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pippin-katz · 1 year

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Camelot or Merlin?

I've been thinking a lot about The Moment of Truth (1x10) lately, and this scene popped into my head:

Obviously, this is right before the battle, but I want to point something out here. Arthur says, "It's been an honor." as though he suspects they might not survive the fight, and wants to say a proper, respectful goodbye as a warrior would.

Now here's the thing: Arthur, Guinevere, and Morgana are not from Ealdor, and they are only to help Merlin. Logically speaking, it would make sense for them to leave if the battle was unwinnable.

But Arthur is not the type to run from a fight when innocents' lives are on the line. Even before the battle when training the villagers, he thinks that it can't be won, but he doesn't back out. He doesn't leave; he stays and fights with the villagers because he's Arthur, and he does not hold his own life above others. He's the opposite of the king that let Will's dad die. Will went ranting to Merlin about royalty even says, "Well, let's wait until the fighting begins and see who he sends in to die first. I guarantee you, it won't be him."

But it is him; Arthur always goes in first. It doesn't matter what part of a plan or battle he's apart of, he will always go in first and put those fighting with them above his own safety. The Curse of Cornelius Sigan (2x01) is a good example of how selfless he is. When he's cut off from his knights during the fighting, he orders them to retreat and save themselves, knowing full well that he was going to die (if Merlin hadn't been able to save him).

In the case of Ealdor's battle, he hoped they would win and he would fight, but he wasn't expecting it to work (it wouldn't have if Merlin hadn't stepped in with his magic). But he's not going to retreat, he's Arthur; he fully intends to fight until he's struck down.

This is where it gets interesting to me.

Arthur is the Crown Prince of Camelot, heir to the throne, and the commander of the Knights of Camelot. He is entirely dedicated to protecting and bettering the kingdom in any way that he can. He puts his people over everything, including his life. Arthur probably expected that when he would die, he would die in battle protecting Camelot (which he pretty much did in the end).

But he's not in Camelot. He's in a tiny village that's not even in his kingdom. Uther didn't know he was there, but if he had, he would've undoubtedly been absolutely furious, because the logical thing for Arthur to do was leave. He's the Crown Prince, the sole heir to the throne; his life is tied to the future of Camelot. There is no "rational" explanation for him to be there, and putting himself in danger.

But Arthur is completely willing to fight and die defending Ealdor. He's okay with laying down his life for these villagers that aren't even his people. Arthur (intentionally written so or not) puts the fate of Ealdor before the future of Camelot. He puts a little farming village before his entire kingdom, and why?

Because it's Merlin's home. That is how much he cares about him (regardless of interpretation their relationship).

He wasn't supposed to be there. It was possibly illegal for him to be there. Uther mentions their treaty with Cenred is gone, and that an armed force entering his kingdom for any reason would be seen as an act of war; Arthur doesn't go with any knights, but being the prince would likely be enough for Cenred to declare it as a crime.

So Arthur risks his own life, the future of Camelot should he die, and even the present state of Camelot should Cenred have found out he was there.

All for Merlin.

Of course he cares for the innocents in the village, but the only reason he actually traveled to the village in the first place was purely because of Merlin. In any other circumstance, he likely would've said the same thing about wanting to help, but not actually go.

He goes because Merlin goes. It's Merlin's home, and Merlin's leaving, and potentially isn't going to come back if he has to take care of his mother, or if he gets himself killed by the bandits.

Arthur would rather go, knowing all the risks, and die fighting to help him than stay in Camelot, even though his duty is expected to be to Camelot first. And he truly loves Camelot. It is no doubt that the kingdom matters a lot to him. Yet, Merlin's village seems to matter more, or rather Merlin himself seems to matter more.

God I hate and love them so much.

How did they write such a beautiful relationship, likely without meaning to? Obviously, much of their relationship is intentional written that way, but I'm almost positive that some things, like this, happened purely by accident because they didn't think through the all of the implications of their actions.

#merlin #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merlin thoughts #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merthur #medieval husbands #two sides of the same coin #merlin 1x10 #the moment of truth #the once and future fandom

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garbage--account · 1 month

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Waking up realizing the demo release is tomorrow :

#Inazuma Eleven #inazuma eleven victory road #Demo is tomorrow #the moment of truth #Was the wait worth it ?#It's been since 2016 #Hino better be not trolling

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palatinewolfsblog · 1 year

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The Moment of Insight (for my old friend Shane a.k.a. @acommonloon )

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

Martin Luther King Jr.

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wumiings · 11 months

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“I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good”

…but it’s me wanting Arthur to be put in a situation where he’s forced to understand Merlin’s friendship/loyalty as something he could lose, rather than something he can take for granted regardless of how he treats him.

The few times we see Merlin consider leaving Camelot— [1] when Gaius is fired during the Edwin Muiren debacle, [2] when he’s reluctant to return after Will’s death, [3] when he plans to run away with Freya, [4] when he wants to bring Balinor back to Ealdor— Arthur doesn’t know about it.

He knows that Merlin essentially resigned when he left to help deal with Kanen (which possibly catalyzed Arthur’s decision to go after him), which makes their interactions in 1x10 particularly interesting because like,, he’s still bossing Merlin around in Ealdor, implying a mindset of “well I’m here to solve this problem for you, therefore you don’t have to stay afterwards, therefore you are still my servant despite having quit yesterday” which sure is an Assumption.

But then there’s also the armor scene that’s such a rare moment of Arthur ‘lowering’ himself to treat Merlin like an equal. Helping him prepare for battle and validating his fear, even acknowledging that same fear in himself. He shows vulnerability intentionally for Merlin’s sake and doesn’t seem embarrassed or backtrack. His actions demonstrate that he values their friendship and doesn’t want to lose it.

And then!! Merlin’s best friend- his only friend for the first fifteen years of his life- dies saving Arthur’s life, and Arthur reacts by being unforgivably callous at his funeral. Will’s body is literally still burning and Arthur is talking about how “you should have told me” because “sorcery is dangerous,” and Merlin isn’t having it!! Why should he return to Camelot when he’s just lost half his world and isn’t even given time to grieve because Arthur is already making it about Him??

Except this internal crisis plays out after Arthur has walked away; Merlin is talking to his mother. Arthur never learns that, just as his initial actions (coming to help Merlin’s village) worked to keep Merlin at his side, his later actions (being a dick about Will) might have cost him that friendship for good if Hunith hadn’t convinced Merlin to go back with the whole, “He needs you” bit.

I think he should have. He should know that his words are capable of damaging their bond, and be forced to acknowledge that it’s something he values- that he cares for Merlin as a friend and equal, not just a servant.

And he should be left in some doubt of a return; it would do him good.

#bbc merlin #analysis #1.10 #the moment of truth #arthur pendragon #prince william of ealdor #sorry for getting austenian on y’all #but I couldn’t stop thinking about it

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wonderlandmoonrose7 · 1 year

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“The Moment of Truth” is really reminding me of a Hallmark movie with Merlin as the protagonist, Arthur as the love interest, and Will as the ex who wants him back with all the talk about trust and where he really belongs lol

#merlin #merthur #bbc merlin #arthur pendragon #will merlin #the moment of truth #merlin s1 e10 #opinion #i’m rewatching merlin #and about to make it everyone’s problem

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dragoon-the-greatest · 9 months

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I would give my right pinkie toe for Will and Gwaine to have met in canon

#bbc merlin #prince william of ealdor #gwaine #the moment of truth

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tiodolma · 8 months

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The only time they held hands and it was to pass over some flint

And she had gloves while his hands were bare

Im just gonna stare at this all day😭

Darkness to your Light

#mergana #otp: darkness to your light #otp: water and fire #s1x10 #thanks i hate this #the moment of truth #both of them trusting each other #merlin risking his life to get to her #merlin still hiding from her #morgana relieved coz he came back for her #morgana being inept but trying her best for him #his large hands just cover hers #i didnt think my morning would go like this #sobbing over a blurry image #how am i supposed to recover from this 🥖pain🥖#give me liberty or give me bread

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e350tb · 8 months

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Gravity Falls - The Matchmabel - Chapter VII

Chapter VII: Date Night

“So while I was out with Ford and Wendy, you were setting me up on a blind date?”

Dipper and Mabel sat in the golf cart, bouncing along as they headed down the road into town. Dipper had been half-forced to change into a nice shirt and jacket, and was now fidgeting at his collar as they headed towards Greasy’s.

“Of course!” replied Mabel. “That’s the best kind of date! Love is blind, after all.”

“Look, Mabel, I’m flattered, but I’ve really gotta get back to my college application,” said Dipper. “Besides, whoever this is, I’m not sure I really want to date them, you know?”

Mabel shot him a knowing grin. “Don’t be so sure!”

They pulled into the Diner parking lot. Mabel checked her phone - 5.55. Perfect.

“Alright!” she said. “Let’s get you set up!”

“Set up?” Dipper quizzed.

Mabel ran around the cart and yanked him out of the passenger seat.

“You’ve gotta nail this, Dipper!” she exclaimed. “Your future is at stake!”

“I-is it?”

Mabel opened the door, revealing a decidedly dolled up Greasy’s Diner. Gone were the usual tables and chairs - they’d been cleared off for a single table, set up with a white tablecloth and a vase full of wild flowers in the middle. The number of forks provided for each of the two chairs was, to put it mildly, excessive. The ceiling and walls were decorated with pink bunting, and the entire other half of the diner was set up as a large dancefloor, with a big stereo set sitting next to it.

“Geez,” said Dipper, taking a seat. “Who’re you trying to set me up with here?”

He took a seat and picked up one of the napkins, turning it over.

“Oh god.”

Sewn onto the other side of the napkin were the words ‘Dipper heart Pacifica.’

“Mabel,” said Dipper, adjusting his collar. “We need to talk about this…”

“Can’t hear you, Dipper, gotta head out!” Mabel marched out the door. “Bye-eee!”

Dipper sat in silence for a few moments - the only sound being a soft, tinny eighties love song playing on the diner’s speaker system. After a few seconds, he shifted on his seat, looking for the fire exit - he might have a moment to get out of here before…

The door opened.

Pacifica stepped inside - she was wearing a pink dress and heels, and carried a small handbag over her shoulder. Her face fell the instant she saw Dipper.

“Oh,” she said. “It’s you.”

“Yyyyep,” replied Dipper, letting the last letter pop.

Pacifica sat down across from him - she picked up the napkin and winced.

“This is… a lot,” she said flatly.

“Honestly I thought it was gonna be Grenda,” Dipper shrugged. “She’s the only one of Mabel’s friends she hasn’t tried to set me up with.”

He scratched his chin.

“But she is with Marius, so… um… who did you think you’d be dating?”

There was a long, awkward silence.

“Sooooo…” Dipper rapped his fingers on the table.

“Hmm…” Pacifica stared at the wall. “Yeah…”

“How’s… being rich?” asked Dipper.

“It’s good,” replied Pacifica. “It’s… it’s good.”

“Cool, cool,” Dipper nodded.

“Good evening, sir and/or madam!”

Stan slipped into view, carrying a couple of glasses of water.

“Would sir and his very rich date like some water?” he asked, grinning a little bit too wide.

“What’re you doing here, Grunkle Stan?” Dipper asked flatly.

“What? Can’t your old Grunkle moonlight as a waiter?” demanded Stan. “You offend me!”

“How much did she offer you?” asked Dipper.

“Twenty bucks.”

“I’ll give you a hundred if you don’t talk to me for the rest of the night,” said Pacifica, producing the note from her bag.

“Done and done, and I mean done!”

Stan put down the glasses and walked off.

Another very long awkward silence ensued.

“So,” asked Pacifica. “How’s being… uh… poor?”

“Well, I, uh, don’t have much money,” replied Dipper. “So that’s… that’s a thing that I, uh, have to deal with.”

“Very unfortunate.”

“Yeah.”

Before long, Stan came back - in each hand he held a bowl of soup, which he laid out in front of the two patrons. Dipper frowned as he looked at his bowl.

“I think you forgot to heat this up,” said Dipper.

“It’s gazpacho,” said Pacifica, “It’s…”

“Could you maybe put it in the microwave or something?”

Stan gazed down at the bowl.

“Yeah,” he replied, picking it up. “I’ll, uh, I’ll get onto that…”

He took the bowl away.

“Thank you!” Dipper called back.

He turned back to see Pacifica pinching the bridge of her nose.

“What? It was cold.”

-----

“He wants it heated up?” asked Soos.

“Yep,” replied Stan.

“Does he know it’s meant to be served cold?”

“Nope.”

“Does Pacifica know it’s meant to be served cold?”

“Yep.”

Abuelita tsked and shook her head from the other side of the kitchen.

“This date is over,” she said sadly.

“It can’t be that bad, can it?” asked Soos.

“Careers have been ended over this, Soos,” replied Abuelita.

Soos and Stan exchanged glances.

“Maybe we should call Mabel,” suggested Soos.

“No, no, the enchiladas are gonna save this one,” replied Stan. “I’m sure of it!”

“They’ll have to be powerful enchiladas,” mused Soos.

Abeulita walked over and put a hand on his shoulder.

“They will be.”

-----

Dipper put down his knife and one of his forks.

“Well, those were powerful enchiladas,” he said.

Pacifica dabbed her mouth with her napkin.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I’ve actually never had anything like this. Mom says it’s bad for my figure.”

“Yeah, parents say stuff like that,” Dipper sighed. “It’s because they care…”

“Do they though?”

Pacifica twirled her fork around her empty bowl of rice.

“I mean, they say they want what’s best for you,” she mused. “But is it actually what’s best for them? Like, they have this picture of what you should be in their mind, and they’re so focused on it that they can’t see the real you?”

Dipper looked down at his empty plate.

“I guess,” he replied. “But they still want you to be successful, right? So you can be happy?”

Pacifica frowned.

“You really think your parents want that?”

“Well… yeah.” Dipped shrugged.

Pacifica sighed.

“Then you’re pretty lucky, Dipper,” she replied. “You’re…”

The lights suddenly shut off, and both their eyes turned to the dance floor. Disco lights were swirling around, and the opening instrumental to a song played loudly. There was a prominent flute.

“Alright!” They heard Candy somewhere in the darkness. “Give it up for the main couple as they have their first dance!”

A bright spotlight switched on, shining on both of them as the song began.

Every night in a dream,

I see you, I hear you,

I know you will continue…

…less

Dipper and Pacifica gazed at each other - Dipper was visibly cringing.

“Uh…” Pacifica rubbed the back of her head.

And the distance between us,

He came to see…

Near, far, everywhere,

I believe that the heart rules.

But open the door again,

And you are in my heart,

My heart is going…

“Yeeeeaaaaah.” Dipper swallowed, his eyes darting around to avoid looking Pacifica in the eye again. “This is… a lot.”

“Mmm… hm, yeah.” Pacifica gazed down at her empty plates, her face turning bright red.

Love can only touch us once,

And it lasts a lifetime.

We won't leave until we leave…

“Yeah,” said Pacifica, standing up. “On that note…”

-----

About fifteen minutes later, Mabel stood outside the door of Greasy’s Diner, half the town gathered around her. She was just about bouncing in excitement - she had promised the whole assembly that ‘Gravity Falls’ Sweetest Couple’ would be emerging from the Diner any second now, and she couldn’t wait for the moment to finally happen. She’d managed to whip excitement in the crowd, too - there was an old lady who’d proclaimed she’d die of sadness if she didn’t see a happy couple tonight (and that one doctor who always followed her around had confirmed that this would happen.)

The doorknob turned. Mabel’s grin widened. This was it!

The door opened.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the happy couple emerged. Mabel did not join them.

“Oh, uh, thanks dudes!”

Soos and Melody, blushing somewhat, bowed to the crowd.

“Aw yeah, I’ve always shipped them two,” said Deputy Durland.

“Heh! They’re delightful!” added Sheriff Blubs.

“Well, that was fun!” declared Tyler. “Same time next week?”

The crowd dispersed, leaving Mabel alone, jaw dropped, as Stan, Candy and Grenda followed Soos and Melody out.

“Wh-what is this?” demanded Mabel. “Where’s Dipper and Pacifica?”

The group exchanged glances.

“They went home,” replied Grenda.

“But… but… you let them out?” exclaimed Mabel.

Candy shook her head solemnly.

“It wasn’t working,” she replied sadly.

“It was really awkward,” added Melody.

“Soos’ grandma was right,” said Stan. “It was over the moment he asked for the gazpacho soup heated up.”

“But… they have chemistry!” Mabel paced back and forth, clutching her head. “They’re compatible! They like each other! They-they even called the ghost hunting thing tomorrow a date! They… I…”

Soos shrugged.

“I think they’re just friends, dude.”

Mabel hobbled over to the side of the parking lot, sitting down on the curb and rubbing her head.

“I… I put in all this effort, though,” she said. “W-we all did.”

Melody sat down beside her.

“Sometimes these things don’t work out, Mabel,” she replied.

“But… I really, really wanted it to be Pacifica.” Mabel’s voice wobbled.

Melody put an arm over her shoulder.

“I know, Mabel,” she replied soothingly. “I know…”

“No!” Mabel stood up, jogging to the golf cart. “Dipper doesn’t know what he’s throwing away! I need to talk sense into him!”

She jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, leaving skid marks on the car park behind.

-----

Dipper sighed as he trudged towards the back of the Mystery Shack. He’d found this shortcut through the woods a while ago, and it really saved time in getting back from town. It hadn’t been a particularly good evening, he thought (although the enchiladas were incredible), and he really needed to get back to his application, but he supposed it could have been worse.

He emerged from the trees at the back of the Shack, and stopped as he noticed a large pit behind the building - and not the Bottomless Pit, that was over to the left somewhere. This one was filled with ashes - had Stan been burning profit ledgers again?

He stepped closer, and noticed what looked like the charred remains of a chunk of cardboard at the bottom of the pit. Next to it, slightly buffeted by the wind, was a small scrap of… was it paper? Dipper jumped down and picked it up.

In the dim moonlight, he could see the remains of a burned photograph. All that remained was just under half of a picture of Wendy Corduroy.

#gravity falls #dipper pines #mabel pines #pacifica northwest #soos ramirez #grunkle stan #abuelita ramirez #candy chiu #grenda grendinator #melody gravity falls #sheriff blubs #deputy durland #tyler cutebiker #dipcifica #OR IS IT?#THE MOMENT OF TRUTH #writing

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