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tiredcowboyy · 15 days

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I cant stop thinking ab the idea of merlin one day post s5, where they all survived, becoming really secretive and protective of his room and not telling anyone at all whats inside. Not even gaius. He even gets a lock installed and whenever anybody asks he brushes it off with jokes like “its to stop arthur from finding me” or smth.

he also unrelatedly really hates any talk of destiny, going to war, and anytime morgana mentions her fear of her magic turning her merlin slightly freaks out.

That is until one day gaius manages to catch merlin off guard while hes rushing between the main room and his bedroom and walks in.

Only to see a whole bunch of stuff that hes never seen before.

Merlin freaks out, tries to play it off as some weird experiments and stuff hes been collecting but gaius can feel it, somethings different about these items, not wrong but not right. Not really magic either.

It takes 3 weeks of gaius pestering him before merlin breaks and explains to him that he IS A TIME TRAVELER. after the battle of camlan as we know it that lead to arthurs death, merlin did wait, he really did, but in the year 2020 when arthur didnt return for yet another global crisis, merlin broke and did spell upon spell until he figured out how throw himself back in time.

And holy shit did it work well. He managed to come back just at the perfect time to change everything that needed to be done to assure that everyone lives happily and safely, and when he realises hes done it, he decides to stay in this time. See his friends and family grow old as they should have. See arthur rule as he should have. Live the life he has been craving to go back to for centuries now.

Until a month in he realises how old everything is. Sure merlin can survive without his phone and stuff but theres a few things he really misses. Like his slippers, his potato peeler, his favourite hoodie, and especially his favourite tea flavours.

So once in a while he allowed himself to go back to the modern day and bring one thing back. He started with a scented candle, because candles exist in camelot and having one here shouldn’t mess up time right? Then moved onto a herbal tea that he knows if he traveled past the boarders he may be able to find similar ingredients.

Then he brings a new release of his favourite book series because he cant help it and realises small things like that dont change time.

And so thats what he’s been hiding away in his room, all of his modern day stuff. Ranging from trinkets hes collected over his life to his favourite scarf to his stuffed lion that he won at a fair in the 80s. He doesn’t go back often, only when his tea runs out or he really needs something, he tries to limit it he really does.

It takes gaius another 4 weeks to wrap his head around it all. Another 2 weeks after that to touch merlins stuffed lion thinking it may attack him at any moment.

He makes gaius promise to not tell a soul, offering him tea bags as payment. They have a nice system from then on, gaius would try a new flavour of tea everytime merlin returned, once in a while he would also bring a modern day snack (gaius yelled when he first tried salt and vinegar crisps).

A yell which led to leon finding out. And so a cycle began.

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gaelic-holiday · 1 year

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New fic idea: Merlin tells everyone he has magic right from the start, but no one believes him.

Arthur: How did you manage to bring me rolls that are still warm, Merlin?

Merlin: Magic, sire. (with a teasing grin)

Arthur: Haha, very funny, Merlin

Gwen: How did the poultice you gave me heal my father?

Merlin: Magic.

Gwen: You can tell me me the truth, Merlin. I know you're not foolish enough to use magic in Camelot.

Merlin: I really, really am.

Gwain: How do you keep not dying when we run into bandits?

Merlin: I use my magic to protect myself.

Gwaine: Lol, nice one, Merlin.

Leon: Hey Merlin, why are you reading from a book that looks like a book of sorcery?

Merlin: Oh, because I have magic and am studying spells so I can use it better.

Leon, laughing: If you say so, Merlin.

Percival: Hey Merlin, how do you get the fire started so quickly?

Merlin: Magic. Forbearn is a really easy spell.

Percival, laughing: Alright, fine. Keep your secrets, 'oh mystical sorcerer'.

Elyan: And where do you keep disappearing to, Merlin?

Merlin: Oh, just saving Arthur from whatever assasin or magical threat crops up this week!

Elyan, playing along: Oh really? And which was it when you missed going to the tavern with us?

Merlin, completely serious: Morgause sent a swarm of enchanted birds to try and rip out Arthur's heart.

Elyan: You have a strange sense of humour, Merlin.

Uther: And how, precisely, did you survive the encounter you've just described?

Merlin: I used magic.

Uther:...I have no idea why my son seems to like you so much. You're an idiot.

Arthur: Hey, he's my idiot. And my idiot is just the kind of person to joke about having magic to the king of Camelot.

Merlin: Why do you assume I'm joking?

Arthur: See what I mean?

Lancelot, the only person besides Gaiuss that actually knows about Merlin's magic: How on earth do you keep that a secret?

Merlin: I don't. I use magic in front of literally everyone, and no one believes me.

Lancelot: You're joking.

Merlin: I literally use magic to fill Arthur's tub in front of him every day, and he assumes I'm joking about having it.

Gaius, very distressed: Merlin, you really should be more careful with your magic.

Merlin, calls Arthur over: watch this trick!

Merlin, summons a glowing, clearly magic butterfly in front of Arthur: Isn't magic neat?

Arthur, patting Merlin on the shoulder: Like you could ever learn magic, Merlin. Make sure you polish my armor again, will you?

Merlin: Why, do you intend to use it as a mirror?

Arthur: *flips Merlin off and walks away*

Merlin: See Gaius? Perfectly safe.

Gaius:...

Merlin: If it wasn't so convenient for me, I'd be very worried about how unobservant our future king is.

#merlin #fic ideas #merthur #they're idiots your honor

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that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction · 2 months

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Merlin characters as shit me and my friends have said

(Requested Part 2)

Gwaine: It tastes like if gay was a flavour. But an artificial one, like strawberry that doesn’t taste like strawberry. … I don’t know, I drank too much gay. Wine. Shit. What?

Percival seeing Arthur throw money at a problem for the first time: Rich people are bloody terrifying, what the fuck?!

Merlin: That’s not angst, that’s just a random Tuesday. … oh, yeah okay. Point taken.

Leon: Huh. That is… surprisingly sound logic for you. Are you feeling okay?

Morgana: I’ve both given and received death threats for less.

Gwen, after becoming a deer: Well that wasn’t on my bucket list but at least it’s checked off.

Leon to Gwaine: Empty your pockets and give back the pickles. … why aren’t they in the fucking jar?!

Merlin to the knights at the shrine: I know logic isn’t exactly your strongest suit but I’m gonna need you arse wipes to take the two brain cells you have collectively and attempt to rub them together to get one singular coherent thought here.

Gwaine to Arthur: The risk was calculated, I just never specified that I am notoriously shit at math.

Merlin after doing something nice for Mordred: Don’t mention it. No seriously, don’t fucking mention it. Ever.

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ink-through-her-veins · 1 year

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Leon isn’t surprised when he finds a dragon beneath Camelot. Nothing can surprise him anymore. Not after Arthur started to show actual concern for a person beside himself. At this point he’s actually convinced that he’s living in an alternate universe crafted from some sorcerer’s curse where he will be walking into bizarre situations for the rest of his life.

So when he wanders past two passed out guards and follows Merlin’s voice into a secret cavern he takes the gigantic scaled beast’s presence in stride, which is better than how Merlin takes his.

“I’m Leon,” Leon introduces himself as Merlin gapes like a fish and looks like he’s going to pass out. “And you are?”

“Kilgarrah,” the beast grumbles as he levels a withering stare at the Prince’s manservant.

“A friend of Merlin’s I take it. It’s nice to meet you.” Leon nearly offers the dragon his hand as though the giant lizard could shake it. Then he turns to Merlin, informs him that Arthur is looking for him and wanders out of the cave.

Perhaps his life is a fever dream he thinks as he walks past Arthur’s chambers and hears the Prince screaming at a poor servant who has the misfortune of not being Merlin.

“Where is Merlin!?!”

It must be a dream, Leon thinks, as Arthur hasn’t learned the name of a servant in years, better yet forced the entire castle to search ‘every room, closet and corner’ for one.

And as the months turn to years and the bizarre becomes ordinary, Leon finds himself searching out the cavern just to have someone to talk to who understands that he’s fine with the fact that he’s gone crazy.

#merlin #headcannons #fanfic #leon the long suffering #Kilgarrah is an awful therapist #but Leon’s convinced it’s all a hallucination anyway #Camelot is insane #merlin bbc #bbc Merlin #Sir Leon #ITHVmerthurficlet

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imagine-to-be-a-pike · 3 months

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Arthur didn't love Gwen and for Gwen, Arthur was a crush. A prince with a nice smile that made all the girls giggle. but as time passes, Gwen understands. He understands that this is not it. First she thinks it's because she's a maid. And then Merlin shows up and Gwen suddenly understands. She wasn't the problem. All the fascinated glances that Arthur had been sending to the knights since his teenage years suddenly make sense. The goo-goo eyes which he did to Leon. Suddenly it all makes sense. And over time it doesn't hurt. It actually makes her laugh. Besides, Arthur is a really good friend, but... she doesn't think she would want such a partner.

#one-sided argwen supermancy #agrwen #gwen is great and understands things #Arthur #for example #doesn't #merthur #arthur pendragon #Arthur's first deep crush was Leon. Nobody will change my thinking #(poor Leon)#merlin bbc #merlin #the once and future fandom #sir leon #GAY ARTHUR PENDRAGON #HE DOESN'T LIKE WOMEN #Like cmon

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krug3r2312 · 2 years

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*ranting to the knights about Arthur*

Merlin: I mean It's not like I'm asking for much, just a thank you for washing his clothes four times a week would be nice

Lancelot: He has you wash his clothes four times a week?!

Merlin: The prat changes clothes around 2-4 times a bloody day

Gwaine: 2-4 TIMES?!

Merlin: Yep, must be great wearing what ever you want and having people to do your laundry for you everyday

Leon: tell me about it, I have to wash my own clothes twice a week and I don't even have enough to change even twice a day.

Percival: Yeah me too

Gwaine: Pfft, amateurs . I haven't done laundry in six months.

Elyan: So you wear the same grotty ass underwear everyday?!

Gwaine: Yep, one pair will last me four days, I go front, I go back, i go inside out. then, I go front and back.

Lancelot: *Gags*

Elyan: Wow, that is both disgusting and awesome

Percival 100% done with his boyfriends shit: Don't encourage him

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chloe-skywalker · 1 year

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Magic Divide - Arthur Pendragon (Part 2)

Arthur x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

Word count: 2,554

Summary: Now in Y/n’s kingdom Arthur has some making up to do.

Authors Note: Maybe a part3 ? I’m thinking about it. Like Arthur see her do magic and getting to understand it.

Masterlist

BBC Merlin Masterlist

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It didn’t take them more than a day and a night to reach Valmore. As soon as they reached the city Morgana quickly caught eyes on Y/n. She jumped off her horse and practically ran over to the y/h/c-ed girl, everyone else followed in Morgana’s direction.

“Y/n!” Morgana yelled out happily.

“Morgana?” Y/n questioned with a furrowed brow as she turned around to fcae where she heard her name called from. Upon seeing who she thought she heard calling her name. Y/n moved away from her knights, handing her horse's reins off to one of them, meeting Morgana halfway in a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“You said to visit anytime.” Morgana smiled at the princess.

“I know I did. I just didn’t think you would so soon. Don’t get me wrong I’m happy you're here. All of you” Y/n smirked happily to have them in her home. Her gaze went across everyone but it lingered a little longer on Arthur before she cast her eyes down.

“What happened to your arm?” Merlin asked with a worried expression after everyone had greeted eachother with smiles.

With Merlin's question, all of them turned their eyes to Y/n’s arm. Noticed the not so pretty gash on her bicep. It was obviously healing and had been stitched up nicely.

“Oh, this?” Y/n pointed to her upper right arm. She shrugged, compared to other injuries she’s had this was a cakewalk. “Happened when I was training. Hadn’t done it in so long I botched a move and well this happened.”

Everyone felt shocked at how she addressed her wound as nothing. But then Arthur spoke up. “Are you ok?”

Y/n looked up at the blonde prince again and nodded before answering. “Yeah, I’ve had worse. Especially when it comes to training.”

Arthur nodded in understanding but it didn’t stop his concern.

“Was it a sword? Or-” Leon asked wondering what made the slightly jagged cut.

“No, no. Swordfighting I wasn’t rusty at.” Y/n shook her head at the young knight. “This came from hand to hand combat. Kind of- a few moves I was rusty at which made me mess up and fall. This cut I got from a very sharp nasty rock.”

Leon nodded in understanding. Gwen stepped forward with a worried look before she asked. “You’ve had worse? That bruise on your upper back looks horrid.”

The others had to agree the bruise looked worse than the healing cut.

“Oh, if only you’ve seen how into it we can all get when it comes to hand to hand.” Y/n smiled letting out an amused laugh. Things were different here than in Camelot. “We go full out. No holding back. Lots of dislocations, torn muscles, cuts, all of it.”

“Women fight?” Gwaine raised his brow in shock and it showed on his face.

Y/n smirked at their shocked faces, so she continued to explain. “In my kingdom, women are warriors, Knights, fighters. We don’t discourage women from wanting to join in on those kinds of things. We encourage them.”

“But the princess?” Lancelot raised one brow in a teasing manner, having seen her fight before unlike most of the others.

“Haha, Lancelot.” Y/n playfully glared at him. “Yes, even the princess. I should know how to defend myself and my kingdom, and my people.”

Y/n spared a glance to Arthur, trying to read his feelings on the words she had said.

“Well, we should probably go up to the Castle.” Morgana suggested with a proud smile on her face. She truly wished she could spend some time in Valmore, enough to learn skills in combat. Maybe even something more magical.

“Yes. I bet you're all tired from the journey. Follow me and my knights. We’ll escort you.” Y/n nodded in agreement to Morgana’s words.

Y/n headed over to her horse, as she went to get up Arthur noticed a slight grimace came across her face as she mounted her horse.

“Do you need some help?” Arthur asked stepping closer to just in case her arm gave out as she pulled herself up onto the saddle.

“No, I uh. I get it.” She answered flustered to having him so close after so long of being apart. Once she was up on the horse she looked down at Arthur with a small smile on her lip. “As I said, I’ve had worse injuries than this. They’ve never stopped me before.”

With that said Y/n escorted her friends from Camelot up to the castle. Once they got their Y/n and her knights took them into the throne room where her parents were currently. After getting them arrangements to stay for as long as they want. With that everyone was shown to their rooms.

It was the next day when everyone decided to do some training in the morning. Some from Camelot had come down to watch Y/n train.

And she wasn’t kidding when she said they trained hardcore.

“Should she be fighting with her arm?” Merlin asked out to anyone that would give him an answer. He winced as he watched his friend fight.

“No.” Arthur answered leaning against the waist high wall. He to was concerned about her but she could hold her own, he knew that. Arthur was more concerned about her fighting and breaking open the freshly healed wound. “No, she shouldn't be, Merlin.”

“Well, are you just going to stare and watch her or go over and talk to her?” Morgana spoke giving Arthur a knowing look.

Arthur glanced Morgana's way before turning his attention back to Y/n. “She’s in the middle of a fight. She needs to concentrate on that.”

“Y/n wasn’t kidding when she said they don’t hold back.” Leon commented as he to watched the training.

Gwen agreed. “Yeah. They really go hard at one another.”

“She’s fighting with men.” Lancelot stated impressed.

“And winning.” Morgana stated proudly.

“She can hold her own.” Merlin nodded in agreement before asking Arthur another question. “When are you going to talk and make up.”

“When I can get her alone.” Arthur told him refraining from rolling his eyes.

“Good luck with that. She’s always surrounded by her knights.” Merlin countered with a tilt of his head.

“They're her friends.” Gwen tried to defend but Morgana cut in wanting to join in on Merlin’s pestering of Arthur.

“Their also men.” Morgana smirked. There were a few girls as well but if she wanted to get at Arthur. Mention all the other men around the girl he loves.

Merlin sucked in a breath in a teasing manner. “She seems very close to knight Jon and Knight Wardlow.”

“I get it okay?” Arthur snapped at them. He didn’t need to be told what he was seeing with his own eyes. Not that he’d admit it but he did feel jealous.

^ ^ ^

It was the next day that Arthur found a moment to get Y/n alone to talk.

“Y/n!” Arthur yelled after her down the hallway.

“Arthur.” Y/n said as she turned around to look at the prince as he came to a stop in front of her.

“Can we talk?” Arthur asked and he glanced nervously to the knights that were beside her.

Y/n stood still just watching him for a moment before giving him a ‘yes’ nod.

“You gonna be okay?” Knight Darby asked the princess with a look Arthur couldn’t decipher.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” Y/n nodded sending Darby a grateful nod for checking first. She was indeed close with her knights and when she came back she had told them what had happened. So they were on edge about leaving her alone with the prince of Camelot.

“If not just yell out. I won’t be far.” Knight Jon stated with narrowed eyes pinned on the young prince. Which was very intimidating to Arthur. He’d seen the man fight, he was pure violence.

“Hmmm” Wardlow hummed and nodded in agreement with his fellow knight and friend. Y/n nodded as the 3 men walked to the end of the hallway not so subtly watching.

“What is on your mind Prince Arthur?” Y/n asked shifting on her feet.

“Can we talk in private?” he sighed not feeling comfortable being watched with what he wanted to talk about.

“Of course.” Y/n gulped nodding before turning and giving her knights a wave. Told them it was okay and to stay. So her and Arthur headed into the nearest room. “What is it you would like to talk about prince Arthur?”

He sighed leaning his head to the side. “Are we really going back to using ‘Prince before my name?”

“How else should I address you?” Y/n said looking down at her hands. She didn’t know how to act around him anymore. Not really.

“As just Arthur.” Arthur said loudly before taking a breath. He wasn’t mad at her he was pissed at himself. For putting them here. “Like before.”

It saddened him to realize he made her feel like they had to go back to the beginning. He hated himself for it.

“But things aren’t like before.” she told him with a sigh. God did she wish they were like before. She really missed him but how could they be together now?” We were together before. Now we’re not so I should address you with your title.”

“Are we really that far gone? Our relationship?” Arthur asked with slightly worried eyes. He couldn’t lose her.

“You tell me.” Y/n lifted her shoulders and then her eyes to look at him. The decision was in his court, he’s the one that ruined things, to begin with.

“y/n-” Arthur went to start but Y/n knew his tone of voice so she cut him off.

“No, Arthur. I can’t go through all that heartache again. I-I just can’t.” Y/n’s voice broke as she spoke and that made Arthur's chest ache.

“I’m sorry.” he didn’t know how else to start.

Y/n shook her head. “Don’t apologize when you don’t mean it.”

Arthur squinted in confusion. “What makes you think I don’t mean it?”

“Because you despise magic! An I have magic so therefore you despise me!” Y/n yelled out before taking a deep breath looking at Arthur with unshed tears in her eyes. The love of her life hated her because of something she frankly enjoyed about herself. “You hate me because of something that is a part of me.”

Arthur stepped forward shaking his head quickly at her words. “I don’t hate you.”

“If you hate a part of me then you hate me.” He couldn’t hate her magic and not hate her. And she couldn’t be with someone who hated her. “That’s how that works Arthur.”

Arthur raised his hands to cup her cheeks, using his thumbs to wipe away tears she didn’t notice were falling down her cheeks. “I could never hate or despise you Y/n.”

“The things you said to me when you found out and the way you looked at me and acted towards me all say otherwise, Arthur.” Y/n looked into his eyes, she could see the regret in his eyes.

“I felt betrayed and I was angry.I said things that weren’t true and that I didn’t mean.” Arthur explained but it didn’t make him feel any better and he didn’t expect to fix things. But she deserved to know. “It's no excuse for what I did. There’s nothing that could excuse my behavior from before. But I want to repair what we had. I want to make it up to you. If that's even a possibility.”

Y/n shook her head, it was a hard decision to make. And she didn’t know if she could, no matter how bad she wanted Arthur back. “I don’t know Arthur.”

Arthur sighed dreading asking this next question. “Are you afraid of me?”

“What?” Y/n looked at him in shock.

“Are you afraid of me? Were you afraid to tell me because you thought I would have had you killed?” He asked with a gulp afraid himself of the answer she’d give. He wouldn’t blame her though. With how Uther felt about magic and him raising Arthur to be the same. . .

“As much as I wish I could say I wasn’t. . . Besides hiding my magic I have never lied to you. I don’t plan on doing it now.” She told him before letting out a deep breath. “Yes, I was afraid that you might tell your father and we both know how I would have been ‘taken care of’.”

“y/n” Arthur's gaze dropped feeling even more disappointed in himself.

“It's not that I didn’t want to tell you, Arthur. It’s just-” Y/n hated that she felt this was but it was true. “I saw how your father flt about sorcery, and then how you felt about it. . . I was scared.”

Arthur nodded solemnly. “You had every right to be.”

“I’m sorry.” she said looking away from him. She felt guilty, even though she had no reason to be.

“Don’t be. You have nothing to be sorry for.” He shook his head, dismissing her apology she had nothing to apologize for it was all him. “I’m sorry. For how I reacted and treated you. It was wrong of me.”

“Its ok-”

Arthur immediately stopped her. He didn’t want her to forgive him that easily or pretend it was nothing. He treated her horribly, that wasn’t okay. “No, its not. An I know I hurt you.”

Y/n but her lip as they starred at eachother for a moment. “You could’ve just given me a chance. Magic a chance.”

“I hate myself for hurting you. I’ll never forgive myself for all that I put you through.” Arthur agreed with her, he could’ve given her a chance. Prove and show him she didn’t use magic for evil. “But I do want to make it up to you.”

“How?” She asked with a tilted head. If his views didn’t change how could he make it up to her?

“Well, against my views I was taught growing up. I want you to show me your magic.” Arthur gave her a small smile. It didn’t excuse what he did and said but maybe if he could understand her magic and that part of her then they could get back together.

“Are you sure?” Y/n asked, she knew how he felt if this was uncomfortable for him then maybe things should just be done. She didn’t want to force him to like all of her. If they didn’t work then they would have to accept it.

“More sure than I am about a lot of things.” Arthur said shifting closer to his princess. “But I’m even more sure that I want us to get back together.”

Y/n took a deep breath. “Arthur- we can’t just go back to what and how we were.”

“I know that. It’s going to take time for me to gain your trust back. I’m determined to do so.” Arthur looked into her eyes with determination and passion. He was going to gain his princess's trust back. No matter what.

Tag list:

@gruffle1 @mininjageek @padawancat97 @evvy96

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katherynefromphilly · 27 days

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Are you still doing the DVD commentary ask thing? This is one of my favorite scenes from the story, I've always loved how it acknowledged that Arthur really loved Gwen but there was always something between Arthur and Merlin. But I wanted to hear what you were thinking when you wrote it.

Scene:

“As I said, a battle wound,” Arthur told him. “It needs time to heal. Though even when it does, I’m certain I’ll still awaken some mornings expecting Sir Leon to burst into the room with word of an attack. Or one of my Counsel to be waiting for an audience. Or for Guinevere to be here in…”

Merlin flinched before he could catch himself.

Arthur noticed. He began to speak, then hesitated, uncertain.

“You expect Gwen to be here instead of me,” Merlin said, so that Arthur knew he still had a friend to confide in about such things, no matter what the two of them had become to each other.

“Yes,” Arthur said softly.

“Of course you do,” Merlin assured him, ignoring how strange he felt to speak of this while Arthur was stretched out half naked at his side in the royal bed. “Gwen was your wife, sire. Your queen. I’d-“ He swallowed, forced a smile. “I’d never think of trying to take her place. I know I never could.”

Arthur smiled at him, a small thing in the dim daylight that still set a sparkle to his blue eyes. “No, you couldn’t,” he said. “Just as Guinevere never could take yours.”

“As… your servant?”

“No, Merlin,” he drawled out, putting overtones of ‘idiot’ into his name. “Not as my servant.”

“Well what, then?”

Arthur pushed himself up to an elbow, his blond hair mussed and his cheeks pink with the heat of their bed. “I did love Guinevere. As much as I knew how at the time. But you…”

“Me… what?”

Arthur touched Merlin’s face, fingertips sliding down his cheek before tracing his lips. First the top, and then the bottom, and then the top again, all the while watching his own fingers with a wistful smile. “I remember staring at your mouth. From that first day we met. I remember telling myself it was because you had the pretty lips of a girl.”

“I do not have the pretty lips of a girl-”

“You have seen your lips, haven’t you.”

“You’re one to talk. Your mouth is-“

Arthur silenced him with a kiss, right where his fingers had been, before resuming his soft touches. “Do you remember what you said our first night together?”

It was difficult to remember anything at all with Arthur touching him as if he were something precious and rare, whispering as if sharing a secret. “I… No?”

“You said that in hindsight, it was obvious how you felt about me. You just didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time.”

“You mean… you…”

“Yes.”

“Even then?”

“Even then,” Arthur said. “So you see, right from the very start, before any of it, before all of it, your place was here. In my life. In my heart. In my bed. I’ll not hear of you doubting that. Not even for a moment. Do you understand?”

I’d be happy to talk about this scene. :)

Because I like to write in canon, I needed to keep Arthur’s love for Gwen in tact. In Season 5, Gwen’s character representation is all over the place (don’t get me started on the whole Evil Gwen thing), but in Diamond of the Day especially, which I rewatched A LOT, Gwen was smart, brave, and Arthur clearly loved her and respected her with all of his heart.

Merlin’s friendship with Gwen was really downplayed in Season 5, which sucked, but fundamentally she cared for Merlin, and he did for her as well. I also wanted to respect that in my story, especially because it added a nice layer of internal conflict and guilt for Merlin at taking her place.

So in this scene, we have Merlin and Arthur laying naked together in Arthur’s actual bed from Camelot, after they’ve just had sex the first time. As I wrote them finally talking to each other about how they felt, I could feel Gwen’s presence with them.

I wrote the little exchange between the two of them to give Gwen her place as friend and wife and queen to Arthur, and to also settle Merlin’s insecurities about who he is in Arthur’s life. I also wanted to show that Arthur has been doing some reflecting on his life back in Camelot (through his new understanding of his own sexuality), and acknowledge that he actually was attracted to Merlin all that time, only didn’t realize it, just as Merlin hadn’t either.

There are a lot of stories out there with a lot of different takes on Arthur and Gwen. I’ve read a bunch of them, but of them all, the one that I think influenced me the most — and influenced the different way I see Arthur loving Gwen and Arthur loving Merlin — is probably “Lights Go Out, Here I Go Again” by halffizzbin. Just take a look at this beautiful passage from that story:

“Arthur loved Gwen in his other life, of course, with as much of himself as he possibly could—and that was enough, at the time. He misses her, a gentle ache in his heart that eases a little when he thinks about the long life he’s told that she lived when he was gone, ruling well in his absence and surrounded by loyal friends. He’ll love Gwen forever, probably, but.

Merlin is something else. Merlin has always been more than forever (something they’ve already proven by sitting across from each other eating curry right now). Merlin is sunlight and flame and clear, rushing water, too much for Arthur to control and never enough to quench him, and maybe it took Arthur dying for him to realize it but oh, he wants. He wants things he never realized he could have, before, when his life was all planned out for him and his servant still seemed like this wild, unknowable thing even after all those years, beloved and strange and always slipping out of Arthur’s grasp.”

DAMN I love that last bit in purple. If you want a good read, hit the link up above. It’s short and sweet and rated Explicit. Still one of my all time faves.

#bbc merlin #merthur #altcotywba #and like the cycle of the year we begin again

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knightsofthethicktable-fanfics · 2 years

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“Merlin! You cannot put the King of Camelot in a wheelbarrow!”

Merlin put Arthur in the wheelbarrow. “Gaius, there aren’t any other options.”

“Did you even try to think of any, or was that the first thing that popped into your head? Did it even cross your mind what would happen if you got caught?”

Merlin innocently shrugged and threw a blanket over the unconscious Arthur. “There. No one will notice.” He picked up the wheelbarrow and wheeled him through the corridors towards the royal bedchamber.

Merlin turned a corner and saw Sir Leon approaching. He’d seen the wheelbarrow. “Good evening, Sir Leon.” Merlin smiled cheerily, having no idea whether it was still evening or not.

“Good morning Merlin.” Sir Leon returned a cheery smile, trying not to look too closely at the wheelbarrow or its contents. “Nice wheelbarrow.”

“Thanks. It’s new.” It wasn’t. “Thought I’d take it for a spin.” Merlin cursed himself that his excuses were so out of practice. He was lucky this was Leon and not anyone else.

“Need any help?”

Merlin sighed, weighing the pros and cons of being honest. “Actually yeah. This is heavy. Could you help me push it to Arthur's room?”

“Sure.” Sir Leon cursed himself for breaking his own rules. He’d got in Merlin’s way and asked questions. Now he was complicit in this- whatever this was. Now he was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with what/who he really hoped was not actually the what/who his mind told him it was.

They wheeled him to the royal chambers, and Merlin quickly checked the room was clear before tucking the royal prat into bed.

Sir Leon watched as Merlin carefully closed the curtains, checking behind them as he did so. Merlin looked under the bed and in between the covers. He took off Arthur's boots and jacket and Leon helped him lift Arthur into the bed. Merlin brushed strands of hair out of Arthur’s face and fluffed up his pillow.

Sir Leon wondered how anyone could ever think of Merlin as anything but purely devoted to Arthur's safety and wellbeing.

“Thanks for your help, Sir Leon.” Merlin whispered as he walked away and opened the door for Sir Leon to leave first. “How’s your family?”

“Um. Good. Great. They’re well. Thank you for asking.” Sir Leon and Merlin chatted amicably through the corridors, acting as though they hadn’t just wheeled the unconscious King of Camelot through the castle in a wheelbarrow and desperately trying not to think about why he was in it in the first place.

From A Series of Unfortunate Excuses on AO3.

#merlin #bbc merlin #merlin fanfic #merlin fanfiction #merthur #fluff #fanfiction #knights of the thick table #merlin&leon #leon #merlin/wheelbarrows #Series of unfortunate excuses

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onceandfuturewarlqck · 2 years

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leon wonders when merlin had started to become friend, family, more than servant, more than arthur's, but his (theirs, gwaine's smiles said, was screamed by gwen's hugs, lancelot's quiet hushes. theirs.)

leon had grown up with morgana and arthur, and being a few years older than them he had taken on the role as the older brother.

it had been easy.

it was leon morgana arthur, never separated, holding each other's hands and backs.

thick as thieves, always together, and leon took the role of protecting arthur, and then he became a knight and he swore an oath to uther but mostly to the prince.

he looked at his friend brother prince king and he swore.

because leon would protect arthur no matter what.

and life goes on, in a way, and people grow, like they're supposed to do, and things change, and leon's days are filled with patrols and trainings and aching limbs and orders to follow.

it leavea him aching.

then.

then this boy comes in, all limbs and no muscles and even less brain cause he has to be at the very least a fool to pick a fight with arthur, of all people.

and leon watches, because he is a knight, no matter that the prince is being an asshole and a bully.

(which he wasn't as a kid. he was sweet and nice and shy and kind, and leon would always remember the way he used to shake when there were thunders, hiding himself under the covers; he would never forget the soft smiles he would give him, the time he had cried because morgana had fallen down and scraped his knees, the concentrated look when he wanted to comfort her but didnt know how to actually do it. arthur had been a sweet child, but he also was uther's son, and he wanted to make him proud.)

(and then the raid happened and arthur spiraled and closed himself and not even leon can reach for him anymore.

you're too far away, he wants to cry.

he offers his arm, but arthur turns around everytime.)

(leon nowdays wonders if arthur the kid is forever dead, sacrificed to arthur the son. it shouldn't sadden him, but it does. he thinks, leon morgana arthur, but now it's leon, and morgana, and arthur, with all those empty spaces, all looking at different walls.)

the gangly boy is lost and gone within the day.

until he saves arthur's life and becomes his manservant, that's it, and now leon has to spend all the time watching as this boy, merlin, keeps threatening the prince, calling him a prat, insulting him?

leon thinks he hit the head and he is in some other alternative universe because there is no way that this servant can act like that, without any sense of proprierty, almost friendly, with the crown prince without facing some punishment.

but arthur doesn't send him away. he talks back, jokes with him, and something slowly begins to melt in his prince. something blooms into spring again, weak and tentative, but it's there.

(and maybe leon is jealous, because when was the last time that he and arthur had joked like that? they used to run across the castle, hiding from maids. morgana would convince arthur to pull pranks, and arthur would drag leon along, and the three of them would laugh and play all day.

they used to spend nights huddled together, talking about everything, dreaming about the future. arthur would talk about slaying monsters and being a hero, and morgana would roll her eyes and say that leon was way more hero-like. leon would blush and say that he would defend them both from evil. he would later trip on the sheets and arthur would laugh at him while helping him up, before softly asking him if he was alright, corcern painting his eyes, and morgana would call him "my knight" with a cheeky smile, but they were happy.)

(now they talk less and leon calls arthur "sire" and "my prince" and all these titles, and he has forgotten how arthur's name tastes like in his mouth. and here he is, merlin, a servant, calling arthur a prat, a clotpole, a dollophead, calling him arthur.)

leon doesn't know how to deal with merlin.

then merlin follows arthur into danger.

and again.

merlin is dead set onto going with arthur everywhere. merlin drinks poison for arthur. merlin jumps in front of bandits for arthur. merlin will do everything for arthur.

and once, leon tells him he shouldnt do this, he is just a servant, it is not his job to protect the prince.

and merlin gives him this long weird look and he purses his lips and leon doesnt know how to interpret all this, and says, you're right, its not a servant's job, and leaves it at it.

and he goes with them to the next quest anyway, which confuses leon even more.

it's not until one day merlin pushes leon out of a bandit's way, almost getting skewered by a blade, that he finally understands.

arthur fusses over merlin, pretending not to care, but his eyes lingers too much, and his hands are shaky, and merlin laughs at him and calls him a mother hen, which makes the prince pout. then the prince looks at leon and asks him if he is okay, and the concern is still there, it has never aged away, and leon is breathless and can only nod, and stare at merlin.

merlin stares back.

merlin was right, it's not a servant's job to risk their own life like this.

but merlin is not just a servant. he is their friend.

and leon thanks him, and merlin just shrugs him off, but there's a blush on his cheeks. then arthur calls for merlin, the moment broken and so many unsaid words piling in leon's mouth. merlin goes to aid the prince, leaving with an apologetic smile. he watches them as they joke around together and he watches as arthur's touch seems to hover on merlin's shoulder.

and leon understands.

(he thinks about how he has really failed. not as a knight, but as a friend. because leon had sworn to protect arthur but he had forgotten that, sometimes, what one needs protection from are not sorcerers or bandits or gigantic beasts. sometimes people need protection from themselves. and sometimes you don't protect someone with a sword, sometimes you do that with a kind word, a pulled prank or a gentle hand.)

merlin is always at arthur's side, at their side. and leon swears a second oath, one night, when the younger boy is lying too still on the ground, pained gasps rattling out of his lips as the fever rises together with infection.

arthur is asleep, next to him, he hasn't left merlin, and there is a furrow on his forehead he wishes to smother.

(arthur, sweet loving arthur, with scratches on his hands, and dirt on his cheeks, always full of love and nowhere to place it. looking for a father to give it, for someone to treasure it.

arthur and his bleeding heart.

merlin had stumbled his way in, with all his stubborness and loud loyalty and blinding affection, and without knowing it, arthur had placed that same heart in merlin's caring hands.

and merlin will die before any harm comes to it.)

(he does a good job at that, leon muses. merlin is too good for them all.)

you protect us all, he thinks, taking in the shaky figure, the flimsy blanket hiding the scar covered chest, but those scars are burnt on leon's mind and he doesn't need to see them to know they are there.

because merlin was never supposed to have scars.

friendship, a voice sighs in his mind.

you protect us all, but who protects you?

and leon kneels, in the middle of the night, between trees and sleeping knights, with merlin's shudders and the rustling of the wind, he kneels for the second time in his life, and he swears.

"to merlin of ealdor," he promises.

to merlin of camelot.

servant friend and brother.

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angelynmoon · 1 month

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What if, instead of Merlin or Arthur or Morgana or Lancelot going back in time to fix things instead it's Gwaine, caught in a time loop, everytime he dies he ends up back in that tavern that he first met Merlin in.

The first time he meets Merlin, the very first time he still choses to fight with them, he looks into Merlin's confused blue eyes as he introduces himself and knows his life is forever changed.

Gwaine won't say it was love at first sight but it was something similar, a moment where it felt like the world fell into place, 'oh, there you are,' he remembered thinking, 'I've been looking for you.'

And that was every reason why he kept answering Merlin's call to help, he couldn't help it, it was nice knowing that he was Merlin's first choice to help, even if it was for Arthur.

The first time, that very first time, he didn't know about Merlin's magic, didn't know what he did to protect them, the sacrifices Merlin had made.

That first time Gwaine survived Arthur's death and Merlin's execution for having magic when he returned to tell Guinevere of Arthur's death. She couldn't pardon Merlin, the council overruled her and Merlin Burned.

Gwaine had stayed for Guinevere and Leon, to keep her safe as she worked to repeal the ban on Magic, for Merlin, for Morgana and all the innocents that had died for the anger and grief of one man.

Gwaine had died soon after, drinking poison slipped into Guinevere's goblet, choking and gasping as Leon and Percival had searched to capture the assassin Gwaine hadn't minded dying in his Queen's lap, held in her arms as she begged him to stay awake.

No, Gwaine hadn't minded dying, at least he'd get to see Merlin again.

Gwaine had woken in that dark little tavern he'd first met Merlin in, it'd been confusing but Gwaine hadn't minded that either, he got to relive finding Merlin, making him blush, falling in love with him all over again and getting him to fall in love with him back.

Merlin's sweet kisses made every heartbreak worth it.

The first few times, Gwaine didn't change anything, still thinking it was a weird afterlife, but eventually he couldn't bare to watch Merlin Burn again, threw himself on the pyre to go with him and learned that no matter how he died he'd end up in that no name tavern.

It wasn't always the same time that Merlin and Arthur would be there, sometimes it was years earlier, sometimes weeks, sometimes it was days, but it was always that same tavern where his life was forever changed.

There were times he ran from the tavern as soon as possible, he wasn't proud of it, but he couldn't fall in love just to watch Merlin Burn.

Gwaine would find Merlin eventually anyway, if not in the Perilous Lands, then he'd find him in the fighting ring while he looked for the Cup of Life.

Sometimes he'd meet Lancelot first and when Lancelot answered Merlin's call Gwaine would follow.

He fell for Merlin everytime, couldn't help it, he could no more stop loving Merlin than he could change Destiny.

He'd tried.

Sometimes he'd find Morgana and behead her without guilt, he'd burn her body like Merlin's had burned so many times and scatter her ashes far and wide, but nothing changed, in the lives that Gwaine killed Morgana, Mordred would take her place, in the lives Gwaine killed Mordred as a child, Merlin always Burned before they met.

In the few lives that Gwaine chose to behead King Uther before Morgana and Morgause could invade Camelot it was Gwaine that Burned, he didn't mind that so much, better him than Merlin.

Merlin never watched, always turned from the sight, those moments made Gwaine wonder if he felt the same loss as Gwaine did when the never had time to fall in love.

There was one life that Gwaine decided to kill Arthur instead and had been torn apart by Merlin's own Magic, he doesn't think Merlin meant to, not with the way the man had cradled him at the end as he died, that had been the first time Gwaine wondered how much Merlin had sacrificed for Arthur's life.

It wouldn't be the last.

He discovered one life that Lancelot knew about Merlin's Magic, that he knew Merlin intended to take Arthur's place to seal the Veil. Helped cover for Merlin when Lancelot was helping him with Magic Beasts and Sorcerers.

He never told Merlin he knew.

One life Gwaine chose to take Lancelot's place to seal the Veil.

The return to the Tavern was strange that time, it felt longer, colder.

But return he did, as he always did.

That life he proposed to Merlin instead of introducing himself, was shocked when Merlin said yes.

When he woke in Merlin's bed he'd kissed him and said he was still going to marry him if he was willing.

That life he'd stayed in Camelot from the first time, using his Noblity to avoid banishment, thankfully he and Merlin had already exchanged vows before Geoffry with Arthur as witness so Uthur could not stop him and Merlin from being together.

That life he died when Morgana wanted to set an example, that life Merlin had turned Camelot's castle into rubble and Morgana and Morgause into ash as Gwaine had bled out.

That life Gwaine had died cradled in the arms of the man he loved in so many lives as Uthur ordered his husband's execution, as Arthur tried to change Uthur's mind.

That life Gwaine had lived long enough to hear Merlin ask Lancelot to kill him with the sword that killed immortal men.

He did not live long enough to know if Lancelot did as asked.

After that, some lives Gwaine would seek Merlin out, he'd turn up in Ealdor and make a shy young Warlock fall in love with him, he never asked why the flowers he gave never wilted, and when he went off to Camelot, Gwaine would follow, would marry him in the quiet morning before they left Ealdor, Hunith smiling happily.

In those lives Gwaine told Merlin to share his secret with Morgana, to help her control herself, in those lives Merlin and Morgana stood together against Morgause, in those lives Magic was let free under Uther's rule and Morgana offered a child to them to raise, in those lives Merlin died an old man with grandchildren and the flowers never wilted in Camelot's castle.

In one life Gwaine went searching for Balinor instead if Merlin, he begged the man to share his knowledge with him, in that life Gwaine slayed the Great Dragon without remorse, a dragon's heart is on the right, not the left, Gwaine always remembered, and he took Merlin to meet his father in secret and watched as their relationship bloomed.

Why Gwaine returned to that Tavern when he died he never found out, there were no tales of such a thing happening, the Druids didn't know either and Uthur had burned so many books and the other Kingdoms had as well, even the Castle of The Fisher King held no answers for him.

But life after life he found himself finding Merlin, one day he'd find out how to break the curse of his family, one day he'd eventually live one last life with the man he loved, one day his line would be free, but for now, Gwaine wakes up in the Tavern where he met the man he Loved over a thousand lives.

"I'd like to see you try." Merlin snorted into his mug.

"You just had to open your big mouth, didn'tyou Merlin?" Arthur said.

And Gwaine, Gwaine got up to meet Destiny in a small, no account Tavern.

Maybe he'd propose to Merlin again instead of introducing himself.

A/n: just a little thought I had and demanded to be written.

You know for someone who reads mainly Arthur/Merlin, I never seem to write Arthur/Merlin.

#mergwaine #merlin/gwaine #time loop #merlin tv #fanfic

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rapha-reads · 2 years

Note

do you have any merthur fic recommendations that have happy endings?

Do I ever ! Strap on, I've got quite the list.

Tagged Angst With A Happy Ending :

Take A Letter, Merlin by Caledonia/@iamcaledonia (7870 words, Modern Era)

Arthur is an emotionally repressed workaholic who is unhappily married. Merlin is his loyal and competent personal assistant. One Monday, Merlin comes to work to find that, over the weekend, Arthur has dictated a letter for Merlin that is about to change both of their lives. A song fic inspired by the 1969 classic, 'Take A Letter, Maria' by R. B. Greaves.

Kiss Today Goodbye, by Cithara/@citharaposts (5337 words, Canon Era, Divergence from s02e13)

When Arthur regains consciousness in time to hear Merlin confront the dragon, his world is turned on its head by the revelations that follow.

Turning the Page, by @schweetheart and @queerofthedagger (19050 words, Canon Divergence, Epistolary)

Without intending to, Arthur pushes Merlin just one step too far. Now he's left without his manservant but a hundred questions, a world of hurt, and guilt that clings to him like a shadow. Well, and a notebook filled with drawings because apparently, Merlin can draw on top of being a sorcerer. No matter how often Arthur tells himself that he just wants to forget, he can't help but come back to the collection of sketches and notes, a chronicle of all that Merlin has done.

Maybe their story isn't quite over yet.

The Knights of the Table, by DrJackAndMissJo/@drjackandmissjo (9198 words, Modern Era, Food Critic and Chef AU)

'Can you even believe this guy?" Gwaine asked, offended and almost breathless as he popped himself on Percival’s counter. There was no need for any of the other men to ask who he was talking about. Everyone knew about the devilish creature that wrote the restaurant and food reviews on Camelot Weekly. “What makes you even think it’s a guy?” asked Lance as he took the newspaper from the Irish man, “I’m pretty sure that it is a demon sent straight from hell to torture all of us!”

Tagged Happy Ending :

Hope On A Tuesday Afternoon, by arsenicandsunshine (8985 words, Modern Era, Housemates, Idiots in Love, Getting Together)

Arthur likes his life. Why wouldn't he? Nice flat, all to himself, stable job. Friends. Yep, he's set all right. Or, he is until he ends up with an unexpected flatmate. Merlin certainly does have a knack for turning Arthur's life upside down.

a long, long day, by @oncefutureemrys (1237 words, Canon Era, Secret Relationship, baths and massages)

Merlin was beyond tired of it all. He just wanted one moment where… it could be just him. Just him and Arthur, just the two of them, without the rest of the world interfering. But alas, Merlin was no normal person and neither was Arthur, and the chances of them having a regular day were almost as likely as Uther deciding to stop hating magic. So, he walked into Arthur’s room, ready for more late night chores, a slight slump in his posture. To anyone else, it would seem as if he was perfectly fine, usual Merlin just slightly tired from a long day’s work. But Merlin knew it was a bit more than that. And so did Arthur, apparently, because when he stumbled in, he found the idiot sitting casually behind his desk, an air of amusement and playfulness surrounding him, a teasing grin forming on his stupid, stupid (handsome) face. Or: Merlin's had a long day, so Arthur takes care of him.

Suffering in Silence, by TheCourtSorcerer/@tcs-main (3205 words, Canon Divergence, Sir Leon-The-Long-Suffering, POV Leon)

He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to say something. He couldn’t keep silent anymore. Day in, day out… The constant borderline scandalous looks, the barely concealed innuendos, the incredibly unsubtle touches, all of it! He was going to lose his mind. How could two people be so blind?! So, that’s what led him to the tavern that night, across from Gwaine, a hint of regret tugging at his mind that he steadfastly ignored. “Okay… How do we get them together?”

Secrets & Lies, by LiGi/@little-ligi (13333 words, Canon Era, Divergence, Arthur Finds Out, Protective Arthur, Friends to Lovers)

Arthur had finally put his finger on it. The thing that had made Merlin stand out, the thing that had intrigued him about the boy ever since the first time he’d met him. The thing that was going to get him killed… Merlin had magic. Not only had it, but used it freely all the bloody time. It was only a matter of time before someone saw him do it, and then they’d report him to the king and Merlin would be dragged out into the courtyard and executed. Well, not if Arthur had anything to do about it. Mid series one, Arthur, for once not being totally oblivious, discovers that Merlin has magic. The problem is, having magic gets people killed and Arthur very much prefers Merlin alive. It turns out making sure nobody sees Merlin do magic is rather a full-time job however...

A Universe Which Freely Gives, by @psychotic-fangirl369 (26455 words, Post Canon, Reincarnation, Arthur Returns, Getting Together)

Arthur returns… but because of a series of unlikely events (and perhaps a bit of morose dragging of feet because he can't bring himself to believe the signals), Merlin misses the boat. By the time he makes it to the lake, signs of Arthur abound but Arthur is nowhere to be found. Magical tracking being less reliable than one might think, when Merlin finally does manage to find him Arthur is bizarrely well-adjusted, living in a flatshare in London with roommates who think he's batty but mostly harmless, and working an improbable job. Enter: Merlin, who Arthur absolutely is not expecting to still be alive.

So Where Are My Flowers?, by @tehfanglyfish (1365 words, Canon Era, Pining, Flowers, Magic Reveal)

A question asked as a joke leads to years of fresh flowers waiting for Arthur each morning until the one day he almost screws things up.

Balancing the Scale, by sunsetmoonrise (20528 words, 5+1, Canon Era Divergence, Slow Burn, Pining)

Five times Merlin didn't realise Arthur was protecting him, and the one time he did.

Alright, that's quite a lot already! These are the latest in my bookmarks, don't hesitate to ask me again if you want more!

#replies #2012throwback #merlin #merthur #merthur fics #merthur fic #merthur fic rec #fic rec #happy endings #happy fics #angst with a happy ending #rapha talks #rapha reads

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