#late night thoughts about bbc merlin

[merlinmagicmania]

I know Merlin’s magic remaining secret from everyone and him being left without a support system was integral to the eventual tragedy of the show and the self-fulfilling prophecy of it all, but I still really wish we got magic reveals with every character and magical shenanigans. Lancelot was one of my favorite characters and we only get him for a few episodes. And Gwaine would have been an excellent partner in crime. And lets be honest, if Gwen knew? Tragedy averted. All of camelot’s braincells travel towards her like ants seeking sugar and everyone else has to root around in the dirt and hope they find one that has yet to make the journey to their one true home. I would have even settled for a little time-loop episode where everything gets reversed. There are so many ways to do a magic reveal! There was so much untapped comedic potential! Those scenes in the og charmed where Daryll doesn’t understand any of the witchy nonsense that’s happening? Hilarious! That scene in smallville where Lana questions Clark about all the mysteriously solved villain-of-the-week incidents while they’re driving? Also hilarious! It’s not that hard. The knights needed to figure out Merlin was Dragoon. Gwen and Arthur needed to realize they almost lost Merlin dozens of times. Mordred and Merlin could have been partners in crime and absolutely terrorize the shit out of everyone with mindspeak. Morgana also could have been “the antagonist” without losing her core character traits, but that’s a rant for another day? Where was I going with this?

[goth-emrys]

s5 e7!!!! Merlin heals Arthur of poison! Such a stressful scene with Merlin's history of unsuccessful healing magic but he's done it!

[desires-of-chain]

Lately I've been obsessed with my own personal interpretation of hyrule warriors Link, and part of that has involved creating some ocs for his era of hyrule because c'mon is he not allowed any non destiny bound friends in his life? The most notable of these ocs is Captain Jas, his hopelessly loyal best friend/companion/it's complicated. They have a rather complex relationship due to hw Link's trauma surrounding relationships and his own insecurities, but intimacy and physical closeness is not a foreign concept between these two. So I wrote a little thing exploring that (but honestly, its mostly just because I wanted to write smut for them lmao)

little bit different from the usual I submit here, but this fic is pretty compatible with being specifically Warriors, and at this point my Warriors' favouritism may be blatant, so I thought I might as well chuck this one in for y'all to enjoy since its still on brand enough lol

oh, and Link is trans in this because I said so. And Jas looks like season one Lancelot from BBC Merlin. Just for visual reference. He's a handsome lad <;3

enjoy, hope you like my boy Jas and appreciate how he treats Link right

- wizard anon

Content: hyrule warriors Link x oc (Jas), trans man Link, eating out, fingering, penetration, praise, desk sex. word count: 1380

"You need to relax."

Jas stands between him and the desk, report sitting half finished the other side of him. They had gone to bed hours ago, but he just couldn't sleep. And if he's to be awake, he thought he might as well get back to work.

"I can relax when I'm done." Link tries to reach around the other man, intent on getting his quill back in hand, but Jas grabs him by the wrist before he's successful.

"You'll never be done, I know what you're like," Jas sighs. He drops Link's arm, instead running his hand gently through Link's hair to cup his face. "What can I do to help you get back to bed?"

Link smiles wryly.

"I'm not tired."

"And if I tired you out?"

Link is about to question him, asking how exactly he plans to get him tired out at this hour, when Jas sinks to his knees in front of him. His hand snakes up to his thigh, gently stroking a thumb across soft hairs at the edge of his boxers, and he looks up at Link with doe eyes - awaiting permission.

Scooting to the edge of his chair just allows him to reach his desk over Jas' head, he tells himself. Spreading his legs is just to fix his posture. He picks his ass off the chair long enough to let Jas pull his boxers off because they were uncomfortable - no other reason. Link takes the quill in hand once more, intent on getting this last thing done before finally attempting sleep again, and tries not to get too excited at the breath against his inner thighs.

Then Jas' tongue flicks against his clit and his quill is clattering against the desk and spilling ink everywhere.

It becomes awfully hard to concentrate, after that. He tries many times, to pick up the quill and continue the report, then to simply reread and comprehend what he's written so far, but his mind is filled with nothing but the feeling of Jas' tongue lapping him up. He spreads his legs further, shifting his hips to allow better access to his hole, moaning when Jas pokes inside before returning to his attention to his engorged clit. The ink slowly seeps into the wood of his desk, and he can't find it in himself to care.

"Fuuuuck, Jas, slow down..." one of Link's hands tangles in his hair, pushing him closer - a complete contrast to his words - while the other bites his nails into the edge of the desk. Jas moans into him, and he curses again. "You're too good to me."

At that, suddenly Jas shifts away. The immediate lack of stimulation leaves Link reeling, shaky exhale pushed out of his chest.

"I can do better if you let me. Finally ready to put that report away for the night?"

He pulls Jas up by the back of the head and captures his lips, tasting himself. All rebuttals and reasonable arguments melt out of his head with it.

"You have me convinced."

They stay kissing for a few moments, passionate and eager, then hands are travelling down to his cunt, and lips are attacking his throat.

Link leans back in the chair, breaths quickening, as Jas works to prepare him. Two fingers fill him up, pushing against his walls and teasing more moans out of him, while Jas works to mark up his neck at the same time. He leans over Link, trapping him against the chair, devoted to his pleasure without any say of his own. It does something funny to Link's head. Before he can dwell on it enough to turn sour, though, a third finger is slipping into him.

He groans, trying to spread his legs even further, arching up into Jas' touch. He wants more, needs more. Jas' mouth moves down from his neck, pushing his shirt out of the way to bite marks against his exposed collarbone and kiss the scar just under it.

Then once again Jas is retreating from his body too soon.

He throws his head over the back of the chair and pants. Jas is shuffling around with something at his desk - moving papers, replacing his quill, grabbing something out of one of the drawers - but he doesn't pay attention. Not until Jas' hands are back on him, urging him up.

He's... tidied up Link's desk?

"You want to keep your shirt on?" Jas asks, playing with the bottom hem of the loose fabric. Link looks down at the hand, contemplating. He shrugs it off easily, now standing bare in front of Jas, who's still in his own sleep clothes. He watches Jas scan his body - eyes catching on each scar and blemish, before looking back up at his face. "You're beautiful."

The funny feeling returns, tensing his shoulders, and he looks away. Once again, before he can dwell on it, Jas is distracting him with gentle kisses and touch.

"Relax..." He murmurs against Link's lips. Jas manoeuvres him to turn around, then pushes down between his shoulder blades. Ah, so that's why he cleaned up Link's desk.

Link bends over, arms folding to cushion his head on the hard wood, and looks back coyly, arching his back to push his ass further into the air.

"C'mon then. Help me relax."

Jas makes quick work of freeing himself from the confines of his boxers, and even quicker work of grabbing the jar of lube and getting himself prepped. Then his head is nudging past Link's folds. He flinches slightly at the cold feeling of lube against his cunt, but it quickly settles into heated anticipation as Jas places both his hands firmly against his hips.

"Let's get you all worn out, hmm?"

Jas pushes in, setting a slow pace to start. Link's body welcomes Jas' cock readily, drag of him inside lighting fireworks across his nerves. The pleasure, the pressure, the heat, it all presses into Link's body, and he's immediately glad for the desk keeping him upright. Especially when Jas begins pushing into him harder.

Jas' hands on his hips are tight, holding him still while he pistons into him, but the force of it still has the desk knocking into the wall anyway. Link moans openly, little hitches of breath and vocalisations punched out of his body, forehead pressed into his folded arms. If any of his neighbours are awake at this hour, they surely know what they're up to. Link can't find it in himself to care - too caught up in the tingling feeling left behind by Jas' lips on his back, and his cunt being stuffed full.

"You make such pretty noises, Link. Let me hear them more." He picks Link's head up by his hair and nibbles at his right ear, running his tongue along the scarred edge. Link can't help the whine that leaves his throat. "Gorgeous."

Jas continues fucking into him, skin slapping against skin, Link's mouth open and panting. His legs shake, stimulation rocking through his body in pulses synced to Jas filling him up. He rocks his hips back into him, desperate.

"More, more, more..."

Jas kisses his throat with an open mouth.

"Of course. Anything for you."

Jas releases his hair to drag a hand down the entire length of Link's back, teasing, before curling round to grip his inner thigh. He shivers under the touch.

Link's legs nearly give out when he shifts to touch his clit.

He's close, so close, shuddering around Jas' cock, hips rocking without rhythm - just chasing the pleasure. Jas moans against his throat when his body clenches, biting harsher marks into his skin.

Then Link is hitting his peak, and Jas has to catch him to keep his hips in place.

It takes several moments for Link to come down from his high. At some point, Jas also finished - pulling out and spilling across his back, cum slowly cooling against his skin. When Jas lets go of him, he sinks to his knees, hands gripped against the edge of the desk. Jas kneels with him, rubbing his shoulders.

"How are you feeling?"

Link leans back, flopping into Jas' chest with a satisfied smile.

"I think your plan worked, y'know," Link sighs. "Let's go to bed."

"What a good idea."

----------------------------------------

[symphobunnie]

Rules: 10 Characters, 10 Fandoms, and 10 Tags

(Basically say 10 fandoms you are in, Your favorite characters from each of those fandoms, and then tag 10 others to do this)

Tagged by: @oo0lady-mad0oo 💖

(I know this is SUPER late, I wrote all of this in my drafts and forgot to post it)

Harry Potter: Professed Lupin, do I need even need to explain? This man was the best teacher they had and you can quote me on that.

Percy Jackson: My favorite character here is kind of tricky, cause there are so many that I love but I have to say Leo Valdez.

Night in the woods: For anyone who doesn't know this game I wanna say you should check it out. My favorite character is the protagonist, Mae.

Warrior Cats: Either Graystripe or Jayfeather, kind of depends on when. After Graystripe came back after being taken by the Two-legs I didn't like him as much. He kind of mellowed out I guess, if that makes since. Pre-Two-leg kidnapping Graystripe is my favorite, otherwise it's Jayfeather.

Yuri on Ice!!!: I wanted to avoid animes but this was my first anime so it holds a place in my heart. My favorite character is Phichit Chulanont, the one that likes hamsters and who's dreams of performing in a circus on ice... There is a reason he's my favorite character.

BBC Sherlock: Unpopular opinion but Greg Lestrade, he's trying his best okay...

BBC Merlin: You know, a big part of me wants to say Gwaine, but I think if I re-watched the show it would probably change. I've changed since i watched it, and I feel like I just don't vibe with Gwaine as much as I used to. (Nope, just re-watched, it's definitely Gwaine)

Voltron: This is also like Merlin in the since that it has probably changed. If you asked me while I was watching the show I would have said Lance, but I think now it's Pidge.

Inside job: Brett, hands down. Golden retriever men all the way. He is literally the sweetest and he is refreshing compared to the other main characters.

Rules and Regulations for meditating, myths, and magic: I'm at least 89% sure no one has heard of this, but it's was my favorite book as a kid so I thought I should add it. My favorite character from this book is Bridger, I think I'm seeing a pattern in how i like the protagonist.

Well now its time for the part I was kinda worried about, time to tag ten other people. I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough people to tag. If I tagged you and you don't know who I am, I'm sorry. (Though I really love your posts)

Tags: @cleverpsychicstatesmanbiscuit @skyewolf23 @b0r0wski @huffle-puff-ego @lupinthehowlingwerewolf @morbidmelody @viannaheus @marksandrec @littlemystolemypie @cuddlesworks

[dragonlord-emrys]

Gwen and Arthur are a hundred percent that couple that constantly pretends to meet for the first time, don't even @ me.

[fluffypotatey]

Ok, random thought but listen. “Ready As I’ll Ever Be” from Tangled the Series but it’s BBC Merlin’s season 3 finale. 

Think about it, Varian has control of the castle. Rapunzel and the gang are preparing to take it back. Morgana has taken Camelot with Uther in the dungeons, and Arthur and the gang are preparing to take the kingdom back. 

We can have Arthur sing Cassandra’s part because boy’s got insecurities (also the swearing by the sword part). We can have it cut to Merlin and Gaius with Gaius unsure about Merlin’s plans to stop the immortal army (” are you sure we can do this” part). Gwen can sing Rapunzel’s part about saving her home and family (the ot4 of Morgana, Arthur, Merlin and Gwen). 

I just....I may be listening to the song on repeat and I very desperately need this. Either and edit or animatic, I would very much go feral if this is thing.

[onceandfuturewarlqck]

fic/writings masterlist

my ao3 acc - starrylance

my efp acc (italian only, i don't use it anymore. i may translate/rewrite some things in english, especially since i wrote the fics here in my middle school years)

this is my masterlist of fics, analysis and random things i wrote, just to keep track of them. feel free to ask me to write something in particular.

fandoms: merlin bbc, percy jackson, harry potter, haikyuu (current), bungou stray dogs, mdzs (the untamed), ensemble stars, run with the wind, tales of arcadia, traffic life smp (current).

blogs: @dragonstrings (writing/art/archive), @ningensorrow (bungou stray dogs), @onceandfuturewarlqck (main/merlin bbc), @scaravoid (hermitcraft/traffic smp)

merlin bbc

look at THIS list for only Merlin BBC things

everyone knows merlin has magic - even uther (tumblr post) (1148 words)

magic reveal analysis

merlin and swordfighting (tumblr post) (661 words)

morgana and merlin characters analysis

merthur, about knowing and loving characters analysis

"I'm happy to be your servant, til the day I die" (tumblr post) (2271 words)

nobody touches arthur (tumblr post)

leon wonders when merlin became a friend (tumblr post) (1251 words)

merlin looks in the mirror and smiles (tumblr post)

love is gold (arthur, merlin and merthur color analysis) (tumblr post)

something I will never move on... (merlin, doestoevskij and sins) (tumblr post)

-

percy jackson

let me know (720 words) - “Will was the reason of everything.”

-

harry potter

too precious for this world (but you're with me so it's okay) (273 words) - “One of the things Sirius loved the most about Remus was his laugh.”

-

run with the wind

a never ending night (you're the one who gave me morning) (10819 words) - “The street was just there. A path difficult to pursuit, hard to cross, but it was there, and he was there. A lone way with no exit or turnaround, straight, linear, unlike anything he ever had and just like everything he wanted. [ . . . ] something already turned to ashes couldn't be burned again.” or: in which haiji has to work through a lot but it's okay, because he's loved and enough.

-

haikyuu

i’m on an island, no one to confide (i'll seat here 'til i found the problem) (594 words) - “Kitagawa Daiichi was supposed to replace his loneliness with something more. But it didn’t, and soon it had become his worst nightmare.” part of the “who’s gonna mend these white fences” series

I wanna be ten feet tall, with big red horns (climb over the circus walls, finally feel at home) (1471 words) - “The first time Hinata had heard another team calling him a “freak” it hadn’t been the first time ever someone did.” part of the “who’s gonna mend these white fences” series 

I know that you are not my type (still I fall) (1319 words) - “It started like this.Two eyes meeting for the thousandth time, probably, hands laid bare on the grass beneath their bodies, Kageyama’s back against the hard bark of the oak that grew silently at the entrance of Karasuno High.”  part of the “who’s gonna mend these white fences” series 

i can hold my heart in a fist (this is all i ever wanted) (4034 words) - “If he closed his eyes and concentrated, he was sure he could be able to remember all the tears decorating Iwaizumi’s eyelashes the last time they had met, nearly two weeks ago”

there is a peace, there is a love you can get lost inside (2974 words) - “‘Iwa-chan.’ ‘What?’ ‘Do you think aliens reproduce sexually or asexually?’ or: the many times oikawa and iwaizumi called each other late at night. please somebody help them. they're idiots.”

-

bungou stray dogs

if you keep my thoughts and thieve my wisdom (I will find another shell) (1405 words) “Once, Atsushi had thought himself as a luggage already filled up to the brim. or: atsushi sees someone from his past. it doesn't go well, but at last he's not alone.”

-

tales of arcadia 

on the darkest night I will be your sword, your shield, your camouflage (and you will be mine) (1479 words) - “Summer 1630, Milan, Italy. He had fallen into a routine. Wake up early, dress up quickly and out of the door, to the hospital, to the streets, to the slums, where people reached out and asked for food, for medicine, for God. To the lazaretto, where people had ultimately altogether stopped begging for help and started praying, praying for some kind of salvation. To the lazaretto, where there were those who had just grown silent. or, douxie is stranded with archie in milan during the great plague, and he's very, very tired.” part of “the ballad of hisirdoux casperan” series 

you're standing there like an angry god (you’re fooling heaven's gates so you won't have to change) (11304 words) - “Winter 1392, Paris, France. He could do it. It wasn’t so hard. He was Hisirdoux Casperan, after all. Apprentice of a legend, subject of the once and future king. He had survived the Battle of Killahead Bridge. He had lived through hours and hours of interminable scolding by Merlin. He had lived through the Black Death, dammit. He wasn’t going to die there. Not until he got his staff. Not until Merlin recognized his worth. He was a nobody, maybe, but he wasn’t going to be a nobody forever. But first, he had to survive this. or, Douxie is trying really hard to prove himself to Merlin, and wants to find a cure for the King's Madness. Oh, and he's also stuck in a cave.” part of “the ballad of hisirdoux casperan” series 

-

ensemble stars

I hope that fate will forgive us for tempting the sea (we cannot go back to the way it used to be, but I will not let you go) (9134 words) - “someone will remember us / I say, / even in another time - sappho. That night, Izumi dreamt about a knight failing to protect his king, both dying in an empty hall, holding each other. In his dream he thought, you always fail. Morning came like a fist, and he wasn’t ready for it. His hurt, as if it has been pierced. Leo wasn’t there. or: izumi and leo have spent two lifetimes loving each other, they fight, make up and define forever. a story told in two timelines.” part of “the way it used to be” series

wait for the signal and I'll meet you after dark (show me the places where the others gave you scars) (2949 words) - “There was something in the way his king pronounced his name, Sena, stressing it out, almost making it a syllable longer that it was. It made Izumi feel infinite. Stronger than he was. Better than he was.“I’m loyal to you, and you alone, Your Highness,” he muttered, half ritual, whole truth. Those words felt like chalk on his tongue. They both knew it he was. They never spoke of it. There were things between them better left unsaid. or: izumi thinks too much, leo has no sense of danger, past mistakes weight on them heavily and names hold much more meaning than they should.” part of “the way it used to be” series

-

mo dao zu shi 

the road less travelled by (two roads diverged in a yellow wood) (1598 words) - “This was the thing about Wei Wuxian: he died, his own power rebelling against him – those claws, those teeth, destroying his skin, breaking it apart, and he didn’t remember screaming, but, sometimes, when he dreamt, he would wake up with the after-feeling of a scream echoing in his throat. He died, and all he remembered about it was: “get lost.” or: a tale about the freedom of being loved, wei wuxian's many feelings he doesn't know how to deal with, and lan wangji's soft love, tying it all together.

[aggressiveglockenspiel]

hi! im the anon from a bit ago who was going feral abt your desert duo bbc merlin au (i finally got tumblr) and I HAVE MANY THOUGHTS but yeah please know i am still brainrotting about this concept. i was wondering if you had any headcannons/more thoughts abt it?

anywayyyy have a great day/night!!! :)

HELLO HELLO HELLO omg sorry im so late a-levels are kicking me in the balls rn but BOY DO I HAVE SOME WORDS FOR YOU !! funnily enough i've been on a merlin rewatch. s2e9 as we speak (i lied. i've been typing so long s2e10 is on)

this is all gonna be so vague but just THINK about the way they are so interconnected -- both pairings. you can read it platonic, queerplatonic or romantic it literally doesn't matter but like it goes. two sides of the same coin. and there's always gonna be some underlying subtext

they both start out not on uh- good terms with one another. merthur moreso than desertduo but there's still that sense of "oh god i'm with him" that we at least get from grian's pov, if we dig our heels a lil bit into the lore.

merthur begins (first of all with a homoerotic fight, but moving on) with merlin saving arthur, albeit not intentionally intentionally, and then he gets stuck as his manservant -- a position that he actually grows very fond of despite his grievances at the beginning of the series. desertduo begins in the complete opposite way -- grian accidentally takes scar's first life and feels indebted to him until his first life is gone, except he carries on by scar's side until the very end, pretty much, and his feelings can easily be described as "exasperated, but fond".

scar is arthur and grian is merlin, no matter what the colour schemes of the pairings may suggest. it is well known and absolutely no secret that both grian and merlin, the 'sidekicks' and right-hand men of their respective series, are the true brains behind the brawn. (thinks of scar's abs) god, i could even link a million things between the magic of both but then i'd be getting a bit too much into watcher lore. wings, dragons, etc etc etc I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DYNAMIC.

skipping over the middle part, for there are a lot of details and i like to ramble, we move to the end of both series (third life specifically). at the bare bone of it -- one (literally and... practically) dies in the arms of the other. you could even stretch it as far as by the hand of the other, if you think back to merlin allowing mordred to live, consequences and all (grian (minecraft) punches scar to (minecraft) death, and by that you could say scar died in the arms of grian... technically.) (im not grasping at straws in just drawing parallels)

and so, both grian and scar are left to deal with the grief of the death of their... friend? companion? partner? soulmate? or a million other words that don't exist in the english language that describe this connection. merthur and desertduo gravitate towards each other, in a frantic, scrambling but firm hand hold that just. isn't. enough. to save both of them from falling.

a small note, because my brain never has had enough: "i warn you, i've been trained to kill since birth" is something i can exactly imagine scar saying (and "how long have you been training to be a prat" is in turn a grian line)

[rushingheadlong]

POP IN THE SUPERMARKET

Conveyer rock - is it all a hype? Colin Irwin looks at pre-packed pop and talks to the men behind new bands Queen (left) and Merlin

Hype. An ugly, unpleasant word frequently recurring in rock circles. 

Up in the boardroom of a vast record company the fat cigar brigade are scratching heads. Binn and Batman have come up with another surefire hit and they want somebody fresh to market it. They ponder a few names and finally decide on one with slight but clear sexual connotations - suggestively camp. 

Name settled, they work on the people who will be in this new band. They might be able to find a ready-made group to fit the bill but better to mould their own. There's a singer who has been around for a few years. 

He's not great but he knows how to throw himself around a stage, has a hairy chest and can hit the high notes. Give him a new name and he'll do. Somebody knows a lead guitarist who can play a bit and looks good. They can advertise for the others. 

They'll work out a sensational stage act, rig them up in some flash gear, buy them the best equipment and arrange a string of appearances in some influential venues. Plunge a few thousand quid in launching them with advertising and posters and "They'll be the biggest thing since sliced bread," chief fat cigar tells his underlings. 

Session musicians are employed to record the single and being a Binn and Batman special the radio stations label it "chart bound" and play it twenty five times a day. Seeing the glossy photos in the bop mags the kids gather up their pennies and buy it. 

VOILA, stars are born - or manufactured. An extreme form of hype. 

There's also a cliché commonly used in the business about people who have been around for many years and finally make it. It's called talent-will-out. An idealist phrase but there is still a popular belief that if a band is truly talented enough it will win through in the end. 

Yet even the greatest band in the world need a bit of pushing in the first place. When a record becomes a hit it's not always that easy to distinguish between hype and talent-will-out.

If a record company spends astronomical sums of money promoting a band, is it hype? Or is it a legitimate and necessary weapon in the music business? The argument is that the BBC's ever-tightening playlist and the effects on the industry of the three-day week have made it harder than ever for a new group to make it - talent or no. Without a big money machine behind it there isn't a hope. 

The situation is illustrated by two energetic new bands, who both look like breaking. 

Big money has been spent on Queen and Merlin, who have had new singles released during the last month. 

Queen's record, "Seven Seas Of Rhye," is already moving swiftly up the chart, while Merlin's "Let Me Put My Spell On You," is doing well enough to suggest it might follow suit. 

There is no suggestion that either band is a manufactured or manipulated product in the sense of the Monkees. They play the music on their own records entirely themselves and they are both hard at work on the road. 

Yet the question arises as to whether they would be doing quite so well without the resources of big companies behind them. 

In the case of Queen it's Trident Audio Productions and EMI and for Merlin it's Cookaway Productions and CBS.

The one common factor is that money and backing has been provided because the companies have a solid, unshakeable belief in the artists they are promoting. They are indignant about any suggestion of a put-on or that there has been any attempt to con the public. 

Listen to Merlin's producer Roger Greenaway for half-an-hour and there is no doubting his faith in their ability. "They are going to break, I know they are. I'm convinced the record will be a hit."

Nobody's saying exactly how much it has cost to launch either band. "Over a period of months between £5,000 and £10,000" has been spent on marketing Queen by EMI while the figure for Merlin is even vaguer. "A bit, but not a vast amount. Not a fortune by any means."

"Seven Seas Of Rhye" is Queen's second single and was recorded as part of the album "Queen 2" which has just been released. Things started to move for them about a year ago when they recorded their first album for Trident, who have a distribution contract with EMI. 

An advance was paid to them to help with the immediate costs of putting them on the road. 

Review copies of the album - about 400 of them - were sent out to everyone who might conceivably have any influence on the record buying public, from discos to the national press. Copies were personally distributed to radio and TV producers and extensive advertising space was bought in the trade papers. 

The launch for Queen was more concentrated than most artist are entitled to expect. 

Trident were completely behind them from the start and found them their American producer Jack Nelson. EMI promotions men Ronnie Fowler and John Bagnall decided they had a product with an exceptional chance of success and they went all out to exploit it to the full. 

Says Fowler: "Every record we release we work to a pattern of promotion. When I went round with the album it was normal procedure. It becomes un-normal when people start phoning you - that's when you put more effort into it."

Bagnall adds: "It became obvious after a week or so that it wasn't standard promotion that was necessary. We did a more complete promotion job than usual on Queen because we thought they were going to make it.

"They're all good-looking guys and I did a round of teeny papers and all the girls in the office swooned over them. Brian, the lead guitarist, had made his own guitar and a couple of the nationals picked up on that. It was good, gossipy stuff."

Queen's publicity machine was working from all angles because they were also getting external promotion from Tony Brainsby's promotion office. 

He had been involved with them from the time they had been trying to get record producers interested. The intensity of it all paid off when they were invited to do a spot on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Radio Luxembourg latched upon the single "Keep Yourself Alive" and played it regularly. 

Their first tour, supporting Mott the Hoople, got the full works. Local press was saturated with releases about this new band which was shortly coming to their town, elaborate displays were arranged at the front of the house on the night of the concert, local disc-jockeys were informed, and window displays were made in about 200 local record shops. 

"Trident and EMI committed themselves right from the start to this band, to make sure they had a PA which was better than other bands had and to make sure they had the right clothes. Some of their outfits cost £150 each," said Bagnall. "Spending money on a band isn't hype. It wasn't being flash or extravagant for the sake of building an image. It was making sure that everything else was as good as their music."

Not so far removed from the attitude towards Merlin, although it has been on a smaller scale in this case. 

The first Merlin tour, still underway, is rigorous. They are playing ballrooms and colleges all over the country on a lengthy round. 

An ambitious project for a new, unknown band, but it has already been successful in that it has launched them as a name people now know. A full-page advertisement was bought in the MM. That's the sort of treatment you might get if you're Bowie, or Ferry, or even Mick Ronson. But Merlin?

They have only been in existence in their present form since last May. 

They emerged as a result of discussions between Alan Love and Derek Chick about the possibility of forming a band with definite commercial appeal and a glamorous stage act. The idea reached fruition via a band called Madrigal, who had for some time been working the same circuit as Mud before "Crazy" broke for them. 

Madrigal disbanded but reformed with the same drummer and bass player, and Love as singer and Chick as manager. A couple more young musicians were found to join them and Chick started the usual hustling to get them going. 

In due course they came to the attention of Cookaway, and Roger Greenaway was hastily summoned to take a look at them. He had already seen Madrigal and when he saw the new model he immediately saw a big future for them. 

Greenaway says: "I'd been looking for a group of this type for three years - a young under-20s group who can present a good act. There's a lot more showmanship attached to bands now. I wanted an act with a slightly different approach. I was in New York producing the Drifters and I came back especially to hear them."

He quickly took them into a studio to see how they reacted there and among the tracks they recorded was "Let Me Put My Spell On You" which had been written by Greenaway in collaboration with Tony Macaulay. Like Queen, the best equipment and some fancy costumes were bought for them and the launching process was put into operation. 

My own experience of the Merlin project was a couple of weeks ago at Reading Top Rank - a bizarre mixture of precocious boppers, ageing teds, and stern-looking heavies. 

Posters and pictures of the group were plastered all over the place and by the time they eventually appeared late in the evening you had been informed quite thoroughly that Merlin had made a record called "Let Me Put My Spell On You."

Greenaway says of Love: "He's got star quality and he's a great charmer. The guitar player Jamie Moses has got a terrific potential too. I've worked with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones but for me this guy at 18 is a better player than Jimmy Page was at the same age. He's the sort of player guys can follow - like Jet Harris - he had an incredible following with the guys."

He likens the Merlin launch to a military operation. The career of the group has been minutely planned since October. Accepting that it is almost impossible to get airplay for a new band on the BBC they decided the best way to break them was through a solid mass of live dates. 

The dates were booked, once again the best equipment, including a light show, was bought for them, and distinctive stage costumes especially designed. 

"By the time the tour has ended they will be a really tight band. We are getting support in the regions and you can break a record if you can get regional radio stations and disco plays. I believe this record is a hit and the signs are there. This is a ten-year job as far as I'm concerned."

Not that big money backing is any guarantee of success. 

One of the biggest projects of this type was the launching of young Darren Burn as Britain's answer to Donny Osmond. To their eternal credit the record-buying public didn't apparently want an answer to Mr Osmond and the campaign failed. 

The pop supermarket is not a new trend. The attractively packaged mass-produced record has been a part of the industry for a long time. The early releases of Love Affair, White Plains and Edison Lighthouse for example spring to mind. 

The whole thing is justified for the makers by the fact that they still become hits, thus proving there is a demand for made-to-order records. If the public is willing - or gullible enough - to pay 50p for music created in the boardroom. Well it must be OK.

The Merlin single is blatantly, unashamedly aimed at being a big hit - that seems to have been the one criterion in making it. It has all the ingredients and as the whole thing has been done with concentrated professionalism it will probably be a hit. 

Back to Roger Greenaway: "I don't want to present this as a Monkees type of image. It's not a manufactured group in any way - these guys have all been in other bands. 

"What Merlin are about is success - reaching people. It's so wrong for opposing people to criticise. If Chinn and Chapman go out to reach a particular market at the thing they do best, and they reach them, then they're doing their job. They've filled a gap.

"When this record happens it'll be called hype but we haven't hyped anybody. Not a vast amount of money has been spent on them. It would be silly to have a tour like this without some sort of advertising. All the money that has been spent on them so far has been towards getting them on the road. 

"It's expensive but it's minimal if you think of it as a along term thing."

It may be unfair to associate Queen with the pop supermarket. The group themselves were apprehensive about appearing on Top Of The Pops and the prospect of a hit record. 

They have always regarded themselves as an album band and were concerned about being connected with the chart groups. The fact remains that they have been on the receiving end of a giant campaign to create a best-selling single and album. 

The first album had sold far better than they had anticipated and there was great excitement around Trident and EMI as the second one was being made. Manager Jack Nelson came in virtually every day to play new tracks as they were completed and many discussions followed on which one should be released as a single. 

A special meeting was held between Bagnall, Fowler, marketing manager Paul Watts and a few others to discuss the approach to the release of "Queen 2."

"We talked about the possibility of boxing the album, and other various publicity and posters needed to produce an album we were convinced was going to be one of the biggest of the year. We set a high target for it. 'Seven Seas' isn't a housewives' record so with the daily shows like Edmonds, Blackburn and Hamilton, there's no chance of getting it played, we knew that from the start. But the weekend shows - Rosko, Henry, and D.L.T. - they all flipped over it. I took the records round personally because I felt so strongly about it."

The prime plug, however, is Top Of The Pops. If a record gets exposure on that there is a more than even chance that it will become a hit. He played it to the show's Robin Nash and a couple of days later Nash phoned him and asked him where Queen were. Later he rang back and invited Queen to do a session. 

The band weren't too sure whether they wanted to do it but eventually agreed although even then they didn't know until the last minute whether it would be used because they were half expecting a David Bowie film to arrive and take it's place. But in the end Queen were shown and "Seven Seas Of Rhye" moved dramatically from there. 

"A lot of people have invested an awful lot of time and money in this band but not as a hype," says Bagnall. "The only truth in the music business is that if a band isn't good, no amount of money will get them to make it."

Greenaway may be right that Merlin are one of the most exciting bands to merge since the Beatles. Fowler might be right that Queen are one of the best since the Who. But big business still remains one of the sadder aspects of the music industry today. 

----------

Huge thanks to the anon who brought this to my attention, since I’ve been looking for a copy of this article for ages now! 

Credit for the original scans goes to @Chrised90751298 over on twitter, though I stitched it back together into a single image for ease of posting over there. Open the image in a new tab to see the full-size version!

[maxmagi]

A List of My OTPs

because it's 11 and I can't sleep.

Enjolras x Grantaire a.k.a. Enjoltaire a.k.a. ExR- Les Mis

How I fell into this I don't remember now. I vaguely remember reading a crackfic of this and then everything just went sideways.

This was also the fandom that helped me realize that I wasn't exactly straight and that it's okay to not be loud about my sexuality, that I can just be.

I think that explains my attachment to this ship, not to mention just the movie's Grantaire (played by George Blagden) also shipped the characters and played his character like how he thought it should be, Grantaire loving and pining after Enjolras without the revolutionary knowing it.

Except in the fan fics, Enjolras returns his feelings and they work it out, even though it's not easy because they're both stubborn as mules. Ah, ultimate fantasy I guess. And the number of great fics here, *whistle*

Also, the Les Amis? Is amazing? Especially in the modern AUs? Like they're great friends? I love this fandom so much! Permets-tu!

Shen Wei x Zhao Yunlan - Guardian / Zhen Hun

C'mon, Zhu Yilong & Bai Yu's performance and emotions? Plus just the fact the fanfic writers of this ship are absolutely amazing? Please, escape from this pairing is impossible!

Best opposites attract trope for me. An academic by day, superhero by night in love with a roguish police chief who has no powers but whose charisma, wit, and heart can get him to toe to toe with the legends.

Also, Professor Shen Wei constantly acting like an innocent civilian and lying badly? Gold!

Loki x Tony Stark a.k.a. FrostIron - Avengers

How did I honestly get to this ship? I really can't remember what started it all. I think it must have been a Loki redemption fic where Tony Stark and Pepper broke up and something something happened. Let me tell you, the writers of this ship have written sagas and ballads of epic and sometimes confusing proportions, and that is why I fell deeper into the pit. I mean, they gotta give justice to two brilliant but chaotic characters, right? Angst. This ship has sooooooooo much angst.

Eiji x Ash - Banana Fish

My god, if you want to keep your heart intact and not be reminded of all that's ugly in the world, DON'T WATCH OR READ BANANA FISH. YOUR HEART WILL NEVER HEAL!

If you're gonna watch/read it anyway, make sure to watch something fluffy and sweet after. There's a reason that people from this fandom go, "If you've seen Banana Fish's ending, then you can handle whatever angsty show you're watching now." ~ or something to that effect. Another thing we like to say in this fandom is, "Other fandoms: Let's write a Mafia AU! Banana Fish fandom: We are the Mafia AU." Yes, all of us in this fandom is dramatic af.

Yuuri x Viktor - Yuuri!!! on Ice

Uh, does this really need an explanation? Aside from the fact that you will surprisingly find a lot of Mafia AUs here because we all know that hiding behind that beautiful face of Viktor Nikiforov is a devil capable of... tearing down your self-confidence, like WTF Viktor, don't make Yuuri cry! Also, their dance together at the end, such beautiful love.

Magnus Bane x Alec Lightwood aka Malec - Shadowhunters

I never read the books and have no plans to in the near future. I just saw a video on Youtube about why Malec is life and now here I am, still reading some Malec fics from time to time.

Some stuff on the show were WTF but overall they were a really good couple who supported each other. Plus, they're a Power Couple.

Erwin x Levi aka Eruri - Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin

Not to be confused with Ereri, which is Eren x Levi, which I don't generally ship except for that one time when a writer wrote an epic fanfic series with Eren in his mid 20s and Levi in his late 20s/early 30s, reincarnation AU. Boy was that one a surprise. I did not expect that.

Anyway, I'm an Eruri fan through and through. Especially with that promise that Levi made to Erwin. And the reason he gave the serum to Armin. HE DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE KIDS YKNOW. HE DID IT FOR ERWIN. Plus, Levi, Erwin, and Hange are my special trio. Erwin's batch was really amazing.

Also, I really like the fact that the shorter and slighter person is the more badass fighter while the taller, bigger one is the more calculating and strategic one. Rocks the boat of stereotypes and all that. Bonus: how these two met. My god, what a meet-cute! 😂

Dani x Jamie aka The Au Pair and the Gardener - The Haunting of Bly Manor

It really is more of a love story than a ghost story. I dunno how to feel about this. I loved these two characters so much and I wished they had a better ending but I wasn't SO surprised because it was a horror series (Like, I was still hoping at the end that they'd be together forever but yknow...). In any case, Jamie was just awesome. And her nickname for Dani? Poppins?! God, what a lover and fighter. She was not afraid to cock a gun in a ghost's face.

... and now for my flexible BROTPs

Merlin x Arthur aka Merthur - BBC Merlin

Yeah, my brain is so chaotic multiple OTPs and BROTPs of the same pairing exist at the same time without clashing with one another or having major identity crises.

I actually really like BROTP Merlin and Arthur and also like reading OTP Merthur.

And when Merlin is paired with Morgana or Freya or sometimes even Gwaine, that's fine with me too. As long as his bromance with Arthur stays intact, because that's what drew me to the show in the first place. Personal preference. I see them as platonic soulmates.

*Shout-out to the Merthur writers though, you kept me sane during my "Post-Merlin Depression," which is actually a term thrown around in the fandom because of that horrid final season (not saying it's a good term but it's what it was called). A lot of amazing fics here, too, both Magic Reveal and Modern AU ones. Full of action and adventure too! I mean, there are boy-band-looking Knights and magic-wielding badasses!

Tim Drake x Conner Kent/Kon-El aka Red Robin x Super Boy - DC Comics

More like flexible otp. I dig Stephanie Brown and Tim Drake BUT I really really also dig Tim Drake and Conner Kent. When they're TimKon, it's like an entirely different entity from TimSteph. Ugh, hard to explain.

I mean, Kon telling Tim, "You'll always be my Robin" and Tim telling Kon, "And you'll always be my clone boy" is the shit. Also when Kon could pick out/recognize Tim's heartbeat. And when Tim nearly went mad scientist trying to bring his bestie back. Like, dudes, wtf. And at the same time, hell yeah.

Liu Kang x Kung Lao aka LiuLao - Mortal Kombat

- I see these two as more like ride or die best friends connected by fate/platonic soulmates. But also like their dynamic is so awesome, cute, sweet, badass, can't-live-without-you vibes.

Basically the same way I feel about Merthur. I like reading both romantic and platonic relationships between these two characters. Like, the LiuLao fan creators peeling off the layers of this relationship and exposing every raw nerve is beautiful.

They love diving into the characters' psyche, emotions, motivations, fears, and doubts and you get really amazed because... Aren't they just characters from a video game, you ask? Well yeah, but MK video game has several interesting storylines and the Mortal Kombat 2021 movie was just the perfect jumpstarter to this beautiful blaze.

I mean, "We swore that if we were to die, it would be together"? Hell no, you're not dropping that on us and not expecting us to create our very own spin-offs and 12-page essays on that shit. That's what we fans do, baby. And also, really, we need a shaolin monks/white lotus spin-off/prequel. We're starving here.

As this ship is the newest one on my list, it's the one I'm looking forward to the most. Not enough fan content, I tell you. Not enough. One of these days, I just might add my own.

But right now, it's past 1 and so I shall attempt to sleep.

***No images for TimKon and LiuLao coz apparently I've gone past my 10-images allowance 😤

[zi-i-think]

Once Upon an Albion

This is just a draft, but let me know what you guys think about this prologue. Haven’t edited or checked for spelling hours, I’d just like to get some feedback and thoughts. :)

Once Upon a Time, but with BBC Merlin characters. Not really following canon either, I’m just kinda going with the flow.

*I do not own Once Upon a Time nor BBC Merlin. Don’t sue me, please*

Everyone knows the story of Merlin the Magician and King Arthur. The legends have been told for generations for a reason. They tell of magic and dragons. Dangerous trials that brave knights have surpassed. Beautiful romance. But what if there’s a part of the story that no one knows. 

It started with a curse. The Dark Curse.

No one was spared from Morgana’s extreme plan for revenge. To get back at everyone who has wronged her. So that she can have the power that she believed she deserved.

The night was cold. And the full moon was out, shining a light through the windows into the castle. And just like how it seemed quiet outside, the Citadel of Camelot was also quiet. Except for the Royal wing. 

Guinevere’s pained screams must have been heard from the square. With her husband at her side and the midwife in front of her, she was going to the most painful moments of her life.

“No!” She shouted. Shaking her head in protest as tears streamed down her face. She threw her head back into the pillows while her husband stroked her hair. “I can’t, Arthur. My child. My little girl. She needs me with her.”

“I know, Gwen. But it’s too late.” He told her what Gauis said just moments ago before he scurried off. And Guinevere began to sob again. “We can’t move you-” She screamed again, cutting him off. The pain in her womb becoming far too much to bear.

“Your Majesties,” The midwife’s old voice said. “The baby is here.”

And soon after, through the pushing and agonizing yells, a little baby girl was brought into the world. Crying and all. Guinevere collapsed into her pillows. Exhaustion overcoming her. Arthur, however, was grinning from ear to ear. The crying from the baby was like music to his ears.

His daughter.

“You did it.” Arthur turned to his wife and kissed her forehead, who now smiled despite her tiredness.

The midwife wrapped the baby in the little blanket and handed her to the waiting arms of her father, who put his daughter into the hands of his wife. Arthur and Guinevere’s hearts lifted in joy as they looked down at her. Because their child was right there. All their worries seemed to vanquish at that moment.

“She’s perfect.” Gwen sighed in adoration.

“Our daughter.” Arthur grinned. “Princess Diana.”

Gwen giggled happily as her husband rubbed her arms. And those few, precious moments were just that. Moments.

A minute after the little girl’s birth, the Citadel’s warning bells rung, throwing them back into their situation. Guenevere shut her eyes as new tears began to drip down her cheeks. Arthur looked over to the window, seeing a dark cloud illuminated by green lighting spreading through the land.

There wasn’t any way to prevent it. He knew that and they’ve all been expecting it for some time. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t frightening to see.

“I wish we had more time.” Gwen choked up. Her thumb swiping across her daughter’s cheek.

“We’ll see her again,” Arthur reassured her. “We know she will.”

“Arthur!” A new voice shouted. And Merlin ran into the room. “Arthur, it’s ready.”

The King nodded in understanding and began to gently lift the baby back into his own arms.

“Her blanket.” Gwen choked out the words while she took a knitted blanket and covered her daughter with it, over the thin, woolen blanket. The knitted one was special though. It was made herself. Decorated with lavender designs and the baby’s name in the corner, it was made with all the love Guinevere had for her daughter.

Giving her one last kiss, she let Arthur take their little girl. Holding her gently, yet also tighter than anything he’s held before, Arthur ran out the room with no time to spare. And Merlin was right behind him.

The nursery was just a few doors down. But as they were approaching it, Morgana’s knights turned into their corner, getting in their way. Arthur unsheathed his sword and held it out in from of him, protecting his child.

“I’ll take care of them, you get her to the wardrobe.” Merlin stepped forward with his hand out. He muttered a few words and the knights flew backward. But they both knew there were more.

Arthur didn’t have time to argue with Merlin. He ran to the nursery as quickly as he could while Merlin dealt with the charging knights. And once he was inside, he shut the doors. Now it was just him and his daughter.

The nursery was once supposed to just hold the princess’s cradle, dresser, and toys. Now it held something more important. The trunk of a large tree stood in the middle of the room. The inside carved and crafted specially to transport anyone into a new world. 

Arthur knelt in front of it and opened the door. But he didn’t set his daughter inside it yet. He needed another second to say goodbye. He let a tear roll down his cheek as he cradled her.

He couldn’t do it

The longer he looked at her, the more his heart fell. He’s waited so long to hold her. He always imagined that when he had children, he’d be a great father. One who taught them how to use a sword. Who’d take them to see the knights joust. He wanted to be a father.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

This decision wasn’t up to just him. This was for his people. For Albion. This was for Diana’s future.

There was a rumble of thunder. The dark cloud now just outside of Camelot’s walls. Kissing the baby’s forehead tenderly, Arthur placed her into the wooden wardrobe and closed the door. And a moment later the doors to the nursery burst open again. Two of Morgana’s knights barged into the room, swords drawn.

Arthur wasn’t surer when of how the wardrobe would transport his daughter to a new realm. But he wasn’t going to take any chances. Sword in hand, he knew he’d do all he can to keep them away from the tree.

Lunging forward, he swung his sword at the one on the left. The man barely blocked it, allowing for Arthur to kick the man back and then stab him in the stomach. The other knight then came in sword swinging. Arthur slid the blade away from him just in time and then slicing again, the knight fell as the sword sliced into his chest.

But Arthur hadn’t thought of the possibility that the other knight was still alive. With the dark knight’s last strength, he stabbed Arthur through his side and then pulled the blade away in his last moments.

Arthur stood in shock, hand over his wound. He collapsed onto the ground already feeling his life slip away from him.

“No!” Someone screamed. He looked over, seeing Guinevere struggling to walk. But she pressed forward to reach her husband. “Arthur. I-” She sobbed. Hands on his cheeks as she watched him pale.

“Gwen…” He croaked out, placing a bloody hand over hers. If he dies at that moment, he’d die happy with his wife’s face being the last thing he saw.

“How pitiful.” A new, venomous voice came in. Gwen turned her head, seeing no one other than Morgana standing at the door. “At least he died an honorable death. Protecting his daughter.” She smirked, sauntering over to the wardrobe

“No!” Gwen cried too late.

Morgana flung the door open, revealing nothing. The baby wasn’t in there anymore. Morgana’s victorious smile fell and a sneer replaced it.

“It worked.” Gwen sighed in relief.

Morgana’s head snapped to the queen.

“Well don’t get too joyful. Your husband is still dying. And my curse is right at your doorstep.” She reminded her. Gwen looked at Arthur. He had now fallen unconscious, death approaching him. There was still hope. The cursed would arrive before he truly was dead. Meaning he’d still be clinging to life. Even if it were for 28 years.

“But she will get back to us.” Gwen smiled. Her head was shaking at Morgana. “And you will fail eventually.”

“We’ll see about that.” Margana smiled. The dark clouds misting into the Citadel’s cracks and filling it with its cursed air. Gwen’s eyes were fearful as she felt herself being swept up. Her hands becoming numb and she was no longer able to feel her husband.

Now they had to wait for 28 years before their time continued.

[xviruserrorx]

Title: "Home Sweet Home"

Chapter 9/13: "Of Frogs and Knights"

(Prev Chap) (Next Chap) • (Story Masterlist)

I couldn't resist making this based off of this post here, the idea is Not Mine In Any Way. But is from @something-given 's lovely thoughts... Hope you like it Enjoy! 😊

Fandom: BBC Merlin

Relationship(s): Daegal & Elyan

Character(s): Daegal, Elyan, Merlin (Minor), Mordred (Minor), Leon (Minor)

Important Tag(s): Canon Divergence, Daegal Lives, Fluff, Angst, Everybody Lives

Rating: Gen

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Mentions of past death

Word count: 3,535

"I don't think you're a bother to him." Elyan tried to supply. Hating that this kid thought that he mattered so little to others.

"Not just him-" He pushed another rock around with his foot. All his previous enthusiasm and excitement slowly fading. "-Everyone."

"I just feel like I don't belong here." He continued.

"Why?"

Daegal's shrugged his shoulders, "I've never really belonged anywhere."

Elyan knew the feeling of not belonging. Not only for his reasoning for leaving Camelot in the first place. But upon becoming a knight as well, having to act the part of royalty when he knew he wasn't.

Or

The story of frogs bringing a new-to-Camelot Daegal and Elyan (who may have ditched night patrol) together. Featuring Daegal and Mordred being teenage chaos and a headache to Merlin, a traumatic frog story and a Very exasperated Leon...

"I Defy You Stars!" - Tumblr | Ao3

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Of Frogs and Knights

Elyan sighed as he continued to hold the torch and walk the perimeter of the castle yard.

He hated night patrols. He never usually had them, as Leon and Percival mostly took them. But with Percival out on a dispatch and Leon patrolling inside the castle, someone had to cover the town square.

He switched hands on the torch, his hand getting tired from holding it up so long. He really wished he was the one leading that dispatch right about now. Or maybe if Gwaine had taken pity on him and agreed to take the night patrol, then he would have had the evening patrol with Mordred. 

But Gwaine oh so sarcastically had replied how he was quite fond of Mordred now and didn't want to abandon the poor fella. While Mordred and Lancelot stood with sympathetic looks, and Arthur gave him a what you gonna do about it sorta look. 

And there Elyan was… trying to think of a way to get payback on Gwaine for his Gwaine ways and Percival for abandoning him. 

He sighed again… If only he could get-

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw something move off to his right. He waved the torch trying to see if anything did pass by or if it was just his imagination in the dark. He moved to turn, before quickly catching a glimpse of the passing figure again.

"Halt!" He called. 

The person froze where they were and turned around with their head down. Elyan drew his sword as he neared the person. Only to quickly drop it as they dropped their hood.

He was just a boy, and more importantly, the same boy he had seen follow Mordred and Merlin around and had met a time or two himself. He knew the young Knight was quite fond of him and Merlin practically took him in as his own. 

"Daegal, right?" He asked. Sheathing his sword as there was no need for it.

Daegal nodded his head before looking alarmed. "Yes, Sir." He quickly sputtered out, at the thought of forgetting the proper formalities.

Elyan held up his hand. "Just Elyan is okay." He smiled at him, trying to ease some of the tension of the on edge boy in front of him.

Daegal managed a small smile and nodded his head. 

"What are you doing out so late?" Elyan asked, knowing Merlin was probably gonna lose his head or was already losing it if he couldn't find the boy.

"I'm going to the woods," Daegal answered. His voice so sheepish, Elyan felt bad approaching and interrogating the boy like that.

"Does Merlin know you're out here?" 

Elyan already knew the answer. Knowing that Merlin wouldn't let the boy go somewhere so dangerous, alone, and that late at night. As it was the same reason Arthur didn't let Mordred do night patrols as well despite the young knights' protests. 

Daegal shook his head and down casted his eyes away from Elyan's gaze.

"It's very dangerous out here at night, you shouldn't be alone."

"I know, I just…" Daegal shrugged his shoulders. Once again looking down at his shoes.

Elyan sighed again on what felt like the tenth time in the last hour. The last thing he wanted to do was get the boy in trouble with Merlin. But letting him go, seemed even worse as he could get hurt or have a run-in with some bandits. And Elyan being in trouble with Merlin for catching the boy and letting him go was something he did not want to see.

"How about I go with you?"

His question was immediately answered by the astonished look Daegal gave him. "Really?" He asked. Elyan could only wonder why such a small gesture of a guarantee of his safety surprised the boy.

Elyan nodded his head, "Yeah, would that be okay?" 

It was far from okay when Elyan considered that he was supposed to be on patrol. A lecture from Arthur, Leon and Gwen was sure to come.

Daegal nodded his head, with a smile. 

Elyan didn't know how Merlin was ever able to say no to the boy. Making Elyan feel guilty already of the consideration that patrol was more important than the boy in front of him. As if he could say no to that smile he was given. 

"Let's go." 

He left the torch back in its place before following Daegal where he wanted to go. Surprised how easy he knew a way to sneak out of Camelot's walls and to the forest with little as much as making a single sound.

"Here," Daegal announced as they reached a pond. The boy immediately began to look around the area, with only the moonlight to see. 

"What are you doing?" 

"Looking." He looked up at Elyan with a bright smile before getting back to his task.

"For what?"

"There!" Daegal suddenly exclaimed. Running a couple of steps before crouching on the ground and coming back up with something in hand. 

Not just something random, Elyan saw, but a frog. Memories quickly flooded his mind of many years before of a rather young Leon taking him and Gwen to catch frogs every full moon. 

"Careful," He moved towards Daegal, "you don't want to hurt it." He positioned Daegal's hands to better hold the frog. The boy gave him a curious look as he did so.

"I used to do this with my sister," he started, "and believe it or not, Sir Leon." 

"Leon?" Daegal asked, surprised. Everyone in Camelot knew the first knight, after being in Uther's and now Arthur's service for many years.

"Yeah, he practically helped raise us." He bent down and rinsed off his hands in the pond.

"Like a big brother we both never had." 

He watched as Daegal released the frog into the pond. Not bothering to rinse off his hands as he bounded after another frog that caught his attention.

This one was smaller in his hands as he held it the way Elyan showed him. He lifted it up to his face and smiled at it. Elyan in turn smiled at the sight of the boy enjoying such a simple thing as life.

"Thank you… for this." Daegal said, releasing the frog when it no longer wanted to hold still in his hands. 

"Of course." The words came out more of a shocked answer than a statement. Once again surprised how much thanks he was given for something so simple.

Daegal's third attempt to catch a frog proved futile as it escaped before he could grab it. Making the boy give a huff of breath where he was crouched down on the floor. 

Elyan lightly chuckled as he took the same position next to Daegal. "So how's Camelot treating you?" 

Daegal shrugged his shoulders, "okay, I guess." Not liking the particular spot, Daegal got up and moved a few paces over closer to the pond. 

Elyan followed, keeping his eye on Daegal while he seemed despondent about the sudden lack of frogs. "You seem to like Merlin and Mordred a lot." He said. 

That got a smile on Daegal's face at the mention of the two names. He nodded his head, "they're nice." 

He flipped over a rock and kicked over another. In both instances, he left with a grimace on his face as he went to another area farther down the pond. Elyan was a couple of steps behind him as he struggled to keep up with the boy who had far too much energy so late at night.

"I always see you with Mordred." He called ahead. Daegal turned back around and waited while Elyan caught up to him.

"Hard to find a sight these days with you two not together." Daegal slowed down his pace as Elyan caught up to him in time to see him already looking for more frogs.

"He wouldn't come to catch frogs with you?"

Daegal nodded his head, "He would."

"He was busy with some papers though." He supplied, flipping up another rock with the toe of his boot before turning back around to him. 

"I didn't want to bother him." 

Elyan crossed his arms, "He doesn't know you're gone either?" 

Daegal shook his head, "I didn't want to bother him." He repeated his words. Almost Like a mantra to himself of what and what not to do. As if every action he did no matter its playful innocence was a bother and an annoyance.

"I don't think you're a bother to him." Elyan tried to supply. Hating that this kid thought that he mattered so little to others.

"Not just him-" He pushed another rock around with his foot. All his previous enthusiasm and excitement slowly fading. "-Everyone."

"I just feel like I don't belong here." He continued.

"Why?"

Daegal's shrugged his shoulders, "I've never really belonged anywhere." 

Elyan knew the feeling of not belonging. Not only for his reasoning for leaving Camelot in the first place. But upon becoming a knight as well, having to act the part of royalty when he knew he wasn't.

"Some years ago I felt like that." 

"But you're a knight," Daegal said, "You belong in Camelot." If only Elyan could tell him how wrong he was. Even if he was born here and everything he knew was here, it all still felt so unreal.

"I wasn't always a knight." He said. Those words piqued Daegal's interest.

"The queen is my big sister." 

Daegal's eyes widened. "You're royalty?!" He exclaimed.

Elyan chuckled, "In a way but not by blood."

"Gwen was a servant many years ago and I didn't want to do that." He walked a few paces and found a fallen tree to sit upon. 

"To serve others, or be a blacksmith like my father. So some years after our mother passed, I left Camelot." The arguments with Gwen, their father, even Leon about leaving Camelot so suddenly. Then the notes and letters that followed the passing years that he never once answered. For the guilt was too heavy for him to bear, to even glance at the words written from the people who cared for him.

"I felt like I didn't belong."

Daegal walked over and took the spot next to him. "But your sister?"

He grimaced, "I left my father as well." 

"Didn't even come back when he passed." One of the reasons he was most heavy with guilt. Making Gwen grieve alone for the man who was a father to both of them.

"I'm sorry," Daegal muttered.

Elyan shook his head with a soft smile, "not your fault."

Daegal's boots splashing in a puddle caught his attention after a minute of silence as the boy saw another frog. Catching it this time, if the smile on his face told his happiness. 

"In a way, frogs are like us," Daegal said. Walking back over as he stood in front of Elyan.

"Really?"

Daegal nodded his head, "When the mother has her babies, she wants them to be independent. But at the same time, she can't help but keep coming back to check on them."

"I lost my mother when I was young too." He continued. The information filled in the gaps that Elyan was still unsure about. Most being how Daegal ended up in Merlin's care in the first place. Convinced up to this point maybe Merlin had just decided he was gonna take in this random kid he found. 

But now knowing when Daegal meant he didn't belong anywhere, it was quite literal of him losing his family and actually not having anywhere or anyone to go home to.

"So… even in death, I think they're still watching over us in a way." Daegal smiled at him before he bent down and released the frog in front of Elyan.

His reflexes got the best of him as he jumped up away from the nearing frog. Daegal cocked his head, giving Elyan a confused look at his actions.

"I'm not particularly fond of frogs too often." He confessed.

"Why?"

"An… incident that happened when I was younger." 

"Incident?" Daegal questioned once again.

"A very traumatic incident actually." He mumbled. 

"With frogs?" Daegal asked, amused. A wide grin on his face.

"Yeah yeah, very funny." He rolled his eyes with hidden fondness as Daegal chuckled. Glad he was able to make him laugh even if it was at his own expense of embarrassing suppressed memories.

He ruffled Daegal's hair as he approached him. Shock replaced happiness on Daegal's face at Elyan's actions. 

"But if you ever need someone to catch frogs with, I'm always here." 

His smile quickly made its way back with an eager head nod. How anyone could treat this kid anything less than he deserved was beyond Elyan's understanding.

"Come on, we should head back."

"One more?" Daegal asked.

Daegal was doing this on purpose now. Giving him an innocent and sweet look that no one could refuse, maybe only if they were heartless. He really needed to ask Merlin how to tell him no. 

He sighed, "Go on."

He watched as Daegal did catch another frog before Elyan made him wash his hands in the pond. And this time listened to the boy talk on and on as they made their way back to the castle. If he hadn't met the boy just an hour before, he never would have known how reserved and modest he was.

They both climbed the steps to the physicians' chambers, Elyan hesitant to open the door as he saw light seeping under the door and heard a muffled frantic voice accompanied by a much calmer one.

He and Daegal exchanged a look before he pushed open the door. The sight, around what Elyan was expecting to see. Merlin was pacing back and forth, while Mordred sat on a bench and watched Merlin as he worried himself sick. Though they both looked equally relieved as they saw Daegal at the door.

"Daegal!" Merlin marched over to him while Mordred followed a couple of steps behind.

"Where have you been?" 

Elyan ducked his head as he tried not to laugh. Merlin reminded him of a concerned parent fretting over the boy. Endearing in a way how he took him in and how much he worried about him.

"You told me you were gonna be with Mordred!" Merlin continued.

Daegal looked at Mordred as if the knight was going to help him in the white lie he told Merlin.

Mordred only gave him the same deceived look as Merlin but with a smirk on his face. "You told me you were gonna be with Merlin."

Daegal diverted his eyes and looked at Elyan for help he couldn't provide before looking back to Merlin.

"Whoops?"

"Whoops!?" Merlin exclaimed while Elyan and Mordred chuckled lightly.

"I was just in the woods!" 

Merlin crossed his arms, "Alone?!" 

"Don't worry he was with me."  Elyan quickly supplied, leaving out the fact that the boy was gonna go into the woods alone before he caught him. Mostly because poor Merlin looked like he was about to have a heart attack before he settled at that answer. And Mordred's own concern faded away as well, at Elyan's words. 

He clasped Daegal's shoulder, "Brought him back in one piece." 

Merlin didn't seem to find that statement all that humorous, while Mordred laughed at Merlin's expression and ruffled Daegal's hair. "I'm glad you're okay." 

"I was just catching frogs," Daegal mumbled. 

"You shouldn't even be out this late," Merlin chided him, "there's a curfew for a reason, Daegal."

Daegal lowered his head, "Sorry." 

Merlin sighed as he looked at the crestfallen look on Daegal's face. Along with the lingering words of an apology he knew was sincere. He brought the boy into his embrace before pulling away to look him in the face. 

"Don't do that again, okay?" 

With the received nod from Daegal, he kissed the crown of his head and motioned him towards the back room. "Get cleaned up for bed." 

He looked at the water that stained the edges of Daegal's sleeves and his dirty boots that surely tracked in mud. Daegal gave Merlin a sympathetic glance as the older man just scoffed with a grin on his face.

"Get changed, everything can always be cleaned again." 

Daegal nodded his head as he headed towards the room. Mordred caught him as Merlin turned to Elyan.

"Daegal," Mordred called. "Next time just tell someone where you're going, alright?" The worry he tried to brush off earlier now seeped through his words.

Mordred smiled as Daegal nodded his head. "We might just be able to make Merlin mortal with all the stress we give him."

"Heard that!" Merlin yelled back in an offended tone. Both boys' laughter followed as Merlin rolled his eyes and looked back at Elyan. 

Combined, Elyan didn't know how Merlin handled both Daegal and Mordred. Both teens, while responsible and rather not too reckless, were bound to get into trouble every so often. Or even in situations of what had happened, that left Merlin sick with worry.

"Thank you for looking out for him." 

"He's a nice kid," Elyan replied and looked over at  Daegal who was talking Mordred's ear off. Probably already telling him about his frog catching in the woods.

"Yeah…" Merlin said, following Elyan's gaze back to both boys.

"He's been struggling to adjust here so thank you, it means a lot." He clasped Merlin on the shoulder before his attention was beckoned elsewhere. 

"Elyan?" Daegal called. "Thank you."

He smiled, "Anytime, kid."  

Daegal gave him a nod before he went to work on taking off his shoes at the bottom of the steps to the back room. 

"I should get going." He said to Merlin.

Merlin nodded, "Thank you, Elyan." 

He made it a step out the door before he wanted to run back in. Seeing the last person he wanted to see in front of him as he was already planning on sneaking back to his patrol position.

"Leon!" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

The older knight stood leaning against the doorway. "I followed you. What are you doing here, Elyan?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

"I was-"

"-He was helping me." Mordred quickly interjected and appeared beside him from inside the room.

"And what are you doing here, Mordred?"

"Helping Daegal."

"Do what, exactly?" Leon questioned.

"Help... Merlin." 

"With?" Leon wasn't buying one word of this.

Mordred looked to his side into the room before back at Leon, "Frogs." 

"Frogs?" Leon said in an incredulous tone.

"For a potion," Merlin appeared and interjected. "That's why I needed Elyan's help." He said it like it was supposed to be common sense to the knight. He reached over and pulled the door shut behind him as stifled laughter could be heard from inside.

"If I recall correctly, you're not particularly fond of frogs, Elyan?" 

Elyan inwardly groaned. "No, But I needed to help Mordred, help Daegal... help Merlin with the uh-" he gestured aimlessly.

"Potion?" Leon questioned.

"Potion!" Elyan confirmed.

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. His eyes closed as he tried to take a deep breath to compose himself. Elyan almost felt bad for the older knight.

"Mordred, get to bed." He said softly to the young knight.

"Merlin, you can get back to your… potion." There was no belief in Leon's words for any of the nonsense they had just told him.

"And Elyan?" He looked at the other knight, "get back on patrol."

"And the three of you," he sighed, "I don't want to hear another word of this again." Leon shook his head, exasperation and exhaustion evident in his words.

"Understood?"

"Yes, Leon." They all said at once.

The knight turned and left without another word. While all three men let out a breath of relief as Merlin pulled open the door again to find Daegal doubled over laughing.

"Not helping, Daegal," Merlin mumbled.

"Frogs, Mordred?" Daegal asked in disbelief once he could talk without erupting into another fit of laughter. Mordred just rolled his eyes with a smile on his face, not answering the other boy.

"So the frog story is that bad?"

"Frog story?" Mordred inquired.

"What did Leon say about you and frogs?" Merlin chimed in.

Daegal chuckled, "Gonna have to tell us now." 

"Nononono, I buried that away along with many other mortifying stories." 

"Come on, we've all had to tell an embarrassing story once or twice," Merlin said. Already pulling out the benches around the table. 

"Please?" Daegal asked with a bright smile on his face. 

This kid…

Elyan let out a breath. Leon was going to be added to his list with Gwaine and Percival. 

"Fine!" He exclaimed.

Leon and his patrols could wait. Even if it meant Elyan getting another lecture later, this time, hopefully not involving Frogs and potions.

Elyan took a seat at one of the tables as Mordred and Daegal made their way over to sit down. Merlin served them all tea before he sat back himself in wait for Elyan to start his story.

That was where he belonged; that was where they all belonged.

[randomfandomimagine]

Flowers (Arthur Pendragon x Reader)

Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin Emrys

Fandom: BBC Merlin

Tags: Marriage proposal, love confessions, fluff and angst

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2,4k words

Requested by anon: Hi dear I hope you are doing well would you be willing to write a ficlet for Arthur pendragon x reader were hes getting ready to purposes but reader is worried he wants to break up or something because he is being pretty secretive and if merlin could be in there to that would be wonderful i hope this is keeping to your rules if not sorry anyway please and thank you 

Arthur Pendragon x Gender Neutral Reader

_

The castle was swarming with people, and yet it felt empty somehow. Your footsteps echoed around the hallways, only increasing the feeling of loneliness. Everyone was behaving strangely lately, although you thought that perhaps they were only busy. It did feel like something was happening that you had no knowledge of.

A familiar figure appeared before you, and your heart skipped a beat at the sight of his him. He didn’t glance at you, yet you didn’t know if it was because he had not noticed you or if he was pretending not to.

“Arthur!” You called him as your paths crossed and you stopped before each other. “Arthur, dear”

“Not now, Y/N” He briefly replied, not bothering to even look at you still.

“But…” You held on to his arm, feeling the cold touch of his metal armguards spreading through your body and freezing your heart. “I just want to talk to you”

“I have somewhere to be” Arthur replied, continuing to walk like you weren’t there. Your fingers slipped off his arm as he did, leaving you holding on to nothing. An empty void joined the coldness of your heart.

Not knowing what else to do, you just stood there in the middle of the hallway, watching how he walked away. Arthur didn’t turn around nor glanced at you over his shoulder. Not even once.

You sighed, restless as you thought of a way to end your strife. What was the matter with him? For quite a while now you had been together, inseparable, but now… Arthur seemed to avoid you, he was distant and impatient. Perhaps he didn’t want to be with you any longer, perhaps he had grown tired of the relationship.

The sound of footsteps claimed your attention, and you smiled hopefully as you lifted your gaze. It must be Arthur, who realized his ill manners and had returned to apologize, surely! On the contrary, you saw someone else hurrying along the hallway.

“Merlin!” You called, mentally begging for him to pay attention to you. Fortunately, your friend stopped in his tracks and smiled at you. It was a warm gesture, familiar and comforting. It seemed that he had nothing against you, unlike everyone else.

“Yes?” He asked, looking you up and down. “Is something the matter, Y/N?”

“I…” You frowned, overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry. Noticing this, Merlin put a hand on your arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. This encouraged you enough to continue speaking. “I fear Arthur is mad at me”

“Arthur?” Your friend chuckled, letting go of you. “That’s silly, Y/N. You know Arthur adores you”

As he spoke, Merlin averted his gaze. Watching him intently, you realized he was pursing his lips as though he was trying to keep quiet. You knew him enough to realize he kept something from you, as you had imagined.

“He is upset with me, isn’t he?” You sighed, wringing your hands in concern. “What is happening, Merlin? And why won’t anybody tell me?”

“I…” He cautiously returned your gaze. His eyes shone with empathy. “I can’t tell you”

“He will break up with me” You stated, more convinced by the second.

“No, I promise! You… he…” Merlin clicked his tongue, suddenly quite agitated. “I can’t tell you, Y/N, I’m sorry!”

“Have I done something wrong?”

“No” He paused to urgently take your hands in his. “You have nothing to worry about”

“But-“ You started, growing quiet when he vehemently shook his head.

“Trust me, Y/N” Merlin dedicated you a sweet smile. “Arthur loves you, and everything will make sense soon”

His eyes lingered on yours, silently asking you if you were okay and if you had understood what he was trying to tell you, if you believed him. The answer to all of those was no. You didn’t understand what was happening, and you were too hurt by Arthur’s demeanor to believe Merlin’s words of comfort. Nonetheless, you nodded your head.

“I must go” Merlin resolved, squeezing your hands one last time before letting go of them. “Be patient, he will come back to you”

There was this gentleness in his voice that meant to comfort you, just like the softness in his gaze. You nodded again, causing him to smile at you again before walking away.

Once more, you were left standing there alone as they left you behind. You resolved to return to your hiding place and walked inside your chambers again. They were too big for you, and Arthur only visited them during the night, although you were asleep by the time he arrived and lied down with you. As you lingered on your restless slumber, he held you tight every night and sighed at the wonderful feeling of you between his arms. You weren’t aware of this. Otherwise you wouldn’t be so worried over the situation, over your fear that Arthur had stopped loving you, because he loved you more than ever.

Unbeknownst to this, you absently paced up and down the room. You stared at the vase before you, delicately caressing the fragile petals. You remembered the day Arthur gifted you those flowers. Or rather, when he made Merlin bring them to you. You feared those days were over, in which you and Merlin joked about Arthur’s sappiness and his never ending gifts and affections directed at you. You feared that Arthur had grown tired of you, and you would wither like those flowers without their nurturing.

_

After quite a restless night, the sun had finally come out. The darkness ended, yielding to the light of dawn. Unable to fall back asleep, you feebly lay in bed. Negative thoughts plagued your mind, as well as that craving sensation that haunted you. Your hand fell over the side of the bed, there where Arthur was supposed to be laying with you. It was cold and empty. Had he visited your shared chambers at all last night?

You were startled when a knock suddenly came on the door. Quickly sitting up, you hurried to make yourself decent by clumsily combing your hair with your hands.

“Yes?” You asked, nervously reaching out for the hand mirror on your bedside table.

“It’s Merlin” Came his voice from the other side. “May I come in?”

You frowned, finding it unusual that he was so polite. As much as he was a servant, Merlin was your friend and often took some liberties. It was rare for him to knock at all.

“Of course” You muttered when you confirmed in your reflection that your appearance was good enough. Slowly, the door opened to reveal his smiling face. He peeked inside, looked behind him, and then came in.

“What’s the matter?” You asked him, wondering why he behaved so strangely.

“Someone wants me to deliver these to you” Merlin’s grin lingered, and it only grew wider as he revealed the big bouquet of flowers he concealed behind his back.

“Merlin!” You exclaimed in awe, taking them from him and admiring them in your hands. There were flowers of all colors, all of them producing a pleasant scent to accompany the beautiful sight they were. “Who sends them?”

Exchanging a glance with him, you had a growing suspicion. Butterflies erupted in your stomach at the thought, and they only increased when your friend looked behind him.

“Y/N is wide awake” He was saying to whoever hid behind the door. “You can come in now”

At the sight of a tall blond man, you tried to hide your excitement. Arthur had become so distant that your familiarity turned to hesitance and forced closeness. Nonetheless, as he stood there you couldn’t even be mad at him. Despite his broad complexion and high stature, he appeared incredibly vulnerable as he timidly averted his beautiful blue eyes.

“Arthur?” You whispered, nearly afraid to scare him away.

“I’m sorry, Y/N” He started, daring to look up into your eyes. “I know I haven’t been the best partner these last few days”

“Y-You were busy” You chuckled, trying to pretend like it didn’t hurt you. “Camelot needs you as much as I do”

“Perhaps, but that wasn’t the reason” Arthur took a cautious step forward. “I will never be too busy for you”

“Then why…?” You uttered, growing more confused by the second.

“I should go” Merlin suddenly mumbled, nervously stepping away, only to be stopped.

“Merlin, don’t leave me” Arthur begged him between grit teeth. Something was definitely the matter for him to require Merlin’s presence. What was he about to tell you that he needed his closest friend’s moral support?

“Arthur, you’re scaring me” The flowers shook in your hands. When you locked eyes with him, you were astonished to see no concern or sadness in them, only fondness. “What happened?”

What could excuse this behavior from both of them? What could possibly be occurring for him to be rendered in such a timid, timorous yet smitten state? It made absolutely no sense.

“I realized something” Arthur continued walking towards you until he was right before you. Then, he took the bouquet from your hands and absently handed it to Merlin. “Something that changed everything forever”

You helplessly glanced at Merlin, watching how he replaced the old withered bouquet of flowers with the new lively and colorful one. He was pressing his lips together and making a great effort not to watch you and intrude in that intimate moment.

“W-What is it?” You uttered as your gaze returned to your lover.

“I realized I am hopelessly lost in love with you” Arthur smiled, and despite it all you noticed the nervous twitch in his lips. “And how wonderful you are… and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you”

“What…?”

“Y/N…” One of your hands flew to your mouth when you saw Arthur sinking one knee on the floor and adoringly peering up at you. “Will you marry me?”

“What?!” You exclaimed, ignoring the badly contained noise of Merlin snickering next to you. “Is that what you were hiding from me?”

“Um…” Arthur, still kneeling down, froze for a moment. “Yes, I wanted to surprise you”

“I told you it was a bad idea to distance yourself…” Merlin said under his breath.

“Shut up, Merlin” The other one replied, soon after focusing his attention back on you. “For weeks I thought about the best way of proposing and yet… none of them seemed good enough for you, so… I decided to improvise”

You were left speechless by this discovery. When Arthur tenderly squeezed your hand, it dawned on you. You finally realized what was happening. Arthur had just asked you to marry him, he was proposing to you! That was what he was hiding!

“You scared me so badly” Suddenly overcome with emotion, you felt tears welling up in your eyes. “I thought you didn’t love me anymore”

“Forgive me, my love… That was never my intention” Arthur said from below. “Believe me when I say I could never stop loving you. I will make it up to you, I promise”

“Uh... Y/N…” Merlin whispered, calling attention to his long forgotten presence once more. “You haven’t given him an answer yet”

“Oh!” You exclaimed, startled by the realization. You had started shaking from head to toe at some point. In your mind, you were screaming at yourself to say ‘yes’ but you only gawked at him. You couldn’t utter even that simple word.

“Y/N” Arthur tried again, nearly making you swoon by the way in which he lovingly gazed at you, like his kingdom wasn’t even as precious to him as you were. “Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

A sob struck you, making it impossible to talk. You only stared at him, embracing the warmth of his hand against yours and just then seeing the beautiful ring he held up to you.

Moving sneakily, Merlin nudged you in the ribs. That gave you the encouragement you needed to reply once and for all. Unable to speak as you cried tears of joy, you decided to energetically nod your head instead.

Arthur heaved a big sigh, as he had been seemingly holding his breath all this time. His smile was almost blinding as he cheerfully jumped to his feet and slipped the ring around your finger. It was quite a hard task, as you were still shaking, though he only laughed a little about it. After all, his fingers felt clumsy too.

“I love you” He said, tenderly cradling your face into his hands and kissing you on the lips.

“I love you too…” You managed to say between sobs, hiding your head in his shoulder as you recovered from the many emotions that overwhelmed you.

As he tightly held you in his arms, Arthur laughed out of sheer happiness. You clutched on to his white tunic, starting to laugh a little yourself as you ran out of joyful tears. He placed a hand on the back of your head and sweetly kissed your temple.

“It didn’t quite go as I expected” Merlin joined your laughter too, although his sounded more amused than moved by emotion. “It was a disaster, honestly”

“You’re not helping, Merlin” Arthur told his friend. “Why are you laughing?”

“You should have seen your faces” Your friend laughed, pointing at both of you.

Arthur rolled his eyes, exasperated by his manservant as usual. It pulled a smile out of you, calming your racing heart as everything returned to normal.

“I thought you were worried about Y/N’s answer” He told him, but Merlin shook his head.

“I wasn’t, I knew Y/N would say yes” Merlin shrugged a little. “You’re made for each other”

Arthur left behind his joking reprimanding and vexed tone and acquired a more genuine one as he smiled at Merlin.

“Thank you, old friend” Soon, however, the gesture became mischievous. “But you have a lot to do now. You must help Y/N plan the wedding: the flowers, the food, the guests…”

Merlin sent you a look, one that screamed ‘help me’. You laughed, feeling how your nerves faded away completely and the excitement and glee settled. Arthur continued listing the things that Merlin needed to do for the wedding, and you only laughed more and clung on to him as he teased his friend.

Your eyes were directed towards the fresh bouquet adorning your vase. Red, yellow, pink, violet, orange, blue…  all the color that stained the petals seemed to seep into your life, transforming the dull black and white existence that you had been trapped in during all those long days into a rainbow of euphoria that foresaw happy days and loving moments.

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[little-ligi]

Febuwhump - No. 7

No.7 - Poisoning Fandom - BBC Merlin Wordcount - 1864 @febuwhump​

It was already midmorning by the time they set out on patrol. Gwaine had been late again. Lancelot had needed to go and rouse him and drag him down to the stables where Leon, Elyan and Percival were preparing to head out.

Gwaine still looked half asleep as they rode into the forest. Leon kept an eye on him, noting his drooping eyelids and bloodshot eyes. But he was keeping up with the others and not complaining so Leon turned his attention to the track they were riding.

It was a fairly nice day, cloudless, the temperature just on this side of warm, and the horses trotted happily along the well worn patrol path. Leon kept half an ear out for any unusual noises in the dense trees to their left, but mostly listened to the other knights, chatting easily with each other. Gwaine was quieter than usual, Elyan taking most of the conversation.

Several minutes later, when Percival told a joke and Gwaine didn’t even laugh, Leon frowned and turned his horse slightly to face the other knights. Gwaine was slumped in his saddle, his shoulders hunched, looking a little peaky.

Continue reading on Ao3, FF.net or below! 👇

“How late were you at the tavern last night, Gwaine?” Leon asked with a sigh.

“No idea,” he said, his voice rough. “Later than I meant to be.” He groaned and rubbed a hand over his face.

“Had a bit too much?” Elyan teased gently, poking Gwaine in the arm.

Gwaine gave him a smile that came out more like a grimace.

“There’s a new barmaid,” he said, clearly trying to sound his usual jovial self. He winked at Elyan. “She kept topping up my pint, said I deserved a little extra ‘cause I’m so handsome.”

“Ah, she’s blind then, is she?” Lancelot joked.

Elyan and Percival laughed, and Gwaine pulled a face at Lancelot, who smiled wryly. Leon shook his head, trying to dispel the unease that had settled in his chest. So Gwaine had a hangover, that wasn’t anything to get worried about.

He turned his horse back forwards and nudged her with his heel. With a soft snort she plodded forwards. The other three continued good-naturedly ribbing Gwaine for his hangover, chuckling and tossing jokes and friendly insults. Leon concentrated on the patrol route; it was mercifully quiet, no signs of anything amiss.

They hadn’t got much further before Gwaine suddenly retched and clamped a hand over his mouth, his face looking even greener. Elyan snorted.

“You need to learn when to stop drinking, my friend,” Percival said, the hint of a smile in his voice as he reached over from his horse and patted Gwaine on the shoulder.

“Ugh, perhaps you’re right,” Gwaine moaned, leaning forwards over his horse’s neck.

Leon watched him squeeze his eyes shut in pain, his sweaty forehead creased as it pressed into the horse’s mane. Exactly how much had Gwaine had last night? He normally held his ale better than anyone Leon had ever met. To be so badly affected the next morning was rather unlike him.

Lancelot held out his waterskin, but Gwaine just shook his head, his lips pressed firmly shut and his hand hovering by his mouth. His body spasmed as he fought back another retch. Lancelot’s brows drew down in a deep frown.

“Are you alright to keep going, Gwaine?” Leon asked him seriously.

He hauled himself upright and wiped his mouth roughly with his palm, nodding firmly.

“Yes, there’s nothing wrong with me,” he growled.

Lancelot scoffed and Gwaine shot a scowl at him, kicking his horse forwards away from him. Lancelot caught Leon’s eye, his gaze questioning. Leon shrugged.

They kept moving, but now Leon was watching Gwaine closely as he rode. He was sweating, his hair stuck to his face, which was pinched in pain. He had one arm wrapped around his stomach, his fingers clenched into a fist in his chainmail.

The longer they rode, the worse Gwaine continued to look. Leon’s instincts were screaming that something was wrong. He steered his horse so he was riding beside Gwaine, unhooking his waterskin and passing it to the short knight.

“Drink, Gwaine,” he ordered.

Gwaine nodded his thanks, looking a little guilty as he met Leon’s eyes. He unstoppered the skin with shaking fingers and gulped back a few mouthfuls.

“How do you feel?” Leon asked. “Honestly?”

“Fine,” Gwaine said through slightly gritted teeth. “I’m fine, Leon. I can manage a bloody hangover.”

“Are you sure, you look like you’re about to fall off your horse?”

“Just a little bit of stomach ache, it’s nothing.” He clenched the arm around his stomach tighter, biting back a groan.

Leon’s frown deepened. “Gwaine…”

Gwaine nudged his horse, trying to get away from Leon’s scrutiny. She pranced slightly, unused to the unsteady commands from her usually relaxed rider and the tight grip he had on the reins.

Leon pursed his lips. He spotted Lancelot frowning at Gwaine as well, definitely not believing the lie that he was fine any more than Leon did. Lancelot trotted up to take Gwaine’s position beside him, leaning across to mutter to Leon.

“That looks like more than just a hangover.”

“I know.” Leon frowned at Gwaine’s hunched back. “Keep an eye on him,” he told Lancelot.

Lancelot nodded. Not that he needed telling; Lancelot was exceptionally good at looking out for his friends.

By the time they stopped for lunch, Gwaine looked like death warmed up. He was shaking violently, sweat dripping down his temples. His face had no colour at all and he had both hands pressed to his stomach, his fingers white-knuckled as he dug them into the chainmail.

The rest of the knights dismounted, tying their horses to trees, but all keeping their eyes unwaveringly on Gwaine. Elyan and Percival had noticed as well now, worry written in the set of their eyebrows.

Elyan went over and took the reins from Gwaine, holding his horse steady so he could get down, but Gwaine didn’t appear to notice. He groaned.

“Gwaine, come on, down you get,” Lancelot coaxed gently, holding a hand up to him.

Blinking blearily, Gwaine slid off, only just managing to stay on his feet. He swayed, doubled over and retched again, this time bringing up a deluge of vomit. Lancelot grabbed him from behind as he began pitching forwards and steadied him with an arm wrapped around his chest, the other reaching to pull his long hair back.

Percival ran to help Lancelot as Gwaine collapsed to his knees, heaving and retching, the awful sound echoing around the forest as tears streamed down Gwaine’s face. Leon watched in horror as the vomit began to turn red with blood and still Gwaine didn’t stop. Percival’s arm was taking all of Gwaine’s limp weight. Lancelot’s hand buried in his sweat-soaked hair holding his head steady.

“Leon! What’s happening? What do we do?” Elyan was frantic, his hands in an iron grip around Leon’s arm, pinching the chainmail into his flesh.

“I don’t…” Leon dropped to his knees as well, careful to avoid the terrible pool of blood and sick. He took Gwaine’s hand, squeezing the clammy fingers.

Finally, after far too long, Gwaine ceased vomiting. Gagging and spluttering as his stomach ran out of anything else to empty. Whimpering, he sagged against Lancelot’s chest, sliding down to lie on his lap.

Leon and Percival lifted him, moving him away from the vile mess, which Elyan quickly kicked soil over. They laid him down on a soft bit of earth, letting Lancelot kneel behind him again to cushion his head.

Percival brought a waterskin over, gently tipping it to Gwaine’s lips. Most of it dribbled down his chin, and he spat out the rest to clear his mouth. He pushed it away before trying another sip. Lancelot brushed his hair back from his sweaty brow, the tan of his hand only highlighting the paleness of Gwaine’s face.

Leon sat on the ground in front of him, taking Gwaine’s hand again. Gwaine looked up at him through bleary eyes, unfocussed and swimming in tears.

“Gwaine. Talk to me,” Leon gently instructed.

“My stomach…” he rasped, his throat raw. Another wave of pain crossed his face as his stomach spasmed again. He cried out, trying to curl up into a ball. “My head…”

Elyan pulled out a handkerchief, pouring water on it and passing it to Lancelot, who placed it on Gwaine’s forehead. Gwaine whimpered, his body jerking with tremors of pain. His eyes slid shut.

“Do you know what’s caused –” Leon started but Percival cut him off with a gasp.

“Oh no… I just thought… Gwaine?” Percival tapped his face urgently. Gwaine just groaned. “Gwaine, did you eat anything strange last night?”

“Barmaid gave me some mushroom stew,” he gasped between winces. “Was nice.”

Percival’s eyes widened in alarm.

“He’s been poisoned,” he told Leon, the certainty in his voice sending a chill down Leon’s spine.

“The barmaid?” Elyan snapped.

“Perhaps not deliberately.” Percival wrung his hands together, his eyes glistening as he looked down at Gwaine’s ashen, pain-filled face. “I recognise these effects though, a child from my village, when I was young, accidently ate some…” He stopped, the colour draining completely from his face, terror clouding his eyes.

“Ate some what, Percival?” Leon asked, already dreading the answer.

Percival opened his mouth, gulped and closed it again. Then looked up and met Leon’s eyes.

“… Death Cap mushrooms.”

“No!” Elyan cried.

“We need to get back to Camelot,” Leon barked, letting Gwaine’s limp hand slip from his fingers as he bolted to his feet. “Lancelot, Percival, you take Gwaine straight to Gaius, ride as fast as you can.”

“Can we move him?” Lancelot asked, cradling Gwaine’s head in his lap with a worried expression on his face.

“We have no other choice.” Leon said with a heavy heart, hoping he was doing the best thing for his friend.

“I’m sorry, Gwaine,” Percival whispered, hooking one hand under his back and the other under his knees and lifting him into his arms.

“Ride with me or you?” Lancelot stood as soon as Gwaine’s weight was off his lap.

“I’ll take him.” They lifted Gwaine onto the front of Percival’s saddle, and Lancelot held him steady as Percival mounted up behind him.

Leon gave them a nod, clapping Percival and Lancelot on the back, then placing a hand on Gwaine’s leg and giving it a squeeze.

“I’ll see you back at Camelot.”

“Thanks, Leon,” Gwaine slurred.

Percival wrapped one arm around Gwaine, holding his limp shivering body against his chest and kicked his horse forwards into a canter, Lancelot’s following suit. It was all Leon could do not to leap on his own horse and gallop after them. He watched unhappily as Percival and Lancelot’s horses disappeared into the trees, and then turned to Elyan, who was already mounting up.

“Elyan, we need to find that barmaid, if it was an accident we need to stop her before she gives anyone else any.” He ground his teeth, his jaw painfully clenched, and climbed onto his horse. “And if it was deliberate…”

Elyan growled and together they kicked their horses forwards.

a/n - Yes, Death Caps are, capital D, Deadly. No, Gwaine will NOT die. Yes, Merlin will do some magical healing! Just so no one worries!

[magic-multicolored-miracle]

30 Questions Ask Tag Meme Thing

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better.  I won’t be doing that, certainly not for 20, but I’ll answer the questions.

Thanks @exlibrisfangirl for the tag :)

Name/Nickname: Shye

Gender: Response not found. Ask again later.

Star sign: Pisces

Height: 5′1″

Time: 11:34pm (EST)

Birthday: March 12 (and 2021 will be my quarter-centennial)

Favorite Bands: Of the moment...Abney Park, The Amazing Devil, Clockwork Dolls, Larkin Poe, Howard Shore/The London Philharmonic Orchestra (I’ve been listening to the LotR soundtracks so...)

Favorite Solo artists: David Bowie, Hozier, James Bay, Karliene, Lindsey Sterling, I’m sure there are more but that’s what I’ve got going right now.

Song stuck in my head: Zombie by The Cranberries. Also the Galavant theme. 

Last movie: Zombies 2 (the weird Disney Channel nonsense) which...probably explains at least part of my answer to the last question a bit...

Last Show: Black Sails! I am fully getting my pirate on. It feels so nice.

When did I create this blog: I want to say Sept 2014? I don’t remember the exact date but it was in my freshman year of college, so I’m guessing around then. Although apparently my first post was Jan 2015 which doesn’t sound right but maybe...

What do I post: Everything. Too many things?

Last thing googled: baked macaroni and cheese. I couldn’t remember what temp to preheat the oven to. 

Other blogs:@the-novel-on-the-left for all my writing things and @one-heck-of-a-lawyer which has all my random study/bar prep thoughts and some inspiration things and what have you. 

Do I get asks: Some. The writing blog gets more.

Why I chose my url: Jubilee cosplay made entirely of clothing from my own closet in...honestly not that much weirder of a combination than I would actually normally wear. My sister called me an eyesore. I countered. It was the first thing that came to mind while trying to come up with something catchy. 

Following: 79

Followers: 217 (Hi y’all...Why y’all?)

Average hours of sleep: I’ve been doing pretty well lately, so for the past couple weeks the number is up to a whole 6! Sometimes they’re even at night!

Lucky number: I feel pretty good about 9. 

Instruments: I don’t play music. I wish I could, but I never managed to get the hang of it, even though I tried quite a few instruments over the years. I played the flag in marching band (color guard).  I think I have a decent singing voice if that counts? And I did okay at piano but I’m not sure if I remember it anymore.

What am I wearing: Jeans. Purple sweater. Green tank top. Black hairtie. More rings than the average person. 

Dream job: Movie/TV costume design. Bog witch. Ghost in an old rickety mansion. More realistically, maybe lead counsel at a nonprofit of some kind? I dunno. I’ve never had so much of a particular title when it comes to dream jobs. Just doing something I love and helping others in the process. 

Dream trip: I wanna go back to Newport, RI for a while. Or Ireland. I miss Dublin. But really, I love travelling, so I can make almost anywhere a dream. 

Favorite food: Lemon bars. Orange-cranberry muffins. Dunkin Donuts hashbrowns. Everything bagel with cream cheese and lox. 

Nationality: American

Favorite song: Space Oddity (David Bowie). Flowers (Hadestown). Concerning Hobbits. Man’s Road (The Last Unicorn). 

Last book read: Someday, my answer will stop being Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. Because someday I’ll have time to actually sit down and just...finish it. 

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: Middle Earth.  Camelot (especially BBC Merlin version). Can’t think of a good third.

Not tagging anyone specific tonight. But if you see this, I encourage you wholeheartedly to play and say that I tagged you.

[gwen-cheers-me-up]

I’ve been in the mood to write some BBC Merlin gen fic lately, but I don’t have the time to start any big projects or work on the ones I’ve already started, so I thought I’d take some requests instead. Send me 2 characters + a prompt from the list below and I’ll write you a short fic!

Platonic / Gen Prompt Compilation

Dialogue Prompts (Questions) - Set A:

1a. “Are you warm enough?”

2a. “What if they’re right?”

3a. "Is it always like this?"

4a. “You’re coming back, right?”

5a. “Is this really necessary?”

6a. “Do you want me to stop?”

7a. "You forgot, didn't you?"

8a. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”

9a. “Are you just gonna sit there?"

10a. “What is wrong with you?”

11a. “Are you finished yet?”

12a. “Who are you talking to?”

13a. "Isn't it obvious?"

14a. “Can you show me?”

15a. “How is this my fault?”

16a. “What makes you think that?”

17a. "Are you ever going to apologize?"

18a. “What’s taking so long?”

19a. “Is it okay for me to be here?”

20a. “Why would you do that?”

21a. “What if it doesn’t work?”

22a. “Where does it hurt?”

23a. “What do you really think of me?”

24a. "Are the rumors true?"

25a. "Why am I like this?"

26a. “Did I do something wrong?”

27a. “Can I come in?”

28a. "What do you want from me?"

29a. “Does that bother you?”

30a. "What are you hiding?"

Dialogue Prompts - Set B:

1b. “You look like you could use some company.”

2b. “I owe you, after everything.”

3b. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”

4b. “You don’t have to thank me.”

5b. "I need advice."

6b. “Take your time.”

7b. "I don't want to talk to you."

8b. “I know what I’m doing.”

9b. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

10b. "Your secret is safe with me."

11b. "Here, this might help."

12b. "I changed my mind."

13b. “Something’s wrong. I can tell.”

14b. "I didn't want you to see me like this."

15b. “I don’t think you should be alone right now.”

16b. "Never mind, it doesn't matter."

17b. "I'll go first."

18b. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

19b. “I’m leaving.”

20b. “You need my help.”

21b. “It’s not enough.”

22b. "If anyone asks, this was your idea."

23b. "Wait here, I'll be right back."

24b. “You were right.”

25b. “I should go.”

26b. “You don’t have to tell me.”

27b. “I’m glad we’re friends.”

28b. “I thought you hated me.”

29b. “You’re adorable.”

30b. "I didn't mean it like that."

Physical Contact Prompts - Set C:

1c. Nudging

2c. Playing with the other’s hair

3c. Linking arms

4c. Touch-starved cuddling

5c. Horseplay

6c. Tending wounds

7c. Holding hands

8c. Hurt/comfort cuddling

9c. Sitting on the other’s lap

10c. Carrying

11c. Petting/stroking non-human body part

12c. Sleeping in each other’s arms

13c. Casual cuddling

14c. Tapping the other to get attention

15c. Sprawling out on top of each other

16c. Hugging

17c. Clasping wrists

18c. Nervous or flustered cuddling

19c. Platonic kissing

20c. Resting head on chest/shoulder

21c. Tickling

22c. Head pats

23c. Sleepy/drunk cuddles

24c. Caressing the other’s cheek

25c. Touching foreheads

26c. Putting an arm around the other’s back or shoulders

27c. Massages

28c. Patting on the back

29c. Linking pinkies

30c. Resting head in the other’s lap

Trope/AU Prompts - Set D:

1d. Friendship pining

2d. Anger out of worry

3d. Secret friendship

4d. There’s only one bed

5d. Poorly timed reveal/confession

6d. Mistaken for a couple

7d. Mistaken for family

8d. Scar reveal

9d. Bargain/sacrifice to save the other

10d. Sick!fic

11d. Arranged marriage/marriage of convenience

12d. Birthday

13d. De-aging/kid AU

14d. Hurt/comfort

15d. Accidental adoption

16d. Fake dating/marriage

17d. Locked in a room

18d. Huddling for warmth

19d. Animal transformation

20d. Enemies to friends

21d. Drunken admissions/truth potion

22d. Facing worst fear

23d. Tricked or brainwashed into becoming an enemy

24d. Different first meeting

25d. Platonic love confession

26d. Married to one’s job

27d. Reincarnation/resurrection

28d. Stranded due to weather

29d. Creature!fic

30d. Accidental eavesdropping

“First” Prompts - Set E:

1e. First “I love you”

2e. First time meeting the other’s legal/biological family

3e. First ride-or-die moment

4e. First fight

5e. First time calling the other “friend”

6e. First time calling the other “family”

7e. First promise

8e. First night spent together (sleepover, sharing a bed, night under the stars)

9e. First time crying in front of the other

10e. First hug

11e. First vulnerable moment

12e. First time cracking up at something that’s not actually that funny

13e. First gift exchange

14e. First time realizing they can rely on each other

15e. First casual physical contact

16e. First time getting up to shenanigans together

17e. First trip/adventure/vacation

18e. First celebration together

19e. First time confiding each other

20e. First day spent together “just because”

21e. First mistake

22e. First time asking for help

23e. First time anticipating the other’s needs

24e. First time someone else notices how close they are

25e. First awkward moment

26e. First time risking their life to save the other

27e. First cuddles

28e. First conversation without words

29e. First apology

30e. First time standing up for the other

Chaotic Prompts - Set F:

1f. Tag-team roast session

2f. Getting married as a joke (or out of spite)

3f. Accidental necromancy/resurrection

4f. Pretending to be the other’s parent

5f. Pretending to be the other’s grandparent

6f. Pretending to be strangers

7f. Pretending to be each other

8f. Raising an unconventional pet

9f. Raising an unconventional child

10f. Accidentally saving the day

11f. Accidentally bringing about the apocalypse

12f. Committing a crime with zero forethought

13f. Making up a lie on the spot

14f. Accidentally getting hired as an assassin

15f. Accidentally starting a cult

16f. Accidentally starting a revolt

17f. A prank gets out of hand

18f. A surprise goes wrong

19f. A complicated lie gets too complicated

20f. A major miscommunication

21f. Pretending to be royalty/nobility

22f. Pretending to be a commoner

23f. Pretending to have magic

24f. Claiming not to have magic while actively doing magic

25f. Crashing an event

26f. Accidental time travel

27f. Trying (and failing) to cook

28f. Trying (and failing) to eat the other’s cooking

29f. Staging a fight to get out of trouble

30f. Offending someone important and trying to fix it but making it worse