#and lancelot and gwaine bc they are loyals to merlin first

[fluffypotatey]

YES WE HAVE OUR ROUND TABLE KNIGHTS (that don’t get that actual title until s3 finale) AND THEY ARE MY BELOVEDS

warning: i forgot myself and could not stop talking

first up: Lancelot

beautiful little man 😍 he first appears in s1 wishing to join the Camelot knights but unfortunately that role is only allowed for nobles, so Merlin vomits identity fraud to help Lancelot fulfill his dream despite the man’s wishes to earn his knightly title by merit HOWEVER! Arthur is a harsh and strict teacher with his knights only wanting the best (don’t..don’t look at the ways they get easily bamboozled by magic…that’s tv logic just-just know they are the best in the land!) so Lancelot DOES earn his place with the knights through merit but his ruse is discovered! (bc King Uther is a dick <-separate 101 later) thus he is banished from Camelot but later pardoned for helping aid Arthur in freeing Camelot from Morgana and Morgause (I’ll talk about her later)’s occupation in s3 finale.

next guy! Sir Leon :D

He is one of the only round table knights that served both King Uther and Kung Arthur, making his first appearance in s2 while Arthur was still a prince. Also, according to bbc Merlin fandom lore, Sir Leon has a miraculous way of coming back from harrowing events either unscathed or still alive even though that shouldn’t be possible (which is absolutely a little hole in production’s foresight bc they used Leon a lot to provide info about villains’ whereabouts and how evil they are, but we took it and ran) THUS: Sir Leon is now known as Sir Leon the Immortal bc a Druid gave the guy a sip from the Cup of Life and now there’s tons of headcanons of Merlin and Leon being immortal buddies

then we have Gwaine <3

. . . tits

i mean—uh, what was i walking about?

sO the legendary Sir Gwaine (not Gawain, that’s his medieval counterpart and bbc changed it to this for reasons idk by Bradley, Arthur’s actor will still pronounce it that way just for kicks and i love him)…what could i possibly say about Sir Gwaine?

he grew up a noble with his father being a knight but because of some battle his father died and memory is escaping me by the king Gwaine’s father swore fealty to did not honor his end of their devotional knightly relationship (this implies something…didn’t mean to but it’s funny so i’m keeping it) and abandoned Gwaine and his mother, leaving them in debt

thus leading to Gwaine’s personal and moral dislike to nobility and their corruption. he leaves his home to make a name for himself that isn’t the noble kid he grew up as and becomes some kind of drunkard tavern swordsman that impresses both Arthur and Merlin (and i WILL imply many things here :) bc this show’s main core theme is love of all kinds)

unfortunately he also gets banished bc he attacked two noblemen (who tried to attack Merlin so it was in defense but Uther, as stated above, is a dick)

next up is

who is this man?????

Elyan my hoodie king!!!! 😍😍😍😍

1st appears in s3 and is established as Gwen, aka Guinevere’s, brother! (older brother? younger brother? it’s never specified so you’ll see some smith sibling headcanons that don’t align in terms of age lol (also they don’t have a last name but most have come to call them smith bc they come from a blacksmith uh family)) this man deserved sO much development than he got in the show bc he is the literal brother of Gwen (who is a part of the core 4) but i digress :(

he is hoodie king bc we meet him and he’s wearing a hood and looks so hot in it—i mean, very distinguished and very snazzy and bbc why couldn’t he have kept this outfit all the other seasons THIS ISNT FAIR!

so Elyan actually ran away from home bc he didn’t want to succeed his father and his blacksmithing and dreamed of becoming a knight but Camelot only allowed those of noble blood (huh this sounds familiar); therfore, Elyan, vbelievibg he deserved better, left to better his craft (sword fighting) and make a name for himself that is worthy of knighthood (damn….this sounds sO familiar…..no wonder Lancelot was Gwen’s type—whaaaa who said that???)

we meet Elyan when he gets himself kidnapped by our trusty villains of s3 Morgause and King Cenred (I know i am just throwing names but just trust me <3) as collateral against Gwen for reasons i cannot remember correctly (i am basing this entirely on memory and don’t want to say something wrong bc i know one reason but am not sure if that was a later s3 issue)

anyway, with the help of Arthur and Merlin (and Morgana but she actually there to sabotage them) they free Elyan and reunite the smith siblings and Arthur promises to knight Elyan when he becomes king (and he does! while regant same dif)

and now we turn to Percival!

precious gentle giant (to me!)

unfortunately, Percival gets the short end of the stick with development but bbc provides us with the facts that he is a strong but very gentle man who has a high moral compass and Lancelot ran into him during his mercenary days (this was off screen)

his first appearance is also in s3 but at the very last episode T^T (he never stood a chance) and to show just how big and strong Percival is bbc decided the best way was to show Arthur’s reaction to his handshake which was

it is one of my favorite scenes ever just because of Arthur’s face 😂 someone made a meme of it and i will find it for you

but yeah Percival is best buds with Lancelot in the beginning of s4 but we see him have a lot of good chemistry with Gwaine and Elyan (the people he is shipped with the most) as we see them play pranks throughout the castle and banter (it’s so cute 🥰)

BUT YEAH THERE YA GO!! The BBC Round Table Knights 101 *finger guns you*

all screencaps and is photons were brought to you by farfarawaysite

HOW THE TURN TABLES IT IS 101 TIME WITH FLUFFY :D

ok so

bbc merlin is actually called “The Adventures of Merlin” but everyone just calls the show bbc merlin bc it was aired on bbc and the protag is Merlin (also the intro to the show says Merlin name every episode so we all just agreed that the show was called Merlin and forgot the real title)

anyway

you know Merlin? great, powerful wizard Merlin? the old dude with the felt robes and pointy hat that’s in Arthurian legends?

so imagine that guy is young, a brunet, and the personal manservant to a Prince Arthur and now must keep this suicidal/sword-ho blondie alive in order to fulfill his destiny as the Once and Future King because a dragon under the castle told him

through the eyes of this younger and adorable and smashable Merlin, we get to watch as Arthur grows from a selfish and lonely prince to an honorable and compassionate king (no longer living his father’s legacy but his own), AND we get to watch Merlin’s friend Gwen grow to become a confident and powerful queen of Camelot. AND!!! AND!!!! we get to watch Morgana become the nemesis she is in the legends (I have my own transgressions on certain decisions made for her corruption arc but this is not the 101 for that)

long story short: Merlin and Arthur begin the show as reluctant not-so-friends and end the show the closest of friends and Merlin still never told Arthur his magic until his dying breath and we celebrate this end every Christmas (bc that’s when the series finale ended)

annnnnnd scene

oooooooo

are any of the other knights of the round table there or is it just arthur merlin and gwen? (i mean merlin and gwen aren’t knights either but i just woke up so)

and merlin really never told arthur about his magic? damn

[gouinevere]

what if gwen realized how arthur treated magic people wrong and decided to join morgana and they would have brought freedom to magic people and season 5 would have been them planning to take over camelot and falling back in love and the show would have ended with them getting married and everyone being happy

[amortensie-moved]

random but cym as merlin characters??

ooh yes i do love a good ol’ cym. once again i shall reprise, ask if you want to be removed / added from this list if you are a fellow moot ♥️

@katherinerose64 as sir leon. i mean leon is basically the certified mom friend™ of the group. you are loyal and kind just like him and i would prob trust you with my life hbfksbsk

@onceupon-a-decembr as guinevere. she is sweet and strong, also, who would mind lindsay as a queen?

@daydreaming-optimist as lancelot. you mean one of the most endearing and virtuous character ever? yes i think bryn can perfectly fit into these descriptions

@johnskeating as princess mithian. ik she is a minor character, but she is graceful, she is kind, and i love her character sm

@lxncelot as kilgarrah no mordred! first of all i gotta say mordred deserved better. i think olive can fit his sincerity and loyalty to his loved ones!

@all-you-wanna-do-your-best as morgana pendragon. ik i’ve casted you as her before, but now i am curious if this still rings true in your opinion now that you have watched some of the show? i could also see you as gwaine bc i think you just might be able to fit his chaotic energy hah

@meiitanoia as merlin. like merlin, mei is a sweet and lovable! and i feel like she would also have the strong capacity to be witty and sarcastic

@gallagherfionas as arthur pendragon. this could be a hot take, but i think you could fit him! though he can be a “royal ass” ( as quoted by merlin ), he is lovable in the end and greatly determined and courageous.

@eatacrackerandstop as elyan. this man is an underrated king. he is loyal and incredibly devoted to those he cares about <3

[if-music-be-the-food-of-love]

Im gonna start watching Merlin, any reccomendations before I do? or something you want to say lol

Ooooooh, THAT’S SO EXCITING!!!! ✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕 I am so happy for you bc it’s just so much fun. I love it love it love it!! I’ve been wanting to do a rewatch since I finished it. Please drop in and tell me what you think about it!! I’d love to hear your thoughts as you go. 💕💕💕

Honestly, the biggest thing about the show for me is that it’s straight up bi panic. Everyone is beautiful, like stunning. Every character is fun and interesting. They’re all incredible--even the ones you’re not supposed to root for or are only in one episode. I love them all so much. Every. Character. I read fics first (bc one of my favorite skam writers had written several, and I read them ALL), and when I found out that a lot of the characters had only been in one episode, I was shocked. They’re that iconic. (ngl, I suppressed my sexuality as a teen, and this show woke all that up. Nimueh had me thinking, and then Morgause’s entrance left me speechless. I was like, “yup, definitely bi, haha.” BBC Merlin was my bi awakening, lol). Gwen is lovely, just so kind and yet so feisty and determined. She’s basically the moral compass for everyone. Obviously I have a big thing for Merlin. He’s an adorkable badass. Arthur is just the greatest, most lovable dumbass, who is also a badass. The knights, oh man, the knights (most don’t show up til season 3 😕). I love them individually, and then when they get together and give each other shit...perfection. Gwaine. I adore Gwaine, and his hair, and blase attitude, tho he’s so loyal. Love how the knights all pick on him.  Elyan is the best swordsman, love him. Leon the long suffering. Poetry? hahahahahaha. Then of course there’s Morgana and Morgause, who are amazing and powerful and total badasses. I haven’t listed everyone, but trust me, I love them too.

Recommendations? I dunno. It’s campy and hilarious and sweet and thoughtful. You’ll have all the big emotions. Just keep an open mind, forget all the history you’ve ever learned, forget what you’ve read/learned about the legends and stories, and just sit back and have fun. I knew the ending before I started, but I actually prefer that with tv shows (never books or movies, tho, hmmm--i think it’s the time commitment required; i wanna be sure it’s worth it or whatever), so it wasn’t a big deal for me. I don’t know if it would be better not to, tho if you’re interested in watching the show bc you’ve seen 100 gifsets that make it look AWESOME, then you probably have an inkling as to how it goes. I started watching it bc of merthur, and I’d avoided it for YEARS bc I didn’t want to get involved in a non-canon ship (and knew that I would if I watched it), BUT I finally gave in after seeing too many gifsets and edits, and I’m so glad I did. Their relationship is so fun and nuanced and interesting, and what’s fun about merthur is that they have this relationship completely separate from everyone else. So, you can still love Gwen and root for her while also shipping merthur (believe me, it’s impossible to not love Gwen). The show isn’t perfect. Sometimes the character development disappears from one episode to another, and the CGI in season 1 can be hilarious. But I don’t watch it for that. I fell in love with the characters and their journey. Cool side note: the cast also shipped merthur, especially the Morgana and Gwen actors. The episode commentary is fun, and there are a few deleted scenes (that ppl assume were cut bc they were too blatantly romantic over platonic). It’s very interesting to watch the behind the scenes stuff. 

So, much like 911, I got pulled into the show bc of a ship that ppl wouldn’t stop talking about, and ended up falling in love with every single character along the way and just loving the show in general. I’m as invested in Morgana, Gwen, and Lancelot as I am with Arthur and Merlin (tho it should come as no surprise that Merlin is my favorite). And what’s really great is that the fandom is still alive and well a decade later. Fics, fanart, everything.

I hope you enjoy the show!!!! 💖💖💖 And thank you for asking me about it. As you probably know, I’m rather verbose, so I am happy to talk your ear off about it. Please please please let me know what you think, and I really hope you like it as much as I do. Have a lovely day and enjoy!!!

[merlinoutofcontext]

I just saw your answers on Lancelot and idk if this account is active still but I want to rave a little. I liked the death they gave Lancelot it was very fitting for his character but he 10000% should have had more screen time and relationship with Arthur and the knights developed more. They showed us bits of it with Merlin and I wish we could have had more with that too but I think they really showed us why the two of them were friends. We didn’t really get that with the other characters p1/2?

P2/2 I saw this post the other day about how Gwaine and Lancelot should have showed up together and they could have kinda swapped identities like Lancelot could have claimed to have Gwaines title and if Arthur found out that could have been such an interesting idea to explore with Arthur’s character arc

idk if you’re talking about the series of questions i answered about lancelot a while back or my rant about how underutilized he was in the arthur/gwen/lancelot trio, but yeah i agree.

lancelot’s death, though very sad, was very fitting for his character and was incredibly well written at that. it hit all the emotional cues that it was meant, etc.

part of me feels like merlin (the series) crucial flaw was its 13 episode limitation. sometimes i feel like they could have benefitted from having the typical us 24 episode, or even 20 episode runs. as much as other ppl don’t like the funny silly episodes, and would probably suggest they should have been left out, i kinda disagree bc we need those episodes to emotionally balance out the Serious Concepts they explore in the series, sometimes. a good example of a series that i think accomplishes this fairly well is actually s4. like the first few episodes of s4 are very heavy: lancelot’s death, uther’s death, arthur struggling with being king, and then we have 4x06 to balance it out, and then they continue on their merry way.

and yeah, the knights are severely underexplored and its just the lack of time we had with them. lancelot literally shows up with percival in 3x12 and then their relationship is ignored for plot by the time s4 arrives. merlin’s relationship with each of the knights needed to be explored better. he is universally loved by all of them, but we never understand exactly what it is about merlin that the knights love. is it the fact that he’s just super nice and helpful? probably. is it because he can shit all over arthur and get away with it and that’s hilarious to them? also likely. but we just don’t really know. 

lancelot is also supposed to be arthur’s most trusted and loyal knight. but we never actually get to see him be that, and that’s disappointing. if not the other knights, lancelot deserved more screen time with arthur. as much as i love the merlin/lancelot relationship, some of it should have been for arthur/lancelot to flesh out their connection more.

yeah idk. i ranted for a long time about pretty much nothing, and probably stuff ppl already know/think themselves. Lancelot Deserved More Screentime, but his death was actually very good. thanks for coming to my ted talk. bye.

[jgvfhl]

Hay, um.... i did a thing

So i saw the post about fluffy head cannons being turned sad, and your challenge to break your heart. This is my first time posting anything i've written so hopefully you enjoy, or don't i guess since it's meant to be sad so (p.s sorry it's kind of long and for any mistakes)

For as long as he could remember, Percival had always enjoyed sewing. When he was a young boy, other children in his village would make fun of him for choosing a woman's activity, so they said, over something more manly, such as climbing trees. But Percival didn’t care. He would see the smile on his mother's face when he sat beside her as they both set about mending their family’s clothes. He would cherish the love in his sisters eyes when he presented them with their old dresses, with fresh embroidery to make it seem brand new. So no, the other boys could keep making fun of him. They all knew in a spar, he could beat them all anyway.

  With his new life in Camelot, Lancelot had been the first to receive a gift in the form of a cloak, with his name finely embroidered alongside the bottom edge. With his king's engagement to Gwen announced, Percival knew Lance had to be hurting and so set about making him the gift as a surprise. And he could see the love only brothers in arms could understand when Lance received it.

Then the Dorocha happened. That time was a blur of screams and fear until it ended with the noble sacrifice of his first friend leaving behind a group of devastated people. When Lancelot was set off the sail, Percival made sure he was wrapped up warm in his cloak. 

  Elyan was the next to receive a cloak. After the possession he had undergone after they disturbed some sacred lands , Percival thought something soft and clearly marked as Elyan's could maybe give him something to hold, something to help him remember that he had friends that would be with him through anything. That he was Elyan and only Elyan.

When they found Elyan in the room where Gwen had been held, Percival couldn’t bring himself to look at the cloak stained in blood.

  Gwaine had always been different. Always the first to suggest a visit to the tavern. Never one to take things seriously unless it involved his hair, or his next plot to steal chicken from the kitchen, a crime to which Percival somehow always ended up becoming an accomplice. But a more loyal friend could not be found. He remembered when Merlin had gone missing. Any time they we’re together on a search all Gwaine could do was list the qualities he found admirable in Merlin. A part of him had always felt guilty that Gwaine had been captured and made to perform to the whims of Morgana during the time she had captured Camelot, while Perival got away with King Arthur and Merlin. Not long after reclaiming the kingdom and freeing his friends. Pericival presented Gwaine with his cloak. It was received with a friendly shoulder pat and Gwiane decided he needed to show off his new cloak with a trip to the tavern.

Watching Gwaine scream as Morgana tortured him broke something in Percival. For all his strength he could do nothing as one of his few remaining friends was slowly killed in front of him. When he finally broke free, it was too late. Gwaine, loyal Gwaine died believing he had betrayed his king. In a fit of rage Percival tore Gwaines cloak from his shoulders and ripped it to pieces before finally breaking down in tears.

  When Merlin showed up without Arthur, Percival was numb. All their fighting, all their sacrifice, their lost brothers all for nothing as Leon stood at the head of the hall and announced their beloved king would not return and long live the queen. All Percival could do was stand tall, not let his legs fall from under him in a show of the turmoil he felt inside. Be strong, as a true knight of Camelot. As Arthur would have wanted. When he returned to his room however it was a different story. Servants would be seen fleeing the halls as sounds of crashing and yelling would fill the halls from beyond a chamber door. None dared enter because they knew what was happening beyond the door. A man was breaking beyond that door, and none could bear to listen to the cries of pain, let alone be witness to such a moment. In the morning when servants were sent in discreetly to clean up the mess, the only thing left intact in the room was a stand in which hung a cloak with the name Arthur and the Pendragon crest embroidered into fine material.

Percival had always enjoyed sewing. In the years since leaving his home and making a new one in Camelot, sewing served to remind him of his small village, of his mother and sisters and simpler times, of the pride of making a gift with your own hands.

Percival had had plans, After Arthur, Percival had another cloak ready to be decorated under his hands. Merlin may not have been knighted among them but none could argue that he had the same bravery, the same honor required of any true knight and Percival thought the least he could do to show his appreciation of the, somewhat clumsy but absolute little brother of them all, servant was cloak him in the same gift he had given all his brothers. 

The day Arthur was announced dead, the same day Percival destroyed his room, leaving only Arthur's cloak, he swore he would never make one for Merlin. 

After all everyone Percival had gifted with such had been killed before their time and in such brutal and devastating ways.

Percival vowed he would never sew again.

I literally don’t know when you submitted this bc I never check this inbox and this is probably similar to what @fishoutofcamelot posted from you BUT THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING IT ANYWAAAAAYYYY 💖💖

[generallynerdy]

Our Little Secret Part 14/Finale (Merlin & Child!Reader, Mordred X Reader)

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13

Summary: (Y/N) and Merlin have to come to terms with their little secret being revealed. Everyone else has to adjust to the fact that they’ve been lied to for years by the two people they trusted most.

Key: (Y/N) - your name

Warnings: eMoTiONs, mentions of injuries, mentions of near death, recovery, magic-phobia?, u can’t prove that it’s an author insert fuck u

Word Count: 4,236

Note: is it,,,is it over yet? am i free,,,? extra long final (except the epilogue) part bc i love u

    “This is harder than I thought it would be,” (Y/N) muttered, legs hanging over the edge of the mountain.

    “Really?” Beside her, Merlin snorted. “This isn’t even the worst it could be.”

    She looked over at him with wide eyes. “What’s the worst it could be?”

    “Uther could still be alive.”

    “Touché.”

    The pair rested in silence, watching the sun slowly crawl up the sky. Dawn had come a while ago, but they had yet to leave Camlann. Arthur wanted to scour the battlefield for their men, dead and wounded. They gathered all the dead and were giving them proper funerals or packing up their bodies to take back to family, if they had any. The wounded were taken care of by Gaius, but many of them didn’t survive.

    (Y/N) had not entered the medic tent again, instead spending her time with Merlin and giving Arthur a few hours time before she dared show her face. It killed her to stay away from Mordred, but she felt it was best.

    “I’m sorry for everything,” (Y/N) said suddenly, breaking the silence. “For not talking to you, for not listening to you, either.”

    “No, you were right not to,” Merlin admitted, not looking away from the view in front of them. “I was being ridiculous. I was so worried about Mordred being the druid to kill Arthur that I didn’t consider that my decisions might push him to that.”

    (Y/N)’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t your fault, Merlin. Morgana controlled him.”

    “The only reason he didn’t choose it on his own was because of you,” Merlin said, finally turning to her. “If Arthur had made a decision against magic or someone doing magic, Mordred might have turned. You being here stopped him and I should’ve seen that.”

    “So…” She grinned. “Are you sorry for being a clotpole?”

    Merlin sighed and put an arm around her, drawing her into a hug. “I’m sorry for being a clotpole.”

    It took (Y/N) a while to get the courage to go into the medic tent again. When she did, she saw Leon lingering by Mordred’s cot. Gwen and Arthur were nowhere in sight, nor was Gaius, but he was rather busy as it was.

    She wandered over to the cot, pulling up a chair and sitting on the opposite side that Leon did. She didn’t meet his gaze at first, just taking Mordred’s hand and remaining silent.

    “(Y/N)?” Leon started.

    It took everything in her to ignore him, to look down at her hands and refuse to make eye contact. Though he couldn’t get her complete attention, she was still listening and he knew it.

    “I don’t hate you.”

    (Y/N)’s head shot up against her own intuition. She didn’t speak, eyebrows lowered and searching his face to see if he was lying.

    “I don’t hate you,” he said again, a little louder. “I could never.”

    He’d heard what she said to Gaius about being worried that everyone would hate her. What (Y/N) didn’t understand was how he didn’t hate her.

    “I’ve been lying to you since I’ve known you,” she said. “How are you not upset?”

    Leon sighed. “I’m...upset you didn’t feel like you could trust me with your little secret, but nothing else.”

    “You--” (Y/N) tilted her head. “You don’t think magic is evil?”

    “Druids saved my life, remember?” He smiled fondly. “Since then, I’ve known magic isn’t innately evil. And neither are you. You’re my friend, my sister. The most evil thing you’ve done to me is have Spot wake me up in the morning.”

    (Y/N) laughed shakily, remembering it fondly. She did it a little too often, more than Leon would like, but it was entertaining.

    “The others don’t hate you, either,” Leon said.

    She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

    “I’m sure of it. If they really love and care about you, then this won’t change anything,” he told her. “It hasn’t for me.”

    “Thank you,” she whispered, moving her hand from Mordred’s to his, making him smile.

    There was a pause before he squeezed her hand and stood, letting go. “I’ll check on the others. Take care of him.”

    “I will,” (Y/N) muttered as he left.

    For a good while, (Y/N) was left alone. She dozed off a few times, trying to get much needed rest. Gaius dropped by and checked on her wounds, which were luckily minor. She never left Mordred’s side, constantly making sure he was alright. It took him a few hours, just as Merlin predicted, before he began to stir.

    “(Y/N)?” He croaked out, opening his eyes slowly.

    She snapped to attention and smiled, holding his hand. When he started to sit up, she stopped him. “Careful, careful. Merlin said you’d be sore.”

    “Ow,” he muttered, but froze. He smiled slightly. “The spell worked.”

    In his moment of awe, (Y/N) leaned forward and took him in her arms. She held him tightly and felt his arms wrap around her lovingly.

    “I was terrified,” she whispered. “I thought I’d lost you.”

    Mordred let her go for just a second, drawing closer to her face and caressing her cheek. “It was you that brought me back,” he muttered. “Seeing you broke the spell.”

    “I love you, too,” she said, echoing some of his dying words. She kissed him softly, hand buried in his messy curls.

    After that, they spoke in hushed tones. (Y/N) updated Mordred on what had happened. They held a brief moment of silence for Morgana, remembering the woman she had once been. She told him about what Leon said to her and he celebrated with her, but then the conversation was drawn to the topic of their magic.

    “They all know about my little secret now, too,” Mordred muttered. “The rumours can’t have passed by them.”

    (Y/N) took his hand. “We’ll be okay.”

    “You really believe that?”

    “We’ve been through so much worse, Mordred,” she said firmly.

    He laughed a little. “Fair enough. I have almost died twice-- and that’s not counting my childhood.”

    They shared a laugh that was interrupted by a dog’s yip. Spot raced in from out of nowhere, trying to jump on Mordred’s bed and smother him. (Y/N) reprimanded him and he soon calmed down, but neither of them knew where he came from.

    Unbeknownst to them, Gwen and Gaius had kept him in the medic tent the whole time, keeping the loyal dog from harm.

    There were many bridges to cross on the way home, but at least they had each other.

    Back in Camelot, rumours flew left and right. The majority of the population was aware of Mordred’s presence in the city and were furious, confused as to why Arthur would harbour an enemy. He planned to speak on his behalf, but he wanted answers from Merlin and (Y/N) first.

    Meanwhile, the animosity, or at least tension, between (Y/N) and the other knights did not go unnoticed. Merlin’s temporary absence from his master’s side was noticed, too, as was Mordred’s stay in the court physician’s quarters rather than his own in the knights’ quarters. The entire tightly knit group of Arthur’s closest friends seemed to be falling apart, for reasons unknown to everyone.

    One day, (Y/N) was summoned to the throne room, though Mordred, Merlin, and Gaius were told to remain behind.

When she arrived there, after nonstop reassurances from the Merlin to the young knight, she found that it was not the council gathered, but instead her friends. Gwen and Arthur sat on their thrones, while the knights stood dutifully about the room. (Y/N) had a distinct feeling that this was not a purely social audience.

Arthur began to question her, as if she was a suspect in a crime. Leon shot her uncomfortable glances, wishing he could make it stop.

“How long has Merlin been teaching you?”

Merlin had already had a long discussion with Arthur, giving him practically his whole life story, from his father, to his mother, to his powers, to the dragon he freed from under Camelot. Arthur knew almost everything about him. Now, it was (Y/N)’s turn.

“Since a few years after I met you, my lord,” she said.

His expression showed no change. “Who knew about your...little secret?”

“Merlin, Gaius, Mordred-- ever since we were little.” She began to list them off, remembering each fondly. She paused, saying the next name too quietly for him to hear.

“Speak up.”

(Y/N) sighed. “Lancelot.”

Leon shot her a sympathetic glance and Gwen looked absolutely decimated by this fact. A few sombered, but the expressions were gone as quickly as they had appeared.

“Morgana knew, too,” (Y/N) muttered.

Arthur lowered his eyebrows. “You told her?”

“No, sire,” she stammered. “She, uh, had me followed and I didn’t realize. It was a while before Ismere-- just after we buried Lancelot.”

Suddenly, Arthur asked a question that left her dumbfounded.

“Have you ever used magic against someone? Or to get what you wanted?” He asked stiffly.

Her jaw dropped as she looked up at him, appalled that he could even ask her such a question. She glanced around at the others, as if asking whether they believed she could be capable of that, but most of them didn’t make eye contact. Elyan just looked away, perhaps ashamed at the question. Gwaine stared right through her, which was arguably more chilling. Percival was the only one to meet her eye. She couldn’t read him, though. (Y/N) didn’t know what he meant, looking at her like that.

“No, sir,” she said firmly, teeth clenched. “The worst I’ve done is defend myself.”

“And the second part?” He questioned further.

She paused. “One thing.” They all looked terrified, but she smiled. “I used my magic to help a little druid boy escape the castle, a long time ago. Morgana, Merlin, and my lady were there. You were, too.”

She spoke bravely and Arthur went silent after that, his eyes darkened with reminiscence. They had saved Mordred long ago, even though he was a druid. (Y/N) was trying to remind her king of this.

“I asked Merlin to take me as an apprentice the day I met him,” she said, taking her turn to give a speech. She was young, but she had so much to say. “I started a few years later and I-- I didn’t realise what I was getting myself into. I didn’t understand the secret I had to keep, the people I had to keep it from. I didn’t understand the consequences. But I did later. And I could’ve easily given up then, but I didn’t. My magic is part of who I am, it has been for a long time. Just because you know about it now doesn’t change me. But I am sorry, deeply sorry, that I’ve hurt you-- all of you.”

As (Y/N) was leaving the throne room, she did not see Leon go to follow her.

“Leon--” Elyan started, grabbing his arm to stop him.

The senior knight turned to him with a frown. He looked at all of them gathered, who were staring at him, waiting for his move. He scoffed a little and pulled away from Elyan’s grip, shaking his head at them.

“I can’t believe you,” he said to them as a friend, rather than a knight. “It’s (Y/N).”

With that said, he was met with silence. He shook his head again and rushed out of the throne room, catching up to (Y/N). He took her arm and they started toward god knows where.

As soon as he left, Percival took a second to think before following him. No one dared stop the giant, nor did they dare even try. He caught up to Leon and (Y/N). They didn’t make him say a thing, simply letting him join them. That was enough of an apology-- and a reassurance.

Later, when (Y/N) returned to check on Mordred, she was accompanied by Percival. Leon had to abandon them earlier for work purposes.

Entering Gaius’ chambers, they found Mordred asleep in his bed, but he was not alone. Sitting in a chair pulled up beside him was Queen Guinevere, who looked up as they walked in. (Y/N) froze up and turned to Percival, but wasn’t sure what to say.

“(Y/N),” Gwen said. “Can we talk?”

“Of course, my lady--” She began.

Gwen interrupted her with a shake of her head. “Just as friends,” she smiled.

Percival cleared his throat and nodded at both of them. “I’ll just--” he started, backing away from the room. “Goodnight.”

(Y/N) closed the door behind him as he left. When she and the queen were left alone, there was silence. The young knight crossed the room to Mordred’s bed, checking on him as he snored lightly. She couldn’t help smiling to herself at his peaceful slumber, but let the smile fall when she noticed Gwen staring.

Trying to avoid conversation, (Y/N) lifted her hand and began a spell, gesturing to the pitcher of water on the table. She stopped instantly when she saw Gwen’s eyes widen, the yellow glow in her own eyes fading.

She started to walk toward the pitcher, but Gwen spoke, stopping her.

“You shouldn’t have to hide it,” she said.

(Y/N) reeled. “What?”

    “You don’t have to hide it now,” Gwen repeated. “Why avoid using it if there’s no consequence anymore?”

    “I--” (Y/N) sighed. “I don’t know if Arthur would like that.”

    The queen smiled. “Well, he’s not here now, is he?”

    She was shaken by the queen’s easy going reply. Unsure, she lifted her hand again. She finished the enchantment this time and the pitcher went flying into her hand, spilling just a little bit of water. Two cups flew over from the table at her command as well and soon she was pouring the liquid into them. (Y/N) passed one to Gwen and kept one for herself, pulling up another chair beside her.

    “Did you know?” (Y/N) asked her suddenly.

    “About your little secret?” Gwen laughed. “No, of course not.”

    The younger one tilted her head. “Then how are you so...unbothered by this?”

    “I just think it explains a lot,” she admitted. “Besides, I’ve suspected Merlin for a long time.”

    “You’re kidding,” (Y/N) gaped.

    “He’s not exactly conspicuous,” Gwen laughed.

    She shrugged with a fond smile. “Well, he’s kept it hidden for this long.”

    “Fair enough.”

    “What made you think he had magic? When were you really sure he was hiding something?” (Y/N) asked out of pure curiosity.

    Gwen sighed. “You were so angry with him after Mordred came back with that spear injury, the one that almost killed him. I didn’t understand until I considered that he might have magic. You were upset because he wouldn’t heal him, weren’t you?”

    “He refused,” (Y/N) confirmed, nodding solemnly. “I stopped talking to him after that.”

    “I don’t blame you. If someone did the same to Arthur…” She trailed off, not even wanting to think about it.

    It was beginning to get dark, so (Y/N) lit a few candles, requiring just a simple spell. Gwen almost awed at it, which made the young knight flustered. No one had ever taken this much of an interest in her magic, not since Lancelot.

    “It really doesn’t bother you?”

    “Absolutely not,” Gwen reassured her. “It explains so much and-- and it sounds silly, but I feel like I know you better now.”

    (Y/N) could not help hugging her friend, burying her head in her shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered. “It means so much to me.”

    A soft knocking came from the door and both women turned their attention to a short figure entering the room. It was Elyan, who seemed to have been there for a good while. He had heard at least the last part of their conversation, which (Y/N) felt red in the face about. Gwen looked rather pleased with herself, though.

    The queen stood and crossed the room, taking her brother’s wrist and dragging him back over to (Y/N). The young knight stood from her chair to meet them, remaining silently confused by whatever was happening.

    “Tell her,” Gwen said firmly to her brother.

    Elyan took a deep breath. “(Y/N), I--” He glanced at Gwen, who nodded. “I’m sorry I’ve been treating you terribly. To be honest, I was...not happy when I found out about your little secret. Magic killed our father and since then--”

    “I understand,” (Y/N) said quickly.

    “No, wait,” Elyan stammered. “Just because one sorcerer killed my father doesn’t mean every sorcerer will be just as bad and you certainly won’t. I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry.”

    Before she could say a word, he hugged her tightly, almost cutting off her airflow. She laughed, telling him it was okay and hugging him back. Gwen stared on proudly at her work, as it had taken hours to convince her brother to speak to (Y/N). Though she still could not convince Arthur to work out these things, at least she could get Elyan to do so.

    “I love both of you so much,” (Y/N) said softly, dragging Gwen into the hug. “You’re like the siblings I never had.”

    As Arthur had yet to speak about the rumours going around that (Y/N) and Merlin were sorcerers, the former was loathe to go outside. However, when she heard that Gwaine had left the castle and run off without any sign of where he went, she knew she had to do something. She had a feeling she knew where he was-- and a feeling that he was waiting for her.

    She found him in the clearing outside the city, just where she thought he would be. It was here the old Lancelot had been put the rest, because it was such a perfect place for him. It was here Gwaine had trained (Y/N), because she thought Lancelot being there would help her. It was here Morgana had discovered her little secret.

    “Gwaine?” (Y/N) asked quietly.

    He was standing above the stone, holding the hilt of his sword so firmly that it looked as if it might shatter like glass. “I knew I could never replace him,” he said without turning around. “I knew I could never be as perfect as he was. I knew I couldn’t be him.”

    “Gwaine--” She tried to say.

    “But to not tell me about this?” His voice betrayed him as he turned, eyes wet with tears. “To know that I was nothing compared to Gaius, to Merlin, to Lancelot, to Mordred? To find out I was nothing in your heart? Why, (Y/N)?”

    “I couldn’t tell you,” she sobbed. Her heart was already broken at his words. “I wanted to-- I planned to after Ismere, but-- but--”

    She took a deep breath, trying to shove away the memories. She didn’t want to remember Ismere, much less what Morgana had done to her there. However, she needed to tell Gwaine what had kept her from telling him everything. He had to know that he was just as important to her as the others, that she meant so much to him that she would rather have died than have him hate her for this.

    “Morgana found out about my magic, like I said. But she knew I had to be taught by someone. She used you-- you and Percival against me,” (Y/N) said, shuddering as she did. “To find out who taught me. She needed to know who Emrys was, the one destined to destroy her-- that was Merlin. I almost told her. I would have told her, given time. After we got out, I knew I couldn’t tell any of you. If you knew about Merlin, who he was to Morgana, then she could have tortured you, pulled it from you and I-- I would’ve been to blame.”

    “I wouldn’t have told her,” Gwaine hissed. “Do you trust me so little?”

    (Y/N) leapt at him and wrapped him in her embrace. “I know you wouldn’t have. I just didn’t want her to have any reason to torture you like she did with me. I didn’t want you to get hurt.” She kissed his cheek, still shaking. “You mean so much to me. You’re not New Lancelot-- you haven’t been for a long time. You’re Gwaine.”

    Arthur was the last one left.

Everyone else had approached, apologised, and asked more about (Y/N) and Merlin’s magic. In fact, many of them were rather curious about the whole thing. They were amazed by the range of bullshit the two could get up to with the assistance of their magic alone.

Meanwhile, the king refused to talk to either of them. He had shut himself off from the world, from everyone, even Gwen. She was scared for him and begged (Y/N) to step in. Perhaps she could appear unthreatening to him, unlike Merlin. Perhaps she could get through to the man.

She caught him alone in the throne room one morning, a place where he was cornered. He sat upon his throne and watched her with curious eyes. Then, he stood, leaning over the back of the chair and sighing.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” He asked.

“I wanted to more than anything,” she said in almost a whisper. “But I was just a child. I was so scared. I was terrified of Uther, of Agravaine, of someone discovering me and-- and what you might do if you found out.”

She noticed his face flash in betrayal and sadness for a second, but it disappeared in an instant.

“I didn’t want you to have to decide between saving me or following the law. It wasn’t fair,” she muttered. “And I didn’t want--”

She stopped.

“Didn’t want what? To die?” He laughed coldly. “Can’t blame you there.”

“Every day of my life was a risk. I could’ve died any day, but I didn’t want to die at your hand.” She took a deep breath. “But more than anything, I-- Arthur, you have every reason to hate magic. You have every reason to hate it for what it’s done to you, for what people have done to you using it.”

It was true, every word that she spoke. Magic had killed Arthur’s family; corrupted them, tortured them. Arthur had every reason to despise magic and neither Merlin nor (Y/N) could deny that.

“I was terrified that hate would translate to me,” she admitted.

His eyes softened and he looked upon her with wonder. “You thought I would hate you? Why?”

“Because--” She scoffed. “Because I chose to practice something that had done such harm to you, to all of us. I just didn’t want you to hate me and-- and I still don’t.”

Suddenly, the king crossed the room. He paused, standing there in front of her. That little girl who had stood up to him about punishing Merlin unjustly was gone. She was a woman now, a powerful sorceress that Arthur owed for a great many things. Part of him was still upset, both at her and himself for the fact that she hadn’t told him, that she felt she couldn’t trust him enough to tell him about her magic. But the other part held nothing but love for her.

It was this part of him that took over when he hugged her, shocking her to the point where she froze.

“I don’t hate you,” he whispered. “I’m upset you didn’t tell me and I don’t know how long it will be before we can fully trust each other again, but I don’t-- and I will never-- hate you, (Y/N).”

The young knight sniffed heavily and hugged her king, who was more like her brother at this moment. She took in a deep breath and almost laughed out of relief.

“You’ll talk to Merlin, won’t you? Tell him the same thing?”

“I don’t know. I look at him and I want to punch his teeth out.”

“Call me crazy, Arthur, but that sounds about normal.”

Elsewhere…

A small hut in the woods was practically invisible to those who did not seek it out directly.

Inside this hut, a girl in a dark cloak pulled its hood over her face. She mixed herbs and vials together in a small bowl. It produced a blood red liquid, which she gathered in a tiny bottle, shaking it about. She turned to face a long wooden table that held a great weight on its ancient legs.

A dead man lied upon it, his dark hair and beard ratted. He was dressed in rugged peasants’ clothing, an outfit unfitting for a knight of his standing.

The witch-- ahem, sorceress-- took the bottle carefully and poured it into his mouth, forcing him to swallow it. After a moment of unresponsiveness, the dead man gasped into his lungs his second breath of first life. He looked around wildly, but was tied to the table as a precaution.

Meanwhile, the girl turned and smiled at him. “Alright, you handsome bastard. Up and at ‘em. I didn’t murder a man for nothing. Time to send you back to Camelot before my readers murder me.”

Merlin Tags: @pearlll09

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