merlin-plotbunnies

Hi, clotpolesonly here. This is my sideblog for my creative meanderings among the world of Merlin fanfiction. I'll be dumping all my fic ideas here, no matter how much or how little work I have actually put into them. Chances are, none of them will ever get written. If you see one that catches your fancy and tickles your author-fancy, shoot me a message to ask permission to use the idea (with credit given, of course).

[merlin-plotbunnies]

Accidental Marriage AU

Set sometime after Arthur promises the druids peace, so late series 4. Arthur decides to actually go all out in improving relations with the druids, so he sets out with a small party to meet with them. They talk and work out all that needs to be worked out between them, as Arthur really wants to make amends and forge a lasting peace between them. Then the druids start celebrating, like big bonfire and lots of wine and plenty of very druid things that make Arthur the slightest bit uncomfortable because he doesn't quite know what's going on or what it all means, but Merlin insists that he loosen up and join in. Merlin says these are just the druids' traditions and they can't risk offending them by turning down their offerings, then he scampers off and joins in with obvious delight. Merlin drinks everything they offer him and dances with a bunch of girls and has a grand time, and Arthur sees a more-than-a-little-intoxicated-Merlin get a flower crown from a pretty druid girl kneeling in front of him and then drink wine from the cup she offers him, but he doesn't think anything of it.

The next morning, they're all a little hung over but they did what they came for so they're in high spirits. They're just about to set off for Camelot when they notice a druid girl saddling her horse too like she's going to ride out with them. Merlin goes to ask her why and she says she couldn't very well stay here, not when her husband will be returning to Camelot. Merlin looks baffled and asks who exactly her husband is, and she says him. Apparently the whole flower-crown-and-wine thing was a druidic marriage rite. They girl, Taryn, says she was offered to him as a gesture of good faith and as a way to strengthen ties between the groups. Merlin protests that he's hardly a figure of political importance, he's just a servant, what good does it do to marry him?? Taryn responds in mindspeak that she knows he is Emrys, that there is no one of more importance, and Merlin goes pale. Arthur and the knights are torn between concern, bafflement, and laughing their asses off. Merlin, on the other hand, is kind of freaking out. He is vehemently against the idea of being married to this random girl and denies the marriage's validity. The girl is a bit devastated that her husband doesn't want her, that the great Emrys thinks she's unworthy, and she starts to cry. Merlin struggles between wanting to comfort her and wanting to make this whole situation not be happening. Since Merlin is so panicked and dismayed, Arthur stops laughing and thinks on it for a minute. He takes Merlin aside and explains that what Merlin said last night is still true, that they can't turn down a gift like this without causing serious offense and risking relations that are already a little shaky to begin with. Merlin tries to put up more of a fight, but with Arthur reluctantly opposing him and with Taryn looking desperate to stay with him, he finally gives in, absolutely miserable about it.

Taryn travels with them back toward Camelot. She is incredibly attentive, much to Merlin's discomfort. She insists on making their meal. She serves Merlin and offers to rub his feet. Gwaine is still howling with laughter, of course. Merlin is mortified and keeps turning her away, trying to do so as politely as possible and not make her cry again but apparently unable to convince her that his not wanting to marry her isn't a reflection on her character or her worth as a person. When they reach Camelot, Merlin manages to extricate himself and leave her with Gaius while he takes care of Arthur for the day.

When he gets back, Gaius gives him a look he can't quite decipher but doesn't say anything, which makes Merlin more than a little nervous. Gaius' behavior makes sense when he opens the door to his room to find Taryn naked on his bed. She says it's their wedding night and she wants to lie with him as his wife, and Merlin is like WHOA. He escapes and hides out in Arthur's chambers and Arthur let's him stay in the antechamber for the night. The next day, Merlin sits Taryn down and has a nice long chat about why he can't do this: he did not make the decision with a clear head, he was not properly informed as to what that ritual meant or the commitment he was making with it, she was misinformed about her intended's consent on the issue, he doesn't actually know her and can't justify just marrying her like that, his life is complicated enough without this. Taryn takes his hand and says that she just wants to help him. She doesn't have to be his wife if he truly doesn't want her to be, but she can at least be his friend. She can help him bear the burdens of his secret, since he has so few to talk to and even fewer who truly understand what being Emrys means and the pressure it puts on him.

Idk if this would end up with Merlin and Taryn actually falling in love or if Merlin would find a tactful way to dissolve the marriage because it wasn't consummated, if Taryn would go back to the druids or stay on in Camelot.

[merlin-plotbunnies]

Merlin/Will Gambling AU

Set sometime before 1x10:

At some point in their teens, Merlin had made Will a pair of magically loaded dice. Now, Will had told Merlin that he’d gotten rid of them years ago after Will had gotten them into some trouble scamming blokes in the tavern in the nearest town that had one, but then he shows up in Camelot to beg for Merlin’s help because he’s pissed off some guys and they’re coming for him. And Merlin is like ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW GODDAMN IT WILL NOT AGAIN. And Will is like no but Merls they’re gonna kill me they’re coming I mean they’re like on my ass right now you’re not gonna let them kill me right I know I won’t do it again promise…. And Arthur catches them in the corridor or in Merlin's room or wherever and overhears what's going on, and overhears Merlin saying he's gonna clean up Will's mess and take care of it. So of course he inserts himself into the conversation and tries to take over, but Merlin's not in the mood for Arthur's overbearing presence and completely ignores him, much to Arthur's indignation. But he ends up tagging along anyway because no way is he letting Merlin face down these roughnecks alone and why should Will want him to like damn he’s only tiny and useless. But Arthur and Will spend the whole time bitching at each other and posturing because they are both convinced that they are Merlin’s best friend, even if Arthur won’t say it out loud. And Merlin is just so completely fed up with the both of them the entire time and is taking none of their shit. And finally Merlin has to step forward and like play at being the mastermind behind it all and gamble and bluff his way through an all-or-nothing round with the other guy’s dice so they know he’s not cheating (except he is, just very subtly with magic).

I just really fucking want stories where Will’s not dead okay. And stories where Merlin proves himself to be really good at something you wouldn't expect, like bluffing through dice games.

[merlin-plotbunnies]

Cursed!Merlin

This is one of my less-than-fully-formulated ideas.

But so Merlin gets cursed. Probably by Morgana (always a reliable bet), sometime in series 4 probably after Arthur's king. Anyway, so Merlin is cursed and he's in excruciating pain at all times except when he's touching Arthur. There has to be physical contact between them, then all the pain goes away immediately. Don't ask me why, I didn't figure that part out yet.

Gaius does research and says the spell is meant to drive people mad with the pain of it or something, and that a man's mind is liable to collapse and his heart to give out from the strain after a certain length of time. He's searching for a cure or a countercurse but he hasn't found anything yet.

Meanwhile, Merlin and Arthur are sort of stuck together, trying not to forget and lose contact because whenever they do Merlin is overwhelmed with pain. When night comes, Merlin steels himself to suffer the night, but as soon as he drops Arthur's hand to leave Arthur snatches it back, looking horrified. Merlin says he can't exactly stay there, Arthur says of course he can. It's super awkward at first and they can't get comfortable trying to hold hands, so Arthur finally huffs and throws propriety and all boundaries out the window and spoons up behind Merlin so they can get some damn sleep. (note: I am for once not thinking Merthur.)

They manage to get through a day or two like that, but Merlin gets more and more agitated as time goes on without a cure. Eventually he wrenches himself away from Arthur and tries to leave. Arthur chases him down but Merlin doesn't get very far before he collapses anyway. Merlin insists that they can't go on like this, that he's ruining everything for Arthur. Arthur says he can't stand to see Merlin in so much pain. He's seen Merlin take injuries before, injuries that would have laid a knight out, and joked about them, so he can only imagine how torturous this curse must be to affect him so. Merlin points out that Arthur can't rule like this. He can't train his knights, he can't go to council meetings, he can hardly leave his room. He can't go about dragging Merlin around by the hand like a disobedient child. Arthur says he can if it keeps Merlin from harm, they'll make it work. Merlin tries to convince him that he's not worth it, that his kingdom must come first, Camelot comes first, always. Arthur reminds him that he could go mad, that he this curse could kill him. Merlin understands that. Arthur gets angry and says Merlin's not going to kill himself just so Arthur can go to a damn council meeting.

I don't really have an end point for this one. But forcing them into close proximity when emotions are running high is always worth it, especially when it makes Merlin self-destructive and Arthur over-protective. And Merlin wouldn't even have a chance to try to break the curse, not holding Arthur's hand, and not when without Arthur because they pain's so much he can hardly breathe much less think. Somehow things would have to be resolved.

[merlin-plotbunnies]

Future Magic-Slavery AU

I have this freaking awesome idea at one point that was like a future magical AU. Each sorcerer is magically bound to a nobleman and is forced to obey their commands. There’s like a collar brand of some sort and if a direct command is disobeyed, then it causes a great deal of pain until the command is fulfilled, like electric shocks or something. If one continues to resist the command, the shocks will eventually become lethal.

To do this on purpose is to commit suicide by disobedience.

So starts out that Tom Collins, who was Arthur’s bound sorcerer, tried to kill Arthur because Tom’s mother was old and feeble and physically incapable and completing the task her master set her and was killed by her bond. So Arthur needs a new sorcerer. Merlin had been bound to Will, but Will was such a rebel that he refused to give Merlin any commands at all and gave him as much freedom as he possibly could and treated him like anyone else. But then some douchebags (maybe Valient and Dagr or someone) took offense to how lenient Will was and attacked them both. The only order Will ever gave Merlin was to save himself, but Merlin interpreted it as an order to save them both. He couldn’t manage to save Will, though, and Will died. It was just his word against the assailants, and they both insisted that Will had ordered Merlin to attack them and they had reacted in self defense. And the word of a sorcerer slave means nothing.

Merlin is reassigned and bound to Arthur. Merlin is obviously ridiculously outspoken for a bound sorcerer and opens Arthur’s eyes to a lot of things by doing stuff like, for one, speaking out frankly and, for another, waiting as long as he can possibly stand to fulfill an order so that Arthur can see how much it hurts him to disobey, even for small commands like fetching something from across the room. When Arthur sees how excruciating the bond is for Merlin, and because Merlin is acting like a person with a personality instead of a obedient magical slave, he starts finding it hard to justify subjugating people like him for the mere fact that they have magic. He starts questioning everything his father has told him about sorcerers and how they need to be bound because they're evil and cruel and violence when they're uncontrolled.

I had more to the story at one point. Something about Morgana developing her powers late and never being tested, so she’s unbound. Morgana working with her bound sorcerers Morgause on a way to break the binding. Nimueh was Uther’s bound sorceress and was secretly trying to kill him, I think. Morgana tagged Merlin to bring him into the plan but Merlin was already trusting Arthur by then because it was clear that Arthur was coming around. He was treating Merlin more conscientiously and being more careful about his phrasing so he didn't accidentally say something that could be interpreted by the bond as a direct order when he didn't mean for it to be and phrasing things as questions more often so Merlin has the option of not obeying or at least questioning the order.

I had a romance scene where Arthur wanted to kiss Merlin but Merlin resisted very strongly because Freya committed suicide by disobedience after years of sexual abuse by her master. But Arthur swore on his honor that he would never command anything like that from Merlin, no matter what, and he would never bring it up again if Merlin would just give him one kiss of his own will. Idk, it was just a really cool universe to play around in.

[merlin-plotbunnies]

Merlin/Morgana Bodyswap

I want a body swap between, not Merlin and Arthur like most people do, but Merlin and Morgana. Like, Morgana intends to sneak into the castle and use a spell to inhabit Arthur’s body so she can take the throne that way. But then of course, Merlin jumps between them. The dust settles and Morgana (in Merlin’s body) lets out a scream of fury for being foiled again and poofs off to parts unknown. And Merlin (in Morgana’s body) is horrified and like OH MY GOD ARTHUR ARTHUR DUDE I HAVE TITS WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK THIS IS SO NOT OKAY WHAT THE OH MY GOD WHAT DO I DO and Arthur is really freaked at first but then Merlin is just so distraught over it that he can’t stop laughing because he’s never seen that look on Morgana’s face and he’s really been missing out. Can you imagine Merlin’s frustration at having to deal with long hair getting in the way of everything? So he has Gwen tending to him because he’s useless on his own. But Merlin takes the opportunity to claim that Morgana left behind some of her magic in her body (Arthur doesn’t know how it all works, it’s totally plausible even if it’s complete bullshit) and to start getting Arthur used to the idea that it’s how the person uses the magic that makes the difference and whatnot. Idk, it could just be really hilarious.

[merlin-plotbunnies]

I HAVE A NEW SIDE BLOG

Hello, everybody.

For those of you who would like to know, my name is Jessica. My main blog is clotpolesonly.

I don't know about anyone else, but I for one have a head full of fic ideas that are likely never going to make it to paper. However, the ideas are so interesting that they're burning a hole in my brain. And really, I like most of them a lot and I want other people to see them even if they never actually get written.

So that is what this blog is going to be for. This is where I'm going to post any fic ideas I have. Some will be vague concepts, some will probably be mostly written, most will be somewhere in the middle.

If you're a fic writer and one of my plotbunnies really catches your imagination, you can send me a message saying you want to bring it to life. Chances are I won't mind letting you write it, as long as you give me credit for the idea and realize that, at some point in the future, I may still want to write a version myself and I would like to retain ownership over the originality of the idea.

This is just a place for me to vent my creative meanderings and fangirl over stories that haven't been written yet. If you have any suggestions that you would like to see me ramble out an idea on, feel free to send it in and I'll see if it sparks something!

--Jessica