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bbcmerlin-reversebang · 1 year

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BBC Merlin Reverse Bang Masterlist

Thank you to all the fantastic podficcers, artists, and writers who participated in this first round! The fest was a huge success thanks to each of you. Without further ado, here is the masterlist for the 2022-2023 BBC Merlin Reverse Bang!

Sons of our Fathers

Artist: The_Pen_and_the_Sword

Writer: s0mmerspr0ssen

Summary: When King Uther gets word of a dragon sighting, he sees a chance to finally get his hands on Balinor’s son, the last dragonlord. Prince Arthur is determined to prove himself and makes it his personal mission to slay the beast and capture its master. But amongst rising tensions with Mercia, Camelot’s hunting party is attacked and Arthur ends up alone in the forest, severely injured. He stumbles upon Merlin, who has been on the run with Aithusa ever since his father’s death. Merlin, oblivious that the injured stranger is the Prince of Camelot, ends up helping him – a fateful decision…

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45594802/chapters/114729199

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Watching You Like I’m in Love

Artist: General_Jellyfish

Writer: remaymber

Summary: Arthur had been watching Merlin ever since he had first met him. He was watching Merlin just like he watched the entirety of his kingdom to protect and defend. But as fate intertwined their lives closer and closer, Arthur started feeling like watching might just not be enough.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45462886

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/the--short--one/711662624050413568/merlin-reverse-big-bang

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Getting to hope you like me

Artist: Papysanzo89

Writer: Sage_Owl

Summary: Merlin and Arthur meet for the first time at one of Morgana's lavish Christmas parites, and the attraction between them is instant.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45248359

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/papysanzo/711782259539197952/after-months-i-can-finally-post-these

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Setting Free

Podficcer: pezzax

Writer: TyalanganD

Summary: Life is relatively easy, if monotonous, for Merlin: he lives with his parents in Outer Hebrides, he works at the local supermarket, and sometimes he uses his magic for mundane little things. But all of that changes when one day, he learns terrible news: his father is dead.

Distraught, Merlin sneaks out in the middle of the night and cries out into the sky. And then, the cry gets louder, and becomes something else…

...and then, a huge golden dragon appears on the sky.

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45789913

PODFIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45790453

***

Clockwork Spells

Artist: MaxMagician

Writer: mirjoyX

Summary: Lord Merlin Browning lives life as a mechanic in the dazzling city of Camelot, until one day an unknown ability throws him into a world of magic and fables.

FIC & ART :https://archiveofourown.org/works/45811813

***

tangled up in your bedsheets (and in your arms)

Artist: feuxx

Writer: Imagined

Summary: Merlin parts the orange in two when he’s finished peeling. The juice streams over his wrist and upper arm, and he licks it off absentmindedly before he hands over one half to Arthur. Arthur hesitates for a moment, something strange flickering over his expression before he takes his part.

“They’re best shared,” Merlin tells him, and puts a slice to his lips.

Or: When PhD student Merlin Wyllt flies to a tiny, faraway Italian town for a summer job with Professor Ygraine du Bois, he finds himself unexpectedly at odds with her son, Arthur

But not only oranges blossom in summer, and Merlin finds that he and Arthur have a lot to learn from—and about—one another.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45685282

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/feuxx/712149710794850305/tangled-up-in-your-bedsheets-and-in-your-arms-by

***

The Golden Cage

Artist: LFB72

Writer: MyKingdomComeUndone

Summary: When Arthur secretly follows Merlin into the woods to discover what his manservant is up to, the last thing he expects is to be confronted by an actual, real-life dragon. A baby dragon, granted, but still, Arthur is determined to save Merlin from his own recklessness by capturing the monster...

Arthur's actions set the two of them on a path full of secrets and truths that might make or break their relationship, and Camelot along with it.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45352543/chapters/114103633

ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45499744

***

Fake Happy

Artist: tigereyes45

Writer: Joanna1995

Summary: Calm settles over Camelot after the battle of Camlann. Everyone should have been happy, yet Merlin isn't. Even though Arthur survived, the thought of what might have happened, and what could still happen in the future have him stressed out. He has taken to hiding his feelings from Gwaine, his soulmate, which hasn't made him feel any better. He hopes that soon, everything can be revealed, and things will finally calm down.

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45916054/chapters/115569103

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oSf6FSs55hM

***

kiss with a sword

Artist: Aro_Tarot

Writer: princessoftheworlds

Summary: Queen Morgana rules Mount Olympus with an iron fist, and when she proposes a match between god of spring Emrys and her estranged brother — the god of death Arthur —there can be no refusing.

But in the Underworld, Emrys, who prefers to be called Merlin, discovers that his marriage comes with a catch: his new husband resents his sister and her realm, and has no time for Merlin. Quickly, their mutual apathy turns to mutual loathing. Arthur grapples with his new marriage and holding onto his resentments while Merlin seemingly finds himself with only one option — to overthrow Arthur and install himself as the ruler of the Underworld.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45795277/chapters/115246360

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/aro-tarot/712520374958571520/kiss-with-a-sword

***

If I Gave All My Heart

Artist: griffonskies

Writer: paceprompting

Summary: Years before a young boy with destiny on his shoulders walked into Camelot, there was simply…Arthur, Crown Prince of Camelot: a young man vying for his father’s approval and desperate to prove his worth. A desperation that earns him a curse, even if it saved his life. Now his heart lies outside his chest, kept safe for the time within the metal of his mother’s sigil…

But it cannot hold his heart forever.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45998167/chapters/115784440

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/griffonskies/712768827250917376/bbc-merlin-reverse-bang-20222023-look-look-i

***

and the history books forgot about us

Podficcer: Jockles

Writer: catasterisms

Summary: He lets Arthur's body fall, his tears streaming hot down his face. They're right here. The lake is right in front of them, and yet the dragon said there's nothing he could do. They were so close.

Anger rises in him like a wave, swift and strong. Because isn't there something? Hadn't he traded a life for Arthur's once before? Nimueh's face flashes through his mind, the visage blurred by time. He hears her voice again, proclaiming that she would guide Arthur to his destiny, even though Merlin was standing before her. He recalls Gaius's words about the visions he saw in the crystal cave, and how there are many futures, not just one. If there are many, then why can't he have this?

In which Merlin saves Arthur, but there's no quick fix after revealing the secret he's kept for ten years, and no destiny to guide him any more.

FIC & PODFIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46027120

***

I am who I am and I am who I was and I am who I will always be

Artist: viraha

Writer: Pearl09

Summary: When Uther rests on his death bed, Arthur desperately turns to magic in a last effort to save him. Merlin, disguised as Dragoon, offers his services, and manages to catch Morgana's attempt at stopping Uther's return. Arthur then asks Dragoon of one more favor: to help him find the traitor he believes lives within the castle. Now Merlin must juggle more responsibilities and his two identities in the hopes of catching Agravaine in the act before his lies all begin to fall apart.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46063090/chapters/115952626

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/virahaus/713055952357720064/i-am-who-i-am-and-i-am-who-i-was-and-i-am-who-i

***

Confirmations

Artist: jupiter-flytrap

Writer: DollopheadedMerlin

Summary: Merlin feels overburdened and under the weather, but he doesn't want to add stress to Arthur's efforts in revitalizing his kingdom after recovering the throne from Morgana, so he tries not to take it personally when Arthur gives him a hard time. But when reports tell of a dragon within Camelot's borders and Merlin gets dragged along on a mission against his nature, the king only seems to double down on his mistreatment of his servant, making protecting the royal clotpole a lot more difficult as he fights off an untreated fever.

"Any time he felt as though he was getting somewhere with his destiny something would come around and ruin it. And more often than not, that something was Arthur."

AU where Arthur knows that Merlin used magic to help him recover his kingdom from Morgana in The Sword in the Stone. Only, Merlin doesn't realize.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46113418/chapters/116083984

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/jupiter-flytrap/713180514064990208/confirmations-chapter-1-dollopheadedmerlin

***

The Calm Before the Storm

Artist: viraha

Writer: tigereyes45

Summary: Morgana has taken over Camelot with the help of her sister and their undead army. Arthur, Merlin, and the others take shelter within an abandoned castle. There they lick their wounds, and make plans for the fight. Merlin decides now is the best time to reveal a hidden truth.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46126483

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/virahaus/713239064837570560/the-calm-before-the-storm-by-tigereyes45-and-art

***

You don’t talk about fight club

Artist: alexagirlie

Writer: TravelAgentForGuiltTrips

Summary: Merlin almost doesn’t believe what he’s seeing, they were fighting with magic? He hadn’t thought anyone would be brave, or stupid enough, to start a magic fight ring in Camelot. And not just anywhere in Camelot, but a twenty-minute walk from the castle.

The fight continues until the woman manages to knock a staggering blow against the man. She looks around at the people surrounding the cage and raises her sword while wisps of fire surround her.

She looks familiar…

When she looks directly in Merlin’s direction, he recognizes who it is, even with the mask covering the bottom half of her face.

Morgana.

-AKA-

Merlin stumbles onto a magic fight ring, where Morgana is one of the fighters.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46199560

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/alexagirlie/713500800077463552/merlin-reverse-bang

***

The Little Prince That Could

Artist: chaosgenes

Writer: Lyskari

Summary: An otherwise routine day takes a turn when Arthur wakes up the next morning to find himself quite small! Together with Merlin they try to figure out what to do... and if it's even possible for him to be returned to normal size.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45758878/chapters/115152604

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I Just Wanna Feel At Home

Artist: tigereyes45

Writer: Suitupbatman

Summary: "Feeling more like a fuck up by the day,

I had you,

Honestly, right now you feel far away.

I've got the heart of a martyr,

I've got the walls of a castle,

And I've got the same dreams as before,

But right now,

I just wanna feel at home."

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46278748

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/07sFCiw6f84

***

So Near, So Far, So In-Between

Artist: Mirayla

Writer: Mischel

Summary: When Arthur receives a mysterious mirror as a gift, Merlin immediately senses that it’s dangerous magic — and in his attempt to investigate, manages to get himself trapped inside it. Now, an evil doppelganger takes Merlin’s place and tries to kill Arthur.

Coincidentally, at the same time, Arthur is finally trying to express his feelings for Merlin and wants to start a relationship with him. The doppelganger does not appreciate it.

And Merlin can do nothing but watch.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46295389/chapters/116554105

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/mirayladraws/713880822524116992/new-session-archive-of

***

Faraway Memories

Artist: MaxMagician

Writer: kingdom_keys

Summary: When Albion’s need is greatest, Emrys and the Once and Future King will return to unite the land once again.

A mysterious box with these words appears on the desk of History Professor Merlin Wyllt. Little did he know, it would turn him into a fugitive, send him beyond the walls of the city, and into the life of one Arthur Pendragon.

A story of past memories, of present lives, and a romance transcending the boundaries of both.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46336240/chapters/116660749

***

All The Way Back You Held Out Your Hand

Artist: Laevateinn

Writer: EachPeachPearPlum

Summary: It's not that Gwaine's complaining, not really, because this is definitely the friendliest conclusion he's ever seen to a kidnapping. It's way better than torture and starvation followed by either a dramatic rescue or his untimely demise, but yeah, being knocked unconscious, tied up in a shack, having gibberish chanted at him and then being let go again is very definitely strange.

Or: Gwaine gets kidnapped and cursed by an evil sorcerer, but it's okay because Percival still really likes him.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46349827/chapters/116695435

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/mslaevateinn/714158301643980801/here-is-eachpeachpearplume-and-is-collaboration

***

It’s [Not] So Enchanting to Meet You

Artist: Papysanzo89

Writer: CaughtInTheRa1n

Summary: King Arthur has spent countless weeks convincing his council to invite Emrys, the King of the Druids, to Camelot for a peace treaty. It's time for them to bury the hatchet...except things aren't as simple as they sound. Emrys is rude and beautiful and smug. Arthur is unwilling to let go of his past. When the two find themselves relying on each other for survival, how will they ever see eye to eye?

A hurt/comfort fic with some dungeon-shaped trouble and (hopefully) requited romance. See notes for warnings.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46377451/chapters/116767240

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/papysanzo/714200631672520704/heres-my-second-rvbb-3-3-caughtinthera1n

***

Forged by Stardust

Podficcer: Caethes

Writer: Arete20

Summary: On Albion, the only space station in the Alliance of United Earth that welcomes open magic users, Merlin works as an assistant mechanic to Gaius. Though Merlin doesn’t hate his job, spending days repairing broken coffee machines and toasters can be tedious, but it's a small price to pay for being able to use his magic openly.

Then one day, a mysterious man called Arthur shows up with a broken droid and a barrage of questions. Arthur keeps coming back with more broken things, and as charmed as Merlin is, he knows Arthur knows more about Albion than he lets on, possibly even about the strange and suspicious incidents from a group of new crewmates. With the Alliance threatened by a brewing conspiracy, Merlin and Arthur find themselves putting differences aside to save both Albion and magic itself.

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46424716

PODFIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46414639

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it ain’t no life to live like you’re on the run

Artist: kairennart

Writer: MerlinMorganEmrys

Summary: Camelot and Escetir are at war, and the gods never really learned how to leave the mortals to their own devices. There's also a prophecy because, of course there is.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46482205/chapters/117037480

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/kairennart/714796902674219008/death-war-and-destruction

***

What matters is what you make of it

Artist: rhiadan

Writer: Zaharya

Summary: Merlin felt it rush past him, and then Arthur was on the ground, clawing at his throat as he gasped for air.

In the blink of an eye, Merlin’s magic tore through Sigan’s spell. Coughing, Arthur doubled over, only just catching himself on his hands, while Merlin wrestled his magic back under control.

Withstanding the urge to rush to Arthur’s side, Merlin glared at Sigan. “You will not harm him.”

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46569508/chapters/117270664

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/rhiadan/715069290044391424/this-is-my-art-for-the-bbcmerlin-reversebang-i

***

We’ll Always Be The Last To Fall

Artist: Scarlet_Ribbons

Writer: ExcaliburnRowan

Summary:'He does not remember the feeling of panic rising in his throat at the thought that he would not be discovered before he became nothing more than a dead corpse in a dead Queen’s garden, an errant child out of bed after hours.'

After a lifetime of living on the knife-edge of death, when a seventeen year old Arthur is nearly killed by a traitor to in the very heart of Camelot, all he gets is a second glance and an imperious command from his father that Arthur is to get a new manservant. What's worse is that all his protests seem to fall on deaf ears.

Arthur doesn't exactly have the best history with manservants. And it seems like this one with Merlin is going to be shorter and worse than most. It is not just that he is forgetful, or disappears for days on end, but it seems like he had no grasp of common human behaviour. But despite everything, they manage to forge a friendship, and one night, long-kept secrets are revealed, pledges and sacrifices made, and a new era birthed.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46464595

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/silk-scarlet-ribbons/715254286069694464/merlin-reverse-bang-submission-art-post

***

Like an Oleander

Artist: Stelle_loves_reading

Writer: bang-the-smoke

Summary: After witnessing another sorcerer sentenced to death by King Arthur, Merlin decides he must overthrow him and rule Camelot, which is a unique way to end a relationship.

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46667728

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/artstelle/715325158983860224/new-session-archive-of

***

The Whole of the Moon

Podficcer: NotInPublic

Writer: teachinghimpoetry

Summary: Merlin and Arthur have finally found each other again, and are happily settled in Oxford. But the course of true love never did run smooth, even for the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth. Arthur’s quiet, desperate yearning for family consumes him, yet ends up liberating them both.

In which Merlin is surprised to discover that being a dad ain’t half bad

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46538512/chapters/117188719

PODFIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46644628

***

[Untitled]

Artist: alduade-art

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/alduade-art/715464074655399936/art-for-bbcmerlin-reversebang-the-writing-is-yet

***

Lovely

Artist: TheSpiritsDemise

Writer: bad_peppermint

Summary: They said the wizard of the woods could give you anything you wanted.

What Arthur wanted, more than anything, was to give up control. Let go of his burdens. Be calm.

The wizard's idea seemed preposterous at first, but what harm could trying it do? After all, it wasn't like they knew each other.

FIC: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46746037

ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46826974/chapters/117949645

***

for this moment, for all time

Artist: Mirayla

Writer: TheDragon

Summary: "So you—what? Want me to use my magic to help you?" Merlin asks, struggling not to let his disgust show.

"Not your magic, no," the man finally says after a too-long silence, interrupted only by the clanking of Merlin's shackles as he finally pulls himself to his feet. "The ritual would be performed on you. It can be done with or without your consent, but the chance of success will be much higher if you go into this willingly."

"And the ritual is?" Merlin asks after a beat.

"It's meant to dissolve the soulbond between you and King Arthur."

FIC & ART: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46823209/chapters/117939880

ART: https://www.tumblr.com/mirayladraws/715976614756990976/show-chapter-archive?source=share

***

Thank you!

#bbc merlin reverse bang #merlin fanfic #merlin fanart #merlin fests #reverse bang 2023 #masterlist

106 notes · View notes

someguyinc · 6 months

Note

hello i saw you in the notes talking about arthur and morgana's relationship and i would love to hear you talk more please. i am unhinged about them.

(no pressure tho if you don't feel like it)

this is literally the best thing someone could say to me after a 16 hr flight 😭 bless u anon

also me too. so i'm just gonna ramble ab my headcannons and then also their canon relationship below the cut bc it is so interesting to me and i really have a lot to say and i really mean. A LOT.

so let's start off with season 1/pre-canon and the source of all their problems: uther pendragon. uther pendragon is fucking insane and possibly one of the worst parents ever,,, like def top 10 worst fathers i think

pre-season 1 time line as I see it:

- he marries ygraine from the house of du bois after becoming king,, probably like 3-7 years after,, he claimed he loved her (heavily debatable!!) and she seemed to as well so they assumedly married for love

- now uther has a best friend at the time: Gorlois (now if this is his name-name or surname i'm not sure so i'm just going to go say surname since they're nobility) This man is known by Uther had the bravest man he's ever met,, and his wife the Lady Vivienne probably lost him in battle bc later in season 3,, Uther says a much and says Lady Vivienne was: "lonely so he consoled her"...

- now, this is where my headcannon comes in,, I'm pretty damn sure morgana is older than arthur,, meaning that I'm pretty sure that Uther cheated on ygraine out of that shared grief and around this time ygraine probably was showing growing signs of being barren/unable to become pregnant which probably worried the court ngl

- so morgana conception happens,, vivienne goes away,, gorlois thinks she's his,, during this time uther finally gives in and sacrifices ygraine's life for arthur's and ultimately blames it on arthur/all of magic (remember the talk w uther and nimueh when he says: i wish he'd [arthur] never been born bc it meant losing ygraine essentially like,,,. ok. wow.)

- now season 1: there is so much evidence uther is an abusive shit:

- he throws both of his children in jail whenever they toe the line in a way he doesn't find amusing (ie: s1e4 and s1e12)

- arthur straight up says (he's about 20/21 atp): i never knew you were proud of me,, in fact i always thought i was a disapointment (meaning: uther never went out of his way to show him otherwise for a solid 20-21 years.)

and uther doesn't actually say he's proud of him he just goes: i wouldn't wish for another son (after drugging him so he wouldn't duel being a hypocritical king)

so all of this: leads back to morgana and arthur's relationship

morgana and arthur in season 1 have a somewhat tentative relationship,, we can see that most of the kingdom thinks the two of them are going to marry one another (including themselves at times) ie: gwen saying morgana would make a great queen one day,, but they also bicker all the damn time

snipes here and there,, but ultimately it usually comes down to their differences in how they reacted to their upbringing from uther:

arthur became the dutiful/exceptional son: he became a knight at 20 (usually took knights till mid twenties-early thirties), later we learn he led druid raids pre-canon (this traumatized him also again fuck uther) this would also be exceptional seeing as he probably wasn't a fully fledged knight even then, and is known throughout Camelot (and most of Albion tbh) as a master swordsman,, and while he did have his own thoughts on magic he often bit his tounge in front of his father in order to prove himself,, we also know that unlike morgana: he learned exactly how to navigate around uther so he could do what he wanted against uther's will while not embarrassing in front of the court (ie: when he went to go save gwen after saying to his father and the court that it was probably a lost cause)

morgana was the people's princess,, but she def got the "i am my father's daughter" syndrome BADDDDD: we see in s1 she's often stood up to Uther in front of the court numerous times, so much so that when she gets thrown into prison (s1e12) it's not the first time,, arthur tells her: "i promised him that this would be the last time you acted out against him like this" (paraphrasing) and morgana replies "you're a good man, unlike your father" (line that makes me insane)

they are parallel from the start within these two episodes specifically!!! many may argue morgana was good and kind from the beginning,, but she often did things FOR HER OWN MOTIVES!!! when she helped gwen's father to escape without consulting gwen,, it confirmed it for me. she may have convinced herself it was for gwen,, but she never even asked,, she did it to piss of uther not thinking it all the way through,, opening his cell and leaving him to fend for himself against a bataillon of knights. now i'm not saying morgana has never done anything out of pure kindness,,

but whereas arthur is constantly set up as a righteous and noble man in his heart but his actions can appear to be... for lack of a better word, extremely dickish

morgana's actions appear to be kind and generous, but can often endanger those around her in her conquest for the things she wants, sometimes ending in death. (AGAIN NOT ALWAYS!!!)

NOW this leads me to the fact that once again they were the only two who grew up under Uther really and are the only ones who know what that's like,, they probably already felt more like brother and sister by the time s1 hit just bc of that but endured it bc they weren't blood and swallows the fact they were probably gonna be married but you can see it in the scenes alone,,

morgana does push arthur to be better and to challenge the things uther taught them bc that is what she instinctively does!! morgana questions uther and in return teacher arthur to question uther (ie: pushing arthur to save merlin in s1e4, helps him to strike down valiant s1e2, makes him argue back when gwen was wrongfully imprisoned s1e3) and we see that morgana does care for arthur!! she threatens sophia when she noticed something is off and often rushes to the defense of her friends,, her tactics can be destructive though just in a parallel way to arthur's

arthur's destructiveness comes from his inability to choose a side, or based his assumptions on prejudices something that becomes even more apparent when morgana turns away from Camelot and it's people

morgana was probably rooting for arthur as a king for a certain point,, but even though the grew up together and she should know arthur's MO is usually 'just say yes in front of dad and do whatever the fuck is just later' morgana doesn't trust him. and as her powers grow this also becomes more apparent and her support wanes until she believes someone else should be on the throne,,,

and when she learns that uther is her father??? that's when she flies off the deep end.

now for me morgana being older than arthur is one of the only reasons why she would have a valid claim to the throne!! we see that mithian as the only girl succeeded her father as QUEEN not just princess meaning the laws of succession COULD include women it just depended on the region,,

now imagine being morgana:

you grow up at home with your father, he is kind, brave, and gentle, and a fearsome warrior, he is the kings best friend. he dies and you move in probably around the age of 8 and you see this 6 year old boy. you later learn the kingdom expects the two of you to marry. you're still grieving but you know what this means. you take the etiquette lessons, you learn to wield the sword, you become proficient in horseback riding, you gain the education fitting of a queen. you are 15, the prince is 13, he is already one of the most promising squires. it's alright though you're learning to love him, not as a romance though (not anymore at least, he tried to flick his booger at you once at the age of 8, the flame was staunchly out out.) you two appreciate one another, you get older, it is improper for the two of you to be alone together, you witness your first execution. he's being killed for the crime of sorcery (he saved a little girl from a burning building), you don't understand. you meet your maidservant, she is one of the most lovely people to grace the earth. you love her, as a friend. you grow older, you're still expected to marry the prince (he is 18), he has killed many. he has watched even more die. he is different, you are different. you watch another man die for the crime of sorcery, you don't understand. two years pass, you're tormented by dreams you cannot comprehend but always seem to come true, a serving boy arrives, he changes the prince again. you watch another man die. you don't understand, but you hold your tounge now until later. the king's temper is short. years past and the sleeping draughts aren't working, your dreams are getting worse. your maidservant is in love with the prince. you're jealous, you don't understand. you think you have magic, you see the prince become his father. you don't understand, you just want someone to tell you it'll be alright. after years of anger and bitterness you finally understand, you hate the king and all he's done, the world would be better if he were gone, arthur would be better if he were gone. arthur loves him anyways and it kills you. you meet a woman who claims to be your sister, both of blood and in magic. you take her hand, she promises to teach you all there is to be taught. your anger for the king festers. the prince you once loved turns out to be your brother. the king you hate turns out to be your father. you beg him to recognize you, and give you the family name you were stripped of. he doesn't. you kill him. you kill s lot of people. you don't care if they're innocent or not anymore. you connive, and you plot, and you scheme. you try to kill the prince, who is now king. your sister dies. you miss your best friend, the handmaiden who is now queen. she says she hates you. you hate arthur. you die trying to make him as miserable as you.

now arthur:

one day your father brings a girl home, everyone is telling you that they you expect to marry. father doesnt say anything. you think she's pretty, you accidentally flick your booger at her and she looks at you like you've wiped horseshit on her dress. you watch a man die for the crime of magic. you don't understand, you will soon. your father looks at you like there is someone he can't stand to see. he cherishes this girl he's brought home. you work harder than any squire seen before. you get promoted early, everyone says it is just because of the king, you beat them in everything so they can't secondaries you ever again. you watch more sorcerers die, your father says it is because they killed your mother, you secretly feel like a bad person because you don't understand why all sorcerers deserve to die for the crime of one death. even if it is your mother. you twist her ring. your father's ward is beautiful, you try to impress her, she's too busy hanging out with her maidservant. you get older and complete your first druid camp raid, you don't understand, so many of them are women and children, so many of them die anyways. you change. you grow older, you become the youngest knight in camelot, you think it will turn your father's ward's attention to you, she's infatuated with owain, the oaf. you get older, and you meet the most insufferable boy with the most outrageous ears and the most obvious lies. he changes you. morgana becomes more distant. you learn that your mother's life was given for yours, you try to kill your father. the manservant you trust most in the world says that sorcerers lie, you finally understand. you hate sorcery and despise any practitioners of magic from now on. you grow older, you begin to fall in love with your sister's manservant, you understand her infatuation. you grow as a prince, and person, you gain alliances in unlikely places, you don't think you'll marry morgana anymore. you learn your father's ward is your sister, you watch as she usurps the throne. you don't understand. you fight back. you become king. you marry the love of your life. she betrays you with a close friend. you become lost. you forgive her, you trust again. you are fighting your sister. always. you don't even recognize her anymore, you wonder if you ever did. you later learn that magic was never evil, on your deathbed, and that your soulmate had it the whole time. you wonder about your sister. she tries to kill you again. she dies in your best friend's arms and all you can think is how she finally looks peaceful for the first time in forever. you die the same way not too long after.

anyways: morgana and arthur parallel each other so hard it's crazy,,, and the pendragons are a family of self-fulfilling prophecies

like that is your sister/brother and you love them and you hate them and nobody else couldn't possibly get it and they hate you but you will always love them and you are home but you can never go home and -!

#some guy talking #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #morgana pendragon #i have more to say ngl but like #im gonna take a shower #they make me so sick #DO YOU HEAR ME!!!???#anyways thanks for the ask sorry if this was literally incomprehensible lol #asks #merlin meta

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burglarhobbit · 1 year

Text

tangled up in your bedsheets (and in your arms) artist: @feuxx / feuxx writer: @burglarhobbit / Imagined

written for the @bbcmerlin-reversebang

Merlin parts the orange in two when he’s finished peeling. The juice streams over his wrist and upper arm, and he licks it off absentmindedly before he hands over one half to Arthur. Arthur hesitates for a moment, something strange flickering over his expression before he takes his part.

“They’re best shared,” Merlin tells him, and puts a slice to his lips.

Or: When PhD student Merlin Wyllt flies to a tiny, faraway Italian town for a summer job with Professor Ygraine du Bois, he finds himself unexpectedly at odds with her son, Arthur.

But not only oranges blossom in summer, and Merlin finds that he and Arthur have a lot to learn from—and about—one another.

click here to read on ao3

#bbc merlin #reverse bang 2023 #merthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin fic #liz writes

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yellow-faerie · 3 months

Note

Could you talk about the “Long Live The Queen (Long Live the Monster)” wip?

[From this post of current WIPs, if anyone's curious :)]

Ahhh my Merlin fic! This is an Ygraine lives fic except she also goes batshit over magic! And a bit insane...so...

I have a lot planned out, because it starts from around the time that Uther and Ygraine met, but here's the basics:

Camelot had been in an era of civil war. Uther's father died without declaring an heir between his eldest (twin) sons and so they've been fighting. During this time, magic practise has been getting more and more difficult as people start using them as a scale goat for the civil war and then as a scape goat for anything that goes wrong, as often happens with persecuted groups throughout history.

Uther, who was younger than his brothers, won the civil war with the assistance and wisdom of the dragon lord's (and after one of both his brothers were killed). This was because the dragons had foreseen that his son would bring about the kingdom of Albion and free the people of magic from their current torment.

Having taken the throne, Uther invites all the noble houses of Camelot and the surrounding kingdoms to his coronation. Among those who come is Ygraine, representing the du Bois house for her elder brother Tristan (as Agravaine is not yet old enough and Tristan needs to stay in their lands as tensions are still too high) bringing with her her handmaid Bronwyn - who learned hedgewitch magic from her parents - and Tristan's trusted second-in-command, Captain Bedivere, who is probably having an affair with his wife.

They're attacked on the road but rescued by a young sorceress who says her name is Nimueh and that she too is travelling to Camelot for the coronation. She's the youngest of the nine priestesses and has been sent as a spy, of sorts, to see whether this man truly seems to be the sort of person to raise the king who will bring about Albion's return.

They arrive at Camelot together and go to the coronation; Ygraine and Uther meet when they are both wandering the castle at night (Ygraine because the attack on the road has rattled her and Uther because his new responsibility ways heavily on him) and they continue to make ways to see each other in between festivities before Uther asks her to stay on at the castle after the celebrations are finished.

Also on the castle: Balinor is the one who really helped Uther win the war as the main communication between the dragons and the crown, and so he is here to continue representing them and to continue to keep a firm eye on him (and Uther keeps him about because he Doesn't Trust Him).

Gorlois is the captain of the knights at this point, as one of the few people on the planet that Uther truly trusts.

Also, Gaius and Alice - they're both apprenticed to the current physician, Niamh, who is a very old woman who would have what we would call the beginnings of dementia - are there; as well as Cador, Uther's manservant and friend from throughout the war, who is an actual alcoholic and not a pretend one like Merlin.

Nimueh stays at the castle as well, both to keep an eye on the king like Balinor is doing and because she is genuinely very fond (read: probably falling in deep, unrequited love) of Ygraine. She gets the position of Court Sorcerer in Uther's court which makes her a permanent figure in the court life.

He and Ygraine are engaged to be married - and very happy about it - and during their engagement period, Uther puts out a declaration that all those practising magic must register their names and places of living; this does not help tensions as the magic people are furious because this new king was meant to start making things better and now he won't let them legally practise without registering.

Still, life goes on. Balinor spends a lot of time with Gaius and Alice because he hates court life and this is the closest he gets to a real escape; Bronwyn gets married to Cador and he cleans up his act as they start a family; Gaius and Alice are engaged to be married but are waiting until they both finish their training.

Vivienne, one of Nimueh's two blood sisters, comes to visit quite regularly and ends up married to Gorlois probably for political reasons. She then starts living in the court as well.

Ygraine and Uther are soon trying for a child but having little success; both Gaius and Alice do all the research they can but nothing works. Because of this, the king gets angry and more aggressive in his work, and there is a clear bias in his rulings against the magical people.

Vivienne and Gorlois return to Gorlois' castle during this time as Vivienne gets pregnant and wants the peace that Gorlois' own place would give him. (also because she's REALLY worried that the whole affair with Uther will be very real when her baby is born - thankfully, Morgana looks just like her)

Much like the general populace is doing, Uther's blaming magic for his personal problems. Because of this, he turns to Nimueh and asks for her help in conceiving magically.

She does her magic, against her fellow priestesses wishes, because she knows how much Ygraine wants to be a mother and she would do literally anything for her; but she doesn't tell her because she doesn't want to hurt her with the fact that she can't conceive naturally or smth.

Ygraine survives the birth! Yay!

Uther gets assassinated! Shouldn't have been oppressing people, Love.

Ygraine is distraught. She's always been a supporter of magic, mostly due to being friends with people like Bronwyn and Nimueh, but the wound inflicted on Uther was magic in nature.

This begins the purge. Ygraine is queen until Arthur is old enough to take the throne (although what that age is keeps getting older) and she uses this power for EVIL.

No but really - she never makes magic illegal but if you are found practising unregistered magic, you'll be executed, if you are registered to practise magic, your chances of being executed just shot through the roof, if you ever had someone who practised magic in your family ever, you are now a suspect in her husband's murder.

(even though, in reality, it was a one person job without a scheme at all)

Nimueh and Bronwyn, and Alice and Gaius, are protected because they are Ygraine's friends, trusted to within an inch of their lives. But there are others in the castle who are not so lucky.

Balinor is her first, chief suspect - she knows that he and Uther only grudgingly got on, and suspects that he and the dragon lords were in on it. She gets them all killed, imprisons Kilgarrah but Balinor escapes with Gaius' help. Nimueh convinces Ygraine not to go after him, saying that he would be completely gone now and won't return again.

Balinor and Hunith are married, have Merlin and then have a little girl called Ganieda about ten years later - she's just a little younger than Mordred.

The priestesses are targeted next because Ygraine thinks they are jealous that Nimueh chose her. Nimueh has to then choose between her sisters and between staying alive at Ygraine's side.

She chooses the latter and spends the next two decades growing to hate Ygraine with her whole heart for what she's doing to her people but also loving her for the person she was before. She constantly wants revenge but also wants to make sure that those she loves who are still protected stay alive.

Vivienne dies giving birth to Morgause, and Nimueh uses this as an excuse to leave the court. She visits Gorlois to help with the girls, promising to take them in if anything happens to him, and then goes to return back to the castle after a few months, as much as she hates it.

Eventually, something does happen to Gorlois, and when Morgana is 12 and Morgause 8 (and Arthur 10), the two girls come to live in the castle too.

Anyway, time rolls ever onward and Merlin is sent to the castle. Balinor is against it but Hunith tells him that Merlin's magic is too much for either of them and that Gaius and Alice (and by extension, Nimueh) are his best shot at learning to control the aspects of his magic that are just not within their knowledge.

Arthur is slightly less obnoxious because there's not so much of being raised as a macho man's man - however he is a massive mummy's boy which counteracts whatever character development not being raised by Uther gave him.

Like the first episode, Merlin rescues Arthur from the vengeful mother and gets assigned as his manservant. Some of what happens in the first series happens with Nimueh trying to get revenge on Ygraine while not revealing herself and also without killing Ygraine because her feelings are complicated.

The plot obviously won't be the same as the show but it vaguely follows the plot where it can.

The end of season 1 is Nimueh's reveal that she's kinda evil and then it's Merlin attempting to keep Arthur alive while Nimueh and Ygraine go to increasing lengths to get at each other, using everything they can.

Arthur becomes king and works very hard to make magic a part of society again. With both Nimueh and Ygraine gone by that point, there's no real antagonist against his reign other than Political Tensions and so it's Arthur and his many good friends/knights/advisors creating the kingdom of Albion with Love and Friendship.

Here's a little snippet from what I've written so far - this fic is mostly a bunch of disconnected snippets so far, so this is one of those:

The funeral is three days later.

Bronwyn stands two paces back from Ygraine – crowned Queen at her wedding, yes, but crowned ruling Queen again at her husband’s death – as she always has, holding the baby prince while her own children stand somewhere near the back with their grandparents. Thank the goddess for magic and her mother’s patience with a needle, or else none of them would have had the appropriate clothes.

Thank the goddess (although Bronwyn would never dare utter the words aloud) that Uther was the only victim that day.

Bronwyn does not know what might have happened if Uther had been the one to go through this grief, nor what might have happened if Arthur had been left parentless, nor if Uther and Ygraine had lost the child they had sacrificed so much for.

The vipers who Uther had fought for the throne some five years ago would be circling again if the throne was left empty, if there wasn’t someone showing a strong face to the crowds. If there wasn’t someone doing the job that Ygraine was doing so beautifully and with such a grace.

Still, Bronwyn had been uncertain if they would have managed a crowning so soon.

It had taken a bit of cajoling by the excellent seamstress in the castle’s employ and a little bit of magic to get Ygraine looking as if she hadn’t been through a very traumatic birth a mere few days before, and Nimueh now stands closer to the Queen than even Bronwyn as her ever-present pillar of support.

There’s the ceremony, led by Geoffrey, where the King is laid in the crypt and Ygraine is given the crown of state.

She stands on that dais for a few breathless moments, cutting a striking image of dark grief and power against the red drapery, and then she descends, sweeping out in a flurry of fabrics and skirts.

Nimueh is at her arm, and Bronwyn can barely keep up with the two of them.

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