#ghost ygraine pendragon

[mandoriana]

What if...Ygraine Returns as a Ghost to Care for Her Son

Servant: Sir, I came to inform you that the knights you sent to battle are all dead.

Uther (sitting on the throne, distracted): Well, send their belongings to their families and tell them they were heroes. And bring more cookies, I'm hungry.

Arthur (six years old, watching the scene with distracted eyes next to a very angry ten-year-old Morgana): Good people die young, so when I grow up, I want to be bad like mom. 😌

Morgana: What are you talking about, Arthur! Your mother was a kind and good woman! Where did you get the idea that she was bad!?

Arthur: Yesterday I heard mom say that her dream was for a manure cart to run over dad so he would die once and for all. 🙂

Morgana (eyes wide in complete shock): Your mother would never say such a thing, Arthur… 🫢

Ygraine (next to Uther, trying to strangle him but unable to because she is a ghost): Don't listen to her, baby, mom hates dad and doesn't support anything he's doing! I still can't believe I married this man, listen to what mom says, Arthur, don't follow in his footsteps!

Arthur (turns to Morgana): Mom just said she hates dad, she's also trying to strangle him, but her hands keep going through his body, I think she's a ghost. 🫠 *slowly losing sanity*

Morgana (realizing that the young prince might be crazy): Arthur, maybe she's just joking…

Ygraine (trying to make Uther trip by stepping on his own cape): I'M NOT JOKING! If I could, I would kill him myself! I just can't because I can't touch him!

Arthur: I don't know if the gods would like so much violence…

Ygraine: The gods don't like your father!

Arthur: Okay… 🙂 *takes a cookie from the tray the servant brought*

[justaz]

a spell is cast on camelot that thins the veil enough for ghosts to appear. the catch? the ghosts that appear are spirits of people that were killed by the person they’re haunting. the knights have a good amount of bandits/raiders/whatever that they took down in battle, maybe a few shady knights have genuinely innocent people that they murdered and got away with. the executioner’s killings are transferred to the king since he was simply acting out the king’s commands. arthur has quite a few. uther has hundreds of sorcerers in various states of gore and horror. those who were hanged have perpetually bent necks, those who were beheaded have either no head or just a head floating a bit above their body, and those who were burnt are more charred remains (the most grisly of them all). merlin has more than anyone expected (which was zero) and all of them keep calling out for arthur/uther’s death and camelot’s downfall while also turning to merlin and calling him a traitor.

[chappellcastiel]

Things in merlin fics I love

Dragon lord Merlin that has more effects than just controlling dragons. Behavior wise more so though not physically.

magic sensitive Arthur/magic loves Arthur.

kinda adds to the last one but, even though I only see it once when the unicorn from s1e11 and Arthur are bonded. Percival’s family that were killed were his daughter’s so he’s really good with kids or anytime the knights are good with kids really.

Leon having a sister .

When Merlin ,Arthur ,and the knights have to confront ghost of their past. Something like the tears of uther pendragon.

Anytime Arthur and hunith interact.

Painter Arthur.

platonic besties Arthur and Gwen.

knight Gwen.

snowball fights/swimming in lakes etc anytime they can just act like friends and hang out.

hugshugshugshugshugs. I just love hugs and would love to see them more.

Flower crowns. Love to see it. Either when Merlin magics one’s up for Arthur or Arthur is surprisingly good at making them so he gives on to Merlin.

When ygraine has more family that loves Arthur and don’t blame Arthur. (Every time this happens their dead but still.)

Arthur Reuniting with his dead love ones fics.

kidnapped Arthur. One of my favorite tropes especially when Merlin snaps looking for him🙏🏽

[adhd-merlin]

merlin S1 rewatch: episode 11 🦄

hey remember that I started a S1 rewatch? last summer.

just some random thoughts. this is not a coherent or comprehensive commentary in any way.

in fact, let's start from (nearly) the end: why is there a MASSIVE labyrinth in the middle of nowhere? like who made it? who maintains it? what is it for?

and Arthur seemed to know exactly where to find it so its existence isn't even a mystery, apparently. I know there are some random, never-mentioned-again locations in other episodes but this one is possibly the random-est.

anyway. interesting episode to rewatch knowing what's going to happen later. of course, it's very much about Arthur's character (literally), but it's also about Arthur and Uther in a way that lays the groundwork beautifully for ep 5x03 (The Song of Uther Pendragon).

It starts with Arthur seeking his father's praise by presenting him with the unicorn's horn; it ends with him receiving a lukewarm pat on the arm by Uther after saving the day (after he ruined it, I suppose, but still).

Arthur fails the second test when the "grain thief" he confronts in the forest voices his deepest fears – "he doubts you'll make a good king," the man says. "I think he wishes he had another son".

(I've seen people ask "Why did Arthur summon Uther's ghost instead of Ygraine's?" about ep 5x03. Well, here's why. Because Arthur always sought Uther's approval. Because he always looked up to Uther, as a king if not as a man, and who else would he turn to when doubting himself?)

Naturally, Arthur shows himself to be worthy of the throne when he's most unlike Uther – like when he refuses to give out the order to stop distributing food to the people – but he doesn't know it yet. it will take him some more years to realise it.

I love that we see Arthur's fiddling with Ygraine's ring right in the following scene, when he's looking at his people.

I love how subtle the use of this ring is (we are never even explicitly told it belonged to Arthur's mother and it could easily have been mentioned) and how it adds to Arthur's characterisation when you start paying attention to it.

Gwen didn't have a big part in this episode (Morgana even less so) but I loved her "I'm sure Arthur will think of something" to Merlin. She always had faith in him. (see also ep 3x13: "You gave us hope… I saw the king you will become" 🥺)

Merlin drinking poison to save Arthur in ep 4 vs Arthur drinking poison to save Merlin in ep 11. We love symmetry <3

Arthur telling Merlin "I'm glad you're here, Merlin", knowing he's going to die soon, hits different after watching the last episode (also this line makes me think of Frodo's "I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam")

I quite like the fairytale vibes of this ep – the haughty prince, the curse, the secret test of character, the three trials. All in all an enjoyable self-contained episode.

Also kudos to the horse for its acting.

[a-d-nox]

asteroids that aren’t getting more attention than this and aren’t related to my typical mythological shenanigans but that i still love (part 3: a semester’s worth of literature edition)

everyone hold on to your hats, my last semester is due to begin next week, and i just finished unpacking the fall semester in this post lmao. but don't worry though, there is always more literature and asteroids to explore! but do note i slow down on tumblr when i am in school so bear with me on slow ask response!

i have written about 25 literary asteroids based on what i read about this past semester in college and thus have never been mentioned by me and likely will never be mentioned again on my page (mythology is my main focus). this post is very different and long. if you have no interest in the history, look for bolded statements to avoid all the reading lol. an asterisk in the OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS section indicates that the other mentioned asteroid(s) can be found in this post!

angelou (asteroid 9011)

Maya Angelou was a popular poet and civil rights activist, who received many awards and honorary degrees during her life. She wasn’t born into the prized poet career - originally she worked in a fried food restaurant, as a sex work, etc. In the late 60s her publication of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” became very popular and she became an extremely popular poet/writer. She is the first black American woman featured on the a US quarter. IN MY OPINION Angelou in your chart can represent a) where you work hard to make your dreams reality, b) where you rise, c) where you advocate for others, d) where your intellect is rewarded, and/or e) your love for or aptitude for poetry.

antigone (asteroid 129)

Antigone is the incestuous daughter made by Oedipus and his mother, Jocasta. The play by Sophocles in which she is featured opens with the chorus singing that will rise alone and die young. After Oedipus dies his brother, Creon, sits on the throne. Her brother is faced with the challenge of what to do with the body of an invader; he declares that anyone who tries to bury the body will be put to death. Antigone goes against this order and then is sealed in a tomb to die from starvation. When Creon is advised by a prophet that the gods look down on his lack of honor regarding the body of the invader, Creon goes to the tomb to free Antigone. Antigone is found right all along only and Creon finds that she has killed herself. IN MY OPINION Antigone in your chart can represent a) where you are taboo, b) the piece of you that dies young, c) where you are willing to die for your beliefs, c) where you stand against your family, d) where you are forced to starve yourself, and/or e) suicidal tendencies or experience hopelessness.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: sophocles (2921)!

arthur (asteroid 2597)

King Arthur was born from deception - the King of Britain, Uther Pendragon, had a great lust for the Duke of Tintagel’s wife, Ygraine. When the Duke and his wife left the castle, King Uther demanded that they return - the Duke declined his request, suspecting his lust for Ygraine. The Duke and the King went head to head for a short time until King Uther went to Merlin for help, desperate to have Ygraine. Merlin agreed to help him in exchange for any child born from their union. The King readily agreed, and Merlin transformed the King to look like the Duke. He went to the Duchess and the two spent the night together. When the “Duke” (Uther) left in the morning, soldiers came to the castle shortly after stating that the Duke had been killed in battle. Shocked and in denial after having spent the night with her “husband,” the soldiers told her that she must have been visited by a ghost to bring her peace of mind. After King Uther took control of Tintagel and married Ygraine. Nearly nine months later, Arthur was born, and Merlin takes Arthur by force. "The Sword in the Stone" is a famous tale most of us know regarding how Arthur comes into power and becomes King after living life as the “bastard son” of Sir Ector (the knight whom Merlin has raise Arthur). King Uther Pendragon died shortly after Arthur was taken, leaving no one to reign over the kingdom. Merlin wanting no one to take Arthur’s spot place a sword in the stone; "Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone, / is right wise King born of all England" was inscribed on it’s blade. At fifteen, Arthur pulls the blade from the stone to the shock of many people - his stepbrother, Sir Kay, does try to claim he pulled it, but after placing it back in the stone he and many others fail to pull it from the stone. Only Arthur is capable of pulling it out and therefore is the legitimate king. Onto something not many of us talk about - Arthur's death. In Le Monte d’Arthur, after a long reign, the knights of The Round Table appear to stray from their morality. Guinevere and Lancelot have a love affair and Arthur knows (he cared too much for each of them to expose/punish them), but when the other knights learn of this, they demand the two be held accountable for their actions. Lancelot escapes with his followers after slaughtering many knights. Sir Gawain insists that he and Arthur go after them - Arthur agrees to this. While they are gone Mordred - recently knighted by Arthur and brother of Gawain - claims himself King of England and new husband to Guinevere... and sends an army to attack Arthur whom is already dealing with the whole Lancelot campaign. Mordred mortal wounds Arthur, but Arthur kills Mordred. Lancelot and Guinevere die from illness and Constantine is instated as king. Arthur is momerialized and said to one day return to the lands. IN MY OPINION Arthur in your chart can represent a) adoptive families, b) where a lot of the world around you is filled with deception, c) where you lack knowledge of who you are or underestimate yourself, d) where you have power at a young age, e) where you are passive in a situation, f) where you care more about those around you than you do for yourself, and/or g) where you are the model for greatness.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: lancelot (2041), gawain (2054)*, guinevere (2483), merlin (2598), and camelot (9500)*!

atlantis (asteroid 1198)

Atlantis is a lost city at the bottom of the ocean. The ocean is one of Earth’s most unexplored frontiers - 80% hasn’t even been looked at beyond boating and satellite imaging. So it is not hard (for me at least) to imagine that Atlantis may have existed. Plato is the first to discuss this city in any “modern text” and all this is in reference to another philosopher who went to Egypt and studied the city that was lost... about 1000 years before him. Like all of Plato’s other musings a lesson was presented in the “downfall of Atlantis” that luxury, hubris, and wealth were bad for the virtue of humanity. Plato stated that Poseidon and his wife at the time, Cleito, lived on this island - Poseidon then gave fractions of the land to his demi-god children. Plato steps in to state that when the generations continue to progress they get further from their original godliness and find they are more susceptible to things like greed and pride. Plato’s dialogue is actually lost after this point so we have to infer from Plato’s “abstract summary” at the beginning that Zeus noticed that Atlantis was becoming too corrupt and forced Poseidon to sink the island using his powers over storms and earthquakes. IN MY OPINION Atlantis in your chart can represent a) where you should be careful and beware of vices, b) where you are undiscovered and dreamlike, c) where there a lot of rumors regarding yourself, d) living with a lot of your family members or multiple generations, and/or e) where you are torn down for your actions.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: zeus (5731), plato (5451)*, and poseidon (4341)!

beatrix (asteroid 83)

Beatrice was both a real and a fiction person. Dante immortalized her and his adoration for her character via The Divine Comedy - at age nine he saw her for the first time and it was something like "love at first sight." In Dante's Inferno (the epic i read this semester; i will not be writing about her role in the other two parts of The Divine Comedy), Beatrice lives on as the object of Dante's love. Her spirit brings forth the great poet, and Dante's idol, Virgil to escort the Dante, the pilgrim through Hell. At the beginning of Inferno Beatrice is seen by Dante, the pilgrim as a beautiful and virtuous angel who makes him wish to renew his faith in the heavens and make his soul more virtuous. IN MY OPINION Beatrix in your chart can represent a) where you are graceful, b) where you are likely to capture someone's eternal attention, c) where you are seen as angelic, d) how you inspire people to be better, and/or e) where/how you connect people with those that can help them reach their goals.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: dante (2999)* and vergilius (asteroid 2798)*!

bede (asteroid 3691)

The Venerable Bede is considered one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon theologian and historian of the Early Middle Ages. His Historia ecclesiastica is one of the most vital sources of history for Christians on the Anglo-Saxon tribes. IN MY OPINION Bede in your chart can represent a) where you're considered an expert by those of a set belief, b) your interest in the Middle Ages, and/or c) where your knowledge goes unquestioned.

beowulf (asteroid 38086)

Beowulf is the one of the first epic poems to have existed dating back to the seventh century. The poem was found in the tenth century and was saved in a rather noteworthy fire - sections of Beowulf are thought to be missing due to the great devastation cause by this fire (often marked *** in sections where ashes landed on the pages). Beowulf as a character is a Pagan warrior who is Christianized by the anonymous Christian transcriptionist. Beowulf is an incredibly strong and notorious hero in the ancient realm of Geatland/Denmark. After hearing word that a monster named Grendel haunts the halls in Hrothgar’s land, Beowulf lends a helping hand. Beowulf beats the creature who has been destroying Hrothgar’s realm for twelve years in one night - empty handed. Beowulf himself vanquishes two more nearly indestructible creatures after his first victory. He dies gloriously at an old age, post-battle with a dragon as a king surrounded by gold. IN MY OPINION Beowulf represents a) where you may be culturally washed over by those who believe they are superior, b) where you are heroic/humble/strong, c) where your tale is nearly destroyed but has been preserved, and d) where you attract glory.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: grendel (541982)*!

see part 2.5 for other christmas-y & wintry asteroids!

camelot (asteroid 9500)

Camelot is the city and castle of the famous King Arthur and his knights. Camelot was home to the round table - which presents as a utopia in which everyone must abide by the code of chivalry. Allegedly Camelot was given to Arthur and Guinevere by Merlin. IN MY OPINION Camelot in your chart can represent a) where you abide by a code of morality, b) where you experience honorable acts, c) where you meet a lot of people with good intentions, and/or d) large gifts given to you.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: guinevere (2483), merlin (2598), and arthur (2597)*!

click here for camelot-sn aspects in synastry

chaucer (asteroid 2984)

Geoffrey Chaucer is considered perhaps one of the greatest poets to have existed. This belief arises from his work The Canterbury Tales. As a man involved in diplomacy and politics (he aided Edward III, Richard II, and Henry IV), he saw many aspects of life and was capable of encompassing the political satire associated with any given class. Chaucer grew up around royalty and had what is assumed to be a decent education. He married well - to a woman of higher class. Upon his turbulent retirement from clerk of the king, Chaucer began his work on The Canterbury Tales. This epic consists of twenty four unique tales following a different character who each tell their own tale in hopes of entertaining those on a pilgrimage in order to win a free supper. Each tale has a different genre in mind, ranging from romance to fabliau, sermons to allegories, etc. To accomplish such a feat (despite him having a bigger goal in mind - that each character tell four stories total (he did not accomplish this)) one could only assume that Chaucer was a very talented writer/poet with great knowledge of life within and outside of his class station. IN MY OPINION Chaucer in your chart can represent a) being deeply involved in politics, b) your appreciation for satire, c) where you can see the perspective of others, d) your judgement of the class system, e) your talent in story telling, and/or f) where you don’t reach the goal you had in mind but you are still praised for greatness. 

chekhov (asteroid 2369)

Anton Chekhov was a great writer and playwright; his works are identifiable by their simple plot and messy conclusions. Chekhov wished to focus on the everyday lives of the average person - a characteristic of Russian realism. Chekhov originally got into writing to support his family and pay his tuition - he was a doctor then a writer. Shortly after he became a physician, he learned that he had tuberculosis and seemed to gravitate towards the calmer world on writing (over the world of a traveling physician). Chekhov lived a shorter but full life of drama and the arts. IN MY OPINION Chekhov in your chart can represent a) where you wish for simple life but experience drama, b) where you are forced to go with a second option, c) how your health effects your career, d) where you support your family and self, and/or e) where simple life makes you money.

click here for taurus chekhov and chekhov-mc aspects in a natal chart

cslewis (asteroid 7644)

Many of us know C. S. Lewis as the man that wrote the Chronicles of Narnia - a thrilling high fantasy book series that had so much popularity, that it was made into a popular movie series as well in the 2000s. Lewis served in the infantry division during World War II then found himself engrossed in a literary education. He completed a three year degree in one in regards to English Literature (note to my readers: i too am doing my english major in one year (my cslewis is at 27° in my 12h)) then became a professor of medieval and renaissance literature. Most don't know that Lewis was an atheist for a long time in his youth and that later he became an apologist. Notably he wrote Mere Christianity in which he defended Christianity. IN MY OPINION Cslewis in your chart can represent a) your love for high fantasy, b) your enjoyment of anthropomorphic creatures, c) how must you enjoy a topic, d) quick education, and/or e) where you change beliefs.

see part 2.5 for other christmas-y & wintry asteroids!

dante (asteroid 2999)

Dante Alighieri was an infamous poet and philosopher. His Divine Comedy is likely one of the most important of the poetics from the Middle Ages because of its unique nature and inspiration of topic. During the Middle Ages most poet wrote in Latin - making the topic accessible to only the educated - but Dante wrote his Commedia in Italian. Most poets at the time also wrote in some kind of pentameter, but because Dante wrote in Italian and not Latin so he had to deviate from the typical rhyme scheme too. Dante was the first poet to use terza rima - three-line rhyme scheme, triplets in iamb (aba bcb cdc). Dante wrote his Divine Comedy in exile from Florence, Italy after being accused of corruption and financial fraud and due to not paying the fine associated with the crime. It is thought that his opening line of Inferno reflects his feelings whilst in exile: "In the middle of our life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood." The lines following are Dante, the poet's, musings of what Hell and it's punishments are like. Dante, the pilgrim, and Virgil, the ghost of the Roman poet, takes readers on a tour of Hell where all readers can observe the punishments of sinners via contrapasso. Contrapasso is a law of nature, much like karma, stating that for the crime there must be an equal and fitting punishment. Dante, the pilgrim, is in a constant state of existentialism as he reflects on the wrongdoings of others as well as his own wrongdoings. Dante, the poet, also included political figures in the sinners whom Dante, the pilgrim, sees along his journey through Hell... because Dante, the poet, was bitter over being exiled... IN MY OPINION Dante in your chart can represent a) how your writing differs from other people's, b) where you do your own thing despite common practice, c) where you reflect on your actions, d) your thoughts on the afterlife, and/or e) your metaphysical journey.

gawain (asteroid 2054)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a popular epic that opens at the winter dinner party of King Arthur. The party is interrupted by a stranger who introduces himself as the Green Knight (no shock he is quite literally all green) - he challenges the room of party-goers to strike him with his own blade, so that he will be peaceful and may gift his great golden axe to the winner. The only condition is that the Green Knight will strike whoever strikes him in return in one year’s time. Sir Gawain volunteers claiming that he would be no loss to the company because his life only means something because he is related to Arthur. Sir Gawain takes up the axe and decapitates the Green Knight. The Green Knight simply picks up his head and rides away reminding Sir Gawain he must seek him out at the Green Chapel a year and a day from now. Sir Gawain leaves around fall that year to seek the Green Knight only to find that he is unsure where to go - he finds his way to a castle. At the castle Gawain is invited to stay with the lord and take part in a hunting game; each day the lord and Gawain will exchange what they caught that day. The lord hunts, but Gawain stays in and finds himself pursued by the lord's wife... At the end of each day Gawain gets various animals and gives the lord the kisses he has gained from the lord’s wife. On the last day, Gawain keeps a girdle that the lady of the castle gives him claiming that it has the power to protect the wearer. When Gawain leaves with the lord - who states he knows where the Green Chapel is - he guides him then states he will go no further. When the Green Knight emerges the act ensue in which the knight strike Gawain. Gawain flinches twice until the third blow, but nothing happen but a tiny nick on his neck - thanks to the girdle. The Green Knight laughs then announces that he is actually the lord of the castle and the lady is actually Morgan le Faye who wanted to test Arthur’s court. Gawain returns to the court wearing the sash as a reminder of his failure to remain truthful, his cowardice, and his sinful nature. IN MY OPINION Gawain in your chart can represent a) a lack of confidence and/or good self-esteem, b) where you fear death but feign fearlessness, c) where you toe the line of your code of honor, and/or d) where you are constantly reminded of your cowardice and/or failure.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: arthur (2597)*!

see part 2.5 for other christmas-y & wintry asteroids!

gogol (asteroid 2361)

Nikolai Gogol was a famous Russian writer. Gogol is thought to be the first writer to use the grotesque in the Golden Era of Russian Literature. His writing is identifiable by its his use of his character's defamiliarization with themselves (ex: in "The Nose," Major Kovalyov wakes up without his nose one day and experiences life as someone of low status and regard). Gogol himself was not a popular peer - he was thought to have a dark disposition. Gogol had many ambitions in life - he wanted to be an actor, a poet... When he tried to be a poet, his poetry (published under a pseudonym) was ridiculed by everyone everywhere. In response, Gogol bought all the copies that remained in stores and destroyed them swearing to never write poetry again. Gogol later decided to try literature and he excelled. IN MY OPINION Gogol in your chart can represent a) where you see the world through a strange and dark lens, b) where you degrade others as they degrade you, c) where you can't be everything that you dreamt of being, d) where you may be close to your job of choice yet you fail, and/or e) how you approach rejection on a grand scale and which area you are likely to face it in.

grendel (asteroid 541982)

Grendel is the first monster faced in Beowulf. Grendel is a lonesome beast who lives in the cold outreaches of Denmark. After being constantly annoyed by Hrothgar’s hall and the rowdy people within, Grendel decides to exterminate those within as punishment for disturbing his peace. For twelve years, each night Grendel slaughters Hrothgar’s people until Beowulf’s arrival. Grendel appears in the hall as he had many times before to discover that a shirtless, disarmed man lay in wait for him. The two battle and Grendel loses after Beowulf tears his arm clean off. Grendel retreats to his cold, lonesome lake in the forest to die. IN MY OPINION Grendel represents a) where you may feel alone/depressed, b) where you are envious of others, c) where you are annoyed the most, and d) where you must return to baser instincts to achieve peace.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: beowulf (38086)*!

see part 2.5 for other christmas-y & wintry asteroids!

haiku (asteroid 12477)

Haikus came to popularity in the 17th century and really didn’t have a name until the 19th. Haikus were originally targeted as zen philosophies for life - they aimed to have the reader reengage with world around them. Now these three lined poems (following the 5 syllables, 7 syllables, then 5 syllables pattern) follow any subject matter. The practice of writing a haiku is to practice the ability to use concise wording despite limitations. IN MY OPINION Haiku in your chart can represent a) where you can find peace, b) your talent regarding haikus, c) where you tend to be short and consistent, and/or d) where you experience peaceful thoughts.

isolda (asteroid 211)

This one is fun - so in the Arthurian legends in which Tristan is the central character, Ysolt is his love interest. The thing is how crazy this is her name is often evolved with language: Iseult, Isolde, Isolda, etc. In the versions I read (The Madness of Tristan, Chevrefoil, and Le Roman de Tristran) she was referred to as Ysolt - so that’s what I am rolling with. BUT the horrible this is that there are three Ysolts: the mother Ysolt, the Queen Ysolt, and Ysolt of the White Hands. I’m referring to Queen Ysolt because the founder of the asteroid was referring to Queen Ysolt, the star-crossed lover of Tristan. So here we go - Tristan is a bit nutty because Ysolt is his uncle’s wife… and he is in love with her… because of a love potion… He is obsessed, she is hopelessly in love with him as well. Ysolt constantly stands by Tristan and approaches him with gifts of recognition - honeysuckle, hazel branch, scissors, etc. In The Madness of Tristan, she refuses to believe that Tristan is indeed himself and despite his ostracism of her and her “lack of loyalty,” she is still accepted by him when she final believes him. IN MY OPINION Isolda in your chart can represent a) where you may have an identity crisis, b) where people may struggle to differentiate you from others, c) where you are hopelessly obsessed with others, and/or d) the types of gifts you give lovers.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: tristan (1966)*!

click here for isolda-krama aspects in synastry

click here for isolda-vesta aspects in synastry

kafka (asteroid 3412)

Franz Kafka was a Bohemian writer, who is considered a big part of the modernist movement as he fused ideas of reality with the fantastical. Much like Chekhov, Kafka was not initially a writer by trade - Kafka was going to school to be a lawyer (but went into insurance) and spent his free time writing. He often wrote late at night but struggled with anxiety and self doubt - he burned an estimated 90% of his work. During his life he received very little recognition - publishing only a few works and mostly sending letters to those he had strained or romantic relationships with. Kafka died at 40 from tuberculosis (just like Chekhov), and in his will he instructed his friend Max Brod to destroy everything left unfinished (The Castle, The Trial, etc.) - but Brod ignored this and had most of these works published. The Castle and The Trial are two of his most popular works - both would have been destoryed had his friend followed his wishes. His works explore alienation, existential dread, guilt, absurdity, and so much more - many people relate to Kafka though he struggled with self esteem most of his life. IN MY OPINION Kafka in your chart represents a) where your reality is distorted, b) where you doubt yourself, c) your anxiety and existential dread, and/or d) where your thinking/intrusive thoughts are the most relatable.

ortrud (asteroid 551)

Ortrud is a character from Lohengrin - a final chapter in the medieval epic poem Parzival. Ortrud is the wife to the Duke's guard, Telramund. The Duke has been murdered, Telramund believes the Duke was murdered by his sister Elsa - when the King finds no answer to who is responsible for this murder he blames Telramund and orders a trial by combat. When a Knight arrives on the scene, supporters of Telramund beg the guard to withdraw from the duel but he refuses. All of his supporters begin praying, only Ortrud does not - instead she claims that he will live and likely win against the Knight. The Knight spares Telramund's life and Telramund and Ortrud are banished from the court. Ortrud confesses that she is a witch and can promise that they will rule the kingdom. Ortrud convinces Elsa to take pity on her and Elsa allows Ortrud into the castle again. Ortrud plans to topple the Knight's reputation by claiming he is some sort of sorcerer because the Knight has yet to introduce himself and share his identity. Despite not knowing who the Knight is Elsa marries him. The Knight easily defeats Telramund, who tries to attack him on his wedding night. The Knight states that his name is Lohengrin and Elsa has learned his identity so he must go home (somewhere in the fight scene there is mention of "In fernem land" which indicates his identity). A swan boat arrives to take him home but Ortrud comes forward to claim that the swan figure is Elsa's brother who Ortrud cursed into becoming a swan. Ortrud is then found guilt of witchcraft and essentially melts into nothing as she watches Lohengrin turn the swan back into the Duke. IN MY OPINION Ortrud in your chart represents a) where you are wrong about everything, b) your deception of others, c) where you expose yourself and your wrongdoings, and/or d) where your beliefs aren't in alignment with the majority of those around you. This asteroid was asked for by @brielledoesastrology !

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: lohengrin (9505), telramund (9506), and gottfried (9507) aka the duke!

plato (asteroid 5451)

Yes, we have talked Plato before in a prior post BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. Today we are talking Plato’s Myth of the Cave. Imagine that all your life you have lived life in a cave - chained since childhood. Your back to the exit you don’t even know exists because you can’t turn your head. People walk behind you carrying objects, the shadows they cast are all you know. You are likely to belief that this is the reality of life - chains, shadows, and darkness. One day you break free and discover the exit - life exists outside of the cave. At first you would only pay attention to the shadows that are casted by the objects around you. You would eventually come to the realization that more than what you previously believed existed is real. This is how Plato explained knowledge - often people are trapped by their own perception, and what they see they believe. IN MY OPINION Plato in this context can represent a) where your beliefs rule your reality, b) where knowledge limits you most, c) where you need to shift your perspective, and/or d) where you can experience a major shift in belief and reality.

poe (asteroid 17427)

Edgar Allen Poe was a famous American writer known for his macabre mysteries - he is perhaps America’s first short story writer. Poe had several jobs before his creative writing - clerk, journalist, the military, etc. Poe also had many issues in his live including drugs, alcohol, women, and more. Most interestingly about Poe is his death; at age 40 he died from “congestion of the brain” according to the papers, but his death certificate is lost. “Congestion of the brain” is akin to inflammation of the brain - which means he could have suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, epilepsy, menginitis, etc. Poe is also theorized to have been a victim of cooping - which is when someone is held hostage forced to drink alcohol whilst being beaten based on popular vote of hatred. IN MY OPINION Poe in your chart can represent a) where you have a dark perceptive, b) where you have a lot of life struggles, and/or c) uncertainty and skepticism surrounding death. 

pushkin (asteroid 2208)

Born of noble descendant but lacking any of the titles or entitlement associated with said descendant, Pushkin became Russia’s most famous author and poet. Pushkin went to school with other children of nobility but only ever excelled at literature. When he graduated he was free to do what he wished and he chose to write poetry - around 130 were written and were unpublished due to them being deemed too lewd for the era. One poem in particular was about a political figure and caused Pushkin to be exiled from Moscow. The Czar forgives him about ten years later and Pushkin returned home. He married a very lovely woman who had many suitors... One suitor she continued to see - and I’m not talking about Pushkin. Pushkin was then forced to propose a duel (completely illegal). Both survive the duel but Pushkin suffers for three days with a bullet wound and inevitably dies. On his death bed whole neighborhoods and even the Czar sent his regards. IN MY OPINION Pushkin in your chart can represent a) where you have increased opportunity, b) how well you do with literature, c) where you are forgiven and loved despite your shortcomings, and/or d) how love wounds you.

shakespeare (asteroid 2985)

Shakespeare, also known as the Bard and Sawn of Avon, is perhaps the greatest dramatist and poet of all time. Very little exists regarding Shakespeare’s childhood and education though most assume he was taught the basics as a public official’s son - often people doubt his authorship because of this lack of information. This gap in information and mysterious nature regarding his life is found frequently in his timeline; it is only when he becomes active in theatre that we have consistent knowledge regarding Shakespeare. IN MY OPINION Shakespeare in your chart can represent a) your appreciation for theatre/plays/poetry, b) where you are prolific, c) long-lasting public recognition, and/or d) where your life is mysterious and no one knows anything worth noting about you.

tristan (asteroid 1966)

Sir Tristan is part of a popular Celtic legend in which Ysolt and he are often experiencing tragedy and illicit love - by illicit, I mean that Ysolt is married to Tristan’s uncle, so technically this relationship would be consider at the time adulterous and incestuous. This relationship often begins with Tristan escorting Ysolt to Ireland to marry his uncle. On this trip the two accidentally drink a love potion causing a love affair to arise between the two. In Madness of Tristan, Tristan tests Ysolt’s claims of loyalty - he disguises himself as a homeless man and interrogates Ysolt about her love for Sir Tristan. He claims that she lacks loyalty and proves he is Tristan. She of course is so relieved to see him and the two have a reunion - in Chevrefoil the two actually are indicated to have sexual interaction. Anyone who knows about the chivalric code knows that knights aren't supposed to be adulterous and anyone who knows about chivalric love knows that there shouldn't be intimacy of that level for any coupling. In Le Roman de Tristran, the couple travels to meet one another out of lust and  but when Ysolt arrives Tristan is dying and quite literally does so in her arms, while she begs God to help him (news flash God doesn't support your adultery or incest, Ysolt lol). IN MY OPINION Tristan in your chart can represent a) a tragic and/or forbidden romance, b) where you go against your moral code for love, c) incest, d) distrust of your lover, e) lust or a “romance” you can not avoid, and/or f) where you die for “love.” Tagging @factsrological​ as a follow up to our Tristan conversation back in December 2022!

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: isolda (211)*!

click here for mars-tristan aspects in synastry

vergilius (asteroid 2798)

Virgil, the Greek poet, wrote many great poems and epics (most notably the Aeneid), but his appearance as the guide of Dante, the pilgrim, in Inferno is one of his greatest historical moments. Virgil's ghost guides and protects Dante through Hell despite being seen as damned and not good enough for heaven due to his polytheism. Virgil advises and gives wisdom to Dante on human flaws and sins through out the journey to help Dante become pure enough to reach Paradiso. IN MY OPINION Virgilius in your chart can represent a) your appreciation for mythology, b) where centuries later you may inspire another with your work, c) where/how you protect those you guide, d) where you advise others to reach their highest potential, and/or d) where you are kept down due to your beliefs.

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: dante (2999)*!

please let me know if you’d like to see a part 4!

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[thenerdyindividual]

Charlatans and Ruffians by thenerdyindividual

“So you will not help me?”

Merlin shook his head.

“Fine. Then I will threaten you something that will bother you. If you don’t help me protect my son, then I will haunt you for the rest of your life. It will not matter if you pass the ring to someone else you, Merlin, will be my unfinished business.”

“That’s not fair! I don’t even have access to Camelot’s court! How am I supposed to protect someone I can’t get within five feet of? Be reasonable!”

“Don’t you dare tell me to be reasonable when it comes to protecting my son.” Ygraine said darkly.

Merlin and Gwaine spend their days bopping around kingdoms, performing for the masses in exchange for petty coin. Sometimes they perform for room and board. When they perform at a tavern, the tavern owner gives Merlin a ring for payment, everything changes. Turns out the ring was haunted by the ghost of Queen Ygraine Pendragon. Now Ygraine is threatening to haunt Merlin for the rest of his life if he doesn't travel to Camelot to protect her son Arthur.

He goes to Camelot, and it turns out that Arthur is a huge pain in the ass. But he's also kind and does his best for his people, and that has Merlin and Gwaine falling for him.

If only Merlin didn't have to contend with a genocidal king and political plot involving the Kingdom of Magic.

[the-king-and-the-druidess]

There are no women in the Pendragons world, all the mothers are dead. Their white-robed shadows only haunt the men's lives. Ygraine, Vivienne, the Triple Goddess even, forbidden, forgotten, sacrificed. Morgana had no choice but to become one of them, to haunt the King and his golden son, to not let them rest, dying and returning as a ghost of herself.

[aftercamlann]

Charlatans and Ruffians

words by thenerdyindividual, art by @kairennart Summary: 

Merlin and Gwaine spend their days bopping around kingdoms, performing for the masses in exchange for petty coin. Sometimes they perform for room and board. When they perform at a tavern, the tavern owner gives Merlin a ring for payment, everything changes. Turns out the ring was haunted by the ghost of Queen Ygraine Pendragon. Now Ygraine is threatening to haunt Merlin for the rest of his life if he doesn't travel to Camelot to protect her son Arthur.

He goes to Camelot, and it turns out that Arthur is a huge pain in the ass. But he's also kind and does his best for his people, and that has Merlin and Gwaine falling for him.

If only Merlin didn't have to contend with a genocidal king and political plot involving the Kingdom of Magic.

Click HERE for the story and HERE for the art!

[theroundbartable]

I actually have a theorie for this.

Death, in BBC Merlin, isn't heaven and hell. It's Avalon and the veil. Avalon may be some sort of reprieve but rarely anyone gets there.

There are many souls we see come back from the dead, and those we do... Oh boy.

In the darkest hour, we are introduced to the dorocha, souls from beyond the veil who roam the earth to find bodies to inhibit. Which never works, the people freeze and die. These are souls! Ghosts! Why are they like this? None of that is human behavior!

In season one, we meet the dark night. He is, as we know, a wraith. The same thing Lancelot becomes after Morgana gets him back. Wraiths are willless beings in the form of a dead person, carrying their grudges. Or at least, in Lancelot's case, their personality but without their own will.

In season 5 we meet the ghost of a child that possesses Elian. Arthur had to be forgiven by this vengeful spirit to set him free. This is a child. Children don't normally murder, do they? This child is treated like an adult ghost would be in the entire episode and that seems a bit... Odd to me.

And then, last but not least, we have Ygraine de bois who was returned for only moments by Morgause. She's the only kindred spirit we meet. (From who we know is actually a spirit) But why only moments? Why could this be done only once, according to Morgause?

There is theoretically also Anhora and the guy from the crystal cave, but they are enlightened beings and were never confirmed ghosts, so let's let that slide. It doesn't affect the argument.

My theory is that death in BBC Merlin corrupts the mind. The realm of death exaggerates your emotions and empowers them, while also instilling a craving for life.

The reason why Uther is like this in the episode, is because he was also befallen by that corruption of death. He becomes the worst parts of himself because he didn't redeem himself enough to be accepted to Avalon. Or maybe he's a condensed version of everything he ever was in his life.

As such, I think the episode is a good conclusion, not to Uther's arc (which ended with his death), but the arc of Arthur's relationship with Uther's expectations. Because Arthur is now not up against his father, but the worst version of the king Uther Pendragon. It's the man he never really saw. Maybe it's the afterimage, the abstract version of the king he was in the eyes of the people. The hypocrite who uses magic to do whatever he wants and exterminates anyone he doesn't see fit to stand by his side.

It is crucial, I think, to mention that even this worst version of Uther never attacks Arthur directly. Just everything and everyone he loves. And that's what Arthur outgrows in that episode.

this will be controversial, free to disagree: I don’t think 5x03 the death song of uther’s pendragon is a good conclusion to uther’s arc, i know he’s a d*** but i find that this ep undo uther’s development(?) that we see in the wicked day 4x03 it’s like he reverted before morgana, he’s not a good character but he really loves arthur and morgana

[merlinpetpeeves]

[arthur-rex]

ALBION PARTY 2021 - Week 1 (Most Unlikely) Protagonist 

Unable to fight due to the drug, Arthur fell. As Arthur’s attacker was about to kill him however, Uther awoke upon realising the danger his son was in. He leapt to Arthur’s defence and attacked the assassin with his sword. The two duelled, and still unwell Uther was knocked off balance and fell to the floor. Uther however, driven by the urge to save his son, continued the fight and ultimately disarmed the attacker and won.

CANON: S4E3: The Wicked Day

[merlinfic]

hello!! any fics with ghost!ygraine?? I haven't been able to find very many :( thank you so much!!!!

Hiya! Here's what I could find:

Blood and Glitter

The Death Songs Of Ygraine and Uther Pendragon

Powerless

Visions of the Past

[groundbreakingdot872]

I actually wrote a write-up about this on Reddit a year ago! Thought it might add to the discussion :)

Was Morgana a victim of the Teine Diaga the entire time?

The spell is connected to the mandrake root, which is brought up many times over the course of the series.

which looks suspiciously enough like a ginger root 😂

Apparently, it has the power to bring about hallucinations of the victim's worst nightmares and bind the victims in incredibly powerful spells. For individuals with magic, the use of an active root would bring about terrible screams of agony.

In general, I'd say one of the show's main themes is bringing back to life (in some capacity), something mourned, something lost.

This is referenced multiple times, and examples are:

Lancelot becoming a shade (Lancelot du Lac)

Arthur learning of his birth through Ygraine (The Sins of the Father)

Uther's ghost coming back to haunt the halls of Camelot (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon)

Enchanted Gwen briefly being in friendship with Morgana (The Dark Tower/ Lesson of Vengeance/ The Hollow Queen)

and of course the fact that Arthur is the Once and Future King!

In that case, I don't think it's a stretch to assume that if any person, once lost to the evils of Mandrake Root, will not entirely come back as themselves.

In terms of Morgana's (possible) enchantment, I had a few suspicions, especially as to how quickly Morgana turns ruthless once she's left with Morgause for a year.

True, she did scheme for Uther's death, and she worked in revenge endangering the lives of many, but pre-season 3, I'd say it was a more of a headstrong rebellious anger that drove her actions, like Arthur's immediate rage in Sins of the Father.

She’d only ever worked with 'gray characters' at that point, such as Mordred, Alvarr and Tauren (characters interested in the revenge killing of Uther only). In 'To Kill the King' specifically, she shows clear regret and conflict at assisting Tauren and his men to assassinate Uther, meaning her morals had not yet solidified.

A prime example of this back-and-forth would be the 'The Crystal Cave', where Morgause reveals Uther is her real father.

To Morgana it was another reason to kill Uther for his ongoing betrayals to her, but until Morgause had pointed out her claim to the throne. There was a very obvious (and hasty?) switch in motivation, as if she was a shell, to be filled by Morgause's motivations/ willpower.

It’s possible that, in the year Morgana was poisoned, and left to recover with Morgause she entered some point of no return; and Morgause's only choice was to bring her back with a sliver of her old self: her old motives turned into Morgause's in a very single-minded manner.

I think this would cover the fact that Morgause would never want to transform Morgana’s mind, willingly. The rush of saving Morgana’s life was more important in the moment, and she had to make a hard decision.

When Gwen is enchanted under the Tiene Diaga, she was overwhelmed by hallucinations and piercing screams (like Uther) and then broken down to the point where she could be brainwashed into an empty shell of herself, filled with Morgana's desires. Eerily similar to how shade!Lancelot appeared, except Gwen was not resurrected beforehand.

In this case, we can assume that the 'breaking down' was Morgana's poisoning, perhaps aided by the Mandrake root as a last resort to keep her alive. And the consequent brainwashing, was a side-effect of using the mandrake root to keep Morgana alive, which then left Morgana completely controlled and helpless.

A few more reasons/ parallels:

Gwen visits Morgana in a similar way Morgana used to visit Morgause, with a single goal in mind, and with an immediate hug of assurance.

I'd say this 'shade version' of her provided some sort of comfort to Morgana, an assurance of how she was in the past, just as Morgana was a comfort to Morgause coming to greet her.

Hugs as an “assurance”/ way to activate the spell?

This makes me believe, that if Morgause did corrupt Morgana into a shell of herself, it wasn't bad-intentioned, since she wanted Morgana alive and back in friendship with her, and those aspects of her personality were retained.

The root specifically preys on the insecurities of the victim, through hallucinations and then seems to cement those insecurities as an important motive for the enchanted individual to work against those insecurities. Interestingly, whenever any insecurities are brought up to Morgana (Emrys, Arthur's victory, Gwen's assumption of the throne) she acts in the same exact way as Enchanted!Gwen, with an immediate ferocity and anger to deny it.

Morgana losing her sh*t when Mordred informed her how close he’d been to capturing/ killing Arthur

I read through a couple of old posts on the topic and realized that the bracelet Gwen is given (that partially controls her) can draw similarities to Morgana's bracelet from Morgause -> maybe used to strengthen the spell or weaken her mind over time?

These enchantments/ mandrake roots/ magical bracelets could be combined into shade/ shell spells, since they pretty much do the same thing, just differing in severity

Overall, I'm not 100% sure on the hc that Morgana had been enchanted by the Tiene Diaga all along, since I wouldn't want to take away from the severity of her crimes against the people of Camelot, and especially Gwen…

Although, these 'coincidences' are really interesting to think about and consider anyways, since the show leaves a lot of material up for theorizing!

So you know how Morgana became Super Extra Evil after that year she was with Morgause?

Fans of the show have usually hand-waved this sloppy writing as either Morgana having gotten Stockholm Syndrome from being with Morgause for a year, or maybe just Morgana truly leaning into her anger at having been abused and terrified and alone all those years.

Both good explanations.

But what if it was something else?

What if, when Morgause took Morgana away, she took her to the Dark Tower? What if Morgause did a number on Morgana, just like Morgana later did to Gwen? Except no one ever tried to help Morgana get her soul back like they did Gwen, so Morgana was just stuck like that, hollow inside, fulfilling the revenge urge that Morgause wanted the whole time?

[parttimeghost]

Here she is! The oft-talked about, but seldom worked upon, WIP Reintroduction for An Ode to the Destined (and just in time for NaNoWriMo)! So, without further ado, let's crack in. Character Bios, Taglist, and Transcript below the cut <3

THE BASICS —

arthurian retelling / rewrite (second draft) / dual timelines / aroace morgan le fay / the love triangle to poly relationship pipeline / refusal of the call (villain edition) / a weaving-based magic system

THE SYNOPSIS —

The prophecies of Taliesin will not come to pass. Twenty years after the Purge; twenty years after she was spirited away from the citadel by the Lady of the Lake, Morgan returns to Camelot in an attempt to make sense of her own vision and finds herself faced with the consequences of another's.

Cast in the role of the villain, Morgan works to prove herself to her allies and enemies alike. But when the line between prophecy and reality becomes blurred, and the veil is spread thin, will Morgan be able to forge her own path? Or will she be doomed to tread the well-worn path of Taliesin's bloody prophecy?

THE CHARACTERS —

MORGAN OF AVALON is a seer plagued with visions of an infinite possible futures. But when each thread she follows leads to a single moment in time (one that she, disconcertingly, cannot see beyond), Morgan travels to Camelot to seek the truth behind her visions.

PRINCE AURELIUS ARTHUR PENDRAGON OF CAMELOT is not his father. Kept hidden in the depths of the palace like a precious jewel, Arthur finds kinship in the Archivist's adopted son, a young warlock by the name of Merlin. Under the cover of night, Merlin tells Arthur of Taliesin's prophecies, and he finds himself dreading and longing, in equal measure, for the day he will finally meet his twin sister.

GUINEVERE OF CAMELOT is invisible, not blind. The daughter of an archivist who is charged more often with the destruction of knowledge than the preservation of it, she learnt to hide precious books from prying eyes before she learnt to read them. Learnt to write in code before she learnt to write in cursive. Approached by a mysterious member of Camelot's Court, Gwen takes her first steps into a wider resistance.

MERLIN OF CAMELOT is a warlock haunted by echoes of a former life and a prophecy dictating the course of his current one. Once resigned to a life of infinite sadness and death, Merlin finds himself faced with a choice: kill the Witch of prophecy and fulfil his duty or aid her in her quest to save Albion?

LANCELOT OF EIRALORR DU LAC is the heir to a kingdom of ghosts and rubble. Having sacrificed herself to close a tear in the veil and save her kingdom nearly six hundred years ago, only for it to fall to civil war four years later, Lancelot finds herself wrapped in the tangled, fraying threads of an event thousands of years in the making.

MORDRED OF THE KRAIGH WILDES is a young warlock with a terrible destiny. Exiled from his home due to the machinations of a seer and a prophecy he wants no part in, Mordred seeks to bring justice to those that would target his people in the hopes that he might one day be allowed to return home.

THE TAGLIST (message/ask to be added/removed <3)—

@lockejhaven @marinesocks @andromedatalksaboutstuff @midnight-and-his-melodiverse

THE TRANSCRIPT —

Nyneve tore her way through the empty stone halls, a cloak woven of sorrow and stolen shadows whispering around her ankles as she muttered charm after charm beneath her breath, her voice steady despite the grief clawing at her heart and throat, demanding her attention. Because Ygraine was dead.

[clotpole-art]

Retrospective: Illustrated Merlin Alphabet Challenge

Finally finished the Merlin Alphabet Challenge, so here's the artist notes no one asked for! See below the cut for comments on each piece by order of creation. Be warned folks, it's a long post.

Before we begin: credit to @merlin-gifs for the challenge, which can be found here. It's awesome, go do it.

First thing you should know is I did probably 80-90% of these while on phone calls or in Zoom meetings and that's reflected in the simplicity of most pieces -- the compositions aren't complicated, the lines aren't refined, the coloring is slapdash. If you noticed variation in quality of the pieces, that's why!

Second: I tried to focus on trying something new for each drawing. Didn't always happen, but this challenge did succeed in helping me push me out of my own comfort zone.

Without further ado...

A is for Arthur Pendragon

Textures, baby! Brushed metal of his armor, scratchy linen texture of his shirt, wispy softness of hair and skin. I'd recently gotten my tablet out of storage after a year of figuring out where the hell I was going to live and this was one of the first pieces of digital art I spent time on. Glad it was Arthur kicking us off!

B is for the Beginning of the End (1x08)

Fun fact, I did not draw this with my tablet. I drew it with my work computer's touchscreen. It was awful, would not recommend.

C is for Camelot

I wanted to get used to different brushes, so landscape of the castle it was! There are brushes that help with drawing grass; I did not use said brushes and my wrist hurt afterward. That being said, I really enjoyed working on this and it was one of the few pieces I didn't do while multitasking.

D is for Daegal

Also drawn on my work computer's touchscreen, not my tablet. I didn't learn my lesson from B and the experience was even worse. This is my least favorite piece which sucks because it's Daegal so I'm slated to redo this sometime in the near future. Gotta do our boy justice.

E is for Elyan

Oh, I adored drawing this. Elyan often gets shafted in terms of fandom appreciation so I made sure to choose Elyan for this prompt and to participate in the Elyan fest. Plus, I love a good ghost story and figuring out a way to include the druid spectre was fun. Didn't multitask on this piece because Elyan deserved my full attention.

F is for Freya

Ho boy. This piece. I have such mixed feelings on this drawing. Really really didn't like it after I'd decided it was done and very nearly scrapped the whole thing. I had a vision in my head that I just couldn't render into reality and it frustrated me SO MUCH. Looking back, I like it much better than I did when I first created it.

G is for Gwaine

What can I say, he's pretty when he's cold. I didn't stretch too much with this one -- it's my normal drawing style, I was just trying to find a brush that mimicked the softness of pencil.

H is for Hunith

Another one that didn't stray too far from my comfort zone. I was stupid sick and slammed at work, so a motherly Hunith manifested herself. I blame the bad brush choice on the cold medicine.

I is for Isolde

I woke up and chose violence! Tried to vary my figure drawing style a little in this piece but my brain resisted, resulting in... this. Not mad at it, but not happy with it either. Poor Isolde.

J is for Juggling

Ah, this lovely piece was drawn during a particularly vexing meeting at work. Fun fact, there's another version of this line art that's less about Merlin's stress and more about mine.

K is for Knights of Camelot

Continuing the theme of doodling through bad news and shit meetings. Like I said above, normally meeting doodles aren't complex because I'm concentrating on something else. This one was more involved because I didn't want to concentrate on the meeting. I have a few issues with this from a technical standpoint (perspective, my nemesis) but it's still one of my favorites. Tried some funky coloring technique, didn't hate it.

V is for Vibrant Colors

And here is where we said fuck the rules and started going out of alphabetical order! This one was really fun to do and I loved kicking off Albion Party with this as my first submission. The colors were a challenge (as I hoped they would be) and this is the first time I had to do some color tweaking midway though and after finishing the coloring process. Vibrant Arthur, my beloved. This started as a multitask doodle but took dedicated time to finish.

O is for Old Religion

The concept for this one was buzzing in my head for a bit before a quote-prompt solidified it. I adore the thought of more visible, tangible representations of Merlin as the son of the elements, of "magic itself" -- not just sun-gold eyes, but sea-water hair and sandstone-skin. A complement to the vibrant Arthur portrait.

S is for Sorcerers

When I said I wanted to challenge myself, I wasn't kidding. Ho boy, this was fun but frustrating. I wanted to completely illustrate a gif. So I did. Will I do something like this again? Maybe. A while from now.

M is for Morgause

See above -- same illustrated gif style so at least I was able to reuse some drawings. Poor Morgause ended up looking a little wretched here because I was mentally done with this when I was drawing her. Love the concept of tarot cards + Merlin but others are doing it so I won't continue this series.

Z is for Zzzz

This one was specifically done to test out some custom brushes I made in Krita to make abstract background drawing easier for me. I think they turned out well! Plus who doesn't love bb iridescent Aithusa.

L is for Leon, P is for Percival

Quick, minimal doodles of the boys! Mentally, I was going for a Brady's-style retro ensemble cast TV show credits feel. Not mad at it! Some boys look closer to their actors than others (I think my brain broke drawing Percy, my apologies to Tom Hopper).

T is for Tristan

It wasn't until after I posted this that I realized there was more than one Tristan in Merlin. Could have drawn Isolde's bf but I drew Ygraine's dumb jock undead brother instead. Had some fun with dark greys and blacks here regardless.

Q is for Queen Annis

Best royal in Albion, bar none. I tried a different coloring technique here and I kinda like it! may make it my go-to but we'll see. Old habits are hard to break. Also: our queen deserved more badass clothes.

X is for Arthur X Merlin

Oh, be still my shipper heart. Doodled and colored during a meeting. I had hoped to spend more time on it outside of multitasking but alas, work is a bitch. This one is slated for a rework sometime in the future; I adore the concept too much to let it go without creating another version of this that isn't an utter mess.

U is for Uther's Ward

And here's my attempt at forgoing line art. Not fun, do not like.

Y is for Young Warlock

Channeled some pain into this one. Those are the dead eyes of someone who had been told that he'd succeeded when his friend died. That the destiny he'd been expecting to carry on his shoulders into old age was done and dusted before he turned 30. Grief plus the existential dread of the aimless immortal. Oof. One of my favs.

N is for Nimueh, R is for Rising Sun, W is for Will

And we end on this sorry offering. I was away from home for a while without my tablet and I just got tired of waiting. So, pen doodles at the airport. This was a challenge in its own right because 1. pen only and 2. I wasn't able to pull Netflix up for a reference on the fly. Which is why Will's face is obscured and Nimueh looks.... not like Nimueh lol.

In summary: this was a goddamn joy to do. I finished 26 letter prompts in approximately 21 weeks, which exceeded my own unspoken goal of filling one letter per week. I found a good, happy corner of the Merlin fandom after a years-long hiatus away from being a fandom creator. If you did make it this far with me, thanks for reading my inane comments and giving this little project even a moment of your time -- I'm so grateful.

[arthur-rex]

SMILE DAD....go on. You know you want to.