#merthur moments

[thefabledpheasant]

During this sequence that’s supposed to feel victorious and like, “yeah things aren’t perfect, but the good guys won today!” Merlin watches Guinevere and Arthur hug intimately and you know what? He looks sad.

He looks like he wishes he could touch Arthur so freely and affectionately. He looks like he’s desperate to be seen for everything he is and everything he’s done for him. He looks like he’s accepting he’ll never be with Arthur like that and it’s breaking his heart.

That man is deeply in love and he can’t do anything about it. He is happy for them because he just wants them to be happy, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like a dagger in his heart.

It reminds me of that quote from Sherlock, “you look sad when you think he can’t see you”

[1doesnotsimplyhavejust1fandam]

My favorite Merthur dynamic, especially in slow-burn fics is, once they’ve had their “oh” moments. Arthur is doing backflips around the fact that he’s in love with a man, let alone his manservant, let alone Merlin. And then there’s Merlin, who takes one look inward and is like “well, this might as well happen,” and then tucks this secret away inside him with the rest of them. Because, well, his life is already Arthur’s, his heart might as well be too.

Meanwhile, Arthur is screaming crying throwing up, and nobody knows why, least of all Merlin, but damn if he’s not going to give figuring it out his best shot. Cue Merlin performing various acts of sorcery on a passed out Arthur to find out why his king can’t get a full sentence out in his presence without getting flustered.

[secretly-a-catamount]

“So, are they love at first sight or the most devastating slow burn?”

YES

[myoonmii]

Some might say he didn’t take the news well

[godmerlin]

Merlin 4x10 A Herald of the New Age

[starchaser45]

I don't fucking understand why didn't Merlin or gaius tell Arthur about the pendant like couldn't gaius go

" oh sire we found this pendant around the King's neck and it has transforming magic on it so every healing spell is reversed so it's not the old man's fault "

Like is that so hard to do AUUGGHHHHHHHHHHH

[dollopole]

There’s something so sweet about this scene. Not only Arthur is surrounded by his knights, his friends, he still can’t seem to forget there’s someone missing.

And the way he approaches Merlin is nothing funny or sarcastic: it’s pure concern, it’s love, it’s respect.

Merlin admits he’s scared, without thinking about it twice, because yes, this is Arthur, the same man who makes fun of me on a daily, but he’s also my best friend, the man I love, and who I could lose, but I can’t tell him, but, oh God, if he needs to know I don’t want him to die. I’m the most powerful warlock on earth, yet I’m scared of Morgana, because she wants to kill Arthur, and I’m weak when it comes to him, I’m scared I won’t be able to protect him as I should (especially since Merlin has heard the prophecy that spoke of Arthur’s bane).

I like Arthur’s stunned face. Merlin is referring to his life. “You don’t care you could die?” And not only Arthur is shocked by it, because he thought Merlin knew his reasonings by now, knew that Arthur would never risk losing his knights, losing Merlin. But Arthur doesn’t care as long as his men are safe, as long as Merlin’s safe (because, let’s be honest, this conversation is nothing but a way for them to tell each other how they feel towards one another, without exposing themselves to the danger of this revelation). And Arthur needs to make something clear:

“Only about you.” Because Arthur brings Merlin everywhere like he’s a solider, a warrior, someone who knows how to fight with a sword, who’s an asset to Camelot and the kingdom itself, so he considers him an equal, someone he can sit with on a lower step and chat with about his fears, because he can be vulnerable with Merlin. Arthur knows he’s safe with him.

Arthur includes Merlin in his speech, and this is something that could mean, “Oh, so Merlin isn’t a friend, isn’t a brother, he’s so much more.” This scene is so impactful, because it’s one of those rare moments where Arthur shows how deeply he can love, how much risk he’s willing to take to bring peace to his kingdom and to his people: to the ones he loves.

And he knows his knights, he knows Merlin won’t abandon him, because he has never done it, and Arthur truly believes Merlin has no reason to do it now, even if he’s scared. It’s as if Arthur is asking, just to make sure, just to have the confirmation that they think the same of it.

And they do:

I wish I didn’t understand how much I’m willing to risk, and have already risked for you. Because this is why I’m here: for you and only for you.

The self deprecating smile, because Merlin can’t back down, he never will. He’s so frightened, yet not even the prospect of battling against Morgana and her army will make him run.

He has Arthur to protect.

The way he smiles, it’s as if he’s saying, “Why didn’t I understand this sooner? Arthur’s just like me.” But it’s the fact that they told each other this, they know now, after ten years, that they’re willing to do anything and more for the other to stay safe, to be alive, even if one of them isn’t.

Merlin tells Arthur. He watches him intensely, because Arthur needs to understand. He’s honest.

Arthur gets it, and he’s finally happy. He’s relieved that Merlin won’t abandon him, that he will stay by his side, like he always is, protecting him, fighting with him, and helping him.

Arthur smiles at Merlin like he’s seeing him for the first time, and he falls in love with him just that tad bit more.

[goth-emrys]

arthur: Is something wrong with you?

merlin: Yeah, I've been on a horse all day.

arthur: Is your little bottom sore?

merlin: Yes. It's not as fat as yours.

arthur: *chuckles* You know, you've got a lot of nerve for a wimp.

merlin: I may be a wimp, but at least I'm not a dollop head.

arthur: There's no such word.

merlin: It's idiomatic.

arthur: It's what??

merlin: You need to be more in touch with the people.

arthur: Describe dollop head.

merlin: In two words?

arthur: Yeah.

merlin: Prince arthur.

[gvaine]

4.13 — The Sword in the Stone

[scottstiles]

season 1 of merlin is just so fluffy flufftown morgana wanting to help everyone gwen crushing on absolutely every person around her, all the merthur teasing and soft confused looks not to mention everyone risking their lives for one another why couldnt we just have this forever 🥹

[imagine-dragonlords]

ARTHUR'S LINGERING TOUCH (3 X 07)

[regulusrules]

Do I know you? // I thought I knew you.

BBC Merlin (2008) - s01e01 // s05e13 parallel

[lauravian]

S2E6: Beauty and the Beast (2)

Redrawing a screenshot from every episode of Merlin... (until I get bored of it)

[chronicowboy]

we as a collective do Not talk about this line delivery nearly enough and for good fucking reason, i'll kill bradley james for this one line alone. he's just a little boy :'((

[echoesofcamelot]

The year of our lord 2025 and I still can't believe that this happened and we got to watch it

[godmerlin]

"My father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made."

"It's perfect."

Merlin 1x09 Excalibur