merthurglompfest

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Guess what, Merthur fans? We’re back!

Yes, Merthur Glompfest is returning in January 2025 for another round of fabulous fanworks, just for you 😘

What is a Glompfest, you ask?

A Glompfest is a gifting fest designed as a way for fandom creators to give back to those fans who wouldn’t usually be eligible to take part in a typical exchange fest.

How does it work?

Glompees (readers, lurkers, commenters, or fandom supporters of any stripe) will be asked to provide a prompt or prompts for glomping, which will then be claimed by Glompers (fandom creators, fic writers and fanartists) and filled according to the Glompee’s request. Completed works will then be posted to our AO3 Collection and shared here on Tumblr for everyone’s enjoyment!

For more information on how the fest works (and whether you qualify as a Glomper or a Glompee), check out our FAQ or send the mods an ask here on Tumblr.

💕 Don’t forget to follow @merthurglompfest for fest updates, and help us spread the love by spreading the word! 💕

SIGN-UPS OPEN: 1 Jan 2025 SIGN-UPS CLOSE: 15 Jan 2025

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THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

QUALIFYING ROUND: 73rd Tilt

Sir Leon, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012) VS. Merlin, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012)

Propaganda

Sir Leon, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012) Portrayed by: Rupert Young

“Camelot's loyalist and hottest knight. He was with Arthur from the beginning and stood by him throughout (even when Merlin started teaching him poetry). Leon the long-suffering deserves to be recognized in his own right for the tall, wavy-locked master of the sword that he is.”

Merlin, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012) Portrayed by: Colin Morgan

“He looks like a fae for four out of five seasons of Merlin. You look at him and he's the definition of PRETTY. Full lips and long eyelashes and killer cheekbones and the bluest of blue eyes and dark hair and a profile that makes you want to take up painting and delicate wrists and he is SO!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty as a picture I swear. And he is so cute!!!!! But he can also be deadly!!! He smiles and he looks like a ray of sunshine!!! And he has dimples!!!!! But then he gets angry and he's suddenly so hot!!!! And he also has that Victorian Maiden Effect in that he's always, always covered up, and as soon as he takes his neckerchief off you go GASP!!!!! Neck!!!!! Collarbones!!!!! Oh!!!!!!!!! And THEN!!!!!! You watch season five and he is still pretty but he's also suddenly got SHOULDERS and ARMS and a BROAD CHEST and you go uh???????? When did this happen????? And yeah, suddenly he's a bit of a hunk and your brain short circuits a bit. A tiny bit. A tiny big bit. You'll never recover.”

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For Sir Leon:

“This man. Cannot die. He was originally supposed to be toasted in his first appearance like every other redshirt knight in Merlin, but he was so hot and cool, and fans loved him so much they kept bringing him back and even made him a supporting lead.”

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For Merlin:

“asjgljgsakldghajskldghajkslhgaksjghalskjdh cheekbones”

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“look at the dimples - and the cheekbones - even if he weren't the world's most powerful warlock he'd deserve to win for looking so beautiful through all the tragedy”

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Merthur Glompfest 2024 Masterlist!

Thank you once again to everyone who participated in this year’s Merthur Glompfest! We appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into the fest to help make it such a success, and we hope that our Glompee’s are all enjoying their gifts! Now that the fest has come to an end, please check out the masterlist HERE for your viewing pleasure or by checking out the #merthur glompfest 2024 tag or peruse through our AO3 collection, featuring all of our fantastic entries. We look forward to seeing you all again next year! Cheers! —Your Glompfest Mods, fifty_fifty & schweet_heart ♥

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Title: Feel It In My Fists By: @thesongistheriver Gift for: CalamityMoon Rating: E Word Count: 6,544 words Warning(s): no warnings apply Creator Notes (Optional):  Summary: Merlin felt strong arms lift him. He wanted to protest, to stay and hear what else Gaius might say, but the knights were already carrying him off the training field, and he sank into oblivion. ~~ An assassination attempt on Arthur leaves Merlin seriously injured. In fact, he shouldn't survive ... but he does. And that brings a lot of other questions to the fore.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55648111

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Title: kintsugi By: @schweetheart Gift for: DarKymi / @rehaliahdrarys Rating: Mature Word Count: 1000 words Warning(s): N/A Creator Notes (Optional):

Dear DarKymi,

As soon as a I saw your prompt, I knew I had to take it—I absolutely love the idea of invisible soulmarks, and it felt like something I just had to try to draw! Originally, I was planning to add some animation to the art, but I ended up running out of time, mostly because I decided to add a fic as well 😅 I hope you enjoy what I've done with it anyway!

Thanks again for participating in the fest, and to Salamandair for the lightning-fast beta ♥️

Summary:

“They’re beautiful.” Merlin traced the edges with his fingertips, fascinated by the way Arthur’s skin glowed golden under his touch—a kind of magical vitiligo. “I didn’t know they could light up like that. Did you?” “No.” Arthur reached out in turn, pushing Merlin’s shirt off over his shoulders to better view the marks where they spread across his torso. “Do you think they match?” 

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55610773

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Title: We were lovers for the first time By: fifty_fifty Gift for: LilyGreen10 Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 13,856 words Warning(s): No warnings Summary: Merlin had to admit that he didn’t have the most vivid memories of that night. But what he did recall was the moment he’d laid eyes on the most gorgeous man he’d ever seen out on the dance floor, dancing in a white shirt that had been soaked in something—it turned out to be beer—turning it almost translucent. It was practically obscene, the way that that shirt had clung to the man’s chest and torso, the lights glinting off his blond hair.

Merlin couldn’t be sure if he hadn’t been drooling.

—

A story of getting together, falling in love, and experiencing the firsts of life, the ups and downs and everything in between. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55587031

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Title: as good as a cure By: @schweetheart Gift for: Fnickx Rating: Mature Word Count: 8630 words Warning(s): N/A Creator Notes (Optional): Dear Fnickx, I started working on this fic back in 2022 on the principle that someone really needed to give Merlin a hug after all of the trauma he goes through in canon, but I never ended up finishing it, so when your Glomper had to drop out of the fest at the eleventh hour, I figured it must be fate 😄 It might be a bit different in tone than what you were originally intending with your prompt, but I hope it meets enough of your likes for you to enjoy it anyway. Thanks again for signing up to Glompfest 2024, and thank you to ExcitedInsomniac for the beta! 💝

Summary:

The second time Merlin falls asleep during a council meeting, Arthur has had enough. “All right, that’s it,” he says, grabbing Merlin by the collar and dragging him out into the hallway behind him. The meeting is already long over, and the fact that Merlin didn’t notice either the scraping of the chairs or Uther’s pointed remarks makes it clear that Something Has To Be Done. “You’re coming with me.” 

Or: after the dragon attack, Merlin's guilt and grief have been keeping him up at nights. Fortunately, Arthur takes it upon himself to help.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55547887

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Title: Let It Burn By: Cithara / @citharaposts Gift for: Fnickx Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 3,195 words Warning(s): none Creator Notes: I was so happy when this prompt came up needing a pinch hitter and I was thrilled to get it. Fnickx, Thank you for the lovely prompt and I hope you enjoy what I've done with it 💕 A massive thank you, as ever, to my darling beta Excited_Insomniac , who is a treasure and diamond. I hope you all enjoy the story, comments and kudos are appreciated.

Summary: Merlin has spent his life terrified of the fate that awaits him in the flames of a pyre. Arthur shows him he has no reason to be afraid.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55389130

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Title: Absence Makes The Heart  By: timegoesby  Gift for: Luna268  Rating: M  Word Count: 9,623 words Warning(s): None 

Summary: Arthur decided that he was done with feeling pathetic. No more backing down. If Merlin was going to reject him, he'd have to do it clearly and to his face, only then would he accept defeat and try to move on.

And if by some miracle Merlin didn't reject him? In that case, well… he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

---

Alternatively, a reborn Arthur Pendragon faces his toughest challenge yet: telling Merlin how he feels. 

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54973774

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Title: Fool for You (Sucker for Pain) By: @Salamandair Gift for: Alduade (BlooperDooper3000) / @bilan-igg Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 6313 words Warning(s): N/A Creator Notes (Optional): 

[This one was so much fun to write! I always adore writing a BAMF Merlin who’s trying to tough out his bad injuries and failing to in the end. I tried not to get TOO graphic with the injuries here, but apologies if they were still gross for some anyway!

I hope you enjoy this little thing I got kinda carried away with, Alduade! I love writing it, i hope you love it!

Disclaimer: I don’t own any part of BBC and Shine’s Merlin. Richer people do.] Summary: 

While searching the Valley of the Fallen Kings after reports come in of seeing Cenred’s men there, Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table are separated by a rock slide.

That’s just the start of Merlin’s really bad day.

Written for Merthur Glompfest 2024 AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54974164

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Title: A New Trick in an Old Book By: serpentinefiend Gift for: glade_days / @gladedays Rating: G Word Count: 2,684 words Warning(s): None Summary:

When Arthur nobly accepts and promptly fails the not-so-complicated task of delivering a medieval manuscript across campus, it's up to Merlin's apprentice book restoration skills to save the day. Not that Merlin would call helping the handsome student who's been lingering in his library as of late all that arduous a task... Well, for the most part, anyway.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Merthur_Glompfest_2024/works/54515134

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Title: To Kill A King By: euoniatz Gift for: MZsD22 Rating: Teen&Up Word Count: 16 526 words Warning(s): None Creator Notes (Optional):

Summary: The king turns then, finally looking at him properly. He blinks, brows furrowed in an innocent act of confusion, and Merlin’s heart tugs.

It’s been a while since he killed someone face-to-face like this, much less someone this breathtakingly beautiful—

“What are you…” Arthur frowns and takes a single step forward, then freezes.

Finally, he sees the dagger.

or

Merlin has been taking jobs for years. His magic comes in handy when tasked with making sure some spoiled fat heir disappears mysteriously enough that people assume he's eloped to leave his client the only remaining in line for whatever inheritance is at stake.

So, when his latest assignment challenges him to get rid of theKing of Camelot himself, Merlin doesn't think it'll be any different.

Except it seems that Fate has other plans for him.

OR

They're both pining idiots and can't stay away from each other but we love them anyway.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54850501

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Title: The Coming of Spring By: sleepygecko Gift for: SchmendricktheMagician Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 3,085 words Warning(s): None Creator Notes (Optional): 

Summary: 

Merlin was dreading the coming of spring, because this year, Arthur had given in to the council’s nagging. This year, spring would bring hordes of young royals to Camelot to vie for King Arthur’s hand in marriage.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54965524

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Title: a joy hard earned By: Fleetling / @fleetlingfics Gift for: @JaponicaStar Rating: Gen Word count: 958 words Warnings: None Creator Notes (Optional): 

Summary:

"If it weren't for this speech-"

"Let me look at it," Merlin says, snagging it off the table. Arthur grabs for it, pointlessly, and then resorts to just glaring at him half-heartedly.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54899464

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Title: A Match Made by Fate By: chaosgenes Gift for: Luna268 Rating: Mature Word Count: 7,771 words Warning(s): One major character is already a ghost Creator Notes (Optional): To Luna268, I watched the movie before I took up the prompt and was really excited to write it! I had already planned on watching the movie before this fest started so it was good timing when the prompt became available. Although this fic mostly doesn't follow the movie, I did try to incorporate your likes as much as I could and I hope you enjoy the result (if just a little bit)! Thank you to the mods for organising the event and thank you to Sage_Owl (my saviour in a time of need) for being my beta once again! Summary: Arthur Pendragon has walked the straight path all his life. He graduated school with honours, dated the prettiest girls, and is up for commendation at his precinct. Then he picks up a black envelope on the pavement during a case and suddenly his fortune turns on his head. He narrowly escapes death and is demoted instead of promoted all in one day. There's only one way to end his bad luck—and that’s to marry a ghost! Arthur wouldn’t have minded half as much if his fiance wasn’t so snarky and a man named Merlin. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54823903

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Title: Pride, Lace and Love By: Salamandair Gift for: LikeAPaperPlane Rating: Mature Word Count: 8,407 words Warning(s): N/A Creator Notes (Optional): [As soon as I saw this prompt, I knew that I had to write it. I’m a sucker for these guys in lingerie, but Merlin as a lingerie designer? Demi Arthur?!

Sign me up ASAP!

I had so much fun writing this. I just hope it was up to your expectations, LikeAPaperPlane! I hope you enjoy it, at least!

My beta, Excited_Insomniac, gets the BIGGEST Thanks and hug for looking this over last minute and also for doing a LOT more editing than normal! You’re the best and I owe you a lot!

Disclaimer: I don’t own any part of BBC and Shine’s Merlin. Richer people do.] Summary: Independent lingerie designer Merlin Emerson spots a nervous model off by himself during a photo shoot and strikes up a conversation with him. What follows is a snarky response, then a love story that proves that you really can have a relationship without sex Written for Merthur Glompfest 2024 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54973441

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Title: Kiss me once again By: Hufflapute Gift for: glade_days Rating: Mature Word Count/Medium: Art: Fic: 1,198 words; moodboard Warning(s): Temporary Major Character Death, Implied/Referenced Suicide Attempts, Implied/Referenced Torture Creator Notes (Optional): glade_days's prompt: "Winter Soldier!AU — Feel free to assign either character the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America or Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, I think both the obvious and non-obvious match-ups are compelling. Likes a good character study, Yearning^TM, hands lol, slow burn, modern AU — magic or non-magic!, post-finale reunion, farmer!Arthur, literary allusions. in vino veritas." Merthur AND Stucky? Of course I was going to do it! O.O I wish I could have done more, but I hope you'll be glad with the moodboard and the little fic! :) Art and fic beta: Myoonmii. Thank you Summary: Arthur comes back from the war and just wants to be left alone. Of course, nothing can be simple and he becomes Captain Britain. Same old fight against magic, but this time he's fighting against the Winter Soldier, a.k.a. Merlin. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54450610