#character: nimueh

[twistedshipper]

high priestesses + fire

[morganadismay]

unexpectedly spent the majority of this christmas break progressing on my quest of writing my terry pratchett style gay little arthuriana stories

[evadne01]

Merlin Masterlist Part 2

You can't always threaten nobles!

Merlin tries to advise Arthur. Arthur, as usual, misunderstands.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

This is not what I meant

Arthur carries out his plan. Merlin is not impressed

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

What do you mean you are my servant?

Every noble needs his servant. Merlin isn't happy about it.

George & Merlin

No, this is enough!

Arthur has another idea. Merlin is very tired about this.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

You see? Stupid wounds

Arthur needs to be healed. Merlin turns out to be an extremely competent physician.

Arthur is impressed. And he has an idea.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Desperate attempt

Arthur finds his servant missing. Agravaine reflects on his actions.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Knights of the Round Table & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen & Arthur Pendragon, Agravaine & Morgana

Discovering new sides of ourselves

Merlin's magic has its own mind.

What you did to Agravaine?... Sorry, Steven?

Merlin and Morgana. The Knoghts, Arthur, Merlin and Morgana.

Merlin & Morgana, Merlin & The Knights of the Round Table, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

You don't have to be afraid anymore

Arthur makes a decision after saving Merlin and finding his sister.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen/Morgana

King and king

Arthur has his latest idea. This time Merlin has nothing against it.

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Secret Stalker

Merlin has a secret stalker. No matter that his two best friends told him it is a secret admirer. He knows the difference.

Gwen & Merlin, Lancelot & Merlin, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Gwen/Lancelot

Till next time, my brave honeysuckle

Gwaine episode from Merlin's and Gwaine's pov

Gwaine/Merlin

Where are you? ~ Please, don't leave me

Arthur discovers that his servant has not come to wake him and, at dawn, runs throughout the castle looking for him.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Why I hate hunting

During a hunt, the knights and Merlin are stuck in a cave and must say the thing that weighs most on their minds.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Merlin & The Knights of the Round Table, The Knights of the Round Table & Arthur Pendragon

Sweet persuasion

In his attempt to keep Arthur safe, Merlin uses Gwen's advice: sweet persuasion.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen & Merlin

The knight and the king

A deleted scene in A Servant of No Master. Arthur and Gwaine look for Merlin

Gwaine/Merlin, Merlin&Arthur Pendragon

I thought I knew you

After Gaius exposed Merlin as a sorcerer, Arthur needs to talk with him.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

I can show you incredible things

Post-magic reveal, Arthur learns about Merlin's magic and their relationship suffers.

Both of them are scared and sad.

This until during a hunt, Merlin saves Arthur from a spell and becomes his kid self.

How will Arthur react to his friend's (or something more?) fear?

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Drylic and scamu

Merlin and Lancelot deleted scene in the Darkest hour.

Merlin talks about his magic, and Lancelot sees him

Lancelot & Merlin

Protecting the youngest

After Merlin is fired and Cedric takes his place, the servants and Morgana has something to say.

Gwen & Merlin, Merlin & Morgana, Servants & Merlin, Morgana & Arthur Pendragon

How it should have gone

But that was not their destiny, and Arianrhod decided to give them a new one.

What do you do when you have a second chance to fix everything? Trust your friends

Gwen & Merlin, Lancelot & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

My most loyal friend

After reclaiming Camelot from Morgana, Arthur rewards his most loyal friend.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

You were supposed to be dead

After the Veil, Merlin finds an old friend. The only problem: he shouldn't be alive.

Merlin is happy, the knights curios and Arthur just tired.

Merlin & Will, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Clover and Confessions

In the midst of a hunting trip, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table embark on a quest to find healing herbs for Merlin's toothache.

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Forged Allegiance

Lancelot and Merlin talk. And then, they find the Round Table.

It's the start of a new Era

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Lancelot & Merlin

What kind of love do you have? 

The love life of Gwen and Merlin.

Or: the two servants that made fall in love the most powerful people in Camelot

Gwen/Morgana, Gwen & Merlin & Morgana, Knights of the Round Table/Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Flowers and Jealousy 

Merlin's gestures of affection towards Morgana are too dangerous for the servant. Arthur is not jealous, at all.

Even if he is trying to kill the other one with his eyes.

Merlin & Morgana, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

A broken bond

Merlin was rejected another time by one of his soulmates.

Arthur wants to help his friend.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen/Arthur Pendragon, Gwen & Merlin, Knights/Merlin

Destiny could change, our nature never 

Merlyn had believed the Great Dragon when he told her that it was her destiny to protect Arthur Pendragon.

She had believed him when he said they were two halves of one whole, that they couldn't be separated.

She had believed him when he told her that they shared a great and splendid destiny together, the golden age.

But how could she believe him, now that he was telling her that she should let a child die for words spoken in fear?

How could she believe him?

Merlyn had to choose: betray the fate they predicted for her and Arthur, or betray herself?

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Merlin & Morgana, Gwen & Merlin, Gwen & Merlin & Morgana & Arthur Pendragon, Merlin & Mordred, Merlin & Will, Hunith & Merlin, Balinor/Hunith, Gaius & Merlin, Druids & Merlin, Lancelot & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Gwaine & Merlin, Merlin & Mithian, Freya/Merlin, Freya & Merlin, Elena & Merlin, Gaius & Hunith, Balinor & Gaius

Fake nobles and revelations

"Oh, no, just strange." Percival shrugged. "There were these girls with very thick and sturdy leather strips and they were like taking measurements?"

Leon blinked. "What do girls need leather strips for?"

Merlin's sudden laughter drew their attention.

"Something amusing, Merlin?" Arthur called him out.

"They're binders." Merlin said, amidst laughter. "They're used to bind their chest."

Knights of the Round Table & Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

How can you not be attracted to me? 

Arthur finds out that Merlin is attracted to men and women.

This isn't a problem, no. The problem is that Merlin isn't attracted to Arthur!

Gwen & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine/Merlin

A lovely kitten

Merlin is turned into a cat.

Morgana is amused, Arthur and the Knights are in love with him.

Merlin is so done.

Gwen/Morgana, Gwen & Merlin & Morgana, Knights of the Round Table/Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

In a Land of Soulmates

Soulmates AU!

During the Great Purge, Uther Pendragon banished every type of magic, with the only exception of the one shared to all the crown, every crown of every kindom: SoulMate's mark, the one who would have always had your back, something more than a brother, more than a companion. And it doesn't imply romance, but only a strong loyalty and solidariety between the two people.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine/Merlin, Lancelot/Merlin, Lancelot & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen & Merlin, Merlin & Morgana, Leon & Merlin, Elyan & Merlin, Merlin & Percival, Balinor/Hunith, Ygraine de Bois/Uther Pendragon

"You and me, love, what do you say?" 

Merlin and Arthur are the heir of the two rival families.

Will they find love? Or will they follow their parents' steps?

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

I'm about to blow ~your mind~ 

Arthur is cursed to 'open his mind'.

The only problem: his mind is open towards his manservant.

Who has a lot of imagination.

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Gaius & Merlin, Gaius & Arthur Pendragon

The fear of losing a friend can often be greater than the fear itself.

Arthur and Merlin talks.

Freya makes them a gift

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

The Omega and the Alpha 

"So, my lady," Merlin leaned in, under the guise of fixing her dress, "shall we overthrow the king together?"

Morgana's eyes sparkled. "Why, Merlin, I thought you'd never ask."

Merlin & Morgana, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Morgana & Arthur Pendragon

Love is in the air (or maybe, it's just jazz)

Jazz bar, Merlin is approached by the most attractive man he ever saw.

This is the story

Gwaine/Merlin

Guardians of Honor 

In a time of war and magic, Lionel, a knight of Camelot, finds himself indebted to a mysterious young boy named Merlin, whose unexpected display of magic saves his life.

Determined to protect Merlin from the dangers of a kingdom where magic is outlawed, Lionel and his wife, Jaelle, take the boy into their home.

As they navigate the complexities of loyalty, duty, and love, they must keep Merlin's true identity hidden while facing the looming threat of war.

Leon & Merlin, Leon & Leon's Mother, Leon & Leon's Father, Merlin & Leon's Father, Merlin & Leon's Mother, Druids & Merlin

Guardian Angel 

Not everyone is lucky enough to know their guardian angel.

Arthur and the Knights are

Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Thank you 

Some king isn't happy with Merlin, but at least he has friends he could rely on.

Merlin & Morgana, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Gwen & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine/Merlin

How to judge a man 

Pre-Canon, a moment between Merlin and his mother Hunith

Hunith & Merlin

There was an idea

Before Merlin could change his mind, he went to his dating app, and changed his bio.

Looking for someone to take to couples therapy and see how long it takes for the therapist to notice we don't know each other

Glad to have a plan for later, Merlin happily went back to studying.

Freya & Merlin & Will, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Past enemy and current pains 

Gwaine meets someone from his past. Fortunately, he isn't the same person anymore

Gwaine & Knights of the Round Table, Gwaine & Merlin, Gwaine & Arthur Pendragon

Orders, curly hair and fake nobles ~ how Leon and Gwaine met

The Knights learn how Leon and Gwaine first met.

Gwaine is still insulted for that meeting

Gwaine & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table Friendship

A gift and a lady ~ how Gwen and Morgana met

Gwen and Morgana first meeting

Gwen & Morgana

In the shadows of the sorcerer

What if Cornelius Sigan doesn't disappear in one night? What if Kilgharrah doesn't know what the spell is going really going to do?

What if Merlin gets more help?

Yes, what if?

Gaius & Merlin, Kilgharrah & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

(Are you sure you) Love Me ((say you) Love Me Remix) 

Merlin still can’t really believe Arthur wants to marry him, or that he loves him.

Probably, is Arthur's fault anyway

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Do you remember the first time I kissed you?

Arthur and Merlin's first and last kiss

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

The king of my heart 

Gwaine and Merlin share a sweet moment

Gwaine/Merlin

Living up their expectations 

Merlin and Arthur talk about thei desire and need to make their fathers proud.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Maybe the next time

Merlin was really starting to hate that shirt.

Usually, he only wore the red shirt on special occasions. Like the first day of a new season, or when it was someone dear's birthday, or when Gaius took him to do something for the first time.

Now, after wearing the red shirt thirteen times in a row, he hated it.

Lancelot & Merlin, Lancelot/Merlin

Do you like my accent? 

Merlin, the Knights and Arthur spend some time together

Gwen/Morgana, Knights of the Round Table/Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Emrys and the three Queens

Arthur overhear Merlin's conversation with Agravaine.

Things change.

Merlin & Morgana

I like when you protect me 

Well, Merlin had been warned.

Indirectly, from the protective glances of the Knights.

Directly, from Morgana and Gwen's comments.

Now, he could only try to limit the damage.

Gwaine/Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Gwen/Morgana

Never alone again 

Gwaine realised that Merlin was hiding something.

And in a panic, Merlin denied it and hid behind more lies.

How could their relationship be based on lies?

Gwaine/Merlin, Gwen & Merlin

No. I have magic. 

A magic reveal with a twist.

Gwaine/Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

I will always protect Merlin

Gwaine decides to reveal his heritage to Uther

Gwaine/Merlin

This isn't the proper purpose!

Gwaine manages to transform the purpose of one method of communication into another. Which is absolutely not the correct one.

Merlin begins to doubt his own choices (as well as Gwen's)

Gwaine/Merlin, Gwen/Arthur Pendragon

The Seneschal of the King 

Merlin and his new role as the seneschal of Arthur

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

“What do you have there?”

Merlin adopts a pet and Morgana is not okay with that

Merlin & Morgana

Guilt and Redemption

Finally, after some delays, King Balinor had managed to conquer Camelot, and to demand his revenge for Uther's bloodthirsty pursuit of magic and all its believers.

Uther Pendragon was dead, and with him, the Purge was over.

Gwaine & Lancelot & Merlin, Gwaine & Lancelot & Percival, Balinor/Hunith, Balinor & Hunith & Merlin, Merlin & Nimueh, Gwen & Morgana, Morgana & Arthur Pendragon

Letters from a friend

A collection of all the letters between Merlin and Lancelot

Lancelot & Merlin

Fatal Unions 

Merlin and Arthur marry after knowing each other for only a few weeks, shortly after Merlin starts working at Arthur's company and receives one promotion after another.

But is there more behind this marriage?

Lancelot & Merlin, Gwaine & Merlin, Gwen & Merlin, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Leon & Arthur Pendragon

Changing Destinies 

For destiny was not engraved in wrought iron.

And Arianrhod had no intention of making her youngest son suffer again.

A whisper, accompanied by a sweet smile and the boy would have been deaf to attempts to evoke distrust and fear in his destiny.

One answered prayer and the boy would never again lose his good heart or doubt his friends.

They would all get a second chance.

Gwaine/Lancelot/Merlin, Gwen/Arthur Pendragon

Echoes of Magic and Nature 

After the lands of Camelot lose their life, it seems that hope for the kingdom is lost for good.

That is until Prince Arthur decides that he would save his people.

But he will not make this journey alone. He will have allies, even in the most unthinkable places.

After all, to heal the wounds made by an impure heart, it is needed the purest of them all.

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Why would I lie when I can tell you the truth? 

Merlin tries to figure out how many people he can admit to having magic without getting caught.

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

This is my favourite cute little cat ~ okay, it's a bastet

Merlin finds a cute little kitten.

Very very huge, with wings.

Okay, maybe it isn't a kitten, but Merlin likes it.

Merlin & Morgana, Freya & Merlin

Please, he's an Alpha!

Merlin is amazed by the new Alpha, and Arthur isn't happy

Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

I just met you

Arthur and Merlin first meeting.

Or: How Arthur fell in love with Merlin

Freya & Merlin & Will, Morgana & Arthur Pendragon

They lived happily and gay ever after

Youtuber Merlin makes his edits on videos.

It follows a discussion about couples in series.

Gwen/Lancelot, Gwen & Merlin, Gwaine & Gwen, Freya & Merlin & Will, Lancelot & Merlin, Gwaine & Merlin

The hunters and the preys

Merlin is been sold by his older brother to the slaves.

This is how he'll escape them

Merlin (Merlin) & Original Female Character

Jealousy, jealosy

Arthur and the knights are jealous of their Omega

Gwen & Merlin & Morgana, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

The Value of a King

Merlin had been given a choice.

Admitting the truth about what Morgause had said, admitting that Uther was indeed responsible for the Purge and Ygraine's death would have meant freedom for Merlin and for all those who had magic.

But Arthur would suffer.

Lying about the truth, lying about what Uther had done, once again covering the king from the consequences of his own actions… it would have spared Arthur the pain of losing another parent. It would save Uther, a man who had never had compassion for anything or anyone, once again.

It would make Arthur hate magic once and for all.

Make Arthur hate Merlin, the profound nature of what Merlin was, forever.

Gwen & Merlin & Morgana & Arthur Pendragon

The vigilante of Camelot

There is a scoundrel who kills nobles who threaten Arthur, leaves evidence of their guilt in the room and offends Uther every time

Merlin & Morgana

Simply splendid

One of the most important rules that Leon had passed on to Arthur was to be as ready as possible in every possible situation.

Being a prince was a great responsibility, he had said, and always being ready for any occasion was Arthur’s sacred duty as protector of the kingdom and its citizens.

Or:

Arthur tries to test his knights, and instead he starts following his servant around

I'll be worthy of your trust

Arthur had always thought that using magic was for the wicked and weak.

His father had thought so, and Morgana had shown herself capable of anger and violence like few other enemies had ever been.

Arthur couldn't believe that he too was a sorcerer.

Taking care of each other

five times Merlin heals one of the knights + once all of them heal him.

Merlin & Knights of the Round Table

Princess Elena of Gawant

“I had a Sidhe.” Elena murmured. “I was possessed by a Sidhe.”

Merlin nodded. “I'm sorry it took me so long to understand this.”

Elena/Merlin

The Curse of Camelot

Narrator:

"In Camelot, where peace once reigned,

Now a dark shadow has remained.

In the heart of the castle, something's astray,

An ancient presence that won't fade away.

No one was ready for this fateful night,

And no one will ever be, despite their might."

“Promise me you won't look back.”

“Promise me you won't look back.” Arthur said, speaking through the fog.

Merlin swallowed. “You can't ask me that.”

“Merlin, promise me.”

Merlin didn't answer, unable to utter those simple words.

How to fix a bad day

Merlin sighed, casting a longing glance at his refuge for the night.

Going on patrol was always painful, not because of the hours spent on horseback (which didn't help anyway, as it was necessary to maintain a rigid and constant position for a long time), but because of the work Merlin had to do afterwards, while the knights rested.

What happened?

Merlin finds himself in a very different Camelot.

Or: Merlin of season 1 finds himself in late season 4.

Keep it safe

“If the sigil is a proposal, then what does the ring mean?” he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.  

 

“The ring itself? Nothing,” Arthur reassured him, leaning closer as if drawn by Merlin’s quiet tone. “But that ring, given by me? It means I’m offering you the most fragile, vulnerable part of myself and asking you to keep it safe.”  

Back to General Masterlist

[emrys-merlin]

Ok but Nimueh is THE high priestess of the series.

She was the only priestess who truly seemed to actually care about what the Old Religion had to say. She wasn't a good person but never acted like a "psychopath". She never underestimate Merlin.

This character is so interesting that I'm not convinced she would fully support Morgana and Morgause. Yeah she would have joined them, but I don't think she would have "obsessively" tried to kill Merlin and Arthur. They are her enemies, yes, she tried to kill them, but she didn't truly want them dead. And that would be a problem for Morgana/Morgause.

Nimueh knows about the prophecies. She knows about Merlin and Arthur's destiny. She literally wanted to put Arthur on the throne by herself and she kept dancing around Merlin's because she had sussed who he was and wanted the opportunity to recruit him.

The way she kept dancing around Merlin's request to take his life, and how she said numerous times that she had no control over who lived or died but it seemed to make sure it avoided Merlin and when Gaius requested his life suddenly it was very accurate Imao. She knew what she was doing.

It would be so cool to see a villain also try to fulfill the prophecy but in their own twisted way.

She shouldn't have died!

[merlin-reboot-when]

Been thinking about Merlin and Merlin ships a lot again lately and I stumbled upon the same hurdle with Merthur as I always do. Arthur obviously cares about Merlin, but he treats him like shit anyway. Tells him he's stupid and incompetent and a coward. He has admitted before that Merlin is his closest friend, that he values his advice, that he trust him. Then he turns around and dismisses whatever Merlin has to say, reminds him he's merely a servant and doesn't take him serious at all.

And yes, Arthur's under a lot of pressure and was raised a certain way, but that's not really an excuse for his behaviour. He allegedly has learned that servants are worth just as much as nobles (he starts courting Gwen) and that commoners can be just as honorable as nobles (he knights Percival, Gwaine, Elyan and Lancelot), yet somehow he still treats Merlin disrespectfully. The fact that Arthur actually cares about Merlin so much only makes it worse. Why would you treat a friend or any loved one like that?

Arthur has a lot of very good qualities and a lot of the mistakes he makes aren't actually his fault (he just doesn't have all the information), but this? This he should know. Here he should do better.

[sexy-sapphic-sorcerer]

"have you not ever noticed how in Merlin, anybody whose magical has dark hair, pale eyes and pale skin" - Katie McGrath

[kateis-cakeis]

Sometimes I like to think about the possibility of Arthur and Mordred having a sort of temporary immortality, as in nothing could kill them until they killed each other

That was how the Triple Goddess decreed it after all. Only the Disir could have changed it, only they could have killed Mordred to save Arthur.

And if you think about it, all that Arthur is saved from, all that Mordred escapes, I do believe in the webs of fate that they couldn't die. There was a path they had to complete, too bound to die in any other way.

Before they were born they had a set death. It's right there in the writings of the Catha, hundreds of years beforehand.

So it only makes sense that they could not die until that day came.

[mossmx]

I know Ygraine in fanon is like this good person who would have been proud of S5 Arthur and all... but hear me out!

Morgause summons what might be her in S2, by that point she tells Arthur it's Uther fault she died: kinda shitty to snitch on your husband if you loved him??

Also Uther did not know she would have died (he tells as much to Nimueh, and we have no reason to believe Uther would have willingly exchange her life for Arthur's seeing how he reacted afterwards) and she should know that! So either 1) that is not true Ygraine therefore telling Arthur she's proud doesn't make real Ygraine proud of him.

2) That is actual Ygraine and she's a crappy wife.

Either way she might have been proud of Season 2 Arthur but not of S5 Arthur: she might not hate magic, but still hate that Arthur married Gwen and knighted peasants.

What if she was as shitty as Uther in that regard?? like, your vibe attracts your tribe... what if she was the standard noblewoman, we know Queens are as bad as Kings, come on: Royalty sucks!

I think exploring the fact they could both be fucked up people is more interesting than a martyr saint of a mother.

She was a noble woman and all the laws Uther made before her departure would probably have been ok with her.

What if she would have axed Percival herself if Arthur had summoned her with the horn in 5x03??

I want to explore this!

[lesbian-vampyres]

headcanon that merlin’s body glows when he uses strong magic. additionally could be when he feels emotions really strongly because he is sooo emotional and i think the magic would mirror him in its own ways

[yellow-faerie]

Could you talk about the “Long Live The Queen (Long Live the Monster)” wip?

[From this post of current WIPs, if anyone's curious :)]

Ahhh my Merlin fic! This is an Ygraine lives fic except she also goes batshit over magic! And a bit insane...so...

I have a lot planned out, because it starts from around the time that Uther and Ygraine met, but here's the basics:

Camelot had been in an era of civil war. Uther's father died without declaring an heir between his eldest (twin) sons and so they've been fighting. During this time, magic practise has been getting more and more difficult as people start using them as a scale goat for the civil war and then as a scape goat for anything that goes wrong, as often happens with persecuted groups throughout history.

Uther, who was younger than his brothers, won the civil war with the assistance and wisdom of the dragon lord's (and after one of both his brothers were killed). This was because the dragons had foreseen that his son would bring about the kingdom of Albion and free the people of magic from their current torment.

Having taken the throne, Uther invites all the noble houses of Camelot and the surrounding kingdoms to his coronation. Among those who come is Ygraine, representing the du Bois house for her elder brother Tristan (as Agravaine is not yet old enough and Tristan needs to stay in their lands as tensions are still too high) bringing with her her handmaid Bronwyn - who learned hedgewitch magic from her parents - and Tristan's trusted second-in-command, Captain Bedivere, who is probably having an affair with his wife.

They're attacked on the road but rescued by a young sorceress who says her name is Nimueh and that she too is travelling to Camelot for the coronation. She's the youngest of the nine priestesses and has been sent as a spy, of sorts, to see whether this man truly seems to be the sort of person to raise the king who will bring about Albion's return.

They arrive at Camelot together and go to the coronation; Ygraine and Uther meet when they are both wandering the castle at night (Ygraine because the attack on the road has rattled her and Uther because his new responsibility ways heavily on him) and they continue to make ways to see each other in between festivities before Uther asks her to stay on at the castle after the celebrations are finished.

Also on the castle: Balinor is the one who really helped Uther win the war as the main communication between the dragons and the crown, and so he is here to continue representing them and to continue to keep a firm eye on him (and Uther keeps him about because he Doesn't Trust Him).

Gorlois is the captain of the knights at this point, as one of the few people on the planet that Uther truly trusts.

Also, Gaius and Alice - they're both apprenticed to the current physician, Niamh, who is a very old woman who would have what we would call the beginnings of dementia - are there; as well as Cador, Uther's manservant and friend from throughout the war, who is an actual alcoholic and not a pretend one like Merlin.

Nimueh stays at the castle as well, both to keep an eye on the king like Balinor is doing and because she is genuinely very fond (read: probably falling in deep, unrequited love) of Ygraine. She gets the position of Court Sorcerer in Uther's court which makes her a permanent figure in the court life.

He and Ygraine are engaged to be married - and very happy about it - and during their engagement period, Uther puts out a declaration that all those practising magic must register their names and places of living; this does not help tensions as the magic people are furious because this new king was meant to start making things better and now he won't let them legally practise without registering.

Still, life goes on. Balinor spends a lot of time with Gaius and Alice because he hates court life and this is the closest he gets to a real escape; Bronwyn gets married to Cador and he cleans up his act as they start a family; Gaius and Alice are engaged to be married but are waiting until they both finish their training.

Vivienne, one of Nimueh's two blood sisters, comes to visit quite regularly and ends up married to Gorlois probably for political reasons. She then starts living in the court as well.

Ygraine and Uther are soon trying for a child but having little success; both Gaius and Alice do all the research they can but nothing works. Because of this, the king gets angry and more aggressive in his work, and there is a clear bias in his rulings against the magical people.

Vivienne and Gorlois return to Gorlois' castle during this time as Vivienne gets pregnant and wants the peace that Gorlois' own place would give him. (also because she's REALLY worried that the whole affair with Uther will be very real when her baby is born - thankfully, Morgana looks just like her)

Much like the general populace is doing, Uther's blaming magic for his personal problems. Because of this, he turns to Nimueh and asks for her help in conceiving magically.

She does her magic, against her fellow priestesses wishes, because she knows how much Ygraine wants to be a mother and she would do literally anything for her; but she doesn't tell her because she doesn't want to hurt her with the fact that she can't conceive naturally or smth.

Ygraine survives the birth! Yay!

Uther gets assassinated! Shouldn't have been oppressing people, Love.

Ygraine is distraught. She's always been a supporter of magic, mostly due to being friends with people like Bronwyn and Nimueh, but the wound inflicted on Uther was magic in nature.

This begins the purge. Ygraine is queen until Arthur is old enough to take the throne (although what that age is keeps getting older) and she uses this power for EVIL.

No but really - she never makes magic illegal but if you are found practising unregistered magic, you'll be executed, if you are registered to practise magic, your chances of being executed just shot through the roof, if you ever had someone who practised magic in your family ever, you are now a suspect in her husband's murder.

(even though, in reality, it was a one person job without a scheme at all)

Nimueh and Bronwyn, and Alice and Gaius, are protected because they are Ygraine's friends, trusted to within an inch of their lives. But there are others in the castle who are not so lucky.

Balinor is her first, chief suspect - she knows that he and Uther only grudgingly got on, and suspects that he and the dragon lords were in on it. She gets them all killed, imprisons Kilgarrah but Balinor escapes with Gaius' help. Nimueh convinces Ygraine not to go after him, saying that he would be completely gone now and won't return again.

Balinor and Hunith are married, have Merlin and then have a little girl called Ganieda about ten years later - she's just a little younger than Mordred.

The priestesses are targeted next because Ygraine thinks they are jealous that Nimueh chose her. Nimueh has to then choose between her sisters and between staying alive at Ygraine's side.

She chooses the latter and spends the next two decades growing to hate Ygraine with her whole heart for what she's doing to her people but also loving her for the person she was before. She constantly wants revenge but also wants to make sure that those she loves who are still protected stay alive.

Vivienne dies giving birth to Morgause, and Nimueh uses this as an excuse to leave the court. She visits Gorlois to help with the girls, promising to take them in if anything happens to him, and then goes to return back to the castle after a few months, as much as she hates it.

Eventually, something does happen to Gorlois, and when Morgana is 12 and Morgause 8 (and Arthur 10), the two girls come to live in the castle too.

Anyway, time rolls ever onward and Merlin is sent to the castle. Balinor is against it but Hunith tells him that Merlin's magic is too much for either of them and that Gaius and Alice (and by extension, Nimueh) are his best shot at learning to control the aspects of his magic that are just not within their knowledge.

Arthur is slightly less obnoxious because there's not so much of being raised as a macho man's man - however he is a massive mummy's boy which counteracts whatever character development not being raised by Uther gave him.

Like the first episode, Merlin rescues Arthur from the vengeful mother and gets assigned as his manservant. Some of what happens in the first series happens with Nimueh trying to get revenge on Ygraine while not revealing herself and also without killing Ygraine because her feelings are complicated.

The plot obviously won't be the same as the show but it vaguely follows the plot where it can.

The end of season 1 is Nimueh's reveal that she's kinda evil and then it's Merlin attempting to keep Arthur alive while Nimueh and Ygraine go to increasing lengths to get at each other, using everything they can.

Arthur becomes king and works very hard to make magic a part of society again. With both Nimueh and Ygraine gone by that point, there's no real antagonist against his reign other than Political Tensions and so it's Arthur and his many good friends/knights/advisors creating the kingdom of Albion with Love and Friendship.

Here's a little snippet from what I've written so far - this fic is mostly a bunch of disconnected snippets so far, so this is one of those:

The funeral is three days later.

Bronwyn stands two paces back from Ygraine – crowned Queen at her wedding, yes, but crowned ruling Queen again at her husband’s death – as she always has, holding the baby prince while her own children stand somewhere near the back with their grandparents. Thank the goddess for magic and her mother’s patience with a needle, or else none of them would have had the appropriate clothes.

Thank the goddess (although Bronwyn would never dare utter the words aloud) that Uther was the only victim that day.

Bronwyn does not know what might have happened if Uther had been the one to go through this grief, nor what might have happened if Arthur had been left parentless, nor if Uther and Ygraine had lost the child they had sacrificed so much for.

The vipers who Uther had fought for the throne some five years ago would be circling again if the throne was left empty, if there wasn’t someone showing a strong face to the crowds. If there wasn’t someone doing the job that Ygraine was doing so beautifully and with such a grace.

Still, Bronwyn had been uncertain if they would have managed a crowning so soon.

It had taken a bit of cajoling by the excellent seamstress in the castle’s employ and a little bit of magic to get Ygraine looking as if she hadn’t been through a very traumatic birth a mere few days before, and Nimueh now stands closer to the Queen than even Bronwyn as her ever-present pillar of support.

There’s the ceremony, led by Geoffrey, where the King is laid in the crypt and Ygraine is given the crown of state.

She stands on that dais for a few breathless moments, cutting a striking image of dark grief and power against the red drapery, and then she descends, sweeping out in a flurry of fabrics and skirts.

Nimueh is at her arm, and Bronwyn can barely keep up with the two of them.

[twistedshipper]

a charm for scrying from The Witch's Art of Incantation, Spoken Charms, Spells, & Curses in Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne.

[xviruserrorx]

I love Arthuriana but I really love BBC Merlin and the twist it's makes because it really pulls the concept of prophecy to new heights. Like a lot of people get mad because Merlin's destiny is that he is to see Arthur through becoming the once and future king and to unite the land of Albion, and this never happens... But at the same time Merlin isn't the only one with a Destiny because we have Mordred and Morgana and Arthur himself... At the same time Mordred's destiny is to unite with Morgana and to kill Arthur at the battle of Camlam... Morgana's destiny is to die by Merlin's hand, Arthur's destiny is to die by Mordred's hand... So yes Merlin has his destiny but that doesn't make his destiny everyone else's because at the end of the day, what happens when someone else's destiny comes before your own?

[arthurslesbian]

no but the poisoned chalice may be one of my favorite eps ever 😭

[mothmage]

me when a new (god-tier, galaxy-brained, divinely-inspired, etc) fic gets slapped into my merlin-rotted brain:

[legends-of-time]

Amelia’s Story (BBC Merlin Story) - Masterlist

Pairings:

Original Female Character & Morgana & Morgause

Arthur & Morgana & Original Female Character

Percival/Original Female Character

Merlin/Original Female Character

Gwaine/Original Female Character

Gwen/Arthur

Original Female Character & Original Female Character

Warnings:

Major Character Death, Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Non-Canonical Character Death, Cannon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Emotional Manipulation, Gaslighting

Physical description:

Amelia has light brown hair and blue eyes

Summary:

Amelia never really thought about what would happen when she died. Wait, no that was a lie. She had wondered if she would be reincarnated she supposed or just simply go to some sort of afterlife. Or maybe she would wake up in the world of one of the very first Tv shows that she had got obsessed with.

Amelia genuinely did not think this would happen, fanfiction is just that! Fanfiction!

But hey ho here she is.

——

The usual tale of someone dying then waking up in one of their favourite TV show with, what I hope, is a twist.

Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Awakening

Chapter 2: The Beginning of Her New Life

Chapter 3: Becoming Too Real

Chapter 4: Drastic Changes

Chapter 5: Family

Chapter 6: The Dragon's Call

Chapter 7: Valiant

Chapter 8: The Mark of Nimueh

Chapter 9: The Poisoned Chalice

Chapter 10: Lancelot

Chapter 11: A Remedy to Cure All Ills

Chapter 12: The Gates of Avalon

Chapter 13: The Beginning of the End

Chapter 14: Excalibur

Chapter 15: The Moment of Truth

Chapter 16: The Labyrinth of Gedref

Chapter 17: To Kill the King

Chapter 18: Le Morte d'Arthur

Chapter 19: The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

Chapter 20: The Once and Future Queen

Chapter 21: The Nightmare Begins

Chapter 22: Lancelot and Guinevere

Chapter 23: Beauty and the Beast Part One

Chapter 24: Beauty and the Beast Part Two

Chapter 25: The Witchfinder

Chapter 26: The Sins of a Father

Chapter 27: The Lady of the Lake

Chapter 28: Sweet Dreams

Chapter 29: The Witch's Quickening

Chapter 30: The Fires of Idirsholas

Chapter 31: The Last Dragonlord

Chapter 32: The Tears of Uther Pendragon Part One

Chapter 33: The Tears of Uther Pendragon Part Two

Chapter 34: Goblin's Gold

Chapter 35: Gwaine

Chapter 36: The Crystal Cave

Chapter 37: The Changeling

Chapter 38: The Castle of Fyrien

Chapter 39: The Eye of the Phoenix

Chapter 40: Love in the Time of Dragons

Chapter 41: Queen of Hearts

Chapter 42: The Sorcerer's Shadow

Chapter 43: The Coming of Arthur Part One

Chapter 44: The Coming of Arthur Part Two

Chapter 45: The Darkest Hour Part One

Chapter 46: The Darkest Hour Part Two

Chapter 47: The Wicked Day

Chapter 48: Aithusa

Chapter 49: His Father's Son

Chapter 50: A Servant of Two Masters

Chapter 51: The Secret Sharer

Chapter 52: Lamia

Chapter 53: Lancelot du Lac

Chapter 54: A Herald of the New Age

Chapter 55: The Hunter's Heart

Chapter 56: The Sword in the Stone Part One

Chapter 57: The Sword in the Stone Part Two

Chapter 58: Arthur's Bane Part One

Chapter 59: Arthur's Bane Part Two

Chapter 60: The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Chapter 61: Another's Sorrow

Chapter 62: The Disir

Chapter 63: The Dark Tower

Chapter 64: A Lesson in Vengeance

Chapter 65: The Hallow Queen

Chapter 66: With All My Heart

Chapter 67: The Kindness of Strangers

Wattpad access

fanfiction.net access

Ao3 access

[sexy-sapphic-sorcerer]

#this is also orpheus and eurydice sort of . and to the ones out there who get it judas and jesu— #sippin coffee #but yeah its about the tragedy that love created. its about how love was the tragedy and how it was the answer #its about how grief is loves last act. forever more #to add more bc all was said is mlm. hm. can i say nimueh and ygraine. it is in my heart ok. #gods we need more yuri myth tragedy like

@animucrystal don't leave this in the tags holy shit

thinking about arthur and merlin & achilles and patroclus & gilgamesh and enkidu

something about a god treated like a man, a man treated like a god. something, something, one cursed to die, one cursed to live. trying to defy fate, defy death, defy the gods to be together again. something about how we keep telling these same stories over and over again. something, something, the mortal hero immortalised in legend.