#mercelotweek2022

[southfarthing]

@mercelotweek day 3: gold/magic

MERLIN & LANCELOT | Bregdan anweald. I saw you; I heard you. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.

#sunny make a gifset that isn't orange CHALLENGE #mercelotweek2022 #merlin #lancelot #bbc merlin #merlinedit #tvedit #perioddramaedit #fantasyedit #arthurpendragonns #ughmerlin #userhaleths #xuserann #bellamyblakru #hi yeah i'm still upset about them taking away my boy #my gif #mine #*merlin #merlin: gif

[cabbageheadss]

Lancelot needed you and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were entwined.

for @mercelotweek | day 6: grey/angst

#merlin #lancelot #mercelot #merlin and lancelot #mercelotweek2022 #merlance #bbc merlin #bbc lancelot #sia's gifs

[nie-narzekam]

When the road gets dark

And you can no longer see

Just let my love throw a spark

And have a little faith in me

(John Hiatt, “Have A Little Faith In Me”)

// MERCELOT WEEK DAY 7: Gaia – Free Day //

#mercelotweek2022 #santi triptychs #bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #mercelot #colin morgan #santiago cabrera

[personaje-fics]

For @mercelotweek day 7. Here on ao3

---

This is something Lancelot knew: Never fall in love with a god.

Because they're beauty incarnated. You'll take one look at a god and he'll ruin your eyes for everyone else. You can't avoid looking at him, though no one would blame you. It's not your fault, your gaze lands on him again and again, and it's out of your control.

Because they're appealing. There's something about him. He's the flame's light, and you are the butterfly lured by its brightness. It will end you, you know this, but you can't help it. It's almost as if being awed by him is part of your nature.

Because they're magic. He's gold and sunlight and the only thing you seem able to do is delight in his warmth. He'll show you things you've never seen before and you can't stop yourself from asking to see more and more.

Because you'll want to die for him. And you'll do it. You have no choice: Only one of you will die, eventually, and it would be a waste not to do it for him. This is in your control. This is something you choose.

That makes it more painful for both of you.

#mercelot week #mercelot #merlance #drabble #merlin #bbc merlin #mercelot fanfic #merlance fanfic #mercelotweek2022 #my writing

[lemissingmask]

1. Medusa - Transformation/Curses

I wanted to do something for Mercelot week, but just do not have time at the moment. However, not as proper entries but just to do something, I'm going to try a drabble thing a day that at some point I will knit together into an actual fic.

It all takes part in an AU where the Merlin characters are all deities based on the Greek gods (all because of a post where Lancelot was compared with Persephone...)

And, thus, the ramble is over, and here is the first drabble...

Next post

-

The first time Merlin properly met his future husband, Lancelot, it was only moments after he had been transformed into a sheep.  Admittedly it was the most adorable and fluffy sheep the god of revelry had ever seen, but it did not make for much of an auspicious start to their relationship.  The situation was further worsened by the fact that Lancelot being a sheep was, technically, Merlin's fault.

Although, it was more Morgana's fault really.

Merlin had been trying to get the goddess of the weather back after she had sent a wave of thunderstorms across part of the world, decimating the crop of Merlin's favourite grapes - and so ensuring one year's worth of his favourite wine would be missing.  In retaliation, he borrowed a potion from Gaius to turn her hair an unusual shade of pale green, and ever since then, he and the goddess had been exchanging pranks and mischievious acts with each other for decades.  Perhaps longer.

It was hard to keep track.

And, in the latest, he had happened to sneak into Gaius' well of knowledge and fish out a spell for transformation.  He had planned to transform Morgana into a sheep, right on the plain where Percival was grazing his sheep, and then he'd turn her back after she'd had a while of living with the god of husbandry's flock.

But Morgana had conjured a whirlwind just as he was casting the spell.

Of course, this meant that the spell got...misplaced.

And suddenly the god of beauty and art, who had been contentedly picking flowers nearby, was a sheep.

Percival stared.  Morgana stared.  Merlin stared.

The sheep let out a pitiful bleat.

And Merlin just couldn't help it.

With barely a second's grace, he broke down in hysterics.

The quiet, reserved, unapproachably stunning and impossibly shy god of beauty was now a two foot tall, shockingly woolly sheep who wore as close to an indignant expression as a sheep could possess.

-

#day one: transformation #mercelot #merlin #lancelot #bbc merlin #drabble #deities au #mercelotweek2022

[dorochas]

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lancelot/Merlin (Merlin) Characters: Lancelot (Merlin), Merlin Additional Tags: Canon Era, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst, Pining, Spells & Enchantments, Fairy Tale Elements, Pre-Relationship, Hurt Merlin (Merlin), Ambiguous/Open Ending Summary: Later, Lancelot realized Merlin had been under some misguided apprehension concerning Lancelot’s feelings for Guinevere. He thought he was protecting Lancelot in that scenario, that Lancelot was still so wounded by his unreturned affections for the woman who was now Arthur’s wife and his queen.

Merlin had always been rather oblivious in that way.

for @mercelotweek prompt day one: medusa (curses/transformations)

#fic tag #mercelotweek2022 #mercelot #whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[mercelot]

Since the day @mercelotweek posted their prompts I knew I had to do this, a mercelot orpheus au. It's finally here and I'm proud of it!

#mercelotweek2022 #mercelot #merlance #bbc merlin #day 6 #LISTEN im late but the submission form is still open so am i really late no i dont think so #(im not mad if it doesnt count for masterpost dont worry mods) #i just wanted to finish and post this as close to intended day as i could #Moonlight Posts #my writing

[mercelotweek]

Mercelot Week Begins

Hello All! In some timezones it is officially June 27th so Welcome to Mercelot Week! 

As you create your wonderful things, you might find the following links to be helpful.

FAQ

Rules

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Prompts

AO3 Collection for Mercelot Week 2022 - Search for Mercelot_Week_2022 when you create your work to add it to this collection. It is open and unmoderated.

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When you're done with your works, tag them with #mercelotweek2022 or @mercelotweek so we can reblog them!

We are all very busy right now, and so we hope you're understanding with yourself about your level of contribution to this and all other fandom events! Create as you see fit, when you see fit. We'll leave the form open so you can submit for badges even after you post your work. Mod RainbowVamp will be slow with getting badges out anyway, so there's no rush.

We hope you enjoy the event. Direct questions to either @rainbowvamp or @little-ligi if you aren't comfortable asking this blog <3

Happy Mercelot Week!

#mercelotweek2022

[lemissingmask]

4. Icarus - Pushing Limits/Setting Boundaries

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"This is as far as you can go," Arthur said, stopping at the foot of the stairs and putting a hand out to tug Lancelot back slightly when he ambled ahead, "Any further and you're in my father's domain."

"That's the aim," Merlin put his hands on his hips, "Or were you not listening?  Nimueh stole the well.  If she's in there, we need to go in there."

"You may not be able to get back out," Arthur glared, "I will go in and find out if she's returned.  Wait here."

As the gatekeeper of the underworld vanished into the inky blackness of Uther's realm, leaving the unusual pair alone, Merlin rocked on his feet, tucking his hands behind his back in an imitation of casual calm.

“So, Lance…”

The sheep looked at him.

“Did I ever say I’m sorry? You know, for turning you into a sheep?”

Lancelot tilted his head.

“I am. Sorry.”

And it was the truth, but then, in spite of the vague guilt...

He smirked and looked down at Lancelot.

“Although, I have to admit,” he continued, “It has been pretty fun. Aside from the whole threat of Uther gaining all of Gaius’ knowledge of magic.”

Lancelot let out a quiet bleat.

“And you being a sheep of course. What’s it like? Being a-“

Arthur, almost fortunately, chose that moment to emerge from the darkness, before Merlin could finish that awkward sentence.

"She has yet to return, but she will have to come by this way.  If you wait here, you may be able to stop her from entering," the gatekeeper looked up the staircase, "Once in my father's realm, she will be able to shift form, and then you have no hope of defeating her.  You must stop her before she crosses the threshold."

"No pressure then..." Merlin sighed heavily then broke into a frown, "Wait.  We must stop her?  What about you?  You're not going to help?"

Lancelot looked up at Merlin and then to Arthur and bleated in echo.

"I cannot move against my father's will.  You two have only been allowed to come this far because you are not among those I am to bar from entering.  Were a more powerful god..."

Merlin rolled his eyes.

"...such as Morgana or Morgause...or Guinevere...to try to get to his realm, I would be obliged to prevent it."

"So we're not considered a threat?"

"You're not considered at all," Arthur replied plainly, as if stating a known fact rather than throwing a rather insulting discovery in Merlin's face.  Not that he particularly wanted to be considered by Uther.

"Well, maybe we can change that..." Merlin grinned, "So, if you need to go, go.  We'll deal with Nimueh when she comes."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, looking from Merlin to Lancelot and back again, "Sure.  I look forward to my father's dominion over you all."

With that dry remark and a brief flicker of sadness, he turned and disappeared into the inky blackness of the underworld.

"I never know what to think of that guy..." Merlin leaned on the cold stone behind him and pursed his lips, "Can't tell if he's actually an ass or just likes to act like one."

Lancelot bleated and wandered off, going up a couple of steps.

"What?  You don't think he's an ass?"

The sheep returned, little legs nearly tripping on a rock in the haste to headbutt Merlin's leg.

"Sorry.  Didn't realise you were so fond of him..." Merlin smirked, "Don't tell me the god of beauty is involved with Uther's gatekeeper."

Lancelot stared at him then bleated again.

Twice.

Then returned to the stairs.

Merlin poked his head round the corner, following the direction that Lancelot was facing, and saw it.

A long serpent, deep purple with flecks of red and gold in the scales, slithering slowly down the stairs.

From what Merlin knew, Nimueh used this form for stealth - often stealthy attacks - rather than to be fast.  She couldn't move quickly, particularly when the realm fell cold, but few would notice her.

She also couldn't hear.

"Hide!" Merlin hissed to Lancelot, getting behind the sheep and ushering him towards the corner.

"We can intercept her as she gets down here," Merlin whispered, very unnecessarily, "And stop her from entering the underworld."

Lancelot bleated.

"Don't worry," Merlin crouched to be level with the sheep, "I have a plan."

Another bleat, longer this time.

"It should work..."

He peered round the corner.

Nimueh was approaching their level.

"I just need a distraction," Merlin mused, "Something to-"

Off the sheep ambled.

Right out into Nimueh's path.

"No!" Merlin yelled after him, grimacing as the snake lunged for Lancelot, fangs closing on his coat and taking tufts of wool with them, "Not that kind of distraction, you idiot!"

Lancelot bleated and stumbled back out of the way of another attack.

"You're a sheep!  Sheep don't fight snakes!"

Another, more urgent, bleat and Lancelot lost another snake's mouthful of wool to Nimueh.

"Fine!" Merlin sighed in frustration.

He had a distraction.

A stupid, reckless, absurd distraction.

But Nimueh was focusing on the sheep.

Which meant Merlin had time to work his special brand of magic.

The god of revelry might not be a fighter or a genius, a shapeshifter or a spell caster.  He could not command oceans or weather or armies of the dead.

But he could send other beings into states of total, stupefying, inebriation.

Breaking into a grin and flexing his fingers, he prepared to get to work.

It was time to find out if snakes could get drunk.

-

#bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #mercelot #sheep lancelot #mercelotweek2022

[lemissingmask]

7. Gaia - Free Day

The final installment of the Mercelot Week 2022 drabbles from me.

Previous post

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-

“It was brave, Merlin,” Lancelot said as they walked, smiling slightly as he watched a stag dashing across their path a few paces aheaad, “Going after Gaius’ well. You could have asked someone else for help. Any other deity might have been able to help, and yet you went after Nimueh alone.”

“Alone but for a sheep,” Merlin grinned, “And, you know what they say…where there’s a wool there’s a way.”

Lancelot paused, steps faltering.

He stared at Merlin, “Really?”

Merlin shrugged and, after only a momentary pause, Lancelot smirked and shrugged too, falling back into step beside Merlin.

“I suppose such shear wit is what to expect from the god of revelry,” Lancelot’s smile turned cheeky, the joke and the expression surprising Merlin.

A very happy surprise that drew a startled laugh from his lips.

“And, getting Arthur to defy his father?” Merlin asked, “Is that what comes with being the god of beauty?”

Lancelot’s expression fell, “It is possible to manipulate by beguiling with beauty.”

“So why you wait so long?”

A soft sigh escaped Lancelot’s lips, “You were going to follow me. To become trapped yourself. I loathe manipulation through beauty. By any means, but…beauty is meant to uplift others, their spirits and give them hope. It should not force others to act against their will.”

“So…if I hadn’t tried to go after you…” Merlin frowned, “You would have just let Uther take you?”

“Rather than force Arthur. Yes.”

Merlin stopped, taking Lancelot’s arm gently, “Do you really think Arthur wants to obey Uther? Don’t you think that being given the chance to defy Uther for once was liberating? You gave him the power to do that, even if it was just for a moment.”

Lancelot smiled hesitantly, not making eye contact, “Do you suppose Arthur will be alright?”

“With Uther?” Merlin nodded, taking Lancelot by the shoulder and continuing to walk, “Arthur will be fine. Uther needs him. He’s the only being from the underworld with any semblance of free will who can leave the realm. Uther might be angry, but he won’t do anything to Arthur.”

Lancelot nodded, “I hope you’re right.”

“I am, so don’t worry,” Merlin squeezed his shoulder lightly, “And don’t feel guilty.”

Another smile graced Lancelot’s lips, “Thank you, Merlin.”

“Ewe are welcome.”

Lancelot laughed, the sound bright and lilting, rich and musical.

“How long are the sheep puns going to last Merlin?”

The dark-haired god shrugged, "Until it becomes unbaaarible."

With another smirk, Lancelot shook his head, "I can't imagine you ever becoming unbearable, Merlin."

Grinning broadly, Merlin linked an arm through Lancelot's, starting to talk about other matters, to chat over things unrelated to the underworld or sheep or their mission, in the back of his mind running through all the possible ways he could conceivably make this journey last for as long as possible.

He had barely known Lancelot before this misadventure, and now, he found he really didn't want to let him go.

At least, not yet

-

#bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #mercelot #mercelotweek2022 #drabbles about sheep and snakes and shenanigans

[nie-narzekam]

Wildeorren couldn’t stop me from contributing to

Mercelot Week 2022 😉

Day 1. Medusa – Transformations/Curses

But It’s You I Fell Into

Fluff bordering on crack because body swap.

Day 2. Paris – Love Triangle/Choices

I’ve Made Up My Mind, I Ain’t Wasting No More Time

After defeating the Immortal Army, Lancelot is all “should I stay or should I go?” and Merlin provides the answer.

Day 3. Midas – Beauty/Greed

Something that Can’t Be Denied

Merlin is Lancelot’s biggest cheerleader. Dialogue-only teeth-rotting fluff.

Day 4. Icarus – Pushing Limits/Setting Boundaries

The Two of Us Could Run and Live a Peaceful Life

Some things cannot be because their sense of duty always wins in the end.

Day 5. Persephone – Imprisonment/Family (Bonus Prompt: Royalty)

And Nothing Else Matters

AU where Merlin and Lancelot flee Camelot and become bandits Robin Hood-style. Goes from domestic fluff to drama and angst pretty quickly.

Day 6. Orpheus – Commitment/Failure

This One Goes Out to the One I’ve Left Behind

A Very Sad Drabble.

Day 7. Gaia – Free Day

A Santi Triptych because how could there not be.

(Thank you @mercelotweek, it's been a blast!)

#special thanks to Sir Writing Muse for not letting me down #the one deadline I was looking forward to #brawo ja #mercelotweek2022 #bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #mercelot

[lemissingmask]

2. Paris - Love Triangle/Choices

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Gaius’ cave was up near the top of a mountain and, even for the gods, could only be reached on foot.

That was one of the god of wisdom’s more frustrating spells, to restrict access in this way as an attempt to discourage unwanted visitors.  Yet more frustrating when travelling in the company of a small, four legged creature whose body was far better suited ambling over flat grassy plains than the rocky and steep side of a mountain.

To Lancelot’s credit, he didn’t complain. In fact he only really made himself known by head butting Merlin in the leg or bleating quietly when Merlin nearly slipped or stumbled over some rocks, and once to warn him of a snake in the path ahead.

A snake who looked suspiciously like one of the forms of the shape-shifting Nimueh.

Merlin found he was quite enjoying the company of the little fluffy sheep. Although Lancelot didn’t answer, at least not in any way Merlin could understand, he did make for a good partner in Merlin’s rambling conversation. Or, at least, Merlin enjoyed talking to him, and he liked to think Lancelot was enjoying the journey somewhat himself.  After all, Merlin was notoriously good company.

A perk of being god of revelry, amusements, and, at times, mischief.

So much was he enjoying the companionship of that small fluffy creature, that he was almost disappointed to arrive at the mouth of Gaius' cave.  Back in his true form, the god of beauty would surely retreat back to his solitary and elusive ways, and Merlin would really rather he did not.

Fortunately, it seemed that might not be happening any time soon.

"Merlin!" Gaius greeted him with a stern raising of the eyebrow and an angry expression in his eyes, "Did you do this?"

"Do what?" Merlin asked automatically, and he had, admittedly, done more sneaky things than the wise god was openly aware of.

"My well!"

"Your well?" Merlin smiled sheepishly over at the sheep, who looked back with an impassive glare, "I only borrowed one spell..."

"One spell?" Gaius turned and gestured to the circular recess at the back of his cave, "The entire thing is gone!"

"The entire thing?!" Merlin ran over and stared down the gaping hole where the shimmering, golden tinted water should be, "How?! Where?!"

Gaius paused, frowning, "You're not responsible for this?"

"Why would I steal your well?" Merlin looked incredulously at him, "How would I steal your well?!  Wouldn't that need a spell in itself?"

That terrifying raised eyebrow again, "Such as the spell you took the other day?"

"Oh, that..." Merlin looked over at the sheep still standing at the entrance to the cave, "That was...for another purpose."

Following his gaze, Gaius' features turned from disapproving to disbelieving, "What, precisely, have you done this time?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Merlin laughed, "Well, I sort of, in a manner of speaking, might have transformed the god of beauty into a sheep."

Lancelot bleated.  Confirmation, or perhaps complaint.

"Why by all the spirits did you turn Lancelot into a sheep?!" Gaius stared, then shook his head, "Never mind.  Merlin, I need you to find my well."

"Can you turn Lancelot back first?"

Another bleat.

"That sort of magic requires a specific spell, which you would need to find in the well."

"Don't you remember one, or..."

Again, the eyebrow.

"You know it does not work like that.  Or, at least, I've told you a thousand times over it does not," Gaius sighed, "Each spell taken from those waters is one use only.  It was a necessary measure to ensure certain gods, namely Uther, could not use it to obtain absolute power."

The sheep suddenly nudged Merlin's leg.

"Uther!" Merlin blurted, turning and ruffling the fluffiest spot on Lancelot's head, "We saw a snake on the way up here.  I think it was Nimueh.  Could she have stolen your well for Uther?"

"Quite possibly," Gaius sat on a wooden stool and observed the sheep and the god, "In which case, you had best find a way to get it back fast, before Uther uses it to move his entire dominion back to the mortal realm."

Uther's underworld, up here...Merlin shuddered at the thought.

"Alright, I'm on it," Merlin rolled his shoulders, quite unnecessarily, "Lancelot.  Do you want to stay here, with Gaius, or I can take you back down to Percival?"

The sheep bleated and nudged his leg again.

"I have no idea what that means," Merlin shrugged, "Alright.  How about this...bleat for Gaius, headbutt me for Percival."

The sheep neither made a sound nor knocked into Merlin, but instead ambled over to the entrance to the cave and stopped.

"That wasn't one of the options!"

Gaius smiled slightly, "I believe he has another idea."

"Such as?"

"He intends to help you."

Lancelot bleated and shifted his legs a little, walking in a circle at the entrance and looking back at Merlin.

"Oh good," Merlin sighed sarcastically, despite the small rise of elation he felt inside, "The god of revelry and a sheep up against the dark lord of the underworld and his shape-shifting ally...this is going to end really, really well."

-

#mercelotweek2022 #day 2: choices #merlin #lancelot #gaius #sheeplancelot #drabble that might become part of a fic one day #mercelot

[lemissingmask]

5. Persephone - Emprisonment/Family

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It was a myth that alcohol made people drunk.  Well, not that much of a myth.  It did make people slightly drunk...on the happy, giggly, want to dance and hug and kiss everyone side of things.  But it was Merlin who made people pass-out, forget where you live and lose all inhibitions along with motor control, drunk.  He had also been the one to bring alcohol to the mortals, for which they were very welcome.

So, really, all forms of inebriation were Merlin's domain.

And most of the activities that went with it.

Dancing, singing out of tune, excessive need to cling to others, stripping naked and running into the ocean...that last one was a gift for Gwaine, god of the oceans...for his amusement.

Merlin could make mortals and deities drunk.

But snakes?

Well, if a sheep could look indignant, then why should a snake not get drunk?

Merlin felt his power storm through him, setting every fibre of his being in a soft, warm glow, and focused his energy on the snake as it darted again and again for Lancelot.

The strangely agile sheep had sustained only a couple of bleeding wounds, but it couldn't keep dodging those sharp fangs for long.

Deities could not be killed, not even by other deities. But they could feel pain and they could be wounded, and they could not heal themselves from such injuries.  Either a potion from Gaius or a deal with the Cailleach was required to repair the sustained damage.

Whether or not the 'not dying' rule applied to sheep-gods was not something Merlin wanted to test.

The snake didn’t show any obvious response. It still chased after and darted out at Lancelot, the sheep struggling to keep as far from the fangs as he could.

Those sharp, deadly, fangs landed a blow, burying through the wool and pulling back out, staining the white softness red. The third blood drawn in the fight.

But then when the snake next made a move, it missed entirely, and drew back slowly.

And again, the lashing out went wide, failing to get close enough to Lancelot to cause even the slightest risk of damage.

Nimueh was starting to get drunk.

Merlin grinned, the sight of his charms working fuelling him to push more of his power into the snake.

After another failed attack, Lancelot let out a happy bleat and started to trot in a circle around the snake. Nimueh followed the movement, at first trying to attack, but then just following the movements, watching and twisting.

They were skirting dangerously near to the darkness of the underworld, but Merlin didn't dare call out a warning to Lancelot in case it caused him to falter and Nimueh to land a blow. This was working, and they couldn't stop now. Not when they were so close.

Merlin continued to pour his powers into Nimueh and Lancelot to hurry around her in circles, the snake growing more and more disoriented until, at last, she collapsed.

With one final motion, she coughed, a small glistening vial falling from her mouth.

"Yes!" Merlin laughed, covering his mouth with his hands, "Yes, Lance!  We did it!"

The sheep turned and bleated, turning around another full circle and bleating again.

"And this," Merlin stepped forward and picked up the vial, smile still wide on his face, "Is Gaius' well.  We'd better return it before he starts to doubt us."

Lancelot looked up at him.

"Of course, one spell first, right?  Gotta turn you back."

Lancelot bleated.

"Thought you'd say that," Merlin's hand hovered over the top of the vial, "Although...Lance?"

The sheep observed him with what was probably a look of curiosity.

"When I do turn you back, can you give your word that you won't be angry about the whole sheep thing?"

Another bleat.

"I'll take that as your word, since it's the only thing you ever say," Merlin smirked, "Right.  Here we go.  One transformation spell..."

He lifted the top from the vial and placed his thumb and forefinger over the top, waiting as a whisp of blue-gold smoke rose out so he could catch it.  He tugged the spell from the vial and popped it in his mouth, swallowing and shuddering at the tingling sensation it sent down his spine.

Replacing the stopper, he finall turned to Lancelot, smiled and cast the spell.

The sheep, without any change to the impassive, curious, features, grew almost obscenely fluffy, the wool growing and floating as if propelled from the body beneath it, and then burst into thousands of small white, floating flecks that dissipated as they hit the ground.

Left behind, sitting on the stone ground amongst the drifting particles, was Lancelot, restored to his breathtakingly beautiful form, and completely naked.

Which was...something.

"Merlin..." Lancelot began, but fell suddenly, instantly, silent as a dark grey hand clamped over his mouth, reaching out from the darkness of the underworld behind.

Another hand surged out to grab his right arm, two more his left, yet more his legs and his torso, the whole assembly of limbs working together to drag Lancelot backwards, into the underworld.

"NO!" Merlin rushed forward, chasing after Lancelot before he could disappear entirely into the shadows.

It was dark and painfully cold in the underworld, putting to shame winters that would have killed off hundreds of mortals.

In the dimness he could just make out those grey hands, as well as the tall, golden-haired figure to whom they belonged.

Leon.  Snatcher of souls, and Uther's unwilling servant.

"STOP!" Merlin yelled, running faster and aiming a punch at the tall creature.  The blow landed, but Leon barely reacted.  He did nothing more than push Merlin away with a hand that grew from behind him.

"Why're you doing this?!" the god of revelry shouted, still running as Lancelot still tried in vain to pull against the powerful creature dragging him back.

God of revelry.

What good was that now.

He could already feel Leon resisting his efforts to use his usual powers, and it didn't seem he could employ wit or humour in a dark and horrible place like this.

"My father wants him," Arthur said solemnly, emerging from the shadows to one side, "He was watching the fight.  He saw Lancelot's form, and now he desires him."

"WHAT?!" Merlin yelled and rushed back in, trying both to punch and to throw whatever power he could think of at Leon.

Again, nothing worked.

Lancelot managed to tug one arm free, but two more hands reached around to grab it back.

And still Leon walked back, deeper and deeper into the underworld.

"Arthur!" Merlin shot him a glare, even as he attempted to flood the stone floor with wine and trip Leon up, "Don't just stand there!"

Leon did slip, did fall, and for a brief moment his grey eyes flashed with colour and all the hands on Lancelot let go.

But in an instant, the colour faded and the hands grabbed once more before Lancelot could move more than a foot away.  This time one grabbed his hair, pulling his head back, the others on his arms and legs and chest so he could barely move at all.

Merlin tried his trick again, but Leon somehow evaded it, stepping aside out the way of the stream of red liquid.

"Help us Arthur!"

"I can't," Arthur lowered his gaze, drifting alongside the chaos, "I cannot move against my father.  There's nothing you can do, Merlin."

"Shut up!"

"Turn back," the gatekeeper sighed, looking over as Lancelot cried out in frustration at the futility of all his struggles, "I'm sorry.  He belongs to my father now."

-

#bbc merlin #merlin #arthur #leon #lancelot #nimueh #uther #mercelot #mercelotweek2022 #don't worry nimueh is just drunk she is fine #other than being uther's servant

[lemissingmask]

6. Orpheus - Commitment/Failure

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-

Merlin had not failed.

He had retrieved Gaius' well, as he was sent to do, even though it (for once) was not Merlin himself who had conjured that particular disaster. In doing this, he had prevented Uther from getting his hands on limitless power.

But, he had also lost the god of beauty, condemning the reclusive deity to an eternity at Uther's mercy.

The consequences for the realms were unthinkable.  Literally unthinkable, since no god or goddess had completely disappeared before.  They all were, always had been, and fulfilled their roles.  They had their parts to play, and if any one was removed, it was impossible to predict what might happen.

In the moment, however, Merlin thought of none of that.

All he thought of was what he saw - Lancelot being aggressively dragged deeper and deeper into the underworld.  Soon he would be so far within the inky darkness that they might never get back out, lost in the inescapable shadows that turned you back around whenever you tried to leave.

Merlin couldn't let that happen.  He had dragged Lancelot into this, so he was going to damn well drag him back out!

Pushing himself, he sprinted faster, straight to Leon.  He threw two punches, and was simply shoved away once more.

"Turn back, Merlin," Arthur muttered gloomily, "Before you're trapped too."

Merlin just glared at him and made another futile effort, the darkness now painfully cold and thick.

“Merlin, no!” Lancelot pulled free from Leon just enough to take a step forward, but let out a pained cry as his arms were wrenched back behind him, “Go back!"

“I’m not leaving you!” Merlin sprinted to try and attack Leon again, being shoved roughly back just as he had every time before.

It was getting nearly too dark to see at all, the darkness choking and slowing his movements.

“Merlin, leave! Run!”

"NO!"

Again he tried and again he failed.

Looming just a pace away, he could see the souls of dead mortals, watching from the edge of the barrier they could not cross.  Merlin was about to rush forward again, about to make another attempt, when Lancelot called out a different name, in a voice quite different from that which had been urging Merlin's flight.

"Arthur!"

Uther's son turned sadly to him, their eyes locking.  Cold blue and warm brown.

"Help me," Lancelot whispered, his eyes somehow seeming to glow a richer hue that was, for a moment, echoed in Arthur's.

Immediately, belying what he had told Merlin, the gatekeeper surged forward and delivered a blast of thick black power at Leon, knocking the soulsnatcher back into the nearest wall.

"RUN!" Arthur yelled, throwing another wave of concussive force at Leon, "Lancelot!  RUN!  Get to the top of the stairs!  He can't follow without new orders!"

As soon as he was free, Lancelot sprinted towards and past Merlin, grabbing his arm on the way to propel him out towards the light and warmth beyond the inky blackness.

Nimueh was still where they had left her, starting to come around and groggily slivering towards the underworld.

They ran straight past, nearly tripping up on the snake, and straight up the stairs, the air growing warmer and kinder with every step.

Only once they were back on the soft, vibrant grass beneath the golden light Guinevere cast upon the world, did they turn to look back the way they had come.

Nothing had followed.

Not Leon, not Arthur, not Nimueh.

They had escaped.

Both of them, with Gaius’ well and Lancelot back in his true form.

All in all, it had been a success.

Except Lancelot was bleeding from snake bites, had deep black cold burns from Leon’s freezing, strong hands.

They would need to get healing potions from Gaius for those, but first Lancelot needed some clothes.

Merlin quickly unfastened his belt and slipped off his golden over tunic, sleeveless and mostly there to offset the red of the long-sleeves garment he wore beneath.

"Here," he held the soft fabric towards Lancelot, "Before any mortals see you. You know what they're like when it comes to nudity."

Lancelot inclined his head and took the tunic, slipping it smoothly on so it hung elegantly over his lean frame, somehow seeming to gain a new, gentle, sheen worn by the god of beauty.

"Thank you," a momentary smile crossed his features, "Are you alright, Merlin?"

There was an intensity in the way he watched the other god, concern and curiosity and confusion all combining in his gaze.

"Am I alright?!" Merlin stared blankly at him, looking up from refastening his belt, "Me?!  Lance, I'm not the one who got turned into a sheep, fought a snake - and is bleeding, by the way, in case you hadn't noticed - and then nearly kidnapped by the lord of the underworld!"

"You tried to come after me," Lancelot replied simply, dismissing his entire ordeal with a shrug, "That was reckless. Attempting to take on Leon, Uther's personal soldier. You could have been seriously injured, or trapped."

"I wasn't about to leave you!" Merlin replied, indignant at the suggestion that he should have, and bewildered by Lancelot's logic.

The confusion in Lancelot's eyes deepened and he looked away, "Thank you."

"For what?" Merlin raised an eyebrow, "It was my fault you got involved in this at all."

"The sheep part, perhaps," a smirk crossed Lancelot's lips, "But Uther is responsible for the rest...and..."

Once more, he looked away, betraying the shyness for which he was known, for which some of the other gods ridiculed him.

"And, I'm glad I was able to help you, Merlin."

"Come on," the dark haired god smiled, very aware of how nervous he must be making Lancelot, and started to walk, "Let's get back to Gaius before he tries sending someone else after us...and, on the way, perhaps you can explain to me what exactly it is you did to Arthur back there."

And why he had waited until almost the last possible moment to do it.

-

#bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #arthur #leon #nimueh #mercelot #mercelotweek2022

[mercelot]

so I wrote my first bbc merlin fic for @mercelotweek day 1: transformations, and...look i turned lancelot into a cat and he insisted it had to be a fix it fic for 4x09.

#Moonlight Posts #mercelotweek2022 #my writing #mercelot #tumblr user mercelot writting mercelot? say it isn't so

[dorochas]

Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lancelot/Merlin (Merlin) Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Lancelot (Merlin) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Era, Established Relationship, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tenderness, Humor, the inevitable angst of merlin's existentialism Summary: In all their time together, Merlin had never found the words to explain any of this to him. He could never find the right ones.

for @mercelotweek day 3: midas (beauty/greed)

#mercelotweek2022 #fic tag #mercelot #merlance #uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh #gay people? #more likely than you think