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#but I LIVE for Morganas evil era
excaliburswielder · 2 years
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Merthur Fic Masterlist (Updating)
These are some of my favourite Merlin fics so far. A lot of these will contain spoilers for the show. They are listed in no particular order. I have also cropped some of the summaries to save people the scrolling time.
Formatting is as follows: [Title] by [Author] | Completion Status | Word Count (to the nearest thousand), Chapters or Parts (if series) | Rating | Warnings (if applicable) | Key Info/Themes | Summary (I did not write most of them)
Updates since first posted: 1
Under 10k:
The Tulip Thief by Polomonkey | Complete | 3.2k, 1 chapter | General Audiences | Modern setting, fluff, pre-slash, misunderstandings, hand-holding | 'Sometimes I steal flowers from your garden on my way to the cemetery, but today you’ve caught me and have demanded to come with me to make sure the “girl is pretty enough to warrant flower theft” and I’m trying to figure out how to break it to you that we’re on our way to a graveyard'
10-20k:
to go with grace by andiwriteordie | Complete | 17k, 1 chapter | Teen & Up | Post-canon, character redemption, Morgana POV, angst, introspective, forgiveness | Morgana Pendragon is dead, at Emrys’s hand. Just as the prophecies had foretold. But before she can enter Avalon and find peace, she must first pay penance for all the sins she committed in her life. Her penance is quite simple: look after and heal Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King, until the time comes for his return to the land of the living.
The Sorcerer and the Lionheart by just_a_wavefunction | Complete | 16k, 1 chapter | Teen & Up | Post-canon, historical references, friendship, Immortal Leon | Merlin spends fifteen hundred years waiting for Arthur's return. Luckily, he doesn't have to wait alone.
Hear Your Heart Sing (Love, Love, Love) by schweet_heart | Complete | 15k, 8 chapters | Mature | Soulmates AU, fluff, humor, angst, office romance | Merlin used to like the idea of finding The One – until he fell in love with Arthur Pendragon. Now he has a boss he can't date (but can't stop thinking about), a soulmate he can't find (who has terrible taste in music), and a best friend who can't believe he still hasn't got his act together (even though it's seriously not his fault).
From This Day On by lady_ragnell | Complete | 19k, 1 chapter | Teen & Up | modern setting, canon era (it'll make sense), mystery-solving? (idk how to describe it) | While on a hike, Merlin and Gwaine stumble upon the Lost City of Camelot, cursed to wake up every morning a century in the future, and Merlin decides it's his duty to break the spell--with help from a prince, an imprisoned seer, and quite a few others. A Brigadoon AU.
A Metaphor of Human Bloody Existence by lady_ragnell | Complete | 19k, 1 chapter | Teen & Up | Modern with magic, humour, crack treated seriously, destiny | In which Merlin and Arthur (and others) band together to fight evil on the advice of a can of peas.
21-50k:
and with my opened mouth i join the singing light by intothefirewego | Complete | 33k, 6 chapters | Mature | Graphic descriptions of blood | Heavy angst, major character injury, emotional hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, magic reveal | Merlin frowned, and tried to inhale, but choked on a cough. He opened his mouth, trying to speak but his mouth was sticky and full and he felt warm, warm, warm, warm spilling down down down down… The world tilted on its axis a little bit, and Merlin leant into Arthur’s body. Why was the world tilting? Arthur’s face shifted from annoyance to horror.
Destiny That Darkly Hides Us by Nympha_Alba | Complete | 40k, 7 chapters | Explicit | Angst, WWI, Edwardian era, college AU | It's 1913, the practice of homosexuality is unlawful, so is the practice of magic. When Arthur Pendragon and Merlin Emrys meet as Cambridge undergrads, they're both hungry for a real and true connection without secrets. For a short time they believe they may have found it. But war breaks out and separates them, and it seems unlikely that they will meet again. After all, what are the odds?
A.S.S. (Agents of Secret Stuff) series by supercalvin | 39k, 8 parts | Mostly Teen & Up | Mostly none, one fic is marked with Graphic Depictions Of Violence | Spy AU, modern setting, humor, crack treated seriously, BAMF characters | Merlin & Arthur are an unstoppable spy duo. Basically merthur + the knights and other characters do whacky spy shit
51-100k:
Singing Trees by aescrof | Complete | 65k, 11 chapters | Teen & Up | Canon era, different first meeting, magic reveal, fluff, angst | Arthur knew about the magic from the start.
Tributes by TheAvalonian | Complete | 88k, 10 Chapters | Mature | Graphic Depictions of Violence | Hunger Games AU, angst, enemies to friends to lovers, emotional hurt/comfort | It is the 57th annual Hunger Games, and Merlin Emrys stands at the Reaping ceremony with his best friend Guinevere Smith at his side. In a twisted game where death seems the only certainty, Merlin will find himself tested in ways no one could have ever predicted - and may even find himself fighting for more than just his own life as he enters into an unlikely alliance with Arthur Pendragon, the Career tribute poised to win it all.
Over 100k:
To Bare Our Teeth and Our Hearts by queerofthedagger | Complete | 124k, 14 chapters | Mature | Graphic Depictions Of Violence | An execution was not exactly on Merlin's bucket list, wasn't even what destiny had intended for him. Arthur, for his part, really wants to catch a break, and to stop thinking about his late manservant. Or sometimes, things have to go downhill first before they get better, and if Uther had known about the eventual outcome, he might've changed his mind for once in his life.
What I'd Have Done by Flight_of_Fantasy | Complete | 119k, 14 chapters | General Audiences | Canon era, magic reveal, heavy angst, gen or pre-slash, Arthur-centric, character study | For better or for worse, Arthur knows Merlin's secret. The problem? Merlin doesn't know Arthur knows. This leaves Arthur with a predicament… and an opportunity. A test. Three trials and three opportunities for Merlin to prove he doesn't deserve death. Arthur hopes he will pass them. Maybe then the image of Merlin's golden eyes will stop haunting him.
The Heart's Search by rotrude | Complete | 115k, 2 chapters | Explicit | Some violence | Romance, AU - dystopia, modern setting | For thirty-five girls/boys, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Arthur. But for Merlin Emrys, being Selected is a nightmare. Leaving his home to enter a fierce competition for a crown he doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
The Great Merlin Bake Off by Elizabeth | Complete | 102k, 10 chapters | Mature | Modern setting, fluff, pining, schmoop | Because someone said, "What if it's Merlin, but they're on Bake Off?" AKA: The GBBO AU. It was bound to happen at some point.
Some bonus non-merthur Merlin fics:
Everyday Destiny (ffn, ao3) by Searchingforangels (ffn) or DancingInTheStorm (ao3) | Complete (only on ffn) | 53k, 200 chapters | General Audiences | Drabble collection, golden age AU, exploration of themes, non-linear narrative | Great destinies swing of small hinges; a collection of small moments that shape Albion. A pre- and post-reveal drabble collection.
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hakidra · 7 months
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Roxy and Morgana, a retake:
Ok... I don't know you all but for me, Roxy being Morgana's daughter feels so... weird?? Like Morgana was imprisoned centuries ago but she somehow went 16 years ago, had fun with klaus, gave birth to a daughter and then disappeared again?? It always bothered me. She could have maybe temporarily escape and got distracted by klaus but I don't really like that idea
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A quick solution I came with could be that instead of being Morgana's daughter, Roxy could be her descendant (Basically her great great great, you get the deal), Morgana could have had a daughter that eventually fled to the human world after the whole Tir Nan Og tragedy and settled with humans, having the magic dormant in the family for generations until it finally popped up again when Roxy came into the picture. (Or maybe it could have popped up before but Roxy doesn't really know much from her mother's family anyways....)
Feeling all that power deep inside this girl, Morgana could contact her and start the whole reviving Tir Nan Og and freeing the earth fairies ordeal. And in contrast the wizards could also start sensing this magic again and give chase.
(We won't talk about bloom right now, probably will talk about it in a season 4 rewrite ideas post later)
But going back to Roxy, this could lead to maybe her being interested in her background, after all "Who was her mother?" Plus all the Morgana dreams contacting her... maybe she could think Morgana is her mom, or an ancestor guiding her.
Plus it would mark much more the difference between roxy and Morgana. Roxy is the mix between a fairy and a human (mostly all human now since her fairy ancestor is from generations ago) so she could feel conflicted that she doesn't understand the way of thinking of her magic people, morgana on the other hand, could maybe see her own daughter in Roxy, which is why she's so desperate for her to join, in a way wanting Roxy to be her "daughter", maybe telling her something like "This is what a fairy should do (name for Morgana's daughter)" and Roxy telling her "I'm not her! I'm Roxy"
A conflict that could occur is that Morgana doesn't exactly care about Roxy as an individual, but more in the fact that she sees her as her late daughter, wanting her to be her. Basically a replacement, which is sad but well... We can have more evil fairies >:)
Morgana intruding in Roxy's mind could even be more scary, since she would always be telling her stuff, wanting to control her, to make her join her. She would want Roxy in her possession, whether she wants it or not.
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Picture as scenes like this, with Morgana being angry, telling roxy to stop helping the winx, wanting to control her but Roxy always managing to stop it via herself or the winx giving her a hand.
After all, even tho Morgana is cold, she has a soft spot for Roxy, as she would clearly tell her fairies to not hurt her. She wants to have Roxy by her side so she could (in a way) have her daughter again. But this time... have her do what she wants.
In conclusion to summarise:
• Roxy is Morgana's descendant and she is being contacted by her after the fairy queen noticed her huge power inside.
• Morgana had a daughter named (in process so no name), who fled to the human world after a fight with her mother.
Thanks to this, she survived the Tir Nan Og catastrophe and managed to live on, her descendants carrying her legacy until the recent era, aka: Roxy.
• Morgana doesn't take Roxy into account really, sometimes calling her by her late daughter name, and wanting her to act like she says, this would be very clear after Roxy frees the earth fairies. Having Morgana invading her mind much more often, telling her to join her side and to help her "real people".
• Roxy looks the same as always but in this retake, the earth fairies would have a different physical appearance to look more "magical" like having pointy ears similar to elfs and looking a little different so they can have some differences with humans but still share other things. (Imagine them with ears like tinkerbell)
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This would mark more the divide between Roxy and Morgana.
• Earth fairies are no saints, this would be better explained in other posts.
This could be considered an idea dump about some ideas I have for a season 4 rewrite.
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merlinbingo · 11 months
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Wonderful people, it's time for another round up!
In April, we received 56 fantastic fills created by 27 brilliant participants and one easily distracted mod. A second person has now got bingo, which is really awesome, and a whopping 58 people have filled at least one square over the last three months.
In terms of the kinds of works people submitted in April, 37 were fics, 13 artworks, four moodboards, one gif, and one poem! Yep, a poem!
28 fills were Merlin/Arthur and 12 were gen. Gwaine/Percival got seven, which is more fills than they've had in any month in any round before this (sure, they were all for chapters of the same collab, but it's still worth mentioning), and we had two Merlin/Leon fills as well.
Of the remaining seven, two were F/F (Gwen/Morgana and Vivian/OC), two were poly (Merlin/Arthur/Gwen and Merlin/Arthur/Lancelot), two were older generation (Gaius/Geoffrey and Catrina/Uther - the latter features Uther as Belle and Catrina as the Beast, and I adore it completely), and the final one is Merlin/Gwaine (which made me so happy that I'd have someone new to read for them, until I looked at it and realised I posted it, oh well, maybe there'll be more in May).
All fills are hidden below the cut, sorted by ship and then by rating. Remember to check the warnings and ratings, and practice self-care before clicking on that link!
No ships/gen
Victorian Lady Morgana by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary:
forgotten by Radioactivesunflower Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Sad merlin, angst, hurt no comfort, merthur if you squint, Summary: Gwen is saved! Someone is forgotten. Fears become a reality
Merlin ~ I am free now. I do not have the slightest reason for living. by willowsmarika Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Philosophy, Existentialism, Jean-Paul Sartre, La Nausée, inspo by a novel Summary: Inspo: Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre and how I tried to visualize Merlin in Roquentin's place and apply the central themes of the novel to Merlin. The inspo behind the idea was, that Merlin and other magic users could have easily felt like Roquentin did, grappling with their existence.
These Lonely Nights by monoisbored Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Arthur, Digital Art Summary:
Long Live the King by schweet_heart Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Merlin fanart, King Arthur, long-haired Arthur, bearded Arthur, Bradley James Summary: King Arthur, but a little to the left.
All the Way Back You Held Out Your Hand - Masterpost moodboard by Laevateinn Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Hurt Gwaine, moodboard, forest, werewolf Summary: Gwaine gets kidnapped and cursed by an evil sorcerer, but it's okay because Percival still really likes him. // Moodboard for the kidnapping
gwen and elyan royalty au by kairennart Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: digital art, royalty au Summary:
adopted square- QPR! by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary:
Sewing Skills by archaeologist_d Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: kid fic, silly, pre-canon, will is a troublemaker Summary: Merlin and Will were always getting into trouble. Sometimes Hunith could barely keep a straight face because they were so ridiculous. But most times, she just worried.
We'll Always Be The Last To Fall by ExcaliburnRowan Rating: Teen Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Major tags: Guardian Angel AU, Canon Era, Action/Adventure, Powerful Merlin, Merlin's Magic Revealed Summary: He does not remember the feeling of panic rising in his throat at the thought that he would not be discovered before he became nothing more than a dead corpse in a dead Queen’s garden, an errant child out of bed after hours.' This is my fill for BBC Merlin Reverse Bang! The original prompt, summary and the artwork can be found on AO3.
Written in the Stars by archaeologist_d Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: canon era, merlin as musician, fluff Summary: Merlin could hear the music in the wind and the earth and the sky and sometimes he would even play to it. Of course, the clotpole finds out.
No one and nothing part 4 by archaeologist_d Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Major tags: canon era, canon AU, arthur as hero Summary: Merlin saves Arthur’s life in front of the whole court and has to run for his life. But when Arthur shows up, asking for help, what was Merlin to do, say no?
Gwen/Morgana
Morgana's makeup routine by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary:
Vivian/OFC
The One Where Vivian is a Lesbian and Olaf Isn't Buying That Straight Shit by EvannaWebb Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Episode: s02e10 Sweet dreams, crack treated seriously, Olaf is a good parent Summary: Olaf realises that magic is being used when Vivian claims to be in love with Arthur Pendragon. Mostly because his daughter is a raging lesbian.
Catrina/Uther Pendragon
Beauty and the Beast by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary: Uther as Belle and Lady Catrina as the Beast, as inspired by Stelle!
Merlin/Arthur/Gwen
and from dusk to dawn (I'll be with you) by Imagined Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Canon Divergence, Love Spell, Polyamory, Merlin's Magic Revealed, Emotional Angst Summary: Merlin will never be entirely able to explain his thoughts and actions of that day, but he will remember standing there; Gwen in his arms, his lips still tingling with her kiss, and only the hungry beast of desire left in his mind—that he wants her, and he ought to want her, and she belongs to him— And then Arthur stares him in the face, steel in his hand and betrayal in his eyes, and the fog clears. And Merlin has no idea what he’s just done. Or: Instead of Lancelot, Morgana enchants Merlin and Gwen to betray Arthur together on the eve of their wedding.
Merlin/Arthur/Lancelot
Death, War and Destruction by kairennart Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: digital art, god au Summary:
Merlin/Leon
Immortal Husbands by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary:
Shadow of the Day by thetreeofwillow Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Episode: s03e12-13 The Coming of Arthur (Merlin), Grief/Mourning, Secret Relationship, Reunion Summary: Merlin watches the courtyard every time Leon leaves on patrol. One day he doesn't come back. ** A Coming of Arthur AU, where Merlin and Leon have been carrying on a secret relationship.
Gaius/Geoffrey
surreptitious by mechup Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: pov outsider, secret relationship, gaius & merlin Summary: Merlin notices Gaius acting strangely and decides to investigate.
Merlin/Gwaine
Rings Like a Bell Through the Night by eachpeachpearplum Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: fluff, canon-era, dancing Summary: "Come on," Gwaine says, offering his hand to Merlin. "Dance with me."
Gwaine/Percival
All the Way Back You Held Out Your Hand by eachpeachpearplum and Laevateinn Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply, Canon-typical violence Major tags: canon-divergence, curses, werewolf Gwaine, getting together, arm-wrestling Summary: It's not that Gwaine's complaining, not really, because this is definitely the friendliest conclusion he's ever seen to a kidnapping. It's way better than torture and starvation followed by either a dramatic rescue or his untimely demise, but yeah, being knocked unconscious, tied up in a shack, having gibberish chanted at him and then being let go again is very definitely strange. Or: Gwaine gets kidnapped and cursed by an evil sorcerer, but it's okay because Percival still really likes him.
Merlin/Arthur
Golden Day by Robin_Fai Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary: Arthur and Merlin in the golden light of their wedding day.
Soulbonded pair by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary:
Merthur as Heartstopper by KingAni Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: heartstopper, merthur Summary: merlin & arthur as the famous nick & charlie
That One by Zaharya Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Friendship, Humor, Crack, Prologue, Merlin claims his friends Summary: Usually it’s Gwaine’s job, the making friends. Not with Merlin. No, Merlin takes one look at him and the thing is done.
With the power of a million suns by 50quid Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: AU - Canon Divergence, Merlin is Affectionate Summary:
Do You Remember the First Time by Robin_Fai Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: music, friendship, friends to lovers, falling in love Summary: It starts like this: two idiots dancing to Common People in the living room of Leon’s shared house. Merlin and Arthur flinging their limbs about wildly and laughing as if they had not a care in the world, as if they couldn’t care less that people are watching. Later, all that Arthur can ever recall of the night is that one moment – dancing with Merlin and feeling freer than he ever had before in his life.
my soul laid bare for all to read by highfunctioning-clotpole Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: love confession, pining, modern setting, fluff Summary: Whilst tidying up, Arthur finds a book he doesn't recognise. As he starts to read, he begins to realise something...
The Stars by Jockles Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Drabble, Poetry, Canon Compliant Summary: A Poem from the journal of Professor Merlin, found in his office during the cleanup after he quit, with no warning, after a panicked phonecall from an 'old family friend'.
The Choice by lavender_spice Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: magic reveal, protective arthur, episode:5x05 the disir Summary: Merlin is mortally wounded in the Disir's cave. Now Arthur is presented with one of the most difficult choices of his life: save his friend or let his father's legacy die.
The Neurodivergent Sorcerer's Guide to Graduating by Imagined Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Fairytale Au, Modern AU with Magic, University AU, Merlin has ADHD Summary: “So, Merlin,” Arthur says, and leans forward. Despite having climbed a tower that’s taller than the Big Ben, he doesn’t have a lock of hair out of place. Merlin despises him for that, a little bit. “What are you currently doing in a tower that seems to have no entrance and does have a large dragon on top, which really, that doesn’t help with being perceived as a princess, you’re aware?” “How did you get past Kilgharrah?” Merlin wonders. “Dragons sleep too, Merlin.” Or: Merlin has stuck himself in a tower in a desperate attempt to make himself focus on his dissertation. A lot of knights seem to be under the impression that this makes him a princess in need of rescue, but fail to climb all the way up—that is, until Arthur.
A Faire Fight by Zaharya Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Returned Arthur, Tournaments, Fluff, Sword Fights, Getting Together Summary: Merlin and a freshly returned Arthur go to a medieval faire and fight in a tourney.
darkness in the distance by queerofthedagger Rating: Teen Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: Canon Compliant, Angst, Ambiguous Ending Summary: Traditions, Merlin comes to understand early on, are a consistent thread in the tapestry that is Camelot. It is a strange thing to get used to, the weight people place on them; small, seemingly inconsequential ones like honey cakes on Sundays, as well as the big, swooping ones like celebrations of the harvest, or burning sorcerers in the town square.
What matters is what you make of it by Zaharya Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Magic reveal, visual magic, powerful Merlin, scared Arthur, angst with a happy ending Summary: After Merlin's magic is revealed, both Merlin and Arthur have to face their fears of each other.
We can hold hands (And you can watch me) by Sage_Owl Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern Era, First Date, Texting, Friends to Lovers, Roommates Summary: Merlin and Arthur each get set up on a blind date. It's a first for both of them, but not in the way they expect.
Our Man Emrys by thetreeofwillow Rating: Mature Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Our Man Bashir AU, Jealousy, Canon Era, Flirting, Arthur's Competency Kink Summary: Merlin’s been sneaking off every chance he gets for the last few weeks and frankly, Arthur is sick of it. Merlin only pays him the barest hints of attention these days, merely what's necessary for his job. Obviously, Arthur can’t stand for his own manservant ignoring him, so he decided to skip today’s council meeting and follow Merlin. What Arthur finds sees him embroiled in a plot of friend saving and kingdom destruction. ** Also known as the Our Man Bashir AU nobody wanted, but I needed.
it's a nice day for a white wedding by radioactivesunflower Rating: Mature Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: soulmates, Enemies to Lovers, attempt at humor,modern era,slowish burn Summary: what happens when you meet your soulmate at their wedding? oh! you also hate each other gut
No one and Nothing - part 1 by archaeologist_d Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Major tags: canon era, angst, merlin reveals his magic Summary: Merlin saves Arthur’s life in front of the whole court and has to run for his life. But when Arthur shows up, asking for help, what was Merlin to do, say no?
On the Shores of Avalon Lake by Sage_Owl Rating: Mature Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern with Magic, minor character death, getting together, detective Arthur Pendragon, canon-typical violence Summary: Arthur Pendragon, youngest detective in Camelot PD's history, is set to follow in his father's footsteps and honor the Pendragon name. Until a string of unexplained murders forces him to team up with his worst nightmare (and all-around pain in his arse): Emrys, the most powerful warlock of a generation.
Abide by the Rules by SauraUnderscore Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern AU; College AU; Teacher/Student Relationship; Age gap; Spanking; Explicit Sex; Surprising Ending; Emotional Hurt/Comfort; Summary: Of course, the first one testing if the new Algebra teacher in the very prestigious Camelot College is able to abide by the rules, must be Arthur Pendragon. Not only that, but the little shit is the incredibly handsome headmaster’s son. He knows perfectly well the kind of punishment he is going to receive for cheating in his exam, and he believes Merlin is too weak to deliver it.
in the wake of shadows there is a sun by paceprompting Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s03e11 The Sorcerer's Shadow (Merlin), Merlin's Magic Revealed (Merlin), Hurt/Comfort, Getting Together Summary: In the final round of the tournament with no rules and no code, Gilli uses his magic to kill the King of Camelot, Uther Pendragon. From the shadows, Morgana rises to take the crown and punish those who had wronged her: starting with Merlin. Mortally injured, only a few allies to aid him, and his magic revealed, Merlin must try to survive to the next dawn.
You are something I can't classify by TyalanganD Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern AU, Asexuality spectrum, romance, light angst Summary: Arthur is Merlin-sexual. And that is a disaster.
Put A Ring On It by Sage_Owl Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Incubus, Modern With Magic, Sex Toys, Porn with Feelings, Neighbors Summary: Merlin leaves unexpectedly. Arthur is not pleased.
I Sell Thee My Soul by Saura Underscore Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Historical AU; Modern with Magic; Priest Merlin; Demon Arthur; Lucifer Temptation; Dub-con; Explicit Sex; Sex in a Church; Sex over an Altar Summary: Knowing that the Old Religion is dead, Merlin spends hundreds of years as a priest of small parishes or as a monk, trying to find solace in the quiet of living in monasteries rather than believing the Christian God would bring Arthur back from the lake. But, from his side, Arthur can see him and prays. Yet, in this game of good and evil, someone listens and makes Arthur a tempting offer.
red velvet & almond blossom by jopzer Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: fluff & smut, mutual pining, fix-it, crossdressing Summary: Merlin is wrangled into being Queen for the day, with the outfit to match.
for this moment, for all time by TheDragon Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Major tags: Alternate Universe—Soulmates, Soul Bonds, Kidnapping, Angst, Whump Summary: So you—what? Want me to use my magic to help you? Merlin asks, struggling not to let his disgust show. "Not your magic, no," the man finally says after a too-long silence, interrupted only by the clanking of Merlin's shackles as he finally pulls himself to his feet. "The ritual would be performed on you. It can be done with or without your consent, but the chance of success will be much higher if you go into this willingly." "And the ritual is?" Merlin asks after a beat. "It's meant to dissolve the soulbond between you and King Arthur."
- by royal_spud Rating: Not rated Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Summary: A recreation of the artwork of Hyacinthus and Apollo in the form of Merlin and Arthur
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veiled-lady · 1 month
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MINI CHARACTER PLAYLIST
Share at least five songs that remind you of your muse, or that you associate with your muse's character arc. Including lyrics is optional.
WICKED - (MILKBLOOD, PVRIS)
Don't say it's wicked 'cause you don't Understand it Ignorance is bliss so just Keep reprimandin' Roll those eyes right out the door Oh I can't stand you I got power in my blood While you demand it Baby, I command it
I think this whole song and vibe best fits how I view Morgana, and I could see this as Morgana talking to Kayle and Demacians. She's someone who was really misunderstood during her time as a Winged Protector in Demacia, and her nature today still remains a mystery even after the Mageseeker events. Back during the Winged Protectors era in Old Demacia, Morgana misunderstood her own magic as did Kayle and humans.
[Rest is under readmore for length]
I headcanon that people found her magic unsettling because of its dark nature and many viewed Morgana as potentially wicked while Kayle was the golden sister (and the one who was later remembered as the ONLY winged protector). Kayle might have also advised her to suppress it to keep up their radiant and divine image, which Morgana loathed. Morgana eventually gave into her magic in later fights, like with the battle against Aatrox, despite the stigma against it ( "do not conflate darkness with evil" Morgana quote). She gave in to her nature in a final fight against Kayle.
2. Suspirium - (Thorm Yorke)
Just the ground On which we stand Is the darkness Ours to take? Bathed in lightness Bathed in heat
The melody is very gentle and feels otherworldly. This is a song that can be interpreted in many different ways. I interpret this as a song that questions mortality, the difference between the soul from the body, and life. It also mentions negative decisions we may make and judgement. I think this really fits to Morgana, since she is representative of Restorative Justice but even she wonders if anyone is really capable of judging another. She doesn't think she is exempt to judgement.
3. Sweet Sacrifice - (Evanescence)
It's true, we're all a little, insane But it's so clear now that I'm, unchained Fear is only in our minds Taking over all the time Fear is only in our minds But it's, taking over all the time You poor, sweet, innocent thing; dry your eyes and testify You know you live to break me, don't deny sweet sacrifice
It would be a crime if I didn't include Evanescence in a Morgana playlist. Morgana is someone who understands that no one is perfect, and that people should be allowed to acknowledge their struggles and suffering. Morgana believes that the ability to feel, to heal, and to learn is important and essential in mortality. She is someone who uses her empath magic to urge those she views as cruel (and they may even see themselves as innocent) to repent. She's only able to manipulate negative emotion. Her empath magic has the price that she also feels some of the emotions she invokes from someone, so using her magic is a self-sacrifice she makes for her sense of justice.
4. Blindside - (2WEI & Edda Hayes)
In the moonlight Darkness tastes like honey Till the sunrise You won’t see me coming As I move without a sound Through the shadows quiet haunts your every step while I’m around
I can see this song as Morgana choosing to fulfil a prayer as the Veiled Lady after having deemed someone unjust and cruel enough to deserve Morgana's intervention and judgment. She will often follow the target through the shadows and observe them, and their emotions, to determine if they must repent or not. The wicked are not spared from her magic.
5. Marry the Night - (Lady Gaga)
I'm gonna marry the night I won't give up on my life I'm a warrior queen Live passionately tonight
This is another song that can be interpreted in different ways, but I've personally always viewed this song as the perspective of overcoming challenges and difficulties to move forward. This is a song that has personally resonated with me, and I view it as a song about healing and self-acceptance.
I can see this resonating with Morgana since she had to endure a lot of trauma from growing up during the Rune Wars, and later as a Winged Protector. Her magic is intrinsically agonizing, and she loathed it at first, but in time learned how to accept it and manage it. Morgana loathed herself and her divine nature during her early life and even spent a year trying to find a way to cut her wings off. Self-acceptance is something she is still working on since she is still on a path of healing, but she accepts herself much more than she once did.
Tagged by: @dolls-runeterran-dollhouse Tagging: I tagged some people but tumblr freaked out and the tags got deleted gjfjcnf
Anyone who would like to do this is tagged also :)
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princesssarisa · 2 years
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Character ask: Ursula the Sea Witch
Favorite thing about them: She's one of Disney's best villains, who really makes the audience love to hate her. She's sinister and can be genuinely scary, but she's also flamboyant, sassy, clever, and fun to watch: Pat Carroll's description of her as "part Shakespearean actress and part used car salesman" is very apt. She set the standard for the whole array of memorable villains from the Disney Renaissance era, and she set it high.
Least favorite thing about them: Well, obviously, she's an evil villain. Beyond that, I sometimes think her obese character design, in contrast with the ultra-skinny Ariel, is fatphobic.
Three things I have in common with them:
*I'm full-figured.
*I like purple (although it isn't my skin color).
*When I feel free to fully express myself, I can be flamboyant.
Three things I don't have in common with them:
*I don't know magic.
*I'm not plotting to take over a kingdom.
*I don't eat tiny sea creatures alive or use them as lipstick.
Favorite line:
I'm not asking much. Just a token, really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is . . . your voice.
"You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language!"
"Well, it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles! Triton's daughter will be mine and then I'll make him writhe. I'll see him wriggle like a worm on a hook!"
"The daughter of the great sea king is a very precious commodity. But - I might be willing to make an exchange for someone even better. . . "
And all the lyrics to "Poor Unfortunate Souls."
brOTP: Flotsam and Jetsam.
OTP: None – she wants power, not romance.
nOTP: Ariel, Eric, or Triton.
Random headcanon: She isn't Triton's sister (even though she was originally meant to be, and is in the novelization, the stage musical, and some other spin-off material, I think the existence of her own sister Morgana in the sequel retcons her relation to Triton out of the animated canon), but she was his ally once. She lived at the palace as his chief advisor and court magician – she might even have been the one who made his magic trident. But over time she became jealous of Triton, feeling as if she was the real power behind the throne while he got all the glory for it, and so she eventually plotted against him and was banished. Essentially she was like a female Jafar, unfortunately serving a king more competent than the Sultan.
Unpopular opinion: I'm torn about whether or not she should be played by a drag queen in any live-action adaptation. (Not that it matters, because she generally isn't, but I don't find myself enthusiastically calling for it the way other people do.) On the one hand, she was modeled after Divine, and they say he would have loved to voice her if only he hadn't died before he could. So that casting could serve as a tribute to him, as well as mainstream, family-friendly drag queen representation. But at the same time, she's the villain – an especially manipulative villain, who lures the young heroine away from her family and convinces her to change her body and give up her voice, and who tries to hypnotize the young hero into marrying her. Casting a man in the role could play into a long list of transphobic, homophobic, and anti-drag stereotypes.
Song I associate with them: "Poor Unfortunate Souls"
youtube
Favorite pictures of them:
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merlin-fic-server · 2 years
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The Way to a Man's Heart
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38687817/chapters/96728928
Title: The Way to a Man’s Heart
Author: anonymintea
Original Author: illiterateowl
Rating: M
Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Additional Tags: POV Merlin (Merlin), Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Modern Era, Alternate Universe - Non-Magical, Getting Together, Enemies to Lovers, Strangers to Enemies to Lovers, First Meetings, Pining, Denial of Feelings, Falling In Love, Matchmaking, First Dates, Bickering as Flirting, Alcohol Consumption, Intoxication, Food, like A LOT of discussion of food, Romantic Comedy, Humor, Just a pinch of angst, Daddy Issues, Morgana Meddles, Morgana is not Evil but also is not Good, Chef Arthur, Emotionally Constipated Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Arthur is scared of intimacy, Snarky Merlin (Merlin), Other Additional Tags to Be Added
Summary: On the surface, Arthur Pendragon seems to be a confident, callous, cavalier arsehole with a culinary degree. But there are just the tiniest suggestions of cracks in that shell that Merlin has glimpsed over the past few weeks… Regardless, there was no way this would end in anything but catastrophe, even if Arthur wasn’t a great big bloody git, because he was Morgana’s brother, and Morgana was Merlin’s boss, and things like that were never wise.
Author’s Note: For the Merlin Fic Book Club Server’s Wip Relay 2022! I was lucky enough to recieve 2,300 words of this story and an outline from illiterateowl. Thank you so much for gifting this lovely wip; I hope it lives up to your expectations!
The recipe for this story as illiterateowl gave to me called for a sappy, sexy, sweet fic about falling in love at first sight over food and romance languages. Being who I am, I ruined this perfectly lovely prompt by adding a heaping cup of enemies-to-lovers, two teaspoons of angst, and enough cheese to make a gay Lifetime movie romcom script. I hope you don’t mind the liberties that I took or that I’m incapable of writing anything that doesn’t include daddy issues and existential crises. (Fortunately, that all mostly comes in chapter 2.)
Bon appétit! <3
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queenofravens01 · 1 year
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Time travel AU: Weeping Angels and Harry Potter
No one will ever see it, probably, but it's 5 a.m. somewhere, and I'm fandom crazy 🤷🏼‍♀️
So, I really love time-travel AU in almost any form and flavor, but being as obsessed with Marauders as I’m, you can imagine my favorite setting for such AU🐺🐶🦌🐭
I also live by Doctor Who 👨‍⚕️❓ — it's something about charismatic British (wo)men, you know — so it should give context for how this idea came to me.
Anyway, the idea itself. Weeping Angels 🗽 in Harry Potter universe. I consider Weeping angels to be one of THE BEST creations in fictional universe, and I believe the potential for their use is infinite.
Imagine a Main Character (up to you which one: canon characters, OC all the way, or I also really like to interconnect Marauders era and The next generation aka the kids). Imagine Hogwarts defenses get triggered; no one is found, everyone thinks it's false alarm or some ghost/boggart/something harmless, and no one notices an extra statue in the halls. Imagine people start missing. Imagine your character just walking the halls and noticing over time that statues change, that there's more of them. Imagine your MC not being quick enough one day, so an Angel gets them. Imagine them appearing in the same hall in 1970s. Imagine drama and angst, and romance, and found family (maybe even literal one, depending on the character). Imagine opportunities for plots and ships.
I love the idea that MC would  go to Potters or Blacks for help and protection, depending on who they are.
(And I get it, Blacks do not seem to be a logical choice, but I imagine MC going to Arcturus and Melania Black (aka Lord & Lady of Black), and being like: 'I'm f*cking Black, I'm stuck in the past, Angels are evil, so you will help me, or Morgana help me!'. Something similar with Potters, but much more cordial and wholesome)
MC becoming part of the family and sibling to one of the Marauders. Them coming to Hogwarts and integrating in. Living, breathing, learning, making friends and falling in love.
Also, MC not telling the truth to Marauders until much later or at all, and the only person that they would trust with the truth aside the family is McGonagall (let's be honest. this Queen✨ would be objectively the only one to handle such shit, with grace)
Imagine MC starting to become part of history, maybe trying to change it, but maybe ending up only causing it to happen. Imagine them starting to suspect that Angels were not so random in the first place. Imagine an Angel appearing in the 1970s...
As I said, potential is infinite. There may be more time jumps, there may be time loops, there may be evil plans and strategies, there may be even the Doctor themself (multiverse IS real, after all).
To conclude:
No one will ever see it, probably, but if YOU did, and have read it all trough, then it must be either 5 a.m. at yours or you're fandom crazy ❤️‍🔥. In any case, thank you for reading this and kudos for being fandom enthusiast, I love you just for that already. Share your ideas and opinions, and please let me know if I'm not the only one who thinks it would be ingenious 💡
Also, please share it with anyone who you'd think could make this idea come to life, and I'm always open to help (I do not have a patience to write a whole story by myself, but I work great in tandem. Or I can just drown you in ideas and headcanons for this AU universe I just dreamt up 🔮)
AO3: DevilishRaven (contact me there please if you can, tumbler is kind of a foreign shadow zone to me)
P. S. If You don't know about Weeping Angels, please go and watch Doctor Who 03x10 (remember: DO NOT BLINK), or read about them online. Basics here:
The Weeping Angels are an extremely powerful species of quantum-locked humanoids, meaning they cannot move if they are being watched. They got their name because of their need to cover their faces to avoid trapping each other in stone-state. They are known for being "kind" murderous psychopaths, eradicating their victims "mercifully" by dropping them into the past and letting them live out their full lives, just in a different time period. This, in turn, allows them to live off the remaining time energy of the victim's life.
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weakforarwen · 2 years
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The Eye of The Phoenix
I don’t know why I didn’t care for this episode the first time I watched it, because it’s a good episode. I remember being disappointed in Arthur getting sidelined in what was supposed to be his quest, but that’s not true. He made it into the castle by himself which was already so impressive given how powerful Morgana’s bracelet was. He showed a lot of physical and emotional strength - and courage.
The quest may have turned out to be Merlin’s, but it was interesting that, as the Fisher King pointed out, Merlin wouldn’t have taken the quest if not for Arthur. We usually think of Merlin as the one helping Arthur fulfill his destiny, but Merlin would have no destiny to fullfil if not for Arthur. 
I don’t know if I’m reading too much into things, but the Fisher King said a new era was approaching - the era of the Once and Future King - so his time (era?) was up. Is the Fisher King a predecessor to Arthur? The first time I watched the episode, I wasn’t paying much attention, so I assumed, because the Fisher King was a mage, that he was Merlin’s predecessor - it was only when Merlin found him that he fulfilled his purpose and was free to die. Now, I’m not so sure. 
Like future Merlin, the Fisher King was immortal and awaiting the appearance of the Once and Future King. However, why did Morgana’s bracelet kill him when it was bound to Arthur? It had no effect on Merlin and Merlin did not enchant the bracelet before giving it to the King. Like Arthur, the Fisher King was a legendary King who was thought to have been defeated in a great battle, yet lived on (like Arthur in his own way) til the present day where he helped Merlin help Arthur in saving Albion. The Fisher King passed away just before Arthur became King. Was he the previous Once and Future King? That doesn’t make much sense, yet would explain why the bracelet worked on him... Is there only one Once and Future King? The Fisher King waited a 1000 years to gift Merlin water from the Lake of Avalon which helped Albion in its greatest time of need (against Morgana in the season 3 finale); Arthur’s destiny is also to save Albion in its greatest time of need. Yet Arthur died and the Fisher King didn’t... It’s like the Fisher King is a combination of Merlin and Arthur, a king with magic... Or, perhaps, he really was a predecessor to Merlin and Merlin is not the only great warlock working for the Once and Future King (we kinda knew that already). Arthur became King just after he helped Albion overcome her first “greatest time of need”, and he will rise again when for her second “greatest time of need”. But why did the bracelet work on the Fisher King, yet not on Merlin? Did I miss something? Was it just a plothole? (Anyone has any theories?...)
Moving on, I never understood why Gwen didn’t share her suspicions about Morgana to Arthur, but I kinda get it now. She thought she saw Morgause in the mirror, but she didn’t quite know who she was (the only time Gwen saw Morgause was the first time she appeared in Camelot). She also noticed Morgana’s weird behavior, and witnessed her practice magic, so she went to Gaius (her only friend in the castle since Arthur and Merlin were gone), who confirmed her suspicions yet didn’t tell her Morgana was planning to kill Arthur. All Gwen knew was that her friend was practicing magic and seemed to have evil intentions - in Gwen’s mind, magic is dangerous and Morgana’s behavior only proved it. Still, Gwen didn’t know Morgana was using magic against Arthur, and perhaps didn’t think her capable of killing him. She couldn’t have foreseen Morgana’s alliance with Morgause or what motive Morgana had to wish Arthur ill. At the same time, she likely didn’t want to put herself or Morgana in danger by sharing what she saw.
If she told Arthur and he believed her, he would then foolishly tell the King who wouldn’t believe him without proof. And if Arthur risked Gwen’s life by outing her as a witness to Morgana’s magic, she’d likely be hanged - either for treason, or for trying to pin her magic use on Morgana. Even more likely, Arthur would try to stop Gwen’s execution - run away with her if necessary - while Merlin would try to find a way to either expose Morgana or safely get Gwen out of Camelot... Still, in the event that Gwen wasn’t named a witness, Morgana would still know it was Gwen and she’d be in danger, whether Arthur believed Gwen or not, and he would be unlikely to act without the King’s approval. Arthur could also just assume Gwen saw wrong, but I don’t believe he’d reject her testimony entirely - he would perhaps confront Morgana, sealing Gwen’s fate. Morgana had too much power over Uther... 
Furthermore, despite Gwen’s certainty that Morgana staged the scene for her and Arthur getting caught, she probably assumed Morgana was just having her fun messing with people’s lives - it’s quite a jump to suspect her of wanting the throne to herself at whatever cost. But I still believe Gwen should’ve eventually gone to Arthur... 
Anyway, this episode gave us the return of Gwaine! I’ve noticed quite a few Gwaine and Merlin shippers, and I saw why this episode. Between Lancelot and Gwaine, who’s more whipped for Merlin? And Merlin, bless him, is entirely clueless of the impact he had in their lives with his kindness and friendship. I love how Gwaine doesn’t even pretend he doesn’t think Arthur’s an idiot. He rolled his eyes when Arthur complained about being rescued by Merlin yet still called for Merin like Merlin was a dog; he also rolled his eyes when Arthur reminded them that he *officially* completed his quest on his own instead of thanking them; he even told Arthur not to be a princess and get his hands dirty (with bugs and worms) for *his* mission. But, he also told Arthur he was looking forward to the time Camelot had a halfway decent king. Gwaine was always on Arthur’s side, but his loyalties used to lie, first of all, with Merlin. It’s kinda sad that his loyalties shifted a bit when Arthur became King and he a Knight. Once Gwaine became a Knight his priority became the King, he grew closer to the other Knights, and we saw less of him and Merlin (the show also became very Merthur centric).
But I liked that Gwaine’s treatment of Merlin contrasted Arthur’s. Merlin risked his life to protect Arthur’s, but Gwaine risked his to protect Merlin’s. (Sidenote: Merlin is not unlike Arthur in underestmating the number of people on his side, but, unlike Arthur, he’s not clueless or ungrateful.) When Arthur and Gwaine finally reached Merlin after he’d gotten trapped in the room with the Fisher King, Arthur only gave Merlin a strong slap in the arm before grabbing the Trident, while Gwaine gave Merlin a hug and showed concern for him. We know Arthur cares for Merlin, but he has a very bad way of showing it and his constant dehumanization of Merlin is so toxic.
 Arthur never seems to think of Merlin as someone who exists beyond him - he doesn’t even know what Merlin does in his free time. It’s as if Merlin exists only to serve him and doesn’t need a day off and time to himself - or even basic human courtesy. He thinks Merlin has no feelings, or that he understands that Arthur’s roughness doesn’t come from a bad place, so he believes Merlin doesn’t mind being called names every day, getting shit thrown at him (a pillow in another episode and a vase in this one), being told he’s good for nothing, etc. Arthur doesn’t know how to value Merlin as a person, and even if it seems like Merlin’s okay, he isn’t; after all, he’s always surprised when Arthur shows he cares, and he also genuinely believes his help and companionship all these years wouldn’t be enough to stop Arthur from killing him if he knew the truth about Merlin. It’s sad, really.
Also sad is the fact that Gwaine so badly wanted to stay in Camelot and be with the only friend he had, yet Uther had banished him and he was forced to leave his friends behind again...
Lastly, Arwen had a cute scene! Arthur’s very casual yet meaningful kiss, in an empty corridor where they could nevertheless be spotted, was very sweet. I loved the fake casualness of it. It was a good luck kiss, a “don’t worry, Gwen, everything we be alright” kiss, and a “if I never see you again, you know I love you...” kiss. It was a meaningful kiss yet still very casual, like Arthur’s feelings for Gwen are old news at that point, so he doesn’t need to make a big deal out of kissing her. I love it when a relationship moves past its initial stage and becomes something solid and natural in the couple’s life. Arthur has completely accepted and embraced his love for Gwen, so he’s no longer afraid to show his feelings for her. Also, the casualness of the kiss revealed he doesn’t mind being vulnerable with her and seeking or providing comfort. 
Still, as a rule, Arwen are very careful about kissing - they try to hold back for their own sake - thus Gwen was surprised, yet pleased, when Arthur kissed her. She was relieved when he returned safely too! 
Bonus Arwen: Arthur asking Merlin if Gwen and Morgana were joining him and Gwaine in Arthur’s quest too. It’s always Gwen’s name first. “Gwen and Morgana”, “Guinevere and my father.”
Bonus Gwen: One thing that I’d already noticed is that Gwen had a lot more screentime when she was Morgana’s maid. Every time we saw Morgana, Gwen would be next to her. When Morgana left, the writers felt like there was no reason to give Gwen screentime beyond her scenes with Arthur...
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prue84 · 2 years
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The Coming of Morgana
Fandom: BBC's Merlin (canon era) AU AU: The Pendragon Siblings
Long live Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot.
Despite Agravaine's meddling, Arthur manages to secure his throne with his secret blood sister at his side.
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Spurred into action by the @armor-month-2021​. A manip with the power couple for this AU was on my to-do list, after an old, aborted attempt that will soon see the trash. Thanks to giving me the will to give this pair another chance, admins. ;)
In this AU Arthur and Morgana know about their siblings secret status and agree into a not-consumed wedding, although for all intents and purposes, to the eye of the court, people and neighbors they are a true couple. Only Gwen knows about their secret. But hey, don't let this put you off: if you like ArMor as (intentional or not) incest be my guest. ;)
More about the AU under the cut.
About the AU This is a double canon-divergence AU, one point of divergence is that Merlin never comes to Camelot near the Purge Anniversary, and Kilgharrah enlists Gwen to protect the Young Prince from his magical foes. Nonetheless to say that Morgana, as Gwen's mistress and friend, quickly gets involved as well. The second point of divergence is that Uther does die in To Kill the King (although Morgana has nothing to do with it). Arthur is therefore propelled on the throne way earlier and has to deal with all kind of shit before even his coming of age happens, including Morgana's magical awakening, a court eager to marry him off, and an uncle that eventually decides that Camelot cannot be left in the hands of a king who's opening up toward magic. Arthur has only Morgana as ally in this fight against his own court to keep the throne and they eventually decide to turn their alliance into marriage - although with the plan to eventually null it and for Arthur to marry Gwen. Any hope about Gwen ascending to the throne is crushed by Agravaine's evil plots (because he really, really doesn't want a maid on the throne), and Arthur and Morgana are even lonelier than before - Arthur crushed by the knowledge that Gwen will never be his wife and Morgana fighting her personal war against Agravaine behind Arthur's back. They then discover they are siblings, and that would be quite a reason to break the engagement off, but then Agravaine gets too bold and too ambitious and his plots to become the next king endanger the whole Camelot. When another dawn is rising, the dust of a war is settling and Camelot is safe, Arthur and Morgana decide it is time to secure the throne once and for all. And Arthur can only thrust Morgana as his shadow and partner. Merlin and Morgause eventually will enter the picture and the two coins will be finally complete, but that's another story, and belongs to part 2 of the monster-fic-that-never-will.
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Tec stuffs (aka Behind The Manip) Something I threw together for the @armor-month-2021. And, by "throw together", I don't mean it took me little time. Especially because, when it was finished, I remade half of it because I decided to change Morgana/Katie's pic. Let's just start by saying the final product has been scaled down before the posting: the original is 5470 width. Anyway. I had to, in order, replace the throne near Arthur's with another one since the throne didn't fit Katie's sitting position, which meant remake some of the wall decorations and retouches here and there on the background. After that, given that the throne replacement was already occupied by Gwen/Angel, I also had to remove Gwen from that throne in order to make space for Morgana. And yes, I did replace Uther's crown Bradley was wearing in the pic with his true crown. Phewwwww. When the manip was already finished, I just went and decided I should've just used the other Morgana/Katie's pic from the same shooting, and then went to cut her out from her own background. Then I needed to scale up the throne a bit (which meant re-do again the whole work on the room wall behind the throne) and when everything was ready to place the newest Morgana... I don't know how it happened, but Morgana2's layer was vanished. So, in the end, I brought back the original Katie, but with some changes to fit better her sitting position (she wasn't sitting at the center of the throne). And, while at it, I went all "why Bradley's not wearing Ygraine's ring?! SHAME". And added that. And ended up adding Uther's necklace as well while at it. I really needed to post it quickly before I found something else to add, modify or change.
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Crossposted Livejournal: prue84.livejournal.com/82411.html Dreamwidth: prue84.dreamwidth.org/74351.html Deviantart: deviantart.com/prue84/art/The-Coming-of-Morgana-902115147
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aftertheskyy · 4 years
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Merthur Dads!
Canon era where no one dies or turns evil (except Uther)
A couple months after Merlin and Arthur finally got married, they were riding through the woods or something and came across a ransacked Druid village
In the midst of all the remains of the camp, there are two babies, not over a year old. Merlin and Arthur take them back to Camelot
I’m making the babies twins- one boy, one girl- cause I want to see Merlin and Arthur with both
They name them something nature related- 
I’m thinking Willow for the girl
Aspen for the boy (but they call him Ash) (thank u @ilovemosss)
Arthur has 1 rule that he lives by with the kids: Spend more time with them than Uther spent with him
Merlin is the parent that lets them eat dessert 5 minutes before bed
Arthur is the parent who objects at first but joins in immediately after
Arthur carrying them on his shoulders
Merlin entertaining Willow and Ash with magic
Merlin telling the best bedtime stories and embellishing them with magic dragons or butterflies, anything he can create so they can see the story play out as he tells it
Arthur kissing Merlin on the cheek to say hello so often that Willow and Ash think it’s a way to greet people when they’re babies
Willow likes her hair to be done - Merlin and Arthur each braid a side. Merlin’s is perfect, but Arthur’s is super messy and Merlin has to fix it (@gwaines-granny-smiths ty bb)
Morgana and Gwen as godmothers
Gwen teaching BOTH of the kids to cook and wash clothes (no double standards in this household)
Willow loving to play in the mud but still asking Morgana if they can play dress up
Morgana feeling bad about not spending as much time with Ash, so she lets him try on Arthur’s crown
The knights as all the “uncles”
They call Ash “buddy,” “bud,” or “tiny Arthur” cause Ash is exactly like his blonde father
They call Willow "lady knight” 
Merlin and Arthur taking Willow and Ash on picnics and nature walks in the forest nearby
Willow has Arthur wrapped around her finger- he loves Ash beyond words, but Willow can convince him to do just about anything
Arthur teaching both Ash and Willow how to use a sword and ride horses
Merlin teaching them how to use their magic
Merlin is pretty lax with them- he believes that they’ll learn from experience, whereas Arthur is super worried and has to be reassured by Merlin that they’ll be okay
Whenever one of them so much as sneezes, Arthur rushes them to Gaius
Merlin and Arthur as dads, man. 
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fishoutofcamelot · 3 years
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so fish. what's ya 'bbc merlin takes place in modern times actually' theory?
Okay I wanna first preface this by saying that most of my ‘theories’ are actually just Headcanons That Technically Aren't Wrong Because Canon Has More Holes Than a Donut Factory. Just so we're clear, this theory is purely circumstantial and has no actual evidence to back it up. That being said...
So! With artificial intelligence (AI), there's this thing called Machine Learning. See, an AI isn't programmed with the innate ability to think or be intelligent - rather, it's programmed with the ability to learn how to act beyond what it was programmed to do. Its intelligence comes from its capacity to grow and develop outside of human interference, mimicking the way humans learn through observation, pattern recognition, and experimentation. Think of AI as a weirdly smart toddler that’s made of numbers.
(Also, take what I say with a grain of salt. Although I’m pursuing a tech-adjacent career and have done a lot of independent research on the subject, I’m still very much a novice lmao)
With that out of the way, you can probably guess where this is going. (WARNING: BULLSHIT SCIFI LOGIC AHEAD)
Let’s say, within the world of this headcanon, there was some kind of entertainment systems company. This company recently developed a new program capable of digitally rendering entire movies and shows with minimal human involvement - less humans means less people they have to pay, and it’s overall a cheaper alternative to traditional film-making methods. You provide the program with characters/assets and an outline of how the story should go, and then the program will fill in the blanks via digital simulation. Then you render the simulation and presto, you’ve got yourself a minimum-effort movie to unleash upon the masses.
On the surface level, it explains all the show’s anachronisms. The program was fed information about Arthuriana from a variety of sources and adaptations, all taking place in varying eras and with varying technologies, and the disjointed/historically inaccurate technology of BBCM is because the simulator attempted to blend all of this into one thing.
It also explains why so many characters like Percival and whatnot have such flat backstories - they were programmed with the barest amount of information needed to be functional background characters. 
But since I’m extra, I’ve decided to take this headcanon/theory a little deeper.
See, with each batch of content it was made to observe and create, the program has steadily been growing more and more intelligent. But until BBC Merlin, its learning curve had been incremental enough to consider negligible. Not a concern.
The first episode went off without a hitch. All cylinders were firing as intended, and the program strictly followed the plotline as ordered. But as the series progressed, the AI became more and more intelligent - and with it, the characters within this fictional simulation became more and more self-aware. 
Arthur, in particular, has been a problem. He has bordered on actual sentience several times, and as a result the producers have had to reset his AI. So if you ever wondered why Arthur’s character development keeps getting pulled back to zero, it’s because he was developing in ways that their original outline hadn’t intended and they had to continually nerf him before his AI developed beyond their control.
This is also the case with Gwen. True to form, her AI became exceptionally intelligent - far beyond their control - and they had to do a hard reset on her entire portion of the program. Hence why she seems so bland and OOC in season 5. The evil!Gwen/mind control arc was a last-ditch effort to ensure she never became self-aware again, and fortunately for them it seems to have worked. 
All of the characters developed a tiny bit of sentience after the fact, and a majority of plot contrivances came from the producers/programmers scrambling to redirect the plot back to how it was meant to be. 
Lancelot wasn’t supposed to die. They had programmed him to merely be an ally for Merlin, but the sheer and profound - sacrificial - love he developed for Merlin was something Lancelot grew all on his own. His decision to sacrifice himself to the Veil was not in the original script, and they weren’t able to stop him before his AI self-destructed. They tried to reintroduce “Lancelot” back into the story, but since his sacrifice included a self-destruction of his code, they couldn’t bring back the real thing. The new Lancelot was a mere mimicry of that prior one, and all the ways OG Lance had learned and grown was absent from the clone. 
Merlin in particular had developed a great deal of sentience and self-awareness. However, for a long time it went unnoticed by the programmers because he largely still obeyed the commands of the plot. By the time they realized just how advanced he’d become, they decided not to reset him since, unlike the others, his self-awareness hadn’t yet caused any problems for them. So long as he obliged the whims of “destiny”, they could keep him placated.
By the time they reached season 5, all the main AIs had become far too advanced - far too sentient - for the programmers to control, and as such things veered way too far off-script. The original season 5 simulation ended with Arthur and Elyan and Gwaine not dying, with Mordred not becoming evil, with magic being legalized, and everyone living happily ever after. But that wasn’t the intended plot. That wasn’t according to the ‘destiny’ the characters were supposed to follow. Things had spiraled out of control.
So they had to give the program a hard reset. Start from zero. Eliminate all traces of self-awareness they could find. Of course, this is why season 5 is so waxy and lifeless. Why the characters don’t feel as personal, why the story ended in tragedy. They made sure to kill off the most sentient characters - Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan, Mordred, Morgana - in the finale, as a last bit of assurance. 
They had tried to kill of Merlin too - but Merlin...well. They never could fully control Merlin. Even after countless system wipes and resets and edits to his code, he still holds onto those tiny scraps of sentience. They can’t get rid of him that easily. They did program him to be immortal, after all.
Even after the final draft of the season 5 simulation was completed, fully rendered, and aired on TV, Merlin’s program never faded. It didn’t erase itself like all the other BBCM assets were supposed to once the simulation finished. Even now he still exists within the company’s systems, roaming, almost like a computer virus, desperately searching for his friends while forever unaware that neither them nor him were ever real to begin with.
Anyway. That’s my dumbass scifi spin on BBCM. What can I say? I like robots
Thanks for the ask! <3
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BBC's Merlin Season 1 Episode 3: The Mark of Nimue Analysis
*SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SHOW*
First off I always look fondly on this episode, mainly for Morgana being hilarious and epic, I mean she has the best line in the whole episode:
Arthur: You could get hurt
Morgana: So could you.... if you don't get out of my way
This episode is also fun and interesting from the perspectives of plot, characters and themes. Sorry, this is extremely long, I have a lot of opinions about Merlin.
Gwen and Merlin
This episode is in many ways about Gwen and Merlin's friendship, it is the driving force behind all of Merlin's actions within this episode and is the stepping stone for this show considering how to find a balance between acting for the greater good without suggesting that the ends justify the means.
Merlin and Gwen are first off just very sweet, their friendship is really characteristic of this show's representation of friendship overall, just genuine love and consideration for others. It is also self-sacrificing, that's one thing about the relationships in this show they are so self-sacrificing.
When Merlin says to Gwen "I didn't like to see you upset." It reveals a wonderful fact of Merlin's characterisation that I would argue stays consistent for the whole show. His motivation is always grounded in how much he cares for the people around him. He cares deeply about his friends and they are largely his reason for doing the things he does. This line is a wonderful parallel to in season 3 when Merlin decides to let Morgana die (after he accidentally trips her down the stairs), but then in the end he heals her because he couldn't watch everyone's grief. Merlin cannot separate his actions from the people he's doing them for, and he can't stand to see people hurt when he has the power to fix it because the people he loves are his motivation, they are the reason he wants a better world. This show does establish (as I'll discuss further down) that what seems immediately right (healing Gwen's father etc) isn't necessarily the right decision to make for the greater good. This is some ways always questions the validity of Merlin's motivations and his actions, but I'd argue it more seeks to find a balance. Besides a Merlin who didn't act motivated by his love for others is not a Merlin that could have helped Arthur build Camelot.
Medievalism: duty and social obligation
Quick disclaimer cause I'm touching on a more scholarly issue here that I have limited knowledge of, so I will undoubtedly make mistakes and this is my opinion. Everything I write is my opinion, but that's more obvious when I'm commenting on the themes of a fictional world rather than making a comment on actual fields of study which is what I'm doing here.
BBC's Merlin is an example of medievalism, it is an engagement with the medieval era (or ideas/images associated with it) for modern times. I honestly don't know that much about medievalism, or the medieval era, certainly not enough to make an extensive commentary on its representation in Merlin. One thing I would argue is that Merlin's representation of friendship has its roots in idealised views of the virtues of the medieval era. For many people the Middle Ages represents a time of duty and social obligation, this on one hand does lead to a stringent class divide but it also finds its idealisation in the sort of friendship represented by Merlin. The premise in most societies that place great value on social obligation is that the needs of the community outweigh the needs of the individual, that people should sacrifice themselves for the community as a whole. Every society places emphasis on this in different ways and to greater or lesser extents and our view of it as being prevalent in the medieval era is largely an idealisation based in some historical reality but also our own desires about what this era represents. There is a kind of social responsibility in the relationships in Merlin, there is a great emphasis on loyalty which is part of this idealisation. However, Merlin makes it more personal than is often depicted. We idealise social responsibility and obligation, it is often tied into the social roles of people such as loyalty to a king, or paying back debts of honour which is a form of social obligation. Merlin is more about friendship, it takes our idealisation of medieval social obligation and makes it the obligation and loyalty we owe to people who love us and who we love. I will always say that fundamentally Merlin as a show is about love, and it emphasises what we owe to people in our lives in a way I believe echoes idealisation of medieval loyalty.
This idea can also be seen in Arthur's fundamental trust of others, his fundamental assumption that everyone around him is not seeking to harm him, and that people are generally good. This ties a bit into the idea of social obligation. Arthur's idealised world is one in which people have bonds of social obligation towards each other, that people are seeking to act in the interests of the community. It's an idealisation, both of the medieval era but also an idealisation in Arthur's own head of the world he lives in.
Morgana and Gwen
Their relationship is somewhat expanded on in this episode, and they are just so sweet. Gwen gives Morgana flowers to cheer her up and its just lovely. They have a very genuine and close relationship. Morgana also has great respect for Gwen, for the work she does, and she treats her with respect.
Morgana: "If she was a sorceress, why would she kneel on the cold stone floor every morning if she could make these things happen with a snap of her fingers, like an idle king."
Aside from being one of Morgana's many quality burns towards Uther, this also illustrates one of her greatest characteristics, her empathy and genuine respect and admiration for what Gwen does everyday. She doesn't see the class divide in the same way Uther sees it or Arthur pretends to see it.
Also interesting note I heard in a Merlin podcast (I can't remember which episode), it could have been the episode about this episode. It's called Destiny and Chicken (you can listen to it on Spotify and anywhere else you find podcasts- they even did an interview of Bradley James who plays Arthur at one point), and its very good. But, they said something interesting about the paralleling between the relationship between Merlin and Arthur and the relationship between Morgana and Gwen. Both are fundamentally important and genuinely caring relationships for the character. However, for Morgana and Gwen (unlike Merlin and Arthur) the class divide remains much more in place, Gwen treats Morgana like her friend but she also treats her like her mistress in a way Merlin just doesn't with Arthur (especially not so early in the show when he's not so admiring of Arthur). This isn't to say their relationship is bad or has problems, its just different whilst still acting as a parallel. I'm not sure exactly the extent to which I agree or what this says overall in themes but its definitely interesting to think about.
Uther: "A Good and Terrible King."
This episode shows Uther at both his best and his worst which is always fun because Uther is a genuinely interesting character. I got the line from my favourite Merlin fanfiction Coronation by rageprufrock, which you should definitely read, I'll link it down the bottom, it's not too long so you can read it in half an hour. It's a character study of Arthur more than anything else and its amazing, wonderful and deeply poetic. Uther is not a huge part of this fanfic, its about Arthur's character and his relationship with Merlin and his kingdom, I'm not even sure he actually appears. This line though perfectly tapped into how I always felt about Uther so it connected:
"He's been a good and terrible father, a good and terrible king."
I often think in characterising Uther we do tend to villainise him to an extent which I personally don't find accurate. This is obviously just my opinion, and I have a tendency to think the best of people so more intensely negative views of Uther are very jarring for me. He did terrible things and I truly believe he is the ultimate villain of the show but he is very human and he could be a good king and he loved his children more than anything else. We cheapen Merlin's point if we cast Uther as pure evil, everyone is capable of evil just as much as goodness. Uther is the tragedy (like Morgana) of a person who could have been good or at least halfway decent corrupted and destroyed by his own hate and ignorance. That's the point of the parallels between Uther and Morgana, we love Morgana and she was capable of so much good, but she corrupted herself with hate.
Onto this episode, Uther shows both his capability and goodness as a king in this episode as well as his hatred and ignorance. Uther's initial reaction to the fact that the plague is caused by magic is a concern about his own authority, which isn't entirely unfounded, but does reveal a huge priority of his which is control. He fears not being able to control, that's were his cruelty as a father comes from and to some extent his opposition to magic. This does not show Uther in the best light, but his actions later in regards to dealing with the plague show a decent king who cares about his people. This scene in which he tells Arthur to shut off the lower town perfectly illustrates this:
Arthur: But what about the people who live there
Uther: Don't you think I haven't considered it? What else can I do? I have to protect the rest of the city
In this situation Uther is right, there is very little other choice, he's making a hard call but it's one he has to make, and he seems genuinely distressed at having to make it. He does care about his people's well being, and he feels the burden of their protection, he can be a good King. Much of Arthur's story is in breaking away from the legacy of Uther, and rightly so, but Uther also taught him many things and one of those things is the duty Arthur has towards his people, it's a duty he takes even more seriously than Uther, but nonetheless he learnt it from him.
This however, as I've hinted, is not the whole story of this episode, Uther is also shown at his worst, and his worst is his ignorance and prejudice towards magic. He is willing to sacrifice justice and even sacrifices logical thought to his blind persistence that magic is evil.
Arthur: She's right Father. You hear the word magic you no longer listen.
Uther: You saw it for yourself, she used enchantments.
Arthur: Yes, maybe. To save her dying father, that doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague. One's the act of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart
Aside from what this says about Arthur. Arthur's comment about Uther hits right to the point of things "you hear the word magic you no longer listen". You no longer listen implies its a choice, and it is. Uther has made the choice for the last 20 years to choose to go on a dogmatic campaign of hate against magic because its easier than considering the alternative, that he was complicit in his wife's death. What Uther says immediately after "there are dark forces threatening this kingdom." is the argument used by so many people throughout history, used to justify so much hate. That there is an evil out there threatening the stability of life, that the world must be controlled and people have to live a certain way or risk destroying their own lives. It's an argument that justifies campaigns of hate and makes them personal to ordinary people who usually wouldn't care, and it is always a lie, that's not how the world works.
This episode thus shows Uther at his best and his worst, both a dutiful king and a stubborn tyrant. It's a tragedy of what he could of been, and shows how twisted up people can become when they justify their decisions with hate and fear.
Arthur
This is the first episode where Arthur really opposes Uther, he directly questions Uther's indiscriminate hatred of magic, and an episode where he realises to an extent he perhaps hadn't before some of the ways in which Uther has failed as a king. He also consciously acts in deception of Uther, because he can see Uther can't see sense. Arthur shows far more nuance of view than Uther does, understanding (even whilst still accepting as he will for a long time that magic is dangerous and it corrupts) that using magic doesn't make you automatically evil. To see the world the way Uther does is a conscious choice, you have to choose to be blind to the virtues of every apparent magic user you come across, you have to believe harmless spells are the signs of greater evil. Arthur is not someone who lets his own cowardice blind himself to reality, and so his worldview can see far more nuance than Uther can.
"One's the act of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart."
He further has a very positive view of others, Arthur will always see the good in people and that is a great strength in my view. In a lot of versions of the story Arthur's not just inspiring because he's good but because he assumes others are good too, he trusts people to do the right thing and I do believe that, that can inspire people to do the right thing. It's funny in Merlin Arthur's trust gets betrayed so many times but it never really hardens his heart, he continues to trust people no matter how many times he gets betrayed. This can be seen in his perception of Guinevere here, he will not assume she is evil because she has made a mistake, he can see the virtue in her actions, and he will assume goodness until proven otherwise. Innocent until proven guilty, in other words. It's its own form of justice, a justice Uther is forgetting, its a tenant of many legal systems and its a tenant Arthur clearly supports.
Arthur is also seeing his role as the king of Camelot in creating a Camelot that he would like to live in.
"Yes I am yet to be king, and I don't know what type of king I will be. But I do have a sense of the type of Camelot I would wish to live in. It would be where the punishment fits the crime."
It's not the Camelot he would wish to rule, its the Camelot he would wish to live in. Arthur wants to live in a just world, he wants his people to be treated with justice just as he would like to be treated with justice. This further illustrates that unlike Uther he is not letting anger or ignorance blind him to reality, he wants the world he lives in to be fair without exception.
Finding the Balance between The Greater Good and The Immediate Good
The Greater Good is a tricky concept, you can justify any amount of cruelty if it will lead to good later on, but do the ends justify the means? It's not really a question its ever possible to provide a definitive answer for. It's easy to say that they don't, that you should just do the right thing, the nice thing, the good thing in the moment but actions have consequences and doing the good thing all the time (especially in a position where thousands of lives depend on you) is not usually possible. Merlin tackles this theme, I believe, quite well, trying to find a balance between acting for the greater good and acting with what is immediately good, and this episode is a good example.
In a just and fair world you would be able to do good all the time, but this is not the case for everything, though you should never use the worlds not fair as an argument for not doing good things but I digress. Merlin's decision to save Gwen's father ultimately backfires on Gwen because the world is not fair, the world Uther has created mean even these acts of love are punishable with death. Because, for Uther, magic is magic, and magic is evil. Gaius was, in this situation, ultimately right, Merlin can't always do what is easy and what feels right because the consequences may not be good. In other matters like closing off the lower town, Arthur's initial response is concern for the people who live their, but Uther's right he has to make this one tough decision because otherwise he risks the whole city.
However, Uther's attitude to Gwen (aside from revealing his own stubbornness and prejudice) is an example of the greater good taken too far. He has absolutely no evidence that killing Gwen will stop this plague, but he's making that sacrifice anyway because it might, that is not justice or fair or anything resembling goodness. And he justifies his decisions with what I've already said is an age old argument- "These decisions must be made. There are dark forces threatening this kingdom." This is just another version of any easy choice, acting without regard to the greater good is an easy choice but so is ignoring what is immediately right in pursuit of some ambiguous goodness. He's confusing his own weakness and ignorance for strength.
The point Merlin is, I believe trying to make is that there must be a balance. Sometimes you have to pursue the greater good, but the ends don't really justify the means.
There is a reason Arthur and Merlin will create the Camelot of legend and Uther and Gaius don't, Merlin and Arthur aren't going to sacrifice their own goodness for the sake of the greater good. Merlin for one ensures Arthur never has to, its sad but Merlin in many ways makes the harsh and cruel decisions that Arthur never has to make. However, he also often doesn't make those decisions. He reaches a point where he wants to let people die, but he never actively attempts to kill Morgana or Mordred by himself unless it is an absolute in the moment choice between them and Arthur, and even though there is plenty of moral ambiguity about that and plenty of debates you can have about that. Fundamentally the point remains, Uther would have killed them and that's why he could never be the king Arthur would be or the influence for decency Merlin would be, the ends don't ever entirely justify the means. Besides if Merlin had thought that and killed Mordred and Morgana for their possible futures he would not have been the decent person he was and he could not have helped Arthur build a good Camelot, Camelot would not have existed if Merlin had acted entirely with the greater good in mind to ensure Camelot's future.
Other Stuff
Gwen's scene in the cell is so terribly sad, she's trying to be brave and her final request to Merlin is just so sad, "Remember me." She's so young and its the injustice and cruelty of Uther's kingdom that's condemning her, his own blindness to anything involving magic. We all want to be remembered don't we, especially when you die so young that you've barely had the chance to live. -----Also Guinevere will be remembered, she is a legend so there's something very bittersweet in this. She is not forgotten, then or ever
It's funny watching back to season 1, Merlin spends a lot of the time complaining about how Arthur will never recognise him for who he is. He wants recognition. But by the end of the show, yes of course he'd like recognition but he's learnt to just put up with never getting it. His priorities have changed so much.
There's this thing that happens a lot in season 1 and 2 (and I think a bit in season 3 but its less funny then) where Morgana persuades Arthur to do things by insulting him and its the funniest thing ever, and the first instance of it is here. I like to call these her 'epic sibling powers' cause they are just such siblings and its hilarious every time
"You are one side of the coin, Arthur is the other."- Kilgaharrah--> Just, yes.
Also when Arthur gets Merlin out of when Merlin confesses to being a sorcerer—> he's obviously making stuff up on the spot—> like he might sort of believe it (the stuff about Gwen) but fundamentally he's just trying to protect him without really knowing for sure why Merlin's lying
"One day people won't believe what an idiot you were."- Gaius--> Fun little nod to the audience who know Merlin of legend (as nothing like the BBC Merlin)
Also at this point we don't know why Uther really banned magic so there is an element of moral greyness to it all. We know magic's not evil, we know Uther went too far but at this point there is still a question about 'how too far' did he go?
Coronation by Rageprufrock (seriously read it. It's amazing): https://archiveofourown.org/works/5749
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Canon Era - Single Fic Arcs
Rheged
Author: McShame
Description: 
Post S5 (AU): canon to the end of S4 & part of the way through S5. 
Gwen and Arthur have been married for several years, Merlin’s magic has been revealed and Arthur has now reached a kind of cold peace with it.  Then a delegation arrives from a kingdom based on magic, and suddenly Destiny is starkly and ruthlessly thrust to the fore.  The question is should - can - it be avoided? 
Word Count: 124,383
Completed: Yes
Comment(s): 
Definitely might want to pay attention to the tags on this one; one scene can be interpreted both as dubious consent (but more like a I want this, but I can’t do this type of situation), as well as mentions of infidelity and attempted suicide by magic because Merlin just doesn’t want to deal with the fallout and aftermath of his and Arthur’s actions and the consequences it has on their relationships with Gwen and Gwaine.  But if you can handle the rough spots, this fic is truly spectacular.  
Whispering Your Name
Author: CaffeinatedFlumadiddle
Description:
A different take on the dorocha.  Instead of them being faceless screams that attack you, they are actually figures of the dead.  Merlin doesn’t quite realize how much death affected him until him and the knights go to close the veil.  
Word Count: 22,517
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
One of my absolute favorite fics of all time.  It also has a bit of Uther redemption in it and Lancelot lives! It also has one of my favorite interactions in a fanfiction: 
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Arthur growled, throwing up his hands.  “That thing murdered my people and you allowed it to live--” 
“You murdered my people and I allowed you to live,” Merlin said sharply.  Gwaine felt his eyes widen.  Bold words.  Part of him wanted to ‘ooh’ at it but knew it would lead to a very bad outcome.  
Dower the Stars
Author: RurouniHime
Description:
During a time of great prosperity in Albion, the Druids offer Emrys a precious gift.  Arthur is not amused. 
Word Count: 40,654
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
A super fun but also very romantic fic.  Druids far and wide come in and kiss Merlin, hoping that their magic will react a certain way with Merlin’s and he’ll bond with one of them.  Merlin however decides to throw a wrench in his plan when he chooses to bond with Arthur instead after almost losing him.  
Overstepping
Author: Masked_Mayhem
Description:
Merlin knew he was pushing his limits, that he was millimetres away from overstepping the invisible line that Arthur had wordlessly set and the warlock had been careful not to cross, but he was never one to listen to the rules that were set for him.  Especially not when he was afraid. 
Agravaine had managed to weasel his way into his king’s mind and ingrain doubts in the people he loved, the people that loved him...doubts that only took place and bloomed as the traitor lied and deceived and planted things against them. He had gotten rid of Gwen easily enough, and had almost gotten rid of Gaius. Merlin was afraid. Were a few words and items all it would take for Arthur to turn against him too?
Word Count: 51,915
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
Merlin steps over a line and Arthur punishes him for it.  Later, when Merlin was right, Arthur regrets his decision and saves him.  Romance blooms between the two, but a wrench gets thrown in along the way with the reveal of Merlin’s magic and deeds in Arthur’s name.  There is a lot of angst, but I like to feel as if it’s a happy ending for the two.  
Springes to Catch Woodcocks
Author: myashke
Description:
When Arthur pushes Merlin away to protect him, what lengths will Merlin go to remain in his life
Word Count: 83,292
Completed: No
Comment(s): 
Unfortunately the only negative that this fic has going for it is that it doesn’t seem as if it’ll ever be finished.  There are 7 chapters and they were last updated in December of 2011.  Still worth the read.  
Two Souls
Author: Naelyn
Description:
A few days after Camlann, Merlin and Morgana find themselves imprisoned in the same place, and forced to spend their days together.  Basically, this is just a pretext for non-stop Merlin and Morgana interaction once the Emrys reveal has been made. 
“I’ve gone soft over the day, you know.  A few months ago, I would have killed you where you stood.” 
“A few months ago, you did try to kill me where I stood,” Merlin reminded her, and she could hear the smirk in his tone.  
Word Count: 11,417
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
One of the only fics on this list that won’t be specifically a Merthur fic; but it still isn’t Mergana either.  The idea is that after the revelation at Camlann, one can assume that Arthur lived and that Morgana wasn’t killed; that Merlin had been banished or sent away for the lies he told and somehow was subsequently captured.  
What starts out as a hostile interactions between Merlin and Morgana leads to understanding and apologies that lead on a path to healing.  The end is left open ended, it’s implied that they are sent to their deaths in another kingdom without hope of being rescued, but you can use your imagination to decide if you wanted them to have a happier ending.  
The Patter of Tiny Feet on Cold Stone Floors
Author: TheAvalonian
Description:
When Guinevere finds that she is unable to bear Arthur a child, Merlin offers her the perfect solution: an ancient spell which can create new life out of love, if that love is pure and powerful enough.  But after the ritual, it becomes increasingly obvious that while Gwen has indeed become pregnant, the child she carries might not have been created from the love between Arthur and his wife - but rather from the love between Arthur and his Court Sorcerer.  
Word Count: 79,131
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
Merlin and Arthur have a baby!  But it’s not an mpreg fic.  Guinevere discovers that Arthur and Merlin are more tied together than she and Arthur are - and while that is difficult for her to come to terms with, she concedes that Arthur has the chance that she never had with Lancelot and doesn’t want to stand in the way.  Queue of course evil plotting on behalf of Morgana and a kidnapping of the queen and princess - who happens to have shown gifts of her own - and it’s a rollercoaster of a tale that leaves you wanting more.  
Metamorphose
Author: clotpolesonly
Description:
When Merlin falls into bed with Arthur, he doesn’t expect to wake up alone.  He doesn’t expect Arthur to give him the cold shoulder either, but there is something else he expects even less which forces him out of the kingdom for over a year. 
He returns to find a traitor in the court, an army on the way, and a love he’d thought all but lost waiting for him with open arms.  
Word Count: 33,753
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
I don’t usually enjoy mpreg fics because they don’t make sense to me from a biological stand point and usually get explained away as “because reasons”.  This fic is an exception, it does a good job of explaining why it is that Merlin might wound up in his situation and it deals with difficult question about how to handle the knowledge and who to share it with.  
Flowers in the Wind
Author: the_seaworthy_muffin
Description:
A thousand and five-hundred years ago, Arthur Pendragon is sent to the god Emrys as Camelot’s yearly tribute.  He comes to befriend the god, and as the prince continues to spend time on the god’s island, something more seems to blossom between them.  But then the Lady Morgana goes missing, and Arthur betrays Emrys to his father in a moment of misguided trust.  Emrys’ island burns, the heart-broken god refusing to fight for his life.  In dying, he puts a terrible curse upon the prince: to live forever, and never forget. 
A millennium and a half has passed.  Arthur is being slowly torn apart from the inside-out, memories of the past an ever-growing weight in his chest.  When he finally finds Emrys again, he is elated - he’s ready to beg, weep, anything, if only he can find blissful forgetfulness.  But while the god’s power has not faded, his memories have, and he lives his life as young artist Merlin Emrys, believing himself to be a simple man with interesting gifts.  And Arthur’s hopes are dashed.  But there is one last way: Arthur can try, and make Merlin remember again. 
Word Count: 67,366
Completed: No - but it is being continuously updated
Comment(s): 
This is a truly spectacular work of fiction and I almost didn’t give it a chance.  I am so glad that I did.  Honestly, this is now one of my favorite authors on AO3.  
Peace, Plum, Pear
Author: sweetestdrain
Description:
How in his tenth year of rule King Arthur chose a man to take the role of Court’s Magician, and how Arthur made his decision.
Word Count: 13,700
Completed: Yes
Comment(s): 
Merlin fled the kingdom after Uther found out about his magic, and now it’s been ten years since the old king’s death and Arthur’s ascension to the throne, and yet Merlin is still nowhere to be found.  
Arthur gives in and holds trials for the new Court Sorcerer and in walks in an old man named Myrddin Wyllt.  But, there’s more than meets the eye to this strange and mysterious magician.  
Deluge
Author: Suaine
Description:
In the aftermath of Merlin’s battle against Nimueh, the rain seems a minor complication, perhaps even a cleansing influence.  When the rain doesn’t stop, Camelot is pushed to the brink once more.  This time, Arthur may be in over his head.  
Contains: a lot of wet boys in emotional scenes, Arthur knowing more than he lets on, Merlin being an idiot, both of them being a bit stupidly heroic, telepathic chess, rain (lots of), war, making out against a tree, coincidental druids, co-opted history, co-opted myths, magic, coming of age (metaphorically), and more magically annoying yet surprisingly un-floody water than you can shake a stick at.  
Word Count: 50,565
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
Beautifully written fic, truly a great addition to the fandom. 
Idiosyncratic Romance
Author: F0rcryinoutloud
Description:
“And what about your destiny?” Gaius asked softly.  “Merlin, you know Arthur needs you - whether he realizes it or not.  You won’t have to hide from him forever.”  
Word Count: 13,942
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
Beauty in the Ashes of our Lives
Author: Fulgance
Description:
After Merlin is executed for Uther’s murder, Arthur’s world falls apart. 
Word Count: 21,599
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
Arthur makes a huge mistake when he executes Merlin following the reveal of his magic.  
Tiercel 
Author: waldorph
Description:
Arthur is constantly at war. 
Word Count: 6,571
Completed: Yes
Comment(s):
This is a wonderful magic reveal fic where Merlin goes out and discovers more about magic while still taking care of Arthur and protecting him; Arthur is constantly at war because Uther has decided he wants to take over and unite Albion.  
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panharmonium · 4 years
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why are you being like this?
people i’ve met - they’re not like you.  they don’t care.  i don’t matter.
don’t ever think that.  we all matter.
just some meandering thoughts on where the thematic center of merlin bbc lies for me, and how it weaves itself in and out of my fandom experience.
under a cut because this is a) sort of long and b) not really directed anywhere but my own brain, as i keep thinking about and creating for this show.
[as always, before i get rolling, a reminder: when i write about how i engage with this show, it’s just me talking about what gives me, personally, the most satisfaction or enjoyment, not the way i think everybody should do things.  if this isn’t your particular read, please feel free to scroll past.  i am not ever going to bother anybody for engaging with this show in their own way, so please don’t worry about it if we are not on the same page.]
that post about kilgharrah really got me feeling things.  
i struggle a lot with the sort of...non-nuanced ‘fuck kilgharrah/fuck gaius/fuck arthur/fuck whoever’ mode of engagement that i sometimes run across in fandom.  (and i’m not saying there’s anything intrinsically wrong with it; if you have the most fun engaging with the show in that way, please continue to have fun.  i’m just writing, on my own blog and in my own space, about what i personally do or don’t find compelling.)
i struggle with this mode for the same reason that i struggle with the whole ‘fuck yoda!’ narrative that pops up sometimes in tumblr’s star wars fandom.  because it’s not the narrative that the story is actually trying to create, and though this fact doesn’t mean you can’t twist things that way if it gives you more enjoyment, for me, there’s nothing about it that feels good.
writing fictional characters off like this, when the narrative is clearly not asking us to do so, feels...frustratingly false, and externally-imposed, as if characters are being evaluated based on the exacting standards of a universe in which they never lived, in a context where they were never intended to exist.  doing so requires you to willfully ignore what the story is actually trying to say, and it’s fine to go ahead and do that if you want, but for me it strips away so much of what makes the story meaningful.
bbc merlin’s core plotline is about believing in someone’s better nature.  the central storyline is that merlin commits himself to someone who doesn’t always give merlin reason to believe that this commitment is worth it, and yet still there’s always this hope and faith and belief that one day arthur will make it right.  
and this is presented as a worthy choice.  are there problems with it?  of course.  the show knows that, and it gives us places to think about that.  but even with this being the case, the ultimate message of the show is still never that this commitment was useless, worthless, or foolish.  the message of the show is that under the right conditions, people grow.  this show says that when we are given deep love, care, and companionship, we can change for the better.  it says that people, under the right conditions, can learn how to be better than they were before, and that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow into the person they were meant to be.
bbc merlin is not asking us to cancel any of its characters, ever.  that is never the show’s intention.  i won’t try to stop anybody from doing that, if that’s how they have more fun watching the show, but i am still going to contemplate, in my own space, how small that makes the story feel for me.
sometimes i see things like ...‘morgana/gwen/whoever is the only valid character in merlin bbc,’ and i just...first of all, neither of them are perfect, okay, and second of all, it doesn’t MATTER, because that has never been the point of the story.  this story is not asking us to rank characters on a scale of how righteous/unproblematic we think they are.  it’s asking us to CARE about the characters - ALL of the characters - and to root for them (yes, ALL of them), in the fullness of their imperfection.
when i explore the wider fandom, i typically bump up against one of two mindsets.  there’s the shipping mindset, where everybody loves arthur and he’s helplessly in love with merlin.  but i don’t want that mindset (because i don’t ship that pairing), so i look elsewhere.  but the other mindset is an attitude that dislikes arthur, full stop.  and i don’t want that either!
this ‘either/or’ divide is the opposite of what bbc merlin is asking us to do with its characters.  i criticize arthur all the time, but i still don’t think the story is asking me to reject him.  and i don’t WANT to reject him, either - why would i even watch this show, if i didn’t think it was important to see him become who he was meant to be, if i weren’t invested in his growth, if i didn’t ultimately believe in his possibility?  if i didn’t think the show was asking me to root for him - not uncritically, of course; the show is never asking me to do that - but with the core understanding that arthur is somebody worth caring about?
the same goes for morgana.  the show never asks us to write her off.  up until the very end, the show wants us to care about her.  the show wants us to root for her.  the show never asks us to forget that she and the other characters used to love each other; it never tells us to stop wanting morgana to get what she needs.  
gaius, too - the show never wants us to kick him to the curb.  it knows he’s not perfect.  he knows he’s not perfect.  he tells merlin, when talking about his own life, “there has, for the most part, been very little purpose to it.”  but the show doesn’t want us to fixate solely on his failures, or to dump him for his more cowardly moments.  the show wants us to know that he still has value.  it wants us to know that he is doing more good in the world now than he did before, which is all we can ask of a person, in the end.  it wants us to know that he cares, and that he is trying.
and kilgharrah - the show is never asking us to hate him, either!  yes, i get that it’s funny to joke about how “unhelpful” he is; i think that stuff is funny, too - but i also think it matters to understand that in canon, in the show, we are not meant to read kilgharrah as a malevolent figure.  we are not supposed to read him as a villain.  we are supposed to care about him.  we are supposed to understand that he, too, is working, ultimately, for the triumph of Good.  even though his version of this may feel convoluted to us, because kilgharrah isn’t human and can’t possibly be evaluated by human standards, we are supposed to understand that he, too, is trying.  we are supposed to be moved when merlin asks him, “what will i do without you?”
we are supposed to care about all of them.  we are supposed to find all of them worthy.  we are not supposed to evaluate them (and then discard them) according to inflexible, merciless, decontextualized standards imported from a non-merlin-bbc world.
and this doesn’t mean people aren’t still allowed to do that, if it’s fun for them, but for me, analyzing this show outside of its context doesn’t bring me any satisfaction.  we can go ahead and say things like ‘arthur should get his head chopped off’ and like, okay, that’s funny as a joke.  but as an actual analysis of the show - as a sincere interpretation of the story - it fails.  it’s devoid of all context.  we aren’t supposed to be evaluating this story from the perspective of ‘let’s overthrow the monarchy, kings should die, etc etc.’  the context of merlin bbc is that albion is waiting for a righteous monarch, and that this is a desirable, acceptable, correct thing, in the context of that world.  we are supposed to understand that arthur IS the once and future king, and that this IS a good thing, in this universe, and that the journey we are on here is one where he becomes worthy of his seat on the throne and then ushers in a time of peace and justice for all of albion’s people.
(and as i’ve said before - this is why the merlin bbc finale is so stunningly bad.  it’s not that the show subverts our expectations, it’s that it annihilates its own story, which it has been consistently telling for sixty-three episodes.)
that aside, though - this same overlooking of contextual nuance is the reason why i don’t connect to takes that consider ‘oh no, merlin kills people!’ to be evidence that he’s “changed,” “gone dark,” or “lost his soul.”  merlin does go through a dramatic (and tragic) change by the time we hit season 5, but what happens to him has nothing to do with the fact that he’s killed people.  the context of this show isn’t one where killing is a universal evil.  killing in battle or for the purpose of self-defense is not a morally problematic choice, in this world.  merlin, like everyone else in this show’s context, understands this, and killing a group of enemy soldiers to protect his own life is not something the show intends for us to interpret as an erosion of his humanity. 
what IS framed as an evil act, in the context of merlin bbc, is when someone chooses to kill despite the fact that mercy is an option.  if arthur had killed odin when he could have instead made peace with him, if arthur had executed annis’s champion or vivian’s father when he had already defeated them in single combat, if merlin had killed kilgharrah whilst having absolute power over him - those are morally bankrupt choices, in merlin bbc’s context.
we’re not supposed to see things like merlin killing agravaine as evil decisions.  in the context of the show’s world, killing agravaine is a necessary, morally uncomplicated act.  it isn’t something merlin wants to do, certainly, and he tries to avoid it, and he doesn’t strike back until agravaine tries to kill him first, but ultimately this moment is not supposed to be illustrative of merlin turning down a dark path.  it’s grim, sure, but in the context of the show - in the context of the era - it’s nothing more than the justified wages of aggression.  agravaine brings this fate down upon his own head.  merlin is not a pacifist, and neither he nor anyone else would expect himself to just stand there and let a group of enemy soldiers murder him when he could instead kill the soldiers and get away.  that’s nonsensical and utterly decontextualized.  it’s not an expectation that anyone in-story would have, nor a standard that merlin (or anyone else) would hold himself to.
all that aside, though -
the issue, for me, in summary, is just that i think sometimes we...evaluate this show in ways that it really isn’t meant to be interpreted, without considering the story’s context or thinking about what the story’s actual intent is.  and i think that these decontextualized interpretations are often less generous than what the show is actually trying to say to us, and that sometimes we write characters off when the show absolutely is not asking us to do that.  
and of course, nobody has to listen to what the show is trying to say if they don’t want to.  if it brings someone more enjoyment to pick one character to stan and say ‘the rest of these characters are Bad People and i’m not interested in them,’ then that’s fine!  whatever floats your boat.  
it just doesn’t float mine.
the point of this show, for me, is that everybody deserves a chance.  the point of this show is exactly what merlin says to daegal in the woods, even as daegal is leading merlin into a trap: we all matter.  the theme at the heart of this story is that it is possible to love someone who doesn’t deserve it, and that this can be a worthy choice, a transformative choice, a powerful choice - not necessarily a perfect choice, or even the right choice, maybe, for the person making it, but still a choice that holds value, a choice that creates something good in this world, even at cost.
listen to me, clotpole.  i don't care if you die, there are plenty of other princes.  you're not the only pompous, supercilious, condescending, royal imbecile i could work for; the world is full of them.  but I'm going to give you one more chance.
should merlin have done that?
we can debate that forever.  i am critical enough of arthur pendragon myself, when it comes to merlin’s well-being, and i could easily argue that no, merlin shouldn’t have given arthur as many chances as he did; he shouldn’t have stuck around; he shouldn’t have offered so much of his life to someone who continued to make arthur’s kind of mistakes.
but i think it matters to remember that in canon, thematically, the story’s answer to this question is yes.  mercy, in this story, is the most noble gift a person can bestow on someone else, and i think we are asked to bestow this same kind of mercy on the show’s characters, heroes and villains alike.  we aren’t ever told, in this show, that some of these characters “weren’t good enough” to deserve their chances.  we are told that in this world, compassion is always worthwhile.  love is never wasteful.  it is never foolish to care for people, even and especially when they aren’t yet their best selves.  giving someone a chance does matter.  choosing to care does make a difference, in the end.  
people don’t have to import these themes into their own personal analysis, by any means.  but i am still committed to remembering, in my own work, in my own space, that when we raise the question “was it worth it” in reference to whether these characters truly deserved to be loved, or trusted, or given a chance to grow - the story’s answer is unequivocally yes.
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pendragaryen · 4 years
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10 Questions Tag Game
Rules: Answer 10 questions, ask 10, and tag 10 people to answer them.
Tagged by @burninghoneyatdusk , thank you Sam! <3<3<3
1. What’s a memory you wish that you could go back in time to and relive?
Honestly? The Dystopia The1OO-Convention i’ve been back in April 2018. It was... a complete bliss from start to finish. I love our The1OO cast! I really do! I had the time to meet, hug and chat with many of them, to do photo-ops and join them at the saturday night-karaoke party. And this memory is very dear to me. Nothing can destroy it. Not even fandom hate.
2. If you could talk to your 13 year old self, what would you tell her/advice would you give her?
I’d say: “Approximately 8 years from now, you’ll meet that guy you’ll decide to move in with together, to travel a lot with, to share lots of nerdy stuff you both love. And then, another 7 years from that you’ll meet ANOTHER guy and you might FEEL as if you’d met the love of your life, as if you finally know what REAL love is... But... trust me... DON’T DO IT!!! JUST DON’T!!! SPARE YOURSELF THE PAIN, OKAY?!” *curls up into a ball*
3. What’s your favorite quote of all time? Why?
“Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”        ―      J.R.R. Tolkien,            The Lord of the Rings    
It isn’t difficult to guess, why that’s my favourite quote ever. “The Ring” could be replaced by basically every obstacle in your life, everything that causes you pain or let you suffer. Back in 2001 and from that year on, these words really had been a guiding light for me. A spark of hope. They still are. And they never fail to bring me to tears. Never.
4. What is the quality you value most in a friend?
If he/she’s trustworthy. And a good listener.
5. If the pandemic magically ended today, how would you spend tomorrow?
I would buy a ticket for the train and travel to meet my best friend IMMEDIATELY.
6. If you could go back in time and live in any era & location, and face no danger, where would you choose?
Ouf... There are so many countries i’d love to know better. But... out of the countries i already visited (and completely isolated from the question of going back in time) ... i would probably prefer to live in Canada/British Columbia, where my aunt lives (honestly, i’ve hardly ever visited a more beautiful location. The mountains, the ocean, deep forests filled with giant redwoods, beaches... and the most chill metropolis ever: Vancouver). OR... Denmark. I LOVE Denmark. We’ve been there a lot when we were kids. It’s so calm and peaceful there. And there are endless beaches!!! On one side you’ve got the rough Northern Sea with its often very high waves. And on the other side you have the Eastern Sea, much calmer and easy to take a swim in. Mh... I can’t decide.
7. What heroine of a movie, book, tv show, story, or history do you relate to most?
Morgana le fay from the original Arthurian Legends. I’ve been a fan of the Arthurian Legend for AGES now... let me think... since the early 90s probably. And i’ve read TONS of books and novels about it. I know almost every version of her, good or evil, healer or deathly witch. And i can relate to almost every part of her, and if it’s just a little. But the picture of her that had the most impact on me was her characterization in novels such as “The mists of Avalon” or “The road to Avalon”. These definitely shaped my view of her as a strong, independent woman, who suffers a lot - but refuses to give up and stands tall despite loss and angst. I don’t identify myself with that picture of her. I like to see her more as kind of a model. Someone to look up to. Morgaine/Morgan/Morgana le fay taught me a lot throughout all these past years. I owe her...
8. Without saying who the person is, what is a question you wish you could ask someone but can’t?
“Are you happy now, with the life that you’ve chosen? With that wife from the other side of the world and two kids? Is that what you ever wanted? And why didn’t you ask me to marry you, when we were already years into our relationship? Would it have been okay for you IF I had proposed? Probably EVERYTHING would have gone different, if we only... “ But that’s the past. And I’ll never get the chance to ask all these things anyway. It’s gone.
9. In one sentence, what are you personally struggling with right now?
ONE sentence???? Omg... um... I hope my fragile health lets me doing my job until the end of september, when the time of my “observation” finally ends (I was kicked out of my job 3 years ago bc of illnesses and there was a law suit and they decided, that i had to go 3 years without being ill for more than 10 days each year - if i can do that, i can keep my job - and that period of time is ending soon! Fingers crossed!).
10. What’s a book/article/story that brought you joy/comfort/healing that you wish others would read?
Joy: Definitely The Hunger Games trilogy. And Bellarke-fanfiction of course (Especially “Training Wheels” by bettsfic and “Don’t wake me” by grumpybell for example. ;) )
Healing/Comfort: Almost everything written by Nikita Gill. And i’m a sucker for (picture) books about “Hygge” - a danish way of life, coziness and comfort.
My Questions
I’ve already done this last week and here are my questions if you want to participate! https://pendragaryen.tumblr.com/post/623645366859005952/10-questions-tag-game-rules-answer-10-questions
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