#arthur cant say no to merlin | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kateis-cakeis · 2 months

Text

Okay okay thinking about it, really thinking about it. My post from the other day (here) I said "you see him slip into this version of himself that is hardly recognisable, even when you compare him to his characterisation in S4" talking about S5 Merlin.

And then I really thought about, okay but what if say S1 Merlin was put into S5 Merlin's shoes, would he do any different? Would he?

Honestly, think about it.

Let's take him at the end of S1, where he was ready to give up his life for Arthur completely to save him. I mean sure he did that in S1Ep4, and tried to do it in S1Ep11, but Ep13 is where it really hits. He said goodbye after all.

This is a Merlin that was ready to tell Arthur about his magic, but was locked out of the possibility after Will lied as he died to protect him.

This is a Merlin who already tried to kill Mordred. Or well, let him die really. Not so much kill.

So let's look at lines from S1EP8 about Mordred dying vs Arthur dying, shall we? ...

"Would you let something terrible happen if it meant you'd stop something even worse happening in the future?"

"One of them's bad, really bad. And the other, it's...unthinkable."

"For once, you don't have to worry. I'm going to do nothing."

I cut out Gaius's replies because Merlin's lines are more important here. The 'something terrible' and the one that's 'bad, really bad' refer to letting Mordred be executed.

Meanwhile the 'something even worse' and 'it's unthinkable' refer to Arthur's death in the future.

He decides to do nothing as we know, he decides to let Mordred die, right up until Mordred pleads with him through telepathy.

That's the S1 Merlin we're dealing with.

Maybe if you took him from Ep1 or pre-S1 yeah he'd act differently, but S1 Merlin is as much defined by Arthur's impending death as S5 Merlin is.

The only difference is between them, S1 Merlin has destiny propelling him forward just a little more than S5 Merlin does. Whether by love or sheer dedication, S5 Merlin is even prepared to push aside his own freedom to save Arthur's life, just to condemn Mordred to death.

Would S1 Merlin do any different?

No, no I don't think he would. Not if he saw the vision, not if he saw Arthur fall.

S5 Merlin is defined by what he saw in the pool, he's defined by seeing what he believes is Arthur's death (not yet knowing he would survive for days after acquiring that wound)

If S1 Merlin, or even S2, 3, or 4 saw that same vision? I don't think they would do any differently.

Maybe he had more hope earlier on, sure, but that would be missing the way that S5 Merlin hopes. He tells both Mordred and Finna that it "won't always be like this". He hopes for freedom as much as S1 Merlin does, he's just more prepared to prioritise Arthur.

But isn't that what he's always done? S2, when he struggles to lie, but still does lie to Arthur about Morgause and his mother - He's thanked for reminding Arthur that sorcerers are evil.

The way he acts just before telling the lie is so similar to his expressions when he's about say "There can be no place for magic in Camelot" in S5Ep5.

That's the thing. I know I bang on about how S5 Merlin is so much darker and he is, he grew up after all. But I truly think if S1 Merlin saw that vision, nothing would have changed.

Nothing. Not even his actions with the Disir. Why would he, if there's a chance to try and kill Mordred Merlin always took it. Or tried to as much as he could.

S2 Merlin, put in S5 Merlin's shoes, might even edge closer to murder, that man tripped that kid up in the hope that two guards would kill him, and instead watched as Mordred killed the guards instead.

What, Merlin was innocent back in earlier seasons? That boy, that man, he was never innocent, man was down to murder from his very first day in Camelot.

So yes, S5 Merlin has ten years give or take of saving Arthur and setting aside his freedom, and that did indeed darken him and change him and mould him, but S1 Merlin already had enough experience that nothing would change.

Merlin was always going to condemn Mordred, he barely knew him early on after all, and later, he already had the knowledge of the vision.

Let's not forget that in S5, Merlin says he likes Mordred, but that he can't ignore what he saw. That he can't save the life of a man destined to kill Arthur, that he can't ignore what the dragon said. That Finna was right, he cannot trust Mordred, not after all he's been told.

I don't think any Merlin could do any differently if he was told all that, and shown Camlann.

There's no such thing as an innocent Merlin, not when it comes to Arthur's life. We can say he became too blinded, but in S4 he killed Agravaine, used dark magic to lock away Morgana's magic for a time, and took away Arthur's free will. S3 is a little harder, but he did command Kilgharrah against his will. S2 Merlin is easy, he tried to kill Mordred, and morbidly held Morgana as she was dying to the water he poisoned. S1 Merls is just people dying left and bloody right. Nimueh, god should we ever forget about the way he killed Nimueh. She fucking exploded.

All this to say, S5 Merlin didn't abandon his values because he already did that when they all first met Mordred. He just became more and more set, darker and darker over time. But if any version of himself was given that vision by the Vates, it's over, it's so over, because that's all it took.

To see Arthur fall, that's all it took. It's all it would ever take.

#bbc merlin #merlin #look look just hear me out here #s5 merlin might go brrrr on the whole matter of Arthur #in a way that is different #but like i dont think if he was put in those shoes earlier on that it would be different #like really thinking about it - Merlin was always down to try and get Mordred killed #that's like his whole thing with Mordred #and I understand that #I don't blame him I cant because I understand the difficult position he was in #here's this kid and later older boy/man who is gonna kill someone who he's really close to #friends with soulmates with you know #like yeah he's gonna put Arthur above Mordred every day of the week #because Mordred is nothing in comparison - Arthur is everything to him #there's sometimes i feel like over the years i read things in this fandom about how it's all Merlin's fault for condemning Mordred but it's #like okay cool - but he was never gonna act differently that's just not in his character #He would never turn his back on destiny or prophecy visions and whatnot #in fact it's often Gaius saying there are many futures that steers Merlin wrong #silly Gaius not knowing of Arthur's fate - the never ending circle :P #still it's important to really look at Merlin and appreciate this is just how he is #from the very moment Kilgharrah implied that Mordred would be Arthur's death - Merlin was set to do everything he could #and the second Mordred came back into their lives - after he saw the vision - what could he do? what could he bloody do?#im still surprised to this day that he didnt just try directly - i mean i know why he still has morals but i think he was close #Merlin would have always done this that's the thing no matter at what stage - this was exactly who he was #someone prepared to do anything to protect the people he loves - not just Arthur - like again Nimueh Nimueh Nimueh #oh my god Nimueh - do you guys ever watch Merlin kill her from time to time - it's so brutal - I think that's the moment he's at his #scariest like even some of the darker S5 scenes dont match up to that

17 notes · View notes

camelotsheart · 1 year

Text

arthur and morgana telling each other that they're not as different from uther as they'd like to think is such a raw 'i can stab you where it hurts' moment because they're calling each other out on the affection they had for someone who had mostly caused them harm throughout their childhood and adult life. they're calling out their inability to let go of a twisted love that had shaped them into the person they are, no matter how much they tried to stop uther from carving them in his image

#and in the end i think they both ended up acknowledging how they'll never be able to let go of arthur #like. morgana's 'uther taught me well'#and arthur saying to mithian 'if it was my father i would have don't the same'#literally the episode after he went up against his father's ghost #it's so interesting actually because morgana ends up remembering uther's memory mostly through his hate and her hate for him #and arthur remembers it through the lens of 'i disagree with and despise the values you stand for but i acknowledge #that i cant stop loving you' so he remembers uther through the lens of love - mostly #and aaaaaaaah. i think thats just a really nice parallel with them #bbc merlin #pendragons #arthur #morgana

79 notes · View notes

merlinssaggyyfronts · 4 months

Text

on todays episode of ‘wow, merlin is literally this song’. yk what is horrifically merlin coded? waiting room by phoebe bridgars. “if you were a waiting room, i’d never see the doctor. i would sit with my first aid kit and bleed.” arthur is his waiting room. and merlin WAITS THERE. never free, always scared and in hiding, always lying, he never fulfills his destiny- he STAYS with arthur, in their little waiting room til its forcibly taken from him.

also the “know its for the better” over and over and OVER AGAIN, all of merlins sacrifices being for the better of destiny and all of albion. him keeping quiet about his magic, about all the things hes done (nearly letting mordred die, nimuehs death, poisoning morgana) because its for the better. because it was for destiny.

and all the people hes lost (will saying hes a sorcerer in his place before dying himself, freyas death, balinors death, lancelots sacrifice in his place) was all for the better. freya had to die to become the lady of the lake (and like what i think with wills death, so he wouldnt have anyone distracting him away from his destiny with arthur), balinor had to die so merlin would inherit his dragonlord abilities, lancelot had to die in merlins place so he could stay at arthurs side. merlin losing everyone was for the better. and personally i am not okay with that

#id like to argue and say that merlin drifting from everyone (particularly gwen) was also ‘for the better’ because without friends #without any strings attached to anyone. he can focus solely on arthur #which is fucked up btw i hate this show why cant i move on #its like every ‘know its for the better’ and it pans to each and every know its forr the bettterr of merlins life :(#actually why did will even die #what was the reason huh #its like destiny is a manipulative partner or sumn istfg #the isolation tactic yk? stripping away the victims social life and support system so all they can rely on is their partner #but the partner is like… a prophecy. and merlin relies on arthur/on his destiny instead of anyone else #merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #waiting room #phoebe bridgars #lancelot #balinor #freya #lady of the lake #will merlin #nimueh #morgana #mordred #morgana pendragon

11 notes · View notes

i-swear-to-merlin · 1 year

Text

a little arwen for the heart <3

Click + zoom a bit, they look weird from afar lol

ultimate arwen song:

(Queen Of My Heart - Westlife) (very sad when you think of the fact that he didnt come back for camlaan)

So here we stand in our secret place Where the sound of the crowd is so far away You take my hand, and it fees like home We both understand, its where we belong So do I say, do I say goodbye We both have our dreams we both want to fly So lets take tonight, to carry us through the lonely times

I'll always look back as I walk away Memories will last for eternity And all of our tears will be lost in the rain When I found my way back to your arms again But until that day, you know you are The Queen of my heart

So lets take tonight, and never let go While we dance we kiss, like there's no tomorrow As the stars sparkle down, like a diamond ring I'll treasure this moment, till we meet again

But no matter how far, away you may be I'll just close my eyes, and your in my dreams And there you will be, until we will meet

I'll always look back as I walk away This memory will last for eternity And all of our tears will be lost in the rain When I found my way back to your arms again But until that day, you know you are The Queen of my heart

#Still in my post camlaan denial...#Literally the only fandom where i dont want to put the girl aside because i love her #Guinevere my love <3 #Once and future queen #Still cant believe they didnt make Arthur say anything about her on his death bead #Like the cliche “tell her that i love her”#Torn between screaming MERTHUR FOREVER!!!!! And pooooor gweeeeen did you know?#Im sure she did #And arthur came back and they were married and Merlin was their boyfriend #YES I AM IN DENIAL #bbc merlin fanart #bbc merlin #bbc merthur #bbc arwen #merthur #guinevere pendragon #merlin

8 notes · View notes

onceandfuturewarlqck · 2 years

Text

merlin and arthur looking at the other walking away with heart break in their eyes

2.06, beauty and the beast pt. 2 // 2.03, the nightmare begins

72 notes · View notes

girl-bateman · 2 years

Text

Ok but the merlin finale is actually so sick and vile... everything about it.. every single thing.. It leaves me aching and compleatly devastated. Good night.

#why the fuck do they cut so harshly to modern day #a literal blaring horn and a truck rushing past in full motion #from long live the queen to TRUCK !!!!#And the acting ?#the merlin and arthur scenes are just... idk so soft #and there is so many lingering touches #and like yeah yeah homoeroticism #but also like... his friend is dying #to merlin arthur isnt the king.. thats his friend #and hes dying right in front of him #and it doesent matter that merlin is the most powerful sorcerer to ever have lived #hes powerless when his friend is dying and he cant do anything but hold him in his last moments #offer him some comfort.. some kindness.. some stupid jokes.. some humanity #a hand that lingers because it doesent matter anymore #because neither of them can afford to be scared of anything but the death that they know is awaiting #and idk man... its simpky very cruel is what it is #and arthur watching his sister be slauthered in front of him #and basically saying 'good.. finally an end to this'#and merlin telling her he blames himself for what shes become #and the parallel between morgana dying alone.. not a single friend left in this world #to arthur dying in the arms of the man who devoted his life to saving him over and over again #sick #very very sick i say #merlin

10 notes · View notes

legobatjoker · 2 years

Text

whats more insane than in merlin episode 2x04 when merlin and arthur have that long convo about arthur and how he likes “gwen” except its clearly about how arthur likes MERLIN. and they both know this.. or possibly only arthur knows it… or perhaps most possible of all? neither of them know it.

#also i am no further than this episode so no spoiler pls #if for some reason u watched this show before the year 2022… which is the exact right year to watch all of bbc’s merlin…#bcuz bcuz bcuz #the way right before the scene starts its like arthur has one of the most rare moments ever where he actually says smthing non mean to #merlin and is like ‘sorry i shldnt have risked ur life’#and merlins like ‘haha well they do say love makes you do strange things..’ and arthurs like ‘what r u talking abt??’#and merlins like ‘just admit you have feelings for gwen’ and its like hmm. yeah. for gwen #and merlins like ‘why cant u just admit you like her’#and then theres the whole drawn out thing of arthur being like ‘bcuz nothing can eve happen btwn us!! so i cant bcuz it hurts😫 too much😫’#like ‘my father would never allow it’#and then when merlin goes ‘but when youre king you can change that..’ and arthurs like ‘i cant except ..guinievre(idk spell) ..to wait’#and the way theyre soo far apart physically for all this like so far apart and rhen merlin comes right up to say. ‘if she feels the same-#-she’ll wait for you.’#INSANE. INSANITY. INSANE #castle.txt #what if i posted this then went directlt ro sleep #also what’s more insane is. gwen and lance r rlly cute actually i like them a lot… like. ourhhhhggghg #also this episode was unimaginably cruel for the ‘nobody cares abt u’ evil speech delivered the gwen.:((((.. pls no..#i mean idk im willing to be proven wrong on the lance thing but idk. i mean obv gwen/morgana is quite real too #which! when i forst started watching i thought like #gwen/morgana was invented by internet girlies who wanted to shove the girl love interests together to make way for their gay boy ship #and like. that it wasnt real and j a woke excuse to not pay attention to the girls and why they arent w the boys #but actually they do have a real lesbian thing going on fr. i cld talk abt it but ill wait #god can u believe im merlinposting. i love myself❤️❤️❤️ I MUST SLEEP..

9 notes · View notes

arthurslesbian · 2 years

Text

okay keep looking at each other and smiling i guess and riding into camelot side by side bantering is definitely not flirting right 😭

#s4e5 rewatch #THIS EPISODE!!!! THIS. EPISODE 😭#the scene in the tent i have so many thoughts i cant 😭😭😭#like. merlin looking at arthur and smiling saying 'arthur is it worth the risk camelot needs you back...alive'#arthur laughing at his joke SIHFKSHF SCREAMS #arthur reassuring merlin????????#explaining how it feels right????#'you're not gonna start crying on me are you' 😭😭😭#'thank you OLD FRIEND' i DIED ACTUALLY AND IM NOT GONNA COME BACK LIKE ARTHUR #and then they just stood there smiling at each other 😭#and then when agravaine asked if he was ready. asked. THE KING. if he was ready he asked MERLIN TO ANSWER FOR HIM DO U THINK IM OK #and then the scene where they're riding back into camelot laughing and smiling at each other #arthur saying 'maybe' when merlin calls him a cabbage head i was found by the side of the road #'just this time you were right' THEYRE SO CUTE TOGETHER BRO #they really leaned into the gay vibes with season four like it's been so much and it's only the fifth ep 😭

2 notes · View notes

rainstormsandothersadthings · 10 months

Text

He closed the door behind him as softly as he could, as if the slightest echo in the hall would send his father’s knights running down the hall. As if they would be able to sense his mere aura in the castle after he had been gone, not because they cared, but so they could put him in front of the king.

#bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #writing #fanfic #drabble #merlin #a soulmate who wasn't meant to be #ao3 #so i love writing Arthur with way too many signs of ptsd #i don't care if you tell me uther wasn't a bitch to arthur #bc how do you know what his childhood would have been like with Uther as a father?#i will tell you rn as a prek teacher and someone majoring in early childhood it would fuck him up #there is no way in hell uther was a good father #you cant just say oh well he didn't actively try to kill him he loved him #like bitch #no #stop that

0 notes

regulusrules · 5 months

Text

Cant help but think that bbc merlin writers had so many opportunities to write any magic reveal they want, but the one they went for starts with the most agonising line ever, of arthur saying in desperation that no, merlin, you are not the evil that haunts my life, you're all what's good in my life, you wouldn't betray me, you wouldn't choose this, you're not like them, “I would know”

#it's december my loves #you know what that means.#merlin #bbc merlin #merthur #arthur pendragon #merlin bbc #king arthur #diamond of the day

3K notes · View notes

witchmd13 · 4 months

Text

rewatching dragon's call and I'm sure someone's pointed it out before because i know i read it somehwere but when merlin says "if i cant use magic then what have i got? I'm just a nobody and i always will be" and it kills me because merlin does end up meaning a lot to a lot of people who had no idea about his magic. the knights who loved him like he was one of their own and protected him, gwen who became his first friend in camelot who didn't know what he can do, and arthur who loved him so much and valued his opinions and his bravery and his friendship. merlin meant everything to them.

#I'm experiencing merlin emotions #dragon's call #merlin

355 notes · View notes

nextstopparis · 10 months

Note

i really just need good like mid to long length fix recs please i’m begging

hey bestie, i didnt know if you had any specific type of fic in mind or just length and what u consider mid so here are a few fics with 25k+ word counts and thats basically all they have in common🫶 also these are all more or less merthur im so sorry. i hope u find something new here!!!

Arthur, Sincerely by MerlinLikeTheBird (47.8k) (THE FLUFF IN THIS MADE ME CRY also its canon era)

To Begin Anew (need ao3 acc) by ohHeyThereBigBadWolf (27.7k) (ive read this like five times. i think about it constantly. canon divergence)

that lightning-strike feel by TheLurkingContessa (32.5k) (cmon merthur training with weapons together??? also canon era)

An Illusion of Sorts by lordvoldemortsnipple (133.7k) (ive also read this like 3 times which is sorta insane bc its 100k+ words omfg… modern au w magic)

Annum Inanis (The Empty Year) (need ao3 acc) by anonymintea (43.2k) (i DIED. canon era)

Charting Stars On A Stained Glass Ceiling by mornmeril (80k) (my note on ao3 under this is just OHMYGOD a bunch of times so. future au with magic)

a thimble of light for an acre of sky by celaenos (36.2k) (THIS IS NOT MERTHUR well theres like a hint of merthur at the very end but mostly its pendragon siblings and morgwen. I DIED. canon divergence)

Chasing Spring (ok TECHNICALLY this is a series but overall its 58.7k words so) by Gimli_s_Pickaxe (god merlin au do i really need to say anything else. canon era)

Keep the Magic Secret (73.5k) (i feel like i cant say I DIED again or else it’ll start losing its meaning to you but really i did. canon era)

M-RYS by mornmeril (123.2k) (ive also read this three times and was actually just craving a reread yesterday so. hmm. future au with magic)

We Pull These Jobs To Make A Little Money (No One Gets Hurt If They Don’t Act Funny) by leashy_bebes (48.9k) (this fic left me speechless all i could muster in my ao3 notes was “oh my god” not even capitalized like it shook me to my core. modern au)

You’ve Got My Heart, I’ve Got Your Hand by FervidAsAFlame (29.3k) (ive read this about five times it makrs me cry its so sweet i Love Them. modern au)

The Tournament of All Magicks by Cori Lannam (corilannam) (41.3k) (CMONNNN merlin fighting in a TOURNAMENT??? cmon. ohh craving a reread for this one too now… canon era)

The Future Soon by lady_ragnell (30.2k) (i loved this fic so so much. like theres just something about the vibe of it that im obsessed with. could also be the enemies to lovers thing. modern au with magic)

Sweeter Dreams by Tierfal (35.3k) (FREED VIVIAN OF MEN! i mean what more could i want. canon divergence)

Truth Is a Whisper by seperis (25k) (im being so serious go read everything by seperis. everything. GO. FIRST TINTAGEL bc that is my fav fic of all time probably but its 20k words so i couldnt put it here. GO!! theyre my fav author it took EVERYTHING not to rec all their fics. canon divergence)

Accidental Memory in the Case of Death by derryere (74.9k) (theres just something so. So. I DONT KNOW. overwhelming about them in this. its reincarnation au which might be why. one line made me cry)

The Ivy Crown by dayari (derryday) (252.2k) (ive read this three times. look at the word count. i will probably read it again. green knight au thing. theyre just. ohmygod)

Dower the Stars by RurouniHime (40.6k) (LISTEN. actually idek what i can say about this. except for the fact that its the PERFECT FIC. literally. its perfect. im especially in love with arthur and gwens friendship in this but anyway. canon divergence.)

#i sorta just assumed u meant merlin fics omg #BUT IF YOU WANT I ALSO HAVE A FEW KANEJ FICS!#also these are just a few from my bookmarks i have more too #ok well. can u believe this is th e first proper ask ive answered in like a year omg #happy pride xoxoxoxo #bbc merlin #merthur #merthur fic rec #ask

439 notes · View notes

tiredcowboyy · 1 month

Text

the possibility of unrequited love in merlin absolutely kills me (I love it)

It starts with the original, gwens unrequited love for merlin

Then we move onto more uncertain ones like arthurs love being unreq for gwen at times

But also lances love for her being unreq at times

Then maybe just as arthur and gwen settle into each other- FUCK merlin realises hes in love with arthur and bam unreq

But whats that? Gwaines in love with merlin? But everybody knows nobody will compare to arthur for merlin so BAM another unreq

But also whose to say the silly prince didnt once harbour feelings for the sorcerer? Who he thought was also in love with lance so BAM another unreq for arthur. (Or so he thought)

Or even just JUST as hes dying the king finally realises fuck? Im also lowkey (highkey all consumingly) inlove with merlin! Maybe I tell him? Nvm, I dont think he feels the same, guess ill just say thanks or smth idk but BAM unreq (read: arthurs emotionally stunted and cant read others emotions)

And dont get me started on morganas unreq (?) for gwen

Leon just watches and shakes his head from the sidelines

94 notes · View notes

inamagicalhallucination · 2 years

Text

arthur: hey, just have dinner with me tonight. I mean, it’d be easier if you just stuck around while I ate other than leaving and coming back, I need.... your assistance afterwards. Of course, I cant have people thinking im starving you, which is why you can eat too. For professional reasons

merlin:

arthur: it’s for the convenience

merlin: arthur you know you can just ask for my company. we’re married. im not gonna say no

#arthur: i couldnt take the chance #arthur doesn't know how to deal with relationships even after somehow getting merlin to marry him #merthur #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merlin headcanons #merthur au #merthur headcanon #prince arthur #incorrect merlin quotes #bbc merlin incorrect quotes #merlin incorrect quotes #arthur pendragon #bbc arthur #king arthur

1K notes · View notes

queer-ragnelle · 5 months

Note

do you have any arthur/guinevere/lancelot recommendations? if not, just stories where their characters were done justice and their friendship is explored and the love triangle comes to some satisfying solution.

i sure do! as always, with caveats. this list has two parts: films first and then books as i have suggestions for both! all of these movies can be watched here and the books read here.

TL;DR movies: Excalibur (1981), Camelot (1967), Knights of The Round Table (1953), Merlin and The Sword (1985), Sword of Lancelot (1963)

TL;DR books: The Birth of Galahad by Richard Hovey, Arthur Rex by Thomas Berger, Guinevere Trilogy by Persia Woolley, Guinevere by Lavinia Collins, Spear by Nicola Griffith, honorable mention to Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart

MOVIES:

Excalibur (1981): for me it has everything. we get to see young stupid arthur and clever curious guinevere fall in love, their wedding is gorgeous, then nicholas clay my beloved lancelot throws a wrench in it as he loves and respects them both so much, and they love him. he gets to be crazy about it too like running off to the woods to beg god to take these feelings away, dreams he's fighting himself and ends up impaled<3 meanwhile arthur/guinevere leave a cup out for him even when he isn't there. the crux of it comes when guinevere is accused of cheating (which she hadn't even at this point) and arthur won't champion her because his kingship comes before husbandly duties, so lancelot fights for her honor instead. at the end, after guinevere has gone away to a convent (lancelot is a wildman with a full beard lost to them all) arthur comes to retrieve excalibur from her and his speech is so romantic about finding her in the next life. i die every time. here is my review of that movie.

Camelot (1967): i adoooore this guinevere. jenny<3 she does whatever she wants and i love that for her. the whole may day queen aspect of her is muah chef's kiss. small wonder arthur loved her immediately. this arthur gets to wear eyeliner which is a plus. lancelot almost kills arthur on meeting him and then falls at his feet on realizing it, only for guinevere to be really cold to him at first, trying to get other knights to defeat him, but ends up falling in love with him. which arthur totally knows and turns a blind eye to btw. even when pellinore brings it up in as gently as possible, arthur bites his head off, knowing he cant even entertain the rumor or else the kingdom is in danger, and he just wants his two favorite people to be happy....cries forever.

Knights of The Round Table (1953): the biggest downside to this one is that lancelot has a horrible insufferable american accent. however his celebrity worship/instant friendship with arthur is soooo good. he breaks his own sword for threatening the king and then arthur gives him his own....is that even allowed to be so adorable? anyway so lancelot had met guinevere before they were arthur's friend and wife, essentially had a charming meet cute, and went their separate ways, only to formally meet at the wedding in front of everyone....god, the eye contact could turn someone to stone. arthur is extremely sympathetic and compassionate, to the point that when he catches guinevere sulking alone on the roof with a gift from lancelot, he says "i miss him too..." bruh???? my heart?? all around delicious food.

Merlin and The Sword (1985): huge disclaimer...this movie is ugly as sin lol the only version available is ripped from a vhs tape so it might as well be a crunchy gif at this point. it was also cut down from the 3 hour tv version to 1.5 hours which is a tragedy. (i've tried emailing the studio for a rerelease to no avail...) however it has the most insane arthur/guinevere/lancelot ever i'll never be the same. arthur is played by malcom mcdowell who always brings his a game to roles. he's a bit older than guinevere, but she apparently taught him to read? he dotes on her but he's somewhat emotionally stunted which gets in the way. this guinevere is gorgeous i'm obsessed with her she has this deep sultry voice and a simple elegance that completely shatters lancelot's resolve. i get it, it would work on me. lancelot meanwhile is this incredibly lanky sometimes mute shy guy who is besties with gawain and his meet cute with guinevere involves the mingling of their blood after they are both cut on some rose thorns? hello???? they're freaks just like chrétien intended. the blood. they share bath water and fuck in a dungeon. then after guinevere is rescued from meleagant, arthur asks merlin for some sort of potion to help guinevere recover emotionally instead of like.....talking to her? he's trying but so so bad at it<3 he then takes her to bed to "treat her like a queen." IT'S ALL GREAT IT MAKES ME FERAL ARGH

Sword of Lancelot (1963): this one is fun because cornel wilde wrote it, directed it, and starred as lancelot himself!! the other fun factoid is the woman who plays guinevere is his real life wife. how stinking cute is that? so obviously their chemistry is ridiculous. but arthur is a cutie too. he's older and tends to talk down to guinevere a bit, which makes sense why she befriends lancelot in her loneliness. lancelot gets a lot of development, taking young tor under his wing, besties with gawain and lamorak and gareth. being irl married to guinevere also makes their disagreements feel very real. arthur is counseled by a ton of characters, bedievere, merlin, even mordred is here giving his two cents. so you really feel that tug of war pulling the throuple apart. it hurts.

BOOKS:

The Birth of Galahad by Richard Hovey: this play is wiiiiiild but the take away here is that guinevere is the mother of galahad. like what a twist. meanwhile all the men are away fighting rome so you get this tragic back and forth switching of perspective between lancelot and arthur missing guinevere (plus galehaut is here as counsel which really kicks this up a notch) then it cuts to guinevere with a new baby and tormented by the prospect of whether to write to rome with the news but afraid it will cause an upset where she cant be.....hovey you mad lad you've done it again.

Arthur Rex by Thomas Berger: i hate i keep having to recommend this bigoted book but damn it this arthur/guinevere/lancelot are so good. why are they sooo goood???? this arthur is compelling since he loses his virginity to morgause and is forever messed up after that, so he struggles to connect with guinevere in the way she needs, not really understanding her even though he bends over backwards to please her. meanwhile there isnt a word for what she and lancelot have here they need to be studied under a microscope so history doesn't repeat itself they're so twisted it's wild i can't look away. and the friendship between arthur and lancelot is so powerful and enduring that even at the end while joyous garde is under siege, arthur sends in kay with food the moment he hears their stores are low, and has him serve them like old times. he doesnt want it to be the way it is....sick and twisted narrative choices.

Guinevere Trilogy by Persia Woolley: i admit this isn't my favorite guinevere, but credit where it's due, she's a complex and fully realized character. through her we come to understand both arthur and lancelot as deeply damaged men, who had their emotional states devastated by the fall out of sexual abuse, and how that impacts their relationship with her (and their sons, mordred and galahad, who likewise suffer as a result of their fathers' emotional states). as a celtic queen, guinevere has every right to take a lover if she so desires, and arthur is not ignorant of his own failings as a husband, but the tragedy plays out anyway as the orkney brothers are there to wreak havoc on the place as usual. (you might find that this has a movie adaptation Guinevere (1994) don't watch it, trust me, it's not even fun bad, just cursed.)

Guinevere by Lavinia Collins: this is technically part of a series so you'll also get a lot of arthur and lancelot in the other three (Igraine, Morgawse, Morgan) but for the sake of this list, the guinevere one will suffice. anyway what i like about this is the strong contrast in relationships with both men. lancelot is bisexual and guinevere is the first woman he ever sleeps with (but not the last...) so theyre very tender and sweet together meanwhile arthur sired mordred before marrying her he's overall more adventurous while keeping entirely faithful to her for the rest of his life......there is a threesome in this but ironically its lancelot/guinevere/kay and not arthur but you know what? he deserves a win. this still goes on the list.

Spear by Nicola Griffith: this is perceval pov so the focus on arthur/guinevere/lancelot is minimal, but its delicious. arthur is kinda cold and mean here (falling back on the celtic "bear" thing, same as woolley does) but its revealed that he, lancelot, and guinevere are in a throuple, the characterization of lancelot's shy explanation of this was so good, and he goes on the grail quest to try and heal guinevere's womb so she can have their children, as it's a point of tension that mordred and galahad both exist, but guinevere wants to have children with arthur and lancelot. there's literally a part she faints and they both carry her off to bed like....they dont even pretend its any other way. no homophobia or slut shaming or anything like that in this book which is a huge plus. palate cleanser after arthur rex lol

Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart: this is more of an honorable mention, as the first three books are merlin pov and the fourth is mordred. but book two (the hollow hills) has arthur raised alongside bedwyr (who is lancelot in all but name, son of ban, eventual lover of guinevere etc) they are the best of friends its adorable, bedwyr gave him his dog cabal, which is cute on its own, then fast forward to mordred pov (the wicked day) decades later and arthur is picking out a new puppy and names that one cabal too, its like this long homoromantic ritual that every dog descended from the first calls back to his original gift....im pulling my hair out. guinevere here is underdeveloped at best, as merlin doesnt really know her well and mordred's perspective on her is that shes (respectfully) hot lmao but worth mentioning as mary stewart is the goat, highly recommend her books.

and that's the list. hope that gives you some stuff to chew over!

#arthurian legend #arthurian legends #arthuriana #arthurian mythology #king arthur #queen guinevere #sir lancelot #ask #anonymous

55 notes · View notes