Merlin Holidays

This is the tumblr account for the Merlin Holidays exchange fest.

[merlinholidays]

2021 revealed

Hello, Merlin Hols creators and readers! It's time to reveal whose name was on the tag. We hope you have all enjoyed the gifts created this year. Please leave kudos and comments, and especially thank whoever made a gift for you! You can find them the list of works and creators here! Thank you to all our participants for joining us this year! Extra thank yous to our pinch hitters moonflower999, DevonShea, and Pelydryn! We wish you a great year and hope you had fun! Love, The mods

[merlinholidays]

That's a Wrap!

And that's all for Merlin Holidays 2021!

Reveals will happen on Wednesday 5th January 2022.

Please be sure to let your gifter know you appreciate their gift by leaving a comment on their work, and please enjoy the many wonderful works posted, and don't forget to be generous with your comments and kudos for all our wonderful creators!

Happy New Year, everyone!

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Excerpts From the Camelot Daily Gossip [T] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Excerpts From the Camelot Daily Gossip Recipient: @oestentia Rating: PG Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 3524 Content Notes/Warnings: No warnings apply Summary: Merlin arrives in Camelot. Arthur notices. A story told through newspaper excerpts. Author's Notes: Dear Oestentia, I was delighted to be able to write for you! Your suggestion of an epistolary took a bit of a strange turn and ended up taking place via the medium of a local alternative newspaper. The characters took on a life of their own. If they hadn't run up against a deadline, they might have carried on with their hijinks indefinitely. I hope you enjoy this (and if you don't, I blame the staff of the Camelot Daily Gossip for running a shoddy publication. 😀). Happy New Year! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36100261

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Towards A Brighter New Year [G] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Towards A Brighter New Year Recipient: @atlantablack Rating: G Pairings: Arthur/Merlin Word Count: 1412 Content Notes/Warnings: None Summary: Morgana has Arthur at the tip of her blade, but she's frozen between her affection for Arthur, and the hatred that has grown from her fear and jealously. Author's Notes: Dear @Atlanta_Black, I was taken by your interest in the more complex feelings between Arthur and Morgana! I hope you enjoy this brief exploration of your first prompt. Wishing you a very happy, healthy, wonderful new year! Thank you dear Mods for keeping this wonderful fest going. <3 AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36120412

[merlinholidays]

FIC: We Are the Pirates! [G] Merlin/Arthur

Title: We Are the Pirates! Recipient: @the-occasional-mishap Rating: G Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 4559 Content Notes/Warnings: No warnings. Summary: Arthur gets rescued from a deserted island by a bunch of pirates. Is he going from the frying pan into the fire? Author's Notes: I hope you like the gift! I had fun writing it. AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36115015

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FIC: A Drop Of Shirley [E] Merlin/Arthur

Title: A Drop Of Shirley Recipient: @filmgeekstacey Rating: E Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon Word Count: 4500 Content Notes/Warnings: Minor Character Death Summary: Written for the prompt: Arthur is distraught when his fraternal twin sister Morgana dies. Her heart is transplanted and Arthur, still trying to process everything, tries to find who got her heart. When he finds Merlin, he keeps the truth about their connection. That becomes increasingly difficult as they forge a friendship. Author's Notes: Happy Holidays, GeekLover! Your prompts were so lovely and good that they inspired so many wonderful ideas! I tried to get in as many of your likes as I could, and I really hope you like it. Huge thank you to the Mods, who, despite their busy schedules, held my hand through this. I will forever be grateful to you. I love you so. And a huge, huge thank you to everyone who helped me out during the process, in every which way. Your contributions will always be remembered <3 Huge thank you to my lovely beta G, who looked over my first few drafts. I'm so sorry the fic ran away from me! *closes eyes and runs.* AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36072445

[merlinholidays]

FIC: my first true friend [T] GEN, Arthur & Morgana

Title: my first true friend Recipient: @atlantablack Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Pairings: Morgana & Arthur Word Count: 2260 Content Notes/Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence & Minor Character Death Summary: Morgana pinned his head down by placing one blade on either side of his neck. Arthur awaited his fate, but she did not move. “Having second thoughts, my Lady?” “S-shut up.” “You don’t need to do this. We can form a truce.” Author's Notes: Prompt: Morgana has a sword to Arthur's chest, and this time there's nothing to stop her. Merlin doesn't get there in time, her sword just is steady against Arthur's chest. She can't bring herself to push it through. My multichapter WIP still exists! It's just on my account now. I wrote this and swapped the other out because I didn't realize a lot of fests don't allow WIPs. Big thanks to my beta follow_your_fire. Happy holidays! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36047092

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Maybe You Could Be Mine [E] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Maybe You Could Be Mine Recipient: @merthurallure Rating: E / NC-17 Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 11k Content Notes/Warnings: Homophobic language, stereotypical 80s bullies, underage drinking Summary: Merlin is busy with school, work, and a mom who wants him to go to prom. He doesn't have time for dating any of the rich kids at school, but he hadn't considered that Arthur Pendragon isn't quite what he expected. The differences between them threaten to keep them apart, but maybe they can find a way. Or the Pretty in Pink AU where everyone is queer Author's Notes: Dear MerthurAllure/Kirbymatsu) <3 I was so excited to write something for you! I ended up running with your 80s prompt and have done a Merlin/Arthur version of Pretty in Pink. I've had the best time jamming to 80s songs while writing this and I hope you enjoy it. Hope you have had a good holiday period if you celebrate and I wish you a happy new year! Thank you to my trusty beta and sounding board (you know who you are!), and to the mods and the community! I hope everyone puts on an 80s playlist and has a good time <3 CONTENT WARNING: This is complete with 80s bullies and one of these bullies uses a homophobic slur. Most characters are in high school, but are over 18. Title from Kiss by Prince! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36026944

[merlinholidays]

FIC: The Power of Being Known [M] Merlin/Arthur

Title: The Power of Being Known Recipient: @princess-of-the-worlds Rating: Mature Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 42.6K Content Notes/Warnings: Mentions of homophobia, internalised homophobia Summary: After a PR disaster that provokes public backlash, movie star Arthur Pendragon needs to fix his image, and fast. His sister's solution? Set him up with an eligible man. Cue Gwen, who has a single, available friend who’s a fundraising coordinator for a prominent LGBT rights group. It seems like the perfect solution. But Arthur finds he’s not quite ready to be out, and fake-dating can only get you so far when there are real feelings involved... Author's Notes: Dear princessoftheworlds, Thank you for your prompts! I had a lot of fun thinking about what to write. From the looks of them, I feel like you were very interested in a Ted Lasso AU. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen the show and I don’t really get American Football 🙈, otherwise I would have obliged. Given that I’ve not seen the show, I have taken your fake relationship ‘oops we caught feelings’ prompt with a celebrity AU. I hope that what I’ve written works for you. Wishing you all the best for the holiday season! 💗 A HUGE thank you to the mods for their patience and understanding, and to my beta reader for their helpful suggestions and hard work getting this into shape! Any remaining mistakes are my own. AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35887279

[merlinholidays]

FIC: When the Masks Come Off [E] Merlin/Arthur

Title: When the Masks Come Off Recipient: @plainwater Rating: NC-17 Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 8.2k Content Notes/Warnings: None Summary: It was Morgana's crazy plan, but Arthur was so desperate to find out where things stood with Merlin that he went along with it. Sometimes crazy is what it takes to get results. Author's Notes: Happy holidays, furloughday! You had such great ideas and I tried to incorporate many of the tags that you requested. I hope you like it! Thank you mods for running the fest again and for such immense patience! Very appreciated! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35892772

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Livewire [E] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Livewire Recipient: @fifty-5ty Rating: E Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 8.8k Content Notes/Warnings: None Summary: Arthur tries to come to terms with Merlin's magic. Author's Note: Dear fifty_fifty, I hope you enjoy! Happy holidays and happy Merlining. <3 Link to Fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35755999

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Any Companion in the World but You [T] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Any Companion in the World but You Recipient: LFB72 Rating: Teen Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 3.3K Content Notes/Warnings: Modern AU, fluff, only one bed trope. There is some accidental cuddling while both are asleep but nothing sexual. Summary: Merlin has worked for the Pendragon Conservancy for four years, but this is the first time he's been chosen to present at a conference. He's thoroughly excited, right up until the moment he finds out he's sharing a room with none other than Arthur Pendragon. Author's Notes: Happy Holidays LFB72! The moment I read your prompt for a one room scenario I knew I had to fill it! I hope you enjoy this little piece of fluff. And many thanks to the mods for running such a fun event :) Title taken from The Tempest, full quote is: "I would not wish, / Any companion in the world but you." AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35838979

[merlinholidays]

FIC: The Love Spoon [T] Merlin/Arthur

Title: The Love Spoon Recipient: @pluckydean Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 12.2k Content Notes/Warnings: N/A Summary: Arthur decides to cheer up a homesick Merlin by making him a holiday gift. The significance of this specific gift, however, completely escapes him. Author's Note: This idea was based on the Welsh love spoon. I took liberties! Thank you to my fellow Merlin holiday buds for your help writing and editing this. Link to Fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35580946

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Lights for Christmas [M] Merlin/Arthur

Title: Lights for Christmas Recipient: @merlinholidays community Rating: M Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 36k Content Notes/Warnings: None Summary: Merlin has come from his tiny town of Ealdor to the big city for a job interview. Museum-owner Morgana Pendragon asks for his help tutoring her brother in magic. His magic is out of control, and she's willing to pay quite a lot for the help. Merlin accepts the challenge and moves into the Pendragon household, but Morgana's brother is nothing like he expected. Author's Notes: To the Merlin Holidays community, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. This is my first year doing this fest, and I had a lot of fun making this Christmas-y story. It started out as a simple idea and just kept growing from there. I'm so excited I finally got to write some tropes that I've been wanting to for a long time. Thanks so much to the mods for hosting this fest and happy holidays! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35461033

[merlinholidays]

FIC: The Ghosts of Lothian Hall [M] Merlin/Arthur

Title: The Ghosts of Lothian Hall Recipient: @merlinholidays community Rating: Mature Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Word Count: 15,000 Content Notes/Warnings: Minor Character Deaths, Summary: 1837: Orphan Mordred, now a ward of his aunts, isn't very happy with the upcoming Christmas celebrations or the state of his world in general. 1851: The Caerleons struggle to come to terms with the strange events happening in their newly-bought mansion right around Christmastide. Present Day: Paranormal Investigators Merlin and Arthur set out to research Lothian Hall, which has a long history of supernatural occurrences. Author's Notes: (i) To the Merlin Holidays community, wishing all Merlin fans a very happy festive season. (ii) Many, many -- really a boatful -- of thanks to D, for beta reading this at such short notice. You are a definite champ. AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35482864

[merlinholidays]

FIC: The Book of Love [T] Merlin/Arthur

Title: The Book of Love Recipient: @gwenspendragons Rating: Teen Pairings: Arthur/Merlin Word Count: 28.5k Content Notes/Warnings: None Summary: Arthur isn't interested in Jace Storm, the superstar actor who apparently just ran past his bookshop. Arthur is interested in books – and maybe the slightly strange man hiding in the self-help section. In which Gwaine signs knickers, Morgana kicks arse, and Cenred is a cheating thieving scumbag. Business as usual. Author's Notes: Dear Mithian, I went with your cute bookshop prompt, although all of your prompts were tempting.Unfortunately Notting Hill was on the TV and things went a little awry from there.I do hope you enjoy this and have a lovely holiday season. Thank you so much to my wonderful betas and cheerleaders for all your help and support. And huge thanks as always to the mods - you guys do a wonderful job running this fest, thank you for being so patient with me. AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35809258

[merlinholidays]

FIC: Uther's Holiday Workshop [T] Arthur/Gwen, Merlin/Morgana

Title: Uther's Holiday Workshop Recipient: ajsrandom Rating: Teen Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin/Morgana Word Count: 5,786 Content Notes/Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: In the spirit of Christmas, Uther Pendragon decides to plan an office Christmas party, and the employees of Camelot Entertainment, namely Arthur, Gwen, Merlin, and Morgana, come together to make it happen, maybe falling for each other in the process. Author's Notes: Happy Holidays! I tried to hit all the tropes you requested, but couldn't work some in. Still, I'm quite pleased with how this came out, and I hope you liked it as well! AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35455189