#my bbc merlin experience

[maddybthorne]

I want a BBC Merlin fanfic where Hunith visits Camelot as a surprise. Merlin doesn't know she's coming, only Gaius knows that she plans to visit. This is set in a time period where all the knights are alive (I'm looking at you Lancelot.) and Arthur is Prince, but running the Kingdom as Uther is unwell.

Hunith pulls up to Camelot and is walking towards the Castle through the citadel, burdened by her bags, when a cheerful voice rings out. "Do you need any help, miss?" It's one of the many Castle servants.

Hunith explains that she is heading to the Castle to visit her son who works there, the servant then offers to carry her bags.

"Oh I don't want to be a bother." Hunith replies

"It's no bother at all! Really, I was heading that way already." The servant insists and they both make their way to the castle, "What's your son's name by the way, I might know him if he works here."

"His name is Merlin." Hunith responds with a smile. The servant stops walking and looks at her. It's not only him that stops at this announcement.

"Y-you're Merlin's Mother?!?" A nearby servant who had been close enough to hear the conversation says in awe.

The courtyard that they're walking through gradually fills with hushed whispers as the news spreads. Everyone knows of Merlin. The Prince's manservant who had managed to not quit in the first week of serving him. Merlin, who changed the Prince from a spoiled brat into a good man whom the Kingdom was proud of and eagerly awaited the day he would be crowned King. Merlin, who had followed the Prince into battle time and time again to save Camelot.

I want a fanfiction where The Entire Of Camelot loves Merlin and is thankful for his role in making Arthur a good person. Where not only the Knights, but the Castle staff meet his mother and collectively decide that she is That Woman and treat her with Respect. Where they treat her like Royalty.

Ofc Gwaine loves her. That's his best friend's mom. Hunith looks at all the knights and adopts them on the Spot.

And Merlin is either really confused by this behavior or knows and just lets it happen.

Arthur has no idea what's going on or why but he treats her with reverence and love because that's his future Mother in Law and he's very much starved for parental affection which she gives him (and the knights) in spades.

But yes, I just want a fic of people meeting Hunith and being like "Thank you for giving birth to your son. I'd die for you both" and her being like "...please don't."

(Bonus if Leon meets her and is just like. "How did you survive being around that little shit (Merlin) for so long?" And she just laughs and gives him advice, which makes him cry because he's just so tired. #LetLeonRest2024 I will push this agenda till I die)

[princess-of-morkva]

1. How did you find out about merlin?

Oh, i was reading a harry potter fic. Which was, by the way, not tagged as a crossover. Just somewhere in the middle we got introduced to a mysterious teacher who goes by the name Emrys and teaches kids wandless magic and is also kinda pretty (understatement). And then there is a whole subplot about Arthur's return and others also get reincarnated. And i liked it and went to read other fics by that author in merlin fandom. And then by other authors. And then i went and watched the show. By the way, it all happened on a russian fanfiction website and merlin fandom there is very small so i quickly ran out of fics..

2. Do you have a ship? If so, when did you start shipping them?

When i first got into merlin, i was still deeply in the closet. I refused to read any slash or femslash tagged fanfics. So i was limited to gen and straight ships. Which is how i became a part of small, three and a half people community of mergana fans on the aforementioned website. I even got new year congratulations from them, for two years, which was sweet, especially as only wrote one single mergana oneshot on there.

And then i returned to the fandom about two years later, out of the closet and ready to consume anything and everything and found a way to the endless ao3 well of ships. So now i happily ship merthur, of course, and also morgwen, but at the same time i'll die on the gwencelot hill, but in all honesty i'll read any ship as long as it's good writing. Ironically, i now only avoid mergana, the same ship that got me into the fandom in the first place. It just feels to weird, like shipping a lesbian and a gay man. I like their dynamic too much to go and ruin it with romance.

3. What’s your favorite episode/two-parter?

It's either "The Tears of Uther Pendragon" or "Beauty and the Beast". First one because of plot, and tension, and Morgana and everything that makes a good episode — and second one because Uther married a troll. And all that. I really like that troll.

4. What’s your favorite scene?

There are too many to count.

But i think the one in "The Sword in the Stone" part 2, with Arthur and Morgana in the throne room.

"I thought we were friends." "So did I."

and "Not so powerful now, my lady?"

The lighting. The angle. The acting is on top. The way Morgana's voice breaks a little on "so did i". The way they look at each other. Oh god.

5. What’s your favorite quote/interaction?

Again, too many to name or count, but i can name a few:

"Not so powerful now, my lady?" (i already named ot in previous answer, but it's just too good, i can hear it in my head with all exact intonations)

"I'll- leave you to your poetry then, my lord." (leon my beloved. he sounds so confused)

"The more brutal you are, the more enemies you create." (and isn't that ironic, morgana?)

"I grew up" and "He grew up"( by morgana and by merlin, in season 5. it's heartbreaking.)

more morgana quotes:

"-and you, Uther. You're going to hell."

"Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences."

"What're you going to do? Kill me?" "You don't think i can?" (merlin and morgana sword fighting scene in s3e2)

and than right after: "It doesn't have to be like this, Morgana. We can find another way." "There is no other way."

"Do you really hate me so much?" "You can not begin to know how much I hate you" (morgana in uther's prison cell)

"And killing things mends a broken heart?" (after sofia debacle)

"I just don't think that chopping someone's head of is a cause for a celebration."

aaaand "Don't worry, dear brother, I won't let you die alone. I'll stay and watch over you, till the wolves gorge on your carcass and bathe in your blood."

and now my sweetheart mordred: "Until then we go unmarked in death as in life."

and "Such hatred as yours can never triumph. I hope one day you will find the love and compassion that used to fill your heart."

also Queen Annis my beloved "You came to me in the name of Gorlois, but I fear you're more like Uther than you realise."

"No man, no matter how great, can know his destiny."

Aaaaaaaaand "IN A LAND, OF MYTH, AND A TIME OF MAGIC, THE DESTINY OF THE GREAT KINGDOM RESTS ON THE SHOULDERS OF A YOUNG BOY-" (i always chant it out loud every time i begin an episode. i replay it many times. people ask me to stop. sometimes, i just randomly say in the middle of a family dinner)

6. How do you feel about the ending?

I love it. It's perfect in the most unsatisfying and heartbreaking way. It's a tragedy, it's supposed to be like this. If not for the ending, we wouldn't have this wonderful fandom thriving after ten years. I wouldn't change a thing.

7. What’s your favorite headcanon in merlin?

That Arthur will not return for some great catastrophe. He will only return when Merlin finally lets him go and learns to live without him so that they can have a healthy relationship that is not overly codependent.

Also Merlin definitely becomes a surgeon at some point.

And also i have a headcanon that marriage between Arthur and Gwen was not a romantic partnership. They def loved each other, just not romantically. We need more qpr marriages in fandom.

Also i have a headcanon that Merlin never celebrates Christmas until Arthur's return because it's his death anniversary. Isn't that sad? But it's also sweet because he celebrates his first Christmas together with Arthur.

8. Do you have a favorite merlin fic?

Oooh i have some.

For Want of a Nail by 0hHeyThereBigBadWolf on ao3

People Think the Knights are Straight? by rcracer123 on ao3

Schwellenangst by BurntOreo on ao3

to the point of fear by Imagined on ao3

Spilled Ink, Spilled Blood by kyrakaryanne on ao3

Seeing White by The AsexualofSpades on ao3

When I Didn't Know The Answer, I Found It In Your Eyes by ironfamjam on ao3

and every single merlin fic written by SnufflesThePig ever

9. What is your personal head-canon after s5?

Ohh, well i already answered it in general headcanons question, but i'll elaborate on it here

I think Merlin returns to Camelot and probably stays there until Gwen dies. I also believe that Gwen maybe remarried, maybe not, but she definitely had children and had a happy life and was loved by the people and lifted the magic ban. Then, Merlin begun to travel around the world and became really good wtoth his magic and learnt many professions and languages and had many friends over the years all over the world. But he never forgets Arthur and his life in Camelot. He can change his age and appearances but mostly stays around 26.

Ohh and also Morgana must reincarnate at sone point. Multiple times.

And also Arthur reincarnates instead if walking out of the lake and grows up with his mother because she divorced Uther this time around.

10. What’s your favorite character?

Morgana is my favourite character to write. She's interesting and complicated and has a lot to unpack.

Arthur is my favourite character to read. Because i can't for the love of gods properly write him. I'm always dissatisfied with his characterisation. And it's hard to find good written Arthur, but when i do, it's my instant favourite. I love reading him suffer the most, and i love his character development and i love everything about him. Everything.

I love Mordred the way i would love my baby. I want to cuddle him and give him a happy ending and also the world. And i want others to acknowledge his cuteness.

But Aithusa is my favourite baby.

Merlin questions to do when you’re bored

1. How did you find out about merlin?

2. Do you have a ship? If so, when did you start shipping them?

3. What’s your favorite episode/two-parter?

4. What’s your favorite scene?

5. What’s your favorite quote/interaction? (ex | merlin: “how long have you been training to be a prat, my lord?” | arthur: “i love poetry” merlin: 😀)

6. How do you feel about the ending? 😉

7. What’s your favorite headcanon in merlin?

8. Do you have a favorite merlin fic? Please share 😍

9. What is your personal head-canon after s5? (Ex: arthur dies and merlin waits for 1500 years | the roundtable lives | merlin becomes court-sorcerer)

10. What’s your favorite character?

That’s all!! Tell me if you want more!! Answer in the reblogs!! Or comment!! Or anywhere!!

[goth-emrys]

I love the role reversal moments where instead of merlin dragging around a knocked out and seriously injured arthur, its merlin's turn to be taken care of 🥹

[theroundbartable]

It's not really to my liking, so take it as a color sketch XD

[ethan-acfan]

Headcanon that merlin and Arthur can only die if the other is by their side. (Merlin can only die if Arthur is next to him, and Arthur can only die if merlin is next to him). This can explain the whole immortality thing, how Arthur escaped so many near death experiences, and opens the door for a reversed role where Merlin was the one to die instead. Also, the amount of angst and heartache that this creates is insurmountable. Also, I just really like greek tragedies, and I think only being able to experience death when your other half is near is pretty fucking tragic. (Also, I just really want a fic where they both spend their fair share of time being immortal and then finally die in eachothers arms, even better if they poisoned themselves together so they will never have to leave eachother again)

[justaz]

when he was younger and messing around with his magic, merlin created a spell to be able to shift his form. hunith came inside and was Very confused where her son went and why there was a random girl in her home. she put two and two together when the little girl calls her mom. the spell is somewhat banned as it would raise too many questions why hunith now has a daughter instead of a son one day and then a son and no daughter the next. years later, merlin is excited to finally cast the spell once more after arthur repeals the ban

[lovebotomy]

✨ bbc merlin characters as antidepressants

Merlin - klonopin

THEE pill. crazy trips. like merlin very powerful and easily defeats the villain (mental break) of the day but with no clear vision of the future and harmful in the long run. great as a support you take occasionally

Arthur - trintellix

doesn't do shit

Gwen - zoloft

a friend. takes a while to make itself known but when it does it will start a golden age for you. causes little impotency and emotional numbness but maybe it's just how normal people should feel. at least you can be productive instead of manic and horny

Morgana - seroquel

insane dreams. INSANE. the kind of dreams you would have if you were living in debt to a wizard. makes you sleep for at least 12 hours a day and the rest you feel dead with some 3 hours of clarity. used as both antipsychotic and as sleeping pill. idk why they prescribe it for sleep I feel like there are better ways. fight your physician if they prescribe you this for sleep.

Gaius - paroxetine

works i guess. will make you fat and so impotent it becomes actually uncomfortable to feel aroused but at least you stop being actively suicidal

Gwaine - trazodone

just makes you horny

[taintedmind6669]

Been thinking about the parallels between Morgana (from merlin the show) and Magneto and how they were both traumatized so bad by the violent discrimination and eventual attempted genocide of their races and the abuse they faced from their father figures/mentors (Uther and Dr Shaw, for Magneto im just going off X-Men first class lore I havent seen the other movies or the comics) that they felt like their only option was to get rid of their oppressors wholly no matter who they had to hurt to get there. They still hold love in their hearts for their friends who have different ideals but their drive to liberate their kind and the isolation and torture they face at the hands of their captors (i forget who kidnapped Morgana but Magneto was a victim of the nazis and Dr Shaws “guidance”) pushes them to great acts of violence.

Magnetos torture happened at a very young age whereas Morganas happens in what I believe were her late twenties when I think she had already begun to develop a hatred of non-magic humans and she went like completely bonkers so magneto has more strategic wisdom but theyre both very strategic with similar goals for similar reasons.

They’re also both very gay for their peace-loving best friends.

I know there are countless things I’m forgetting/leaving out so please please please do not hesitate to add on to this in reblogs/comments I love drawing parallels and appreciating the parallels others draw.

[destinysbounty]

Sometimes I make content that no one but myself will understand and yall just gotta live with it

[thefollow-spot]

"Untitled" (Favour)

Lancelot/Merlin ● G ● WC: 100 ● No Warnings // Written for @merlinmicrofic 2024, for the prompt 'Crowd'.

---

[jopzer]

"getting a little long, don't you think?" "bold words coming from the man who looks like he's been living in the woods for the last month."

for @merlinbingo c4; aged up character(s)

slightly nsft version on twitter

[adhd-merlin]

Vignette II: For Fun

Relationships: Gwen/Merlin/Arthur Tags: Polyamory, Established Relationship, Canon Era, Period Typical Attitudes, Questionable Use of Tenses Series: Call It Anything We Want Summary:

In which there is some fun experimenting. Set some time after Merlin's magic reveal.

Entirely plotless, so it can be read as a stand-alone.

“It’s just… odd,” Arthur says. Merlin lips twitch, as if to repress a smile. “You like odd.” “Well, apparently there’s a limit to how much odd I can take.”

READ ON AO3

[merlinemrys]

honestly i know for fic first person is a big No No for basically 98% of readers but im kinda tempted ngl esp for a merlin pov bc he is SUCH a liar that i think being an unreliable narrator is so much easier to do in first person than a close third

[a-star-is-here]

Sneak peak of 1/2 of my @excaliburzine piece!

The zine will be out in about 1-2 weeks on and up on Gumroad!

All proceeds go to Doctors without Borders.

[groundbreakingdot872]

update on how my family’s managing after DotD

“tell them we’re devastated” HAHA

no joke christmas was ruined- felt the evil energy of the bbc merlin writers ten years ago, running through my veins, as I clicked on part 2 on prime video ;)

they soldiered through the first part like champs, only small comments on Arthur’s round table speech they wondered how Elyan’s seat had been replaced and immediately clocked Eira as a traitor bc ‘that’s something the show always does 🙄’

sisters were crying when Merlin was stuck in the crystal cave, and I was crying when he walked up the landslide of rocks after Balinor and disappeared into a halo of white light..

then the second episode started and I was

s h a k i n g

(still hearing the words ‘just really sad’ and ‘I can’t believe it’ and ‘she tricked us 😦’ in the living room as I type this up, and it’s been way more than 24 hours later…)

Gwen was so badass! 🥰 and Merlin was out there winning! And I remembered why this was so terrible the first time, the show works hard to give us this false sense of security.

I clicked on the episode knowing that within 5 minutes Arthur would be stabbed and I’d be able to retire from my long career as a loving older sister.

It was literally a ‘gasps hears around the world’ kinda moment, they all sat up and then, my second youngest sister the Mordred stan (she dressed up as him for our s2 finale costume contest) burst into tears! and I actually felt really bad.

But then the magic reveal!

It was deadly quiet when Merlin revealed his magic and there were a few long sighs when Arthur turned away to say ‘leave me’. I was pretty much inconsolable and this is my third rewatch personally. They did! make the connection between Merlin’s ‘fire dragon’ from ‘Moment of Truth’ and the one from this ep however :)

Then we had the long haul of waiting for the beginning of the real end really, and I was relieved to hear them giggle when Arthur and Merlin reminiscenced about their first market place fight, and Merlin’s ‘charm’.

then… The Real End

Of course my little brother (if you remember him from his story ‘Morgana’s Weak Quickening) had to gloat about how Merlin had ended her, just as he’d predicted, and everyone was shushing and glaring at him because it wasn’t the time lmao

I was already crying for real by the time Merlin had Arthur in his arms and they were exchanging their last words, and I was surprised to find later that they did! hear Arthur say ‘just hold me… please’ because I hadn’t heard it on my first watch.

There were no gasps or shouts when Arthur died, just silence…

No one jumped when the truck came on scene as a jumpscare (I was kind of mad at myself for getting startled even though I knew!), and then Merlin crossed our tv screen for the last time and I let the end credits play in full.

They shushed me after I attempted to speak in the two minutes after the credits ended, and it was so quiet for the next ten minutes I thought I broke them…

Their reactions:

Sister 1: ‘Wh-hat..?’

Sister 2: ‘HE DIDN’T DESERVE TO DIE’ (Mordred😵‍💫)

Sister 3: ‘But Gaius didn’t die?? I didn’t put ‘Arthur dies’ on my theory list…’

Brother: ‘I TOLD YOU SO. But… now I’m a little sad :(‘

Afterwards, I promised I’d let them all loose to look up any ‘spoilers’ for the show they wanted. (We have an unofficial rule that whenever we’re watching anything for the time, we can’t look up anything related for fear of spoilers. And I’m a very strict drill sergeant about this 🫡)

But they weren’t very interested…

Our Christmas morning was noticeably sadder. And I wondered again how families in 2012 had coped when their kids had struggled through the unfairness of the finale and still had to open presents the next morning… a mystery really…

They spent the whole. day. watching edits and playing sad music in the living room (to which my parents were very confused) and coming up to me to either rant or fight about the finale haha

Now my sister (the piano playing one) is learning how to play ‘Solas’ by Jamie Duffy on the piano bc she says it reminds her of Diamond of the day and she’s been very determined! All break, she’s been getting up to play ‘Solas’ and ‘Bond of Sacrifice’ and ‘The Love Theme’ and I’m proud of her, for getting this far and only a little concerned

- I think the kids are gonna be alright? lmao

They’ve made plans for fanart and fanfics and alternative endings and I think I’ve fully recruited them into the immoral fandom (if not happily) although I’m sure they’ll recover soon enough to join us in bittersweet reminiscence next year :)

oh! forgot to add one last thing

after rewatching ‘A Dragon’s Call’ last night my brother had one thing to say. “Arthur says ‘there’s something about you Merlin’ …but that something was that he would die in Merlin’s arms…” LMAO I almost died on the spot but I’m glad to see they’ve inherited the fandom’s morbid (or Mordred ;) sense of humor

[epic-sorcerer]

This one time I was talking to soemone about how abled fandom can really bend over backwards headcanoning characters as neurotypical. And I brought up how a character in a show I watched can’t dress themselves without assistance and is still seen as “normal” by a lot of people.

And they laughed.

Hard