#arthur pendragon oneshot | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

make-me-imagine · 2 years

Text

Heartfelt Gesture

Scenario Request: Arthur cooks you dinner to cheer you up. Requested by: Jay (a year ago, sorry! lol But Happy Birthday!)

Pairing: Arthur Pendragon x GN!Reader

Warnings: A small kiss at the end, but that's it.

Words: ~800

He started to notice it slowly, when your smile wasn't quite as big as normal. And when your eyes didn't shine as brightly as they had before. But he really started to question it when he did not see you as often. And when he did, you seemed to barely have the time or energy to speak to him.

Finding Gwen one day, he asked her what was going on. You always excused it as being busy, and not getting a lot of sleep. But he wasn't sure. He knew you were not telling him everything. This was confirmed when Gwen told him the full story.

You were busy, and you weren't getting any sleep. Recently, almost all of the the tutors and teachers in Camelot had fallen ill or moved away, and you were one of the few left behind. So more and more you were called on to help the families of Camelot, even dragged in to watch over the children when they were alone. You had barely had a moment to yourself recently.

Arthur felt guilty when he heard about this, but even more so that he hadn't noticed earlier how overwhelmed you were. But he decided that he wanted to help you, or to at least cheer you up.

So here he was, standing at your door, waiting for the moment you would return. He looked around restlessly, tapping his fingers rhythmically. Looking down at his chest, he spotted a clump of potato on his shirt. Quickly brushing it away, he looked up, feeling a jolt when he saw you round the corner.

You looked down at your feet as you made your way to your home, glad you had only been asked by a few people to cover for their normal tutors. You wanted some time to relax, and you were hungry.

Looking up, you halted in your step for a moment as you saw Arthur standing by your door. He smiled at you, waving lightly. The way he seemed restless made you nervous.

Walking the rest of the way to your door you smiled softly at him. "Hello Arthur. Is something wrong?"

"Huh? No, I just wanted to see you." He smiled as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to your cheek. You felt your face warm a bit at the action. "I haven't really had the chance recently."

You felt a little guilty as you nodded your head. "Yes, I know, I'm sorry, I've just been-"

"Busy?" He smiled down at you, almost a sad smile. "Gwen told me. Why didn't you let me know? I could have helped."

You let out a soft chuckle. "How? You want to tutor unruly children?"

"Oh, definitely not. But, now that I know, I was able to convince my father to send out an announcement to nearby villages and cities letting them know that we are in need of tutors and teachers."

Your eyes widened a bit. "Oh." You shook your head, feeling a sudden wave of foolishness. "I wasn't aware you could do that so easily."

Arthur chuckled softly, placing his hands on your shoulders and a kiss on your forehead. "It's alright, it's done now. Soon you will be able to go back to your normal schedule, and I will actually be able to see you again."

You smiled as you looked back up at him. "Thank you Arthur."

"You're welcome, and, I am sorry."

You furrowed your brow. "Sorry for what?"

He glanced at your door before clearing his throat and pushing it open. Slowly, you walked into your home, immedietely noticing the dishes on the counter, and the food on the table. Potatoes, a slightly burnt chicken, rolls that may or may not be as hard as rocks, some vegetables and two goblets of wine.

"You made me dinner?" You asked with a surprised smile.

"Uh, well, I attempted too yes. Gwen told me what to do, but...I'm not great at remembering this sort of thing."

You giggled, walking over to the table, before looking back at him with a bright smile. "Well, however it turned out, I appreciate the gesture. I've never seen you attempt to cook."

Walking up to you, he stared down at you. "And you probably never will."

You laughed and pressed your head to his chest. Arthur felt his heart swell, so glad to hear your laugh again, and see that same bright shining smile on your face.

Looking back up at him you shook your head softly. "I love you Arthur Pendragon."

He smiled down at you, gently bushing your cheek with his thumb. "And I love you. But, you might want to hold that thought until we find out if I accidentally poisoned you."

Letting out a giddy laugh, you pressed your hands onto his chest, leaning up, you pressed a quick kiss on his lips. "Well even if you did, I will die happy."

xx End xx

General Taglist: @criminaly-supernatural, @caswinchester2000, @imaginesfire, @rexit-mo Merlin/Arthur Taglist: @multifandomfix, @flourishandblotts-inc

#Arthur Pendragon #Arthur Pendragon/Reader #Merlin bbc #Merlin bbc/reader #arthur pendragon x reader #arthur pendragon imagine #merlin/reader #merlin bbc imagine #arthur pendragon oneshot #arthur pendragon one shot #drabble #merlin drabble #arthur pendragon drabble #merlin x reader #bbc merlin reader insert #arthur pendragon you #arthur pendragon x y/n #jay

320 notes · View notes

locke-writes · 1 year

Text

Drifting Through the Doubt

Author: locke-writes

Title: Drifting Through the Doubt

Request: Song Fic using Are You With Me by Nilu for Arthur Pendragon (BBC Merlin) For: Anon

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,803

Tag List: @randomfandomimagine / @multifandomfix / @retvenkos / @dreamlandcreations / ask to be added

The nights seemed longer to Arthur since his father had died. Funeral preparations led way to coronation preparations with no break in between. There was barely any time to mourn let alone time to process the fact that he was to be the new king of Camelot. Some nights he would sit alone in bed half longing for sleep and half longing to be anyone else. Life may not be easier if he wasn't royalty but perhaps it might be simpler.

He wondered if the decisions in his life had been the right ones. He wondered if the people he has trusted throughout his right were the right people to confide in. He questioned everything, there had been expectations put on him from a young age and he knew there would be expectations put on him from the people of Camelot. He only hoped that he could lead the kingdom into a new age rather than thrust it back into the dark.

There was no one he could speak to on these issues, not really. He knew what Merlin would say, knew it would probably be some form of reassurance. While he was aware it would be a gesture of kindness and none of the words from Merlin would be lies, it still would not be the sort of truth that he was seeking. Not the words that he might be desperate to hear and yet fear to be told.

Arthur had made mistakes in his life, he recognized them for what they were when they occurred. Still he had not truly learned how to atone for mistakes which could easily be remedied, or maybe not easily but remedied all the same. He kept trying to convince himself that he had made the correct decision, that he hadn't made a mistake distancing himself from you. Distancing himself from one of the few people who knew him as he truly was.

He had loved you, still loved you. He just didn't want you to be swept up in the sea of grief and fear that had surrounded him as of late. It wasn't easy to push you away, it pained him but he fought the pain by convincing himself that you would be better off. You weren't royalty, you had no title to speak of and yet he loved you, something that was considered forbidden by his father, even more by all the court. Back then he didn't care, hadn't thought of his future as king.

And wasn't that all that mattered, the way that he was seen? His perception as king could lead to the growth of the kingdom, to alliances or to wars all the same. What kind of a person would he be if he put you in that situation? Yet night after night you were the one person that made it into his thoughts the most. Arthur wondered if he could live with the regret, if one day he would look back on the moments he was living through and feel no remorse, nothing of pain. Sorrow would be wiped away, he had to believe that. Didn't he?

Sleep seemed to consistently evade him. Merlin noticed, Gaius noticed, all the knights noticed. No one knew what to say, no one truly knew the cause although many suspected. Sorrow seemed to follow both you and Arthur although only Arthur's could be associated with the death of his father.

It was not unusual to see you in the company of Arthur, what became unusual was to see the two of you apart. To see the looks given in longing that seemed to be missed by one or the other. But there wasn't reason enough to get involved, not reason enough to make comments because assumptions weren't the same as fact.

Nightmares seemed to fill Arthur's sleep. He hadn't been sleeping well in the first place, stilled filled with fear over what was to come, any faults he might make in the weeks after the coronation. There wasn't much time left before then, wasn't much time before the fate of the kingdom was fully within his hands, where the advisors would keep from the decisions unless he questioned them.

Foolishness had been something his father accused of him as a child, he wondered if truly he had been foolish or innocent. He wondered now if his decision to pull away from you was foolish or was it a rational idea. All that he knew was that in the moment with the fear and the nightmares, you were the one person he wished to speak to, the one person that he knew might listen and understand. Still, forgiveness for what he had done was not to be easily given, this he knew. He also knew that perhaps it was not right for him to seek you out, to lay the burden of his life at your feet.

He stayed there, staring at the ceiling willing himself to fall back to sleep, hoping that the dreams to come would be peaceful and not terror filled.

Night after night Arthur experienced the nightmares. There was no rest to be had, the coronation was only four days away and he wasn't certain of the last time he had truly slept. While he knew it was potentially dangerous, he slipped out of bed, dressed himself for the first time since Merlin had become his servant, and slipped outside of the castle walls.

You were preparing for the coronation, nights spent working at your kitchen table working long into the night, sometimes even into the early morning. While most certainly would not be wearing armor to the coronation, the knights had a duty to which meant mending any and all pieces that had been damaged not just in battles but even in the midst of sparring. While there were days that you would have spent hours mending armor, you were never one to stay up until the dawn to finish your work, knowing that rest was what kept you from making mistakes and knowing that the cost of replenishing candles was often too much when you needed food and clothing for yourself.

Still, the coronation changed everything, made work pile up. Orders for new pieces of armor rose almost as fast as orders for repairs. Night after night you'd sit staring at the smaller pieces that you could bring from the armory without difficulty. Night after night you meant to keep your focus on work rather than drift off to sleep.

Arthur was unsure where he was going or what he was doing, wandering around outside of the castle. He traveled to the marketplace, passing stalls that would not be open until the morning, passing houses that had covered windows, informing him that the people of Camelot were in their beds performing that sweet task of sleep that he was desperate for.

A shadow passed your window, stopping for a moment. There had been no trouble in Camelot for some time and while you knew you might be walking into danger you wondered who would be at your door at this time of night. Gripping the mallet you had been using to smooth out dents in armor you opened your door only to be met with the sight of Arthur walking past. You called out to him.

Arthur had noticed the light coming from your home, but in his half asleep and worry riddled state hadn't identified it as your home until you had opened it. He turned to rush off before you recognized him but heard his name before any chance at an escape could be made. He paused, trying to determine if he really should turn, if there was anything that you would want to hear from him after all that he'd put you through. But then he knew at least he owed you an explanation. He turned to towards you and all he could see was the worry that had come over you. He followed you inside and sat at the only other chair around the table.

You hadn't quite known what to say to break the silence so you asked the only question you could.

"Why are you out of the castle, Arthur?"

He sat silent for a moment before deciding on the honest answer, "I haven't slept in days, not like I should be. There's nightmares, there's fear."

"And what does the future king have to be afraid of?" You questioned, although you knew the answer.

"All the decisions, the fate of Camelot, it all weighs on me now. I have no one to come and fix my mistakes, I could be a horrible king or I could be a great king there's nothing that tells me if what I choose is right. I'm afraid that my father's faults will become my own. I'm afraid I've already made terrible decisions, I'm afraid that pushing you away was a mistake and I'm afraid that even the truth won't bring you back to me, won't give me any semblance of forgiveness."

"The wars of our fathers aren't ours to fight Arthur. Your father's faults are not your own. True you have a difficult road ahead of you because your choices will be your own, the advisors you have are only there for that singular reason, they are not their to given the final decision. You may fail, you may succeed, however I know that I, your knights, and your friends all know that you will be a great king. As for forgiveness…I don't think I understand enough to give it"

Arthur nodded, "I had this belief that it wouldn't be right to put you at my side. Not to have you rule beside me, at least not yet, I don't even know if that is something of interest. I don't really know anything I suppose. I just thought I would save you from getting hurt, from the stares and the people saying that station matters over heart. I thought I was protecting you although I know that you don't need it. I thought I made the right decision, instead I think I've just been a fool."

"You've always been a fool Arthur, a fool who should learn that the ideas of one person do not dictate the ideas of a whole kingdom. Your father may have believed that another royal was your only option but if you had a chance to speak with your villagers perhaps they might prove differently. Fear makes us act in foolish ways, forgiveness has been given to you Arthur, but take it in stride because I may not offer it again."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Know that I am here for you, know that fear does not control us Arthur. You will be a great king, I have no doubt."

#locke writes #arthur pendragon #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon imagine #bbc merlin imagine #arthur pendragon oneshot #bbc merlin oneshot #arthur pendragon fanfic #bbc merlin fanfic #arthur pendragon fic #bbc merlin fic

28 notes · View notes

nothankyoudear · 1 year

Text

Ever since Merlin was a small child, Hunith had always bombarded him with loving touches. She carried him whenever she could, and when he grew too big to be carried, she left him with warm hugs and soft touches on his cheeks. She wiped his tears when he cried, and intertwined their fingers on cold nights as they slept.

Arthur, on the other hand, could not remember the last time he was touched by his father in any way other than a firm clasp on the shoulder. All his life, he's known nothing but side glances and firm remarks. No one was there to wipe his tears away when he cried, and certainly no one was there to hold him on cold nights as he slept.

He was the prince of Camelot, after all, and everyone knew that princes cannot be soft.

Which was why, the first time that Merlin went in for a hug, Arthur immediately flinched back.

They stood in silence for a few moments before Arthur left, unable to stand the tension in the air. Not thinking much about it, he had rendered it just another one of those awkward little moments with Merlin that would soon dissipate from his memory.

Oh, how wrong he was.

Arthur found himself unable to move on from it. He spent that night turning in his bed, wondering what it would've been like if he accepted Merlin's hug - The warmth and comfort that he had only ever seen given to others. He fell asleep wondering what it would feel like to be embraced by another.

Merlin doesn't do it again, at least not for a while. It was understandable, especially after Arthur reacted so drastically at his first attempt at closeness, but Arthur still couldn't help but spend another few sleepless nights regretting his reaction.

Because he was the prince of Camelot, and if Merlin - irresponsible, reckless, sarcastic Merlin - wasn't willing to touch him, then no one was.

So when the second time came - when Merlin, most likely without thinking ("when does he ever think?"), went in for a hug, Arthur hugged back.

He wrapped Merlin in his arms, and oh, it was bliss. The warmth and the comfort and the closeness that he had heard so much about were all real. He couldn't help but tighten his arms around the other boy's thin body and lean in, rendered helpless by a sense of aching intimacy.

Questions immediately appeared in Arthur's mind: How had he survived up until then without touches like these? If Merlin had never been assigned as his manservant, would he have gone his whole life without experiencing this? And now that he's finally experienced this, how could he go without it for the rest of his life?

The thought pained Arthur, so he squeezed even harder.

They didn't talk about it afterwards, but Arthur knew that Merlin knew. Arthur had exposed the softness underneath his hard exterior, and now Merlin knew.

And lord, was it great.

Their previously rare touches turned more and more common. Soon, putting on Armour turned into lingering touches on Arthur's body, and training sessions turned into Merlin haphazardly wiping the sweat from Arthur's forehead as he leaned into the cooling touch on his skin.

Sometimes, if Arthur was feeling brave, he’d even initiate some of these touches.

He’d hook his finger with Merlin’s as they walked to the stables, running his thumb against whatever skin he could reach. He’d warm Merlin’s seemingly forever cold hands by gently pulling them into his own bigger ones. He’d walk up silently behind Merlin as he’s softly humming a song while polishing Arthur’s armour, and wrap his arms around his waist, burying his head into the crook of Merlin’s shoulder.

It was like Arthur's mind was trying to reclaim all touches lost to the years. He craved skin - Merlin's skin - on his. He craved the way Merlin's fingers ran over his muscles. He craved these moments of intimacy where he wasn't Arthur Pendragon, the prince of Camelot, and he was just Arthur.

And somehow Merlin knew of this insatiable craving of his, because he was always giving and giving and giving. Arthur never openly asked for the tender touches and the soft trails of fingertips against his stomach, but Merlin - lovely, gorgeous, beautiful Merlin - was always there to give.

The love in Merlin was overflowing, and Arthur was there to catch every last drop of it.

And as Arthur was still human (despite how hard he tried), there were times when he wept.

Arthur cried the same way he cried when he was a child - with his shoulder shaking, his eyes shut, and his hands trembling. He also used to sob with his mouth open and with his grief audible like any other child, but that had long been scolded and beaten out of him.

However, despite the habits that he brought into adulthood, the nights when he cried were no longer like the lonely nights that he suffered through as a child - There was no ache in his chest as tears ran down his cheeks. No biting the collar of his shirt as he attempted to stay quiet. No harsh words to keep him silent.

There were, in their place, gentle caresses to his forehead as Merlin smoothed back his hair, murmuring words of comfort under his breath. A warm shoulder to lean on as he cried quietly. Thumbs that wiped under his lashes and nimble fingers that caressed his cheeks.

A voice that cooed and replied, “I'm here, darling” when Arthur whispered, “Merlin, Merlin, Merlin” through his tears. Lips that pressed against his as another sob seeped out. Arms that wrapped around Arthur, and gentle hands that ran themselves comfortingly over the expanse of his back until they both fell asleep.

And what a joy it was, to have someone who wiped his tears away when he cried, and someone to hold him on cold nights as he slept. To be touched and held and loved.

What a joy Merlin was.

3K notes · View notes

korokcrucifier · 2 months

Text

new bbc merlin fic on ao3!!

— merthur

— established relationshio

— general audiences

— fluff

— 11k, 1 chapter (completed)

#merthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #fluff #ao3 fanfic #oneshot #flower language #picnic

32 notes · View notes

dropofbittersea · 2 months

Text

Merlin knows it’s better him than anyone else - it’s the mantra he repeats like a lifeline with every aching step he takes up the endless stairs in the castle, bones protesting and bruises littering his mauled chest. It’s better him than Gwen, he thinks, hands shaking as Arthur hands him off to Lord Something-Or-Other, known for whipping his servants into submission. It’s better him than the laundry girls, barely older than ten, trembling in fear as Sir Newest Knight throws a predatory gaze like a promise.

It’s better him. He has magic, so he could fight back, if need be. No one else has magic, so they couldn't fight back. It’s that simple.

(It’s really not)

#merlin #arthur pendragon #merthur #oneshot #fanfic #fan fiction

22 notes · View notes

swanparties · 3 months

Link

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Merlin (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Minor or Background Relationship(s) Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Lancelot (Merlin) Additional Tags: Mild Blood, Canon Era, Canon-Typical Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Caretaking, No Smut, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Internalized Homophobia, First Kiss, Sharing a Bed, Not Beta Read, this is so self indulgent, you'll never guess which one has internalized homophobia, Gay People Being Gay, more at five, Minor Gwen/Lancelot (Merlin), like VERY minor but i love gwen and she needed to be there, Additional Warnings In Author's Note Summary:

The rest of the castle, maybe even Camelot, is sleeping. The two of them are alone in this little pretend world, leaving things unsaid.

(In which Arthur cleans Merlin's wounds and lets a confession slip.)

#my fics #fic #merthur #oneshot #merlin #arthur pendragon #bbc merlin #fic recs #merthur fic #hhey guys guess who has a new obsession

26 notes · View notes

trekscribbles · 4 months

Text

Prompt: Clothing

From the Land of Myth Discord Server: One Word Writing Prompt Game

Word prompt provided by Krazy_Kitty

"What's this?" Merlin asked, frowning in confusion at the bundle of finely embroidered shirts Arthur had thrust at him. They were folded in a neat pile, so it wasn't laundry, but Merlin couldn't fathom what else it might be.

Arthur seemed to be trying very hard not to fidget. "Shirts, Merlin. I understand you rarely see them clean, but surely even you know what shirts are."

"Why are you giving me shirts?"

The not-fidgeting turned into a distracted drum of Arthur's fingers against the door frame. "You said sorcerers liked being given clothing."

"I—what?"

"At the Cauldron of Arianrhod," Arthur went on, determined. "And I thought—not that you need payment, but—I just thought..."

Merlin stared at him. "You're giving me shirts because I told you that the Dolma likes to be paid in dresses?"

"Was that only her?" Arthur asked, a hint of worry pricking at his words. "I assumed all sorcerers—but look, if you don't want them—"

"No," Merlin said quickly. Things had been tense between them since Merlin's confession, and he could recognize an olive branch when he saw one. "Shirts are great. These are great. Thank you."

But the uncertainty didn't leave Arthur's eyes. "Was it only the Dolma who wanted clothing?"

Merlin had vowed, after his confession, never to lie to Arthur again—but he was not about to admit why the Dolma needed a dress.

"No," he said firmly, hugging the shirts to his chest. "All sorcerers love clothing. Thank you, Arthur."

#oneshot #fanfic #ficlet #merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #fic #mini fic #one word writing prompt #writing prompt game #land of myth discord server

35 notes · View notes

do-it-for-merlin · 2 years

Text

I still can't understand how Guinevere and Arthur became the thing in the show when:

But I can see how and why they became a thing.

(Look at the tags for title, author, and site.)

#bbc merlin #merlin #merlin fanfic #arthur #fanfic #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur #merlin's magic revealed #oneshots #wattpad

261 notes · View notes

morfiveuscxo · 1 year

Text

MYSTERY, A.Pendragon

Arthur Pendragon x fem!!reader summary: A mysterious knight has arrived in Camelot, one that refuses to show their face. This knight defeats contender after contender until even Uther wants to know of their identity, but how will the kingdom react to their finest knights being defeated by a woman? tw!! swearing, violence, sexual innuendos, sexism. notes: before I begin- this is the first imagine I'm ever writing on Tumblr, I mostly post on Wattpad but decided that I'd write some small imagines here for characters that I am yet to write an entire book on or am not ever writing a full book on. I do the whole x reader thing sort of differently, I will only write from the female's perspective but even though the imagines say x reader I will make the reader's description how I see fit if that makes any sense? basically, the only x-reader part about it is that you can picture the other character's saying your name but the character won't be your description 😂 if it doesn't make any sense you'll see what I mean!!! :)) ps. apologies if Arthur doesn't seem in character enough :))

NO ONE KNEW WHERE THE MYSTERIOUS KNIGHT HAD APPEARED FROM. All that everyone knew was that there was a mysterious figure challenging all of the King's men. And every single knight had fallen to defeat under this mysterious figure's sword.

Yet another knight fell to his back, grunting in pain as the enigmatic pressed their foot harshly against the already defeated knight's chest. The man grits his teeth together in pain and lifted his eyes to look up at the covered head of his opponent.

The crowd let out a cheer, some even lept to their feet in entertainment. King Uther stared at this knight, clearly impressed as he clapped his hands together out of respect and congratulations for the mystery knight.

An hour later and Prince Arthur's servant, Merlin, ran through the halls in excitement, searching for his friend, y/n. Merlin had become a rather big fan of this obscure knight after he and his guardian, Gaius, had concluded that he wasn't using any type of sorcery to defeat his opponents.

"y/n!!"He called out as he pounded his fist against the wood of her front door. A distant 'hang on' is heard from behind the door before it's flung open to reveal one of Merlin's best friends.

y/n is a clumsy brunette with the darkest brown eyes that Merlin had ever laid eyes on. She was also one of the shyest people that he had met, she barely even spoke to him in the first few weeks of them first meeting. But after she broke out of her shell around him she never stopped speaking.

"Merlin!!"She exclaimed happily as he moved past her, entering her house with a big grin on his face. --"He did it again!!"Merlin exclaimed excitedly. y/n folded her arms in amusement, shutting her door as she spun to look at him.

"he?" she questioned and Merlin spun to face her with his hands in front of him. --"The mystery knight!!" he specified, --"you should have seen it, y/n!!"he ranted.

y/n smiled in amusement, tucking a shy strand of her brown hair behind her ear. Leaning shoulder first against a wall, she gladly listened to Merlin ramble on and on about this 'mysterious knight'.

Of course, y/n knew who this knight was. Herself. She found it rather exciting to finally use her skilful swordsman abilities and not worry about being ordered against it. For most of her life, whenever she tried to fight a man would tell her not to, because she was a woman with 'skin as thin as air and muscles the size of Uther's love for magic'.

She could never escape her shyness but when she was fighting, it was like the nerves disappeared completely and she was instead focused on her target and winning. And thus she decided to start fighting for real, never once showing her face when she challenged Arthur's knights.

"I still don't understand why you don't come down and watch him fight with me."Merlin's voice broke her from her thoughts. She simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders, chuckling awkwardly.

"Sword fights just aren't my thing, Mer."She lied, walking over to her kitchen to start preparing her dinner. --"I'm sure you wouldn't have even started going to them if you weren't Arthur's man-servant."She pointed out and he shook his head in denial.

"not true." he denied, --"Arthur was impressed with them."He spoke, capturing y/n's attention. She lifted her eyes forward but didn't turn her head, her stomach doing a flip as she smiled.

She and Arthur had a weird type of relationship. She wasn't sure whether to describe their dynamic as friends considering Arthur often differed between being hot and cold around her. Sometimes he would speak to her freely like they were on the same level, he would even have a laugh with her sometimes but then other times he would give her the cold shoulder.

Which hurt y/n. Like with Merlin, it had taken her a while to even speak words to him, longer than Merlin actually considering she felt intimidated under Arthur's royal authority. After a while, she finally felt comfortable enough to communicate with him, something that actually seemed to delight Arthur.

Perhaps it was because she addressed him like he was human and not like he was a walking title.

"Really?"She spoke, surprised. Arthur was never one to admit that he was impressed with anyone outside of his group of knights, especially to Merlin of all people.

"Uther too."Merlin continued, moving over to stand next to her in the kitchen part of her small house. She hummed in response, --"I bet the knight was pleased with such praise."She responded and Merlin shook his head with a pout.

"I wouldn't know. The knight always leaves the second he wins his challenge."He informs the brunette who had to fain surprise.

She opens her mouth to respond before there was a loud knock at her door and seconds later Gwen came bursting in, a nervous look on her face.

"Uther wants everyone gathered in the town square!"

----

y/n stood alongside Merlin, Gwen and Gaius as they looked up at a smiling Uther from his patio. y/n folded her clammy hands over her lap as Uther urged the crowd to quieten down.

Arthur stood a little bit behind his father, a stoic look on his face like usual. y/n caught his gaze only for a moment before glancing down at her feet.

"I wish to address the mystery knight who has defeated every Camelot knight thrown his way."Uther finally spoke after a few seconds of silence.

y/n lifted her head in surprise as the crowd remained silent. Not that Uther was expecting anyone to respond to him. He waited a couple of seconds before continuing.

"Very well. You wish to keep your identity a secret for the time being." he paused, surveying the crowd as he tried to guess who had been under the armour only mere hours ago.

"I wish to propose a challenge to you."Uther continued, y/n straightened her back unknowingly. --"Defeat a nobleman of my choosing and you will have a place amongst my knights." he paused for a second, --"no noble blood needed."

y/n was sceptical of that challenge reward. Uther had never abandoned the knight's code, never. Clearly, Merlin was sceptical too judging by the glance he gave to her.

"As for you're challenger, "Uther spoke again, demanding all of the whispered hushes in the crowd to cease. --"You will be duelling against my son..."

Her heart dropped to her stomach as Arthur took a step forward, Uther resting a hand on his son's back. --"Prince Arthur Pendragon." he announced as the crowd started to applaud this idea.

Merlin seemed to like this idea as he applauded along with the crowd. However, y/n looked as though she wanted to be sick. She didn't want to fight Arthur, but she was also never one to back down from a challenge.

"If you accept my challenge,"Uther spoke again and she lifted her gaze from Arthur to Uther. --"You'll duel tomorrow at noon."

y/n swallowed uneasily, gripping the fabric of her skirt anxiously. What was she going to do? she despised the idea of backing down from a challenge, especially one set by the king himself. But she would have to fight Arthur, one of the select few people in her life she actually cared for.

----

Later that night, y/n wiped down the dining table in the Camelot castle. y/n wasn't exactly a servant per se, she was a cleaner. Every night just before Uther retired to his chambers, she would clean down the thrones, dining room table, scrub and sweep the floor and replace the fresh bowl of fruit on the table.

She still hadn't decided if she was going to accept Uther's challenge. She wanted to prove to herself that she could go all the way but could she really willingly hurt Arthur? the same Arthur who complimented the flowerbeds outside of her house every time he passed.

"you missed a spot."

She paused her arm to glance over her shoulder, bowing her head a little when seeing Arthur leaning against the wall. Shaking her head with a smile, --"No I didn't, sire."She denied with a small laugh.

"Are you calling me a liar, y/n?"He demanded playfully, a grin on his face. She continued to clean as she shook her head, --"I would never, your highness."She responded, scoffing a laugh.

After wiping down the table, she glanced over at him. --"I assumed you would be training for your duel tomorrow morning."She spoke, he pursed his lips and shook his head.

"I've been training all night, thought I'd give myself a break."He responded, and she hummed with a nod. --"You're father must really believe in this mysterious knight to abandon the knight code."She said, picking up the bucket of water and moving over to the throne to wipe them down too.

Arthur only shook his head. --"I wish that was the case."He responded, and she glanced at him curiously. --"My father doesn't believe this knight can beat me, as far as he is concerned he isn't even breaking the knight code."He confided in y/n, a frown settled on his face.

"you disagree with him?"She pressed. Arthur merely scoffed, --"That the knight can't beat me? of course, I agree with that." he boasted arrogantly causing y/n to roll her eyes in amusement. --"But I don't agree with the knight code."He then continued, moving to lean against one of the thrones that y/n had just wiped down.

She raised her head and cleared her throat. He furrowed his eyebrows for a moment before she gestured to the throne he was leaning against. --"I just wiped that down, sire."She reminded him and he raised his eyebrows and moved away from the throne so he was standing next to her.

"You don't agree with the knight's code?"She asked curiously and he shook his head. --"I believe if you fight with dignity and honour, it shouldn't matter what bloodline you belong to."He responded. She paused her actions to show him a soft smile.

"you're a good man, Arthur Pendragon."She informed him with a nod as she finished up her cleaning duties. Arthur felt his heart swell at her words, an adoring smile appearing on his features as he watched her drop her sponge into the bucket of soapy water.

"Perhaps you could throw that at Merlin, he was supposed to have had my bed made an hour ago," he commented and she let out a laugh, pressing a hand to her mouth in an instant, her face heating up.

"You love him, really."She simply told him with a laugh as she moved past him. Arthur made a face at her comment but didn't deny his platonic affection for his manservant.

"Will you be at the duel tomorrow?"He asked her, walking alongside her. She swallowed and shook her head, --"Don't think I could bear to see you lose, sire."She responded playfully and he shook his head with a smile on his face.

"I'm not going to lose."He informed her confidently, missing the sly smile on her face. As they passed the stairs, he pressed a hand to the wall and smiled over at her.

"Goodnight, y/n."

She returned his smile, her cheeks rosy. --"Goodnight, my lord."She bid him goodnight and then disappeared down the corridor.

Arthur didn't move for a second before disappearing up to his chambers.

----

Arthur stood in the arena, decked out in his armour. The prince had been waiting for his opponent for around 10 minutes. Uther was noticeably becoming impatient but his ego was way more demanding than his patience.

Merlin's knee bounced up and down nervously, starting to think that the knight had gotten cold feet at the thought of duelling the king's son.

I mean, this could all just be one big ploy to capture the knight and throw them in a cell for embarrassing the entire Camelot knighthood. The knight would have every right to be suspicious.

But just as all seemed lost and Uther was going to call for the duel to be cancelled, heavy exaggerated footsteps were heard and out walked the Knight themself.

The crowd let out a cheer at the sight of the knight. Arthur straightened his posture as he eyed the masked mystery.

y/n had been tossing and turning all night on her decision but ultimately decided to fight. She was going to prove Uther Pendragon wrong.

She unsheathed her sword with Arthur, the crowd letting out another cheer as the pair slowly bowed to one another. And thus the duel began.

y/n hadn't been entirely sure how she would act in a fight with Arthur so she just pictured that she wasn't fighting Arthur at all and she was simply fighting another random knight.

She blocked a swing from Arthur with her shield, spinning around and swinging her sword in his direction. As their swords clashed against one another for a further 3 minutes, y/n felt her respect for Arthur grow more and more.

Their swords blocked against one another as they both fought for dominance, Arthur's helmeted head getting close to hers. In the end, Arthur got the better of her and he struck her back, twisting her sword around with his so they were face to face again, fighting to shove the other to the ground.

But as his blue eyes gazed through the eye slit of her helmet, his eyes locked with hers and he squinted in confusion, recognising her dark orbs instantly.

"y/n?"He mumbled loud enough for her to hear and only her.

Her heart dropped and her eyes widened in surprise. He recognised her? but she had been so careful. Swallowing thickly, she shoved him back and swung her sword at him, which he blocked, their swords once again stuck together.

Now that Arthur knew who was under that helmet and shiny armour, he wanted to finish the match as soon as possible. He used their swords being connected to his advantage and thrust his sword down causing her to fall to the ground.

He then took a page out of her book and pressed his boot against the chest of her armour and pointed the sword at her neck.

Arthur had won.

The crowd erupted into cheers but Arthur didn't lift his head. He was too busy staring down at the woman beneath the metal.

Her heart sank with the knowledge that she had lost the duel. All she ever wanted was to prove to everyone and herself that she was worthy to fight with the knights of Camelot but she had failed.

After a couple of seconds, Arthur pulled his sword away from her neck to hold his hand out for her. Exhaling sharply, she fought the urge to groan at the growing pain happening in her left ribcage.

She took ahold of his hand and he helped her to her feet, his blue eyes staring incredulously into hers, a worried look on his face that didn't go missed by Merlin.

----

That evening, y/n lay in her bed with a frown. She had failed. All she had to do was win one more duel and maybe just maybe she would have gotten the respect she so desperately wanted.

After their duel had come to an end, y/n had wasted no time on giving Arthur a brief congratulatory pat on the back before leaving the arena and disappearing through the alleys to retreat back to her house.

She was surprised that Merlin hadn't come bursting to her door yet to talk about how the 'mystery knight' had lost his duel with Arthur. She assumed that Arthur would have told him that it had been her underneath the armour.

Then there was a knock at her door. She groaned in discomfort and lifted herself from her bed to walk over to her door, expecting to swing it open and find a worried Merlin.

But instead, she found Arthur who wasted no time barging past her.

She cursed silently, --"please, come in."She muttered sarcastically to herself, making sure that Arthur hadn't heard the way she spoke to him.

Closing the door, she turned to him, surprised to see the concerned look on his face. --"Why would you do that?"He snapped at her, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Regarding?"She tried and he shook his head. --"Don't you realise that if I hadn't realised it was you under the armour I could have killed you?!"He snapped at her.

Her shoulders fell with disappointment. --"I just-"She paused and swallowed, --"I just wanted to feel proud of myself for once."She told him.

Arthur only sighed and took a few steps forward, resting his hands on her cheeks to make sure she hadn't sustained any injuries during their duel. --"you should feel proud of yourself, y/n."He told her truthfully.

"You won, remember?"She muttered as he continued to look her over. --"Did I hurt you?" he asked her, ignoring her previous comment. She goes to shake her head but doesn't get the chance as Arthur's hand brushes over her left ribcage.

She let out a grunt, gritting her teeth together as she shook her head. --"No."She denied, only earning a glare from Arthur. --"I'll get Gaius."He goes to pass her and leave, a look of panic passed her face as she grabbed ahold of his arm, shaking her head.

"No!"She exclaimed, Arthur, turned to her with a confused look on his face. --"Have you told Merlin it was me?"She asked and he shook his head.

"I didn't get the chance to, he was too busy moping because you lost."He snorted, she swallowed and nodded her head. --"Could this just be our secret?"She asked him.

"If you go to Gaius surely Uther will find out it was me under the metal and I really don't want that."She told him, her voice shaking a little.

Arthur hesitated for a moment. --"Do you think you're rib is cracked?" he asked her seriously and she shook her head. --"You pack a mean blow, Pendragon but don't get cocky."She simply told him, --"It's merely bruised."

After a moment, he nodded and she released her hold on his arm. --"Thank you."She murmured. --"you're good in a duel."He responded and she shook her head.

"you won, remember?"She repeated the same phrase from earlier and he shook his head. --"I wouldn't have ended it as quick as I had if I hadn't noticed it was you."He told her, his gaze piercing against hers.

She raised an eyebrow. --"Are you telling me you might not have won if you hadn't noticed, sire?"She asked playfully and he scoffed taking a step closer to her.

"You're good, y/l/n, but don't get cocky."He repeated her words from earlier, leaning closer so that he could whisper his words tauntingly.

She didn't respond, their eyes flickering between one another's lips. Arthur seemed to think over his options for a moment before leaning in and closing the gap between the pair, his lips capturing hers.

And thus began the first of many kisses that the pair would share.

97 notes · View notes

glimmermen · 1 year

Text

you'll always have my sword

merthur oneshot

Arthur had always been fiercely protective of Merlin, but never more so than when he stumbled upon his injured friend in the forest. Merlin lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath him from a deep gash on his leg.

Arthur's heart leaped into his throat at the sight. Without a second thought, he sprang into action, drawing his sword and scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of danger.

It didn't take long for his instincts to prove correct. A group of bandits emerged from the underbrush, their faces twisted into cruel sneers as they approached.

Arthur stood his ground, determined to protect his friend at any cost. His sword glinted in the dappled sunlight as he braced himself for the inevitable attack.

The bandits rushed forward, their weapons raised high. But Arthur was ready for them. He parried their blows with ease, his movements swift and precise.

Merlin watched in awe as his friend fought off their attackers. Despite the pain in his leg, he felt a surge of pride and admiration for the man who was risking his own life to save him.

But the bandits were relentless, and soon Arthur found himself outnumbered. He grunted as a blade sliced through his armor, drawing blood from his shoulder.

Merlin's heart seized with fear as he watched Arthur falter. But then, with a fierce cry, he surged forward, brandishing a fallen tree branch like a weapon.

The bandits were caught off guard by Merlin's sudden attack, and Arthur took advantage of their distraction to deliver a swift blow that sent one of them sprawling to the ground.

It was enough to turn the tide of the battle. The remaining bandits fled into the woods, their cries of defeat echoing in the distance.

Arthur collapsed onto his knees, panting heavily from the exertion. Merlin crawled over to him, wincing in pain as he did so.

"Are you alright?" Arthur gasped, his eyes searching Merlin's face for any sign of injury.

Merlin shook his head. "I'll be fine," he said, though he winced as he tried to stand.

Arthur shook his head, a fierce determination in his eyes. "No, we need to get you back to Camelot. You need proper medical attention."

With a strength born of desperation, Arthur lifted Merlin into his arms and began the long journey back to the castle. Despite the pain in his own wounds, he refused to stop until they were safe behind Camelot's walls.

It was only when they had finally made it back to the castle that Arthur allowed himself to collapse onto the nearest bench, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Merlin looked at him with wonder and gratitude, feeling a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the fire that burned in the grate.

"Thank you, Arthur," he said softly, his voice choked with emotion.

Arthur looked up at him, his eyes bright with a fierce love that Merlin had never seen before. "Anything for you, Merlin," he said, and Merlin knew in that moment that he would always be safe in Arthur's care.

#merthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin bbc #oneshot #fic

20 notes · View notes

random-hooman · 1 year

Text

I SHOULD NOT BE THIS HYPED UP ABOUT A METHUR FANFIC AT 3:16am BUT

HELL YEAH!

YOU GO MERLIN!

SAVE YOUR PRINCESS (AKA ARTHUR)

I HAVE SO MUCH FUDGING ADRENALINE RN

WHO NEEDS COFFEE WHEN YOU HAVE ✨MERTHUR FANFICTION✨

(btw the fic is called "About Time" by rosewatergold on ao3, it's a merthur time travel fix-it AU one-shot)

#i should be asleep #i just love this fic so much #it's so good #and it's a oneshot!?!#it's a long one-shot tho #merthur #merlin #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #merlin emrys #arthur and merlin #arthur x merlin #bbc merthur #methur #merthur fic #my mom is gonna kill me

42 notes · View notes

nothankyoudear · 1 year

Text

Arthur doesn't have many secrets, being the prince of Camelot and all, but he does have one that he's managed to keep from everyone but himself.

In the prince's royal chambers, underneath the bed, in a box that can only be unlocked with a key that Arthur carries by his side, there is a small brown journal.

Unlike the most common expectations for such a carefully secured book, what is inside this journal is - to put it plainly - not important at all. There are no secrets inside this journal that could bring Camelot to ruins. No ancient prophecies that could shift fate and history, and most certainly nothing of importance to Camelot and its people.

What is inside this journal is actually quite simple - There is a list.

But the fact that it is a list is not what deems its protection and security, it is the content of the list. It is the list of everything that Arthur has wanted since he was a mere child.

The list starts off simple with childish whims and demands. Things like a horse of his own and a sword that spans the length of the castle itself are not uncommon reoccurrences.

Then, as Arthur grows, the list of simple things begin to evolve. He writes that he wants a friend who isn't just friends with him because he's the prince. He writes that he wishes his father would look him in the eyes without some sort of judgement for once in his life. He writes that he wants his mother back.

He writes because he's not allowed to want or have, and at least this way he could fool himself into thinking that maybe - just maybe - one day he'd finally get what he wants.

Then, Merlin happens, and Arthur slowly realizes that he is writing about Merlin more and more often in this book that was supposed to be about his own selfish little desires.

He finds himself facing the fact that Merlin has somehow slowly slipped into every minuet crevice of his life, and has consumed the secrets that were supposed to be his own little safe haven.

But even with this knowledge, Arthur can't stop.

So he keeps writing.

He writes about how he wants to crawl beneath his blanket and cuddle up with Merlin on cold nights. He writes about how badly he wants to hold Merlin's hand in his every time he complains about the cold during one of their hunting trips. He writes about he wants to touch and kiss those ridiculous ears of his.

He writes about how he wishes he’s not the prince of Camelot so he could be with Merlin. He writes about wishing he had the confidence to just tell Merlin he loves him so desperately that it burns him from the inside out. He writes about how he wants nothing more than the chance to love.

And sooner or later, he finds himself picturing and writing about wanting a future with Merlin - a future where Merlin agrees with run off with Arthur to a small, remote village.

He's got it all written out - Arthur would feed the chickens and Merlin would pluck the berries they planted. They'd grow carrots and wheat and maybe even keep bees. They'd lean on each other and kiss as the sun sets.

Arthur would love Merlin, and Merlin would love him back.

But he knows that he's still not allowed to want or have, so he simply does what he always does: He writes in the journal, puts the journal in the box, and locks the box before returning it to the space underneath his bed.

Afterwards, he sleeps in his bed alone, hoping that he dreams of him and Merlin on their little farm tending to chickens.

And one day, as Arthur is feeding their chickens and Merlin is collecting ripened blueberries from the bushes they planted, Arthur will tell Merlin about the silly little journal that he wrote in about a silly little future just like the one they have. Merlin will smile at Arthur as they watch the sunset, and before they kiss, he'll whisper, “I know.”

2K notes · View notes