MHA fan - Miraculous Ladybug fan - Danny Phantom fan - Used to be die hard otaku (light follower now) - Sherlollian - Shenny shipper - fanartist and fanfic writter (sometimes) - Donaji25 (AO3)
Where Merlin, prince of the druids, son of King Balinor the dragonlord, has his life change when a blonde boy arrives trying to slay a dragon in their care.
Shortly after, that same boy saves his life from some bandits and gets appointed as his servant. Merlin is really happy about it for some reason, that may have to do with all the magical tasks he ask the servant to complete and he is unable to do.
Secretly though, Arthur Pendragon has escaped his kingdom and accepted this life cause he wants to take his father's throne after he sent his sweet sister, Morgana, to the dungeons when she displayed magic abilities, and he needs to gain the druids trust to attempt an attack.
Cue to learning about the 'non-magic-druids' in the place that become their friends and the 'not-as-powerful' sorcerers that follow Merlin like he is more capable of magic than the magic trick of butterflies he summons for fun in his free time.
So I actually had a fic idea that was basically this, BUT instead Arthur had fled when his uncle Agravaine had led a coup. Unable to trust anyone, Arthur goes to find the one person he knows outside the kingdom, Gaius, who had been his caretaker before Gaius couldn't stand Uther's madness anymore and left. When he finally makes it to Gaius, Gaius does what Gaius does, and insists that Arthur can't let King Balinor or Prince Merlin know who he is, because Uther had killed Queen Hunith not long after Merlin was born.
So Arthur has to pretend not to be of noble birth, all while trying to get an in with the knights, to make allies to help him retake his home. Except then a mistake happens, Arthur accidentally finds a disguised and snuck out Merlin and gets in a fight, and well, Arthur is brought before King Balinor.
And Balinor... Well, he knows something is up with Arthur. But he thinks its just that Arthur is a very dedicated knight hopeful. So he'll be Merlin's manservant, keep an eye on Merlin for Balinor, and then when they know Arthur is trustworthy, they'll see about knighthood.
OMG This!!! Like, its not a fic yet, and ideas can be merged (i wish I had the energy after work to do this!)
I was actually thinking that for this Merlin should have honey gold eyes all the time, but once chosing to help Arthur he has to "hide" his magic and they turn blue, which is something everyone will comment about.
But like, Merlin is worse than Arthur when it comes to set chores for the boy, like 'float those flowers to the side of the walls for the feast of the next full moon', or like, 'why are you taking so long filling in the water for my bath? Don't you know the spell?" and 'go muck the dragon stables'. 😅
And I was imagining poor Morgana hiding her predictions by only saying half truths when asked (cause that would be an advantage for Uther) or making up attacks and misfortune to keep them busy.
But yeah, keep the ideas coming, I know many could get inspiration from this!
And like the cycle of the year, we begin again (207580 words) by katherynefromphilly
Chapters: 39/39
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin/Arthur
Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Other(s)
Series: Part 1 of We Begin Again
Summary:
Set after the Merlin Series 5 Finale "Diamond of the Day".
Canon Compliant. In Character. Arthur Pendragon Returns.
Cover art by Lao-Pendragon
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For many long years Merlin waited.
For the other part of his soul, for the other half of his life. He was born to serve Arthur. So that meant he was also born to wait. Even if it took a thousand years. Even if the wait seemed never to end.
Until one day, suddenly, it did.
When Arthur stumbles from the Lake of Avalon 1,500 years after his death, he finds a world unlike the one he knew. Faced with the loss of everyone he loved, and the threat of impending prophecy, Arthur must learn what it means to be not just a king, but the Once and Future King. Merlin does all he can to guide him, even as he struggles to hide his love for his king, and his fear of losing him again.
Story includes sass, banter, horseplay, & True Love.
Where Merlin, prince of the druids, son of King Balinor the dragonlord, has his life change when a blonde boy arrives trying to slay a dragon in their care.
Shortly after, that same boy saves his life from some bandits and gets appointed as his servant. Merlin is really happy about it for some reason, that may have to do with all the magical tasks he ask the servant to complete and he is unable to do.
Secretly though, Arthur Pendragon has escaped his kingdom and accepted this life cause he wants to take his father's throne after he sent his sweet sister, Morgana, to the dungeons when she displayed magic abilities, and he needs to gain the druids trust to attempt an attack.
Cue to learning about the 'non-magic-druids' in the place that become their friends and the 'not-as-powerful' sorcerers that follow Merlin like he is more capable of magic than the magic trick of butterflies he summons for fun in his free time.
...a Merlin fic where they travel to Ealdor undercover to take care of a creature that's been scaring the people and causing other shenanigans?
They have to stay there for more than a few days cause its a sneaky one. But like Arthur is not focused on teaching people this time and in his new found free time he talks with the townspeople and notice how they avoid Merlin...
They do not talk to him, or ask him help with anything, they ignore him when he is in the room, Merlin seems to only talk with his mother or them and the rest of town only interact with him through others, never directly.
Which becomes obvious to the rest of the group after a while. Asking around and subtly hinting at the behavior they find out that Merlin is considered a changeling by Ealdor's people, which of course explains why they treat him like that, but the stories related make them fear the manservant as they find more and more similar situations that they have lived around him.
Of course Merlin is not a changeling, he is so much more than that, but as the suspicion grows in the group, maybe they'll find out more than what they expect.
Am I crazy? Very. Do i have the time? Not at all. But did I still wrote a song fic based solely on a day dream I had? Yes.
So here it is, the song isn't mine I just like it. It's 'Chained to you' from Savage Garden.
Does it has any background story or a continuation? Only time will tell. But just for a hint on whata going on, let's think Arthur was gifted something that makes his wishes come true, whatever he wants is granted, not even the great Emrys is immune to this old magic. Time can be manipulated with the correct 'prompt'.
“Come on Merlin, there must be a song within all the possible songs in the history of the world, that can explain why you're acting this way, just bring it forth in that mind of yours!”
Oh no. Arthur just didn't know what he had just said, how could this prat be anymore mindless of his own words?
Merlin closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the wall he had been facing when trying to escape this exact scenario. Ever since getting that special present from a neighboring kingdom, Arthur had been using it non-stop to have his wishes granted. It was a broach that he could attach to his cape or clothes and with just expressing what he wanted, people, things, you mention it, would do as the King wished.
In Merlin's case for example, all the possible songs in the history of the world were ringing in his ears and mind, all lyrics and compositions from centuries of music history, he supposed the golden shine in his eyes would give him away.
Though when the song that fit Arthur's request found him, he was pretty sure it would be obvious, well, maybe, unless he managed to convince him otherwise. Merlin turned around, they were basically within the throne room which gave them space enough, though he would have preferred that the knights were not present.
He snapped his fingers and allowed the magic in the room to work along his own, lights changed and music started playing, drums startled Arthur and the knights, lights changed to something darker with neon colors never seen before, nudging the magic a bit more he got an image of the singer to appear and sing along with him while he subjected himself to expose the scene that had been stuck in his brain since the party where Arthur got that damn broach.
We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Weaving the magic at his will to make it happen Merlin showed a shadow in front of him that seemed to be swaying a little, he made it so it matched the rhythm of the music.
Acting like a mover, shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
The shadow leaned forward and kissed Merlin, who gave a step back but left a projection of himself to receive the kiss. He could feel goosebumps as the scene played in front of them and couldn't help but feel nervous someone would recognize when this had happened.
And I think about it all the time
Sweet temptation rush all over me
The shadow stepped back and Merlin made his projection turn pink slowly, as if paint had been poured on him.
And I think about it all the time
Passion, desire so intense, I can't take anymore because
Merlin brought the singer forth in fear his own eyes would stray towards the lyrics target. Trying to consider how safe it was to continue with the description of his recent feelings in a most explicit way.
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've gotta be chained to you
Merlin extended his arms and signaled to the magic filling the room, then ran and slid over his knees over the floor with his eyes closed until he landed mostly at Arthur's feet. The part of being chained was figurative, he was bonded by fate already and that seemed to be stronger than chains, which didn't prevent swirls of golden dust to roll around them. While it had taken time for it to be clear, it was something he had to admit had been there since the very beginning.
And when you look into my eyes
Felt a sudden sense of urgency
How could he possibly represent that? He projected scenes of him rushing around the castle, climbing stairs and jumping fences using the projection of himself to make it possible within the room.
Fascination casts a spell and
you became more than just a mystery.
He made his own projection change its expression from troubled with worry to excited as the lyrics sounded around them to represent how he did all this with passion.
And I think about you all the time.
Is this fate, is it my destiny?
For this Merlin risked his projection to use a pose as if asking to the sky on his knees, to a dragon statue in front of him the very same question he had asked himself a thousand of times.
The singer's projection paced the place while keeping the lyrics going, Merlin was so grateful since he wouldn't have been able to explain a voice change.
And i think about you all the time
I'm no longer pretend
to have my hands on the wheel because
He made his projection stand up and run his hands through his hair, wipe his brow and run again around the room but in different scenarios.
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've gotta be chained to you
He allowed his projection to repeat the original course signaling the magic in the room and sliding over his knees. Suddenly feeling creative, Merlin made a mirror appear in the middle of the room and his projection duplicated, going in different directions now, which allowed for Arthur's entertainment, who was watching the show enraptured.
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've gotta be chained to you
Merlin felt fortune smile at him then, when the knights were summoned out of the room, leaving only him and Arthur in the court room. His projection coming to a parallel next to him.
And i think about you all the time
Yeah, I think about you all the time
(Tell me it's madness, i barely know you)
The last sentence had been pronounced by the projection with a weird voice, mirroring a thought that had been a constant right after he met Arthur.
“Okay, right, but who?” Arthur's voice was heard in the distance.
We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
(Ten steps back, you're still a mistery)
The scene from the beginning was projected again, this time taking Merlin by surprise, the shadow in front of him had more detailed features… this was Arthur meddling.
Acting like a mover, shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
Merlin stared at Arthur who looked back at him and suddenly felt his stomach turn, Arthur recognized the scene!
I can't take anymore, because
I feel the magic all around you
It's bringing me to my knees
Like a wannabe
I've gotta be chained to you
The projection started its dance again across the room and Merlin allowed panic to invade him, he fought against the magic that had him trapped into this whole mess and managed to free himself using his only remaining instinct: flight. When the lyrics started to repeat he conjured more mirrors around him and commanded fog to raise from the ground. Then he turned around and ran out of the room as fast as he could, he could feel the tendrils of the foreign magic rushing to catch him again, the music still loud in the court room repeating the lyrics that were dropping into the closing of the song.
Merlin made his way as fast as possible to his and Gaius chambers he would gather what he usually use for camping with the king, which fortunately wasright next to the door after their recent return from a hunting trip, not stopping until he was past the castle gates and into the citadel and then made his way to the forest, no horse, nothing else… He was thoroughly tempted to disguise as Dragoon for the rest of his life if necessary.
People would see him, and they would probably inform Arthur about his whereabouts, so he would probably hide in a cave… turn into a non-huntable animal or… a rock… yeah, that would do… would it?
No.
Merlin stopped midway to the physician wing, he had been going ahead of himself with his racing thoughts...
Gwaine, Leon and Percival survive, find the cup of live and as inmortals leave Camelot to roam the world. A few centuries later they have changed their names to Arhos, Porthos and Aramis... One good day the meet a man that looks a lot like Lancelot, but its called D'Artagnan...
Ok, no. I just saw a movie and the waves from Avalon licked my feet so I had to share...
Camelot's council session was still going, Arthur was tired and bored, they've been at it for more than an hour now and he only wished it would end soon.
As if in answer to his prayers, suddenly, there was a rumbling sound that shook the room, the windows and the chandelier shaking with the force of it. Immediately after he and his knights were up and out the door, running towards where the noise had come, some servants in the area signaled to the right direction, out in the courtyard there was shouting and chaos.
“It was the kitchen, sire. It exploded!” Arthur was told when he approached the smoke and ruble area.
“Is everyone okay?” He asked, trying to assess the damage.
“We don't know yet” said the person who had informed him.
“Leon, have all the servants come to the courtyard. Have them in groups of the area where they work and have Gaius check on those affected.” Leon nodded behind him and started giving orders to other knights.
“Gwaine, Percival, help me check the area, assess the damage and if you find anyone bring it here.”
They reviewed the area, the kitchen seemed to have taken all the damage, there was still some fire burning within what was left of the room, but it had happened inside the room itself.
Leon returned after all servants had been gathered in the courtyard and reported that there were no visible threats, always one step ahead he had also sent men to patrol the town.
Percival had found a man that had been unconscious but not injured, he seemed to be the local butcher making a delivery, but by the look of it he had just arrived and had been thrown back by the explosion since he had no other injuries and his full delivery was still in his cart.
Another knight had reported that Gaius was helping the Cook who had her ears ringing and some of her helpers, one of which had fainted due to the impression, though they were just moving back towards the kitchen to start with lunch preparations so they were injured. Almost everyone was accounted for, except for…
It was then that Merlin showed up in the courtyard. He was caked in a greyish-white dust with a visible dust cloud in his wake. Merlin leaned against the wall, his breathing difficult.
After a closer look Arthur was able to see his servant was bleeding, he had a cut on one of his cheekbones, and another on his forehead, both cuts leaving traces down his face.
Merlin switched his body against the pillar while holding himself and then slowly slid down to sit on the floor, extending one foot with a wince. Once he did that he finally met Arthur's gaze, to his surprise his right eye was bloody red, just below the cut on his forehead, as if the blood had leaked into his eye.
Arthur made a sign to Percival to follow him, to which Gwaine also responded once he noticed Merlin. Gwaine walked towards their friend with a smile, only for his expression to change once he took in Merlin's state.
“Merls! What happened to you?” The knight asked as he crouched down next to him.
“Was passing by the kitchen to get Arthur some snacks when…” Merlin made a vague gesture to the exploded area, his voice was louder than necessary and he whizzed and coughed a bit afterwards.
Arthur noticed he had blood coming out of his ears too. “You fool!” He exclaimed, crouching down too and started brushing the dust out of his hair. “Where else are you hurt?”
Merlin took a shuddering breath and pressed his eyes closed, “my ankle, it sprained.” He said moving his extended foot from side to side slowly, “and I think I broke my arm” he looked down at his right arm which he was still holding, “and some stones hit me, but otherwise… being thrown to a wall is not an experience I'd recommend.”
Arthur, who had been shaking the dust off his clothes, wondering when Merlin had developed the habit of bringing him something to eat after long council sessions to improve his mood, stopped just as he was about to reach his injured arm and stood up again, looking around the courtyard for Gaius.
“Help me with him, Percy, let's bring him to the medical wing” said Gwaine carefully, passing an arm around Merlin's waist, while Percival held him from the other side, apologizing in a low voice that he had checked but not found him and asking Merlin where exactly he had been, only for Merlin to justify the situation with the amount of dust covering him. The King spared them a glance while they did this and kept looking for the physician.
Gaius was still making rounds checking on the other people but other than the few that had been near the place, only Merlin was in the worst shape. “Gaius!” He called out, moving his arms above his head to grab his attention.
On his left Percy and Gwaine had lifted Merlin to his feet, and Gaius was finally heading their way. Merlin groaned in pain loud enough for his mentor to locate him.
“Merlin!” Came the worried voice of Gaius, he just took a look and signaled with his head, telling them without words to continue with the planned route to his chambers.
They rushed there, Percy and Gwaine holding Merlin while Arthur looked at them worried. They placed him on the cot directly, a few women along with Gwen were already there, Gwen had been tending to them but got alert as soon as they entered.
“Oh my… Merlin!” She exclaimed reproachfully, and Merlin at least looked guilty even through the smile he gave her.
Gaius handed Gwaine a knife and instructed him to cut out Merlin's jacket and tunic to free his broken arm. “Cut the sleeve and then also from the neck to the bottom of the tunic so we can remove it. Percy, help him out of his boots please.” The knights went to work,even though Merlin complained about his ruined clothes while Gaius used a wet cloth to clean his face and check on the cuts he had there.
“Merlin, did you see something? Maybe something that could lead to what caused this?” asked Arthur sitting down by the cot.
“I'm having trouble fully listening to what you say,” said Merlin turning his head to the left as if lifting his right ear, “but I'll tell you what happened. I was going to the kitchen to grab you something to eat after the meeting” he hissed when Gaius cleaned the cut on his forehead with some tincture, “I was in a hurry cause the Cook was bound to return at any moment and she hates me.”
“Hey, I heard that!” Said the Cook from where she was taking the remedy Gwen had given her.
“But I could hear noises there, I thought they had left something on the fire. It was kind of like the sound the pot makes when the water is boiling. I was just about to open the door when it happened…” Merlin winced when Gaius touched his temple right next to his bloodshot eye.
“You got a concussion here” Gaius said, holding Merlin's head and checking his eyes. “You'll be fine, but no sleeping it off till I approve.”
Merlin complained about it as Arthur left, followed by Gwen. “We need to start cleaning the place to repair the kitchen as soon as possible, we'll clean and move everything that can be saved, still can you find a temporary place to settle the kitchen? If the home of anyone could be used for any of the processes made we can compensate that person for the use, the nearer the better. It is not only our food coming from there, but all of the castle's population.”
“I'll ask around to see who can help in the meantime, but if another room can be used instead I'll inform you,” Gwen said smiling at him and waiting on the women that had been with Gaius to follow her. A moment later Gwaine and Percival stepped out.
“Thank you” he told Gwen as she moved away and then faced the two knights. “Great work, now go find Leon and set up a team to clean the area, each and any item or appliance that can be saved must be taken to the dining room so the Cook and her people can either recover or dispose of them.”
“Sure, we'll get it started right away” said Gwaine, and he and Percival turned around to heed his orders.
Arthur sighed and took a step back to lean against the wall, this wasn't something he was prepared to deal with, the kitchen was a vital part of the castle, his father had taken a few days during his childhood to educate him on why the supplies and everything in it had to be working correctly as any meals coming from them had to be pair level with their position. It had led to learning about ingredients, tools, and the Cook and her people and how everything there was ‘almost’ as important as the King.
Now he was worried they may be expecting someone who could require one of these meals in the following days. Inside Gaius' chamber he could hear the old man still working on Merlin's injuries, he seemed to be working on his broken arm going by the pained grunts of his servant.
“I think it's back in its place but I'm going to put a splint on it and you'll have to be careful… What was it this time Merlin?” Gaius' voice carried within the room as he looked up what he needed for the splint.
Arthur was prepared to hear the story again, about how Merlin was going to get him food and being caught in the explosion, but Merlin's words were not even close.
“It was an assassin, he was adding poison to the plates and pots. We would have noticed before it reached Arthur anyway, but…”
“But…” prompted Gaius.
“You know I've been struggling to make ‘healing’ work” Arthur tried to breathe as slowly as he could to avoid making noise and turned to try and find a way to look into the room from the side of the door. Merlin had lied to him about not seeing who did it. “So I was trying my hand at some tinctures… potions you may say, with that little aid” he could barely see Merlin, but he seemed to be making a motion as if to sprinkle something, with his good arm, “Gaius, I spent all my savings on the material!” He complained, and Gaius nodded.
“I told you that pot was too nice, you could have used one of my old ones”
Merlin sighed and leaned back in the cushion he had on his back, “will do when I try again. Anyway, I left one simmering, I still had time before that woman returned, but that idiot must have added something to it too… So I enter the kitchen and question him, he plays the fool so I approach him and notice the bottle, I ask him what it is and he pulls a knife. I grabbed a cup, I think, and threw it at him. He runs at me and you know, I try to avoid him and attack at the same time. I think that's where I twisted my ankle, but I managed to tackle him...”
“The Merlin's way” Gaius is now checking a bruise on Merlin's side. Arthur wonders what the ‘Merlin's way’ is.
“Merlin's way, yes. And then he lands near my pot… my 5 silver coins pot… and it spills. I don't know what happened, what he added, but it starts popping. We both notice and then it looks like it's boiling, next moment: BOOM! The part where I hit the wall and end up like this, all true. But they'll find the poor idiot among the rubble.”
“I'll go get cool water for your ankle, so stay put” said Gaius and Arthur hurried to move out of the way.
He took the chance to walk back to his chambers, all the while going back on what he heard. Merlin had basically saved them from mass poisoning, doing something weird in the meantime, but not something bad. How he dealt with people the Merlin's way was a question for a different time, but he would be trying to catch him on it.
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