#Merlin is immortal until he's not

[justaz]

arthur is immortal in the same way merlin is immortal, he can die but he bounces back after a while. merlin putting arthurs body on a boat and sending him out onto the lake but not burning him as he did to lancelot and freya. merlin disappearing off the face of the earth, unable to go back to camelot where every stone is carved with arthur's name, every room holds the faintest echo of his laughter, the shadows cast by the flickering flames of torches match each line and curve of arthur's body which merlin had memorized after years of dressing and undressing him, wandering and lingering hands that were just casual enough to pass off as platonic.

arthur crawling out of the lake the night after the morning merlin put him to rest, dazed, confused, and alive. arthur searches for merlin but can't find him. he's disappeared. gwen rules camelot as queen, she lifts the ban on magic, and rules fairly. arthur is content to leave his kingdom with her as he searches the land for merlin. he visits every place he and merlin every visited but he's nowhere to be found. time passes but arthur only grows more desperate. he's sure he's searched every inch of albion twice. no merlin.

enough time passes, everyone he's known has died and he looks exactly as he did when mordred drove his blade into his abdomen. arthur is forced to admit to himself that enough time has passed that merlin was bound to have died, leaving arthur all alone. immortal merlin is literally like chilling in ireland or some shit. but both immortal idiots are living in the same area and end up just missing each other. literally like end up holding the door to a coffee shop for one another but they don't meet each other's gazes bc they're busy mourning each other

[sneakyboymerlin]

“Merlin must still be mourning Arthur every day in the modern world” actually he smokes weed now

[lovebotomy]

immortal leon in fics is such pet peeve of mine leave immortality to magic bitches please... ik it's funny that he should die bunch of times and doesn't but it doesn't fit narratively for him at alllll he's not even a likeable knight.. and even if why would he and merlin interact after finale merlin dgaf about him beyond arthur association..

[mr-and-mr-pendragon]

Somewhere halfway down the post I realised where this was headed 😭 It's not even the holidays yet lol

I have to say the writers were quite the geniuses for that finale. It was heartwrenching and I bawled my eyes out but here we are 11 years later and we're still talking about it. But I wish Merlin had told Arthur about his magic sooner T.T

merlin showrunners really went: "ok everyone, this is will, merlin's best friend from ealdor, he's nice isn't he? good. let's kill him! let's move on... this is freya, a poor girl affected by a horrible curse, but don't worry because merlin will help her! but sadly she has to die lmao. who's next? oh yes merlin's father, how sweet to see a bond develop between him and his son after so many years apart... we can't allow that tho, bye bye balinor. lancelot! you're merlin's dearest friend and the only one who knows about his magic, so what are you still doing here? through the veil, up up! what? an innocent boy who loves frogs and comes to like and help merlin even though he was supposed to let him die in a ditch? unacceptable behaviour! here's an arrow coming for you, should've minded your business lol. moving on again... oh gwaine! you've always shown such loyalty to merlin and helped him whenever was needed so you shall die a painful death without even saying goodbye to him, hehe we're so funny... but here's the funniest thing of all! why don't we let arthur die in merlin's arms after the latter spent ten years protecting him and fulfilling his destiny for nothing? such a great finale we're geniuses"

[d-one-in-the-dirty-trench-coat]

"Do I know you?" is one of the first questions Arthur asks Merlin when he meets him, despite never having met before. Literally one of the first quotes Arthur gets. Like in every lifetime they met.

Arthur recognizes Merlin by his eyes alone, even when they are in a different body. How queer is that?

Every plan Arthur has for his future, even if they include running away from his inevitable fate, involves Merlin as a very important part of it.

Despite being just a servant, he treats him better than that, like a friend, like a brother, (or something more).

Merlin uses most of his magic to protect Arthur or help him, either directly or indirectly. Even in a coma he uses his magic to guide him and take care of him.

Merlin could never run away from Camelot, even in mortal danger, because it would hurt his soul to leave Arthur behind. Arthur can't let him go either. So strong is their connection that Arthur mentioned it in dreams, and was really disappointed that he didn't want to accompany him on a single (and last) campaign.

Merlin was born to serve Arthur until the end of his reign. There is no kingdom without Arthur and there is no Arthur without Merlin.

Merlin is an immortal being who was told by another immortal being to wait until Arthur returned from the dead.

Everybody calls them "two sides of a coin", "your destiny",

Your honor, they are soulmates.

[koffeinkaos]

Today I thought about what would happen to Leon after all his friends died.

He knows Merlin is still around because by then he heard the prophecy many times and he also knows the warlock never strays far from Lake Avalon. So Leon sets out to find him and he's lucky. One day he saw a column of smoke near the lake and decided to investigate. In a small shabby hut he found Merlin but the warlock had never been the same after Arthur's death.

Merlin as he heard the knock: "No. Go away."

Leon: "Merlin? It's Leon can I come in?"

Merlin halfway between annoyed and surprised: "Shouldn't you be dead by now?"

At this point Leon just enters and is shocked when he sees the warlock. His black waves were longer now, leaves and twigs stuck out from the matted mop of hair. He was wearing rags of what could be one of Arthur's shirts and a pair of simple breeches. He wore no boots and only one sock.

Leon: "I think I'm immortal."

Merlin with a scratchy voice as he hasn't spoken in a long time: "Seems like it. What do you want?"

The knight didn't know how to react to Merlin’s cold demeanor but he soldiered on: "I- I thought you might want some company? I can help with things. Surely you don't want to spent eternity alone."

Merlin: "I won't. Arthur will come back" He turned away abruptly and looked out the window towards the lake "He will come back to me."

Leon: "Sure but don't you want some company until then?"

Merlin: "No. I'm fine on my own. Now please leave."

Leon: "But-"

Merlin with glowing eyes: "I said leave."

So Leon stumbles out. But he's not ready to give up. Clearly the warlock needed a friend. Therefore he waited until Merlin left his hut, got back in and cleaned the place. He then continued to cook some food for both of them which is how Merlin found him. He didn't even look angry. Just exhausted.

Merlin: "Didn't I tell you to leave three times now?"

Leon: "I made food, you should eat while it's warm."

And because Leon kept insisting and Merlin gave up, the two stayed together. The knight actually followed Merlin like a puppy trying to figure out how to come to terms with immortality while the warlock's world still centered around the dead king.

They would have conversations like:

Leon: "What if the world ends? Will we survive?"

Merlin: "Probably. And the lake. Bound it to me with magic."

But eventually Merlin recovered a bit. He cut his hair and let Leon buy him new clothes. But throughout the centuries they always stuck close to the lake waiting for Arthur

[gabstriessomethingnew]

I see you all with your immortal Leon’s, old grumpy grandpa Leon or well adjusted Leon. I see the vision and I appreciate you. But I am here to raise you Girl Dad Leon.

Merlin takes in magical wards throughout the years and when the gang (all of the round table not just Arthur pls give it to me) comes back, it just happens to be right after Merlin had taken in 3 little girls.

And Leon, Leon goes full girl dad. Yes he supports all their interests (Adeline is very into bugs, Lena loves comics, and Heather adores space and dinosaurs) but his favorite are the over top girly stuff. We’re talking wearing a fluffy pink bathrobe, glitter somehow always in his beard, tea cups on standby in pockets just in case of impromptu tea parties.

The gang is utterly puzzled by this turn of the first knight.

Arthur standing in the kitchen staring, just staring at this man: soooooo. You’re happy like this?

Leon who just received a full ‘makeover’ purple eyeshadow and pink lipstick smeared across his face, cheeks red with blush, taking a sip of coffee since all this happened before breakfast, knowing he will not be washing a spec of it off until dinner: Yep!

Gwen walking into a dress up party remembering just how much complaining Leon did when she forced him to wear a dress for all of two hours to get him out of Morganas custody: erm?

Leon holding out a wand with a star at the tip and sparkly strands flowing down the sides, wearing a huge tutu: wanna play fairies?

Gwaine walking into the living room only to find all three girls screaming and dancing to who runs the world (girls): ***eyebrow raise***

Leon singing into a ladle: who runs this mother trucker!

(He joins them after a minute of just processing the fact that the first knight used to yell at him for so much as humming during training)

Lancelot just trying to make it to the backyard to practice with his sword cause he’s feeling a bit rusty being handed a Barbie instead: ????

Leon forcing him into their little circle: gives full detailed back story the girls had created about the evil king torturing the poor girls

Lancelot: alright then. ***start playing with them***

Merlin sees nothing wrong with this. The only confusion coming from the others being confused.

I need it!!!

[lanccelot]

my og tags hold true but also i would like to mention that my most favorite preferred interpretation of merlin living his immortal life is the one in which he learns to live for himself. like he grew up thinking himself a monster and a freak and desperately hoping that his magic had a Purpose that it was Meant For Something and then. he went to camelot. and suddenly he had a dragon breathing down his neck about Prophecy Merlin The Prophecy You Are Part Of A Great Prophecy Yes You And Arthur Great Prophecy. and then we all watch him slowly become more and more traumatized over the course of five seasons and he absolutely loses himself in said prophecy. especially since he went and trapped himself in a "this all has to be for something. i HAD to have done all this for SOMETHING" hellhole. he doesn't even have Fun with his magic like he used to in the earlier seasons he's literally just so miserable (until he makes that butterfly in the crystal cave). as much as he loved his friends in camelot that place was a noose around his neck getting tighter and tighter. and to me his immortality is about him slowly but surely remembering that he actually has the ability to set the noose on fire if he so pleases. it's about freedom. it's about him being able to greet arthur in the future when he returns not as a servant but as a friend. an equal.

for the life of me i cannot believe that merlin would spend over a thousand years as a miserable depressed wreck of a person. like that's so antithetical to his entire character that it's absurd. do i think he has bad days where he misses everyone he's ever lost? SURE! absolutely! do i think he's so lost in apathy and agony and utter sadness that he views life as nothing but a hopeless death march without the death? hell no!!!!

[ramblings-of-a-chaotic-neutral]

Hello everyone! Here's a new au for you all! Don't worry, I'm still going to be doing a part 3 for the Disir au, but this is something for you all while you wait! Enjoy! :D

This au takes place in a modern setting where Merlin has been waiting for Arthur for over 1500 years. Merlin believes that Arthur will rise directly from the lake, as Kilgharrah led him to believe, but in actuality, Arthur, Gwen, and all the knights were reincarnated and born into new lives without any memory of their past lives.

In this modern setting, Arthur's reincarnation, Arthur Penn, works for a top-secret task force in MI6, known as the Knights. The Knights are tasked with monitoring and hunting down dangerous otherworldly or supernatural threats.

The Knights task force was successful for many years, up until one fateful mission. The team was exploring a cave with high levels of strange radiation, which usually indicated strong supernatural forces. While they didn’t encounter anything in the cave, agent Lance DuLac got separated from the group somehow and was missing for several hours before they found him sitting in front of some crystals, seemingly entranced. 

While he was physically fine, Lance was never quite the same afterwards, having strange dreams or speaking in an unknown language at random. Since one of their best agents was left near-insane and they didn't even find anything, that mission was deemed a disaster, which led to the Knights getting disbanded by their superiors. 

After the Knights were disbanded, Arthur was put on several solo missions, hunting down supernatural creatures, but he eventually got a new mission. 

MI6 had been following and observing an entity known as Emrys for decades, ever since the 1930’s, when reports of an “immortal man” first reached intelligence agencies. 

Ever since Emrys's immortality and presence through history was confirmed, MI6 always had someone trailing him and documenting his actions. However, he had never shown any real threat to humanity despite his estimated power level sitting at that of a god’s. In fact, the only documented case of any sort of power from that they had observed in their 90 years of tailing him was during WWII, when a bomb was dropped over his little cottage and he made it disappear with a wave of his hand. 

Over the years, the post of watching Emrys had become the most laid-back and least threatening job in the entire supernatural department of MI6. After all, he had never hurt anyone in the entire time that they had watched him, so all an agent had to do was keep their distance and they’d be fine. Hell, it was practically a 9 to 5 job. It was, as far as jobs within the supernatural department went, extremely boring. 

Which made agent Arthur Penn extremely overqualified for the post. Unfortunately, agent Gwaine Greene, who had been assigned to Emrys post in the years following the Knights’ disbandment, had been running his mouth to their superiors that Arthur was too high strung and throwing himself into one dangerous mission after the next and needed a lighter mission to cool down. And, even more unfortunately, their superiors had listened to that loudmouth.

So now Arthur was being assigned to watch an old man for an unspecified amount of time. Yay, this was exactly what he hoped his career as an agent at MI6 would look like. Agent coordinator Gwen Smith gave him his debrief, showing him the extensive file that MI6 had on Emrys, his abilities, his routine, and his alternate appearances, because apparently this bloke could change his age as well. 

So, Arthur begins his new assignment with a generally bad attitude, but he still performs his duties. Arthur tails Emrys, during which time Emrys mostly sticks to the routine that Gwen had showed him: walking around a nearby lake every morning, then going into town for lunch and to chat with locals about mundane things like the weather, going back home, reading and writing and cooking and cleaning, and then going to bed. Rinse and repeat. 

However, as the weeks go by, Arthur notices something… strange. All the previous agents who had post had reported that, even if he knew they were trailing him, Emrys never really paid them much attention. A passing glance or a knowing smile perhaps, but never anything overt. A few years ago, one agent even made the bold move of having a drink next to Emrys in a pub, and Emrys had only asked him if he was "off the clock". If Emrys was upset about being followed, he certainly didn't show it.

So this? This had never happened to any of the other agents watching Emrys before.

A few weeks into his new post, Emrys had started… staring at Arthur. The stares were accompanies by an unnerving feeling, like Arthur was an insect pinned against a microscope. Like Emrys was looking into Arthur very soul and judging him for something. 

The feeling of being watched by Emrys made the hairs of the back of Arthur's neck rise, just like whenever he was facing down monsters that looked like they crawled out of humanity's worst nightmares. He was the one supposed to do the watching, not the other way around!

After only three days of Emrys's petrifying stares, Arthur decided to go back to headquarters and give them an update. If Emrys's behavior had changed so suddenly, it might be a sign that the entity was planning something bigger, and they needed to be prepared for anything the immortal could throw their way.

Arthur's paranoia at being watched must have really gotten to him over the past few days though, because for the entire trip back to London, he swore he could see glimpses of Emrys out of the corner of his eyes. But every time he whirled around to see if Emrys truly was following him, there was nothing there. Besides, Emrys had never once left that little town by the lake in over 90 years. Why would he leave now?

Arthur arrived back at headquarters by the end of the day, and he quickly arranged a meeting with his superiors. If Emrys was plotting something, the entire supernatural division had to go on high alert.

About halfway through through the meeting, however, the lights started to flicker and the entire building started to shake, as if a massive earthquake was happening. Everyone sprang into action, weapons in hand and ready for any attack, but Arthur's eyes went wide with panic. He knew, somehow, what- or who- was behind this.

Sure enough, a guard burst into the room a couple second later, yelling about how Emrys was in the lobby making demands and shaking the earth with his anger.

Arthur and his bosses ran out to the lobby and were met with a horrible sight: Emrys standing at their front door with the guards' weapons disintegrating before they could even take aim at him.

"I will not ask you again. Where is he?"

Emrys's voice was more impatient than furious, but the threat of his power was more than enough to send a shover down everyone's spine, Arthur's most of all. Because while his superiors and fellow agents were frantically whispering to each other, trying to figure out who Emrys could be referring to, Arthur knew. There was only one mortal Emrys had shown any interest in over the past 90 years, after all.

"He's after me." The whispering of the agents around Arthur ceased as a horrified hush fell over the group. "I don't know why, but he's looking for me."

The agents around him shared a look, which slowly morphed from terrified to determined.

"Then we have to make sure he doesn't get to you," Gwaine said, uncharacteristically solemn. "Whatever reason he wants you for, it can't be good for anyone."

The other agents around them nodded and murmured in agreement, even as their voices were quickly drowned out by the rumbling of the building around them and the sounds of gunfire and screams behind them.

Suddenly, Lance, who had been silent the entire time, cut in.

"I know a back way out of the building. I can sneak Arthur through the back and escape to a safehouse, somewhere Emrys can't find us."

"No, absolutely not. I won't run away and leave you all to fight-"

"Arthur." Gwen's voice cut off his denial. "For all we know, if he gets his hands on you, he could become even more dangerous. Please, if not for your sake, then for everyone's: don't let him get to you."

Arthur swallowed thickly, holding back tears. Lance looked at him, his face growing more and more panicked as the sounds of conflict grew closer and closer to their hiding spot.

"Alright, I'll go, but I expect to see all of you when I get back. You told me not to let him get ahold of me, but the same goes for all of you: no dying on me today, got it? Especially not to some ancient bloke."

His friends smiled and nodded at him, and Lance took his arm and started leading him through the building, running down narrow hallways and darkened corridors until they reached a small, hidden exit on the side of the building, disguised among the building's brick exterior. The two of them burst out of the building into the adjacent alleyway, out of breath from their frantic sprint.

"Alright, where to now? How do we get to this safehouse of yours?"

Lance turned to face Arthur, but there was something strange about him. His face looked oddly conflicted and... guilty?

"I'm sorry, Arthur."

"What? Lance, what are you-"

Arthur froze as a figure stepped into entrance to the alley, blocking the only escape route. Arthur's hands reached for his gun, but he froze as two burning golden eyes stared into his soul.

And then, the world around him went dark.

I hope you all enjoyed this au! To clarify, Lance was trapped in the crystal cave and saw his memories of his past life as Lancelot, which led to him seeking out Merlin and forming a plan with him to get Arthur assigned to Emrys watching post so that Merlin could take Arthur to the crystal cave and finally reunite with his king.

And, as always, thank you for reading through my ramblings! :D

[irishmammonagenda]

"Solomon?" You ask, eyes unblinking like a lizard as you stare at your favourite Rat Bastard. "You know how you're immortal?"

Solomon turns to you in mock shock, "Really? Why I never wouldve guessed."

You deadpan. "It was a serious question."

Solomon smirks his usual evil smirk, which to anyone else observing would look like a pleasant smile. "Yes, and what about me being immortal, MC?"

"Well, did you ever know Merlin?" You tilt your head as Solomon's smile falters for a split second before he fixes it.

"..."

"Solomon?"

"Yes, I knew Merlin."

"Before or after you became a Rat Bastard?" You ask him, eyes trained on his pretty smile. (evil grin)

"Well...I may or may not've been good friends with him..."

"Do you think I could meet him?" You ask, bouncing one of your legs after you sit down on Solomon's workbench.

Solomon moves towards you, something flashing in his eyes for a split second before his hands find their rightful place around your waist. "No."

"Why not?" You pout.

"Because I'm the only famous sorcerer in your life." He states, that something flashing in his eyes once more. Something animalistic. If Solomon was a demon, you were sure his demon form would sprout out.

"What about Maddi?" You raise an eyebrow.

Solomon scoffs. "You hate Maddi. You put on a mask with Michael's face on it, and then tried to drown her in a ditch."

You shrug. "I'm just mad the bitch didn't drown."

"She did damage her oesophagos though." Solomon smiles evilly, actually evilly this time.

"So why can't I meet Merlin. I want his autograph." You bring th conversation back to the topic at hand, your flustered gaze trained to where the Great Sorcerer holds you by the waist possessively.

Solomon scoffs once more, grey eyes narrowed in on you. "And why do you want his autograph?"

"Because he's the greatest sorcerer to ever live? Duh."

Solomon's grip tightens at that. His brows furrow.

"...No he's not." The silver-haired sorcerer replies after an awkward moment of silence.

"Yes he is."

"No he's not." Solomon glares at you, grip tightening once more, it's almost painful. "I can give you my autograph if you yearn for one that badly. End of."

"But-" You pout, eyes flickering with the flame of mischief, wanting to see how far you can take this.

Solomon's eyes snap up and down your body before meeting your gaze, forcefully he moves closer to you, you lean back until he's directly in your face and your back is up against the surface of his workbench.

You feel his hot breath on your ear as he whispers, "The next words out of your mouth better be 'I love you Solomon!' or I'm not hearing them."

Your breath hitches, you suppress a grin, "It's just that-"

"Not hearing it."

"Emrys is just so cool-"

Solomon flicks you on the head for that one. He moves away from your ear so he can look at your face. Grey eyes instinctual and crazed.

"My darling apprentice....you don't want to know where this is headed." The Witty Sorcerer grits out, emphasising the word 'my' like it's an ancient incantation.

You stiffen, you've really done it now. There was no way you could keep teasing your favourite Michelin Star Murderer and come out unscathed.

A dark purple surrounds the sorcerer, are those flames?!

You pout, looking into the crazed feral eyes man who's about to lose control. You'd have to stop being a gremlin and take responsibility.

"Sol...I love you." You say, and you mean it.

And like clockwork, rhe dark purple flamey aura disappears, Solomon's grip loosens on you, he moves a little farther back, allowing you to get up off the surface of the workbench. His usual Rat Bastard smile returns, and the crazy feral look in his eyes diminish, never fully going away.

You raise an eyebrow teasingly, "So that's a no on meeting Merlin?"

Solomon sighs exasperatedly, love ever-present in his expression, "Forget Thirteen, you'll be the death of me."

You laugh, "Back to your Alchemy lesson now?"

Solomon chuckles. "Back to my Alchemy lesson." He nods, taking his hands off of you and walking over to his cauldron.

You follow him like a lost puppy, unaware of the extent of the danger just a few moments ago. Not danger you were in, of course, like Solomon could ever hurt you. But the rest of the realms?....well that's a different story....

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Never wake a sleeping dragon....

Never underestimate the obsession love that Solomon the Wise has for his Darling Apprentice.

[emryslore]

if you ever get into merthur i'd love a rec, i love your other recs sm <3

Hi Anon!

I do love merthur myself so I wanted to share my favourites I've read recently! Thank you for the ask! I hope you enjoy!

A Language With No Words (E) 55k by neptunesyellowsands

Its a really incredible long fic with a sequel

A little smile had touched Arthur’s lips, drawing up the corners of his mouth. He’d looked keen and kind, and like he’d just solved one of the greatest mysteries of all time. And part of Merlin had wanted to point out the idiocy of having missed this rather obvious detail until now, but that part was drowned out entirely by the feel of Arthur’s eyes locked onto his, of being on the receiving end of his smile. Not the cocky ones or the condescending ones, but this one, this one right here, small and soft and warm. The sun was streaming in through the window, and, for a moment, Arthur’s hair and his skin and all of the world Merlin could see was golden, and that was it. That was all it had taken. Merlin was absolutely, unequivocally not his own from then on. Merlin arrives at Camlann just in time. When the truth comes out, will Arthur accept him? Will they be able to face the feelings each of them has for the other? Will they ultimately defeat Morgana - together? This is the story as it might have ended if things had been just a little bit different.

tempest in a teacup (get unique) (G) 1.6k by trickytricko

A retelling of s1 ep10 with outside pov

Hunith watched the two young men for a moment, her expression softening as she took in the easy camaraderie between them. It was clear that Merlin had found more than just a prince to serve in Arthur. He had found a friend, a companion; something that she knew was incredibly rare for someone in his position. *** a partial retelling of ep.10 season 1 featuring Hunith's "he likes you!!" bc we love how she ships it.

I choose you and me religiously (E) 111k by koffeinkaos

Not completed but oh its so good it has everything a long term merthur fan would want

It sniffed the air. "Emrys? Magic itself serving a Pendragon, Uther's son, a corrupted Camelot." The raven haired man tensed at those words a jolt of fear rushing through his body. But he couldn't get distracted now. He pressed the panic down so hard, he felt like he might vomit. He was turned to the monster, all the knights were behind him, so he couldn't see the shocked expressions on his friends faces when the words sank in. Lancelot tried to get closer to Arthur in case he wouldn't take the revelation well, but one of the wolves bared his teeth and snapped at him warningly. So far Arthur had only stilled. His hands had fallen uselessly to his sides, eyes fixed on the back of Merlin's head. "I don't serve the king and I don't serve Camelot. I only serve Arthur. I am loyal only to him. If you touch him, you'll die." Another vicious snarl left the wolf's throat. "We'll see." ---- Or Merlin has to reveal his magic to save his friends and Arthur is head over heels for him. Gay fluff with plot and a bit of smut in between (warnings in the chapters for that) Have fun reading

in this and every life (T) 26k by winterbucky (winterbuckyy)

And ofc last but not least here we have some good old OP merlin, yearning and dimensional travel

Over 10 years after their memories return, Arthur, Gwen, and the Knights have to make peace with the heartbreaking fact that the might never find Merlin and Leon again. It's as if by chance that Gwaine finds people who look just like them, in some club in Florence of all places. So, despite their friends' disbelief, Arthur and Gwaine set out to find their missing pieces Merlin and Leon have long made peace with their immortality, and they're thriving in the life they lead, even through their friends are lost to them. They're not expecting to see them every again A chance encounter of the four men sends them on a wild journey through the and universes, trying desperately to find their way to each other. And maybe find other versions of themselves along the way or dimension time travel with a lot of yearning, powerful merlin, friendship and feels, battles, and happy endings

[mutherfcker]

The scene that just popped into my head bc of this goes as such- Leon and Merlin have time traveled back from modern day to Canon era

*during a fight*

Random sorcerer: YOU CAN NEVER DEFEAT ME YOU PATHETIC KNIGHTS

*Merlin about a half second away from using magic bc he’s so done with it, watches Leon loose his last marble*

Leon*so done with fucking swords and pulls out the gun he had Merlin make him when they arrived*: GO FUCK YOURSELF*shoots the sorcerer*

Arthur*so confused bc wtf is that? And why is Merlin laughing so hard he’s crying? Why is Leon yelling basically incoherently about how stupid magic laws are and how dumb the medieval era is?*: what the hell??*frozen is bewilderment*

Merlin, still dying laughing: He-He just shot him!!*laughs harder and falls over*

The rest of the round table, equally as baffled as Arthur: Are we gonna talk about this or???

Gwaine and Lancelot, use to Merlin’s bullshit but mildly surprised by Leon just looking at each other

Gwaine: Well, who wants some ale?

Leon is still yelling at the bleeding out sorcerer and a still laughing Merlin

Sir Leon would be good with a gun

[cultofcola]

There's nothing you can do.

Not even the Angels can help you.

Gods and Monsters were looking at her every move.

Vaenaera Valastrae was a girl created only because Lord Apollon had a vision. A War almost broke out amongst the Gods of Olympus, some accusing Apollon of acting like an irrational mortal, others agreeing with his decision. Lady Hekate was silent; the thought of one of her creatures being the reason of the End of the Civilisation left her astonished, even if it was bound to happen, at some point, like Merlin and Morgana centuries before. Apollon sat in his throne talking about a wizard who named himself a Lord, acting as if he was one of Them, and the mortal sky was filled of King Zeus' rage. A decision was made, and after many contracts between each other, the girl was sent to Earth as the third daughter of a pureblood family, as Queen Hera commanded. And with that, the Lilith in a white veil was born. The virgin prostitute. The equally dark force to destroy him. A nature's abomination destined for greatness.

[She looks up, then bites the god on the wrist] They created her. They sent her to that Land. They made her be eaten by the monsters who looked for her in the nights and made her soul rotten for everything that is running in her veins. The gods are the worst creatures alive, and she is their favourite daughter. [So, tell me, where did the blood on your palms come from? Self-divination, or sacrifice?]. Blessed be the daughter of Olympus, bound to eternal suffering to complete the cause of her conception. Child of sun [Apollo] and moon [Artemis], a beautiful [Aphrodite] danger [Poseidon], angry [Ares] girl filled with loyalty [Hera], pitilessness [Hades] young woman too mature [Demeter] for her age, someone who craves the desperation of what craziness will take [Dionysus], too smart [Athena] to even think clearly due to her witty [Hermes] thoughts, hardworking [Hephaestus] girl who will never finish what she started because of her aggressive spirit [Zeus].

Miss Vaenaera. Darling Vane. Haunted by dreams of Fire and Death since she was a small child, the warmth of her Mother felt like her only medicine. Her love never made the Prophet Child feel like a walking curse, even if no kid her age could use their minds to make the most rational old man act like an animal trapped in a cage; it was horrifying to assist what the five years old was capable of doing after she looked right at you in the eyes. Growing up, people were drawn to offer their lives for her…. And Mr Valastrae gladly used the Imperius curse to make sure no one talked about the 1967 accident. Why was she different from her sibilings? Why were her insides filled with poison meanwhile presenting as a Divine beauty? Why do her arms bend back in the Astral dimensions? Why is immortality afraid of welcoming her?

Were the whispers true? Were the Gods, worshipped in their temples, sending their Messiah? a Hero? This man who calls himself a Lord is seeking a girl he saw in his dreams: he said they are two faces of the same coin. He saw her dressed in fire. Fire was walking with her in every move. He was there when she spilled her first blood. She can't hide from him forever: He wanted his lamb, his Death Eaters wanted to make her one of them. They all want the unmaking of the Gods weapons, but were the ones searching for a liberator ready to fight? Bride, Daughter, Mother of Chaos: Vaenaera Valastrae felt everything except a girl.

Paris / France. Her room was full of notebooks filled with an ink so dirty that left her hands stained for days despite her trying to wash them continuously by rubbing the soap until she took off her skin. Letters she would never send, poems she would never make anyone read. A thousand stories, her story, words connected to each other in a such harmonious way that the pages are filled with tears scattered here and there. Lady Vane, of house Valastrae, is tortured. And she will always be. That's her destiny.

In her twelve years of living, she never left France. Smart in all of her lessons at the Private Education institution, youngest sibiling of the infamous Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Valastrae and favourite student of Madame Ormesson (teacher of good manners that Vaenaera knew since she was aware of her existence), she knew that her future was already written down on a contract signed by her Father, Lord of the House. He sold her when she was ten, and now she was scared of turning thirteen. All of her visions told her to let it happen. The Odd Girl of the Red Room in her dreams smiled at her and said it was for the better. Was she making the right decision to not use her depraved powers to make everyone forget about this contract?

She is terrified. The whispers were true. Aren't Messiahs destined to suffer?

It's the same thing that happened to her older sister, the middle child. Taken away from their Manor to live four years at the house of her future husband, to whom she had been designated since their parents found out that Lorien was a girl. Just as it had happened to Benoit's fiancée, her older brother and Heir, who had hosted his future wife in their Manor for four years. When Lorien turned sixteen, she married and left her first family forever.

1974. Now it's Vaenaera's turn. But she got it worse. Lorien never had to leave France, or to speak english because that's the only language her future husband could speak. Vaenaera knew that the Blacks were a very important family in the United Kingdom, but she didn't understand why they needed to took her that far away. Lord Orion Black told Father that they see her as a symbol. Divine beauty meets Pureblood nobility, and now she was about to go and live to Black Manor, London, and marry Regulus Arcturus Black when they turn sixteen. The Odd Girl of the Red Room said he was essential for the accomplishment of her Divine Decree: if he dies, her heart will turn into stone. A little treat for Lady Aphrodite, she said. And if after the death of the Lord-Man the Nature will not be balanced again, with a Divine Sacrifice, she will burn for Eternity.

That's her destiny.

[papysanzonew]

The Labyrinth AU no-one asked for.

Featuring an “”“evil”“”, immortal and bisexual Merlin.

(Immortals until he decides to reign with Arthur)

My other Merlin art

[captainfairygodmother]

Well now I need OP's opinions on the Immortal Sir Leon theory

on the topic of widely accepted fandom headcanons that aren’t actually canon i have to be so annoying here but immortal merlin is not canon... i admit the theory has relatively strong supporting arguments in the show like his near death experiences that arguably could be interpreted as him dying and coming back alive or his name “emrys” or the fact that in the finale he was shown to still be alive in the present day. But none of this confirms his immortality at all.

- he is a very powerful magical being and is very hard to kill, yet so are many other powerful magical creatures in the show, as well as the high priestesses, and they were all still ultimately killable. even in the mortaeus poison episode where his heart briefly stopped, it didn’t stop long enough for him to definitively be dead; real people in real life without magic have gone longer without a heartbeat and still survived… the best argument for his immortality is maybe him surviving the dorocha’s touch when gaius said no mortal man could, but even that isn’t definitive proof, bc emrys’ power is unprecedented and he could very well be the first and only mortal to ever survive the dorocha’s touch, he is after all the exception to so many rules. it proves that he is harder to kill than anyone else, due to his powerful magic protecting him, but not that he is unable to die.

- he canonically grows very very old but this too can be attributed to his abundance of magic. nimueh grew unnaturally old too.

- his name “emrys” meaning immortal also doesn’t prove anything as this usually isn’t interpreted so literally in the legends. it’s usually understood as his legacy staying alive forever through tales of his power and influence…

and as for my personal reasons for being kind of opposed to this immortal merlin theory. it’s first of all mostly the fact that it really just cheapens everything he goes through in the show lol. his own survival despite the dangers he faces is due to his determination to stay alive to fulfill his destiny, it’s thanks to his own stubborn perseverance and skill and yes, often luck. but not his literal inability to die. i feel like this theory really devalues his extreme struggle and the fact that he really was on the brink of death sometimes…

it’s infinitely more compelling to me that he’s ultimately still a mortal man. i prefer to think of his continued survival as hard-earned, and as a genuine wonder! he could have genuinely died so many times but he didn’t and he deserves most of the credit for it!

and on top of that, the complete inability to die is so deeply fucking depressing? never being able to die? i love a good tragic story but him outliving everyone else and staying behind alone (which is canon) is heartbreaking enough, i feel like the least i could do is allow him to die and rest at Some point…

so basically to me he’s only immortal in the sense that old age probably won’t kill him, but mortal in the sense that other things could. if not regular means then definitely excalibur.

[theroundbartable]

Time travel au:

Merlin goes back in time and singlehandedly takes over all the kingdoms except Camelot.

When he does finally arrive there, Uther Pendragon, prepared for an invasion, tells Arthur who kept arguing that maybe the sorcerer could be talked to, to face the immortal threat with the thousands of allies, with only a handful of knights.

Arthur, reasonably scared, faces Merlin: I am Prince Arthur! Why are you doing this?

Merlin, who has come alone: to unite Albion

Arthur: you can't unite them if you kill everyone!

Merlin: I only killed the kings and queens and only if they wouldn't back down after I put them in a dungeon for a few weeks. I put everyone in the dungeons until they complied or died voluntarily by their own hands or let the leave Albion. I treated them kindly. Brought them food and water and explained my vision to them. I demanded peace and freedom for my kind. If that's too much to ask -

only Cendred and Caerlon's king took their own life. Most of them agreed with my idea. King Olaf fled, predictably.

Arthur: and now you'll do the same to Camelot?!

Merlin: I think you and I do share a vision already. I'm here to offer my hand and my kingdom to you.

Arthur: ... Your... Your hand?

Merlin: yes

Arthur: to me?

Merlin: yes

Arthur: *blushing* I, urgh... I think I'll have to talk about this with my father.

Merlin: take your time, there is no rush.