#merlin S02E03

[franzis-frantic-thoughts]

In S01E08 "The Beginning of the End", Mordred screams when his father is executed. He breaks mirrors in Morgana's chambers.

In S02E03 "The Nightmare Begins", Mordred screams when he is surrounded by soldiers. He blasts them away, enabling his escape.

In S05E11 "The Drawing of the Dark", Mordred screams when he is locked in the dungeons and Kara gets executed. He breaks open the cell doors.

[indigooceancl]

Merlin

S02E03 | The Nightmare Begins

[henkaren-moved]

KATIE MCGRATH AS MORGANA PENDRAGON Merlin | S02E03, The Nightmare Begins

[pod-together]

Pod-Together Day 8 Reveals 2024

A gradual decline into disorder [text, audio] (Criminal Minds (US TV), Inception (2010)) written by asuralucier, performed by peasina Summary: Whenever Reid has a near-death experience, his older brother shows up to cook him dinner, and they don’t talk about it. (After the events of “Entropy”, Reid receives a visitor.)

sing this one song (to the world) (陈情令 | The Untamed (TV), 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù) written by coffee_and_cardamom, performed by Gavilan Summary: There is a curse sitting in Lán Wàngjī’s bones, and a flute in her ears.

A hymn to a mother scorned (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore) written by GwenAChan, performed by hiddendruid, itallcomesbacktoandreil, BubblesKat, and mahons_ondine Summary: This is a familiar story, told in an even more familiar world. The story of a girl torn from her mother’s arms, and how that woman turned her fury to the world. A hymn to Demeter, through a new lens.

world with purple skies (mulberry down!! - Nicole Kornher-Stace) written by Koschei_B and Rosemarycat5, performed by Koschei_B and Rosemarycat5 Summary: Scenes from the Exiled One and the Other from the dream world with purple skies musing on temporary death and strange yet accommodating worlds.

Now you are in my Power, to Slay or Spare as I will! (Merlin (TV)) written by mdzjodrt, performed by Penndragon27 Summary: Canon divergent from s02e03 where Merlin decides to admit to Morgana that she does have magic and he reveals his magic to her along with Gwen and Arthur finding out as well.

you are the one (I have been waiting for) [text, audio] (9-1-1 (TV)) written by OfTheDirewolves, performed by Matriaya

keep the earth below my feet (for all my sweat, my blood runs weak) (Good Omens (TV)) written by shadoweddepths, performed by elle_dubs Summary: “A-Aziraphale,” Crowley stutters, a bit helplessly. He looks – lost. Like he doesn’t know what to do, or say, or think. So Aziraphale makes the decision. He steps forward, reaches out with his hands. Places them both on Crowley’s shoulders before he can step back again. Underneath his touch, the demon freezes. He’s so still, so unmoving, that Aziraphale is certain he’s even stopped breathing again. Has he gotten it wrong? He was so sure, after what happened at the wedding – but Crowley is frozen beneath his touch, and Aziraphale doesn’t know what to do. But then – it’s like a dam breaking. Like it’s too much, all at once. Crowley crumples forward. Collapses into Aziraphale’s arms, all the strength gone out of his limbs. His arms end up slung across Aziraphale’s shoulders, hands locked together behind Aziraphale’s head. There’s no – he doesn’t make a sound, but the raw agony on his face, the sheer openness of it, says more than words ever could. “I’ve got you,” Aziraphale says, now sounding a bit helpless himself. “You’re alright, Crowley.” (When Crowley returns from his laudanum-induced trip to Hell, Aziraphale helps pick up the pieces.)

After the Crash [text, audio] (Avatar: The Last Airbender (Cartoon 2005)) written by shadowsong26, performed by mangotart_reads Summary: When a small disaster hits the Lower Ring, it brings someone unexpected back into Zuko’s life.

The Fic/Pod at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Radio)) written by SweetPollyOliver, performed by semperfiona, 42donotpanic, elle_dubs, SweetPollyOliver, KitKaos, pezzax, and wilfriede0815 Summary: In which our heroes arrive at an alien world who are quite convinced that Arthur Dent is the fabled saviour of their homeworld and Arthur is very embarrassed about how many towels Ford is stealing from the temple they're being accomodated in, in addition to all the general adulation being heaped on his head.

While the tide is low (One Piece (Anime & Manga)) written by Whalen, performed by Cricketbones Summary: There was a strange tightness in her chest when Vivi’s eyes fell on her in the almost-darkness, with the smell of her home around her and the sky melting into the sea. It was all too easy to imagine they were sitting among different trees on an island so very far away. Maybe that’s what led her to keep talking past the pleasantries. Maybe that’s why she told her about her mom and her sister and an old man she never called dad but wished she had.

[evadne01]

Flowers and Jealousy

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Category: M/M

Fandom: Merlin (TV)

Relationships: Merlin & Morgana (Merlin), Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Characters: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Morgana Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin), Lancelot (Merlin), Knights of the Round Table (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Happy Ending, heartfelt confessions, Possessive Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Forbidden Love, sibling dynamics, Royal Drama, court intrigue, Morgana Knows about Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Lancelot Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Lancelot Knows about Morgana's Magic (Merlin), Gwen Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Gwen Knows About Morgana's Magic (Merlin), Merlin Knows About Morgana's Magic (Merlin), Friendship/Love, Misunderstandings, Fluff and Humor, Humor, Crack Treated Seriously, Secret Relationship, Protective Merlin (Merlin), Jealous Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Episode: s02e03 The Nightmare Begins (Merlin)

Read on AO3:

@eclipsingbingo, Gifts

[wednesdayche]

Merlin S02E03

Katie McGrath / Morgana

[decimo]

Watching Merlin S01E03: when Merlin asks the Dragon how to kill an alfanc the dragon tells him that he can't do it alone, he must do it with his other side of the coin. Is Merlin's magic stronger with Arthur or smtg? Can't quite remember other scenes like this

[kessilover]

Merlin’s way of saying he has magic to Morgana. aka I do understand...

[myinfinitevariety]

Anything Worth This Feeling

Merlin steps from Morgana’s room, hands shaking and breath coming in short, shallow gasps. He had kept himself quiet and contained in the presence of the king (not his king, never his king) and Gaius but now, in the silence of the corridor, he lets himself feel the crushing guilt. 

He remembers her face, pale and shining with cold sweat, and the smell of smoke is stuck in his nose, reminding himself of his own failure. All he wants, in the moment, is to be in the warmth of Arthur’s chambers, even if he was reduced to scrubbing the floor on his bruised knees. The familiar thought is a strange sort of comfort.

His legs, while unsteady and shaking, drive him through the halls and to Arthur’s door. He feels magic buzzing under his skin, at his fingertips, and he wants so badly to tell his prince the truth. The only thing he is sure of now is that he will never return to the caves under the castle. He will never again listen to the manipulative claims made by the great serpent who had guided his every step since entering Camelot. 

His hand, quivering, rests against the wood of Arthur’s door and he knows that the prince is sleeping, not yet roused in the midst of chaos. It takes barely a thought to unlock and open the door, make his way across the cool stone, and slip under the rich sheets of Arthur’s bed. The caress of wealthy fabric is more familiar than it should be and he submits himself to the forbidden nature of what he is doing, but the sudden grip around his wrist makes him gasp and he looks up to meet blue eyes.

He knows he must look dreadful. His hair is most definitely a mess and his eyes must be red and swollen from the rubbing to keep the tears at bay. And Arthur - sharp, scathing Arthur - looks understanding and doesn’t make a sound, instead pulls him close and tucks the sorcerer under his chin like a child. 

Merlin, without encouragement, hides his face in the curve of Arthur’s neck and closes his eyes tightly against the tears welling up at the back of his throat. His shoulders, against his wishes, begin to shake and his body is seized by sobs. It’s not enough to alleviate the guilt but the warmth seeping into his cold bones gives him enough peace to rest, even for a moment.

Merlin will put his life in the hands of Arthur in the morning, curl the prince’s fingers around his heart and bare his soul. But for now, he lets himself be comforted as if it’s his last chance.

[takaraphoenix]

Half a season ago, I was salty on behalf of Morgana.

By now, I am plain furious.

The amount of gaslighting both Gaius and Merlin do with her is just... nauseating. And those are the characters we’re supposed to root for? Like, yes, sure Merlin screams at Gaius that they should tell her the truth. But he doesn’t either. He accepts Gaius’ judgment and Kilgarrah’s judgment and keeps his mouth shut.

She is suffering. She is slowly going insane because no one belives what she sees, what she knows.

The one person she confides in, Gaius, completely makes her dependant on him. Giving her drugs for lighter sleep, telling her she can trust him over and over again while actually proving that she can’t, because he knows exactly what is going on and he knows exactly that she is right but he keeps telling her she’s wrong and that it’s not magic.

And it infuriates me from three different angles.

First of all, Gaius completely lacks actual reason to do so. He has no problem embracing Merlin and his magic and teaching him. But Morgana? No, no, better make her believe she is losing her mind. Because that is somehow considered safe by him. Because... she is... Uther’s charge? So what? Merlin continuously performs magic right under Uther’s nose and no one gives a shit.

Not to mention that this episode, we have gone farther than just bad nightmares. She is now actively using actual magic. She set her bed on fire while being inside of it. Not only is it incredibly neglegent of Gaius at this point, it is also proving that he is wrong. Because Uther already suspects “someone” set the fire with magic. What does Gaius think? That untrained Morgana who has no idea what she is doing is somehow safer when she accidentally sets the entire castle on fire and Uther has her burned for it once he notices it was actually her? Really? That is safe?

That is safer than you training her, assuring her that she is not going insane, that she does have magic? Teaching her how to not set stuff on fire in her sleep because she doesn’t know how to channel magic? And if she knows she has magic, she will know to hide it. In the state she is in now, she is short of just screaming it from the rooftops in the hopes that someone who can help her will hear her.

The second angle from which this pisses me off is Kilgarrah who acts all like “no no don’t help the witch because she is no good”. Oh, fuck you and your fucking prophecies. Have you considered that maybe by not playing into them, you could change them? That maybe, if you were to show her kindness and teach her and bring her onto your side, you could avoid making an enemy of her?

Which brings me to the last point. This is strike two now.

First Nimueh and now Morgana. While Uther is shown as a bad king and talked of as a bad king, he is not the one our protagonists face off against. He is not actively taking the role of the villain.

The villains - Nimueh and now Morgana - are women. Women with magic and women with good intentions. Women who then were wronged and used by men and thus, rightfully so, turned against them.

Nimueh, who was loyal to Uther and gave him his child, just to then be hunted and see her people slaughtered at the kings’ hand.

Morgana, who is suffering, who has magic and doesn’t understand it, and the people she trusts, the people she turns to for help, instead gaslight her and act like there is no magic, refuse to help her, actively push her away while at the same time also doing their best to isolate her to prevent her from telling anyone else.

And this is... not a good pattern to start. Because if the people you set up as villains only become villains because of the men around them abusing their trust and using them... then you gotta reconsider some of your writing.

[holisticfansstuff]

I legit thought Arthur was obliquely referring to his affections for Merlin here and then I remembered Gwen ashsjsjdkfljkl

↳ ‘The Nightmare Begins ’ 16/65

[franzis-frantic-thoughts]

Happy November, folks! After a shocking lack of Morgana-lines last episode, today’s focuses on her in particular, as everybody’s favourite Druid child makes a reappearance.

S02E03 — The Nightmare Begins

Morgana realizes she has magic powers when she sets her room on fire from her bed. Against the advice of Gaius and the dragon, Merlin sends her to seek advice from the Druids. Uther, believing she has been abducted, orders the deaths of all suspected sorcerers and their sympathizers unless she is returned, so Merlin goes after her. Locating her in the Druid village where chieftain Aglain tells her the truth (giving her confidence that magic can be used for good), Merlin must get her back to Camelot before Arthur and a vengeful search party catches up with them and kills all.

[merlin-fic-server]

Among Stars and Dreams

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35644780 Title: Among Stars and Dreams Recipient: @colorofmymindposts Rating: Mature Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Fandom: Merlin Additional Tags: Canon Era, Canon Divergence, Getting Together, Mutual Pining, Druids, POV Alternating, Angst with a Happy Ending, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Good Morgana, Fix-It, Episode: s02e03 The Nightmare Begins Summary: Morgana fears she might have magic and prepares to seek the druids for help. Gwen finds her before she leaves and offers her comfort and a clever plan to get away without drawing Uther’s suspicion. Morgana and Gwen go to the druid camp together and discover who they can be away from the castle… Author’s Note: Manders! Happy holidays! I was so excited to get you as my giftee. Really hope you enjoy this! I’ve gotten so many good ideas from your list of tropes, and it’s been such a pleasure to work on this fic.

[ao3feed-merlin]

a crime to fight for your freedom

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3qyrGyt

by zoingeroni

Screenshot edits with lyrics & quotes surrounding the issue of magic persecution & liberation.

Words: 0, Chapters: 1/4, Language: English

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Uther Pendragon (Merlin), Mordred (Merlin), Aglain (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Embedded Images, transcriptions, Song Lyrics, quotes, Bigotry & Prejudice, Fear, Episode: s02e03 The Nightmare Begins (Merlin), Canonical Character Death, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Era, Canon Compliant

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3qyrGyt

[ao3feed-merlinarthur]

by Mischel

When both Gwen and Merlin witness another accident caused by Morgana's magic, there is no more denying. Despite Gaius' strong advice against it, Merlin decides to help Morgana and tell her and Gwen about his magic.

Meanwhile, Arthur follows Merlin to Morgana's chambers to inform him that he needs to let her rest and should absolutely not be bringing her flowers. Because she needs to rest. No other reason of course. Nope.

Set in the episode 2x03 The Nightmare Begins.

Words: 2673, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 16 of Merlin Rewatch 2020

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, Gen, M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Relationships: Gwen & Morgana (Merlin), Merlin & Morgana (Merlin), Gwen & Merlin (Merlin), Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Episode: s02e03 The Nightmare Begins (Merlin), Merlin's Magic Revealed (Merlin), Good Morgana (Merlin), POV Merlin (Merlin), Minor Gwen/Morgana (Merlin), Minor Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), but i mean it's pretty obvious, when Merlin gives Arthur a flower, Merlin & Morgana Friendship (Merlin), Gwen & Merlin Friendship (Merlin), Friendship, Morgana Knows about Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Gwen Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Magic Revealed, Prince Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Hurt/Comfort

[wednesdayche]

Merlin S02E03

Katie McGrath / Morgana