#rip agravaine you tried

[mortiscausa]

the death of sir agravaine

march to camelot #2: fool

[merlin-reboot-when]

So I decided to get back into bbc Merlin. I have been thoroughly obsessed with that show several times over the past 6? 7 years? But somehow, I never really wrote for that fandom beyond short headcanons.

Haven't come very far with this new wip yet either, but I always thought that in season 4 one of the knights (other than Lancelot, RIP) should've discovered Merlin's magic and maybe that Gaius had fulfilled his purpose and should've... died? Sorry Gaius. Anyway, here are the first ~400 words of my 4x07 (the secret sharer) AU.

There was a fire in the courtyard. Not a pyre, not today, but one could still smell death in the air. It was a funeral fire. Dozens, maybe hundreds of people were present, all gathered on the wet cobblestone to pay their respects and honour the man they’d all known. Arthur could feel Merlin quietly standing behind him on the palace steps as he delivered his speech. Usually writing that speech should’ve been Merlin’s task, but under the given circumstances Arthur had for once opted to write it himself. As he spoke he tried to keep his voice calm and even, but even he could hear the slight tremor in his voice. For the first and only time since Merlin had come into his service, the servant’s quiet presence did nothing to soothe Arthur’s nerves. Quite the opposite, really. The guilt over what had transpired was eating him alive. He had even gone so far as to avoid Merlin alltogether since his return to Camelot yesterday. Not entirely on purpose, he had actually been pretty busy with planning the funeral, listening to Agravaine and Gwaine’s narrations of what had happened and grieving himself – all on top of his usual duties. After the speech was done the crowd slowly dispersed, the cold and terrible weather driving them back to their homes, but Arthur and many of the knights remained there by the fire for a long time until even the last of the flames had died down. Eventually he turned around to face Merlin. He couldn’t avoid him forever, the man was his employee and, Arthur had to admit, his friend. Surprisingly, his usually rather emotional manservant didn’t look like he had shed a single tear. Instead he just stared straight ahead to the ashes, stone-faced and silent. Arthur sighed and opened his mouth. He wasn’t even sure what he was going to say. “I’m sorry” didn’t seem like enough. “Are you alright?” was probably the most stupid thing he could possibly ask right now. Maybe a pat on the shoulder and a sympathetic look would be more appropriate? Arthur had never done well getting his feelings across with words anyway. But before he could decide on a course of action, Merlin beat him to it. His gaze was still empty and his voice carried absolutely no emotion. “You’re going to need a new Court Physician”, was all he said and without even looking at Arthur he walked away.

[donttouchtheneednoggle]

top 5 elyan moments? and if u wanna do 2 top 5 episodes? 😋

Ugh your mind 😩���

In no particular order

1. 4x10 when he hugs the ghost kid

He's just? So soft?? He was terrified of this kid and then he realised he was just scared and cold and he immediately switched to comforting him instead

2. 4x12 dOn'T hOLd bAcK oN mY aCcOunT

This man is GAY and you will never convince me otherwise

3. 4x12/13

Honestly all of him in these eps, from immediately trying to kill Agravaine regardless of his chances, to everything in the cells, but there's this one moment in particular when he's trying to convince Gaius to eat and he gives him half the bread and Gwaine the other half and it's not focused on at all but we talk so much about all Gwaine did during that time but Elyan went without food and the other two in their states probably didn't notice and what did we do to deserve him

4. 3x13 Where's Gwaine?

The PANIC. The voice crack when he calls out to this guy he's known a week who he acts like he can't stand. The sheer RELIEF when he knows he's all right:

THIS

He's so goddamn compassionate and he could not hide it of he tried

5. The beginning of 5x06

The utter outrage he expresses when Gwaine dares insinuate he's attracted to women he's literally like DON'T LISTEN TO HIM GWEN

Also honourable mention to the deleted scene that never was when he straight up tries to kill Arthur with an axe, here's the transcript:

...........

ARTHUR: Elyan!

ELYAN: Yes Sire?

ARTHUR: You will face me as I am a dangerous mercenary poised to rip out your beating heart.

[They fight with axes and shields, until the top of Arthur's axe flies away]

ARTHUR: Merlin! You're supposed to check my weaponary! 

[Elyan whips the rest of the axe out of Arthur's hand and keeps on fighting]

ARTHUR: Elyan, I'm defenceless!

ELYAN, not stopping: You are a dangerous mercenary!

ARTHUR, getting more nervous: Merlin! Throw me another weapon!

[Merlin has gone mysteriously deaf]

ARTHUR, trying to stall: The fight will resume in one minute.

ELYAN, not stopping: Of course it will!

ARTHUR: Seriously?

ELYAN: I'm deadly serious!

ARTHUR: MERLIN!

[Merlin continues to not give a shit]

ELYAN: He can't help you now!

ARTHUR: MERLIN!

...........

He woke up that day and chose regicide and I love him for that <3

Also that scene canonically establishes what we all knew that Elyan is best knight 😌

Top 5 episodes is here 😊

Thanks for the ask! 💕

Send me top 5 anything!

[hiimsociallyawkward]

a servant of two masters

hi friends welcome back to me aimlessly ranting about merlin. up today we have 4.06 and this episode. wow. literally just the title gives me everything i need and i'm absolutley here for the chaos that will ensue. hi bestie @lady-ofmagic-andstars

i love them in their capes

i want a cloak

dude the 'oh it's not gonna happen' and then it happens trope is so dumb but i laugh every time

notice how the knights ripped off their capes

dude people are falling off of horses and out

MERLIN

ok ok but how is he injured. ik this is rated for kids but i really dk how badly merlin is injured. it looks like just his shoulder but he shouldn't be almost dying like his yk?

:,) arthru making jokes

ok but i love arthur taking care of merlin

alskdjflsadk them trying to make jokes to make each other feel better :,)

stop arthur. stop telling the truth merlin's not dying here 😭

bestie vibes only deadass

HAHA

a s s

side note, the site i get my screenshots from- this picture has 61 views while others average maybe like 10-15?? perverts HAHA just kidding

sok i'm actually really curious as to what merlin's injury is

alsdjf;lasdfjsaldfjsaldf merlin making the rocks fall

idk if it's jut the angling but i felt like the enemies were way too close for merlin to create an entire rock barrier. i don't have any screen shot evidence but so you're just going to have to take my word for it

ok but like who even are these men. they were working for morgana trying to capture arthur?

and what's morgana going to do once she has arthur? kill him and take his place on the throne? remember how well that turned out last time she tried that? no one wanted her. idk idk morgana is just confusing as to what she wants

pls die agravaine

haha strangely fond of the boy? there's nothing strange about it

ok i laughed but i also felt bad when morgana splashed merlin awake and flailed around like a fish

dude merlin is so snarky here and i'm HERE for it

ok i like the knights being competent. thank you thank you

and now they're riding back into camelot with their capes on? you're telling me they traced back their steps to find their capes, dusted them off to make sure that they weren't too dirty and didn't have any leaves or branches still sticking to it before riding back to camelot? iconic

poor gaius. ok he's the worst but he does think of merlin as his son and this makes me sad

ok i have a dumb question. do you think merlin understands whenever other magic users are casting spells? ok i feel like this is a dumb question now. but like, is magic a language? are all incantations in a different language, so when other person who knows magic is watching you- they know what you're trying to do and such? i feel like "of course they'd know" but i'm basing that assumption on hp where everyone knows that alohomora is alohomora and where everyone knows that lumos is lumos. but what about here? does merlin know what she's incanting? can he slightly understand it even if he's never seen/done it before? is magic a language like latin, and even if you aren't completely fluent, you and parse together things and make an assumptions?

arthur is just so sad here

i just, i have to have these here

yes bby figure out that we have a traitor

gaius is not slick in the slightest. yes. look at the traitor king

wow morgana being able to bond with the snake? i wonder how

ok question, does the fomorroh have some sort of loyalty to whoever calls them?

✨kill arthur pendragon✨

ok that snake going in his neck is actually scary

pretty castle counter: 5

btw this is actually my zoom background sometimes. it depends from call to call but it changes between this pretty castle and peeta mellark

G E O R G E

ok i've seen all the tumblr posts but it doesn't get less funny. the 'merlin's missing and we can't find him so we're going to replace him with another manservent dressed EXACTLY like merlin so arthur feels better' makes me chuckle every time

i would like to have that for breakfast

i like the loyalty arthur thank you. i love the loyalty pls. i love that they're friends. like, i love the romance but i love just people being friends too

ok this whole scene. arthur wanting to look for merlin because he has to at least try, gwen just wanting arthur to be careful and to come back to her, gwaine being buds. i love all the friendships in this and just yes thank you

ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok i'm not at the hug scene yet but i know it's coming and i'm beyond excited

ok this sound track is so cute.

saldkfj;asldkfjasldkfsd

matching icons for you and your best friends

deadass if someone wants to change their tumblr icons so we can match hmu bc i'm 100% down with that

another pretty castle scene

SASSY MERLIN PLS

ok ik this is dumb to comment on because i feel like it's not tremendously hard to execute but i love the differences that colin made in regular merlin and fomorroh merlin. it's the best

they say it later in the episode but i find it hilarious how bad of an assassin merlin is

dude pls you're pouring poison in front of EVERYONE else?

BOG MAN. ok guys i'm calling you guys bog mans now.

ASLDJFALSDFJS THE JEALOUSY SCENE

i am cringey but laughing at the same time you don't understand why am i this childish

ok but arthur is being so sweet right here. i feel like he's not trying to be showy in front of gwen, i feel like he wants merlin to rest and that's so sweet. he's so patient right here and i love him

i miss the gwen and merlin friendship actually

dude merlin is roasting gaius so hard today

leon geeking out over weapons is so cute. omg he's such a tiny nerd i love him

laskjflasdfj THIS SCENE. this makes up for the stew jokes that i may or may not still be mad about

i love that the knights LITERALLY turn a blind eye it's actually hilarious

LOOK AT MERLIN BEING COMPETENT?? HE'S SO SMART WITH THE ARROW RIGGING THING

it's literally treason leon pls and you're laughing you're the best 😭😭

i wish we had a pervical back story arc

ok i think it's dumb that i laughed when merlin ducked but i stand by that

ok why do i feel bad for arthur a little. he's talking abt some semi-deep stuff. not deep deep but like, he's trying to ask for advice from his friend, his close advisor. he would've never talked to merlin like this is season 1-2 but here he is, talking about trust. and MERLIN is trying to MURDER HIM. yes. i admit it's a little funny when i'm just watching merlin trip over things and such, but when i listen to arthur talking i feel slightly sad

literallly. merlin's passed out on the floor and arthur doesn't even think anything is wrong

gwen's face when she knocked merlin out is so cute

oop. why is arthur standing in agravaine's door way like an absolute robot

cyes arthur. figure him out

i hate agravaine. i just want arthur to be happy. he's only trusting agravaine because agravaine is family.

stfu agravaine 'you're all that's left of my dear sister' SHUT THE FRONT DOOR

ok there's a repeat of the castle from earlier but i'll spare you

pls this bath scene is so awkward. tt not being able to trust anyone anymore and we're laughing at merlin but arthur's talking so sad and deep

pls this bath scene is so awkward. that's all the notes i have

again, i miss gwen and merlin

merlin is MONCHING on those berries. i'm craving berries now

ok but like. yk that pouch that gaius is using to make the forromoh dormant? what if merlin tucked it in his neckerchief as a precaution. i'm just saying.

aslfkjasdaskdjf the tavern

yall why did merlin have to stop his horse to drink the potion

i want the knights to have a cool band name or smth yk what i mean?

i like that merlin is still a little in the camelot red. it's not the same shade but yk what i mean

HAHA LEON AND PERCIVAL BEING PUSHED TOGETHER. I JUST KEPT ON SCREAMING SUBTEXT SUBTEXT

damn morgana wants RESUKTS. i dont blame her

the frist interaction with merlin and morgana in the hut is so awkward. pls.idek how to comment on it

deadass morgana's dress is so pretty.

magic fight! magic fight!

stfu 'rightfully mine' pls

hehe there's a leaf in his hair

ok i feel like i should've commented more on the magic fight but idk bro

so ik that colin was in this whole episode but it really only just now feels like merlin is here and i think that's fun

arthur is the cutest. i'm loving this dynamic you have no idea. i live live live live LIVE off banter. pls

guys i'm sad apparently i can only put 10 pics in a post but pls enjoy this one pic of arthur right here 😭

ok idk abt you but i'd love to hear jokes abt brass

agaragvaine pls die already

YOU'RE SUCH A PERV LITERALLY

GO

AWAY

NOW

dude that last scene was actually really pretty and i'm sad that i can't attach it now

anyways thanks for reading my long ass rambles. but i'll be back next week to the secret sharer i'll catch you on the flip side

[botanicallyinclinednerd]

Gwen and Morgana moments and interactions in seasons 4 and 5:

4x02: Morgana tells Agravaine she would rather "drown in my own blood" than see Gwen sit on "her" throne. Morgana decides that they must make sure that will never happen by not letting Gwen "see another dawn" (murder her)

4x02: Morgana uses her magic to knock Gwen and her guards unconscious, leaving them for the dorocha. Morgana smiles slightly but it quickly fades as she looks at Gwen unconscious. Its hard to say how she feels, it is up to interpretation.

4x09: Morgana is angry at the idea of Gwen becoming Queen and refers to her as "that woman" not as Gwen.

4x09: Morgana resurrects Lancelot in order to destroy Gwen and Arthur’s relationship.

4x09: Morgana describes Gwen to shade Lancelot as "honest and straightforward and a simple soul"

4x09: it is unclear whether Morgana wanted banishment or execution for Gwen. Based on Agravaine pushing Arthur for execution, she probably wanted her dead, not banished.

4x11: Morgana is angry when she learns that Gwen is the one that over heard them.

4x11: When Morgana catches up with Gwen, Morgana is like a predator playing with her prey. Gwen is defiant and upset. Morgana brings up the fact they were friends once. Morgana also claims to want to help and points Gwen in the direction of Camelot (which truly was the way to Camelot). Gwen asks if Morgana really thought Gwen would ever trust her again. Morgana lets Gwen run before knocking her unconscious with her magic.

4x11: Morgana turns Gwen into a deer to be killed by Arthur. This is very sadistic but at the same time if Morgana was so determined to prevent Gwen from becoming Queen, why doesn't she kill her then and there? Is it it overconfidence? Or does she still care very very very deep down the tiniest bit about Gwen? I wish I knew.

4x13: Gwen tracks down Morgana and fights her. She asks what she did to make Morgana hate her so much and Morgana answers: "Its not what you did. Its what you're destined to do. And I'm sorry Gwen, but I can never let that happen." Morgana was about to kill Gwen and would have had Merlin not arrived in time to stop her

5x04: Old woman Morgana convinces Gwen that Mithian and she were just out for a midnight stroll. They part ways with Gwen slightly suspicious but unaware of Morgana.

5x06: Morgana waits for Gwen to ride away a ways before ripping her from her horse

5x06: Morgana offers Gwen water after she collapses from exhaustion. Gwen rejects it because she doesn't want anything from Morgana. Morgana bounces between playfully sadistic and stoney before ultimately pouring the water out in front of Gwen

5x06: Morgana locks Gwen in the tower with the mandrakes.

5x06: Morgana seems amused and pleased to see Gwen frightened on the floor of the room when she goes to let her down for dinner

5x06: Morgana serving Gwen food, gently insisting she eat "You're fading away" (oh son of a bitch. In more ways than one)

5x06: Gwen being strong and defiant "I dont know what cruel trick you're playing, but I will not be broken by you." Morgana denies it saying she thought the dinner would be nice, a break from the loneliness of that room, all alone. Morgana lists the plus sides to Gwen’s imprisonment and Gwen asks "you expect me to be grateful?" Morgana shares her experience of being shackled in a pit for two years and from Gwen’s reaction realizes she didn't know. Gwen looks sympathetic towards Morgana for the first time since season 3.

5x06: Gwen terrified of Morgana and seemingly convinced that she was another hallucination until Morgana touched her. Gwen pulled away and continued backing away from Morgana who is amused the whole time and is talking to her.

5x06: "Anything you want you can have. I'll give it to you" Gwen, in a broken voice, terrified, "Why are you doing this?" Morgana: "Because we're friends" Gwen wants to know what Morgana is trying to do to her and Morgana says "I'm helping you. I'm looking after you" and the way she says it, with an amused gently laughing quality to it. Gwen exclaims that she wants nothing from Morgana and Morgana smiles at this answer and leaves, telling her to let her know if she changed her mind.

5x06: Morgana telling Gwen everything is alright and Gwen hugging her and Morgana hugging her back. "My darling, it was wrong to make you suffer" Morgana justifying it. "It was necessary. Gwen you're not alone now" (no Morgana, you mean you're not alone now. You brain washed your best friend who you tried to kill several times in the past into being your friend again)

5x06: "you need never be alone again. I'm the only one you can trust. I’m all you have left in the world. The others taunt you. Hate you."

5x06: Gwen is smiling and seems so willing, so eager for kindness. You takes Morgana’s hand and follows but something in Morgana’s expression stops Gwen. Her smile falls. She pulls her hand away and says no. Morgana’s smile vanishes and Gwen backs away "Whatever twisted game you're playing, I want no part in it. I would rather stay here and die."

5x06: Gwen sneaks out of the castle and embraces Morgana. "Do you understand now who you can trust?" "Its you, Morgana. It's only ever been you." And Gwen truly means that.

5x07: the plotting in the woods, reports of the original plan failing and new plans taking place.

5x07: meeting in the town and Morgana passing Gwen the poison.

5x08: Gwen is upset at hearing what Morgana went through during her two years of captivity. Gwen is seen crying. When she sees Morgana again in the forest she gives her a hug

5x08: Morgana requests that Gwen makes sure that "the Sarrum's last moments are filled with agony" and Gwen readily agrees "It will be my pleasure" reassuring smile and moment shared in the woods.

5x09: Gwen bringing Morgana the collection levy plans. Morgana praises her and Gwen asks what else she can do to further their cause

5x09: According to the Dochraid, Gwen's body is simply the vessel of Morgana’s will and once she had served her purpose she would be cast away.

Part One Part Two

[markusxcamlann]

@alarickzaim​

The memory regression spell had done nothing but stir uncomfortable memories of his past life as a vampire. Instead of Alarick he remembered the cruelty of King Lot, his mother’s pyre, Agravain’s death and subsequent resurrection. He remembered keenly awakening in a crypt, fifteen-hundred years after his death and the ravenous hunger that had caused him to rip through men and women alike. Things his subconscious had succeeded in burying,  but nothing of the newly-made Alpha. “I think it might be hopeless, I’ve tried every spell I can think of.” Markus lamented before he tossed aside another book, it still felt intrusive to have Alarick in his home, the witch had always been a private person, and this was no different. “I suppose you’ve been busy though, being the Alpha and all,” Markus mocked good-naturedly, “do you feel any different?”

[bellamyblakru]

“I have you, it’s okay.” + Merthur 💛 also omg I'm so glad you want to get into writing I can't wait to read it!

thank you so much🥺, you guys have been too kind😭😭 im so excited!! i really love writing, but i learned from that first one that it’s exhausting 😂 gah i love merthur, lets do this (also, the knights are all alive bc i love them//shade lancelot did happen but merlin brought him back for good good) ALSO, this drabble really ran for more than i was actually going for lmfao im sorry its so long

Merlin didn’t know how he wanted Arthur to find out about his magic. Most of Merlin’s recurring nightmares consist of the possibility that Arthur will react the wrong way. After all these years, Merlin dying on the pyre wouldn’t be the worst situation. What Merlin truly dreaded the most was the inevitable betrayal that he would see in Arthur’s eyes, the look he gets when someone he loves hurts him in the most personal way. The look where Arthur thinks he is the problem, not those betraying him. Agravaine, Morgana, Gwen, and even shade-Lancelot made Arthur vulnerable enough for him to love them just to be stabbed in the back one way or another because of it. Arthur blames himself when his people turn their backs on him, and Merlin refuses to get that look from Arthur.

 Killing Merlin, as horrible as it sounds, would probably be kinder. Merlin cares more for Arthur than words could describe. It wasn’t because of prophecy, or because Arthur was a good person and an even better King, it was because Merlin loves Arthur. It is as simple as that. Merlin loves the way Arthur smirks when bantering, the way he smiles when he is helping someone in need, the way he fights for his people, the way he never gives up hope no matter what happens or who they face, the way his eyes light up when sparring with his knights. Imagining Arthur shutting him out, away from his light, was a staggering enough thought that kept Merlin quiet.

At first, it was because of Uther. Merlin wouldn’t make Arthur pick between them, even if Merlin always thought that Arthur would always pick Uther. Then it was Morgana, then it was every little excuse that allowed Merlin to push back the truth further behind his happy facade. Arthur expressed his hatred of magic enough to let Merlin understand that he wouldn’t be accepted...even if Merlin was magic itself. 

There has never been a person more devoted to another human than Merlin to Arthur. Without one, there was no other. The castle knew this, as did the knights. Gwaine and Lancelot would tease him relentlessly about his love for Arthur, but even they did not know the half of his dedication to the Once and Future King. 

Merlin is the most powerful warlock to ever walk to earth, and he was terrified to tell his best friend his two deepest secrets. The warlock part, of course, and the part where Merlin’s entire existence was to serve, protect, and love Arthur to his dying breath. Merlin believes that Arthur might have an inkling that Merlin is truly in love with him, but Arthur never let too much show between them if he does know. Servant and King. The one born because of magic and the one born made of magic. Two sides, one coin (if the large reptile had a say in this). They were like the sun and the moon, destined to rotate but not touch. Arthur was Merlin’s sun, his light, his hopes, his destiny. 

Today was hunting day for Arthur, which meant Merlin pretended to grumble the whole morning about spending time with the knights and the king simply so he could see Arthur’s eyes light up with that playful glow. The Knights of the Roundtable were with them today, to Merlin’s delight. Gwaine and Lancelot were finally getting closer to each other through Merlin, and he couldn’t be more enthusiastic about it. They were the closest to brothers he ever had, and he was so grateful to have them in his life. Lancelot was welcomed back after the whole scandal since Morgana was outed, but Gwen decided to permanently end things with Arthur. Merlin was upset they weren’t together anymore, but Arthur did not seem too distraught about the news. Arthur probably sees the way Lancelot looks at Gwen and figured he couldn’t compete with that love, which made Merlin’s heart clench painfully.

Merlin was riding beside Arthur when the unimaginable happened. The forest was quiet in the way that made Merlin’s magic crawl, but no one seemed concerned with his fears. Merlin knew better. Right before the army ambushed, Merlin simply looked at Arthur. Arthur looked like he was bathing in sunlight, with a golden halo and his sparking sword hanging by his side, laughing at something Gwaine was talking about. Merlin’s life was Arthur’s well-being, and if it meant Arthur hated him for the rest of his life, then so be it.

The minute they entered the clearing, the laughter died. The knights reacted immediately with their King leading the way, swinging off their horses and preparing for battle. The army wasn’t too big, but it was Morgana’s—meaning magic users of different degrees everywhere. Her army did not look impressive, but the true power was in the hidden fact that each one of her soldiers wielded some magic. Merlin could feel it in the air. He could almost taste the potential power these people had, and he knew today was the day he has been dreading since he realized his love for Arthur.

Today was the day of Merlin’s betrayal—but it was the only choice. Arthur’s safety goes beyond what Merlin wanted..it always would, no matter how this ended.

Merlin didn’t waste any more time. He spelled the knights and his king to the ground with one look, saw the shocked expressions on different faces (he didn’t dare look at Arthur yet), but he did not let himself ponder them for too long. He thought up a shield then, putting those he loved in a bright, golden bubble of protection. Knowing they were safe allowed Merlin to relax for a second before turning his attention to the problem coming at him. He counted thirty sorcerers, with Morgana leading the charge. He took a second to truly look at Morgana. Her hair was matted, her clothing ripped, her eyes were darkened by the nightmares she is no doubt plagued with. He felt such pity and sorrow at that moment, a feeling so intense that time itself stopped around him. 

He walked up to Morgana, whose eyes were frozen gold with fury. He saw Aithusa in the back, and allowed time to continue for her alone. He spoke quietly to her, telling her how he is sorry for letting her stray so far and how he wasn’t there for her when she needed him the most. Aithusa, although weary, came closer to Merlin and let him pet her nose. Through the connection, she could see why Merlin wasn’t there for her, or more precisely, who Merlin had to protect above everyone and everything else. Aithusa, by command of Merlin, left then to Kilgharrah who would see to her recovery. Feeling better that his kin would be seen to after this, he focused his attention back to Morgana.

He then unfroze her. She, unexpectedly freed, fell to the ground. She was petrified, Merlin could tell. Her destiny, her doom. He was who she feared at night, who kept her awake after the nightmares, the one who poisoned her for the love of Camelot. Morgana was many things, but a coward is not one of them. She stood her ground, as regally as one can manage after falling, and looked Merlin in the eyes. What she wasn’t expecting was the pain she saw, for her. She started, not understanding his emotion. Quickly, too quickly for anyone to comprehend, Merlin grabbed both sides of her face and chanted with such sadness and despair. He pleaded to the earth’s magic to take her powers, and to use them for good, to help those in need. The earth responded kindly to his request, and it did what was asked of it. Morgana quickly fell asleep in Merlin’s arms, while Merlin was slowly crying over his lost, hurting friend. 

Time unfroze. The army halted, seeing Morgana’s magic flowing into the earth, and decided that a retreat would be more beneficial than attacking Emrys. Merlin could feel the magic leave Morgana, leaving behind a broken girl who’s heart has been hurt too many times to be fair. She deserves another chance, Merlin pleaded once more, and with that thought, the earth healed her enough to be able to live without her powers. She will live, the ground whispered to Merlin, and he tried to choke back a sob. Arthur could have another chance with his sister, and Gwen could finally have her best friend back—if Morgana wished, of course. Gwaine came behind Merlin and slowly peeled her away from him. Merlin staggered up, never using that much raw power before in his life, and started swaying. 

“I have you, it’s okay,” Merlin thought he heard Arthur quaver to him. Strong arms picked him up, and although Merlin was slowly fading, he swore he saw an angel lift him up, crying about how much Merlin meant to him. He passed out before he could make sense of it.

What isn’t said here is the simple fact that Arthur loves Merlin. Arthur loves the way Merlin smiles when he knows he is being sassy, the way his nose crinkles when he disagrees with something Arthur has said, the way Merlin’s eyes look when he says something abnormally wise to Arthur. Arthur is who he is because Merlin believes in him and magic isn’t going to throw it away. Arthur may not understand what just happened, but it wasn’t destructive, or cruel, or evil. It was pure, beautiful magic that only aimed to save the people around it—and wasn’t that who Merlin was at the end of the day? The magic felt like home, like love, so like Merlin that Arthur’s breath caught in his throat. 

He didn’t feel betrayed, surprisingly. He was hurt that Merlin couldn’t trust something so vital, so beautiful about himself because Arthur’s father was a tyrant and drilled something so wrong into Arthur’s mind. But never again will Arthur be swayed by his father’s ghost. Merlin saved him, probably more times than he could count as he continues looking back on their adventures. 

Arthur loves Merlin as much as Merlin loves Arthur, so he knows that no matter what happens after today, that fact will never change. 

[captain-lovelace]

Don’t think.

Just do.

A sword came down towards Mordred’s head, and he pivoted instinctively out of the way as it whistled by him before cutting down the soldier who had swung it, a wet thump signaling the separation of his head from the rest of him. The body stumbled a few steps forwards, its arms twitching as it tried desperately to swing at him again, before falling limp to the blood-soaked soil. When it did the battle seemed to fade away for a moment, everyone moving out of his way to give Mordred a clear line of sight towards his siblings— Gawain shining with the sun as he fought, Agravain mowing down soldiers without his expression ever changing, and Gareth in her suicide charge at the enemy, the righteousness of her sacrifice already shining in her eyes. 

Don’t think. 

He was closer. 

Just do.

The false Richard the First had turned towards Gareth and was awaiting her contact, but he hadn’t looked at Mordred yet, never even glancing at his direction as Mordred reached inside of himself and channeled the gift (his gift, the one he had been given but never asked for) to its full potential. Red lighting arced from the sky and struck him head on, burning patterns in his skin, crackling up the length of his sword. 

In a last, desperate attempt, Mordred seized his soul and burned it. 

“Clarent… Blood… ARTHUR!”

The blast that followed ripped a furrow in the battlefield as it incinerated everything in its path, and the noise seemed to crack the world in half, easily loud enough to drown out Mordred’s cracked wail of pain as the core of his being was torn apart. It caught the fake Richard off-guard from the side, burning him down to bone and then to ash, leaving nothing in his place but scorched earth— and then it was over, and Mordred collapsed next to the corpse of the man he had just killed, twitching and moaning as the last sparks traveled over his blackened skin. 

He had expected to die. 

“Hurts,” Mordred gasped, his throat feeling like it had been boiled, every word a spasm of agony. “Hurts, hurts, hurts…” One of his eyes was running down his face, melted in the heat, but through the other he could see the knights gathering around him, their expressions mixed as they stood in a rough semi-circle; horror on Lancelot’s face, disgust on Tristan’s, a wide-eyed look of what might have been anguish twisting Agravain’s expression into something he’d never seen before. Gareth’s mouth was opened in something like shock, tears streaming down her face. He could barely see Gawain on the edges of his vision, but his posture seemed slumped, resigned. In the middle of them all stood Mordred’s King, staring, her face never moving. 

Gareth was the first to break away, her expression changing from shock to anger at once as she sprinted towards him. She dropped to her knees next to him and reached out, but when her hand brushed over his skin he let out a hoarse, broken cry, and she dropped it back to her side limply. “Damn you!” she screamed, her voice muffled to Mordred’s ears. “Damn you, Mordred! Why would you do that? Why would you take this from me?!” Her rage gave way to sobs. “Why— why would you do this to yourself?” 

He couldn’t answer.

In the background, over Gareth’s shoulder, Mordred saw Agravain talking to the Lion King, saw his jaw clench. His mouth formed the word “heal”, and Mordred would have laughed if he’d been able to. As it was, all he could manage was a wheeze. The King would never deny him the death her gift had earned him. She would never fix a traitor like him.

There was a heavy thudding of footsteps against the ground, shaking it slightly as Gawain walked over to him, his sword unsheathed. Mordred could finally see his face, and there was pity written on it, as well as a steadfast determination. “I’m sorry,” Gawain said. “I’m so sorry.”

Mordred coughed, his ribs crackling in his broken chest. “Do… it,” he pushed out, his voice barely audible. Five more words followed, the last he would ever say in this form, this life. “Kill me, you bastard,” he said, and the word bastard meant brother in his mouth. “Please.”

The sunlight glinted on Gawain’s sword as he raised it overhead, and Mordred was grateful.

[fated-imaginings]

KOTRT reacting to High Noon Over Camelot

(It’s a story album, so spoilers abound. Don’t say ya weren’t warned!) Someone please talk to me about this album I’m still Feeling Things

MORDRED is pretty pleased that they got his gender down to a T. Less wild about Morgan being presented as a good mother, but he’ll take it as “a version of Morgan he would have preferred” and leave it at that. He’s got some mixed feelings about the ending, because he feels he would have tried to regroup and start fresh, but he’ll admit that it’s pretty accurate...as far as accurate can be when you drive a space station planet into the sun.

LANCELOT spent the first half of the album dreading his inevitable betrayal of Arthur’s trust. Was a bit taken off guard by Blood and Whiskey, and it does make him wonder on ‘what if’s...but he’s mostly just reminded of his own sins and spirals a bit with his guilt. Thinking about his son as a brain-fried holy roller is something he is Not trying to think about. Also RIP Bors.

ARTORIA and ARTHUR are largely uncomfortable with how their western counterpart shares in their failures to heed warning signs regarding their kingdom, as well as to recognize, embrace, and believe Mordred. Blood and Whiskey is another reminder of unfortunate events, and The Once And Future King is a kick in the teeth and does not inspire many happy feelings. 

GAWAIN is slightly sympathetic to his counterpart, but mostly uncomfortable. Peacemaker reminds him of how he had pushed Lancelot away before the Battle of Camlann, which doesn’t exactly make him Feel Great.

BEDIVERE is wondering where he was in all that mess, and while he admires the clever puns and references woven throughout the album, Peacemaker and onward in the story is largely just a reminder of how things went wrong. Once and Future King makes him feel all the more for his king, though he’ll keep that to himself.

Merlin gets a kick out of only technically being in the story, and as an immortal who’s unable to die, no less. Gareth is still trying to figure out where they were in the story. Is pleased that Lancelot wasn’t depicted in a bad light. Tristan lamented the tragedy of it all, in typical Tristan fashion. Agravain didn’t listen.

[hayleysstark]

You don’t think Merlin is a good person? I have always thought he was fantastic. He has always done what is best for everyone which often causes great harm to himself. He has never been malicious or taken joy in any of the terrible things he’s has to do in the name of destiny. In the name of Arthur. I’m very curious as to why you think that. Could you possibly elaborate? I’m not saying your opinion is wrong, I’m just wondering.

Oh, no, I do not think Merlin is a good person!!! not at all!! and I do not think Merlin is a hero!!! don’t misunderstand me, because God knows you do make a truly wonderful point here, that Merlin has made many sacrifices, he has buried every last one of his own dreams, and all to protect his friends, and I would never, ever try and ignore or disregard that outright. I don’t think Merlin is a good person, but I certainly don’t think he’s selfish, either. He’s usually the first one to put himself last in every circumstance, and I would absolutely never say Merlin is a selfish man. For all his faults - and we all know he has a straight-up surplus of those - his friends are always his number-one priority, top of his list.

But it doesn’t really cancel out all the rest.

You say he feels badly for the terrible things he’s done. Good. He should feel badly. He should lose sleep over all the horrible choices he’s made. He should remember all the innocent people who lost their lives at his hand. He should know he is not a good person. If you do something wrong, and you feel bad about it, your guilt does not negate the wrong thing you did. Guilt is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s literally basic human decency to feel bad if you hurt people. So, yeah, Merlin should feel bad. It should hurt him, to do the things he does.

I’m not going to go into a super-long and detailed thesis about this, because A. I’m seriously not trying to rip up such a cherished and beloved character and B. i legitimately don’t think actual humans are going to read this when i’m done because, point A, i am, essentially, ripping up a cherished and beloved character.

And Merlin definitely has some flaws I’m not going to touch on - i.e. he’s impulsive, he’s melodramatic, he’s oversensitive, he’s childish, he’s whiny, he’s self-pitying - mainly because those flaws fade as he grows and matures and also, are largely played up for humor in the series anyways (can you honestly think of a single episode before S3 where Merlin didn’t take at least ten minutes out of his day to bitch to Gaius about how hard his not-very-hard life was??). But I’ll tackle as much of the serious stuff as I can before I inevitably just spiral into repeatedly calling him a Terrible Bastard Man lmao.

Merlin has shown, hundreds upon hundreds of times over the series, that he will stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wants, to get where he wants, and he takes full and often brutal advantage of everybody around him to further his own agenda. Remember in The Wicked Day how he straight-up refused to heal Uther until Arthur promised to bring magic back if he did?? yeah. same here. And we can’t forget the way he literally took away Arthur’s free will in The Sword in the Stone, can we? or when he deliberately sabotaged Arthur’s second chance at love and happiness in The Hunter’s Heart because Mithian had committed the cardinal sin of not being Gwen???

Even if you can overlook all that really blatant manipulation Merlin puts his friends through on a regular basis, he also tries to kill Mordred in The Witch’s Quickening ((okay, he actually just tries to make sure the attacking knights find Mordred, but same difference, really)). And do I even need to talk about how he tried to poison Morgana in The Fires of Idirsholas? no, i’m serious, do i even need to talk about that??? a billion other people have already discussed it, so you know what, fuck it, but the takeaway is, it was a terrible thing to do, even if Camelot did hang in the balance at the time. ((no, he does not get a pass for trying to save the kingdom. he’s a bastard. you can’t change my mind.))

oh, he also sets Kilgharrah free in The Fires of Idirsholas, too, which brings his Bastard Points up to a two for that episode--wait, no, it’s a three, he gets a Bastard Point just for existing i think. a n y w a y s

And he murders Agravaine in The Sword in The Stone. Doesn’t sound too horrific on its own, we all know the story, Agravaine is the traitor in the court, and Merlin does what he has to do to eliminate the threat, but, wait, he doesn’t. Does he? Merlin doesn’t have to kill Agravaine, because Agravaine literally presents no real threat to Merlin. God knows Merlin could keep him alive, God knows he could just truss the asshole up like a goddamned Christmas morning turkey if he wanted to, but that’s the thing - he doesn’t want to. Because what if Agravaine escaped, and made it back to Morgana? He knows about Merlin’s magic now, and Merlin can’t let him live with that knowledge.

Merlin does not strike back at Agravaine in self-defense.

Merlin murders Agravaine to save his own lying skin.

so. yeah!! Merlin is ruthless !!! Merlin will turn literally anyone he lays eyes on into a pawn in his game to fulfill destiny. everybody is just a piece he can move around the board, and it’s not good. it’s not okay. yes, Merlin values his friends, Merlin would do absolutely anything for friends, but he doesn’t hesitate to use them, either. Yes, most of the time, he truly believes he’s doing what’s best for them, but that is not his decision to make.

I’m not trying to say Merlin is unforgivable or irredeemable. I’m not trying to say you shouldn’t like Merlin ((obviously, I’m not trying to say that, I love one (1) Merlin Emrys with my whole-ass heart, he’s kind of the reason i didn’t off myself once upon a teenage depression, so)) and I’m not trying to say you should change your entire opinion on Merlin to fit mine!! if you still think Merlin is a good person, don’t let me stop you!!! now, if you need me, i’ll be showering a Tall, Dark and Bitchy Bastard in a little more love ~

[servingliesarch]

SOME MAGIC WAS NEVER OUTLAWED HEADCANONS:

birth things: is still born and grows up in ealdor with both his mother and father there. due to magic being legal, his father stays and marries his mother, and raises his son, teaching him the old ways. merlin knows of his father being a dragonlord and having a noble title, and his mother being a daughter of a king (like in legends), however due to her exile, the latter part is kept lowkey.

growing up: merlin grows up in ealdor, and although he’s noble by birth, he’s used to village life just as any. whatever wealth they have is used to keep them and other villagers they watch over without hunger, but they work for their keep anyway. he definitely does have a bed to sleep in this time around. he also befriends will anyway, and they still terrorize the village with their antics. you probably couldn’t tell who merlin is.

as a young kid, on several occasions he goes off with the druids or people like alator, or other dragonlords with his father to learn the old craft, as well as get used to his destiny and the role he’s made to play. he’s given his first staff when he’s just a child. he also meets his uncle gaius as a young boy, who brings the priestess nimueh to introduce her to emrys.

names: everyone knows who emrys is, but not that many people know emrys is merlin. those that know merlin though, know he is emrys. to some, he’s also known as merlin ambrosius.

he’s still meant to leave for camelot around the time he did in canon, however before that he travels with nimueh to the isle of the blessed and spends there some time. due to other occupations, they separate in their travels to meet in camelot, and merlin arrives in camelot looking how he usually does, which is a simple villager.

everything that happens in the pilot probably does happen. he’s meant to study under gaius and take up a role on the court. he probably still somewhat fights arthur. befriends gwen before it’s clear who he is. then it’s bound to be a very awkward feast when cool aunt nimueh returns to introduce him.

it quickly becomes clear he’s not very good at being a noble because he grew up in a village, like any other. but it doesn’t change the fact he knows his place and can spark power or respect if he needs to, and is probably a little more arrogant at times as he was in canon as well, but a little more assured since he was raised to be who he was.

whatever servants he has, he’s friends with them and they mutually call each other by their names. he’s definitely besties with gwen and won’t give up. he’s also really good friends with morgana and they quickly become magic friends. also when lance comes, he becomes and stays the knight, or merlin will rip his hair out otherwise.

when all the crap in ealdor happens, he goes back to settles it, and then will never dies in the process, and decides to tag along because he can’t be trusted to keep himself safe. he’s the president of merlin defense squad, followed by lance and later gwaine. also talks sense into him.

freya stumbles into their lives also, and stays for longer, but since i am quite evil, as merlin tries to lift the curse, and accident happens, and she’s killed in the process even though they were gonna be happy together, but i like pain.

his father also dies but at least merlin got to know him, and becomes a dragonlord. his first dragon to use dragon speak on is kilgharrah. dragons are still there, however dragon eggs not so much, and after time aithusa is found and she becomes the first dragon sired by merlin and in a while as well.

gwaine stumbles into their lives also, and he stays, because it’s gwaine and merlin loves him, and they can be shits together.

none of the magic people are evil crap. there’s probably some other big bad to strike conflict, but people work together and things are nice before there is pain, because they all fucking deserve it. agravaine is still a creep tho.

more will come.