#Arthur and Merlin

[emrys-is-merlin]

Is anyone still genuinely in the Merlin fandom? I want to start making edits or wtv- but I don’t even know if anyone would interact with it😭

[starchaser45]

I don't fucking understand why didn't Merlin or gaius tell Arthur about the pendant like couldn't gaius go

" oh sire we found this pendant around the King's neck and it has transforming magic on it so every healing spell is reversed so it's not the old man's fault "

Like is that so hard to do AUUGGHHHHHHHHHHH

[emberheartbeat]

Them basically

(Click the image to see it in better quality)

[lalluviadeanoche]

Merlin *on four hrs of sleep for the past week, dirty from a fight, definitely has a concussion and at least two untreated injuries, one of which he’s bleeding out from, leans over on someone’s shoulder*: Arthur has no idea I have magic!

Arthur *still blushing from Merlin leaning on him and is now very confused w his emotions*: YOU HAVE MAGIC?!

Merlin: oh… sorry.

Merlin *moves to Lancelot’s shoulder*: Arthur has no idea I have magic!

Arthur: I can still hear you!! You’re right next to me and you’re yelling!!

The knights:… you didn’t know??

[cynthia39100]

Merlin rewatch -- S3E4: Gwaine

Turns out Arthur's face isn't that favourable in the local tavern lol. See, this is the right amount of embarrassment and teasing you put on Arthur to get a laugh. No one's character is hurt.

Merlin was so smug and so proud of his prince 🥰🥰

Love that Arthur still watched out for Merlin while busy getting beaten up.

Merlin seemed to be enjoying the attention Arthur got in the background. He liked seeing Arthur being admired.

I hate that Arthur actually hit Merlin with a metal cup and Merlin yelped in pain... why would you do that when Bradley was doing that gorgeous face? The fond exasperation mixed with some sadness because Merlin didn’t share his excitement for the melee. Bradley really did his best to cancel the character digress the script did to Arthur.

Tell Arthur about the swords for god's sake! At least then he would go in prepared. He believed Merlin in Valiant's episode! Merlin didn't tell Arthur important things anymore...

Also, apparently using magic in the melee to save Arthur is dangerous, but it's okay to do it in front of the whole court to save Uther from a marriage to a troll? Is that right, Gaius?

I like the parallel lines, but tbh both times I'm with Arthur. Going to a local tavern doesn't seem to be a bad idea. As for the melee, Merlin didn't give Arthur any reason why it's not a good idea except that it's stupid. Of course Arthur wasn't going to listen to him.

"Look. I know you think the melee is some kind of stupid game. It's more than that."

I really like this subtle reaction Merlin had when Arthur's voice suddenly turned solemn. There's a smidge of regret, like Merlin had been wrapped in his own head and just that moment finally saw Arthur properly.

It's sweet that Arthur really wanted Merlin's understanding, to know that this stupid thing meant something to him. As for how many times Arthur had to prove himself in a fight let's not dwell on it

[S3E4] [other episodes]

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Arthur: I think Merlin’s mad at me.

Leon: What makes you say that?

Arthur: Watch.

Arthur: Hey, Merlin?

Merlin, formally: Yes, sire?

Gwaine, looking horrified: What in the five kingdoms did you do?!

[happypeachsludgeflower]

And I’m obsessed with merlin being in the trunk

[immabitqueer]

I have a hc that Arthur just picks Merlin up like a sack of flour whenever and everyone just gets used to it. I mean not a soul mentioned Arthur dragging Merlin out of the throne room in The Witch Finder. I like to imagine that that's just how they are. Merlin starts to pick a fight in the market with a neighboring kingdoms knights? Arthur has an easy solution. Throw that servant over your shoulder and walk away. Is Merlin trying to join a fight with no weapons to protect himself? As soon as your open and the other knights can handle it grab him bridle style and haul ass. Works every time. When this first started Merlin would try and fight back and squirm away but it was no use so he just goes with it now.

[in-the-tavern]

the way arthur casually walks out into his room talking to merlin butt-ass naked like this canonically proves that merlin has seen him naked multiple times...maybe he has even bathed him...

[jxmimac]

BBC’s Merlin in a nutshell

Merlin about Arthur in episode 1: this guy is the most spoilt prick I’ve even met in my life, I hate this arsehole and honestly wouldn’t care if he died this very second. Merlin about Arthur by episode 4: I love this man, would kill for this man, and will most definitely try to sacrifice my life so no harm will come to him every episode from now onwards.

[weirdnotal]

Merlin POV:

This is the crown prince, I'm his servant. He's a loveable dumb ass who I have to save all the time, but at least he's cute I guess. I don't like that I have to lie to him though

Arthur POV:

Uh, this is Merlin... I found in the trash, I can't believe my dad let me keep him, and he's not allowed around weapons cause he keeps accidentally being stabbed???? He also has absolutely no regard for his own life, so I protect him at all costs

[starchaser45]

Even while hating Arthur's guts Morgana knew he was honorable and would fight with no tricks to save his men 😭

[gldnstrngs]

when they serve gay x lesbian solidarity but they still end up being shipped 😔😔😔

[tiny-and-witchy]

[larluce]

Merlin traveling back in time to save Arthur AU but with a twist!!

Merlin makes it to the sidhes, bringing a barely breathing Arthur with him. As expected, they ask for a price and Merlin offers his life, ignoring Arthur's protests.

Sidhe1: You're inmortal you can't die

Sidhe2: And even if you could, killing you would mean killing magic itself, therefore killing the earth itself.

Merlin: (crying desperate) I don't care! Take what you need! My blood, my magic, anything! Just save him!

Sidhe1: (smiling evily) I might know just the thing.

They never tell him what are they going to take from him, but he agrees. The sidhes start the ritual, while Arthur just keeps pleading weakely

Merlin: (smiling) If I somehow don't come back-

Arthur: (crying) Stop! Merlin don't do this. Please!

Merlin: I just want you to know that I love you.

Before Arthur can answer the ritual ends and Merlin blacks out.

When he wakes up he is in his way to Camelot in his old clothes and 10 years younger. He soon discovers he's been brought back to the very first day he met Arthur. He's confused. Have the Sidhes taken from him years of his life as a price? It doesn't make sense to him, but he decides to take advantage of this to prevent some things from happening.

Time goes by and while, in general, all events are repeating, not everything is happening as he remembers. Some people arrive in his live early, like Lancelot or Gawain. And Arthur treats him better? Like he says thank you to him more often and listens to him more. Merlin thinks it’s weird, but brushes it off thinking it’s due to the changes he's been making that some things are not quite the same.

Then the day comes when he finally reveals his magic to Arthur. He cries and Arthur hugs him telling everything its okey. Nothing its going to happen to him. Shortly after however Arthur also has a confession.

Arthur: I already knew.

Merlin: What?! Since when?

Arthur: the very start.

Merlin: How? I've been careful! More careful than before!

Arthur: Because you told me before. Well, not really before, but in the future. It’s complicated.

Merlin: Wait... you are from the future too?!

They are both surprised. They thought they were alone in this and it turns out they never were. Merlin cries all over again, apologazing for everything, for failing him, for not being able to save him, but-

Arthur: You did.

Merlin: ... What?

Arthur: You did save me.

Merlin: No, the sidhes tricked me. They sent us back in time-

Arthur: It was not them who did that. It was me.

Merlin: What... what are you saying?

Turns out what the ritual really did was turn Merlin into a small tree in exchange for saving Arthur’s life. A magic tree that would grow taller and taller and never die and whose ruts would expand making magic florish in the earth forever. Arthur of course was really upset after that. He demanded the sidhes to turn Merlin back but they only told him "what's done it's done" and that all he could do was pick the tree up before the roots growed if he wanted to move it elsewhere.

Arthur put the tree in a pot and brought it back to Camelot. Everyone was devasted with the news but they were also glad their king was alive and safe. No one blamed him, but Arthur always blamed himself. He repealed the ban as soon as he could and made sure everyone knew Merlin's involvement in the battle and later the other things he find out Merlin did for Camelot through Gaius. He made an anual event and a statue in Merlin's honor. Camelot slowly but surely welcomed magic again and became the most prosperous kingdom in the land.

Merlin: Oh...I don't remember being a tree.

Arthur: Yeah, I figured.

Merlin: But you repealed the ban! That's great! Magic was free again in the-wait... so why did you do all this if everything was fine? And how did you do it?

Arthur: Everything was NOT fine Merlin. You weren't there!

Merlin: (utterly confused) I was. As a tree.

Arthur: You know what I mean! You were there but you weren't. We mourned you but you were still alive. I kept you in that pot for longer that I should have because I wanted to keep you close all the time, yet looking at you was so painful... Gwen had to scold me into finally plant you in the garden so you could grow properly. I was broken inside, while trying to rule a kingdom. I kingdom we should have ruled together from the start!

Merlin: ...

Merlin: You're telling me you somehow traveled us back in time and throw away the golden age, your dream of uniting all Albion and all you worked hard for... just because you missed me?

Arthur: And because I couldn't say it back.

Merlin: What?

Arthur: That I love you too.

NEXT PART OF THIS AU HERE -> PART 2

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Random noble who insulted Arthur within earshot of Merlin, then didn’t like the consequences: That’s it! You have insulted me for the last time!

Merlin: Wrong! I’m just getting started. You seem like the kind of person who wonders why eggs don’t taste like chicken. Make like your hairline and take a couple steps back, looking like Rumpelstiltskin’s evil twin-

Arthur, picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder: Okay, that’s enough feral time for you. Let’s go.

Merlin: *hisses at the noble as he’s being dragged away*