#i mean lancelot was the bravest and most noble of all the knights

[adhd-merlin]

okay listen. arlance. arthur x lancelot. the sheer flavour is immaculate. the two bravest and most noble and most dedicated knights... kissing. a prince who pretended to be a commoner/an ordinary knight x a commoner who pretended to be a nobleman. arthur wishes he were as noble and pure of heart as lancelot, and lancelot wishes he were like arthur and of noble blood so he could serve camelot. the once and future king and the most devoted knight, who "wishes only to serve." the man who set out to close the veil and save camelot and the man who actually did it. they want each other as much as they want to be each other. they think the world of each other and the worst of themselves.

their love is courtly and romantic because they're both noble men who adhere to the knights' code. they share looks across the room, exchange pretty words, both too nervous to risk expressing their feelings in certain terms. arthur fears for uther's reaction and failing in his duty to camelot, and lancelot fears for burdening camelot and arthur with his love. they're both so repressed and yet wear their hearts on their sleeves and care so very deeply about those around them. they are kindred spirits and feel a deep rapport due to their similar natures and goals. they can communicate in a way that doesn't require words; just as well, because they so rarely truly express their feelings.

to arthur, lancelot is everything the knights' code stands for. to lancelot, arthur is the perfect man under which to serve. they idolise each other as saintly figures and secretly worship at the altar of the other. they see each other as truly deserving of happiness and will do anything in their power to deliver it to them.

okay to break the waxing of poetic, my favourite canon moments are just every interaction they have in 1x05. lancelot was arthur's bisexual awakening. the homoeroticism of their fights?? the way arthur trails the tip of his stick over lancelot's bare chest while tonguing his cheek when they fight in the streets? bro you're lucky lancelot thinks no one could ever love him COULD YOU BE MORE OBVIOUS??? the admiration arthur clearly has for lancelot after he beats him and becomes a knight, and when he kills the gryffin. arthur would fight his father tooth and nail to keep lancelot around. lancelot so clearly admires arthur and is willing to risk it all for him. i feel like arthur begins by just thirsting over lancelot, but by the time he's knighted, he truly likes him, and lancelot likes him back. not that they'd ever do anything about it. did you SEE arthur's expression when lancelot left? *bart simpson voice* you can actually pinpoint the second when his heart rips in half.

anyway arthur is in love with lancelot and wants to fuck him so bad but is far too guilty to act on any of it, especially the latter part. lancelot loves arthur as his liege and wishes to serve under him, and buries the part of himself that loves him as a person, too. they're a sad repressed duo how could anyone not love them.

tl;dr: arthur and lancelot want to crawl inside each other's skins and become each other and one being.

what a marvellous analysis, I've got nothing to add really

[prue84]

(Hakka & Dragoneyes’s) Merlin AUs  |  Royal (dragon) husbands

AU in which a series of canon divergences lead to Arthur surviving the mortal wound inflicted him by Mordred at Camlann and, with the help of Merlin who then becomes his Prince Consort, bringing the golden age foretold by the prophecies.

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Part I, Chapter 01 [1/8]

1st canon divergence, Lancelot du Lac: Lancelot's selfless sacrifice is rewarded.

Lancelot is returned by magic, instead of necromancy, to fulfil his destiny at Arthur's side. And what seemed to be the written fate of Camelot is changed.

(Ficlet and links to AO3/SquidgeWorld under the read more) (More Royal Dragon Husbands AU here)

The triangle of love

Through the sacrifice of her sister Morgause, who happily gives up her life in a last gesture of both love and revenge, Morgana tears open the Veil between the worlds, bringing chaos and pain throughout the realm of mortals. To seal the Veil again, another sacrifice has to be made: a sacrifice that Arthur is ready to make and Merlin is set to prevent. Lancelot, the bravest and most noble of them all, to save the lives of his king and his friend Merlin, steps through the Veil instead, thus restoring the equilibrium. The ultimate sacrifice of the knight is greatly mourned by all the people Lancelot's presence has touched during his stay at Camelot, its weight forever heavy on the shoulders of three people who blame themselves for Lancelot's ultimate choice. * Months later happiness has returned to embrace Camelot. Arthur's grief for the tragic loss of his father is fading, and he feels it has finally come the time for the woman he loves to be officially introduced to the court. Trusting his counsel, Arthur confesses his uncle Agravaine that he wishes to marry Guinevere, and plans to soon propose. Caution, suggests Agravaine, wait for the mourning to end. The way must be paved first, for a court to accept a servant as their future queen. Patience, the uncle says. But the treacherous Agravaine, distressed for the worrisome development, is quick to inform the one he pledged his loyalty to, Morgana Pendragon. The Witch shudders, for the dreams that plague her sleep are about to become reality. She will not allow for a servant to sit on her throne, and Morgana knows how to prevent the dreaded images from happen. Morgana was friends to Guinevere, Morgana knew Guinevere's secrets. Morgana will use those secrets to strike at Guinevere, where Guinevere hurts the most. When she laid on the brink of death after her encounter with Emrys, Morgana met her sister Morgause in the Spirit World. In her hand, Morgause had a coin to offer, the price of a soul. Morgana held to the precious artefact, in the hopes to perhaps one day find a way to return her beloved sister to life, to rescue her from the darkness of the existence in the world of the spirits. But Morgana must stop Guinevere from becoming queen of Camelot, and she knows only one way to prevent it. The Dochraid has spoken, revealing the true power of the magical coin, offering the promise of owning the very soul of a mortal, a slave to a mistress. Morgana reaches for the Pool of Nemhain, the Last of The Five Gateways that separate the world of the mortals from the world of the dead, and tosses the coin into the dark waters. But it's not a man who raises from the waters. It's a woman instead, clothed in a black cloak and bearing a staff, the fabric pitch black as the still water of the lake. Not a woman, a deity. A goddess Morgana already knows, for they have met once. The Cailleach, gatekeeper to the Spirit World. She has words to say, and a warning: her most treasured wish will be fulfilled, but the human male will not be the means to achieve it, for the one who has died will not be a Shade to be brought back to the land of the livings. Morgana does not understand, for she has followed the Dochraid instructions, and a coin has been paid for a soul, a soul she now owns. But the Cailleach can not be forced, for not even a High Priestess has such a power as the one the Cailleach wields. If the Cailleach does not want for a dead human to leave her domain, not even the last High Priestess of the Old Religion can force her. Morgana weeps for the coin she lost, for the ownership she has been denied, for a sister she will never rescue, but agrees to leave. The Cailleach has spoken, Morgana trust her wish will be fulfilled. That the Old Religion itself will prevent Guinevere from marrying Arthur and ascend to a throne that isn't hers to own. But the price has been paid, a soul is allowed to leave the Spirit World. Not as a Shade, but in flesh and spirit – whole as when death has claimed them. From the stillness a man emerges. Naked and confused, a kind voice still ringing in his head. Blurred memories but a mission. Return home, return to where his place is. It takes days, weeks, but an extraordinary surprise awaits Camelot: Sir Lancelot, the man who had offered his life to save the kingdom, has returned. Little he knows about the how and why he has been allowed back into the realm of the mortals: he only remembers the warm embrace of waters shining of silver, and a warm voice explaining him that his destiny was not fulfilled, that he wasn't meant to die yet. His noble sacrifice showed the truest nature of his heart, that feminine voice said, and he was granted another chance to live his life as brave and fair man between mortals. And thus he awoke again, and he was laying on the shores of a lake, with the urgency to find his way back to Camelot, the knowledge that his destiny is entwined to the fate of the one he twice left a prince and now finds a king. A return such as his is unprecedented, for nobody can cross the Veil – not in the opposite direction than the only one nature commands. Merlin, suspicious, looks in his books for a way to explain what looks a miracle. Necromancy, is the answer to his search. A way to reveal the true nature of a Shade. Merlin dreads the moment when Lancelot will walk on the mark, dreads to see the painted spiral glow. But the magic symbol doesn't react when Lancelot walks over the circle. The Lancelot leaving Merlin's room is whole – the one and only Sir Lancelot, Knight of Camelot. The miracle is welcomed by his old friends the knights, who rejoice for the chance to have their group whole again, as is welcomed by the king, who is given the opportunity to properly thank the hero who saved Camelot. As for Merlin, he has been given back the only guardian of his magical secret and is lonely no more. But the unexpected return means the most to Guinevere, who carried on her small but strong shoulders the weight of those last words, that plead she imposed on Lancelot. Arthur would not be alive, for it weren't for Lancelot's sacrifice. But his return also awakens old feelings that were believed forgotten. As days and then weeks pass by, and as Arthur grows the courage to stand against his uncle and share what is now his decision, Gwen grows uncertain of her feelings, torn between the man she promised herself to, and the one she can't forget. Lancelot anguishes in silence over a woman he never deemed himself worthy of, resigned to forever be the silent guardian, devoted to his lady and quiet in his love. Arthur, unsuspecting, is making preparations to propose to Gwen and then introduce her to the court as the woman who shall be their queen. Merlin, the shadow that all sees, watches from afar, unable to stand further as three of his dearest friends struggle, their lives entwined in an rope that threatens to choke them all. Lancelot, noble soul, deserves his chance at happiness, he shouldn't settle for the sidelines, resigned himself once again in a self-imposed sacrifice out of a misplaced sense of loyalty. Gwen, a heart full of love, has the right to choose her own future, to make an informed choice, entitled the freedom of picking her own path without anyone meddling, without anyone making that choice for her. Arthur, the beloved king, should never have to lay awake at night, wondering if the woman sleeping at his side picked him out of a lack of choice, believing that he will forever be the second best, nor he should never doubt his trust for a knight, in fear his best one holds the hearth of his queen. Merlin, the shadow that fights against fate itself, decides it is come the time for Lancelot and Guinevere to confront each other, to bare their hearts. Twice Lancelot fled from an honest talk, twice Gwen was forbidden to face his first love and understand if she was ready to let him go and for Arthur to take his place. Twice Lancelot backed down, for Arthur to pave the way in Guinevere's heart. A miracle has happened, and neither Lancelot nor Guinevere can waste such a precious gift. Arthur is planning to propose to Gwen against his uncle's advice, Merlin knows about it. Merlin will not allow for Guinevere to say yes to then break Arthur's heart, if she isn't the utmost confident in where her feelings lay. Merlin will be subtle, will halt Arthur's hand and delay the romantic date in which Arthur will offer Gwen a ring, but he cannot stop Arthur forever. Lancelot and Guinevere must talk. It is with wisdom that Merlin speaks, and two friends are persuaded into the confrontation they both needed and avoided. Gwen, blessed her pure soul, reveals the bitterness she tried to stifle. Despite the years passed since, she never forgave Lancelot for leaving her without a word after everything they shared at the castle of the outlaw Hengist, she still can't forgive him for their moments of tenderness, the closeness, the love confessions in light of certain death, for making her feel loved, for making her feel conflicted, to then take everything away, leaving her alone and hurting. She can't forgive him for how he returned for Merlin and how he staid for Arthur – never for her. She can't forgive Lancelot for how he treated her like a lady to respect and cherish, she can't forgive him for making her feel like a silly, fool girl, holding on to a love hindered by destiny itself. Her whole life was influenced, changed, by his selfish decisions, pushed toward the dream of marrying a king after she had been brutally rejected a future with a man she had once truly loved. She loves Arthur with her whole being, but she can't seem to just forget what she felt for that man that was brought to her house in dire need of an armour. Lancelot, forced to this confrontation, can't withhold the truth he kept close to his heart since his return for the battle of Camelot: Guinevere is the love of his life, the woman his heart will forever belong to, but every time destiny brought them together, he elected to withdraw and fade in the shadows, so she could find happiness with a better man – at Arthur's side. Gwen is furious. Lancelot's decision deprived her of her own agency, he didn't have any right to choose for her who she wanted to love. For, if Lancelot hadn't left that one time, she might have reconsidered her relationship with Arthur. She would've chosen him – him, not Arthur. This is a reveal for the both of them, but especially for Gwen. And then the hard truth buried within the deepest, darkest corner of her thoughts, is brought to the surface. And it's a relief, after the pain, after the guilt weighting on her heart, after the sense of unworthiness toward a man who had been ready to give up his throne, his crown, his people, his whole world, just for her. She might be a servant harbouring dreams too big for her humble origins, but dumb Guinevere is not. It's easy now for her to admit that what she has with Arthur is a fairy tale that shouldn't be, for a servant can love a king, and a king can love a servant, but a kingdom cannot be ruled by a servant. Torn between the love for a knight – or a man who dreamed to become a knight – and a king – or a prince that was to become a king – she was deprived of a choice, and Lancelot is responsible for what she now knows had been the wrong choice. She's the daughter of a smith, she knows the name for each part of an armour and could help a knight to dress up better than a manservant could, but she knows nothing about politics or what's expected from a ruler. She knows empathy, she does not know how to be harsh. She knows how to wield a sword and even kill to protect an innocent, but she does not think she would ever learn how to harden her hearth and send someone to death for the safety of a kingdom. She loves Arthur with all her life, and she ever will, but they should've never been. Arthur might belong to her, but Arthur also belong to Camelot, Arthur is and will always be married to a land and its people as much as he will be to a woman. Arthur accepts her – and wants her – for everything she is, virtues and flaws, but Camelot will not. Camelot will always come between them, the needs of Camelot will tear them apart. Duty and love cannot coexist, Uther was right, in his brutal honesty. And she could never survive, should Arthur be forced to choose between her and his rightful, best destiny. Not privy to the nature of the feelings Guinevere, her beloved Gwen, still harbours for the noblest of his knights, it is a rude awakening for Arthur when Guinevere sits down with him and talks. Unable to deceive Arthur, she tells him everything, about Lancelot, about the pain she had felt the two times he left her and the happiness that washed over her when he, against all odds, returned. She tells Arthur about how her heart belongs to two men she loves with the same intensity, how she is pulled in two directions and how she fears to be torn in two pieces. She tells him about how, for as much as her heart can beat for two men, only for one she can be a proper wife. She doesn't want to be the reason why Arthur lost the trust of his people, she doesn't want to be the reason why Arthur acted like a tyrant, imposing his own wish on a resentful court, not the reason for why Arthur fought with his most trusted counsellors or found himself alone surrounded by enemies in his own castle. She doesn't want to put Arthur in the position of choosing between love and duty – he was meant to rule, and he will be a good king, she won't come between that. She won't deprive Camelot of a golden age, just to please herself and fulfil her selfish wishes – for she is but a woman, and the well-being of the people of Camelot comes first. It pains her to know they never had a chance, yes, and she is aware that a price will be paid, for feelings cannot be ripped from one's heart without suffering occurring, but with resolution she found an internal peace and she feels her is and will be the rightful choice. For the both of them. She regrets nothing but hurting him, and she'll understand if he'll hate her. She just hopes that, in time, he'll be able to forgive her and, perhaps, remember with fondness their love. Arthur's heart is broken, but he cannot find in himself the will to hate the woman he offered his heart to, nor a man who had been nothing but utmost loyal and generous since the first time they had met – a man Arthur can say he loves as much as Guinevere, though in a different way. There is nothing Arthur can blame on Guinevere: she cannot fault her for the same trait that drew him to her. Her candour is what started it all, the servant who ventured to reprimand a prince's manners, her candour is what now puts an end to it all, the torn lover who bravely confesses her secrets and faces the consequences, when leaving everything as it was would've been the easiest path. Arthur's heart is broken, but Gwen's sincerity and bravery deserves equal bravery from him, thus he agrees to let her go. As friends. It would be unbecoming to act out of spite, and Guinevere does not deserve as such. Arthur's heart is broken, but Arthur thus agrees to amicably break up a relationship that had been the utmost discreet so far, grateful for Guinevere's deep sense of loyalty. Grateful that she approached the subject before he could make the mistake of making their relationship official. Reputations of kings don't do well after a marriage pact is broken by the other party without political reason at play. The reputation of a king would not survive unscathed if the one taking the decision to break up is a fiancée of no-noble origins. Arthur Pendragon the king would survive anyway, though battered in honour and soul, but not Arthur the man. He listened to Merlin's advices, and Arthur is thankful for the way his friend suggested to not rush into the date Arthur had been planning. Grateful that he decided to apply patience for once. His heart would've never recovered, had Guinevere revealed her indecision during his proposal. To respect a man whom she still loves and will be forever dearest to her, Gwen decides to not immediately throw herself in Lancelot's arms, and the knight does his best to be nothing but noble in his feelings for the woman, so much so to ask Arthur permission to date Guinevere. He is willing to leave the kingdom, if the king he has sworn loyalty to won't be able to tolerate his presence. Aware of the toll he would ask them should he show his displeasure, Arthur gives his blessing to the blossoming new relationship between two of his dearest souls, wishing them both to find together the happiness they deserve. They do take things slow, Gwen and Lancelot, they wait a reasonable amount of time before officially becoming a couple. Lancelot understands Gwen's heart, never will use Gwen's love for Arthur against her, for she cannot blame her for a love that he feels as well. He accepts Gwen as her whole, her love for Arthur is part of herself and never he will ask her to stop caring for Arthur. Lancelot too cares for Arthur. Arthur is the prince who gave him a chance to be a knight, that twice believed in him, that made him a knight. In deference for Arthur's feelings, Lancelot keeps to a minimum affectionate gestures when in public and Arthur could see them. He is happy, Lancelot, but he does not want for his happiness to become a knife that cuts through Arthur's heart. And Arthur? Arthur will watch from afar, wishing that he too will be able to find a person to love him and him only. The one person that will put him first. * Days from Camelot, in a hut in the woods, Morgana watches a flame crackle, its warmth fending off the coldness in her body, but not the loneliness in her heart. Agravaine has left, Morgana now knows about the latest developments in the life of the little brother she despises so much. Only now, that the game has played out, the true meaning of the cryptic words of the Cailleach is revealed to her. She has obtained what she desired the most, as Guinevere will never sit on the throne of Camelot, and Lancelot was the mean to achieve such an outcome. But Lancelot wasn't the sword that pierced Arthur's heart, as she planned. Neither Gwen nor Lancelot has been banished. And if Arthur's heart is bleeding, this is a secret that her little brother will keep to himself, a hidden truth held to even the most close to him. Morgana can't find in herself the will for a smile. She has achieved what she had wished to accomplish, but it's not joy that fills her. She thought she would be pleased at the news, pleased for her visions forever adverted, for Arthur's dream of marrying for love mercilessly crushed. Instead, she feels sad. The coldness of the sorrows is what fills an heart that has long since forgot how to beat. She has lost a sister forever, a sacrifice that didn't pay, and has once again used her knowledge of a brother to play a game bigger than each of them, and a once friend was turned a mere paw in the fight between Camelot and the Old Religion. She has left a life behind, burned all bridges behind. What's left of her now is that she has no more family to support her, no true friend to comfort her. No one but a lackey, an annoying dog who yaps at her left, begging for a scrap of affection, a man second only to a king, that kneels like a servant. Only him, Agravaine, and his spare visits. And the loneliness of an empty room. For even a High Priestess, a goddess between mortals, can feel the cutting pain of solitude.

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Notes This edit dates back to 2018/2019 but was hold back because, buckle up... I couldn't work out the text part. Yes. Embarrassing, isn't it? How hard could it be write a lengthy summary/synopsis, right? Four years. Four fucking years. In the year of the lord 2022, with the yearly goal to publish as much wips and finished-but-held-back works as I can, I sat down and forced myself to give a sense to the years-old draft. But still, it took me another year to finish this. This series consists of 6 planned parts. The first one, of which this post is part of, is made of 8 chapters that cover all the canon divergences that lead to Arthur healing from his battle wound. The other five parts follow his (and Merlin's) life, the coming of the Golden Age, the birth of the new Pendragon generation, Arthur's rest and what Merlin will build during his husband's long sleep.

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Tec stuffs (aka Behind The Manip) No manip nor modification required on this one, so nothing to report. Besides the fact that, when the edit was almost posted, I decided to add further scenes to better fit with the ficlet that was expanded.

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Crossposted: Livejournal: prue84.livejournal.com/101924.html Dreamwidth: prue84.dreamwidth.org/92428.html Deviantart: deviantart.com/prue84/art/Merlin-AUs-Royal-husbands-I-Ch01-994195209 AO3: archiveofourown.org/works/51559840/chapters/130316755 SquidgeWorld: squidgeworld.org/works/46714/chapters/97824

[theonceandfutureking6481]

BBC's Merlin Season 1 Episode 5: Lancelot Analysis

It's Lancelot's first episode which is tremendously exciting. I remember the first time I watched this show (last year- I really make it sound like it was much longer than it is), I wasn't particularly attached to him but on my second rewatch I loved him, I loved his and Merlin's friendship and I loved his sheer nobility and decency. Lancelot is of course typically one of the most central characters in telling's of the Arthurian legend, so of course his appearance is exciting. Also excitingly an episode where I talk about someone other than Arthur! Yeah, if you can't tell Arthur's my favourite character. I'm not sure how clear my point is throughout all of this, its hard to articulate but I hope I've done it justice.

"Sir Lancelot, the bravest and the most noble of them all"

This is a quote from much later in the show but it explains something very fundamental about Lancelot's character. Lancelot is supposed to be the chivalric ideal, in most versions of the story he is portrayed as such, as the only knight who really comes close to fulfilling it. Lancelot's fault that puts the dent in him being the true epitome of the noble chivalric knight is his love for Guinevere, and its actually his son Galahad (who doesn't exist in Merlin) who achieves this ideal. However, the point remains that Lancelot is almost there, his character is typically about a person who almost achieves this ideal of chivalry, and they run with this in Merlin, out of all the knights he is the most knightly, the most committed, the one most devoted to its ideals.

Lancelot talks like our idea of a knight, its kind of hard to explain but the way he talks is straight out of chivalric romances, out of films about knights. You notice it because everyone in this show talks in quite a contemporary way, its an Arthurian legend for people of today and the characters talk like it, but Lancelot just doesn't, he talks like a knight from a fairytale. It's just a small detail, but it really plays into the perception of Lancelot as the epitome of chivalric honour.

I'd argue that he represents a knighthood Arthur believes in, before he even realises it himself, a kind of honour that's about devotion to one another and helping others and fighting injustice. Arthur and Lancelot do get on extremely well, despite the fact that Lancelot, in Arthur's own words, doesn't sound or look like a knight. His passionate defense of him to his father, as well as the fact that Arthur releases him from prison without his father's approval is because Arthur respects him and admires him and probably because he sees him as a friend. King Arthur's court is often the ideal representation of chivalry, stories like these about chivalrous knights were very important to aristocratic culture in medieval times, and Arthur's court was at the center of it. The thing is that there is a code of honour and chivalry before Arthur in Merlin, the knights of Camelot already exist, and they are often honourable. But Arthur's task will be to reset the idea of chivalry and honour on new grounds, in new ways and Lancelot in many ways exemplifies this ideal

There is a huge emphasis in Lancelot's character in serving with honour:

"It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honour."-Lancelot

"He laid down his life for me. He served with honour."- Arthur

"He meant no harm I am sure of it... he only wished to serve."- Arthur

I'm not exactly sure how to define honour, its kind of an abstract concept but I do know what it means, its acting with integrity and respect and honesty. It's a concept central to the Chivalric code, that knights should behave with honour, so its inclusion here further cements the idea of Lancelot's character as representing the ideal of chivalric knighthood. Also the concept of servanthood comes up again, Merlin emphasises (through Merlin most of all) the honour in being a servant, you don't need to be great or noble or a great leader, the world needs people who are willing to serve and that is just as noble as leading.

Chivalry as a concept is inherently bound up in the concept of nobility. The etymology itself is from the French word for knight/horseman, of which only nobles could be. However, one of the points of Merlin through many of its characters is upsetting this class divide so prevalent in Arthurian stories, not just in also including the stories of those who aren't noble but in setting up a code of honour that applies to everybody. Lancelot epitomises this, he is the knight who most represents the ideal of chivalry to Arthur, he's also not a nobleman. Just like making Gwen and Merlin servants, making the most noble knight not a noble sets up this shift, highlighting the capability of everyone to the kind of goodness and nobility that Camelot's ideal will represent. Because fundamentally what's the point of an ideal if it only applies to some people, ideals should inspire everyone to be better, they should make everyone's lives better not just a small subset of people.

As Gwen says that in Arthur's knights "we need ordinary people like you and me."

Arthur and Uther

Importantly Arthur realises the injustice of laws in his father's kingdom and you see the contrast between him and Uther.

"The code bends for no man."

"Then the code is wrong."

Uther is stubborn, we know that, he's unwilling to admit the fault in his rules, in his ideas even when the evidence is right in front of him and that is a fundamental fault, you can see it in his treatment of those who use magic. Arthur by contrast is someone whose views haven't been set, partly because he is still young, but also because he is a better person than Uther in the ways that matter. He's not going to purposefully blind himself to the truth. For Uther he is also one with a worldview of absolutes, all magic users are bad, laws are laws there is no room for argument or nuance, and I'm sure Uther would see accepting argument or nuance as a weakness.

It is also important that in recognising that the code should bend, Arthur recognises the essential flaw in Uther's construction of society and chivalry. The idea that knights should all be noble, Uther literally says that it is the fact that all knights are noble that binds them together, and this is emphasised by the fact that Uther created the first code of Camelot (also the fact that its the first code- makes this seemingly small law much more important). This is a premise Arthur does not agree with it, this episode proves what it really means to be a knight in Lancelot, its a willingness to do your duty and act with honour and self-sacrifice. It is not confined to class, and thus plays into merlin's wider subversion of chivalry as only being for knights, its a code of honour and behaviour that all people can aspire to, and the ability to live and die for noble causes should not be the sole preserve of knights. The Arthurian ideal is so premised on nobility, for the rest of the kingdom, yes they have a just king and presumably they are protected and safe but they are kept from the dignity of being allowed to be noble, being allowed to be considered a part of the nobility and goodness of the Arthurian ideal. It's significant that the first figure to represent this isn't noble.

Other Stuff

"I owe Lancelot my life and I am paying for that in the only way I can."- Merlin--> This is the worldview of knights and debts of honour in its own way as well

Gwen and Lancelot are just awww, like so sweet

"Merlin would do anything for anyone."- Gwen--> True and I love that about Merlin, even as he becomes more jaded as the seasons go on this doesn't change that much—>he's wonderfully decent

"You're the only thing I care about in this world."- Gaius to Merlin--> That was just sweet and kind of sad He's encouraging Merlin to put himself in danger and Merlin reacts with anger because its like does anyone care what happens to him—> but the point is Merlin can help Arthur and no one else can so he has to do it because its his job and its his job because he's the only one who can do it--> Duty is doing what you have to do, doing the right thing even when you don't want to

"It's my duty knight or not."---> Similar to Merlin—> Lancelot believes in being a knight so whether or not he actually is one he has a duty to act like one—> he is a swordsman he is skilled and (theoretically- if they weren't creatures of magic) could defeat a Griffin so he has to do it—> because he can and its his duty to his worldview And Gwen's response- "You really believe that don't you. I don't think I've ever met anyone like you."

"You've already proven that to us"- Arthur "But I must prove it to myself."- Lancelot--> Isn't there just something very noble in that- In the desire to prove your ability to yourself above all others- to hold yourself to a high standard not just to expect things to come Will parallel Arthur in later seasons as he tries to prove his right to be king to himself--> It's funny the scene when Arthur pulls the sword in the stone (much later) is the moment when he proves his right to be king in every version of the story- but usually its proof to others- In Merlin it was trying to prove to himself

"Till next time then, Sir Lancelot."- Merlin- wonderful way to end the episode on an acknowledgement of Lancelot's role in the wider story- he is a legendary figure

[panharmonium]

Saw that meta you wrote about gwaine and I was wondering what you think about Lancelot and his relationship to magic-users.? Because I don't think he tries to convince Arthur that magic is okay or argues that the system is wrong. He knows about Merlin, but I'm not sure how much of that is him just supporting Merlin specific case, though I haven't re-watched the show in a while. Anyway, thoughts?

(The referenced post is, I think, this one, for context.)

Okay, so there’s two parts to this ask.  

1) “He knows about Merlin, but I'm not sure how much of that is him just supporting Merlin specific case...”

Personally, I think the show is pretty clear that Lancelot does not have any wider problems with magic.

When he meets the Dragon in 4.02, his first reaction is to defensively raise his sword (cause, y’know...it’s a dragon!), but the instant Merlin says “It’s all right,” Lancelot immediately lowers his weapon and switches over to interacting with Kilgharrah comfortably.  As soon as Merlin bows and speaks to Kilgharrah with respect, Lancelot follows suit without hesitation.  He answers Kilgharrah’s questions politely, and, when Kilgharrah calls him “the bravest and most noble of them all” he even replies with humility, saying, “I’m not sure that’s true.”

In the same episode, he’s confronted with the Vilia (the river spirits that help Merlin heal) and even without Merlin awake to assure him, he never balks at or reacts negatively to them.  He has a full conversation with them about the Veil and Arthur’s plan, speaking to them as respectfully as he would another knight, and he’s delighted and awed to see what they can do when they offer to protect him and Merlin from the Dorocha for the night.

Compare this to Gwaine’s interactions with Osgar (detailed in the linked post), his disrespect for the Disir (also detailed in the linked post), and even how he talks to Dragoon in 4.06 (”You escaped the flames once.  You won’t escape again.”/“I’ve a good mind to run you through right now!”), and we can see that there are subtle but clear differences in Gwaine and Lancelot’s attitudes toward magic in general, not just magic as it relates to Merlin.

2) “I don't think [Lancelot] tries to convince Arthur that magic is okay or argues that the system is wrong.”

The difference between Lancelot and Gwaine in this situation is that Lancelot is being held accountable to Merlin and Gwaine isn’t.

What this means, in terms of whether we can hold them responsible for not openly defending the rights of a marginalized group, is this: Lancelot is taking his cues from a member of said marginalized group.  He’s doing what Merlin himself wants Lancelot to do.  Merlin doesn’t WANT Lancelot to be making a scene about the rights of magic-users right now; he doesn’t want attention drawn to himself; he wants to stay hidden.  He has a plan of his own, and it involves keeping his magic a secret until at least the moment when Arthur assumes the kingship, and then (according to all the prophecies) Merlin’s people can be freed.  Lancelot is not shirking his responsibilities to Merlin by not raising the subject; he’s doing exactly what anyone should do when dealing with an issue where one person holds a particular privilege and their companion does not: LISTEN to the person most affected.  Follow their lead.  Let them run the show.  

Lancelot doesn’t keep quiet because of his personal attitudes.  He wants Merlin to be able to be open about his magic.  The deleted scene in 4.02 is great for that, when he asks “will you ever tell Arthur,” and Merlin says it’s never going to happen (because Merlin thinks he’s going to sacrifice himself for Arthur’s sake as soon as they reach the Veil), and you can see that Lancelot isn’t comfortable with that.  The camera lingers on his face for a moment after Merlin walks away, and he looks - concerned; because he doesn’t like Merlin having to hide his gifts; he doesn’t want Merlin to be unappreciated; he doesn’t want Merlin to have to say self-deprecating things like “I’m not totally useless, you know.”  A similar thing happens in 3.13, when Lancelot tells Merlin, “you’re the one Arthur should knight.  You’re the bravest of us all, and he doesn’t even know it.”  Lancelot wants Merlin to be recognized properly.  He knows Merlin deserves to be free, safe, and respected.

But Merlin, in 3.13, instead replies, “He can’t.  Not yet,” and tells Lancelot that what he actually needs right now is a way to get to the Cup without Arthur knowing.  And - crucially - Lancelot LISTENS to this and accepts it and gets Merlin exactly what he asked for, as opposed to pushing for what Lancelot himself thinks should happen.  Honestly, Lancelot displays better “ally” behavior than a lot of real-life people do, in that he listens to the affected party and does what’s asked of him, as opposed to imposing his own mission and priorities.

Lancelot follows Merlin’s lead, because he knows it’s not his place to make decisions about this particular part of Merlin’s life.  Merlin doesn’t want to be outed.  He doesn’t want Lancelot to do things that would force or accelerate that process.  Merlin is playing a long game, and he wants Lancelot to let him do it, and right now what that looks like is Lancelot stepping back and staying quiet.  And that’s exactly what Lancelot does, because he knows it’s not his place to decide how Merlin can best achieve his own liberation.  

Gwaine is subject to no such accountability.  He doesn’t know Merlin has magic and isn’t acting in response to what a magic-user might want him to do.  His silence (and complicity, in some moments; see the linked post for more details) are not choices he makes at Merlin’s bequest, they’re genuine reflections of his actual attitudes.  

[modreduscycle]

Green Knight Pt. 1

Arthur clapped his hands, momentarily bringing a halt to the racket emanating throughout the hall. “The king has an announcement!” Kay yelled, which made even the lingering quiet conversations fall silent.

“Alright, I didn’t think I’d need to say this, and I’m not naming any names…” Despite saying that, Arthur cast a glare at his nephews, specifically Mordred, who took a sip of wine, “But enchanted mistletoe, of any kind, is not allowed. I appreciate the person or people in question obeying by the original rule of not having mistletoe enchanted to make people kiss under it, but making them non-fatally duel each other isn’t a great alternative.”

Kay didn’t even try to hide his smirk as he glanced over at Lancelot, who still had a red mark on his jaw. “It’s a great alternative when you realize what’s going on before the other person.”

“Kay, no.” Arthur was clearly trying to give his brother a death glare but failing miserably. The king sighed and repeated, “Just don’t put any more of them up, whoever it was.” He looked at his nephews again and Gaheris laughed, giving away his involvement in the scheme as well. The others managed to keep it together a little better, although Gareth looked a little abashed at being basically scolded by their king.

“So, as much as I absolutely love the violence this has caused, are there any kissing mistletoes?” Agravaine whispered to Mordred.

The magic knight shook his head, grinning. “That was specifically against the rules.”

“Pity, there are so many people here who need some romance in their lives.” Agravaine not-so-subtly pointed at Gawain and rolled his eyes.

“I saw that!”

“You were supposed to,” Agravaine deadpanned. “Seriously, Father’s getting worried. You know how awkward it is to get a letter asking you to get your older brother married and/or laid?”

“Is Christmas really the time to bring this up?” Gawain asked.

“Apparently Father thinks so,” Agravaine retorted.

“You are his heir,” Gareth reminded.

“A prince?” Gaheris prompted.

“Supposed to make more heirs?” Mordred added.

Gawain groaned and put his head on the table. “Any of you want to switch places with me?”

“Yeah, no. Have fun, crown prince,” Agravaine teased.

“It’s a vassal kingdom!” Gawain complained. “Why is it a big deal?”

“The key word there is, ‘kingdom,” Mordred reminded.

Gawain ran his hand down his face. “Here’s a game we can play: no one mention romance, inheritance, or family duties until the new year.”

His brothers all muttered their agreement with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Arthur wasn’t eating yet, wanting either something exciting to happen or someone to tell a good enough story before he started with the feast. Some of the knights were attempting to regale him with various tales, but most of them were just things they had done, which Arthur already knew about.

Gawain started to reach for the wine when the door burst open, bringing the chill air with it in a flash of cold. Everyone in the room stopped and looked at the newcomer.

The man was tall, really tall, to the point where between him and Galehaut, the literal half giant, it would be hard to tell at a glance who was taller. His hair was a deep vibrant green, with his skin an only slightly lighter emerald hue. His clothes, his eyes, his axe, everything about this man was green. It was like someone poured dye all over him. Even his horse was green, dappled in varying shades of the color. A bushy green beard covered the lower half of his face, looking insanely fluffy and soft. He half-wondered what it would feel like kissing him with it. That thought caught Gawain by surprise and he looked away, blushing, just as the green knight started to speak.

“I really hope this is the court of King Arthur. The last guy I visited wasn’t so happy about the mistake,” the Green Knight commented, brushing flakes of snow off his cloak. His voice was deep and melodious, flowing like honey into Gawain’s ears.

Arthur nodded and gestured to one of the tables. “Go ahead and take a seat. I can call for a servant to lead your horse to the stables.”

“Oh no, I don’t want to stay long,” the Green Knight explained. “I’m just here to issue a challenge, a game of sorts, to anyone who wants to play.”

This being the round table, everyone’s ears perked up at the word challenge. Arthur looked a little surprised, but smiled and nodded. “Alright, what’s the challenge? And are you sure you don’t want any food?”

The Green Knight hesitated and Gawain, without thinking, scooted over and patted the empty spot he had just made. The Green Knight’s gaze moved over to him and he froze for a few seconds before recovering. “Maybe something for the road just before I leave, if you still want me to. As for my challenge… you see this axe?” He twirled it the huge weapon around for emphasis.

“Hard to miss,” Kay deadpanned, somehow remaining thoroughly unimpressed by the whole thing.

The Green Knight smiled. “Well, here’s the game. One of you can take this axe and hit me in any part of my body. Then, in one year, I get to hit that person in the same place. I’ll even give you the axe to keep! How does that sound?”

Somehow, not even Lancelot looked thrilled at that game, and that was saying something. “Can we hit with the handle?” Bedivere asked.

“No, sharp part of the blade only,” the Green Knight corrected. “So who wants to play?” No one spoke for a very long time. The Green Knight looked disappointed, pouting a little. “Come on! Isn’t this supposed to be the greatest court in the land? Bravest of knights? Where’s your spirit?”

No one volunteered. Arthur looked around at his knights, then took a deep breath and stood up. “Alright, if no one else will, I guess I’ll play this game.”

“Are you crazy?” Kay snapped, grabbing his wrist and pulling him back. “You’re the king! The technically heirless king, I might add.”

“Arthur, be reasonable,” Guinevere begged.

Gawain stood up. “I’ll go in your place!” He turned to the knight and, swallowing his fear and reluctance, walked toward the large man. “I’ll play your game.”

The Green Knight’s eyes brightened. “Excellent! Here, take this axe and cut anywhere, but remember, I’m going to hit you in the same place if I’m still alive so you should probably make it count.” He tossed the axe to Gawain, who almost dropped it from the sheer weight of the thing. It was night, so he didn’t have super strength even though he really, really wished he did right now. Hefting the axe up, he realized it was all or nothing. He didn’t have enough control with the weapon to make a small cut on the back of the knight’s hand, or enough precision to just take off a finger. If he wanted to live, he’d have to go for something more fatal. His eyes strayed up to the knight’s neck and before he could feel the guilt, swung.

The axe cut like butter and the knight’s head flew off, blood spurting everywhere. Gawain dropped the axe and stumbled back, waiting for the body to hit the ground. Time seemed to slow down as the decapitated corpse just stood there, until he realized everything else was moving at a normal speed. After a few more seconds, the body raised one hand and gave him a thumb’s up.

He felt like he might faint as the body turned around and picked up its severed head, putting the usually hugely important body part under its(his?) arm. He could hear Kay softly muttering, “What the sard?” over and over again with growing intensity. Every other knight seemed just as freaked out, but no one knew what to do so they just stood there, waiting.

The Green Knight grinned. “Well, won’t lie, that was pretty interesting. Come to the Green Chapel this time next year. Enjoy the axe, maybe put it up on the mantle or something. It’s more decorative than functional, after all.”

“Wait, you’re just… leaving?” Gawain asked finding his voice. The Green Knight looked surprised.

“You want me to stay after all that?” he asked.

“I mean… yes?” Gawain stuttered. “It’s got to be a long journey for you and you could use a meal— wait, can you eat while your head’s…?”

“No, but I appreciate the sentiment,” the Green Knight replied. He fell silent, then opened his travelling bag. “I might take something for the road, if you would be so generous.”

Gawain, still reeling a little bit from what just happened, took a turkey leg, a couple apples, and a loaf of bread from the table and tossed it in the bag. “Anything else you’d like?” he asked.

“No, no, really, this is too much already,” the Green Knight protested. “But thank you, Sir…?”

“Gawain, Sir Gawain of Orkney,” Gawain introduced himself. The Green Knight grabbed his hand and lifted it up with one hand and with the other brought his head down to kiss it.

“Well, Sir Gawain of Orkney, may we meet again in a year.” Gawain’s face turned bright red as the Green Knight mounted his horse again and road off into the night, lighter one axe, which had fallen to the floor in all the excitement.

Gawain stared at the door he left through, then sat back down and went back to eating without a word. Eventually, most of the other knights stopped staring at him. After a few minutes, Mordred prodded him. “Gawain?”

“Yes?”

“Did you just sentence yourself to death in a year?”

“Looks like it.”

“And did you, immediately after learning that, proceed to try and make friends with your to-be killer?”

“I may have done that too.”

“Then, and I need to make sure I have this right, did your future killer just flirt with you?”

“Also yes.”

“Okay, and did you enjoy it as much as you looked like you were?”

Gawain glanced away and took a long sip of wine to delay answering. “...maybe.”

Mordred pinched the bridge of his nose. “Gawain, we both know I would never judge you for liking men, considering I’m about as into women as Patroclus was, but do you think maybe you could not fall in love with the guy who wants to kill you for five seconds?”

“Look, he’s hot, okay?” Gawain argued.

“Don’t you like women, though?” Agravaine asked. “You had a pretty big crush on that noble girl when we were growing up, what was her name again… Muire?”

“Yeah, I like them too, but he was also really, really attractive,” Gawain argued.

Agravaine rolled his eyes. “So are you planning on proposing before or after he cuts your head off?”

“I know it’s not going to work, okay?” retorted Gawain. He sighed. “How about we don’t talk about my impending death until tomorrow. Then we can put together a list of things I should do before I die.” The mood among the siblings turned sour and they all looked back at their meals.

[adhd-merlin]

okay unfortunately i am back in your askbox bc you asked whether anyone ships morgana with someone other than gwen. the answer is yes! multiple people, e.g. merlin. however, i specifically want to pitch: morgana and lancelot...

OKAY PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ME. i have always side-eyed people who ship something based solely on its so-called 'potential' when they never actually interact. there's nothing wrong with it, but it's always baffled me. however. i need you to listen very closely and with an open mind. the witch whose bitterness and spite turned her into a power-hungry murderer, and the bravest and most noble of them all, who wishes only to serve. a woman whose heart was corrupted and a man whose heart is unfailingly pure. an aspirant queen and a perfect servant. he could save her. tbh. he could fix her. ok i'm kidding but DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M COMING FROM??? not to mention lancelot's cage fighting days when he got desperate. as honourable as he is, he knows what it is to be reduced by circumstance to something you hardly recognise. he knows what it is to become depressed, to see life through a dark tint. they can RELATE TO EACH OTHER. the most unlikely people from entirely different backgrounds can RELATE. they know the same people, as well, and lancelot's idea of them hasn't become embittered like morgana's has. they can talk to each other about these people.

we got ONE (1) scene in canon where they actually interacted, and it wasn't even actually lancelot, and yet it's SUCH A SERVE. lancelot serving under morgana is a CONCEPT. the things she says to him... she's literally so power-hungry and bitter by the time she summons him in 4x09 and yet she says, and i quote, "I thought it would please me, molding his mind. Instead, I feel curiously sad. He was once so mighty, and now he's nothing but a shade. I should be sorry to see him go." i know she was at least partially mocking him when she said, "For you are Lancelot, the noble, the brave, the honourable. You're everything the Knight's Code stands for," but. like. even fucking MORGANA, at this stage in the game, feels sad using lancelot as a tool. c'mon.

basically i'm just bitter over how the morgana arc played out and utterly obsessed with lancelot and want to explore every possible dynamic of his, whether or not they've actually interacted. i CAN and WILL gobble up my gwaincelot crumbs of lance shaking his head when gwaine chomps an apple and scares everyone in 4x01. i will do the same with morgana x lancelot. good day.

I AM DUMB. HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT MERGANA. I HAVE A TAG AND EVERYTHING.

But anyway no, I think I get what you mean about that Morgana & shade-Lancelot scene! And that quote!! It stood out to me as well!

the witch whose bitterness and spite turned her into a power-hungry murderer, and the bravest and most noble of them all, who wishes only to serve. a woman whose heart was corrupted and a man whose heart is unfailingly pure. an aspirant queen and a perfect servant. he could save her. tbh. he could fix her.