#sir gwaine headcanons

[justaz]

The knights love and hate Merlin coming to training. They love it because Merlin is their little cheerleader and they seem to perform better when Merlin is there to cheer them on. They hate it because he never cheers Arthur on and Arthur gets jealous and shows off to catch Merlin’s attention which means that Arthur performs better when Merlin is there which makes him a demon on the field. Which means the knights have to visit Gaius after training to get new bruise salves and that one time when Percival had to get his broken nose set because he ducked too late when Arthur was swinging the hilt of his sword down because he was exhausted from how hard Arthur was pushing them

[bamboozledcorvid]

Merlin’s secret headcanons

All of the knights know Merlin has a secret, they don’t all know what it is but they have ideas.

- Lancelot knows that Merlin is a sorcerer, him and Merlin talk about it, he knows about the prophecy.

- Gwaine knows that Merlin is a sorcerer, he also knows that sorcery is illegal and that as a knight he has a duty to turn him in, so he pretends not to know. He also always covers for him when he disappears and Arthur comes to the tavern looking for him.

- Elyan has suspicions about Merlin being a sorcerer (it’s not very well hidden) but is convinced that no one is stupid enough to deliberately practice magic that close to the pendragon so he assumes that Merlin doesn’t know what he’s doing.

- Leon knows for certain that Merlin is gay. He understands it’s frowned upon which is why it’s a secret and that clearly Merlin wants it to be a secret so he doesn’t bring it up but sometimes he worries for the boy’s safety cause he is not hiding it well.

- Percival is pretty sure Merlin has a crush on most of the knights, definitely Lancelot and Arthur, maybe also Gwaine. He thinks that everyone knows he’s gay and that they just don’t bring it up. (He also thinks Gwaine is bi and Arthur is at least a little interested in men).

- Arthur believes Merlin is gay, he also believes Merlin doesn’t know he’s gay. He doesn’t bring it up he’s trying to let Merlin discover himself in his own time though he does something made the odd remark to try and nudge his discovery along a bit. (He also believes Merlin has a crush on him).

[mandoriana]

*When Gwaine discovers that Merlin is a virgin*

Gwaine: WHAT THE HELL, MERLIN!

Merlin, *genuinely scared*: What, what happened?

Gwaine: HOW COME YOU'RE A VIRGIN?!

Merlin, *blushing*: And what does that have to do with you?!

Gwaine, *gesticulating dramatically*: YOU'RE MORE SLUT THAN I AM!

Merlin, *completely red with embarrassment*: NO, I'M NOT!

Gwaine: YES, YOU ARE! HOW CAN YOU BE A VIRGIN AND A SLUT?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD?!

Merlin, *trying to defend himself*: I just... I just haven't found the right person yet!

Gwaine, *laughing*: The right person? Merlin, you could have anyone, even me! Why not me?! *joking*

Merlin, *sulking*: So what? I have my principles!

Gwaine, *winking*: Oh, so you're waiting for someone special? Maybe a certain idiot "princess"?

Merlin, *rolling his eyes*: Oh, shut up, Gwaine!

Gwaine, *hugging Merlin from the side*: Don't worry, Merlin. We'll find someone who deserves you. Until then, you remain the purest promiscuous person I know!

Gwaine approaches Merlin with a mischievous smile.

Gwaine: You know, Merlin, I always thought you had a secret, but this... this is pure gold!

Merlin, *sighing*: I knew telling you was a mistake.

Gwaine: Ah, relax! Let's throw a "Merlin's Farewell to Virginity" party! We'll invite everyone, even Arthur.

Merlin, *horrified*: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

Gwaine, *laughing loudly*: Oh, Merlin, you're too much! But seriously, if you need tips, I'm a great teacher. *wiggles eyebrows*

Merlin, *sarcastically*: Oh, sure, because I really want to learn from you, the guy who hasn't asked Percival out yet.

Gwaine: Hey, I'm mentally preparing! Have you seen the size of Percival? He'd break me in half!

Merlin: Oh, so you're the bottom? *teases*

Gwaine: Are you saying you're not?

Merlin: Shut up, Gwaine.😒

Gwaine: 😏

[nononsensesblog]

New concepts of Merlin’s magical abilities I would love to see in fanfics and headcanons:

1. Any person who drinks a bit of Merlin’s blood gains the ability to use magic. The show states magic is learned, people study for years to learn how to practice magic, only some people are born with a natural aptitude towards it. By drinking Merlin’s blood anyone can suddenly use magic, even if they never studied it before, but they’ll still have to learn how to control it.

2. Merlin can’t die by drowning, he can breathe under water for a longer time than an average human, but if water gets inside his lungs and he can’t breathe he will go into a dormant state until his lungs are cleared again, it could be hours, days or years (or centuries), he will always regain consciousness once he can breathe again.

3. Merlin can only be killed by weapons forged by magic or by the complete destruction of his body (like burning), if there’s even the smallest possibility of his body being healed, it will heal. Merlin does die from other common factors, but he comes back again. For example, if he’s given a deadly poison or stabbed by a common weapon, his heart will stop and he’ll die, then in a few minutes his heart will restart and he’ll live again. But every time he dies and revives, he’s a little less himself, like some parts are chipped away.

4. Merlin can build resistance to poison. Once he comes in contact with a certain poison he’ll become immune to it’s effects. Based on the previous concept, once Merlin learns he won’t permanently die from poison, he starts experimenting with various ones, his heart stops but he eventually comes back to life and heals from it’s effects, from then on he’ll be unaffected by it if he ever comes in contact with the poison again.

5. Merlin can enter the mind of animals at will, perceive the world through their senses and control their actions (like warging from ASOIAF). For example, while camping outside, he could enter the mind of a owl during the night and keep watch through it’s eyes while his actual body rests.

If anyone has other concepts and headcanons about Merlin’s magic and/or immortality I would love to know them too! Also english is not my first language, sorry if there’s any mistakes.

[inamagicalhallucination]

merlin au where the knights somehow find out about merlin wanting arthur to see the good in magic and being the loyal friends that they are they attempt to casually mention that maybe magic is not all that bad

casually as in merlin thinks they know about his magic and are trying to tell arthur

do the knights /actually/ know about his magic? idk

gwaine, thinking about his pre-merlin era: ive met magic users before and theyve been pretty chill--

arthur: huh...

merlin, in his head: how does HE KNOW???????????

/ 

percival: ... i dont like to think that all magic users and all magic is evil... 

arthur: really?

percival: perhaps... it can be like... something more caring

merlin, stopping in where he was using magic to start a fire to ward off the cold: hahahahahahahhahaimgoingcrazy

/ 

leon, thinking of all the time magic was conveniently there to save them all: magic may... be closer than we believe

arthur: uhhh 

merlin, panicking, in his head: wtfwtfwtfwtf

/ 

on the other hand, arthur’s been too busy ogling at merlin to know wtf everyone’s saying; he is not thinking, his brain is filled with merlin

/ 

idk im tired something like that// this has been in my drafts for about 2 years now so i figured id finish and just post it jfaklsjflasdkfjlaksdf

[karistiltskin]

sometimes i like to fall asleep to the idea of every kingdom being scared of camelot because king arthur decided to lift the ban on magic and it’s revealed that emrys is his right hand man. like yes, wreak havoc and scare your enemies.

on the other side of this, the castle staff and knights have to bear witness to arthur and merlin’s shenanigans everyday. because tell me why arthur is chasing merlin around the castle with porridge stuck in his hair and a spoon raised in his hand while merlin is cackling, bumping into every surface ever.

[worthyprnce]

gwaine had many hidden talents.

we all know about his amazing skills with swordfighting. a skill he learnt from watching knights and squires play and fight, from picking up fights even being too young to do that and during his many years traveling alone. he had to know how to defend himself and, most importantly for him in the begging of his life, his mother and sister as well. but that's not all he knew.

growing up without his father to teach him the arts of sword fight, he learnt a lot from his mother and older sister instead. at seven he got tired of his clothes tearing up all the time, so he asked his mother to teach him how to sew. even after becoming a knight, gwaine took a few minutes to mend his own clothes whenever he could. he needed this time alone. at nine, his sister taught him about the language of flowers and how to dance. he did it for them. he used to steal flowers from luxurious gardens around to gift his mother and sister, and he always took them to dance, using any excuses to do it. he just loved it, and he loved to see them happy, not worrying about money or grieving for once.

at eleven he already knew how to steal food from the market without getting caught. and he was an excellent bargainer too. he was known by some as the child who stole valuable objects from distracted rich people and sold them at a lower price afterwords. robin hood style. it didn't take him too long to learn how to make his own dagger. courtesy of the local blacksmith who took pity on him and his family.

but most of his little secret talents he learned along his travels, wandering alone after leaving home at an early age. he learned to play the lute, to play cards, to steal by cheating playing cards, how to get easy money, how to impress a girl, how to impress a boy, how to whistle, to cook — although he was not actually good at it, just very practical. he knew french, a little latin, how to orient himself by the stars, how to bandage a wound by himself and what to do if it became infected, body anatomy (for medical and first aid reasons only. mostly), cut his own hair, trim his own beard, how to read maps, how to identify poisonous mushrooms, how to cut wood for fire, to swim, and many other little things.

but the hidden talent he was most proud of, was his drawing skills.

when he was around twenty, he once saw an elderly man struggling with a few home repairs he had, and decided to help him. as a return, the old man let him stay in his home for a few days. gwaine soon found out the man loved to draw. he had plenty of sketchbooks filled with many different portraits and landscapes, gwaine was in awe. seeing gwaine's genuine interest, the old man taught some basic and quick drawing principles, and gave gwaine a sketchbook and a pencil as a gift for all the help and company.

during his long years alone walking aimlessly around, gwaine used his sketches to immortalise every place he passed, every interesting person he met along the way, passions that made his heart beat differently, animals he helped save, taverns that served a good ale.

by the time he met merlin, his sketchbook pages were full of sketches of camelot, gaius' chambers, bottles of potions with funny names, little details inside the castle most people wouldn't even notice. but gwaine did.

he found himself making sketches of gwen with flowers in her hair, of arthur with the worst expression possible, of gaius with his usual worried face. but merlin was the main focus of his new drawings. every page had a sketch of merlin, doesn't matter how big or small.

and when gwaine was no longer in camelot, he realized his mind had never left merlin's room. he went back into drawing landscapes and taverns, but no other person were interesting enough. not when he once had merlin.

the pages of his sketchbook were getting boring and lifeless, not what they used to be before. but it seemed like they would come back to life whenever gwaine and merlin were together again. he had many sketches of merlin with white lillies around him, merlin's eyes shining as bright as they did the night gwaine confessed he was doing it all for him, wyverns, an old and dirty trident he had no idea what it actually was for but he liked the shape of it. even arthur made a comeback to his sketchbook.

when he was made prisoner by jarl, he lost all of his sketchbooks. everything inside his bag was stolen and discarded, and since gwaine's escape was rushed, he had no opportunity to try and find it. he lost it all, all the memories of his travels, the beautiful places he saw, the people he met, his early adventures with merlin. all lost. he had only his memory now.

after he became a knight he was reluctant to go back to his old hobby. still bitter about losing it all suddenly. but after getting to know his new friends better, and after he started to see merlin everyday, he couldn't resist.

he used every moment he had alone to draw. he loved drawing lancelot's hair. he had his fun giving leon extra curls. elyan, percival, and even lesser known knights and guards owned gwaine's sketchbook pages.

but his muse was always merlin. drawing merlin was like muscle memory for him. he would be lying if he said he never lost himself in his own thoughts while admiring merlin's features and carving them into his memory so he could draw him later.

his drawings were directly affected by his mood, so it was easy to know when he was angry or upset. but there was only one emotion showing whenever he drew merlin, and it was love. pure, powerful and unconditional love. sometimes a brokenhearted love. sometimes a melancholic love. and there were even the times he felt a certain kind of guilty love, a mixture of insecurity and uncertainty. but it was always love. and it was always merlin.

the first sketch he made after getting back to draw was a memory very dear to him of the first day he met merlin. he was smiling, looking at gwaine with hopes he would stay, begging him with his eyes and words for gwaine to stay in camelot with him. for him. whatever his reason was, he wanted gwaine close, and gwaine remembered those eyes and words very clearly.

his last sketch was also one he made of merlin. he was smiling as he held gwaine's hand. just before he was the one leaving gwaine this time. and even though gwaine had his eyes blurred by tears, he made his best to register merlin in his pages one more time, one last time, forever.

[mytwotragicgaymen]

Mini headcanons. A speedrun.

Both Merlin and Arthur are excellent at skipping stones. This is how they decide who collects the firewood for camp.

Besides Gaius, Gwaine knows the recipe for the best hangover cure. He gives them out in the morning after a night out.

Percival is really good at doing someone else's hair, despite having a minimum amount of it himself. He taught Gwaine how to braid his hair out of the way and sometimes helps the other knights as well.

Gaius has a journal where he writes about interesting/difficult cases of illnesses and how he cured the patients. He is very meticulous with every single one.

Uther is always up before everyone else. He does not like to be woken up by servants. He's also always the first one to go to sleep. Uther is very proud of his sleeping schedule and boasts about it to Arthur or whoever will listen.

Elyan and Gwen have a deal. Gwen sneaks treats from the kitchen for Elyan and, in return, he teaches her more sword-fighting.

Morgana, while she was still living in Camelot, always exchanged gossip with the other servants. There was a whole system developed and every new servant was informed about it and how it worked. Only Morgana and the servants knew about this.

Leon LOVES reading. He is the only person that Geoffrey can stand being in the library and the archives. Despite his busy schedule, he takes a book with him everywhere with the hope that he will have a moment to read it. This is why he was surprised/excited to find out about Arthur's "love for poetry".

Merlin is a bit of a plant mom. He keeps a few potted plants in his bedroom and vents to them about Arthur.

Arthur likes to hum tavern songs while riding his horse on patrol. Sometimes the other knights join in and it ends with a full-on concert where the whole patrol is singing.

[witchthewriter]

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞.

⤷ gender neutral, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!  

Warnings: swearing, some fighting - all in your honour though!

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ | ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ ᴵᴵ

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿

After a long day, your s/o decides to take you to a nearby tavern and have a drink. It had been a while since either of you had gotten out without a duty to do. However, your evening was cut short when a drunken asshole insulted you.

𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍

・Merlin would never be able to keep such a big secret from his spouse; he'd want to give every part of himself to you. And so he had. You welcomed the secret with open arms.

・So when you made your way down to the tavern after a particularly challenging day, you were not expecting to be outright insulted.

・The bald fat (toothless) man let the words escape his drunken mouth without the hint of a thought of consequence.

・Big motherfucking mistake.

・A bewildered laugh came from Merlin. His mind already sifting through the many spells he was about to use.

・You looked at him, and simply nodded. This day had been too heavy, and the insult, no matter how untrue, was still hurtful.

・'Out of nowhere' (as some patrons would later explain it), the man flew from his chair and landed in the lap of the burliest man there.

・Strong man was furious and as he looked down, anger rose within him (you could physically see it ... he turned red...)

・Without even lifting a finger, your hater had been punched, and kicked straight out of the tavern. Not before Merlin made him land in a pile of dung.

𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐓

・When your honour is in question Lancelot does not play around.

・As he hears the insult, automatically, his head moves to the left, and he blinks once.

・Without a word he unsheaths his sword and waits for the low life to do the same.

・When the low life doesn't, Lancelot makes someone give him a sword, and drags him outside.

"I'm going to make you think twice before saying such filth."

・And the high pitch ring of steel on steel rang out in the air.

・The whole time your head was in your hands, because truly, you had heard worse. You were tough, and all you wanted to do was get a bit sloshed with your hot ass husband.

・But no, he insisted on fighting for your honour ... like he always does.

・And low and behold, the Knight of Camelot won.

"Are you alright, my love?" Lancelot's lips were pressed against your ear, and you nodded.

"You know you don't have to do that for me-"

"Oh I know," he replies quickly, giving you a half smile. "But you are my spouse. And I will always protect you."

𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑

・Scoffs, a smirk on his lips as his eyes narrow on the idiot who insulted you.

"Do you know who I am? Well... I guess not. Someone with a brain would never insult the King nor his Queen/Consort"

・Gasps were heard around the tavern

And the man went as pale as Gaius' hair

"Ah, I see you've figured it out. Thought I might have to spell it for you."

"Oh Arthur," you scolded, bumping his shoulder.

・You had heard it all in your lifetime, and one day you decided that the words of sheep do not affect a tiger.

"What would you like me to do with him, my love? The dungeons? The stocks?"

・You watched as the man quivered. He would have been in his mid-twenties, barely a whisker on his chin.

"Hmmmm," you pretended to think. Your mind already made up. It was a silly little comment, from a silly little boy.

・Arthur knew you too well, his gaze turned stern on the young man. A rusted sword hanging on his hilt. He had begun to shake.

"I think we should leave him be. Maybe he won't let his tongue wag so freely."

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋

"Excuse me? What was that?"

・Percival instantly shot up from his seat at the table. The candle flickered as he did so, and you reached out to steady it.

"Perci, it's fine, really." You mumbled, not wanting to draw more attention to yourself. But one of the positives of having such a huge husband is that he will win against nearly anyone in a fight.

・Well, most of the time, men are too scared to even fight him.

・As was your insulter.

・Whose bravado slowly diminished as he watched the large Knight loom over him.

"What I- what I meant was-"

"Apologise."

"Sorry, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean it!"

"Now leave."

"Yes, yes of course!"

・You were actually impressed by the cowardice of this man. He didn't put up one ounce of a fight. Just followed exactly what Percival said.

"Thank you," you whispered, a smile appearing on your face.

"No. Never thank me. I will always stand up for you."

𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐀𝐍

・A raise of his eyebrow, and a turn of the head. A cold, intimidating demeanour washing over him. Elyan noticed the clean face, shining armour and coat of arms on the man's cloak.

"Say that again. I dare you." His voice was a growl; low and rumbling.

・The man, no, knight, did not shrink or apologise.

"Oh what a match. The marred and the deaf. A great pair-" the knight turned around and laughed with his men.

"Mmm." Elyan looked at the arse like a snake deciding on dinner.

・Your hand itched to grab the dagger at your waist, but Elyan knew you too well.

・Looking at you, he put a hand on your arm and slightly nodded his head. I want to handle this, his eyes said.

・Folding your arms, you took a step back, 'be my guest,' you answered with a smile.

𝐆𝐖��𝐈𝐍𝐄

・Aggressive asf

・Doesn't even ask who said it first, he just throws himself at anyone and everyone who laughs

・Absolutely punching and kicking, grabbing heads and banging them together.

・You shake your head but join in, because that's part of the reason Gwaine loves you. You never let him have all the fun.

・And you would never let anyone talk crap about you. Especially to your face. That's not the reputation you wanted to hold.

・But who knew brawls could be romantic? With Gwaine somehow they are...

・Especially when he holds a man down so you can give him a few punches, Gwaine smiling at you.

"That's my girl/that's my guy"

・But it's not like you're allowed into many taverns anymore

・Only when Arthur, the King is there, that you're allowed to enter.

𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍

・Instantly his nose flares, invisible steam streaming from them.

"Apologise. This instant."

"Ooohooo," was the only reply he got. Along with the awful sound of drunk men's laughter. Well, more like coughing and wheezing.

"I'll ask one more time. After that, you'll be on the ground."

・The men barely looked in your husbands direction. Big mistake...

・Leon moved to block your view of what he was about to do.

・Because his word was truth.

・Within a second, the man who insulted you was on the floor, nose broken and bleeding.

・Once he's sorted it out, Leon turns to you and holds out his arm for you to take.

"Are you alright my love?" His concern falls on you and doesn't leave until you're feeling better.

[quotidian-oblivion]

For the Merlin asks

8, 11, 13!

Heyoo!!!

8. One off character you wish had a bigger part.

11. Random Knights Headcanon.

13. Random Servant Headcanon.

~

8:

Freya. She's not exactly one-off but I so so desperately wish she played a bigger part.

Because, c'mon. SHE'S THE DAMN LADY OF THE LAKE.

Magic beautiful water cat woman who guards the gates to death.

She deserves more than just being a mysterious hand who held and caught a sword. And Merlin deserved to have a secret water wife (i also love Freylin <33). Just think of the many possibilities and plots that could have happened. Just- just imagine. This is why i'm depressed.

11:

I told this to @tireddruid in conversation once and put it in one of my fics too, but I believe that after the Lamia incident, Gwaine woke up in the middle of the night after being recovered from what the Lamia did to him and then realized what he had done to Merlin. So he immediately went to Merlin's hut in the village they were staying in and just. starting crying. Silently and hard, beside Merlin's bed, full of remorse because damn it Gwaine's whole concept was that nobility came from the heart, not by blood. And what he did under the Lamia's spell wasn't noble at all.

Besides that, Merlin was his friend. The first person who took him to his home - gave up his own bed - to look after him while he was heavily drunk and barely capable of standing without support and didn't resent or rob him after that. Merlin was kind, caring, loyal and never - never - deserving of that kind of treatment or close to it. He was his first friend. He was why he became a knight. He was why Gwaine risked his neck to protect a noble and a royal. He was why Gwaine enteres the lands of hell. He was why Gwaine jumped into a battle against an undead army. Simply because Merlin asked. Simply because Merlin cared for him without cost when no one else did and wanted him to stay.

Who would want to lose a treasure of a friend like that?

Merlin then woke up 30 minutes later to find the crying mess of a knight and immediately knew that whatever doubts he had been having about the knights since the Lamia was untrue and Gwaine (and later the others too) would never willingly hold him in that regard. They fortunately didn't harm him too much, and it would take a while for Merlin to not flinch every time any of the knights made sudden movements towards him, but he would recover. And he would remember, just why he decided to befriend them.

13:

Agh. I thought about this one. And I don't particularly think much about characters beyond the main ones unless they relate to a plot of mine.

But one thing I assumed (but the show never confirmed) is that Merlin is quite popular among the servants.

I mean, does anyone remember Tyr Stewart? The guy evil!Gwen killed? He was outright threatened with death and his mother too, the poor man was traumatized and scared and anxious. Yet, he opened up to Merlin after some coaxing.

I don't think just anyone would open up to a random stranger, even in a higher power with the potential to end your life (cuz Merlin is tge manservant to the king), and trust them with information regarding yours and your loved one's lives. But he did with Merlin.

And this just proves to me that Merlin is in fact quite popular and friendly with the servants and patients and other commoners. The cook hates him, hey, but none of the other servants snitched on him when he snagged a pastry or dumpling or two. Especially not after Merlin sneaked them a piece ;)

~

Thank you so much for the asksssssss! I had loads of fun thinking them up :D

[nahasketches]

Omg i just read the most beautiful Merlin fic 🥹🥹🥹🥹 it has everything I ever wanted and more

Please read it because is beautiful and it ended better that everything I could think

And don’t forget to comment and leave kudos to them 😁😁😁😁

[justaz]

Anyways……..Gwaine crashed in Ealdor soon after Merlin dipped. Destiny was trying to bring them together but missed by a hair. Will took him in and let him crash at his place. They ended up fucking (Will was trying to mend the heartbreak of his childhood best friend and sort of boyfriend leaving) (also the scraggly drunk is actually really hot) (and they both hate nobility with a passion). Gwaine left right before Ealdor started to get raided because he’s always on the move and never stays in one place for too long.

Uhhhh years later Merlin mentions his home village of Ealdor and Gwaine smiles and is like “Ah, a quaint but homey place. I visited there once. I was homed by a lovely man with a similar heart to mine. I wonder how Will is doing after all these years…” Merlin beats him with his shoe for sleeping with his friend. And also has to break the news that he died but this was supposed to be a funny post so lets ignore that potential for angst and focus on WHATEVER THE FUCK THEIR SHIP NAME IS

[itsmakingyoucry]

gwaine was the type of person to sit with merlin while he bathed because merlin was scared of the silence

[mandoriana]

WHAT IF... Merlin and Arthur had children.

So, I wrote a post about an alternate universe where Arthur and Merlin had a night together, leading to Merlin having a magical pregnancy known only to Gwaine, Lancelot, and Gaius. But in this universe, Merlin wouldn't tell Arthur about their children, and Arthur would die without knowing he had heirs with the most important person in his life. However, I felt a bit sad about this tragedy and thought it would be interesting to imagine what Arthur's relationship with the children would be like if Merlin had told him or if Arthur had found out.

Anyway, after Merlin and Gwaine fled together in the middle of the night, Arthur would first be worried, thinking something had happened to Hunith or something else. Then, he would be sad that Merlin didn't trust him enough to call him, and then he would interrogate Gaius and Lancelot, knowing they were the closest to Merlin. Gaius would lie, saying that Merlin needed to be taken elsewhere because the "parasites" were worse and Gaius couldn't do anything to help (this was the lie he told Arthur to justify Merlin's belly). So, Gaius sent Merlin to another doctor. Arthur would question where Merlin was sent, but Gaius would refuse to answer. Of course, Arthur wouldn't fully believe Gaius, which would make him question Lancelot. Lancelot wouldn't mention the pregnancy but would be responsible for informing Arthur about Merlin every week.

In the first week, Arthur would hold on, living calmly though anxiously. In the second week, Arthur couldn't stand being without Merlin anymore and would send a letter to his uncle Agravaine, asking him to "guide" Arthur as the king's advisor. Agravaine would kill Uther in the third week, and everyone would believe it was a peaceful death, but in reality, Agravaine suffocated Uther. In the third week, Arthur would try to communicate with Merlin because he needed him by his side during that difficult time. By then, the whole kingdom would be worried about their new king, as Arthur would be increasingly bitter and sad. After a month without Merlin, Arthur would stop speaking unless it was to give orders. Morgana would be trying to infiltrate the kingdom through Agravaine, but Arthur would barely notice due to the lack of Merlin to warn him, although he also wouldn't fully trust his uncle, as he would be irritated with everyone who wasn't his servant and friend.

Only when it was already the second day of his reign, Arthur would tire of waiting for Merlin and decide he was done waiting. He would wait for Lancelot to leave to fetch Merlin's letter and follow him from a distance, leaving the kingdom in the hands of Leon and his uncle. Of course, Lancelot wouldn't reveal the druids' hideout, but a druid would deliver the letter to him personally. Arthur would then follow the druid to the camp, and that's when he would see Merlin. Merlin, who has pointed ears, golden eyes, messier hair, smoother and paler skin, dressed like a druid and looking beautiful like an elf, and with a huge belly thanks to his 7-month pregnancy with Arthur's quadruplets.

Arthur: Merlin? *Arthur calls breathlessly at the sight of his friend who now looks almost ethereal.*

Arthur was at a loss for words to begin expressing himself. No druid would stop Arthur from approaching, as they were all aware of the prophecy and knew that "no half can truly hate the one who makes them whole." Merlin was also speechless upon seeing his beloved prince, now king, before him after so long apart. Usually, Merlin would be worried about approaching, fearing Arthur's reaction, but with his hormones and emotions controlling him now, Merlin tries to approach for a tearful hug. Arthur steps back, surprised by the sudden reaction, which makes Merlin withdraw, scared and crying.

Arthur: Merlin... *He tries to approach to apologize, but Gwaine appears and points his sword at Arthur* Gwaine!?

Gwaine: I don't know what you did to him, Arthur, but if you touch my friend, I'll kill you and then myself.

Arthur is furious at first until he notices Merlin still crying and looking desolate. Gwaine realizes that Arthur is not there to harm Merlin and lowers his sword to let the king pass. Arthur approaches Merlin carefully to prove to Gwaine that he does not wish to harm the servant. Arthur kneels beside his best friend, and as soon as he is close enough, he pulls Merlin into a desperate hug. Both were desperate to be together again.

Arthur: What happened? *He whispers against Merlin's curls*

Merlin: I... *Merlin stammers, feeling almost ashamed to speak* I have magic... *Merlin hesitates to continue, almost afraid, and Arthur tightens the hug to give him confidence* and... and I'm pregnant...

Arthur: What... but, you're a man, how...

Merlin *sobbing*: I'm not human... my body doesn't follow the same rules as a common human body and... and I needed to leave so no one would find out...

Arthur quickly connects the dots about the times they both drank to celebrate and ended up in the same bed. Arthur trembles as he realizes what Merlin means.

Arthur: You... you were hiding from me...

Merlin *nods between anguished tears*: I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I didn't want to leave you, but I was scared... I...

Arthur looks at Merlin, noticing the other man's knees bleeding from being on the ground. He steps back and stands up. Merlin thinks his king is going to leave or kill him and cowers before him. This breaks Arthur's heart, who just bends down and lifts Merlin in his arms.

Merlin: Huh? *looks confused*

Arthur: How many children are we expecting?

Merlin is too surprised to respond, and Gwaine, who is crying with relief while watching the scene between the two, speaks for him.

Gwaine *emotional*: Four, sir, there will be four.

Arthur's eyes shine with emotion and admiration as he looks at Merlin. He is upset to be the last to know everything, but he is so happy to have Merlin back and even happier to know he is going to be a father, that he couldn't care less about the painful revelation that his beloved hid from him.

Arthur: I'm going to be a father... *he whispers*

Merlin watches with shining eyes as Arthur seems to hold back from jumping for joy. Everything after that is quick. The druids pack their things and prepare to return to Camelot with the king, the knight, and Emrys. Merlin tells Arthur about his first months during the journey and says how difficult it was to stop himself from running to talk to Arthur. He also talks about all the cravings he had during the first months (Arthur makes a mental note to remember to ask the cooks to bring Merlin everything he desires). When they arrive in Camelot, everyone quickly "connects the dots" upon seeing Merlin with a pregnant belly and Arthur riding with him. At first, everyone thinks Merlin was a woman all along, but when they notice the servant's golden eyes, they simply know it's magic.

Agravaine: Sir...

Agravaine is the first to receive Arthur and his guests. He seems nervous about the presence of the druids, but even more nervous about the new presence of Merlin (remembering that Agravaine arrived after Merlin was already away from the kingdom).

Agravaine: Who is *hesitates*... the lady?

Arthur dismounts and picks Merlin up in his arms to carry him to Gaius.

Arthur: This is my spouse. *Merlin looks surprised at Arthur* He has been away for a long time, I decided to bring him back now that my father is gone and I am the king.

Agravaine stares at Merlin's golden eyes and protruding belly and immediately knows that Arthur's "woman" is going to be a problem for Morgana's plans.

Agravaine: Sir, she looks like an elf, *stares at Merlin with disgust* and you know that faerie creatures are not to be trusted...

Arthur: That's enough! Merlin is trustworthy, and I don't want to hear you speak about him in that tone ever again.

Arthur then carries Merlin to Gaius's quarters, ignoring all the looks they are getting. Gaius is relieved to see his boy looking healthy but terrified at the idea that Arthur might do something. Fortunately, Arthur proves his love for Merlin by stating that the druids will stay with them until Merlin gives birth.

The babies are healthy. Gaius assures Merlin and Arthur that their children are fine, and Arthur takes Merlin to his room, where he orders Gwen and George to be Merlin's attendants. Gwaine and Lancelot are assigned to be Merlin's personal knights. Agravaine questions whether it's a good idea for Arthur to give so much power to someone who isn't even his queen yet, but Arthur is no longer listening to his uncle. All Arthur can think about is Merlin and their children.

During the last months of Merlin's pregnancy, Arthur is the best companion possible. He loves Merlin, loves the children, and is always thinking about Merlin's desires and what he wants. And yes, he is giving too much power to the man he hasn't married yet, but who could blame him? Merlin looks divine and is all emotional and affectionate. Arthur has never felt so loved and cherished before. The two are more connected and in love than ever, and everyone in the kingdom can see how happy their king is, which makes them happy too.

Of course, not everything is perfect, and Morgana discovers the pregnancy. She connects the dots about who Emrys is and realizes that her best chance to take over the kingdom and seize Arthur's throne will be when Merlin is at his weakest, that is, when he gives birth to the babies.

The day finally arrives, and everyone in the kingdom is eager for the arrival of the heirs, excited to see their future sovereigns. The whole kingdom is celebrating, and all the knights and druids are on full guard, ready for any unexpected attack. Agravaine is outside the room waiting for Morgana's signal; Arthur and Gwen are in the room holding Merlin's hands and helping him endure the pain. Since the pregnancy is magical, the druids are present to feed Merlin with magic, as the babies are feeding off Merlin's magic.

The first baby is born, a boy with brown hair and golden eyes full of magic. When the baby cries, the candle flames burn brighter, and the whole kingdom hears the roar of a lion. The future king of Camelot is born, and his name is Gordic Pendragon.

The next to be born is a girl, a baby with black hair and eyes shining like gold. This is Princess Rowena, a beautiful girl who, when she screams at the top of her lungs, shatters windows, and the whole kingdom can hear the flapping of an eagle's wings.

The next to be born is Helga Pendragon, with golden hair and eyes full of light. Unlike her siblings, when she cries, the earth does not tremble, but flowers bloom, and everyone in the kingdom can feel a slight tremor under their feet as small flowers appear.

The last to be born is a boy with black hair. His birth causes anguish because, unlike his siblings, he does not cry or scream. Salazar Pendragon is held by the druids, who stop feeding Merlin with magic and start transferring the magic to the youngest of the family. There are long minutes of pure despair before Salazar finally starts to cry and breathe. His cry is not as loud as his siblings', but the sound of a snake echoes in the waters of the kingdom's rivers.

The druids blow a trumpet to celebrate the birth of Emrys's children, and the people rejoice. Unfortunately, this was the signal Morgana was waiting for. She leads her army of immortals against Camelot, and hell breaks loose, similar to the Kyuubi attack during Naruto's birth. Morgana appears inside the quarters where Merlin, Arthur, and the children are. She takes Helga as a hostage. The knights try to fight, but Merlin knows it won't work due to the magical nature of Morgana's army.

Arthur, Gwaine, and Lancelot fight Morgana and manage to make her release Helga. Still weak and exhausted, Merlin gets up and goes to the battlefield. With all his remaining strength, he uses his magic to paralyze the entire army, but this leaves Merlin vulnerable, and Morgana takes the opportunity to cast a fire spell that burns Merlin. The army remains frozen in time, but Merlin "dies."

[nononsensesblog]

More detailed explanation of each trope under the cut👇:

Time loop: a plot device in fiction where characters experience a period of time that repeats, often multiple times. The characters may try to break out of the cycle. Usually big reveals can happen where we can see the different reactions characters would have to certain secrets and situations, leading to various consequences. Often provides the characters trapped in a loop with a better understanding of their life and the people on it. (Some examples are the movies: Groundhog Day and Happy Death Day).

Character(s) High on substances: Characters with an altered state of consciousness caused by the ingestion of hallucinogenic substances (such as mushrooms or, more appropriate to the show’s context, a potion), commonly used as a comical device. (I’m not taking into consideration the episode where Arthur is enchanted and becomes a himbo, cause it’s not exactly the same).

Mystery solving with people trapped together: common trope in movies and tv shows, the characters are trapped together in the same space by external reasons (such as a storm or a blizzard) while something mysterious happen leading to general mistrust between the characters while they work together to solve it.

Christmas episode: a common trope that is usually a special production commission separate from the season it occurs alongside; as such, it generally just features the series's core cast (and sometimes, popular secondary characters), in which the characters attempt to reunite for a special celebration, usually with a gift exchange. It can be used as a comical device and/or promote heartwarming moments between the characters.

The Beach episode: an episode where the cast decided to take a break and go to the beach, shenanigans happen, it’s considered mostly as a filler episode. Beach episodes often provide a lighter, more relaxed atmosphere, allowing characters to bond in a non-serious context. This helps to develop relationships and showcase different aspects of characters's personalities.

[hannahhook7744]

Random Modern Merlin headcanon;

Elena, Gwaine, and Will are tax evaders.

Leon and Merlin are too but they're immortal so they don't count.