#will doesn't want to tell daegal but merlin does

[merthurmadness]

Merlin Enneagram Types

As I was looking up enneagram types to help me write my own characters, I unwittingly came across enneagram types that seemed to fit the characters from merlin really well and I wanted to know what the people on Tumblr think about this.

For those of you who don't know about enneagram personality types, here's a link to a website that explains them, if you are at all interested:

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/enneagram-types/

Since I'll be waffling a lot in this analysis, I'm going to just focus on Merlin's enneagram type in this post, but I will make more posts on other characters in the future *cough* Arthur *cough*, and then once I've done those, I'll analyse the relationships between characters *cough* merthur *cough* according to the enneagram types and see if they match up with the characters, but anyways enough of this self-explanatory waffle. (apologies in advance, we begin just analysing merlin, but then it inevitably devolves into some merthur splurge)

Here goes!

Merlin's Enneagram Type: Type 2 - The helper

Strengths and Desires:

"This personality type is very concerned with other people's needs. They are motivated by their need to be loved and needed. When Twos are healthy and in balance, they are loving, helpful, generous, and considerate. People are drawn to them like bees to honey. Healthy Twos warm others in the glow of their hearts. They enliven others with their appreciation and attention, helping people to see positive qualities in themselves that they had not previously recognized."

Throughout the show, we see Merlin exemplifying these traits over and over again. Especially the phrase where people are drawn to Type Twos "like honey" seems to fit Merlin really well, as Merlin shows that he makes friends with people easily because he is warm, loving and will give people his full attention.

After one episode where Merlin meets Gwaine, Gwaine later on calls Merlin the best friend he's ever had, because Merlin was the only friend who pursued a deeper connection with Gwaine and truly cared for him. This type of attention he gives people, warms other people from the depths of their hearts. In another episode, Morgana comments on it, calling Merlin "a lover," I could ramble on about this for ages. But I'll stick to one example that I'll go in-depth into, in Season 5 Episode 8, titled "the Hollow Queen", Merlin agrees to help a young Druid boy called Daegal on a mission to heal his sick sister despite having responsibilities at Camelot. During the journey they take to get to the sister, Merlin surprises Daegal repeatedly with his acts of generosity and compassion, where he feeds Daegal breakfast, treats his wounds and tells Daegal that he, fundamentally as a human being, matters. That everyone matters. After being treated like he doesn't matter his whole life, being told he does matter shocks Daegal so much that it ends up inspiring him to become a better person. He ends up revealing to Merlin, that he's not actually a druid boy, and that he's leading him to a trap. But by then, it's already too late, Merlin falls into it and nearly gets killed by Morgana.

Afterward, despite Merlin telling Daegal to leave him alone, Daegal tends to Merlin's wounds, determined to keep Merlin alive. Merlin tells Daegal that he is doing a good job. Once Merlin is well enough, he and Daegal rush back to Camelot since they know Morgana is planning on sending an assassin to kill Arthur. In the process of saving Arthur, Daegal gets mortally wounded, as he dies he asks Merlin, "Did I do something good?" and Merlin tells him that he has and he stays with Daegal as he dies.

Repeatedly in this episode, Merlin was concerned with Daegal's needs, showed Daegal the positive qualities in himself that he hadn't already noticed and inspired him to act selflessly.

Fears:

"Their main fear is that they are unworthy of being loved, that they are unwanted."

This is a fear that corresponds well with Merlin's fear that if anyone found out he had magic, that they would see him as a monster. He had to leave his village, Ealdor, because he was unwanted, and he worries repeatedly that the same thing might happen again in Camelot.

Wing Type:

After what I had written so far, I scoured the internet some more to see if there were already any posts made about Merlin's enneagram type, and I discovered one reddit post that seemed to agree that Merlin was a Type 2, but went into greater depth in terms of their "wing type". I hadn't heard of a wing type before this, but apparently, wing types are a secondary part of you, that act as a sidekick to your dominant enneagram type, and that depending on your enneagram type, you can have one of two options of wing types accordingly: "Wings are the numbers that reside directly on the two sides of your Enneagram Type. For example, if you are an Enneagram One, you will either have a Nine-wing or a Two-wing. Or, if you are an Enneagram Two, you will have a One-wing or a Three-wing." So according to this, Merlin could either be One-wing or a Three-wing since I believe he is a type 2. And this Reddit post explains how Merlin is a One-wing, the personality type itself is called "the servant," which, well, holy cow. Makes me wonder if the writers of the show knew about enneagram types because, wow, what a coinkidink. Anyways, have a link:

Looking at another website explaining the enneagram 2 wing 1, makes me more even convinced that Merlin is this personality type.

"Enneagram type 2 wing 1 main weakness is their silence. As they are unconditionally supportive, they may postpone their own things sometimes. Type One’s influence brings some objectivity and self-awareness, but they’re still very selfless. 2w1 types will constantly show affection and pay attention to others, but that loving style might not always be aligned with other people’s loving styles. If not acknowledged, they feel undervalued and not worthy enough. It’s important to learn how others show affection to reciprocate it and show appreciation back."

Merlin's main weakness being his silence is so accurate to Merlin as he constantly hides his problems from Arthur. Admittedly, out of necessity, but I think this is also part of his truer nature since he has the tendency to hide things from Gauis as well. Even when he doesn't need to.

Throughout the show, Merlin often feels undervalued and not worthy enough due to Arthur taunting him and how he gets treated like a servant. Certainly, in the earlier seasons of the show, Merlin wishes for recognition for his many many kind, selfless actions which he doesn't receive.

But later on, Merlin does receive some recognition on his bravery, wisdom and loyalty, which I think alleviates some of Merlin's pain but still doesn't stop Merlin from wanting to tell Arthur everything.

"They can get stressed out when they feel lonely when solving problems and nobody seems to notice they’re running out of time."

Again, this is so accurate, especially during the fifth season, when time is running out and Arthur's death is nigh. He carries the weight of the prophecy entirely on his own shoulders.

As shown by the scene in season 5, where Arthur comments on Merlin having not smiled in 3 days. *cries*

"They feel motivated when others acknowledge their selflessness and appreciate their affection. But their energy may drop when they have a response and their feelings are taken into account. Soft atmospheres with a great dose of recognition can make everyone smile, but they will especially make 2w1 thrive."

This is so sweet gahhh, because this reminds me of the scene where Merlin starts behaving sad and lonely, sitting by himself whilst everyone else sits by the fire and Arthur goes over to him. Merlin says "but you don't care," and Arthur replies with "only about my men, more than brothers, more than friends," and it's such a soft, soft scene. And you can tell that this really makes Merlin thrive, that this is the reason why he gets out of bed in the morning, because he loves Arthur and loves Camelot.

Merlin's love of Camelot and strong sense of morality makes sense when his wing type is Type 1. Type 1 being "the Perfectionist."

And you may be reading this, and thinking what? Merlin isn't a perfectionist, especially about his chores, but let me explain.

The Perfectionist is characterised by being, ethical, dedicated and reliable. They strive to help themselves and others be the best they can be. What they fear most is being bad or corrupt. They criticise others and themselves especially on moral actions. Throughout the show, Merlin is often shown to be afraid of being corrupted by his magic. Never wanting to be a monster, never wanting to end up like Morgana. Striving to help create Camelot be a better, fair and just kingdom.

From episode one, his strong sense of morality is shown when he stands up to Arthur against the mistreatment of one of his servants. Again and again, he guides Arthur towards becoming a better person.

So, in conclusion. I think Merlin is the enneagram 2 wing 1 personality type.

What do you guys think?

Part two analysing Arthur should be coming soon, and then a part three of their relationship analysis. And then, possibly more on other characters. Ohohohoho.

[merthurapologist]

I really think that any weird tension or distance between Gwen and Merlin in S5 is not because of Gwen at all, but because of Merlin's building paranoia, and inability to care about anyone besides Arthur.

If we look at the episode where Daegal asks Merlin to save his sister (obviously it was a ruse but Merlin didn't know that at the time). Merlin turns him down in a very cold, apathetic way, which would have been very out of character for him in seasons 1-4 but in season 5, Merlin has lost so much and he can feel the noose of destiny closing in on him and he's terrified. I think he puts Arthur above all his other friendships, Gwaine and Gwen included.

Where Merlin used to be sensitive, warm and caring he is now battle hardened, he's put walls up for everyone but Arthur, because he doesn't have the heart to be hurt more, to lose more loved ones and because he simply doesn't have the time or energy for it. It's all he can do to keep Arthur safe and do his duties as the manservant (and chief advisor in all but name) to the King.

He is burnt out, he has distanced himself from not only other people but from his own heart and unending kindness.

I find it weird that people put that blame on Gwen, when to me the shift in their dynamic is more evidence of how much Merlin has been traumatized and has suffered in silence. He feels that can't rely on anyone to help him in his destiny, not without exposing his lie and because by season 5 he has sacrificed so much of himself to his destiny he's not the young man Gwen or his other friends think they know him to be, and they don't even know it, they can't. Merlin has been through so much but can't tell anyone (besides Gaius, who does his best but is by no means the best support for Merlin at times) and I think he must feel like his closest friends don't really know him anymore. Destiny has chipped away at him so much that the Merlin he presents to his friends (the sweet, sarcastic, clumsy, dork) is more of a role he plays than who he authentically is in S5. It must be really lonely for him but he thinks he must bear it all alone and in silence, all for the hope that one day there will come a time when he can be his true self, trauma, mistakes, sacrifices included.

And it definitely needs to be taken into account how season 5 was packed so full with plot that there really wasn't time for much of anything else, including Merlin's relationships with the people around him (aside from Gaius and Arthur that is.) Sometimes we need to step back from canon and look at the factors involved in the telling of this story. In a perfect world, Merlin could have been 10 seasons long full of all the stuff we wanted more of and didn't get to see, but that doesn't work realistically. Filling in those blanks is kinda the point of fandom. Being weirdly hostile to the only woman of color in the main cast is not it, folks. I mean feel free to disagree with me, but also check the lens through which you view media and be honest about your own biases.

Anyway, I'm rambling and too lazy to edit this down to something more concise and intelligent.

i saw someone say merlin and gwen had tension when gwen became queen due to her position in power and that's the status merlin wanted (with arthur), all i can say is what kind of show did you watch ???

but no let's actually talk about it.

a lot of fans claim that merlin and gwen grew apart when she became queen or that she didn't treat him as she used to. first of all, you have got to remember that gwen didn't have much screentime in general in season five. not to mention the fact that pretty much everyone had their character forgotten and their relations (for example, we hardly got any gwaine and merlin!).

majority of the time, certain scenes in season five are given as examples to show that merlin and gwen grew apart (with the blame being on gwen). one of those scenes was when she asked merlin to run her a bath.

a lot of fans forget that's literally merlin's job? he is quite literally paid to service the king (and now the queen).

merlin came into gwen's service when sefa betrayed her. sefa, who was supposed to be the closest person to the queen. not only was she there to assist gwen in daily/household tasks, but once she settled into her role, she would have also been handling gwen's royal + state affairs. i have often questioned why they didn't give gwen someone else, but thinking about it more, it makes sense why - gwen had already gone through so much betrayal and the situation with sefa also showed there would always be a risk of that - hence why she now had no one to be her maid.

this ties into point two tbh because gwen also witnessed people trying to kill arthur in different ways - one being when merlin was enchanted. so it makes more sense to ask your most trusted friend to carry out tasks (that they're paid to do anyway).

i understand the point some people make - it's weird to suddenly be commanding your best friend to do things for you. but fans also forget there were three years of gwen being queen which we didn't see! gwen was a maid herself and came from a low income family. she had never reached that level of status before she was married.

do you seriously believe that she wouldn't have struggled in her new role? that she didn't struggle asking people to do things for her? that she so easily assimilated into her role as queen with authority? and do you seriously believe that merlin didn't encourage and support her through this? that it is likely he was the one who helped gwen feel more at ease of people doing things for her?

there is only "tension" there because you make it so. the same way fans do with anything that comes to gwen. you pluck things out of thin air because you simply do not look at gwen as a character, just someone in the way of what you want.

[quondam-et-futurus]

@once-and-future-gay @panharmonium I just learned the Joe Dempsie (Will) is one inch shorter than Alfie Stewart (Daegal) and just. I’m fascinated by the implications this has for the Will and Daegal live au????????

Because Daegal would not realize this. Like at all. He does not carry himself at his full height and Will has tall energy. Will also wouldn’t notice at first, but then Daegal straightens up one time, or they’re standing next to each other and Will notices and his brain just fully stops.

Like I’m picturing him bursting into Merlin’s room to try all “When the fuck did Daegal get taller than me is this new? did you know about this??” And Merlin’s just like “Yeah? He’s always been that tall? Did you? Not? Realize?” and Will just kinda stands there as all he thought he knew crumbles around him.

[bitsandbobsofwriting]

Suppose the Gang™️ live together. Who does which chore? Who makes messes and who nags? & ukw you can add characters like Will, Mithian, Daegal, Kara, Morgause too!! (If you don't want to that's fine :)

(Headcanon Masterlist) (Full Masterlist)

OHOHOHOHOHO I like this anon, lots of crack potential, thank you :D

Ok so. Lets say they all live in the same apartment complex, and become buddies through that (because upwards of 15 people living together is... too many lol). Arthur lives in the nicest, biggest apartment, the penthouse, which is where they all hang out (much to his annoyance) most of the time. Eventually they all get keys to each others' places which is a huge annoyance because like... that's a LOT of keys they all have to carry around.

Anyway. 

Merlin and Will are roommates, shortly joined by Gwen, and then Elyan a little while later, after he returns from travelling. Mordred and Daegal live with their uncle, Iseldir, who is the only sane one and tends to stay out of everyone else's way. Percival, Gwaine, and Lancelot share, and are across the hall from M+W+G+E. Leon lives on his own because he has his life together, and prefers having his own space to living with friends, but has also lived in the building the longest. Gaius also lives alone, but he's Merlin's uncle, and is a retired doctor or nurse or something, so he's always being woken up at God knows in the morning to treat various injuries and illnesses. It can literally be needing to tell them anything from "Take a paracetamol and fuck off" to "Jesus Fucking Christ what do you mean he accidentally ate half a kilo of rat poison call a fucking ambulance??". Mithian lives in the building next door, in her own penthouse, and Kara and Morgause live in their own apartments downstairs. Morgana used to share with Arthur, but as much as they're still on good terms, they argued all the time and it was annoying, so she eventually moved in with Morgause.

Gaius tries so hard to stay away from all the weird ass youngers that congregated in his apartment building, but they're all so stupid, and he finds himself looking after them more often than he'd care to admit. He doesn't like... make them meals or anything, but he gives them all mini medkits and looks after them when they're sick. Though with lots of sarcasm and general attitude. Iseldir is the same, but he's a little more removed. He'll occasionally show up to offer sage advice or a helping hand if Mordred/Daegal ask for it specifically. People sort of forget he's there most of the time, but he did save Leon's life once when he was a victim of a hit and run right outside the building.

Merlin, Will, Gwen, and Elyan’s place is like... halfway between messy and tidy. It never gets ridiculous, because Will+Gwen won’t let it, but Elyan and Merlin are fairly messy. You’d think that Lancelot, Percival, and Gwaine’s place would be messiest, purely because of Gwaine, but he’s actually the neatest of them all. Though that isn’t because Gwaine is a neat person, like Lance and Percy are, it’s because he has barely any belongings, and all his shit basically never gets taken out of his suitcases and moving boxes. The others reckon it’s something to do with him hiding from his family maybe? Or an ex? Always being ready to run? But they don’t pry, they just hope he sticks around. Arthur’s place is a MESS and he refuses to tidy, despite it making his life so much harder because he never knows where anything is. Leon’s place is always tidy of course, as is Mordred, Daegal, and Iseldir’s place, and Gaius’ place. They’ve no clue how the girls in the building next door live (very cleanly, or very messily, depending on the mood they’re in), because other than Gwen and Mordred, no one else is allowed access.

The best food is always found in Merlin, Will, Gwen, and Elyan’s place. All of them, bar Will, can cook: Merlin because his mum taught him, and he’s always been pretty self sufficient, Gwen because she was the cook in her house growing up, and Elyan, because both Gwen taught him, and he learnt how to cook all sorts of interesting foreign food when he was travelling. Leon cooks well, but boring-ly, as does Gaius and Iseldir. Arthur can’t cook at all, and actually ends up going to M+W+G+E’s place pretty much every night, to the point where they set a place at the table for him automatically, and if he doesn’t show up without a warning, someone will go check on him.

Will and Arthur have never got along, but like... they keep it on the down low because neither of them are prepared to give up on the rest of the friend group just to avoid the other. But also... once Arthur sees how fiercely protective Will is of his friends, especially Merlin, and once Will sees Arthur punch someone for groping Morgause and Morgana at a bar, they both lay off. They’re secretly rather fond of each other actually, not that either of them would admit it.

Daegal and Mordred kind of idolise Merlin a bit, which everyone thinks is super weird because other than his ability to cook, the man is a bit of a disaster. He’s mid way through medical school and is a mess for it. But you know, he tries to look after them, tells Mordred to shoot his shot with Kara (who he’s been communicating with posters stuck on the inside of his window, because their rooms are across from each other), and teaches Daegal bits and pieces of first aid.

Morgana, whenever she comes over, Gwen, and Merlin are naggers when it comes to Arthur’s untidiness, but no one else really cares, and Morgause just rolls her eyes at it all. Merlin and Gwen meet up maybe once a month to sneak into his apartment and tidy everything up, and he simultaneously hates and loves it. Lancelot nags Merlin into looking after himself, especially when Merlin is in turn nagging everyone else to look after themselves. Lance will pop over when he knows that Merlin has been studying six hours straight without a break, or has spent a whole afternoon helping Arthur out with paperwork (Arthur has him paid as a part time personal assistant or something, so it’s not like he’s working for free), to make him stop and nap and rehydrate. He and Gwen tag team “looking after Merlin”.

Everyone’s like... least favourite thing, is when Arthur and Morgana’s father comes to visit. He’s always an arse, and though the others don’t really see him, except maybe Merlin if he happens to be working at Arthur’s when Uther visits, Arthur and Morgana are always in foul moods for days after he leaves. He always manages to spark arguments between the two of them, which Morgause somehow ends up involving herself in. He’s a bit of a xenophobic twat as well; he’s been pretty cruel to Daegal, Mordred, and Iseldir in the corridor, and the only reason he’s not cruel to Merlin is because he hides his accent/takes care to never speak his native tongue around the man. Everyone always bands together to fix everything when he goes though. Merlin, Gwen, and Elyan will take over Arthur’s massive kitchen and cook a feast and everyone will come and they’ll eat and drink and have Mario Kart tournaments on his huge TV.

There’s also kind of a running joke about Arthur almost or actually dating almost everyone in the group. He and Leon had known each other for years before they knew anyone else, and won’t expand on the friendship they had previous to everyone else showing up. There was a weird tension between Arthur and Lance for like... the first week after he moved in, then it happened again with Gwaine. He and Gwen had a relationship for maybe a year before they realised they were besties and it was weird. He and Mithian had a short lived romance where they both went “meh, no thanks” after maybe a week. He checked Elyan out a handful of times in full view of everyone when they first met, but nothing ever came of it. The only thing that’s lasted more than that year with Gwen, is the obvious thing he has for Merlin. That Merlin also has for him. That both of them are entirely unaware of. Pretty much everyone in the building has money on it now, even people in other apartments who aren’t part of the group. Gwen, Will, and Elyan both really want it to happen, because they won’t have to witness Merlin mope every time Arthur brings a date home anymore, and really don’t want it to happen, because Merlin will move upstairs and they’ll have to start paying more rent.

ANYWAY!!! The whole apartment complex is a MESS but... none of them ever consider leaving because they kind of love it. Half of them are on the same casual football/rugby/pub quiz team. Arthur gave a few of them/would give any of them jobs at his company. They don’t want to leave behind Elyan’s cooking, or Gaius’ odd brand of caring, or Iseldir’s fortune cookie advice, or Morgana and Morgause’s judging, or Gwaine’s ADHD induced bouts of learning to play the drums at three in the morning. It’s just all very special, and homely, and lovely.

~

Whew, that’s a lot!

I know that’s not exactly what you meant anon, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!! :D