Merlin Fanfic - Blog Posts

AU where Arthur doesn't die at Camlann and doesn't find out about Merlin's magic.

It's a few years after Camlann. Gwen and Arthur have two kids, a prince and a princess. It's not quite a golden age, but damn is it close.

Merlin loves and cares for those kids like there his own. He finds himself even more protective of them than he is of Arthur, something Gwaine never fails to rag on him about.

Merlins noticed their nurse acting strange. He's suspicious by nature of course and decides she's definitely hiding something. Something to do with the princess.

So Merlin investigates, finds nothing. Until one day he enters the nursery unexpectedly. A toy unicorn hovers in the air, the princess eyes shining gold, and the nurses face floods with panic.

She begs Merlin not to say anything. "Please don't blame the princess she can't control it, if someone must be punished please Sir punish me she's just a girl she doesn't know"

The nurse babbles on, terrified by Merlins shocked expression.

"This must be what my mother felt like' Merlin thinks, 'Terrified for a babe who doesn't yet understand the world they were born into'

He glances at the princess, she looks shocked and scared. Her little hands clutch the unicorn like a lifeline. Merlin had carved it for her as a 3rd birthday gift.

And he loves her, oh he loves her. To see his own childhood confusion and terror reflected on her face breaks his heart.

He had been scared his whole life. It was normal to him now, to be terrified of the people he loves finding out his true self.

But he wasn't scared now, as the overwhelming clarity of what he had to do settled over him.

'I won't make the same mistakes again' he thinks 'This girl will not grow up in fear. I won't allow it'

Destiny it seems, has finally forced his hand.

I don’t know if i hallucinated this but i swear earlier seasons Bradley said something about hoping Arthur realises Merlin has magic on his own.

And i wish, i wish, that had been the case.

That Arthur, knocked out, bleeding, injured, awakes too early and sees Merlin, eyes golden and angry, bending the power of the earth in raw wrath and fury towards their enemy.

And Arthur is bloody fucking terrified. But Merlin screams ‘not him, never him, never Arthur’ and the earth shakes and… Arthur can’t even remember what poor soul or creature had thrown him from his horse, certainly not now their body is torn apart by Merlin’s words and his flaming gaze.

Of course Arthur is terrified. Is he hallucinating? Is this some malevolent vision? His head throbs and he can taste blood in his mouth and he can see Merlin, Merlin his incompetent and clumsy and funny and innocent and soft and gentle manservant who wakes Arthur with a brilliant smile and some drivel about lazy daisies, stood like a deep and dark and threatening shadow over what was left of a once-body.

Arthur’s breath comes in short gasps and tears prick his eyes. Panic. And Merlin turns to him as he clamps his eyes shut against the image of Merlin dripping with death and anger. But deep within his shattering mind a small voice whispers to him. The voice is soft and gentle, blonde curls and kind eyes and patient hands cupping his cheek. She reminds him of each time Merlin has looked at him with pure, unadulterated devotion - his eyes deep and blue, a tiny ring of gold-green swirling around his pupils. How each time Arthur’s lain on the brink of death, and Merlin has never left his side, tending to his wounds with such tenderness that Arthur has never felt before. How it was in Arthur’s name that Merlin’s magic, Merlin’s magic, raged.

Another voice, thick and real and worried, breaks through the soft whisper of Ygraine.

Arthur felt shaking hands - how could they be so gentle when moments before it was from them that such unbridled power was released - stroke his matted and sweat-soaked hair, wiping the blood Arthur felt trickle down his cheek away. Arthur forces open his eyes, meeting Merlin’s as the gold fades to the deep familiar ocean-blue.

Did Merlin know Arthur had seen? How much blood had soaked Merlin’s hands when Arthur had lain unconscious, how many victories has Merlin won in Arthur’s name?

And deep within Arthur’s heart he knows he is safe in this sorcerer’s hands. Knows in fact he’d choose these hands over anyone else’s.

But Arthur can’t say the words just yet. He can’t admit to himself that the man he loves is made from that which he hates. Hated. Has been taught to hate. A new wound has been torn in him, one not made of blood and flesh. Because if Merlin is magic, how can magic be evil.

So Arthur lets Merlin’s hands and Merlin’s words and Merlin’s soft smiles wash over him. He feigns ignorance of what he saw.

But he watches. His wounds sit quietly: clean and placid from Merlin’s assiduous care. His face is washed from blood and grime by Merlin, who had fussed and worried as he went. Now he watches. He notices the damp wood Merlin had collected whilst the rain has fallen burst into eager flames within seconds of Merlin’s attentive hands and wonders how he never noticed before.

When they return to Camelot, limping but alive, Arthur notices the stone-deep warmth that graces his chambers. Where his room should be chilled and still from his absence instead there’s a soft and humble feeling of life suffused throughout, and Arthur realises with a small, private smile it is the same feeling that radiates from Merlin.

The lessening part of him argues he should recoil. For why is he rejoicing at feeling the touch of a sorcerer all around him. But Arthur argues back. He’s felt the saccharin, sticky grip of dark, evil magic masquerading as sweet ladies or sycophantic servants. He remembered the groggy, aching return to his own mind after Sofia had dragged him under her spell. Merlin’s gentle, joyous presence is worlds away. His magic may be hidden from Arthur, but Merlin’s grinning insults and blatant disregard for any sort of protocol meant any fears for further hidden motive besides self preservation withered immediately.

Arthur keeps watching. He notices now the shine his armour has, beyond what weary hands and cloth could ever achieve. He notices, or rather feels, when Percival’s muscled arm brings down the practice sword and Arthur - his mind worlds away - notices too late, yet the ensuing bruise is not angry and mottled but timid and quickly fades, even though ordinary chainmail would never have warded off such a blow. He notices Merlin’s unbridled joy when the two of them leave Camelot for the forest. He notices the bird that lands on Merlin’s shoulder, the whispered smiles Merlin exchanges with the creature. He notices the grass grow a little taller beneath Merlin’s feet, the way the trees bend to him as if they’re greeting a long lost friend.

Slowly, magic - or at least Merlin’s magic - loses the rotten, sharp edge Uther had imposed. Arthur begins to yearn to see the flames of the fire burning in his room reflected once more in Merlin’s eye. Still he can’t quite bring the words lingering in his throat up to his lips. Guilt begins to fester. Arthur remembers the years of Uther’s reign, how the screams of burning sorcerers - some of them so young, so young - had echoed through the cold stones of Camelot. He remembers now Merlin’s pale face and wide eyes, ghosted with tears Arthur knew not what for. He knows now.

And so when his knights bring him talk of a druid camp away to the south, Arthur stands tall, facing the court, and tells them to leave it be. That there will be no more raids (not that he had issued any since his ascension to the throne, but no formal proclamation had thus far been made). He tells himself privately he will end the ban on magic. He will forge a Camelot where Merlin will not live in fear, in a half life. The faces staring back are curious, some wary. But the one meeting Arthur’s steady gaze, wide-eyed with a shocked, gentle, proud, smile and slightly trembling hands gripping the wind jug, is that which Arthur cares about. He gives a slight nod. Too subtle for anyone else to notice, but as obvious and clear to Merlin as it ever could be, the two of them long since having needed words to communicate.

Merlin has a lot of questions. Naturally. They tumble from him as Arthur undresses behind the screen. And Arthur knows now that he’s ready. Merlin has magic. Merlin is magic. And Merlin is good. Deeply good. The words don’t quiver and cower in his throat.

And I wish Arthur had then told him. Had taken a deep breath and met Merlin’s gaze and told him he knew. That he had been scared. But he had trusted. Trusts. Loves.

We deserved Merlin fighting beside Arthur, raw devotion and power and fierce, fierce love.

Post- Magic reveal Merthur angst oneshot (as “We hug now” by Sydney Rose)

“I have a feeling you got everything you wanted.”

The smell of mold and dust chokes up the back of his throat, strewn over the floor of a musty, wooden shack he discovered while aimlessly walking in the middle of nowhere. Only 4 days ago, he had pushed the boat into the lake, watching it drift away as his mind was now.

His eyes burned with fiery tears, the tracks engraving into his skin with molten magic - the loss never to be forgotten, embedded into his cheeks. Merlin hiccuped for breaths whenever the full feeling in his nose returned. Oh how he prayed for Arthur’s return.

Even though his bleeding body had been returned to Avalon after being struck, Merlin somewhat knew he’d done good - even without lifting the ban on magic. Merlin knew he was a good king - having achieved and done much more than his predecessors ever did for the people of Camelot.

He had a feeling Arthur did what he could and he knew he would return when Albion’s need was greatest. At least he got the life he wanted as King, portrayed as a savior and a strong ruler - a glorious battle leading to his demise.

He lived a magnificent life.

“You’re not wasting time, stuck here like me.”

At least Arthur was frozen in time rather than being stuck on an earth that would keep turning whether Merlin moves on or not. He knew the world would go on without him. Without him.

How could he ever be part of an existence without Arthur? What would be the point in living? What would his purpose be? How could he have failed? What was there left to do? He was a nobody with no political power.

Why couldn’t they have taken Merlin instead? Arthur would be able to accomplish much more than Merlin ever could in the time he’d have to wait for his other half’s return. But it wasn’t like that.

He was stuck here - without hope, without meaning and without Arthur.

“You’re just thinking it’s a small thing that happened.”

Merlin revealing his magic was insignificant compared to Arthur’s death. If he had done it much sooner, yes - there was the risk of dying, but it was a risk he should’ve taken rather than left so late.

Merlin wasn’t sure if Arthur would have ordered his execution on the spot if hadn’t been in such a vulnerable position. He wasn’t sure if he would have burst out in a fit of rage and attacked him.

But he knew Arthur had been heart broken - the trust between them was a taut thread with a blade pressed against it. Nothing could ever compare to the feeling of relief when Arthur talked to him again - when Arthur let Merlin care for him again.

“Why are you doing this?” he said, voice slurring and thick with emotion. “Why are you still acting like a servant?”

But he had never been acting. Arthur was everything to him. He would move planets and destroy galaxies to see Arthur safe, or happy. He was born to serve Arthur and he’d stand by that until the world falls to nothing.

“The world ended when it happened to me.”

When he threw up the words “I have magic.”, hoarsely whispering “I only use it for you, Arthur.”, he feared for his life. He knew Arthur was weak and vulnerable and would have to rely on Merlin if he wanted to survive. But he knew if his King ordered his execution he’d comply.

All the years of living in fear - spent watching sorcerers fight for their families and die. All the years he lived in Camelot - spent chasing after destiny. All the years he stood by Arthur’s side - spent protecting him. It all felt worthless. His life and its purpose felt meaningless.

Uther had ordered Gaius’s execution after Gaius had been a trusted member in the council for decades. After Gaius had publicly turned against his own kind to stand by Uther’s side. Would Arthur do that to him even after showing and proving he had the utmost loyalty toward him?

Merlin knew for a fact that his fear of losing Arthur and being unable to serve him by his side overpowered the notion of dying.

“I have a feeling you got everything you wanted.”

Arthur was glad his last moments were spent with his best friend - a man he cares for and loves. He was glad it was by his side that his life left his body. He was glad he didn’t have to die alone.

He somewhat knew Merlin had never trusted him. He knew Merlin didn’t love him the way Arthur loved him because if he did why would he never tell Arthur about his magic. Did he really think Arthur would kill him? After all they’ve been through together?

Arthur understood Merlin did what he had to. He understood Merlin was the only person there was for him. He understood Merlin would never want to hate or hurt him. He understood magic was a part of Merlin that would never leave him and he’d accept him as he was.

Merlin was a good man. He’d done so much for Arthur and there was no way he could ever repay him - not now as the last words lingered in his last breath.

“Thank you.”

There was a small guilty feeling swirling in the back of his throat. Maybe Merlin was even happy that Arthur had died; there was no King to persecute him. That would be everything he wanted, right? To be free.

“You’re not wasting time, stuck here like me.”

Merlin was out there living while Arthur’s carcass had been left to rot on a brittle boat in the middle of a cursed lake. He would get to do things. He would get to see his family and his friends and Arthur would be stuck here - trapped in the visceral bounds of time; choking him.

“You’re just thinking it’s a small thing that happened.”

Arthur’s death must have meant nothing to Merlin. He was a powerful warlock - the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth and Arthur just felt like some lousy king who accomplished nothing. He saved nobody.

He had blindly followed along his father’s ruling and assisted in the persecution of so many all of his life - carpet cleaning an entire community and race of people. It was only in his last days that he realised just how wrong he was.

Arthur was really the useless one between the duo - between the two men who couldn’t be more opposite. This moment must be so insignificant to Merlin who would live forever. There was definitely more important battles he fought and more important people in his life.

People more important that he cared more for than Arthur. Arthur’s death was a blip of his life that he would forget as if it never happened.

“The world ended when it happened to me.”

He had felt the life being torn out of his lungs as death scraped its claws down his throat, piercing his last words in its sharp nails.

Everything he was meant nothing.

None of his life mattered because he had never been the king he should have been - a king who helped and freed people. He didn’t even get to help Merlin. And now he’d never be able to see him again, never be able to beg for forgiveness again, never be able to thank him again - never be able to voice how much he loves him.

He wasn’t sure if his world ended when blood stopped circulating around his body or when he stopped feeling Merlin by his side.

I absolutely love this, and the fic is amazing! Everyone, go read this right now!!

Also, the fic had me thinking, what about the reverse situation? Where the tyrant Arthur who never met Merlin is transported into the canon timeline?

I would think one of two things might happen: 1. Canon Arthur knows, deep down, what he would have become without Merlin present in his life, so as soon as he learns that this Arthur never met Merlin, he's getting thrown in the dungeons before he can do any harm, or 2: Merlin meets dark Arthur and thinks that he's canon Arthur under an enchantment, so now he's having to suffer dark Arthur's abuse while trying desperately to find a cure (at least until he realizes that this is a different Arthur from his own entirely).

I love this entire idea so much!! Incredible work as always @theroundbartable! 😊

Arthur wakes up in a Camelot where Merlin has never come to Camelot.

At first, Arthur is so distracted by Merlin's absence, that he doesn't realize how everyone is staring at him strangely.

Arthur: Is something the matter?

Knight: Are you - Excuse me, Sire - You are so calm today. Is everything alright?

Arthur: Calm? How on earth am I calm? Merlin is gone!"

Knight: Yes but ... Aside from this mysterious Merlin... You haven't chosen a servant today.

Arthur: If they aren't Merlin, then it doesn't matter.

Knight: *Wide eyes* You beat up this Merlin person?

Arthur: If I WHAT?!

Fic Update!

Hello everyone! I've (finally) finished the latest chapter of "What to do When an Eldritch God Decides that You're Friend-Shaped: A Guide by Sir Leon the Long-Suffering"!

Here's the link if you want to check it out, and feel free to let me know what you think! 😊

Writer's block do be blocking. I've been trying to work on one chapter for a fic for days and still nothing 😭

Hopefully the muse will return to me soon! In the meanwhile, please enjoy this meme!

The first bonus scene for the "Archeologist Merlin and Immortal Camelot" story has been posted on ao3! This is the first of three bonus scenes that will serve as the epilogue for the story! In this bonus scene, the noble Knights of the Round Table embark on a brave quest to find an elusive magical artifact for Merlin: the treasured "grant"! (And ignore any banks they rob along the way!)

I hope you all like this new chapter! :D

I'll be finishing up and posting my Lancelot au idea in the next few days!

See you all again soon!

Hello everyone! I've just updated my "Eldritch god Merlin befriends a very long-suffering Leon" fic on ao3! If you like my writing over here, I would highly recommend checking out my fic!

now i need the fanfics masterlists

just watched bbc merlin for the first time. you british people are NOT okay this destroyed me

you forgot the best part of the book 😂

Gwen: have you seen Morgana?

Arthur: No. Why are you asking me? I haven’t seen her. I haven’t seen any Morgan as around here. I would not kill any Morganas. Stop asking me anymore questions.

I want my Merlin back.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MERTHUR FANS!

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So good. Can say anything besides so good because my brain is overwhelmed by the sheer goodness of this fic. I don’t even know if that makes sense. Thank you so much MerlinLikeTheBird for creating something so wonderful. Also thank you to the Glompfest mods for making this possible. And to Excited_Insomniac for betaing.

Title: Gifts of Gold By: MerlinLikeTheBird Gift for: Alehalebane Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 16,205 words Warning(s): None Summary: “I’m the king,” Arthur says grumpily, swallowing around the stone that has settled in his throat, “I can wear what I want.” “What about what I want?” “I’m the king,” Arthur repeats slowly, since Merlin is being particularly thick, “and so you can also wear what I want.” Or, Arthur dresses Merlin, which goes about as well as you would expect. Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54308713/chapters/137544148

Thank you so so so sooooo much to Loopstagirl for this piece, it was so cute and just amazing. If you haven’t read it then you should because it’s so good. Also thank you to glompfest and all who worked to help me and so many others get a fic/art piece that they wanted.

Title: Whispering Wings By: Loopstagirl Gift for: Alehalebane Rating: General Word Count: 4,386 words Warning(s): None Summary: Merlin couldn't leave Aithusa in the forest. But where in Camelot was he supposed to hide a baby dragon?

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/54357235

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I want a fic where Leon knew Merlin had magic almost the whole time! At least after the first Round Table episode with all the other knights!

Leon who knew the whole time and still respected Merlin, if not more

Leon who also knew Merlin was tragically in love with Arthur and would do anything for him

Leon who really thought "poetry" meant "we're secretly lovers" but still never mentioned Merlin’s secret

Leon who got a laugh out of Dragoon when he stepped all over the knights!

It would just be so good and funny pleaseeee

one of my favourite merthur tropes in fanfics is when Arthur and Merlin finally kiss and Arthur gets really bossy.

even better if Merlin pulls back, calls him bossy, then grins affectionately and kisses him and actually follows orders for once

Anyone wanting to read about Arthur going mad because he just discovered Merlin has an accent from living in Ealdor but it only appears in certain situations and he has never heard it? Well, so do I.

By the way, "The way you speak" by Herondale_34 in AO3 :))

Last chapter published!