Queen Guinevere gave Lady Morgana a ring that was nearly identical to the one she later gave to her lover Lancelot. This shared symbolism between the queen and her former close companion adds subtle sapphic undertones to their relationship.
- Extracted from Lancelot-Grail Cycle: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation, ed. Norris J. Lacy (Vol. 2, Prose Lancelot).
for @morgwenmicrofic | prompt : MYTHOLOGY (Arthurian Mythology)
for @morgwenmicrofic prompt: cage
─author unknown // words.entwined // author unknown // Molly McCully Brown, Places I’ve Taken my Body: Essays // Taylor Swift, Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? // Sophokles, tr. by Anne Carson, Elektra // Dragon Age II // Shubhangi Narayan, Gilded Cage
Love potion debacle Merthur, but instead of having Arthur being the one dosed, it's Merlin.
Because Arthur has seen Merlin's devotion, but can't risk losing Merlin if he's reading too much into it. Arthur can't bring himself to ask Merlin to be something more, because the very thought of Merlin rejecting him makes his stomach churn. He just can't risk it.
Only, a princess comes to visit, and Arthur thinks they just want to marry the King of Camelot. Only, the princess has no interest in Arthur. She has eyes for Merlin of all people. And yeah, Arthur knows that Merlin is brave and true and a strong warlock, but other people don't.
Of course, Merlin is polite and friendly, seeming to not realize that the princess wants to make Merlin a prince consort. Arthur hates that he knows Merlin deserves the title, and yet Arthur still can't give it to him. The only saving grace is that Merlin seems completely unaware.
Until Merlin brings Arthur his dinner, and Merlin is chuckling to himself. Of course Arthur has to ask what was so funny.
"the princess just asked me to move to her kingdom," Merlin laughs, while Arthur feels his stomach drop.
"Did she?" His mouth felt dry. "What did you say?"
Merlin gives him that look, the one that says he thinks Arthur is an idiot. "I told her no, of course. I could never leave you-" Arthur's heart quickens for a moment, before Merlin continues. "-and Camelot! I mean, the castle would be up in flames in a week if I did."
"It would not," Arthur huffs. While he knew all about Merlin's deeds, he could survive for a while. A month, at least. "But good. Telling her no, I mean."
Merlin's brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well... It would just... It would be a hassle to replace you as my manservant?"
And of course this upsets Merlin, because is that all Arthur sees him as? After all these years? And Arthur is trying to ease the situation without revealing his true affections, and just ends up making it worse. Merlin storms off in a huff. Arthur let's him, planning to smooth things over in the morning.
Only, Merlin is cold and distant. He leaves Arthur his breakfast and doesn't say a word before leaving. Arthur assumes it's because Merlin is still mad.
But then Arthur sees the princess in the courtyard. She calls someone over. And its Merlin. The dark haired mans face is lit up, as if looking upon a treasure. He comes forward and takes the princess's hands. She smooths his hair, speaking softly as Merlin nods eagerly. Arthur has to turn away.
When Merlin delivers dinner that night, Arthur stops him, having to know.
"Merlin," Arthur says, as his friend and holder of his heart blinks blankly at him. "You know that you are... More than a servant to me. You are my friend. And I trust you with everything."
Arthur isn't looking at Merlin, so he misses the flicker of gold in Merlin's eyes, before Merlin's face softens. "I know, Arthur."
"have you changed your mind?" Arthur asked. "About... Leaving?
"Leaving?" The gold flickers again, a bit stronger. "Arthur I could never leave you."
Arthur doesn't give himself a chance to hope. But he has to know. "I saw you and the princess. She seems to love you dearly."
The gold flickers and sputters out of Merlin's eyes. "Yes," he says before his voice turns sickly sweet, full of adoration. "Yes, she does love me so..."
Arthur feels sick, but he turns to look at Merlin anyway. His friend has a look of pure adoration. As if the woman they speak of had hung the moon and stars.
If Merlin's loyalty was the only thing keeping him from a life of love and luxury, it would be cruel and selfish to not let Merlin know it would be okay to leave. Arthur would let Merlin go, if it meant he would be happy.
"I've been thinking," Arthur said, slow as Merlin seemed to refocus. "That, if you... Would like to be with her, that would be alright. You can go back with her."
There's silence, as Merlin seems to think on it. "Yes... I'll go with her."
Arthur turns away until Merlin has left. He avoids talking too long with him in the coming days. He knows, if he speaks with Merlin, then he'll ask Merlin to stay. But Gwen keeps trying to talk to him about it. The whole castle is in a stalemate, torn between outrage and fear. For Merlin to leave, something terrible must have happened.
The day of the departure, Gwen finally throws it down.
"you're an idiot," she snaps.
"i know," Arthur says. "But he wants to leave."
"No. He been acting off. There's something wrong with him!"
"there's nothing wrong with wanting to find love."
She grits her teeth. "Have you looked at him recently? Seen the gold flashes in his eyes?"
"Yes, Gwen. I know what he looks like while using magic."
Gwen wants to shake him. "But he wasn't using magic! Arthur, something is wrong with him! He's... Please, just go talk to him before he leaves."
And Arthur knows he shouldn't. Because if Gwen is wrong, and Arthur goes, he'll never forgive himself for making Merlin stay. But he does go. He needs to wave the princess off anyway.
When he got there, Merlin's gaze was distant, as if he were unfocused. Which, sure, sometimes Merlin didn't focus on what was going on, but he was never so... Absent. Gwen was right. Something was very wrong.
"Merlin," Arthur called, edging closer.
Merlin blinked and turned. His gaze was still unfocused, but there was a spark there. Almost a flicker of gold.
"Arthur?..."
"Merlin," Arthur says, more confident, and stepping closer. "I need to speak with you."
"With me? You..." The flicker grows brighter, the blankness easing away as Merlin's gaze focused. "You came for me?..."
Arthur felt his heart race. "Of course, I did. Merlin, I can't let you go."
"You can't?"' There was solid gold now.
They'd drawn the attention of the princess, who hurried forward, trying to get between them.
"I'm sorry, King Arthur," she said, much to quickly, and drawing Merlin's gaze, the flicker of gold starting to fade. "But my love and I must be going!"
"No," Arthur said, scowling as he rested his hand at the sword on his hip. It wasn't Excalibur, but it was fine for daily use. "I'm afraid I can't let you leave. And I suggest you stand aside."
The princess jumps, looking a bit panicked. Then, she rushes to Merlin, grabbing at his arm. "Love, protect me!"
"Yes," Merlin said, turning to look at her. "I will protect you, my love."
The knights around them began to draw their swords, as the princess raised her hand to point at Arthur. Merlin turned, face scrunched into a scowl. Quickly, Arthur raised his hands, knowing that Merlin would never hurt him, but... This wasn't exactly Merlin.
"Merlin," Arthur tries.
Merlin tilts his head, as if confused. The gold is coming back. "Arthur?"
"Yes, Merlin. It's me." He edged forward, reaching out a hand. "Just... Come here."
Obediently, Merlin reached out in turn, even taking a step away from the princess. She held onto his arm, though, shrieking.
"No! No! Look at me! He's trying to take you away from me! Don't let him!"
Merlin blinked, about to turn towards her again, But Arthur was faster. He reached out, grasping Merlin's hand, fingers twinging together, palm to palm. Merlin immediately focused on Arthur again, the gold growing stronger, as if Merlin was currently using magic. Or, perhaps fighting against it.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked, more confused now. "What's... Going on?"
"Merlin," Arthur said, holding on like his life depended on it. "You've been enchanted. I think. By the princess there. So please, come here. Don't look at her, and don't let go."
"Enchanted?" Merlin mused, frowning. He looked like he was trying to remember something, but he nodded as if discovering something. "Yes. Definitely. I can feel my magic fighting it, but to actually remove it..." He flushed red, looking away.
"How?" Arthur steps closer, squeezing Merlin's hand. "How do we remove it?"
Merlin turned back to Arthur, as the princess was frantically pulling at his arm. He paid her no mind, cheeks bright red, as he looked directly at Arthur. His hand squeezed back.
"Arthur," Merlin said, low and serious. "Kiss me."
Arthur, his own face red, doesn't hesitate to do as Merlin said.
Anyway, Love Potion Merthur, with Merlin being the one dosed, and Arthur still being oblivious until the very end.
If somebody is talking about the general issue of merthur shippers disrespecting a black woman for “interfering” with their ship, the correct answer is to say “wow yeah that is a really significant pattern, we need to hold people accountable for their misogynoir and be better role models.”
The correct response is not and never will be “not all men merthurs!” Please think critically and apply common sense moral principles before speaking. Please. Please
How am I supposed to know what's true, when my whole life has been a lie? Is the bottom of this pitch dark lake the way up, or the golden sun of your eyes?
Can we talk about how both David and Grigori are on the right side of the frame, Yuna is to the left of Shane- but to the left of Ilya is just a sharp drop.
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