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counting-stars-gayly · 2 days

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Sometimes, I think about how Merlin purposefully turned Arthur against magic twice—the first time to save his soul and the second to save his life—so when he finally told Arthur he was a sorcerer, it was the ultimate bamboozle.

“How could the bumbling idiot I’ve known all these years have been my greatest protector the whole time?” Yeah, sure. But also: “How could a sorcerer have chosen me over magic? Over his own freedom and the freedom of those like him? Over the gods who created him and the religion that saves him?” It’s one thing to die for someone and another thing entirely to give up who you are for them.

Obviously, Merlin was wrong, and that’s why playing God had an effect opposite to what he’d intended. But I think it’s so interesting to consider how Arthur might have viewed this confession. He was betrayed by Morgana because she loved herself more than her own brother and betrayed by Uther because he loved himself more than his own son. And all of this while Merlin, at first, fell in love with the cause and, then, even more with the man behind it. His loyalty to and love for Arthur was so pure it turned sinful, and I don’t think Arthur would have ever gotten over that. If he hadn’t died.

#there’s something so hozier about this it’s killing me #anyway #I’d forgotten this was in my drafts and…March Me was going through it I think #bbc merlin #Merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #merthur angst #Merlin season 5 #Merlin s5 #merlin 5x13 #merlin finale #Merlin magic reveal

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dragoonandthedolma · 6 months

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Okay but I’m still not over that scene in season 5 when merlin gets his magic back and what’s the first thing that he does to test it? CREATES BUTTERFLIES.

He was literally told that he is the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth and that he is magic. He could’ve done ANYTHING. Create fire? Do something big and powerful? Destroy something? No. He chose to create something so delicate and beautiful and then he sat there in awe when they came to life like fhejhsjwjsjwjwjj

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin season 5 #emrys #merlin emrys #i love him #ahhhhh

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regulusrules · 1 year

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So remember in s5e7 when this iconic scene happened:

Merlin rested his hands on Arthur's chest, right? And Merlin, being so connected with earth and its magic, told Gaius that “the sickness is so deep in him.”

Which means that, a few episodes later in diamond of the day, Merlin literally felt the exact moment Arthur died.

#merlin #absolutely not crying #welcome to random ass gutwrenching facts in the middle of the night #arthur pendragon #bbc merlin #merthur #merlin season 5 #s5e7 #merlin bbc #king arthur #merlin x arthur #diamond of the day #my heart is readily yours #regulusrules metas

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pyjamacryptid · 4 months

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The first time I watched the BBC Merlin finale, my mum tried to join me. When the credits were rolling, one half of the couch was taken up by me trying to hold back ugly tears (and failing), the other half was my mum, asleep. She woke up all disorientated like “what happened?” and I said “Arthur died 😭” and she said “oh. well, we knew that was going to happen” and put her head back down

#shout out to my mum #bbc merlin #Merlin #diamond of the day #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #Merlin season 5 #pyjama fam

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emrys-merlin · 1 year

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I'm still so pissed about Merlin ending not because the episode was bad. Actually the episode per se was beautiful. Colin and Bradley were perfect. I cried.

I'm pissed because the protagonist was set up to fail, which doesn’t make for satisfying storytelling at all.

That's what gets me about the finale. For 5 series and 65 episodes, we've been promised Albion and freedom for sorcerers. And, okay, sure maybe Merlin got that when he went back to Camelot under Gwen's (and possibly Leon's) rule, but Arthur was supposed to be at his side as they unite the lands. When you watch it you're kinda just left going 'What the fuck?', and not in a good way

I mean, you could probably argue that the ending makes some sense, because Arthur did accept Merlin in the end, and it can be assumed that he was made free and Albion was perhaps born even after his death. In a way, they did unite the lands and make magic free and Arthur was at his side, albeit for only like a day. But that's the thing, we are just left to assume, because of that strange lorry-Dragon scene at the end. For all the emotional impact they've put into the show to make sure we latched onto the characters and their goals, etc, just leaving us to assume isn't enough, and I think that's where a big part of the problem lies.

#merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merthur #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #gwen #leon #the writers betrayed the fans #merlin season 5 #merlin 5x13

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the-one-on-the-dirty-trenchcoat · 6 months

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when the Fandom's need is greatest, the Merlin Fandom will raise again

#merlin bbc #merlin emrys #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin #merlin x arthur #arthur and merlin #arthur x merlin #merlin season 6 #merlin season 5

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needsdean · 1 year

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Mordred: *breathes*

Merlin:

#merlin bbc #merlin #merlin season 5 #mordred #merthur #bbc merlin

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spacekingdoms · 2 months

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Swear To Me (It’s You)

Synopsis: My take on S5 E8 ending. Arthur is showing signs of jealousy after hearing Merlin was with a girl…or signs may point toward a male. To ease his own mind he makes Merlin swear to him.

Content warning/Trigger Warning: Unhappy Marriage, Potential Infidelity, Injury (leg), Jealousy.

Rating: Teen

Merlin’s leg ached, although healing, it still caused him to limp through his evening duties. That wasn’t the only thing weighing him down though. His heart heavy from the loss of a boy changed. As he prepared the evening meal for Arthur and Guinevere, the woman for whom he couldn’t bare to look in her eyes knowing that his friend was enchanted and there was, currently, nothing he could do to protect her.

In regard to other friendships, Arthur had barely even looked at him since returning to the castle. When Merlin laid their meal out, Arthur hadn’t even uttered a single expression of gratitude. Only opening his mouth to say to Gwen;

“I still can’t believe how lucky I was. I owe that boy my life…and I don’t know who he was or where he’s from.”

Then turning to Merlin, as if finally, deeming his presence worthy of acknowledgement.

“We need to make sure we give him a decent burial.”

Merlin softly responded, “I’ll do that,” turning back to the table with a hobble, carrying the final platters, “If you allow me the time.”

Merlin misses Arthur’s brow quirk, misses his indignant facial expression. Merlin does not miss the tone he uses though.

“Oh. So you can go and visit that girl again?”

Merlin lay Gwen’s meal for her, taken aback with confusion at his words. A girl? He has no time to meet a girl, or man, when he’s too busy dying in the forest or saving Arthur’s life, or more accurately pining desperately from the sidelines for a love he’ll never receive in return to even be able to look at another in a way his eyes are reserved for A-

“Girl.” Arthur states drawing out the word, eye brows cocking and he looks miffed.

Merlin is too tired for wisecracks and repartee. The grief is too thick in his blood, his leg aches and his body yearns for a sleep to cure the exhaustion laden heavy in his mind and bones. He achieves a pathetic barely heard scoff as he hobbles back to the sideboard to fetch the pitcher of wine.

“Don’t have one.” Even his voice sounds tired to his own ears.

Again, Arthur’s voice is annoyed and…something Merlin’s brain is too slow to catch.

“That’s not what Guinevere tells me.”

Merlin turns to stare at Gwen, his friend who smirks at him from the table. Merlin loves her dearly but this enchanted version of her is cruel. He knows she has always known - an unspoken secret never touched for all those years that Merlin first became Arthur’s manservant. Deep rooted insecurities shining through her enchantment. Knowing that Merlin and Arthur’s bond is unbreakable, unshakeable, a force that could never be matched. With understanding that her role in Arthur’s life has been rocky for nearly two years now. Another unspoken and avoided topic between the King and Queen.

So yes, it is understandable that kind hearted and the ever so loveliest Guinevere would present her secret depths within her evil bound enchantment. Setting a divide between the two, as if any other human being would take the place of the one he serves. Planting that seed of thought in her own husbands mind, that once again, he is always second best or not even best at all. To his father, to his sister, to his uncle, to Guinevere in place of Lancelot and now, even to the one who was most loyal, Merlin.

Arthur pushes his goblet toward Merlin, staring hard at him and he asks, leaning on demands,

“So, why don’t you tell us all about her.”

Merlin pours the wine, glancing between Arthur and Gwen. Who at the opposite end of the table smirks with mirth in her eyes. She holds up her goblet for Merlin. Merlin hobbles to her.

“Right…”

He pours her wine, her malicious smirk that Merlin has grown to hate.

“…and why you’re walking with a limp.” Arthur states.

Merlin could have spilt the pitcher if he hadn’t been gripping it tightly in frustration. And…oh. Arthur is insinuating that he hadn’t been with a girl, but rather a man. The tone…his mind screaming at him. One he doesn’t dare believe, he’s tired, he’s not thinking straight. He’s….Arthur’s jealous. Merlin turns to him. Wordless, he cannot say anything. For there is nothing to say. He cannot himself say aloud what Arthur insinuates nor can he voice if he is jealous. His mouth opens, closes, opens….closes.

“Arthur…” Guinevere begins, “Do you…insinuate?” She sounds scandalised but Merlin can hear her glee under it all.

Merlin still stares at Arthur who stares at him. Arthur who doesn’t even appear to have heard an uttered word from Gwen.

“Do you deny the truth?” Arthur demands

“I deny it. There…there isn’t anyone.” Else. Merlin replies quietly.

“Would you swear it?” Arthur stares deep into his eyes.

“Arthur.” Gwen cuts in, puzzlement now coats her words.

“Arthur.”

“Would you swear it to me, that there is no-one?” Arthur’s body is still, solid and locked as is his tone and penetrating gaze.

“That you are loyal to me, and only me?” He finishes.

“That is not the loyalty you can ask of him, Arthur.” Guinevere cuts in, standing up, “I must say you confuse the loyalty you seek with the love he is creating with someone in this instance, my husband.”

Arthur’s sharp gaze cuts to Gwen, Merlin can’t turn to look at her as he is frozen, heart pounding in his ribcage as he catches Arthur’s steely expression.

“This does not concern you, Guinevere. This is between me and my manservant.” Arthur’s eyes cut to Merlin’s before back at his wife. “I must ask you to take leave.”

“Arthur.” She laughs, but it’s shocked and confused.

“Now, please.” A sharp flicker of regret move through Arthur’s blue eyes.

Merlin can only hear her shoes against the stone floor, the creak of the hinge he needs to oil tomorrow and the boom of the heavy door slamming into its frame that makes him jolt.

“Merlin, again, I ask you. Will you swear loyalty to me and only me?”

Arthur’s blue eyes are hard, a mask slid in place that Merlin cannot uncover. He doesn’t like this Arthur, the one where he pushes Merlin out to protect his own heart. Foolish, supercilious, prat of a man.

“I swear to you.” Merlin says, scarce louder than a whisper. “I am and will always only be loyal to you.”

Arthur stares, his blue eyes shining more so but he does not speak. He only stares into Merlin’s eyes and finds what he is looking for in there. Merlin watches Arthur swallow thickly, Adam’s apple bobbing harshly in his throat before he averts his eyes to grab at his goblet for a deep swallow of wine.

“Then, pray tell, why are you limping?”

Merlin rolls up his trousers leg, showing the wrapped cloth around the wound on his leg.

“I, ah, I hurt myself in the forest. That boy…he um. He came to me to seek a physicians support to cure a family member. Upon my journey, I was injured.” Partially the truth.

Arthur stares at him, eye brows furrowed and his top lip curled in confusion.

“You left unannounced to provide healing?” Arthur isn’t that stupid, he knows that there is a missing part, “Why would you keep is secret from me…and Gaius?”

“They were druids.” Not the truth, but as close to it as Merlin could get.

“You left me, in secret, to provide healing to the Druid’s?” Arthur stares,

“Yes.”

“And this is truly what you were doing?”

“I was delayed in my return due to my injury.” Merlin tells the truth.

“Okay.” Arthur nods, picking a piece of chicken from his plate and popping it in his mouth.

“Okay?” Merlin is…confused.

“Yes. I believe you.” Arthur swallows, “The druids are peaceful people.”

“So I didn’t need to swear loyalty to you then, and everything still would have been fine?” Merlin laughs.

“Perhaps, a reminder then.”

“A reminder?” Merlin frowns.

“Yes.” Arthur looks up at him, holding his goblet away from his lips. “That you belong to me and only me.”

Arthur drinks, Merlin barely chokes out an, “Arthur?”

Arthur places the goblet back down, ignoring him completely, “You might as well have that.”

Merlin looks behind him to where Arthur has gestured loosely with one hand,

“Guinevere won’t be returning now, and saves it going to waste.” Arthur cuts into the leafy green and skewers it with a piece of chicken.

“I, uh, I know things have been strange with Gwen these past few weeks but-“

“It has been existing between Guinevere and I for longer than you say, but I really have no interest in discussing this at present, Merlin.”

Arthur stands up and moves to pulls the other chair round before then taking the meal and placing it in front of the chair next to his own, then fetches a new goblet from the sideboard.

“Now, if you wish to share a meal with me, please shut up and sit down.”

Merlin hobbles into the chair, feeling foreign when he sinks into the unyielding wood. He looks up, Arthur is staring at him, he nods at the plate in front of Merlin and pours him a goblet of wine. Arthur returns to his own seat in silence, before then stuffing the fully loaded fork of food into his mouth.

They eat in silence, sparing glances at one another. Merlin’s heart swelling painfully in his chest. His emotions threatening to spill out is tidal waves he cannot hold back,

“You don’t ever have to think I am off…enjoying the company of others, Arthur. Destiny sealed where I belonged a long, long time ago.”

“Don’t be such a girl, Merlin.”

“Prat.” Merlin smiles.

“Idiot.” Arthur grins in return.

A comfortable silence takes them both while they finish their meal. Merlin begins to reach and nearly knocks over the goblet when he feels Arthur’s foot hook around the back of his ankle, rubbing softly once, twice…a third. Like interlocked fingers and thumbs caressing over knuckles, in their own unspoken way. Merlin’s face feels warm as he flickers his gaze over to Arthur. His face is equally a similar shade of red but the small smile playing on his lips as he cuts into the meal makes a similar one pull at Merlin’s own mouth. Well, let’s just say, this is just one other secret between the men who are two sides of the same coin.

***

Authors notes: Please note I do not hate Gwen and this is not a Gwen!hate fic. This is about a couple who came together and found out that they maybe weren’t supposed to be together but still care for one another. Gwen’s insecurities and feelings present negatively due to her enchantment by Morgana. Arthur treats her poorly due to his anger/jealousy over his feeling toward Merlin. I adore Gwen but I am a Gwen/Lancelot or Gwen/Morgana lover.

#merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #arthur pendragon #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #merlin fic #merthur fic #merlin season 5 #merlin fan fic #no beta we die like arthur pendragon

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emrys-merlin · 1 year

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.....Merlin in this outfit.

🤤

#merlin #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlinedit #merlin emrys #merlin 5x02 #merlin season 5 #my edit

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pendragonsclotpole · 4 months

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Merlin Season 5 AU! See end for inspo!

They arrive in Camelot to the news of Mordred’s death. For the first three days of their return, Merlin fixates on the demise of Arthur’s bane more than he does on the significance of Mordred’s death. Mordred’s absence lifts the heavy burden of destiny off of Merlin’s shoulders for the first time in years. He can rest easy, breathe better, live contentedly in the realization that while Morgana remains, Arthur is now free from the curse of his bane.

It takes him weeks to wonder what this might mean for the decision made by Arthur. He is rightfully taken by surprise when one morning, Arthur awakes long before him and presents him with an even longer scroll over breakfast. It is an act to repeal the ban on magic. It legalizes certain forms of magic automatically, presents a drafted proposal for a hierarchical system to police wayward sorcerers, and provides a place on the Council for a Court Sorcerer. The details are so meticulously outlined that Merlin knows deep in his heart Gaius helped Arthur write them. Merlin’s hardly realized he’s crying when Arthur’s arms wrap around and he’s blowing snot into the King’s doublet. He mouths his apologies even as Arthur rubs a comforting hand on his back and whispers back reassuring I knows, and it’s alrights.

In the end, they fulfill the prophecy. Camelot’s golden age lasts for decades. Arthur’s territories grow, and his people thrive, and Merlin stands by his side throughout it all. Magic flourishes. Camelot thrives. Arthur lives and ages. Merlin lives and ages. Arthur dies.

It takes decades. Their bodies grow weak their knees get knobby, (Merlin grows a beard of respectable length much to Arthur’s dismay and annoyance) but eventually Merlin finds Arthur’s body the morning after Arthur’s 96th birthday. It is early enough that none of the servants have arrived to tend to their fire. Merlin, with hands now nearly as wrinkled and gnarled as Arthur’s face, uncorks the vial he’s carried around his waist since the day of Arthur’s first collapse, and swallows whole the concoction within it. The poison takes a few minutes to activate, but by the time he hears footsteps down the hall, Merlin can feel the poison painlessly traveling up his veins and clouding his vision. He smiles, content and sure in the thought that when he awoke next it would be to Arthur’s smiling visage.

He wakes up hours later to Arthur’s cold, sightless blue eyes in the crypts of Camelot. They are alone, about to be placed in stone. For a moment, Merlin thinks he’s merely in the in-between or perhaps brought back as a ghost. He closes his eyes and wills his soul to venture elsewhere. He wills it so much he says nothing as he’s lifted into the walls and entombed beside Arthur. There is something insidiously macabre in seeing your soulmate rot beside you as you desperately attempt to force death to take you. Throughout the process, Merlin absentmindedly thinks if Arthur’s eyes were not cursed to be sightless forevermore the former King would be staring at him with disappointment. I’m sorry, Merlin tells Arthur repeatedly. The apologies peter out when Merlin attempts to die by gouging out his own eyes. He hypothesizes for a few days that the more pain he can elicit, the closer he gets to Arthur. He stops increasing the pain after escalating his to disembowelment and then ceases his attempts to bring about his own death completely after blowing up his body only succeeds in speeding up the decomposition of Arthur’s body. The explosion is both a blessing and a curse. The instant incineration is painless and removes the horrible byproducts and odors of a rotting corpse, but it also leads to Merlin’s eventual resignation. Try as he might, he cannot join Arthur—not even in the presence of their shared crypt.

When he finally pulls himself away from the skeletal remains of Arthur’s frozen and once gnarled hands and musters the force to blast out from the crypt, two months have passed. The body he leaves behind sealed in the crypts is no longer Arthur Pendragon. Arthur Pendragon has left this world. Merlin should have left it with him and now he must find out why he remains, perniciously. There is only one person he can turn that will have this knowledge. Merlin runs to the nearest field and screams out for Kilgharrah. The dragon’s arrival shakes the entire earth around them, but even Merlin can see the weakness in the creature’s movements as he lands.

“So even you are not immune to old age, old friend.” Merlin says. Kilgharrah’s golden eyes look muted in the daylight, and pieces of his scales flake off into the ground.

“You will find only one of us is immune to death by old age, Emrys. And it is not I.”

“What do you mean?” Merlin’s anger gets the best of him. He is confused and hurt and humiliated and alone and deprived of his last wish. He has no room for ambiguities or cruelties. “Have I not fulfilled my destiny? Have I not earned my place of rest?”

“You cannot rest. You are Magic itself. For as long as there is magic in this realm, you will exist in this realm.”

Merlin lets the words rest on the wind for a few seconds before letting them stew and fuel his anger.

“So that’s it then? Years of toiling under the weight of prophecy, decades of laboring to maintain the Golden Age I sacrificed my very being for, and this is how it ends?” Merlin takes a shuddering breath. “You said we were meant to be two sides of the same coin, that are destinies are intertwined. Why is he gone and why am I still here?”

“Arthur is the Once and Future King, Merlin. When the need of Albion is at its greatest, he will return. You are the very essence of Magic. For as long as this realm needs magic, you must remain as magic’s stalwart defender and guardian.” Perhaps realizing the cruelty of his words, Kilgharrah issues one last prophecy. “Do not despair, Merlin. In truth, you achieved the best of all possible outcomes. In another life, Mordred might have lived for longer and Arthur’s death fulfilled decades earlier in place of your true destiny. You received a temporary peace instead. When Arthur returns, he will bring about the end of magic and your death with it.” Then, with a weariness Merlin recognized only in himself, Kilgharrah pulled back his wings and departed.

Merlin never sees him again. It is for the better. It takes Merlin three centuries to forgive the dragon for never pointing out what Merlin himself should have seen. It takes another five before he stops trying to die.

They had achieved everything. Two sides of the same coin, and yet when the story ended, it amounted to nothing.

Arthur died because Arthur was mortal.

Merlin is Magic. Merlin is immortal. Merlin cannot die.

@sneakyboymerlin I blame you for this. Inspired by this amazing post: