Below, images of the two sides of the bracket including the seeded candidates in round 2. Hopefully you can read them despite tumblr eating the quality.
Polls for round 1 will last 24 hours, and there will be six or seven polls posted a day for the next five days.
Masterlist of matchups, links to polls, and winners under the cut
Princess Indrogan vs Pikabe 3/05/25 WINNER Pikabe
Five Shells!Kip vs The Ouranatha 2/05/2025 WINNER Five Shells!Kip
Tulliantah "Tully" nai Vasiaan vs Ani 3/05/25 WINNER Tulliantha "Tully" nai Vasiaan
Zemius Mdang vs Navalia Mdang 1/05/25 WINNER Navalia
Sardeet Avrampul vs Faleron the Blue 4/05/2025 WINNER Sardeet Avrampul
Au'aua vs Au'aua (stuffed toy) 1/05/25 WINNER Au'aua (stuffed toy)
Vinyë Mdang vs Franzel 2/05/25 WINNER Vinyë Mdang
Bertie's eyebrows vs Falbert "Bertie" Kindraa 3/05/25 WINNER Bertie's eyebrows
Tupaia Mdang vs Kip the Parrot 1/05/2025 WINNER Kip the parrot
Basil White vs Mip Kdang 4/05/25 WINNER Basil White
Captain Diogen vs Quintus Mdang 4/05/25 WINNER Quintus Mdang
Kiri Kalikiri vs Hamish Lorkin 1/05/25 WINNER Kiri Kalikiri
Princess Anastaysia vs Eidora Mdang 2/05/25 WINNER Eidora Mdang
Domina Audry vs Saya Dorn 1/05/25 WINNER Saya Dorn
Conju's pet snake vs Conju (Terec's dog) 4/05/25 WINNER Conju's pet snake
Ayasha e'Oroto-o vs The Wind That Rises at Dawn 2/05/25 WINNER The Wind That Rises At Dawn
Pharia Cloudbringer vs Robin, Prince of Fairy 3/05/25 WINNER Robin, Prince of Fairy
Nwo Ya | Lord of Zunidh vs Kasian Chrysaeor 3/05/25 WINNER Kasian Chrysaeor
Shoanie vs The guards' book club 3/05/25 WINNER Shoanie
Maugraian | Lord of Eahh vs Tavin | Lord of Eahh 4/05/25 WINNER Lord Tavin
Sara White vs Torquin Dart 5/05/25 WINNER Sara White
Rhodin's cousin vs Roald Ragnor 3/05/25 WINNER Roald Ragnor
Jack Lindsary vs Jivane | Lady of Zunidh 4/05/25 WINNER Lady Jivane
William Shakespeare vs Violet Redshank 5/05/25 WINNER Violet Redshank
Scheherazade vs Aioru 5/05/25 WINNER Aioru
Pinyë Mdang vs Masseo Umrit 4/05/25 WINNER Masseo Umrit
The Shepherdess vs The Old Woman Who Lives in the Deeps 5/05/25 WINNER The old Woman Who Lives in the Deeps
The Marchioness of the Woods Noirell vs Sela Buchance 5/05/25 WINNER Sela Buchance
Aurelia Anyra vs Mardo Walea 1/05/2025 WINNER Aurelia Anyra
The Moon Lady vs The Sun 2/05/25 WINNER The Sun
My Lord (the iguana) vs Princess Oriana 5/05/25 WINNER My Lord (the iguana)
HR (Human Resources) vs The Sea Witch 2/05/2025 WINNER The Sea Witch
Very belatedly, please see the masterlist for the first round of the Merlin Tarot Fest! All creations were posted July-September 2023.
FIC:
i will wait by the river by g0blincat
Tom the Blacksmith gets so much more than he bargained for when he decides to adopt the baby he finds floating down the river in a basket. Eighteen years later, Merlin has grown into quite the proficient swordsman-- and quite the powerful sorcerer. When Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon convinces his father to hold an open melee with a knighthood as the prize, Merlin, his brother Elyan, and a ragtag group of commoners decide to enter. They soon discover that there is much more at play in the tournament than stuck-up knights and a contemptuous king. As Arthur becomes smitten with Merlin-- whose skill with a sword is unparalleled-- he discovers that there is so much more to this strange, mouthy blacksmith's son than he had initially imagined.
**
I’ll be your strength – and you be mine by adrift_me
Merlin’s words ring in his ears louder than the surrounding silence. "I have magic, Arthur."
“Why now?” Arthur asks, fearing to meet Merlin’s eyes. Will they be the unfamiliar gold? Will they be full of fury? Or worse, gentle and crystal clear, as he has gotten used to knowing them.
Merlin reveals his magic to Arthur, and Arthur has a lot to think about.
**
Unwavering by adhd_merlin
Merlin and Gwaine get along splendidly — except when they don't. In which there is a fight, a fight, and a discovery. (Set pre-S5.)
**
The Great Unknown by TheGhostMagus
Back from the Disir, Arthur made the decision to bring back magic, plunging both Merlin and Arthur into intense reflections.
Is Mordred a real threat? Has Arthur made the right decision? And what's wrong with Merlin?
**
The King’s Cards by smartypantsflute
The queen's pregnancy has made Arthur realizes some changes have to be made to Camelot. Gwen tells him about a fortune teller who is never wrong. Arthur decides it's best to talk to this strange woman to learn what is in his future. But this woman looks familiar...
**
the echoes of a thousand voices calling your name by ExcaliburnRowan
After Camlann, Gwen rides out to bring Morgana back home.
**
Home is where the heart is by Brechtjeeatscheese
Merlin is a history teacher with no friends and a boring life.
That is until Arthur Pendragon and his friends enter his life. Suddenly he has friends and his life is everything but boring.
Featuring; falling in love, keeping secrets, chaotic crying and realising that family is not blood but the people you can come home to.
**
The Rise and the Fall by HadrianPeverellBlack
Camelot was recovering.
Merlin had never realized how strong its inhabitants were, but after seeing their ability to return to everyday life after the horrors Morgana had subjected them to, he had to realize it.
Camelot wobbled, tried to hold on, and it did.
They had defeated Morgana, they had won. And, now, they could reap the fruits of that victory.
**
Magic Comes From Within by Pearl09
During a tough battle that injures Arthur, Merlin's magic is revealed. Now Arthur is left to deal with the consequences, angry, paranoid, and slowly discovering something he never knew before.
**
The Breaking Oath by Aro_Tarot
After seeing a sketch of Archdruid Emrys amongst his father's things, Arthur wanted to grow up to become a druid. He saw the beauty in nature but for some reason, his father hated druids, especially the archdruid. Instead, Arthur grew up to become a green knight, an Oath of the Ancients paladin. When he father died, he put his all into helping those around him, and due to this, he ends up stumbling across a druid in need. In the end, he's the one that really needs help.
A short story of Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen taking place in the Forgotten Realms.
**
Nothing by Flower after Blooming Flower by undermycoat
When Arthur sends him away, Merlin doesn't know what to do. For awhile, he tries going after every dark-haired, dark-eyed man in the Five Kingdoms, just to forget his blue-eyed, blond-haired prince, but it never works. Eventually, he returns to Ealdor. That ends up being for the better, however, when said prince ends up in the village too, lost, confused, and unable to remember his own name.
Merlin knows it’s up to him to send Arthur back to Camelot, but that's a lot harder to do when he can't leave with him. Perhaps the appearance of a familiar foe can get him moving, though.
**
The End of the Beginning/The Beginning of the End by SpookySweet
What is life, if not to love? And what is love, if not pain?
**
All I Want by Shana_Rose
Taking another deep breath, Arthur asked himself, for the thousandth time, what would Merlin say if he was here?
The image of Merlin riding next to him came quickly, painfully so.
"Your first act as King was lifting the ban, they may still be suspicious, but that’s a good first step on making peace with the magic community.”
He clenched his fists tighter, careful not to pull on the reins as he did so. And wished for things he could not change.
Now king, Arthur goes to meet the Druid leader, Emrys, to make peace.
**
Crooked Trajectory by queerofthedagger
“How did you find me? How did you know I would be here?”
“I know you,” Merlin merely says, because it’s true, and he refuses not to say it out loud just because Arthur might want to pretend otherwise. He’s told enough lies.
Arthur could take Morgana's betrayal and Uther's death, could take the loss of Lancelot and the fact that Merlin had magic. Barely and his days singed with grief, but his kingdom always came first. The revelation, though, that Merlin had been by his side through all these years and hardships solely due to some prophecy? That—well, that is the one truth too bitter to swallow.
When he leaves for an ill-advised break to his mother's childhood home to get away from it all, more things come to light than the simple and irrevocable fact that no authority—no king, no prince, no destiny—could ever make Merlin do anything.
**
king of wands, the world, cups. or: merlin and secrets don't mix. By regicsillagok
what if merlin overthought and arthur was not quite as much a dolt as he seems
**
The Search for the Crystal Cave by thenerdyindividual
The year is 1901, and Merlin is a recent graduate of Camelot University's History Program. He lives in a crummy flat with his childhood best friend Gwen, and they both dream of doing something more with their lives.
When King Uther falls ill, Merlin sees his opportunity to earn his postgraduate degree, and change attitudes towards magic in Camelot. He makes a proposal to the king and his two children; fund Merlin's expedition to the Isle of the Blessed, and Merlin will bring back knowledge of great healing magic that might just save the king's life. While Princess Morgana and King Uther both reject his proposal, the king's bastard son Lord Arthur Pendragon has a different idea. Using his own money, he puts together a team. Merlin, the historian. Gwen, the cartographer. And Arthur's old friend from school, Gwaine, the muscle.
Together, along with Gwen's brother Elyan who they pick up along the way, they sail to the Isle of the Blessed in search of the Crystal Cave without King Uther any the wiser. Magic, adventure, and romance abound, and it's a race against the clock to find the cave before King Cenred!
**
The Last Bear by littelgreyfish
On a hunt, Arthur kills the last bear in the British Isles, and there are consequences.
**
The Lover to the King of Swords by Crimson_Fanfic_Writer_7
“Come on, Arthur! This is the first time they’ve had this festival in over two decades!” A raven-haired man in his mid-thirties exclaimed, grabbing his satchel from the kitchen table. “We have to go! It’ll be our first time and a way to really connect with the community.”
Another man, Arthur, walked up behind him and gently wrapped his arms around his lover, resting his chin on the man's shoulder.
or Arthur and Merlin go to a festival and get a lot more out of it than they were expecting
**
Always by youdgetbored
merthur hurt/comfort
**
ART:
The Once and Future King by Corisan
The cards I drew were The Emperor and Four of Swords.
**
The Lovers (Greed) by kairennart
It's all about choices.
**
All because of a butterfly… by Laevateinn
The first time Merlin felt like an outcast, he was six. Or maybe seven.
He can't remember his age with precision, but he can remember how he felt then.
**
Love returned and Sorcery by GYRHS
Based on the Sidhe staff and the Chalice that appeared in the Labyrinth of Gedref.
**
Waiting For This Moment by sugareey
It's when they're surrounded by water that's surging and plummeting down the rocks that Merlin and Arthur decide to take things to the next level.
**
a-star-is-here:
Page of Wands
Nine of Cups
**
Art by wortvermis
**
Art by magicinavalon:
**
Art by multifandombullshitbabes
**
FIC + ART:
Remember Us, My Love? by mischel
“Please, don’t do it, Emrys” they all tell him. He doesn’t listen. After 500 years of waiting, there is nothing Merlin wouldn't do to bring Arthur back to life. And that includes erasing his love for the king in order to use it in a dark magic ritual.
Let’s have another round of applause for all of our amazing participants!! We’re so happy you all decided to share your work for our fest, and we hope to see you again for round 2!
If you haven’t already, please give these writers some love - they worked hard and they deserve it!
Thursday, June 24
I'm Not a Homophobe, I'm In Love by powerwithapen (@big-time-schmidster)
look at all these tears i've wept by FiresFromOurHearts (@silent-silver-slip)
Friday, June 25
Tell Me It's Okay by justyrae (@astorytotellyourfriends)
Saturday, June 26
this is how you fall in love by FiresFromOurHearts (@silent-silver-slip)
Sunday, June 27
Pride, No Predjudice by psyduckappears (@psyduckappears)
so let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater by fiddlesjulie (@fiddlesjulie)
Monday, June 28
I'm stepping out (from under the burning of my shoulders) by nuandia (@nuandia)
Love & Laughter by FiresFromOurHearts (@silent-silver-slip)
Tuesday, June 29
untouchable as stars by tiriansjewel (@tiriansjewel)
Feelings I've Never Felt by tastefullytightpants (@takeyourhedicine)
My Romeo by cucumbersandolives (@cucumbers-and-olives)
Wednesday, June 30
Late Night Confessions by Artemis_Charmed (@reggiepetersbass)
