#Arthur Pendragon needs a hug

[lover-of-midnight]

Do Better

“What in the seven hells were you thinking Arthur?” Uther’s voice rang out through the council hall. His eyes were ablaze with anger as he glared at Arthur, for a moment he could hear a voice screaming that Arthur was trying to do the right thing.

But still, you do not show that to the peasants.

Arthur pulled himself up to his full height as he glared back. “I tried to do the right thing; our people are starving. It made sense to go hunt and take the meat to them.”  Arthur couldn’t keep the bite out of his voice.

The sudden strike brought down against Arthur’s cheek, made him blink in shock as his hand went to his cheek, he could only give Uther a disbelieving look.

“You cannot do that Arthur; they are last to be fed in a time of need.” Uther barked. “Use that head of yours, who would lead the lands if nobility were dead? Who will look after them, then?” He took a step closer, invading Arthur’s personal space.

“Who will we have to lead, if all of them are dead?” His voice was a mere whisper as he just stared at his father, before he turned around, leaving the room, eyes down as he tried to hide his cheek.

How he got back to his chambers, well he wasn’t completely sure. He trembled slightly as he sank to the floor, tears burning his eyes as anger welled into his heart. He wishes he could stand up better against Uther but knows that there is nothing he can do.

“Arthur?” The voice was warm and soft as someone sat down next to him. Before Arthur really could do or say something, he was pulled against Merlin’s chest.

Merlin hummed slightly as he just held the young prince, he could see the blooming mark and had a relatively good idea of what happened. A small smile on his face though as he thought back to how Arthur gave the people food.

How happy they were. Even now when he walked up, he had heard the whispers in the halls. The gratitude the people had.

But for now, he had his prince to focus on.

“Are you alright?” He knows that it was a slightly stupid question, but sometimes Arthur just needs a push to let everything out.

A shake against his chest as Arthur started to talk. “No, I don’t know what to do anymore. My people are suffering and when I try to help, my father just thinks I do the wrong thing. I don’t know left from right anymore. How is helping the people so wrong?” His voice broke slightly as he cast his eyes down.

“You did nothing wrong Arthur, in all honesty, you did the right thing. The people are grateful, the whispers are there. That you will be a good king for them. Because you are trying, trying to make their life a little bit better.” Merlin whispered the words as he gently ran his fingers through the red hair.

He could feel the prince slowly starting to relax against him, as they just sat in silence for a little bit.

“I have to do better,” Arthur whispered the words as he looked slightly up at Merlin, his eyes bright. His chest was tight with a desire for a better future.

“You are already doing that.” Merlin smiled down as he pressed a kiss against Arthur’s head.

Knowing that one day, the prince would be able to see what Merlin meant.

Ao3 Link

[tiredcowboyy]

sometimes I wake up In a cold sweat thinking about the idea that kilgharrah was just using merlin to get the outcome he wanted which was to end the pendragon bloodline. That he knew how it would end and that without merlin it wouldnt all occur, so he convinces him that all his decisions will help save arthur knowing damn well where it leads them.

[oleryn]

all merlin had to do to circumvent the prophecy of arthur’s death was take mordred in and turn him into a little arthur fanboy. it’s a win-win situation. merlin gets to gush about his man crush to this random ten year old and mordred gets a bunch of cool knights to love him and raise him. he’d hear about his destiny to kill arthur from someone and simply go “why the actual fuck would i do that.”

[forecast0ctopus]

i just think they shouldve gotten ONE hug where they werent enchanted or like. dying

[dollopole]

At the end of the day, Arthur is just a traumatised child, who’s also touch starved, with no family, daddy issues, repressed emotions and a broken humor.

Having said that, I need to keep him in my pocket.

He’s only tiny.

[anxiousosaurus]

I tried to write this fic last year (I think) but my phone crashed and I lost the majority of it, so never felt like working with it more, but in honor of The Day, here's some of it:

Merlin looks down at Arthur, so pale compared to the golden shine he's supposed to have.

Even his hair looks duller.

Laid flat against the sticks, the scene looks altogether too wrong. This is not even close to what Arthur deserves.

Merlin can't take the sight of it any longer, so he holds out his trembling hand, preparing to say the words to send the boat out.

But what comes out instead is a spell last used as a gift for someone else he loved.

Flower after flower blooms around Arthur, all sorts of flowers, every kind Merlin can remember from hours spent studying Gaius' books.

Their meanings in the language of flowers comes back to him, remembrance, loss, grieving.

But also, love, care, fondness.

He can't stand the thought of Arthur going without having that with him, all the love they could never speak of until it was too late.

Merlin scrubs the tears from his eyes to make sure the sight is slightly closer to what Arthur deserved, even if he would've said all the flowers were too girly.

But there has been that time he'd asked where his flowers were.

And so here they are, lovingly embracing him as Merlin never could, until the end.

Merlin sends the boat away without another word, watching it carry his king off, keeping him safe until his time to return.

[cynthia39100]

Merlin rewatch -- S1E5: Lancelot

Arthur

I never realised just how young and scared Arthur looked at his last attempt to slay the griffin.

His voice was so strained and out of tune. He almost looked like trembling. His eyes were so wide. Even the unfit helmet that I resented made him looked like a child wearing armour.

It struck me that this was his first actual suicide mission. The fight with Valiant and the quest to get the mortaeus flower were dangerous, yes, but not hopeless. But griffin could only be killed by magic according to Gaius, and there was nothing Arthur could do with that.

It almost felt like a childish act that he stormed into Lancelot's cell after the revelation of the griffin's true nature. A petty revenge for his fate of dying. He couldn't escape it, and he couldn't even bring this person who shared so many of his values and his ideals. He kept that authoritative princely voice up through the conversation, but there were still moments when his vulnerability slipped through.

The sad face he hid from the camera when saying " Lancelot you fight like a knight. And I need... Camelot need."

The broken voice with which he told Lancelot " We could not kill it."

Then he had to refuse Lancelot's pleading, despite how much he wanted to have Lancelot around, and chased him out.

Heartbreaking.

I think all of this really nicely led to that fierce outburst in the end. Demanding Uther to give Lancelot a proper title befitting to his honourable deed. Arthur himself was reluctant to fight the griffin, yet Lancelot went despite being locked up then chased out of Camelot.

But of course, Lancelot was too noble for his own good, leaving Arthur devastating...

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[ksuhi13]

Top Merlin and Arthur's hugs

Did you see that we have? We are undebatable rich, you can make yourself sure about that

[aetherdecember]

A snippet from Flipping the Coin, because I said I would share some ;) More snippets have been queued as well, so stay tuned!

…

Merlin’s hand plucked at his sleeve, insisting on getting his attention. “I have to tell you…”

Not really listening, too busy looking over his shoulder again to see if he could spot Gaius, he nearly missed the words.

“…I’m a sorcerer.”

Arthur recoiled. Only fractionally, a mere slackening of the arms, but it was enough. Blood welled up where his hands had been. A ringing filled his ears. The words didn’t make sense. Merlin didn’t know what he was saying. He was at risk of dying of blood loss, it was the only explanation for his sudden bout of madness.

Merlin, who had been watching him closely, seemed to decline faster, becoming smaller, the wound more grievous, as he sank further to the ground, his face crumpling. Whatever effervescent hope fueled him faded at Arthur’s silent rejection. “I have magic.” The words sounded more pained than anything he’d said about his injury and silent tears ran from the corners of his eyes.

[gaiussleechtank]

Arthur died believing that Merlin would at some point die too. He never knew that Merlin was immortal.

Spoilers btw for The Last of Us 01x07, but that fucking episode destroyed me and reminded me so much of our boys. It's literally them.

[chipinabag]

Whatever you do don't do what I did, but if you feel like crying for what I did. Go to Arthur Pendragon/Merlin tag, include these tags:

-arthur Pendragon/ gwen

-Unrequited love

Exclude:

-Not actually unrequited love

It's not a lot of fics but I spent the last hour and half crying. I have wasted a full box of tissues and now my face is puffy and red.

Don't do this if you aren't mentally prepared!!!!!!

[lover-of-midnight]

Forced To Stay Awake

Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category:

M/M

Fandom:

Merlin (TV)

Relationship:

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Characters:

Merlin (Merlin)

Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags:

Hurt/Comfort

Arthur Pendragon Needs a Hug (Merlin)

Worried Merlin (Merlin)

Febuwhump 2025

Day 6

Sleep Deprivation

Protective Merlin (Merlin)

Triple Drabble

Language: English

Collections: febuwhump 2025

@febuwhump

Ao3 Link

Summary:

“We will just have to wait and see. We will figure it out.” Merlin gave Arthur a small smile. “You need to get some sleep.” Merlin continued.

Arthur groaned as he slammed his head against the floor, making a small tuck sound. He closed his eyes briefly as tiredness pulled at his body. He tried to blink as he forced himself upright.

His eyes burned as he pulled his legs to his chest. He could faintly hear Merlin in the room. He would rather that he got some sleep than force him through this. It would be easier if one of them were rested.

“Arthur?” Merlin’s voice broke through the silent room. He easily sat down next to Arthur, scowling.

“What do you think is going to happen?” Arthur’s voice broke slightly. He couldn’t believe they were in his chambers, but it felt alien. As if he was in someone’s else room.

“We will just have to wait and see. We will figure it out.” Merlin gave Arthur a small smile. “You need to get some sleep.” Merlin continued.

Arthur was silent, his arms tensing up slightly. “I can’t. Knowing that you are in danger because of me.” He glanced slightly at Merlin, “I’m sorry. For this, for everything.” He swallowed the pain away. “I need to make sure they don’t come through the night.”

Merlin gently placed a hand on Arthur’s arm. “You did nothing wrong.  No one could have known that Cenred would have come so quickly. We will figure this out Arthur, I promise you.” Merlin tried to give him an encouraging smile, but both knew that it wasn’t something that would change soon.

“Go to sleep Merls. I will feel better in the morning.” Arthur gave him a tired grimace as he retrained his eyes on the door, hand on the sword.

No matter what will come, even if it is the last thing he does, he will make sure Merlin is safe.

[tiredcowboyy]

im so glad colin and bradley didnt randomly age in their appearances a whole lot throughout the show, because despite time passing arthur and merlin, though older, still hold a sense of pureness and youth to them and THAT is what kills me. Idc how old they are, theyre just kids trying their best. Idc same with morgana, she looks so young, they all do, not child like but not like an adult who knows what theyre doing.

Theyre all just kids trying their best in a world where adults are constantly telling them whats right and wrong and it breaks my heart.

Like youre telling me when arthur gets stabbed he doesnt look like just a boy? He doesnt radiate man who has has the experience of a lifetime, none of them do, theyre all just about to start their lives and yet theyre faced with the world against them.

As arthur dying in merlins arms, theyre just kids. Theyre just two boys, one whose mothers far away and the other whose fathers long gone, both trying to figure out how to live. Both stuck in situations far too mature for them. It almost feels like throughout the show an adult needs to step in, like what do you mean arthur has all this responsibility? Hes just A BOY???

Dont bc they’re literally all just kids and it makes me sad

[yoonnamjin25]

Still thinking about how ambiguous Arthur's response is.

On one hand, we can interpret it as if Arthur, once again, has lost his faith in himself as ruler of the land so he's like "actually it doesn't matter if I live or die, Camelot's situation won't change: my people will be fine either way. With or without me".

But on the other hand, he's also kind of telling Merlin that he don't letting him die and wanting to help him to save his life doesn't change the fact that he just ruined them and everything they had with all his lies and deceiving so he should stop trying to win him back with his heartfelt phrases because Arthur's stance won't change as he will keep on wanting him lo leave him alone.

On both cases, my heart ends up broken.

[ofglories]

Much like his uncle before him with Caledfwlch, Arthur tends to take naps holding Excalibur and even did the same with Caliburn. It's both a practical reason to always have his sword on hand and ready, and also because he finds Excalibur comforting to have close at hand even in his sleep.

[rnmidnm]

Touch-starved Arthur Pendragon is the only Arthur that makes sense to me.

Arthur grew up with a distant father. Also, since he was a prince, it was probably forbidden for anyone to casually touch him (patting him on the shoulder, hugging him, etc).

And then a peasant appeared who saw him for the first time and openly challenged him. Furthermore, when said peasant learnt that Arthur was a prince, he struck him with "and how long you were training to be a prat, my lord". Arthur openly gave his affection to Merlin and Merlin always gave it back. Because c'mon guys there really is no need to constantly touch your manservant and stare at him.

Merls comebacks were always the best, he kept Arthur on his toes.

Which is after all was what he really needed.