#tavernfest

[tansyuduri]

Art by @kairennart for "Nine Lives" Based on the Five Of Swords Tarrot Card.

Arthur smoothed Merlin's hair again, trying to calm his own breathing. “He’s not waking up,” Arthur’s voice cracked.

“Give it a moment. His body has been through a lot,” Gaius told him. Arthur nodded and tilted Merlin's face upward again. “You’re alright,” he whispered again, “you’re alright. Everything is alright.” Except it wasn’t, and Arthur had no idea how the curse would strike next. 

He watched Merlin, trying not to hyperventilate as he cradled the other man’s cheek. His thumb stroked it gently. “Come on…” Arthur begged, “wake up… You’re alright…” He had to be alright.

Finally, Merlin’s eyes slowly flickered open. The blue that reminded Arthur of a night sky flicked around the room quickly before meeting Arthur’s own eyes and focusing slowly. It was the most beautiful sight Arthur had ever seen. 

It was all he could do not to kiss him right then and there. Let him breathe, he reminded himself. Let him breathe. His thumb continued to stroke Merlin's cheek. He bent forward and kissed his forehead again. Pulling back, he discovered Merlin's eyes still focused on him. 

“Merlin…you can hear me?”  Arthur asked.

Merlin gave a very slight nod, eyes still staring up into Arthur’s. 

“Good, it's about time you woke up from your beauty rest.” It was all Arthur could do to keep his tone even and his voice from cracking as he spoke. 

Merlin’s gaze instantly switched to being utterly incredulous. His eyes practically screamed “you ass”. 

Arthur started to laugh hysterically, and he leaned down, embracing Merlin with both arms. Taking a few deep breaths of his own before pulling back, he sat on the end of Merlin’s bed and pulled the other man close. One hand rubbed up and down Merlin’s back while the other caressed the nape of his neck and the bottom of his black hair. Arthur’s lips pressed over Merlin’s skin wherever he could reach.

Internally, he continued to panic, because this could never happen to Merlin again. And it would if he didn’t do something. An idea struck him, perhaps he could plead with the witch— convince her that her revenge was better if the victim of it was him. 

Fic found here!

[mightybog]

Gwen & Merlin | Teen & Up | No Archive Warnings Apply | Word Count: 500

Post-Canon | Ghosts | Grief & Mourning | Immortal Merlin

For @merlinmicrofic with the dialogue prompt "almost" and the @tavernfest Merlin Horror Month 2024

An elderly Gwen summons Merlin to Camelot on Samhain. Their old friends walk the Earth again for a night.

☾ ☾ ☾

She was sitting by the fire in the chambers she had once shared with her husband. The flames sputtered in the grate, attacked by the late autumn winds. Upon the hearth there were food offerings; it was Samhain, the eve of the night the dead woke from their sleep and roamed the Earth once again.

“Merlin,” Gwen called to him softly, her eyes shining and a little cloudy in the light, evidence of the cataracts laying claim to them. She stretched out her hand and he hobbled over with his staff and took it. It was soft, wrinkled, but strong. 

Gwen had received him earlier in the throne room but this, with the night blackening the windows, was when they could truly speak. 

He sat down groaningly beside her. Immediately, she leaned towards him in her chair and poked his knee. “I heard a rumour.” 

He leaned as well. “A rumour?” he croaked. 

“I’m told that you're not as you appear to be. That you…” she seemed to search for the words. “They say nature has not taken hold of you as it has me.” 

He opened his mouth but she stopped him.

“Let me see you as you really are... Please.” 

He changed, letting go of the glamour he had assumed. 

By the way she reached out, he knew she couldn’t help it. She cupped his unbearded face, swiped a thumb over his cheek like there was a tear there just as her own eyes filled. 

“It’s like…” she trailed off in wonder. 

“Seeing a ghost?” he guessed. 

“No,” she shook her head, retracting her hand. “No. I should know… I called you here because-” 

There was a knock at the door. 

She cleared her throat, emotion leaving her voice. “Come in.” 

A knight entered.

“Is it time?” she asked.

“Almost.” 

“Help an old woman up, Merlin?” 

They were on the ramparts of the outer walls, it had been a struggle to get up here, but Gwen, now bundled in Merlin’s cloak, had been singularly determined.

It was a full moon but the night was choked with mist. 

Merlin’s magic prickled, beyond the walls something had stepped back onto the mortal plane. 

He tried again to implore her to return to the palace. “Gwen, it's Samhain, we shouldn’t-” 

“Just… Watch.” 

He grimaced but did as his queen bid. 

A horse whinnied faintly, like the tail end of an echo. From the mist, three caped figures on horseback were given form. Ceremonial Camelot banners, washed grey by the night, waved silently in a non-existent wind above them. Their shape, their faces, tilted up, serene, their eyes on the queen – Merlin startled. “It’s-!”

“Gwaine… Lancelot… and Elyan,” she finished, her voice breaking more with each name. 

“But..? Gods, why-?”

“They came last year, and the year before that,” she said, breathing. She drew her borrowed cloak closer. “I know now. They're waiting for me.” 

In Avalon his friends would be together again. Death had never been kinder, and fate more gruel. 

[prue84]

The Current and Future Pendragons

Fandom: BBC’s Merlin (canon divergence, post-canon) AU AU: The Royal Husbands (Aithusa Pendragon)

High King Arthur Pendragon and the royal family of Camelot.

AU in which a series of canon divergences lead to Arthur surviving the mortal wound inflicted him by Mordred at Camlann and, with the help of Merlin who then becomes his Prince Consort, bringing the golden age foretold by the prophecies.

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Manip planned few years ago, but started on the prompt of @tavernfest​. It's all @papysanzo's fault on Tumblr for reblogging the May round. Also @merthurotica​, but their post on my RSS feed turned up later.

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More about the AU under the cut and also at the AU edit. (More fanworks from this AU at the links above) (All rambles and how this manip was made under the cut. Please suffer with me.)

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Arthur Pendragon, king of Camelot and High King of Albion. He successfully reunited the lands as the prophecies said, and also brought back magic. Few years after the victory of Camlann he married Merlin, who has become prince consort and second ruler of the kingdom. But, since unfortunately Merlin might be many things, but a woman with a womb he's not, Arthur (with Merlin) had to find a way to conceive a heir while being married to a man. Cue in Mithian, crown princess of Nemeth, equally saddled with the duty to give the throne a heir but uninterested in finding a husband trustful enough to sit at her side without potentially become a danger to her right to the throne. Together, the three of them reach an agreement that satisfies them all and they've been tight-close since. Their peculiar settlement initially was met with confusion and diffidence, but Mithian earned herself the thrust of everyone, and eventually the title of Queen of Camelot, third in line after Merlin. Peter is the first born of this union and rightful heir to the throne of Camelot. He's a talented swordsman but he suffered through all his teen years because of the never-ending comparisons with his warrior father who is on another fighting level. With age he learned to accept that he'll never be a war king and nobody ever asked him to become one either. He isn't his father, his name isn't part of legends or prophecies; he wasn't born to unite Albion but to keep it united once the Age of the Once and Future King sees its dawn. He will be a good and fair king for the peaceful times of the golden age, and his duty will be to make sure all his father - and his father's husband - sacrifices won't be wasted, that what they built is preserved. Susan was conceived because Mithian wanted both a heir for her to entrust Nemeth and a daughter. She's stubborn and strong but also capable of great empathy and kindness, as her mother and the Pendragon women (when they not meet High Priestesses who manipulate them). She's a formidable archer. Handsome Caspian, the son of Gwaine and Lady Vivian, is courting her and she welcomes this game, but Susan is enjoying too much her freedom to settle for a marriage and a family of her own. She has time though. Aithusa is the cute, small thing of the family, although she's actually the oldest of the new Pendragon generation - not counting the centuries spent in the egg that make her older than the castle of Camelot itself. As per usual with the dragon race, Aithusa's growth is stunned by her remaining with her parents. Only by being left on their own to tend to themselves, a dragonling is forced to grow. Thus, despite she was hatched on the dawn of the golden age, before Arthur married Mithian, she's still a dragonling that can fit Arthur's shoulders - her second favorite spot after the sling she made Arthur wear for years under his shirt. She learned the human language and can talk with her half-dragon impaired siblings Peter and Susan, but her speech pattern still needs some work. She doesn't care though. She's not so eager to leave the nest.

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Aithusa, (officially the ward of the king, unofficially considered by anyone in the court his scales-covered, flame-breathing daughter) is actually the eldest, since she was the first to come to the family. So yes, she's the older sibling. Make of this knowledge what you want. She also is firm that Arthur is a dragon, just one kind that looks like humans. But he's totally dragon. And if he doesn't breath fire or doesn't understand the dragon language, is all Uther's fault who didn't teach him his dragon gifts. Since Arthur is clearly a dragon, while Mithian sadly isn't, Peter and Susan are to her half-dragons. She still claims that it's because of the half human blood in their veins that they are impaired and don't have any dragon skill.

There's a fanfic for Aithusa as the (still only) daughter of the royal husbands during Father's Day, if you're interested.

When the time comes, and Arthur retires to Avalon to sleep, Peter will ascend as new king of Camelot, whose court will be moved to the renovated Castle of the Old Kings (or a new castle - still have to decide on this). Susan will succeed to Mithian on the throne of Nemeth. Aithusa will inherit the nest itself, the castle of Camelot, to own and protect until Merlin will be ready to make use of it.

I decided that Caspian would be Gwaine's (and Vivian's) son out of looks alone, and out of a (wrong) belief that he was meant to be Susan's love in Narnia. I never watched the second movie, and by the time I finally read the books, I didn't want to change it. For the same reason, I don't have a woman for Peter. A potential daughter of Gwen and Lancelot wouldn't be bad, but not necessary. (The AU idea ends with Arthur's travel to Avalon for his sleep and a mention of Peter moving the court to another castle, to then a time skip focusing on Merlin, so I didn't really focus on Peter's or Susan's life.)

While I'm writing this I wondered if Merlin wouldn't want to have a child so to kickstart the dragonlords kind (although, unless Magic changes its rules, the child would never inherit the dragonlord powers, since Merlin doesn't die). It never occurred to me before. I'm not sure he'd feel like having children, if he already knew that he would be immortal and he would then be forced to see his children grow old and frail and then die. But who knows. He could have one or more with Mithian, especially once Arthur is gone to Avalon. In case, Edward Pensive is there for the picking. Also Lucy.

About the AU When Lancelot is sent sent back to the world of the livings after he sacrificed himself to close the Veil, Gwen realizes that, between the two boys she loves, a relationship with a knight of humble origins has better chances than the one with a king that comes with a throne and a heavy kingdom, and so she picks Lancelot over Arthur. Arthur, who has given his blessing to the couple, doesn't find the time nor interest to find himself a wife and he's still a golden bachelor by the time Camlann happens. Merlin manages to save him and they eventually acknowledge their feelings. The Court backs Arthur's wish to marry a male servant on the premise that Arthur will pick a woman to give the kingdom a heir. And here comes Mithian, who might be more interested in women, so Camelot and Nemeth can make an agreement that will make both households happy. Since Mithian is wonderful, and fondness between her and the Royal Couple of Camelot grows, she's eventually given the title of Queen of Camelot, third in line after the King and the Prince Consort. Arthur and Mithian will have two children, the first born a male who will inherit Camelot and the second a daughter that will inherit Nemeth.

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Tec stuffs (aka Behind The Manip) Both a challenge and a nightmare. The original picture is four people. I needed five. Now, onto the specific characters - in order of making. Mithian, who had to be moved to make space for Merlin, was surprisingly easy to make. I wished to delete the lions on the dress, and replace them with either the Pendragon dragon or the Nemeth bull, but it was too much even for me, so I gave up. Removing them altogether felt odd - the dress is black with little movement, and without the lions it felt just one blotch of black. Susan. I'm not satisfied. The actress picture was perfect in pose but it has something in colors/lights that makes it stand out and look a bit more fake. Whatever. Peter. It took me a while to find the picture that would fit the body. Initially I kept the original body's curly hair, for I didn't feel like William Moseley's hairstyle would acceptable in a Medieval setting. But then I changed my mind, and remade it. He might be a bit too stocky for my liking but the body is that and making him less bulkier is out of option. On the chest the costume featured a cross: I erased it to be replaced it with the Pendragon dragon in the same style. Quite proud of how that turned out. Can't say the same for the sword. Yes, Arthur's son has a name sword which is coincidentally the sword of Peter Pensive. But the change was a given. Merlin was one challenge. I planned to use another body for his (the same king from Vikings but with another costume) but the picture just didn't work out. The one I chose... featured the man from the knees above. Which meant reconstruction for legs (which meant stealing the legs from Arthur's base - coincidentally it's always the same character!)... and the cloak. That was the true challenge! Also. I like how it turned out, but it just irks me that Colin doesn't look in the camera. But that picture was perfect and the result is fine. It did take me some tinkering to place the circlet but all in all I'm satisfied in how prince Merlin turned out. Bonus point for my headcanon marriage ring that didn't look good (the manip is too small for decent rings renderings), but I managed to add another from a jewelry maker that does rings in a style very similar to Ygraine's canon ring. Be sure to visit their Etsy and die. Ygraine's sigil, that replace the medallion the original body was wearing, is a given as well. Too bad we don't have a decent prop pic of it. Now. Arthur. Bloody Arthur. Tinkering with the original body to change colors from blue to red was funny. The rest NOT. Replacing the original sword with Excalibur, which was mandatory, gave a mild result. Ygraine's ring is there but, given the small size, isn't looking good enough. And those were the easy things! Because then it came the time to place bearded Bradley. Now. We do have few nice bearded Bradley pics, courtesy of the man himself, but they were mostly too small to work with in this manip - and/or in poses that wouldn't fit the body. You might say: there's Vikings: Valhalla. No, my friend. I downloaded ALL the screencaps available and very few worked, and - given the costume the character wears, there was never a inch of Bradley's bearded neck. In the end I worked with one of the pics Bradley released on Instagram. A pic with a black background in which bear and hair blended in. And an hard shadow on the right side of the face. A nightmare to cut, a nightmare to fix. And then the crown. The crown comes from The Hollow Crown. It looks similar but it isn't the same refurbished prop (different decorations, slightly different proportions of the fleur-de-lis). Years ago, when I saw the pics, I decided this would be older!Arthur's crown, for it's more regal with its fake gems and golden coating. There wasn't a pic with the proper perspective, so I had to tweak it a bit. It doesn't look awful, mind me, but I feel something's off with how it's placed on Bradley's head. I can't tell what, though - I used one of Arthur's coronation pics as reference while working, but still I can't fix what's wrong. In hindsight I wonder if I should've used a crowned Arthur pic with the original crown and be done with it. And then Aithusa. We literally have two pics of her, unless you want to work with night/dark screencaps. I knew where I wanted to have her, no idea how to. Still not happy. Does she looks fake? Yes. But at this time I just gave up. Whatever. (Besides, the other options didn't work. Her standing promo pic at Arthur's feet? Her fore legs are in a different perspective. Her standing promo pic on Arthur's shoulders? There was enough space, her head would be cut out from the picture and there was no way to extend the base pic by 50px, that specific background is a bitch to work with).

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Credits

1. + 18. Vikings, season 4 promo pictures. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/vikings/gallery4/gallery21/gallery.htm ) 2. Janet Montgomery from Salem, season 1 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/salem/gallery1/gallery14/gallery.htm ) 3. Anna Popplewell from Reign, season 1 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/reign/gallery1/gallery1/gallery.htm ) 4. Vikings, season 2 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/vikings/gallery2/gallery1/gallery.htm ) 5. Colin Morgan from We Hunt Together. ( farfarawaysite.com/merlin/actors/colin/filmtv3/gallery.htm ) 6. The Hollow Crown, season 1 - Henry V. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/hollow/gallery1/gallery3/gallery.htm ) 7. Merlin, deleted scene - screencap. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 8. Spinner ring by artisanlook on Etsy. ( etsy.com/listing/462981991/spinner-ring-ruby-ring-silver-band ) 9. William Moseley from Bonnie Paul's 'It Was Love, Now It's War' Music Video photoshoot. ( justjared.com/photo-gallery/2650927/william-moseley-bonnie-paul-it-was-love-now-its-war-01 ) 10 + 11. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian original prop (Peter’s sword and scabbard). ( uk.propstoreauction.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/78/lot/18159 ) 12. Merlin, original prop. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 13. Bradley James, photoshoot by Jose Palma (2021). ( instagram.com/p/CVvMc_AMC8m ) 14. Merlin, season 2 promo picture. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 15. The Hollow Crown, season 1 - Henry VI. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/hollow/gallery2/gallery2/gallery.htm ) 16. Bradley James from Vikings: Valhalla, 2x06 - screencap. ( kissthemgoodbye.net/PeriodDrama/index.php?cat=510 ) 17. Merlin, 4x11 - screencap. ( kissthemgoodbye.net/merlin/index.php ) 19 + 20. Merlin, creature picture. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away)

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Crossposted Livejournal: prue84.livejournal.com/97890.html Dreamwidth: prue84.dreamwidth.org/89442.html Deviantart: deviantart.com/prue84/art/The-Current-and-Future-Pendragons-964446326

[merthurglompfest]

Hi! First timer here, when/where can I get a beta?

Hi @greatstoneddragonsstuff,

Thanks for the question!

To find a beta for the fest, check out our 2023 Beta Database here and get in touch with whoever best suits your needs (or get in touch with us and we'll contact them for you, if they haven't made their details publicly available). You're also welcome to hit up a fandom friend, ask around on @tavernfest or other Discord servers, or check out the Merlin Betas community on LJ, among other things.

As for when you'll need one, that depends on how much input you want them to have and how much time it will take for them to beta your work. Some people like to get a beta ASAP and brainstorm ideas with them as they go, while other people prefer to wait until they've finished their first draft before getting someone else to read it over. It basically comes down to whatever you're comfortable with, but we do recommend that you keep the fest deadlines in mind and make sure you leave enough time to find a beta and hear back from them, as well as do any additional editing before you send the fill in to us on 15 March.

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

Cheers, — Glompfest Mods

[mossmx]

me when the @tavernfest round 14 was announced: ohh maybe I can finish my cute caountryside fluffy knights art

me today: oh... the theme could also work for a gangbang 🤔🧠

two wolves yadda yadda XD

[camelotsheart]

Tavern Fest - 5 Love Languages Trisolde & Merthur

[kickassfu]

Participating in round 3 of tavernfest: SUPERHEROES & SECRET IDENTITIES

Merthur / Teen and Up / Fluff / Love confessions / Identity Reveal

Also on AO3

Will you be ok?

Magic is real. Superpowers are real. Mutants are real.

(Merlin isn’t sure about vampires, werewolves and all that shite though. They might be real, who knows? Not him.)

Camelot is basically a superhero town. Therefore, it is also a den of weekly supervillains, and major destruction on the daily, and if Merlin was one to make nerdy comparisons, he’d say Camelot has a Hell’s Mouth of its own, but Merlin isn’t so he doesn’t.

Sadly his mum has always forced him to keep quiet about his powers, telling him it was too dangerous if anyone were to ever find out. You’re too powerful dear, she’d say, a sad smile on her face. He never really understood it growing up; now he realizes the world is fucked and it will take, and take, and take from you until you’re dead. Buried on the ground with an unmarked grave. It’s not going to be him, never.

Merlin stays very far away from any superheroing. Let all the others save the damsels in distress and all that rot, he’s just fine and dandy being ordinary Merlin, who uses magic in secret to make his life easier.

-

Shite, fuck, bollocks, bloody fucking hell, Merlin thinks, realizing what he just did. He stopped time. Again.

In his defense he didn’t really mean to do it.

It was instinct, all right? You see someone in danger, you save them. Right? Even if the person you’re saving is the annoying posh prat who you have classes with. Even if you know you should be careful, keep everything secret. Lucky for him he’s wearing a hoodie, so his face is somewhat hidden. With a nudge of his magic it’s easy to pull the shadows towards his face, concealing it even further.

Arthur’s on the ground behind him, shocked, hurt and bleeding. It’s not like Arthur can’t defend himself either, his father’s made sure he knows how to fight properly to a very high degree - at least that’s what Merlin’s heard...multiple times. But fighting against a puny villain is nothing compared to fighting an actual superpowered person that knows what they’re doing.

It’s no wonder that he in fact, did not manage to fight back or even run away.

He’d feel sorry for him if Arthur wasn’t such a big arsehole; he does pity him though. No one should feel so powerless and terrified, no matter how dickish they might be.

Taking a deep breath, Merlin considers his options. Surprisingly enough, he’s never actually murdered someone, and even if it’s to save someone else that doesn’t sound like a very attractive solution. Could banish them to another realm, although that’d take some serious energy. Decision made, he doesn’t even bother to start time back up. Merlin spells the person to sleep, deciding to leave this particular problem to someone else. Someone who isn’t him. He just can’t be bothered, there’s plenty on his plate already.

Sound bursts to life, as cars zoom by the street, as people go about their day, as animals do what they must, and so on and on and on. Cities are noisy, who knew.

“Who are you?” the question startles him, apparently having forgotten about Arthur completely.

He takes a moment to be sure his features are obscured before he turns around. Arthur is still on the floor, hands trembling, when Merlin answers him, “No one.”

Oh, shite, his voice.

Right.

Doesn’t take much to tweak his vocal cords a bit, so it’s harder to recognize his voice.

“You just saved my life. And you are very obviously a powerful sorcerer. So, who are you?”

“Me? Powerful? You must’ve seen wrong, mate. Anyway I need to go and- do...stuff. Will you be ok?”

Scoffing, Arthur finally gets up, dusting his clothes and straightening them out - as if putting back together his persona, piece by broken piece. “I’m completely fine. But-”

“Great. Goodbye then.” Merlin says, practically running away from the scene, like a thief in the night instead of a...hero, he supposes. Merlin the hero? No. That’s awful.

He does not look back at Arthur.

-

Arthur has a crush.

A very ridiculous, impossible crush.

He doesn’t know the man’s face, is quite certain the voice he heard isn’t his real voice, and knows almost nothing about him. Not his name, not his personality, nothing, except that the man’s first instinct was to jump into a skirmish and save Arthur’s arse. And quite possibly his life (most definitely his life).

Feeling awestruck is not enough to explain how he feels, and love is far too much, so yes, he has a crush. It’s silly, he knows; it’s not like he’ll ever see him again. These feelings will go nowhere, but still, they persist.

Arthur’s been avoiding walking alone (his father wanted to hire bodyguards, this was their compromise), hasn’t gone anywhere near the place he got attacked at, and things eventually get back to normal. So much so that he ends up forgetting it ever happened, feeling safe in his own skin once again.

It’s not exactly a surprise when someone pushes him out of the way of a speeding truck, no it’s more like completely unexpected and fucking crazy. His stomach twists with the idea that the man who saved him is back, instead of being worried about almost dying...again. But when his head clears from the fog, the person he’s looking at is Merlin. His cute but holier-than-thou, idiotic and clumsy classmate.

The day is filled with surprises, it seems.

Merlin’s body against his feels solid, far more muscled than Arthur has ever noticed - probably because Merlin’s always wearing his ridiculous hoodies. And his eyes, from this close, are the prettiest blue he’s ever seen. Those lips though, completely sinful and very biteable.

“You ok?” Merlin asks, far too smug for Arthur’s taste.

“I’d be better if you got off me,” he’ll just pretend he wasn’t absolutely enjoying Merlin’s weight on him, far too much really. A weird and unhealthy amount. Not that he’d give him the satisfaction of saying it outloud.

Rolling his eyes, Merlin gets up, kind enough to pull Arthur up with him, “No need to be a prat about it. Could’ve thanked me for saving your life, no?”

“What did you just call me?”

“You seriously need to be more careful, you’re not a damsel in distress you know?” Merlin says, completely ignoring Arthur’s question quite rudely. It takes him a second to process what Merlin said though, but when he does-

“How did you know I was attacked?”

No.

Arthur refuses.

Merlin cannot be the man who saved him. He’s an idiot.

“I-uh, heard your friends talking about it. Obviously.”

“Right, that makes sense,” not really, it’s not like he went around advertising how he got his arse handed to him, almost died and had to be saved by a random, probably handsome, stranger.

It still can’t be Merlin though.

“Will you be ok?”

Well shite. Same exact question? Nothing but coincidence, obviously.

“Do use your eyes Merlin, I’m fine. Not a scratch on me.”

Merlin looks at him intensely, from his feet to his face, almost as if he’s appreciating the view, “Yeah, you look better than fine,” and if Arthur didn’t know better, it’d sound like Merlin is flirting with him. Which is ridiculous.

“I have to get going, please do be more careful from now on. Wouldn’t want you to hurt your pretty head would we?”

Ok, that’s definitely flirting. Before Arthur can even say goodbye, or retort, or anything, Merlin is already far away. Out of his reach.

What a weird day.

-

It becomes an occurrence.

The saving Arthur’s life thing, not the flirting thing - but also totally the flirting thing. Merlin doesn’t mean to do any of it really, his body just moves before he can think, and his mouth is a traitor to his brain honestly.

It’s a mix of Merlin saving him as, well, his hero self? The man with the shadow face? There isn’t a name he can give that version of himself, he tries not to spend too much time obsessing over what he’s doing. If his mother knew...Oh well, too late to change things now. And of him saving Arthur as regular old Merlin. Only in situations where his magic can be used judiciously.

Their relationship has grown, somehow. Where one goes, the other follows; it’s bloody weird - Merlin sort of loves it.

Arthur is- well, he’s a prat, but he’s also beautiful, and brave, and kind when he really wants to be. He’s changed a bit. Maybe that’s what happens when you nearly die multiple times, Merlin has no idea, whatever it is has made Arthur a thousand times more attractive.

They have become inseparable, and the lying has started to weigh on Merlin. How can he keep acting like he’s two completely different people around Arthur, when all he wants is to push him against a wall and kiss him until he forgets his own name?

To hold him, to love him, to keep him safe from the world so nothing bad ever happens to him? Because bad shit keeps happening to him, and frankly Merlin’s tired of it.

It’s quiet moments like these, them sitting next to each other, thighs touching, laughter in their voices, that make Merlin tremble with want. But if he can’t give himself completely to Arthur, it wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

God, he loves the prat doesn’t he?

-

It’s fairly obvious that Merlin is his personal hero. Arthur might be slow at times, sure, he isn’t daft though, and Merlin is always there. That, and the hoodies he wears when he’s concealing his face, are the same he wears in his day to day life. As much as Arthur calls him an idiot, the truth is that Merlin is in fact very clever and wise, until he does something as dumb as just...wearing his normal clothes when he’s out saving people - or saving Arthur really, doesn’t seem like he’s going around rescuing anyone else after all.

How he doesn’t understand that superheroes wear a costume for a reason, is beyond Arthur.

Arthur lets him keep the secret.

The problem is that Arthur’s crush on an absolute stranger that ended up not being a stranger at all, has evolved into love. To be fair, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Merlin. Arthur has eyes, he’s seen how everyone looks at Merlin, how everyone is completely besotted with him, falling over themselves to get his attention. It’s sickening, he hates it. He wants to scream loud and clear, he is mine, all mine, but Merlin’s not his quite yet. So he can’t go around yelling like a crazed caveman, treating Merlin like he belongs to him, even if he very much would like to do it.

An epiphany arrives when he’s lying down on Merlin’s bed, looking at the ceiling, bored, as Merlin works on an assignment. “I’ve told you about mystery, hero, shadow man. Right?”

“That’s a mouthful,” Merlin laughs, still focusing on his work, even as Arthur sees his body tense, “but yes, you’ve talked about him. A lot.”

“Yes, but did I tell you I had a crush on him from the first time we met?”

Merlin turns around from his desk so fast he almost falls on the floor, which is fucking adorable, “Uhhhh what? Since when?”

“I just said it. Since the beginning.”

“Right, you did say that.”

Seeing the confusing emotions cycle on Merlin’s face is more than a little hilarious, from the happiness, to the resignation, to hope, to heartbreak - well not as funny anymore.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have a crush on him anymore.”

“You don’t?” Merlin asks breathlessly, “Wait, why would I worry? I’m not worried.”

Holding Merlin’s stare, Arthur takes a moment to appreciate everything that they have before what he does next changes things between them (hopefully for the better), “No, I don’t have a crush. I love him.”

“Arthur…” Merlin starts, looking conflicted.

“Anything you’d like to tell me?”

“Lots of things probably.”

“Will you tell me?” Arthur asks, getting up from the bed and walking towards Merlin. Caressing his face, Arthur kisses his forehead and kneels in front of him, almost as if begging him for the truth.

Merlin looks like an animal caught in a trap, ready to bolt, but something happens. Some sort of realization. He sighs, relaxing his body, taking Arthur’s hand and kissing each knuckle.

“How did you know?”

“You’re not exactly subtle.”

“Ok, fair. How did you know I liked you back then?”

“Again, not very subtle with your onceovers and flirts. I can’t believe you haven’t jumped me yet, with the way you’ve been looking at me lately.”

“I couldn’t make a move while I was still keeping something from you.”

“Maybe, but now I know,” he points out, completely delighted by the future ahead of them.

“Oh,” at the realization of what Arthur means, Merlin scrambles onto the floor with Arthur, pushing him down (and damn, if it doesn’t make him remember the second time Merlin saved him) and kissing him far more softly than he expected.

Like he’s something fragile.

Fuck that.

Flipping them around, Arthur pins Merlin down. Can see Merlin’s pupils dilate, swallowing dry, obviously enjoying the switch. It feels like home, like he’s always belonged right here, with Merlin arching up into his touch.

He knows they’ll need to talk everything out later, but right now all he wants is Merlin in his arms. To finally get to know him in and out, to love and to hold.

Merlin is magic, of that Arthur has no doubts. In everything he does, in everything he is.

Has saved Arthur’s life from more than magical attacks, and death threats. He’s saved him from living a miserable, lonely life. From living without the love of his life, without magic.

He kisses him once, twice, twenty times, countless times, “I love you.”

-

“I love you too,” Merlin sighs into Arthur’s mouth.

[little-ligi]

My entry to Tavernfest round 1 - Ghosts and Hauntings!!

Summery: While travelling through the forest, Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot come across a creepy druid gravesite. Ever-curious Arthur touches one of the rune covered standing stones and accidentally unleashes the spirits of the dead druids. The spirits are intent on revenge for the person who killed them. Arthur Pendragon.

[edouggieart]

character #2 for Tavernfest, Emjay Woodweed 😎

[tavernfest]

Round 13 Masterlist

Apologies, a little bit of late housekeeping! Round #13 is now officially CLOSED and we will announce a new round in the future; however, if you find yourself inspired to create something for this or any of our previous rounds, we will be accepting submissions indefinitely! For more info on how to take part, check out our FAQ or send us an ask 🙂 In the meantime, you can find a list of Round #12 submissions below! ——— Title: The Cure All Creator: chaosgenes Rating: Explicit Length: 6,603 Pairing(s):  Merlin/Arthur Warning(s): None Summary: Merlin accidentally enchants the wrong “sword”—and it’s irreversible. To make matters worse, a curse falls on Arthur—and there’s only one way to save him. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55667023 ——— If you have a moment, please remember to stop by and leave the creators some love! ❤︎

[merthurdaily]

hiii i’m pretty new to the fandom and i was just wondering if there was a blog or anything that listed merlin/merthur events going on? or a bigbang blog thats still running or something.

Hello! Yes, i can link you to some, including blogs on here for specific fests too. @merlinsfests @aftercamlann @kinkalot @merlinbingo @merthurweek2022 @bbcmerlin-reversebang @tavernfest @elyan-fest @mercelotweek @merwainefest @merthurglompfest @merlinladiesweek (it was run by me) @albionparty (it was run by me) We have a lot as you can see and I’m forgetting so many. I also reblog all fests I see here

[merthurglompfest]

BETAS WANTED!

Are you a beta in the BBC Merlin fandom?

The deadline for Merthur Glompfest is fast approaching, and we have a couple of participants who have yet to find a beta. Posting will begin on 1 April 2021, so if you have some time between now and then and would like to help out a fellow Merlin fan, please send us an email at merthurglompfest@gmail.com!

Don’t yet have a beta?

Conversely, if you're a Glomper who doesn't yet have a beta for your work, don't panic! Send us an email with the length, rating, and any relevant warnings for your fic, and we'll do our best to put you in touch with one of our volunteers. Alternatively, you may want to ask a fellow writer friend to help you out, or try posting to the Merlin Betas LJ community or asking on a fandom Discord (e.g. Tavernfest) if you would prefer to find a beta for yourself.

Reminder emails will be going out soon asking Glompers to check in with their fanworks for the fest, so don’t forget to keep an eye on your inbox!

[oncefutureemrys]

Using that generator I just sent you, I got

The Perfect Thief

For our beloved legendary husbands

If you want—

hello! i finished this one just now. I think I’m going to go eat breakfast before I write anymore since I am hungry. hopefully you like it. it took me a long time to write because I had an idea of what to write for it, but I wasn’t able to fully convey it through my words. hopefully it comes out alright tho.

“Who are you?” Arthur asks, eyes blazing with frustration.

“‘Your worst nightmare,’” the criminal responds and then tilts his head slightly. “Do you think that’s a good response? Hmm, it seems a bit overused to me. Maybe ‘you’ll never find out’? Never mind, that seems quite stupid.”

The criminal continues to mumble to himself and Arthur’s almost shocked by the man’s nonchalance towards having a gun aimed at his head. He ultimately drops it, choosing to continue talking to this absolute moron of a thief. “Is there a point to all of your rambling?”

He shrugs. “To distract you?”

Arthur rolls his eyes, wondering how this was the ‘infamous thief’ who had never been caught. “Usually the bad guys don’t give away their strategies.”

“Who says I’m the bad guy?”

Arthur gestures towards the case filled to the brim in stolen money. “That, perhaps?”

The man looks to where Arthur’s pointing and nods, snapping his fingers. “Ah… yeah, I’d forgotten about that for a second.”

-OR-

Arthur’s assigned a new case to find the infamous thief known only as Emrys, a man no one has ever been able to catch. It’s while dealing with the stress and the ultimate end of his career, that he meets — rather, bumps into — Merlin, the clumsy, shy owner of the best coffee shop in town. Arthur’s glad to finally have someone he can talk to who’s normal, that is, until he starts working the case and delves deeper into the history of the criminal, finding many connections between the perfect thief Emrys and the gullible, sweet-hearted Merlin.

hopefully it was good hehe this one could actually work for my tavernfest round three so i might write this one for that as well. anywayyyyy, here ya goooo

send title if you want

[airplanelanding]

I assume you’re heavily organized with your writing

Afhahfahfajfjfs let me just direct you to my fandom-colour coded fic summary note cards, my notion planning books (one for my og works and one for fanworks [the fanworks on father separated into fandoms] as well as one for world building and one for original characters), my whiteboard planner on the wall by my bed, my reminder to work at 4pm everyday on my phone, my reminder to work everyday at noon on my Alexa, my TWENTY NINE always open tabs—TWENTY of which are just for research and references to Canon (I legit have 4 just for locations & maps for Merlin)—all separated into tab groups & colour coded based on whether it's research/reference or writing pages (ao3, nanowrimo, tumblr, tavernfest) or other (fake tweet maker, etc), my separate document folders for each fandom, my separate document folders for original & fanworks, my separate doc folders for each original work, my whole Evernote, my Notebook app w separate notebooks for each fandom, my phone notes with a whole ass folder for original characters, and a folder for fanfiction which then has subfolder for each fandom, fuck the list goes on, really...

Um... So yknow I think I can say this is accurate.

[thecourtsorcerer]

Just hit 8.5k words on my main entry for Tavernfest Quest 2: Merlin Hurt/Comfort Fest 2021, and am currently screaming because I just realized I’m not even halfway done and only have 16 days left to finish and post it. 

I’mnotfreakingoutyou’refreakingoutwhydidn’tIstartsoonerohyeahbecauseIhadotherprojects  

Two days and two weeks to go! I got this. I’m lowkey super excited to finish and post this fic, I’ve put a lot of work into it, including creating and translating spells into Old English (well, trying to translate them into Old English, unsurprisingly that is a rather difficult task). 

I cannot wait to share this work on Ao3, though, truly. I only hope those who read it enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  

[kickassfu]

For Merlin Masturbation Month.

Explicit / Masturbation / Accidental Voyeurism

It's also on AO3.

ethically (and probably legally) reprehensible

Arthur went on a sudden work trip.

It’s a bit idiotic, Merlin knows, pining away for a mate - a roommate even - when he could just go out, get to know someone less complicated and fuck them. Or you know, a relationship could come out of it. If he could get Arthur’s lips and hands and neck and laughter, out of his head. But no, Merlin is a sad, sad man that has resorted to wanking over said mate, on said mate’s bed, when he’s away.

There’s something wrong with him, he knows, thank you very much. Ethically (and probably legally) reprehensible, not to mention Arthur would never forgive him if he saw him at it - would likely burn the sheets too.

It’s the only way to sate his urges though, better than to jump Arthur when he comes out from the bath, wet and shiny and looking absolutely delicious. That is certainly illegal, even he knows that.

By now it’s almost like a ritual. The way he undresses, slowly, piece by piece. Pretending his hands are Arthur’s, mapping his skin, discovering every bump and freckle - it makes him harder faster than anything ever has, but still he takes it slow, enjoying the tease.

Lucky for him Arthur never makes his bed properly, still too used to being pampered by having maids as a young child. So all Merlin needs to do is push Arthur’s duvet completely off the bed, and lie down on his rumpled sheets. Still smelling of him - always smelling of him, because he doesn’t really do the washing either, that’s Merlin’s job around the house apparently. Merlin never thought he had a thing about people’s odors, until Arthur, really the bastard just keeps making him into a bigger pervert, it’s awful.

Taking a deep breath, he fantasizes about Arthur kissing his neck, whispering filthy things into his ear in that proper, posh, accent of his. All the while his hand is drifting lower and lower; he wants to prolong this, he really does, but he’s weak and wanting.

What’s the point in waiting when he can just have it - that’s the crux of the issue isn’t it? It’s all up to him, no one to tell him to hold it in, no expectations or what ifs if he doesn’t do exactly what he is told. In the end his libido, his eagerness, wins out every time.

It’s not a surprise when his hand wraps around his cock far sooner than he’d like, alternating between pumping it fast and slow. It’s a rough slide even with the precome dripping freely, he holds on a little longer before he reaches for the lube, spreading it on his hands, warming it, before trying to pull on his dick again. Working himself over, unable to keep it slower anymore, his rhythm becoming far too erratic.

Eventually, as it always does, while his left hand works on his cock, the other one drifts down his balls until he finds his hole. Softly massaging around it, making him buck his hips for more, he sinks one finger to its knuckle - still thinking of Arthur. Of his fingers, how much thicker they are than Merlin’s, how much better they would feel.

God, Merlin could come just from this. He wants so much more though; please, not yet.

Grabbing the base of his dick Merlin stops for a second to breathe in deeper, to calm himself down before blowing his load embarrassingly early. He can’t help but push his finger the rest of the way in, to feel the need to cum without being able to.

Can imagine Arthur holding him down, telling him to wait. Kissing his complaints away.

Can imagine his cocky smile when Merlin does what he says, even better, he can imagine his indulging smile when Merlin does the opposite of what he says. Biting him as punishment, or reward, hard enough to draw blood.

Fuck, it’d feel so good.

Arthur flipping him over, shoving his head down as he spread his arse cheeks and sliding in and-

Arthur, Arthur, Arthur, Arthur-

“Yes?” the voice sounds amused and strangled at the same time, and so, so, very real. Merlin cums, hard and fast, leaving him a shaking mess.

After a moment of coming down from that wonderful high, Merlin finally looks up, to see Arthur leaning against his room’s doorway, with his arms crossed and staring at Merlin as if he could eat him right up - or maybe that’s wishful thinking (he’s already filing this in for future wank sessions, before the mortification sets in).

“How long have you been standing there? Creep.”

Arthur laughs, shaking his head, “I think I’m the one who should be asking the questions here, Merlin. How am I the creep when you’re the one masturbating on my bed?”

“There’s a perfectly good explanation for it,” Merlin sighs, knowing there is no explanation at all besides him being a horny bastard. Noticing that Arthur is still looking him over - he refuses to chicken out and cover himself, the man saw him cum with a finger up his bum, probably screaming his name as he did so, for fucks sake - Merlin raises one eyebrow, “Quit ogling me you pervert.”

“Here I thought you prepared a show just for me, and now you’re bothered I’m actually enjoying it? Bad form Merlin.”

“It was just a rehearsal, it’s not ready yet, you coming in early ruined it,” why bother getting embarrassed now really? The banter with Arthur comes so naturally, it’s not like he seems upset or anything. So might as well joke around with him. This whole scene practically screams I want to fuck you all over our flat anyway.

“I’d like to point out I haven’t cum at all yet, actually.”

Looking down at Arthur’s very tight pants, Merlin can see his cock ready and at attention. Licking his lips, Merlin smiles, “I can help with that.”

Closing the door of the bedroom, Arthur walks into it fully, taking off his jacket and throwing it on his chair, “We’re going to have a long conversation about all of this later.”

“Yes sir.”