#morgause merlin

[starrieisdelusional]

morgause calling merlin out is so fucking funny “why are you so obsessed with arthur merlin 🤨???”

i like to think that the antagonist had a silent agreement that merlin is just a clumsy servant who had a one-sided crush on arthur that somehow managed to stay alive and ruin their plan every single time for reasons unknown

Morgana: when i was in camelot back then those two were kinda 👨‍❤️‍👨

[aspentreeonahill]

This was supposed to be a headcanon but it’s basically an au at this point

Leon and Morgause were raised together basically as siblings because their parents were close. 

They basically knew each other since birth and before the purge. (Which I imagine that they were born at least 4 years before the purge.) 

Morgause developed magic at a young age and would boast about how she was going to be a powerful sorceress and become a high priestess. 

She even tried to teach Leon magic, but he never got the hang of it, but he swore to her he would become a blood knight and serve her.

They would play pretend together, like Morgause knighting Leon or fighting together.

Both kids were too young to fully understand what was happening when the purge started.

They both fought when their parents tried to separate them to the point Morgause’s mom almost considered taking Leon with them, knowing he loved magic, but Leon’s parents refused. 

Leon’s parents helped get Morgause out of Camelot but didn’t help anymore, not wanting to face Uther’s wrath. 

They don’t really remember each other because of how young they were, but they both have a distant memory of a childhood friend.

When Morgause goes back to Camelot and Leon first sees her, he’s confused why she seems familiar. 

Morgause doesn’t really see Leon the first time she went to Camelot, but the second time she sees him unconscious from the curse, and feels sad for some reason.

She was the one to tell Morgana to shoot at the peasants instead of the knights, because for some reason she didn’t want to see the blond knight dead. 

Leon doesn’t know why he feels sad once he realizes she’s dead; he should have hated her. 

[vampyreblogger]

mary howden:

medhir:

mithian:

morgana:

morgause:

niede:

nimueh:

queen mab:

rowena:

sefa:

[runboybeneaththemoon]

[loosethreadsofyoursoul]

the degree to which magic in bbc merlin is an allegory for queerness is insane. what do you mean people with magic hide in fear for their lives because it’s illegal. what do you mean merlin’s mother sent him away to the big city bc she was afraid of what would happen if their small town found out he had magic. what do you mean merlin is taken in by an unmarried old man who used to practice magic but can’t anymore. what do you mean morgana was morally on uther’s side until she realized who she was and that he was wrong for wanting people like her dead. what do you mean anti-magical propaganda spreads misinformation that all magic is evil and everyone who practices it is also evil and should be killed. what do you mean there’s a recurring underlying theme of magical being solidarity

[merlin-gifs]

MERLIN 2x12 | 5x13

[starchaser45]

Arthur: I need anyone that lied or betrayed me to tell me right now

Gwaine: I lied about not being a noble

Arthur:good start but more important things please

Merlin: I lied about having magic

Agravaine: I sold you out to Morgana

Gwen: I lied about no longer having feelings for Lancelot

Gaius: I lied for and harbored Merlin

Uther: I lied about your mother's death

Morgana: don't look at me we all know what I did

Arthur: wow so everyone has lied to me at some point IS THERE ANYONE THAT DIDN'T LIE TO ME

Morgause: surprisingly me

Arthur:....... WHAT THE FU___

[poug1y]

[henwilsons]

MERLIN 2.12 ✗ 3.13

[rosemarytales]

my unpopular merlin opinion is that merlin telling morgana he had magic wouldn't have changed anything but this scene did

I'm not saying because arthur would have killed uthere blah blah blah. uther could have as well lived, but if merlin left the seed of doubt in arthur's mind everything would have been entirely different. and that's the obvious part.

but I had also seen a genius tumblr post (if I can find it, I'll link it and tag the author) in which op was talking about how putting morgana on the throne was only morgause's backup plan. which makes perfect sense. on the one hand, morgana's quest for power is her demise: she gives up everything good in her life in favour of her greed and desire for the throne. something that she did not have before morgause set her mind on this plan. I am positive she would have much rather kept her safe and happy in a land where she can finally explore her potential without any violent coup than give away her life to never reach what she wanted.

on the other hand, arthur is the heir. no coup would have been needed and if he started thinking about magic in a positive light, he could have brought about the change morgana and morgause wanted without any desire for revenge (therefore, no violence or losses on either party). it would have been the perfect plan and morgause was clearly trying to achieve it in the sins of the father. it is no coincidence that we can see her reaction to arthur and uther's reconciliation.

I believe this episode is the real "beginning of the end" and merlin's biggest misstep, because every other that followed was a direct consequence of this moment, e.g. morgana being thrust into the role of magic bringer and going insane, the disir's judgement, kara's death, mordred's betrayal, etc. everything could have been avoided if in this moment merlin had just convinced him to put the sword down without taking away from arthur's talk with ygraine.

[ggukalaxy]

just finished my rewatch of all five seasons of bbc's merlin, and my sister and i decided it would be fun to keep count of how many times merlin saved arthur's life throughout the show, so here is an accumulated list:

(disclaimer: it is absolutey possible that we weren't always watching attentively and that we might have missed a case or two, but i like to believe that it is kinda accurate)

times arthur would have died if merlin hadn't saved him

• 1x01: dagger thrown at arthur ⟶ merlin slowed down time to pull arthur out of the way

• 1x02: snakes supposed to poison arthur ⟶ merlin exposes the snakes and arthur kills them

• 1x04: poisoned cup ⟶ merlin drinks from it instead

• 1x05: a griffin attacks them ⟶ lancelot fights it, and merlin enchants his sword/spear so that it’ll work

• 1x07: arthur is to be sacrificed to the sidhe ⟶ merlin saves him

• 1x10: ealdor gets attacked, including arthur, and they’re doomed ⟶ merlin creates a huge wind gust to save everyone

• 1x13: questing beast attacks arthur ⟶ merlin kills it

• 1x13: questing beast bites arthur, the poison is fatal ⟶ merlin gets water from the cup of life to save him

• 2x01: arthur gets attacked by a huge boar (?) ⟶ merlin uses magic on a crossbow to save him 

• 2x01: camelot gets attack by living stone statues ⟶ merlin destroys them

• 2x02: assassin tries to kill arthur during a tournament on horses ⟶ merlin uses magic to make the assassin fall off his horse

• 2x12: dead stone statue thingies attack arthur and his knights ⟶ merlin uses magic to make the ceiling cave in and pulls arthur to his side, separating them from the statue thingies

• 2x13: arthur's wounds are getting worse ⟶ merlin finds balinor in time and has him help him (HONORARY MENTION)

• 3x04: arthur gets attacked (again) ⟶ merlin uses magic to save him (again)

• 3x07: morgause tries to kill arthur with a fire beam ⟶ merlin uses magic to make the fire beam explode before it reaches arthur

• 3x08: arthur gets attacked by wyverns ⟶ merlin uses his dragonlordness to stop them

• 3x08: arthur wears the eye of the phoenix bracelet (sucking life-force out of someone) ⟶ merlin takes it off him

• 3x12: arthur gets shot by a poisoned arrow ⟶ merlin uses magic to help him, then brings him to gaius

• 3x13: an army of immortal deads attacks camelot ⟶ merlin empties the cup of life of their blood to “kill” them all

• 4x01: dorochas attack arthur ⟶ merlin pushes arthur out of the way to get attacked instead

• 4x04: their food gets poisoned ⟶ merlin uses magic to save them

• 4x05: arthur fights in a duel and is about to be striked down ⟶ merlin makes the opponent’s sword fall out of his hands with magic

• 5x01: arthur and their men get attacked by morgana’s men ⟶ merlin saves arthur and gets them away from the battle

• 5x04: arthur almost got beheaded by odin ⟶ merlin created an earthquake with magic to stop that

• 5x06: dark tower traps ⟶ merlin parries an arrow with magic

• 5x07: arthur gets poisoned ⟶ merlin saves him with magic

• 5x08: someone wants to shoot an arrow at arthur ⟶ merlin attacks the shooter and saves arthur

• 5x11: kara tried to stab arthur ⟶ merlin uses magic to save him

and the one time he fails: 5x13, mordred stabs arthur with a sword forged on a dragon’s breath — merlin doesn’t get him to avalon in time

which brings us to a total of 27.5 times that merlin has saved arthur's life throughout the show

we also kept track of all the times arthur saved merlin's life, so here is that list:

• 1x03: merlin tells uther he is a sorcerer to save gwen (which would’ve gotten him a death sentence) ⟶ arthur convinces his father that merlin is lying out of love for gwen

• 1x04: merlin drank from a poisoned cup ⟶ arthur gets the antidote for him

• 1x11: arthur drinks poison so that merlin won’t have to ⟶ it was actually a sleeping draft though (HONORARY MENTION)

• 1x13: questing beast attacks ⟶ arthur pulled merlin out of the way

• 2x12: dead stone statue thingy attacks merlin ⟶ arthur strikes it down

• 4x01: a dorocha flies towards merlin ⟶ arthur pushes him out of the way

• 4x08: the lamia was about to kill merlin ⟶ arthur comes in at just the right time

which brings us to a total of 6.5 times that arthur saved merlin's life

it's kind of crazy to me to compare it like this, because on the one hand 27 near-death experiences across 65 episodes doesn't really sound like a lot. but at the same time i can't believe that arthur would have died 27 times if it hadn't been for merlin. and to think that arthur only saved merlin's life 6 times though?? oof

on my next rewatch, my sister and i want to make a list of all the moments that contributed to arthur's death (a so-called "doom list" with moments like merlin poisoning morgana in 2x13 etc), but that one is definitely going to be more subjective, since it'll be based on things that we think could've prevented arthur's death if they had gone any different

very excited to debate all the things that could go on that one!

[starrieisdelusional]

Uther’s death:

Merlin fights for his life as he battles hundreds of the undead with only one thing in his mind: Arthur is going to die. Knocking the last soldier away. He rams the door open.

Morgause sat on the throne with Arthur under her heels, bloody and bruised. On the other side of the floor, Uther lays unconscious. Merlin runs to her but immediately collided into nothing. There’s an invisible wall separating them.

Arthur: …merlin…

Morgause: Oh great, you’re here

Merlin: GIVE HIM BACK!!

Merlin tries to break the barrier with the sword he’s carrying, but it’s futile. Merlin tries to hit it again with higher force but the sword snaps in half.

Morgause: You can’t break it, not unless I die. It’s useless.

Morgause pulls the ends of Arthur’s hair and rest her sword on his throat

Morgause: Here’s what’s going to happen Emrys. Either you kill that tyrant- (tilts her head towards uther) or your prince dies

Arthur: Don’t do it! MERLIN DON’T DO IT!!! Damn you! Let me die for him-

Morgause: You don’t get to decide that (presses her sword)

Arthur and Morgause stares at Merlin in silence. Merlin doesn’t know what to do.

Morgause: well?? Hurry up!!

Arthur: NO! Don’t you DARE DO ANYTHING!!

Merlin: I…let him go morgause…

Morgause: Not unless you kill him

Merlin stays still. Not knowing what to do. Morgause grew impatient.

Morgause: Fine then, you think I’m not serious?

With quick reflexes Morgause stabs Arthur’s stomach, Arthur howled with pain, gripping his wound. Merlin felt like his heart just stopped.

Morgause: the next one is through his heart (forces arthur to look at merlin) well???

Merlin bit his lip. Stading still. Morgause tsked, and plunged her sword at Arthur’s heart

Merlin: NO WAIT!

Morgause stops

Morgause: Yes?

Merlin took a deep breath and picked up his broken sword, he started walking torwards uther.

Arthur: Merlin…? Merlin? MERLIN! MERLIN STOP!!

Merlin stops at Uther’s unconscious body.

Morgause: Wait!

Merlin looks at her with a questioning glance.

Morgause: Do it with magic

Merlin: …what??

Morgause: I want you to kill him with your magic

Arthur: are you insane…? Merlin doesn’t practice magic!

Morgause waits for him but Merlin didn’t do anything.

Morgause: do you want him to die?

Merlin: i don’t have magic.

Morgause: oh stop pretending emrys

Merlin: isn’t…isn’t killing him enough?

Arthur: ARE YOU INSANE?? Merlin if you kill my father I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!

Merlin: …why are you doing this?

Morgause: kill him now.

Arthur: merlin! Don’t listen to her! Please!!

Merlin: i…i don’t…i don’t have magic…

Morgause: liar! Do what you’re meant to do! Kill Uther Pendragon! What are you so afraid of? Magic will thrive again!! You can stop hiding who you are….or if you’re a coward…things will stay the same…with the loss of your prince.

Arthur: Merlin…if you kill him, i’ll never forgive you.

Merlin looks towards at the floor looking deep in thought. Just as Morgause got tired of waiting, Merlin’s eyes suddenly glows gold and Uther’s body levitated on the air. Arthur was stunned, shocked at the display.

Merlin: I’m sorry…Arthur, but between you and everything. I will always choose you.

A resounding crack echoes throughout the room, and Uther’s body lay motionless. Dead.

Arthur: no…

Morgause smiles, pleased.

Morgause: good choice

She undid the barrier and throws Arthur across the room. She disappears to thin air.

With a bleeding abdomen, Arthur forces himself to go to Uther’s side. Merlin tries to tend him but Arthur weakly shoves him away.

Arthur: get away from me…

Merlin: i need to heal you

Arthur: i don’t want to be healed by a traitor!

Merlin: You’re in critical condition!

Arthur: I DON’T CARE!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!

Arthur struggles against Merlin’s hold before passing out.

season 3:

main post:

To find my other ramblings about this AU, filter with the hashtag #must we really rely on fate?

[justaz]

I feel like despite how angry Arthur was, he really wouldn’t have killed his father. Like yeah he would’ve whooped his ass, but he has such a big, soft heart that he wouldn’t’ve been able to stomach killing his own father no matter how angry he was. Just like how he couldn’t really hate Morgana after all she did. Just like how he forgave Gwen for her (perceived) betrayal with Lancelot (who Arthur also respected even after everything was said and done). Just like how we all can agree that no matter how angry Arthur is at Merlin for (lying about) his magic, he would never execute him.

Its literally written into Arthur’s character that he is too trusting and too caring - it’s his fatal/character flaw that is used and abused time and time again. Therefore I don’t believe he would’ve killed his father in s2ep8 the sins of the father. He still holds love for his father - its his father after all, he may be enraged but love and hate are two sides of the same coin, a double edged sword, to hate is to love.

Anyways, all this to say, Merlin should’ve trusted in Arthur’s heart and let him release all that anger and heartbreak onto his father who Arthur probably would’ve ended up just challenging for the throne then throwing him in the dungeons or pushing him to abdicate under the threat of him renouncing his title as prince of Camelot and his claim to the throne.

[jinxekkotimebomb]

This meme is literally Merlin and Morgana Pendragon throughout Merlin

[twistedshipper]

high priestesses + fire

[sam-reid]

EMILIA FOX as Morgause MERLIN (2008 - 2012).