#descendent of King Arthur

[cc-tinslebee]

girl help I accidentally got attached to fake ship, one half of which is all in my head

King Arthur’s son x Morgana’s son goes crazy 🤭

[nelkcats]

Not an Atlantean

Since Clockwork informed him that his wail had evolved, Danny decided that he should try it. But he couldn't do it on land since he would destroy the whole place so he flew to a desolate place in the sea. He was sure that he could test it without destroying anything there.

When he finally decided to use it he noticed that his wail had sung to some sort of cry of suffering. Which wasn't much different from before but it made him sound like a wounded animal. Danny frowned wondering if that meant the old ghost with "Banshee".

To the citizens of Atlantis, Danny sounded like a wounded merman. But while some features fit right in as soon as they peeked out of the water (the fangs, the green eyes, and other features), they noticed that he had no tail...maybe he was only a descendant?

Arthur, excited to teach the human about his true ancestry, came out to congratulate him. The halfa was very confused when they led him to Atlantis. Noting that the boy could perfectly survive underwater, the citizens of Atlantis "confirmed" their suspicions. The boy was a descendant of their people, but how could they ask him without bringing back bad memories?

On his part, Danny was very confused, but everyone was extremely nice (he didn't notice that his ghostly features could easily be mistaken for another creature). Honestly, the halfa was more interested in asking how the stars looked like from the open sea.

After a while Danny noticed that something weird was going on (everyone was too shy??) and Arthur kept talking about letting him stay in the palace and learning directly from the King. Well, the halfa still didn't know where he was or what was exactly happening but seeing a King would surely help him when he was crowned so what could go wrong?

[gawrkin]

The Three Kingdom-Toppling Beauties of the Whole World

Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta

Guinevere, wife of Arthur of Britain

Su Daji, wife of Zhou of Shang

[incomingalbatross]

No one told me Geoffrey of Monmouth was this entertaining.

[dungeonofthedragon]

For the Grail

The full version of my Descended from the Queen game of grand adventure and quiet introspection is now available! Grab it from Drivethru RPG for just $3.49.

(Artwork by Alderdoodle.)

Take on the roles of a band of knights seeking the Grail in the company of King Arthur. What horror and heartbreak awaits them? What unexpected joys? Across several sessions ('chapters') you can discover the answers for yourself.

This game was released for Kiwi RPG Week 2024.

[groundbreakingdot872]

sorry. but the idea of old man merlin puttering around in his kitchen in the early morning, fussing over the seating and chair logistics at his (round) kitchen table, and then getting frustrated with himself at coming up short- and having the bitter realization that he’ll always come up short, by a whole table actually, kills me.

[ceiling-karasu]

World Building continued: Backstory for the wars involving Flower Hill, Teikoku, and Usuhan Jiyeog, and subsequent occupations.

Apologies in advance for this being so long. I wanted to know how widespread Japanese weasels are in real life, and found something interesting I could use.

Japanese weasels originate from three areas of Japan, that being Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Coincidentally, Japan famously has three Ceremonial Regalia in the form of a sword, magatama beads, and a mirror. These items are not seen by anyone other than the royal family and certain priests (images on the internet are recreations of what they could possibly look like, and those seen in public are symbolic stand-ins), but they symbolize the authority of the royal family.

Which allows me to make a backstory for my AU to help explain the wars and occupations, very loosely based off of events and locations in history, especially since animal biology limits certain events from happening.

In the past, there was an Emperor, who preferred for Teikoku to be in isolation. Under his rule, and of those before him, are smaller prefectures run by princes, lords, or other lessor royal families.

Contact with the United States Alliance and other nations led to a period of aggression and imperialism surrounding the empire of Teikoku, as they strove to fight against a stagnating economy that believed in its own superiority in the world, as well as a strict caste system preventing innovation.

Eventually, after some time, three princes are sent out to conquer the final few neighboring islands, so that may join the empire, and provide a larger force for when they make a move for the peninsula and the mainland.

The three princes are named after their prefectures, and the Emperor has given them each one of the Imperial Regalia as proof of their superiority.

The Sword

Honshu is the main island of Japan, and is also known as the dragonfly island. Teikoku will call it Tonbo, which refers to dragonflies, which are fierce and deadly creatures. As such, their Imperial Regalia is the sword, Yūki no ken (the sword of valor), and is based off of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Grass-Cutter). Tonbo is the main physical fighting force of Teikoku.

The Magatama Jewels

Kyushu is smaller than Honshu, but it had a lot of trade circuits around the ocean and the mountains. So I will make a prefecture named Kairo (Circuit), and have the area be responsible for trade and roads around the empire, as well as in the fighting forces. I would use the famous Magatama jewels (Benevolence) to symbolize their rule.

The Mirror

Shikoku means four provinces, and is the least populated area of the three areas. Shikoku also has a lot of temples (perhaps run by green pheasants, the national symbol of Japan), which draws in a lot of pilgrims. But they also maintain a lot of gateways to other prefectures. So maybe Genkan for entryway. They are responsible for planning and strategizing for the other two. They can have the Michi no kagami, mirror of the path to represent wisdom/truth, based on the Yata no Kagami.

VERY loosely taking inspiration from The Tale of the Heike, a collection of Japanese epic poetry with many translations and retelling (actually written down 200 years after said events supposedly happened), which says that the royal families that held these Regalia were defeated in a naval battle, and threw themselves and the treasures into the sea. Subsequent legends suggest that many search and diving parties have been led to recover the Regalia.

In my AU, I hold that the items were thrown into the sea, with the princes believing that they could return for them later even if they were captured, although they managed to escape. It was a complete disgrace for the Emperor, as without the Ceremonial Regalia, the legitimacy of the entire palace was thrown into question.

And then the box holding the Magatama washed up on the shores of the peninsula.

It is returned as a gesture of good will, but as no good deed goes unpunished, Teikoku believes that they must have taken the other Imperial Regalia for themselves, starting a land invasion. The small army is annihilated by farmers, fresh out of overthrowing their own monarchy, wielding guns, which Teikoku has never seen before.

Which results in a larger army being sent, which is also defeated and the princes captured and possibly executed by the hedgehog army in the north of the country. At this point, without the authority of the Ceremonial Regalia, and increasing economical desperation, the country is forced to undergo a reformation. While there is still an Emperor, he does not hold as much political power as he once did.

Teikoku left behind settlements of soldiers and colonists controlling the southern portion of the peninsula, which they name Usuhan Jiyeog, who take up ruler-ship and fish farming.

The hedgehogs use the proof of their power in defending their areas to take control of what they would name Flower Hill.

It is a strongly held belief that before they backed away from Usuhan Jiyeog, the Emperor promised that anyone who managed to retrieve the Ceremonial Regalia from Flower Hill would be reinstated as the next emperor, and be rewarded with power beyond their wildest dreams.

Did the other two, heavier, items, even wash up on the shores of the peninsula like the jewels, locked in an airtight box? Or did they sink to the bottom, as they were heavier? Who is to say...

But alongside the greed, desperation for power, and food production issues, the temptation of finding the supposedly stolen Imperial Regalia locked away in some distant stronghold is a good enough reason as any to attempt to occupy Flower Hill.

Now, I'm not about to retcon what I have already written and say that Commander Jogjebi wanted the sword and mirror, and Huinjogjebi is a weasel of science who would likely not be interested anyway. But claiming that Flower Hill stole precious items and symbols of their country in the past, and them not being able to disprove it, is enough of an excuse to make quite a few countries in the international courts turn a blind eye to the happenings surrounding Flower Hill.

Oil Production

I did figure out the oil and gas situation. I did go ahead and give the Jindo Empire a large amount of oil. The Venezuela country below the United States Alliance is now the República de Cultivos Oleaginosos, and is trying to prevent the wolves' country from occupying their regions.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of the world's oil in my AU is being produced in this country.

While it used to be many different nations in the past, the leaders understood that their vast oil and gas reserves would result in large scale invasions, and agreed to band together into the Equatorial Allegiance.

[princess-ibri]

can we have a madame mim backstory.

Sure! Sorry it took a bit

Mad Madam Mim was born Lady Miriam of Mousehole, a free spirited young woman who was tutored in the ways of witchcraft by her nannies, a trio of ladies from the land of Morva who absolutely falsified their good references to get the position, and may have been planning to eat baby Mim before she showed an early talent for magic and they decided to train her instead

Mim's great aptitude and appreciation for magic was countered by her having absolutely no inclination towards behaving as a proper lady should, she was always getting into mischief and dirt and declared she would rather be the one turning princes into frogs then kissing them

Despite this declaration she did end up eventually marrying King Bagdemagus, of the land of Gorre, who she was incredibly disappointed to find out was a quite polite and disgustingly normal man, and not an evil wizard as the name of his kingdom seemed to suggest

He was however very willing to let his mad wife run wild as long as she turned anyone important back from frogs at the end of the day which Mim appreciated, and together they had several daughters and a son, Maleagant, who with the witch Hellewise are the parents of Matilda "Mad Maddy"

Eventually Mim got bored of being Queen and giving her husband a peck on the head (she was a bird at the time) she flew the coop and settled down in the Forest Savage where she could be her prefered horrid hideous hag-like self

It was while living there she met Merlin and promptly decided her new favorite pastime was driving the fussy wizard to distraction, and they've been battling each other ever since

[mydetheturk]

me baiting the trigun fans w/ the dark tower series like "pspspsps this is a normal scifi western it will not hurt you (it wants to hurt you. it wants to hurt you a lot actually)"

we even have COMICS and characters DOOMED BY THE NARRATIVE and weird, fucked up THINGS and the main character is GOING THROUGH IT

[caswensworld]

Beauty and the Beast are not the best in Descendants, but their sons are golden! This is Barry, Ben’s baby brother

Barry, the kind-hearted and brave 15-year-old son of Beauty and the Beast and Ben's brother. Barry believes everyone has goodness in their heart, good or evil.

Barry is a handsome young man with a kind face. He has inherited his father's strong build and features, but softens them with his mother's gentle eyes and warm smile. His curly brown hair, streaked with golden highlights, falls just past his ears, giving him a slightly mischievous air. His dark brown eyes, full of curiosity and warmth, are often crinkled at the corners from his frequent smile. He usually wears the traditional attire of Auradon's royalty, but prefers to add his own flair with vibrant scarves and colorful brooches.

Barry believes in the inherent goodness of everyone, even those considered 'evil'. He sees potential in every person and is always willing to give them a chance. He is deeply empathetic and always puts others before himself. He is quick to offer help and comfort to those in need. Though he is gentle, Barry is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in, even if it means confronting those who seem intimidating. He has a natural talent for painting and drawing, finding solace and expression in art. As the son of the Beast and Beauty, Barry carries himself with a natural sense of grace and dignity.

**Background**

Barry is the youngest son of the Beast and Beauty, and the younger brother of King Ben of Auradon. He grew up in the royal palace, surrounded by love and kindness. As a child, he was fascinated by his father's stories of the Isle of the Lost and the villains who resided there. He always believed that even the most hardened hearts could find redemption.

Barry has a close relationship with his brother, Ben, whom he idolizes. He admires Ben's courage and his willingness to give even the most unlikely individuals a chance, like the VKs. This has only fueled Barry's own desire to see the best in everyone, especially Cerin, the son of the formidable Charnabog, who is known for his rebellious and wicked nature.

**Crush and Fascination with Cerin**

Barry is drawn to Cerin's rebellious spirit and his undeniable charisma. He sees past Cerin's rough exterior and believes that there is a good heart hidden beneath. He is fascinated by Cerin's dark side, but also hopes to help him find a path towards redemption.

Yes, Barry and Cerin are lovers. Disney is slowly inching towards the non-straight relationships, we saw it will Willa and A-Spen! We’re almost there!

Also…where my Chucky fans at!

**Other Relevant Information**

* Barry loves to read and spends hours in the royal library, immersing himself in tales of adventure and heroism.

* He has a passion for history and is always eager to learn about the past, especially the stories of brave heroes who fought for justice and equality.

Overall: Barry is a complex and endearing character. He is a beacon of hope and kindness in a world of darkness and despair. He is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always room for love, compassion, and the possibility of redemption.

My boys! 🖤💛

[exceptionalzed]

No cause I wanna be a silly wizard with my silly magic and my sparkly robe of many things and alchemy and whimsy and a dash of lunacy

[rotzaprachim]

look i have the andorst of us going full blast in my head but the piece of apocalypse media that it’s really in washing machine rotation with is station eleven. there’s something to me about how andor is a show that full on gazes straight into the eyes of the most horrific human evils, and yet also is the first piece of star wars property that has convinced me, utterly convinced me, that a better world was possible in the galaxy far far away. that community and love and collective action really could be found anywhere, could save people anywhere, that this is a world in we which we climb together. there is a hope! there can  be a rebellion BECAUSE there is a hope!

something about how station eleven by refusing zombies or aliens or any easy We-Just-Shoot-’Em targets of the apocalypse to go straight for the silent, jaw dropping horrors of a pandemic and social collapse ends up far more terrifying than any zombie film, and yet is the piece of apocalypse media that makes me bellieve anyone would want to outlive the apocalypse. that shows that through community and love and art between strangers and family alike we might want to survive. we survive because the brute action of survival itself is insufficient! 

just like. the show that said a community marching band playing a funerary dirge would be an ultimate act of rebellion handshakes the book and show that say after the end of everything a travelling shakespeare troop will go around lake superior again and again and again to keep on playing and keep on playing and keep on playing....

[deafchild2000]

Since it's Halloween 2024, that means that Rafael is/was turning 14 years old today!

Rafael's Halloween Birthday Bash

So, considering last night was a full moon, I can say we are in the clear!

Anyhoo: Me and @ambroselaveau90 love to talk about Legacies and what we would have done if we wrote the show. So, yeah, we envision how things go and just roll from there.

And for those who are confused: Harmony is my OC for the TVD Universe! Check out Inheritance!

Now, a while back, we were coinciding the 2020 Full Moon with Legacies (which was 2 aka absolute hell for the werewolves), and here's what happened:

Setting: Season 2, before the Prison World Arc

Rafael's birthday is discovered to be on October 31st. Everyone knew he was born in October, but Harmony Mikaelson Kenner was surprised to find out it was that particular date.

Turns out, it wasn't something he informed because his former foster families tended to forget or not care (with maybe one showing minimum effort!)

Learning this, Harmony decided to throw him a birthday party at the Old Mill with Landon's help. Rafael - knowing she won't take no for an answer - reluctantly accepted this.

However, in the midst of the beginning stages of her plan, the school is called to an assembly, which much to her disappointment, was called by Lizzie.

It got worse: With leftover funds, Lizzie is planning an IMMENSE Halloween Bash that "makes the Great Hall in Hogwarts look like decorations from Dollar Tree!"

Angry because this meant Rafael's birthday would be ignored, Harmony stands up, stalks towards Lizzie, and chews her out in the process while causing the room to quake in anger. Lizzie dismisses why Harmony would be against it until she blurts out that it's Rafael's birthday - which causes all eyes to go to Rafael (who looks away in embarrassment).

Hearing this, Lizzie feels a bit of shame for not knowing this (and silently blames her spies) but tries to excuse that maybe Rafael wouldn't mind otherwise he would have said something sooner. Harmony doesn't take this well and it results in a screaming match with shocking tremors throughout the out school until Rafael gets in-between them and stops it before the school collapses in itself!

While a bit pissed at Harmony for spilling the beans, he knows it was done unintentionally with pure devotion. So, he calls a truce: Combine both their ideas and make it a Halloween Birthday Bash (presents optional). He's never had a good birthday anyway, except for Landon and his late girlfriend, Cassie.

The girls shake on the truce (with students now looking to Rafael as a God and debating what to give him now that he saved the school!)

To be fair, no one said the girls had to work together, but a frustrated Harmony wreaked earthquakes throughout the school trying.

As far as planning goes: The colors for Halloween (orange, black, purple, etc) were okay. Flying pumpkin lanterns was a must, though whether they're carved or not was a tight vote! Harmony got Kaleb officially on board to be a major part of the band, which switched between DJ and live entertainment. (She asked him if he would mind dressing up like Stevie Wonder and singing "Superstitious" & he was already rehearsing!)

The biggest arguments had been about the cake (size, shape, flavor).

Rafael is being vague in helping, which is good and bad because as much as Harmony wants to go to town with it, she wants to cater to Rafael.

Next was the music choices. While getting Kaleb on board was a bonus, what's appropriate for a Halloween bash has many, many selections to choose from.

Next is food and decorations, which follows a theme and that's left unsaid and in the care of Alyssa and Josie.

At some point, it gets too much and Rafael yells at Harmony...who just stands silently and slams the clipboard containing everything she planned into his chest before walking away (leaving her hurt and him feeling like an ass).

Hearing that Lizzie's going to be in charge of planning everything from now on, Landon and a pissed Alyssa go to Rafael, who's hiding in the Old Mill with Harmony's clipboard. After some biting comments from the witch, Rafael reveals he's overwhelmed because his birthday signifies the day he was given up for adoption...and the last good birthday he had by his adopted parents before he died. They died in an accident the night of his tenth birthday and it haunts him. Add in foster care and the times his birthday with unanswered, Cassie and Landon were the only ones to low key celebrate it. Then here Harmony comes, trying to make it the biggest event of the century and it just...overwhelms him.

Alyssa stands quietly before she calmly chews him out:

Alyssa: Really? Because you had bad things and unattentive people place a dark shadow on the most important day of your life, it means it's cursed or something? I swear I don't know how you dated Harmony at all if you don't know her at this point. Look, I can go at this several ways, but I'll be clinical. Harmony was born after her kidnapped mother's labor was induced by witches who wanted to sacrifice her and Hope and on that very same day, her mother was killed. If not for their blood, she would've stay dead! Then, because of her dick of a dad, her mother - who already lost the first 6 months of her life sending her away to protect her and then only was reunited with her for 2 months - was cursed to be stuck in wolf form and missed her first birthday. The next 5 years were traveling around the country and she met people who had it better and worse than her. Add in the fact she was tortured and well, her 8th birthday was more of a distraction than a happy event. But then, she lives in the city where her family has caused people irreversible damage. She realizes she's white, privileged and if she can bring people joy, she can do it. Do you see Hope planning this? No, because Harmony can't help but think of others, even on her special day! If anything, you have to make it special when she forgets! But you wanna know what she did for my birthday? She had my favorite food made, pulled out my favorite movies, and decked out the Old Mill to look like a tented theatre. She's not doing to win a popularity contest or something! She's doing this because she wants to, putting all her energy into this. After all, it's a friend who she truly cares about, even after he hurt her. And you're also in the wrong because you should have told her this sooner! She may be a Seer, but she has enough self-control that she won't force it from you. You have to tell her. She wouldn't have fought with Lizzie over this and just convinced the school pack to sneak away to celebrate it! But you just sat back and got angry when all she's doing, all she's ever wanted to do, was give people who didn't have it as good as her something amazing to look back on. It's hard some days to see her as selfish because she's too busy giving herself for others! This (points to the clipboard) is for YOU! The werewolf born on Halloween, who's lost people as the world beat him down, who now has a place with friends who understand him with his brother by his side, who she wants to have a goddamn great birthday because simply he deserves it! It's the least the world can give him. And from what you told us since the world rarely lets that happen, then Harmony will make it happen! Look, I'm not saying this to guilt-trip you, I'm just telling you to look at how far you've come, look at what Harmony has done for you, and accept this rare gift of someone planning the celebration of your life. Because you are cared for and loved and if you weren't born, someone would feel your loss. Despite your tragedies, you are someone's reason to keep going and that's enough to celebrate."

Alyssa walks away, leaving an impression on the boys.

Landon: I never thought I see her that passionate before. Make me kinda understand why she's Harmony's best friend.

Rafael: Yeah (looks back at the clipboard)

Harmony's list: Decorations?✔ Flying pumpkin (carved)?✔ Levitating food platters?✔ Food and snack bar?✔ Red punch and animal blood distinguished?✔ Music setlist?✔ 90s Halloween themes from movies?✔ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Ninja Rap on the setlist?✔ Convincing the pack to dress as the Turtles and do the dance? (Pending) Cake?❌ Rafael's preference?❌ Cake size?❌ Rafael's costume preference?❌ Asking Nekkie to bring Cassie back for a night? (Pending)...

The list went on and on and Rafael realize just why Harmony's been tailing him and why she was putting the effort into his birthday. And she was seriously considering bringing his ex back for his birthday!? He didn't like the Necromancer, but he found Harmony amusing, so a favor like that?

Rafael: I need to talk to Harmony.

Rafael looks all over for Harmony until he realizes she's at her dorm. He knocks but when she opens it before he gets a word out, she slams it in his face! Can't say he didn't deserve it.

He kept knocking, but once he heard Citizen Soldier blaring and he had no choice but to talk loudly to explain himself. He explained the day of his birth, his adoptive parents dying, the neglect he experienced on his birthday, the fact that Landon and Cassie were the last time he had a not-so-bad birthday before he killed Cassie, and how he had always thought his birthday had been cursed. Like he didn't deserve to even celebrate it. But then he lists off all the things from Harmony's clipboard and once he got to Cassie, he choked up because that was when he knew just how much she must've cared to ask the freakin' Necromancer a favor just to make his day special! And he apologizes for blowing up at her when all she was trying to do was something great for him that not a lot of people did before.

He hears the music stop and looks to see Harmony open the door, a bit teary-eyed, and pulls him in. She asks him why he just didn't tell her and he replies it was because he knew once she put her mind to something, it was hard to stop. A miscommunication on both their parts, though he still should have spoken up before she put all that effort in. He asks her if she would have brought Cassie back, to which she responds that she would and now she's getting ideas to add his late adoptive parents in for closure!

For the first time, he smiles at the thought and realizes he didn't deserve her. He tells her not to, he made peace with their deaths a long time ago.

Out of nowhere, Harmony started spouting out facts: "Did you know you're one of few babies born on Halloween? In October, there's a massive decline in childbirth on Halloween leading some to believe expectant mothers somehow consciously withhold their labors to avoid the negative perceptions Halloween carries for their babies. And take away that fact that you were, did you know it's most unlikely you would've been born on Halloween at all? Or did you know that October babies are more likely to be good at sports? And even have the potential for the presidency? Did you know you are most likely to live to see your 100th birthday? That you are likely born with a healthy heart and good mental health? Well, I say 50/50 to those two if you hadn't gone through hell."

Rafael: (shocked yet smiles) No, I didn't know that.

Harmony: (smiles) "Anyways, as unlikely as the event was, you are a Halloween baby, which means special perks. Like you're a Scorpio, so that means you're prone to bouts of passion and intense bouts of determination, loyal, dependable, creative, and just instinctively a good leader, however, you're also prone to being a mischief-maker and short-tempered, especially on Halloween which counteracts with the boost of loyalty you'll get. Now, you also share a few birthdays with Willow Smith, Christopher Columbus (ooooh, I am so sorry about that!), Robert Van Winkles aka Vanilla Ice (Rafael: No wonder you capitalized on the Ninja Rap!/Harmony: Shut up!) Oh, and Peter Jackson, whom you and Landon have to thank for directing the LOTR trilogy!"

Rafael: (laughs) Okay, so is that all the fun stuff?

Harmony: (mock gasps) Oh, not even close! There's the extra special stuff that comes with being born on Samhain!

Rafael: (Eyes widen) Oh, I pray you do not mean-

Harmony: Did you know babies born on Halloween have Second Sight aka the ability to see spirits? (Smirks)

Rafael: (groans) That was the first thing I expected to come out of your mouth.

Harmony: (laughs) Oh, if you had been born normal, I have no doubt that would have been as far into our world as you would've gotten! But there's more to it! Yes, It's one of the facts, being able to communicate with spirits, but Second Sight is kinda like seeing into the future, like what I am supposed to do if I wasn't Girl, Interrupted, and it's sudden. Like a piece of knowledge just appears in your mind, no matter how small. Speaking of which, you are also immune to evil spirits, another perk point! Did you know you could read dreams as well? And do you wanna know the best one of all?

Rafael: What?

Harmony: Babies born on Samhain were thought to be the next kings and knights.😏

They spend hours checking everything off Harmony's clipboard (Cake? Chocolate but gooey, velvet texture to make it look bloody? Cassie? Not happening. Rafael's costume? Already decided but nothing ninja turtle or werewolf related.)

By the next day, Harmony was surprised to hear Lizzie and Josie were having a tough time. Turns out Alyssa was having a bit too much fun making sure everything about Rafael's side of things could only be answered by Harmony herself.

Speaking of the witch, Rafael went to her dorm to thank her for helping him see the bigger picture with Harmony and his birthday. A bit snarky accepting it, Alyssa said instead of thanks, she wanted the simple favor of debuting something she'd been working on during the party. Something that would "make Lizzie ruin her costume with cake".

As much as Rafael was confused by her motives, he gave Alyssa his blessing to debut whatever the hell she was planning. Part of him really wanted to warn Harmony and Lizzie, but the last time he did something stupid, he got hex bags all over the place and a heartbroken/pissed tribrid.

Then came the actual day, which he shouldn't have let his guard down.

First, he wake up to a skeleton sleeping beside him (and gave Landon hell for it by chasing him around school when he found him!)

Then, he opened his door to a lot of presents. As in half could only fill up the entire room and would take days to go through (turns out keeping Lizzie and Harmony from fighting made him some type of saviour.)

Next, he got so many birthdays and well wishes from his classmates.

His breakfast was flapjacks that looked very much like a werewolf.

He was allowed to help put up the decorations (but only bare minimum, Lizzie's idea), but was ultimately either outside picking up the bonfire (clearly Harmony's idea) or inside his room, to be called upon for the big night.

Landon was the one who escorts him to the party where MG announces his arrival. (Cue a scene in which Kaleb is singing "Superstitious" on the piano)

Costumes: Landon as a player from Squid Games, Harmony as a Witch (black, pointy hat and colorful costume), Hope as an Angel, MG as Michael Jackson from Thriller, Kaleb as Stevie Wonders, Josie as Wednesday Addams and Lizzie as Carrie White on prom night (before the pig blood)

The party went underway as it continued into the night, but not without a few hiccups. Some of the punch spilled on others (someone had a bright idea to say the labels were switched) and the food was fantastic and his favorites. Songs like Thriller (followed by an epic dance battle between Kaleb and MG) followed by other 90s and 2000s Halloween songs. By the time the cake came out, Rafael was floored. The cake had a graveyard theme with the coating brown and black with "bones" sticking out...and was HUGE! It was 5 layers high, but big enough that the school could get seconds and thirds if they wanted. He had to climb a podium to reach the spaced-out candles on top (lit with a small fire spell, no less)

The entire school gathers around as they sang "Happy Birthday" cheerfully, if not eerily. Hauntingly.

Rafael blew and took out all the candles in one blow (he suspects they were enchanted to do so but doesn't care.)

By the time, the song ended, all of the lights cut off, except for the starry illusion on the ceiling.

Rafael didn't know what was going on and he could hear Harmony and Lizzie getting ready to search out the source of the issue when suddenly a low, haunting tone started to play around them:

"Come little children

I'll take thee away

Into a land of enchantment

Come little children

The time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows..."

Following the music, the students followed the singing as it continues to pick up. Slowly, the lanterns started to light up again overhead as they passed them.

The school found themselves back in the Grand Hall and looked up as the lanterns were lit up bright enough for them to see Alyssa, dressed as a witch renaissance style, with a broom in hand....standing on the baluster overlooking the entire school!

A few students look like they're about to move forward as Alyssa sang sang the last verse:

"Come little children

I'll take thee away

Into a land of enchantment

Come little children

The time's come to play

Here in my garden of shadows."

And with that, jumped off the baluster, causing everyone to scream out in front...

Only...

Lizzie's jaw dropped and the third serving of cake fell on her dress, a red smear falling on it.

Harmony's expression was that of from shock to an incredibly wide, shit-eating grin!

Lizzie: She didn't...

Harmony: (incredibly smug) Oh, fuck yeah she did!

Right before everyone, right up in the air, Alyssa was safe....riding a flying broomstick!

Alyssa: (smirking) Happy birthday, Rafael.

Alyssa threw back her head and let out a loud, cackling laughter that scared the shit out of everyone and she held the head of the broom before taking off around the room!

Rafael, looking at the display that he was told was impossible on his first day at Salvatore, now understood why she asks to make her debut.

She had brought flying broomsticks back into the modern-day!

He turned to see, as Alyssa had promised, Lizzie's jaw dropped and ruined her dress with cake. Harmony looked like she was seeing prepared to start hero-worshipping any minute as she hyped up and cheered as her best friend flew above the room.

Alyssa leaned to the side as she dipped and snatched Harmony's black, pointing witch hat off her head before sitting upright and winking at her before putting it on.

Rafael watched the spectacle with awe but realized quickly that Alyssa didn't have enough room.

Rafael: (shouting) Get to the field! Head to the field!

Kaleb must've known what he was doing as he started to go the same, prompting everyone to head outside, opening the back doors. The crowd rushed out, parting ways as Alyssa flew between them and shot out into the night sky.

Alyssa looking down to see everyone pouring out to cheer her on, pulled out a vial from her dress pocket and threw it at the unlit bonfire, and yelled "Phasmotas Incendia!"

The bonfire exploded and sparks shoot out into the sky before becoming a busting display of fireworks!

Watching the fireworks light up and the almost euphoric joy in the atmosphere, Rafael didn't notice Harmony until she judged him in the side.

Harmony: (smiles) So...can you say you had a bad birthday?

Rafael: (showing his pearly whites in his smile) I can say that I never had a bad birthday EVER again! (Hugs her tightly)

Cue in the far out distance, Alyssa flying across the bright moon on her broomstick and cackling happily into the night.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 👻 🎃 & HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAFAEL WAITHE 🎉 🎂

Bonus:

Alaric wakes up the next day, completely hungover from the red punch (at least he hoped that it was punch) and opens his buzzing phone to see pictures of the party trending all over social media from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram and very unsettling pictures and articles of a witch flying all over Mystic Falls. Chucking his phone to the side, he buried his head undercover and went back to sleep before he could even begin starting his day doing damage control.

[amirasainz]

Can you do the leclerc brothers with sister reader and she’s like the joy of their life, kinda like the bond with amira sainz and Carlos but with the leclerc?

Of course!!! I find this is such a cute request.

Enjoy reading and send me requests!!!

-XoXo

Little Sunshine

It was no secret among the paddock that the four Leclerc siblings shared an exceptionally close bond. It was also widely known that the three older brothers—Lorenzo, Charles, and Arthur—were fiercely protective of their younger sister, YN. At just 19 years old, she was not only the youngest in their family but also the only girl, creating a perfect recipe for three overprotective brothers.

There had already been numerous occasions where the brothers had demonstrated that their sister was the center of their universe, and they would go to any lengths to ensure her happiness and safety. ANYTHING!

One particularly heartwarming moment occurred during the Silverstone Grand Prix. During this GP, the cameras captured a scene that made fans fall in love with the Leclerc family all over again. As it was raining cats and dogs outside, the Free Practice session had been red-flagged. The FIA deemed it too dangerous for the drivers to continue in such treacherous conditions. Consequently, all the drivers were confined to the garage. While most of them were engrossed in reviewing data with their engineers, taking a brief respite, or chatting with their loved ones via FaceTime, there was one notable exception: Monsieur Charles Leclerc.

Instead of poring over data with his race engineer, Charles was seated on a chair, surrounded by an impressive array of hair care products. His lovely sister YN sat in front of him, comfortably perched on a cushion, completely absorbed in a book. The cameras captured the look of intense concentration on Charles’ face. What astonished the fans the most wasn’t that no one interrupted them, but that Charles was able to execute a top-notch hair care routine for his sister’s beautiful hair with seemingly effortless precision.

Later on, when the media inquired why he didn’t engage in the same activities as the other drivers during the red flag, he responded with a nonchalant expression, “My sister has beautiful hair, and my mama is a hairdresser. Naturally, I know that her hair requires special attention during such heavy rain. I don’t even understand why you’re asking such a silly question.” Safe to say that the fans loved the sassy respons from their PR trained King

Another fan-favorite moment occurred during one of Charles’ vlogs. The Leclerc family is renowned for their cherished boat trips during the summer, and this year was no exception. The memorable incident took place while Joris was busy filming Charles, who was enthusiastically explaining some part of the boat near his two younger siblings, who were both basking in the sun. With his face turned to the camera, Charles was blissfully unaware of his older brother Lorenzo sneaking up behind him. The camera began to shake from Joris’ silent laughter. As Charles continued his explanation, Lorenzo crept closer and closer to his unsuspecting siblings. And then it happened.

One moment Charles was mid-sentence, and the next, he was unceremoniously thrown overboard into the water. Before anyone could fully process what had happened, Lorenzo had already scooped up Arthur and tossed him in next to Charles, who was now simultaneously complaining and laughing. It was anticipated that Lorenzo would also pick up their sister and throw her in with their brothers. But that’s not what transpired. Instead, Lorenzo carefully lifted his sister and carried her to the railing. He gently set her down and descended the stairs himself first, stopping on the last step.

“Careful, ma puce, the stairs are a bit slippery,” he cautioned her. Instantly, Charles and Arthur halted their water fight, now also keeping a vigilant eye on YN. With Lorenzo’s assistance, which she didn’t even need, and under the watchful eyes of her other brothers, she safely entered the water. Now it was her turn to initiate the water fight, easing the tension that had briefly filled the air. However, her brothers remained close to her, ready to offer support in case she grew tired of swimming and needed a break. And Joris? He was busy laughing his butt off the entire time.

Another memorable moment took place during the Vegas GP. Like any other American GP, this one was packed with celebrities. Being the supportive sister she is, YN attended the GP with her older brother Arthur to cheer on Charles.

While Charles was out there racing, the well-known actor Timothée Chalamet decided to shoot his shot with the pretty Monegasque girl. “Hey. What do yo—” Before he could even finish his sentence, he was met with the disapproving face of Arthur Leclerc. The youngest brother looked him up and down, raised an eyebrow, and uttered a single, final word: “No.”

Arthur then moved his sister away from Timothée’s sight and engaged her in a conversation about the new Vogue magazine she had bought that day. YN, who didn’t even realize what had just transpired, was more than happy to discuss her favorite fashion magazine.

It’s safe to say that even a blind person could see the immense love and protective instincts the three brothers have for their sister.

[ramblings-of-a-chaotic-neutral]

And I'm back with Part 3 of the "Merlin accidentally conquers Camelot" au! Thank you all so much for your patience and continued support for this story! It makes me so happy to see people get excited by my silly (and occasionally delusional) au ideas!

NOTE: You can find part 1 here and part 2 here.

EDIT: And you can find part 4 here!

And without further ado, onto the new stuff!

It was rather drafty in the lesser furnished cells of the dungeons. Merlin knew this well, as he had spent many nights during his first couple of years in Camelot trying and failing to get any sleep on the cold stone floors of those cells, kept awake by the freezing chill that would sweep through the dungeons at any given moment.

Merlin also knew that Arthur had never been kept in one of those cells, even on the rare occasions that Uther had him locked up for going against his orders. Whenever Arthur had to be put in the dungeons, he had been put in the fully furnished cells, meant for prisoners who were members of noble families.

Even when they were held in the same dungeon, the nobles and the peasants were subjected to wildly different experiences.

With that in mind, Merlin stopped by Arthur's chambers (or... were they his chambers now? Merlin certainly didn't want to think about that.) to grab Arthur's favorite blanket off of his bed. It was a luxuriously soft blanket, dyed a rich Pendragon red. That blanket was fit for a king and a pain for a manservant to wash, but Merlin had always taken good care of the blanket, knowing how much Arthur liked it.

Merlin folded up the thick blanket with meticulous care, ignoring both his own trembling hands, rendered unsteady by the volatile emotions welling up in him, and Gwaine's presence behind him, silent for once. Despite Gwaine's undying loyalty and penchant for mischief landing Merlin in an even worse situation than before, he seemed to understand the solemnity of Merlin's actions and the profound sense of grief over the life he had lived once before that had been so suddenly torn away from him.

The motions of carefully folding up the blanket filled Merlin with both comforting familiarity and near-crippling sorrow. Would he ever do this again, ever provide support and comfort for Arthur again? As much as Merlin wished to stay optimistic, even if his plan to reinstate Arthur as the rightful king of Camelot succeeded, the darkest corners of his mind hissed that Arthur would never tolerate his presence again, let alone trust him, after usurping him and, in Arthur's eyes, proving everything Uther had ever said about sorcerers to be true.

Merlin's heart plummeted, nearly stopping him in his track towards the dungeon entirely, at the mere thought of what Arthur must think of him now: a treacherous, conniving sorcerer who had manipulated Arthur into becoming his friend only to betray him. Merlin blinked, banishing his tears before they could roll down his face and fall onto the blanket in his arms, and forced his feet to keep moving steadily forward. No matter what Arthur thought of him now, how deeply Merlin has unintentionally wounded his friend, or how catastrophically Merlin's world felt like it was crumbling down around him, he needed to set things right.

Merlin clung desperately to that conviction, the thrumming need to set things right again, as everything else in him wanted to curl up in a dark corner and never move again. After an eternity and yet all too soon, Merlin descended past the gates of the dungeon, where he forbade Gwaine from following him any further, down the noble cell blocks, which were filled with sleeping, but thankfully uninjured knights, and finally through the dark, damp, empty, and cold peasant cells.

He couldn't see Arthur at first, but his magic sensed that he was here. Like always, it jumped, tugging on Merlin to act, whenever Arthur was nearby, causing Merlin to pause his step in order to focus on whatever his magic was attempting to do. This time, it tugged his attention towards the unlit torches lining the walls of the cell block. Light them, his magic seemed to beg of him, our king is cold!

Merlin's immediate reaction was to stop his magic, to push it down so that no one would notice, and, after a deep breath, he did just that. As Merlin stood still, holding Arthur's blanket in his arms and cherishing what would likely be the last few seconds that he could ignore what had happened over the last day and pretend that everything was normal, he heard the voice that he'd been both yearning and dreading to hear for the past day coming from the cell at the very end of the dungeon.

"If you're waiting to sneak up on me, you'll have to try harder than that. I can hear that neither magic nor a crown have made you any more stealthy, Merlin."

Merlin flinched backwards, expecting but yet somehow still unprepared for how much vitriol and bitterness Arthur hissed out his name with. He had heard Arthur yell out his name in variety of tones over the years, ranging from annoyed to bemused to downright furious, but he had never heard his name pass from Arthur's lips like this, spat out from his mouth like it was poisonous and vile. It caused so much hurt to well up in Merlin's chest that he felt it like a bruising punch, causing him to wince in pain, still hiding where Arthur could not see him.

As Merlin stood silently, only a few steps away from Arthur's cell and facing Arthur's well-deserved fury, and tried to desperately blink away the tears gathering in his eyes, his magic abruptly tugged his attention towards the torches again, more insistent this time. Letting out a stuttering breath, Merlin obliged with his magic's request this time, and the torches lining the walls burst into bright, golden flames in an instant, filling the cells with a merry warmth that felt entirely out of place.

Merlin heard a sharp gasp coming from Arthur's cells as soon as the torches lit up by themselves and winced. Right, Arthur was fresh off of Merlin's betrayal, so he was probably pretty jumpy, especially around magic.

Merlin's guilt rose alongside his frustration. Everything he does with his magic, he does it for Arthur, and yet every single damned time it backfires on him and somehow hurt Arthur! A spell meant to heal his father kills the king instead. A battle waged to ensure his continued reign steals his sovereignty instead. And lit torches meant to provide him with warmth and comfort scares him instead!

But before even more guilt could build up inside of him, Merlin heard Arthur's voice once more.

"I won't be scared by a coward of a sorcerer who would steal everything from the man he claimed to serve! Or is the great Emrys too important to even face the fool he tricked into believing that he was his friend?"

Before Merlin's mind could even process Arthur's words, his feet were already carrying him to the end of the hallway, right to the front of Arthur's cell. He needed to prove Arthur wrong here, their years of friendship weren't a lie or a trick, Arthur needed to believe that! Too much of Merlin's life, his very soul, was woven into his bond with Arthur, he couldn't let Arthur have any doubt that their bond was even real!

As he finally arrived at the door to the cell that held Arthur, Merlin's heart stuttered again, this time with grief. Based on the ferocity in his voice, Merlin had expected to see Arthur pressed up against the bars, ready to battle his perceived opponent. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of Arthur, sitting alone on the dirty stone floor, his face wearing the same dejected and defeated look it had just days earlier, after Morgana had taken the citadel and Arthur doubted his own ability to rule his people. The only difference was that the lost look in Arthur's eyes from before was gone, replaced by a scornful glare that had Merlin feeling like he was the scum of the earth.

Merlin opened his mouth, ready to apologize, plead for forgiveness, whatever it took to just stop Arthur from looking at him like that, like Merlin was his enemy, but no words could form in his mouth, as too many emotions were welling up in his chest that it closed off his throat entirely. Merlin drew in a deep, fortifying breath, purposefully avoiding eye contact with a still-glaring Arthur the entire time. Once he felt like he had his feelings even marginally under some tenuous control, he finally met Arthur's gaze and held out the blanket like a pathetic peace offering.

"I brought you your blanket. I know it gets cold down here."

Merlin was rather proud that his voice only wavered slightly, not giving an indication of how disastrously close he was to breaking down into tears in the middle of the dungeons. Arthur merely stared at him for a moment, bewilderment appearing on his face for a few seconds before it was quickly wiped away by angry sneer.

"I don't accept gifts from the likes of you, sorcerer! It's probably cursed or enchanted to kill me so that you can finally get me out of your way for good!"

"No!"

The blanket fell to the floor as Merlin grasped the bars of the cell with both hands and pulled himself as close as he could to Arthur, who had flinched back at Merlin's outburst. His magic flared again, wanting to break down this barrier between them so that he could get closer to Arthur, but he denied its request, knowing that such an action would only agitate Arthur even more.

"Arthur, please, I never meant for any of this to happen! You must believe me! I only wanted to for Camelot to be safe from Morgana and for you to retake the throne! I only want to secure your reign, not end it!"

That, it seemed, finally got a reaction out of Arthur, but it wasn't the one Merlin was hoping for. Arthur finally stood up from the floor and stormed over to the cell door, getting close to Merlin, but just out of reach.

"And why on earth should I trust a word you say?! You've done nothing but lie to me for years, even when I gave you my complete trust! I thought you were my closest friend, the one person in my life who would never betray me, but as it turns out, I never even knew your real name, much less where your true loyalties lie!"

Merlin's face fell at Arthur's accusations, knowing that he was, in some ways, completely right in them. Still, he met Arthur's accusing glare with as much honesty as he could. After all that his own actions had taken from Arthur, he owed him the truth at the very least. Merlin spoke again, trying to muster up a calm, soothing tone despite his strong emotions.

"I know that you don't have much reason to trust what I say now, but I will do all that I can take make this right. I was born with magic, yes, but I was born this way for a purpose, and that purpose is you, Arthur. I am Emrys, destined to be the guardian of the Once and Future King, who will rule over the greatest kingdom history has ever known and bring peace the likes of which has never been seen throughout the land."

Merlin could see the moment of realization on Arthur's face as he put together who exactly the Once and Future King was, his eyes going wide with shock. Despite the situation, Merlin has just a bit of a smile on his face as he reminisced on fond memories.

"When I first met you, I just couldn't understand how such a prattish clotpole could ever be a king of legend, but the longer I stayed by your side, the more I could see the king that you were destined to become. A great man, a great leader, who will always stand up to protect his people, even if it means putting himself in danger."

Merlin's speech trailed off as he smiled gently at Arthur, trying desperately to give him reason to believe Merlin, to believe in the prophecy that tied them together, and, above all, to believe in himself.

To Merlin's surprise, he could see Arthur confusion melting into... something. It looked like something along the lines of hope or awe, which gave Merlin hope in return. But just as quickly as it was there, Arthur's expression shifted again to a frustrated anger.

"Even if what you're saying isn't some trick, your little bedtime story is wrong anyways! I can't be the Once and Future King if I'm not even a king in the first place!"

Merlin sighed deeply, knowing that they'd get to this point eventually. He had a plan, but would Arthur ever agree to it?

"I've tried! I tried to simply order the council to make you king again, but they won't do it! Geoffrey stopped me with some old laws that Bruta wrote! He said that I can't abdicate the throne to you because you're no longer legally a nobleman."

Arthur eyes widened frantically at the mention of Bruta's laws, his breathing picking up with panic. He backed up from the bars of the cell and began pacing around.

"Bruta's code, damn it, I forgot that they applied in these situations! Wait..."

His eyes snapped back to Merlin, looking red-rimmed and on the verge of tears. His voice, which was so full of fire mere seconds ago, now sounded hollow. Merlin's hope wilted upon seeing Arthur like this, and his magic flared again, still wanting to destroy the barrier between them.

"This means that the Pendragon house is no longer recognized, doesn't it?"

Merlin could only nod, unsure of what he could do to comfort Arthur. At Merlin's confirmation, Arthur took a shaky breath, trying to collect himself from the inner turmoil that he was surely experiencing.

"Everything... I've lost everything."

Merlin gave Arthur what he hoped was his most comforting smile, but it didn't do much for Arthur's hopeless disposition. After a small sigh, Merlin spoke again in a soft, comforting voice.

"Arthur, all is not lost. I have a way to make you king again! We just have to make you a noble again, and then I can abdicate the throne to you! And luckily for both of us, there's an easy way to make a peasant a nobleman quickly! And you should know, you wrote it into the laws yourself!"

Arthur blinked at him, not comprehending what Merlin had said for a couple seconds, before a sliver of hope showed on his face. However, as soon as it was there, it was gone again, once more replaced by anger and betrayal. Arthur quickly stormed over to the cell door, this time reaching the door itself and wrapping his hands around the bars so that he could yell in Merlin's face.

"I knew it! This was a trick!"

"What are you talking about? How would me knighting you and then giving you back your throne be a trick?!"

"You would have me swear on oath of fealty to you, which would legally, and for all I know magically, put me under your command! This was all just another plot to control me, wasn't it?!"

"Oh come on, you wouldn't have to mean it when you take the oath! You'd just have to say the words and then let me abdicate!"

"So now sacred oaths of loyalty are nothing but empty words to you?!"

"Gods, you really can't make anything easy for the both of us, can you, you prat! I'm just trying to give you your crown back!"

"You would have me disrespect the sacred oaths of knighthood! I would never swear an oath of fealty to you! It is a sacred bond of trust, which is apparently something that you know nothing about, Emrys!"

Merlin flinched back, still unused to Arthur saying the name given to him by the druids, much less hissed out in anger. Merlin backed away from the cell door and took a deep breath, trying to find some solution to this mess.

"So, I take it that you would not accept a knighthood from me?"

"Never."

Merlin sighed again, his eyes drifting around the dungeons as he tried to think of a different way to make Arthur a nobleman. Eventually, his eyes drifted back towards Arthur, who was still holding onto the bars of the cell door. As Merlin looked at Arthur, pondering any solution that he could possibly come up with, a metallic flash caught Merlin's eye, drawing it to Arthur's left hand.

There, the torchlight was reflecting off of Ygraine's ring, the one that Arthur rarely ever took off. Merlin was glad that Arthur still had it with him after everything that had just happened to provide some comfort, but it still didn't present Merlin with any solutions...

Wait.

Oh no.

Swallowing thickly, Merlin called out to Arthur again.

"Arthur, do you know of any, any other ways to elevate a peasant to the status of a noble?"

"I'm afraid not. Me granting knighthoods to peasants was the first legal opportunity for peasants to elevate their stations. There is no other way."

Merlin closed his eyes and tried to hold back his frustration. He wouldn't have to resort to that, surely?

"And you've really thought this through, Arthur? If you don't accept a knighthood, I don't think that there's any other way that I can legally make you a noble again, much less the king. Are you really prepared to go the rest of your life as a peasant with no title, no lands, no riches, nothing?"

Merlin could see that his words gave Arthur pause, forcing him to at least reconsider Merlin's offer. Merlin internally pleaded with Arthur to please don't be an idiot, just take the offer!

Finally, Arthur seemed to have reached his decision, as he glared at Merlin once again with conviction.

"I might be forced to live out my days as a peasant, but at least I'll be a peasant with my honor and integrity intact."

Merlin was, at this point, sorely tempted to bash his head into the stone wall behind him. Why, why did this clotpole have to make his life so difficult?!

Merlin gave a heavy sigh as he nodded, accepting Arthur's decision. Arthur looked rather smug about Merlin conceding to him, which he wouldn't be feeling if he knew exactly what Merlin had in mind as his contingency plan.

"Very well then. You've made it clear that you won't willingly take this one opportunity for me to give you your throne back. But make no mistake, you are the Once and Future King. This is your destiny, and I will see that it comes to pass, no matter what I have to do. I know that it might be unfair, but I only ask that you forgive me for what I do next. Please remember, everything I do, I do for you and the kingdom that you're destined to build."

Arthur's expression had gone from smug to confused to concerned very quickly, but Merlin didn't acknowledge the slight fear that had appeared on Arthur's face. Instead, he carefully pushed Arthur's blanket, which had been lying at the foot of the cell door, through the bars, ensuring that Arthur could grab it.

After that, Merlin turned on his heel and walked out of the now silent dungeons, his footsteps sounding authoritative and ominous as they echoed off of the stone walls.

Despite his measured footsteps, Merlin's mind was moving at sprinter's pace, trying to plan out everything that would need to be done in the coming days. The first thing that he definitely needed to do was let the steward know that he needed to plan a wedding on short notice.

After all, it wasn't uncommon for conquerors to marry their war prizes.

I hope you all enjoyed this continuation! Were you right in your guess as to what Merlin had in mind at the end of part 2? Please let me know if you'd like another part of this story!

I'll try to tag everyone who asked for a part 3 here. Thank you all for your support!

@magic-mushroomss @miyriu @whole-buncha-snakess @achillesuwu @aerismoon

@tidalwavesandthunderstorms @marki9 @isaidno @retro-wallflower @samwinjester

@lascienzadellafantasia @sugar-coated-prat-dragon @theoldfroglady @ryeallytired @mind-of-a-crow

@whynotreinventmyselfeveryday @likeapaperplane @odinjm @orliththedragon @aglmry

@caraspud @aostrek-236 @justaz @slippysalt @coffee-shop-gay

@the-king-and-the-druidess @theroundbartable @fanfic-library-for-me @linotheghost @scuttlingsleipnir

@guiltyscarlet

And, as always, than you for reading through my ramblings! :D

[thedeadestartist]

To escape a time loop, the witch demands virgin blood. And well, everyone thinks they know who the virgin of the group is. And they're wrong – or are they?

✨｡⁠♡*⁠～⁠✧⁠*～⁠♡⁠｡⁠✨

“Are you completely sure they are to be trusted, Merlin? What if the witch goes back on their word!” Arthur exclaimed.

He was frustrated. But so too were the knights and Merlin. They had been wandering a neverending woodland path for what had felt like hours. After all, why would they give in to a witch’s demands before exhausting every option?

“No, Arthur!” Merlin snapped. “I am not sure we can trust them at all, but what other option do we have at this point?”

Merlin was the first to notice that they’d been looping the same path several times over, before any of the knights. This sort of magic was something he had seen before, and he knew it was the type of curse that was near impossible to break from inside the incantation area. In his mind, the witch’s words repeated endlessly.

When the knights had come across the witch, they were simply sitting by a humble campfire, watching a pot of water with herbs and leaves boil over. Of course, Gwaine had been desperate enough to accept a drink from this total stranger. And after just one sip, the witch had risen to their feet and laughed – a sound so shrill and chilling.

“And thus, thou, King of Camelot and thyne beloved knights of the round table are cursed to wander these woods for the rest of time. The world shall continue on without thee as thy kingdom crumbles. But do not despair, men of the sword. Lest you bring me 9 drops of a virgin’s blood, I shall grant thee freedom once more.”

“Alright, bickering will get us nowhere!” Leon interrupted. “Even if we were to do what the witch asks, where are we going to find a virgin in these woods if it simply keeps repeating itself?”

Percival quickly quipped, “Well, what about one of us?”

An abrupt silence descended upon the men as they exchanged glances.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve never seen a woman within five feet of Merlin,” Elyan spoke.

The rest of the knights turned their faces towards Merlin.

Arthur smirked.

“Well go on then, Merlin. If you really think we can trust the witch, then go ahead. 8 drops of blood is barely much of a sacrifice.”

Merlin grit his teeth. It was true that he had never been… intimate with any of the ladies he had admired. But he had a feeling deep down that something was wrong. Was it because he had the blood of a sorcerer? Would it potentially backfire – put them in danger?

As he racked his brain, he heard the familiar metallic rush of a sword being drawn.

“Gwaine, what do you think you’re doing?” Arthur said firmly, as Gwaine drew his sword.

“What, he needs a blade if he’s gonna bleed, right?”

“And you think a sword is a good idea? What if he accidentally impaled himself?” Arthur barked.

The king quickly drew his dagger and handed it very carefully into the hands of his servant. Gwaine rolled his eyes and put his sword away.

“Here, Merlin,” Arthur spoke. His words were ever so slightly more gentle than his usual biting tone.

Merlin raced through his thoughts to try and come up with an excuse. The creeping feeling that this was wrong refused to subside.

Finally he blurted, “I can’t. I can’t do it.”

“Oh come on, Merlin,” scoffed Gwaine. “It’s not like we’re asking you to cut off your entire arm.”

Before Merlin could think of a good excuse, the words slipped from his lips:

“I can’t be the one to do it… because I’m not a virgin.”

There was a beat.

Then, before anyone could react, Gwaine had swiftly taken Arthur’s dagger and lightly swiped Merlin’s arm.

“Ow, Gwaine!” Merlin huffed, but it was too late.

Small red beads of blood dripped quickly from the sorcerer's arm to the forest floor. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Nine. The sky above them whirled and hissed, darkening in only a few seconds.

And then, the witch’s voice boomed from all sides.

“This is not the virgin blood I seek. Do not deceive me again, lest thou art willing to suffer the consequence.”

“Huh, guess he wasn’t lying,” Gwaine shrugged.

If anyone had seen Arthur’s face as the witch had spoken, they may have noticed the slight snarl of his lips, the quick flush of his face. But it soon was gone and replaced with raging concern. Tearing some cloth from his cape, the King skillfully wrapped the wound on Merlin’s arm.

“Are you alright?” he asked quickly. A little too quickly.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine,” Merlin quivered.

Perhaps if it were any other situation, he may have had his suspicions about Arthur’s tender touches. The way his king so swiftly and gently cleaned up the wound as best he could. But his mind was worrying about something else.

He was close to connecting the dots, he was sure. Virgin blood. He was a virgin, but obviously it hadn't worked. What did the witch mean by virgin if not a person who had not had sex? Virgin - what did that word mean? Pure? Untainted?

As Merlin fretted in silence and Arthur tended to him, Leon had quietly taken the dagger. And without warning—

“Ow! Okay, that actually really hurt!” Gwaine yelped.

The others turned quickly to him and watched as blood rolled down his palm and rolled off onto the forest floor.

And then, for Merlin, it clicked. Virgin blood – he had read about it before. Dark magic required ritual blood. And the most powerful of spells required blood that had never been used in magic before. And after so many escapades with numerous magic users, of course, Merlin’s blood had been used in magic before!

Once more, the sky hissed and darkened and the witch’s voice filled the forest.

“The deal is fulfilled, oh King of Camelot. Thou and thy company may leave this place freely.”

“Holy shit, Gwaine’s a vir–”

But before Elyan could finish his exclamation, the forest fell away and the men found themselves stirring awake by the witch’s camp fire.

Arthur was the first to scramble to his feet and brandish his sword at the woods surrounding them, his knights quick behind.

“Show yourself!” he demanded.

“It's too late,” Merlin said, simply, checking his arm – still wrapped up in Arthur's makeshift cloth bandage. “The witch would be long gone by now. That sort of spell is one you cast to get as far as you can from the people you're trapping. I've read about these spells plenty of times.”

Tired, Arthur resheathed his sword and collapsed onto the floor next to Merlin. The knights also sat themselves down, exhausted.

“Does it hurt?” Arthur whispered quickly.

“Not anymore,” Merlin answered, also in a hurried, hushed tone. “Thanks for the bandage.”

Arthur felt the words claw at his throat. He so desperately wanted to know. Who was it that Merlin had let into his heart to share a bed with? Who had this servant boy met that he did not know about? Merlin told him everything. Or at least, Merlin was such an open book that Arthur knew it all. Or at least he thought he did.

His heart beat heavy in his chest. And the question never made it into the air.

Finally, Leon broke the solemn silence that hung above all their heads.

“Look, Gwaine, you really don't need to lie about being a lady-killer. We'll love you either way.”

The knights burst into a much needed uproarious laughter and even a chuckle escaped from Merlin and Arthur.

“But I've been with loads of women!” Gwaine protested. “The witch was mistaken!”

“Sure, sure,” Percival spoke dismissively. “We definitely believe you and not some super scary witchy curse, Gwaine.”

And with that the knights rose to their feet and continued on with their journey. Arthur’s eyes lingering on Merlin's arm just a fraction of a second too long.