#Merlin and Gaius

[adhd-merlin]

happy "it is wednesday" wednesday

[tiredcowboyy]

I cant stop thinking ab the idea of merlin one day post s5, where they all survived, becoming really secretive and protective of his room and not telling anyone at all whats inside. Not even gaius. He even gets a lock installed and whenever anybody asks he brushes it off with jokes like “its to stop arthur from finding me” or smth.

he also unrelatedly really hates any talk of destiny, going to war, and anytime morgana mentions her fear of her magic turning her merlin slightly freaks out.

That is until one day gaius manages to catch merlin off guard while hes rushing between the main room and his bedroom and walks in.

Only to see a whole bunch of stuff that hes never seen before.

Merlin freaks out, tries to play it off as some weird experiments and stuff hes been collecting but gaius can feel it, somethings different about these items, not wrong but not right. Not really magic either.

It takes 3 weeks of gaius pestering him before merlin breaks and explains to him that he IS A TIME TRAVELER. after the battle of camlan as we know it that lead to arthurs death, merlin did wait, he really did, but in the year 2020 when arthur didnt return for yet another global crisis, merlin broke and did spell upon spell until he figured out how throw himself back in time.

And holy shit did it work well. He managed to come back just at the perfect time to change everything that needed to be done to assure that everyone lives happily and safely, and when he realises hes done it, he decides to stay in this time. See his friends and family grow old as they should have. See arthur rule as he should have. Live the life he has been craving to go back to for centuries now.

Until a month in he realises how old everything is. Sure merlin can survive without his phone and stuff but theres a few things he really misses. Like his slippers, his potato peeler, his favourite hoodie, and especially his favourite tea flavours.

So once in a while he allowed himself to go back to the modern day and bring one thing back. He started with a scented candle, because candles exist in camelot and having one here shouldn’t mess up time right? Then moved onto a herbal tea that he knows if he traveled past the boarders he may be able to find similar ingredients.

Then he brings a new release of his favourite book series because he cant help it and realises small things like that dont change time.

And so thats what he’s been hiding away in his room, all of his modern day stuff. Ranging from trinkets hes collected over his life to his favourite scarf to his stuffed lion that he won at a fair in the 80s. He doesn’t go back often, only when his tea runs out or he really needs something, he tries to limit it he really does.

It takes gaius another 4 weeks to wrap his head around it all. Another 2 weeks after that to touch merlins stuffed lion thinking it may attack him at any moment.

He makes gaius promise to not tell a soul, offering him tea bags as payment. They have a nice system from then on, gaius would try a new flavour of tea everytime merlin returned, once in a while he would also bring a modern day snack (gaius yelled when he first tried salt and vinegar crisps).

A yell which led to leon finding out. And so a cycle began.

[thefabledpheasant]

Don’t get me wrong, I think Gaius and Merlin’s relationship is overall very sweet and I’m happy they have each other. But does anyone else feel like Gaius kinda gaslights the shit out of Merlin sometimes?

Merlin will come up to him like, “Gaius, I just saw this guy use magic/do something bad. I know it.”

And then Gaius will say: “nah, you’re probably just tired. Eepy lil guy.”

[sneakyboymerlin]

Merlin: Immortality? Eternal Youth?

Gaius: Yes.

Merlin: I am going to make myself look old anyway.

Gaius:

Merlin: On purpose.

Gaius: Why?

Merlin: To pursue the illusion of mortality. To grow and age alongside my companions. To maintain a humble life, overlooked by the masses.

Gaius: Okay.

Gwaine: [breaks in without knocking] You’re not ready? I thought we were going in for the early bird special! The 50% off deal is for seniors only!

[al3x-js-bcs]

WHY DO BITCHES KEEP SHOWING UP TO THE CASTLE TRYING TO KILL ARTHUR AND MERLIN?! Leave the poor gay babies alone.

[like-sands-of-time]

Ok so I finally started season 2 of Merlin and.. is it obvious to anyone else that there's a massive like "tonal" shift between the first season and this? I'm only two episodes in and it already feels like they've changed merthur and arwens respective dynamics SO much ? And all for the quick laughs but like at the detriment to all the characters growths

All of arthur's progress in humility in the first season so far seems gone or distorted purely for comedic value. He's becoming an ass again and they don't say anything occurred from finale to premier to tell us why.

Merlin's self worth(?) Seems way worse even than when he thought himself an abomination, like he's already going down the path of obsession and deceit but we don't even see a conceivable reason why.(also his relationship with Gaius seems to be getting worse too) And

Gwen bless her she's getting more of a voice and I love that for her but i def think her sudden feelings for Arthur seem out of place?? Idk I'm bored of het ships not even trying to show us chemistry and the slow path towards a relationship

it's like they're leaning way harder into the drama so far. Every scene is like this big production lol

Oh and random sidenote but sir Leon!! he's so adorable omg every scene hes in I'm like hiiiiiii baby you're so precious

I'm so excited to see Merlin meet gwaine and then the whole gang later but man am I not excited for the drama 😅 also does gwaine really never figure out Merlin's secret?? Guess I'll figure that out. But it feels like Merlin should have had at least one person consistently around who actually had an eye out for him and his best interests not their own fears or hatred (like Gaius and kilgarrah) to basically give him the confidence boost he needed to know he was still seen and loved and appreciated for all he does for Arthur and the other knights.

If Merlin hadn't been scared into lying to Morgana and fearing himself he wouldn't have gotten so lost in himself. The show got darker and then sort of didn't give him a friend he could talk to besides Lance who died (twice??)

[legendarydreamer4ever]

Every episode of Merlin ► 1.07 “The Gates of Avalon”

SEE ALL HERE

[lovable-bastard]

❗ANGST❗

'Would they even notice if I just left?' Merlin asks himself, fearing that he already knows the answer.

It was bound to happen, bit by bit they stopped talking, only speaking when they had to work. They only saw each other when they had to work.

To be more specific, it was only Merlin who didn't speak or see them unless it's for work.

Merlin knew this would happen, they would continue on with Merlin. Heading head-first into the bright future ahead of them, while Merlin will stay in the shadows that grow darker everyday.

He knew this would happen, but it still hurt.

It hurt not understanding the new jabs and jokes. It hurt seeing them hanging out without him. It hurt walking past them and not hearing a tired or happy hello.

Merlin looked around his frien-...

The knights. Merlin looked around the knights.

Gwaine was telling a story, a new one.

Merlin perked up.

"We were all there, we saw what happened!" Elyan groaned.

Merlin sank back down. He wasn't. He didn't know.

This went on for four minutes, Gwaine trying to tell a story, that was new to Merlin, only to be shut down. Until Merlin stood up and walked away. No goodbye, no noise to notify the others that he was leaving, nothing.

He just got up and left. Right after paying for his own drinks, which were only water.

When he reached the castle he went straight to his and Gaius's chambers.

He didn't want to be alone.

Merlin opened the heavy, wooden door and shut it gently.

Gaius, having heard the door, pocked his head out of a corner. When he saw Merlin's face he knew what happened.

Gaius walked to the table and sat down on the bench, opening his arm. His face looked sad, his aura was comforting and his eyes were trying to hide his anger.

Merlin walked over, sat down and leaned into the hug. Basically turning into puddy.

One of Gaius's hands rubbed circles on his back and the other held him.

Merlin's eyes began to sting. It didn't take a while for Merlin to start crying. He didn't make a sound, except the small hicks and raspy breaths.

There Merlin stayed for hours, crying into Gaius, at some point he hugged back, but he couldn't remember when.

When it was definitely something past midnight, Merlin thanked Gaius and went to bed.

Gaius went to bed a couple minutes later, after figuring out what he will do tomorrow regarding the knights.

Let's just say, no one hurts his nephew and gets away with it scot free, even if they are the king...

[wishiwasadruid]

Arthur : Something tells me Merlin 's going to be a bit more unhinged today...

Merlin , holding a lit match and a bag of cheetos: Leave me be, Gaius isn't home to stop me, I'm going feral.

[ohanahoku-ao3]

Whumptober Day #1

@whumptober Here's my first entry for Whumptober! I hope you guys enjoy it! To anyone who's interested, you can find this story and the rest of my Whumptober prompts on Ao3 here!

The Essence of a Warlock's Being

     “Merlin, are you sure about this?” Gaius asked, watching as his ward brought the glass to his lips and hesitated.

     “I’m sure, Gaius.” The warlock answered, carefully keeping the waver out of his voice. He really wasn’t sure at all, but he had to know if he was truly back to himself. After Morgana and the Fomorroh… He needed to be sure that he wasn’t still being controlled. He needed to know that her spell hadn’t changed him somehow.

     He needed to know that her spell hadn’t worked because some part of him harbored resentment towards Arthur. The only way he could be sure was the brownish-green potion in his hand. It was meant to strip down one’s inhibitions and reveal their true inner self. It was meant to show what drove a person, what compelled them to act, and how they felt about things. It would expose Merlin’s very essence, which was precisely what he needed to be sure.

     The potion used to be used by royals on their knights as a way to sort the loyal from the treacherous. But it had been outlawed long ago by the druids, hundreds of years before the purge, seen as a horrendous practice that caused terrible suffering for the one forced to drink it.

     But Merlin felt that he had no choice. He had to ensure that he wasn’t tainted by the Fomorroh’s magic. So without another word, he downed the thick, bubbly liquid, the taste like that of honeyed dandelion greens, bitter and sweet in equal measures. It moved slowly down his throat, and he had to swallow repeatedly to feel like the substance had completely cleared his esophagus.

     A tense moment passed before Merlin’s shoulders started to relax. “Is that it?” He asked, looking into the emptied cup. “I don’t feel any different.”

     Gaius looked back at the book of magic lying on the table. “Are you sure you used the right amount of watercress?” He asked, skimming the page before glancing up when Merlin answered.

     “I’m sure I did that part right,” Merlin told him, brow furrowed, mouth turned down, and eyes glowing bright gold.

     “Merlin, your eyes,” Gaius whispered. “They’re glowing.”

     “What?” Merlin blinked and shook his head, but judging from the physician’s face, it didn’t accomplish anything.

     “What are you doing?”

     “I’m not doing anything!” Merlin said, rubbing at his eyes, clambering off the bench, finding a reflective surface in a silver tray he was supposed to polish. He stared at his own golden gaze, confused and concerned. He looked back at his mentor before something in his face changed, a sick look overcoming him as the color of his face drained away. “Gai-Agh!”

     Gaius watched helplessly as Merlin folded in half, arms wrapped around his stomach. His jaw was hanging open, but no more sound escaped as his face twisted in agony. The warlock’s eyes started glowing brighter, and the screaming started again in earnest as his body straightened up, rigid with tension. Anguished cries made it sound like the boy was being ripped apart.

     And ripped apart he was as the potion took effect, stripping down each and every layer of the boy’s soul, taking away everything that made him Merlin. Gone was the optimism and the humor, the mischief and the joy. Gone was his compassion and warmth, his love and kindness. Gone too were his anger and sadness, his grief and hate. Gone was Merlin himself as he was shaved down to nothing but a hollow mind and a hollow body that glowed molten gold.

     Yes, the warlock was stripped down to nothing more than the magic that Albion had pooled together and molded into human form. Standing in front of Gaius was not a man, not by any means of the word, and the physician nearly had to look away when the magic flared too bright. “Merlin!” He shouted as the golden glow began to pulse, sparks of energy flying off the effigy.

     “Merlin! You must stop this!” Gaius shouted, but it was of no use. Merlin was gone, and with him gone, so too was the leash that held onto the magic.

     Merlin’s body started to twitch and jerk wildly as the magic grew and grew, and Gaius was thrown back when an uncontrolled flick of Merlin’s fingers sent wind rushing towards him. He hit the door, pain lancing through his old, and thankfully unbroken, bones. Gaius watched as the room’s items swirled around, the wind picking them up and tossing them about. As he stared, he noticed with horrified eyes that cracks were beginning to form in the walls, and from outside the room, voices started to shout.

     The people outside started pounding on the door, yelling at Gaius to open up, and it had to have been the magic holding the door closed because his frail body wasn’t heavy enough to stop it from opening. He had to do something and do something fast before they managed enough force to break down the door.

     His eyes flitted over to a floorboard in the very corner of the room, his heart aching at the thought of using what lay beneath it. But no other option was available to him, so Gaius moved along the wall, painstakingly slow as he fought the wind and push of the magic. He knelt down when he finally reached the corner, wrinkled hands moving to grip into barely there divots discreetly carved into the stone wall, fingers curling under the wooden plank and pulling hard.

     The board came out so suddenly that if it weren’t for the wind pushing on his back, Gaius would have tumbled backward from it. And there, lying within the floor, was a simple silver cuff.

     He grabbed the enchanted bracelet, and taking a deep breath, he turned and did something he hadn’t done in years, raising his hand and calling out in spell. Gold flared in his wizened eyes, and a force shield rippled the air in front of him, protecting him from the wind and magic pulsing through the room.

     He moved across the floor, his body aching with the effort of holding the shield and moving through the wind that pushed against it. As he moved, he heard a sudden, gut-wrenching sound of bone snapping in two, and as he watched, Merlin’s arm bent in two between his elbow and wrist. The magic was too strong without its wielder, and the warlock’s body couldn’t withstand the unrestrained power. Fear leapt into Gaius’ throat as he realized that if he didn’t get the cuff on Merlin soon, the boy may die before the potion could finish running its course.

     He poured as much magic as possible into his shield, willing himself to move faster, gritting his teeth as another bone snapped, hoping it wasn’t located anywhere major. Finally, he reached Merlin, gripping his unbroken arm and shouting as the pure magic burned against his skin. With clumsy, struggling fingers, he managed to slip the cuff on.

     Immediately, everything stopped. The wind abated, tossing items to the floor, and the glow faded away to nothing. The cuff was containing the overflow, and with the power dissipating, Merlin’s body slumped against Gaius, who knelt down, cradling him close just as the door flew open. Arthur and Gwaine burst in, followed by a group of guards, and Gaius had to think quickly, pulling Merlin’s blue sleeve down over the silver bracelet.

     One hasty explanation about Morgana attacking Merlin later, and everyone rushed out to secure the castle, leaving only two men stationed outside in case the witch returned.

     The physician and his ward were left behind, and as he sat there on the floor, the old man bent his head, tears running like rivers down the age-carved canyons in his face. Merlin was held close to his chest, Gaius’ gentle hands cradling his broken arm.

     He needed to get up. He needed to bind Merlin’s arm. He needed to fix what he had allowed to happen. But instead, he sat there, quietly weeping as Merlin’s hollow body rested against him.

     “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” He whispered, letting his tears drip into Merlin’s hair. “I’m sorry, my boy. I should have never told you about that potion.” He shifted, looking down at Merlin’s face, tenderly laying a hand on his cheek. “Your mother sent you to me so I could protect you. But I have failed in so, so many ways, Merlin.” He whispered, taking a moment to compose himself, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m so sorry, my boy. I was supposed to protect you. I was supposed to keep you safe.” Gaius let his eyes close once more, his forehead coming down to rest against Merlin’s carefully. “This was never supposed to happen.”

     Gaius didn’t move from that position until Gwen came rushing in minutes later.

[adhd-merlin]

i know i said gwaine wins the best character introduction but actually gaius's is pretty great too. man falls from a balcony, starts shouting at the boy who saved his life, accuses him of lying, reveals he has no clue what day of the week it is — all in the space of one (1) minute. incredible

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Remember that one time Merlin called Arthur a toad then said magic was outlawed so he’d never turn into a handsome prince?

What if he kept doing that casually, as his way of showing Arthur magic can be useful.

For example:

Arthur: do you ever wish there was a way to start fires without needing to gather firewood?

Merlin: there is. Your father outlawed it.

Arthur: there must’ve been a reason. Fire can be dangerous if it gets out of control.

—

And he tries to defend it, but it doesn’t hold up and over time Arthur starts just making sarcastic comments instead of actual defenses

—

Arthur: torches are so inconvenient. We need a better way to make light that can keep hands free for swords or other weapons.

Merlin: Magic, but it’s illegal so you’re stuck with carrying a torch.

Arthur: last time I needed light because you were dying it wasn’t evil.

Merlin: well, it’s unfortunate that you don’t know how to use magic then, sire.

—

Until he just can’t defend it

—

Arthur: six weeks?! I can’t miss six weeks of training for a broken foot! Is there some way to speed it up? Or just… fix it now?

Gaius: I don’t think-

Merlin: yes.

Gaius, who knows Merlin’s plan: *sigh*

Arthur: Thank god. Do it then.

Merlin: No. It’ll land us all on the pyre and I’m quite fond of, y’know, breathing, so suck it up.

Arthur: why is that kind of magic illegal? Surely healing isn’t evil.

Gaius: what you ask is treason, sire. Please be cautious.

Arthur: …

—

Merlin: who knows? Maybe all the bandits will decide to magically take a day off so you can go hunting without being hunted.

A few hours later, being chased through the woods by bandits:

Arthur: non magic sucks!

Merlin: yep. You can always repeal the ban once you’re king!

Arthur: huh… you know, I think I will.

Merlin: great, pardon my treason then. *magically knocks out the bandits and summons their horses and Arthur’s weapons back*

Arthur: THIS WHOLE TIME?!

Merlin: yep.

Arthur: …

Arthur: I can’t believe that worked.

Merlin: me neither, to be honest, sire.

—

Then they both laugh about it and Arthur repeals the ban, magic is free, Morgana is never evil, Agravaine doesn’t exist, and Mordred comes back to Camelot and gets therapy.

[poisonedfate]

bbc merlin - 03x10 Queen of Hearts

scenes that make clinically insane

[atdawn]

MERLIN | 5.07 A Lesson in Vengeance

[lauravian]

S1E13: Le Morte D'Arthur

Redrawing a screencap from every episode of Merlin... (until I get bored with it)

[al3x-js-bcs]

I’ve fallen into a deep dark hole of Merlin. Help.