#theme: misunderstanding

[reader-or-whatever]

Insult & Injury by @exonerin

Star Wars | Obi-Wan/Anakin | E | 28k

Anakin thinks his day can't get any worse when his alpha Padawan goes feral. Then, Obi-Wan comes along, fixes Ahsoka, and breaks Anakin in the process. After Obi-Wan's interesting intervention, Anakin can no longer pop a knot. His other alpha traits have suffered a similar undignified death. This may be a problem, but Anakin is understandably hesitant about bringing it up. Of course, Anakin's day gets worse when Obi-Wan doesn't leave. If Obi-Wan offers any more help, he'll really be ruined.

This has all the hallmarks of my favorite fics: misunderstandings, trope subversions, really good smut. The way that exonerin writes Anakin is probably one of my favorite characterizations of him, and they do his character so much justice. If you like interesting a/b/o dynamics, Obi-Wan/Anakin, or just really good writing, definitely give this a read.

[merlinfic]

A Marriage that Started a Legend

Author: Clearwater96

Rating: E

Setting: Canon AU

Word Count: 1,013,769 (WIP)

Summary: 

Arthur Pendragon and Merlin were literally from two different worlds. One is a prince from a great kingdom and the other a common farm boy from the next kingdom over. These two should have never met.

But that was before they realized their parents were once friends and arranged the two of them to marry when they reached adulthood. That was before Uther turned on magic and Hunith went on the run with her infant son.

Now almost twenty years have passed and these two boys have grown into men. Camelot knights have found Hunith and come to collect her son.

Will Merlin survive this new world he has been thrusted into? A peasant among royals, a sorcerer among those that would have him killed if they found out. Can Merlin even begin to hope for happiness when the prince he is forced to marry wants nothing to do with him?

Follows canon but with my own arranged marriage spin to it

Reader’s Comments: it’s amazing. it has possessive/jealous arthur (who is having his “i am straight” phase) and innocent/cheeky merlin. it’s super great (just a warning tho arthur WILL be at the top of you hit list) it is a work in progress but Clearwater updates it EVERY SATURDAY and i don’t think they’ve ever missed an update. anyway check it out it’s great  thanks fir being awesome

Thanks to marie for sending in this fic!

[merlinreadsalot]

A Second Chance  by Thursday_Next

Pairing: Merlin/Arthur

Rating: Mature

Length: 18,659

Summary: Major Arthur Pendragon returns home from years abroad fighting in France, determined to settle down and marry, only to find himself confronted with the one person he's spent the past seven years trying to forget. Or, Persuasion with dragons.

S’s Comments: What a wonderful story. Reread this for the rec (I have a very long, very old rec list ok) and was pleasantly enraptured all over again! Historical AU with everything you’d want: dragons, magic, and these two idiots head over heels for one another and neither of them showing it. Heartwrenching and gutting at times, but ultimately sweet and soft. Art by regcommathe as well! Would recommend reading while listening to the Merlin Season 2 soundtrack as I did ;)

[lionheartlibrary]

Ashes, Embers, Flames

Author: unpossible

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 65k

Summary: Merlin sees him across a crowded living room and promptly spills his beer down the back of the couch and over some hapless stranger’s neck.

Reader’s Comment: This wonderfully angsty story of infatuation-at-first-sight, the “I’ve got a spare room you can rent” trope, obsessive home renovations and antique talking, deep longing, profound sorrow, overprotective!Arthur, stubborn!Merlin, and both idiots have one huge secret apiece they’re hiding from one another.

[merlinfic]

Serum

Author: Keandre

Rating: E

Setting: Modern Magical AU

Word Count: 184,750

Summary: 

Merlin is supposed to save his father whose life is threatened by the Serum, a drug developed under the Pendragon government to keep sorcery at bay. He doesn't count on getting entangled in a web of intrigue and long forgotten secrets. Falling in love, however, hits Merlin totally out of the blue.

"Merlin stares at the syringe as it is emptying bit by bit. The blue liquid’s spreading through his body reaching every part and every fibre and as it takes command of him, cell by cell, his magic recoils and struggles against it. It tries to push the icy blue away with all its force and fight it with all its might. But the Serum has the force of a tsunami washing over every attempt to resist it."

Reader’s Comments: So, I just finished reading this Fanfic and I realised that it didn't get the attention it so rightfully deserved (IMO)

It's more than 180k words long and has a fantastic plot. I also think that the bad guys/good guys part of the story was handled perfectly and, well, realistically. At the beginning, you think you figured out who the villain is, but it really isn't that clear cut, and they're just a cog in a bigger machine. I hope this doesn't count as a spoiler, I left it vague enough.

Anyway, I think it's great! I highly recommend it.

Thanks to @1shadowhole for sending in this fic rec!

[merlinfic]

Reader’s Recs!

Baby Driver by mother_of_lions

E | 13,447 | Modern AU | Summary: Looking up, Merlin caught sight of the billboard and almost crashed into the divider. The center of the ad had featured a gorgeous, cherry red Aston Martin DBS with the hottest model he'd ever seen leaned casually against the side. Merlin had to meet that guy.

Fake it 'til you make it by platonic_boner

G | 5,749 | Modern AU | Summary: In which Gwen’s sage advice like, “Not to rain on your parade, but is fake dating your straight crush really a great idea?” is completely ignored.

Next to You (It's the Rule) by LunaMyLove

T | 47,307 | Canon AU | Summary: Arthur and Merlin have a special relationship. They always have, even when they were prince and servant. While many question it when first noticing, eventually it becomes an understanding in Camelot—and even among some other countries—that where there is Arthur, there is Merlin. And, where there is Merlin, there is Arthur.

Or

Arthur and Merlin's relationship as witnessed and explained by others.

Also, or

Five times someone realizes that Merlin is the Queen, one time Merlin realizes it himself, and one time he owns it.

Thanks to @theonceandfutureotp for sending in these recs!

[merlinfic]

Hey! Do you have any fics where arthur thinks morgana and merlin are together but they're not? I don't want mergana though. Thanks in advance x

Hi anon! Here’s a few for you!

Flames

Stitch by Stitch

The Truth is More Complicated 

[merlinfic]

hi! do you guys have any merthur fics where merlin thinks that arthur is secretly courting gwen but he actually isn’t? preferably canon era but modern is fine too! thank you so much!!

Hiya! Here you go!

Withering, Blooming

Misunderstandings