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bowieandqueen11 · 1 year

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Rosy Cheeks / Gwaine Imagine

Request: MERLIN!!!! I would DIE if you did a Merlin drabble/imagine etc. Gwaine has been the loml since I was 10 and would LOVE something to do with a headstrong maid or tavern barmaid reader and him. Like he is so flirtatious and she doesn't think he's being genuine until Gwen points out the way he talks/looks at her. FLUFF GALORE. This request is 100% self-indulgent but I couldn't resist! Your writing is so lovely and I love that you cover so many fandoms. Do what you want with this, sending good vibes :)

I literally cannot believe I haven’t written for Merlin before I think I cried for about three months after the finale aired Christmas Eve ahh but thank you lovely that’s very kind! <3

Clocking in at nearly 4,100 words, this is the longest oneshot I’ve ever written, and I’m knackered! So please, if you like this, do let me know as this took me a solid 3 days to write!

(I do not own Merlin or its characters, all rights go to creators. Gif credit goes to @babinicz.)

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°

You would know the light tread of Gwaine’s footsteps even in the darkest of dungeons. It was familiar, comforting, and most of the time most welcomed from your best friend, but also incredibly infuriating.

It had already been a long enough day: your boss had started to become distinctly unimpressed by the sight Gwaine gracing his doorway and taking your attention away from serving the drinks until far into the night at every opportunity he could find. Between the large crowd of travellers who had nestled their way into the long tables, spilling their drinks on the lone romantics and starting brawls with the for-hire thugs, sweat was already beginning to cloud your vision. It didn’t help that it had been a warm spring day outside; the verdant fields of Camelot blooming to life with fresh grain and wildflowers cropping their borders rolled past your vision every time you went to stoke the already pounding fire at the left edge of the building.

Wiping your forehead with the front of your apron, you blow out a sigh as you collect the next round of empty, splattered bowls and chipping mugs, and head back towards the counter, counting down the minutes until Gwen arrives and you can finally roll into bed for some much needed sleep. It doesn’t take very long for all your hopes to be dashed, as the phantom pursuing you like immortal love appears within your line of vision.

‘What’s a pretty maiden like you doing in a dank place like this?’

The face of Gwaine peers over the edge of the tavern’s chipped table like an eager chipmunk: all bright smiles, rosy red cheeks, and a mischievous glint in his eye as he stares straight at you. The crimson tint of his tilted head, as red as a cardinal and twice as beautiful, alludes you to the fact that he had probably already spent half the night in romantic pursuit of various poor patrons at the tavern. The slight pant in his breathe as he spoke clocked you to the fact that it was he you had heard pacing around the tavern, scheming up some new hairbrained joke to swat your way. The droplets of ale he wipes from his stubble with the back of his glove clues you in to the fact that he’s been here, watching you, for a while, waiting for the perfect time to strike when you were most busiest, and, of course, when the tavern owner was watching you with a scowl from the barrels.

Little did you know, in fact, that Gwaine hadn’t quite been wasting the night away waiting for the right moment to strike. He had been pacing with his mug by the doorway: half of him fiddling with the rose he has bought off the old lady outside, preparing himself to finally muster his usual courage and give it to you, and the other half preparing to run back to Camelot and go hide in the armoury till the end of time. He had heard an avalanche of pillows being thrown behind Arthur’s door as he had walked past the corridor earlier, and the familiar sound of Merlin’s wincing cry of exasperation as he apparently dropped the King’s breakfast on the floor, so he was sure his dear friend would join him in hiding away in the crevices of the castle. Gwen could smuggle them food up from the kitchens, and he’d make Percival keep watch out the door to make sure you would never catch sight of how reticently self-conscious you made the usually so blatant knight.

Yet most of all, Gwaine had spent most of his time shaking his head with a breaking grin, strutting up and down and up and down the entrance and getting in everyone’s way. It was only when Gwen decided to stop in during her daily visit to walk with you back home after your shift, that she finally managed to grab his arm and pull him away from the growing mob of irritated and drunk carousers.

You thump the empty mugs down by his left elbow, grinning as a few drops slosh out and drip over his arm. ‘Gwaine, with all my heart I love you, but if you’re in need of someone to annoy I’m sure Sir Leon has finished with target practice by now.’ Sighing, you lean over him to grab a rag from behind the counter, ignoring the muffled shouts of patrons and wolf whistles to grab your attention.

He seems to flush at your words, shaking his head until his hair splays out over his forehead like a warm dawn’s soft and curling mist. He looks down at his feet, then back to peer at you from behind the safety of his fringe, his eyes burning just as fervently as the gold light of daybreak. It takes him a moment to fall out of his love-struck stupor. In mock offence, he raises a hand and grabs his heart, taking a false stagger back on his heels. He prays you can’t see how fast said heart is pounding in foolish, all encompassing, body devastating, stricken hope. ‘How your words wound me, Y/n! Besides, Leon smells like old goat instead of daffodils and mead. Also... I may owe him a few gold shillings.’

You turn to him with an incredulous look. ‘A few, again!? Already?’ Gwaine just shrugs, and smiles all the brighter as he notices you becoming enticed by his shenanigans. If he could just keep you by him for a few moments longer, perhaps he would find the strength to stop stroking the petals between his gloved fingers and hold it out to you like a proper ‘knight in shining armour trying to woo his true love’ would. ‘I may have said that I could win in a sword fight against Arthur - and I nearly did! If only his trousers hadn’t magically fallen down in the middle of it.’

You press the back of your hand to your nose to try and hide your snort, and Gwaine laughs pleasurably at the sweet sound. Waving away an obviously intoxicated customer who was now slamming his glass up and down on the counter to try and get your attention, you turn away from your now seething boss to look at the blithe knight resting beside you. ‘There is no way that happened. Even I would have heard news of that by now. News seems to travel faster than the crow flies in Camelot.’

Picking up your rag, you turn to move away from the man, but a gentle hand encircles your wrist before you can even take a step. ‘No, please’, he starts with a hitch in his throat. ‘Please don’t go yet. I haven’t finished my tale! Besides... it ends with me fighting a dragon, and being declared the true king of all fair maiden’s hearts by a wizard.’ With a tilted head watching your exasperated feelings flash across your face like zings of magic, Gwaine begins to chuckle through his words. His earthen eyes are dream-like as they trace the outline of your eyes, then the dip of your nose, and further to the bottom curve of your lip, as if you were the brightest beauties of all the heavens rolled into one being.

‘You promise you’re telling me the truth’, you ask, rolling your eyes while trying to hold back your own laughter.

Gwaine unintentionally drags his teeth over his bottom lip as he raises his head up again, wetting the edge of his mouth with a final slight lick of his tongue. His gaze drops for a moment, before sheepishly coming back up to glance at your growingly delighted eyes. His fingers dance a final dainty circle around the pulse point of your wrist, before coming up to draw a quick X in the air above his chainmail. ‘For you Y/n, I’ll even cross my heart.’

‘And you’re definitely not here just to cause me more trouble’, you accuse with a jab at his chest. ‘This isn’t another one of your hairbrained schemes to make me lose my job so I can come work up at the Castle kitchens, is it?’

For a moment, just a flicker across his usually radiant face, Gwaine looks crestfallen at the accusation. Whether it was due to the fact that you would think of him in such a way, or the thought in the back of his head that he wanted nothing more than to spend every day working in as close a proximity to you as possible, neither of you are entirely sure. He quickly recuperates himself again, and with a shake of his head and a quick wink in your direction, he’s smiling fondly at you once again. ‘You’re very lucky I like a girl who has a bit of bite with her bark, otherwise you may have just broken my heart.’

You groan, but the man standing in front of you, plain as day as he holds his love out to you on a silver platter, is still hopeful in his smile.

Distracted for a moment by a weary patron politely tapping you on the shoulder and enquiring as to whether he can purchase some late night grub from this tavern, you don’t notice Gwaine playing back and forth with his hand. After you’ve answered the gentleman, you swing back towards your best friend, who looks as if he’s been caught with his hand stuck in the cookie jar. Wide eyed, he swings his right hand back behind his back and coughs innocently.

‘What in all the kingdoms are you doing?’, you ask him as you narrow your eyes, trying to figure out why the knight looks so daunted.

With a quizzical frown, you grab onto his shoulder and try to peer around the chainmail engulfing his torso, but with every move you make he matches it with a swivel of his head. His smile never falters, but the edges seem to quiver a little... almost as if he were embarrassed? As if he were bashful at being caught hiding something from you. You drop back down onto the balls of your feet and raise an eyebrow at him, both deeply puzzled but also determined to find out what secret the man, who usually gushed every little detail of his day to you as soon as you met, could be hiding.

‘Now now’, he chides, ‘it’s not polite to ask a knight what he’s hiding behind his back. I could be holding keys to the dungeon, sent on a secret mission by Gaius to infiltrate the castle and release Merlin, especially after Arthur locked him up again for spilling shoe polish all over his pretty new tunic. Or, it could be a powerful artefact, or a relic I won on my quest to slay, you know, that dragon I told you about.’ You lift a hand up and gently slap the side of his cheek a couple of times. Gwaine raises his eyes to the ceiling, chewing the inside of his cheek in humorous anticipation.

‘Or, you could have injured your hand giving Sir Elyan a piggyback ride to the jousting arena again, and don’t want to tell me about it. Or, even more likely, Arthur managed to knock you on your bottom during your sparring match, and you landed on your wrist like the big fool you are.’

Gwaine scoffs, opening his mouth quickly, his tongue ready with a new witty retort to your brazen appraisal. Before he can reply, though, Gwen has nearly shocked you out of your skin by seemingly appearing out of thin air to grab the side of your arm. With one hand resting on your bicep, her other comes around your other shoulder, and she whispers quietly in your ear: ‘Y/n, may I speak with you for a minute before you finish?’ You nod, and with a final teasing smirk at the knight, you allow Gwen to guide you away towards the fireplace, and through the milling crowd of tipsy drinkers and cheeringly clamorous guests. Gwaine watches you recede through the throng with a pang in his heart, taking the flower out from behind his back and looking at it forlornly as he begins to run his fingers over the velvet petals.

‘She loves me’, he murmurs, letting them fall through his fingertips. ‘She loves me not.’

If only he could stop flirting for one moment, then perhaps he may have had the chance of being truly happy. With a final sigh, he places the flower between his fingers and heads back out into the crowd.

Thankfully for you both, Gwen had been as good-hearted and observant a friend to you both as she had ever been. Once she had finally managed to persuade Gwaine to approach you, she had settled herself into a corner of the tavern, to watch the confession she knew in her heart was coming. In fact, you had an incredibly wonderful network of kind friends, as Gwen would soon divulge to you, once she had tucked the two of you back into the corner and away from the ears of any passing gossips.

‘Y/n, she started’, letting go of you and glancing back in Gwaine’s general direction with an apprehensive peer. ‘Why on earth aren’t you flirting back with the poor man?’

You stare at her in bemusement. ‘Gwen, my dearest friend’, you grab both her hands within your own, and familiarly begin to rub your thumb over the back of her knuckles. ‘As long as I’ve known Gwaine he’s flirted with any breathing, moving woman. For instance, I remember a certain someone being wooed by said knight only ten minutes after he had set foot in Camelot!’ You swing your joint arms between your chests, and give her a comforting look. ‘He’s a dear, dear friend, just as you are, but he’s not serious Gwen.’

‘Oh Y/n, that was different’, Gwen swings back and forth on her feet, ducking her head as she thinks of the best way to relate to you what poor Gwaine had been so poor at trying to tell. ‘Sir Gwaine may be a flirt, but he loves you.’ Before you can even open your mouth to laugh, or shout, or groan, Gwen has gripped your fingers tighter and pulled you another step towards her. ‘And! And, he’s in love with you. How can you not see it?’

Your mouth stutters for a moment, the flickering of the settling fire warming the growing blush on your cheeks until you wish you could fade back into the shadows. Falling backwards, you trust your friend to catch your fall as you lean against the cobblestone wall and stare, gobsmacked. Gwen only nods fervently at your speechlessness, and you can tell by the seriousness lining her face, by the eagerness in her eyes, that she’s telling the truth.

‘Wh-what?’, you finally manage to muster out after a few seconds shock. ‘We’re... we’re friends. We’re friends! He treats me like a friend, like, like he would talk to any of the knights, or Merlin, or, or you!’

‘That’s not true’, she replies, disappointed.

‘How do you know?’, you ask in a whisper, afraid to hear the answer.

‘I have eyes! Besides, Merlin told me.’

‘About my crush on Gwaine? That little tattletale-’, you begin to rile up, but Gwen could tell from the way you gnashed your teeth and shook your head that you weren’t seriously angry at your friend. You were just disappointed: devastated, even, by the thought of your friends using your infatuation as a source of teasing.

‘Not about you!’, Gwen was quick to correct. ‘Although... that may have come up, just a little.’ She pinches her fingers together and squeezes her eyes shut in apology at the brimming look of annoyance you give her. ‘More about Gwaine though! Apparently, Sir Leon told him in the strictest confidence’, you laugh at that, knowing your friends too well, ‘that every time he’s passed by the armoury in the last two weeks during his nightly rounds, he’s heard Gwaine’s voice echoing inside, practicing to the shields and crossbows how he’s going to admit his feelings for you!’

That... that startles you. With a languid blink, you take a moment to think, before asking Gwen: ‘did Merlin tell you what he was saying?’

Gwen places a finger to her chin. ‘I believe it was something along the lines of: ‘my dearest Y/n, from the first moment I was graced with your company, I knew that you would be the only creature in all the kingdoms to hold my heart, forever.’ Sensing your silence, as you dip your eyes and ponder over her words, your friend continues. ‘Besides, Leon’s not the only one! I heard that Gwaine admitted to Percival, I believe during one of their quests, when they were faced with the Dorocha and of uncertain death, that Gwaine admitted his love too. I think while they were roaming the castle, to try and lighten the mood he told Percival that the first day he had met you in this tavern was the best day of his life, and how he wanted to live so he may return to it once more.’

‘See!’, you finally spring to life, throwing a dirty glance at an old drunkard man who was leaning precariously over his table to lean his ear closer to your conversation. With a final swat of your rag in his general direction, you turn back to the intense conversation at hand. ‘He only admitted he missed the tavern!’

‘No Y/n, if you let me finish, he said that he wanted to return as he had made a promise to himself, all those years ago, that he was going to marry you one day. Do you really find it no coincidence that as soon as Camelot was saved, you were the first person he sought out?’

‘He did hug me rather tight’, you murmur, crossing your arms over your chest and chiding yourself for being so blind. ‘Oh Gwen, how could I have been such a fool too? How can I fix this? He must hate me for the way I’ve treated him.’

Before you can finish your musing thought, Gwen has stepped forward to wrap you in a tight hug, squeezing your shoulders before letting go. Sliding her arms down to your waist, she shakes her head. ‘No one could ever hate you, Y/n. And the solution is simple. Go tell him.’

Glancing out across the tavern hall with worry lines deepening your eyes, your heart is relieved to spot Gwaine still milling about; he seems to be entrenched deeply in an arm wrestle with some young, muddy looking farmer, but you can tell his heart isn’t really in to win. Over the course of your conversation with Gwen, he’s spent every excusable reason to glance over his shoulder and back at you. To make sure you were safe. To make sure no one was hassling you. To make sure Gwen wasn’t going to break your heart by indulging his true feelings for you. To make sure you weren’t about to push through the crowd and run out the door, disgusted by the idea. His eyes met yours: aflame, tense, deep set in their worry, and he’s quick to look back down at his elbow again.

How could it really have taken you so long? To realise that his bitten, plump lips, his rosy cheeks, his overwhelming joy was all solely from the thought of you?

With a resolute gasp, you allow Gwen to gently push you off in his direction, despite how thunderously your pulse was flickering through your body. You nod, and let your feet direct your path, not giving yourself a moment to think over the implications of the incoming interaction. After what feels like an eternity of treading water, you come to an uncertain stop behind the three men. Although Gwaine is still chatting with the green-clad man he had been wrestling innocently with earlier, the other crop gatherer seems to have fallen asleep on the table, his crossed arms pushing his mug of ale until it rested against his nose.

Mustering determination, you quickly prod Gwaine three times against his cape, taking a worried step back as he quickly turns to look at you once again. ‘You just couldn’t stay away’, Gwaine remarks with a warm smile when you finally garner the courage to approach the table he’s currently leaning over. ‘I can’t blame you, not many can.’ With his thumb, he points over at the young man gently beginning to snore on the opposite end of the table. ‘This poor lad grew so tired of my wit and charm he had to close his eyes for a bit.’

He stands up, giving a final wink and a nod at his short-lived companions. His tall frame hunches over you as he steps forward, blocking out the rest of the flitting candlelight from the east end of the tavern; the front of his chainmail brushes against where your hands are bunched into the coarse linen of your apron, sending a jolt flying along your fingertips. He seems to be casing you into his very being, that same soft - so soft dopey smile breaking like dawn across his face as he appraises you from above.

Before he can start whittling off again, and you lose your garnered nerve, you break the laden silence by asking Gwaine the most important question you could think of in that moment.

‘What were you hiding behind your back?’

Gwaine seems taken aback by your query, visibly raising his eyebrows as he begins to bite his bottom lip again. You know him to well to think him puzzled: he’s worried, scared that Gwen may have told you the truth, and you have come waltzing over to tell him off, and in doing so, cleave his heart clean in two.

‘Do you - do you really want to know?’, he asks uncertainly, taking the flower out from where he had stored it in his belt for safekeeping, before placing it behind his back once more. You’re swift to reach around his waist, skirting your pointer finger over the bone until you meet his hand. He gives it to you easily, his palm warm and laden with scars as he allows you to unfurl his fingers.

‘I think... I think I already do’, you reply with a hitched breath, enjoying the way Gwaine has taken to rubbing the tips of your knuckles as you press against his palm. Before you can lift the flower, though, he’s already using his free hand to tuck a strand of hair back from your ear. With a careful precision he’s obviously spent many nights over the years practicing, and doting on within his dreams, he tucks the stem of the flower behind your ear.

‘Well, I’m glad’, he states, dropping the back of his own knuckles down the side of your cheek, until he’s cupping your jaw. Your pulse point races against his skin as he dips his head down with a flash of pearly whites, not satisfied until he feels your nose bump against the tip of his own. ‘For I fear it has been my quest in life to find you, and love you till the end of days.’

‘Hmm, and a knight must never fail’, you mutter between laughter against the side of his mouth.

His voice is stricken: as serious as you’ve ever heard the rebellious man speak, and you know he has choked trying to speak these words many times before.

‘I don’t intend to.’

A rapturous wave of applause seems to fill the serene air (even your grumpy old boss manages to roll his eyes and pound the table a little), so dreamlike in its warmth, as Gwaine leans down fully to kiss you. His arms wrap around your waist, seeming to pull you in their vice like grip impossibly close to his chest, until the air you both breathe seems to be one and the same. You can feel him smile against your top lip as he tenderly places a second, lingering, caressing kiss against it, before pulling away to look at you.

Before either of you can breathe out a sigh of relief, though, you’re interrupted by the sound of Gwen cheering from the fireplace. The two of you finally break out in laughter, then, doubling over together and holding onto your stomachs as Gwen covers her mouth with her hand in embarrassment.

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make-me-imagine · 2 years

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Blissfully Unaware

Prompt: 'A game of 20 questions that ends with “Can I kiss you?” Requested By: Anonymous (Mystery Prompt Pink 19)

Plot: While making your way back to Camelot, you and Gwaine try to make the time go by faster by learning more about one another. Gwaine uses this, to try to find out if you share his feelings.

Pairing: Gwaine x GN!Reader

Warnings: A "detailed" kiss or two, but that's about it.

Words: 1.5k

As you looked out over the valley, you sighed "Well, either we missed them already, or we're ahead of them."

Gwaine stood beside you as he looked around. "We can't wait around for them, we should just continue on our way. We'll meet back at Camelot either way."

Nodding, you turned and looked ahead into the heavy wooded area "I really wish we hadn't lost our horses."

Gwaine nodded as he began to walk ahead "But at least we still have our legs."

You let out a soft scoff, "Might not by the time we make it back to Camelot."

Gwaine smiled as he looked back at you for a moment. He had been dying for a few moments to be alone with you, and now that you had gotten split off from the group, he had more time than he expected.

It felt like almost too much time, as Gwaine felt an uncommon anxiousness in his gut. It was not common that someone made him nervous, but you most certainly did.

"We could talk, to make the time go by faster." Gwaine suggested, as he stopped to wait for you to catch up to him.

"Talk about what?"

He shrugged lightly. "Tell me about yourself."

You let out a soft laugh that made his heart flutter. "We've known each other for months now Gwaine."

He grinned. "True, but that does not mean I know everything about you. I only know the basics, tell me more."

You opened your mouth before you shook your head with an uncertain laugh. "I don't know what to tell you, it's all pretty boring."

"Oh, I doubt that." He said with a soft smile.

You smile in return, feeling your heart hammer in your chest. You weren't expecting to be alone with Gwaine, and now he wanted to know all about you? You had never felt more unsure of yourself.

"How about this, I will just ask you questions, and you answer."

"Alright, but do I get to ask you questions too?"

He nodded "Of course."

"Alright then." You smiled, wondering where this conversation would end up.

"Okay, let me see," he mumbled "Why did you pick Camelot? Of all the placed you could have moved to, why here?"

You thought about your response for a moment, as you and Gwaine headed deeper into the woods, and closer to Camelot.

--------

As the mid-day sun hung over head, you and Gwaine sat by a small river, taking a break from your long venture back to Camelot.

"So, you've been in Camelot a lot longer that I have" Gwaine said as he sat down beside you. "But I hardly see you with anyone but the Knights, Merlin, or Gwen."

"Yes? And?"

"Is there no one else in your life?"

You felt an uneasy tightness in your chest at this, but you smiled casually. "Is that not enough people?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I meant romantically."

You felt a bit of tension rise between you, but felt it was surely one sided. You shook your head as you pulled your water canister from your bag.

"Ah. Well, no, there is no one romantically in my life." Standing, you began to head to the river, unaware of the hopeful gaze on Gwaine's face.

"And no one, headed, in that direction then?" Gwaine asked, watching your profile.

You shrugged your head a bit, "I don't know. I tend to be 'blissfully unaware' of that sort of thing, or at least Gwen says so."

Gwaine let out a soft laugh, and you felt your heart beating heavily. As curiosity set heavy on your mind, you asked softly, while trying to sound as casual as you could.

"What about you? Who are you with?"

He shook his head. "No one."

You looked at him with a bit of surprise, he was unable to miss. He rose a brow a bit. "I know I'm labeled the palace flirt, but that doesn't mean I'm always in a relationship."

You let out a soft chuckle. "I thought you liked that label."

He shrugged softly. "I didn't mind it at first, but, I don't want it to become my reputation. The person I have actual feelings for might not think to kindly of me if it is, they might not trust me."

You felt your heart sink a bit as you turned, looking out at the forest, not wanting Gwaine to see your face.

"So you like someone then? In Camelot?"

Gwaine stared at you, wondering if that was disappointment in your voice or if he was just imagining it. "Yes, I do."

"What are they like?"

Gwaine's lip curled up a bit before he spoke. "They're amazing. They're smart, witty, talented, too kind for their own good really. Attractive, more than they're willing to admit. They're much too good for me, really."

You looked down at your feet but smiled softly. "They almost sound made up."

He let out a soft laugh. "I would think so too if I didn't know them. I don't think they realize half those things about themselves though."

You wondered who it was he was thinking of. Someone you knew? It didn't really sound like it. Maybe it was someone he met in the town.

"Sounds like you really do like them."

Was that a hint of jealousy? No. Surely you understood he was talking about you by now.

"I do. Very much."

His voice had grown softer, and you felt a jealousy in your chest, but you tried to push it away. You should feel happy for him. Happy that he has found someone who makes him feel that way, even if it couldn't be you.

Swallowing down your feelings, you turned back around and made your way over.

"So, how long have you been with them? Do the other Knights know about them?"

Gwaine frowned as he watched you set your water down, before you grabbed a rag and went back to the water. You really didn't realize he had been talking about you. He almost laughed.

"I'm not with them."

"Oh." You looked back at him, clearly confused. Wiping your face and hands with the damp rag, you steadied your voice. "So, do they know? How you feel?"

He shook his head softly as he watched you closely. "I don't think so."

"Whats stopping you from telling them?"

He repressed a smile as he cleared his throat and began to stand up. "I've tried, but I don't think they understood what I was saying. Or, they just didn't understand how it could be them I had feelings for."

'Sounds familiar' you thought quickly as you stood. "Maybe they need a more obvious sign."

You mentally kicked yourself for encouraging him, all you were doing was pushing him further away from you.

Gwaine made his way towards you, "An obvious sign? Like a kiss?"

You almost choked, "Uhm, I suppose that would be obvious" you let out a short laugh. "But, you can't just march up to them and kiss them out of the blue."

Gwaine stepped up to you. "So I ask first?"

You tilted your head with a soft shake, "Yeah, then you'd at least know for certain how they felt."

Gwaine continued to stare at you as he nodded softly. A small smile spread across his face as you felt your heart flutter.

"Alright then." Taking a step closer, he was right in front of you, his eyes drilling into yours. You felt your breath catch in your throat. "Can I kiss you?"

As confusion turned into denial, following by realization, you opened your mouth slowly, and spoke softly. "You were talking about me?"

His lips stretched into a grin as he nodded softly. "I thought I was being obvious."

You felt your face grown hot as you failed to repress a smile. "Gwen was right. I am-"

Gwaine's smile turned into a grin as you both spoke at the same time.

"Blissfully unaware."

You giggled softly as you looked down, feeling almost overwhelming embarrassment, confusion and excitement.

Feeling Gwaine hook his finger under your chin, you looked up to meet his gaze. "I was certainly right about one thing. You really don't realize any of those things about yourself do you?"

"I don't really think about myself at all." You admitted.

His smile faded a bit, before he replaced it again with a flirty gaze. "That's alright, I think about you enough for the both of us."

You let out an almost startled giggle as you felt your ears burning hot.

Keeping your eyes locked with his, you felt him gently caress your chin with his finger. "So, about that kiss?"

Your heart was hammering heavily in your chest, as you found it hard to breath. Smiling, you nodded your head.

Gwaine slowly lowered his head, as his lips met yours gently. The soft kiss was deepened as Gwaine brought his hand to the back of your neck and pulled you closer. You brought your hand up and set it against his chest.

Slowly parting, your eyes fluttered open meeting his again. You both had soft smiles on your lips.

"I do trust you, by the way." You whispered softly. "Label or not."

His smile widened, "You really are too good for me."

You shook your head lightly. "Agree to disagree."

Letting out a soft breathy laugh, he pulled you into another kiss, deeper and more passionate than the last. You wrapped your arms around his neck, as he pulled you flush against him.

xx End xx

I had no idea what to write next, so I just ended it lol. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless <3

General Taglist: @criminaly-supernatural, @caswinchester2000, @imaginesfire, @rexit-mo, @onuen, @witchygagirl

Merlin/Gwaine Taglist: @flourishandblotts-inc, @spuffyfan394, @dominos-palast, @ambitionspassionscoffee, @locke-writes, @multifandomfix,

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dandelionpixels · 6 days

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merlin hcs

ask: Do you have any headcannons of Merlin growing his hair out all curly and everyone in the castle collectively loose their minds

- If you want a mental image, I’ve got you. Take this and this and this and enjoy. :3

- Like the grandpa he is, Gaius teases Merlin for it every morning. He ruffles his hair, mumbles something about being thankful while you have it, and sends him out the door with a tsk.

- It only takes a day or two for it go from subtle waves to quite noticeable, especially when Gaius makes him a shampoo better fit for the curly aspect. It wasn’t really an intentional choice on Merlin’s end, just happenstance from being busy and letting it do what it wants. This also meant he was starting to get slight stubble around his jaw, born from laziness about shaving.

- This switch also happened to fall on a rare weekend where Merlin didn’t really see anyone. Arthur was gone for business and Merlin took the weekend off.

- Gwen says something about it first, crossing him in the halls and stopping him to gently ruffle his hair and go, “Well aren’t you handsome, why have you been hiding this?” to which Merlin blushes (not used to compliments) and waves it off. Gwen continues down the hall, but calls back over her shoulder, “Make sure to ask the knights what they think!”

- Merlin also passes a couple ladies from town who, in no uncertain fashion, stare for long enough that even he notices.

- When he wakes Arthur up by yanking the curtains open and throwing an orange in his direction, Arthur doesn’t notice. Too blinded by sleep and sun and stress. It’s not until after he’s changed and emerges from behind the divider that his gaze flickers to Merlin and he pauses.

- Merlin makes a face, “What? Don’t be thinking about throwing something at me.” Arthur looks away, but doesn’t move, “Nothing, you changed your hair.” Having genuinely forgotten, Merlin pauses, “Oh- I suppose I did. Is that….a problem?” Arthur rolls his eyes, “Why would that be a problem Merlin? I doubt anything can worsen your servant skills any more than their current-,” He’s cut off by Merlin throwing his shoes full speed at him.

- When they run into the knights in the armory, Merlin keeps remembering Gwen’s comment about what they would think. He decides not to say anything, but it doesn’t matter because the second they go outside and the sunlight hits them, Gwaine clocks him immediately.

- “Woah, hold up! You did something, fess up!” Merlin groans but smiles despite himself, “C’mon, don’t do this-,” Percival cuts him, “He’s right though! You’re all rugged now.” He lowered his voice when he said rugged and Merlin and Arthur both make a grossed-out expression. As Elyan opens his mouth to agree, Merlin surrenders, “I grew out my hair a little bit, it got wavy, can we move on now?”

- Gwaine wolf-whistles and the knights burst into laughter. Arthur rolls his eyes and gestures with his sword, “Can we get back to training?” Lancelot grins, “What, are you upset we think Merlin looks nice?” Arthur shoots him a very pointed glare and gestures everyone out into the field.

- Later that evening, Morgana comes to visit Arthur while Merlin’s getting dinner set up. She goes to wave a quick hello but pauses upon seeing him, “Merlin! Your hair looks lovely.” He grins bashfully, “Thanks.” Arthur groans, “Doesn’t anyone in this castle have anything better to do than pay attention to Merlin’s hair?” Morgana shrugs, “Do you not like it?” Arthur stiffens slightly, “I didn’t say- I just don’t care about it.” Gesturing vaguely around, Morgana continues, “It’s not a crime to think he looks nice Arthur, everyone in this castle thinks he looks nice. You’d be crazy not too.”

#merlin #merlin bbc #merlin hcs #merlin fluff #merlin fic #gwaine #lancelot #arthur pendragon #percival #bbc morgana #gwen bbc merlin

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hp-and-merlin-fics · 24 days

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They're deep in the woods when it happens.

A flash of a dreadful vision resurfaces, leaving Merlin breathless, literally. Luckily, Arthur is there to make it all right.

#ao3 fanfic #archive of our own #fandom #fandom things #ao3 #fanfic #fanfiction #merlin #arthur pendragon #fluff #merthur #gay fanfiction #cute #panic attack #gwaine #leon #mordred #elyan #percival

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confused-wanderer · 1 year

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“What of Arthur adopted Mordred” “What if Merlin adopted Mordred” “what if Morganna adopted Mordred.” No fuck you what if Gwen adopted him.

Think about it. She’s always been adopting strays and one look at his lost blue eyes makes her cave. It’s often when he reminds her of Merlin when he first came to Camelot. Bright, hopeful and so, so innocent.

Let’s be honest here folks, if it wasn’t for Gwen and Gaius Merlin would’ve murdered almost everyone who ever pissed him off, especially in s5.

Gwen’s golden heart leads him to have a supportive guardian who isn’t trying to either brush him off or use him. And he likes it. He likes her warm smile when he sees her, how she chides him like a mother does a child.

But he’s also afraid of her finding out about his magic. So what does he do? He tries approaching Merlin again, and when his room is empty he hears Gaius walk in, sigh and say “you’ll do.” . Before he can argue suddenly he’s out picking poisonous weeds for Gaius, doing odd chores and it’s only a few weeks later when he realises: He’s repeating the same life Merlin did.

Unlike Merlin, he never complained of never receiving any affection or signs he was wanted. Instead he complained Merlin never gave that to him.

Gaius, all too familiar with these types of rants decides to try and help him like he did Merlin. He teaches him about nature, as he knows Mordred’s a Druid. It was never spoken, it never had to be, but they knew the other person knew. Gaius teaches secrets of potions and honing his skills.

The knights of the table are growing fond of Mordred, just like they do Merlin, much to his chagrin. Gwaine plays the role of the goody older brother teaching Mordred how to fight dirty and unconventional styles to get himself out of any type of pickle, Launcelot sends Merlin an apologetic look before he too joins in because he believes there is good in people too.

I want Mordred to face similar obstacles like Merlin did to make him realise just how fucking horrible and a rollercoaster ride Merlins been through. Fucking hell by the end of his first week he wonders why Merlin didn’t kill him on the spot.

When he first meets the elderly dragon, and a vision of young Merlin pleading to help his friend emerges, he sees how no one lent him a hand, and he stood powerless as Morgana turned, with the knowledge he could’ve stopped it.

The more Mordred learns about Merlin, the less he sees him as a God and more as just a broken man on whose tired shoulders the weight of the world has been placed.

And Mordred knows exactly what to do.

He stops leaping at every opportunity to prove his worth, rather earning his victories by quietly helping whenever he could just as Merlin does for Arthur. Merlins a bit surprised at first, but he always notices, and one day after training when he gives a gasping Mordred some water before leaving well Mordred stares at it likes it’s a pot of gold.

He then seeks out Morgana, and after several trials and visions finally manages to make her relive Merlins past herself. She doesn’t hate him any less, but atleast now she knows why and that’s enough. She and Merlin may not be so different after all.

When Morgana returns to Camelot there’s a hush in the air. Gwen takes in a hurried breath before racing over and embracing her friend. Everyone’s happy, everyone forgives her. But when Merlin walks through that door, he looks as if he’s been shot.

Morgana and Merlin stare at each other, a thousand unspoken words hanging in the air before Morgana looks away and Merlin keeps his gaze fixed to the ground with what looks to be regret and guilt.

Morgana and Merlin don’t always see eye to eye, but after a few months the banter returns, tentative at first but slowly growing warmer and warmer with no secrets between the two. Relations grow stronger and Camelot reigns king.

Oh yeah, then Gwen and Morgana finally get together due to Merlin and Arthur’s plots and they decide it’s only fair to return the favour.

And on the day he sees Arthur approach Mordred, he feels the tethers of fate snapping and realises that is a future no longer a reality. Meanwhile Arthur’s asking Mordred what flowers Merlin would like because as oblivious as the guy is Arthur is twice as determined to woo him.

#Mordred #bbc Arthur #bbc Merlin #Guinevere #launcelot #Gwaine #Arthur #King Arthur #Gaius #morgana #fluff #headcanons #merthur #morgwen

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em-writes-stuff · 9 months

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“I trust you.” + fluff

day five of @merwainefest

no warnings :)

211 words

---

Gwaine pulls Merlin out of the hallway, the pair of them pressing against the wall to keep hidden from one of the servants walking toward them. The footsteps recede and Merlin falls in a fit of laughter. They end up on the ground, holding onto each other for support, laughing into each other’s face.

“That was so close,” Merlin whispers. He rests his forehead against Gwaine’s and they sit together.

Gwine snickers and looks right at Merlin, “It looks like you only have one eye.” Merlin pulls back slightly and Gwaine nods, “That’s better.”

Merlin purses his lips and leans back in, “Do you like my eyes or something?”

“I more than like your eyes,” Gwaine says, “I love your eyes.”

Merlin chuckles and shakes his head gently, “Well your eyes are nice, too.”

They stare at each other, eyes locked and unmoving. Gwaine’s hand raises to Merlin’s face and he waits for Merlin to react.

“May I?”

Merlin smiles widely and nods, “Why not, I trust you.”

Gwaine’s hands cup his face and pull him closer still, “Mistake.” he laughs.

Merlin pretends to struggle out of Gwaine’s hands as Gwaine peppers his face with small pecks. They laugh loudly, forgetting that they’re supposed to be heading to the training field.

#merwaine #merwainefest2023 #merlin #gwaine #merlin bbc #my writing #i trust you #fluff #fluff fic #merlin fluff #merwaine fluff #em writes #em writes stuff

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bitsandbobsofwriting · 1 year

Note

any fluffy fic recs? i'm really anxious and need it :(

(My Masterlist)

FIRST OFF!!! UPDATE!!! Just as I started to get inspiration and motivation to write again, my laptop broke. It was old and I should've seen it coming, but I didn't, and lost a bunch of work, and had to spend a ton of money on a new one. HOWEVER I now HAVE that new laptop and it's touchscreen with a 360 degree hinge and I love it and I'm BACK babeeeey!!!

Second off!! Sorry it took me so long to reply anon, for the reasons above, but let's get going on those fluffy recs!!

Here's a couple that I've written:

A Slight Embarrassing Exposure🧡(Around 2k. Arthur walks in on a previously kept secret, and is rather pleased about it. Lots of teasing occurs, but it’s all very soft and loving. Implied but no explicit sexual content. Merleon :D)

Old Friends🧡💙(Morgana and Elyan already know)(Around 4.2k. When Arthur, (good) Morgana, Merlin, and Gwen head back to rescue Gwen’s brother, they all discover a little more about Merlin’s past. Arthur is a little horrified, Gwen is annoyed and then uncomfortable and then fond, and Morgana thinks the whole thing is rather funny. Fluffy Merlyan Reunion :D)

The Never Ending Peace💙(Around 2.4k. The Gang gathers to celebrate one year since magic was legalised. This is nothing but softness and fluff, Merlin sings really well. Merleon and Arwen😄)

Visiting the Druids💙(around 5k. Arthur sees Merlin in Emrys-Mode for the first time, and immediately falls in love. Happy Merthur Ending :))

And here's a few of my Rec List:

5 times Merlin helped Leon through a nightmare (+1 time Leon helped Merlin through his own) OK so I absolutely ADORE this, it's one of my all time favourite BBC Merlin fics, and it's about the growing friendship between Leon and Merlin. There are no romantic ships at the forefront of this, but it's just written really beautifully and I really really Love it (around 9k)

Into the Stars MERTHUR!! Arthur is pining and very stupid, so when he finds out that Merlin loves the stars, he spends HOURS teaching himself about them, so he has something to talk to Merlin about, instead of just.... telling him how he feels. I love this, it's so cute (almost 5k)

A Dragon’s Treasure MERTHUR!!! Super cute. Becoming Dragon Lord has some physical AND mental side-effects, Merlin sorta loves it, sorta hates it. I LOVE this one and it’s just really funny and sweet and cool (around 5k)

Knit up your cloak about you MERLIN/LEON!! It's a favourite rare-pair of mine. All from Arthur's perspective. He is struggling as a new King, and wants to bring his two closest friends and advisors together, because he thinks the three of them could do astounding things if they just start to understand each other properly. He finds he doesn't actually have to put that much work in as he watches their relationship develop. It's just really well written and I love it (around 6.7k)

The Court Sorcerer's New Clothes MERTHUR!! Merlin likes to embroider to de-stress and Arthur discovers this. It's just really sweet🥺 (around 2.1k)

Over, Under, Around Through the Heart MERWAINE!! Braiding hair is a courting ritual in Ealdor. Gwaine has no idea about that when Merlin starts braiding his hair constantly, and frankly, Merlin wants it to stay that way so he can indulge in his little harmless fantasy. Except of course Gwaine figures it out. It's so cute and well written I'm in love with this (almost 5k)

You Love Me background Merwaine, but mostly focused on Elyan and Gwaine's friendship. ADHD Gwaine struggles with low self esteem and Elyan has a few things to say about that. I love it, it's so soft and sweet and wonderful (around 1.2k)

Blackberries, Griffins and a Kiss For You MERCALOT!! Mostly from Gwaine’s point of view. A few of the knights are away and Lance is missing Merlin. Gwaine tries to figure out what the inside joke involving Griffins is, but ultimately leaves them to it and is happy for his besties. It’s so cute. It’s so sweet. Lots of fluff, no dramatics, just cuteness (around 2.5k)

A Father's Wisdom MERTHUR!!! VERY ooc Uther, in which The King can tell immediately that Merlin is Balinor’s son, but assigns him to Arthur anyway. He finds out about their secret relationship and is awkwardly, endearingly supportive, despite being a little befuddled. Look, I hate Uther just as much as the next BBCM fan... but this is amazing. (around 2.1k)

For Now and Always MERWAINE!! Gwaine panics when Merlin is momentarily lost. Merlin makes a joke about marriage, and Gwaine suddenly finds himself completely unafraid of committing himself to someone for the long-term, so proposes on the spot. Straight up fluff. So sweet. So wholesome (around 1k)

Friendship Merlin and Leon friendship. Merlin is struggling to recover after the Lamia, but Arthur forces him and Leon to take a four day trip into the woods so Merlin can teach Leon about herbs and healing. Leon forces a conversation because Merlin is acting odd and it’s just very🥺(around 3.2k)

And for the ULTIMATE FLUFF (Also part of my normal Rec List but I thought it deserved special recognition in the Fluff department):

tell me what it’s like to conquer, tell me what it’s like to burn MERTHUR!! Slow-burn, what if Merlin and Arthur actually had run away together? They get on horses and ride as fast as they can for as long as they can. There’s only so long you can live with the other half of your soul before you fall in love. DOMESTICE BLISS!! THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS EVER!!! (around 2.8k)

I hope this is enough for you anon!! These aren't all the fluffy ones on my Rec List by a LONG shot, but last time I checked I think there were over a hundred fics on there so😅. If you need more, take a browse, or ask me for specific recs :D

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apinchofm · 9 months

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1 + 1 = the heir to the throne!

Child bearing could be a difficult time, even for queens. Gwen is finding that out; not only the sore feet or long days but because everyone around her seems to have gone mad since finding out she was with child.

or, the King and Queen are expecting and the Queen is the only one calm.

Alternatively, Arthur and Gwen and the times they are expecting.

#merlin fic #bbc merlin #gwen x arthur #arthur x gwen #fluff & angst #bbc merlin au #arthur pendragon #guinevere pendragon #merlin emrys #sir leon #sir gwaine #sir elyan #post-camlan

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lit-in-thy-heart · 10 months

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dandelions

(Part 3 of we are bound together by delicate stems)

Rating: Mature

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Multi

Relationships: Gwaine/Lancelot/Merlin

Characters: Gwaine, Lancelot, Merlin

Additional Tags: i've got a finished wip! i've got a finished wip!, and guess what's inside it, Hurt/Comfort, Light Angst, in comparison to marigolds that is, hello and welcome to another tonal shift, and idk how to tag nsfw stuff, Nudity, Touching, Grinding, and that's about as far as it goes, it was not meant to be a part of this fic but here we are, Hugs, Mild Smut, Mild comedy, Hair Brushing, Bathing/Washing, Casual Magic, Literal Sleeping Together, listen lance and merlin are just really worried about gwaine, and gwaine is worried about them being worried, Injury Recovery, Forehead Kisses, Forehead Touching, this is an inadvertent bottle episode, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon Universe, Insecure Gwaine, Plot? What Plot?, discovered the name polaris wasn't used until more recently, so accidentally spent half an hour researching the north star and old english grammar, no it is not relevant to the story, yes if there's an odd-looking word then it's probably the old english one, yes i can now give you about five different names polaris has been known by, Worried Merlin, worried Lancelot, Supportive Lancelot, Supportive Merlin, one day i'll stop beating gwaine with a narrative stick, today is not that day, literally this has been in my google docs since last september, Kissing, Teasing, Infection, Hallucinations, Sleep Deprivation, falling over

Words: 12,443

Chapters: 1/1

Summary: Now safe in Camelot, Gwaine, Lancelot and Merlin struggle to forget the events of Fyrien. As they navigate open wounds and emotional scars, they try to rebuild themselves.

Gwaine comes down with an infection and is forced to face his fear. Luckily, Lancelot and Merlin are very good at distractions.

Opening:

Lancelot was the one who noticed that Gwaine had developed a fever. Gwaine had dismissed the sweating as a result of the nightmares that had returned after Fyrien, the shortness of breath as a consequence of reliving every moment that he’d been tied to a rock in the ocean. And he’d been trying to eat, trying to keep hydrated, since being moved from Merlin’s room into their shared chambers. He’d been trying so hard to recover, to lessen the strain on Merlin and Lancelot, but when Lancelot had refused to leave him for even a moment it had become apparent that Gwaine was not getting any better.

Merlin, after resting for two days, had returned to his duties and Lancelot, unable to train with his arm in a sling, had chosen to stay with Gwaine. He’d barely spoken since returning – had done little but sleep and curl up against Lancelot in the hours before dawn, his face streaked with tears – and both of his partners had been concerned about what thoughts would trickle into his mind if he was left alone. It was on the third day after their return that Lancelot realised Gwaine was significantly warmer than he ought to have been.

Read on ao3

#THE FIC THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER FINISH IS DONE :D #which means we can get to the fluff in this universe #or at least steer more towards it :DD #merwaincelot #merlin #gwaine #lancelot #lit writes #bbc merlin #merlin fanfic #hurt/comfort #maybe now i'll finish the other merwaincelot wip i've had in my google docs for nearly a year #we are bound together by delicate stems #wabtbds

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not-rome · 6 months

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finally writing single dad merlin after literal months of just talking about ideas for it. literally having so much fun right now

#i have so many ideas for this tbh #all of them have aithusa as his daughter arthur as coparent (not romantic) freya as the mom and gwaine as her brother (fun uncle gwaine)#also there's mercelot which is required as well as arwen #aithusa is determined to get her aunt gwen and uncle arthur together #also nurse merlin is a necessity #i'm writing a halloween version that's not at all like the main story idea but it's cute and fun and fluff which i never write #remus talks

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eachpeachpearplume · 1 year

Link

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Merlin (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Gwaine/Merlin (Merlin), Gwen/Lancelot/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Gwaine (Merlin) Additional Tags: Fluff, Canon Era, Dancing, Love Confessions, it's just fluff, fluff is basically all it is, Love Languages Summary:

"Come on," Gwaine says, offering his hand to Merlin. "Dance with me."

A gift for @artstelle.

Thank you to @softmerlin for the beta!

#bbc merlin #my fic #merwaine #merlin/gwaine #merlin #gwaine #fluff #absolutely nothing but

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mobycotton · 10 months

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Chapter 12: Gwaine

An old friend returns with startling news.

…

He burst through the door to find Merlin sitting, alone, on the high countertop of the tavern. It was empty, without a single customer, just as Arthur predicted.

He smiled wide, two filled jugs of mead on the table beside him, but both were ignored when they locked eyes in the dimly-lit tavern. The only windows on the ground floor were small and almost always covered in the daytime to suit those waking from a delirious haze. They weren’t here today. They were alone.

“Did that really work?”

They listened for a moment. The music ended again and started anew, accompanied by another cheer and then the sound of feet hitting the ground as another dance lit up the air with noise and energy.

“It really worked,” responded Arthur, already halfway to the bar.

“Shouldn’t there be a lock on that door?”

“I thought you would be more familiar with the tavern,” Arthur joked, joining him at the bar, but he merely rested between his knees. “Seeing as you spent a suspicious amount of time here until last year.”

“Well, you know,” Merlin said through gritted teeth, “a year is a long time.”

“Yes, but old habits die hard, don’t they?”

“You’re one to talk about old habits. Can’t help yourself catching a spare moment with me away from the crowd?”

“Maybe I really did want a drink, did you ever think of that?”

“The drink is right there, but you haven’t even looked at it since you walked in.” Merlin narrowed his eyes. He was right again. His hypnotic presence in the dim room demanded any and all attention Arthur could spare. Not even the intoxicating smell in the air, or on the tables outside, were more enticing than that. “Something tells me the King has a different kind of addiction. You’re hooked on something else, aren’t you?” His voice was rich, sultry, and liquid smooth like the untouched drink beside him. “Or someone.”

“I can stop whenever I want,” said Arthur, matching his tone.

“Then why haven’t you?”

He realised the space between them. Or, rather, the lack of space. Having inched closer and closer with every phrase muttered until the distance between their lips was that of a few words.

“Why would I?”

With those final words he cleared the space, and lips closed around them the moment they escaped, locking them in. It was the truth, and it tasted sweet. He had tried to stop this addiction, many times before, but what did his last attempt bring?

A week of isolation and diving headfirst into older, worse habits.

In comparison, he thought, tasting again the honeyed feeling of being right where he needed to be, this wasn’t half as bad.

#merthur fic #merthur #merlin fanfic #merlin fic #merthur fanfic #ao3 fanfic #merthur wip #merthur fluff #Gwaine #arthur pendragon #Merlin #bbc Merlin #Gwen #morgana #morgana pendragon #merlin emrys #mobyswips

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allthehumanflaws · 7 days

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Chapter 7 (part 2)

"Merlin you old fool!" Arthur said as Percival laid him down in one of the houses. "What is my life compared to all of yours?" he said. Merlin knew he was gonna die. He was a powerful sorcerer, but the bolt was also forged of magic. It could easily kill him, but he had a few thing to say. Merlin used all the magic he had to keep awake. Gwaine and Arthur sat on either side of his bed while Gaius sat near the end of the bed.

"Gaius...when I'm gone...." "You are going nowhere!" Said Gaius even though he knew it wasn't possible. "Tell them....about Emrys. And all he has done."

"Merlin, please. Merlin you are not dying. You can't die! You have to stay with me, with us! Please, Merlin..." said Gwaine. No one had imagined the day Gwaine would but here he was, silently crying beside his dying friend.

"Why Sir Gwaine? Isn't George enough?" asked Merlin, a small smile forming at his lips. "He isn't our friend, you are." said Elyan. 'Oh yes? Is that the reason you all behaved so harshly? Is that the reason you all were treating him so rudely?" questioned Gaius. "It was supposed to make him mad just for a few days. Until today.." started Percival. "It's his birthday tomorrow. We just wanted to surprise him." said Leon.

Merlin let out a small laugh. He, himself had forgotten his birthday.

"Be the best knight in Camelot for me, Gwaine." he said and Gwaine nodded in response. "I will take care of Hunith, rest assured." said Gaius.

"I'll make sure these idiots don't get themselves killed." said Elyan tear streaming down his face as he smiled.

"Percival...take care of Gaius for me." said Merlin, trying not to wince. Percival clapped a hand on Merlin's shoulder and smiled at him.

Arthur wanted to say a lot and he would have if he was not crying so much. Merlin was his first friend. The only person who had never seen him as 'Prince Arthur' but as just 'Arthur Pendragon'. He wanted to tell Merlin that he was his most trusted and loyal friend but...he couldn't. He just couldn't. But Arthur just sat there watching his one true friend taking ragged breaths that would soon lead to his last. But when he turned to look at him, Merlin smiled. It seemed as if he knew. "Arthur....Guinevere" said Merlin and Arthur understood.

Merlin took one last look at all of them and smiled again. His magic was slipping and he breathed his last words... "When the hour of the greatest need is upon, Walk along the Lake of Avalon Call out for me and I shall be To try and be that friend indeed."

And as he did the room was filled with tiny balls of lights. Merlin's hand fell limp from Gwaine's. "Merlin? Merlin!?" exclaimed Gwaine, breaking down beside him. The clang of Elyan and Arthur's sword said it all. Gaius collapsed to the ground and Leon silently mourned.

"Happy Birthday..." whispered Percival. Even though Merlin wouldn't hear it now. He would never make a joke or give comical remarks. He would never come bustling in the room with that bright smile. He would never see the banquet they had prepared. He would never see the celebrations and the feast they had prepared.

He would never see them and they wouldn't see Merlin again...

#merlin #merlin tv #arthur #arthur pendragon #sir gwaine #sir elyan #sir percival #major character death #angst #sad #no fluff #sir leon #gaius #very very sad #death #just something i wrote

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azaleaniath · 1 year

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Dude idek, have some christmas fluff already :)

______________

Sir Percival x reader

includes: christmas, hugs, cuddles, lots of fluff, kissing, reader fucking hating christmas, Percival being the purest shit I've ever seen

word count: 4.3k (what am I doing with my life)

______________

"Bloody hell, how long is this going to take..." you mumbled to yourself as you pathed up and down the hallway in front of the conference room.

Your heart felt heavier every second you thought about how you were going to tell the queen about your request.

It felt like an entire day passed until the big wooden doors finally opened and everyone left. The servants, the council members, the knights.

You tried to sneak into the room without the knights even catching sight of you. It was only Gwen, the king and his manservant in the room. As you neared them, Gwen heard your footsteps. She turned to you with a loving smile, coming a few steps closer.

"(Y/N), you said you wanted to talk abou something earlier?"

Her voice was calm as always.

It was hard to look her in the eyes, so you just watched yourself fumble with your own hands in front of your stomach.

"I do... but can we talk in private? I don't want to..."

Gwen rested one hand on your shoulder, nodding slowly.

"Of course, I understand. Let's go to my chambers."

With that, she lead you out of the room and over to hers. As you passed the knights, you still faced the ground, not wanting them to notice you.

Yet you could practically feel a cold stare in your back as you carried on.

Soon you arrived in her room and you closed the door with a trembling hand. Gwen offered you a seat on the table which you gladly accepted. She sensed that there was something on your chest that seemed to be a burden to you.

"You may speak freely, I promise that whatever it is, it will not leave this room."

Only now you found the courage to look at her.

"Your highness, would it be possible for you to free me from my duties for the rest of the day and tomorrow? I don't feel that good."

She furrowed her eyebrows. A worried look lingered on her beautiful face.

"Do you need anything? Should I get Gaius?"

Quickly you shook your head.

"No, I'm fine, physically. I just need to be alone, if that's okay."

Now, she understood.

"Is it the same thing as last year?"

You nodded slowly, looking out of the window.

Tomorrow was christmas.

You hated cristmas.

It reminded you of not having any family members left anymore.

"I understand. If you want to be on your own, I respect your choice. And if you need anything, please let me know."

With a slight smile you leaned down and got up to leave.

"Thank you for your generosity, my lady. I appreciate it."

And with that, you left her room, making your way over to your own one.

As you walked through the castle, you suddenly ran into a familiar face.

It was Percival who stood right in front of you, your expression worried him a bit.

"(Y/N), are you alright?"

You looked up to his blue eyes and forced a smile. He noticed right away.

"Yeah, sure..."

Percival knew that, like this, the conversation would go nowhere. At least nowhere pleasant for you, and he tried to avoid that.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?"

You continued to force a happy expression, even at his words.

"Tomorrow's a big day. I'm sure the christmas festival will be wonderful."

"You're probably wearing your best dress, aren't you?"

"Are you saying I have ugly ones?"

Percival huffed, then mustered you for a moment.

"... Are you dodging my questions for a reason? Should I stop interfering or do you want to talk?"

Like a switch, your faked happy facade broke down to your sad expression again.

"I don't want to talk about it. But thank you for offering, Percival. You're truly a blessing."

He smiled down at you, respecting the fact that you did not want to share your burden. Yet he still wanted to cheer you up.

"Would you like a hug?"

This made you blush immediately and your expression switched once more so you ended up with a weak smile on your reddened face.

A nod was more than enough to have him open his arms, taking you in gently. You leant your body against his. It felt good. On the other hand, when did it ever feel bad to hug him?

Carefully as he could he pressed you against his chest and rested his head on top of yours.

You felt your heart starting to race. If there was one person that would always be successful in cheering you up, it was him. He gave you so much love and warmth, much more than anyone else. This man had a special place in your heart even if you did not dare to tell him that he was in fact the man you adored.

After some time had passed he gently let go of you, only to pick you up onto his strong arms like you did not even weight a pound. A loud giggle and a squeal escaped your lips as he did, with a big smile.

"See this as an... Extended hug. Where were you heading to?"

Both your arms were holding onto his neck to secure yourself.

"Hey, I can walk on my own!" you laughed, but he resisted.

"I know you can, but let me at least bring you to wherever you need to be before I leave you to your thoughts."

After a few seconds you gave in giggling, navigating him to your room.

On the way, he tried to keep that smile on your face. He hated to see you so sad.

"It's actually quite pleasant to carry you. Do you think I can borrow you during training?"

"As weight?"

"Uhuh, that would make my workout a hundred times more pleasant."

You playfully piched his upper arm, asking him "are you saying I'm heavy?"

He chuckled while shaking his head.

"Of course not. I'm just saying that I like having you close to me."

With closed eyes you nuzzled your face against his neck and inhaled his scent. He smelled of sweat and iron, but you did not mind. Somehow, it even seemed to calm you down.

Soon you arrived at your room and he gently let you down again. Once more he pulled you into a soft hug before reaching out for your hand, placing a soft kiss upon your knuckles.

"My lady, in case you ever need a ride somewhere, just call out for me and I'll be there."

Again you couldn't suppress a giggle and blushed. His gentle, lovely smile filled your heart with joy.

"I will, Sir Percival. Thank you, for everything."

He bowed, then let go of you finally. The smile he had magically brought to your face lasted for a good while, until you layed down on your bed, sinking into the pile of pillows.

~~~~~

Later that day, you heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

As you looked to the door, you saw a hand reaching in a plate with grapes, bread, cheese, some chicken, lettuce and berries. Soon followed a head peeking through the door.

It was none other than the knight that had carried you to your room; Percival.

You smiled gently, getting up from your bed and fixing your hair quickly.

In the meantime, the man entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Afterwards he set down the plate at the table.

"I noticed you weren't present during dinner, so I thought I'd bring you some."

A certain redness flushed your cheeks, making them glow bright red.

"Oh, Percival, you're too kind and attentive. Thank you, but I don't really feel like eating right now..."

He furrowed his eyebrows and you both sat down at the table. There was a hint of worry in his expression.

"You already refused to eat lunch and you only had a few snacks during breakfast. I'm not leaving until you eat something."

"Then get comfortable, that could take some time."

He raised his eyebrows and his hands, closing his eyes for a short moment.

"That's fine with me, I'll stay the entire night if it means you'll eat something."

This answer, you did not expect.

For a while, you looked back to the plate and his face. He seemed to be serious about this.

The way he watched you closely made you reconsider and give in eventually.

"Alright, alright..."

And with that, you began to eat. Instantly, the knight seemed happier and satisfied.

"So...", he started, "You also weren't there when we decorated the main hall. I could've used your help with some things."

"For example?" you asked while picking up a few grapes.

"Holding Gwaine back from hanging mistletoes on every single door frame."

The image in your head of Sir Gwaine trying to put mistletoes everywhere and Leon and Percival running after him, taking them all of in annoyment surely amused you.

"What was I supposed to do about this?"

"I don't know, lunge yourself at him and keep him down or something."

Both of you laughed for a moment, until he added something more to that.

"Just your presence would've been wonderful. The guys asked why you weren't there with us. We would've loved to have you around."

You finished your meal and sank your head slowly. Would he understand your choice if you would explain to him?

For a moment you sat there in silence before breaking it with your unsteady voice.

"To be honest, I don't celebrate christmas. People always celebrate this day with their families, and as you know, I... don't have anyone left."

His blue eyes watched you carefully before he spoke again.

"(Y/N), I honestly understand your choice and your feelings. This is also the first year I celebrate christmas again since my familiy died. But this year, I'm spending it with my friends. They are my new family."

You looked into his eyes, closely listening to his words. Only now you realized that you had never thought about that before.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine too. You also don't need to celebrate it, but the thought of you sitting here all alone when we're all together, partying, that doesn't feel right. I would love to have you around tomorrow."

Soon you got up, walking towards the window, taling a look outside while you drowned in your thoughts for some time.

A gentle hand on your waist ripped you from your daydreaming. The knight stood right behind you, capturing you in a soft embrace. He rested his head on top of yours while holding you so close to him.

With closed eyes and a smile on your lips you enjoyed his company and his touch through and through.

After a while, you turned around in his embrace. "I think I could use another hug..."

"I'll give you as many as you need."

Both your arms found their way around his torso before you leant your head against his chest. It felt like your heart was going to explode.

Some time passed as you and Percival just hugged each other and enjoyed having each other so close.

"(Y/N)?" his voice broke the silence.

"Hmm?"

You felt him swallowing before his lips parted again.

"I know I cannot replace your family, nobody can. But would you still give it a try to join us for christmas? I'll do anything to see that lovely smile on your beautiful face tomorrow. Or else I'll stay here in your room with you all day."

Only now you lifted your head to meet his gaze.

"You can't be serious, Percival..."

"Of course I am. I don't want you to be here all alone. Also, I know that the knights have some gifts for you too. I'm sure they would love to give them to you."

You huffed at the thought.

"So they really thought about me too?"

Since you were Gwen's personal servant, you also spent a lot of time with the knights. As a matter of fact, you had organized a present for each of them as well, as much as you hated christmas.

"Surely! They've been pestering me with questions about you since early october."

Since it was getting awkward to hold him so close and looking into his eyes you rested your head against his chest again.

Deeply inhaling, you nuzzled your face into the fabric of his vest.

"But only for an hour..."

"2 hours. Excluding dinner." he protested.

"You know what? I'll stay until Gwaine's getting drunk."

Percival huffed, pulling you closer. "Then I'll leave with you, believe me."

~~~~~

The next day you woke up, you rolled out of bed slowly and got yourself ready. Only when you were done you noticed a small note and a christmas rose on your table.

You reached out to both of them, inhaling the scent from the flower and reading the letter.

You felt your heart pounding in your chest as your eyes flew over the paper.

'To the most wonderful lady in Camelot

Dear Lady (Y/N),

I am truly beyond happy you're joining us for today's event. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and your time. I can't wait to see you tonight.

P. S. : You look adorable when you sleep. '

Only now you recalled that Percival had stayed with you until you had falled asleep. With rosy cheeks you stuck the letter to the frame of your mirror, then decided to braid the flower into your hair.

The thought of him didn't leave your mind for one second.

~~~~~

Before the evening, you had already talked to Gwen. She was more than willing to let you join the festivities nonetheless of what you had talked about the day before.

You had a lovely time eating dinner with all the guests, as suddenly, you saw Arthur tapping his goblet with his knife. All eyes landed on the king as he got up, clearing his throat.

"My dear friends", he started, "It's an honor to me to be able to spend this evening with every one of you. My dear wife Guineviere and I are sitting here today, proud to have you all around. Yet, I'd like to pass this speech on to someone who certainly will find the right words to express this even better."

You looked over to Percival who sat right next to you. He quickly smiled at you and got up as soon as Arthur had taken his seat again.

"As for some others, this is my first christmas here in Camelot and I could not wish for a better place to be right now. Tonight we celebrate the company of our dearest friends. We celebrate tonight as a family. As brothers and sisters, not bound by blood, but by something even stronger. As in battle, tonight no one's getting left out or behind. This might not be what you're used to, but I'm thankful for everyone of your who's joining us now. Let's enjoy the time we share."

He reached out to his goblet, reaching it out in fromt of him. Everyone else in the room, including you, joined in and raised their goblets as well.

"To everyone of us, and to a wonderful christmas evening in Camelot."

With that, everyone drank together, celebrating the company of each other. Once Percival sat back down, you gently pushed your elbow into his side.

"My my, I didn't know you were that good with holding speeches~"

He turned his full attention to you, watching your beaming smile in awe for some time before he spoke.

"I had to make it special since you're joining us."

You giggled, then took another sip of wine and got up. "I loved it" were the last words you whispered to him before you grabbed a few gifts that you had placed next to the wall behind you, then you walked over to the other knights.

"My knights in shining armor~" you chanted as you leant over the table between Leon and Gwaine.

"oh hello there pretty lady~" the brown haired man answered, and they all got up from their chairs.

"It's good to see you here, (Y/N)." Elyan chimed in, and you greeted them all with a short hug.

"How's your evening so far? Everything going fine?" Lancelot asked with his genuine smile.

You gave him a smile back and nodded. Leon pulled you to the side quickly and asked you if this was really fine for you. He knew how much you disliked this festival.

"To be honest, until yesterday evening, I did not intent to join."

"What changed your mind?" he asked, but he already knew the answer.

"A certain someone showing up to my room and threatening to cuddle me to death."

Leon laughed and turned you back to the others after quickly glancing over to Percival.

"You mean a lot to him, he's been madly in love with you for months." he whispered to your ear, making you blush a bit.

"That goes both ways." you answered quietly before giving your attention to the entire group of men, handing everyone their gifts.

You watched them unpack in silence. They were all stunned by their gifts and thanked you right after. Now that they had opened their presents, you recieved some gifts from them as well.

"This one's from Elyan, Leon and me." Lancelot explained and handed you a big wrapped bundle. Your eyes shot wide open at the gift, it was stunning velvet dress in your favourite color.

"You'll look stunning in that." Percival's voice suddenly emerged from behind you as you held the dress against your body.

Quickly your head turned back with a big smile.

"This is..."

"The wrong color? Wrong cut?" Elyan asked with an uncertain facial expression.

"Perfect! Beyond perfect!"

The boys exhaled in relief, as you thanked them. Next up was Gwaine.

You quickly unpacked his present as well; it was a new mead horn with impressive carvings on it's upper half.

"Did you do this yourself?!" you asked rather shocked. Gwaine proudly nodded and earned a tight hug in return.

"Hey Percival, have you given her your present yet?" Lancelot asked the tall knight, but he just shook his head.

"Save the best for last, huh?" you asked jokingly and leaned against Percival.

The knights laughed with you, then you looked at the dress and the mead horn again. "I did not expect this, really."

"We wanted to make this day special for you. You're supposed to remember this day with a smile on your face."

Leon answered, getting a hold of his goblet.

"Let's drink to that."

"By the way", you chimed in, "Gwaine, how much wine did you have by now?"

The man sighed and placed a hand on your shoulder, quickly glancing over to Percival.

"Not much. I wasn't allowed to get drunk before we exchange gifts."

~~~~~~

It was already late that evening when you were about to leave the party. You still hadn't exchanged gifts with Percival yet since you wanted this to be something between just you and him.

A yawn escaped your lips. The tall knight next to you placed one arm around you and asked you if you were ready to head off. As an answer, you only pointed at Gwaine, who was pretty much only able to stand since Merlin supported him.

He grinned at the sight and decided to call it a day. Both of you collected your things, said goodnight and headed to your room.

The man closed the door behind him and sat down on the edge of your bed.

"As tired as I am, I still want to try this on. Would you help me?" you asked, holding the new dress in your hands.

"Of couse." He answered, so you turned your back to him and held your hair up with one arm.

He helped you to loosen your current dress before you disappeared behind the screen in your room, changing into the new dress.

"How is this?" you asked, once you were done. With slow steps you came back to him. It seemed like he couldn't take his eyes off you anymore. The color suited your eyes so perfectly, the fabric hugged your body like this dress was made for you.

"I didn't know the guys had such a good taste in fashion."

"Neither did I, you look..."

"... Yes?"

"I'm sorry, I was just... mesmerized by the sight. You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress. I mean, you also do without it. I-I mean- not like this- no, like-"

You laughed as you saw him struggling with his words.

"I actually had the impression you're good with speeches."

Soon your feet brought you closer to him and you hugged him tight.

"I was going to say that you're looking gorgeous in that dress, like you do in every dress. But this one suits you especially. I didn't mean to say-"

"Hey, it's all good. Don't worry about it."

His eyes had found yours in shame. God, how could he ever forget this.

"But before you tie a knot into your tongue, I'd like to give you your gift."

As you let go of him for a moment, you reached out to the last present you had left.

"I hope you like it. If you don't, then just give it back to me."

"(Y/N)", he started to unpack, "I would never give that away whatever it might be."

He fished the gift out of the wrapping paper and stared at it for a good while.

His expression was completely blank.

"It was a stupid idea, I'm sorry..." you mumbled, trying to take his gift away in shame, but he turned away quickly.

"... You knitted that pullover yourself?" he asked calmly.

"I did, yes. I thought, if you run around without sleeves all the time you might... catch a cold..."

For some more time he stared at the pullover blankly.

"If you really want to keep it-"

"Of course I do! I love it!"

Only now, his expression changed into a wide smile.

It felt like a stone fell off your chest as he said he liked it.

"I hope it fits. I've had Gwaine try it on. It was a bit large on him."

"Gwaine?"

"Yeah. It was a bit loose... over his shirt... and his armor..."

Percival turned towards you and laughed at the thought, so did you.

"It looked very funny, believe me."

The knight quickly took off his vest and switched into his new pullover. As he looked down on himself, his smile got even wider.

"Does it fit?"

"Perfectly. You're such a sweetheart, (Y/N)." He caught you in a gentle embrace again and you cuddled yourself into the hug. The pullover was incredibly soft, which made the hug more pleasant than usual since there was no cold metal against your skin anymore.

For a good while he kept you close like this before he let go, just to hand his present to you as well.

He gave you a silk sachet. After you looked inside, you reached in to get your gift out. It was a leather band with a pendant out of soapstone. It was shaped like the head of a fox.

"And I guess you made that yourself as well?" You asked in awe, seeing the polished pendant reflect the light of the candles in your room.

"Surely. Everytime I'm hunting with the others, and I see a fox, I think of you. These creatures are extremely clever, atonishing beautiful, and a sign of good luck. Any I think", you handed him the necklace while he talked so he could put it around your neck, "I'm very lucky to have a wonderful woman like you in my life. May this pendant always bring luck to you too."

Once Percival was done you turned around to him, looking down at the pendant one more.

"I'm loving it already. How do I ever thank you?"

The man glanced at the pendant, then his eyes locked with yours.

"You're spending your time with me. That's more I could ever ask for."

Your heart was beating hard and fast at the sight of his satisfied smile.

"Today was truly a magical day. I've loved every minute."

Percival gently cupped your cheeks. As you looked up to him, you noticed something over his head. You figured out that it was a mistletoe, hanging from the ceiling.

Once he saw that you noticed, he pulled you even closer.

"(Y/N), do you believe in these traditions?"

While biting down on your own lip slightly you watched his ones, then glanced up at his blue eyes again. Since he was so tall you had to stand on your toes to get even a bit closer to his face.

"This pendant ought to bring me luck, so... what could go wrong?" Both your arms found their way around his neck to support yourself.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered while leaning in even closer, brushing his nose against yours. With half lidded eyes you nodded slowly, which lead Percival to hug your waist tight and lift you off the ground.

It didn't take long until his lips crashed onto yours, passion flowing through your entire body like waves of electricity.

His lips were soft and warm, they felt so wonderful on your own ones. The knight had closed his eyes as well, enjoying this moment just as much as you before he let go of you again.

"Did you place that there?" you asked with a slight grin, to wich he nodded with the same expression.

"I hoped you would notice."

"And I hoped you'd finally make the first step."

Percival leaned down to you, placing a chaste kiss on your lips. "I did. But therefore you have to cuddle with me all night long."

As an answer, you just turned your back towards him and held your hair up again.

"Then let me get into my nightdress and get comfortable on my bed. I'll be with you in a second."

#bbc merlin #merlin #knights of the round table #sir leon #merlin fanfic #merlin bbc #merlin oneshot #sir gwaine #sir percival #Sir percival x reader #sir elyan #sir lancelot #christmas fluff

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haveanotherfandomblog · 1 year

Text

Fate of Destiny

The Dragon’s Call

Pairing: Arthur Pendragon x Fem!Merlin

Genre: Adventure, Angst, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Fluff, Genderbending!AU

Word Count: 10.4K

Warnings: Mild Language

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The sun shone across the countryside as she traveled through the endless fields, nothing but the few belongings she was lucky to possess strapped to her back. Her past was behind her, her future laid before her, and as she crossed the final hill, watching as the turrets came into view, she paused to stare at the castle. Huge as it seemed, strong and sturdy as it appeared, it was its striking beauty against the blue sky that gave her pause.

Taking a deep breath, Merlyn continued on. She marched her way to the front gates of the main city. Lively was the only word that Merlyn could use to perfectly describe the lower town of Camelot. Stands full of books and herbs and jewelry lined most of the street. Children ran and laughed through the road, chasing each other as adults went about their chores. Everything drew her attention at once. Eager as she was to explore the town, she had something important to do first.

Further she walked until she came upon the front gates of the castle. Its size from before paled in comparison to standing directly in front of it. The towers seemed to stretch towards the heavens as birds circled around them. Guards, servants, and courtiers mingled about. Taking one final deep breath, Merlyn hoisted the skirt of her green dress and continued on to the main gate.

Loud horns sounded as a crowd began forming in the center of the square. Curious, Merlyn picked up her pace. On a large platform was a man on his knees, tired and ragged. He stared out into the crowd, resigned to his fate as an executioner, dressed in black and his face hidden to protect his identity, stood by with an axe as tall as him.

Up on a balcony stood a man that could only be the king of Camelot. His gilded crown rested upon his head. Powerful and commanding, he gazed down at the poor man. Draped in the color of his kingdom, he turned his attention away from the man and towards the crowd.

“Let this serve as a lesson to all,” he said, his voice booming over the crowd. Everyone fell silent, leaning back slightly from the King’s balcony. “This man,” he continued, pointing down, “Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death.”

Merlyn clutched the strap of her bag with one hand, using the other to fiddle with the hem of her sleeve around her wrist. She bent her head, keeping her eyes on the ground.

“I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass.” He nodded his head, and the executioner began moving, pushing Thomas Collins head down on the wooden block.

Merlyn’s breath quickened as she turned her head away from the sight to avoid accidentally looking up. Her eyes traveled up one of the walls to see a girl, close to her age, peeking out one of the windows. Sorrow covered her face as she, too, turned her head away from the horrific and grisly sight. The drums and horns continued playing before a loud gasp overtook the crowd. The deed was done.

“When I came to this land,” Uther continued, “this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm.” His demeanor shifted to a cheerier one as he looked over the crowd. The executioner was shoving Thomas Collins' body off the platform. Merlyn swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. “So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin.”

He had yet to fully turn around and the crowd had barely parted before a loud wailing captured everyone’s attention once more. An old and haggard woman cried as she reached towards the dead man. The crowd moved away, giving him a clear view of her.

“There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you!” she cried. “With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son!” Merlyn’s hands flew to her mouth. Her heart beat in sympathy for the poor old woman. To have watched such a cruel fate for someone she loved so dear-- it must have been worse than death itself. “And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son.”

Her words struck a cord deep within Uther Pendragon. His face turned red as his fists clenched at his side and his nostrils flared. He took a menacing step forward, raising a finger at her.

“Seize her!” Try as they might have, it was no use. She clutched something around her neck and chanted a spell. The guards were almost upon her when she disappeared in a whirl of smoke and wind, leaving nothing but her haunting words as proof she was ever even there.

Frazzled and unsettled, the crowd quickly dispersed, muttering to each other. Merlyn looked towards the window, but the girl was gone. She gripped the straps of her bag a little tighter, letting out a shaky breath as she made her way towards a side entrance of the castle. She stopped by two guards, asking for directions to the court physician’s chambers. One pointed the way and she continued on.

She climbed the stone stairs, green skirt balled in her hand as she followed the directional boards pointing her to her desired location. Once she reached the chamber door, she gave a quick knock before giving it a slight push and calling out.

There wasn’t a response so she stepped in further, looking around. Books and papers covered almost every surface imaginable. Herbs and bottles full of colorful liquids sat over fires and in jars littered about.

“Hello? Gaius?” she called. Still, she was met with silence. Stepping further into the room, she found whom she assumed was the man she was looking for above her, searching a bookshelf. He had white hair that brushed his shoulders as he flipped through a particular book. She cleared her throat to gather his attention. He jerked around and lost his balance, breaking the railing behind him and falling backwards.

Panicked, Merlyn watched as time seemed to slow around her. The familiar warmth of her magic spread through her, her eyes turning to a glowing shade of gold as she searched around the room. A bed tucked away in a corner caught her eye, and she willed it to move itself beneath the man as he continued falling in slow motion.

Once the bed was securely under him, the warm feeling left her and time sped up once more. The man fell onto the bed, letting out a loud yell. Merlyn released the breath she’d been holding as the man looked around confused.

“I--What did you just do?” he asked, pulling himself from the bed. Her mouth ran dry as she took a couple steps back. Words failed her as he stared at her expectantly. The court physician, Gaius, was a shorter man with a slightly uneven face. She stared down at him with her mouth gaping. “Tell me!”

“I-- I-- I have no idea what happened,” she stuttered out.

“If anyone had seen that--”

“Er, no! That-- that was, that was nothing to do with me. That-- that was--” Once again, words failed her as she stared hopelessly at him.

“I know what it was! I just want to know where you learned how to do it!” he said. She shook her head, shrugging her shoulders and stuttering out more incoherent responses. “So how is it you know magic?”

“I don't.” She took slow and careful steps backwards.

“Where did you study?” He ignored her responses, waiting to hear what he wanted. “Answer me!”

“I-- I've never studied magic or, or been taught.”

“Are you lying to me, girl?”

“What do you want me to say?” Merlyn cried, exasperated.

“The truth!”

“I was born like this!”

“That's impossible!” Gaius shouted. Merlyn shook her head, looking down at the floor. There was a brief pause between them. “Who are you?” he finally asked. She slipped off her bag, pulling out a letter and handing it to him. “I-- I don’t have my glasses.”

“I’m Merlyn.”

“Hunith’s daughter?” He seemed shocked by her answer. She nodded, scuffing her shoe against the floor. “But you’re not meant to be here till Wednesday.” She scrunched her face slightly, tilting her head.

“It is Wednesday.”

“Ah. Right then.” He nodded his head. “You better put your bag in there.” He pointed to the door behind him. She nodded her head, holding her bag close as she stepped past him. She paused at the door, turning to look at him.

“You-- you won't say anything about, erm…” She nodded her head towards the bed and the debris from his fall.

“No.” He followed her gaze before looking back. “Although Merlyn, I should say, ‘thank you.’” He gave her a small smile. She bowed her head before continuing into her new room.

She closed the door behind her, letting her bag drop to the floor. She rested her forehead against the door, letting out a sigh. Night had almost completely fallen when she took a peek out the window. The flames from candles illuminated the windows of the lower town and she let out a small gasp. The city looked magical from this angle. Looking back at her new room, she found it to be luxurious compared to her room at home.

Home. She missed it already, especially her mother. She hadn’t wanted to leave, but her mother insisted, saying Camelot would provide her with better opportunities and would be a safer place for her. Maybe her mother was right, but after what happened in the square, she questioned her mother’s jugement. She was at a greater risk here than she was back home. At least in Ealdor, they weren’t under Uther’s reign.

She let out a yawn, the toll of her journey finally catching up to her. She pushed herself from the window, slipping into her nightgown and turning in for an early night.

Outside of her room, Gaius sat by his own bed, his glasses hanging on the tip of his nose. Hunith’s letter in his hand.

My dear Gaius,

I turn to you for I feel lost and alone and don't know who to trust. It is every mother's fate to think her child is special, and yet I would give my life that Merlyn were not so. Ours is a small village and she is so clearly at odds with people here that, if she were to remain, I fear what would become of her. She needs a hand to hold, a voice to guide, someone that might help her find a purpose for her gifts. I beg you, if you understand a mother's love for her daughter, keep her safe, and may God save you both.

Love,

Hunith

Gaius set the letter down and removed his glasses. He turned his head towards Merlyn’s room. So much potential for a pupil untaught. So much trouble for a girl so young. So many burdens on a child. He folded the letter back up, pondering his future, along with Merlyn’s.

***

In another part of the castle, the Lady Morgana, the girl whom Merlyn had seen, stared out another window. The execution block was still the main square. Hard as they tried to clean it, she could still make out the blood stains in the grooves of the wood. The ax falling and the woman’s screams echoed in her mind as someone called out to her.

Uther Pendragon, her guardian, was walking towards her. His cape billowed behind him as he approached her. He seemed troubled and greatly disappointed. She said nothing and turned her head back towards the window.

“What is this? Why are you not joining us at the feast?” he inquired. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sneer as they came face to face.

“I just don’t think chopping off someone’s head is cause for celebration,” she spat. She turned to look back out the window, her face softening. “That poor mother.”

“It was simple justice for what he’d done,” he said, dismissing her words. She turned to look back at him, her brows furrowed.

“To whom? He practiced some magic, he didn't hurt anyone.”

“You were not around twenty years ago, you have no idea what it was like,” Uther told her. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

“How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then?”

“Until they realize there is no room for magic in my kingdom! You will be with me when I greet Lady Helen.” He turned away from her, heading back towards the feast as courtiers cheered and laughed with one another.

“I told you! I want no part in these celebrations!” she called after him. She wished he didn’t dismiss her so readily. He whirled back around, moving to look down upon her. She took a half step back, her hand coming into contact with the wall.

“I am your guardian!” he shouted. He looked back to the celebration before lowering his voice. “I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect, at least respect our finest singer.” He said nothing more to her before marching away.

“You know, the more brutal you are, the more enemies you will create!” she called after him, watching as he disappeared back into the pantry. She let out a scoff, turning to look back out to the main square. Justice indeed.

***

A voice calling to her woke Merlyn up the next morning. She could have sworn there was somebody in the room. The voice had been floating around in her head. Yet as she looked around, she found nobody. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms above her head as sunlight filtered through the window. She let out a deep sigh as she slid out of the bed.

She rummaged through her bag until she found her mauve dress. It had an over skirt that was a slightly darker shade of the mauve with vertical stripes. She carefully laced her corset before securing it to fit her snug. She pinned the front few locks of her hair back away from her face.

She opened her bedroom door to where Gaius was up and about, standing over a pot of what she hoped was breakfast. She hadn’t eaten anything since her journey yesterday and she was positive her stomach was beginning to collapse on itself.

“I got you water. You didn’t wash last night,” Gaius said, motioning to the bucket teetering dangerously close to the edge of the table. She mumbled her apologies, nudging the bucket away from the edge. “Help yourself to some breakfast.” He placed a bowl of porridge in front of her and she wasted no time diving in.

The porridge was simultaneously watery and unnecessarily thick, but she knew beggars couldn’t be choosers. She’d barely made a dent in the bowl, however, before he had intentionally knocked over the bucket of water.

She jumped to feet without a thought, reaching for the bucket as the same warmth from yesterday began flowing through her. Her eyes took on their golden hue, and the bucket stopped mid-air. He let out a gasp and turned to gawk at her. As quick as it came, the warm feeling left her and the bucket fell to the ground, spilling the water everywhere. She jumped back, switching between gawking at him and the water as he continuously gasped.

“How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?” he asked.

“I don’t know any spells.” She looked around for something to clean the water up with, taking a couple steps back.

“So what did you do? There must be something.” His eyes practically begged her for an answer she couldn’t give. She turned her head away, moving to grab a nearby mop.

“It just happens.” She began soaking up the water, keeping her head bent as he moved around her.

“Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here.” He placed a small sack and a vile full of bright, yellow liquid on the table. “Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once.”

“Okay.” She nodded her head, mopping up the rest of the water.

“And here.” He handed her a plate with a sandwich on it. She offered him a smile, trading the mop for the plate. He returned her smile with a small one, jerking his head towards the door. “Off you go.” She was almost to the door when he called out for her once more. “And Merlyn, I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed.” She nodded her head before leaving to complete her first tasks.

With only two tasks for the day, Merlyn saw no harm in taking her time to complete them. After all, it was her first time in Camelot, let alone the castle. Who could blame her for taking longer than usual?

She shoved her food into her mouth as she made her way into the square. The execution block was gone and servants and courtiers alike mingled about in the main square, the unpleasantness of yesterday far from their minds.

Her search for Sir Olwin was a short one thanks to the helpful and slightly flirtatious guards. His family crest, which depicted an eagle on a yellow background, hung just outside his door. She gave the door a quick rap.

An old man, presumably Sir Olwin, answered the door. He was bald at the top of his head, and she wondered briefly if it hurt for him to squint so hard to see. Nonetheless, she gave him a big smile.

“I brought you your medicine,” she told him, holding the vile out for him. He stuck his hand out, a gummy smile on his face. She brought her mouth into a thin line, grabbing his wrist and placing the vile in his hand. He popped the cork off and immediately went to do the very thing Gaius did not want him to do. She placed her hand over the top, stopping him from chugging it. “Gaius said not to take it all at once.”

He nodded his head and only took a small sip. She let out a satisfied smile before wandering off to enjoy the rest of her day.

She decided to venture outside the castle, to see what else the castle had to offer. Servants mingled about as she crossed a drawbridge that led to an open field where several strapping young men were standing.

Merlyn noticed a particular group staring at a servant boy, elbowing each other and laughing as they stared at the boy. A blonde male stepped to the front, looking down at the boy.

She took notice to one particular group staring at a serving boy, elbowing each other and laughing as one of their friends talked to him. His blonde hair looked like the sun and his jaw was square and firm. Not even the metal plating could hide the tense muscles of his arms. Yes, Merlyn found him quite attractive. Objectively speaking.

“Where’s the target?” All attractive features left her mind as the most pompous tone of voice, she’d ever heard mind you, had left the man’s mouth. His friends laughed as if he’d said the funniest thing in the world. She slowed her pace, listening and watching carefully.

“There, Sir?” the boy said. She couldn’t see much of him, seeing as his back was turned to her, but she could see his shaggy brown hair and that he was holding a rather large shield piled with knightly things.

“It's into the sun.” The blonde gestured to it, looking at him expectantly. His friends were still laughing.

“But, it's not that bright.” The boy looked up to the sky.

“A bit like you, then?” the man said. He and his friends, looking to one another with obnoxious smirks. Merlyn rolled her eyes. It appeared it didn’t matter where you lived, there was one universal fact of the world, boys had no sense of humor.

“I’ll put the target on the other end, shall I, Sir?” There was a clear sound of annoyance in his voice that let her know this was not the first time he’d been through something like this. She gave kudos to him for sticking it out.

The blonde went back to his friends as the servant went to move the target towards the wall, making sure it wasn’t facing the sun. His friends were nudging him and muttering things she couldn’t quite hear. As they continued to laugh and point, she narrowed her eyes.

“Hey! Hang on!”

The blonde had thrown a dagger into the target, hitting it almost center. He opened his arms, looking at the servant expectantly. “Don't stop!” the man said, laughing.

“Here?” he asked. The boy took a few more steps.

“I told you to keep moving!” He threw another dagger. The servant barely had time to lift it up before the dagger landed in the center perfectly. He let the target fall so he could see where it had landed, terror on his face. “Come on! Run!” The boy began shuffling his feet, running back and forth and hoping the blonde didn’t feel like “accidentally” missing. The blonde, and his friends, were amused, laughing as the poor boy tried, and failed, to carry the large target. “We want moving target practice!”

To his credit, the blonde had very good aim, but that was still no way to treat someone, and Merlyn felt her blood boiling over watching such blatant disrespect. Eventually the servant tripped over his feet, the target rolling from his grasp and landing at her feet.

When it came to a stop at her feet, she lifted her skirt from the ground, placing her foot on it as the boy almost crawled to get it. He looked up at her in awe and shock. She offered him a small smile, offering her hand to help him up. He took it graciously, mouth still hanging open as he stepped away from her.

I think that’s quite enough,” she said, stepping off the target.

“What?” The man’s tone was sharp as he turned to look at her, equally as shocked to see a girl standing there with his servant.

“I think you’ve had your fun, my friend.” She tried to keep her voice light and airy, not trying to cause too big of waves on her first day. But to hell if she was going to let someone be treated like dirt for sport.

“Do I know you?” he asked, approaching her and leaving his friends to stand back.

“I'm Merlyn,” she said, offering her hand.

“So I don't know you.” He turned his face away, looking off towards the distance.

“No.” She let her hand drop.

“Yet you called me ‘friend’.” The man didn’t let her say more before he was talking over her, looking down his nose and staring into the bright blue eyes of this random girl he knew he’d never seen before.

“That was my mistake.” She gave a soft and resigned sigh.

“Yes, I think so.” And there he went with his obnoxious, self-absorbed tone.

She would have been perfectly content on biting her tongue and excusing herself. She would have let his snobbery at her and his disregard for his servants go had he just let her finish speaking. But in that moment, she just wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

“Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass.” The man was certainly shocked to hear such language from a girl. She found herself satisfied enough to leave him speechless and began walking away. He did not share those sentiments.

“Or I one who could be so stupid.” he called after her. She stopped in her tracks, biting her tongue. “Tell me, Mer-lyn, do you know how to walk on your knees?” He approached her as she turned her head over her shoulder, an unreadable expression on her face.

“No.”

“Would you like me to help you?” There was a devilish look behind his boyish smile, and it made her skin crawl.

“I wouldn't if I were you,” she warned. She turned back around to fully face him as he made his way towards her.

“Why? What are you going to do to me?”

“You have no idea.”

The man laughed, genuinely laughed, in her face. She’d met her fair share of men who thought themselves above everyone, women especially, but there was something about this particular prat that set her anger ablaze.

“Be my guest!” he taunted. He opened his arms, taking a step back. He was looking around, and that was when she noticed the other servants had stopped their chores to watch their exchange. “Come on! Come on! Come oooooon.” He leant forward slightly, giving her a stupid wide-eyed grin.

His taunts made something inside her snap, and against her better judgement, she took a swing. He easily dodged it, grabbing her wrist and twirling her around before he pulled her flush against his chest, holding her hand above their heads. She let out a huff, glaring into those stupid clear blue eyes, thinking he was so great because he missed a punch from a girl.

“I could have you thrown in jail for that.”

“What, who do you think you are? The King?” She let out a scoff, rolling her eyes. She struggled against his grip, using her free hand to try and push him away. He grabbed her other wrist and spun her around with ease, locking her arms behind her. He bent his head down, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear.

“No. I'm his son, Arthur.” He nodded towards two guards who came and grabbed her, dragging her from him. He watched as she went with them peacefully, noting them being a lot gentler than they normally would. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about the daring stranger, but he found no reason to dwell on someone so insignificant to him.

The guards led Merlyn down to the dungeons. They led her inside a cell and locked her in. She sank to the floor, sitting on the hay as the guards left her alone with nothing more than the distant light from the torches. She let out a deep sigh, resting her head in her hand. Gaius was going to be furious with her.

She brought her knees to her chin. It wasn’t too cold in the dungeon, but she knew she’d miss her room and bed come nightfall. Of course the first person she fought with was the prince of Camelot. She let out another deep sigh. She was in for a long night.

***

In the throne room, Lady Morgana stood patiently as she, Uther, and some other courtiers waited for the arrival of Lady Helen. Her maid, a young and beautiful girl named Guinevere, quickly made her way to her side. Her brown curls sat in a knot behind her head, and there was a playful glint in her eyes as she leant forward slightly.

“My Lady, I have something to tell you,” she whispered. Morgana turned her head slightly, eager to hear what she had to say. Gwen relayd what she had witnessed earlier that day: the fight between Arthur and the beautiful stranger with dark hair and pale skin. Morgana did her best to keep her face neutral, but she couldn’t prevent the quirk of her mouth or how her face brightened.

She hadn’t a chance for a clever response before the doors were opened and a beautiful woman in a purple gown came through, her heels echoing throughout the room with each step against the floor. She gave Uther a coy smile.

“Lady Helen. Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations,” he said. He stood from his chair, stepping down from his dais to greet her.

“The pleasure's all mine,” she told him. She gave him a brief curtsey.

“How was your journey?”

“Oh, the time it took, Sire.”

“Well, it's always worth the wait,” he assured her. He pressed the back of both her hands to mouth, and Morgana resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the action.

“It will be.” Lady Helen reached down to take her necklace in her hand. She gave him a polite, albeit slightly strained, smile.

***

A deep voice calling to Merlyn pulled her from her slumber. She propped herself up, saddened that she found herself in a cell instead of her room. The voice called to her again-- louder. She scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over her skirt. She backed away from her makeshift bed. The voice continued to call to her-- beckoning her back to it. Slowly she crouched down, pressing her ear towards the floor.

“Merlyn!”

She sat back on her heels, turning to face the cell door. One of the guards opened the door as a livid Gaius stepped in. She stood quickly, collapsing her hands in front of her. She bent her head as he let out a sigh.

“You never cease to amaze me!” he yelled. “The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you do? You behave like an idiot.”

“I'm sorry.”

“You're lucky. I managed to pull a few strings to get you released.”

“Oh, thank you! Thank you!” She gave him a big grin, running to give him a big hug. He patted her back, then pulled away to give her a pointed look. She straightened herself out, but didn’t stop grinning. “I won't forget this.”

“You better not.” He jerked his head towards the door. “Now go clean up.”

Merlyn took her time washing, making sure to clean away the dirt from her hair. The sun was filtering through her room as she sank down into the basin. The voice echoed in the back of her mind. In a passing thought, she’d thought maybe it was a memory of her father, but she dismissed the thought. Her father had never been in life.

She shook the thoughts from her head, pulling herself out of the bath. She pulled on her peach pink dress with the ruffled bodice and grabbed her beige shawl, wrapping it tight around her arms. While not freezing, the warm weather was making a swift exit for the end of fall.

She decided to explore the lower town since that prat Prince Arthur ruined her plans yesterday. Gaius went with her, showing her his route and letting her explore as he talked with his patients. As they were walking, a young girl around Merlyn’s age stopped her. She wore a faded red dress with a red cloak tied securely around her. Gaius continued on without her.

“I'm Guinevere, but most people call me Gwen,” she said. “I'm the Lady Morgana's maid.”

“Right. I'm Merlyn.” The two of them shook hands. Merlyn stood there awkwardly, running her hands down the length of her skirt.

“I saw what you did yesterday. It was so brave,” Gwen said.

“It was stupid,” she mumbled. She looked back towards the castle, giving an empty laugh.

“Well, I'm glad you walked away,” Gwen said. “You weren't going to beat him.”

“Oh, I-- I can beat him.” Merlyn let out a snort, nodding her defiantly.

“You think?” Gwen said, scrunching up her nose. “You are a girl.”

“Thanks?”

“No! No, I'm sure you're stronger than you look,” Gwen assured Merlyn. “It's just, erm…” She glanced down at her hands, fiddling with the sleeve. “Arthur's one of these real rough, tough, save the world kind of men, and... well…”

“What?”

“You don't look like that.” She gestured to Merlyn’s dress, and the latter gave a resigned nod. She laughed, bending forward. “Well, it's great you stood up to him.”

“You think so?” Merlyn grinned bashfully.

“Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero.”Gwen nodded, looking at the castle. She gestured towards the people who were looking at Merlyn and whispering excitedly.

“Oh, yeah?”

***

Later in the evening, Merlyn and Gaius sat down for a nice dinner together. Merlyn had had a fairly calm and uneventful day, and after spending some time with Gwen around the castle, she felt she’d actually made a friend.

“Do you want some vegetables with that?” The question was innocent enough, but his tone was sharp. She didn’t need magic to know what was going on inside his head. She laughed slightly, looking up at him from her seat.

“I know you’re still angry with me,” she said.

“Your mother asked me to look after you,” he said. She nodded her head, looking down at her stew. “What did your mother say to you about your gifts?”

“That I was special.” She shrugged, pulling lips into a thin line.

“You are special,” he agreed. “The likes of which I have never seen before.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, setting down her spoon.

“Well,” he tilted his head slightly, searching for the right words to say, “magic requires incantations, spells. It takes years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental, instinctive.”

“What's the point if it can't be used?” She rolled her eyes, looking back down at her food.

“That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlyn.”

She sat there for a moment, then looked up with narrowed eyes. “Did you ever study magic?” she asked. He paused, seemingly unsure how to answer, which gave her his answer.

“Uther banned all such work twenty years ago,” he finally said.

“Why?” She frowned slightly, causing him to let out a sigh.

“People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons.” Her eyes grew wide. She had heard of them, sure, but she never thought that they’d actually been real. At least now she knew why she’d only ever heard of them.

“What? All of them?”

“There was one dragon he chose not to kill-- kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it,” he said. Something clicked inside Merlyn’s brain. She thought back to that morning, the voice she’d heard. The one she could have sworn was coming from deep beneath the dungeons.

“Now, eat up,” Gaius said, pulling her from her thoughts. “When you've finished, I need you to take a preparation to Lady Helen. She needs it for her voice.” She nodded, diving into her food.

Once she finished her lunch, she made her way through the winding stairs and endless halls of the castle. How anyone managed to remember where anything was astounded her. She lost her way several times, but she eventually found her way up a set of spiral stairs and across a balcony corridor to where Lady Helen was supposed to be staying.

She gave a rapid knock before letting herself in. The room was empty of people, but the amount of stuff had her jaw on the floor. Expensive and lavish drapes hung all over the room, detailed furniture pressed against the walls, a bed that Merlyn knew would be the most comfortable thing she’d ever lay on. The room was fit for a queen.

She set the bottle on the vanity table and was about to turn to leave, when she noticed a straw doll on the table. She picked the doll up, brows furrowing as she turned it this way and that. A strange thing for a lady to own. Even the girls in her home had dolls made of at least cloth.

She placed the doll back when she noticed a strange book tucked under a piece of cloth. She peeled the cloth back, tossed a quick glance over her shoulder, and picked the book up. The cover was detailed and ornate, but was tied shut by a piece of twine. She turned the book over in her hands, finding the same detailing on the back. Along the spine was what she assumed were inscriptions in a language she wasn’t familiar with.

A door opening started her. She quickly set the book back where it was, covering it and the doll with the cloth. She turned around just as a woman with long dark hair and fair skin stepped into the room. Her bright purple dress seemed to be made of the smoothest silk and it distracted Merlyn from the suspicious look on the woman’s face

“What are you doing in here?” she asked, looking around the room.

“An... I- I was asked to deliver this,” Merlyn stuttered out. She turned to pick up the bottle, missing the frightened look of the woman. She handed it to the woman and offered a small smile. The woman returned it with a strained one, and Merlyn made a swift exit.

She glanced back over her shoulder once she left the room, unsure what she was expecting to see. Something funny sat in the pit of her stomach as she hurried away, swarmed with her worries she couldn’t quite identify.

Too frazzled with her encounter with Lady Helen to deal with Gaius’ pestering, she went for a walk to calm her nerves. She kept her focus on the ground, barely making sure she didn’t run into anyone as she let herself be lost in thoughts.

She was so lost, she didn’t notice Arthur approaching from the other way, nor did she notice when his fellow knights pointed her out.

Arthur watched as she walked on the opposite side of the street, her brows furrowed with intense concentration, and he briefly wondered what could have her so focused. His friends jabbed him and poked him, urging him to do something. Never one to back down, he relented.

“How’s your knee-walking coming along?” His voice was enough to pull Merlyn from her thoughts, but not enough to stop her. She chose to continue walking, pretending she hadn’t heard him and praying he’d leave her alone. “Aw, don’t run away!” he called. That, did stop her.

“From you?” She kept her back to him, her temper running dangerously thin.

“Thank God.” He sighed. “I thought you were deaf as well as dumb.” She scoffed, running her tongue across her bottom lip.

“Look, I've told you you're an ass,” she said, turning around to face the smug bastard. “I just didn't realize you were a royal one.” His friends took a step towards her and she pursed her lips. “Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you?”

Arthur laughed, causing his friends to laugh, albeit unsurely, behind him. He’d never admit her jab was genuinely funny, but he could play it off.

“I could take you apart with one blow,” he said, still smiling. His knight friends relaxed slightly, elbowing each other.

“I could take you apart with less than that,” she challenged. She was bluffing. He knew she was bluffing. And she knew he knew she was bluffing, but that wasn’t going to deter her or him. A small crowd had gathered around them once again, eager to see what would unfold.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.”

“Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?” she inquired, feigning amazement. She even placed her hand over her chest to add effect.

“You can't address me like that.” He let out a snort, not as thrilled that his knights found that retort funny.

“I'm sorry. H-How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?” she asked again, giving another exaggerated expression, adding a little curtsy to the mix. “Pro-tip: bullying doesn’t earn you respect, just pity.” She turned around and walked away, pulling her shawl tight around her.

Arthur watched as she walked away, a perturbed grin on his face. He ran his tongue under his top teeth, opening his mouth to say something, when he felt a breeze where there shouldn’t have been one.

Loud gasps and laughter gave her pause. Her back still to him as a smile took over her face. She continued on, unbeknownst to her in that moment, Gaius had seen her little trick.

She had barely made it two steps into the Physician’s chambers when his voice boomed. “How could you be so foolish?!” She knew exactly what he was talking about and knew it would be fruitless to try and deny anything.

“He needed to be taught a lesson,” she said, pushing past him.

“Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks!” he yelled.

“What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk!” She whirled around, angry tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

“Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself!”

“I don't want to!” she screamed, the tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. “If I can't use magic, what have I got?!” She quieted her voice, tears still falling down her face. “I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die.” The harsh secret had been spoken, and nothing said in the moment could change her feelings. She turned on her heel and ran into her room.

She slammed the door behind her and collapsed onto her bed. She curled into herself, letting the tears fall down her face as the weight of the past few days finally took their toll on the young girl. Barely sixteen, and yet the weight of the world deemed it vital to thrust itself upon her shoulders. She missed her home and she missed her mom. She wished deep down, with all her heart and all her might, that she didn’t have magic.

***

It was some time later when he entered Merlyn’s chambers. “Merlyn?” His voice was softer than it had been earlier.

She wasn’t sleeping, but she had long since run out of tears to cry. She laid staring at the flickering flame next to her bed, so deep in thought there was nothing left to think of.

“Sit up.” He sat next to her as she did so, handing her a cup of tea. He waited quietly as she took a few sips.

“You don't know why I was born like this, do you?” she asked softly, her voice slightly hoarse. She stared down into her cup, staring at her reflection in deep thought.

“No.”

“I'm not a monster, am I?” She tried to put on a smile, but he was having none of it. He reached over, gently taking her chin and forcing her to look him in the eye. His face was softer and his expression was almost sad as he stared into the eyes of a lost, young girl, so far from home.

“Don't ever think that,” he told her.

“Then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why,” she said.

“Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me.”

“If you can't tell me, no one can.” She let out a sigh, turning back to look into her cup.

“Drink up,” he encouraged. “You’ll feel better.” He stared at her for a long time before giving her knee a gentle pat.

Late that night, after Gaius had fallen asleep and the moon had risen high in the sky, Merlyn found herself awake, staring into the darkness of her room. Despite the exhaustion from her cry earlier, sleep did not come easy for her. She found herself thinking of everything and nothing all at once.

Then from the depths of her mind, the voice that had been haunting her the past two nights once again called to her. She sat up in her bed, listening as the voice seemed to swarm around her and bounce around in her head. Having had enough, she flung the covers off of herself. She slipped on her shoes and pulled her black shawl tight around her. Her white nightgown would do nothing to protect her against the harsh wind.

She snuck out of her chambers, Gaius snoring filling her ears as she tiptoed through the chambers. He turned over in his sleep, startling her slightly. Quiet as a mouse, she lifted the covers and tucked him into bed, then made her exit.

She crossed the square and an eerie feeling fell over her. It was so quiet for a place she knew could be as loud and boisterous as the lower town. She hugged her shawl tighter around her, determined to make it to the dungeons-- where the voice had been the loudest.

She paused at the top of the stairs, peering over to see a couple of guards playing a dice game. She waited until one guard tossed the dice, then with gold eyes and warmth inside her, she jerked the dice off the table. She willed them away further and further, the guards chasing after them, and quickly grabbed a torch.

Behind where the guards had been sitting was a large tunnel with stairs that led down to a dark abyss. Louder and louder the voice grew, beckoning her down to where not even the rats dared to venture. The further she went, the colder it became and the scarier her surroundings grew. Carved stones laid in broken piles as she carefully stepped around them, her hand quivering slightly.

A chilling laugh echoed as she came to the ledge of the tunnel. She peered over the edge, stretching her torch as far as she could without dropping it. Yet all she could see was the damp, cold cave that stretched forever up and forever down. There was nothing around to indicate where the voice was coming from.

“Where are you?” she called.

Loud flapping and a low growl filled the cave. She peered over the ledge, watching a magnificent and horrifying creature-- a dragon-- burst from below, sending her stumbling backwards. He hand flew to her mouth as the beast, with scales as gold as its beady eyes, landed on the perch across from her. Her eyes were wide as she stared.

“I'm here!” it said. Gaius had been right. Uther really had trapped a dragon beneath the castle. How he managed to do so, she didn’t dare to venture. “How small you are for such a great destiny.” She furrowed her brows.

“Why? What do you mean? What destiny?” She furrowed her brows, taking cautious steps forward. She couldn’t bring herself to blink as the dragon stared down from a great height.

“Your gift, Merlyn, was given to you for a reason,” the Great Dragon said. He readjusted himself, relaxing as best he could on the jagged rock. Merlyn stood up straight, moving closer to fully take in the dragon, and what it had to say.

“So there is a reason,” she said. A small smile took over her face as she inched closer, eager for an explanation.

He gave a brief chuckle at her eagerness. “Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite the land of Albion.”

“Right.” She raised a brow.

“But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike.”

“I don't see what this has to do with me.”

“Everything,” the dragon said. “Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion.”

“No. No, you've got this wrong.” Merlyn shook her head, drawing her mouth into a thin line.

“There is no right or wrong, only what is and what isn't.”

“But I'm serious! If anyone wants to go and kill him, they can go ahead. In fact, I'll give them a hand,” she said.

The Great Dragon laughed, looking down at her with keen interest. “None of us can choose our destiny, Merlyn, and none of us can escape it.”

“No. No way. No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot,” she argued.

“Perhaps it's your destiny to change that,” he said. He braced himself against the rock before launching himself in the air, disappearing from view once more.

“Wait! Wait! Wait, stop! No, I- I need to know more!” she called. She made her way to the edge, looking after him. Whether the Great Dragon heard her or not, he did not come back, and while she was happy her magic was hers for a reason, that reason was the last thing she wanted.

The next morning, after a fitful sleep filled with dreams of spoiled princes and mighty dragons, Merlyn was awoken by Gaius yelling. She startled awake, her hair an unseemly mess as a blurry vision of Gaius stood before her.

“Oi! Have you seen the state of this room?!” he said.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, looking around the room. Shoes and gowns and papers had been tossed around from her pacing in the late hours, thinking about what the Great Dragon had told her. Of course, she couldn’t tell him this, not without receiving a lecture for it.

“It just happens,” she suggested with a shrug.

“By magic?” She gave another shrug, letting out a yawn. “Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. And then I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares.” He placed a pouch at the foot of her bed, turning to leave. As she reached for the pouch, he threw one of her gowns at her before stepping out of the room.

“Mmm, I know the feeling,” she mumbled, falling back in her bed.

She pulled on her red lace gown with bell sleeves and pinned the upper strands of her hair away from her face. Once she had some breakfast, she made her way towards the Griffin Landing where the Lady Morgana’s chambers were. She was slowly becoming familiar with the castle, and she was glad for it.

The door was ajar and she stepped through, surprised to see the girl from the window of her first day in Camelot was Lady Morgana. She stood in front of a mirror, fixing her hair. Merlyn cleared her throat, capturing her attention. Lady Morgana frowned.

“You’re not Gwen,” she said.

“I’m, uh, I’m a friend of Gwen’s. I’ve come to bring this to you, from Gaius.” She handed the bottle to Lady Morgana. Morgana gave her a gracious smile, setting the bottle on a nearby table. “I’m Merlyn.”

“Gwen told me about you and your little encounter with Arthur.” Lady Morgana pulled her head back slightly, a face breaking out into a grin. Merlyn pulled her mouth into a thin line, looking down at the floor with tinted cheeks. “Not that I blame you,” she continued. “I wouldn’t touch him with a lance pole.”

Merlyn let out a snort. She found she liked Lady Morgana, even if they’d only known each other a mere three minutes.

“I mean, the man's a total jester. And just because I'm the King's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?” She gave Merlyn a pointed stare to which the latter merely shook her head. “If he wants me to go, then he should invite me, and he hasn't.”

“You could always go by yourself,” Merlyn suggested.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” she laughed.

“Merlyn.” Merlyn and Lady Morgana turned to see Gwen entering. “I see you’ve met the Lady Morgana.” Merlyn nodded.

“While it’s been a pleasure my lady, I’m afraid I have other errands to run for Gaius. Good luck with the feast and Arthur though.” Merlyn gave her a quick curtsy before scurrying out the door. She had heard enough about Arthur for a lifetime. She wouldn’t mind if she never saw his face again.

Lady Morgana turned to Gwen, a coy smile on her face. She held up two gowns nearby, looking at both of them. She placed a dark blue one up to her, staring thoughtfully into the mirror.

“So, Gwen, it's whether I wear this little tease…” She placed a maroon gown up to her, giving herself a little twirl before looking over to Gwen. “Or give them a night they'll really remember.”

Gwen gave her a little laugh, folding her hands together as she began helping her get ready for the feast.

Later that night, the members of the court had gathered in the Banquet Hall for the final feast of the celebrations. Merlyn hadn’t done much with herself in preparation for the feast. Afterall, she wasn’t a guest. Besides that, she’d been running errands for Gaius nonstop all day-- a ploy by him to keep her out of trouble.

The Banquet Hall was beautiful with all the candles and tapestries and gilded plates and cutlery. Uther had taken the banishment of magic as a serious celebration, and the decorations did a fantastic job of showing it.

Across the way, she heard her name mentioned. She turned her head and found Arthur standing with his group of friends, laughing as he, incorrectly, recounted their run-ins. She rolled her eyes glaring in his direction. He turned slightly and took pause, his mouth falling open slightly and his story dying off, along with his friends’ laughter.

“God have mercy.”

She turned and followed his gaze towards Lady Morgana who, to both their credits, looked absolutely stunning. Her maroon dress exposed her shoulders and arms, and with her hair pinned away from her face and off her neck, she was every bit alluring as noble ladies were meant to be, and Merlyn couldn’t blame his attraction. Though he could stand to be more subtle.

“Merlyn. Remember, you're here to work,” Gaius reminded her. She nodded. Gaius wandered away as Arthur abandoned his friends to chase after Lady Morgana. She watched in disdain as he attempted to garner her attention, but Morgana shot her a coy smile before turning her attention back to Arthur.

“She looks great, doesn't she?” Gwen sidled up next to her, proud of the work she’d put into Morgana’s appearance. Much like Merlyn, she hadn’t put much effort into herself. “Some people are just born to be queen.”

“No!” She hadn’t meant to say that so loud, but the thought of that sweet girl, or any girl for that matter, being saddled with him sounded worse than any prophecy about keeping him alive.

“I hope so. One day.” Both girls turned to look back at them, Merlyn with a disgruntled look and Gwen with a smile. “Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?” Gwen scrunched her face at the thought.

“Oh, come on, Gwen.” Merlyn gave a chuckle. “I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men,” she said.

“No, I like much more ordinary men.” Gwen laughed, shaking her head. Merlyn nodded, not buying her words for one second. The pair continued to watch Arthur and Morgana before Merlyn shook her head.

“Poor Morgana.”

The celebratory horns blared, and everyone went to find their seats. Merlyn pressed herself against a wall, watching with great amusement as Morgana quickly left Arthur to take her seat. Everyone bowed as Uther made his entrance, his gold circlet resting around his head. He turned to face the courtiers, a genuine smile on his face.

“We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity,” he said. “It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora.”

Everyone applauded as the woman she’d met the day before stepped onto the mini platform. Once Uther was seated everyone else followed suit. A lovely song began playing and Lady Helen began singing in a language she didn’t understand. Nonetheless, her voice was beautiful and she felt her heart steady as she sang.

As Lady Helen slowly made her way off the stage and towards Uther, Merlyn began noticing that everyone was nodding off. Morris beside her stumbled into the wall before sliding down. The courtiers, Gaius included, were resting their heads on tables and slumping back into their seats.

She quickly placed her hands over her ears, lest she too fall victim to Lady Helen’s spell. As she continued to sing, cobwebs began forming over the sleeping people and the candles blew out, leaving them in a cold darkness. As her song reached its crescendo, Merlyn realized she wasn’t staring at Uther, rather, at Arthur.

Panic struck Merlyn as Lady Helen pulled a dagger from her sleeve, raising it above her head. Merlyn followed the dagger up and saw the chandelier hanging above her. There was only one she wanted then.

The chang holding the chandelier snapped, and it came crashing to the ground, knocking her to the floor and ending her song spell.

Merlyn let her hands fall from her ears as the courtiers slowly began waking, muttering and pulling the cobwebs off themselves. Uther stood from his seat, clearly dazed, and peered over the table.

Lady Helen was not who she appeared to be. She was, in fact, the old woman from the main square-- the one whose son had been executed by Uther. Arthur stood too, pulling the webs from himself as he stared down in bewilderment. Gasps rippled through the guests as she took the dagger that was still clutched in her bony hand and threw it at Arthur.

Never one for thoughts before actions, Merlyn felt time slow down as she picked her skirt up and ran towards Arthur. Pompous as he was, arrogant and self-centered as he could be, he did not deserve to die over his father’s actions. She dropped her skirt to grab his shoulders, pulling him from where he stood stunned. The pair fell to the ground, landing beside each other as the dagger went through his chair.

Unsuccessful with no chance at a second try, the old woman collapsed from her injuries, joining her son in the afterlife. Arthur sat up straight, staring at the dagger in utter shock. Merlyn let out a breath, pulling herself up. She reached down to offer her hand to him, who took it while he continued staring at the dagger.

“You saved my boy's life,” Uther said. She dropped into a quick curtsy. He made his way to stand by Arthur’s side, looking overjoyed to see his son alive. “A debt must be repaid.” She shook her head, keeping her head bowed. “Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded.”

“No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Majesty,” she insisted. King Uther waved her comments.

“No, absolutely. This merits something quite special,” he said. She gave him a smile, her cheeks tinting pink as she turned to look at Gaius. “You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's maidservant.”

“Father!” The court clapped loudly as the smile ran from her face. She turned to see Gwen giving her a pity smile as she clapped. Everyone stood as Arthur and Merlyn looked at each other before turning away. This seemed to be more of a punishment than a reward.

Later that night, she sat at her desk, staring into the flame of a candle. Her thoughts traveled long and far, and yet the answers she sought remained just out of her grasp. The Great Dragon’s words bounced in her mind as did the feeling of looming doom.

There was a knock on her door before Gaius came in. He gave her a smile, holding a red bundle in his hands. “Seems you're a hero,” he said.

“Hard to believe, isn't it?” She gave a snort.

“No. I knew it from the moment I met you. When you saved my life, remember?”

“But...that was magic,” she said, giving him an incredulous look. There was a glint in his eye that told her he knew something she didn’t.

“And now, it seems, we finally found a use for it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw how you saved Arthur's life.” She shook her head. “Perhaps that's its purpose.”

“My destiny.” She let out a sigh, looking at the flame once more.

“Indeed.” He unwrapped the bundle he was holding, sliding an old, leather book bursting at the seams with loose pages. “This book was given to me when I was your age, but I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was to me.”

She took the book, unlatching it to peek inside. There were pages upon pages of what looked like writing much like the type she had seen in Lady Helen’s room. Her mouth fell open as what was in her hands dawned on her.

“But this is a book of magic,” she said, looking over to him.

“Which is why you must keep it hidden.”

“I will study every word.” She threw her arms around him. She glanced back down at the book with a grin.

There was a faint knocking at the main door, followed by a voice, “Merlyn, Prince Arthur wants you right away.” Gaius turned back to her, giving her a smile.

“Your destiny's calling. You'd better find out what he wants.” She rolled her eyes, setting the book down. She glanced up at him, giving him another smile and hug before leaving to see what Arthur could possibly want at this hour.

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