#or they get through to him. arthur AND past merlin. seeing that past him was able to diverge from the set path. live more for himself | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dcxdpdabbles · 3 months

Text

DCxDP fanfic idea: Timeline Prevention Squad

Clockwork is trying to catch up on paperwork because even the gods had to do tedious work. He is flipping through pages and pages of time concerning reports when he stumbles across a particular request stuck between three old Speed Force crimes reports.

A request from Mordecai Wayne asking the time accident for help to his original time. It was filed through a ritual of one of his lost temples.

Clockwork gapes at it, suddenly realizing he forgot to follow up and had left Mordecai Wayne - better known as Bruce Wayne - to fling around the timeline.

Clockwork, when he was young, had allowed humans to set up temples and given them direct runes to send their burned parchment to him for requests. Initially, he designed the request ritual to enable humans to help or prepare for future disasters.

Give them a little warning in the form of deviation.

Then, humans turned it into trying to control the future. Or to change what had happened by having altered the past. They started thinking he would move the times to fit their desired outcome.

Tried to offer people sacrifices when he ignored the requests. Clockwork can watch the timelines like an observer over a parade, but humans put on the parade at the end of the day.

It was their free will that gave him a show. And it was this free will that cost lives that shouldn't have ended because of other humans' greed.

He closed his temples, scrambled his runes, and let his temples rot.

Clockwork thought he got them all, but he obviously left behind some crumbs of his old worshipers.

Those crumbs were enough for Bruce Wayne to painfully piece together and redo his ritual to send him a request for aid in his time placement.

He hadn't even read it, having flung it into one of his filing cabinets to look over later and... didn't.

Clockwork snapped his fingers, pulling up Bruce's timeline. He winces when he sees it too late; it's past the point, but luckily, Tim Drake pulled him out and brought him home.

People don't know that Clockwork can't undo timelines- he just makes new ones that stream off his intervention.

The most recent time he stepped in was with Danny Fenton in a universe created due to Merlin asking Clockwork to save his lover Arthur, and thus, certain events did not come to pass- like the finding of Gotham.

He rescued Daniel's family by freezing them just as the explosion happened, allowing the young hero to think his dark future had never come to pass. That was not true.

There is still a world where Daniel's family died in the explosion, and it existed right allowed side the one that they didn't.

He could do the same and step in to prevent Bruce from ever getting hit with the Omega Beams, but that would create six different timelines, which would be a pain to file for. Daniel was only two, and he-

Wait. Daniel.

That's what he could do!

He couldn't make up the fact Bruce Wayne got lost in time and asked for aid. But he could send compensation in the form of one eager gooddoer who would help him in his ultimate goal.

Make Gotham safe.

And who better than a child with a strong sense of justice and the power of a minor God?

After all, Bruce's request wasn't to get back home. He thought he was going to die from the overlapping beams. Bruce thought there was no more hope for him.

Instead his request was

Please allow me to ensure my kids are okay and will be alright once I pass.

He picks up his sticky notes, scrambling a quick message to Danny. He pauses momentarily, wondering if he should admit his mistake, but that would.....ruin his reputation.

He chooses to lie by omission.

Dear Daniel,

Please come to my Keep. I have a mission that requires your assistance in an alternate timeline.

You must help keep Bruce Wayne and his kids safe. Whatever the costs are, as is his request for aid from a higher being.

Daniel couldn't resist a mission that sounded like he was a hero, and it didn't mention who the aid was requested.

To ensure Daniel will never learn he will....tell him that the Waynes could never see Phantom or......or he be trapped there forever!

Yes perfect.

A few seconds after sending the sticky note through a portal, Clockwork senses Daniel pick up the note.

And suddenly, he sees events flash before his eyes. Scenes of Daniel following Gotham's hero. Rescuing them from their worst rouges while Bats. Circling through the nights to stop the more minor pity crimes that they were too exhausted to handle.

Enrolling into Gotham Academy to ensure their civilian safety and status. Getting close to the younger Wayne and even obtaining an internship with Tim Drake to help him at WE.

Then, Daniel gets more substantial and robust due to all the deaths that drenched Gotham. It would be just like a Kryptonian on a planet of a Blue Sun.

It would make him more robust than a yellow sun, and Daniel would flush there!

Clockwork smiles as the visions end. He did a great thing making this suggestion. Phantom will be fantastic in Gotham!

Now, hopefully, that pesky free will won't ruin his plan-

A vision of Daniel being worshiped as a Phantom as different Gotham natives start to believe him, and an unlock god appears.

Clockwork winces, but he figures if no human ever sees Phantom unless he is there for righteous heroism, he can understand why they were confused.

Which isn't so bad-

A different version of Daniel possibly appears in the future. This one shows Daniel in a bright red suit at WE with Tim Drake hyperventilating not too far away. Apparently, he suspects Daniel of being Phantom, but his hormones are getting in the way of his logical thought.

This wasn't so bad as it wasn't a cult. It was just risking Daniel's secret identity. Then again, he could honeypot his way out-

A different future appears. One where Daniel accidentally convinces the Bat children that he's stalking their Father. They think Daniel fancies Bruce Wayne, despite the alarming age difference, and try to block him at every turn.

This is okay; there were different outcomes, but nothing bad.

And it's already been done. He can't change the past, not without making more timelines.

He sighs.

Hopefully, this will all work out. Somehow.

#dcxdpdabbles #dc x dp crossover #Timeline Prevention Squad #Clockwork send Danny on a fake mission #Danny takes it very seriously #a whole new dimension for him to play in?#yes please #There could be so many outcomes that Clockwork can see #some are crazy

598 notes · View notes

larluce · 2 months

Text

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 (You're here) , PART 8

A little more of past trauma

Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot (who isn't a Knight yet) and some knights camping in the woods.

Knight 1: (hesitantly) Sire...

Knight 2: (careful) We need wood... for the fire, sire.

Arthur: (a little confused by their behavior) Pick some fallen branches then.

Knight 1: Ahm... (sweats)

Lancelot: (realising why they're so scared. Sighs) There's no fallen branches, isn’t there?

Knight 2: ... No.

Merlin: (thinking and looking at Arthur carefully) Oh, no...

Arthur: (hardens his features) search harder.

Knight 1: We searched the whole perimeter three times, sire. There are no branches, no even leafs.

Knight 2: These trees are practically naked. We need... We need to cut one down.

Arthur: No.

Merlin: Arthur...

Arthur: No. We don't need fire anyway.

Lancelot: (the only brave enough to contradict him apart from Merlin) Sire, we need to cook the meat and if we don't make fire we'll freeze to death.

Arthur looks conflicted. Merlin sighs. He appreciates what his prince is doing. He went as far to almost forbid all his knights to hunt and cut any plant, especially trees, ever again and he knows Arthur would have ban any of this practices all together in the entire kingdom if he weren't still a prince. Fortunatly, he talked him out of it, so now Arthur allows hunting only when strictly necessary. Cutting trees, however, was always out of the question. They managed to avoid it... until now.

Arthur: (pointing to a knight) Hey, you. Take off your shirt. We can use that.

Knight 1: What?! Sire, but-

Arthur: (very serious) Are you questioning me?

Merlin: Arthur (holds his hand and pulls him gently til they are apart from the rest). Arthur, it's okay.

Arthur: (almost shouting, firmly) No, Merlin! Not with this. No!

Merlin: (reassuring) It just hurts badly when they do it for fun or there's no need. Now we need it. It's fine.

Arthur: (shakes his head, anguish in his eyes) I can't make them hurt you.

Merlin: They wouldn't be really hurting me. Besides, would you rather let me die of hunger and freeze to death? (Puts a hand on his face and smiles) I'll be fine, I promise.

Arthur: (sighs) alright. (Goes to his Knights)

Lancelot: (aproaches Merlin, whispering) Can't you make some branches fall?

Merlin: (shakes his head) these branches aren't thick enough for a fireplace, and I need to get use to this. Arthur too.

Lancelot: (nods in understanding) He must love you a lot.

Merlin: (nervous) Wha-?! What do you mean?

Lancelot: Don't tell me you didn't notice. He was willing let us starve and freeze so you wouldn't feel any pain just a minute ago.

Merlin: He cares for me. I'm his friend.

Lancelot: I'm his friend too and he never looked at me the way he does to you, like you are the sun. Or use any excuse to touch me, like he might die if he doesn't have you close for more than 5 minutes.(pause) And I don't believe you're not aware of this either.

Merlin: (sighs) I don't want to get my hopes up. I'm happy with how things are. I don't want to ruin things between us. (Thinking) Not again.

Lancelot: (smiles encouringly) You don't have to confess your feelings or anything. Just try to make a move to taste the waters and you can decide what to do from there.

Arthur orders his knights to cut down the farrest tree they could find. It's useless though. No matter how far, Merlin still can feel it. Merlin doesn't scream in pain this time, but he still trembles and flinches. Arthur hugs him close through all this and somehow he ends up sitting on Arthur's lap, and hiding his face in the crook of Arthur's neck. He whimpers and whimpers in pain until he falls asleep in Arthur's arms.

Lancelot: (aproaching them) You should wake him before they come back.

Arthur: (shakes his head) He needs this.

Lancelot: If they see you like this they'll think-

Arthur: (sharply) They can think what they want.

Lancelot: (smiles softly) You don't really believe this is some medical disease, do you?

Arthur: ...

Lancelot: You know about Merlin.

Arthur: (sighs) And he told you. (thinking, a mix of angry, hurt and jealous) He told you before telling me.

Lancelot: No, but I catched him. He echanted the weapon I used to kill the griffin.

Arthur: (snorts) This idiot.

Lancelot: He was careful I'm just observant. Why haven't you told him that you know?

Arthur: I want him to tell me himself.

Lancelot: Why?

Arthur: He deserves that much. And I want to prove that he can trust me.

Lancelot: I don't think it's a matter of trust. He trusts you a lot, Arthur. I know he really wants to tell you but he just doesn't know how to. I mean, can you blame him? He's been told all his life he should hide who he is. I don't think he ever willingly told anyone. (sighs) Even outside Camelot, there's hardly a place where magic users are safe.

Arthur: (with conviction) When I'm king there will be. Camelot will welcome magic again and he won't have to hide anymore. (looking at Merlin sleeping peacefully in his arms, thinking) And this time he will be able to live it and enjoy it.

Lancelot: (to himself) I knew it was a sign.

Arthur: (confused) What?

Lancelot: I never told you why I came to the citadel.

Arthur: You wanted to become a Knight. (thinking) Though you arrived earlier than I expected.

Lancelot: That too, but I also had a dream.

Arthur: A dream?

Lancelot: I saw myself in a knight armor. There was some sort of hole or crack in the air, I don't know, everything's kind of blurry. But I do remmember clearly two faces. Faces I never saw before in my life, but in my dream they were familiar. It wasn't until I came here that I recognised them. They were yours and Merlin's. You were in my dream.

Arthur: (in shock, but composes himself quickly)... I see. And you believe that's a sign. A sign of what exactly?

Lancelot: That one day you will be the king I'll serve with honor.

Arthur: Right... Did you have another memo-I mean dream about us?

Lancelot: (shakes his head) That's all. (looks at the sky) It's getting late. I'll go look for the knights, they may need help. (thinking) And you can have some time alone.

Arthur: (stops Lancelot before he leaves) Lancelot. You said me appearing in your dream mean I'll be the king you'll serve one day. What about Merlin? What does he appearing in your dream means to you?

Lancelot: I thought it was obvious.

Arthur: What?

Lancelot: Well, every king needs a queen sire. (laughs a little and leaves before Arthur can process his words)

...

Tagging @everything-is-applepie , @iwillalwaysbearealfan , @merlinsbeard2 , @procrastinating-angels , @thecornerofbelu , @an-entity-i-think , @smileytrinity , @the-night-viewer , @tansyuduri , @fuckyeahsnackables , @stalesaltinecracker , @lucifertookmyshoe , @aceauthorcatqueen and @virgil-wannabe since you all left beautiful comments in the other parts. Thank you so much! 🤧. Please if you have any idea for this AU or want to see a moment in particular between these two or other characters, just ask. I'm just writing random moments that come to my mind 😅

#merlin bbc #merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #merlin fic #merlin prompt #merlin fanfic #merthur fic #arthur and merlin #merlin and arthur #merthur prompt #Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

358 notes · View notes

hopelessromantic5 · 3 months

Text

Part 2 of ghost-visit merthur Drabble.

Magic reveal included.

The blonde studied his manservant, as he was in the habit of doing, lately. Merlin was nervous and perhaps even…scared?

What possible reason could Merlin have to fear him?

“I’m not going to like this, am I?” Arthur did not need an answer, he already knew that he wouldn’t.

“Maybe-“ Merlin stopped and started again. “It might be easier if I show you.” He was quiet, only illuminated by the light coming into the princes chambers from the corridor.

Arthur honestly didn’t have any idea what was about to happen.

When it was over, he felt like an idiot for not seeing it sooner.

The first thing Merlin did was cup his palms together, in front of his chest, eyes closed, as if he were praying.

He, all at once, opened his hands and his eyes, revealing a glowing blue butterfly, Arthur focused on it only for a heartbeat, gasping at the sight.

Then he caught Merlin’s own gaze, blue eyes turned golden like the heat of the sun, shining brighter than any fire Arthur had ever seen.

The Prince felt many things. Confusion and shame and anger, at himself, at Merlin, at his father.

But surprisingly, Arthur felt no fear. He didn’t get that sickening drop in his stomach that normally occurred when confronted with magic.

He had the quick thought that maybe it was because the magic was always being used by people who wanted him dead.

Instead of that unbearable chill in the air, Merlin’s magic left Arthur feeling like he’d just been out training in the summer. He felt renewed, recharged.

When Merlin let the butterfly disappear into the room, brightening the space about a foot in either direction of its flapping wings, his eyes faded back to their stormy blue, rainclouds over the ocean.

Arthur was speechless.

A million scenes over the past few years played through his mind’s eye with this new knowledge now secured. Everything seemed to make a little more sense. The prince never being able to find Merlin in times of trouble, his manservant always disappearing and hiding behind trees while bandits were being tripped by roots that weren’t there before, felled by branches falling at the perfect time. Victories being won against foes that Arthur had no recollection of defeating.

Arthur should be dead ten times over, probably. If not for the man who stood before him. If not for magic.

He couldn’t find words for a long time.

Merlin did not rush him.

He just stood silently, waiting for whatever fate he assumed was awaiting him. Arthur could only imagine the worst case scenarios playing through his manservant’s mind and it was enough to make him sick.

Finally after taking a deep breath into his lungs, the prince spoke.

“I understand.”

Merlin blinked his eyes three times, an instinct in Arthur nearly verbalized that he was akin to an owl, he thought better of it.

“You-you what?”

“I understand why you didn’t tell me. I can only assume this is not a fact that you share with many people, let alone…you know, me.” Arthur’s nerves were beginning to catch up to him. He wasn’t used to being so bare and unguarded, and certainly not in front of Merlin.

But another fact he was settling upon him was that Merlin had the upper hand here. He’d possibly always had it, from that very first day. Yet, even when Merlin was his most fed up, his most aggravated with Arthur, even at times when they refused to speak to each other out of pure stubbornness, Merlin never turned on him. Never even used his magic to give Arthur a good smack over the head (that he probably deserved).

Even when Merlin had to watch his own people die on the pyre, he never turned on Arthur.

Not even when he learned what Arthur did that awful day. A quiet Druid camp drowned in the screams of the innocent because he was too much of a coward to stand up to his father, and not enough of a Prince to get his knights to obey his orders of sparing the children. Even though, he failed.

Merlin never lost faith in him. The prince still sees it, even now.

“You’re not…angry?” This voice was small compared to his usual boisterous demeanor.

“I am angry.” Arthur nodded. “But only at our circumstances. If I were not here and you were not there, none of this would be as difficult as it is.”

“You must know,” Merlin whispered. “I’ve only ever used it to help you. To ensure that you and this kingdom were safe.” The prince saw him swallow, one of his many tells. Merlin is nervous. “Arthur, I told you this once before, but back home I was…lost. I had all of this pent up energy and nowhere to put it down, I felt I had no true purpose there. I’ve since learned many things that all led me to one conclusion. I’m supposed to be here, at your side. To make sure you actually survive long enough to ascend the throne-“

Arthur almost interjected to say he didn’t need protecting but clamped his mouth shut because he knew, now, that wasn’t necessarily true, as much as he hated to admit it.

“-but also because…Well,” Merlin cleared his throat, Arthur took a moment to wonder what he was about to say that was causing him to be so antsy. “I do not think I could leave, even if you ordered me to go. I…I think being away from you would probably rip me apart.” He laughed a humorless, pitiful laugh and was looking down at feet. Arthur watched a tear fall from his eyes like the first raindrop and land on the stone floor.

“I could never send you away.” Arthur shook his head. “You’re just as necessary to this kingdom’s survival as I am.”

Merlin audibly gasped, Arthur went on as if he didn’t hear it.

“I want Camelot to be…I don’t know, good, for lack of a better word. I want it to be welcoming and bright and full of life. Not plagued with death and decay and heartache. I do not want even our poorest citizens to have to wonder what they will eat in the winter. I don’t want another person stepping foot into this kingdom and immediately witnessing a beheading, or a pyre being lit. That is not the kind of place I wish to govern. All I can do is my best, but I need you here. I need you with me. I only ever considered that I could truly change the way things are, when,” he took a heavy breath, “when I realized that you actually believed in me. That you, an insubordinate, treasonous, outsider that had absolutely no reason to ever think such things, you actually had faith that I could do it. And since that day, your faith has been what keeps me going. So you can’t-“

Arthur hadn’t dared to watch Merlin while he spilled his messy heart all over the room. The first shining of the sun was rising over the horizon and soon, they would have to face each other in the daylight.

“You can’t leave, okay?”

The prince walked further into his chambers as he spoke, away from the door, lest any of the guards overhear their conversation.

“That may be selfish of me to request, knowing that you are constantly in danger here. But I am also in a position where I can make sure that you never face the hands of my father. I would never let him hurt you, you know that, right?”

A chuckle was heard from where Merlin still stood behind him,

“I do now.” It was emotional and ridiculous but Arthur was relieved. That Merlin was still Merlin.

“Good.” The prince sighed. “We can discuss this more tomorrow. You can tell me everything I’ve, apparently, missed.”

“Absolutely, sire.”

Arthur turned after a few moments of silence and Merlin was still standing there, in the middle of the room.

“Merlin?”

“Yes, sire?”

“Is there something else you wanted to say?” The prince couldn’t help the smile that was creeping up his face.

“Um…” The raven boy cleared his throat, again. Looking unsure, with more light in the room, Arthur could see his brows pinched. “No, no. Nothing we can’t discuss tomorrow.”

“You’re sure?” At this point Arthur was wondering if either he or the both of them were in immediate danger.

“Well I’m not exactly sure if she would want me to tell y-“

“She?!” Arthur voice, embarrassingly, cracked in the middle of his outraged cry. Merlin looked at him like he had goat horns growing out of his head.

In a much calmer tone, Arthur continued.

“And who is ‘she’?”

Something bloomed on Merlin’s face that had Arthur wary.

“Before we get to that, I have a question for you.”

“For me?”

“Considering this is officially the first day that we’re being honest with each other, someone told me that you have a secret of your own and I’d like to know what it is.”

Arthur, dumbfounded and feeling somewhat ambushed, could not think of anything to say other than,

“I didn’t hear a question.”

Like an idiot.

“Must you be so difficult? What is it you’re not telling me? How do you even have time in the day to keep secrets? I know where you are every minute.”

“Technically, I already told you.”

Arthur decided he would much rather brood out the window, staring at the sunset than watch Merlin flinch away from him in disgust.

“When?” The man honestly had no idea.

The prince rolled his eyes, pushing away a stupid smile.

“Just now, you idiot.”

“Did I miss part of the conversation? When did you-“ at the sound of Merlin cutting himself short, Arthur’s neck swiveled. He watched the pieces come together and realization finally hit.

He looked confused.

“I’m confused,” Of course. “You can’t possibly mean-“

“When I said your faith keeps me going, I meant it, Merlin.” There he was, standing in the morning rays, breathtaking as ever, the reason Camelot remains standing. Looking at Arthur as if he were speaking a different language.

“I rise out of that bed every morning simply because I know you will be there.”

This was not the prince and his manservant, this was just Merlin and Arthur. Two boys that met under unfortunate and unfair circumstances.

“And in those gut wrenching moments when I can’t find you, the fear feels as if it might kill me. If anything ever happened-“ Arthur turned his head away and swallowed a sob that threatened to ricochet through him at the mere thought.

“I would probably burn the entire world to the ground.” He whispered. More as a thought to himself, a thought he had never let come to pass.

It was silent for a few heartbeats. Merlin broke it.

“There is a word for that.”

Arthur hung his head at that. Defeat.

He’d finally been bested.

It finally caught him. He’d been evading it for years before Merlin came along, always sidestepping its ever-growing reach.

“Yes, there is.” He admitted. The morning was surreal and glowing, everything had a halo of rainbows. Arthur was running on nothing but adrenaline and at his confession, all of the energy completely drained out of him.

“Though,” Merlin took a step in his direction, and then another. “I shouldn’t. Against my better judgment…I love you, too.”

Arthur had been branded in that moment. As if Merlin had touched his bare skin with a red-hot poker. The words echoed through his emptying mind and bounced off the walls of his chambers.

“I don’t believe you.” Arthur could not catch them before the words fell out of his face.

He was met with chuckling.

Had he said something funny?

“You don’t believe me? The entire bloody kingdom can see it and you, stubborn arse, refuse to believe it, of course.” Merlin rolled his eyes. “Why would I tell you I love you if I didn’t mean it?”

“To make me feel better?” Arthur offered.

“As much as I would hate to hurt your feelings, I would never lie to you about that.”

Arthur suddenly had a thought.

“If that’s the case then who’s the woman?”

“What woman?”

“Earlier you said you weren’t sure if ‘she’ wanted you to tell me. Who’s she? And what did she tell you?”

“Oh.” Merlin fell silent.

And simultaneously, the room went dark.

Arthur’s first thought was that he blacked out. But no. He was still standing in place, he could hear the bustle of the castle beginning to rise for the day.

Someone had merely closed the curtains, blocking out the sun completely.

“Merlin? Did you do that?” Instinctively, his hand when to the hilt of his sword.

“No.” Followed immediately by, “Take my hands.”

“What?”

“I’m going to show you something. Take my hands.”

Arthur could only ever trust Merlin. With everything. His heart, his life, his kingdom.

His manservant’s eyes began to glow the second their hands touched.

It took the prince by surprise by he didn’t pull away. It seemed to take Merlin somewhat by surprise, also. His hands were buzzing, humming with power, Arthur fingers became numb from it after seconds.

Over the ringing in his ears the prince heard Merlin mumble,

“She’s here.”

The buzzing of his skin ceased, his eyes remained golden, blinking and unseeing.

“Who’s here?”

“Turn around and see for yourself.”

Arthur’s brows pinched in confusion, the heavy door at the entrance to his chambers had not been opened. They would’ve heard it.

He turned, dropping Merlin’s hands in the process, shocked beyond words to actually see a figure standing there.

Pale and beautiful. And sad.

He knew her upon sight.

Not because he had any memory of her face to call upon, no portraits were ever painted of her, but he knew, the way every child knows their mother.

He was stuck in place, memorizing every detail that he could to take with him later. To cherish.

“Arthur, my boy.” She spoke softly, only interrupted by her own crying.

Rather than trying to speak again, she crossed the distance between them and engulfed him in a hug.

The hug Arthur thought he would never have. The warmth of which, he’d gone an entire childhood without.

There truly was nothing more healing than being surrounded by a person who loves you, unconditionally.

“H-how did- why-?” Arthur cut each thought short because they did not seem important enough.

“I’m so sorry, mother.” He whispered into his mothers shoulder, silently letting wells of tears flow. “You should never have met such an awful fate because of me.”

“Hush now, none of that.” The Queen placed her hands on either side of Arthur’s face, holding him up. “I have been here with you, all this time, Arthur. That is all I ever wanted; To be with you. That is the only regret I carry regarding your birth, I would do it all again, if it meant you got the chance to live.”

“You’ve been…here? In the castle?”

She nodded.

“Seeing but never seen.” Arthur was both elated and heartbroken at seeing his mother this way. “That was the rule. Though, I think with your friend over there, anything is possible.”

“Yes, I’m beginning to think he’s more powerful than he lets on.” The absurdity of this conversation was not lost on him. If anyone had told him five hours ago that this would be his new normal, he’d probably have them thrown in the stocks.

His mother laughed and it was a beautiful sound, like the the high chiming of the wind charms made by a woman in the lower town, citizens hang them to hear them sing when the Earth is speaking through the breeze.

“I think you underestimate him quite a bit, your highness.” She shook her head at him, as every other mother had that Arthur always looked upon and wondered. “Merlin is magic. He is the power of the earth made human. And his loyalty is to you. You are a very fortunate king, indeed.”

“Not King yet, mother.”

She sobered immediately from her playfulness.

Arthur did not have to guess why.

“Do not listen to your father, Arthur. It may go against all you’ve been taught but he is not always right. In fact, he is almost always wrong. Especially in terms of political affairs, but always with you. What he says to you, of you, is what he thinks of himself. He is angry because he is getting old and he cannot control time. He has taken his life’s hardships out on you and you never deserved that, Arthur. You are a great man and you will make a fantastic King.”

As the last words fell, she began to fade, slowly. But her skin was turning more translucent with every second. Arthur mourned all over again.

“Our time has run out, my boy, even our Merlin can only hold the connection so long. But I will always be here, should you need me.”

“I love you, mother.”

“I love you, too, Arthur.” Faint, but Arthur heard it.

Then, she was gone.

And now Arthur had to pick up the eight year old version of himself that was currently balled up in the center of his chest, and put him back where he goes. In a dark dusty corner of his mind.

It was quiet for a few moments.

The prince turned to find Merlin sat in the floor, the same spot he had been standing, on the other side of the room.

The manservant rose shakily.

“Well, that was…”

“Yeah, it was.” Arthur sighed, long and exhausted.

“Merlin, you are going to go tell my father that I have been unwell since supper last night. Then you will come back here.” Arthur began to unclad himself of belts and tunics.

“Tomorrow, we talk. Today, We are taking a well-deserved nap.”

“You’re inviting me to…take a nap with you.” The blonde could hear the smile creeping into Merlin’s voice as he spoke but decided he was too tired to scold him.

“Yes, Merlin. Or you’re welcome to go sleep in Gaius’ chambers with him banging beakers and books around all day. Be my guest.”

“I’ll be back in a flash, sire.”

Arthur turned just in time to see Merlin wink at him before leaving.

So, this was the new normal.

Arthur liked it.

#merthur #merlin #merlin and arthur #arthur pendragon #merthur fic #bbc merlin #part 2 #Igraine #thanks for all the love on the first part #wanted to get this out before moving onto my more depressing project #lol #Arthur is jealous #it’s kinda funny

247 notes · View notes

zalrb · 10 months

Note

If you have already talked about this, I apologize, but what do you think about this scene ?

I don't remember the context, but it's quite heartbreaking that Merlin makes it into a joke, knowing fully well there's the possibility of Arthur dying.

Oh yay! A Merthur question! I've referred to it in the past but I haven't spoken it about it specifically. From a previous post:

but this moment:

I love this moment so much because Arthur is doing his best to be stoic, to show as little concern as possible because as he said in season 2:

but for one second when he clenches his jaw and sort of inhales, he’s about to break, his emotion is about to overwhelm him and he’s trying to hold it together but Merlin keeps asking to stay by his side, to just be with him and it’s making it hard for him to concentrate on being emotionless so he just ends up bickering with Merlin because he’s worried and upset and scared and can’t Merlin just do what he’s told and get better??

Um, the context is actually pretty loaded because this is the episode Merlin finds Balinor, and obviously Arthur doesn't know that Balinor is Merlin's father just that he's the [apparent] last dragonlord that will help them but Balinor dies so Merlin's going through the emotional rollercoaster of having met his dad for the first time and then losing him pretty immediately afterwards

with Arthur being there for the whole thing but without knowing what's actually happening. He's focused on the fate of Camelot and so he thinks his only chance of saving his kingdom is gone

so when we get to the scene, Arthur thinks he's going on kind of a fool's errand riding out to meet Kilgharrah

and he's actually trying to prepare Merlin for the event of his death

like you see him think about how Merlin would react to him dying

and he's asking him not to be sad, don't grieve for me, don't cry for me because he doesn't like the thought of Merlin in pain especially in pain over him and it's this very patient, protective, he's-a-gentle-soul kind of conclusion and reasoning

and it's not that he wants him to be hardened, he wants him to understand that these things happen and he just wants him to be OK and he communicates that by saying that he tells young knights to move on

and when Merlin makes that crack, it's sweet because it really just speaks to the intimacy of the moment

that he tries to deflect by cracking a joke like 'haha, you don't even mean that much to me, bro!'

"Anyway, let's go fight a dragon together because I'm never leaving your side!"

which actually begets another vulnerable moment

that Arthur kind of backs away from because WHOA that's some direct intimacy there, bro

[after quietly reveling in awe of how brave he finds Merlin just seconds before]

so, another joke because HAHA WE'RE JUST TWO BROS WHO ARE INTENSELY DEVOTED TO EACH OTHER

PLAYFUL-THANKS-BRO PUNCH

These fucking dorks.

#merthur #merlin #merlin bbc #merlin x arthur #arthur x merlin #brolin #arthur pendragon #king arthur #bradley james #colin morgan #season 2 #merlin season 2 #2x13 #merlin 2x13 #the last dragonlord

402 notes · View notes

episodeoftv · 7 months

Text

Round 3 of 8, Group 1 of 2

propaganda and summaries are under the cut (May include spoilers)

Merlin (BBC): 4.06 A Servant of Two Masters

cw there is a scene where Merlin gets a snake shoved into the back of his neck (which can then control him because magic) and obviously various failed attempts at assassinations

When Merlin falls into Morgana's hands, he becomes a deadly weapon in her fight for supremacy. Using ancient magic, she pits friend against friend to create the perfect assassin. An oblivious Arthur is in great danger. Will anyone notice Merlin's unusual behavior before he does the king some serious harm?

merlin (whose main role in the show is saving arthur's life over and over again) is enchanted to try to kill arthur. he makes a hilariously bad assassin and it's fun watching other characters react to the personality change, as well as getting to see some badass merlin and the whole scene with morgana in the beginning was so interesting to watch. he disguises himself as a mean old man so he can say what he really thinks! and the costumes are fantastic in this episode particularly

The West Wing: 2.22 Two Cathedrals

As the Haitian army continues their seizure of the American embassy there, Bartlet and the staff prepare for the announcement that Bartlet has M.S. and the President must decide whether or he will seek re-election. As the funeral for Mrs. Landingham takes place and the announcement draws nearer, Bartlet thinks back to his past in search of the answer to the question everyone is asking: Will he seek re-election?

This episode is such a tour de force. It makes me cry, it’s amazing. Also the casting of the flashbacks is so well done?? Idk, no clever thoughts, it’s just really good

Per Wikipedia, “widely considered to be one of the greatest episodes of The West Wing and one of the best episodes in television history.“ If you watch this episode and don’t have feelings all through Bartlet’s monologue then did you even watch it? No, you didn’t. If you haven’t seen this show, and this episode specifically, then you need to.

#merlin #bbc merlin #the west wing #tww #poll #polls #round3 #r3g1

159 notes · View notes

nothankyoudear · 1 year

Text

The first time Merlin and Arthur talk, it's due to a seating chart.

One moment Merlin is sitting with Will and talking about anything that isn't Biology, and the other he's sitting next to the football captain who- if he's being honest with himself - intimidates him just a little bit.

Because Arthur is all blonde hair and blue eyes and arms as thick as Merlin's thighs, and Merlin is just Merlin - some boy in the back of the class who never speaks.

Arthur is surprisingly nice, although a little bit egotistical at times. He's kind, and when he smiles Merlin can see his canines that kind of make him look like an overgrown puppy (Merlin tries not to think about why he's been so focused on Arthur's smile or his teeth because that's a little bit creepy).

They switch seats again once the semester's over, and Merlin figures that that would be the end of that.

Because Arthur is all laughing with friends and doing sports and having girls faint at his feet, and Merlin is just Merlin. Arthur has no real reason to associate with Merlin after this, so Merlin just lifts his bag and sits next to some girl with brown hair as he silently mourns his silly little crush on the football captain.

Only, it doesn't end there.

The second time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin is standing in front of his locker.

Merlin is putting away things from his last period when he gets tapped on the shoulder. He expects Gwen or Will, and is ready to complain to them about some random assignment when he is faced with blonde hair and blue eyes instead.

Arthur asks Merlin if he'd like to come to his next football game. Merlin has no idea what's happening, but Arthur is blushing and looking away and running his hands through his hair, and Merlin responds yes before processing anything.

Merlin goes to the game. He has no idea what's happening for the entirety of it, but Arthur smiles at him from the field and Merlin can feel his heart pounding in his ears.

The third time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin doesn't quite understand what's going on.

Arthur puts his lunch tray down in front of the seat that is next to Merlin's like he's sat there every day for the past four years. Merlin is a little confused, and wishes that Gwen and Will would stop waggling their eyebrows at him like they're having multiple strokes. When he looks back at the table where Arthur usually sits with his teammates, he can see Gwaine winking at him and making a gesture that should not be made in the school cafeteria.

Merlin is now more than a little bit confused, but he simply eats his soggy slice of pizza and ignores it when Gwen and Will suspiciously has to leave together for some very important business that must be handled together and will take the entirety of the rest of the lunch period.

Arthur is also staring at Merlin weirdly intensely, but Merlin is also staring right back.

Because Arthur is gorgeous and good-looking and built like a Greek god, and you can't really blame Merlin for staring when he's right there.

The next time Merlin and Arthur talk, Merlin is so darn confused he thinks he's losing his mind.

Arthur asks Merlin out for winter formal. Merlin checks behind him for a possible game of truth or dare around the corner, and blinks at Arthur when he doesn't find anything.

When Arthur grows visibly more and more upset at Merlin's silence, Merlin can't stand the kicked puppy expression that he has and straight up asks Arthur if this is a prank. Arthur says no, and Merlin asks why.

Because Arthur is beautiful and handsome and smiles like he's the sun, and Merlin is just Merlin. Arthur could have anyone he'd like in the school, so certainly he would not like the weirdly quiet boy who has holes in his jeans and rips in his sweaters.

Only, he does.

Because Arthur tells Merlin that, to Arthur, Merlin isn't just some boy in the back of the class who never speaks, and he isn't the weirdly quiet boy who has holes in his jeans and rips in his sweaters.

To Arthur, Merlin is the boy whose nose scrunches up adorably when he's focused on a Biology paper. He's the boy that Arthur had been looking at from the other side of the Biology classroom long before they got put together in the seating chart, and the boy that made Arthur's heart drop when he realized that he had no actual reason to talk to anymore after they switched seats.

He's the boy who Arthur is sure that his friends are sick of hearing about. The boy with the sassy remarks that make Arthur wants to kiss him, and the boy who Arthur wants to make smile all the time, whose hands Arthur wants to hold.

Merlin kisses him right there in the hallway, because if he held himself back for one more second he might've actually exploded. Arthur kisses him back.

The next time Merlin and Arthur talk (around half a minute after their kiss), Arthur asks Merlin to be his boyfriend. Merlin says yes, and Arthur smiles so bright that Merlin thinks of the puppy again.

Merlin goes with Arthur to the winter formal, even if the tickets are outrageously expensive. Merlin attends every single one of Arthur's games just to be kissed after them, and as he is laying in bed one day with Arthur's chest pressed up to his back and Arthur's strong arms around his waist, Merlin thinks about writing a thank-you note to his Biology teacher.

And while Arthur is still all blonde hair and blue eyes and arms as thick as Merlin's thighs, and Merlin is still just Merlin, Arthur loves Merlin, and Merlin loves him right back.

433 notes · View notes

oneknightstand-if · 5 months

Note

Say deep into the romance(the notorious L word has been said and everything), how protective of the MC's are the RO's? And how would they handle losing the MC(i,e the MC died in the final battle/sacrificed themselves to win the day or something angsty like that)?

Well, a bunch of the ROs will already be trying to protect the MC as much as they can even before any romance, so there's not too much room to improve there. Also high affinity platonic bond can trigger this as much as any romance.

Merlin: Already the resident bodyguard/babysitter/cat-herder of the group. May give the MC a bit more attention when the group is in danger... but they're already watching over you. They'd perhaps feel more regret if they had to cut the MC loose.

For them, MC's death is... expected. Human lives are so ephemeral, after all. They'll always remember you... even thousands of years later and will bring the MC up in random conversations to random people. Probably MC's most embarrassing moments. For anyone paying attention & talking extensively to them in the game, Merlin already has repeatedly brought up their last longterm lover.

Biggest change here would be Merlin nearly killing themself to make certain that the MC's soul doesn't get dragged to Heaven or Hell. That's the fate that they'd find horrific for a loved one, not the natural death expected of all mortals.

Adrian: He's already potentially carrying the MC away from danger through half the city whether they like it or not so there's no room for Adrian to get more protective without going full yandere on you.

If the high affinity MC is dead, then Adrian is also most likely dead as well. He's the most ride or DIE of all the ROs and this already has implications if you go through the route where the MC refuses to leave their apartment and gets kidnapped by Merlin and Adrian.

Arthur: Due to his nature, he's already MAXIMUM THE PROTECTOR. He may be paying a bit more attention to you during times of danger, but he's already protecting you to his full capability and won't be acting any differently... after all, he's the High King and can't prioritize your safety over all others.

The same goes for the MC's death. The Post Apocalypse is still going to be a complete clusterfuck so he won't have time to stop and grieve. (The same as he won't have time to stop and grieve the fall of Camelot and the deaths of most of the people he knew because unlike the other Harbingers who reincarnated or who actually lived through the 1500 years span of time, to him Camelot fell last week.)

He'll create a suitable memorial customized exactly to the MC's tastes once things have calmed down. And Merlin will sneak over to comfort him, because Merlin's one of the few who can see past Arthur's strong front.

Percy: He's going to be hanging around a high affinity MC a lot, romanced or not. You're probably not going to notice much difference protection-wise as he's the sort who'd jump in to help you without a moment's notice even if he didn't like you.

At the MC's death, he'd probably disappear into a forest for several weeks without anyone being able to find him. He'll eventually return to the group though because he knows that he's needed. The MC would've been his first romantic love... and most probably will be his last as well.

4̷0̸4̸ ̷E̷r̷r̵o̴r̵ ̶N̶o̴t̷ ̴F̵o̸u̵n̶d̵: [SPOILERS]

Cassandra: She's a cop, so she's already keeping a protective eye out on the entire group as a whole. She'll be making extra special precautions for a high affinity MC. (This is probably one of the safest positions to have during the Apocalypse... as long as the MC behaves themselves).

Cassandra has some pretty traumatic stuff in her background, so this won't be the first lover she's lost. Her reaction will also depend on how you went... in an awesome blaze of glory (she'll build a statue for you) or something painfully drawn out & full of regret (heads will roll).

Vivian: Uh... you are probably going to need to have a 'discussion' with Vivian regarding her protectiveness. It can get a bit overwhelming at times. Like Merlin, she is well aware of the inherent ephemeral nature of a mortal.

So wouldn't it be better if she just 'took care' of all those people who approach you, just in case they turned out to be dangerous? And actually, why don't you stay with her at the bottom of the lake from now on? All the time. That would be very safe.

Otherwise, whatever killed the MC better hope it's already dead before Vivian gets at them.

Gwen: She's more the type that people protect than the type who protects people. The support from the background type. But you get close enough, that will not stop her at all and she will absolutely try to protect you to the best of her ability. Like right up there in the frontlines. You both may need to end up saving each other in that case.

About the MC's death... it's fine. It's fine. You've already died and reincarnated once. It can happen again. She'll be waiting for you. Eternally if necessary.

Lorelei: She'll already be highly protective of certain types of MCs (romanced or otherwise). Unlike some of the others, there'll actually be a noticeable change in her demeanor.

She's not the type to ever abandon someone in danger, but she will absolutely prioritize a romanced or high affinity MC over others. To the point where highly skilled fighter MCs may need to tell her to take a step back because she's jumping in even when it would be better that she did her own thing.

Will be quietly having a BSOD upon the MC's death (which she' ll blame entirely on her failing to protect and be there for the MC at the last moment). She'll eventually come back to the group as the icy version of Wrath, barely interacting with others while still carrying out her duties. (The other Harbingers are going to really have their work cut out for them there.)

Broderick: Another one who's demeanor will change after getting close to him... especially after what happens in his subplot. He'll be constantly protectively hovering over high affinity MC. But just during the dangerous times. (Which is actually all the time.) The MC will probably need to work through a few issues with him.

He'll be completely gutted by the MC's death and not really functional for quite awhile after that point. Definitely a changed man (and not for the better). It might take years for him to recover.

#Having so many Dead Ends in the game means I've already basically ironed out how the others would react #At least in the way they present themselves throughout the first book #oks-asks #oks-ROs

76 notes · View notes

bluheaven-adw · 1 year

Text

WATCH THE WHOLE THING! Trust me 😏

It's here!!!!!!! I hope this was worth the wait :)

Images and information on a DTIYS below the jump!

This first bit of this might be familiar as it's been posted before. New stuff added at end!

Dark Excalibur Au

Everything happens exactly the same up to then very end of Wizards. The only difference being Jim is able to pull Excalibur then, on his own, making him Nimue's champion. Nimue grants him his crown and restores the trollhunter amulet to him. (Sorry Douxie and Krel, you'll get your time to shine later).. this is when Excalibur's aesthetic changes.

While Jim is 100% human now, he's not without after effects from being a troll. Not much physically (a bit stronger and faster), but personality wise... he's a bit more feral, confident, not really any trace of his former anxieties (except when it comes to Claire). He's not without fear (we don't need gritshaka Jim here...) but has mastery over it. Sometimes he can get a bit more... chaotic and temperamental... than before, but despite that, he's still Jim to his core. Despite all that he's been through, he's still ultimately kind, pure of heart, always tries to do the right thing, fiercely protective of those he loves.... as Blinky put it, a man of honor, courage and valor.

He's stopped fighting his destiny and stepped into it fully instead.

To quote Sakon...

Jim's problem has always been that he cares too much, and the anger inside him burns against the injustice of the world. It's Jim against the world, and the world /will move.

He still has way to much in the self sacrificial department…... but usually remembers that he has a team... literally the roundtable... a wizard, a sorceress... and a literal goddess….. backing him up.

START OF NEW:

You'll notice the blade is whole, not just repaired. Nimue, who for obvious reasons, is not a fan of merlin or arthur... originally only repaired Excalibur's blade instead of healing it. The fractures remained as a check on its power.. kind of like a short circuit. Jim gets no such hobbling. He's entrusted with Excalibur's full power. And if Sakon will allow me to borrow again, his check is in the gem in his crown, but it's only temporary as he learns to control Excalibur's power, and his newfound station and abilities... just a bit of a reminder, but one he rarely, if ever, needs.

There is no incantation on the amulet. It's not needed anymore. All Jim needs to do is think it, and it's there. Excalibur is not tied to the amulet like Daylight was. He can use it without the armor, or dematerialize it if wanted. The armor has two forms, much like Daylight and Eclipse, the 2nd is only a thought away. Normally a steely blue grey, it can shift to black, and if Jim really leans into the power of Excalibur then the whole thing, from crown to blade, turns pitch and lights up. There's so much magic running through him from the sword that his eyes glow with it.

Someone on IG asked if the Dark/Feral bits denoted corruption or Jim gone rogue. The Dark just denotes the color change for Excalibur. No corruption! It's just rockin the black instead of gold. As for feral.... in the sense that he's a tad more aggressive, more willing to finish the fight so to speak. He's got a little wildness, a little otherworldly magic, to him (not in the sense that he's a wizard, just that he's got the magic of Excalibur and being goddess touched).

Now, for the DTIYS!

Rules are

Draw it in your style!

Please no tracing, I want to see what you come up with

Use #DarkExcaliburDTIYS when you post!

Tag me and I will share

Please out a copy of my original art in your post

This will run until June 1

I will pick my top 3 across all platforms

There will be prizes, I just have no clue what lol.

I will link a folder filled with references for you to use! From the armor, to color keys (whenever tumblr lets me paste the stupid link 😡

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#jim lake jr #tales of arcadia #dark excalibur #dark excalibur au #darkexcaliburDTIYS #trollhunters #toa #toa fanart #wizards toa #toa wizards #wizards tales of arcadia #rott #toa rise of the titans #rise of the titans #trollhunters fanart #james lake junior #james lake jr

258 notes · View notes

shanastoryteller · 2 years

Note

happy halloween! some more time travel drarry pleaaase

a continuation of 1 2

Draco doesn't think about the implications of his actions, just bribes Rosmerta to let him use her floo and stumbles out into the parlor. He's brushing the dust off his robes when his father rounds the corner, wand in his hand that slides back into his robe when he sees him. Draco had forgotten about the sensing charm attached to the floor.

"Draco?" Lucius asks, his face creased in concern as he reaches out to him. "What are you doing here? Is everything all right? Are you hurt?"

He's an adult. He make look twelve, but he's a twenty-three year old man.

Draco throws himself at his father, wrapping his arms around his waist and pressing his face against his chest. He's so glad his father survived the war, but in a lot of ways the man that was left behind wasn't anything like the man who raised him.

He's missed his dad.

"Everything is going to be fine," Lucius says, rubbing a hand over his back, authoritative and firm, like he can make something be true just by saying it. "Tell me what happened and I'll fix it."

If they manage to make it back home, then none of this matters.

If they don't -

"There's a monster in Hogwarts," he says, and the way he's trembling is real even if it's not for the reason his father will think it is. "I saw it when I was in the halls. It was huge, like a snake, but the size of a dragon. Don't make me go back."

"You saw-" Lucius starts, then cuts himself off. Draco hadn't caught even a hint of the basilisk the first time around, of course. A sixteen year old Tom Riddle had enough loyalty to his house to not want to harm any of its members. Or maybe he was just smart enough to know that harming one Malfoy would likely piss off the rest of them. "Foolish girl. She was supposed to give it to her father."

Draco stares. He understands that sentence, of course, but there's no way for his father to know that. They hadn't ever spoke about it and he'd found out the details from his mother years after the fact.

He'd never considered the idea that his father had given Ginny the diary as a way to get into the hands of Arthur Weasley. The head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department, who would probably know exactly what to do with a possessed diary.

"Dad? Can you make it go away?"

He hadn't last time, once things had started. But Draco hadn't asked him last time, either.

Lucius looks down at him and smooth a hand over his hair. "Don't worry, Draco. I'll handle this. Stay here."

His father throws floo powder in the fireplace, says, "Ministry of Magic," and steps through.

Draco has no idea what he intends to do. It makes him nervous, and he's already second guessing saying anything, but he already knows what saying nothing gets him.

There's a pop and a morose voice asks, "Is Young Master needing anything?"

Oh merlin, he'd forgotten about Dobby. He's tempted to set him free right now and make him Harry's problem. It would serve him right for dragging him to the past.

Instead he says, "I'm going to need you to pass along a couple messages for me."

Dobby's eyes narrow in suspicion, but he says, "Of course, Young Master."

#prompt answers #prompts are closed #asks #anon #harry potter

681 notes · View notes

cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu · 1 year

Text

The story of how Mordred called Merlin mom and then proceeded to call Arthur dad and now he's adopted into the family

Author: Me aka @dalazygamerneko

Inspired by @tongjaitongjai merthur idea, check out it out here: 🐓x🐦=🐣

♤•°•♡•°•♤•°•♡•°•♤•°•♡•°•♤•°•♡•°•♤

It was ordinary day. Birds were singing, training went well and the maids were busy but happily chatting.

Nothing could go wrong Mordred thought as he made his way to the afternoon roundtable meeting when he came across Merlin or Emrys as he is known amongst druids, quickly he hid into an alcove and gazed in envy at Lord Emrys, no, Merlin smiling and holding a little boy in his arms.

It's moments like these that he wished he knew his mother longer but he could barely remember her. He watched quietly at the soft look in Merlin's eyes and utter joy upon the little boy's face as they hugged each other, Mordred wondered if his mother would've looked at him the same way Merlin did.

He sighed, leaning back against the stone walls Mordred couldn't help but want to revert back into being a child again just so Merlin wouldn't gaze coldly at him, albeit he probably deserved it for the words of hatred he said in his youth. He knew now Merlin never meant to lead those knights towards his camp. That the warlock was only trying to help Morgana.

"What can I do to earn your trust?"

Mordred shook his head, he'd think of something maybe ask one of the knights for help? He's noticed that Sir Lancelot and Sir Gwaine are closer to Merlin than the other knights.

'They're also the most protective of him' Mordred thought dryly, a crease upon his brow as multiple ideas popped into his mind and many he shot down knowing it won't work.

"Well, I'll just have to hope the triple Goddess guides me." Mordred mumbled, he looked out into the hallway, Merlin was gone, most likely doing chores for the King.

Mordred chuckled as he continued walking, he would never understand the relationship Emrys and the once and future King had with each other. There were times they seem like close comrades begrudging in their respect for one another and then other times they would argue fondly like any old married couple.

Not surprising when plenty of townsfolk as well as even the nobles have speculated in the past if Merlin was being courted by Prince Arthur, to any outsider it certainly looked that way therefore Merlin was given the "mistress" treatment.

Now everyone are wondering(more like waiting impatiently) when will the King announce his engagement to Merlin.

"If I remember correctly, doesn't Sir Gwaine have a bet going on?"

Mordred pondered. 'Yeah, I'll definitely join in. There's no way they're NOT together. I mean, I've seen the lingering stares they give each other as if there is no one around them.'

Soon he was at the doors leading to the roundtable meeting, nodding at the vigilant guards they let him through. His eyes slowly moved over the knights, nobles and some commoners before landing on Merlin who was standing behind the King's chair.

An unassuming figure, most often underestimated but to those who know magic deeply or follow the old religion, Emrys entire being is a vast ocean of wild magic swirling in such a magnitude that no mere mortal could ever understand or harness the power Emrys wields.

Then he locked eyes with Merlin, there is no icy stare thankfully, yet he can still see a hint of wariness in his Lord's gaze.

He bowed his head in acknowledgement before finding a seat next to the gossiping pair Sir Percival and Sir Gwaine.

"I could be at a tavern right now, drinking and charming the barmaid Stella instead I'm stuck here." Gwaine said with a miffed face, his hand gripping the air imagining he was holding a mug of ale.

Elyan who sat across from Gwaine raised an eyebrow, "Isn't Stella old enough to be your grandmother?"

Gwaine smirked whilst shrugging. "Just like wine the older one gets the finer they become, besides she has experience, I'm sure there's a thing or two she could still teach mmph—"

Leon had reached over to clamp Gwaine's mouth shut.

The ginger haired knight had just about enough of hearing Gwaine's tavern tales of debauchery to which he thought was an inappropriate topic to be discussed or heard at the roundtable meeting.

"Sir Gwaine, leave your nightly talks at the tavern only, please."

Gwaine pulled Leon's hand away and smiled cheekily at the older knight.

"Oh, but wouldn't you like to know? Stella has mentioned she likes ginger haired men with beards and I bet she could show you—"

"I am going to strangle you—"

Gwaine leaned back avoiding Leon's hands from trying to keep him quiet again.

"Sir Leon I never knew you were this kinky, I think dear old Stella would like to feel your big strong hands—ack!"

Leon finally got him, unfortunately the meeting was starting, so Gwaine was safe from being throttled by him. However, tomorrow morning during training he'll get his chance.

Mordred along with the rest of the knights chuckled at Sir Gwaine's antics and Sir Leon's annoyed expression.

♤To be continued♤

233 notes · View notes

nimrism · 26 days

Note

hello! daily morgana pendragon deserves the world. also, i'm very curious to see what you think a morgana and lena interaction would look like! i feel like the universe would break. oh! this is me realizing they both have something against their brothers. what a nice realization to have! anyway, just wondering what you think that might look like :)

DAILY REMINDER THAT MORGANA PENDRAGON DESERVES THE WORLD!

i'm so sorry it took me THIS LONG to get to replying to this but i wanted to do it JUSTICE cause i love this ask with all my heart it speaks to my very soul :)) (i do apologize for this getting really really long, though)

lena and morgana!! they're so similar and yet so different at the same time it's so awesome to delve into their characters and try to dissect what's happening in those brilliant heads of theirs like i could write thesis papers analyzing their characters without ever getting bored. they're just so special to me :,)

what would an interaction between them look like, though? hmmmm i guess it depends on the context of the interaction like why would they be in the same room in the first place? has morgana been reincarnated? what is she doing in national city? or is lena the one who crossed the pond and went to england? are we talking canon s6 lena who has magic? has she gone to england to get closer to her witch ancestors? IS MORGANA HER WITCH ANCESTOR? DID SHE ACCIDENTALLY/ON PURPOSE RAISE HER FROM THE DEAD? i think the concept of morgana being lena's ancestor is super interesting cause it would influence lena's opinion on arthur and merlin and camelot in general. so, if we consider the connection between them ancestral, i think their interactions would be reverent (at least on lena's end) and morgana would (maybe after initial reluctance or hostility) sort of accept lena as her descendant and her protégé and teach her all sorts of magic. lena's part in helping morgana adjust to the modern world would also be a huge aspect i feel like cause morgana would be so confused with modern technology and the fact that technically there are no more "kingdoms" and camelot is no more so what exactly is her purpose in this modern world? lena helping her through that (or at least trying to) would form a huge part of their relationship i think.

buuuuuut if the context is different like maybe lena has discovered a way to time travel and she finds herself in camelot or in the woods around morgana's s4 cabin and morgana happens to stumble upon her there, it would be different. because WHY is there a woman in morgana's image in the STRANGEST clothes walking around with glowing objects (technology) that aren't inherently magical (morgana can't feel the magic in them) but MUST be because this isn't just something anyone can conjure up?? no matter the time we're talking (s1/2/3/4) i feel like morgana would react very negatively until lena can earn her trust or at least convince her she's not a sick joke merlin/emrys is playing on morgana. i also think lena would be wayyy out of her depth in medieval england like yeah she's a genius but she eats salads and fast food and has a bajillion-dollar penthouse equipped with all the latest technologies so living without the luxuries of the modern world would be a CHALLENGE even for her so i think it'd be fun to see morgana's reaction to lena absolutely STRUGGLING to get through her day.

once we're past the logistics of the interaction and the awkward introductions and general initial animosity phase and they FINALLY get to talking, they'll have lots of things in common. like you mentioned, they both have this innate hatred for their brothers, but with lena, lex has caused her unimaginable trauma and pain and despite all of that she's managed to get back up and say to his face that yeah she hates him but she loves herself more and that she's finally letting go of that hatred to go live her life. with morgana, however, that hatred for arthur has become all-consuming, even though it only stemmed from uther sort of unknowingly pitting them against each other forever by acknowledging arthur as his son and heir but never morgana. morgana's hatred for uther extended to arthur and when uther died, arthur became the sole recipient of that hatred. unlike lena, morgana doesn't have anyone to pull her out of the darkness, to show her that even when family fails to understand you and/or accept you, there are friends who will. she doesn't have that support system, and so she succumbs to the darkness and the hate and lets it eat away at her soul. this is where they differ, in my opinion, lena had a support system and the innate strength to stop the generational trauma cycle, while morgana had neither (doomed by the narrative from the start maybe i'll just cry).

this part's a bit controversial cause it depends on your headcanons and who you ship and stuff but another thing i feel was detrimental is UNREQUITED LOVE. lena's half-hearted "villain" arc only happened when she found out that her best friend had been keeping such a huge part of her identity from her (which isn't something you would do to someone you love) so she was like fuck it i'm going to fix humanity cause you guys SUCK. but when she eventually realized that wait, maybe kara does actually love her and care about her and she didn't entirely mean to hurt her (whether you read it as platonic or romantic, her love was requited) she went back and apologized and everything (even though she didn't need to apologize she's never done anything wrong in her life). morgana's brand might as well just be unrequited love, on the other hand. it goes as far back as her biological father (bro didn't even acknowledge her as his daughter), and extends to pretty much everyone she may or may not have been in love with (whether you ship her with gwen (the only right answer) or merlin or even the dumbass alvarr guy). she's been made to feel unlovable her whole life and at some point she believes it and takes it at face-value as the truth, and that's part of what pushes her to extremes like the ones she goes to in the show. ("if i can't have love, i want power"). with both gwen and merlin they're both so devotedly loyal to arthur that even if i were in her shoes i'd get pissed off, so, since she doesn't believe that they'll ever be loyal to her just because, she tortures and brainwashes merlin to get him to do her bidding, and she kidnaps gwen and brainwashes her to get her "old friend" back, because, in the state that she's in by s5, she doesn't believe that anyone will ever be devoted to her for HER, so she forces them to be. this concept of never having love requited voluntarily plays such a huge part in shaping morgana's character and making her that much different from lena, in my opinion.

i could go on and on about the implications of the dark tower episode and every word morgana said to gwen, but that's a story for another post because this one is already getting waaay too long.

ANYWAY i may have strayed from the point a few times BUT I JUST HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THEM, OKAY? thank you so much for this ask it was so much fun to answer and AS ALWAYS if you want to further discuss morgana or lena or both and speculate on how they would meet/interact i'm always up for a fun discussion 😼

#god this is way too long #i'm rambling about anything and everything #but i just love lena and morgana so much #they're so gf #the parallels between them are sooooo #katie's acting choices will forever be my roman empire #AND HER ROLE CHOICES AS WELL #oh a woman with daddy issues and a brother she hates?? SIGN ME TF UP!#i'll never get over them i fear #bbc merlin #morgana pendragon #merlin #supergirl #lena luthor #supercorp #morgwen #morgana

23 notes · View notes

a-small-batch-of-dragons · 1 month

Text

Three Women to a Market

Trans femme Merlin perhaps? – anon

Read on Ao3

Warnings: gender dysphoria

Pairings: none

Word Count: 4149

Morgana and Gwen have...noticed some strange things about Merlin, which isn't saying much, considering that he's quite a strange man. Still, there are things that seem a little out of the ordinary, even for Merlin. Or, five times Merlin had to hide her true self, and one time she didn't.

Morgana truly doesn’t think much of it when she catches Merlin in her wardrobe, fussing with her dresses.

“I don’t think that one’s quite your color,” she says, hiding a smile when he jumps and turns around so quickly he almost stumbles into the side.

“I was just—um—there was a moth—“

“A moth?” She raises her eyebrows, still grinning, and Merlin doubles down.

“Yes! A moth. Huge, the size of—of—“ he holds his hands up— “it was this big. Eat right through any of these—these dresses, M’Lady, I had to make sure it hadn’t gotten in.”

Morgana narrows her eyes playfully at him before she sighs and turns to go to her vanity. “If it’s that big of a moth, perhaps we should call the knights. Get them to shoo it right out.”

She watches him in the mirror as he fumbles for something to say. “I, uh, I think I go it out.”

“Oh, you did? How wonderful, thank you, Merlin. Whatever would we do without you?”

Arthur’s right, she thinks giddily as Merlin turns back to meekly shut the wardrobe, his ears do turn red when he’s all flustered.

“M’Lady,” he mumbles as he turns to go.

Morgana waits until the door has closed and the footsteps clattered away before she sighs, resting her chin on her hands. She turns back to the wardrobe and takes out the dress Merlin had been ‘examining.’

It’s one of her more colorful ones, the rich green one with the purple trim and the stones fastening in the back. She runs her fingers over it, checking to see that there weren’t any moth holes and for what Merlin was actually doing with it. As she looks, she can’t find anything obviously wrong with it, nor can she find evidence of any less than savory endeavors that she would expect from some other men who snuck into her clothes. Try as she might, though, she can’t imagine Merlin doing anything of the sort. Sure, he was awkward at times, and he could be bumbling in his attempts at talking to women of any sort, but he wasn’t like that.

She hangs the dress back up, frowning as she walks back over to her vanity. She takes a seat and begins to under the intricate hairstyle Gwen had done this morning. No, she thinks to herself, it wasn’t like he was looking at them because they were mine, per se.

Rather, he’d just been looking at the dress.

She glances at the wardrobe in the mirror. As ward of Uther Pendragon, he had spared no expense to see her clothed in whatever fineries were available. They were fine works of art in their own right. She supposes she can’t fault Merlin for appreciating the craftsmanship—so few men ever did. Idly, she finds herself picturing one of her shopping days with Gwen, the two of them going stall to stall, inspecting the various wares, and Merlin behind them, helping to carry things, offering his own slightly bumbling opinions, and smiling bashfully when they took his advice.

Morgana stops. Shakes herself. Gives herself a look in the mirror.

What is she thinking? Shopping day was her day to spend with Gwen and Gwen alone. They’d never allowed so much as a guard to accompany them, and here she was fantasizing about including Merlin?

She must be more tired than she thought. She gives herself another shake and goes back to fixing her hair.

Still, she can’t help but smile to herself, it really wasn’t his color.

***

Gwen has long ago come to the understanding that Merlin is one of the most peculiar people she’s ever met and no, she doesn’t mind even the slightest bit.

From their first meeting, him in the stocks, covered with rotting tomatoes, shaking her hand as though they were meeting under perfectly normal circumstances, to this past week where he offered to help her carry the massive laundry baskets and somehow tangled a sheet around a running thief and caught him with a child’s brooch in his pockets, she can never be quite sure what’s going to happen when the two of them spend time together.

She’s not complaining, though. Merlin is by far one of the better options for companionship.

still, she hesitates before asking him for a favor where the two of them have a moment to breathe in between their duties to the Pendragons.

“I know it’s a strange ask,” Gwen says quietly, tucked away in the side hall, “and I understand if you say no—“

“No, Gwen, I’d…I’d be happy to help.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I, er, don’t know how much help I’ll be, I’m not—you know, I’m not you—“

“But you’ll be there, and you’ll be another pair of eyes, and that’s all I need.” Gwen reaches out and clasps his hands, smiling widely. “Oh, thank you, thank you, Merlin, I would ask Morgana, but she’s…terribly wealthy.”

Merlin frowns. “What do you mean?”

Gwen sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “She’d suggest I use some fabric or thread that’s from three kingdoms over and when I say that I can’t afford that, she just offers to get it for me, and I…”

Merlin nods with a slight grimace. “Yes, I had to explain to Arthur that he didn’t need to get new boots just because the toe had been scuffed slightly more than usual.”

Gwen shakes her head, grinning. “Thank you so much, Merlin, I really appreciate it.”

“Of course. I’ll see you—“

“At twilight, yes.”

They meet up near Gwen’s father’s house, Merlin tricking his hands politely behind his back as she leads him off to her friend’s house. She takes a key from inside the pail and unlocks the door, letting Merlin inside to see the rows of fabric spread out along the table.

“This shouldn’t take too long,” she says, tucking the key into her apron, “and I’ve got some ideas already.”

“I’m ready when you are.”

Gwen hadn’t been lying; she has most of these patterns planned out already, she just needs to…say them out loud and make sure they sound just as sensible outside of her head as they did inside. Merlin listens carefully, asking clarifying questions here and there when Gwen uses a bit of technical language he doesn’t understand. But it’s…honestly, it’s like talking to any of the other women she works with on these. Once or twice, she even holds up the fabric to see how it goes with Merlin’s complexion and he nearly glows each time she does.

”I know this is boring,” she says near the end, “but you’ve been really helpful.”

“No, I’m—this is kind of fun,” Merlin admits, scratching the back of his head, “I…I’m glad I could help.”

Gwen pauses, her hands on the next bolt of fabric, She looks at him for a moment. “If…if you’d be willing, I think I’m going to need some more help next month?”

Merlin beams. “I’d love to.”

Strange man, yes, but Gwen adores him.

***

At some point, Camelot will admit to itself that it hosts the tournaments and festivals as often as it does for the sheer enjoyment of it, not because of any old traditions or long-term alliances that must be maintained, or whatever the old steward was on about whenever Morgana asked. It’s an excuse for celebration, and there should be no shame in saying as much.

There’s another one this week; knights and champions have been arriving all morn and the royal retinue of Camelot has been in court to welcome those of noble heritage. It’s not so bad, truth be told, most of the things she must do is allow her hand to be kissed by those who have the courage to approach her, and smile politely at those who do not while having whispered conversations with Gwen as they speak to Uther and Arthur. As far as hours-long court proceedings go, there are far worse ones to be trapped in.

At least until Gwen murmurs that she has to step away and attend to t he rest of her duties.

Morgana nods, because Gwen is right, of course, but she cannot help the slight slump of her shoulders as she watches Gwen curtsy and leave the grand hall. With her conversation partner no more, she finds herself growing bored quickly. She has no interest in recounting ceiling tiles, so she lets her eyes drift over to where Arthur and Merlin are standing.

Arthur greets every knight with a firm handshake and they exchange a few challenges, fighting words, whatever they want to call their puffing themselves up like proud peacocks. Merlin stands there much the same way she is, a polite indifference on his face that only breaks when one of the knights deigns to look at him.

“Are you eager for another bout, then?” Arthur laughs as he shakes the hand of a knight from Cenred’s kingdom. “Or are you still recovering from that fall you had last time we met?”

“You got lucky, young prince,” the knight says with a laugh, “I assure you it will not happen again.”

“Right, I’m sure this time you’ll blame the horse.”

The knight laughs again and glances at Merlin. “Is this your squire? Another man to back up your words?”

“Merlin? Oh, god no, he’s my manservant.” Arthur claps a hand on Merlin’s shoulder. “Not one for the ring.”

“Perhaps you should let him have his fun this time around,” the knight suggests, “it’s every man’s right to feel the rush.”

Something flickers across Merlin’s face so quickly Morgana is half convinced she imagined it.

“Oh, trying to beat my manservant instead of me? Are you that afraid?”

They exchange one or two more jabs before the knight moves on.

After that, well, every time one of the knights or Arthur says something about the tournament being ‘a man’s greatest glory’ or ‘a man’s desire for combat or victory’ or ‘it’s a man’s right to fight for his honor,’ some such masculine nonsense, she sees that flicker across Merlin’s face again. One of them says something about Merlin being a coward and she half expects Arthur to do the same, only for Arthur to put his arm firmly around Merlin’s shoulders and say that the measure of a man is not in battlefield prowess alone, and that Merlin is just as much a man as any of them.

Which would be…oddly sweet for Arthur, and honestly a vast improvement, had Merlin not immediately looked like he was about to be sick.

She’s moving before she realizes it.

“Uther,” she calls, watching the man’s head instantly snap around to look at her, “I find myself growing weary, would it be alright if I…?”

He’s nodding before she even finishes her sentence. “Yes, of course. Please, you’ve done enough for today, there’s only a few of them left.”

She curtsies. “I’m going to go for a walk in the gardens. Merlin, would you accompany me?”

Arthur gives her a strange look, but Merlin has already nodded and made to step away.

“Merlin!”

“It’s alright,” Merlin says to Arthur, leaning in a little, “you know how particular Morgana is about things like this.”

Ah, they must be remembering the guards that were found with their britches stuffed with bread rolls and cakes shoved into their mouths after they tried to ‘escort’ her. She smiles fondly at the memory.

Merlin steps easily to her side, offering her his arm as they depart the hall. With her hand nestled in the crook of his elbow, she can feel the way his shoulders slump as soon as the doors thud shut behind them.

As they make their way outside, the cool breeze blowing through the flowers, Merlin bows his head and mumbles something under his breath.

“Thank you.”

Morgana gives his arm a squeeze. “I should be thanking you for giving me the perfect excuse to get out of there.”

Merlin chuckles and their laughter floats through the garden paths.

***

It seems like every other day in Camelot, something is going wrong, or someone needs to know this obscure bit of information, or some long-long grudge held by a noble that Uther won’t speak about needs to be revealed so that the kingdom doesn’t descend into war.

Regardless of the reason, Gwen has memorized how to get to Gaius’s quarters from nearly everywhere in the castle.

Today is no exception; some visiting noble has caught a terrible cold and seems to believe she is on the verge of death. Despite multiple repeated attempts to placate her, nothing but the promise to fetch the King’s physician would do anything to stop the hysterical cries. So, here Gwen is, going down to Gaius’s chambers late at night to try and get him to come and soothe this poor woman.

When she reaches the corridor, she’s surprised to see the door is partly open. She frowns, touching it lightly, and it swings open to reveal a mostly darkened room. Gaius is nowhere to be found and so she turns to look somewhere else when she catches sight of light coming from Merlin’s room at the very back. With no small amount of concern, she walks carefully into the room and peers up the stairs.

Through the thin crack in the door, she glimpses Merlin holding a massive black blanket. It’s a shaggy and shedding thing with bits of fiber falling off as he moves back and forth. She frowns, creeping a bit closer. What on earth could Merlin be doing with such a thing? The weather hadn’t turned that cold yet, and even if it had, a blanket like that wouldn’t provide any sort of decent insulation on its own. Does Merlin need more blankets? She’s sure if they asked Arthur, maybe he would—

Her line of thinking comes to an abrupt halt when she sees him disappear behind the blanket and reappear with it wrapped around his neck. And his arms. And his chest. And—

Oh, Gwen realizes silently as Merlin shakes out the fabric, it’s a dress.

A baggy, shapeless, shedding and sweltering dress, but a dress nonetheless. Merlin adjusts it once more and looks at the wall—there must be a mirror there. Something in his expression changes, smoothing out, and he takes the skirt in his hands, moving it about. He turns this way and that, looking at his reflection.

In a flash, something cold and shameful crawls over Gwen’s skin.

I’m not supposed to see this.

This is clearly a private moment for Merlin. It means a lot to him. She shouldn’t be here, stealing it. Gaius isn’t here anyway, she’s here to find Gaius, not intrude and spy on Merlin.

As quickly and quietly as she can, she makes her way out and closes the door to Gaius’s rooms. With any luck, someone else has found him already and the noblewoman’s fears have been calmed.

Still, as much as she tries to banish it from her mind, she can’t stop thinking about how happy Merlin looked as he put on the dress.

***

Ripples distort the reflection of the moon across the surface of the lake as a cool breeze blows into the forest. Crickets sing as the horse makes its way carefully through the underbrush, snuffling at bushes and three branches of interest. When it reaches the tree line around the lake, it comes to a stop to allow its rider to dismount and walk towards the water’s edge.

The figure sets a basket down near to a broad, flat rock and lays a folded-up cloak next to it. The moonlight captures a hand reaching for a bottle tucked into the tip of the basket. The horse snuffles and nibbles on some grass as the figure drinks the bottle’s contents and reaches for the folded-up cloak. Clouds cover the moon as the magic begins to take effect.

When the sky clears, an old woman sits on the rock, a small bundle of yarn in her lap. She clumsily picks up the knitting needles, fumbling to hold them correctly in her hands, before she continues to knit the scarf that pools beneath her elbows. The stitches are not the neatest, some are a little tighter than the others, and every so often she drops one and has to go back and fix it. The fibers on her dress catch in her work every so often and the yarn tangles from its sloppily-coiled ball as she tries to draw more out.

And yet there is a contented smile on her face as she knits in the moonlight.

The smile does not leave her face as she lets her mind wander, but it does change. It grows wistful as she imagines herself walking through the market, looking at everything and talking with the merchants. It grows melancholy when she realizes that the moon will begin to fade soon and she won’t be able to come here for a while. It grows bittersweet as she realizes her scarf is nearly finished, and she’ll have to find some new yarn soon.

It grows terribly sad as she thinks about how here, and only here, does she truly feel Ike herself.

Her horse, as if sensing her thoughts, ambles over and noses at her shoulder. She lifts one hand from her knitting to pat its face, smile turning happier as the horse snuffles against her hair. She sighs, promising to herself that she will think happier thoughts now, when she hears a twig behind her snap.

She turns, peering into the darkness. After a moment, the horse calls out and two answering nickers sound from the trees.

”I know you’re there,” she calls, “you may as well come out!”

A pause, during which the breeze sends ripples across the lake, and then two more figures emerge from the darkness of the tree line. One clad in a rich green cloak, the other in more modest blue one. They lower their hoods to look at the old woman, sat on the rick with her knitting in her lap.

‘We’re looking for a friend,” the taller one says, her voice as clear and cool as the moon, “we thought he might have passed this way.”

The old woman shuffles. “Awfully late for a friend to be passing through.”

“Which is why we’re quite eager to find him. We don’t know where he’s gone and we’d like to ensure he’s safe. Have you seen anyone around?”

The old woman turns back to the lake. ‘None have passed by this lake except me and this old one.”

Her horse nickers.

The other figure, who holds the reins of the other two horses, furrows her brow. She looks between the horses and at the old woman’s dress, Something flickers across her expression and she swallows heavily.

“Well, if you do see our friend, could you pass on a message?”

The other figure’s head turns and she hisses: “What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” the second hisses back, before speaking normally again. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

The old woman turns back slightly. “What message would you send?”

“There’s a market that opens up in Camelot tomorrow,” she says, “we were wondering if our friend would like to come with us.”

The old woman pauses. “That is a very nice message to pass to a friend.”

“The market is lovely this time of year,” she continues, “if…if you can come, I think you’d have a wonderful time.”

The moon glimmers across the surface of the water as the old woman takes a breath and lets it out slowly. “…yes. Perhaps I would. It has been…some time since I have been to a market.”

“You should come,” she says, “I would love to see you there.”

The first woman, who had been looking between the two of them, perplexed, seems to turn her trust to her companion and nods. “It would be nice to have someone else to walk about with.”

The old woman is quiet for a moment. “If I see your friend, I will tell him this. And perhaps…perhaps I will see you too?”

“Yes, that would be lovely.”

The old woman nods once more. “You two should go back to your houses. As you have said, it is very late and not good to be out of doors like this.”

The two women exchange another look, before bidding their farewells and riding back off into the darkness of the forest. The old woman remains there for a moment longer, looking at the water, then down at herself.

“A market day,” she muses, her smile returning, “perhaps…perhaps this would be a good idea.”

***

+1.

“Are you sure about this, Gwen?”

“Positive,” Gwen says, eyes scanning the crowd. Next to her, Morgana sighs and folds her arms.

“I still don’t know what you hope to gain by inviting that old woman to the market. And what of Merlin? That was his horse she had with her, and if she had it then—“

“Morgana,” Gwen says, turning and clasping her hands, “please, trust me. Merlin is alright, and the old woman—well, you’ll see when she gets here.”

Morgana narrows her eyes at her for a moment before sighting. “Alright. But if you’re wrong about this—“

“Then you can have all of the sugar pastries they made.”

“Just to be sure you remember,” Morgana smiles, both of them knowing full well she‘s going to insist that Gwen have at least one.

“There!”

Gwen points through the crowd. Sure enough, the old woman shuffles slowly towards them, looking about and pulling the cloak a bit closer around her head. Her black dress catches on the loose cobbles as she goes, her hands knitting together nervously as she moves about. Gwen waves, gesturing her over to the small patch of stillness they’d found for themselves amidst the hustle and bustle.

“Look at her eyes,” Gwen murmurs to Morgana as the old woman nears, “really look at her.”

Morgana opens her mouth to ask what exactly that could mean, but quickly changes to smile when the old woman draws near. “Hello, I’m so glad you could make it.”

The old woman looks about. “I’ve…never been to this market before,” she says nervously, “and I…did not see your friend.”

”That’s alright,” Gwen says, stepping forward and linking her arm through hers, “I’m sure he’ll find his way here eventually.”

Morgana, who had been watching the old woman closely, tilts her head as Gwen looks at her expectantly. The old woman’s eyes flick over her cloak.

“I love the markets,” Gwen says, still looking at Morgana, “they’re such a good place to find new things, aren’t they?”

She motions to the old woman’s dress.

“I’m sure we could find something you might like too, don’t you?”

“Oh, well—I’m not sure I’m meant for all the fineries,” the old woman says with a small laugh, “though they look lovely on you both.”

”Oh, come on, everyone needs a little something now and then.” Gwen says, “isn’t that right, Morgana?”

“Yes, of course.”

“What about some fabric for a new cloak?” Gwen gestures between them. “Something like this, maybe?”

“Oh, no, dearie,” the old woman says hesitantly, “I don’t…think that’s really my color.”

Morgana’s eyes go wide and she looks at the old woman with something almost like wonder. The old woman shuffles and shrinks a little under the scrutiny and she quickly takes off her cloak and drapes it over one of the woman’s shoulders.

“I think it looks wonderful,” she says softly, watching the old woman’s eyes light up, “and I’m sure the moths won’t get at it.”

The old woman holds her breath. Morgana and Gwen move a little closer and she lets out a shuddering breath.

“You…you wouldn’t mind if I…accompanied you?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“It would be our pleasure.”

“You wouldn’t find it…in bad taste?”

Gwen grins. ‘Not even a little. I think you look beautiful.”

“It’s been a while since Gwen and I have had another woman to shop with,” Morgana says, lacing her arm through the woman’s other side, “it would be a pleasure to have you join us as often as you want.”

“Really?”

“Of course!” Morgana tilts her head, considering something, before she leans closer. “And perhaps you could help us pick up a few things for our friend too?”

The old woman’s face splits into a lovely little grin. “I would like that very much.”

“Come on, then,” Gwen says, “the market’s waiting!”

Many a merchant that day would be happy to tell you of the three women who visited their stall, smiling all the way.

#merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin #fic #dragonbabbles

21 notes · View notes

worstqueerbaittournament · 10 months

Text

Submission messagefor Merlin and Arthur: merthur (merlin and Arthur from the BBC show merlin

Submission message for Steve and Bucky: Does Stucky count? Steve and Bucky from Captain America

Additional propaganda: I refuse to shut up about this. Merlin is not queerbait!! At no point during the show is there a genuine possibility of Arthur and Merlin to be in a romantic relationship. They are queer coded but they do not create a false impression of their relationship. See Sherlock for good example: they constantly bring it up in the show itself and dangle it in front of the viewers, only to not follow through. The show Merlin does not set them up. There are no offhanded remarks, comments, or jokes that they’re more than friends. There is simply no chance in the show that they will get together. They are queer coded, which is not the same. Coding says: this character displays some traits and characteristics that ___ people may relate to. Baiting says: oh you want these two together? hmm, you wanna see that? wouldn’t that be nifty? what if they talk about it and act like it? aren’t you gonna keep watching to find out if they really do? Then follows up with: SIKE! Wow we got you, of course they’re not together! All of that was meaningless! Let’s please stop confusing these two entirely separate concepts!

Merthur is just gay I don’t have to explain merthur on the merthur site. They’re talking to each other at night and giving each other flowers and shit— things Arthur NEVER does with his canon romantic love interest and if I’m not mistaken I think Arthur like goes to sleep for a hundred years and Merlin is like. Still waiting for him? Let them kiss, damn!

Stucky: "Of course, this is still a rollicking adventure tale and no adventure is complete without a love story.....the longest, most tortured one in Marvel history" - Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (writers of Captain America movies + Avengers Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame)

"from the meet cute to the tragic separation, their bond has all the elements of a classic romance." - Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

"Just as Jeph and Tim’’s earlier Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue, and Hulk: Gray all dealt with the major love interests in, the heroes’ lives, so too does Captain America: White. Steve and Bucky are each other’s soulmate." - Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

“So you have a character in Captain America who is searching for the only thing that he has left from his past that has any meaning to him, and that’s Bucky; and people have interpreted that relationship all kinds of ways and it’s great...we will never define it, as filmmakers, explicitly." - The Russos (Captain America: Civil War press)

"You mean, aside from Cap and Bucky?" - Anthony Russo (co-director of Cap 2 and 3 and Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame) when asked about romance in Captain Amierca: Civil War

"Moderator: But you already had a romantic B story with Cap and Bucky, right?

Anthony: We sure do

Joe: We still do

Moderator: Did you ever had to dial down the sexual tension on set?

Joe: Why would we?" - Anthony and Joe Russo (directors of Cap 2 and 3 and Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame) at a screening of Captain America: Civil War

Just a few examples directly from Marvel and the writers and directors.

merthur totally should win for so many reasons but mostly. most because the show writer, when advertising the last episode, said it was “a love story between two men” and then arthur just died in merlin’s arms for 42 minutes. on the day before christmas.

I put the first episode of Merlin, because I heard it was such a great show. I knew nothing about the ship at that point. I only put it on because i love shows like that. Before the first episode was over I was like OMG those two are gayer than later seasons Destiel. There is no way it was not intentional. NONE. Big time homoerotic vibes. It was great

I get the coding critique, but I think I disagree with the person who said they never teased a relationship with Merthur. If we’re talking “offhanded jokes that they’re more than friends” (or that other characters thought they were together a la Sherlock), I think the poetry and pants scenes fit that.

#merthur #merlin x arthur #merlin bbc #merlin #stucky #steve x bucky #captain america #tournament

84 notes · View notes

thenerdyindividual · 1 year

Text

So it’s the ten year anniversary of the finale. I’m going to say something that even people who unironically enjoy the show might disagree with.

The finale was amazing and the correct ending for the show.

Don’t get me wrong, it absolutely ripped my heart out. I’ve watched the show like… 7 times? But I’ve only ever watched the finale twice because I was too much of a chicken the first few times I watched, and both times I’ve watched it I have straight up sobbed. Fully ugly cry, had to blow my nose because of all the snot.

But even though it leaves me heartbroken every time, it was a perfect ending for the show. Arthur’s death was foreshadowed all the way back in season one, Kilgharrah warns Merlin that Arthur’s destiny is to bring magic back but also that Mordred is destined to kill Arthur. And the finale plays that out. The implication is that Gwen, who has figured out Merlin is a sorcerer, is the one to complete the mission. However, because Merlin loved Arthur so dearly he used his magic for so much goodness and protection, and that is why Gwen is able to break through her own reservations with magic. So it was Arthur’s destiny to bring magic back because without him, Merlin would have no reason to protect Camelot, and Gwen would have no reason to change the laws.

Merlin as a show is a tragedy (literary sense) and a masterful depiction of how destinies don’t cancel each other out. Destiny is just another word for tragedy. Knowledge of destiny doesn’t allow you to outrun it, and trying to outrun it is often the very thing that causes the noose to tighten. The finale is the perfect culmination of Merlin trying to outrun Arthur’s death at the hands of Mordred. In doing so, Merlin opened the door for magic to still be outlawed and that motivated Kara’s assassination attempt, which led to Mordred’s betrayal, and caused Arthur’s death.

It wraps up the overarching struggle of the narrative so well, and amidst all the tragedy we get a full episode of just Merlin and Arthur. We get to see the culmination of the relationship they have built over ten years together, we get to see Arthur finally let down the last of the emotional barriers he has struggled with and confirm what we all knew, that he cares just as deeply for Merlin as Merlin does him and appreciates Merlin for who he is. Which also perfectly circles back to the desire expressed by Merlin in the early seasons, wanting Arthur to truly know him.

I even like the haunting final image of Merlin wandering past Avalon in 2012. I know people wish there had been some indication of hope for Arthur’s return, but I think that would’ve cheapened the tragedy. Part of the point of a tragedy is to look back on all the things that went wrong to get the characters to this point, knowing that if you could only go back and warn them, but you can’t. They were doomed to this from the beginning. By letting the heartbreak linger in that final shot, Merlin is left in the same position of the audience, looking back at everything that happened and being able to see what went wrong while also knowing that even if he couldn’t change anything, he would go back and do it again because never meeting Arthur or his other friends would be unthinkable.

(If you didn’t like the finale, that’s fine, but please don’t argue with me. We wont agree, and we’ll just have to agree on that.)

#bbc merlin #Merlin #bbc merlin meta #merlin meta #merlin finale #Merlin bbc #merlin bbc meta #merlin tv #the adventures of merlin

362 notes · View notes

kirbybecomesastarwarrior · 1 year

Photo

Birth of the Lone Swordsman

Scenario: Meta Knight passes his exam to become a Star Warrior but is rejected in joining the Holy Knights (A.K.A Knight of the Round table). Arthur claims BS that his student wasn’t allowed to join his squadron by the Ancients and elite but Meta has made up his mind.

I tried to give the comic an old flash back feel sorry if colors look weird. listen to “ I will make you proud” from tangle the series for emotional effect to fit the theme...

Yeah I know I keep writing MK Angst Kirby ain’t happy either.... (reaction at the bottom/ lore explanation at the bottom.

In the story, I gave a prelude to MK’s past of almost getting killed the moment he was born, because he was born from the fountain of dreams without a warpstar but they find out later that he came from N.M.E which MK was his first attempt in destroying the Fountain of Dreams. When MK didn’t obey Nightmare he sent him through the fountain as a living bomb and was supposed to be dead on arrival. The Ancients and other Star Warriors saw this and were going to kill him off N.M.E’s mistake.

But one lone Star Warrior seeing that he was a young boy stood up for him and plead for his life, Sir Arthur. The leader was someone else at the time Sir Uther (an OC who I will introduce into the story). He was one of the four legendary warriors and was the first winged astrals to be birth from the fountain of dreams. His persona is based off the Uther from Merlin the T.V. series (which was my fav. show back then) And if you watch you know that he’s basically the @sswhole of the series basically just replace his hatred of magic with N.M.E and we have yourself the corrupt leader of the GSA. But unlike in the series he is not Arthur's father but his mentor and when he stepped up to defend Meta he was pissed.

He straight up told him that if MK turns corrupted or a traitor he’d kill him personally. The Ancients agree to this and assigned him guardianship of MK... which was a first. Usually when a puffball is born education is done by the Ancients (MK wasn’t a baby like Kirby I’d say preteen) and are assigned a senior knight when they are ready. But none of them wanted to raise him since his birth did not come from Void so it was solely up to Arthur.

Little MK was still shivering when he was out of the fountain, so the red cape was what Arthur wrapped around him to keep him warm. Unlike Uther who was strict and cruel to him when he was his protege; Arthur tried his best to be a good role model for MK. Though Uther influence was strong and to this day Arthur still fears him which is why he made sure to keep MK on the right path... unintentionally hurting him.

You see the whole time he was training MK he always would encourage him to just hide and conceal his wings. And when MK’s “dark powers” would peak he would immediately correct him (especially if Uther was watching) while he knew he meant well MK couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by his teacher’s action. But Arthur promised him that this was the right way to do it and if he continued they’d surely see that he was capable of being a great hero. And Arthur made sure to nourish and nurture that little hope in his heart to motivate him through the hardship. But unintentionally putting pressure on him to be the perfect soldier. (Similar to Tai Lung and Shifu) But instead, MK is fueled by a lack of self-worth to do better rather than out of pride like Tai Lung ...

MK already knew of the pressures that were on Arthur so not to burden him MK just kept quiet about his feelings. So what if his teacher winced a bit when his wings peaked out~. While his intentions were good his methods were not right. Still, MK adored his teacher and was extremely grateful to him. And promised him that “he’d grow up to be his right-hand man and fight right by his side.” He knew Arthur cared about him, but still felt upset he would ignore the other side of himself... This was also fueled by the fact that part of Arthur still feared Uther, but also wanted his old teacher’s approval (Uther is truly the worse).

Which got worse over time MK’s powers got stronger which made it more difficult to hide them. This brings us to this seen in the comic, MK takes is final exam he passes but the Ancients and the higher-ups don’t want MK to join the elites. During this time they were looking to make the next generation of legendary warriors which would be under Sir Arthur (basically Arthur’s knights of the round table). But they didn’t feel comfortable that the cursed star would represent them. So they passed him, MK was indeed a Star Warrior but his position was up in the air.

Arthur was ready to fight for him but MK had enough and the feelings he had bottled up all these years ago come out. (shout out to MK's old design) This was a very significant turning point that broke student and master. MK’s red cape while mismatched to him was supposed to be a symbol of hope for him; which was the intention Arthur meant to give... but to MK which became something he could never be. It breaks Arthur’s heart to realize how much he failed his boy... MK felt ashamed and thought he failed Arthur in turn.

He completely shut down being accepted by the higher up/ the Ancients and not wanting to trouble his teacher any longer... he continued on as “the Lone Swordsman” of the GSA. Basically acting as a bounty hunter doing sole missions... Eventually when the GSA started accepting drafts/volunteers.

These made up the front liners of the GSA (the first to be killed) which MK is tasked to train them, this becomes a blessing in disguise on both ends for this is where MK meets his first real friend Jerca and his future-found family. Hope nothing bad happens to them...

#Meta Knight #MK #metadad #kirby #Sir Arthur #sir arthur kirby #kirby right back at ya #Hoshi no Kaabii #kirby fanfic #fanlore #GSA #kirby of the stars #meta dad #sir uther

158 notes · View notes