#arthur pendragon headcanon

[mandoriana]

HEADCANON ARTHUR PENDRAGON

Arthur likes goats. (No reason, he just likes their personality)

He had a goat when he was 6, he was his best friend, but Uther forced him to kill his goat and eat.

Arthur could never play with the other children, only the ones Uther allowed, but his father didn't have time for him, so Arthur never went out to play.

Although everyone thinks that Arthur is not the smartest between him and Morgana, in fact, he has read all the books in the library and has mastery of many complex areas (mathematics, history, literature, philosophy, politics, etc.)

Arthur believes that studies are very important and always takes them very seriously.

Arthur likes affection in his hair and always lets Merlin comb them. (He's like a pompous cat who loves to be brushed)

Arthur is very unsure about everything he does because his father always made him doubt himself.

He's afraid to get closer to people because he's afraid of suffering.

Merlin is the only person Arthur allows to approach during sleep.

Arthur likes to draw, but he doesn't let anyone know because his father called him a "girl" for it. He has a notebook full of drawings by Merlin, Gwen and Morgana, there are drawings by other knights, but most of the drawings are by Merlin.

Arthur is afraid of spiders.

His favorite color is blue, but he always wears red to honor his kingdom.

Despite loving Gwen, he could never love her as he loved Merlin.

She always envied Morgana's relationship with Uther because Uther always loved her more than he loved Arthur.

His favorite flowers are the purple lilies, Merlin once spent days searching the forest because he wanted to present Arthur with them.

Arthur gave Ygraine's symbol to Merlin knowing what it meant (marriage request), but didn't mind explaining what it meant for fear of Merlin denying her gift.

Arthur admires the way Merlin is good to people.

He took potions/medicines for depression after the bloody events at the Druid camp.

Sometimes he hide under the bed or in the closet to have some moments of peace from all your responsibilities.

He hasn't cried since he was 5.

His father disciplined him with flogging, a way to "make him stronger."

Arthur has a high tolerance for pain.

Sometimes, when Merlin saves Arthur from love's incantations or potions, when Arthur wakes up he feels sick and needs to take a bath, the feeling of being touched against will always terrifies Arthur.

Arthur loves rain and snow.

Arthur hates "rabbit food" (green and vegetable), but when Merlin feeds him he always eats it.

He shares food only with Merlin.

It's jealous for fear that Merlin will find someone better than him.

Leon was his first youthful passion.

He's not afraid of magic, he's afraid of people and what they can do with so much power.

He has fought a small army of 20 men and won alone.

His nickname on the battlefield is Mad Titan or Bloody Beast. (Arthur hates these nicknames)

[imagine-to-be-a-pike]

Sometimes a character is written so badly that He exhibits bpd syndromes

[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.

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Remember that one time Merlin called Arthur a toad then said magic was outlawed so he’d never turn into a handsome prince?

What if he kept doing that casually, as his way of showing Arthur magic can be useful.

For example:

Arthur: do you ever wish there was a way to start fires without needing to gather firewood?

Merlin: there is. Your father outlawed it.

Arthur: there must’ve been a reason. Fire can be dangerous if it gets out of control.

—

And he tries to defend it, but it doesn’t hold up and over time Arthur starts just making sarcastic comments instead of actual defenses

—

Arthur: torches are so inconvenient. We need a better way to make light that can keep hands free for swords or other weapons.

Merlin: Magic, but it’s illegal so you’re stuck with carrying a torch.

Arthur: last time I needed light because you were dying it wasn’t evil.

Merlin: well, it’s unfortunate that you don’t know how to use magic then, sire.

—

Until he just can’t defend it

—

Arthur: six weeks?! I can’t miss six weeks of training for a broken foot! Is there some way to speed it up? Or just… fix it now?

Gaius: I don’t think-

Merlin: yes.

Gaius, who knows Merlin’s plan: *sigh*

Arthur: Thank god. Do it then.

Merlin: No. It’ll land us all on the pyre and I’m quite fond of, y’know, breathing, so suck it up.

Arthur: why is that kind of magic illegal? Surely healing isn’t evil.

Gaius: what you ask is treason, sire. Please be cautious.

Arthur: …

—

Merlin: who knows? Maybe all the bandits will decide to magically take a day off so you can go hunting without being hunted.

A few hours later, being chased through the woods by bandits:

Arthur: non magic sucks!

Merlin: yep. You can always repeal the ban once you’re king!

Arthur: huh… you know, I think I will.

Merlin: great, pardon my treason then. *magically knocks out the bandits and summons their horses and Arthur’s weapons back*

Arthur: THIS WHOLE TIME?!

Merlin: yep.

Arthur: …

Arthur: I can’t believe that worked.

Merlin: me neither, to be honest, sire.

—

Then they both laugh about it and Arthur repeals the ban, magic is free, Morgana is never evil, Agravaine doesn’t exist, and Mordred comes back to Camelot and gets therapy.

[quinnoliver]

Merlin: you're a good horse *kisses*

Arthur: ....

Merlin: hi! You're so smart! *Kisses a dog*

Arthur: Merlin

Merlin: what? Do you also want kisses and get called a good king or something?

Arthur: ...................yes

[chasingwhitebunnies]

Headcanon that Merlin buys a new era-appropriate outfit for Arthur around every decade so he’ll have something to change into, but can never bring himself to throw anything out so he’s just got boxes and boxes of clothes (mostly red) from every decade. Also, he only has Arthur’s fashion sense from the 1500s to go on, so he spends ages choosing the outfits specially and imagining what Arthur would like in the new age because he wants to make his transition as comfortable as possible

[justaz]

omg omg omg

arthur gives merlin his mothers sigil thinking that hes going to die and wants to finally tell merlin how he feels and what better way of conveying the intensity of his emotions and how serious he is other than marriage? merlin accepts the sigil which means theyre married!! yay!! only. they both survive and arthur QUICKLY realizes that merlin has no idea the significance of the sigil. he has no idea theyre married. and arthur has no idea how to tell him bc then he’ll have to explain WHY he gave him the sigil aka WHY HE PROPOSED and now that hes not staring death in the face. he just. cant.

blah blah blah time skip to happy ending

the druids invite arthur and merlin to a celebration of the unification of emrys and the once and future king and the fruition of their destinies. merlin and arthur are excited bc finally peace is here and magic is returning and this can be the next big show of trust and reconciliation between camelot and the druids and so theyre there in the druid camp having fun when theyre approached and asked to participate in the ceremony. theres a huge buzzing crowd watching as the elder druid ties their hands together and goes on and on about the magnificence of two men standing before them and their great destinies and how the two sides of the same coin are joined finally as the prophecy said all those years ago. merlin doesnt realize it was a handfasting ceremony until hes talking to a few of the druids later on

anyway. merthur accidental wedding(s). now they both know theyre married but they dont know the other knows theyre married bc different ceremonies and traditions and all that. arthur is all awkward about it bc hes emotionally constipated. merlin is convincing himself he doesnt have to bring it up to arthur bc its not like the DRUID marriage ceremony is legally binding in camelot. they didnt sign any papers or anything. theyre not really married in camelot so arthur doesnt have to know. and then merlin can selfishly keep this truth close to his heart. even if its not reciprocated.

married life shenanigans ensue. merlin and arthur both have to physically stop themselves from calling the other their husband. jealous spats when out in the tavern or when visiting royals/nobles stop on by. leon knows all and is this close to snapping. extra protective idiots. and idk someone catches merlin holding the sigil and explains the significance of it or a druid asks arthur where his husband emrys is and my boy is STRESSED about being caught but then the druid brings up the handfasting ceremony. stupid idiot x stupid idiot.

you see my vision, right?

[nextstopparis]

i really like the hc that magic loved arthur and protected him until merlin came into the picture but very specifically bc it means his idea of like. the laws of physics and How Nature Works would be completely warped. the reason why all those miraculously falling branches didnt raise any questions? its been happening to him his entire life

[achillesuwu]

Merlin isn't afraid that arthur will kill him if he discover his magic, he isn't afraid about people putting him on a pyre. He can snuff the fire if he wished to. He can cut sword (he literally does it as a 80 yo man)

Merlin is stronger than anyone else if he really wanted to, if he wasn't blocked by something else nothing could bare him from conquering the world.

Then what scare Merlin so much? What could make someone who is literally magic make himself appear weak, make him lie so many time that he starts to believe he can be stopped?

Love. Merlin is afraid to be unlovable. To be a monster. He is afraid to never find somewhere to belong to. That's what drive him and what pull him down.

[hey-im-okay]

So do we just all agree that the knights absolute love Merlin the way cat owners love their cats?

Knights, holding up Merlin from under his arms: so this is Merlin and he’s so nice and we love him.

Merlin: *is actively breaking the law by existing* *has literally killed people* *drops branches on peoples heads* *and even tried to kill the king*

Knights: he’s just a funky little guy :)

I would even bet money he knocks glasses off tables when he wants to annoy someone (Arthur-)

[maddybthorne]

I love fics where everyone (but mostly Arthur) realizes how important Merlin is to Camelot.

Like I’m not only talking about Magic reveal fics where they find out how badass he is and how many times he’s saved their asses (though I love those) but specifically about the times they realize he basically Runs the Castle.

I’m fairly sure I read a fic or a head canon somewhere that Merlin leaves to visit his mother for a week and Camelot falls apart because this boy was doing everything to keep that Castle in order. And Arthur kept firing servants cuz “they weren’t up to standard” (aka they weren’t Merlin)

And these fics could be gen or Merthur (though I do love the latter ngl)

But yeah I just love it when my boy gets the recognition and respect he deserves.

(Bonus if Leon is losing his mind the entire time. He’s done with their bullshit. He’s seen too much. He’s tired. #LetLeonRest2024)

[gaiussleechtank]

They both wake up to Merlin spread out in the centre across Arthur’s massive gargantuan bed like a starfish with Arthur practically attached to Merlin’s side, head heavy on Merlin’s shoulder, hand clinging to Merlin’s chest, arm tucked in between the space nook between them, legs knotted together.

Merlin has never slept in such a luxurious bed before.

Arthur has never shared a bed with someone else before.

Yet it doesn’t surprise them both when their share that first with one another, that it ends up working so well. Merlin indulging in the softness and sheer space, delighting in Arthur’s unconscious affections. Arthur giving in to his want for human touch and Merlin being so willing.

They don’t talk about how they woke up, just that that was the best sleep they’ve ever had.

The first of many great sleeps.

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Gwaine: it’s like Merlin always says: If at first you don’t succeed, it’s only attempted murder.

Arthur, the skeptic: Merlin? Merlin always says that?

Lancelot, wiping a tear: Inspirational.

[themerlinrewrite]

kilgharrah: a half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole… you and arthur are two sides of the same coin… he is your destiny

merlin, who hasn’t slept in three days and is currently wanted dead by twelve different people: stop fucking calling me gay

[thefabledpheasant]

I fully believe Arthur says Merlin’s name in his sleep regularly. Not everyday, but too often for it to be platonic. Am I supposed to believe that the two times he does it on screen are the only times it has happened?? No.

[justaz]

lol arthur realizes with the other knights after watching merlin flirt and being hit with a wave of deja vu: holy shit you asked me out

merlin and the rest of the knights around a campfire after leaving a village bc lancelot and leon somehow started a brawl in the tavern: ???

arthur points at merlin: after valiant! you asked me to buy you a drink! you were asking me out!

merlin is busy cooking dinner and confused out of his fucking mind: what???…..valiant….oh the knight with the snakes.

gwaine who was slightly tipsy now stone cold sober and sitting up straight against a tree: wait. explain. what do you mean merlin asked you out??

arthur snaps his fingers as he recalls the memory: i apologized for sacking you and you said that if i bought you a drink we’d be even.

merlin now remembering how he had stumbled into camelot, picked a fight with a pigheaded bully which quickly turned homoerotic and flirtatious, and continued their teasing-flirting for days before merlin shot his shot and asked the prince out only to be rejected: oh yeah, i forgot i did that…..wait, you mean you didnt realize what i was asking?

arthur: no?? we argued everyday, how was i supposed to realize you were asking me out??

merlin now abandoning the dinner and staring across the camp at arthur while the rest of the knights watch their back and forth like a game of tennis: to you we were arguing, to me that was very much flirting. i thought you were flirting back so i decided to ask you. then you rejected me

arthur, mentally beating his past self up for fucking up their chance: i didn’t reject you!!! i just didn’t realize what you were asking me. how was i meant to? we fought every chance we got

leon, nudging elyan, glee and excitement riling through him: its happening!!! its finally happening!!! seven long, grueling years is finally paying off!!!

merlin, realizing the misunderstanding and acknowledging the fact that he wasn’t rejected, his flirtations just weren’t noticed - realizing he still has a chance: oh…oh i see. arthur, my dear, our fights were extremely flirtatious. need i remind you of what you said? “do you know how to walk on your knees? would you like me to teach you?” or “i could take you apart with one blow”

arthur, mental capabilities at an all time low: m…my dear….?????????

merlin grinning devilishly as he realizes that his flirtatious persona he had hidden away after falling head over heels for arthur can make a come back: that is what i called you. should i call you something else? say…mine?

percival gags in elyan’s ear: cheesy

elyan hides a laugh: at least they’re finally getting somewhere. better than the hopeless pining

arthur, flushed from head to toe: ah uh no um im uh

merlin thoroughly enjoying himself: oh come now, your majesty. use your words.