#gwaine is beautiful and protective and loves merlin

[hopelessromantic5]

Love in All Its Forms

Merlin liked to think he knew quite a bit. He's all of twenty and four, now. He's learned so much information in the last three years, his head feels it might explode. Only the magic of the Earth itself still holding him together.

But there were always reasons to keep going. Camelot, her people, that needed protection. His family, his friends, Hunith, Gwen, Lance, Gwaine, Leon, Elyan. They've all become a part of him now.

Merlin also liked to think he knew a lot about love. He was easily capable of feeling a love that passes between two people. Each different than the last.

For example, the love between Gwen and her brother Elyan was that of a comrade, a brother in arms. They teased and poked and worried feircly. As opposed to the love that Merlin can see slowly growing between Gwen and Lancelot. Theirs is a quiet feeling. But no less intense. They communicate with silent looks and soft touches. When they are together, their eyes never dim.

In his mind, Merlin considers this oddity as just another power in his arsenal. He can see love before the lover's even notice. Like Gwaine and Percival, for instance.

Gwaine is…a complicated person. That may be the understatement of the century, but there are many things that Gwaine never lets see the light of day. A brave knight in the face of his own memories, out of neccesity. Merlin would try his damndest at the beginning to get any information out of him at all, about his past, or his hurt. But Gwaine insisted he was fine, and Merlin wouldn't want to hear it. That was, until Percival came along with Lancelot, and Gwaine bloomed like a flower in spring.

Percival was shy, something that Gwaine latched onto immidiately. He always had a thing for the quiet ones. The gentle giant favored hanging around the stables or the royal kennels, looking after dogs and brushing down the horses in his down time. Merlin has caught Gwaine watching Percival on more than one occasion, but said nothing. Never bringing attention to the unspoken connection they seem to have. After all, Merlin couldn't judge either of them a bit.

In a group setting, Gwaine was still his boistorous, frankly blunt self, and in turn, he pulled Percival out of his shell. They would huddle together in council meeting, or close in the tavern, whipsering about training, or gambling, or just their days. Merlin does try not to eavesdrop, but its nearly impossible when he can feel the waves of affection rolling off of them and out into the room, making everyone around them, unknowingly, softer.

Even Arthur.

Oh, god.

Arthur. King Arthur. The Once and Future King of Albion.

A royal, supercillois prat with a heart of gold and hair to match.

Anywhere he went, he arrived like the sun each morning. Beautiful and regal and breathtaking. Merlin nearly choked on it.

Morgana would call him a hypocrite, if she were here. She went to stay with the druids shortly following the death of Uther. After Arthur was settled into Kingship, she said her tearful goodbyes and promised to return in the winter for Yule.

Before leaving, she hugged Merlin fiercly and whispered into his shoulder "Take care of yourself. And him." He did not need to ask who 'he' was. "You're the only person in the world that makes him truly happy."

With that, she took her leave. Stepping away from a sad, shell-shocked Merlin.

"She will return soon, Merlin." The King's voice pulled him out of his thoughts and back into the royal chambers. How had he known what Merlin was thinking of?

"I know, sire." He nodded, resolute to not look at the King in his private, sleepy state. "I just miss her, is all."

"As do I." Came a quiet response. "She was always better at this part." He shuffled parchments on the desk. "The paperwork and the delegating."

"She would vehemenately disagree." Merlin chuckled lowly, still staring at the pile of clean clothes he has yet to sort.

"That she would." Arthur's voice sounds far away, which caused Merlin to look up at him, only to find the King watching him do absolutely nothing. He almost couldn’t breathe. His magic rising up in his throat any time Arthur looks his way, these days.

"Are you…" the golden King began, unsure. Merlin's eyebrows pinched slightly. "Do you and Morgana-"

"No!" He practically shouted into a very quiet room, causing him to flinch at his own blunder. "I mean… no." He tried again, calmer. "She is very beautiful and kind, but it's not like that. It's just that…" he sighed, looking down at that same pile of clothes, trying to find the right words.

"She's a high preistess. Extremely, naturally, powerful. While there are other magical users now in residence here, it's not quite the same. The druids and everyone, they all look to me as some kind of…" He trailed off.

"God." Arthur finished for him. "They see you as a god."

"Well, yes." To busy his hands, he finally began sorting different piles. "Morgana was someone with magic who understood that I am not, completely, the immortal of legend. She's been to Ealdor, she's seen where I used to put my hands into the Earth and grow vegetables in the winter so that we would not starve." He shrugged. "She was a nice collaborator to have, a friend."

"I'm sorry." Merlin snapped his neck to look over at Arthur, still behind his desk, but work long abandoned.

"Whatever for?"

"That you must seperate peices of yourself in order to exist in a certain place. That there are those who make you feel as if you aren't human, but some savior sent to magically fix every problem we have." Arthur shook his head slightly. "You are more than that."

This. This is what Merlin can never find the words for.

He knew what he felt for Arthur was love. But it seemed so above and beyond any love he's ever felt, he hesitated to label it such.

Yes, he would die for Arthur without ever thinking, he would throw himself down at Arthur's mercy should he ever fail him. But that was only one peice of it. That was the love he feels for his King, that was the loyalty attatched to his affection.

Another part of him, the part that sits quietly with Arthur in his chambers, the one that wakes a sleepy man every morning with much more fondness than is appropriate. It was just Merlin, that fell in love with just Arthur. His heart, his kindness.

That part of Merlin would destroy anything and everything to see Arthur happy. He would burn down the world.

This was what scared him.

"Am I?" Is all he can manage to get out, in a cottonmouth whisper.

"Of course, Merlin. You are what keeps this kingdom afloat. Not just because you defend Camelot from grave dangers, or keep the grain stores stocked for winter. But because your light seems to bleed onto others and make us all unbearably happy. We would all be miserable without you."

"We?" Merlin can't help but point out with a small, shying smile. "Including you, sire?"

Merlin saw, in the candlelight, as the King's cheeks turned a bright pink and he tore his eyes back down to his scattered desk. "Well I would certainly be miserable with George all the time."

The well put-together man only did half of the usual tasks given to a manservant of the King. Merlin woke Arthur, dressed him, served him breakfast. He attended him at feasts and every night, he readied the King for bed. No one was taking that from him, as far as he was concerned. Unless Arthur told him to go, he would be here, always by his side.

"Have no fear, your highness, I will always be here to save you from manservants with no personality."

"Thank the gods for that." Arthur said, all too serious.

Merlin tried to lighten the mood, with a small chuckle he asked "Did you honestly think that Morgana and I-"

The King cut him off, scrunching his eyes closed in embarasment. "Gods, I didn't know, okay? I knew you cared for her but I didn't know if it was more than-"

"It's not. I care for her as a sister. I care for her as you do."

Arthur smiled at him. "That is good to know." He tapped on the wooden surface of his desk with a finger, staring at the motion in thought. Merlin just watched him.

"So, you don't have your eye on anyone, at present?"

Merlin's brain froze still. How was he supposed to answer that? "I…wouldn't say that." He responded quietly, not looking away from Arthur's stark blue eyes.

Arthur seemed almost disappointed, but not surprised. "I thought as much." he said with smile that did not reach his eyes.

At Merlin's questioning look he said, "You're often daydreaming when I find you alone. With some dopey looking smile on your face." He tried to sound offhand when he asked, "Who's the lucky lady?"

Merlin decided, for once in his life, to be honest when asked a question. Looking at his feet once more, he responded. "Not a lady at all, actually." the man sighed, bereft. "A complete idiot that they somehow allowed to be King though he can't even dress himself most days. I don't know how the kingdom hasn't-"

His rambling was cut off once again by the King. But this time a completely different tactic was used.

The kiss was hungry, while Arthur's hold on him was gentle. As if he were afraid to break something precious.

They come up for air some minutes later, now grasping onto each other for dear life. "We should've done that ages ago." Arthur whispers into the air between them, causing a giddy laugh to ride up out of both of them.

Their love is like flowers growing up out of the frozen solid ground. Or a gust of cold air in the dessert.

#merthur #merlin #merlin and arthur #arthur pendragon #merthur fic #merthur drabble #from the drafts #good morgana #King Arthur #George does all the actual hard work lol

[gayandfairycore]

Just hold me

Summary: y/n pendragon, is well protected by the knights of the round table and her big brother but when they’re ambushed in the woods and the capable princess is hurt, Gwaine comes to her rescue. But is he too late to save her?

A/n: I love my Irish husband!! gwaines one of my absolute favourites, I Also couldn’t resist making him reader’s bodyguard ahh so cute!! Princess x bodyguard trope or well Princess x knight. I swear it does end in fluff (nothings ever permanent) Also c/h/n means childhood nickname.

Warning: blood, fighting, reader stabs people, readers kinda savage, until she gets owned, angst, major character death, gwaines a little ooc, grammar mistakes.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

The, cool breeze of the forest blew through your hair as the horses continued their trot through the woods neighbouring Camelot, your friends hyper aware of every sound, of every creak in the trees, that blew the leaves. They were wary of every rustling of breeze, and every old muddy footprint.

Everyone on edge since morgana turned a new leaf, and decided her siblings were her enemy and the crown was her life’s purpose, it made a heavy sadness linger in your heart. A great deal of dread that made your skin itch.

Your e/c eyes observed the surroundings, Arthur infront, Merlin beside him, you behind Merlin Gwaine next to you, and the rest of the knights littered all around you all in a protective circle, so that if your sister crawled out from the wood work and decided to attack you they would be ready. And prepared for a fight with the witch.

Out of the both of you Arthur had been taking her betrayal harder than you, he had been sulking in his room with Merlin more than usual and the loss of your father, it was a wound too fresh for the man.

From morganas betrayal, to uthers death, magic seemingly left only destruction in its wake, and Arthur’s life felt like it was falling apart. you were Arthur’s only hope.

the only one he had still on his side. still alive. If the boy was protective before he became even more protective after your sisters betrayal, so protective he assigned gwaine as your personal knight.

Smooth talking, drunk, sticks his hands in beehives, Beautiful, talented, quick witted, gwaine. You never wanted a personal guard but he was talented with a sword, and it helped he looked good in the uniform. So you weren’t too angry at your brother thinking you needed protection, you were fully capable of course you’d been sparing with Arthur since you were kids and beating him for just as long.

But no matter your skills you were defenceless against your sisters magic. everyone was.

You let out a nervous breath at the thought, the hairs on the back of your neck started to stand up your purple velvet cape obscuring your face but still you felt bare, like there were eyes on you.

Whirling your head around your eyes bore into the wooded bush a few meters away looking for any movement or any sign of life, you observed the bush with narrow eyes, paranoid.

“Are you alright Princess?” gwaine asked his horse matching your pace beside you, as he leaned to your ear, his hot breath fanning your face as he whispered. His brown eyes staring protectively at you.

“Hm? oh- yes fine…” you trailed off eyes never leaving the trees, your heart dropped to your stomach as you gripped the reigns tightly in your hands the leather straps rough against your skin as you squeezed tightly.

your twin daggers strapped to your hips, their weight giving you a sense of comfort as your brain started to catastrophize.

“You don’t look alright.” Gwaine pressed, his eyes flickering over your face protectively, You could tell he didn’t believe a thing you said. Ignoring the fluttering in your chest you couldn’t stop looking at the woods around you something felt off.

“There’s nothing there, princess.” The man reassured his voice stern but gentle, his hand placed over yours on the reigns. And his comforting hands over yours made you release your bruising grip on the reigns.

“I know, I just have…a bad feeling.” You murmur, your eyes swimming with worry a mix of familiar paranoia, and intuition.

gwaine was inclined to believe you and your bad feeling when he caught sight of a dark figure hidden behind trees.

The man had been hiding his own unsettling feeling since the moment your group ventured further into the forest, but Arthur appeared unaware of his sister, and her guards paranoia as he commanded the group, “we’ll stop here, let the horses rest.”

Arthur always had a voice that seemingly echoed even if he didn’t want it too, and by his tone of voice he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Your eyes locked with Gwaines and it appeared the man didn’t have enough energy to mask his emotions this time. Anxiety was present in his eyes. A wave of nausea washed over you.

As Arthur lead the seven of you to a small grassed area surrounded by trees a small stream only a few steps away the soft continuous flow of water hid the shakiness of your breaths as you shrugged your leg over your stallion, your leg leaving his stirrup as you hit the floor, Gwaine already circling around to you his reigns in hand as you lead your horses to the river.

“I have a bad feeling still. and I know you do too. Do not lie to me gwaine.” You pleaded to the man as you lead your horse to the stream and your hands run over your horses back as he drinks beside you. The cool breeze blowing under your cape.

“Please, Princess. I don’t want to worry you.” Gwaine eventually says his gaze lowered onto the stream at your feet.

“Please gwaine, you know nothing scares me.” You tease bumping his arm with yours but your voice betrays you it shakes as you speaks. you had lied to him you were scared. who wouldn’t be, you may have had the knights of Camelot to guard you but it would do nothing if you were caught by surprised and surrounded. Which was easier to do the longer you waited.

Gwaines gloved hand came out to hold yours in a tight grip, “nothing will happen to you princess I swear.” The dark haired man promises his dark eyes stern with promise.

Before you could reply to the man the whiz of an arrow souring past your head and shouts of your friends alert you to your fears and you whip your head up quickly looking into the trees around you, a large group of 60 men clad in dark clothes surrounded you.

Bandits working for morgana, great.

Sharing a look with Gwaine the man draws his sword and a smug smile graces his lips at the idea of a fight and you can’t help but think he looks really hot but the fight around you snaps you from your daydream and alerts you to pull your daggers from their sheaths.

And they glint dangerously in the light the shouts of your friends in your makeshift camp only a few few feet away, fades into nothingness far too focused on yourself and gwaine to worry for your friends. They had more knights than you and Gwaine did.

But by the sheer volume of bandits around, you and gwaine began to realise just how much trouble you’re really in. gravitating toward eachother you stood back to back as the leering bandits drew closer.

“Stay close Princess I’ll take majority. if they come at you, you know what to do?” Gwaine asked his sword out infront of him protectively

“Kill em?” You look up at the man with a tilt of your head a mischievous look in your eyes and the knight beside you laughs

“Yeah, kill em.” The raven haired man looks at you with a smug, slightly proud smirk on his face and he gentle elbows you to focus,

So you Hold up your daggers to protect your face an equally smug smile draws across your lips and in a blink of an eye the fight begins.

the silver sword of one man goes to come down on you and you parry it with ease holding it away from you as you slash across his chest with your other dagger, as his body leans to the side you plunge your weapon into his chest his blood staining your silver blade, and you watch in morbid curiosity as the man groans and he falls to the forest floor dead.

You don’t bat an eye at the corpse, Instead you find yourself ducking a long sword from another bandit as the whiz of arrows fly around you, you can’t see Gwaine in your periphery too busy avoiding the large man infront of you as he stalks toward you. no matter your height he seems to be giant.

“You’re going to die little dragon.” He laughs his voice like charcoal and his sword held easily in his hands

“No. I’m not.” You sneer spinning your dagger in your hand and planting your feet into the mud more as he goes to slash at your torso you leap backwards out of the way, he’s as slow as he is big but the power of his hits shake the very earth beneath your feet.

And what’s worse his powerful hits are full of accuracy, as he whirls around to hit you again and both daggers go to hold him off, the sounds of your blades grinding together hurts your ears and you grind your teeth determined to not die by this giant.

pushing his sword to the ground you surge forward planting your dagger into an artery by his leg in retaliation the giants blade comes towards you at full force his swing takes you off guard and you narrowly miss his blow that was meant to sever your head from your neck. and in doing so you don’t pay attention to the pain that lands itself in your shoulder.

The adrenaline masks any pain, but you’re angry now the smug smile of the bandit infront of you angers you so much you take your dagger in your hand and fling it into the eye of the giant Infront of you and the sharpness of your dagger embeds itself into his eye socket. His eye makes a horrid squish as blood and juices squirt. And the man drops dead beside you. Bus long sword falling beside him.

You sneer and grab your dagger from his eye and as you pull it from the socket more blood squirts, you exclaim in disgust as his blood stains your face

An angry shout from a small dirty blonde bandit fills the air as he makes quick action toward you his battle cry falling on deaf ears and you go to throw your dagger, gwaine beats you too it his sword lacerate the man’s throat and he falls dead easily.

Breathing a sigh of relief you look to the brunette knight and he nods in respect before going to fight more of the approaching bandits.

The sound of twigs breaking behind you urge you to duck and you narrowly miss a sword meant for your head instead you grab the man’s arm and fling him over you as he hits the ground with a groan, he lays underneath you as you prepare to plunge your dagger in his chest. his legs sweep yours and you too end up on your back beside the man and your weapon lays just out of reach as the man crawls ontop of you.

His hands grip your throat tightly and your eyes blow wide in panic as your claw at his hands it’s useless so your fingers vacate to his face and your fingers lodge into his eye sockets as his grip on your throat tightens

“Come on!” Your mind screams at you as blackness swims in your vision before a sword lodges through the man’s chest and drenches you in his blood Gwaine is there standing above you as he watches you cough desperate for air. His eyes filled with worry as he gives you his hand helping you to your feet as you continue to wheeze lungs screaming for air.

“Are you alright princess?!” His hands grip your biceps as he pulls you to his chest hands holding the back of your head in worry

“I’m fine, pretty boy. Thanks for saving me.” You nod at the man but your hands shake as gwaine hands you your discarded weapons the daggers bring you comfort as you look at the world around you still there are more bandits around you but it appears many have dissipated.

Whether they have retreated, or they’ve gone to cause your friends havoc you aren’t sure but you can’t find yourself to worry for your friends. You’re too busy looking into gwaines chocolate brown eyes, and you can’t help but place a kiss to gwaines cheek when you pull back from his bearded face you catch sight of an approaching man.

“DUCK!” You scream and the knight ducks just in time. You quickly bring one of your dagger to block their sword as they manoeuvre their blade back and then you both fall into a kind of deadly dance pushing further and further away from Gwaine. Your blades mash against each other and you continue to miss his slashes and jabs.

The bandit moves his sword quickly, too quick to dodge and he manages to cut off a piece of your hair and slice your cheek your blood begins to trickle down your face and in anger you jam your dagger through his leather armour and directly into the man’s heart.

His blade falls from his hold and he drops limply. His eyes glare at you the entire time his body fails him. The body collapses onto the bottom of you cape staining the purple darker with blood and you make the decision to cut the latch dropping your cloak so that nothing holds you down.

Your tunic, and pants cling to your body tightly stained with the blood of your enemies, you don’t care not about the bodies littering the forest floor, or the wetness in your boot from stepping through the stream for better ground to fight on. Not about your friends and if they’re fighting an onslaught of bandits. All you care about is not dying.

The volume of men have dipped significantly but there are still 4 or 5 of them and one man left is an archer quickly loading his bow and releasing the arrows at yourself and Gwaine, if you two were worse fighters he would’ve loaded quite a few into the pair of you marching toward the man you hold your daggers outward crimson blood drops from the tip and soaks quickly into the squishy mud ridden forest floor. The bandit quickly loads an arrow and lets it fly, you avoid his shot with ease ducking beneath it he knocks another and fires it in quick succession and you find yourself skidding against the mud it coats your pants as you miss his fire and the man is panicked now as you stand up,

And you watch his hands shake as he tries to load his bow, it’s too late, you’re on top of the man. “Please! Please your grace, Spare me. I have children! please” He whimpers beneath you and your heart aches in your chest

As your eyes rake the man’s figure you make the decision to hit him over the head with the butt of your dagger and you don’t spare the man another glance before you walk away.

Turning your back to the archer you observe the carnage, Gwaine had gotten quite a few bandits defeated in quick time, the man now intense fight with probably the best bandit here. he’s quick, and talented with a sword.

But Gwaine keeps his own, and you deem it safe enough to not watch the man anymore instead you find yourself up against the final man he’s large like the man you fought before, but this man is smart.

And his dagger drips with something other than blood, a deep blue, oozing liquid? poison. You quickly realise

And now you’re sure you never want to let this man’s weapon touch you. his stinking grey teeth peak through his lips as he sizes you up, the princess of Camelot, clearly exhausted. Clearly covered in a mix of blood and mud, and very obviously in pain. The giants sword from before had managed to rattle your teeth with his hit but you’d been so distracted it hadn’t even registered. clearly the adrenaline of your other injuries had began to wear off.

And This man is quicker then expected as he hurries to you, his sword cuts through the air like butter and he’s clearly just as skilled as the man battling against gwaine. And looking back on it they seemed to be twins.

the moment his blade comes too close for comfort you’re parrying his strike, and the grinding of blades are deafening in your ears.

the ache in your shoulder swells through you the gruesome cut oozing and it makes your strength falter you move slower the burning pain shooting through your shoulder sends you waves of more then just discomfort.

you feel bile well in your throat but you don’t falter as you slash at the bandit he avoids it with ease, every duck, every twirl, every slice, he avoids.

It’s like he’s been watching you? observing your moves? and it’s abundantly clear even with the exhaustion plaguing your muscles and the slick mud beneath you. It makes you worried.

Springing back away from the man you slash at his shoulder nicking him with the blade and watching as he cringes back in more annoyance than pain. and when his sword goes to make contact with your body you duck away from the man until eventually you find yourself behind him

just when things began to look up, just when you were finally winning.

Until The pained shout from gwaine only a few feet away causes you to lose focus and your gaze is set on the Irish man on the floor his chain mail dirty, his face covered in blood and mud, his hair a mess, and a sword held above the man. In a deadly fashion.

And your body moves before your mind and you find yourself flinging your dagger into the bandits back watching satisfied as the man falls dead over the top of gwaine, letting out a sigh of relief at the sight you completely forget that you were mid fight with a bandit yourself. A bandit with a blade coated in poison.

“Y/n!” Before you can get your bearings in order gwaines shouting Your name

And you turn just in time to see the man drive his sword in your side and you whip your head up to look at the man who just stabbed you a horrid smile on his face, as the sharp searing pain of a sword impaling you burns your insides. your warm blood trickles from the wound around the sword, and you drop your spare dagger to the floor unconsciously you seemingly have no control of your body, and your eyes shine with unshead tears. It’s the worst pain you’ve ever felt in your entire life like the world is spinning and your side feels like it’s on fire.

The man stand carelessly above you smiling a sickly smile as he rips his blade out of you and you don’t muffle your shout of pain, you know you’re going to die when the man brings his sword up to cut you down and your tears fall you can’t bare to look at his face your mind filling with thoughts of gwaine if you were going to die you’d die with the man you loved on your mind.

Shutting your eyes tightly you expect the killing blow, only to feel nothing? Cracking an eye open Gwaine’s sword embeds itself directly in the bandits heart, you watch as gwaine pulls his sword out quickly and rushes to your aid as he watches your knees buckle. And you don’t go to stop your knees from colliding with the mud instead your shaky hands go to hold your bleeding wound, your hand immediately stain with blood when they come into contact with the wound.

Gwaine Holds your bloody form in his arms your hands stained with your blood you feel sick to your stomach, and sweat begins to break on your forehead, you feel like you’re already losing feeling in your feet.

As Gwaines strong arms wrap around you as the knight lifts you up against him, his arms around your knees and shoulders respectively.

He moves quickly to the rest of the knights, and despite the delirius state you’re in from the lack of blood you can only heart your heart beat in your ears but everytime he runs you see a glimpse of his face and you can see he’s screaming.

Your heart constricts in your chest and you whimper in his arms “j-just hold me.”

the man looks down at you with eyes full of tears and that shine with something akin to love. But almost as quickly as the shine came its gone, replaced with fear. It makes Gwaine tighten his grip on you and scream louder

And through the blurriness of your vision you see your brothers scared face break the tree line and b-line to you, as your head lulls to the side you watch Arthur get closer to you and you feel him take you in his arms, sobs escape the young kings as he slumps to his knees you in his embrace “y/n- c/h/n, please don’t do this to me.”

Arthur mutters rocking you back and forth and you see Merlin over his shoulder, face white as a ghost. Hands tightly held over his mouth, and the last thing you see is the servant boy boss the knights around with commands about how to help you, before the darkness takes you.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

There’s a guttural ache in your bones from the fight and a dull burning from your stomach it’s accompanied with a hard pressure on your wound that makes you yell out a sickening blood curdling scream and by the feeling of multiple hands holding you down to stop the thrashing it’s abundantly clear Merlin’s trying his best to save you.

Your brothers hands are familiar as they grip your shoulders, holding you down, you’re alive, mentally you’re awake but you can’t open your eyes.

You can’t control your own twitching body, the wet feeling of your sticky blood on your side, but you can hear every little thing around you, and yet you still can’t open your eyes and there’s this horrible wheezing sound.

And you come to realise it’s your breathing…it feels like you’re breathing through sand and every breath you take fills your lungs with sand like an hour glass.

and then you feel that familiar pressure on your wound and suddenly you feel everything, every burning stabbing sensation, all over your body it burns as quickly and as hot as a wild fire and it feels like hours before you finally feel absolutely nothing again.

And you think maybe it lasts for awhile, but there’s no way to tell time. It’s funny when you can see nothing but the back of your eyelids and the world is dark and you can’t feel the muddy floor beneath your back. you can’t feel the sticks, and the dirt, and the sound of the stream, you can’t smell your brothers familiar scent, you can’t feel the wetness of your boot, or the dried blood on your body, and you can’t see gwaines face.

Or hear his comforting voice, you can’t discern anything but blankness and you half think you’ve stopped breathing. As if your very lungs don’t heave against the poison in your blood stream anymore

But you think whilst you’re trapped in darkness that Your nose bleeds, and your mouth fills with red blood and those who surround your body begin to realise how dire every second is.

Merlin is the only one who can save you. He’s the only one who can rip deaths cold hands from your body and ground you to earth. your chest doesn’t rise.

and those around you know you’re dead. And you can’t feel it yourself, like your spirit is lifting from the cage that is your body up into the sky, ripping through you and part of you is ready to go.

But Gwaine and Merlin will not allow it, Gwaine drops beside your body his hands pumping your chest to start your heart and his lips are on yours pumping oxygen into your lungs.

and it gives Merlin enough time to mutter a healing spell his eyes glow gold and its mere moments that your translucent spirit ripping from your vessel slams back into your body.

Gwaine still continues his assault on your ribs breathing air into your lungs, he ignores the metallic taste from your lips, and he pleads with every god he can that you will come back to him.

And it’s almost as if the gods deem him worthy.

And you wake up gasping for air springing up from your brothers hold your eyes snapping open your chest heaves with effort to fill your lungs and your heart beat is sluggish before beating hard and strong against your chest.

And Merlin’s hands are on your side checking your wound the gaping hole sealed, and Your wound is practically gone. The servant boy quickly bandages your side before anyone can notice but his bandages

Can’t hide the gross greeny purple tendrils that peak out from the off white plaster. Your side feels clean but the blood still sticks to your face and the pain in your side and shoulder still lingers but you can’t bring yourself to care when gwaine gently takes you from your brothers embrace and hold you so gently against him.

“Oh Princess, never do that to me again.” His calloused hands hold you against him tightly and he tries to mask their shaking.

But you don’t care pulling back from his holds Your eyes take his figure and you can’t help yourself, You smash your lips against his and his beard tickles your skin. and it takes him no time to kiss back his lips mash against yours in a feverish kiss. It’s like your lips fit together perfectly and you find yourself wishing to never let go of the knight in front of you.

His tears fall onto your skin and you don’t care, you pull him closer to your body and you don’t care when your lungs burn screaming for air.

You never want to be apart from him.

Not when you just tasted the sour nothingness of death. It doesn’t wait. It’s cold, and uncaring.

And Gwaine feels your hands shake as you pull him closer his heart physically hurts for you he’s sure you’re probably freaking out.

After you pull back from your kisses you look at the faces of your friends around you, Arthur’s blood shot eyes filled with tears stare at you with such fear, such uncertainty.

the ghostly look in his eyes as he looks at you tugs your heart strings. You realise he can’t differentiate if you’re truly here. And alive he had just seen his sister die. And be brought back.

Of course it would be a lot to process.

beside you Merlin his shaky hands and nervous smile his red hands stained with your blood, and his wet teary face that looks so scared as he looks at you with a mixture of nervousness at the use of his magic and happiness you’re alive.

And your eyes flicker to everyone around you from Leon, who you’ve known since childhood- to elyan, and Percival. who you haven’t known for such a long time but still felt their world shake when your heart stopped beating. You were their princess to see you die in front of them…it was heavy.

Your dead body would haunt them for the rest of their days,the cold desolate blue of your lips and the way your head lulled in gwaines arms.

Tears littered everyone’s eyes as your brother and Gwaine were the first to pull you into an embrace the rest of your friends quickly followed, their iron grip on you brought you so much love and peace.

A chorus of “I’m glad you’re alive” to “good to have you back” ranged from your friends before elyan was the first person to suggest moving to a safer area the unsettling feeling of the corpses scattered around you all made you uneasy, it especially made Gwaine the most uneasy, the man couldn’t stop his intrusive thoughts what if it was you they were leaving behind? What if you died and your corpse was left to decay on the muddy floor of the forest no one around to mourn you it made him feel a bit unwell.

So finally you all high tailed it out of there to a new camp well maned by your friends, a camp where absolutely no one could ambush you. Where it was safe enough for Merlin to patch up your friends injuries.

And night fell quickly the stars shone overhead the green grass served as a pillow under your head and the rocks surrounding you like a barrier from bandits.the ruins of an old castle like a comforting shield and The slight hill you all now camped on was far out of the forest of the rival kingdom where you all were ambushed, finally on safe ground.

Merlin had stayed close to you for most of the early evening to ensure you were alright. And that he didn’t seal up any left over poison.

Crickets chirped in the back ground as yourself and Merlin sat in silence staring at the fire. You turned to the boy, speaking gently “thank you, I know what you did.”

You smiled at the boy, a knowing glint in your eye and Merlin felt his heart drop as he shrugged

“It’s what anyone would have done, milady. I’m glad you’re still with us” Merlin smiled kindly he had a soft spot for the youngest pendragon she was always kind to him, and unlike her sister her perception of him didn’t change. Out of every pendragon she was probably the one Merlin trusted with his secrets the most.

You were Always clever and observant, you were definitely someone he’d protect with his life just like Arthur.

“That’s the thing though, Merlin. I was gone…I wasn’t- my heart stopped” you struggled to find the words putting your legs to your chest as you watched the flames

“I was dead. I felt my heart stop, my heart knew what was happening my- my soul? Was leaving my body and something pulled me back in. It wasn’t Gwaines kiss of life although it did help” you chuckled before you became serious again “It was you Merlin.” You spoke your voice shaky but sure of yourself as you looked the boy in his terrified eyes

“Please y/n It’s not like that.” Merlin pleaded, his hand reaching for you and his skin getting sweaty and nervous at the thought of the youngest pendragon knowing he had magic, it wasn’t that he didn’t trust her on the contrary he trusted her whole heartedly but he was always nervous to let people in on his magic it tended to get them killed.

Will, His father, Lancelot… Merlin hated how his magic could save lives but in the end he’s always lose something he hoped this time things would be different.

“I know magic when I see it Merlin, don’t worry I’d never tell. You saved my life. I should have you knighted” You smiled at the boy, before bumping your shoulders together.

“Oh please don’t-“ Merlin started disgust in his voice at the idea of joining your friends as a knight laughing at Merlin’s horrified face

“Don’t worry, I won’t. But really thank you Merlin. You deserve more credit” you smiled at the boy before pushing off of the ground and making your way to Gwaine over by the ruins watching the stars through the window on the second story lost in thought

“Mind if I join you?” You called, watching as the Irish man jumped clumsily almost falling through the window.

“Not not at all, please sit” Gwaine replied shuffling over sitting beside the man you watched the stars from the window in silence for a moment

“I’m sorry” you both spoke at the same time, swallowing a laugh at the unintentional overlap

“You go” you pressed sitting up and looking at Gwaine intently

“I’m sorry, I’m the reason you died…I didn’t protect you. It was my only job and I let you get stabbed.” Gwaine shook his head the man couldn’t bare to look at you in your eyes too afraid he’d see your lifeless ones staring back in a way he was thankful your eyes shut when you died.

In a way it looked like you were sleeping, only the lack of a rise and fall of your chest showed gwaine that you weren’t just sleeping. You were dead and it was gwaines fault.

The man blamed himself, kept running through the last battle moments over and over in his head. If he didn’t shout, if he was quieter maybe everything could have been avoided, or if he listened to your funny feeling maybe you all never would have even been ambushed.

It made Gwaine start to appreciate his friends “funny feelings” something Merlin and the youngest pendragon both shared Gwaine couldn’t get the thoughts out of his head that he was the reason everything happened.

“Gwaine” you placed your hand over his, “it wasn’t your fault, I know what you’re doing. Stop blaming yourself.” Your grip on gwaines hands tightened trying to reassure him it could have happened to anyone.

“But I should have listened to you. I didn’t and you died! You fucking died!” Gwaine cries, his hands cover his mouth to mask his sob he’s striped himself of his chain mail now he’s left wearing a blue tunic and a leather bangle that clings to his muscley arm you know it’s not the right time but god does he look good.

“Gwaine.” You shout shaking his shoulders so he’ll finally look at you

“Just shut up and kiss me.” You sigh in the silver light of the moon, its only Gwaine and yourself in the ruins and you want to take full advantage of that

“Yes Princess”

#Gwaine x reader #bbc merlin imagine #bbc Merlin x reader #gwaine x fem reader #gwaine #bbc merlin

[pippin-katz]

Rewatched S03e04

Gotta say, I love Gwaine and how protective he is of Merlin, but I would have loved for Arthur to see the bullshit the “knights” were doing. He was pretty pissed when the bounty hunter was about to punch him, I don’t think he would’ve been happy to see them throwing knives and swinging swords at him.

Besides that, love you Gwaine, you’re beautiful and your introduction is the best of all the knights honestly

#merlin #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin rewatch #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #sir gwaine #merlin 3x04 #gwaine #the once and future fandom

[quotidian-oblivion]

For the Merlin asks

8, 11, 13!

Heyoo!!!

8. One off character you wish had a bigger part.

11. Random Knights Headcanon.

13. Random Servant Headcanon.

~

8:

Freya. She's not exactly one-off but I so so desperately wish she played a bigger part.

Because, c'mon. SHE'S THE DAMN LADY OF THE LAKE.

Magic beautiful water cat woman who guards the gates to death.

She deserves more than just being a mysterious hand who held and caught a sword. And Merlin deserved to have a secret water wife (i also love Freylin <33). Just think of the many possibilities and plots that could have happened. Just- just imagine. This is why i'm depressed.

11:

I told this to @tireddruid in conversation once and put it in one of my fics too, but I believe that after the Lamia incident, Gwaine woke up in the middle of the night after being recovered from what the Lamia did to him and then realized what he had done to Merlin. So he immediately went to Merlin's hut in the village they were staying in and just. starting crying. Silently and hard, beside Merlin's bed, full of remorse because damn it Gwaine's whole concept was that nobility came from the heart, not by blood. And what he did under the Lamia's spell wasn't noble at all.

Besides that, Merlin was his friend. The first person who took him to his home - gave up his own bed - to look after him while he was heavily drunk and barely capable of standing without support and didn't resent or rob him after that. Merlin was kind, caring, loyal and never - never - deserving of that kind of treatment or close to it. He was his first friend. He was why he became a knight. He was why Gwaine risked his neck to protect a noble and a royal. He was why Gwaine enteres the lands of hell. He was why Gwaine jumped into a battle against an undead army. Simply because Merlin asked. Simply because Merlin cared for him without cost when no one else did and wanted him to stay.

Who would want to lose a treasure of a friend like that?

Merlin then woke up 30 minutes later to find the crying mess of a knight and immediately knew that whatever doubts he had been having about the knights since the Lamia was untrue and Gwaine (and later the others too) would never willingly hold him in that regard. They fortunately didn't harm him too much, and it would take a while for Merlin to not flinch every time any of the knights made sudden movements towards him, but he would recover. And he would remember, just why he decided to befriend them.

13:

Agh. I thought about this one. And I don't particularly think much about characters beyond the main ones unless they relate to a plot of mine.

But one thing I assumed (but the show never confirmed) is that Merlin is quite popular among the servants.

I mean, does anyone remember Tyr Stewart? The guy evil!Gwen killed? He was outright threatened with death and his mother too, the poor man was traumatized and scared and anxious. Yet, he opened up to Merlin after some coaxing.

I don't think just anyone would open up to a random stranger, even in a higher power with the potential to end your life (cuz Merlin is tge manservant to the king), and trust them with information regarding yours and your loved one's lives. But he did with Merlin.

And this just proves to me that Merlin is in fact quite popular and friendly with the servants and patients and other commoners. The cook hates him, hey, but none of the other servants snitched on him when he snagged a pastry or dumpling or two. Especially not after Merlin sneaked them a piece ;)

~

Thank you so much for the asksssssss! I had loads of fun thinking them up :D

#quotidian asks #bbcm #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #gwaine #sir gwaine #gwaine bbc #bbc gwaine #tyr stewart #bbc tyr stewart #tyr stewart bbc #servants of camelot #knights of the round table #bbc knights of the round table #bbc knights #lamia #the lamia #bbc lamia #merlin meta #merlin headcanon #merlin headcanons #knights of camelot #bbc freya #freya bbc #bbc lady of the lake #lady of the lake #mundane <3

[whatislife5]

Rewatching and ranting about s3:e4 of Merlin and it was such a funny beginning.

Starts out Merlin and Arthur walking into the tavern together for the first time, where no one knows who they are, and then go on to start a bar fight along side the first handsome stranger that walks up to them.

Then you get the homoerotic scenes throughout the episode. You have the Merlin and Gwaine scene where he wakes up half naked in his bed.

Also why haven’t I seen any Gwen+Gwaine cute friendship/bros flirting tropes in fics?? They’re little interaction is so cute. Gwaine really put effort into the flirting! Lol but towards the end where Gwen laughs at his attempts it seemed more like they were having playful banter than actually being serious. And Gwaine looks back at her with that happy look. They really remind me of when long time friends flirt w each other and then just laugh it off as a silly joke.

Then the bonding moment between Merlin and Gwaine where they share about their fathers and how they have similar experiences. 🥹 and talk about how Arthur is better than the other nobles and whether or not he’s worth dying for. Their trauma bonding over daddy issues is so cute.🥰

Arthur is so smooth with his gambling😭 “Make it 100😏🤷🏽” ugh I love him🫶🏽

Ugh Merlin is so beautiful this episode..

Gwaine being so protective of Merlin is so…🫦 and his accent when he’s calling out the thugs has kicking my feet.

Arthur is so into Gwaine lmfao bc they way he’s known him for less than a day and he’s already standing up against his father for him. Like the whole “he may not be a noble but he has a noble heart,” part is so.. ???? Like dude you’re crushing real bad rn..

Ugh I wanna keep going but I’m tired..

#merlin #arthur pendragon #im sorry #bbc merlin #gwaine #rewatch rant #emerys

[nahasketches]

HELP MELIN FIC LOST, HAVE YOU SEEN IT ?

Im starting this posts because sometimes I want to read a fic that I remember very little of it and didn’t bookmark it, so if you think you know the name of the fic pleaseeeeeee telll me and share this to find it.

First

I It is post canon, everything is beautiful, the golden age arrived but Merlin lost his place in that world, Arthur thought he was taking away tasks from his friend, he hires another servant and makes Merlin stop going hunting, Gaius hires another assistant and I think there is already someone who is protecting the kingdom, if I'm not wrong, I think it's Morgana or maybe it's because everything is very calm and Merlin's protection is no longer needed, plus the knights are patrolling away, so no one notices Merlin's presence.

So he goes home and starts telling the children about his adventures. I think some time passes and Arthur arrives from a patrol or something like that and they notice Merlin's absence and goes to look for him.

Maybe it’s with the tag of #hurt Merlin

Second

I think Arthur is having nightmares or something like that and Merlin for helping him creates a connection that makes Merlin live Arthur's erotic dreams whether Arthur is dreaming asleep or awake.

I specifically remember

1. that Arthur made Merlin think that the only reason why he is the protagonist of his erotic dreams is because of the spell.

2. a scene where they are at a meeting and Arthur begins to dream that Merlin is doing him in that same place, completely naked, while in real life Arthur does not notice that he is dreaming that and Merlin is having a lot of trouble containing himself.

3. After that scene Arthur goes to his room and dreams that Merlin uses his magic to subdue him and Merlin tries to get to his room without coming

Third

I think this is a fic that redeems Morgana, because it talks about an old lady who is selling love tokens in the square.

if I'm not wrong Arthur buys almost all the tokens for Merlin and Merlin only manages to buy a frog plushy for Arthur, none of them knew that the other one bought him something.

Percibal bought Gwaine underwear that I think says love and I also remember Gwen/Leon, specifically because there is a moment where they go to the tavern and find those two couples there, and then they discover that morgana is the old lady selling the tokens.

Please if you remember this fics comments, or if you want me to search fics for you you can tell me

Also use the #lost Merlin fics

_____________\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\__________________\\\\

FOUND THE FICS

Wow i knew this fandom was fast but not that fast 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

Thank you so much, I really wanted to read this fics for a long time 😍😍😍😍😍

Thanks to @hoarder-of-dragons @hey-its-asp for helping me find this fics, you are literally in my heart

First fic

Second

Third

I'll still post about lost fics and will search for fics if you want

#merlin #merthur #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #bbc merthur #arthur pendragon #merlin fanart #merlin emrys #fanart #my art #merlin fics #merthur fics #lost Merlin fics #lost merthur fics #help me find a fic

[yorit1]

http://archiveofourown.org/works/52444660

Merlin was with his friend, sir Gwaine, and they were playing. Arthur and Gwaine had survived the attack, and Arthur now knew about Merlin’s magic, and they were together.

“How’s princess doing?” Gwaine asked.

“He’s doing well. I’m so thankful that I’m the court sorcerer and that Arthur knows the truth. However, not much has changed between us. We are still the same best friends who are now together,” Merlin said.

“Well, I’m happy for you two. I don't think I can do love. Sex, yes, but love, no,” Gwaine said.

“That’s okay, you can do what you like. You’re a knight of the realm,” Merlin said.

“All I need is good drink and good sex,” Gwaine said.

“Merlin, Merlin,” Arthur called out, looking for Merlin.

“In here, clotpole,” Merlin said.

Arthur found them and came to Merlin. He leaned down and kissed his cheek. They were happy and in love, and that was all that mattered.

“I had George set us a picnic and thought we could go on one,” Arthur said.

“Princess, that’s so lovely,” Gwaine said.

“Not you,” Arthur replied, pointing a finger at him.

“Gwaine, I’ll see you later,” Merlin said.

“I was beating you anyway,” Gwaine said.

“You cheated,” Merlin said.

“You are the most powerful sorcerer of all time, and I’m drunk and still win. How am I cheating,” Gwaine said.

Merlin stuck his tongue out to Gwaine, and Gwaine laughed and winked at Merlin.

Merlin pushed Arthur out of the room, and they walked out.

Arthur and Merlin took their horses to the location.

“Not there, idiot,” Arthur said affectionately.

“Blame the horse. It leads me where it wants to,” Merlin said.

“You should know by now how to manage a horse,” Arthur said.

“Of course, sire,” Merlin said sarcastically.

Arthur showed them that they had arrived at the location and unmounted the horse. Merlin unmounted his horse and looked at the surroundings; they were beautiful. All of Albion was beautiful, and he and Arthur ruled it and brought back magic to all the land.

“What are you doing, cabbage head?” Merlin asked.

“I’m setting up a picnic. What did you think I was doing, idiot?” Arthur said.

“I’m just surprised you can do it alone without any servants, as you are the king, after all,” Merlin said.

“I wanted some privacy with you that allowed only me and you and the beautiful picnic and scenery. We are usually so busy running the whole of Albion, and I wanted to do something for you to show my appreciation,” Arthur said.

Merlin thought of how sweet Arthur was being. How far have things come since he became Arthur’s manservant and was supposed to protect Arthur’s life? He had done all of that, and now he was lucky enough to have Arthur’s affection all to himself. Arthur was right. They were busy ruling over Albion, and a picnic today on this beautiful day was a perfect idea.

Arthur had set down the blanket, and Merlin sat down on it. Arthur sat down, too and opened the basket with the food. It was a magical basket with a magical tablecloth that could contain various foods. Merlin loved this tablecloth. Brilliant magic showed them they could feast as if they were back in Camelot but out and about.

Merlin reached out for his favourite foods and took them. He ate slowly and enjoyed the time with Arthur. The food was good, and so was the company.

Arthur poured them each a glass of wine. He handed Merlin his glass of wine and started talking.

“To all of Albion and the kingdom that we have built together. I never thought I could have this growing up under Father’s control and his hatred of magic. But you changed me. As you called me, I was a self-centred prat of a prince. But I learned and grew thanks to you. You changed me. I grew up as a crown prince and later king and accepted magic. I sacrificed myself for my people. As king, you serve your people just as much as they serve you. Then we united all of Albion and brought back a golden age of magic. I made up with Morgana, and she and Gwen are great princesses of Albion and our heirs. I wish I could have known earlier what I knew when I met you. You are it for me. I want you to be my court sorcerer and my consort. Alvion would not be what it is now if it was not for you. So please make me the happiest man in the world and agree to be my consort,” Arthur said.

“Of course, you prat. I want nothing more than to be your consort. I need to be a part of your life, and I love the kingdom we have built, and I want to see what we can do together as king, consort, and court sorcerer of Albion,” Merlin said.

Arthur clinked his goblet with Merlin’s, and they each drank the wine.

Merlin put his wine goblet down, jumped on Arthur, and kissed him. They were so thankful for what they had become. The kiss was sweet and tasted of the food that they ate. Merlin and Arthur kissed and kissed. Merlin remembered the first time that Arthur kissed him and how that felt. Now they were betrothed to each other, and the kiss felt even sweeter. They were going to be married and rule Albion forever.

“I’m so happy, Arthur,” Merlin said.

“Here is a token of my affection, a symbol of house of pendragon,” Arthur said and handed him a ring with the sigil of house of pendragon. Arthur slid the ring on Merlin’s finger, and they kissed again. “Morgana helped make this so that it would fit you perfectly. She, Gwen, and the knights know about my plan and are excited for us. Everyone loves you, Merlin.

“I cannot believe you planned all this. What happened to the lazy prince I met on my first day of Camelot?” Merlin asked.

“He grew up thanks to an idiot sorcerer,” Arthur said.

“Merlin and Arthur sealed their betrothal with a kiss. They would rule Albion to the best of their ability.

#merlin #merlinedit #merthur #merthuredit #merlin fanfic #merthur fanfic #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon

[nie-narzekam]

The wonderful prompts from @mercelotweek resulted in seven fics from yours truly:

1. “There’s a Mystery at Large (and the Story Should Be Beautiful)”

The scene he had just witnessed made Gwaine happy for his friends, but he would have preferred it if snogging was the only reason for Merlin and Lancelot sneaking off together.

2. “The Light upon My Map Comes from the Very Sun”

‘I just think that this is bigger than us,’ Lancelot said quietly. ‘It’s not about doing them a favour; it’s about protecting Camelot. And isn’t that more important than anything?’

3. “Hold Me Close, Sway Me More”

‘Happy 1555th, Merlin.’

‘You’ve made it so. And we still have…’ he squinted at the clock, ‘3 hours and 17 minutes. Any ideas?’

4. “When They Open Their Eyes and Realise”

‘That one,’ the imp pointed to the knight, ‘walked through the Veil for that one,’ he nodded at Emrys, ‘but because they had unfinished business, the universe went out of balance.’

5. “When No One Else Can Understand Me”

I’m never just Merlin. I’m not hiding who I am anymore, and yet still no one sees me. Not like you did.

6. “And It’s Me You Need to Show How Deep Is Your Love”

‘What?’ Lancelot stopped and craned his neck to frown at him. ‘How is carrying you on my back making an entrance?’

‘Well, maybe it wouldn’t be if you were wearing a shirt.’

7. “I Could Stay Awake Just to Hear You Breathing”

He was convinced they were indeed safe for the night and knew that he should take the opportunity to rest, but he couldn’t, not while Merlin was still teetering on the brink between life and death.

Handy link to the whole series: I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Mercelot Week 2023)

#I have now written 133k words about them #and used lyrics from 80 songs as titles #which is insane #but also #brawo ja #bbc merlin #merlin #lancelot #mercelot #mercelotweek2023

[mycheese-tasted-like-applepie]

Merlin Masterlist

Featuring Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, Percival, Leon, Lancelot, and Eylan.

Arthur

Cost of the Crown

Ambush

Wyverns 

Screw the Council

A Night By The Fire

Shy S/O Headcanons

Reaction to you Leaving a Party due to Nasty Comments Headcanons

Reaction to his S/O Complimenting him a Lot Headcanons

Kissing Headcanons

Reaction to You Walking Into His Room and Sitting on His Lap Headcanons

Reaction to Getting Picked Up Like It’s Nothing Headcanons

Reaction to You Having a Panic Attack Headcanons

Reaction to Giving His S/Oo a Piggyback Headcanons

-Arthur and Gwaine’s Reaction to Their Crush Beating Them in a Sparring Match Headcanons

Merlin

You Will Be Loved

An Arranged Marriage

Witch

Beautiful Means Many Things

Knightly Jealousy

The Shores of Avalon

Strawberries

Thanks a Lot, Arthur!

A Simple Mistake

Marigolds and Merlins

A Royal Pain

Pretty Boy

The Fear of Failure

Butterflies

Break Time

Forbidden Love

Sleepless Nights and Magical Moments

A Slight Hint of Magic

An Accidental Ambush

Hug Headcanons

Reaction to his Crush Showing him Their Magic Headcanons

Reaction to his Crush Protecting Him with Magic Headcanons

Reaction to his Shy S/O Defending Him (Hulk Style) From Insults Headcanons

Reaction to You Being Insecure Headcanons

Waking Up Next to Merlin Headcanons

Reaction to His S/O Trying to Start a Snowball Fight With Him

Reaction to his Crush Talking About Magic in a Positive Way Headcanons

Reaction to You Having Social Anxiety Headcanons

Reaction to His Crush Comforting Him When He’s Feeling Down Headcanons

-Merlin and Arthur’s Reactions to their Crush Saying "Ugh, stop being so cute all the time!?"

-Merlin and Arthur React to You Running into their Room because of a Nightmare

-Merlin and Arthur’s Reaction to You Ignoring Them All Day as a Prank Headcanons

Gwaine

A Shy Knight

The Best Life

Only One

Careless Actions 

Fun-Sized

Shy Kisses

The Market

Reaction to his Shy S/O Coming to his Defense Headcanons

Cuddle Headcanons

Shy S/O Asking Him to Touch His Hair Headcanons

S/O Being Worried About His Safety Headcanons

Reaction to You Not Sleeping Enough Headcanons

Reaction to Seeing You in a Dress for the First Time Headcanons

Gwaine with an S/O Who Loves Having Their Forehead Touched Headcanons

Percival

Marriage

Shut up, Gwaine

In the Palm of Your Hand

Piggybacks

Hug Headcanons

Reaction to You Using Magic to Save Him Headcanons

-Gwaine and Percival’s Reaction to You Crying Because of a Nightmare Headcanons

-Gwaine and Percival’s Reaction to You Ignoring Them For a Day as a Prank Headcanons

Leon

A Taste of One’s Own Medicine

Reaction to You Wanting to Brush His Hair Headcanons

Lancelot

Lancelot's Happy Ending

Lancelot's Happy Ending (Part 2)

Eylan

Prompt List

Prompt List Part 2

Prompt List Part 3

Also have blogs for The Witcher, Record of the Grancrest War, Monster Hunter Stories 2, Resident Evil Village, Supernatural, Red Dead Redemption 2, Pokémon, as well as a blog for random characters.

#merlin #bbc merlin #merlin scenario #arthur #king arthur #arthur x reader #merlin masterlist #merlin x reader #gwaine #gwaine x reader #sir gwaine #gwaine imagine #percival #percival x reader #sir percival #percival imagine #leon #leon x reader #sir leon #leon imagine #lancelot #lancelot x reader #sir lancelot #lancelot imagine #eylan #eylan x reader #sir eylan #eylan imagine

[aletterinthenameofsanity]

we will put the lonesome on the shelf (Merthur)

Merthur. Fix-it. Crossposted on ao3.

Merlin falls in love with Arthur. That's clear from even a cursory watch of this show.

So let's talk about this story, about how Merlin falls in love with Arthur and his duty and he calls it destiny but that's not why he stays, because he's terrified by Uther but that doesn't matter.

Merlin falls in love with Arthur because he's kind, and he's brave, and he's honorable, and he may not be Good with a capital 'G' but then again, who is? Merlin falls in love with Arthur because Arthur isn't a saint but he's not a monster, because Arthur is flawed and beautiful in his mistakes.

Merlin falls in love with Camelot because Arthur loves his country and he shows Merlin how to love it too, because a boy with magic sure isn't going to fall in love with the nation that demands he repress what he is or else face death.

Merlin falls in love with the people of this city, cowering and standing and kind and brave and broken. He falls in love with the peasants who trade in the marketplace, the knights who will lay down their lives for Arthur, even the cook who bops him on the head every time he passes.

Merlin falls in love. Let's call it what it is. He falls in love and he can feel his magic protecting a kingdom, a citadel, a King, all in the name of a silly boy who doesn't know just how precious he is to his manservant.

-

But see here's the thing: Arthur's not some oblivious idiot. If he was that much of an idiot, I don't think Merlin would have fallen in love with him.

So Arthur finds out about Merlin’s magic, because of course he does, because Arthur may be a bit thick and stuck up and yes, a clotpole, but he's not an idiot. When he finds out doesn't matter- if he knows from the beginning, if he figures it out when Merlin sends the light after him when he's searching for an antidote, if he witnesses Merlin scrubbing his armor with a levitating rag. That's not important, not to the story of Merlin and Arthur.

Because here's the key part of the story: Arthur doesn't mention it. At least, not at first. Merlin could be executed, after all, and Arthur already cares far too much about the servant who is the only person to disrespect him. He's not going to rat out Merlin to his father.

This is a fairytale, a bedtime story, of a prince falling in love with a servant and that servant falling in love right back. Merlin never gives up on Arthur and Arthur never gives up on Merlin.

But a happy ending is not waiting a thousand years for your lover to return from a watery grave. Arthur doesn't deserve that. Merlin doesn't deserve that.

So Arthur knows about Merlin's magic and his father dies and Arthur turns to Merlin and says, not even attempting any kind of tact because this is Merlin and manners have never mattered, “I know you have magic, and I want your help."

And Merlin will gape at him, because he'd thought he'd kept his magic a secret, and Arthur will sigh.

(Except Merlin's magic is, by this point, the worst kept secret in Camelot. Lancelot and Gaius know. Ealdor knows. Gwaine and Gwen suspect. Mordred and Morgana know. The whole world is aware of how easy it is to have magic and be the King's left-hand man.)

"Alright, then, Arthur," Merlin eventually says. "Tell me how I can help."

And Arthur smiles. -

Merlin is not soft. In no version of this story is he soft. He has killed dozens in the name of Arthur- he knows what it is to hold the power of life in your hands and choose without remorse.

But oh, Arthur is not soft either. No king is. He has led armies into battle, watched soldiers die by his sword.

(Once, years ago, his father told him to attack civilians, and him, in his youth, did just that. And it haunts him.)

“Do you think we're good people?” Arthur will ask Merlin one night, and Merlin will look up from the armor he's shining and be unsure how to answer. What is good? Can killers be good, if they’re working to a good goal?

"I don't know," Merlin will say, and that's the honest answer. "All I know is that I'm trying to be, and I think you are too. And that's good enough."

Arthur will nod. "Thank you."

Merlin will smile that crooked smile that had Arthur falling in love with him, all those years ago. "No problem, you clotpole."

-

So they're both in love and Arthur legalizes magic- because why would he ever keep Merlin's head on the chopping block when he has the power to save him. Merlin becomes Court Sorcerer and the two of them begin the long process of making the kingdom as close to good as they can make it.

And one night, a year since Arthur's father died, Arthur leans in and kisses Merlin, and Merlin kisses him back. Because this is a love story, you know, and these boys don't deserve to pine after each other forever. Let them have their love confession, their dramatic reveal, their kiss.

In the months that follow, Mordred becomes a knight and swears loyalty to his King with a smile on his face; Morgana learns magic without fear of persecution. A sword lies unclaimed in a stone and a girl sleeps at the bottom of a lake. Gwaine, Percival, Lancelot, and Elyan all become knights, and Gwen marries Lancelot in a ceremony attended by her King.

In the end, Merlin and Arthur unite Albion, legalize magic, bring peace to the kingdoms, and it's not because it's their destiny, but because they are too stubborn for their own good. And the world prospers for it.

-

So this is a fairytale, with a King and his Warlock, with a knight and his kingdom. And sure, there is no princess, but there is a Consort and a grand wedding, and Merlin only wears his crown when other monarchs visit, but they are living happily-ever-after.

Arthur and Merlin live, and it may not always be happy, but they're in love and every fight ends up resolved with a kiss and an apology.

One day, the names of Arthur and Merlin will be remembered as Great, and it's not because of a failed battle or a too-late confession. It'll be because these two men may not be Good, but they are trying their best.

And as Merlin says, that's good enough.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17673542

#merthur #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #canon divergence #fix-it #fairytale elements #character study #magic revealed #arthur is not oblivious #happy ending #meta #this show is gayer than i am #i shout into the void #ao3 #fanfic #crossposted on ao3 #aletterinthenameofsanity

[ao3feed-gwainepercival]

forever and always

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/kDxr7No

by inej_gafa

And oh the beautiful smile that lights up Merlin’s face, his eyes crinkling with genuine delight – Arthur would go to war for that smile, would bring kingdoms to their knees for that smile. He would fight endless battles, face any foe, all for Merlin’s happiness. Because he loves Merlin.

In which Arthur Pendragon learns that he is worthy of love.

Words: 15423, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Gwaine (Merlin), Gaius (Merlin), Leon (Merlin), Lancelot (Merlin), Uther Pendragon (Merlin), Percival (Merlin), Elyan (Merlin), Mordred (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Guinevere/Lancelot du Lac, Gwaine/Percival (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Protective Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Angst with a Happy Ending, Character Study, Good Mordred (Merlin), Redeemed Morgana (Merlin), because i love morgana, Evil Uther Pendragon (Merlin), this is an uther hate club, Falling In Love, Protective Merlin (Merlin), Forehead Kisses, Boys In Love, Soulmates, because what else would they be, my love letter to merthur, author's attempt at being poetic

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/kDxr7No

#ao3feed #ao3feed gwainepercival #perwaine #sir gwaine #sir percival #bbc merlin

[witchthewriter]

Can I request a level 3 ship for a male merlin character, my liege? Also can you answer this privately or through dm!

Name: Hareem, she/her.

Appearance: I'm 5'0", pale skinned and brown eyed. with long dark brown hair that goes past my waist which I usually wear in a braid.

Personality: I'm an INFP who's always daydreaming and I'm a total girly girl! My 2 dreams are to become a famous yet mysterious writer and poet, and to get married and have a girly wedding. I'm a homebody and can find group settings overwhelming, I'm the person at parties who stays by the wall with my fellow introverts. I'm studying communications and find how people write, speak, and communicate fascinating, and people say I'm a good writer and communicater. I can be pretty sensitive, and I'm very pro woman. I'm trying to become more productive, independent, and brave, but I'm also a big advocate for people relaxing and not stressing over work.

Likes:

Luxurious Haircare Products

Perfume! Fragrances! I'm a constant bath and body works lurker and my vanity is littered with Fragrances! Smelling good all day is a priority of mine.

Talking about art/media

Daydreaming- un underrated and healthy hobby indeed. People should daydream more often!

Weddings! Attending weddings, helping set them up, seeing friends and family!

Dislikes:

Hustle Culture, Girlboss Culture, Beauty Standards, anything that sets an impossible standard that makes people feel bad about themselves

Strict "pull yourself up from your bootstraps people", I don't work well with those people and respond well to harsh criticism

People who jump straight to anger without communicating first.

Want to be shipped? Here be the instructions 🦋

Hello, my love! You are literally such a gorgeous person omg 🌻

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I ship you with Gwaine! He absolutely adores you. Like you would be the PERFECT couple!!!!!!!

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・Oh my god so many flowers, he'll get you a bouquet every single day, or at least a few if he can't find/steal any 🌷🌻🌼

・You would be totally swept away by his charms (I would be too)

・HE LOVES YOUR LAUGH SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD THROW HIMSELF OFF A WALL IF THAT MEANT HE COULD HEAR IT

・Denying his advances for a while because you want to see how far he would go to get your attention (he literally has no limits btw)

・He would protect you with his life; never wants you to feel unsafe around him as well

・Loves hearing you talk about anything and everything. Especially your interests, the absolute smile that forms on his face makes you breathless

・Relationship tropes/dynamics: ♡ 'Overthinking + Not thinking at all' ♡ 'Slowly learning to love and be loved and that they deserve happiness + that happiness who shares the same/similar trauma and offers support' ♡ 'Loving each other with such intensity that you cannot help kissing & touching one another' ♡ 'Flirt + Absolute blushing wreck'

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢

Your kindness and imagination. There are a lot of people who are close-minded; they can't see beyond what's in front of them. But you can see so many worlds at once; real and completely made-up.

𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑

You and Merlin would get on so well!!! You both have the same personality type of INFP. I think he would have a crush on you when you first met, and there was a bit of a romance starting to form. But you decided it would be better if you were friends (too similar in personality).

You would totally talk to him about guys and he would love the gossip!

You'd also be great friends with Guinevere and Morgana (before ... you know ...) you'd feel her betrayal so harshly.

#ships #ship game #let me ship you

[seadeepy]

10 fandoms, 10 characters, 10 tags

Finally, a tag game I'm going to absolutely ace, pun intended!!

tagged by: @queerofthedagger (and I think @schitthappens, a while ago)

rules: List ten of your fandoms and your favorite character from each!

BBC Merlin — Merlin

Schitt's Creek — Alexis Rose

The Locked Tomb Series — Palamedes Sextus

Star Trek — Spock

House MD — James Wilson

Star Wars — Obi-Wan Kenobi

Mob Psycho 100 — Mob

The Sandman — Dream of the Endless

Leverage — Eliot Spencer

ATLA — Toph Beifong

tagging: @unconventionalcat @st4rm41d @blackandwhiteandrose @vanillahigh00 @januarium @paintedpigeon1 @zaharya @schweetheart @thewildmother @sspaz1000 (do my SC friends even have 10 fandoms? time to find out :P)

More yelling about my choices under the cut, which isn't required but I'm psychologically compelled to do it:

Merlin — I almost put Gwaine, but the thing about Merlin is... he's so kind despite his loneliness. He's so brave despite his grief. And his devotion to Arthur is beautiful, even when it's also heartbreaking. I love how much he cries, but also how much he cries and kicks ass anyway, which is something fic writers seem to miss a lot of the time. He's emotional but he's also very capable.

Alexis — haha, surprise!!! I love D/P as a ship so goddamn much, but Alexis' character growth is fucking unparalleled. Annie Murphy's acting choices are phenomenal — just watch KCFH to see how much of Alexis' persona was carefully manufactured as character-building, not Annie's actual mannerisms. And to go from a vapid socialite to a boss-ass businesswoman who is nonetheless very fashion-forward and still, at times, incredibly silly? I love that. I love her. More women like her on TV, please.

Palamedes — Another hard choice between him and Gideon, but my brain is locked in Sixth House mode right now. I relate way too much to Pal, and I also love him. A certified nerd who's deeply compassionate. His deep love for Camilla and his protectiveness over her, which is kind of hilarious considering his noodle arms and her terrifying competence. The fact that he looked at the Ninth House and decided they were friend material, when they didn't know it themselves and were actively hostile to the entire idea. He worked out the secret to Lyctorhood before anybody else did, and decided it just wasn't for him, thanks? Because he didn't want to do that to Cam? And (spoilers for later books!!!!) the way he's so fucking badass that he and Cam worked out another way that even Jod hadn't figured out??? Goddamn. Just call me Archivist Juno Zeta, because that nerd boy is my SON.

Spock — TOS most specifically. I hardly need to explain my love for maybe THE most iconic Star Trek character of all time, but I will anyway. Autistic and gay icon, hilarious dry wit, shining devotion to his captain. (If you're noticing a pattern with my favorite characters, no you aren't.) Science-y boy who doesn't fit in anywhere, but has people who love him. Also I love his banter with Bones.

Wilson — He's a bit like Aziraphale, where he's just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing. His relationship with House is so fucked up but at the same time he's a doormat to everybody and House lets him be MEAN and that's actually really important? Ppl look at their relationship on the surface and don't get it because they think Wilson is so kind and sweet and he is but he's also kind of a dick. Idk I just contracted COVID so I'm suspecting the rest of this post is going to start making less and less sense.

Obi-Wan Kenobi — I'm a sucker for characters like him. Kind and compassionate and selfless, but also hilariously sarcastic sometimes. Licherally the perfect Jedi, and loves Anakin so much but couldn't be everything he needed in the end. I blame the war tbh. I also love reading books from his perspective because releasing your feelings into the Force is some excellent mindfulness shit that we could all use some more practice in.

Mob — Mob is awesome because he's already the most powerful psychic. Like, that's never a question. The question is what will trigger him using his powers, what emotions he's feeling, and his own moral questions about obliterating other people with his super-powerful psychic abilities. And I think that's awesome! He's a lot like Merlin, really. Compassionate and really doesn't want to wipe the floor with you, but he will if he's forced into it.

Dream — hehe he's just so angsty all the time and I love that. Plus, galaxy eyes. I read the comics a looooong time ago, but I just bought one of the new collections and I'm gonna re-read them all.

Eliot — Okay Eliot is just. He's so. His thing about "I only use violence as an appropriate response" followed by immediately decking Sterling kinda sums him up. I love that he's so grumpy and "hostile" to the team but it's literally all bark and no bite because physically he would never, ever hurt them. But he will absolutely show up and beat the shit out of anyone else threatening them. Tiny angry man with fabulous hair. My beloved.

Toph — Yeeaaaaaaaaaaaa! I don't really need to explain why Toph rocks, but I love that she's a tiny feral gremlin girl. Like, a VERY angry ten-year-old who's out here inventing forms of earthbending that have never been seen before. She rocks, pun intended. And I refuse to believe she would become a cop. That chaos demon of a girl??? Nooooo

#tagged

[weakforarwen]

I can't get over the similarities between Lancelot and Gwaine, both the characters and the episodes. I'll get into that in another post but first I have to point out a few things about Gwaine (episode):

Morgana looked the opposite of powerful sitting next to Uther for a tournament she couldn't care less about. She looked so vulnerable and useless that it reminded me of season 2. The writers only knew what to do with her when she was being evil. It's funny she was so uninterested in the tournament but perked up when Arthur almost died. She was like, hold up, things have gotten interesting! but then Arthur lived... He almost died without her having to lift a finger...

Were those two dudes really planning on killing the Crown Prince in front of the King and then just... walking away with the gold like nothing had happened?? They would've been executed on sight.

Why didn't Merlin just tell Arthur that he cut himself on a magical blade which wasn't dull and Gwaine confirmed was magical? Why didn't he say he saw that dude from the tavern in Lord whatever's necklace? It wouldn't have been admitting to having magic. Merlin always did things the hard way... Arthur might've still competed on the tournament but he would've been warned, and could've done something about the lords' fake identities at least. Wouldn't Arthur have believed Merlin? It was Valiant all over again, except this time Morgana wanted Arthur dead.

I read this somewhere, but, really, why would Merlin and Gwaine polish the knights' boots in the throne room? And why would Arthur punish Merlin and Gwaine? Merlin had done nothing wrong but cover for Gwaine, and Arthur was fucking rich and Gwaine had saved his life. Gwaine was right, all nobles are shit.

Also, anytime nobles are bad in this show it's because they're not themselves. These lords and the real Lady Catrina had been nice unlike the people who posed as them. This show really liked their nobility, which is frankly ironic when Uther and Morgana were the bad guys and Percival, Lancelot, Elyan, Gwen, Merlin and "Gwaine" were the good guys and commoners.

During the tournament, didn't Merlin knock Gwaine out of his horse? When did Gwaine join the match? I literally couldn't tell anyone apart on that field.

Uther's reactions during the tournament were like he was watching a mix of WWE and soccer - so white male of him, yikes.

Gwen again worried for Arthur during a tournament but didn't even wish him luck. She was really keeping her distance. Even when she told Gwaine that Arthur would be a good King she sounded kind of sad, like she was already imagining Arthur's future without her and with his noble-born Queen by his side, as it "should" be. She really had no faith in them; she was severely underestimating Arthur's feelings for her.

Also, that spiel to Gwaine about Arthur was weird. He didn't even ask! Was that just her being in love? A bit dramatic if you ask me, as was the camera work when she watched the tournament. I don't like how they reduced Gwen to a love interest in this episode; she's always been a love interest but here they reduced her to a beautiful and rare jewel only the finest of men could appreciate. It would've been fine had Gwen done something to help Arthur or Gwaine, like talking to Arthur about Gwaine or about Arthur's participation in the tournament, asking Merlin to protect Arthur, etc. Gwen's first scene with Gwaine was cute but why did he notice her right away as Lancelot had? There were other women around... it's such a cliché... More men were interested in Gwen than women were in Arthur, which frankly makes no sense when he was the handsome and single Crown Prince. Of course, Gwaine realized Gwen wasn't interested because of Arthur... because she decided to wax poetics about Arthur for no reason... Again, what a cliché... Gwen was also reduced to the passive damsel in distress during the tournament; she could've at least voiced her concernts to Arthur - it wouldn't have worked but it would've been something.

Anyway, that last scene with Merlin and Arthur watching Gwaine and Gwen was funny. Merlin made me laugh. He was like 'Oh, right, I forgot, you can't be with Gwen because it's inappropriate... tough luck there mate, if only you had the power to change things, huh? Hmm... I wonder...'. I love sarcastic Merlin. Notice that when Merlin asked Arthur if Gwen should be setting her sights 'higher' (because they were watching her from above as she laughed with Gwaine), Arthur actually nodded? Merlin was so done with him.

Gwaine and Merlin are so cute - probably my favorite friendship - and Gwaine and Gwen were cute too... why didn't we get more Gwaine/Gwen interactions? And more Gwaine/Merlin too!!!!!!!

#bbc merlin #merlin #gwaine #bbc arwen #arwen #gwen pendragon #arthur pendragon #morgana #gwaine episode #gwaine commentary

[anarchycox]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

oooh boy stares at my 309 stories on ao3...pick five huh? Well, here we go. These are not in any order, just my top picks.

Feels Are Weird, Just Blow Shit Up Instead

The Witcher

Summary: Lambert doesn't get why no one understands how to cope with Ciri upon her arrival at Kaer Morhen. It is easy. Just you know blow shit up and don't treat her like a princess. It takes him years to see the giant crush she has on him, because he was the first person to truly see her.

Years of scenes in the ultimate brotp for life:Lambert and Ciri

The Despair of Sunsets and the Longing of Sunrises

Kingsman

Summary: Roxane Morton's only life goal was to join the elite group that was the Duke's guards. During her training though, the Duke and his Captain of the Guard swore she was a spy and threw her in the dungeon to await trial and death. There she learned that the previous Captain of the Guard might be alive, not killed in battle like they were told. She manages to escape figuring he is her only chance to prove her innocence. He was heroic and honourable, he was Captain Merlin - children were told stories of him.

Only she finds an angry and tired man, who travels with a hawk, and disappears at night. And there is another man only a little older than her that sometimes appears in the night and is so sad and so beautiful.

She just wanted to clear her name, she didn't want to fall into magic, and schemes, and lovers torn apart. She was a soldier, she didn't believe in camp fire tales.

But it is hard to disbelieve, when you find yourself in one.

Over, Under, Around, and Through to the Heart

Merlin

Summary:

In Ealdor, you court someone by braiding their hair. Gwaine does not know this. Merlin knows Gwaine does not know this. Which means that braiding Gwaine's hair can be just because Merlin wants to, not because he is really courting the man.

He is really courting the man.

I'll Share the Moon, If You Share the Sun

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Summary:

An alternate world where Iroh leads a coup against Ozai on the eclipse and wins the throne for Zuko. The southern water tribe hadn't sent men to fight in thirty years, instead protecting their home, laying traps, using guerilla tactics so the fire nation gave up fighting them.

Sokka and Katara found Aang, but being frozen in ice for a hundred years has ramifications and for almost four years the tribe focuses on healing the avatar.

Zuko is advised for continued peace to have an arranged marriage outside the fire nation. The best option is a the child of the chief of the southern tribe. Katara is in love with Aang and is heartbroken, but will do her duty for her people. Sokka finds a loophole that they can carefully and craftily exploit.

Aka they lie. They lie so hard and Sokka becomes the one betrothed to Fire Lord Zuko. He is sure there will be no consequences to the plan. Certainly not going to fall in love with the man he is lying to. At all. Nope indeedy, no love on the menu. Dang it.

The Infinite Meanings Found in Shades of Blue

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Summary:

Set in a Thedas where when you meet your soulmate you see in colour. The only problem is that the Chantry has never mentioned to people that when the templars take lyrium it dampens that connection and they never realize they have met their soulmate.

As Cullen slowly deals with withdrawal and the lyrium leaving his system, he notices colours bleeding in. Somewhere he had met his soulmate and didn't know. He can only hope to find them. Thank the maker for the friendship he has grown with Dorian, the sad man always near and helpful. He just wonders why Dorian always seems to be sad around Cullen.

#my writing #personal fic recs

[bellamyblakru]

For the Bad Things Happen Bingo, can I request ‘passing out from the pain’ with hurt!Merlin/protective!Gwaine ???

YOU SURE CAN. i have like a list of prompts that came before this one that i should be doing,,, but i really wanted to try and write merwaine so badly isksksksk thank you for this opportunity. i hope i can do them justice with my first time🥺 (also lol i fangirled at your request bc i love your account sm asbskakak)

here it is on ao3 and under the cut! i hope you like it!!

Merlin watched Gwaine from his peripheral, thinking about everything and nothing at once. Gwaine has been with the knights for a few years now, right when Arthur took the crown, and Merlin hasn’t seen any indication that the man wanted to leave. But he will one day, won’t he? He has told Merlin many times how he doesn’t like staying in one place for too long, so Merlin never expected him to stay here as long as he has.

Merlin frowned at his thoughts on top of his mare, Honey, as Gwaine chatted with Percival and Leon. He was making them laugh, that smile of his shining through the darkening thoughts floating in Merlin’s mind. Merlin couldn’t help letting the soft smile slip through seeing how happy Gwaine made them—it seemed like Gwaine had that effect on everyone, Merlin mused.

Arthur was talking with Lance and Elyan, so Merlin let his mind start wandering. His magic was itching to escape—it has been since the morning they left on this hunt. Merlin knew Arthur just wanted to flee the restraints of the castle, and, honestly, Merlin had been feeling the same way for days.

Lately, Gwaine had been avoiding him. Well, Merlin thinks Gwaine had been avoiding him, at least, and Gwaine never does that, ever. He’d been thinking that he must have hurt Gwaine somehow, but every time he thought back to their last interaction, where nothing seemed wrong, he had no idea where the distance was coming from. He had been making Gwaine laugh at training, and after that day, he hadn't been able to get more than five words to him.

He missed Gwaine.

That thought made him frown once more at the offending trees they were passing. He missed Gwaine because Gwaine was his friend, nothing more. The more he tried to convince himself of that fact, the more unlikely it became. Frustrated, Merlin let some of his prickling magic flow out his fingertips to his mare, smoothing away her small aches.

Merlin patted her neck with a small smile as she sighed out in contentment—at least he could do one thing right lately. Magic, he thought with heart panging a bit, still wasn’t free and Arthur has been on the throne for about five years. It hurts, still after all this time, that something as pure as this would lead to his death—but he knew deep down that he wasn’t afraid of dying, not anymore. No, Merlin was terrified of how his friends would react after years of deceit and pain.

Just out of reflex, Merlin looked towards them. He found Gwaine staring at him, concern written on every feature, but the second their eyes met, his friend quickly started up another conversation with the others.

Merlin ignored the deepening pang in his chest and the nausea rising in his throat—this was nothing, he told himself, Gwaine didn’t mean anything by that.

The lie left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He was about to suggest they stop, wanting a distraction, when he heard the noise. His mare also stopped, feeling him stiffen. Merlin whipped his head to the side, his eyes narrowing.

“Merlin?” Gwaine quickly came to his side, but Merlin’s head didn’t move, “Do you hear something?”

Merlin wished he didn’t, just so he could use this as an excuse to talk to him, but he scowled lowly in response, “Bandits—ten, if I’m right, and many have magic.”

He knew Gwaine wouldn’t ask how he knew—he never did.

The man nodded, and Merlin’s heart lightened a bit when Gwaine didn’t say “to relax” or that “he was paranoid” like the rest of the knights would’ve done. It always felt good to not be second-guessed.

“How long do we have?”

Merlin tilted his head, “Two minutes, at most.”

Gwaine grunted in response, galloping towards Arthur. Merlin didn’t like the void he felt in his heart the second Gwaine left his side, but, shaking his head, he knew there were more important matters to think about. Merlin watched, amazed, as the knight got everyone’s attention so easily. The way he talked, with his rare seriousness expression, captivated everyone just as much as his joking did.

And although Merlin tried to convince himself that the knights would listen to him that way if he told them, he knew they would never.

Merlin was a simple country boy, wasn’t he? He had no credibility to them. He couldn’t truly blame them—it’s not like Merlin was an open book. He lied, but never completely. His cheerful, idiotic personality was a cover of sorts, but it was just another part of who he was. He wasn’t only the clumsy fool, but what could he do to show them otherwise? They knew Gwaine hid his problems in jokes and clever remarks, so what was so wrong with Merlin doing the same? Merlin didn’t know, and he didn’t think he wanted to.

Showing them the magic, the part that was so integral to who he was, would lead them to fear him, not respect him as one of their own. He didn’t want recognition, that’s never why he did what he does, but some form of understanding between them all is what he craved, what he wished. To not be second-guessed when he knew everyone’s lives were at stake and that he could save them...but that was only a fool’s dream.

He stopped with the rest of the knight when Gwaine convinced them that something was coming.

“Merlin,” Gwaine said from the top of the group, “go to the tree line, you won’t get hurt there.”

Merlin nodded with a carefully blank face—the battling emotions, of love and irritation, whirling inside of him.

They don’t know you can protect yourself, the logical part of his mind reminded him. After all these years, Merlin thought, I should be able to accept the coddling with a full heart. It showed that they do care about him, but why did it never feel that way? Merlin felt like an obstacle in their way—someone to protect, to always watch out for, a hindrance.

Merlin felt silly for the negative thoughts—none of this could be helped right now, so why dwell on these facts?

Aiming for the most advantageous spot, Merlin saw the first bandit pop out next to Eylan, who effectively took the man down. Percy patted him on the back as they moved around Arthur, flanking their king in preparation of the ambush.

As the air pulsed with anticipation, Merlin’s eyes strayed towards Gwaine, like always. The man’s face was grime, ready for battle, as he surveyed the surrounding area.

Merlin was distracted as a noise came from behind him, and he quickly spun around to face the intruder. The bandits with magic were walking smoothly towards him and Merlin panicked—do I attack? He changed his mind quickly, not thinking about it too much, as he turned around and ran towards his group to warn them.

Merlin guessed the obvious panic on his face spurred the knights to run towards him, but it was too late. One of the bandits threw a spell at him with a force that threw him to the side, hitting a nearby tree.

He vaguely heard the shouting of the knights as the attackers surrounded them, all eight of them chanting under their breaths as they did so, forcing the circle of the roundtable knights to still. Merlin groaned in pain, lifting himself.

Protect them. Protect them.

His only goal—and it has been since the beginning. In that moment, Merlin realized how unimportant it was that they never knew about the magic. The knights knew how much Merlin loved them, so everything else was secondary. Merlin, with or without his magic, would always put himself in danger if it meant his friends can see the next day.

Pulling himself up with the tree, he shook his head and listened to the droning monologue of the leader.

Same shit, as always.

Merlin couldn’t help but laugh—loudly. The monotonous speaker abruptly stopped talking as they all stared at Merlin laughing.

He couldn’t help it, honestly.

The leader narrowed his eyes at him, “What’s so funny, boy?”

Arthur and Gwaine shook their heads in looks that screamed “shut up, Merlin,” but Merlin held his stomach as the laughter subsided, the smile still on his face as he replied, “Nothing, I swear,” but then another chuckle escaped as the leader frowned at the answer.

When one of the lackeys stepped forwards with a sword pointing at him, Merlin sobered up, a smirk in place, as he lifted his hands in surrender, “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you! It’s just...every time this happens, one of you always explains why you are doing what you are doing. And every time, and I mean every time, it is revenge for what Uther did. Who, by the way, is long dead. Arthur, like always, gets blamed for his father’s actions. Are you guys just daft, or does everyone truly believe Arthur is actually Uther? It’s quite simple, really. Uther was a tyrant—I think we can all agree on that, but attacking his son? What’s the purpose? To show the King that magic can never be used for good? You know when all he sees is magic being used against him, of course he will hate it. What other choice would he have, hmm?”

Merlin’s smile dropped off as he shook his head, walking towards the stunned group, “Honestly! I get it, I truly do, but this will never solve anything. You are perpetuating the violent cycle, you understand?”

At Merlin’s question, the leader growled, “All I see is a stupid servant running his mouth.”

Merlin’s face lit up, “Interesting. Nothing took, then?”

He heard Gwaine sigh, “Merls?”

Merlin looked over at the knight, who had a small smile on his face, “Yes, Sir Knight?”

Gwaine laughed a bit, “You might be slightly more dramatic than me, and that’s impressive, to say the least. You think your lovely wit could save us?”

Merlin smiled at the knight, his heart feeling more full than it has all week, and winked, “Well, it was worth the shot?”

And as they just continued smiling at each other, Merlin saw the leader blink and shake his head, muttering something to one of his followers with nothing but malice on his face.

Merlin watched, almost in slow motion, as the next spell was directed at Gwaine.

That wasn’t the plan.

Merlin yelled, “No!” as he sprinted and leapt in front of the knight as the spell hit home. Merlin gasped in pain, staring in shock at the sizzling hole in his abdomen, and he heard the leader laugh.

Merlin's focus narrowed solely on the leader, everything else drowning out as that malicious laugh continued. The bandits all started chanting once more, circling the group, and when he started hearing the grunts of pain from his friends, Merlin’s mind, in a moment of pure clarity, repeated: protect them.

So, with a hole in his stomach, Merlin straightened up and locked eyes with the people hurting his friends.

“This stops. Now.”

And before they could get another word in, Merlin’s eyes burned the brightest molten gold. The wind whipped, the sky darkened, and the ground shaking with Merlin being the center of it all. The bandits backed up hastily, staring at Merlin like a newly found god, and Merlin blinked at the action—their actions full of desperate fear, and that wasn’t right. He never wanted to be feared.

Merlin let the power steep into his voice, “Leave now and never hurt anyone ever again. Do you understand?”

They all shook their heads, bowing at the waist for him, and right before they ran with their tails between their legs Merlin could swear he could hear their whispers of Emrys.

The minute they were out of sight, Merlin sagged. His entire body felt like it was on fire, his brain had pulsating pain that felt like lightning behind his eyes. And when his strength left, he felt two people’s arms wrap around him.

Looking up with all his effort, Merlin saw Lance and Gwaine on either side of him, the latter with a sword up at the abnormally silent group.

The world was blurring when Merlin heard Gwaine snarl at the king, “You take one wrong step and I will run you through.” And even in his state of delirium, Merlin knew Gwaine meant it.

“Gwaine,” Merlin whispered, the pain lacing through his body in waves, “it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” Gwaine bit back still facing Arthur and the knights with his sword raised high.

Merlin smiled sadly, staring at his knight, “Gwaine?”

That got the man’s attention, the anger draining out of him the minute their eyes met, and Merlin continued quietly, “Thank you.” The “thank you for not hating me for having magic, thank you for protecting me, thank you for being here” went unsaid, but not unheard.

Merlin saw Gwaine’s eyes water, “You’re going to be fine, Merls, you’ve been through worse, you know? This is nothing.”

Merlin let out a wet laugh, “Yeah, maybe.”

Gwaine was speaking again, but Merlin couldn’t hear him anymore. The pain became too much then, so Merlin let the black spots in his vision take over, and he welcomed oblivion with a smile.

—————

The next few times Merlin woke up, he was against someone’s front with a horse galloping at full speed underneath him. He would groan, but quickly succumb to the pain again.

The first time he could actually open his eyes completely, he was staring at a very familiar ceiling. Merlin gasped as he tried to move, his hand flying to his stomach.

“Merlin! Don’t move, my boy,” Gaius’s worried face came into view, “You need some rest, but you’re going to be just fine.”

Merlin figured as much when he took the hit, knowing his magic wouldn’t let him die that easily.

He blanched, remembering what happened, “Gaius?” he rasped out, his voice felt scratchy like he had been screaming for hours, “Is everyone…?”

Gaius frowned, but Gwaine, who Merlin just noticed was sitting right next to him, answered for him with nothing cheerful on his face, “Everyone is fine, thanks to you.”

Merlin sighed in relief, looking back up to the ceiling, and he heard Gaius pat Gwaine as he moved out the door leaving the two of them alone.

They sat in a comfortable silence until Merlin asked, his voice small, “Gwaine, what happened?”

Gwaine huffed out a breath, out of anger or pain, Merlin didn’t know, as Gwaine moved to sit next to him on the cot. Merlin grunted a little as he moved to make room for him, and Gwaine frowned at the noise.

“I’m fine, I promise.”

Gwaine looked at him in clear disbelief, “I’m sure.”

Merlin sighed, looking up at the knight, “Tell me?”

Gwaine nodded in defeat, “I threatened princess, as you know,” Merlin nodded, a frown forming, “I was going to throw you over my shoulder and run for it.”

Merlin blinked, “That was your plan? Even when you’re mad at me, you were still going to take me with you?”

Gwaine’s eyes widened, “I’m not mad at you! What made you think that?”

Merlin looked to the side, “You’ve been avoiding me, Gwaine, I know it.”

Gwaine flinched, “Oh. That.”

After the moment of heavy silence, with Merlin’s heart feeling like it was breaking, he moved on, “Whatever, you obviously didn’t need to use that plan since I’m home. What happened?”

Gwaine smiled a bit here, “Well, Sir Lancelot and I stood our ground. Lance had a lot to say about you for a man of such a few words. While I lifted you up, and took you away from the group, Lance told them everything. Arthur,” Gwaine shook his head, “he looked betrayed and hurt at first, but after a day of Lance’s tales of you, and mentioning how you literally just saved us once again without bloodshed, Arthur finally came to his senses—especially when I kept threatening him.”

Merlin started crying, unwillingly, blindly grabbing for Gwaine’s hand, “So, what now? Everyone knows and I’m not dead? Am I banished? Hated? Feared?”

Gwaine’s face was uncharacteristically soft as he wiped the tears from Merlin’s face with his other hand, “Now...now, we make history and show these assholes what they’ve been missing. Merlin,” he tightened his grip on his hand, “I always knew something was different about you. And I never, ever, feared you for a moment—even as you made those bandits shit themselves.” Gwaine let out a small laugh at that, the soft smile returning to his face, “I don’t know how many times I need to say this until it gets through that stubborn head of yours: I came to Camelot for you and you alone. No princess or wealth keeps me here, you do.” Gwaine stilled his hand on Merlin’s face, “And if I needed to, I wouldn’t have hesitated to grab you and run—I’ve always been prepared for that, actually.”

Merlin kept crying, “Then why?” Why have you been distancing yourself? Why did you make me think you hated me? Why are you so loyal to me?

Gwaine's face fell at Merlin’s hoarse and quiet question, “I’m not good enough for you. I knew how I felt, and I knew you deserved better than me. I haven’t stayed in one place this long before, and I thought if you knew that you were the only person keeping me here that I would scare you off before we even had a chance.”

Merlin stared at his knight, understanding and sadness flowing through him, “Gwaine,” he choked out, “you’re an idiot.”

Gwaine gaped, undignified, “Hey! Bold words for a man who is utterly vulnerable at this moment.”

Merlin laughed lightly, “An idiot,” he continued, “who I love.”

Gwaine’s eyes shone brightly, “Love,” the disbelief in his voice hurting Merlin’s heart, “You love me? Merls, are you sure?”

Merlin laughed again at the absurdity of the wild man in front of him, “Yes, Gwaine, I am sure. Only if you wouldn’t mind facing the uncertainty of my future—“

Merlin was cut off with a loud, surprise gasp when Gwaine threw himself on top of him for a hug, then grabbing his face, and placing a rather soft kiss to his lips.

“Merlin. I would rather be at your side, with the threat of the world crushing us, than anywhere else. You, my magically beautiful friend, will never feel alone again in this life. I give you my sword, my heart, and everything I am—if you will have me.”

Merlin nodded, his eyes watering once more, and smiled into the next kiss with his knight.

Merlin felt the burden of destiny in his soul lift in his embrace with Gwaine—and he knew, deep in his heart and soul, that with Gwaine at his side, they could face any uncertainty coming their way.

#ashley writes #merlin fanfiction #merwaine fanfic #merwaine #merlin #gwaine #hurt merlin #protective gwaine #bad things happen bingo #passing out from pain #gwaine is beautiful and protective and loves merlin #happy ending #pls lmk if it sucks asddfgg #bamf merlin #hurt/comfort #mergwaine