inalandofclotpoles

[inalandofclotpoles]

I will never get over the fact that Uther just knew that Arthur was gay.

Whenever he had a relationship with a woman he would instantly question it or think that it was sorcery.

But Merlin who would commit literal crimes constantly and once confessed that he was a sorcerer when Arthur defended him Uther didn’t care.

But yeah Arthur totally wasn’t gay.

[inalandofclotpoles]

fellas does your boyfriend ever feel a little sad so you create an elaborate story that makes him think he's the chosen one from ye olde prophecies and you have everyone he's ever known stand around and clap for him

[inalandofclotpoles]

These are the tiny moments I love. It’s the way Arthur’s eyes don’t leave Merlin after he looks away. Not only do they not leave him, but you can literally see his eyes flick around Merlin’s face.

It’s a moment just for Arthur. To observe and appreciate his friend up close. He even does a little gulp as he’s taking in his side profile, his cheekbones, his chin. His Merlin.

Arthur loves Merlin. He was destined to.

[inalandofclotpoles]

"And there was only one bed" Merthur be like:

- sleep back to back on the forest ground and Arthur is upset he's on the wrong side

- sleep head to toe, so Arthur can put his feet in Merlin's face

And those are CANON

[inalandofclotpoles]

no, it's actually crazy to me that, arthur, ARTHUR, mr Very Weird about feelings, mr gets real wobbly when talking about them (see: calling merlin wise in 03x02 for reference), yeah, that same arthur said "if i need a servant in my next life..." to merlin's face in 02x12, as he was about to fight some very much unkillable dudes. he didn't give his usual lines, such as "take care of those i love" as a sign of complete trust, no. instead, he decided to stand smack in the middle of the point - the point being "i wish to see you again, (and again and again) even if it won't be for some time", point being - one lifetime isn't enough. maybe it was the sleepiness getting to him, maybe it was the pretty certain death scenario, but i just think that was a little crazy of him.

[inalandofclotpoles]

thinking about. how merlin brings out the best in arthur and on the other hand arthur brings out the darkest parts of merlin. how arthur always tries to be better and do the right thing because merlin believes in him and he wouldn't want to disappoint him. because he believes merlin is good and he wants to be good for him. how merlin always ends up making the worst decision in his desire to protect arthur, doing things he never thought he'd do. how from saving arthur's life because that's a right thing to do, he goes to putting his life above any of his own morals.

[inalandofclotpoles]

okay but can we talk how rapunzel-coded arthur is?? 😭😭

complicated birth situation? ✅

magical princess? ✅

met a hot brunette man who’s secretly a criminal? ✅

BLONDE? ✅✅✅✅✅

and here’s their flynn rider <3

[inalandofclotpoles]

omg omg omg

arthur gives merlin his mothers sigil thinking that hes going to die and wants to finally tell merlin how he feels and what better way of conveying the intensity of his emotions and how serious he is other than marriage? merlin accepts the sigil which means theyre married!! yay!! only. they both survive and arthur QUICKLY realizes that merlin has no idea the significance of the sigil. he has no idea theyre married. and arthur has no idea how to tell him bc then hell have to explain WHY he gave him the sigil aka WHY HE PROPOSED and now that hes not staring death in the face. he just. cant.

blah blah blah time skip to happy ending

the druids invite arthur and merlin to a celebration of the unification of emrys and the once and future king and the fruition of their destinies. merlin and arthur are excited bc finally peace is here and magic is returning and this can be the next big show of trust and reconciliation between camelot and the druids and so theyre there in the druid camp having fun when theyre approached and asked to participate in the ceremony. theres a huge buzzing crowd watching as the elder druid ties their hands together and goes on and on about the magnificence of two men standing before them and their great destinies and how the two sides of the same coin are joined finally as the prophecy said all those years ago. merlin doesnt realize it was a handfasting ceremony until hes talking to a few of the druids later on

anyway. merthur accidental wedding(s). now they both know theyre married but they dont know the other knows theyre married bc different ceremonies and traditions and all that. arthur is all awkward about it bc hes emotionally constipated. merlin is convincing himself he doesnt have to bring it up to arthur bc its not like the DRUID marriage ceremony is legally binding in camelot. they didnt sign any papers or anything. theyre not really married in camelot so arthur doesnt have to know. and then merlin can selfishly keep this truth close to his heart. even if its not reciprocated.

married life shenanigans ensue. merlin and arthur both have to physically stop themselves from calling the other their husband. jealous spats when out in the tavern or when visiting royals/nobles stop on by. leon knows all and is this close to snapping. extra protective idiots. and idk someone catches merlin holding the sigil and explains the significance of it or a druid asks arthur where his husband emrys is and my boy is STRESSED about being caught but then the druid brings up the handfasting ceremony. stupid idiot x stupid idiot.

you see my vision, right?

[inalandofclotpoles]

the way merthur goes from grumpy (arthur) x sunshine (merlin) in season one to grumpy (merlin) x sunshine (arthur) in season five is. sad.

idk, but arthur really seems to flourish with merlin at his side, seems to find happiness and self-worth and meaning. meanwhile merlin is being weighed down by the ever heavier weight of destiny, and the stress of knowing that somehow all of his actions are doing nothing against the inevitable fate of arthur, while still desperately trying to change it. whereas at the start of the series arthur was the spoilt, arrogant, secretly insecure bully and merlin was the beaming, carefree friend who was always there to try and help.

[inalandofclotpoles]

I love when Arthur completely disregards information. Like the episode in season three when he's getting the fisher kings trident or whatever. And he gets told "you can't do this alone, you'll need Strength and 𝕸𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖈" and he's just like, "cool, anyways". Then his best bud Merlin and this fucking guy he's chummy with show up and he also just like, "cool, anyways" albeit a little more whiny abt his quest getting "messed up".

I'm so amazed by his ability to Worry About That Later.™️.

He also just. Doesn't seem to notice a difference in his physical health in this episode. Not even a "man why am I so tired". He's fit. He's used to journies like this. Merlin and Gwaine got through the same portion he did and weren't even phased, but apparently it was completely logical for him to be having to have a quick nap (read: damsel faint) every couple of hours. Or whatever the fuck the time span of that was.

Love when my Boy Thang servant shows up and the grip of death I hadn't noticed until now is suddenly gone.

You boggle me, blonde boy

[inalandofclotpoles]

I need to talk for a second about Princess Mithian and her comment to Merlin: “One thing I’ve learned since being here is Arthur values your opinion above almost all others.”

When she said this, I was shocked. Not because I don’t agree (because of course I do), but because she’d been there such a short amount of time and honestly, Arthur isn’t very nice to Merlin in this episode. Especially in front of Mithian.

It’s not as if Mithian said, “I can tell he’s fond of you” or something like that. She specifically said he values his opinion the most. Out of everyone. A servant.

So it really makes me wish I could watch that episode from her perspective because what did she see? Was it all off camera? Did Arthur speak about Merlin whenever they were together with an absurd amount of affection? Did she watch the way he looked at him? How did she come to that conclusion?

More evidence that Arthur is extremely bad at hiding his affections for Merlin in front of everyone except Merlin.

[inalandofclotpoles]

Welcome to my usual metas where we hyperfixate over Arthur Pendragon’s love for Merlin. Today’s episode features this scene right here:

To remind you of the context, it was s03e12 when Camelot was besieged and Arthur just ordered Gaius, Gwaine, and Elyan to go find shelter in the woods. A second later, he looks at Merlin, diverts his eyes, and tells him, “Merlin, you should go with them.”

Which btw translates, in Arthur Pendragon's dictionary, to: Merlin, I want you safe, I want you away from harm’s way, but Merlin, Oh Merlin, don’t leave me. I really don’t want you to leave me. I sustain my strength from you. You’re the bravest man I have ever met. I keep going because I know you’re there. Don’t go and leave me. I am urging you to go, but please don’t believe me.

I really just can’t. Because you guys, Arthur isn’t scared to go fight an entire army of the dead. He’s not scared that he is limping and injured and definitely won’t make it. He’s just scared to do it without Merlin.

And when Merlin looks at him and says, “Nah, I’ve seen the woods already”, Arthur knows Merlin had heard it all, and chose the kindest response possible that doesn’t spot on his worry and fear.

Those fucking two.

[inalandofclotpoles]

Orpheus and Eurydice AU

Where Merlin is given the opportunity to lead Arthur out of Avalon.

However, if he turns around and looks at Arthur before they reach the surface he forfeits their destiny and Arthur will never return.

Merlin can. He looks straight ahead. He's suffered worse than this for Arthur's sake and he won't throw it away now for a glance. He knows Arthur, he knows he will follow.

Arthur on the other hand ....

He's fresh off the betrayal of a magic reveal. He died in Merlin's arms with so much left unsaid. He follows, of course he does it's Merlin how can he not.

But he's not used to this Merlin. The Merlin that gets shit done, the Merlin that's been defending him and his kingdom for a decade. The cold, calm, ruthless man Merlin has forced himself to be for Arthur's sake.

He NEEDS Merlin to turn around. To flash him that goofy smile that lets Arthur know that despite everything Merlin is still there. His Merlin. Kind and affectionate and trustworthy. Merlin who would cry over the death of a stranger. Merlin who is always by his side.

He doesn't know the Merlin in front of him and he's scared. And maybe he begs Merlin to turn around. Fueled by grief and fear and isolation.

But Merlin doesn't. He keeps going forward.

[inalandofclotpoles]

Arthur: We’re taking it slow, we spent so long as friends so Merlin and I are taking our time to adjust to the new dynamic between us, and we waited ten years so…

Merlin, looking at Arthur lovingly: He’s a softy who wants to do it right.

Also Arthur: I gave him my mother’s sigil years ago and I don’t know how to tell him that we’re already married.

[inalandofclotpoles]

The return of my Teen Merthur Au >:]

[inalandofclotpoles]

thinking of pre canon arthur who was lonely and unloved and abused; of a teenage boy spending his nights in the cold believing that he killed his mother and is nothing but a disappointment to his father.

merlin walking into camelot was the warmest spring of his life skfgskjaf

[inalandofclotpoles]

I will forever be mad that we jumped from the season 3 finale immediately to the darkest hour.

"Look, Arthur is taking charge and the Roundtable_tm is finally assembled!" to "And now we kill one of them off in the most painful way possible." speedrun.

Why were there no episodes of all the knights goofing off together while Arthur tries to keep Gwaine in check and Merlin and Lancelot commit high treason in the background? :(