#balinor

[koffeinkaos]

ok forget everything that actually happened in merlin and imagine Arthur and Merlin would go get Balinor after magic is legal and free and then the iconic scene with Arthur moaning Merlin's name in his sleep would take place and Balinor would be like: ??? But he doesn't want to ask directly bc he is scared to offend his son but then back in Camelot the knights are all so curious to meet dragon dad and Balinor, after Gwaine dragged him to the tavern, is like: but are they you know.... courting? and Gwaine thinks back to when he saw Merlin toying with Ygraine's sigil a while back before he put it back in his pocket and answers with a sigh: courting? I don't know. But they are married.

[nynevefromthelake]

Merlin and his ghosts

Last year work for a zine that I can finally post

[justaz]

au where merlin doesn’t know balinor is his father and he and arthur are chilling in his cave and balinor mentions hunith and merlin Locks In as he subtly questions the random man and boom arthur and merlin are aware that the last dragonlord is his father.

[theroundbartable]

When Lancelot comes to Camelot, he doesn't expect to meet Merlin. To be fair, he didn't expect anything that happened after either.

Gaius: perhaps you don't need to forge his papers that much

Merlin: and why is that?

Gaius: you could just use your own title

Merlin: my what?

....

Because Lancelot proves not to have magic, the sigil is perfect because it's real (except the name), he is now accepted in Camelot as Sir Lancelot, son of the last Dragonlord, Balinor.

(Uther is relieved, although it was a struggle to convince him of Lancelot's loyalties and convictions)

It's awesome, because Lancelot can flee after he covers Merlin's attempts to save Camelot from the dragon. And Arthur still gets to question magic.

Arthur: what's it like... Having a father like that?

Lancelot: I don't know. I've never met him. My mother remarried and never told me until recently.

Arthur: it doesn't bother you that he is an exile?

Lancelot: .... *Sad for Merlin*

Lancelot: a little. But I have faith in the Kings decision

....

Later

Arthur: Lancelot, I'm so sorry. Balinor died in Merlin's arms. I wish you could have met.

Arthur: and.... I also must tell you, you might have inherited his powers. So you and I have to face the dragon together

Lancelot: *pales*... Yeah... Sure, sure, certainly

Lancelot: MERLIN!!!

Maybe eventually Arthur learns that the papers were forged and it's a cover to protect Merlin and his magic and Arthur is shooketh

[ramblings-of-a-chaotic-neutral]

Ok, I don't really post here, but there's a Merlin AU idea that's been rattling around in my skull like it's a pinball machine and I need to get it out, so here we go:

Imagine an AU where Balinor doesn't die and banishes Kilgarrah before sneaking away so Uther doesn't catch him and can't put his newfound son in danger. Of course, both he and Merlin are heartbroken about having to be separated again after just finding each other, but they work out a way to keep in touch and occasionally meet in secret.

And this is all well and good, and everything in the show just kinda proceeds as normal up until about season 4, where we have the knights of the round table well-established in Camelot.

It'd make sense that after a few years of travelling around with Kilgarrah, Balinor would be pretty well-known and well-feared throughout all the five kingdoms as "that dragonlord who escaped the purge and now travels around on the back of a giant dragon", and people all over Albion are kinda terrified of the guy.

Rumors say that he never smiles, that he can kill a man in a split second without even utterring a spell, and can decimate kingdoms with the dragon under his total command. That makes for a formidable figure!

And then one day, Balinor is trying to sneak into Camelot to visit his son (he heard Merlin got hit by a dorocha and wants to make sure he's ok!), and the knights see him and freak out because holy shit that's one of the deadliest guys in Albion!

They're in a tense standoff, with Balinor threatening to call down the dragon on them if they don't let him through. The knights are all ready to give their lives to at least buy the people in the castle time to evacuate, when suddenly Merlin and Arthur make it to the standoff. Arthur immediately starts strategizing with his knights on how they're going to negociate with the sorcerer in an attempt to make sure that they aren't all slaughtered.

Meanwhile, Merlin just laughs and pushes through the rows of knights blocking Balinor's path to the castle. The knights, being very fond of Merlin and not wanting to see their kind little friend be brutally murdered by one of the most terrifying men in exsistence, are trying to grab Merlin and pull him back to safety or shouting at him to get back, but Merlin manages to avoid them as he walks up to Balinor.

For a horrifying moment, the knights and Arthur think that Merlin is about to sacrifice himself for them, but Merlin breaks into a huge grin, yells "Dad!", and runs right into Balinor's arms.

(Merlin and Balinor reason that now that Arthur's king, they might as well start easing him into some of Merlin's less shocking secrets)

And even more shockingly to the knights, Balinor hugs him back, asking Merlin all about how he's been doing, how are his studies under Gaius, etc etc.

And all of the knights just bluescreen. Because the math isn't mathing on this one. Hunith + Balinor = MERLIN?! Does not compute.

They're all pondering how could someone as joyful, friendly, and kind as Merlin be the spawn of a terrifying man like Balinor?? They just cannot comprehend it. The manservant who they all know and love came from this sorcerer who's name is synonymous with the threat of death and destruction??

They're all jolted back to reality however when Balinor asks Merlin if he wants to come back to Balinor's newly-renovated stronghold in the mountains (that's only accessable by riding a dragon) to learn more about one day becoming a dragonlord. And suddenly, the knight understand why Balinor's here. He wants to kidnap Merlin from them and twist him into a terrifying sorcerer to carry on Balinor's legacy!

It all basically dissolves into a long game of high-stakes tug-of-war between Balinor and the knights + Arthur, and Merlin's just enjoying spending time with his father and his friends.

Balinor will just casually crash one of their quests while riding Kilgarrah and "kidnap" Merlin while the knights fight to keep Merlin with them.

Balinor eventually gives Merlin Aithusa so he can get practice raising dragons, and the knights see it as some evil scheme to make Merlin betray Camelot and attack it from within, but damn it Merlin's already adopted the damn thing so now they're stuck with a baby dragon.

IDK if I'd ever write a fic about it since I'm pretty busy writing another fic rn, but I thought that it was a funny idea to throw out there!

PS: if anyone wants to read my current project, where I'm giving Sir Leon more anxiety with each chapter after a kinda-botched magic reveal on Merlin's part (and Merlin may or may not be an eldritch god), feel free to check it out here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54027337/chapters/136771564

Thank you all for sticking with my incoherent rambling! :D I hope you have a great day/night!

Also, please let me know if you guys wants to hear more of the ideas that pinball around in my head!

[merlin-gifs]

Meet the Parents

MERLIN | 1x10 & 2x13 "The Moment of Truth" & "The Last Dragonlord"

[adageyer]

Maybe, one day I will make a comic out of it, but until then, here is my note, my idea about this AU.

So what if Balinor wasn't killed. What if, Arthur and Merlin were separated on their quest to find him: Merlin and Balinor found their way back to Camelot on their own, and Merlin wasn't scared and less careful to use magic, to defend the both of them.

(Meanwhile Arthur being worried sick and tracking both of them back to Camelot, being convinced that Balinor kidnapped Merlin).

Merlin sneaks Balinor in, who then banishes Kilgharrah, but before they both fly off, Balinor and Merlin share a heartfelt hug, bidding their goodbyes and a promise to visit each other occasionally.

Merlin gets back to the castle, having forgotten that Arthur is still one of his responsibilities , where, one day later, Arthur surprises him at the foot of Merlins bed.

Arthur, reliefed of seeing Camelot freed form the dragons wrath (and to see Merlin sound asleep) shows this by bitchily waking Merlin with a "rise and shine"

Merlin slowly blinks awake, before he realizes it's Arthur, and jumps up. "Where have you been?" Merlin musters Arthur, who quite literally dragged all the mud and dirt into Merlins room.

"Oh! I don't know! In the woods?! ALONE?! Where the hell have YOU been Merlin?!" They stare at each other.

"I showed Balinor the way... We lost you,,, and I thought you'd want him as fast as possible in Camelot." Arthur is speechless, but snaps back "so you left me alone?!"

Merlin smiles daringly "What should I have done? I thought I'm just a servant?" Arthur stammers, before storming off "I am starving! And fetch water for a bath!", but Merlin understands.

Months go by, even whole seasons. The winter has come again. Merlin has frequently sneaked out to visit his father, who has been traveling on Kilgharrahs back. Balinor even occasionally sneaked in to visit Merlin and Gaius. Balinor has reconnected with Hunith as well, but she remains in Ealdor.

It isn't until he tries to visit Merlin, who is on the verge of death from some stupid quest Arthur dragged him on, that Balinor is discovered sneaking in. He is arrested on the spot, and given a hearing the next day.

Heavy lidded, Arthur forces himself to mask his turmoil, and faces Balinor. "What is it that brings you here, Balinor, last dragonlord." Balinor, made to kneel before Arthur, remains quiet. The King taps his throne, growing impatiant. "You have freed Camelot of the Great Dragon, for wich I will forever be in your debt. You are free, to leave Camelot and are to never return. That is all the kindness I can offer you."

Balinor gaze stays fixed on the tiles. As Arthur waves him off, signaling to guards to take him away, he speaks up, his voice booming through the throne room. "I am here to visit a friend."

"Whom?" Balinor hesitates for a moment, "Gaius."

Gaius straightens up as Arthur looks at him "Is this true? Is he an old friend of yours?"

"Yes, we were close friends," Gaius confirms, and adds shortly after: "before the purge."

Arthur sits there for a moment, unrest rising in the throne room as he ponders what to do next. "What prompted your visit, Balinor?"

Again, Balinor waits a moment "I heard his ward is injured, I came to offer my help."

Arthur, now suddenly more awake, frowns. His eyes dart to his knights, Gwaine, Lancelot, Leon, who all are more alert now. "Surely you must know, as the court physician, Gaius is more than well equipped to deal with such a simple wound."

"And yet Merlin remains half-dead." Balinor offered an apologetic gaze towards Gaius, but then looked on. Finally, he faced Arthur."If only it were a simple wound. Magic has wounded him. It takes magic to heal him."

Arthur decidess; Balinor is permitted to use the arts of the old religion to save Merlin, but only under Arthurs surveillance. Stating clearly, that if he failed, he would face execution.

They trail behind Balinor and Gaius, who exchange hushed words as they walk down the corridors. Arthur decides to take Lancelot and Leon with him, to Gwaine's dismay.

In the chambers, Gaius and Balinor share a routine; they work together smoothly. Balinor pulls out weeds and flowers out of his pouch, Arthur follows them with his eyes, worried.

What if they are poisonous?

He hands them to Gaius, who promptly works them into a rather chunky mush. Balinor takes it back, sitting himself next to the candles on Gaius' workbench. For a moment everything stilled, even the fire did not dare crackle as Balinor concentrated. He whispered words, none of them could decipher, as he held his hand over the bowl. He stood up, promptly going to Merlins room. The knights hurried behind him.

It wasn't lost on Arthur dad Balinor knew exactly where to go.

Merlin lay sweating, Gwen by his side. She tried to cool him down with a rag drenched in water. She stood up, placing herself between Merlin and the raggedy stranger "Who are you?". Balinor went past her and sat down on the stool she had used just prior.

Everyone walked into Merlins room, Arthur noted that it was to small for all of them.

That needed to be changed.

Gaius took Gwen by the arm "He's a friend, here to help Merlin." and let her go. She goes out the door, turning around one last time and catches Lancelots gaze. He nods reasuringly and she closes the door.

Meawhile Balinor worked on taking off Merlins bandages, tossing them to the side, and embalming Merlins wound. It was a nasty wound. A slash across his chest, torn and suppurating. Thankfully, it didn't need stitches. Yet the gash has swollen quite a bit since the last time Arthur saw it, and he winced. Balinor worked the mush around the gash and lastly came to work it into the wound itself. Merlin huffed and winced.

Balinor leans back and Merlin calms, so does everyone else in the room. For a moment they stand there, the kights hands still on the stilts of their sword, anticipating Merlin to bolt back to life.

But he doesn't. "What have you done to him? Why isn't he waking up?" Arthur glares at the back of Balinors skull. "I have treated the wound," Balinor spoke calmly, "he has yet to recover."

The knights linger, it is starting to become uncomfortable, what are they going to do next? Stand there and wait for Merlin to recover? Yes. That is exactly what Arthur is planning on doing.

He walks out of Merlins room, into Gaius' work-chamber and drags back a chair. He places it on other side of Merlins bed, he has to be on the left, but also opposite to Balinor.

[morganadismay]

bedridden today due to agonies hence why im yapping about bbc merlin again but god balinor was such a wasted potential. they had to kill him bc otherwise there would have been one (1) sane adult present. picturing whenever merlin would be like “gaius said that uther is good for the economy actually and so i must protect him from being assassinated by this grieving mother” balinor, eye twitching, “son he sentenced me to death which left your mother destitute and would burn you on the pyre next morning if he knew i found the time to father you while running for my life. and that traitorous old geezer said what again”

[merlinmylove]

We deserved more Dragonlord Merlin with shots like these

(i hate killgarrah as much as the next person) But imagine archer Merlin dressed in leather and dragonhide boots

Riding a big ass dragon, commanding an army of wyverns, fire blazing through the sky

Casually swearing in dragon-tongue when he’s angry with the court and wants to curse them out at council meetings

He learns archery and falconry because i say so

Aithusa is always by his side, gliding beautifully over Camelot, guarding her kingdom and castle

He earns a rightful place at the round table as King Arthur’s loyal advisor and as dragon nobility

Balinor is pardoned posthumously, and Merlin inherits his title as Duke of Elmet and descendant of the Fisher King, Hunith is granted the title of Lady Hunith (she hates it)

Merlin and Arthur find more eggs in the crypts of the Perilous Lands (Elmet) and together they hatch more dragons

The Golden Age is here, Albion is united and Arthur is High King with his consort dragonlord

(i procrastinated and made a visionboard instead of my actual work)

[starrieisdelusional]

canon merthur is so special because they’re ACTUALLY the only one who gets to accompany the other meeting each-other’s deadTM parents.

we saw arthur meeting ygraine only through merlin lens (+ the whole sigil thing????) and the only one who get to see merlin and balinor spend time with each-other is arthur

[doyelikehaggis]

BBC let Merlin be happy for two seconds challenge: Failed.

[akelafang]

Au where Balinor lives, banishes Kilgharrah, but then Merlin has to smuggle him out of Camelot and he goes back on the run because despite him saving everyone he's still a dragonlord and Uther is going to Uther. Before he leaves Merlin tells him to at least stop by Ealdor and see his mum cause she still loves him and deserves to at least know he's still alive. Balinor does go to Ealdor but a mix of needing to hide due to being a wanted man and nerves over seeing Hunith again ends up with him hiding in her garden trying to work up the courage to knock on her door. Hunith, hearing a ruckus outside her house, goes to investigate, and when she sees a suspicious man hiding out in her garden she starts whacking him with a broom. Balinor calls out for her to stop, telling her it's him, and when she does the two actually see each other for the first time in so many years. For a while, they just stare at each other until Balinor speaks in a stunned breathless voice "Dear gods, you're as beautiful as the day I left." Hunith blinks and it registers that she's not imagining things, he's really there. She blushes slightly then whackes him over the head with her broom again. "You disappear for over 2 decades and that's what you have to say to me?!"

[groundbreakingdot872]

his first dragondad joke omg

[justaz]

balinor giving merlin the ambrosius sigil and merlin carrying it around with him for years. merlin and arthur sitting around a campfire, both believing fullheartedly that they’ll be dead by morning bc like hell are they going to allow the other to sacrifice themself to close the veil. arthur giving merlin the du bois sigil as a parting gift and ensuring that merlin will be taken care of after his death. merlin biting the bullet and handing over the ambrosius family sigil in exchange. luckily, arthur doesn’t recognize the ambrosius sigil for what it is - a dragonlord lineage. BUT now he thinks merlin has noble blood and is wondering when tf he figured that out, if he ever met his father, and why he never told arthur.

[kissme-withyour-cherrylipstick]

Merlin 2x13 The Last Dragonlord

I love this moment so much. Balinor is begrudgingly helping these two people from Camelot and when he hears that the Great Dragon is attacking Camelot, his first thought is to correct Merlin and tell him his name is Kilgharrah. Even Merlin, who has conversations with the dragon all the time, never bothered to learn his name and here's Balinor, the last dragonlord, who had a personal relationship with this dragon. He just wants Merlin to show Kilgharrah some basic respect. How fitting that when we do finally learn his name, it's from the last dragonlord.

[escespace]

Balinor/Hunith your stories will always haunt me