#merlin prompt

[thenerdyalien]

My headcanon about Arthur's mortality (or how I think he was able to survive before Merlin came to Camelot)

"(The griffin is a creature of magic.) It is born of magic, sire, and it can only be killed by magic." - Gaius, S1E5

Alright, since Merlin is trending again for no reason I'll share one of my lastest headcanons I came up with during my last Merlin rewatch.

There was something about this line from Gaius and the way the camera then directly pans out to Arthur that made me think of an interesting headcanon that would explain how Arthur managed to survive so long without Merlin.

You see, according to this logic, because he was born of magic, Arthur can only be killed by magic (or weapons forged by magic *winkwink*). So he could never really die from simple illnesses or battle wounds unless those were directly inflicted by magic. And, since Uther started the purge against magic right after Arthur was born, he probably wouldn't have had much contact with it in his early years (at least until he became a knight and started going out on quests, raids, etc).

That would explain why (much like Merlin) he seems able to endure so many injuries (broken ribs, poisoned arrows, etc) that other knights can't. (I mean, just the fact that this man didn't sustain some severe brain damage from all the times he's been knocked out is impressive lol)

What I'm saying is that being born of magic must have given him some sort of endurance that other mortals don't have, because by Gaius' logic the circumstances of his birth in itself made him a sort of creature of magic (just like Merlin).

It would also make for a good Canon divergence fic in which this was the reason that made Uther start the purge in the first place (to protect his son from the only thing that could kill him)...and it can get even more angsty if you add in the fact that Merlin is literally magic itself, but I digress.

Anyway, I'm probably reading way too much into this. I doubt the writers would've thought so far ahead as to put foreshadowing so early on in the series. But I just thought it was an interesting headcanon and just another fun parallel between Merlin and Arthur.

#bbc merlin #merlin #merthur #arthur pendragon #merlin rewatch #merlin headcanons #merlin prompt #fic inspo

[rainbowsmagicandshit]

Merlin Prompt/Idea:

Arthur calls a meeting of his inner round table (those that sat with him at the table of the ancient kings) except Merlin. He also tells everyone else not to tell Merlin. At this meeting they decide that Merlin will have a seat at the Royal Round Table.

Why is Merlin getting an official seat at the official and highly sought after Royal Round Table?

Because Arthur wants to marry him, of course!

This is step one to getting all the stuck up nobles to except Merlin as Arthur’s choice of spouse.

Does Merlin know that that’s Arthur’s intention with his appointment? No.

Does Merlin know that Arthur wants to marry him? No.

Does Merlin even know that Arthur has feelings for him? No.

Is Merlin increasing frustrated that he keeps getting excluded from half of the inner circle meetings despite gaining a seat at the official one? Yes.

Is Merlin going to give Arthur a piece of his mind once finds out that this entire roundabout thing was just a plot to get him as his husband? Undoubtedly.

Is Merlin going to be completely badass and show his capability as “queen” despite not knowing what’s going on? Absolutely.

What are the next steps?

#bbc merlin #Merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #merthur #the knights of the round table #merlin fanfic #merlin fandom #merlin fanfic prompt #merlin fanfiction prompt #merlin prompt #merthur prompt #Merlin is DONE #no one is telling him anything #how are they going to find out about this magic? #how’s that going to effect the plan? #what step will legalizing magic be? #I know I put “queen in the post but I actually think his title will be king consort #do with this what you will

[zoyalaaai]

#3 of random merlin prompts:

AU - canon divergence, where Kilgharrah lied about the prophecy intendeding Arthur‘s (& Morgana‘s) death to end the Pendragon line. The dragon alters the prophecy just enough for his own interests that Arthur can lead Albion into the new era before he‘s supposed to meet his death at Camlann.

The key part he switches is that it was Merlin all along who was supposed to rule beside Arthur, as his King Consort and openly as the powerful sorcerer he is. But when Arthur starts falling for Gwen, Kilgharrah sees his opportunity to simply switch one servant for another with dire consequences.

And Merlin being Merlin does everything it takes to see the fake prophecy come true, even if it will break his heart.

—

Added bonus: Arthur doesn’t listen to bullshit prophecies and marries Merlin anyway and lives.

#merthur prompt #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #king arthur #king consort merlin #merthur #merlin bbc #au canon divergence #au prompt #merlin prompt #kilgharrah being a manipulating menace

[pigfacedbitch]

Merlin: Have you ever wondered what your future wife is doing?

Arthur: Husband.

Merlin: What?

Arthur: Future husband. And he's about to say 'Ow'.

Merlin: What do you mean- [ Arthur flicks his forehead before walking away ] OW! You're such an ass- WAIT.

more incorrect quotes here!

#bbc merlin #merlin bbc #emrys #merlin #arthur pendragon #arthur #merlin incorrect quotes #merlin memes #merlin prompt #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #merthur #merthur memes #merthur incorrect quotes #merthur prompt #colin morgan #bradley james

[larluce]

Merlin traveling back in time to save Arthur AU but with a twist!!

Merlin makes it to the sidhes, bringing a barely breathing Arthur with him. As expected, they ask for a price and Merlin offers his life, ignoring Arthur's protests.

Sidhe1: You're inmortal you can't die

Sidhe2: And even if you could, killing you would mean killing magic itself, therefore killing the earth itself.

Merlin: (crying desperate) I don't care! Take what you need! My blood, my magic, anything! Just save him!

Sidhe1: (smiling evily) I might know just the thing.

They never tell him what are they going to take from him, but he agrees. The sidhes start the ritual, while Arthur just keeps pleading weakely

Merlin: (smiling) If I somehow don't come back-

Arthur: (crying) Stop! Merlin don't do this. Please!

Merlin: I just want you to know that I love you.

Before Arthur can answer the ritual ends and Merlin blacks out.

When he wakes up he is in his way to Camelot in his old clothes and 10 years younger. He soon discovers he's been brought back to the very first day he met Arthur. He's confused. Have the Sidhes taken from him years of his life as a price? It doesn't make sense to him, but he decides to take advantage of this to prevent some things from happening.

Time goes by and while, in general, all events are repeating, not everything is happening as he remembers. Some people arrive in his live early, like Lancelot or Gawain. And Arthur treats him better? Like he says thank you to him more often and listens to him more. Merlin thinks it’s weird, but brushes it off thinking it’s due to the changes he's been making that some things are not quite the same.

Then the day comes when he finally reveals his magic to Arthur. He cries and Arthur hugs him telling everything its okey. Nothing its going to happen to him. Shortly after however Arthur also has a confession.

Arthur: I already knew.

Merlin: What?! Since when?

Arthur: the very start.

Merlin: How? I've been careful! More careful than before!

Arthur: Because you told me before. Well, not really before, but in the future. It’s complicated.

Merlin: Wait... you are from the future too?!

They are both surprised. They thought they were alone in this and it turns out they never were. Merlin cries all over again, apologazing for everything, for failing him, for not being able to save him, but-

Arthur: You did.

Merlin: ... What?

Arthur: You did save me.

Merlin: No, the sidhes tricked me. They sent us back in time-

Arthur: It was not them who did that. It was me.

Merlin: What... what are you saying?

Turns out what the ritual really did was turn Merlin into a small tree in exchange for saving Arthur’s life. A magic tree that would grow taller and taller and never die and whose ruts would expand making magic florish in the earth forever. Arthur of course was really upset after that. He demanded the sidhes to turn Merlin back but they only told him "what's done it's done" and that all he could do was pick the tree up before the roots growed if he wanted to move it elsewhere.

Arthur put the tree in a pot and brought it back to Camelot. Everyone was devasted with the news but they were also glad their king was alive and safe. No one blamed him, but Arthur always blamed himself. He repealed the ban as soon as he could and made sure everyone knew Merlin's involvement in the battle and later the other things he find out Merlin did for Camelot through Gaius. He made an anual event and a statue in Merlin's honor. Camelot slowly but surely welcomed magic again and became the most prosperous kingdom in the land.

Merlin: Oh...I don't remember being a tree.

Arthur: Yeah, I figured.

Merlin: But you repealed the ban! That's great! Magic was free again in the-wait... so why did you do all this if everything was fine? And how did you do it?

Arthur: Everything was NOT fine Merlin. You weren't there!

Merlin: (utterly confused) I was. As a tree.

Arthur: You know what I mean! You were there but you weren't. We mourned you but you were still alive. I kept you in that pot for longer that I should have because I wanted to keep you close all the time, yet looking at you was so painful... Gwen had to scold me into finally plant you in the garden so you could grow properly. I was broken inside, while trying to rule a kingdom. I kingdom we should have ruled together from the start!

Merlin: ...

Merlin: You're telling me you somehow traveled us back in time and throw away the golden age, your dream of uniting all Albion and all you worked hard for... just because you missed me?

Arthur: And because I couldn't say it back.

Merlin: What?

Arthur: That I love you too.

NEXT PART OF THIS AU HERE -> PART 2

#merlin bbc #merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #merlin fic #merlin fanfic #merthur fic #merlin prompt #arthur and merlin #merlin and arthur #merthur prompt #merthur fanfic #Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

[whydon-twego]

"You have Arthur's complete trust" Merlin laughs when Gwen tells him this and asks her what she is talking about.

Gwen looks at him strangely, as if she thinks Merlin is joking but then she sees Merlin's expression and can't hide her surprise.

"Merlin, you do realise that you're the person Arthur trusts most in the world, right?" Merlin chuckles again but this time it is with a sense of guilt and annoyance that won't let him alone.

"I don't think so."

Gwen, who until then had been mending one of Morgana's dresses, puts down her needle and thread and looks at him seriously, Merlin doesn't think he has ever seen her like that.

"You two fooling around and teasing each other is fine, Merlin, but you can't really think Arthur doesn't trust you. You can come and go from his rooms as you please, whether he's there or not, you have the keys to his room, and you're the only person who has them, and the whole castle knows perfectly well that Arthur has priceless things in there. I know you shave him every morning and believe me, that is not the job of a manservant,"

"But he is the one who-"



"That's right, Merlin. He's the one who."

Gwen seems genuinely annoyed that Merlin doesn't grasp how much Arthur trusts him, and Merlin finds himself having a chasm in his chest because he doesn't want to think about it. He doesn't want to think about Arthur's trust in him, he doesn't want to think that Arthur thinks Merlin is a person worthy of his trust, because Arthur is the most noble and sincere person in the world and Merlin is hiding most of his life from him.

"I have to go, Gwen."

Merlin leaves everything where he is and does not even turn around when Gwen (probably guilt-ridden from that lecture) calls him back.

Merlin hides in the first crevice he finds and struggles to breathe.

He struggles to breathe because Arthur trusts him and he knows it, but he tries to think about it as little as possible. He tries to live life day by day and not think about tomorrow and how long it is that he is lying to him. He tries not to have a heart attack every time Arthur looks at him and smiles or pats him on the back saying "good job!" or when Arthur is the first to worry about him when they are attacked by bandits.

Merlin tries not to think about Arthur's scream when they were separated on a mission and Merlin had to drop rocks to protect him. He tries not to think about the time he had to steal the keys from Arthur's room and Arthur, finding him in the room early in the morning, didn't bat an eyelid at the excuse of the woodworms because Arthur trusts him and simply told him to leave.

Merlin is a horrible person who does not deserve this kind of trust, not when he is lying to the most important person in his life.

"Breathe."

Merlin, caught in the middle of a panic attack he didn't even realise was happening, jerks at the voice and Arthur's hand resting on his shoulder.

"Breathe, Merlin, come on, in and out, calmly, follow me" Arthur takes deep breaths and Merlin tries to keep up with him but Arthur's mere presence makes the situation worse and Merlin finds himself with tears in his eyes as Arthur looks at him more and more worried.

"Gwen!" shouts Arthur then and Gwen is at his side within moments "Go get Gaius, I can't move Merlin from here in this condition."

Gwen looks at Merlin and she's so worried and feeling so guilty that Merlin wants to say something to her but is already so much if he can breathe.

Gwen leaves and Arthur and Merlin are alone and Arthur strokes his back trying to calm him down and Merlin bursts into tears. 
Arthur lays a hand on his shoulder and settles him on top of him, not holding him too tightly for fear of Merlin's breathing getting worse.

"I was looking all over for you, you know? I thought you'd be at the tavern or having fun somewhere and instead, I find you here doing the doppol-head."

Merlin laughs between sighs and sobs and Arthur continues.

"You have a myriad of tasks to do. My armour is completely ruined, I have no idea where my sword is and you were supposed to revise my speech for this afternoon but apparently, you had better things to do."

Merlin's breathing calmed and he was finally able to concentrate better, noticing that the king was sitting on the dirt floor next to him and practically rocking him.

"Arthur…"

Arthur turns his head slightly but they still can't make eye contact.

"I have magic."

Arthur stiffens and Merlin already feels lost without his king by his side even though he is still physically there.

"Alright," Arthur murmurs and Merlin gets up to look at him because there is no way he is hearing correctly. Arthur turns to look at him and his expression isn't the happiest but Merlin can't blame him "we've been through a lot worse, haven't we?"

And etiquette be damned, what is right or not right to do at court, Merlin throws himself onto his king and holds him as if he never wants to let him go again, holds him trying to tell him everything he is unable to say right now in words.

Arthur holds him just as tightly and Merlin finally knows that everything will be all right.

And that is how Gwen and Gaius find them, embraced tightly in the middle of a corridor in Camelot.

#merthur #merthur prompt #merthur fic #merlin #merlin prompt #merlin fic #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #gwen bbc #gaius bbc #merlin emrys #merthur fanfic #my writing

[star-rie]

okay but can we talk how rapunzel-coded arthur is?? 😭😭

complicated birth situation? ✅

magical princess? ✅

met a hot brunette man who’s secretly a criminal? ✅

BLONDE? ✅✅✅✅✅

and here’s their flynn rider <3

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin bbc #arthur pendragon #merthur #arthur bbc #merlin emrys #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #merlin prompt #merlin cinema #rapunzel #disney princess #flynn rider #tangled

[tiredcowboyy]

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.

#merlin #merlin prompt #merlin fic #someone please write this #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #merlin bbc #sir gwaine #gaius #gaius and merlin #merlin and gaius #merlin incorrect quotes #modern au #modern merlin #time travel #time traveler merlin #time traveler #merthur #sir leon

[bloby-876]

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

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

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

so they start paying a bit more attention.

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

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

[cinnabons-treasure-trove]

Arthur: Sweet

Arthur goes back to kissing Merlin's neck, his hands sneaking up Merlin's tunic

Merlin: *folding the laundry*

Arthur: *about to bite Merlin's ear*

Merlin: Not the ear Arthur

Arthur: *grunts, moves back down to bite Merlin's neck*

#merlin #arthur pendragon #otp scenarios #cinnabons treasure trove #Cinnabon Sweetroll Tiramisu #my otp #otp ideas #arthur x merlin #merlin x arthur #bbc arthur #bbc merthur #bbc merlin #merthur #merthur prompt #merlin prompt #otp prompts

[cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu]

Merlin: [reading a book on plants]

Vampire Arthur: [sitting on the other end of the couch, slowly but surely inching his way closer to Merlin]

Merlin: [absolutely focused on the pages]

Vampire Arthur: [yawns whilst stretching his arms upwards, before casually placing an arm behind Merlin's shoulders]

Merlin: [still reading] Real smooth Arthur.

Vampire Arthur: [pouts] Why are you ignoring your boyfriend?

Merlin: [rolls eyes] Arthur we're roommates not lovers.

#merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #cinnabon sweetroll tiramisu #arthur x merlin #merlin x arthur #bbc merlin #bbc arthur #vampire and human #vampire x human #vampire arthur pendragon #vampire!au #vampire!arthur #vampire!arthur pendragon #merlin prompt #merthur prompt #merthur shenanigans #they're two sides of the same coin #they're made for each other #merlin prompts #smitten arthur pendragon #reincarnated au #immortal merlin

[thegurlwhoisntthere]

Changes to BBC Merlin that I think would make it better:

note: these aren’t necessarily all in the same au timeline but even one of them could’ve made it better

When Merlin asks Gwen for a sword she gives him the best one she ever made, not her father, so she and Merlin together forged Excalibur

Gwen is knighted alongside the others in the Round table

Merlin is officially recognized as the Court physician’s Apprentice rather than becoming Arthur’s servant (Why do you call him an idiot? By Yvion on Ao3 proves this)

In the scenario that Merthur happens, and Merlin’s the ‘queen’ and/or court Sorcerer, Gwen should be the next Court Physician

Or she’s with Lancelot and she becomes the next court physician, I just think she’d be good at it and it would give her a reason to have a seat of the council in the case that she’s not queen

Lancelot doesn’t fucking die

Arthur learns of Merlin’s magic during the Sigan fight and comes to terms with it on his own

Merlin doesn’t know his destiny (y’know… like the intro of the show literally says over and over again…) so he’s actually just listening to his own heart when he makes decisions and doesn’t have crippling anxiety from holding the weight of the world on his shoulders alone the entire show

More Gwen and Merlin bestie shenanigans before and after either one of them becomes queen

Gwen finds out about Merlin’s magic sometime in season 1

Merlin ignores Gaius and Kilgarrah and tells Morgana about his magic and they’re cool magic besties

Arthur doesn’t fucking die 3 seconds after finding out

Any of Arthur’s character development sticks for more than an episode

Arthur actually catches on to the fact that Merlin is usually right when it comes to danger or judging people by Lancelot’s episode

Gaius actually listens to Merlin instead of immediately shutting down his ideas even tho they usually turn out to be right later on

More Round Table

Morgana’s turn to being evil doesn’t happen completely off screen and she shows some kind of hesitation in harming Gwen, Arthur, and the townspeople even after she’s evil because seriously what the fuck was that

We get several episodes completely from Arthur’s point of view that show Merlin looking absolutely unhinged with absolutely no context followed by the episode from Merlin’s point of view where everything he does looks completely reasonable

I can and will elaborate on any of these if you ask

#I will also probably add more #writing prompt #merlin prompt #these are also writing prompts/plot points that anyone can and should use in fic #bbc Merlin #feel free to add your own #bbc’s merlin #Merlin #merlin emrys #bbc arthur #bbc arthur pendragon #arthur pendragon #guinevere #bbc guinevere #bbc morgana #merthur #the round table #the knights of the round table #headcannons #au #merlin au #bbc Merlin au

[prattery]

I have this image of Merlin and Arthur fighting a losing war together. Arthur is bloodied and bruised, muscles trembling with fatigue, but he is still standing, grip firm around the hilt his sword, because he’ll be damned before he lets the enemy get within an inch of Merlin. Merlin is half-gone, gold flowing from his eyes and his fingertips in rivulets that sink back into the earth. The other knights can barely suppress a cower at the sight of him, but not Arthur. He is more god than mortal, but there is only so much one sorcerer can do against an advancing army of highly-trained mercenaries wielding extremely powerful magic, even with a warrior-king by his side.

#merthur #bbc merlin #merlin #merlin prompt #might write a whole ass fic around this At Some Point but for now.... do with this what you will #am i back on my bullshit? #mayhaps

[pigfacedbitch]

Remember when Gwen kissed Merlin when she thought he died? What if it was Arthur in his stead and Merlin is in Gwen's?

Merlin: [ kisses Arthur but pulls away quickly ] I'm sorry! I thought you were dead.

Arthur: [ stares for a second before lying down and closing his eyes again ] (+_+)

Merlin: ...What the hell are you doing?

Arthur: [ puckers up his lips with his eyes still closed ] Oh no, I'm dead. I will need another— no, wait. I demand many kisses.

Merlin: You prat, this is serious!

Arthur: Just shut up and kiss me again.

more incorrect quotes here!

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin bbc #emrys #arthur pendragon #arthur #merlin incorrect quotes #merlin memes #merlin prompt #merthur #merlin x arthur #merthur incorrect quotes #merthur memes #merthur prompt

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @stalesaltinecracker cause he asked for more, and @an-entity-i-think since she made a valid question

ENLACES A LAS OTRAS PARTES DE ESTE AU AQUÍ: PARTE 1 , PARTE 2 , PARTE 3 , PARTE 4 (estás aquí), PARTE 5

In "Valiant"

Arthur: (Impacient and worried cause Merlin hasn't told him about Valiant's echanted shield yet) Is there something you want to tell me?

Merlin: (who decided to not tell Arthur about the shield this time around so he won't embarrased him again) No.

Arthur: I know something is bothering you.

Merlin: Nothing is bothering me.

Arthur: (hurt) Don't you trust me? (thinking) Have I not been worth of your trust again?

Merlin: Of course I trust you! Arthur, I trust you with my life!

Arthur: Then tell me what's wrong! Why were you sneaking out of Valiant's chambers yesterday?

Merlin:(cursing internally that this Arthur somehow is more observant, but still says nothing)...

Arthur: Merlin, please.

Merlin: (puzzled and touched Arthur is saying "please" to him and he finally sighs, giving up cause he always hated lying to Arthur anyway) Valiant's been cheating, he has a magic shield.

Arthur: (hiding his relief Merlin finally told him) Why do you think that?

Merlin: I saw it. The snakes coming out of his shield. Gaius thinks Valiant used them to posioned Sir Ewan. But I don't have any proof, I get if you don't believ-

Arthur: I believe you.

Merlin: ... really? But I'm just a servant, I'm not-

Arthur: (fondly, holding Merlin's hands) Don't ever say that again. You're more than a servant to me. Always.

Merlin: (getting lost into his eyes, blushing)

Merlin: (snapping out of it) Ahmm... Then what will you do?

Arthur: There's not point in bothering my father with this without proof. Now that I know what I'm getting into, I'll know what to look out for.

Merlin: (smiling confident, cause he has the spell to expose Valiant prepared) I'm sure you'll beat him up easily.

In "The Mark of Nimueh"

Merlin: (going to the cavern alone to fight the Afanc himself, a torch in hand) Arthur?

Arthur: (doing the very same thing, a torch in hand as well) Merlin?

Merlin: What are you doing here?

Arthur: I was... strolling.

Merlin: In the vaults underneath the castle?

Arthur: It's my castle. What are YOU doing here?

Merlin: I was... taking samples.

Arthur: Taking samples.

Merlin: Yeah, apparently the sickness is spreading through water. So I was taking samples to find out with Gaius what's causing it.

Arthur: The well is several meters behind, Merlin.

Merlin: Ah... I got lost.

Arthur: (rolling his eyes) Only you, Merlin. (taking Merlin by the wrist) It's not safe for you here. I'm getting you out. (starts walking)

Merlin: (trying to free from his grip) What? No! I need to-

The Afanc roars, making its appareance.

Arthur and Merlin: Shit...

In "The Gates of Avalon"

Both Morgana and Merlin looking Sophia from afar.

Morgana: Who is that?

Merlin: (kind of mad he couldn't prevent the sidhes from entering the castle again, but hiding his discontent) Sophia Tirmawr. Arthur rescued her in the woods.

Morgana: She can't stay here.

Merlin: Well, she and her father are guests in the castle now.(seeing his chance) You had a nightmare about her?

Morgana: (surprised) How do you know about my nightmares?!

Merlin: Gaius.

Morgana: Right... (sighs) You must think I'm crazy.

Merlin: I don't. I also have a bad feeling about her.

Morgana: Really?

Merlin: It just seems pretty convenient. Escaping from raiders in Tír-Mòr? A kingdom too far away to corroborate any of that story? I don't believe she is who she claims to be.

Morgana: (opening up, feeling safe and understood by Merlin) In my dream she drowned Arthur in a lake. I'm scared, Merlin. My nightmares always come true. Always!

Merlin: I already warmed Arthur about her. He gave her the chambers far away from his. But I think you should talk to him about this.

Morgana: (laughs dryly) No, he won't believe me. He'll laugh at my face for sure. (thinking) And he's been too cold to me lately for some reason.

Merlin: There's no harm in trying. He might surprised you. (thinking) If this Arthur is nicer to me, he'll defenitely be nicer to her.

Morgana: Alright, I'll try.

...

Morgana: Arthur, I need to speak with you. It's about Sophia.

Arthur: (Who spied on her when she threatened Sophia in the hallway and still doesn't know how to feel about it) You're starting to sound like Merlin. Do you have a bad feeling about her too?

Morgana: She isn't what she seems.

Arthur: Why? What makes you say that?

Morgana: I just... have a feeling. It's difficult to describe.

Arthur: Try me.

Morgana: I had a dream. A nightmare. She drowned you in a lake. She killed you, Arthur.

Arthur: And why would that be a bad thing?

Morgana: (confused)... what?

Arthur: Don't you want me dead, Morgana?

Morgana: (horrified) No! Of course not! Why would you say that?

Arthur: (shakes his head) Nothing. Forget I said anything.

Morgana: (firmly) No. Arthur, listen to me. (holds his face and Arthur forces himself not to flinch) I don't know what's happening in that head of yours, but let me get this straight. I love you and I care for you. You're like a brother to me. I would cut all my limbs before letting anything happen to you!

Arthur: (with teary eyes, but forcing himself not to cry) You're just saying that.

Morgana: It's the truth.

Arthur: (his voice almost breaking) So you don't hate me?

Morgana: What made you think-(opens her eyes wide in fury) It was her, wasn't she? She put that idea in your head! (starts stomping out of the chambers)

Arthur: (stops her) Hey! Where are you going?

Morgana: I'm going to kill her! No, first I'm going to drag her by the hair through all the castle to let her know what happens when you mess with people's minds!

Arthur: (Shocked for a second at Morgana's thirst for blood and revenge not being drawn at him, but for him. And then he laughs, laughs and laughs)

Morgana: Why are you laughing? (starts to question his sanity, worried) Are you Okay?

Arthur: (stops laughing and smiles) Yes, I am now. Thank you.

#merlin bbc #merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #merlin fic #merlin fanfic #merthur fic #merlin prompt #arthur and merlin #merlin and arthur #merthur fanfic #merthur prompt #Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

[whydon-twego]

Merlin is so tired.

Physically and mentally tired.

Arthur, being in a bad mood, has been running him around more than usual, giving him tasks that generally wouldn't even be his. Gaius has requested herbs for a strange cold that keeps spreading through the citadel and leaving everyone tired and helpless for several days (and, in his defense, Gaius would have fetched them himself were it not for the fact that the herbs grow in a land with terrain too bumpy for Gaius' not-so-young legs) and he has stayed awake for more than forty-eight hours straight to eradicate a dark spirit roaming the castle.

All this is to say that Merlin is really tired.

But when has that ever stopped Arthur from demanding and demanding and demanding?

And so it is with trembling legs and eyes that want to close of their own accord that Merlin serves Arthur a drink while Arthur dines in his own room because he has better things to do than dine with his father and Morgana.

"You are unusually quiet this evening, Merlin."

Merlin nods because that's all he can do, even talking seems a gigantic effort.

Perhaps if he closes his eyes for a few moments he will be able to recover.

"Merlin, are you listening?"

Only for a few seconds, he is standing anyway, nothing can happen.

"Merlin!"

+++

Merlin has never felt so warm and so comfortable in all his life.

He does not know how he got into bed or how his bed is suddenly so comfortable (nor how it is so warm in his room as it is freezing on those winter days) but he is too comfortable to ask himself any more questions and feels so protected, so safe. Everything is fine.

"You are a bad bedfellow, Merlin, you really do get too worked up."

Merlin would like to say that the sound of Arthur's voice surprises him so much that it wakes him up, but the truth is that Arthur's voice only makes him feel safer, almost more protected, as if the fact that Arthur is there only makes things better.

Merlin sighs blissfully and mumbles an apology as he stretches out an arm and goes to get more comfortable with his head on Arthur's chest (because Arthur is letting him and Merlin is really too tired to think) and Arthur's arm around his waist.

"I don't know what the hell you've been up to lately but know that this is no way to reduce yourself. I will give you the morning off tomorrow but only because I am a magnanimous prince and you should be grateful to me for the rest of your life, do you understand me, Merlin?"



Merlin nods and his cheek rubs against Arthur's chest, his chest hair tickling.

Merlin lifts his face with closed eyes and snaps a kiss on Arthur's cheek (or whatever part of Arthur he can reach, he's not sure if he's got the cheek) and mumbles some kind of thanks.

And if Merlin were more awake he would realise what he has just done.

But Merlin is tired.

And Arthur is a benevolent prince.

Arthur kisses Merlin's forehead and bids him sleep.

Merlin doesn't let him say it twice.

#merthur #merthur canon era #merthur prompt #merthur fic #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin fic #merlin prompt #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #prince arthur pendragon #merthur fanfic #merlin #my writing