#;Muse ( GWAINE )

[dryadalisliv]

[akelafang]

Gwaine has a sketchbook. In it are sketches of places he's been, people he's seen, things he's experienced that he doesn't want to forget.

At first, when you're flicking through it you'd see some landscapes he saw during his travels, a tavern he really liked the mead at, some pretty women and handsome men who he definitely flirted with. Then there's a drawing of Merlin, of Gaius's chambers, of Gwen, of Camelot, a less than flattering one of Arthur, all done with more care and detail than the ones before. The following ones of his travels seem dull by comparison and are fewer and farther between than before. The sketches briefly gain life back into them as they feature Merlin and Arthur and wyverns before returning to the landscapes that are beautiful but somehow feel empty. A few pages seem to be missing like someone ripped them out. And then there's one of a round table. Suddenly the sketches feel like they're almost coming off the pages. Beautifully detailed drawings of Merlin, Gwen, Arthur and all the knights, vibrant sketches of nights at the tavern with the lads, depictions of training sessions that look like they're moving, magical illustrations of epic quests, and then a breathtaking drawing of what looks like Leon enjoying a rare break relaxing in the sunlight. Then another drawing of Leon midbattle. One of him talking during a council meeting. Then another of him. And another. And another.

The sketchbook becomes dominated by Leon with only the occasional group shot or drawing of Merlin to break it up, all lovingly depicted and carefully done by a man who's clearly found his muse.

[quietmuse]

Aspen's head peaked out from under the hood covering her head, disguising her features from the masses carrying a dummy they assumed her body. Fair flesh marred with the abuse of those whom wish sought her dead, the woman was oddly entranced by their violence and thirst for blood. Save for the one whom saved her, without even speaking his name. Pale eyes wandered to him, seeing him for one that was rare among mortal beings; seemingly selfless over the selfishness her people had grown to know these beings as. Her frail hand slipped into his, following the path devised to allow them a perfect escape from the town. Only halting when they were surely far enough away, and the plomb of smoke captured her sensitive nose. "Why? Why did you save me when others were so certain to watch me burn?" It felt a simple enough question when she'd done nothing in kindness to this man. Slipping the hood away from her head, it exposed her ethereal design something fresh from one of those fine watercolour paints that spoke stories. Aspen's expression nothing more than true softness and concern for the man whom risked himself to save her. "Please do not think me ungrateful, truly... We folk haven't thought humans sparing of kindness." Siren song like, soft and inviting were her words.

It might have been that Gwaine hadn’t believed in witches or the fact that she had to be the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid his eyes on. But he may have made a mistake as they were hiding in an alley as they carried the dummy that he replaced her body with, waiting for the moment to move, “Come on,” he said as it seemed that no one would see them.

[alittlepudge-neverhurtnobody]

kinktober #18

Cult 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / Artist's Muse 🎨

“Stay still,” tuts Merlin as he shades charcoal across his canvas. The afternoon light is a cool purple-gray, but the glow from the many candles he’s got lit is warm and golden. “I can’t capture you properly if you keep squirming around.”

“I’m cold,” Arthur complains, shifting his weight on the vegan sheepskin blanket, which he supposes must just be fleece or something, then, right? “How come Gwen and Morgana got to wear clothes?”

“Because I used them for portraiture, love, not figure drawing. And I don’t particularly fancy seeing either of my best mates naked. And you could have said no!”

Arthur grumbles to himself. Like so many other things he’s done since moving to Nottingham, posing nude for Merlin’s recreational drawing class sounded good and liberating at the time. Now, in practice, sitting among the candles and New Age-y tapestries of Merlin’s tiny apartment, a record player softly unspooling Sinéad O’Connor beneath the scratching of Merlin’s charcoal, he’s having a few second thoughts.

“Is anyone going to see these?” Arthur asks, trying to scratch an itch on the tip of his nose by twitching it this way and that. “What if someone recognizes me?”

“Well, I thought I’d see if the British Museum wanted to display any of them, but aside from that, no, just my art class,” says Merlin, grinning, and Arthur makes a face at them. “Also, I’m not drawing pornography or anything here. You can’t even see your prick in the position you’re in. Your belly and thighs mask it quite well.”

“Hmm,” says Arthur, not because he’s unhappy with it but because it’s one of those things he’s not quite sure how to feel. What he does feel gets mixed up with how he thinks he should feel and it all muddles together and gets hard to make sense of. He and Merlin have been dating for a few months now, and Arthur’s a bit heavier than he was before then, and both of those things make him happy, except that they’re both things that he was brought up to feel bad about, and — well, it’s all very complicated. Morgana’s been going on about seeing a therapist, but he hasn’t quite warmed up to that yet. He’s not against it, but he wants to at least try to figure out how he feels about this stuff himself before trying to explain it to someone else.

“Let me finish some details on your legs, at least,” says Merlin. “Then you can move around a bit if you want.”

Arthur holds still for a few more minutes, until Merlin nods and says, “All right then, have a stretch.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Arthur stretches his arms over his head and slips down from the window seat where he’s been perched and tugs his boxers back on. His belly flops over the waistband, and his thighs rub together as he strides toward Merlin and bundles them into his arms.

“Sorry I’m a bit of a shit model,” he murmurs into their ear. “I’m still getting used to — all this. Being comfortable with myself.”

Merlin reaches round to Arthur’s hips. “I know. You’re doing fine. Nobody’s confident their first time modeling nude. Well, practically nobody. I’ve got a mate who probably would be, but he’s an outlier.”

Arthur kisses the back of his neck. “That must be the Gwaine I’ve heard so much about?”

“Of course.” Merlin turns in Arthur’s arms so they’re facing each other. They’ve got a smear of charcoal across their cheekbone, another across the bridge of their nose. Arthur smiles and rubs at it but only succeeds in smearing it further. “Trust me, you’re all right. Nobody in class will think twice about it. Your body’s just another body.”

“Mmm, you know how to flatter a man.”

“I mean to them!” Merlin laughs, ruffling Arthur’s hair. “I’m quite fond of it. At the top of my list, it is.”

“What a relief,” teases Arthur. “Can I see what you’ve got so far?”

Merlin hesitates. “Will that be good for you?”

“I think so. If you take me through it, show me what you see.”

“All right then.” They turn Arthur toward the canvas on the easel, and at first Arthur isn’t quite sure who he’s looking at. The shape of the body in charcoal is round, belly spilling onto thighs, thighs thick and spreading against the nubbly shading of vegan sheepskin. His arms, too, are thick, his chin soft — 

“Your shoulders,” says Merlin, tracing a finger just above the canvas. “You’re strong here and here, down your arms. You can see your muscle tone, still, even though you’re softer. You have a little dimple at your back here, but of course you can’t see it from this angle. That spot where your belly folds over your hip, oh — it’s the softest bit of your skin, that. Sometimes you hook one of your legs over mine when we’re sleeping and it makes me feel so safe and held, the weight of you. Look, you can see the definition in your thigh, what’s muscle and what’s fat. You’ve got those sweet little love handles here, and that arse! It’s perfect, love, I could write sonnets.” He turns to kiss Arthur’s cheek. “What do you think?”

“I like it,” says Arthur, and part of him is still surprised to hear that he means it. “You’ve got me posed like The Thinker here when I don’t know if I’m all that, but I like how you see me. I look — like a person.”

“Of course you do,” says Merlin. They squeeze Arthur’s upper arm gently. “Sorry to be the one to remind you, love, but you are a person.”

“Yeah, well,” says Arthur. “Still getting used to that, aren’t I.”

Merlin picks up the charcoal, frowns at the drawing, and adds a couple of light lines at the joint of Arthur’s left elbow, his forearm. “What was wrong there?” Arthur asks in mock disbelief, and Merlin laughs in spite of himself. 

“Oh, just got the proportions slightly off. You’re not that pointy. You’re quite solid, it’s nice.”

“Won’t be wasting away on you anytime soon,” says Arthur, jiggling his doughy belly. “Speaking of, I’m starving. All this sitting around nude’s working up an appetite.”

Merlin grins. “I’ve got some more of that cake you like, from the Japanese bakery. Tea with it?”

“Yes, please.” Merlin’s apartment isn’t large — a glorified studio, with a bed that’s more blankets and pillows than mattress strewn mere meters from the small squared-off horseshoe of counter and stovetop that counts as his kitchen — but still, Arthur pads after him, unwilling to be too far away. For as cold as slender, waifish Merlin always is, he emanates a sort of golden warmth like all his candles, and it’s magnetic. Arthur feels like he’s always pulled a little bit in his direction. 

“Could you do me in a few different poses?” he asks, suddenly bold, as Merlin fills the kettle and takes the strawberry cream cake from their tiny refrigerator. “I like seeing myself through your eyes.”

“Sure,” says Merlin, and if they’re surprised, they do a good job of hiding it. “What d’you have in mind?”

Arthur shrugs, sticking his hand out and snagging a glob of cream from the cake plate. Merlin bats his hand away, and Arthur makes a show of sucking the cream from his finger. 

“Ah,” says Merlin knowingly, leaning back against the counter and crossing their arms over their chest. “Pinup, right? Silk stockings and heels, maybe a corset?”

It’s the sort of foolish thing Arthur would have never allowed himself six months ago, the sort of whim that would have felt almost dangerous to indulge. “If that’s your vision,” he says grandly. “Just tell me how you want me.”

Merlin digs his sketchbook from his threadbare satchel and perches on the counter. “Go lie on the bed,” he instructs, and Arthur flops down, legs spread a bit more saucily than he’d planned, belly drooping forward over his waistband. He rests a hand on it for good measure, as if he’s proud of it. He is proud of it. He’s let himself go. He’s let go, he’s found himself. It all muddles up. It’s okay.

Merlin sketches quickly, like they’re racing the teakettle, and although Arthur had started the pose with an affectedly serious look he’d meant to be funny, he’s grinning by the time the kettle begins whistling on the stove. 

“Lovely,” says Merlin, setting down their charcoal. “Come and see while I get the tea.”

Arthur hauls himself up. Where the other portrait is tasteful, stoic, this one is — well, he’s glad he put his boxers back on, for one thing. His plump thighs are splayed without a care, his belly spilling round and soft, front and center. Merlin’s captured the puffy swells of his chest, where his pecs have never had much definition and now have even less, the little bulges of fat at the tops of his arms. His grin puts the soft cup of his double chin on display, the round apples of his cheeks, but he can’t stop staring at it. He looks like he’s just heard the best joke in the world. 

“Can I have this one?” he asks as Merlin bustles back with their hands full of mugs and cake plates balanced on their thin forearms. Arthur takes one of each and sinks on the squashy futon couch near the window, shoving aside a mound of throw blankets to make room next to him. “If you don’t need it for class, that is.”

“Sure,” says Merlin, feeding him a bite from his own slice of cake. The one they’ve cut for Arthur is much thicker than their own, but Arthur digs in gamely. “Want to frame it, put it in your entryway?”

Arthur laughs around a mouthful of cake. “And terrify everyone who enters my apartment with my raw sex appeal? No, thanks. I don’t know if I’m quite there yet.”

“Ah, I forgot to add the stockings and corset,” says Merlin, tipping his head against Arthur’s shoulder. “There’s still time.”

“Nah,” says Arthur, sipping his tea. “I like it the way it is, actually. I like it quite a lot.”

[universitysunflowers]

I rewatched Merlin for the first time in years and collected my thoughts.

Merlin was such a baby in the first season I forget just how tiny and innocent he was.

The number of times Merlin has been suspected of witchcraft and then got out of it is so hilarious like yea here’s this actual wizard but don’t worry he’s been cleared of all charges nothing to worry about here haha

accused by the witchfinder

sentenced to death as old man sorcerer

straight up confessing to Uther in order to save Gwen

Gaius is to old for this

Sir Leon puts up with so much shit from the Pendragon family

Somebody please give him a vacation he does not get paid enough for this (having to tell his boss that he married a troll was a real low point you can see him losing the will to live)

He's running on three hours of sleep and six cups of coffee

Corrie guard commander Fox reincarnated as a knight of Camelot (working for a maniacal tyrant in the most dramatic political court the world has ever seen will take a lot out of you)

King Cenred is the medieval embodiment of the King of Hybern like that is exactly how I imagine him when I read ACOTAR (Tom Ellis, as always, was a great casting choice)

Freya deserved better Ik she had to die to keep the Excalibur storyline going but she could have been such a great character (merlin was so sad bring his gf back poor baby)

Lancelot my wholesome baby you are to precious for this world you deserved so much better

I can't explain it but I just know Gwaine would have done well on book tok

Ok I know Morgana was a terrible queen and burned the crops but honestly props to her for paying attention to the paperwork

I can’t tell if Agravaine looked at Morgana like a daughter or if he was falling in love with her and honestly both are very disturbing to me.

Aithusa is the most adorable dragon look at his little face Ik he gets attached to Morgana but seriously I can’t not love him.

seeing him so beaten and abused is so sad please get him some help

We should have seen more of him with Merlin

How Kilgharra hasn't cooked Merlin like a costco roast chicken is beyond me, this dragon must have some sort of immortality driven godlike patience in order to put up with that boy as long as he has.

Gaius please get a hair cut

I’m a few episodes into season five and I hit that point where I know what’s coming and it’s making me not want to finish the show. I don’t want to but I feel like I should.

I crapped out. I made it to the episode where Gwen uses the stable boy to try and kill Arthur and then never finished the season. I knew this was going to happen I haven't made it all the way through the series in years. If I ever make it through the end of season five again I'll be sure to give my thoughts but for now I've fallen back into a Gossip Girl rewatch.

Sometimes I forgot to write things then wrote it down later so it might be out of order but whatever enjoy my musings.

[the-pen-pot]

Gwaine chortled as Percival tucked a silver coin next to his plate. 'Again?'

'Again,' he acknowledged mournfully. 'I thought you were exaggerating.'

'He was.' Leon spoke from where he sat to Gwaine's left, only for a pained expression to twitch across his face. Duty and honour meant the Knight Commander appeared to live in a happy world of denial, but even he could not ignore the evidence playing out at the High Table.

Gwaine ran his gaze along its length, not caring about the visiting nobles or Uther in his finery. Even Morgana, as lovely as ever, could not hold his attention for more than an appreciative moment. He was too busy watching Arthur and Merlin, who in theory were murmuring among themselves, but in practice were sharing some of the most prolonged, intense, indecent eye contact he had ever had the pleasure to witness.

'How have I never noticed?' Lancelot mused from the opposite side of the table. Feasts always started out with everyone facing towards the centre of the room, but it always dissolved into disarray as the evening went on. He and Elyan sat straddling the bench across from Gwaine so that, technically, their backs weren't to the High Table, but it meant they could all cluster together, rather than passing the conversation back and forth along a row.

'Because you're too busy making the same eyes at my sister,' Elyan teased, guffawing when Lancelot gave a quiet, wistful sigh.

'Lancelot's looking respectfully,' Gwaine pointed out with a grin. 'There's nothing respectful about that. They look like they want to –'

'Quiet.' Leon's warning was fond and friendly, but it was one to heed. The court, loud and raucous as they were in that moment, still had ears, and Camelot's rumour mill was vicious. Not that it needed any help from Gwaine. Anyone who cared to look would see their prince staring at his manservant like he was trying to work out the quickest way to get him naked and spread out under him.

'Well, they do.' Gwaine shrugged, grinning into his cup. 'Don't know why they don't put each other out of their misery.'

'How do you know they haven't... you know?' Percival asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

'Too much tension,' he replied. 'It's a miracle they're not setting things on fire, looking at each other like that.

Elyan let out a pained sigh as he rubbed at the bruise on his shoulder from that morning's training. 'Arthur carries a lot of frustration into the duelling ring, if you know what I mean.'

They all winced at that, because he wasn't wrong. Arthur was still the best of them, and he was a punishing taskmaster.

'Maybe one of us should interfere?' Gwaine mused. 'You know, give them a nudge in the right direction?'

'Absolutely not. Leave them alone, all of you.' There was more than courteous respect in Leon's voice. Something thrummed, urgent, beneath his words. He picked up his cup and took a drink. 'They'll get where they're going in their own time. Not before.'

Gwaine sighed, setting his goblet on the table and spreading his hands in surrender. 'If you say so.'

'Some things can't be rushed. Especially not love.'

That made everyone pause, all of them giving Leon a sideways look before, slowly but surely, turning their attention back to Arthur and Merlin.

Leon was a practical man, not often prone to flights of romantic fancy. Maybe that's what made Gwaine search a little deeper and realise that he was right. If it was just about what was in their breeches, Arthur and Merlin would have been at it like rabbits years ago. Instead, their hearts had got involved somewhere along the way.

Maybe it was when Arthur had defied his father to gather his knights to him, indifferent to their lack of so-called nobility. Perhaps it was when the secret of Merlin's magic had come to light, confessed to his closest friends. Or maybe it had always been there, right from the very first day.

Either way, neither one of them would be the man they were today without the other's presence. If not for Merlin, Arthur would still be an arrogant, bratty prince, too wrapped up in himself and the lessons of his father to be the king Camelot needed. Without Arthur, Merlin would never have found his purpose. He'd have been forced to drift through the shadows of a half-life, always hiding, all the power that was his to command and nothing to feed it but his own loneliness.

The gods knew how that might have ended. Arthur would probably have become like his father, harsh and cold. For his part, Merlin may well have ended up as barmy as the other sorcerers they found, drunk on power and lacking in compassion, filled with nothing but hatred for a world that reviled him.

Instead, they brought out the best in each other. Together, they were the fulcrum on which the scales of Camelot's future hung. They were the ones who would tip the balance from greed and corruption. They'd rewrite laws and peel back decades of hardship, not just for the kingdom, but for each other. He was pretty sure they'd lay the whole world at each other's feet, given the chance.

Gwaine picked up his goblet again, letting his gaze sweep around the room as if seeing it for the first time. Already there were subtle changes. Normally the tables would be groaning beneath the burden of their bounty, but for once there were signs of moderation. While some lords were deep in their cups, loud and boisterous, others spoke companionably with each other, their expressions intent and lit with a hope that had not been there a year ago.

Uther may be present – living still – a man made of shadows and resentment, but he was no longer the one to whom the court turned. Gwaine knew how these games were played. He'd been noble once.

Now, people went to Arthur for help. They spoke to him, quietly, of their concerns, and he was not the only one. Maybe Merlin was nothing more than the prince's manservant, but the councillors listened when he spoke. They respected him. Maybe they, too, could see the future that awaited them.

One with two good men ruling side by side, rather than a tyrant standing alone.

'Love?' he asked, his voice little more than a murmur. 'Yeah, I can see that.'

'And so will Uther, if he looks closely,' Lancelot warned, all trace of his amusement fled. He stared at the King like he might an enemy on the battlefield, all anger and dread. 'He'll try and put a stop it.'

'Then we don't give him the chance.' Gwaine shrugged, draining his goblet and setting it aside, feeling his resolve settle in him. 'We keep him busy and let those two get on with it.'

'You think they'll admit how they feel?' Elyan asked.

Gwaine raised an eyebrow as Arthur leaned in to gain his father's attention, no doubt making his excuses for the night. He spoke quickly and respectfully, but Gwaine didn't miss the way that, when Uther nodded, Arthur cast a slow, hot look in Merlin's direction, nor that Merlin returned it, full of promise.

'Maybe sooner than you think.'

They watched them go, and not even Leon bothered to hide his subtle grin. Gwaine returned it with one of his own and wondered if they were all thinking of the future they hoped to one day witness.

He'd lived in bitter, corrupted courts. He'd seen first-hand the hardships that the powerful could rain down on the helpless, and he had promised himself he would never be part of it again. Yet he could see, with a clarity any seer would envy, how the world Arthur and Merlin would build together would be different – better. Not only a powerful citadel and a mighty throne, but a prosperous, peaceful kingdom that anyone could call home.

And Gwaine, who had never stayed in one place for long, would be happy to do just that.

[uniasus]

Whumptober - Day 19 - BBC Merlin

This is part larger fill that's already on Ao3 if you wanna read the whole thing.

-----

“Catmor can’t see him,” Arthur whispers, and the secret Arthur thinks they all know but won’t voice haunts his sentence.  

Merlin tried to hide the impact the collar has on him, and he’s been doing a good job. But he stays too close to the Camelot knights and they all noticed the way he struggled while wearing it. A struggle the other slaves – temporary or not – aren’t sharing. Merlin’s reaction is unique, and the answer came to Arthur the second night as he watched Merlin sleep. 

The collar looked like jewelry, but it was iron.  

Not pure. Too much gold had been pressed into, or some other ore in its forging. But enough. He’d whispered it to Leon and Gwaine just that morning, a simple statement of fact. “There’s a chunk of iron in the collar.” 

It took Gwaine longer to catch on, but when he did, he simply nodded. Way more accepting than Arthur’s light night musing, or Leon’s pressed lips.  

Iron is known to have properties that only harm one type of creature.  

If Catmor knows, Arthur has no clue, but for all that magic hasn’t been a topic of conversation the past three days, there is a dearth of it in Midden. Catmor seems smart enough, or at least his backers are, to know most kingdoms in the Isles don’t approve of magic. He could be building affinity between Midden and the other Five Kingdoms, only to bring sorcerers from across the sea to launch an attack next year. Or he could truly see no place for magic in his kingdom.  

Either way, he doesn’t want him to find out about Merlin. Nor any of the other kingdom’s emissaries.  

“If you leave this room for breakfast,” Gwaine snarls, “Merlin will have to be at your side, collared. We don’t know how much he’ll recover tonight, but he’ll sure as hell need more than a night’s sleep.” 

“He didn’t eat supper,” Arthur confesses. “I tried to sneak him something at the feast, but I don’t think he noticed.” 

“No,” says Leon. He reaches for Merlin’s boots and pulls them off.  

Arthur watches Leon and Gwaine make Merlin comfortable, not able to allow himself to touch the other man. It feels wrong. Arthur is supposed to protect Merlin, keep him safe, and he is failing. He has no right to help settle the man.  

[witchthewriter]

What music do you think the knights of camelot and merlin would listen to? like if they had spotifys what would they be filled with? this is such a random thought I had omg im so sorry but id love to hear your thoughts!

I love this question!

・Merlin, Gwaine and Lancelot are diehard Whitney Houston fans

・Unholy by Sam Smith would definitely be in Arthur's and Gwaine's playlists

・They ALL love Ms Jackson by Outkast. It could probably be their group song - like when girls get excited in the club and all look at each other when their song comes on

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧:

・He would LOVE Fleetwood Mac, especially Rhiannon and Dreams. He would turn that sh*t up and dance around the room with his eyes closed, absolutely vibing

・Kate Bush!!! Running Up That Hill!!!

・Also loves Greta Van Fleet, especially their song Heat Above

・His music taste is very indie, pop-rockesque

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫:

・Kings of Leon, would blush when he first heard Sex on Fire but absolutely fall in love with their 'Come Around Sundown' album

・Loves House of the Rising Sun but the cover by Muse

・The Arctic Monkeys. He would have their album AM, 24/7. It drives Merlin insane

𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧:

・Really likes Leonard Cohen, particularly

・One of his favourite songs is O' Children” by Nick Cave. Another is Hoist That Rag by Tom Waits

・Leon likes music that touches the part of him that he doesn't show. The deep part, the emotional part.

・LOVES MITSKI!!!! Even though Mitski talks about women's issues, Leon can feel her through the music. He feels the exact emotion that Mitski does

𝐆𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞:

・ABBA he would die anytime Dancing Queen came on. Like do this lil squeal and pull Merlin onto the dancefloor

・Loves Kylie Minogue's Spinning Around - would totally make up a dance for it

・Lana Del Rey! Oh my god he would so romanticise himself when he listens to her music

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐭:

・This could be argued but I kinda feel like he'd love heavy metal. Like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Led Zepplin

・Would LOVE the band Idles, especially Never Fight A Man With A Perm

・Is strongly against the fact that Elvis stole a lot of songs from the black community. Elyan showed him Big Mama Thornton's original of Hound Dog and he nearly transcended when he listened to it

𝐄𝐥𝐲𝐚𝐧:

・Destiny Child - can sing Say My Name word for word. Literally has perfect timing.

・Loves loves loves soulful, passionate music that has a lot of history or a story behind it

・Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Stanton

・Labrinth; Yeah I Fcken Did It & All For Us

・Double Trouble by Otis Rush. I think Elyan would love the electric guitar, the saxophone, but I also think he'd be really good at playing an instrument?? I'm thinking the drums or maybe even piano. Like a headcanon that his father or mother made him learn it when he was young, and he hated it but later on in life it's useful

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥:

・He would love movie soundtracks/scores. Like Flying with Mother by John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon) and Dance of the Druids by Bear McCreary. He would have so much knowledge about movie scores that it shocks the other knights

・Tame Impala's One More Hour

・El Tango De Roxanne

[merlinbingo]

July is over and done, which means it's time for another one of these round up thingies.

Things were a bit quieter last month, but that's okay! We all need a bit of downtime now and again (or, for some of us, a month spent furiously working on our ACBB works because we started writing it in 2016 and were absolutely determined that this was the year we finished the thing).

Of the 41 fills people created, 34 were fic, 5 were art, one person created a lovely artwork-poem combo, and another wrote and performed a song!

In terms of ships, Merlin/Arthur are again the most popular (19 fills), followed by gen (nine fills). Merlin/Leon hit their personal best with four fills, coming in joint third with Merlin/Lancelot. Merlin/Arthur/Gwaine got two fills, and then Merlin/Gwaine, Arthur/Gwen and Gwaine/Lancelot all got one.

But enough numbers - on to the main event! You'll find the July fills hidden below the cut, sorted by ship and then by rating. Remember to check out the warnings, and practice self-care before clicking on anything that might upset you!

Gen/no ship

Chaotic duo by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: General audiences Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: Merlin & Morgana Friendship (Merlin), Good Morgana (Merlin), Morgana Knows about Merlin's Magic (Merlin) ,BAMF Merlin (Merlin), Crack Summary: Where Merlin ends up helping Morgana with her magic and they become some kind of chaotic magic heroes duo but with a bit of a plot twist

Revenge is Best Served Cold by demitimelord42 Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: friendship, revenge, but in a besties kinda way Summary: What better way to get back at your friend than to serve them something cold?

And Then There Were None by demitimelord42 Rating: General audiences Warnings: Major character death Major tags: hurt no comfort, angst, major character death, but canon compliant character death Summary: Merlin says goodbye to Lancelot

The Babysitter Swap (The Aithusa Just Wants To Have Fun Remix) by willowsmarika Rating: General audiences Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: shirtless gwaine, tiny aithusa, tarot card Summary: Aithusa had enough of Lancelot's protectiveness, she wants a fun babysitter for once. Enter Gwaine, who even manages to loose his shirt during the day, because why not?! And it's Gwaine...

Safe Here 'Til Morning by huniths-muse Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: lullabies, emotional hurt/comfort, sung by the author Summary: Hunith sang Merlin a lullaby when he had trouble sleeping. When Arthur has trouble sleeping, Merlin sings him his own version of it

Run, little boy by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: General audiences Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: Nerd Merlin (Merlin), Alternate Universe - Modern: No Powers, Gwen & Merlin Friendship (Merlin), Merlin & Morgana Friendship (Merlin), Alternate Universe - High School Summary: After applying for college, Merlin has to have at least one mark in PE. He isn't happy about it. Fortunately, he has his two best friends with him

Something that matters more than anything else ~ chapter 2: Merlin by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: Teen Warnings: Major character death Major tags: Lancelot Dies (Merlin), Protective Lancelot (Merlin), Minor Gwen/Lancelot (Merlin), POV Lancelot (Merlin), Lancelot & Merlin Friendship (Merlin) Summary: The veil. Lancelot's decision

bitter is the antidote by lit-in-thy-heart Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Canon Divergence, Merlin's Magic Revealed, Injury, Jealous Gwaine, Self-Isteem Issues Summary: The first hiccup in Merlin's plan to save Gwen from the flames by aging himself was not being able to undo it as easily. The second hiccup was Gaius not showing up with the potion to do it for him. This third consequence feels less like a hiccup and more like a soul-crushing revelation. Well, fourth. Ending up on a lit pyre is a rather significant consequence.

Arthur/Gwen

The Things I’ve Done by s0mmerspr0ssen Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Season/Series 05, Golden Age, Everyone Lives, Morgana Dies Summary: When Arthur learns more about the meaning behind Emrys, the past comes back to haunt him.

Merlin/Arthur/Gwaine

They Ought To Be by paceprompting Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Established Relationship, Getting Together, Polyamory, Pining, Gratuitous Smut Summary: Arthur and Merlin invite Gwaine into their bed for one night during the Midsummer celebration. One night, which quickly turns into many. And the more their life expands to include Gwaine in it, the more the three of them have to figure out what it means to love another person as much as they loved one.

i wanna touch your body, so fucking electric by Saurus Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern Era, rockstar merlin, Drummer Gwaine, manager Arthur, merlin has tattoos Summary: Arthur loves his job as the band manager for Emrys and the Knights. He loves the work and the guys he works with. The only problem is two very distracting members of the band who seem intent on teasing Arthur to within an inch of his life.

Merlin/Gwaine

sit by me (the everything seems alright remix) by eachpeachpearplum Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Fluff, established relationship, bathtubs, storytelling, hair washing Summary: "Tell me a story," Merlin says, tilting his head back further, far enough to meet Gwaine's gaze for a moment before he closes his eyes. "I like your stories."

Gwaine/Lancelot

it's easier with my eyes closed by Sage_Owl Rating: Teen Warnings: Major character death Major tags: Canon divergence, ghosts, afterlife, tenderness, hopeful ending Summary: All Gwaine remembered was that he was fighting to save someone’s life.

Merlin/Lancelot

Tell me a story by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: General audiences Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: Modern Era, Lancelot & Merlin Friendship (Merlin), Supportive Lancelot (Merlin), Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic Summary: Merlin didn't chose to wait Arthur for all his life. He choose to live, to make experiences he could tell his friends about. He couldn't make best decision.

there was only one bed :0 by kairennart Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: digital art Summary:

The Little Merman by Stelle Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: fanart, merfolk Summary: The little mermaid au

so easy, and the words so sweet by eachpeachpearplum Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: only one bed, fluff, get together, canon era Summary: "You can't sleep there!" Lancelot says, his protest emphatic but very sincere. "I'm not going to take your bed from you." Or: There's only one bed, and neither Merlin nor Lancelot is willing to let the other sleep on the floor.

Merlin/Leon

Ice skater au by kingani Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: merleon, merlin x leon Summary:

The Safety You Bring by thetreeofwillow Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Tenderness, Asexual Relationship, Angst, Comfort, Bathing/Washing Summary: After the events of 'The Coming of Arthur' Merlin and Leon share a quiet moment together in the tub.

It Can't Continue by thetreeofwillow Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Pining, Mutual Pining, Gwaine POV, Dramatic Gwaine, Slight Crack Summary: It’s happening. Yet again. Once more the Knights of Camelot are out on patrol with their king and once more, they are being assaulted with the full force of Merlin and Leon’s bloody pining. It’s not even funny anymore, and this is coming from Gwaine. Now it’s just frustrating.

Merlin/Arthur

Wait for Me by Seravia Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Arthur Returns, Post-Canon, Angst, Happy Ending, Getting Together Summary: “I have a way into Avalon, Merlin. For you.” -- Merlin journeys to Avalon to plead for Arthur’s return. The Sidhe agree to let them go, but there is one condition. Merlin must lead the way, and he can’t turn around to make sure Arthur is following. Not unless he wants Arthur to be sent back to Avalon forever. Based loosely on the musical Hadestown, and the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Greed by Robin_Fai Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: longing, immortality, art, poetry Summary: Art of Glastonbury Tor with a poem.

heaven is not fit to house a love like you and I by kairennart Rating: General audiences Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: angst, camelot remix, digital art Summary:

Dogs and owners by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: General audiences Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: POV Merlin (Merlin), Pining Merlin (Merlin), Pining Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Alternate Universe - Non-Magical, Modern Era Summary: Merlin has a dog, Aithusa, and he doesn't like to talk to other dog owners. Then Arthur made his appearence.

Splitting the Road by queerofthedagger Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Merlin's Magic Revealed, Captivity, BAMF Merlin, Hurt/Comfort Summary: Merlin and Arthur get kidnapped. Unfortunately for their captors, it really is a tremendously stupid idea to put magic itself into cold iron.

magical mishaps by radioactivesunflower Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: merlin's magic does it own thing, smitten arthur pendragon, idiots in love, romantic comedy, Summary: merlin's up the nile, arthur is trying his best and Will just want's to play dungeons and dragons. staring a love spell that didn't exist in the first place.

You're My One & Only by TrebleMaker07 Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Episode: s01e04 The Poisoned Chalice Summary: In a world where magic doesn't exist, soulmates and soulbonds are the exception. What will become of Merlin when he gets deathly ill? Will Arthur save him in time before the unthinkable happens?

The Life and Death (and life again, and death again, and life again) of poor Hud Merlin- chapter 1 by tora-the-cat Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Pre-cannon, immortal Merlin, Good Sibling Morgana, pre-meeting Summary: Merthur soulmate death timer au

every saint has a past and every sinner has a future by Saurus Rating: Teen Warnings: Major character death Major tags: Modern AU, Mob Family, Eventual happy ending, blood and injury, slow build Summary: The Pendragon crime family is the only life that Merlin has known. He does what he's told, no questions asked. But now he has a personal mission that he must complete without the Dragons knowledge. He has to save Arthur Pendragon's life.

The Hopeful Conclusion (the 'The Debate' Remix) by queerofthedagger Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Modern with Magic, Protests, First Kiss Summary: Almost exactly one year after the nightmare of a debate, the trial against the assailants finally takes place. Outside the court building, a protest in support of magic users is held, with Merlin Emrys and Arthur Pendragon at the head of it. As it turns out, the day has more than one surprise in store.

I wish I'd known then by Zaharya Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Roommates, Feelings Realization, Pining, Getting Together, Heartstopper Summary: When Gwen becomes obsessed with a new Netflix show called Heartstopper and makes Arthur and Merlin promise to watch it, Arthur thinks the worst that’ll happen is having to suffer through four hours of cheesy romance. He isn’t prepared for Nick and Charlie to be, well, *them*. Them, but *together*. Or: the one where Arthur realises how things could have gone between him and Merlin.

Candere by Polomonkey Rating: Teen Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Hurt/comfort, Merlin's magic revealed, touch-starved, pining, canon era Summary: Four times Merlin attempted to get a hug from Arthur, and the one time Arthur gave it willingly.

me for me, you for you by Sage_Owl Rating: Mature Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics, canon divergence, good Morgana, secrets, sexual slavery Summary: Arthur Pendragon is the Golden Alpha Prince of Camelot, and he's been keeping a deadly secret since he was sixteen.

I know what happened last summer - Honeymoon by HadrianPeverellBlack Rating: Mature Warnings: Choose not to use archive warnings Major tags: Female Merlin (Merlin), Smart Merlin (Merlin), POV Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Caring Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Honeymoon Summary: Merlin and Arthur just got married. Clearly, the honeymoon shouldn't be chose by Merlin. Arthur should have thought before.

life for you has been less than kind by Saurus Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Arthur knows about Merlin's magic, Canon era, Merlin has scars, simp Arthur Summary: Merlin finally shows himself fully to Arthur.

Not Our First Time Around by Seravia Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Time Travel, Established Relationship, Threesome, PWP Summary: “Arthur?” comes Merlin’s confused, slightly slurred voice. He stares at Arthur, who is standing pressed against the door, then his head whips around to face the older, bearded Arthur behind him. “Am I losing it or are there two of you?” Or: Arthur finds himself in the future, and his older self teaches him exactly how to please Merlin.

The Best Thing To Ever Happen (Is An Allergic Reaction) by SauraUnderscore Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Major tags: Allergic Reaction to Food; Hurt Merlin; Worried Arthur; Magic Revealed; Scars Revealed; Arthur Knows about Merlin magic; Fluff and Smut; Explicit Sex; 69 (sexual position) Summary: While on a diplomatic visit to Nemeth, Merlin vomits in the middle of the banquet. Could it be food poisoning? He had only tried a bite of one of the plates served and nobody else had fallen ill.

Key to Freedom by s0mmerspr0ssen Rating: Explicit Warnings: Rape/non-con Major tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Sexual Slavery, Non-Con, Dub-Con, Hurt/Comfort Summary: Upon the advice of his uncle, Lord Agravaine, a young and inexperienced King Arthur is ready to negotiate a peace treaty with King Cenred. The King of Escetir gifts him a sex slave to mark the occasion: Merlin. But not all is as it seems...

[drummingncise]

ROLEPLAY HISTORY!

The rules are simple! Post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. Then tag ten people to do the same (if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people). Please repost, don’t reblog!

CURRENT MUSES:

The Master (Doctor Who)

The Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who)

Harry Osborn (Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen (Marvel's Spider-Man 2 pub. Insomniac Games)

Merlin Emrys (BBC Merlin)

WANT TO WRITE:

Peter Parker (Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 1 & 2)

Wade Wilson (Deadpool 1, 2, & soon to be 3)

Sebastian Monroe (Revolution)

Miles Matheson (Revolution)

RK900 "Nines" (Detroit: Become Human & Octopunk Media's DBH fanfilms)

RK800 "Connor" (Detroit: Become Human)

Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock & Co)

HAVE WRITTEN:

A whole bunch of OCs, including Parker James

Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert/Prince Horace of the Dark Kingdom (Tangled and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure/Tangled: the Series)

Jim Moriarty (BBC Sherlock)

Leo Monroe, OC son of Sebastian Monroe (Revolution)

Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Jehan (Les Miserables)

Sir Gwaine (BBC Merlin)

Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)

Noiz (Dramatical Murder)

The Eleventh Doctor (Doctor Who)

Crowley (Good Omens TV)

WOULD WRITE AGAIN:

Leo Monroe

Sir Gwaine

Kyo Sohma

A whole bunch of OCs, including Parker James

Crowley

tagged by; i stole this from pj's blog lmao no i'm not procrastinating finishing my dane icons

tagging; @auroradicit @sclfmastery @rpwithoutlimit @inhcritance @localwebslingers @watsonjackpot @deathxproof @theresastargirl + anyone who wants to!

[freezegirl]

🍓 🥰

🍓 ↪ @himbohotel

listen all of your characters are so hecking cool! and you write so many of my favorites! like gwaine! and alec hardison! let's fucking go! (age of the geek, baby!) and hercules, of course, i think almost all of my muses have met him at this point and two of the phantoms, as well as baby larusso (sorry ant!) and chozen! you've got a whole roster of muses; each of them are from very different universes but you switch so easily, almost seamlessly, between their voices! it's a treat to watch, truly. and to read, too. i hope that we can write a bunch more in the future, across all of our respective blogs! <3

[oppulcnce]

"i don't care what they say, you and i will get out of here." Gwaine took her hand before pressing his lips along her knuckles, "They're out of their minds," he said hearing the sounds of bells and mummuring knowing they were out there having a sham trail, "are you able to walk?"

plot: feeling a "witch" hunt vibes. gwaine just wants to get your muse out after having such an unfair trail.

[eskelwolfed]

The list of muses I play out of spite towards canon and Oh No I Now Have Too Many Feelings:

Eskel, Gwain, Deidre, Renfri, Eddie, Rhea, Harwin, Laila, Remus, Amberle Elessedil.

[tiodolma]

Musings while I was making From Now On We Are Enemies

A. Merlin's unchanging appearance throughout the art and throughout the seasons compared to Morgana is so so jarring and honestly upsetting.

B. Merlin having killed more influential people than Morgana got me really depressed for a while.

I drew 16 characters in the third picture. All of these were the influential characters that died personally by both Merlin's and Morgana's hands.

Merlin killed 10 - Mary Collins, Edwin Muirden, Nimueh, Aulfric, Sophia, Cedric/Sigan, Agravaine, SIdhe King, Pixie, and Aredian the WItchfinder.

Morgana killed 5 - Tauren, Elyan (not intended), Gwaine (left him to die), Alator (the only one that was truly killed deliberately), Morgause (as sacrifice).

tbf Morgana in the story killed more but most of those were extras and footmen (guards, and etc.). and not necessarily characters whom the audiences have gained emotional attachment to. Morevoer we can't rule out Merlin killing innumerable bandits and faceless enemies either.

Both Merlin and Morgaba weren't innocent in what they did.

ALSO Merlin and Morgana both killed Uther. nuff said.

Another thing

C. I realized that if I moved the axe to a position above merlin and morgana in "I'm just a man on the balcony"

It's like the symbol of the magic ban, of the execution is gonna cut them both apart from their shared spot on Morgana’s window. Isn't that poignant and true to the story, then? Despite both fighting for their freedom, Merlin and Morgana's main point of contention in the story was always whether to keep Uther and Arthur, the steadfast symbols of anti-magic bigotry, alive. That was the axe that divided them. And at the end they both forgot that their freedom was what they initially fought for. The fight for magic was forgotten and the result was them not getting the freedom, happiness and lives they both wanted.

tbh i didnt intend for this but i am pleasantly surprised.

[pnkb1tch-archive]

📖 + in a land of myth and a time of magic … merlin 🤲🏻

BUGGGG don't even get me started...so i've written gwen before and that was good fun, i'm a big fuck off bbc merlin stannie and angel coulby's portrayal of the character will always be close to my heart. to be honest, i've thought about writing basically every character from the main cast, save like...uther LMAO. but morgana, arthur, and merlin himself are all characters so near and dear to my heart that i cherish so so much...i think i could have a lot of fun writing any of them.

main cast aside, i could see myself maybe writing gwaine or a more lore-centric nimueh/lady of the lake

send me 📖 + a fandom, and i'll tell you a muse/muses from this fandom i've thought about writing

[euphoriabled]

🎲ooo!

SEND ME “🎲“ OR “randomize” and I will put all of our muses into a random list generator to pair them up ! // Source.

THE GENERATOR HAS SPOKEN !! ( I chose the first 5 !! )

Jonathan Harker && Victoria Everglot

Hercules && Galinda Upland

Gwaine && Envy Adams (CURSED.)

Prince Adam && Toshiko Sato (vastly different muses who both admire intelligence?)

Fred Jones && Penny-Lane Jefferson