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@bloby-876
Silly little Map of the series
Green- Completed!
Red- Working on it!
Purple- Active poll
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Season 1-
Ep1 "The Dragon's call": Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11
Ep2 "Valiant": Part 1, Part 2
Forever in love with MBARBYC’s bookmarkers
An Inconvenient Fondness
Bonus
I just needed to draw them again
Love fics where Gwen and Arthur think lance and Merlin are courting, and Merlin and lance think Gwen and Arthur are courting. Also Gwen may be ooc but I think she deserves a little crash out ❤️
every time I listen to the challenge from epic the musical, I have a merthur fic idea but only a vague idea, I can’t quite flesh it out fully
I'd be SO up to brainstorm
@bloby-876 I’m pulling you in too bc you offered lol
Well my idea was Merlin being Penelope in the future as in Merlin with Arthur’s sigil was next in line for the throne after Gwen died since she and Arthur didn’t have any heirs or you can remove gwenthur as a whole it doesn’t really matter lol
So Merlin takes over Camelot after everything and rules as an immortal king/queen bc I love my genderfluid Merlin. I suppose in the beginning he could fake a lineage by announcing he has a child who would be an heir and then faking his death and becoming said heir so no one got suspicious in the beginning.
He rules Camelot for centuries and keeps Arthur’s kingdom safe and preserved for his return because he’s. coming. back. Anyway after so long, humanity eventually destroys itself with nuclear warfare and Camelot is the only thing left standing from Merlin’s magical wards. As humanity rebuilds, Camelot is the hub of civilization for a while since the rest of the land can’t even bear crops from all the nuclear waste. People turn back to magic, go back to their roots.
Merlin can fully become the immortal ruler now since magic is back, kinda. He figures Arthur must be arriving soon because hello? People can’t even grow food? The land is destroyed, people are starving, we can’t even wage war because Camelot is the only stable form of government around. You’re lucky to find a village out there somewhere since people tend to stay in their caves nowadays.
So Merlin offers a challenge for Arthur. He places Excalibur back in the stone and says whoever can pull it from the stone will claim the throne from Merlin. He will no longer be the immortal ruler and humanity can reclaim their place of power that people seem to think he’s hogging.
Arthur and co (knights, morgana, gwen) are brought back with all their memories in a dried up spot that was once the lake but no longer exists. They hear whispers of Camelot so they head back to their kingdom for answers all the while bonding and healing old wounds (morgwencelot my beloved return from war 🙏)
They arrive and see Merlin still alive, ruling Camelot, and like hella depressed and Arthur hears the challenge and is like “well I pulled the sword from the stone before (it’s weird that its back in there but okay) so I can do it again” but since Merlin helped him pull the sword from the stone originally, it doesn’t work. Talk about a blow to the ego. I mean. I guess in some of my ideas for this fic, he doesn’t pull the sword from the stone like this. Idk. This was just an idea lol.
Anyways this is like where it branches into like five million different directions. Also since Merlin hasn’t see Arthur in millennia, he’s forgotten what he looks like so when he sees Arthur and the knights, he thinks they look familiar but he’s been alive for thousands of years and has seen millions of faces so everyone blends together after a while so he doesn’t recognize them.
Now I could continue to listen to the Ithaca saga and Hold Them Down comes on like the men in the room have finally had enough and are like “lets just attack him and hold him captive and see how many times we can kill an immortal before they stay dead lol” and Arthur (so protective of Merlin it’s insane) just pulls the sword free from sheer force of will and either kills them or just chases them out of the castle. Merlin hears the commotion and thinks nothing of it til he finds bodies and rushes into the room to find the sword in the stone no longer in the stone and is like ??? wtf???? Only I could allow that to happen???? Unless…no. I shan’t dare believe…
Morgana helps Arthur pull the sword from the stone and Merlin is like ??? Wtf??? That’s my challenge?? Who tf do you think you are?? Ugh I love mergana frenemies sm they’re so silly
(After some consideration with this one. The idea of Arthur trying and failing to pull out the sword should happen here) The option I like a lot which was my initial idea. Arthur has to prove himself to Merlin. He has to make an effort to remind Merlin of who he is. Everyone had been coming to Merlin and saying they’re Arthur, but no one is (much like men going to Penelope to say they’re Odysseus which is why she tests Ody when he arrives in Ithaca to make sure it’s him). Merlin doesn’t ever show his cards. He lets Arthur get close and listens to his ramblings and his laugh and feels pieces of his soul begin to align once more after millennia of being jagged and missing. Slowly over time Merlin begins to hope that it is Arthur, that he’s not mistaken. He watches “Arthur” with his knights and sister and friend and is like…that’s familiar. These people are familiar. Is it too much to hope and dream and believe? But he’s been burned before after centuries upon centuries of hoping and dreaming. Anyway blah blah blah either Merlin tells him to try his hand with the sword or Arthur is just like “It’s Time.” And heads to the stone. Instead of pretending to be all great and valiant with his eyes closed and muscles flexed like all the other men, Arthur looks at Merlin and holds his gaze. And fuck…Merlin knows those eyes and he knows the soul behind them. And his eyes flash gold as he helps Arthur pull out the sword.
#Imagine if the challenge was to take the sword out and kill Merlin with it#so people are like “not only is impossible to take the sword but we have to kill the inmortal? fuck off”#and Arthur (because he has the power of the plot by his side) does take the sword out of the stone#so Merlin tells him to complete the callenge#but Arthur can't do it bc it's Merlin and he can't hurt him#Merlin's like “wow you really are Arthur” and steps down from the throne and there's a golden age and everyone us happy <3#merlin (via maeryuu)
i was on mobile so i only saw the first tag and my brain started RUNNING with it lmao
my own personal hcs kinda contradict with a few details so i switched it up a bit hope you don't mind (edit: i didn't change it change it but i did tweak it to insert my hc lol)
i'm using the third point/idea because it's my favorite as it involves arthur pining and trying desperately to prove to merlin that he is who he says he is and merlin trying desperately not to get his hopes up as he slowly falls in love with arthur again
anyways, arthur calls merlin a dollophead out of habit and merlin just freezes, his mind screeching to a halt at the familiar word that he's been saying to himself for thousands of years that he can't remember where it's from. he looks over at arthur and is like "dollop...head? what...is that?" and arthur smiles because to him this interaction from a few years ago is backwards so he starts quoting merlin and is like 'it's idiomatic." and merlin tilts his head all confused like even as the back of his mind tingles, his subconscious recognizing this but he has to search through thousands of years of memories to find what this means and he can't quite do it. arthur continues like "it means you need to be more in touch with the people."
and merlin is just trying so hard to not believe but at the same time his heart is slowly growing lighter as his mind fights with itself to find the damn memory that is escaping him. maybe he eventually finds the memory, maybe he doesn't, but he heads out to the sword in the stone and announcing that he will be overseeing todays attempts and he watches as man after man after woman after woman try their hand at pulling the sword free but none succeed obviously. merlin catches arthur's eye and despite his wounded pride from failing before, he decides to step up to the sword and try again. he stares up at merlin as he grabs the sword and watches as merlin's eyes flood gold.
the sword dislodges and arthur pulls it out without looking away from merlin and merlin steps down, holding his breath as he dares to hope for the first time in centuries and (listening to would you fall in love with me again and this is more in tune with the challenge penelope issues odysseus to move their wedding bed) tells arthur to battle merlin while wielding excalibur. if arthur can defeat merlin, than he takes the throne. arthur, like ody, is just like...flabbergasted. he's like "you told me this sword was forged in the breath of a dragon, that it can kill anything magic or non. if i were to wound you in battle, i would kill you. i won't. i won't do it." and merlin just...Knows at that point and practically falls to his knees before arthur murmuring "it's you, it's you, it's really you..."
(shameless plug of my fic "heavy is the blade that ends a life" on ao3 bc that's where i toyed with the idea of excalibur being the only thing that can kill merlin and his giving it to arthur as a symbol of his complete and utter trust in him. i would link it but i have all my fics private so it won't work lol (ps: ody's lines "a symbol of our love everlasting..." and arthur hearing merlin's second challenge and holding up excalibur going "a symbol of your undying trust" to nudge the fact that merlin is immortal or "a symbol of your trust never ending/that is endless" to match the beat of the song whatever whatever)
This sounds VERY COOL
I like thinking about the background details 👉👈
I feel like Arthur and the other's return to Camelot would take a little while longer to return because of the destruction and lack of available food. Even if they aren't very far from Camelot, the world would be modernized to a degree, right? (Camelot staying alive and magical would change some things)
Radiation would make traveling through certain areas VERY UNSAFE and there would be a lack of available drinking water (in the wilderness anyway, I feel like Merlin would take care of that.)
Arthur's main focus would be to get back home yeah but he cares a lot about his people. His heart would HURT seeing the aftermath of nuclear war, not even understanding the cause. It could pave the way for some self doubt. What could he really do as ruler? Is he really prepared or able to care for his kingdom when he's not even from this time period? And when he doesn't pull the sword that first time hoo boy-
(Also Morgana is the only one with magic in their group and Arthur died with still evil Morgana and they're probably depending on her to get home safely and things are very awkward but Morgana is trying at least)
If Merlin is providing housing for the people trying to pull the sword (good news for Arthur and co because they are homeless and broke.) He would have very minimal contact with Merlin because Merlin probably hates seeing the sword cuz he can't remember the wielder's face and he's done so much for this person and he only has vague memories and feelings and why is he still ruling this godforsaken kingdom again? (His depression kicking in. Yes he loves Arthur but resentment would build up after that long right???)
Could be a slow burn version two 👀👀?
This is kind of all over the place haha-
I genuinely don’t think Leon hates magic as much as some people write him as.
He was literally SAVED by magic and he acknowledged that.
Pardon me, I have thoughts about this. hope you don't mind :>
(it may not make a ton of sense buutttt)
from my December readings, I’ve collected a few more merlin fic recs for the people…
For favorite long (80k+) fic, I would have to choose Drink my Pain, Swallow Your Pride by Lex18. I’ve read another fic I love by this author and if you’re looking for just the most fan fiction fan fiction that hits the spot, READ. It’s got sexual tension, it’s got vampires, it’s got werewolves, it’s got familial secrets, it’s everything you want to indulge in and more. I, for one, love the vampire Arthur agenda and please give me more 🙏🏻
For favorite mid length (30k-80k) fic, I would have to stretch the boundaries a bit and choose the 85k A Summer in Delphi by rotrude. I went on a spree of reading this authors work and their variety is amazing. This was full of self acceptance, beautiful love blossoming, some tears, and a whole mountain of emotion with the characters. Definitely recommend!
For favorite short fic (<30k) I would have to pick this short smutty fic called Beware the River by I_ran_out_of_books. if you’re into some magical being (?) smut I definitely recommend, it’s a little wild but the concept is great (and, in my humble opinion, underused). A succubus/siren creature morphing into what Arthur desires the most, aka merlin, and then merlin seeing this go down? sign me up
This is actually so dialogue heavy be warned.
---
"Im leaving Camelot."
Arthur nearly chokes on his wine and Gwen openly gapes at him.
Merlin laughs lightly at the look on their faces and Gwen's heart melts just a bit because how long has it been since they truly spent a moment together?
He stood in front of their table and Arthur took a moment to look, really look, at Merlin. His eyes were dark and his shoulders were broader compared to when he first came to Camelot. His smile was something Arthur hardly got to see anymore. And as Arthur processed the weight of Merlin's words, a sick feeling of dread slowly began building up somewhere in his heart.
"What? How- What brought this on, Merlin?" Gwen spoke, her voice quivering slightly. Arthur knew that she was likely fiddling with a ring on her finger, a nervous habit she picked up from him.
"I-" Merlin hesitated. One of his hands grasped at his forearm nervously. He looked like he might tear up. "I don't know what to do with myself now."
He locked eyes with Arthur.
"Ever since I first came to Camelot, I've lived in constant paranoia. I could never fully trust any friends I made for fear of the pyre. And- and when you started changing into this-," Merlin gestured to Arthur, "-this selfless, kind, brave king- I did everything I could to protect that. When you started courting Gwen, I did all that I could because I wanted you two be happy. It changed me, Arthur."
They knew about Merlin's magic but he had never truly told them about what Merlin had gone through throughout the years. They were stuck feeling helpless as the light slowly drained from his eyes, doing whatever they could but it never felt like enough.
He went on explaining.
"I turned into a weapon. My hands are stained with the blood of hundreds and yet it never mattered to me as long as you were both safe. But- when you stopped needing me?" Tears were flowing down his pale cheeks as he wiped them helplessly. Gwen got up immediately, rushing to wipe at them with a handkerchief. Arthur was right behind her, a hand on both gwen and Merlin's shoulders.
"I don't know what to do with myself. Gaius has a new physician's apprentice who's way better at medicine than I am, you and Arthur have George, Morgana is an excellent court sorceress, and I'm still here."
Arthur wanted to interrupt. It pained him, more than anything, to hear Merlin talk like that about himself. Like there was no worth in him other than how well he could serve others.
Gwen cried quietly. She had been so busy with learning the inner workings of court life that she missed how her best friend has been feeling.
"Merlin-"
"I need to find myself Arthur, Gwen. And- I can't do that here anymore." He looked so pained as he spoke. Gwen knew how selfish of her it would be to ask him to stay anyway but she wanted to, so badly. And she ached.
"..Okay," the king started, "if that is what you believe is best. But Merlin-"
"You will always, always have a place in Camelot. And I'm so sorry we ever made you feel like you didn't." Her voice came out strong, for she knew that Merlin needed something more, and neither the king nor queen could provide that anymore.
Arthur let his tears fall openly now, and he tightened his hold on them both, on his most precious people, the two who taught him to be better, to truly be a king. He loved them both so, so much. And his heart hurt with how badly he never wanted to let go.
And the three stayed there for a long while, weeping together. Eventually Merlin had to leave. Arthur resisted the urge to pull him back.
And Gwen couldn't see him off at the courtyard properly because she knew she would crack, beg him to stay, apologize a thousand times. And she didn't because she knew that Merlin would.
So when he left and long after they lost sight of his horse and lantern, they stayed by the window. Eventually, Gwen let out a sob and rushed into Arthur's arms. She mourned and cried and sobbed as loud as she needed and pretended like she couldn't feel a patch on her shoulder getting wet.
They fell asleep with heavy hearts and the knowledge of a ring on Arthur's desk that will never meet its intended hand, a third of a coin on a braided necklace that will never be accepted, a speech meticulously planned to ask him to stay with the two forever, to rule alongside them.
Perhaps a lot of things were left unsaid.
---
AAASJEHAIDBOS S
I read pt. 1 of @mysticsublimeperson's mergwenthur au a lonng time ago and this thing has been running around in my head ever since.
Fuck I’m at a fencing tournament and literally a minute after I reblogged this my dad told me that he talked to the point people and I’m probably going to win a medal.
BURN BAGEL BURN
OH WHY NOT?
I need to follow up to say I reblogged this last night, and this morning I got some of the best news of my life, like, a life dream come true news thing.
Bagel what are your powers
FUCK, I though it was just another lucky meme but LISTEN. Since a week ago I was waiting a phone call to confirm me if I got a job or not in my university. I reblogged this yesterday’s night “just for fun and because I don’t want any bagel to be mad with me”, and today’s afternoon, while I was losing my time as always, the professor I was supposed to work with called me and asked me for my personal information to start working with her.
THE BAGEL POWERS ARE WAY TOO MUCH FOR THIS WORLD
I GOT A JOB THE DAY AFTER MY QUEUE POSTED THIS THE FIRST TIME AND I JUST REALIZED IT WHEN I SAW IT AGAIN HOLY GOD
The bagel hasn’t let me down yet!
Let’s see what you can do bagel
I need your luck, bagel
….. Bagel?
Bagel.
Roasted bagel
Why the Hell not, Bagel, please help, my package is late.
it’s here so why not see if it’ll do anything
was literally thinking the other day that i could really use one of those lucky golden potato posts right about now
this is obviously a burning bagel and not a golden potato but i suppose it’ll do LOL
lol yes
Well I can’t really retweet is because this is tumblr 🙃
kinda need this rn.
please bagel
hi bagel please help me out with #rares on #animal jam thanks
Pls babel
do you have any favorite canon era fics? I love a modern merthur but there's something so healing about the canon era ones!!
ooooo yes I do! there’s actually so many I love that it’s hard to verbalize, I go back to canon era perpetually in between modern. It’s like I need both or else I wither away. Now canon era and canon in line with the series fics are a bit different, but I’ll focus more on ones that feel closer to canon series!
For really long ones, To Bear our Teeth and our Hearts by queerofthedagger and so close and I’m halfway to it by ariadne_odair have a very close place in my heart. these are like my go to rereads when I’m itching for canon era that will always hit where I need it to. just excellent works, make me giggle and fulfill the canon merthur needs in me.
Glow Gold by BelleCow was a really excellent post finale (arthur survives) canon era fic- Arthur’s characterization I really really loved. Like he is so AUUUGGH you know what I mean?
Requiem of a Forgotten Prince by kairennart and queerofthedagger also was a really great canon era fic. Has a unique premise but the spell works really well within it, just love love love it truly.
And… when discussing canon era but significant plot/character divergence, I’ll recommend The Ballad of the Moon by Ro_88. This is one of the first Merlin fics that I ever read, and it’s intense but the plot and the resolution was really crazy and enjoyable! the new lore they made while still having the canon era feel is really impressive.
thanks for the ask! there’s literally so many and I don’t know whether to focus on one or recommend multiple. being the indecisive person I am I’ll just throw these all out there~
Forever wishing there would have been a seasonal gimmick where someone from Merlin’s past comes to Camelot and spills some tea.
Like, just some rando comes by and drops the wildest lore that not even the audience knows to the knights super casually and leaves.
I.e.
Will (if he had lived): I’m glad Merlin found a place here. I thought for sure he’d end up banished again (: Arthur: He got banished from Ealdor? Will: What? No. Camelot wasn't Hunith’s first choice. Merlin just kept pissing people off in other kingdoms so she had to send him to Gaius because nobody else had a chance of controlling him. Arthur: Are you-? Actually, no. This tracks.
Or
Random Girl: Hi, I'm looking for my brother? He lives in the palace, I think. Elyan: And who might your brother be? Random Girl: Oh, sorry. I'm Ganieda! Merlin's sister. Gwaine: No fucking way
I'm just saying, there is no way Merlin stayed out of trouble his entire childhood. Consider:
Some Guy: Is Merlin here? Leon: You're not related to him, are you? Some Guy: No, I cannot say I am. Years ago we had a brief tryst while on an adventure together before parting ways. I heard he was in Camelot so I thought- Arthur: He's not here. Some Guy: Oh, but- Arthur: He actually died yesterday and, completely unrelated, I'm going to have to banish you. Goodbye. Don't return.
golden age 👑
Okay, so merthur fic idea: Merlin becomes really cold and calculating by like season 3 or 4, now the change was so gradual and subtle that Arthur didn't really notice until Merlin killed a magical threat without even blinking, but by that point it was too late to do anything, so he learned to live with it. Until one day, a trickster spirt decided to play a joke on Merlin and Arthur by giving Merlin back his original bubbly personality. Merlin wakes up and realizes that he hadn't slept that good in years. He felt lighter as he walked through the halls and was bantering with Arthur in a way that he hadn't done in years. However, he quickly begins to feel off and realizes that this is the work of magic. He tells Arthur and Arthur, who has been absolutely star-struck at seeing Merlin finally happy again, is absolutely crushed that this was only the work of magic. One angst filled adventure later, and Merlin is back to his cold calculating self, wondering why he feels so empty again, and Arthur is wondering if he will ever get to see that light in Merlin's eye again.
<<Prev Next>>
"Make sure it doesn't happen. For both our sakes." That makes you want to contemplate for a moment so clearly you push it to the side.
"I save Arthur from being killed and I end up as a servant. How is that fair?" Because honestly, you'd think the prat would be a little more thankful. He'd be dead without you!
(Amourningmotherwithhatredinhergoldeyesthechandelierfallsshegoeslimp,and it's your faULT-)
"I'm not sure fairness comes into it," Gaius tells you while massaging a particularly sore spot. "You never know, it might be fun."
You scoff. Fun? With that arse hole? As if. "you should hear my list of duties. How will mucking out arthur's horses be fun?"
"We all have our duties, even Arthur." Gaius has the most obvious tone of amusement in his voice and it only irks you a little bit.
You talk a bit more about arthur's future and his 'duties.'
Arthur? As king? Camelot won't last a day.
"OW! Do you really have to press so hard-!?"
---
"So, you've got voiders on the arms."
"Mhm."
Gwen is really a lifesaver. You came to her grumbling about how you have no idea how knights armour works and she immediately offered to teach you so you don't make a fool of yourself in front of the prince. She explains it with such patience and answers your every question.
Gwen is the best. (You have a feeling you'll be saying that a lot in the future-).
Finally, the full set of armor is on and you can now safely say that you know what you're doing.
"How come you're so much better at this than me?" You ask, a smile on your face.
Gwen looks a bit embarrassed when she answers. "I'm the blacksmith's daughter. I know pretty much everything there is to know about armour, which is actually kind of sad."
You very much disagree! Without Gwen you'd be totally lost. And you tell her that. "No, it's brilliant!"
She blushes a bit and you think it's a lovely color on her.
---
The tournament starts in roughly an hour. You struggle a bit while putting on the vambrace on Arthur. Without Gwen's lesson, you'd probably have no idea how to even begin!
"You do know the tournament starts today?" Arthur asks, clearly annoyed. You resist the urge to tighten the buckle more than necessary.
"Yes, sire." Titles are still weird.
While making a minor adjustment, you look up at Arthur. He looks vaguely uncomfortable.
.
"You nervous?"
"So, how do these things usually work?"
"What even is the reason for these tournaments?"
(Say nothing)
<<Prev Next>>
Sleep did not come easy that night. Which means that you're completely unprepared by the mile-long chore chart that greats you when opening the prince's doors.
And on the top? 'Training with Arthur.'
I HAVE A QUESTION
For my Merlin choose your own adventure series, should I only do polls for dialogue and not actions or actions and not dialogue?
.
Dialogue only!
Actions only!
Both!!
who are you?????
