were following behind him like a crowd flaunting their king. 

Soon, they’d reached the door to Gauis’ chambers and quietly made their way inside when Leon reminded them that his daughter might be sleeping.

“Papa!” Was the first thing they heard when the door opened. 

While Leon continued forward, the rest of them held back to take in the sight. A little girl,  not much older than a toddler lay on the patient’s cot with a small rag on her head and a bucket of water next to the bed. They immediately noticed the similarities between Leon and this girl from the shape of their eyes to the identical smile that lit up both of their faces when they saw each other. 

“Hello, Love,” Leon called gently as he sat on the bed next to her, comfortingly stroking her like he did this morning. “Papa wants you to meet his friends, okay?”

The girl nodded and stared at the men herded together by the door like a group of chickens about to be sat on the chopping block.

“Boys-,” Leon addressed his friends, “This is my daughter, (Y/N). (Y/N), these are my friends: Arthur, Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival, Elyan, and Merlin. They are the knights that I train with everyday.” 

Leon introduced the two groups to each other but no one said a word until Gwaine (That Stupid Bastard™) sauntered forward like he was the talk of the town, threw a hand down on Leon’s shoulder, and asked, “So... who’s the unlucky lady?”

#merlin #bbcmerlin #bbc merlin #Arthur Pendragon #merlin emrys #gwaine #percival #elyan #leon #camelot #Knights of the Round Table #knights of camelot #gwen pendragon #Gwen #SCREW BBC #bbc #morgana #gauis #kilgarrah #merlin imagine #merlin writing #bad writing #merlin x reader #i suck at writing #kill me slowly

[epic-sorcerer]

Merthur for the ship ask :))

Ahh!! Thanks so much @merlinmyboy I was hoping to get an ask!( who am I kidding I’m always hoping to get an ask hfjdjddhhs)

Gives nose/forehead kisses

At the start of their relationship, Merlin usually does this, as Arthur has difficultly showing affection and also really needs it.

Merlin does this to help calm Arthur down from any stress or general upset and it helps relax him. It also helps Arthur step out of his comfort zone and accept affection, and makes it easier for him to open up and gives him the space to be affectionate.

Gets jealous the most

They both get jealous easily, and as they are both attractive people try to flirt with them all the time, especially when their relationship was a secret bc of Uther.

You can feel the general feeling in the room when one of them gets jealous. Merlin will swoop in and say “oh sorry, he’s taken,” to the person to had the balls to flirt with the crowned prince/king of Camelot. Arthur doesn’t really have much social skills, but he will try to break up what’s happening if the flirt is persistent.

Picks the other up from the bar when they’re too drunk to drive

Arthur doesn’t usually get (too) drunk, as he doesn’t like the thought of acting “un-kingly” in public. So when he does, it’s usually in the privacy of his chambers.

Merlin only drinks on special occasions, as he usually needs to stay sober for his servant-ing/saving the world. His friends are usually the ones who get him to drink and “live a little”, despite the fact that Merlin is a light weight and will probably live way too much. Long story short, Arthur will usually have to take Merlin home early, and sometimes have to carry him.

Takes care of on sick days

Since Merlin is Arthur’s servant, it’s obvious Merlin is the one to take care of him, with the help of Gaius. Merlin keeps him company and lissens to Arthur complain into his pillow. Merlin also keeps Arthur up to date on everything going on in the castle, the gossip he’d over heard, ect.

Drags the other person out into the water on beach day

Merlin, because he easily burns in the hot sun and needs something to shield him from it. 

Gives unprompted massages

Merlin, because Arthur can get sore from tournaments. Also Merlin is Gaius’ Apprentice so he would probably know a bit of what to do. 

Drives/rides shotgun

Arthur was really not comfortable with cars at first, but he got used to them after a while. He likes to watch the out the window, seeing all the sights appear and disappear in an instant. It’s thrilling and he likes it a lot more than Merlin.

Brings the other lunch at work

Merlin, but Arthur always makes sure there’s enough for Merlin to have some too.

Has the better parental relationship

Merlin! He loves is mother and writes as often as he can, making sure to tell her about Arthur—she loves hearing about thief relationship and giving advice.

One time, Merlin and Arthur were in the area of Ealdor during one of their adventures and made a point of visiting when they were done. The both enjoyed the time with Hunith, telling her about what they had done, who they’d saved extra.

After a bit Merlin decided to go out and help tend the farm, along with talking to the villagers. Once he came back, Hunith informed him that she and Arthur had a talk. It seamed to be an emotional conversation, telling by Arthur’s red eyes and tear stained cheeks.

Arthur told Merlin that Hunith thought it was cruel how his parents were taken away from him, and if he ever needed to someone to talk to...she would be there.

Embarrassingly drunk dancer

Merlin 100%, Arthur usually has to somehow coax him into sitting back down between bursts of laughter.

Still cries watching Titanic

Merlin cries, Arthur puts so much effort into not crying that he can’t enjoy the movie.

Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas

Arthur was born into having heaps of money and luxuries that is way too much for any one man. He doesn’t feel he deserves it, but Merlin does considering everything he’s been through.

He often gives Merlin very nice and expensive gifts. Of course Merlin likes them, but at first he thought Arthur was trying to impress him. Merlin realizes what it means now, but he’s still surprised whenever Arthur gives him anything.

Makes the other eat breakfast

Arthur 1000%. He has never seen someone so boney, especially someone he loves and cares about.

Remembers anniversaries

Arthur, he probably hasn’t had many past relationships before Merlin(if Gwen is out of the picture) so every date counts. He may not say much about it, but he will do nice things for Merlin and hopes he figures out why.

Brings up having kids

The both do. Arthur is of royal blood, and Merlin is a dragonlord. They both know they will need biological kids to carry on thier legacy. They could appoint a woman to have their child, but Arthur fears something horrible will happen during childbirth, even if not involving dark magic. They bring it up, but they never really come to a conclusion.

——-

I just finished this after liek a month enjoy

#ask #merlinmyboy

[terriblelifechoices]

Well, today has been entertaining.  I have started a batch of strawberry liqueur, acquired nearly 40 lbs of frosting for Operation: Wedding Cake and finally seen Aquaman.  I am also almost done with 이모 sock #1, so all in all I think it has been a productive day.  I am celebrating with comment fic.

This was originally written for solarfox, thanks to their comment:

I wonder how Galahad would react to a younger sibling having to be his nurse because both his parents are gone and the next oldest sibling is working.

The answer is: with more grace than I would. 

New York, July 1958

The Pukwudgies had invaded.

Galahad squinted at his youngest siblings, trying to make sense of the world.  Nothing made sense at the moment, least of all the invasion of the Pukwudgies, but he was an Auror and a Graves and he felt honor bound to try.

“What --” he began, resisting the urge to cough.  He succeeded for all of five seconds -- a new record -- and then the jagged coughs burst free and he couldn’t stop.  He pitched forward, unable to catch his balance and cough and try to breathe all at the same time in his weakened state, and probably would have landed on his face if someone hadn’t caught him.

When had baby Dag gotten so tall, he wondered.

“Not a baby,” Dag said, reflexive.

Lyo patted Galahad’s cheek.  “He’s not.  You’re still a disaster, though.”

“Shut up,” said Galahad, pulling away from Dagonet and staggering back down the hall towards his bedroom.  “M sick, not a disaster.”

“You dosed yourself with homemade Pepper-up,” Lyo said, merciless.  “Which was dumb for multiple reasons.”

“You don’t need to tell me the reasons,” said Galahad.

“Oh, but I’m going to,” said Lyo, who had clearly taken lessons from Ollie and Ellie in the fine art of being mean to her older brothers.

Why were all of Galahad’s sisters so mean, he wondered.

“Because we have to put up with our dumbass brothers,” said Lyo.  “Now.  Getting back to the reasons you are a dumbass whose homemade Pepper-up didn’t work.  One: you are tragically, embarrassingly terrible at Potions.”

“Am not,” said Galahad.  He was not tragically, terribly embarrassing at anything, thank you very much, Lyo.  He might not have had Uncle Robert or Arthur even Lance’s instincts for Potions, but that was hardly embarrassing.

“Two: you live with a Healer,” said Lyo.

“Debatable,” said Galahad.  Aurors and Healers were both shift workers, so while it was nice to live with someone who understood insane scheduling, it also meant he went a long time without seeing his fiancé sometimes.

“Technicalities are for criminals, sophists and lawyers,” Dag sing-songed, quoting Dad.

“You could have gotten Sam to give you proper Pepper-up,” Lyo continued, as if neither of her brothers had spoken.  “Or you could have had her treat you.  But no.  You tried to medicate yourself.”

Galahad wanted to argue that point and couldn’t.  He had tried to medicate himself.  Although in his defense, he’d been working a lot because everyone else was out with the flu, and Sam had been working a lot because everyone kept coming in with the flu, and he hadn’t really seen her and couldn’t ask her to treat him.

“Yeah, that’s actually point three,” said Lyo.  “Working three weeks without a day off was really dumb, Galahad.”

Galahad frowned at her.  Lyo was not any kind of Legilimens -- thank Merlin and Morgana and all of Arthur’s knights.  She was terrifying enough without the ability to read minds.  All of his sisters were terrifying enough without the ability to read minds.  He’d never have been able to keep up with them, otherwise.

So why was she arguing with him like she could read his mind?

Both of his youngest siblings stared at him.

Galahad sighed.  “I’m saying all of this out loud, aren’t I?”

“How bad is your fever?” Dag asked, reaching out to press the back of his hand to Galahad’s head.  “Yeah, you should go lie down now.”

“I was lying down,” Galahad grumbled, shuffling into his bedroom.  “And then you invaded.”

“Oh, no,” said Dag.  “No, no, no, no, no.”

Galahad blinked at him.

“This is disgusting,” Dag declared, gesturing at Galahad’s bed.  “You are not sleeping in this germ-infested pigsty.”

Dag was kind of melodramatic sometimes.  Galahad mostly chalked it up to the fact that Dag was sixteen.  Also, possibly channeling Papa, who wasn’t as melodramatic but would probably also have things to say about the level of cleanliness in Galahad’s apartment.

It was a little bit pathetic, but Galahad really did want his Papa right now.  Papa was soothing, and he made the best soup, and he would have dealt with the invasion of the Pukwudgies firmly and quietly.

Ugh, why did Dad and Papa pick this month to go visit the Scamanders?

“There you go,” Dag said, gesturing to Galahad’s bed.  The bed had been made and -- because Galahad’s littlest brother thought he was funny -- also swapped for a fresh set of sheets that had tiny nifflers on them.  “Are you gonna fall in and drown if you shower?”

“Just let me sleep, brat,” Galahad growled, and had another coughing fit.  He collapsed into his bed and discovered that the ridiculous niffler sheets smelled like lavender and cedar, the way the linens at Graves Manor did.

“Fine,” said Dag.  “Sam can always give you a sponge bath or something later.  You can play Healer.”

Galahad had another coughing fit, in lieu of addressing the frankly appalling mental imagery that statement evoked.  Dag was not old enough for that level of innuendo.

“I’m sixteen!” said Dag.  “And you’re still monologuing like a crazy villain.  Please shut up.”

“Seriously,” said Lyo, reappearing.

Galahad was too tired to be terrified of where Lyo had been.  In his general experience, losing track of his younger siblings did not lead to good things, because they were wily and determined little monsters.

“I don’t want any traumatizing details,” Lyo explained.  “About anything, not just your sex life.”  She held up a hand to forestall anything Galahad might have said.

Galahad did not actually have anything to say, because he was feeling vaguely traumatized, or maybe vaguely terrorized.  It was hard to tell.  He was compromised and his brain was fuzzy, so everything was kind of vague right now.

“So you’re going to be a good little Auror and take your medicine and drink your soup and go to bed.”

“And you’ll go home?” Galahad asked.  He didn’t have enough energy to deal with any of his siblings right now, even if Dag and Lyo were being more helpful than any of the others would have been.

Also, he didn’t actually want the little brats to get sick.  That’d be a fine thing for Papa and Dad to return home to.

“Sure, Galahad,” said Dag, who was clearly lying.

“Then we’ll go home,” agreed Lyo, who was also a lying liar who lied.  She gave him a potion that tasted like feet, but she let him wash it down with a bowl of soup that was just as good as Papa’s, so he decided they could get away with lying for now.

Lyo curled up on the foot of his bed while he ate.  Dag settled into Sam’s armchair and pulled out his knitting.

“Why,” Galahad said flatly.

Dag had the audacity to roll his eyes at Galahad.  “Relax, big brother,” he said.

“You always take care of us,” said Lyo.  “It’s our turn to take care of you.”

As soon as Galahad had the energy to argue with them, he was sending a pigeon to Ollie and making her come deal with them.

“Ugh,” he conceded.

“Lyoooooo,” Dag whined fifteen minutes later.  At least, Galahad was pretty sure it was fifteen minutes later.  It could have been five hours, in his flu-addled state.  “I’m bored.  Tell me a story.”

Galahad wanted to call bullshit.  Dag had been self-entertaining ever since Papa and Aunt Dorothy taught him to knit.  As long as he had his needles and some yarn, he was never bored.  All of the Graves and Collins children had learned to knit, but Peter and Lyo and Dag were the only ones who’d stuck with it.  Galahad mostly approved, because if Dag had his needles he was also never unarmed, thanks to Dad’s tendency of finding ways to hide weapons in plain sight.  Every knitting needle Dag owned was a steel-silver alloy with a Pukwudgie-needle core, and could be thrown with deadly accuracy.

Calling bullshit would probably set off another coughing fit, though.  And whatever was in the potion Lyo had dosed him with made him sleepy, so it seemed like more effort than it was worth.

Lyo cleared her throat.  “A long, long time ago, when wizards lived alongside the No-Maj and neither feared the other, the steadiest of Arthur’s knights was his foster-brother --”

“No,” said Dag.

Galahad frowned at him.

“Fine,” said Lyo.  “The most beautiful woman in all the land was called Ygraine.”  She paused, in case Dag had some other mysterious objection, but when he said nothing she picked up the thread of the story.

Galahad fell asleep to the first Merlinian legend any of them ever learned, because it was the first one Dad had ever told Papa.  When he woke up, the most beautiful woman in all the land was taking his temperature and frowning at him like she thought he was an idiot.  But in a nice way, Galahad thought.  Like he was her idiot.

“Where are the brats?” Galahad asked.

“Lyo’s asleep on the couch, Dag’s in the study.”

“Oh, good.  How are you?”

“Better than you,” Sam said, amused.  Sam was his favorite Pukwudgie.  She stripped out of her Healer’s robes and into the loose cotton pajamas she wore in the summer.  She laughed at the ridiculous sheets and curled up behind Galahad, resting her head on his shoulder.

Galahad thought about protesting, but he didn’t actually mind being the little spoon.  He relaxed into the cuddle and went back to sleep.

Maybe the invasion of the Pukwudgies wasn’t all that bad.

Galahad’s opinion on being the little spoon are courtesy of one Detective Jake Peralta, who is absolutely correct:

#Possible 'verse #Galahad Graves #Dagonet Graves #Lyonesse Graves #timestamps #comment fic #my fic

[johnskleats]

Update!

Beautiful Fool

Chapter 2: Eyes of God

Fandom: BBC Merlin

Characters: Merlin, Arthur Pendragon

Summary: Arthur, an affluent, lonely bachelor, spends his days brooding and entertaining his homebody neighbor with short-shot attempts at affection. Merlin just wants to chill with his plants, but his neighbor (the one with the castle) keeps sending him pretty things and inviting him to parties.

One night, he decides to go, and discovers a different sort of magic.

Great Gatsby!AU, also found on ao3

@the-once-and-future-love @arthur-of-the-pendragons @pretty-pendragon @bbcmerturfanficsrec

Merlin didn't sleep that night. He dreamt instead of red ascots, red lips, red wine; yellow cars, yellow hair, yellow watch; blue scarf, blue eyes, blue eyes. He woke gasping. It was still dark. In his bones, he could feel Arthur waiting for him. Waiting, to return tonight or any other, and keep his promise. The party raged on, and on, until the day broke.

Would you come back?

His vow bound him like cords.

That's all I wanted.

Dread it as he did, Merlin knew in his heart, from experience, that he would. Were he less stubborn, he would be there now, and maybe, maybe, Arthur Pendragon would have kissed him. Even the thought had him shaking his head rid of it; the vow remained.

Arthur Pendragon didn't need kisses to seal his spell. Merlin could feel with sinking resignation that he was already branded by those eyes, captured by that smile. The cogs of fate were turning; he could hear them.

Merlin did what he did best, and put it out of his mind.

There were no more letters, no more gifts, after that night. Merlin felt sick with the feeling he'd done something very wrong. The parties continued- at least he hadn't ruined that -but part of him had hoped that they would end as well, like a sign. He hadn't known, but somewhere in his mind, Merlin had hoped that they were for him. It was silly. Arthur had been up to that old trick a long time, was notorious for it, and yet he had hoped that, like himself, the man with the yellow car was waiting for something he couldn't define.

It was rare Merlin was compelled by guilt, but when he was, he liked to think he was quick to humble himself and apologize. How true that was, he couldn't say. He was stubborn and proud and he knew it, hated to say sorry, hated to be wrong. However, when the lights went up and the music blared and Merlin looked out his window to see fireworks illuminate the face of the lake, every night, he could see in a high room a man doing the same. Sometimes, he even fancied that the man was looking at him, sharing something quiet in all the noise, but he knew better. The stars would die on the water and Merlin would close his curtains, bitter, and more alone than ever.

Work was tedious, but gave him something to think about. He had always been good at arithmetic, always found comfort in the consistency accounting offered. If something was wrong, it was wrong. If it was right, then the numbers remained as such; everything was plain and visible and there was nowhere to hide. How ironic, then, that he cowered in his cottage instead of answering that nagging at the back of his head. How hypocritical, then, for his eyes to skip avidly over the little red box with its silky blue scarf, the only present he'd been too intrigued by to return and too paranoid to wear. Its use would be final, somehow. Made to go about his neck, like a collar, a mark of conquering, the scarf would stay in its box. In it or out of it, however, it felt to Merlin a profound loss; and so he ignored it.

He was getting worse and worse at that as time dragged forward. It was less that things piled up for him to overlook, and more so that what he had already pledged to bury persisted to press him exponentially. The gift box on his coffee table seemed to enlarge, take up all the air in the front room, and then only amplified when he moved it to a shelf, to a drawer, to another box in the closet. It never really went away. Out of sight, out of mind was a myth.

The day he decided to finally do something about it was a dismal one indeed. The sky was overcast, partly cloudy, and there was a storm on the lake. The city was bustling on the opposing shore, unbothered, more than a week since he had made his promise. More than a week- it had been more than two. In fact, Merlin let that boxed scarf nag at him for a month before he finally gave in to that churning upset in the pit of his stomach, and if he thought inaction made him queasy, then this was suicide. He rewrote the note six times before he typed it out. He signed it, after, to make it a touch more personal, but the awkwardness of the situation dangled over him more precarious than Damocles' sword. The threat of rejection weighed on him just as distressing.

Mr. Pendragon. Arthur Pendragon. Dear Mr. Pendragon. A. Pendragon. Dear Arthur. Arthur,

I regret I'm very busy. My thoughts have been scattered as of late As of late, I feel If I've offended you in some way I know I was wrong meant no ill will.

You are welcome to join me for tea tomorrow afternoon post three o'clock.

Merlin Emrys

Merlin signed it, dated it, and put it in the post. He knew it was awkward, and poorly constructed, and in worse taste, but looking at it more would make him sick.

There was no party that night.

Merlin listened as cars drove in, circled, then turned away from the closed gate. Their headlights spotted through his windows, light striping his walls. The only noise beyond his frantic heart was of rolling gravel under rubber and the occasional curse of a disappointed visitor. For the first time in a long while, he would sleep with no music. The nerves that had wracked him all day, mounting, in fact, all month, reached a peak when one of dozens of cars came and went, leaving his driveway dark again and his little house and that gargantuan palace alone together on their island, leaving Merlin and Arthur Pendragon alone, again, on their island. The walls seemed to suffocate him. This was wrong, tonight was wrong, everything had been off for so long and this, this quiet--

The door closed behind him with finality, and Merlin breathed in the chilled air of the night. His arms folded about himself, he cast off the thought that bade him fetch a coat- the air was good, enlivening. The moon was bright unlike its counterpart hours earlier. All the day was unprofitable; all clouds and no rain. All worry and no result.

Merlin stood on the edge of his rickety porch, uneven boards creaking softly, and overlooked the tire-haggard path with its moon-brushed pebbles, past the silvery grasses and gilded, swaying trees to the dock. It was the only kind of fence between he and his mysterious neighbor, the only barrier that served at a meeting point more than all else, and this thought possessed his feet with frightening poignancy. A man sat on the pier. Merlin could make out his fair hair in the starlight, shoulders hunched under the weight of the sky as Arthur swung his feet idly over the water. It had to be him. There was no one else.

Merlin stopped his anxious feet halfway there, just on the opposite side of the driveway. He dare not go further, not after all the energy he had put forth today in requesting an audience- an audience, as though Pendragon were some kind of king, or prince -but that tugging pronounced itself at the base of his neck, so much like a noose.

That's all I wanted.

Merlin chided himself to breathe; stop being silly.

You're all I want.

The truth of the matter was that he had neglected to phone his poor mother and had instead fantasized for a month about what may have happened if he had stayed on the night that magic entered his life. He had been beside himself, behaving like a lovesick teenager and more notably, a prat, and he was sorry and not accustomed to saying so, and now the object of his affection (?), fascination, perhaps even purpose, was before him on this most quiet, singular of nights, just waiting. Waiting for him, maybe, Merlin would like to think so, but he had always been a little self-important, and the heart of it he couldn't guess. All Merlin really knew was that he had been waiting for Arthur, and hoping for the chance to choose differently than he had when this kind of opportunity had first arrived.

He stepped onto the pier.

His limbs had been lead as he'd crossed the grass, and every second, he had been agonizingly aware of. He could turn back any moment, probably should, this could wait for tomorrow, he was being precocious, but then the boards creaked with his weight and Arthur jumped to see him and time had a funny way of stopping for them. It did so now, or it should have. At first, Arthur seemed dumbstruck with surprise. Then, his expression leveled into careful indifference, a neutral smile that still managed to be charming.

"Evening, Merlin," and that was all wrong, there was no fondness in it, "Scared me a moment there."

"--Sorry."

Arthur was stretching from how quickly he had leapt to his feet, his trousers rolled up to his knees and wet from the calves down. Merlin didn't see any shoes on the dry land. He was avoiding his face, shoulders tense, waiting for him to leave, and that dread that had plagued Merlin day in and day out solidified into heavy hurt.

"Not a problem," Arthur was saying, but Merlin was shaking his head. The blonde paused, a hand on his hip. Incredulous, he asked, "What? Are we playing charades now?"

Merlin shoved his hands down to keep them from rolling over themselves, trying to express the words he couldn't think to. Arthur smiled. He felt a little bit better.

"I wanted to apologize-"

"Then apologize."

Merlin pursed his lips, a spark of agitation souring his mouth. Arthur lead with his hand as if to say, I'm waiting, and all semblance of sorry vanished from his mind.

"A real life Prince Charming," he hummed.

Arthur shrugged. "I tried being nice."

"When?"

The sorry returned.

Merlin put up his hands in surrender and Arthur quirked an eyebrow. He wondered why it felt like this was a fight they'd had a hundred times before, a roller-coaster of feeling he'd experienced a million times over in some other life.

He took a deep breath.

"I'm not good at this."

It seemed as if his lovely neighbor was about to snark something along the lines of clearly, but thought better of it. Merlin was immensely grateful. He continued.

"I apologize for my...rash behavior last we met. All of this is very new to me and I'm not," Merlin winced at himself. He was beginning to feel sick, "versed in these affairs, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings--"

Arthur’s demeanor had changed from one of petulance to patience, albeit reluctant. He was nodding, worrying his lip, and the air was burning in his lungs as he waited for Arthur’s reply. Merlin chided himself, again, to breathe.

"No, I understand." His heart dropped. Oh. "You're not," Arthur cleared his throat, concealing a blush, "--The other night, you thought I- that I was, uh...dropping pins. Letting my hair down, you know, that," Oh. "I was a nance? That I made a...you know, a pass."

He smiled; it was brittle and Merlin was going to faint. The air crackled between them, stretched thin and screaming.

Arthur went on.

"A misunderstanding, that's all it was, I- ...A miscommunication. I made you uncomfortable, I can understand that."

Merlin was pale. He wasn't listening anymore.

"It wasn't,"

Don't say it.

"Intended,"

Will you stay tonight? Will you stay? Will you? That's all I-

"To be taken in the, um," he chuckled nervously, avoided his eyes, mussed his fair hair and smiled that pained smile again. "I'm sorry, Merlin, it, uh, makes sense why you'd- well, you know."

A miscommunication.

"I don't."

It sounded wrong now, too, but for different reasons. His tone was warm if not shaky, rose lips formed the curve, Merlin, with fondness, but it was rejection, it was apology, what, what was happening--

"What?" Arthur was frowning at him, taken off guard.

Merlin shifted his weight to a more defensive stance, less open, less vulnerable, less danger. "...I don't know. You said it made sense why I would, 'you know', and I…" he swallowed. "Don't."

Arthur blanched. "--Why you'd avoid me, I mean- you thought I had- that I was-"

He was trapped in a nightmare. All of this had been some strange perception of his own, some gooey, fantastical lens he'd conjured. He felt so incredibly stupid. Stupid, stupid-

"...We can be friends now. --Now that that's cleared up, and I won't do it again, we'll humor one another."

Merlin furrowed his brow. Arthur sounded hopeful, was looking at him with bright eyes as he babbled.

"This confusion kept you away, but now you'll come back, like you said." He couldn't piece together why Arthur would push like this, probe so desperately for a friend. He was wealthy and charming and handsome, had plenty of admirers. Nevertheless, he was worse than a puppy at table. "Right?"

Beyond himself and his floundering self-respect, Merlin found himself nodding.

"...Right," he murmured. "I'd like nothing more," and that was a lie.

Arthur smiled that smile, the one that could end wars, and Merlin reminded himself that he was damned. Fall for a normal man, someone not like him, that was the worst possible thing he could think to do. He had thought this time was different, had thought he'd heard destiny knocking, but he was wrong. He was wrong.

I won't do it again, he had said.

Arthur would never kiss him.

Merlin was reminded that he didn't have to, that he was lost to the ether, that his heartstrings were wound tight about Arthur’s little finger and that he was hopeless to the red box, a space he shared with the closet for what would certainly, now, be forever.

He seemed so happy that Merlin could almost forget his heartbreak. The ghost of his touches a month ago came to haunt him. What had they meant, if not attraction? What were those shared moments, if not ones of intrigue? What was he curing if not loneliness, not longing?

Merlin was more confused than ever.

"Then- goodnight," Arthur grinned, grabbing him by the shoulder in a cordial manner, brotherly. He found himself smiling warily, Arthur’s earlier words echoing in his brain with venom. He was so caught up that he didn't notice the ache behind Arthur’s eyes, but instead picked up the spring in his step as he wandered toward his mansion, free as a bird. Merlin stood on the pier, feeling vacant. Whatever anxious, merry creature had flitted about possessing him these past weeks had taken leave for the time being, and he didn't know what was happening in his mind. A profound emptiness, he supposed mutely. It was a sensation that should have been profound, at least, should have been distressing and life-altering as he had fancied Arthur Pendragon would be, but instead it was lackluster, and quiet, and sad. His companion disappeared down the road, into the trees, and was gone.

This confusion kept you away.

Merlin, his mind clearer than it had been in a long time, took the red box in hand and unceremoniously threw it out.

But now you'll come back.

In the morning, he phoned mother.

You'll come back, like you said.

-

Merlin had all but forgotten the note. Dramatically, he had slept in, and dramatically, he had stared at the ceiling for hours afterward and mapped the constellations in the pocked plaster. Mindlessly, he'd eventually roused himself, mechanically, he had dressed. The toast was dry and the tea, weak, and sometime around ten, he determined he would be angry instead of sad. He could use this to motivate himself. He could make this positive. He had been foolish to spiral into such an idolic crush, especially with so little knowledge of the man's true character. He could be anyone, could have done anything. Any number of those rumors could have been true. Besides, all Arthur had done was warm him with wine and pretty words, flatter him with a distant adoration, and Merlin had been so starved for affection that he'd lapped it up like honey. From this point forward, Merlin would do better. He deserved better.

It wasn't too late by any means to find a nice girl, some Mary or Julia or Elizabeth, someone who made pie and would ask him to fix the roof. Nevermind that the thought made him queasy with anxiety, nevermind that she would suspect, would know, would be betrayed and hurt and hate him, nevermind, nevermind, nevermind, and Merlin was sad again. It wasn't hard.

The tea was cold, and mother was chattering with her soft, kind voice about her bridge game with the old gals at church and how she wished he would drop by to get some food in him, and oh, did he hear Gwen was getting married in the fall? She had always thought he would have stepped up to nab her first, but there were lots of fish in the sea.

There was a knock at the door at half past two. Merlin was in his bedclothes, rather, in cleaner bedclothes than those he had woken up in, but bedclothes nonetheless, and he hadn't combed his hair. His teeth felt mossy under his tongue, his feet felt hollow, his heart was drained, he answered the door. He almost closed it.

Arthur looked lovely in grey. The color brought out his eyes, made them sharper, brighter, and his red ascot was the most brilliant color Merlin had been privy to all day. He stood stiff before him, tall and strong and well-dressed in his fitted suit and fine hat and shined shoes. His hair was sure to be neat. His nails were finely manicured and teeth shined and straight- he knew from the way Pendragon licked them anxiously, looking past him into the charming but achingly modest home.

"I know you said two," he said furtively, as though to conceal his nervous energy with something passive. Merlin didn't have much control over his mouth or mind in his state, and so he observed, marvelling:

"You can read."

Arthur smiled wryly. "Admittedly, not well."

In truth, he had all but forgotten, at least had worked very hard to forget and had at last succeeded, the invitation sent the day prior. Arthur would have received it last night or this morning, must have rearranged something or other to make the trip, much less arrive a half hour early; there was no way he could burn through money the way he doubtless did without some kind of job. He had to have gone to great pains to be here, standing uncomfortable and objectively unwelcome on Merlin’s porch. Even without plans moved, he was very well done up.

He was about to think Arthur was handsome, but recalled he had sworn off men over breakfast.

Merlin turned around in his robe and slippers, retreating inside. The door he left ajar for his guest to come or go at will; he did nothing to hide the fact that he was incredibly tired and lacking the patience required for niceties. Consciously, he didn't jump at the click of the lock.

Merlin could feel Arthur watching him, scrutinizing him closely as he reheated the tea from breakfast. His hands did not shake. After too long a moment, his intruder cleared his throat, about to start a train of conversation Merlin was avidly certain he wanted no part of. He beat him to the chase.

"Sugar?"

Arthur blinked, his own words halfway to his lips. "--Yes. Say, Merlin-"

"How much?"

"What?"

Mugs hit the table with resounding thuds, and as though ignorant of the tension, Merlin went on. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to.

"Sugar, Arthur." He didn't like him saying his name like that. He thought, in his mind where most of his thoughts occurred, that if he mimicked the ridiculous sense of familiarity that his neighbor insisted on imposing on their odd, nonexistent relationship, that somehow that would make it better. Merlin, yes, the way Arthur said it made his heart skip, but the reminder of that thin, anxious, pitying smile the night before preyed on him. He thought if he said Arthur, the spell would break- say a name three times, and their jinx is broken. It didn't work.

It only served to make him pine for a reason to say it again.

Blue, blue eyes.

Arthur was looking more affronted by the second, guilt and sadness encroaching on the horizon of Merlin’s fluctuating mood. He just felt sorry again. He just felt lost.

"You've done well to fix this house," his guest said to the tune of 'are you alright?' "You did it yourself?"

Merlin nodded, and poured tea. He did not shake.

"Do you like it?"

His voice was remote, floating somewhere outside his body- the air, perhaps. "I make do."

He watched as Arthur slowly eased into the space, walking through the living room and surveying the extensive but humble changes. He appeared thoughtful. Chamomile steamed in a lonesome fashion, but Arthur paid no mind.

"May I sit?"

"--Over there?"

Merlin’s immediate thought was something along the lines of not eating on the furniture, but he swallowed his mother's teachings and gave his consent with a gesture of the hand. Arthur chose the sofa from which Merlin watched the Pendragon House every night. It creaked, and Merlin had yet to move.

"It's old," he explained, crossing the space the join him in the danger zone, in what was once a safe place. He sat down. "The furniture. I don't really know how old or where it's been, but it's...rickety."

Arthur nodded as though this were sage wisdom, and took the mug from Merlin’s hand. He had forgotten he had it.

"I've could use your expertise at the mansion," he said casually, taking a gulp of tea Merlin knew for a fact was too hot for consumption. "You've a good eye."

"Are you joking?"

Arthur shrugged. "Pendragon House is old, too. Older than these couches, certainly. Come work for me in the House and you'll be handsomely compensated."

The audacity of this man would never cease to amaze him. He was still talking, though, and Merlin had nothing to say.

"--Of course, the whole of it could take a number of months, but I wouldn't contract you harshly. The ballroom could do for some attention, I think, due to frequency of use, and some of the bedrooms, to start. What say you?"

Slowly, Merlin set aside his tea.

"What, exactly, do you mean by 'handsomely'?"

He couldn't help that he was his mother's son, Gaius's nephew. This was an opportunity, even if he didn't like it. It could lead somewhere, or provide more opportunity to forge a path of his own- provide the funds to get off this island, maybe.

"Merlin, fair weather friends are a dime a dozen. If I wanted one of those, I could pluck anybody off the street, but I admire your work ethic. You're smart, adaptable-"

"You don't know that." Ever so slightly, he trembled.

"I do."

"You can't possibly-"

Arthur’s tone sent Merlin’s eyes to the floor.

"I do."

Beside himself, he smiled wearily. "Bully all your friends, do you?"

The mood shifted instantly, a flash of humility knocking Arthur back to Earth. Softer now, he continued.

"If you won't let me be generous to you, be kind to me and take the offer. I've listened," not well, "and I'm letting you work for it, since you seem to prefer things that way."

"...I don't want handouts."

Arthur got that incredulous look.

"You don't accept gifts! Look, it's- it's a job to do."

"I like my job." Merlin closed his eyes, flexed his fingers, tapped his foot. "I need a moment," he said finally. He stood before Arthur could say anything sweet or stupid or invasive or considerate and disappeared into his bedroom, the door shut definitively behind him. Merlin didn't mean to run away, but the wreck of a day this had been had him by the neck.

His landlord wanted to pay him, presumably, considerable amounts of money to interior decorate because, and only because, he wouldn't accept said money any other way. Arthur was insistent on largely impacting him in one way or another. He seemed lonely, without any other friends- he almost certainly was alone, lived alone, else Merlin, a stranger, wouldn't be getting all of this unprompted attention.

He returned to the living room.

He thought back to that glittering evening, where his mind had been light and his feet lighter, and a handsome legend had swept him away to a place without time. He thought of the storm, the chill and that water cutting like knives through his clothes and across his skin as his muscles screamed, fingers slipped from the vehicle as he and a strange man trudged through mud together. He thought of the moonwashed youth on the pier the night before, for once all in quiet, of his contagious smile and confusing words. Merlin looked tiredly at the man sitting anxiously in his front room vying for any reason to see him again.

His voice was level, and sure.

"You mustn't pay me-"

"That's ridiculous!"

"--Unless you absolve my rent. I'll work for you in return for my tenancy and no further favors."

The suited man was quiet a moment, wiping his hand across his face in consideration, brow furrowed. In all seriousness, he reached out his hand. Merlin swallowed his hesitance and took it.

In all this, he had noticed only mutely that Arthur had taken off his ascot. He thought no more on it. It was a little hot, he supposed, and would be for anyone wearing as many layers as that.

On the table was the box.

This, Merlin realized hours later in the night. Music raised on the wind and floated into the ether on the lake. He drowned it out with cheap whiskey- all liquor was cheap these days. Prone to that old devil, heartache, and weakened by drink, he failed to question the gift box's resurgence, only heeding that pining of his to run his fingers over the silky material as he had in sorrow many times before. He opened the box and dropped it like fire. His glass shattered on the floor.

The scarf was red.

Merlin shook.

#Beautiful Fool #update #my writing #merlin #merthur fanfic #woooooot #if ya'll want to be tagged let me know #if ya'll DON'T want to be tagged let me know #i triiiieeeddd

[forzalando]

Wedding Plans ~ Fred Weasley

OH GOD OH GOD I CRIED THE WHOLE TIME I WROTE THIS. thank you to @potter-harryjames for proofreading and telling me what she thought because I was nervous to post this. I hope you all love this as much as I do, it was so cathartic writing this like y’all don’t even know.

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Reader

Requested: no, I just like to torture myself

Y/N: Your Name

Warnings: sUPER MEGA FRED FLUFF, mentions of d*ath, mild language (i think just h*ll, sh*t, and d*mn)

Word Count: 2.5k

P.S. there are time skips and they are indicated by a break! also please let me know what you think! i love feedback, whether you say something in a reblog, message me, or comment! i love you all :) 

As sweat dripped from your forehead while you worked in the yard, you cursed the season of summer. It was the end of July, and the blistering heat was definitely getting to you.

“Fred, can we please take a break?”

“Bloody hell, yes, I thought you’d never ask.”

“Me? I was waiting for you to ask! I thought you wanted to have everything finished before your Mum came home so she wouldn’t be too upset that you and George ate all of her baking!”

“Well I did, but it’s so damn hot out I don’t even care anymore. I’m so glad we live above the shop and don’t have a yard to deal with.”

“Tell me about it. I can’t believe your brother wanted a summer wedding and now we are stuck making sure the yard looks perfect for his bloody ceremony.”

Fred threw an arm around your shoulders as you walked into the Burrow to grab drinks and relax. He poured you a glass of lemonade, sat down, and then pulled you onto his lap.

“We definitely won’t have a summer wedding. I think May is a nice month, don’t you?”

“I always thought a May wedding would be nice…” you said confusedly as you turned to look at your smiling boyfriend.

“Brilliant, me too, darling. May 2nd sounds perfect to me.”

You had to admit, it was an absolutely perfect day for a wedding, even if you preferred late spring weddings. You had almost torn your hair out due to stress, but everything was worth it when the tent was up and when you saw the looks of pure bliss on Bill and Fleur’s faces when they were finally pronounced husband and wife.

You sat in a chair as the reception began with a dreamy look on your face, when suddenly you were pulled from your seated position and tugged towards the dancefloor.

“I didn’t know you wanted to dance with me, Fred,” you giggled as he swayed back and forth.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, my love, of course I want to dance with you; but first I had to escape the clutches of my relatives.”

“How’s Aunt Muriel? I see she left you a little lipstick stain on your cheek.”

You quickly wiped the bright red stain off of his skin and replaced it with a light pink mark that matched your own lipstick.

“There, that’s better. Now all of Fleur’s Veela cousins will know that you’re taken by me.”

Fred chuckled at your statement and leaned in to leave a quick but passionate kiss upon your lips.

“That was just in case there were any blokes out there who might have thought about asking you to dance.”

A comfortable silence settled over the two of you as you rested your head against his chest and wrapped your arms around his middle.

“Y/N, when we get married, promise me it won’t be this big of a fuss. I just want my brothers, Ginny, your sister, and my Mum and Dad. Is that alright?”

You sighed contentedly and answered him.

“Of course, Fred, whatever you want.”

“Wicked.”

“Y/N? Does your sister still hate George?”

You let out a bark of laughter at his incredulous question.

“No, she doesn’t hate your brother! She used to have a massive crush on him, that’s why she was always so mean to him during school!”

“Oh…how did I not notice that? Does she still like him?”

“Fred, she’s been dating Seamus Finnegan for a year now! I swear I’ve told you that before.”

“Right, sorry, I just thought it would be weird if the best man and maid of honor couldn’t stand each other so I had to check.”

You rolled your eyes at him and mumbled “alright, Fred” before going back to folding laundry.

“Hey love? Peonies are your favorite flower right?” Fred shouted from the kitchen.

You walked in to find him writing a letter home to his parents and you chuckled as he stood with a puzzled look on his face; worried that after almost six years together he couldn’t remember your favorite flower.

“Yes, Freddie, peonies are my favorite, but it’s October, love, they’re not exactly in season. They’re a late spring, very early summer flower.”

“I know but I want Mum to plant a bunch and apparently you’re supposed to plant them in early October.”

“What do you want peonies for, love?”

“I don’t want them, but we’re going to need them sooner or later so I figure Mum might want to make sure she has lots and lots of good ones for our wed…”

“Frederick Weasley, what sort of game do you think you’re playing? Your mother is worried sick about her two youngest children and you want her to plant flowers for me as some romantic gesture?”

“No game, sweetheart, Mum has been gardening and knitting a lot to pass the time since she’s so worried about Ron and Ginny. I was just politely asking her to plant your favorite flower.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, and he gulped.

“Besides, if I was planning a big romantic gesture for you, it would involve fireworks and chocolate and your favorite cake and – “

“Why don’t you just show me a big romantic gesture in the bedroom? Right now?”

“I think I can do that!”

And with that, all talk of peonies and romantic gestures ceased to exist for the time being.

It was Christmastime at the Burrow, but it definitely didn’t feel that way. The atmosphere was far from joyful; Molly spent most of her time in her room so that no one would see her cry, and the fake smile that adorned her face when she came out broke your heart into pieces. You and Fred had spent the past few weeks at his childhood home to help Molly and Arthur during this despondent time while George took care things of the shop.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were off hunting Horcruxes, and Ginny was at Hogwarts being taught by deatheaters and attempting to rally what was left of the DA for when the inevitable culmination of this war came about.

You all feared for their lives, and with no direct communication with your missing loved ones, a heavy blanket of sorrow surrounded each of you at all times.

You sat in front of the fireplace with Fred’s arms wrapped around you tightly.

“Fred,” you mumbled, “what’s going to happen? What if not all of us survive this war?”

“Y/N, your sister is safe, she’s staying with your Mom’s muggle cousin in America. My family…we’re tough, strong, and stubborn. There’s no way any of our family won’t survive.”

Even though Fred’s words calmed you down a bit, you still felt the weight of worry upon your heart. He softly stroked your hair and you felt yourself slowly drifting into slumber, but before you could fall completely asleep, Fred’s voice whispered into the silence.

“Besides, there’s another Weasley wedding on the horizon and no one is going to miss it.”

“I didn’t know Charlie found a girl…” you mumbled as you finally slipped into unconsciousness.

It had been discovered just a few weeks ago that you and the Weasley family were aiding Harry, and you were all forced into hiding, taking refuge at Aunt Muriel’s.

Fred and George spent most of their time focusing on selling their products via mail order, which left you to your own devices.

For whatever reason, Aunt Muriel had a record player, and your prized muggle record collection had been packed into your things when you moved into her house.

The sound of Elvis Presley’s voice singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” filled the small room you were sitting in, and your eyes closed as you swayed to the music.

Fred had left George to find you, knowing that you were the source of the music that was echoing throughout the home. He took you into his arms and danced with you the same way he had at Bill and Fleur’s wedding.

A tear trickled down your cheek and Fred, observant as ever, noticed you were crying before you had a chance to quickly wipe the tear away.

“What’s wrong, love?”

“I just…I always pictured myself dancing to this song at my wedding, but now I’m not so sure I’ll even live long enough to get married.”

“Don’t talk like that, Y/N, you’ll live through this war. We both will. And we’ll dance to this song at our wedding, and any other song you want to dance to.”

“You talk an awful lot about our wedding, Freddie.”

“It’s not talking, it’s planning.”

The two of you spent the next hour dancing around the room; long after the song had ended and silence filled the air.

You saw the blast knock his body tens of feet away from where he had been standing. The ringing in your ears causing you to lose focus of the situation at hand for a few moments.

Once you could see straight, you started to search among the rubble, searching for a familiar flash of red.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed your ankle. You whipped around to see Fred Weasley laying on the ground with his infamous smile plastered on his dirt covered face.

“Fred!” You cried as you helped him off the ground.

“Fred Weasley, you absolute moron, I thought I lost you. Don’t you ever scare me like that again or I swear to Merlin I’ll never let you leave the house for the rest of your life!”

You let him pull you into his chest and your tears soaked his jacket, but neither of you cared.

“It’s May 2nd, Y/N, I can’t die on May 2nd! That’s going to be the date of our wedding!”

“Shut up and kiss me Fred,” you mumbled into his shirt, paying no attention to what he was saying due to the fact that you were still in shock from seeing his body flung through the air.

“Oi,” George called from nearby, “there’s a bloody war going on, there will be time for snogging later!”

With one last kiss to your mouth, you and Fred took off running, throwing curses and hexes at anyone that dared to threaten your friends or family.

The entire Weasley family was at the Burrow; it was a bittersweet reunion. Although you were all overjoyed that everyone in the family had survived, you also mourned the loss of all the friends you had lost in the brutal war.

You especially were grieving the loss of Remus Lupin, who had become a father figure in your life ever since your parents passed away during your fifth year at Hogwarts. You excused yourself from the living room and trudged up to Fred’s old room. His belongings had been brought there from Aunt Muriel’s, and the two of you had yet to return to the apartment above the shop.

Your eyes landed on a particularly curious looking booklet sitting atop his trunk. In Fred’s unmistakable scribble, you read the words “wedding plans” on the cover, and your curiosity got the better of you when you decided to look inside.

The first page was dated July 29th, 1997, and on it he had written, “Date of Ceremony: May 2nd. Y/N and I agree that a late spring wedding would be absolutely beautiful.”

You flipped to the next page, dated August 1st, 1997, and saw that he had written down the conversation you had about wanting a small wedding while you danced at Bill and Fleur’s reception. Each page had something new written on it; the fact that you wanted peonies for your bouquet, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” as your first dance song, and so many other small pieces of information Fred had coaxed out of you since last summer.

Suddenly, you heard Fred’s voice call out from the doorway.

“What are you reading, love?”

You turned around, booklet in hand, with tears streaming down your face.

“Fred…I…I didn’t know that you’ve been serious this whole time.”

“Well I told you that it wasn’t talk, I was planning everything out. It’s been what’s kept me going this past year, you know, the thought of everything in that booklet becoming real.”

“Oh Fred,” you cried as you ran towards him and wrapped your arms around his neck.

“You never said anything along the lines of ‘I don’t want to marry you’ so I figured we were on the same page. Besides, you always said you didn’t want a fancy proposal.”

“I did say that, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want one at all! You never asked me, how was I supposed to know you were serious?”

“Because I’ve always been serious about you, Y/N. You are the one thing in my life that I’ve ever been serious about and sure of. You’ve always been a bit oblivious though, so I suppose I should do this properly.”

He stepped past you and rummaged through his trunk before pulling out a small, black box. He kneeled in front of you and took your hand before smirking devilishly at you.

“I was only joking, you know, I had always planned to properly propose. But I knew if I did while there was a war going on you might have hexed my nose off, so I’ve been saving this for almost a year now.”

Tears were swimming in both of your eyes, and before Fred could ask, you gave him an answer.

“Yes. I want to marry you, I will marry you, on May 2nd of next year. It’ll be just us and our families. We’ll have loads of peonies and dance to Elvis Presley. I want to be Mrs. Fred Weasley.”

“Are you serious, love, I had a whole speech planned and everything, can’t I just say some of it?”

“Nothing will top me finding that notebook sitting on top of your trunk, but if you want to try…”

“You know what, you’re right, this turned out way better than I planned. It was romantic, you’re crying, the ring looks – oh bloody hell, I haven’t even put the ring on you yet.”

He fumbled with the box and slid the ring onto your finger. It was simple, elegant, and absolutely perfect.

Fred stood up in front of you and brought a hand to your cheek, swiping the pad of his thumb to catch the falling tears.

“We’re getting married,” he whispered as a tear of his own slid down his face.

“Yes, Freddie, we’re getting married.”

#fred weasley x reader #fred weasley fluff #fred weasley imagine #fred weasley angst #fred weasley #hp imagine #hp x reader

[wlwhc]

Witches and Banshees Part 2

Requested by Anonymous.

Words:4.5k+

Warning: none?

Part I

(A/N): You guys requested this a lot so, I tried to write it while the idea was fresh. I didn’t have any plot so this is what my crazy mind thought it would be cool. Also, I haven’t watch Merlin in ages so I kind of create Morgana’s own history, it’s a bit Oc, sorry. Oh and I don’t know if it work but I tried to put the “read more” thingy but I’m on my phone so sorry if it didn’t work

——————————————————————————————————————————– “oh … that’s not good” Deaton’s smiled disappear after hearing you.

“what do you mean?” Scott asks, furrowing his eyebrow in concerned.

“Morgana is one of the most powerful witches that this earth had ever seen” Deaton explained. Lydia had to stop putting the cold piece of wet cloth on your forehead, the temperature of your body was coming back to normal. Stiles was still by your side and Scott was sitting at the end of the improvised bed.

This and a few others. You heard Morgana said with a proud tone

“great! so is mega super powerful, what’s up with that? now Y/N has that power, right? isn’t that good?” Stiles asks not understanding why it was a bad thing that you’re the most powerful witch now.

“well…she doesn’t have the best reputation…” Deaton said, her words were carefully measured, but his tone had a tiny bitter taste.

“again, what do you mean? can you explain better?” Stiles said, earning a glare from Lydia. But what can Stiles do? the boy is impatient to know the fate of his friend, who is going to watch star wars marathons with him?!, he already went through your funeral once, and he can’t take another one. Although he wasn’t the only one that got hit by your death.

“she’s evil, she tried to kill King’s Arthur and Merlin-” Deaton started explaining again, reading the big old book he had carried this whole time.

“wait, Merlin? like… Disney Merlin? the old men with the cone hat?” Stiles interrupts Deaton again, this time Lydia couldn’t help slap his head making you chuckled.

“he obviously talks about the real one you dumbass”

“she’s ruthless, any bad witch at this time can tell you how evil she was, and how hight they speak of her crimes against humanity-” Deaton said.

You could hear Morgana huffing at this.

“she is not like that” You said, making Deaton frown. Scott could smell the anger coming off you.

“how do you know?” Scott asks softly

“I just…she doesn’t seem like that, I’m a witch too, I can see when someone’s corrupted by dark magic, you know that, her light is pure light, brighter than anything I have ever seen, she’s the only one with a white soul in that shitty place…how can that be evil?”  You said, is if the words had always been stuck in your chest.

You had always been so protective of me . Morgana said, her tone bittersweet, you could feel her hand on your shoulder for a brief moment and if you close your eyes you could see her smiling sadly at you. But why?

“hmm…you seem very fond of her” Deaton said when he saw you frowning after you closed your eyes a bit.

“I’m alive thanks to her…it’s the least I can do” You said. Lydia had been watching you, your face was no longer pale, you were finally getting better, but her heart was still shaking with worry, this Morgana person doesn’t seem to be good news.

“I don’t think that’s the reason why you defend her”  You scoff at Deaton’s words, but signaled him to keep talking

“she gave you her power right? but in order to do that she had to combine her soul with yours, that’s how you got her powers” Deaton explained.

“they mixed up their souls?”

“that’s a way to put it stiles, yeah”

“so now, you can hear what she thinks, you know things she knows, you do hear her don’t you Y/N?” Deaton asks you sigh deeply, already tired of the whole situation.

Don’t worry, they’re just worried about you . You hear Morgana said.

“sometimes” You answered and Deaton nods.

“hmm…there’s still something I do not understand very well” He speaks after a little bit of silence, it seems like everyone was trapped in their own thoughts.

“yeah, why does she chose you? I don’t want to be mean but, in that place there’s a lot of witches right? maybe even a lot more powerful than you” Stiles said, earning a nod from Deaton.

“that’s true” Scott said

“well, she wants something from her or…maybe you were the only one that could hold such power” Deaton said, deep in thought.

“why is she different from the other witches? it’s like Stiles said, there’s a lot of powerful witches there, she couldn’t just pick the first one that knock at her door right?” Lydia said, squeezing your hand softly.

“The art of magic comes from even longer than humanity. The legend says that entities had teach us how to use and control magic. Magic is unpredictable , even for witches as powerful as Morgana. Magic as its own mind, a lot of covens had chosen magic to be their god-”

“okay so what?” Stiles interrupted Deaton once again, this time was Scott who punch his arm.

“shh let him explain!”

“why is everyone punching me!”  Stiles said, making you chuckled. Your nerd friend sends you a smile.

“Magic is unpredictable, so we could never know what could happen exactly or if a spell will do what we think will do, anything could happen. With this being said, not all the rituals of combining soul have been successful” Deaton said.

“what happened to the failed ones?” Lydia asks

“their souls would evaporate, no other life, no reincarnation, no heaven , hell or purgatory,  just …. the end. There’s only 2 successful rituals and are from a long time ago. Witches and Wizards had tried to learn more about this ritual but given the circumstances, they always end up dead, until a druid find out about the importance of lineage in this ritual” Deaton explained.

“so Y/N has to be related to this witch?” Scott asks.

“picture this, you guys know that in order to make a blood transfusion the donor has to have the same type of blood than the sick person, if not then your body will reject the blood. This is kind of the same, they have to have the same kind of magic and they have to be related in order for her to survive , or at least that’s the theorie on this book.” Deaton explained, making Stiles gasp.

“you’re her grand grand grand grand grand grand grand-” Lydia rolls her eyes at Stiles non-stopping words.

“Stiles we get it-” Scott said smiling.

“grand grand grand kid?!” Stiles stops to breathe

“those are not as much grand as it should be, Morgana comes from the dark age, when magic was forbidden a looooong time ago.” Deaton’s said.

The whole situation was pretty crazy, but you knew that she would have told you if you were her grandkid, well, that would explain why she’s so nice with you, but it’s also pretty weird because she doesn’t treat you as if you were her grandkid, more like a …friend.

“but she would have told me, like some star wars shit “I’m your very old grandmother” kind of shit” You said, making Stiles jump out of her seat with the stars wars reference.

“high five for Star Wars reference!” He said, raising his hand for you. After the high five Deaton’s speaks again.

“what did she said to you?” Deaton asks.

“well, I don’t remember much, but I would remember if she would have told me something like that” You said, this time sitting in the bed no matter how much Lydia and Stiles protests not to. Lydia’s hand was still holding yours and now that you were sit, her other hand was running up and down on your back in a soothing manner.

“hmm maybe she will try to talk to you through dreams, she is going to take the paper of mentor, she has to communicate with you, I can prepare some potions to make you remember your chats with her, and maybe a few for the pain on your attacks” Deaton said walking to the door, her precesence not being necessary anymore by seeing you okay.

“that would be useful, thank you ” Scott said, sighing at the end of his sentence. Her hand running down his face. First it was the problems with this new pack , and now this, being an alfa is hard work.

“now you have to rest” Lydia said, pushing you down to the bed so you can rest. You were not going to say no now that even Scott was sending you the “do what she says” look. After a few minutes of pure silence. They begin to discuss again.

“what we do now? she can’t go to school what if she has another episode?” Lydia said to Scott.

“yeah, it’s not safe plus is very hard to hide her dark eyes and dark…everything” Stiles says.

“the best is for you to stay at your house, I’ll stay with you” Lydia said with worry in her eyes,  grabbing your hand once again.

“I had been taking care of myself all this time, I can still do it-” You begin saying but they wasn’t listening to you anymore.

“we will take turns” Scott said, liking the idea.

“yeah! we will take turns, I’ll go after Lydia” Stiles said.

“then I’ll go after Stiles, and I’m pretty sure Malia will want to help-”

“Derek likes you he’s probably going to help too-” Stiles said now, adding another person to bother.

“oh and Liam said that he wanted to watch some movies with you so we also have his help-” Scott add another one, great.

“that’s too many people” You said, you already despite the idea of being treated like a baby, much worse bothering the whole pack.

“yeah, let’s just keep it with the tree of us and if you guys can’t do it I’ll take the turn” Lydia said once she saw your distress. You already were an introvert person that didn’t like much the idea of being surrounded by people, so the best for you was just having one person helping you, and that person had to be her.

“are you sure? Malia could also help-” Scott tried to say but Lyda stops him.

“we need someone that takes care of Y/N, not eat her or the delivery man-” Lydia said, remembering that time Malia almost bites the delivery boy after he had tried to flirt with her and refuse to give her the pizza.

“I already apologized for it!” Malia said standing at the door with a few pizza boxes on her hand.

“Hey Malia” You said smiling at her. She rushes to you and hugs you, earning a “be careful” from Lydia.

“you look like shit” She says after the hug, making you chuckled.

“Malia!” Stiles exclaims.

“what? she looks like shit but hey! you’re alive” She saids happy to see her friend okay.

“she’s always so sweet” You joked.

“I bought you a few pizzas so you can feel better!” She said opening one of the boxes, the smell of the food making you feel sick again.

“I don’t think I can eat anything right now Mal, you can eat it” You said. Lydia looks at you with concern, she knows that you don’t have the best eating habits and sometimes even forget to do it , so there’s was a probability that you haven’t been eating well or at all. She made a mental note to force you to eat later.

“oh okay I’ll eat for you!” Malia said already biting a piece of pizza.

“I want some!” Stiles says, but Malia didn’t let him, they started fighting for the box.

“oh god are you two going to fight for a slice of pizza!?” You said laughing when Mal growls at Stiles and he does it too but sounds like a dying cat.

Meanwhile, Lydia was talking with Scott about you.

“ugh, and you want them to take care of Y/N? they couldn’t even take care of Liam when he had the flu” Lydia says, watching Mal trying to eat all the boxes of pizza so Stiels can have any.

“yeah you’re right, I’ll call Derek-” Scott said but Lydia send him a glare.

“no no, I can take care of her” She says, trying to sound casual, but Scott could hear how fast her heart was beating, he had noticed for a long time now. He smiles at her.

“Lydia I know you care about her but-” He starts saying but Lydia stops him again.

“but what? you spend most of the time with Malia or the new pack, Stiles is always with you, I’m the only one that had actually care about her, I’ll keep her safe, if I need anything I’ll call you” She says with pleading eyes. She was right though, everyone seem to be busy, and she was the only one available…she also wanted to spend more time with you and make sure you don’t die again but you don’t know that.

“…okay, fine, but promise me you will call” Scott said putting his hand on her shoulder.

“don’t worry , I’ll make sure she’s okay” ——————————————————————————————————————————– After Lydia has shove 2 plates of food at your face, it was time for you to rest. She had been all the time by your side, making sure you were okay. After this you thought it was impossible for your crush on her to increase its level, but now, now everytime she looks at you or talks with you can see the hearts flying around you and those stupid butterflies having a party in your stomach. And now she’s here helping you with everything and being so sweet with you , you can help but melt.

“okay, everything is settled! all you have to do now is close those beautiful eyes of yours and sleep” She said once you had your pajamas on. She had currently made you sleep on her house so she can keep an eye on you, plus your house scares her a little bit at night, so here you are now, on her room with her pink pajamas on.

“thank you Lyds, even though this is completely unnecessary-” You said, you had fight against the idea of sleeping on her bed , but she insisted and also threatens you to try to sleep on the floor, and after she tried to scream you ran to the her bed.

“oh hush…I care about you, I’m just trying to help” She said laying down to the bed next to you. Her words making you blush, she cares about you. You could feel Morgana glaring at her.

“…I care about you too” You said, hiding your face with the blankets. Lydia smile softly at this. Thank god her bed is big so you can be as far away from her as posible, you’re sure than the close proximity would probably cause you a heart attack.

“..good” She said, still smiling softly at you.

“good” You repeat, both of you staring at each other not wanting to close your eyes yet. But after a few minutes of silence, Lydia’s voice could be heard.

“sweet dreams” Lydia said, turning around so you would be facing her back, you do the same so both of neither of you would be facing each other.

“night Lyds” You said. Determined to end the day you close your eyes, and right in the moment when you could feel yourself falling asleep, Lydia sneak her arms to your waist, holding you tight, making it impossible for you to stay awake much longer.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— You didn’t know how but you’re walking through a forest, trees and orange leave could be seen everywhere. A voice in your head was telling you to run , but you weren’t scared, you were kind of happy.

“how can you be so slow!” That voice, Morgana.

She appear behind a few trees running around, her hair was a mess but it somehow suit her perfectly, her eyes were brighter than ever, her dark clothes making her stand out a lot from the orange and brown colors. You ran to her, smiling like an idiot, moments like this could be count with a single hand. She has been busy doing gods know what, there was almost no time for you. She hated that, truth be told, her main goal is keep you safe. Sometimes you wouldn’t even bother for her absence, her heart is turning black with each day that passed, and you don’t seem to be of any help. Sometimes she won’t even allowed you to see her, she just doesn’t seem to love you anymore , and that…that’s destroying you. Morgana is slowly ditching your grave without even noticing it.

“Morgana for the love of-Stop running! have you gone mad!?” Her smile was starting to make you dizzy, the hope of her dark heart being all soft for you was always jumping around your mind, but it never seem to be true, you didn’t trust her anymore and still here you are, running around, forgetting about the battle that was happening a few miles away, in your mind not even death seems to be a problem if she’s besides you, she’s all you need..but are you all she needs? the answer is no, and it will always be.

Morgana stops running to look at your sad figure. She frowns, like if she could hear the thousands voices shouting your insecurities in your head. She walks to you, this time with a smirk on her face, her hands found their way to your waist, getting close to her.

“I’m mad in love~” She shouts, smiling at you at the end. That smile, god you missed that smile, a smile that didn’t hold venom behind it or a threat.

“oh hush! If any of your guards hears you-”  The guards weren’t a problem, they were scared of her after all, it was the pain in your chest that was bothering you, your bleeding heart was to tired of hearing lies coming out of her mouth. Morgana sighs at your words.

“they won’t do anything, because I’ll kill them” She says, not a single of importance on the gravity of her word, but you were used to this. You have to, otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to be with her at all.

“and that my dear, is far from being romantic” You joked, trying to at least enjoy this seconds with her, pushing away your dark thoughts. She smiles at you.

“oh I can be romantic but you have to me more polite love” she says playfully

“oh dear Morgana, Queen and Ruler of my heart…would you oh so kindly be a little” You said, getting a little bit closer to her, enough for her to feel your warmth

“tiny” You got a little more closer, this time Morgana’s hand fly to your face, her smirk growing with each word you say.

“bit..more romantic with me” You end up just a few centimetres away from her lips, her smile bigger than you have ever seen

“I don’t see why I should torture you any longer” She mumbles before kissing you. For your surprise, she does not crash your lips against yours with the normal ferocity she is used to use, this time her lips are caressing yours, slowly but surely devouring you, her tongue shyly asking for permission to steal the last straw of sanity you had left, it had passed just a few seconds but it felt like hours, your heart was jumping out of your chest, your hands shaking slightly with excitement. This whole time by her side and you’re still crumbling into her arms like the first time. You were in pure bliss, but like I said, moments like this could be count with a single hand, and they didn’t last long.

“Lady Morgana-Oh I-I apologies I-I-” One of her guards was standing a few meter away from you and Morgana, his eyes wide open like an owl, he didn’t seem to stop stammering, for a moment you had forgotten about how much fear your beloved could spread. She backs away from you , already rushing to the guard, eyes burning with that reddish gold that make your bones tremble.

“ugh why are they always ruining my moments with my beloved!” She says, her voice sending shiver down your spine.

“Lady Morgana-” The guard says, already fearing the worst.

“save it! I’m going to cut your head off!” Morgana take a step ahead, raising her hands, she is going to kill him, and even thought you knew your words will go with the wind, you had to try to stop her.

“Morgana” You said, hugging her from behind, holding her for dear life, well not your life, the guard’s life. “stop…please” You words seem to make her body stiff like an oak, she slowly walks away, with your arms still holding her tight. She sighs and looks at the guard.

“you’re going to forget what you just saw, or I’m going to rip your eyes out” She says grabbing your hands, interlocking her fingers with yours, her breathing becoming calm again.

“Y-yes my lady, I’ll go now” the guard ran away as fast as he could, leaving you and Morgana alone once again.

“I thought we would lose another guard today” You joked, not actually believing that she had stop. You weren’t sure if your pleads had made their way to her cold heart …or maybe she just wasn’t in the mood to kill somebody today.

“well…you did ask nicely my dear” She says, turning around, holding your arms around her figure , making sure that you keep them there. She looks at you with a unreadable gaze, anything could be happening inside her mind, but by the way her eyes were shining with ghostly tears, it couldn’t be good.

“what?” You asked, waiting for her to tell you what was wrong, but it seem to only aggravate the situation, the damn tears were trying to storm off her eyes but she remain strong, not letting them show you how much she was suffering.

“you already found someone else, it’s has been so long I know but…I always thought you would wait for me no matter what…I guess I deserve this, I didn’t treated you right my love…it’s all my fault” She said, her voice weak , breaking in a few words, making your heart cry out in pain. You didn’t understood what she meant but her words were dripping with sincerity.

“what are you talking about? You haven’t lost me I’m right here” You say, holding even tighter. Morgana chuckles, the tears in her eyes disappearing as if they were an hallucination of yours.

“ignore my nonsenses just…kiss me?…please?” She says, and with your heart wanting nothing more but giving her some comfort, you crawl again to her cold arms, not caring about anything else but her. But right when your lips were going to kiss her’s, a voice called your name in the distance.

“Y/N!”

“did you heard that?” You say, the voice sounding really familiar. Morgana sighs at this, a sad gaze taking over her face.

“Y/N please wake up!”

“seriously did you heard that?” You say again , this time looking around you, looking for the familiar voice, your head starting to feel fuzzy and your lungs losing control. Fear was starting  to take over you. You step back from Morgana , breathing uneven and hands sweating.

“it’s nothing Y/N, ignore it” Morgana said, herself becoming worried, her calm persona changing to an exasperated one. She tried to get a hold of your hands but you only back away further.

“Y/N please wake up!”

“no wait-ugh my head” You head felt like it was going to explode, the pain was too much for you to bear, you cry out in pain and Morgana rushes to aid you. She holds you in her arms, but she didn’t seem scared or worried anymore, she looks sad, the tears that she tried to hide before were now spilling non-stop.

“come here” She says, making you on her lap, her hands on your head making the pain ease a little, but not enough to help you. Then the words you weren’t expected for her to say could be heard.

“shh…you’ll wake up soon” She says, and with that everything went black. ——————————————————————————————————————————– It was already noon, Lydia had let you sleep more because she thought you need it. Right when she went to wake you up, she saw your trembling figure, sweat covering you skin and a thin trail of blood running down your nose. She panic, doing everything to wake you up but nothing seem to work.

“Y/N come on! wake up!” She was starting to considering calling Scott but right when she grabbed her phone, you jumped out of the bed.

“holy sh-” You grabbed your head, the pain had disappear…but so did Morgana. Lydia rushes to you, being careful to give you space but the urge of hugging you was winning.

“hey hey, it’s okay, it was just a dream-Y/N it’s okay you’re safe” She can’t help but tried to hold you in her arms, and you let her. She embraces you in a hug, caressing your hair, not caring how sweaty you were.

“oh god, Lydia” You mumbled, your breathing calming down a little bit. Lydia’s soft reassuring words had help you calm down.

“what’s wrong Y/N? what did you dream?” She asked you softly , she felt as if she was walking on broken glass, she didn’t want to distress you further.

“Lydia I don’t think I’m her granddaughter” You said, stepping out of her embrace, you walk away, searching for your clothes , Deatons needs to know this, more specifically, Deaton needs to answer some questions.

“what? what do you mean?” Lydia asks, watching worried as you search for your clothes.

“I think…I think I was with her” You said , not seeing your clothes anywhere.

“with her? as in the same place or like..?” Lydia stops you , putting her hands on your shoulder so you could look at her.

“I think I am her girlfriend” You said, looking at her with wide eyes. Lydia does not other thing but frown at this, she looks upset.

“okay even if that’s true, you were her girlfriend, okay? were… she’s dead remember?” She said, putting an emphasis in a few words. She’s right though, Morgana is dead, why does that make you feel so bad?

“…yeah…right” You said sighing deeply, returning to look for your clothes.

“you look sad, why do you look sad? isn’t she evil?” She said, her voice raising a few tones, okay now you’re sure she’s pissed, probably for the whole mess you’re making by searching for your clothes. Lydia walks away from the room and returns with your clothes.

“I wash them silly” She said throwing them at your face.

“I need to see Deaton” You said signing her for turn around. You quickly change your clothes.

“I’ll go with you” Lydia said once she saw you walk away from her room.

“okay, hurry let’s go”

Deaton has to know anything about Morgana having a beloved one. And as much as you wish this is not real, it is. Morgana hasn’t said a word since you woke up , but she probably already knows that…you miss her

#lydia martin #lydia martin x reader #lydia x reader #stiles stilinski #scott mccall #malia tate #the pack x reader #morgana pendragon #morgana #morgana x reader #teen wolf #teen wolf x reader #teen wolf imagines #teen wolf fanfic #teen wolf imagine #lydia martin imagine #lydia martin imagines #fem!reader #wlw #wlwhc

[queenofairandsnarkness]

five places rhaenys never ended up?

i.) rhaenys of themyscira

It was easy to pretend that she had known nothing but her many mother-sisters, nothing but the sands and swords of her home.

But taking the easy way was to deny the truth, and she would not shame her family so.

Io had found her, small and bleeding, near Hestia’s temple, wrapped in a bedsheet and trying to be silent.

(The cat, though, had yowled loud enough to raise the dead. There was something peculiar about that cat, Io always said.)

Io, taller than anyone, even the Princess, and wider still across the shoulders, had picked the girl up as if she was made of glass and carried her to Epione.

The girl had lived, despite the blood she had lost and the wounds she had taken.

(Faruka claimed it showed strength, Menalippe that she was favored by the gods. Epione and Althea claimed it good healing work. The Queen merely sighed with a little smile she had frequently worn when the Princess was a child, and not... well, the Princess, and everyone had argued in a similar way.)

When she woke, she watched them all with eyes as round as shields, and told them what she remembered of the men with swords, and her mother’s screams.

She stayed with them, and her nights ended with fewer screams, after a while.

(It was an affliction they were familiar with, if not in a child so young.)

She took to trailing behind Magala, which was a bit strange, but the sorceress was patient. She also haunted Althea, all smoky curls and steady hands in the healer’s rooms. She stayed with Io, though, in a spare room over the forge, where she was quiet and mended things, save for the moments she sang.

(Io chased the musicians away, because if Althea did it, then there would be no peace.)

So the girl had grown, and none had minded when she hid when Steve Trevor arrived, and the contest came. She was still very young- eight, at most.

Ten years later, the barriers... didn’t come down, not properly, but someone (Athena, Menalippe claimed) made it permeable.

There were, the Princess said thoughtfully, other girls of a similar age, working to make the world a better place, and that Rhaenys might benefit from learning from them.

All the Amazons were surprised when their solemn little shadow looked at her, bit her lip, and said, “That might be a good idea.”

ii.) Nell of Dorne (By Way of Camelot)

Someone had pinched his ear. Someone smaller than him, with non-knightly hands. Calloused, though.

He managed to twist enough to see a mass of black curls and scars peeping from Nell’s sleeve. Morgana’s pet harper was even younger than him, if not by much, a Dornish girl who made melodies clever enough that even Arthur paid attention. In return she was ferociously loyal to Morgana. (Also Gwen.)

“What did I do now?” Merlin asked. She dragged him to a storeroom, not letting go of his ear.

“You drugged Morgana,” she accused, jamming a finger in his face. 

He blinked, trying to figure out what she knew. “The sleeping draught? Technically, that was Gaius.”

“Sleeping drought? Stranger wept, whatever you were doing is driving her mad,” the harper said. “I gave her lavender and poppy tea instead the last two nights, and it seems to have fixed it, but if you try it again, I will slice you neck to navel.”

Merlin gulped. Nell was nice enough, mostly. Right up until you... threatened her friends. Then she seemed to think she was a terrifying giant dragon.

And what did he go and do.

“I- I- It was supposed to keep her calm,” he said finally. “From dreaming.”

Nell huffed. “Oh, this is about that seven-damned ban. I would love to take her to... not Asshai, that would be horrible for her, but perhaps Braavos?”

He blinked. How did she?

“There was a magical fire in her room. When she was having nightmares,” she said, dryly. “Oddly, despite our friendship, I seem to lack that willful blindness everyone else seems to cultivate.”

“There may be people... closer,” he tried, wondering how much to hint. She scowled. 

“Oh, yes, the paranoid King prone to lashing out and refusing to admit he is wrong will gladly allow his niece to live with... Merlin, are you listening to yourself?” she asked. “That is thoughtless on par with the Silver Prince himself.”

“Who?” Merlin asked, tilting his head.

“It would be best to ask me again when the Dornish sour comes in,” she said, pinching her nose. “I know a few tricks that may help her, for now.” She gave a bitter grin before sweeping a finger across the scar marring her cheek. “I know something of bad dreams.”

Somehow, that translated to shooting a sorceress with a crossbow, nearly getting herself banished, and extracting a promise to help her if she needed it. Morgana did stop setting things on fire accidentally, though.

(Which was when the Lannister delegation arrived, and it turned out little Nell was actually Princess Rhaenys and had a price on her head. Also, that her brother had an army, though Nell had apparently not known that. He’d sent her to Gwaine, who agreed to keep her safe and probably needed to be kept on his toes. He didn’t get why Morgana kept laughing.)

iii.) Renee Rhodes

“Sorry, no, you fucked up, you don’t get our mini-Rhodey,” Tony said, and Auntie Pepper was nodding. Her dad looked furious and like it was a really, really good thing that he was mostly a responsible adult who was not in his suit right now. Spidey was at her shoulder, which was... well, he was younger than her, but he could also bench press a car.

Thor, weirdly, was even glaring at them. Though given Renee’s burn-proofing and the bit where he was GOD OF THUNDER, she was willing to give that a pass until she and Friday could talk it over privately later.

“Her father-” the man- who was apparently her bio uncle, and she could see it, actually, they had the same nose and hair and way of flattening their mouths when they got mad.

“Is right here,” Rhodey said. “I raised her, was there when Renee was sick, taught her to ride a bike and drive a car, had her educated, and did a lot more for her than a man who you said left her and her brother for some teenager.”

“I want to teach her to fly a suit,” Tony said, and that was why he was her favorite not-allowed-to-call-him-uncle. “Also, I taught her to shoot.”

“I remember yelling at you for that,” Dad agreed. “You also taught her basic coding, which is... better. Much better.”

“Could I learn to shoot?” Spidey asked.

“Tony had me sit though so many lessons before I held the gun,” she whispered. “So many.” Also, it had been... just post cave-escape. And Obie’s black-hat reveal, and apparently he’d gone a little overprotective vis-a-vis his goddaughter. 

“Is Tywin Lannister among the dead?” Thor asked, and Renee went still at the look on her bio-uncle’s face.

“Not yet,” her bio-uncle said.

“Then Princess Renee is in grave danger going there,” Thor said, simply. “Until Lannister and his puppets are dead.”

“Well,” Spidey said, “at least we aren’t taking over this planet?”

“No planets until she’s thirty,” Tony said.

“Co-parenting,” Renee hissed at Spidey, who choked.

Seriously, she occasionally wondered if her dad and Uncle Tony were more than soft-bros, but Auntie Pepper had staying power. Also, was awesome.

Adorable ruthless dorks in love and all that.

Also, the Rescue armor was much, much less in scope then a planet. Between that an Spidey, twenty-one for solo piloting should work.

iv. Sophia Potter

“Your friend is deeply annoying,” said a voice from behind a stack of books.

James laughed. “How did you find Sirius annoying now?”

“You know, that shouldn’t be the first thing that pops in your head,” his sister said, poking her head out from around the books. “You have more than one friend, you know. If your mind just... leaps to Sirius being the problem, then clearly you agree that there is one.”

“Sophia,” he said, “I think the Prewett twins set up bets on you and Sirius fighting.”

She sighed. “He’s planning on dragging me to Hogsmeade tomorrow.”

“You like arguing with Sirius,” James pointed out. “You say I’m too nice, Remus and Peter get too upset, and...”

“You give me sad looks if I argue with Lily,” Sophia agreed. “Sirius said that I’m working myself too hard, and I’ll end up locked in some tower if I keep it up.”

James couldn’t argue- Lily and Marlene had frogmarched her to lunch, Sirius had badgered her to dinner last night, and he was getting her to dinner now. Remus agreed to coax her to go upstairs, at least, later. There were dark circles under her eyes, and he wondered if she’d crack and ask for Dreamless Sleep soon, or if she’d writing in her carefully annotated and encoded notebook.

(Having a Seer for a near-twin was worrying, a lot. Especially when she wasn’t a normal seer, but had dreams like tea-leaves and tarot cards with occasional flashes of events.)

“He’s worried about you,” James admitted. “Soph, we all are.”

“I’m more worried about you,” she admitted, biting her lip. “Promise me...” she sighed. “Gah, I don’t even know exactly what to ask you to promise.”

“I’ll be careful?” he tried.

She shot him a deeply skeptical, deeply hurtful look. It would have been entirely undeserved... if she hadn’t been there when he attempted a Wronski Feint when he was nine. Or through the Animagus transformation. Or when he’d gotten in a duel with Mulciber and Avery and their friends. Or...

Okay, maybe a little deserved.

“There will come a choice,” she said, slightly dreamily. “And you’ll have to choose between blunt loyalty and sheer cleverness.”

“Can you see what I should choose?” he asked, a shiver down his spine. For a second, he thought he smelled the sea, mixing with the smoke from the fires.

“Just the choice,” she said, after a long moment. “There is always just the choice.”

v. rhaenys tully, lady of riverrun

Aegon did not understand, when she smiled as Father told her who she would wed.

The princess, no, not that one, the Dornish one, as if they meant to say the lesser one, though Rhaenys was Father’s favorite, though she was cleverer than Aegon with people, and better at sums to boot, and was much more practical than Daenerys. As if Father had not told her that he would have made her Princess of Dragonstone if he could, that she would have been an excellent queen, but the only way that would have worked would have been over the corpses of Aegon, Viserys, and Daenerys. And even then, she’d probably find herself tied to the Baratheons.

Rhaenys would not have wanted to be Queen- she liked the work, trying to find solutions, but she did not enjoy being around presses of people, preferring the quiet. Her cousins had teased her for it, once, but they stopped soon enough when they realized that she was still good at practical things.

(Occasionally those practical things were jokes.)

But for Aegon to die? No, never. That couldn’t happen.

She watched as her parents paraded young unmarried lords and ladies for her brother and herself. (Viserys was set to wed Shyra Hall, the cool, steady lady of Haystack Hall, who had rendered him completely undignified. It was quite entertaining. Daenerys was still uncertain, but she suspected if her aunt met a pretty young lord the King and Queen would listen. Baelor Brightsmile had a son about Rhaenys’ age, after all.)

Lord Brandon Stark’s son was nice enough, but closer to Dany’s age, and Aegon was clearly fascinated with his sister. Who seemed... sweet? Up until you realized how terribly capable she was of remembering things about people, and after a few years with Mother, the naivete would mellow into sincerity. 

(Also, the boy was clearly smitten with Lady Jeyne Westerling, who did need a good husband and wouldn’t find the North too much of a challenge.)

There had been others, including a rather... memorable one from the Tyrells, and Rhaenys had slipped off into the garden for a moment to try and calm herself. (Aegon had found a lady who was acceptable, and Rhaenys could perhaps live in Sunspear with Arianne and keep the accounts.)

“Hullo?” came a voice. “Is anyone here?”

She froze.

“I got turned around a bit,” he said, sounding embarrassed. “I just need to get back inside.”

Blue and red, with fish, she thought. Plus the resemblance to Lady Catelyn and her daughter, therefore, Lord Edmure Tully, heir to Riverrun. 

“The roses have overgrown a bit from that angle,” she called. “It hides the door.”

“I could make a jape about roses and entrances,” Lord Edmure said, warmly, “but it seems a bit rude.” 

“As Lady Olenna was terribly rude about my mother’s health,” Rhaenys started, before biting off her words. She did like Lord Willas, and more to the point, Allyria deeply liked Lord Willas, and she would not make her friend’s life harder. 

“Ah, not terribly tactful, that woman,” Lord Edmure said, coming close enough. Could he see her? She wasn’t quite sure- the garden had been designed with Lady Shiera in mind, and tended to play tricks on the eye. “Made a similar comment about my father.”

“I am sorry to hear that, my lord,” Rhaenys said. “My brother and I begged tales of the Ninepenny Kings off your father and uncle when last they were in the city, and they were kind to two ill-behaved children.”

“Well, he had three,” Lord Edmure shrugged. “Maybe not Cat, but Lysa and I. Plus Petyr.” He rounded the corner, and his eyes widened. “And I was supposed to say the princess could never be ill-behaved, wasn’t I?”

She laughed while he went red as his tunic. “Oh, my lord, my mother would call you a wretched liar if you did.” She waved toward the garden entrance. “There is a hallway there, if you would like to make a discreet re-entry?”

“Discreet would be good,” he said, nodding a bit. “Shall I see you at the feast?”

“I will be delighted,” she said, surprised that she was being truthful in that answer.

Though she still had to brave the crowds, at least she knew there was another friendly face. 

#rhaenys targaryen #i write stuff #crossover #Anonymous