#its the way merlin shows his magic to him

[bellamyblakru]

god i love daegal

[dashiellqvverty]

the thing about bbc merlin is that in many ways it is very tragic, in the sense that so much bad shit that happens could have easily been avoided if charcters had made different choices, hadn't been so wrapped up in prophecies, had trusted people and communicated openly literally ever, just generally got their heads out of their asses. like i know thats the point, they are trying so hard to do the right things and protect people but the story is unavoidable. HOWEVER it is all soooo fucking poorly executed that none of it is effective. so instead of thinking "wow what a tragic story about fate/destiny/whatever" you walk away like "well that fucking sucked for no reason. i hate that fuckass dragon" and i sometimes feel very cinemasins in the way i pick apart the logic but the thing is the show is written in a way that makes the characters come off as so stupid and always making terrible choices rather than like. tragic victims of circumstance.

[justaz]

omg omg omg

arthur gives merlin his mothers sigil thinking that hes going to die and wants to finally tell merlin how he feels and what better way of conveying the intensity of his emotions and how serious he is other than marriage? merlin accepts the sigil which means theyre married!! yay!! only. they both survive and arthur QUICKLY realizes that merlin has no idea the significance of the sigil. he has no idea theyre married. and arthur has no idea how to tell him bc then he’ll have to explain WHY he gave him the sigil aka WHY HE PROPOSED and now that hes not staring death in the face. he just. cant.

blah blah blah time skip to happy ending

the druids invite arthur and merlin to a celebration of the unification of emrys and the once and future king and the fruition of their destinies. merlin and arthur are excited bc finally peace is here and magic is returning and this can be the next big show of trust and reconciliation between camelot and the druids and so theyre there in the druid camp having fun when theyre approached and asked to participate in the ceremony. theres a huge buzzing crowd watching as the elder druid ties their hands together and goes on and on about the magnificence of two men standing before them and their great destinies and how the two sides of the same coin are joined finally as the prophecy said all those years ago. merlin doesnt realize it was a handfasting ceremony until hes talking to a few of the druids later on

anyway. merthur accidental wedding(s). now they both know theyre married but they dont know the other knows theyre married bc different ceremonies and traditions and all that. arthur is all awkward about it bc hes emotionally constipated. merlin is convincing himself he doesnt have to bring it up to arthur bc its not like the DRUID marriage ceremony is legally binding in camelot. they didnt sign any papers or anything. theyre not really married in camelot so arthur doesnt have to know. and then merlin can selfishly keep this truth close to his heart. even if its not reciprocated.

married life shenanigans ensue. merlin and arthur both have to physically stop themselves from calling the other their husband. jealous spats when out in the tavern or when visiting royals/nobles stop on by. leon knows all and is this close to snapping. extra protective idiots. and idk someone catches merlin holding the sigil and explains the significance of it or a druid asks arthur where his husband emrys is and my boy is STRESSED about being caught but then the druid brings up the handfasting ceremony. stupid idiot x stupid idiot.

you see my vision, right?

[myoonmii]

I keep thinking about Merlin’s love for Arthur and how it’s so clearly portrayed in the show to the point that it practically drives the plot of the show. However when it comes to Arthur’s love for Merlin it’s more subtle and sometimes difficult to even grasp, and I started thinking why that was, aside from the obvious fact that Arthur has a lot of trouble expressing his emotions affection or otherwise. I think it also lies in the fact that Merlin knows Arthur intrinsically throughout the show; he is one of the closest people to Arthur, and sees him for who he really is. Arthur admits as much.

Sure, Arthur knows Merlin but the main part of the plot is that he really doesn't know Merlin. Merlin wants him to desperately understand him and “see me for who I am” but he can't yet. And I think this subconsciously creates a barrier in the way in which Arthur can care for Merlin, and how Merlin can let himself be seen by Arthur.

Which is why I think he was also so hurt when the magic reveal happens because more than the betrayal of Merlin having magic, it was the betrayal of Merlin not letting Arthur see him for who he really is and for hiding a main part of himself. Arthur says it himself “why did you never tell me” that’s what hurt him the most.

I think the most damning piece of evidence for this is the fact that while we see snippets of Arthur’s feelings for Merlin thought the show, the biggest signs are in the last episode after the magic reveal; in which he finally gets to understand Merlin, and this time REALLY know Merlin, and as the barriers of what held them back from understanding each other truly fall away, Arthur evidently “falls in love with Merlin all over again”. We see him actually express himself to Merlin.

This is another reason why I think if anyone was ever to create another season of Merlin after Arthur’s return, it’s physically impossible not to make it about Merlin and Arthur acknowledging their feelings for each other. Because there is no way forward without them acknowledging how deeply they care for each other, obviously anyone is free to argue what kind of love that is, but its impossible not to see the deep love there either way.

They always knew they loved each other, just maybe never realising how much and what that means, because its almost second nature to everything that they do.

[lovermyme]

Was thinking about merlin and listening to mitski today and

Post revel where arthur reacts very well at merlins magic, unbans magic and merlin cant actually process that

Yeah, thats about "its just that i fell in love with a war, nobody told me it ended", he suffered too much to allow it to be this easy. Can u imagine? What do u mean arthur and the knights are laughing amused by him magically lighting the fire? It is a big deal.

Merlins saw many many sorcerers be cremated alive to be normal. He heard the screams and smelled the burned skin, the toasted meat.

I havent watched the shows in years but like, i guess he have a "privileged view" of the pire from his room too....... He thinks if uther did that on purpose, by giving gaius (the only sorcerer uther allowed to stay, in his conditions of course) this place of all in the castle...... Like a warning...

The only "mentors" merlin had where a dragon, that had been imprisoned for morethan 20 years. And a old man, that had been walking on eggs for more than 20 years too. They were shit at giving advices, yeah but. Its understandable at some point.

He has blood in his hands. Non sorcerer and sorcerer. Friends and enemies. Civilians. He released kilgharra. Fuck, he lied at the morgouse trials, about arthurs mother! Why is arthur ok w that? He think he is a traitor, of both his kind........

Bonus point if good mordred. Like, mordred adapting very well at the shift laws, and excited about doing magic in frnt of arthur and arthur liking it???? Merlin cant understand. He debated about killing this child.

bONUS BONUS POINT If merlin is struggling at doing magic in front of arthur and the knights, and arthurs doesn't know he is emrys the most powerful sorcerer to walk on earth aND YET IS SO AMUSED. And like, *merlin shaking while firing the fire* arthur and evryone: THATS AMAZING MERLIN 👏👏👏👏 And mordred is so confused

I need a fic like this

Mordred becomes court sorcerer because arthur thinks merlin is not powerful and everything (in a worried way not in a disposed way). Merlin is not jealous, he doesn't care about titles, actually he do like his job, its just about the irony of the thing. Mordred is so so confused.

He does his job amazing, he uses magic and its okay at doing it. When no one is looking. If someone, thats not gaius, is looking, he hardly can do.

He cant do magic w arthurs watching.

Unless its a Arthur's life treating situation.

Its not that he is actually scared of arthur, its just that he simple cant. Theres even a tecnical term for this. Its like a emotional block, but w his magic. He cant control it. He has been under pressure for so long he cant just let go ya know.

Ok, its my post, i like mordred, im gonna put my thoughts here.

Au where mordred was the one who changes arthurs mind about magic. Like, arthur is watching mordred, the one he know has magic and is a druid and asks him if he stills do magic and mordred thinks and chooses honesty and says "to make a fire when noone is looking" or some non harmful thing. And Arthur is like "a sorcerer can be a Knight, im shifting the law". And he shift the law and Merlin is like, was is that easy? *Mental breakdown * meltdown *burnout*

The thing is: it wasn't just because of mordred, like, Arthur's kingdom has been kind w the sorcerers already, not having burned a lot and no one in mordred presence, because arthur is a kind king.

And th thing is how mordred and merlin lived different lifes while in camelot, ya know. Even through mordred has heard stories and lost friends and family to camelots fire, Merlin lived in it.

Merlin, he is extremely suspicious about mordred coming out as sorcerer to arthur (because he is suspicious of mordred), he thinks maybe its a trick, to bring evil sorcerers to kill arthur, something, he even debates w arthur if shifting thelaw is the right choice. He feels awful about his position, but he cant process that everything is alright, he is so suspicious about everything and so scared arthur might put himself in danger.

He tells arthur he has magic after he lift the ban. Arthur is so confused because of merlins position about the law, but he is fine w merlin. And merlin islike "im gonna to protect u i promise, im super powerful", of course he cant prove he is powerful because this whole post.

Im tired now im stoping, but im still thinking alot.

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Based on this post

Arthur when Merlin gets home from work: *runs up and hugs him without saying anything about it*

Merlin: *immediately drops everything in his hands and hugs back, not letting go and giving one of the best hugs of his life because it’s Arthur and he’s spent 1500 years loving him*

Arthur, after five or more minutes of bear hugging the man he’s in love with: (mutters) no homo.

Merlin, the immortal: *dies*

Merlin: *pulls away and pats Arthur’s shoulder in the most awkward “buddy” kind of way before walking into their flat and locking himself in his room to have an existential crisis/gay panic*

Things are awkward as hell, until Arthur asks Merlin if he can finally show him movies. Merlin goes to get his laptop and opens Google to find Netflix, seeing recent searches.

Merlin: Arthur?

Arthur: huh?

Merlin, dealing with what he can: why did you want to buy an archive?

Arthur: …is this magic? How-

Merlin: no, just technology again. You had search history on. I can um… see everything you’ve researched.

Arthur: everything..?

Merlin: everything…

Arthur: what did you say about um… oh right. Fuck.

Merlin: *smiles and pulls Arthur into a hug*

Arthur: Merlin? I- I thought…

Merlin: you are the most important thing in every universe, world, and realm to me, Arthur. 1500 years didn’t change that, and whatever comes next for us certainly won’t change it either. If there’s ever anything that you want to tell me, then I’ll be right here.

Arthur: *hugs back and hides his face, teary eyed, in Merlin’s neck*

Arthur, murmuring against Merlin’s neck: I’m bisexual.

Merlin: Thank you for telling me,

Arthur: And I’m in love with you.

Merlin, teary eyed and beaming: I love you too, Arthur. More than anything.

Arthur: Not in a no homo kind of way. In a, I’d marry you if I could kind of way…

Merlin: *laughs a little* I think you’ve got something else to research,

Arthur: what?

Merlin: *pulls the laptop to himself and types something before turning it around to Arthur*

Can I marry my best friend? (After I take him out on a date)

(He did that thing where you search one thing then type something else into the search bar without pressing go)

Arthur reads how its legal for men to get married then looks up at Merlin, he jumps on him and tackles him into a hug, laughing and crying happily. They watch heart stopper and Arthur starts playing rugby, they get a dog, date for three months before Arthur asks Merlin to marry him randomly one evening.

Merlin says yes, of course, so two days later when he gets in from work, Arthur hugs him, covers his eyes and leads him into their living room where he set up a full romance novel style proposal. He gets down on one knee with a really nice ring and gives a whole speech. (my aro ass can’t imagine what, but you know what I mean. It’s super cute and romantic)

Merlin says yes again and they get married soon after and live on a farm before both dying of old age after a long and happy life together.

Merlin spends the rest of their lives teasing Arthur about the “no homo” after their first hug thing.

Merlin also teaches Arthur about clearing search history and incognito, Arthur uses it exclusively for surprising Merlin because they’ve got no need for any secrets between them in this lifetime.

[maplemind]

Does anyone else think that Arthur would be at least sensitive to magic, if not actually have a tiny bit of magic himself?

I mean he was born of magic, it would make sense that something would have made its way into his DNA.

But it’s clear that he doesn’t know it on a conscious level, that he’s completely unaware (or perhaps wilfully ignorant).

I mean, we’re always being told how he’s Camelot’s greatest warrior, how he’s a genius at tactical planning and managing his knights… what if that’s the magic part?

Maybe he had “dreams” that showed him battle plans? Maybe he just knew the right things to do, and who to put where, and how things should be done?

Maybe he saw things no-one else could, or at least saw things in a different way. Maybe he was a little bit omnipresent, or could do some mild divination without realising it, or just had a feeling about certain future events that was always right.

Maybe he was connected to those around him, to people he loves, and to his knights in a different way. Maybe he could always sense them, or always knew where they were, or could somehow see them even though they were an impossible distance away. I mean, he always sensed when something was wrong with Merlin. Always. Even if he didn’t fully comprehend what kind of “something wrong” it was.

What if that’s why he never got suspicious of Merlin, no matter how many times it was obvious there was something a bit different about Merlin or something not quite explainable about a situation? Because the magic in him recognised the magic in Merlin and didn’t find it at all threatening - in fact, it found a kindred spirit.

Maybe that’s why Arthur got so strange when he eventually found out about Merlin’s magic - some subconscious part of him always knew and was sad that it could have had a companion, a sidekick, all this time? (That and the frustration that “we could have done it together”).

And, you know, it’s not really totally human and non-magic to be “The Once and Future King Who Will Rise From the Dead”, is it???

But also, what if some part of Merlin / Merlin's magic knew. What if that's part of why Merlin is so attracted, so attached, so connected to Arthur, even just at a subconscious level?

Imagine if all this had been played out in the series. Imagine if we’d found out Arthur has magic.

Well. I’m rewatching the series right now, and I can’t un-see it, so it’s canon in my head now.

[chronicowboy]

every episode of merlin is truly unhinged but like i always forget how fucking insane season 1 episode 10 the moment of truth is. like i just cannot wrap my head around it. at all. the prince's (terrible, just truly useless and insolent) manservant's mother comes to the kingdom asking for help for a tiny village in a neighbouring kingdom because its being attacked by bandits stealing their harvest and the prince gets said manservant's mother an audience with his father, the king even though he knows that to send men into the neighbouring kingdom could be considered an act of war. the king says as much and refuses to help, but the manservant makes the decision to go back and help anyway (he has magic that he'll be able to use somewhat freely without any camelot knights there) and he attempts to resign in telling his prince that he's going home to help, but the prince refuses to accept his resignation and seems truly terrified at the prospect of the manservant not returning whether its by choice or because he is killed in the fight, but the prince lets him go because its his mother and, in an attempt to cover up the genuine emotion he just showed, proceeds to insult his manservant in the most loving way possible. said manservant only smiles adoringly and thanks him for the insults with some intense, lingering eye contact before the prince wishes him luck. the manservant, his mother, the king's ward and her maid make camp in the woods, and whilst everyone else is asleep, the manservant goes to investigate a troublesome noise only to find the prince disobeying his father's direct orders! once again, the prince insults him to distract him from the act of genuine kindness and care. then they make it to the village and the prince, used to all the luxuries of a castle, sleeps on the floor beside his manservant and asks his manservant questions about his childhood and they have real conversations away from the stifling hierarchy of the castle. "he must care for you a great deal," the manservant's mother says about the prince. "arthur would do the same for any village, that's just the way he is" to which she replies "its more than that, he's here for you". that night the king's ward, who grew up with the prince says that merlin is the reason arthur came, "arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't". and, where the manservant would normally dress the prince in his armour, the prince helps the manservant with his. then THEN the manservant's mother says "i see how much he needs you, how much you need him, you're like two sides of the same coin". tell me that's not insane.

[igniferrus]

God. So I've been thinking about BBC's Arthur Pendragon. I work a job heavy on the manual labour and light on the mental labour, so I have a lot of Free Brain Space.

But I started off wondering why there are so many fics about Arthur learning how much Merlin does for him, and so few of the reverse. Because there is no way that Merlin isn't in trouble 89.2% of the time, in some way or another. We see Arthur protect Merlin after his dumbass confession to Uther, and also bodily haul him out of the throne room for safety reasons. No body else could get away with stealing the Prince's food, or disappear or days and keep his job!! And Arthur doesn'teven know they're bound by destiny, he just really likes Merlin! He's just some guy Arthur found and chased around a market.

And then I remembered that so many people forget that Arthur Pendragon is fundamentally A Good Man. I know the show refused to give him permanent character development, but even his base character is a good guy! The most assholish thing we see him do is in the first episode, throwing things at the servants. And then, compared to the rest of the series, that feels very out of character!

Yes, Arthur uses Merlin as a training dummy, but I'm sure that's just to get him to quit. And it's only shown early in the first season. Arthur is consistently shown as caring for his people (refusing to enforce Catrina's tax increase, willing to die to fix his unicorn mistake), more fair about magic users despite only seeing it used for evil (saving Mordred and the woman who gave him the Horn of Cathbhadh. He even tries to give Kara an out, for Mordred!), and cares deeply for those around him! He loves Gwen. He loves Morgana. He loves Merlin. He loves his knights. He even loves Uther!

It's not his fault that the people around him refuse to allow him to make his own choices. Gauis, Uther, and Merlin all lie about his mother. Merlin and Morgana don't tell him about their magic. Morgana doesn't see him as any other than an extension of Uther, despite knowing him for years.I t's so easy to judge him as an outsider with all the facts, but we should remember that Arthur's is intentionally left out of the loop and judge him from that perspective. He does the best he can, with what he knows!

Merlin, despite being repeatedly told that he and Arthur are in this together, and need each other, does not tell Arthur anything! Arthur is not allowed to make an informed choice and he shouldn't be punished for that. Even when Merlin finally comes clean, Arthur doesn't rage! He's hurt and upset that his "only friend", the "only one [he] can trust" have been lying to his face for a decade, which, understandable, but he chooses Merlin anyway! He wants to be held by Merlin at the end, thanks him, and asks him to stay they same after Arthur's death!! Because he still cares for Merlin!

Arthur Pendragon's character development is stymied at every turn by the show and its writers, but even then they couldn't stop him from being a good man!!

This was more rambling and less coherent than I wanted, but it's been hot out lately and my brain is cooked.

Anyway, I am first and foremost an Arthur Pendragon apologist.

[achillesuwu]

Au where merthur have soulmate identifying mark but merlin is the only one who know they are because if Arthur knew he would find out about his magic 👀 (arthur's mark being a beautiful dragon mainly on on his back but its tall is draped on his torso, a wing stretch on his right shoulder, another end on his hip and its head rest upon his stomach. As if it were jealousy protecting him. its scale are of a blue so dark it nearly look black. It has golden eye and tread of gold on is horn, gold shimmer on its body highlighting its scale at some place.

It screams powerful sorcerer.)

And thus it doesn't change anything from the show. Merlin doesn't tell him not even at the very end (Merlin's mark is a smaller red dragon with its head on his shoulder and who is is holding itself on his shoulder)

It would be very angsty but also SO FUNNY if in a post return futur where arthur (Gwen, the knights) are very confuse and lost but luckily for them there exist multiple center for "People who got Teleported at the wrong place/Bought back from the dead? We are here to help!/ your five yo drank a weird potion? No problem! Etc" basically Magic help center.

Just imagine basic social worker sorcerers who tries to do their job at 3 am and see THE Emrys mark ™ on a random dude and they are like *gasp*.

Them : what the fuck

Arthur :???

Them :WHAT THE FUCK

the others :????

Them : we are calling your soulmate RIGHT NOW. WHAT THE FUCK should I call the government too???? I'M NOT PAY ENOUGH FOR THIS.

Arthur : my???

Them : YOU. DO NOT MOVE IF I LOSE YOU I'M DEAD. DEAD.

You can imagine arthur pendragon pacing like a 13 years old stressed before an oral presentation because even if he was afraid then thought he globally didn't really care about his soulmate. He realised that it wasn't so much that he didn't care but he thought it would simply never be so he just... Kinda forgot about it. Now he just can not put it away because is soulmate IS coming and WHERE IS MERLIN WHEN HE NEEDS HIM (he is blocking any thoughts about Merlin potential dead thank you very much)

(Gwen is currently finding the situation extremely funny because she figured out in 5x13 and she is 80 yo (in a younger body but still) . And she is waaaayyyyyy to old to see her former husband stay in his denial.

Leon is 78 years old and he is slowly recognising the dragon in question that look very much like Merlin's family crest. He is looking at his wife in a very conspiracy way.

Gwaine is currently not really giving a damn about the whole soulmate thing. What do you MEAN you can send messages to people in less that a second?!?!?

Elyan would usually not give a damn but he is very much not happy ™ to find out that his sister (first) husband had a soulmate mark who isn't dead and he is glaring at Arthur but he is also getting a hug from gwen so it doesn't look menacing at all.

Perceval (57) is right behind Gwaine but he is currently watching himself in the mirror because seeing his younger self again is weird asf

Meanwhile Lancelot is talking with the assistant (on the verge of a break down because they are going to see the GOD OF MAGIC OH MY GOD) about magical history

[gldnstrngs]

i cant lie i highkey wouldve loved to see merlin as a show that takes place in modern times with its own interpretations of legends etc etc

and its not like avalon high where theyre all reincarnated (although i love that concept too) but it would be more like those teen supernatural dramas (teen wolf, tvd etc etc)

it would probs be in modern day wales or england (or start in wales and lead to england) and no one knows about the existence of magic users except for the aforementioned people, anyone who’s close to them, and witch hunters

merlin would be born of magic just like the show and hunith would make sure his secret is discovered bc of the risks esp bc balinor went missing when merlin was young and she knows that the witch hunters were after him

so they move to england and merlin is raised in a town called camelot and has a relatively normal childhood and then the plot would actually start to take place when he’s in his third year of high school or smth like that

merlin’s managed to keep his identity a secret and is very much just . a Student in school like most people like him and he’s smart and kinda dorky but doesn’t really care for popularity

insert the other characters:

arthur who would be a star soccer player and loved by everyone but he tends to keep to himself. with that being said he’s still prattish and doesnt acknowledge merlin until he sees him hanging out with his half sister morgana and is like 🤨🫥 (+ complex gay feelings)

morgana who’s arthur’s half sister and also very popular, but more sociable and nice to everyone. she knows of merlin but doesn’t interact with him until he encounters her doing magic when she didn’t even know it existed and so he helps her with controlling it and they become friends

gwen who’s morgana’s best friend but also a good friend of merlin’s. and lance who’s apart of the soccer team and is good friends with arthur, but is ultimately best friends with merlin

then u have the rest of the knights in the soccer team who are nice to everyone and greatly loved and end up getting close to merlin when mysteries are being ~uncovered~

also the biggest thing would be that uther pendragon is the Overlord who oversees all the witch hunting and funds it and no one knows that, but merlin and morgana would find out and that would definitely make things escalate

this is very much teen wolf & tvd core bc let’s be real those were PEAK at the time they came out plus it’s fun to see a new way to interpret the arthurian legends hehwheheheh

(bradley and colin look so dorky n cute here but hopefully u all understand my vision😭😭😭)

[overlyspecific]

Part 12 of Merlin Hood

Previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11

Merlin wasn’t sure what time it was. His stomach growled and his body hurt. What was worse was he could feel the magic around him and surging under his skin, he just couldn’t reach for it. it was like being stranded on a boat and seeing land, but you have no oars and your arms cant reach the water.

Merlin sighed and tried to think about something else. As usual, his mind settled on a familiar subject: blonde hair, tired eyes and an easy smirk. Merlin smiled to himself and closed his eyes, brain playing images of his prince.

On the other side of the ruins, Merlin’s prince was wearing a different expression.

Gwaine: All I’m saying is you need to lighten up a little.

Arthur: We were somehow magically sealed into a tomb of hundreds of years old ruins and you want me to lighten up?

Gwaine: With that attitude, we are going to get nothing done.

Arthur: Look, let’s just find Merlin so we can get the hell out of here.

Gwaine: Lead the way, princess.

Arthur and Gwaine follow the tunnel by a faint light that gets brighter until they reach a torch hanging on the wall.

Arthur: At least the witchfinder was kind enough to leave something to light our way.

Gwaine: *patting Arthur on the back patronizingly* That’s the spirit! See the power of a positive attitude.

Arthur: *mumbling angrily* I’ll show you where you can put your positive attitu-

Arthur stops his thought when they round the next corner and see bars locked together with shiny new chains.

Arthur: Merlin.

Arthur brings down excalibur on the chains and they explode apart. Gwaine throws open the doors and they charge into the room.

Arthur and Gwaine: *shouting* Merlin!

Arthur uses the torch to sweep light across the room and he sees a figure chained to the wall at the far side of the cell. He rushes over, almost putting out the torch in the process.

Arthur: Merlin!

Merlin doesn’t move, causing Arthur’s heart to stop in his chest. Arthur brings a hand up to Merlin neck fearing the worst, but a light pressure beats into his fingers and he can breath again.

Arthur: When you get up, I’m going to make you promise to never scare me like that again, you clotpole.

Merlin: *faintly with a slight pained smile* my word…

Arthur looks up at Merlin’s face and is met with his soft blue eyes. The little bits of gold in them shine with the torch glow.

Arthur: *softly* Merlin.

Merlin: You keep repeating my name. Are you worried you’ll forget it.

Arthur: As if you’d let me forget you.

Merlin: Its my destiny.

Arthur: *smiling* Its your destiny to be a constant nuisance in my life?

Merlin: *smiles back* Something like that. The dragon wasn’t too specific.

Gwaine: *clears his throat* Not to interrupt, but we are trapped in this old dusty tomb of ruins with no way out.

Arthur: Right.

Arthur reaches his sword up to break the chains, but Merlin’s frantic face stops him.

Merlin: Wait!

Arthur: What?

Merlin: My magic. If you take the chains off now, I’m not going to have any control over it. I could hurt you.

Arthur: You’d could never hurt me.

Merlin: Arthur, I’m serious.

Arthur: Well, i’m not going to just leave you here in chains. If Gwaine wants to leave, he can but you are getting out of here.

Gwaine: I’m not going anywhere.

Gwaine gives a confident smile, showing no wavering.

Arthur: Guess its settled then.

Arthur looks at Merlin seriously. Merlin makes no other effort to argue, obviously too exhausted to put up much fight. His eyes slip closed and he nods his head. Arthur swings excalibur at the chains holding Merlin’s arms and Arthur catches Merlin before he can hit the ground.

Gwaine: *joking* so much for uncontrolled powerful raw magic…

Arthur looks down at the slumped Merlin in his arms. He is tense, shaking slightly and his eyes are shut tight.

Arthur: *whispering softly while running a hand through Merlin’s hair in a comforting gesture* its okay. You can let it out.

Merlin’s eyes shoot open, frantically. Arthur catches their line of sight and maintains eye contact. Merlin looks as scared as Arthur has ever seen him and it breaks his heart. He gives Merlin a soft smile and a nod then he pulls him closer into his chest.

Arthur: Its okay, love, im not going anywhere.

Merlin’s eyes go golden and the room explodes with magic.

[your-local-asylum-escapee]

What if instead of Merlin being destined to be the protector of Arthur, he's destined to kill him?

Ofcourse Merlin hasn't heard of the prophecies yet until the plus sized lizard tells him in the show. But what if there was already a well-known prophecy about Emrys and The Once and Future King? A prophecy in which Arthur is destined to kill Merlin in order to save Camelot from a deadly curse that is slowly killing them. But with a twist.

So the backstory is kinda the same with a few minor tweeks. Uther uses magic in order for Ygraine to give birth to Arthur, but there's a consequence, Ygraine's life. Uther tries to cheat his way in this by making Nimueh put Ygraine's name in the cup of life, much to Nimueh's protest that it will lead to a bigger problem (and consequence). It succeeds but Ygraine is pretty sick and is bedridden.

Uther thinks that her being sick was the consequence itself but then, two years after all that, Merlin gets born in Ealdor.

At the same time this happens a druid comes to the castle while there's a hearing or smth idk maybe a council meeting? and then asks to have a word with the king (Ygraine didn't fully die so Uther was still pretty chill about magic at this time so he wasn't that surprised about the druid, but he was very wary though).

The druid however tells the prophecy but only to Uther (Idk like he goes to Uther and whispers the prophecy in Uther's ear or smth). Uther immediately goes into a frenzy about how what the druid was saying was nonsense and that it was treason.

He kills the druid and then lures the other magic users to Camelot for him to also slaughter. Balinor escapes (obviously) and goes to Ealdor. No one knows about what the druid actually told the king but because they're so afraid of him after just killing all those sorcerers no one questions him until Ygraine hears about what happened and goes to confront Uther.

He says that it was some sort of lie and that the druid was wrong and a con, but Ygraine knows Uther and gets him to tell the truth. He takes a moment but then says that he'll announce it tomorrow for everyone to hear.

At a council meeting or whatever he announces what the druid told him. He says that Camelot and its citizens 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 or 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 cursed, he doesn't say why or how and nobody asks. The curse wasn't specified by Uther, either he was trying to hide what it was or that he actually doesn't know, nobody knows but it was quite obvious that it was a serious and deadly one.

But, there was a way to fix it. The curse will only be lifted once there prince, Arthur, will kill the most powerful magical being in the world, Emrys.

After this every knight in Camelot search for the so called Emrys to bring back to Uther and for Arthur to kill it. No one succeeds of course.

Fast-forward a little bit and the people of Camelot are covered in scars and are slowly dying one by one for mysterious reasons, those mysterious reasons being the curse.

Camelot's population decreases and becomes weak and vulnerable so Uther secludes the entire kingdom (or maybe just the citadel? im not sure, u decide ig) so their 'protected' from the other kingdoms.

More fast-forward and Merlin goes to Camelot (as usual) but because Camelot is kinda seen as a 'weak' kingdom, a bunch of guards stop him and question him first at the gate before he can get inside.

Merlin tells them that he's there to meet Gaius. The guards are kinda skeptical but calls Gaius anyways. Merlin gets inside the citadel and death scene comes and goes and the scene plays in 1×01 where Gaius falls but then Merlin saves him with his magic, just this time Gaius doesn't ask him who he was.

Everything just goes like in the show but its visible that the people aren't as healthy and as many in the show. idk how to describe it but like the people are obviously suffering because of the curse like there's more death and grief.

And instead of an arrogant and cocky Arthur in the beginning of the series we see a very kinda different type of him? im not sure but ofcourse he's still noble and stuff but he's also quite wary? (wary is not the right word for the feeling im trying to describe but its the closest so please bare with me for a moment)

'Cause in the show he didn't actually know about the prophecy (at the start, at least) but now that he knows it, i think he's gonna be a little like Merlin in the series? like he's already kind of burdened by the fact that he was the only heir to the throne and everything but now that he was the supposed 'saviour' that will lift the curse that has been hurting and killing his people for two decades now. i think that'll bring a lot of pressure in him, like sure he might pride with the fact that they depended in him and everything and that 𝘩𝘦 was the only one who could actually help his people but i think this version of Arthur is less of a 'everything can be solved with violence' since Ygraine is there and he has a mother figure to guide him and also shows more fear

Merlin is still Merlin but then everything changes when he decides to listen to the stinky ass plus sized lizard that lives in the sewage system of the castle.

Killgarahh-that-damn-lizard tries to tell the prophecy but Merlin says that he already knows about the prophecy. The wrinkly snake with wings just laughs at him and tells him of the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 prophecy

Merlin's like 'what do you mean 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 prophecy? the prophecy where Arthur kills Emrys? wth does that have to do with me??' and the weird lookin' large stick with legs just laughs harder and says something cryptic and shit (idk how to be metaphorical okey? idk how to be as cryptic as that olde-velociraptor-but-uglier) and then Merlin's even more confused and asks him wth he's actually saying and for the first godamn time, the offspring and a shoebill and an electric eel finally stopped laughing and told him the prophecy

"The prophecy, young warlock, concerns you for you are the Emrys they speak of that is destined to slay the prince so his divine blood will flow through the kingdom, bringing Camelot's suffering to an end."

((that last sentence was inspired by a wiki post if your wondering why or how i got poetic all of a sudden))

This can end however you want to be honest. (or at least many that i can think of, unfortunately 99% of them includes someone dying)

One of them is Arthur dies (Merlin obviously wont kill him so either he accidentally/indirectly kills him, someone else kills him or he kills himself. depends how much trauma you wanna cause your readers) (you can also make it like even though he's dead, since it wasn't by the hands of Emrys, the curse is technically there and will probably forever be there)

Merlin kills himself so that he cant kill Arthur and in doing so dooming all of Camelot (this devotion is kinda like in the show where Merlin's sacrifices everything for Arthur but in this one its himself and not just a part of him)

they both kill each other¹ or

that both of them die protecting each other²

(¹ they kill each other because they're forced to like they're supposed to duel each other but they don't wanna fight the other so they just bothe self elliminate themselves ex. merlin effs himself and arthur

"i-cant-live-without-my-gay-twink" pendragon also effs himself and they live peacefully in albion cause i said so

² protecting each other cuz some idiot knights try to kill merlin when they found out he's emrys and arthur protects him and vice versa cuz some sorcerers somehow finds out about the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 prophecy and tries to kill arthur)

OR they both shout 'FRIGG U' AT destiny (and the mushu wannabe that lurks underneath the castle like a troll) and run away together to find another way to lift the curse

idk im just rambling at this point ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[gimme-gimme-georgie-weasley]

sodding map. [g.w. x reader]

summary: yes, the map showed him a lot; it just didn't show him what he wanted to see.

wc: 0.4k

a/n: plot bunny plot bunny plot bunny and pining george being so worked up over not being able to see u all the time

---

George Weasley loved to discover; he loved finding out new things hidden between nooks and crannies, he loved seeing little cracks that weren't there previously. Godric, he loved feeling new textures, loved hearing new sounds, tasting new things.

He was quite lucky to have snagged the Marauder's Map away from Filch's office. Having solemnly sworn that he (and Fred) was up to no good, he spent a good few months of his time in Hogwarts familiarising himself with the layout of Hogwarts. 

Every secret passage on the grounds had been walked by him. He'd memorised the curvature of the tunnels, how the gravel felt and sizzled satisfyingly under his feet, how a family of rodents would congregate in a corner to tap-dance and engage in miniscule mousey bacchanalia.

There was one thing, however, that the map couldn't show him, and it irritated him into his next life.

It couldn't reveal to him the way your eyes crinkle when you laughed. The map couldn't magically conjure up the image of you with your eyebrows furrowed as you concentrated on chopping up your ingredients in Potions class (rather unsuccessfully, he added, as a few had gone flying out the window from the sheer pressure of the knife's dull blade).

Every night, he cursed at the map, despite its jarring greatness.

Curse its limitations!

Wherefore be a magical map if its own magic had its limits? 

Merlin, the tempting thought of setting it ablaze had crossed his mind from time to time. Mind you, he most likely would have done it a long time ago had it not been for Fred accio-ing it out of his frustrated hands. ("For Godric's sake, you twat, pull yourself together! It's not like you don't see her face every day!")

And so, George found himself sprawled out in the courtyard, snow piling on his body as his eyes studied the "Y/N" waltzing around on the map. He could have sworn he heard the sound of the parchment's crinkling distort into something that resembled somewhat of a taunting giggle. He stared at your name scribbled on it. 

And he stared.

And he stared.

Maybe, he thought, if he stared long enough, your face would finally show up on the map instead of  letters, scriptures and the names of students he had no regard for.

With one final frustrated sigh, he managed his mischief and folded the spare bit of parchment.

"Harry's better off with this."

George soon found himself trudging through the snow, grumbling moodily under his breath, and was now on his way to give away the magical map that only painfully reminded him of the distance between him and you.

Sodding map.

[myths0f01d]

If we look at Arthur's bane as a whole it is probably one of the most tragic yet altering episodes in Merin. It's where Mordred comes in again of course. But now as it progresses we come to first learn that Arthur's bane or doom is Mordred, later on we are shown Mordred fatal wounding Morgana to save Arthur's life, thus altering the course of destiny, or at least an open window for change, yet when we meet the Diema, or the key of all knowledge, also known as the weird alien in the caves, we are left with the knowledge that Mordred is no longer Arthur's bane, it is now Arthur himself.

This poses an interesting look into the altering of the shows course. It shows us that now Merlin has a chance to keep Mordred from once more sealing Arthur's fate only if Merlin gave him another chance, yet he's set in his idea of Mordred thus setting the stones of destiny in their places. But just the fact at one stage in the series Merlin could of helped Mordred and given us a good mordred emrys magic reveal finale. But no, he had gotten in his head, he did not perseve the fact that the tide changed, yet he was the one to set it on its final course. He was the one to place the stones of destiny down and he didn't even know it. It's tragic. More so in every possible way

[stevesnightmares]

I don't understand how some people can watch BBC Merlin and, when they are done, complain that it didn't make sense because Merlin didn't fulfil the prophecy. You are the one who doesn't understand the story that is being told. This is not like in Percy Jackson, where we get prophecies and, by the end, we see them come true, even if in unexpected ways. Merlin created his own path with every choice that he made, with every action he took. He could've fulfilled his destiny, he could've saved Arthur and brought on the golden age of Albion, but by making certain choices he wasn't able to fulfil that destiny. He had the ability to do so, but didn't.

In season 1 episode 8, "The Beginning of the End" we are immediately told that Merlin will not fulfill his destiny, he will not protect Arthur and see him bring about the golden age of Albion.

KILGHARRAH If the boy lives, you cannot fulfil your destiny. MERLIN What's he got to do with my destiny? You said it's my destiny to protect Arthur. KILGHARRAH Then you have the answer you seek. MERLIN You're telling me that little boy is going to kill Arthur? KILGHARRAH It seems that is up to you. MERLIN No. You can't know that for certain. KILGHARRAH You have it in your power to prevent a great evil. MERLIN There must be another way! The future isn't set in stone! KILGHARRAH You must let the boy die.

By saving Mordred, Merlin sealed Arthur's fate and signed his death. He made a choice and that choice had its consequences.

Another clear example of Merlin's choices affecting, well, everything, is in season 2 episode 8, "Sins of the Father".

Merlin's goal is to make Arthur see that magic isn't all bad, to make the genocide of magic wielders stop, to bring magic back to Camelot so that he and every other magic person can live freely as themselves.

When meeting with Morgouse, Arthur begins to go towards the right path.

ARTHUR What if my father's attitude to magic is wrong? MERLIN You really think that?

ARTHUR Perhaps it's not as simple as he would have us believe. Morgause is a sorcerer, she has caused us no harm. Surely not everyone who practices magic can be evil.

He's starting to see that maybe not everyone who uses magic uses it for evil, that magic users can be good.

ARTHUR You speak of hunted her kind like animals! How many hundreds have you condemned to death to ease your guilt?

He's also seeing that Uther hates magic because of personal reasons and not because all magic is really bad.

This was the perfect opportunity, the perfect opening to bring Arthur on the right side. But what does Merlin do?

MERLIN Morgause is lying! She's an enchantress. She tricked you. That was not your mother you saw. That was an illusion. Everything...everything your mother said to you...those were Morgause's words. This has been her plan all along! To turn you against your father. And if you kill him, the kingdom will be destroyed! This is what she wants!

He tells Arthur that it's all a lie and that the sorcerer is evil, that once again those who use magic only want to see Camelot fall.

ARTHUR I am indebted to you, Merlin. I had become...confused. It is once again clear to me that those who practice magic are evil and dangerous. And that is thanks to you.

He solidified Arthur's belief that magic is evil and bad.

My point isn't to decide whether Merlin's choices were good or bad, right or wrong, we follow him, we see why he does what he does, how much he cares for Arthur and for others, we see his flaws and his shortcomings and we can't blame him for any of his choices because all of them, even the most misguided ones, were all done in good faith.

The point is that that's what the show is about: a young warlock in his quest to save Arthur and how his choices bring him to his failure. From season 1 he was doomed to fail because of his choices. At least that's how I see it. People were expecting to see Merlin fulfil the prophecy and some claim that he did, but imo the whole show is about how his choices doomed him and made him not fulfil his destiny.

UTHER You [Merlin] have proven yourself to be a trusted ally in the fight against magic.