#pining Arthur

[theroundbartable]

Gwaine: as prince, you like, get to have everything.

Arthur: no, it doesn't.

Gwaine: ... *Sensing Arthur's mood*

Gwaine: is there like... Something you wanted that you could never have?

Arthur: ...

Arthur: it's not that I don't have it. It's... It's just within reach and as close as I can ever allow it to be. But it's... It's not - I would like it closer. I would like to hold it, to get to really know what makes it tick, I want to be held by it... You're going to make fun of me, aren't you?

Gwaine: *follows Arthur's gaze* no. I get what you mean.

*Scene cuts to Merlin feeding the horses*

[earlgreyinpajamas]

merthur fic recs masterlist

last updated:  21 Sept 2024

authors

vintagelilacs

aus and fusions

arranged marriage au, pt 2, pt 3

college/university au

different first meeting au

hanahaki au, pt 2, pt 3

high school au, pt 2

hogwarts au

modern au, pt 2

modern with magic au, pt 2

modern royalty au, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8

pride and prejudice au

regency au

social media au, pt 2

soulmate au, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8, pt 9, pt 10

s2e10 fix it

wing fic

arthur

actor!arthur, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5

bond girl!arthur

detective!arthur

himbo!arthur

jealous!arthur, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8

pining!arthur, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8, pt 9

pregnant!arthur

protective!arthur, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7

oblivious!arthur, pt 2, pt 3

spy!arthur

virgin!arthur

merlin

assistant!merlin

bamf!merlin

consort!merlin, pt 2, pt 3

detective!merlin

druid leader!merlin

enchanted!merlin

exhausted!merlin, pt 2

flustered!merlin

hurt!merlin, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4

irish!merlin

jealous!merlin

knight!merlin

oblivious!merlin, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6

pining!merlin, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5

royal!merlin, pt 2

selkie!merlin

spy!merlin

virgin!merlin

other tropes and categories

00q fusion

5 + 1 things, pt 2, pt 3

accidental marriage

amnesia

angst with a happy ending

arthur courts merlin

arthur finds out about balinor

arthur finds out about freya

arthur knows about merlin’s magic

arthur loves merlin’s magic eyes

arthur’s donkey ears

arthur returns, pt 2

balinor lives

bathing

bed sharing, pt 2

bedside vigils

bets

comfort fics

coming out

crack, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4

dragon dads

drunkenness

enemies to lovers

fake/pretend relationship, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5

fandom iconic fics

fav aus

fav fics

figure skating

flowers, pt 2

fluff

forced proximity, pt 2

fuck or die

getting back together

getting together, pt 2, pt 3

getting together with the help of technology

hurt comfort

hurt no comfort, pt 2

hypothermia

kid fics, pt 2

kinktober

love spells and potions, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4

lovers to enemies

magical exhaustion

magic reveal, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8, pt 9, pt 10

married/engaged merthur

meddling knights, pt 2, pt 3

merlin dies

merlin goes insane to get arthur back

merlin knows about arthur’s pining

merlin leaves camelot

merlin sleeping in weird places

merlin teaches arthur about sex/kissing

morgana and merlin friendship

not actually unrequited love

ot4

outsider pov

parties

protective!knights

remixes

role reversal

royal balls

scar reveal

secret relationship, pt 2

theatre/drama

time travel

truth potion

underappreciated fics

weddings

wedding stopping

wound cleaning

[escespace]

Underrated plot in Merthur fics: Arthur being actively aware and sickeningly tired of his own "we're not friends because I'm a prince- you're servants" nonsense but only internally because externally he maintains a facade of a model part of the nobility that allows him to change the system from within.

[cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu]

"I cannot return your feelings."

"I don't expect you to."

"I'm sorry."

"...I know." – Prince Arthur and Merlin

[Arthur saw the sad acceptance in Merlin's gaze. He hated it. He hated it because he put it there. Right now he is prince, but maybe when he's king, if Merlin still loves him he'd have the courage to confess he feels the same]

[intruding-stranger-universe]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Merlin (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Morgana Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Angst Summary:

Merlin falls into love with Arthur so easily it hurts. And thus begins a love story that lasts fifteen years.

...............................................................................................................................

so i just read this and its perfectly heartbreaking please some one recommed fic along this same trope (pining merlin, angst, modern/canon) it should hurt just right and hea 

[i-swear-to-merlin]

fanart ask by @asirxrowena

"I have a feeling that Merlin would be interested in knitting, so I would like to see him knitting? Even knitting sth for Arthur? Idk, it sounds cute like Merlin is :))"

Merlin knitting is my new headcanon <3

Hope you like it thanks for the ask!

Now i will go cry because i just cant draw fireside lighting :')

If ANYONE says ANYTHING about merlins fifth finger.... T.T lmao

[onceandfutureclotpoll]

Title: Same River Twice

Author: kianspo

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Summary: Modern royal AU. When Arthur, the Prince of Wales, was seventeen, he made a mistake that is still haunting him. Eight years later, can he finally make it right?

[itsdefinitely]

i've noticed a pattern

[the-aj-archives]

Has someone done this yet?

[noodles-and-tea]

what if Ford and bill but Arthur and John?

I’ve only listened to a few episodes so far but this is a really cool idea….

[escespace]

*cracks her fingers*

Is there something I live for? An Arthur being the one with the initiative, too desperately in love with Merlin so...

Baby, give me a sign (that You want to be mine) by schweet_heart

There's nothing that gives me more comfort than a neckerchief story as a favor for a knight and this author manages to exploit the potential of that plot. It's the best kind of fluff. And as if that were not enough, they manages to portray the kind of stupid complicity that makes us love merthur so much, I literally commented:

"Boys are the original airheads and how I love them for it. I don't think there are people as clueless as them. One says red when he really means green and the other understands blue"

And that would be the real dynamic of their relationship if the screenwriters had not been afraid of success.

Synopsis:

Arthur is under the (mistaken) impression that Merlin's neckerchief is a token of love. Merlin is under the (mistaken) impression that Arthur is in love with somebody else. It's a good thing neither of them is the jealous type, otherwise things could end up getting pretty awkward...

Bad choice of words in my alibi by queerofthedagger

It is written from Arthur's perspective and perhaps that is why, for the reader, Merlin's emotions feel more diluted than his. The story has strong emotions that may take you on a roller coaster and it is that overwhelming anguish that makes Arthur's feelings so raw that the reader can't help but want to fix the whole world for him

But the most important thing about this fic is that it proposes a twist that would have been interesting to experiment with in canon (and it's not a spoiler because it's in the tags). The soulbond makes everything more complicated than ever.b And at the same time it makes a relationship that is already intimate by destiny, a hundred times more intimate. The conon presents us with a retelling where Merlin and Arthur are two against the world, and this fic takes that premise one step further

Synopsis:

One hot summer day and an ill-advised kiss leave Arthur with an incomplete soul bond, panic about all his secrets coming to light, and the question of why Merlin is so afraid of Uther. Actually, scratch that—why is Merlin afraid of him?

Courtly ideals by imagine_sleeping

My goddesses above! This one is hilarious. If you want something that you'll read without realizing you're devouring it, that will completely immerse you in the idealistic and non-serious tone, this fic is perfect. It's the kind of fic I read when I'm having a bad day and just want dopamine. And at the end it has a slight refreshing surprise that makes your heart EVEN SWEETER THAN IT WAS ALREADY SWEETENED.

Synopsis:

Courtship in Camelot among the nobility has five well-known steps: Flowers Gifts Time spent together (with a chaperone) A favor (typically if a beloved was a knight) And obtaining permission from their guardian Unfortunately, Merlin is oblivious to these traditions. Thankfully, Ealdor has some customs of her own that Hunith deigns to enlighten Arthur about.

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I hope that is what you were referring to, but I am always available to continue helping you search. Whoever reads this post please read the tags before reading a story. I send you lots of love (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。

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[Also, I apologize if anyone is uncomfortable with the pronouns I used in the post, i will changes it if necessary, I tried to be as general as possible given that there are details I don't know]

CALLING ALL MERTHUR ENJOYERS

does anyone have any merthur fic recommendations where Arthur is the one pining? I’ve been trying to find some but it’s hard 😭🙏

[theroundbartable]

If Arthur had a laptop, he'd read merthur fanfiction all day.

... Call me based but I'm right XD

Arthur: what is this magic? All magic is evil, I must ...

Laptop: Did you know there is 31,518 stories about you and Merlin getting together on ao3?

Arthur: ... Your wile tricks won't work on me!

Laptop: Really?

Arthur: ... hmmmmmmmm..... okay fine, show me.

[earlgreyinpajamas]

merthur fic recs: jealous!arthur

1. Kiss Me Once by Camelots_Daffodil (@camelots-daffodil)

Someone spreads a rumour claiming that a kiss from Emrys is worth immeasurable good luck to any sorcerer so lucky to share one. Unfortunately for Merlin, no one bothered to tell him about it.

Arthur, and the court of Camelot, will have to improvise in order to save Merlin from the kingdom's ill-fated romantic pursuits.

Written for Merlin Bing 2023 - Improvisation

~~~

hgkhfh you gotta love this take

2. the desire beneath by insane_falcon (@insane-ohwhyfandoms)

Merlin and Arthur have been best friends through high school and university, where they eventually add benefits to their friendship. Which is where everything goes wrong—a small taste of something more that leaves them both literally starting to die for more.

~~~

i am screaming!!! the mutual pining!! the mutual jealousy!!!

3. Rumor Has It by vintagelilacs (@vintagelilacs)         

A visiting dignitary impugns Merlin’s character. Arthur does not handle it well.

“He implied you were bedding me.” Arthur raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “It’s an attack on my honour as well. As if I would bed someone who was unwilling!”

Merlin was only half-listening to the tirade, and was therefore only distantly aware of himself responding, “Who says I’d be unwilling?”

~~~

i SCREAMED!!! it’s so well written i cannot

[knittinganarchist]

Do i have a Type when it comes to my favourite protagonists? No of course not....That'd... That'd be ridiculous.... right?

[theroundbartable]

Arthur from Avalon:

That's what Merlin looks like when he uses magic? Oh, thank god I died, that would have been so embarrassing.

Sidhe: ????

Arthur: sometimes it's better to pine from afar. Then no one can see your meltdowns. I mean have you SEEN HIM?!?!?! WITH THE MAGIC EYES AND THE COOL STANCE AND THE WAY MAGIC BOWS TO HIM. omg, i'll be thinking of those hands for centuries

magic reveal this and magic reveal that, there are options, yeah, there are opinions, whatever, one thing i do know for certain, however, is that arthur would find merlin's bond with magic hot. and, no, i don't mean the, oh, he feels the pulse of the earth or, oh, he's magic itself, no, not exactly. what i mean is all those specific moments where you can clearly see the movement of magic through him. like they're playing puppet and puppeteer, switching every few moments. when the magic bounces off of him with a reaction or when he uses it in a way that you can see the energy before you can feel it, even if it the magic itself isn't yet visible. anyways, yeah, arthur would think that's hot. the way he acts, the way he handles it, the second nature of it all. my guy is NOT taking his eyes off of merlin and he IS sweating bullets. good for him

[the-kingofdoritos]

i love being in active fandoms because i keep seeing soooo many theories and being like "Oooo yesss, i love that idea! It would work perfectly and make so much sense!" and then seeing a totally different theory that contradicts the first one also also being like "Fuck yessss! Great theory! Gotta love this theory!"