#arthur/merlin

[thenerdyindividual]

I love the headcanon that Merlin is scrawny and gawky when he first arrives in Camelot because he was underfed and used magic to cheat at his chores. However, I would love an au where Merlin shows up to Camelot wiry and farm-boy strong, and Arthur’s nose immediately starts bleeding.

[lets-all-calm-down-a-bit]

aaaand we're back babes... merlin has me in a chokehold again

[cinnabons-treasure-trove]

Barista Merlin: Ah. Bad day at office hm? Probably one of your employees messed up something.

Businessman Arthur: [surprised] Yes, how did you know?

Barista Merlin: [back towards Arthur, making a drink] You only order tomato and avocado sandwiches when you do otherwise it would've been your usual drink with no food.

Businessman Arthur: [intrigued] Oh? And if it wasn't my employee? I could've just been grumpy about the weather or client. [Leaning against the counter, watching Merlin]

Barista Merlin: [oblivious] You don't mind rainy weather, if you did you wouldn't be coming here, and if it were one of your clients you'd order two blueberries muffins sometimes a custard pie. [Hands over Arthur's order] Now, will that be all?

Businessman Arthur: [sending Merlin a fond look] Yeah, that's all.

[cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu]

Merlin: You want me to do what?

Vampire Arthur: Go as my date? Just for one night.

Merlin: Okay...Arthur you got a shifty look about you now.

Vampire Arthur: [coughs] Well you see, since it's Halloween, we'd be in costume, obviously I'll be a vampire King and you my dear will be dressed...in this! [Holds up a lovely black and red gothic dress] Fit for a queen! [Smiles, fangs showing]

Merlin: [smacks forehead] You are insufferable.

[psyzook]

One of my fav tropes in BBC Merlin Fanfiction?

Arthur’s gay panic. I just want to see him have a mental battle as every little thing Merlin does utterly wrecks him emotionally. He is a useless simp. Merlin forgets his neckerchief? Arthur drools over his collarbones. He’s smitten and non-functional.

[andthebeanstalk]

They shouldn't let me write Merlin because I would have Merlin realize he's a class traitor and kill Uther before the opening credits were done rolling. and then Arthur would get his shit together too and also kiss Merlin. and then I guess the show would just have a tolerable ongoing plot for the first time ever, with dynamic engaging goals and growth for characters that were finally likeable, and......

Actually, I take it back: the only reason I would not be an ideal choice for the head writer of Merlin is that the show ended like a decade ago, and it would frankly be poor business sense to hire a new writer at this stage.

[spumonibones]

Accepting Prompts!

I want to challenge myself to write one-shots, but all my ideas end up being multi-chapters. I'm still working on my XiaoVen and ArthurBedivere fics, but...

Placing tags for ships I feel like writing. I'm down for writing SFW or NSFW.

Xiao x Venti

Saber Arthur (Prototype) x Saber Bedivere

Saber Arthur (Prototype) x Merlin (Prototype; Pretender Lady Avalon)

Shenhe x Furina (you leave me and my nonsense alone okay)

I 100% know getting prompts gonna be a long shot but it's one I'm taking. There's some stuff I'm not comfortable writing, so if I get any of those may pass.

[arien-elensar]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Merlin (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin) Additional Tags: Canon Era, Camelot Summary:

“Thought you could use some company,” Merlin said

[buttermynutter]

Lost and Found | Merthur

Summary: When Merlin and Arthur are forced to traverse a maze together, they find that it isn't just the hedges that take a turn. Word count: 1.7K Warnings: None, pure fluff :)

Godforsaken thorns.

They were rough, they were pointy, and they were everywhere.

Merlin trudged through the hedges, his impatience growing with each turn. The more he prayed for an exit, the more dead ends the maze seemed to throw at him. 

He sighed dramatically, though he knew there was nobody around to hear but himself. Him and Arthur had been separated an hour ago, or was it two? Three, maybe? Within these miles of identical hedges, each passing minute was the exact same. Though Merlin would never admit it out loud, the prince's company was sorely missed. 

"Arthur?" he yelled, voice hoarse from all the previous times he had called out. "Hello?"

The only response was a rustle of the brambles in the wind, almost taunting him. 

"Once and future king," he began to prattle, "can't even find his way back to his servant. Oh, let's split up Merlin! Let's cover more ground, it's just like hunting in the woods! What a knight, can defeat a wyvern but not a few thornbushes."

Merlin had already debated using magic several times, but decided that if Arthur crept up on him in the middle of an incantation, the predicament would be much harder to find his way out of than a maze.  

Suddenly - so faintly, he was afraid he was just imagining it - Merlin heard a shout. He immediately stopped in his tracks, listening so intently that he felt his ears were flexing. 

"Are you out there? Merlin?" There was a pause, followed by a much louder, "Clothead?"

The warlock grinned, having never been so happy to hear that nickname. "Here! By the..."

He trailed off, looking around him for any sort of distinctive feature he could use, only to be met by nothing. "By the hedge?"

Merlin could practically hear Arthur's eye roll before finally scrambling to a solution. "Wait!" he called, furtively untying the scarf from his neck.

"Look up!"

He waved the fabric to and fro above his head, praying it was visible above the bushes. Distant, but slightly more audible came Arthur's exclamations.

"A half-decent idea! Maybe you really aren't as stupid as you look!"

Merlin sighed, though his heart jumped at the sound of his voice again. Although he told himself it was just because he was glad to be found after all this time, he knew that was simply untrue. 

He stood swishing the scarf back and forth for what felt like eternity, and the sore muscles of his arm thanked the sound of rushed footsteps approaching. Merlin turned around quickly, unable to resist the grin that had spread across his face.

"You looked ridiculous," Arthur panted, his hands on his knees. "If I weren't so happy to see you, I would've left you standing like that."  

His last words were almost exhaled, the color of his face matching the red of the setting sun. Merlin would've had a typical retort, but he was simply too relieved to do so as well. 

The knight's mouth hung slightly agape as he looked up at Merlin, but it didn't seem to be because of his panting. His eyes were trained on the other's neck, his eyes wider than Merlin had ever seen. 

Suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious, especially now that he was aware of the chilly air biting his collar since the night was settling in, the warlock began to hastily retie his scarf, fumbling slightly under Arthur's gaze. "What?" he snapped while doing so, wincing inwardly at how much harsher than intended he had sounded. 

"I just-" his companion began, seeming unusually unsure of himself. Merlin could even swear he was flustered, his face even redder than before. "I just don't believe I've seen you before without that silly scarf of yours, that's all. Problem?" His typical cocky smirk returned as he straightened up to cross his arms in front of him instead. 

"You would have if you weren't so busy bossing me around," Merlin shot back, trying to ignore the way Arthur's arm muscles bunched in their current position. Try as he may, the jokes he often made about the prince putting on pounds wasn't enough to deter the thoughts he had that put his body on a pedestal. 

"Speaking of bossing around, how in the world did my father think this was a good idea? I frequently underestimate how easy to please that people can usually be, but a bramble maze is hardly a way to celebrate the harvest," Arthur scowled. "Especially with the idea that we should be the ones to 'test' it. How do you even test a maze?"

Merlin shrugged, replying, "To be honest, I think it was just a way to get us out out of his way for a bit. I don't believe he was too happy that you were missing at the feast last night."

"It wasn't my fault," the prince exclaimed with an agitated expression, his previous exhaustion gone. "He didn't give me any sort of notice. Though I suppose I understand why - if he had told me it was to meet another princess, I wouldn't have gone anyway."

Merlin started at the information; although he knew Arthur wasn't exactly eager to engage in any sort of courtship, especially an arranged one, he had no idea it was to the degree that he'd disobey his father. 

"The girl must've not known that it was you either. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come as well."

He was caught off guard by Arthur's pounce, expecting only a glower in return. The latter knocked the both of them to the ground where they scuffled for a bit, barely missing the surrounding brambles, the two trying their best to talk through the dirt that was settling in their lungs. 

"You're one to talk with a face like that," Arthur yelled, punching Merlin square in the chest, who returned it with a slap to the side of the knight's head.

"At least I wasn't nervous over some girl," he retorted, fighting to maintain his position with Arthur pinned to the ground.

He was abruptly overturned, the sensation of his back being slammed to the dirt ground knocking the wind out of him. Merlin gasped for air, the motion of him tipping his head upward unraveling his scarf once again due to the end of it being trapped beneath the other's hand. 

"Not over some girl," Arthur breathed, his voice uncharacteristically unsteady. Merlin froze, unable to focus on anything but his eyes, the approaching nighttime making the blue of them so dark, his pupils and irises were almost the same color.

God, how he loved his eyes. 

Arthur removed his hands from their places beside Merlin's head, disappointing him for a moment before he realized that he wasn't getting up, only sitting back on his midriff. The prince let out a low groan as he leaned back, and Merlin wasn't sure whether he felt more awkward or flustered, glad that the dark was hiding his undoubtedly pink face. 

The weight on his waist shifted again as Arthur bent forward a bit, taking the scarf in his hands and beginning to tie it, his inexperienced hands weaving a clumsy knot. 

Although it was barely audible, Merlin could swear he heard him say sorry, the feeling of his calloused fingers brushing beneath his chin and neck as effective a sedative as Gaius's Valerian root powder. Each touch left a little spark in their wake, the two of them having never been this close. 

He gulped, the twitching of his throat causing Arthur to stop, his hands visibly trembling. The knight cleared his throat, suddenly recovering his usual stoic demeanor. He began to move off of Merlin's chest, but the latter reflexively grabbed his wrist, surprising even himself.

"Arthur," he said uncertainly, mind wrought with nervousness. "It's okay to be afraid. I didn't mean any of what I said."

The other nodded slowly, the motion barely discernible in the night, gradualling reassuming his position. "I didn't either, Merlin." More quietly, he continued, "I think your face is actually quite pleasant." 

Merlin refrained from laughing at Arthur's typical self-restraint, the latter still visibly repressing their true thoughts after all this time. He wasn't sure what was racing faster as he merely listened to his friend breathe steadily, his mind or his heart. The pose he was in made him feel oddly vulnerable, leaving him unable to formulate an expected quip to return. He decided to sit up instead, the dirt crunching beneath his hands as he pushed himself forward.

He felt a flash of regret as he realized he had miscalculated his actions, his face now only an inch away from Arthur's. The boy's breath was delicate and warm on his face, feeling almost as if a butterfly was flapping by his nose. He didn't dare to move, not even to blink. The stars above illuminated Arthur's stunned, perfectly sculpted expression and caught his eyelashes fluttering shut, causing Merlin to instinctively move towards him.

The tip of their noses touched, sending a wave of warmth throughout Merlin's body, and he debated backing away for a moment before he felt a sudden pressure on his lips as well. His movements were hesitant but deliberate as one of his hands left the ground to creep up behind Arthur's head, pulling him in closer. Merlin buried his fingers in the golden hair that he had admired so much, terribly attractive whether it had just left the pillow in the morning or if it was encircled by a crown. 

Arthur seemed to gain confidence from Merlin's touch, and to his enjoyment the prince wrapped his arms around him, his hands now clasped behind his waist.

Merlin knew that Arthur wasn't one to verbalize his affections for anybody, but if actions really did speak louder than words, the knight might as well have been shouting. The feeling was more electrifying than any surge of magic could've given him, and although the night veiled almost everything in his sight, he could never see his affections for the other more clearly. 

Suddenly, it hit him.

He separated his lips from Arthur's, a tinge of wetness left on them, although his counterpart was visibly disappointed. His face fell even further at Merlin's next words, though they were said with an adoring smile.

"You know we still have to find a way out, right?"

[artstelle]

Movie Time Prompt, non-sexual intimacy by @merlinbingo

[lets-get-merthur-to-1]

Heads up for my fellow Merthurians

We've got some voting to do, today, at 3pm central time, over @ao3topshipsbracket

[thenerdyindividual]

Surely someone has said this but I cant find it: merlin/arthur

NO ONE HAS ASKED THIS YET! IT'S WILD!

This is the ship for me. Two sides of the same coin. The banter. The devotion. The friendship!!! The tragedy of them! Two young men growing up with so much pressure. Two young men who should have no reason to be friends, yet found each other and loved each other anyway.

Merlin sees Arthur as more than a prince, and that is something Arthur sorely needs. He needs someone who treats him like a real person. He needs someone who he can trust unconditionally, and Merlin is all of the above. Merlin will always have Arthur's back, come hell or high water.

Merlin swearing to make Arthur king in season 1, then giving Arthur Excalibur in season 4. The lengths Merlin goes to protect his soulmate.

The way Arthur matures and grows thanks to Merlin's influence. The way he goes from a boy who rages at the idea of being made fun of, to a man who can stand in a tavern while his servant takes all his money in a game and laugh! The way he risked his life for Merlin, thinking Merlin was only a servant. The way he is heartbroken when he thinks Merlin has been killed.

"Something has been bothering you, hasn't it?" "You haven't smiled in the last three days." "I am happy to be your servant until the day I die." "Everything I did... it was for you" "What would you do, Merlin?"

But also "dollophead" "idiot" "shut up" "Cabbagehead" "Merlin can't find his own backside"

They are full of angst, but they are full of joy. They are incredibly competent but also dumbass4dumbass. Jock/Nerd, Rich/Poor, Irritation to Lovers, Best Friends. There is tenderness that they only have for each other. There is vulnerability that they only show to each other.

Arthur gave Merlin a place to belong, and in his own way, Merlin did the same in return. Merlin is still waiting for him at the lake!!!

Congratulations! This is the first ship ranked:

S-Tier

Send me a Merlin Ship and I’ll rank it on a tier list. Note: This is a subjective ranking and a low ranking in no way means that I am shaming you for your taste in ships.

[motleymedley]

Fanfic excerpt: Arthur/Merlin

“How dare you show up now!” Merlins voice was loud and hoarse, startling the room into silence, “The world is just as fucked as its always been and you have the audacity to turn up on my doorstep now.” He hissed, storming up to Arthur until their noses almost touched and for one dizzying moment, Arthur almost thought Merlin was going to kiss him before the taller man veered off course, drawing his lips to Arthurs ear. “I have lived through diseases that wiped out most of the population.” Merlins breath felt hot against his ear, “I have lived through famines and wars and worse horrors than you could ever imagine and yet you show up *now*”

“Merlin I-“

“No no, Arthur, I’m talking, and that means *you* listen, see because you’re the one who came back at the one time I don’t need you.”

[cinnabons-treasure-trove]

Cat Merlin: *purring*

Gwen & Morgana: *cuddling and petting Merlin the cat*

King Arthur: Merlin, you can't get out of the council meeting by being a cat!

Cat Merlin: *meowing aka backtalking, calling his king a big prat*

King Arthur: *somehow knows what merlin is saying* I am not! You little menace!

[cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu]

"Arthur, what if someone hears us?"

"Hush sweetheart, as long as we're quiet no one will know we're here."

"You know damn well I can't be quiet when you're inside me!"

"You're right. I guess I can allow it this time for people to hear your lovely moaning."

"Arthur!" – Consort Merlin and King Arthur

[This was a terrible idea but Merlin knew he couldn't stop Arthur when his King gets a stupid idea like fucking him in a random alcove in another kingdom whilst they're supposed to draw up a new treaty.]

[psyzook]

Kilgharrah should have done this, Kilgharrah shouldn’t have done that- YOU KNOW WHAT? Kilgharrah should have gotten Uther to ship merthur, and that’s that!