#bastard s5 merlin my beloved

[fuckingfandomfreak]

The way I will die with this on my mind. Okay but why can’t I find ONE gif set of Merlin, Arthur, and Mordred around their little campfire in 5x09???? I wish I was talented.

I want to talk about Merlin. RIP to all you, but s5 Merlin is my MAN. He’s an absolute jackass. Not even a bitch anymore. He’s a fucking DICK and he learned it from the literal king himself. Arthur’s personality not only rubbed off on Merlin so badly, but it was compounded by Merlin’s actual fucking ego. The way I love this man…

Merlin is so hostile to Mordred and he’s not even shy about it, and poor Mordred can’t do anything about it bc not only does Merlin have the King’s ear (which Merlin is not afraid to flaunt) but also he’s way more powerful than him.

The way Merlin’s head SNAPPED to Mordred’s when Mordred laughed at Arthur’s joke. The way Merlin gives Mordred the tiniest most hostile smile and glare when he’s agreeing with Arthur about being happy Mordred is with them. The way the MUSIC stutters and clicks like Merlin’s a goddamn monster in the shadows when Merlin agrees. Mordred is literally pissing his pants.

Merlin’s fucking reaction when Mordred has the AUDACITY to approach him when Arthur goes to Gwen. His nonchalant hostility with his fucking neck and shoulder roll. He’s making such a show of lazy power it’s insane. It’s Merlin’s actual personality that he doesn’t have to hide. In 4x08, Merlin has to play cowed with the knights bc they don’t know about his magic. He has to position himself submissively when he gets into that argument with Gwaine but here Merlin doesn’t have to pretend. Merlin is not someone you can intimidate. He is the most powerful sorcerer ever and he knows it.

[fuckingfandomfreak]

I can talk about Arthur and Merlin’s inverse development forever don’t even get me started

I love it bc there are so many factors (imo Arthur is a softer person than Merlin in general) but not least of which is each other. Obviously, Merlin influences Arthur, but there is this element that just knowing and loving (in any way) Arthur personally influences Merlin both negatively and positively

Merlin becomes obsessed with keeping Arthur healthy but also happy, and therefore he tries to barricade Arthur from anything upsetting but that just means Merlin has to deal with it and Merlin has to make these hard decisions. And Merlin’s objectives become skewed (keep Arthur alive at all costs) so Merlin makes crazy choices in his name (poisoning Morgana—he changes from passively to actively trying to kill her once Arthur is in danger—attempting to kill Mordred, taking Arthur’s will, gaslighting Arthur, and trying to convince Arthur to abandon Gwaine and Percival are the big ones I can think of right now). Merlin just ends up soaking up a lot of the badness in an attempt to keep it from Arthur.

And he fails bc Arthur’s ignorance usually makes things much more heartbreaking from his POV. He doesn’t understand why everyone betrays him. He just knows that they did. But Arthur keeps this idealism and goodness, and Merlin sees that. Merlin is so crazy bc he both ends up finding Arthur’s idealism both impractical and endearing. Merlin’s own trust was taken advantage of too and so he pendulum swings into No Trust bc of that and to keep Arthur’s own idealism alive.

Anytime Arthur is betrayed, Merlin could (and honestly probably should) explain that Arthur should be more discerning. Merlin does not do that. Merlin always blames the other party wholly and comforts Arthur. As King, Arthur should be a bit more cautious about who he trusts, but Arthur’s heart is so sweet that Merlin just can’t bring himself to insult it. He just decides he will do all the hard parts. Merlin’s idea of Arthur is so insane bc he simultaneously thinks of Arthur is the best thing in the world and infantilizes the hell out of him: any bad decision Arthur has ever made is bc he was too emotional (which doesn’t count) or it was someone else’s fault (they manipulated him!!). Merlin is a crazy Arthur stan.

We see Merlin becoming more cynical and obsessive, but Merlin just sees himself becoming more responsible and that is wild. Any coldness now is just caution because the world is cruel and destiny is fickle. Merlin becomes very aloof. He won’t listen to Gaius, he distances himself from the knights, he cares for Gwen really only as Arthur’s wife, and he is callous with Mordred. Merlin is kind to strangers (Daegal and Finna) but is too obsessed with Arthur to be affected by their deaths. He never really smiles.

He consistently thaws with Arthur though. He softens on rescuing the knights after Arthur gives him a sweet and loyal speech on brotherhood. He only really laughs in Arthur’s company (drinking the potions in 5x03, teasing Arthur in 5x07 and 5x10, gambling in 5x12). He comforts and consoles Arthur frequently. And it is all genuine. Arthur just becomes the brightest part of Merlin’s life.

Like how tf was I supposed to come out of this show not thinking Merlin was in love with him????? Knowing Arthur influenced Merlin so deeply.

more merlin fics should dig into the fact that’s he’s like. legitimately kind of insane. like he heard that mordred was going to be the one to kill arthur and did not think for even a second before deciding to treat him like the literal scum of the earth. he would have lived in hiding for the rest of his life if it meant mordred was dead and, iirc, mordred hadn't even done anything yet. wherever arthur is concerned, merlin will bleed and suffer and kill and he does all of it with a blind loyalty that is definitely not healthy and I just feel like that is such a compelling character element that more people should play with.

[donttouchtheneednoggle]

7, 8, 29, and 30 for Elyan×Lancelot? (Elyancelot? Is that the ship name?)

ELYANCELOT MY BELOVED

7. What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

Well when they first realise they have feelings for each other Elyan freaks out and Lancelot represses it 🤣 Eventually when repressing stops working (did it ever work?) Lancelot romantic that he is starts leaving little gifts for Elyan like a lil pastry or the book he was talking about trying to find in the library. Elyan, overthinking nerd that he is goes to Gwen like hlep I have a stalker and Gwen's like no bro someone's hitting on you. So Elyan starts spiralling as to who it might be (Gwen stares into the camera like she's on the office bc Lance has been making heart eyes at Elyan for weeks now and finally worked up the courage to ask her permission to court Elyan but for some fucking reason decided to do it in secret bc ofc nothing is ever straightforward in Camelot). He finally works it out after some light spying with Gwaine who knew already but didn't want to miss the show and promptly freaks out again bc oh god oh fuck it's him I really like him. Gwen and Gwaine conspire with Merlin to lock them in a cupboard together, Elyan confronts Lance about it bc he just can't take it any more, Lance is confused bc he thought it was obvious who the gifts were from, Elyan is just like what the fuck but simplifies matters by saying you idiot and kissing him. Things go smoothly from there :')

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

Ik it's cliché but i am such a sucker for 'love'. Also 'stubborn bastard' said in a fondly exasperated tone, bc they are both exceedingly stubborn bastards :')

29. one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

......you know what I was just going to put something about Lancelot's death but guess what I've just found a way to make 4x09 even worse (((:

30. one headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Elyan is obviously the first one in Avalon after Lancelot so they get to sort shit out just the two of them and comfort each other through the nightmare that is late s5

Thanks for the ask! 💜

Send me ship questions!