MERLIN ARO FEST

A fest on July 26-31 celebrating aromanticism and platonic love in BBC Merlin. We track #MAF2021

[merlin-aro-fest]

Welcome to the 26th of July for most of the globe!

Before we start, let us introduce the (long overdue) Merlin Aro Fest AO3 Collection where participants are free to put any of their submissions that are posted on AO3. Here is a list of our prompts (for those who don’t know, we’ve added a 6th day with the theme ‘aplatonic’!) and our FAQ.

Remember to tag all of your submissions with #MAF2021 so we can reblog them onto this blog!

Now that all the pieces are in place - LET THE FEST BEGIN!

[gwen-cheers-me-up]

Merlin Aro Fest Masterpost

💚 Day 1: Queerplatonic - The One Who Stayed (2k)

🤍 Day 2: Sibling - Always A Choice (3k)

🖤 Day 3: Parental - Cast Me To The Wayside (6k)

💚 Day 4: Friendship - All We Have Left To Learn (3k)

🤍 Day 5: Free Choice - BBC Merlin Characters + Aro Tumblr Posts

🖤 Day 6: Aplatonic - Hard Feelings (4k)

Many thanks to the mods of the @merlin-aro-fest for putting on such an amazing and much-needed event, and to all the incredible folks who created content, y’all are heroes, truly!!!

[gwen-cheers-me-up]

Fandom: Merlin (TV)

Hard Feelings (4k)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Gwaine & Gwen, Elyan & Gwen, background Gwen/Arthur Pendragon

Characters: Elyan, Gwen, Gwaine, Merlin, Leon, Percival, Arthur Pendragon

Additional Tags: Canon Era, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s05e06 The Dark Tower, Elyan Lives, because of course he does, that’s the canon i remember yes sir-ee, Angst, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, References to Torture, Discussions of Lovelessness, Aromantic, Aromantic Merlin, Lovequeer Merlin, aroace leon, aromantic gwaine, Loveless Aro, Loveless Aro Gwaine, POV Elyan, POV Gwen, Friendship, Gwen isn’t possessed since there was no final unmentionable tragedy to break her, but she has a lot of trauma to work through, Hopeful Ending

Summary:

After being rescued from the Dark Tower, Gwen is distant, sleepless, and easily startled. Perhaps most jarring of all is that she stops saying ‘I love you.’

Gwaine never started.

As Gwen struggles to fit into her old life and her old relationships while carrying these new traumas, Elyan decides that Gwaine might be just the right person to help her begin to heal.

Written for @merlin-aro-fest Day 6: “Aplatonic” 

[camelotsheart]

MERLIN: I think a number of things stand in the way of a happy union between you and the Lady Vivian. Her bloodthirsty father, for one. ARTHUR: Her complete lack of interest for another.

MERLIN ARO FEST | DAY 6: Aplatonic

[thebookluvrr1816]

@merlin-aro-fest

DAY 06 : APLATONIC (Loveless : Those who do not believe love is necessary for happiness).

One day, a knight in shining armor may find my daughter and offer her to save her from her life, her problems, her troubles. In that situation, I hope that I have raised such a girl that she smiles coolly and tells him, “No thank you, I have pretty much got this.” Then puts on her armor and rides off into the sunset alone to save herself. - Nikita gill

[gwen-cheers-me-up]

BBC Merlin Characters + Aromantic Tumblr Posts

@merlin-aro-fest​ Day 5: “Free Choice”

[thebookluvrr1816]

+

@merlin-aro-fest​​

DAY 05 : FREE CHOICE

Merlin and Gwen being a wholesome duo

[camelotsheart]

I can see a Camelot that is fair and just. I can see a king that the people will love and be proud to call their sovereign.

MERLIN ARO WEEK | Day 5: Free Day

[roryfreisthler]

Merlin Aro Fest Day 5: Free Choice

Fandom: Merlin (TV)

Yellow Rose Bloom (1.4k)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences; No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Queerplatonic Gwen/Morgana, Minor/Background Relationships

Characters: Gwen, Morgana, Lancelot, Morgause, Arthur Pendragon, Elena

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Modern: No Powers, Alternate Universe - Boarding School, Angst with a Happy Ending, Queerplatonic Relationships, Queerplatonic Gwen/Morgana (Merlin), Polyaffectionate Relationships, Polyaffective Relationships, Platonic Relationships, Platonic Cuddling, Mixed Orientation Relationship, Bisexual Gwen (Merlin), Aromantic Morgana (Merlin), Asexual Morgana (Morgana), Asexual Character, Internalized Arophobia, Isolation, Mutual Pining, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Platonic Love, Merlin Aro Fest 2021, Minor Gwen/Lancelot (Merlin)

Summary and Author's Notes:

Morgana doesn't understand what to do about loving Gwen differently than most other people love. Her friends have some ideas.

Written for Day 5: Free Choice of the @merlin-aro-fest. I decided to write my take on what a modern Morgwen QPR would be like. It's a mixed-orientation relationship, so Gwen is biromantic bisexual & polyamorous and Morgana is aroace. Polyaffectionate is a term for multiple non-romantic intimate relationships (think queerplatonic polyamory) and polyaffective is a term for intimate non-sexual connections between people connected by polyamory.

[firstknightss]

DAY 3 - PARENTAL

for @merlin-aro-fest im rEALLY sorry this is so late, we had like. solicitors over in the house for the past 2 days so i couldnt get much done. to cherry it off, my wifi conked out so hard so i had to wait like 4 hours to upload the vid onto youtube and then THE VIDEO GETS TAKEN DOWN. So i upload it to drive. Anyway.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xBJznutfApO_9fk2UiWijUGdriM0MPFl/view?usp=drivesdk

the inSANELY long merlin aro video - parental edition

FinalVideo_1627601147.100186.mov

FinalVideo_1627601147.100186.mov

[gwen-cheers-me-up]

Fandom: Merlin (TV)

All We Have Left To Learn (3.7k)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Merlin & Morgana (Merlin)

Characters: Merlin, Morgana, Gwen, Arthur Pendragon

Additional Tags: Canon Era, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s02e12 The Fires of Idirsholas, Fix-It, Angst, Friendship, Merlin’s Magic Revealed (Merlin), POV Merlin, Poisoning, Hopeful Ending, did i just write a different fix-it for this episode two days ago, Yes. yes i did, but there’s so much POTENTIAL here

Summary:

“You should drink something. There’s no telling when we’ll get another chance.”

Morgana smiled weakly at him, taking the poison without question and tipping it into her mouth.

After all, Merlin had just saved her life. Merlin had just revealed his magic. Merlin had just proven himself worthy of her unconditional trust.

 Just in time to break it.

Written for @merlin-aro-fest Day 4: “Friendship”

[camelotsheart]

Camelot would be nothing were it not for the courage and loyalty of its friends.

MERLIN ARO WEEK | Day 4: Friendship

[a-confusedmess]

there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you

Merlin and Will's friendship over the years.

[thebookluvrr1816]

+

@merlin-aro-fest​

DAY 04 : FRIENDSHIP

Arthur + The Knights

[cilly-murphy]

MERLIN ARO WEEK day 4: friendship —A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara

[dragonlord-emrys]

@MERLIN-ARO-FEST | Day 4: Friendship ✾ Gwen & Merlin

Merlin: So, come on. Just for the sake of argument. If you had to, Arthur or Lancelot? Gwen: But I don’t have to and I never will. Merlin: Oh, you are no fun, Gwen.

[zoingfandom-moved]

Merlin: It's time for me to come out. No more reason to pout.

Merlin: Romance? Sex? My partner is a hex.

Merlin: Magic fills my heart, and we'll never be apart.

Lancelot: *gives a thumbs up*

Mordred: *sheds a tear from how impressed he is*

Gwen: ...

Elyan: ...

Gwaine: ...

Arthur: ...

Leon: *awkward clapping*

Percival: *vigorous clapping*