#i love the idea of arthur choosing gwen back in his camelot days but choosing merlin in the modern world

[yoonnamjin25]

Ok but I need a post canon, Arthur returns, slow burn, Merthur, kind of fic where we can acompany our beloved king through the different stages of grief he will go through when Merlin tells him he's been dead for over 1500 years so he lost his kingdom, knights, friends and wife. A fic where we can see Merlin introducing Arthur to the 21st century and its technology that he insists is just magic, Mer-lin, I know it, I'm no fool. I know magic when I see it. A fic where we can see Arthur still struggling to fully trust on Merlin again because yes, he forgave him and he doesn't really care about the magic (except he does because Merlin's eyes look so beautiful when they are gold and where did that come from, Arthur Pendragon? Merlin, beautiful? Ha! The clotpole must've been right when he told you you shouldn't drink a third cup of that dark, strong, addictive beverage) but he still can't get over all the years of constant lies and deceiving, and Merlin feels guilty af so he tries to win his trust once again day by day and keep the promise he made to himself that day he finally confessed his magic to Arthur to not lie to him ever again. A fic full of fluffy moments between merthur where we can see them fall for each other harder slowly but surely until one day, after 3 or 4 months since Arthur came back, he finally kisses Merlin. And then they kiss some more. And more. And they are so happy grinning like idiots between kisses because finally they are on the same page. And everything is perfect. And Arthur suddenly loses his shirt somehow and things are getting heated although everything is still so soft and sweet and tentative. And then the doorbell rings. They ignore it at first, Arthur's orders, but the person behind the door is insistent so they have to stop so Merlin can go and see who it is. And when he finally opens the door, his jaw almost hit the floor because the person in front of him is no other than the fucking Queen of Camelot, his first and beloved friend, Guinevere Pendragon, the long ago dead widow of Arthur Pendragon, king of Camelot, whom he's been making out with seconds ago. And then everything goes downhill coz Gwen sees her husband and Arthur is so shocked to see her again and then they are hugging and smiling and kissing and glowing with happiness and then there's Merlin, with tears in his eyes as he sees them reunite again. As he sees Arthur reunited with his true love. And when the king finally takes a moment to process everything that is happening while having Guinevere laughing crying in his arms, his eyes find Merlin, his Merlin, the one he had in his arms minutes ago and everything comes crashing. Reality hits him so hard he can't even breathe for a second. Because he was happy with Merlin and even though he hadn't yet admitted it out loud, he knew, deep in his soul, that he was in love with him, but then Guinevere is back! His beautiful, amazing, sweet and wonderful queen who he loves with all his heart is back from the death and how is that even possible???

Phew! A fic full of drama and angst and hurt/comfort and tough decisions that Arthur will have to make eventually because he loves them both, but he only can have one and that is breaking him apart because he is a righteous man at heart and he knows that as a married man, his choice should be clear as water, but his soul is screaming at him because it wants something else, someone else, and he doesn't know what to do as he knows whatever he decides, one of the two people he loves the most in his life will end up brokenhearted. But life is unfair and cruel to everyone. Even to legendary kings.

So.

Can someone please write it?

For me???

Pretty please???

[someguyinc]

Guinevere "There is always a choice" Pendragon is unironically the strongest character in bbc merlin.

why?? because she knows how to say no!! not only to those around her but to herself as well. gwen's strength as a character comes not from her eventual status as queen, but to understand and utilize the information given to her and then choose accordingly regardless of fear mongering. in a story where the villain is the narrative/cycles of abuse gwen wins against the underlying adversary every. single. time. where every other character with major plot points literally fails at this so hard it either results in their own moral demise or their literal death, gwen tanks through the challenge and even gives others hope where there seems to be none

every other character is controlled by some sort of fate,, arthur is told by the disir that "he has always been known" and that the fate of camelot is doomed unless he embraces the old religion, he's also born a prince and knows his entire life is laid out for him, merlin is told that he must help to bring magic back to the lands if arthur is to live and camelot of be successful, and morgana is first plagued by visions of the future (which as we learn in merlin that knowing the future does nobody any good) and then is told that emrys will be her doom.

gwen,, is just gwen :), yes other people know of her fate and purposefully try to mold it but she herself isn't fully and because she is free of the narrative cage, instead of being pulled to and fro by the other characters whims, she fortifies her own beliefs and through trial and anguish learns that nobody is coming to save her from cycles of fear except herself

(very obviously there are time when gwen is put in the damsel in distress situation, but to me it's the type that megara from hercules is in: "i'm a damsel, i'm in distress, have a nice day :)" )

let's look at lancelot and guinevere's relationship specifically and how their character thesis parallel each other and how it plays into her being better than everyone else

when lancelot arrives he and gwen immediately hit it off,, they're infatuated with the other and think of the other often having romantic moments and lingering touches before he eventually leaves without saying goodbye in the first season. lancelot is in my opinion the antithesis to gwen's character, not because he is guided by some bigger fate (because so are merlin and arthur) but precisely because he is also someone technically "free" of that narrative cage.

lancelot came to camelot because he wanted to be a knight, when he found out he couldn't be, after shenanigans and committing identity theft, he left and eventually became a sell sword as he had "no other choice",, when they eventually break out he leaves gwen again after learning arthur has feelings for her instead of fighting for her telling merlin: "she has changed him forever but some things are just not meant to be"

taking away her choice, but also confining himself to the gilded cage of fate for what he thinks is for her but really was for him

lancelot is not the only character who does this, in fact almost all of the bbc merlin character do:

merlin has times where he repeatedly goes to gwen and tells her about his dilemmas where he talks about how dismayed he is that he doesn't have a choice where gwen then repeatedly reminds him that he actually does have a choice,, these interactions flow on through merlin to arthur where the closer merlin is to gwen he remembers that he always has a choice to do the right thing and only reverts back to "i have no choice" as the seasons go on and they distance themselves

is sort of a reverse of merlin, arthur the closer he gets to gwen, is further introduced to the idea of free will,, specifically in his love life when he knows that he will have to marry one day and goes from telling gwen that they could never actually happen, to outright marrying her in front of king and country not because gwen pushed him to, but because she gave him the confidence to be the king he could be and realize he didn't want to spend a life bound to destiny (not that he had much of a choice tbh)

morgana and gwen are so interesting to me because she was a character who tried to fight against destiny,, but also clung to it like the future was a solid thing and let her hatred consume her because of fate, like when fighting gwen in s4ep13,, gwen asks why she despises her so much and morgana replies "it's not you it's what you will become",, like even in fighting against fate morgana doesn't even question of what she is seeing is set in stone she just assumes it is and acts according like (does that make sense??)

gwen has her own prejudices and anger, by the time s5 rolls around she is wary of magic and has seen it destroy so many of her loved ones and those she's supposed to protect as queen. but like,, her constant determination not just to do the right thing because so many of these characters believe they are, but to reminder others and herself that "you always have a choice" saved not just her life but all the other characters lives multiple times

in fact camelot was often in its most critial danger when gwen wasn't there, either physically or mentally,, the only thing that could be done to stop the positive effect she had was to literally brainwash her and even that took so much effort because even under extremely psychological abuse gwen refused to give in to morgana's torture and only broke when her brother literally died in front of her

(i also could make an entire post on the SCRAPS. that the bbc gave us on gwen and elyan's relationship and their reaction to choice)

anyways gwen solos hope this makes sense <3

[mistydaysofavalon]

ok i'm super curious about the "Don't Wake the Dragons" wip 👀 such a wonderful title, first off, but like yeah would this be related to Dragonlords????

also the "not a hogwarwts" one made me giggle and i'd love to hear about how much it's not hogwarwts

ah, thank you! I do remember being very smug about that title ;)

it's not connected to Dragonlords in general, but to our dear Merlin. (however, that is a very intriguing idea and I'll get to it in a second, but first on to the actual wip.)

it is set in modern day britain and everything is essentially the way it is right now. a team of scientists discovers a new system of caves and proceed to accidently wake Kilgharrah, who has been sleeping in that very cave for centuries.

now, you can imagine that a dragon suddenly flying around causes panic and chaos. a special unit is formed to stop the "horrible beast". Arthur, to his dismay, is not part of that unit and instead has to stay back to do research. and oh boy will he find something interesting...or perhaps someone?

that being said...

your ask made me imagine a canon era au where the dragonlords along with the dragons managed to survive the purge but went into hiding. (seriously, you can't tell me uther managed to extinguish such powereful beings with...a few knights? who, as we can see when kilgharrah attacks Camelot, don't stand the slightest chance against just one dragon.)

this au would probably be set relatively shortly after balinor's death and still under uther's reign. maybe merlin somehow stumbles across a sleeping dragon somewhere and discoveres a whole soceity of dragonlords living in peace away from Camelot. then there'd be the conflict between staying there comfortably and the responsbility merlin feels to use all this power to change something about the situation in camelot. it'll take some convincing but eventually the dragonlords agree to join him.

And so the dragon awakes and flies for Camelot to take back the land where magic once roamed free....or maybe it's a bit more diplomatic and Arthur is involved somehow (boo, boring, diplomacy). no, i think i like the idea of a) merlin having enough of waiting for arthur to maybe eventually change things as king and taking matters into his own hand and b) the moral conflict between not wanting to overthrow your friend's kingdom but on the other hand not being able to stand by watching as your people are killed.

alright, alright, i'll stop there but i think you've just added a new wip to my list

moving on to the one that is definitely not a "hogwarwts" au. first of i'd like to clarify there genuinely is no harry potter in sight and it technically isn't even an alternate universe. however, it has some tropes that will appear in merlin x hp crossovers and a school where magic is taught, so...

man, i forgot how much i love this one. i had way too much fun with worldbuilding and figuring out backstories. It started with the thought of what if gwen legalised magic and it continued to prosper after her reign?

we are left with a modern world similar to ours (and distinctly differnet to HP, might i add ;)) where magic is just a usual part of life. some have it, many don't (i may or may not have made an excel diagram showing how magic is distributed in the population).

due to unfortunate circumstances merlin was turned into a child and lost all his memories. due to more fortunate circumstances he ends up in a prestigious school where (amongst many other things) magic is taught. Arthur naturally chooses the time where merlin can't help him navigate the modern world to come out of his lake.

to make things even harder, legends about the canon era of the show have survived but, as this is a pro-magic soceity, arthur is generally portrayed as the bad guy and strongly disliked.

[weakforarwen]

Are you aware that in Lancelot du Lac in the script as first written Gwen kissed shade Lancelot of her own free will? Any thoughts?

I don't get if you're an Arwen anti or not, but whatever was on the original script means nothing to me. Do you know how many bad ideas probably made it into the script before someone scrapped them? Scenes that must've gone against what we know of the characters or that could've completely changed the characters' natures and fates?

I'm not saying all final scripts are superior but, in this case, it would've made no sense for Gwen to kiss Lancelot out of her own free will. Anyone who knows Gwen would've known that she's too honorable and loyal to cheat, and loved Arthur too much. The only way she could've kissed Lancelot was out of guilt, but that's not a good enough reason.

Fans seem to love to point out that Gwen chose Lancelot in Lancelot and Guinevere, and that Lancelot left so she didn't have to choose him over Arthur, but they never seem to remember that Lancelot came back and stayed in Camelot for over a year, yet Gwen's last words to Lancelot were for him to promise her to keep Arthur safe. Isn't it obvious that she chose Arthur every day she spent with him? Lancelot coming back after his heroic death wouldn't have changed anything. Her guilt was the only reason she even wore Lancelot's bracelet. That's all she was willing to give him.

[shana-rosee]

Hi- for your made up fic title, Don’t Speak

Hmmm okay so this would be a canon divergence fic where Merlin and Arthur coming back from a hunt and getting attack by bandits (of course 😂) and Merlin does magic and Arthur sees.

Arthur is shocked and upset and Merlin is sad and angry. So they argue and yell and say things they don’t mean and then Merlin blurts out about the prophecy and Arthur tells him when they get back he’s banished and Merlin just looks him in the eye and says no I’m not. And then tells him that the only way Arthur’s getting rid of him is if he’s kills him.

The two go back to Camelot and refuse to talk to even other, Arthur gives him “the week off” and Merlin works anyways and death glares any other servant who tries to do his chores. Arthur then insists on dressing and grabbing his own food and Merlin is not letting him. This goes on for a month. The two just passive agressively refusing to acknowledge each other despite being together 80% of the day.

And it’s driving the whole castle nuts because neither one will say what happened, like everyone has tried and got nada. Even Gwen! (That’s how they all knew is was serious when even Gwen couldn’t get them to talk and she’s Merlin BFF and one of Arthur’s most trusted advisor.)

So the knights do the only thing they can think of, they lock them in a room with no windows and refuse to let them out until they talk.

They stay quiet for exactly five minutes before they are yelling again and that’s when the dam burst. Merlin realizes that the reason Arthur is so upset is because he thinks that everything Merlin has done for him, everything they’ve gone through together was just to fulfill the prophecy and not because Merlin cares about him.

Which hurts Merlin. The idea that Arthur would really think that so they yell at each other some more as Merlin set him straight that if it was just about the stupid prophecy he would have told him about his magic ages ago! Because he knows Arthur and he’s so goddamn duty-bound that he would take on everything that prophecy entailed even if he didn’t want to, with stride. But if Merlin had told him that it would change their relationship, they wouldn’t be close anymore. Arthur would have treated him like one of his knights or lords, pleasant but distant and Merlin refused to let that happen to them. He refused to become an distant observer in the life of the person he loves most in the world.

Merlin keeps yelling and grumbling not realizing what he just said but Arthur is stunned and quietly asks, ‘what do you mean?’ And then when Merlin frowns and repeats the last thing he says Arthur repeats it and then Merlin’s face is like OH FUCK I SAID THAT??? But then he looks at Arthur and sees the vulnerability on his face and something else in his eyes so Merlin tells him he loves him, how he’s loved him for a very long time and even if all the prophecies in the world told him he was destined for another Merlin would still choose to be with Arthur, he would still love Arthur.

And that’s when Arthur would kiss him and tell him he feels the same, and that even in a thousand different lives he would pick Merlin too.

[viltrumitesuperboy]

I Couldn’t Love You (Merlin x Male Reader)

Someone wanted hanahaki disease with Merlin so here you go merry crisis. Merlin has it. Tried something different with this one.

Word count: 2928

I couldn't love you because you were my friend.

Merlin had never been one to let his emotions get to him, or so he hoped. When Arthur told him he was sensitive, he denied it. He then noticed how different of a person he was compared to every other man in the castle and realised that, yes, he was an emotional man. Arthur never really minded (just teased him), and Gaius told him that it was a good thing for a sorcerer like him. It made him different from those who used their magic to hurt.

You were a servant for Knight Leon, so Merlin saw you sometimes. Arthur had to take a few knights with him on a trip, and told Merlin to stay for once. As they rode off, you moved closer to Merlin.

"What's Prince Arthur like? I'll tell you that Sir Leon is a bit daft and definitely stupid but that's because he can read and chooses not to."

"To put it bluntly, Arthur's a prat. I will serve him for as long as I live but he is seriously an idiot."

You laughed and turned to look at Merlin.

"May I join you while they're gone? I don't really have much to do when Leon isn't around."

He smiled and beckoned for you to follow him to the side door where Gaius was working on some medicine. He told you that you could choose any book to read, and a strange looking one caught your eye. You pulled it from the shelf and began reading it.

"Hey, this is about magic. Is this allowed?" you asked Gaius.

Merlin rushed to his side and looked as if he was about to spit out some excuse, but Gaius gave him a stern look.

"As you know, Uther's law against magic has led to dozens of problems from magic users. I keep books in case another magic-related incident happens," Gaius explained smoothly.

"Of course. It's unfair, isn't it? That he's so against magic. Most of the people I know don't even care about what magic users do because most of them aren't actively trying to hurt anyone else. Since the king is against it, sorcerers come out of hiding to try and hurt him. It's obvious, but he doesn't realise it," you nonchalantly replied, then looked down to read the book in silence.

Merlin looked at Gaius with shock on his face, but the reaction was not returned. On Gaius' lips was a small grin, and he turned away to continue his work. Merlin looked back at you, where you had been flipping randomly in the book in interest of all the knowledge you could get. He pulled out another book, covering his spellbook in his lap with it. Occasionally you would show Gaius a word and ask what it meant, since you never had many chances to read. He explained it so easily and your smile showed your gratitude every time.

When he looked up at you and smiled, you smiled back. His heart fluttered.

I couldn't love you because I loved someone else.

Freya was the first magic user Merlin had met his age who he could connect to, and he wanted to protect her as long as she was in Camelot. When he started to sneak food, you weren't dumb enough to know that he was hiding things in that scarf of his. You yanked him to the side of a corridor.

"What's with the food? If you wanted to steal something, you could always ask me, you know?"

You waved him to follow you to the kitchens, but he stopped before you entered.

"Wait! I'll get in trouble. They don't like when I cause problems for them in there," Merlin mumbled.

"Trust me," you said.

He followed you into the kitchen, and you grabbed two entire trays — one of bread and one with meat.

"Just bringing these to the knights!" you shouted.

In their commotion of cooking, the cooks shouted back their approval and you walked right out with the bread in a basket and the meat in a bowl.

"Here, take some of each. I'll bring these to the knights. Go do whatever it is you have to."

Merlin thanked you and hid the bread and meat in a separate basket, wrapped in a cloth you'd taken from the kitchen. He smiled and rushed away, with you carrying out your duties. On the way, he started to cough, and covered his mouth with his scarf. For a second, he thought something fell out of his mouth, and he panicked when he thought his magic was acting up. The breeze blew the object up and into the forest, and he rushed towards Freya's hiding place.

He trusted you enough, so when Freya died, he came to you and Gaius with bloodshot eyes. You helped him take her body to the lake deep in the forest. He threw a stick with fire into the boat, bursting it into flames. For a second, you wondered where the fire had come from and if it had even reached the boat (Merlin had the upper body strength of a small bird), but when you saw the tears on his face, you put your arm around him. You rubbed his back as he began coughing, and when he pulled away from you, a small blue flower lay in his hands.

"Did you forget to put that one in?" you asked. "You can place it on the water. I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

He hiccuped and tossed it on the water, and you both watched it float away. The look of shock on his face remained even as you both walked away, and you wondered just how much Freya meant to him.

I couldn't love you because I had a destiny.

Morgana had managed to get Guinevere accused of sorcery. Of course Merlin had to fix the problem as he always did, and risked looking like a complete loon in the aftermath. Gaius gave him an idea, and he followed through. But when he said the spell to change himself back, it wasn't working. He was hobbling around the castle in an old man's body, wondering what the hell his life had come to.

Once he bumped into you, and you yelled, almost falling backwards. Your eyes narrowed at the sight of his bright blue ones.

"Do I know you?" you asked. "I mean, I don't think I've seen you before here, but something about your eyes..."

"Goodbye," said Merlin in his old man voice, and he rushed away.

When the guards started to draw closer, he stepped into a small hallway, repeating the spell once more to no avail. Then you stepped out of a door in the hallway, a basket of clothing in your arms and a small vial in hand.

"Come on, take it. I ran to Gaius and he told me that it was you. I'll take your clothing so it doesn't look suspicious," you quickly explained.

He downed the potion quickly, pulling off the robe as soon as he did. You handed him the scarf he always wore. You both stepped into the main hallway just as the guards and Arthur caught up to you.

"Have you seen the sorcerer?" Arthur panted.

"There's a sorcerer?" you asked, alarmed. "Well, that's illegal, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's why we're- Look, he's old, he can't have gone far and he definitely went through this path," Arthur exclaimed.

"We haven't seen anyone. Merlin's been helping me with the washing."

Arthur huffed and motioned for the guards to follow him as they continued on their search.

"You really saved me there," Merlin laughed breathlessly.

"Well, you are the sorcerer meant to protect the once and future king, aren't you?" you teased, pulling him through the door in the hallway. "You should tell me more. No one's doing the washing right now except for me."

Merlin smiled, following you with a strange pressure on his chest. He began to cough, as he had been in the last few weeks. A flower dropped into his scarf, which he dumbly decided to cough into. The blood could barely be hidden by the scarf, but up close he could see that the scarf was a little wet. He bunched it up quickly when you turned to look at him.

"That's your own. You wash that," you scolded. "And then go to Gaius to do something about that cough. You've had it for a few days now."

He gave you a faint smile and nodded as he placed it into a bucket, vanishing the flower with his magic. He then turned to you and told you all about his adventures as much as he could, your expressions of awe and excitement driving his storytelling. Being the showoff he was, he used his magic to dump all the clothing in your bucket into the large tub. The smile on your face was worth it.

True to his word, he went to see Gaius, who wasn't there at the moment. He skimmed through endless books for flowers, but nothing came up until he realised what he had been doing wrong. He began to look at the books on magic that Gaius kept hidden. When he came across the one you were reading the first time you read a book there, he finally found it. It was a disease that was so rare it was believed to be a myth. The person with the disease would cough up blood and flowers if they were in love with someone and the love was not returned. Unless they returned the feelings or it was removed by magic, the victim would surely die. The same would result if they waited too long.

Merlin knew that there was no way he could tell you, but he needed to be alive to serve Arthur. He had a destiny, and the threat of death would not stop him from fulfilling it.

I couldn't love you because it was wrong.

The number of sorcerers and criminals that the king executed was significantly higher than the people found in same sex relations. Actually, there were no executed homosexuals. Uther would claim that they were under the influence of dark magic and therefore had to be killed before it spread. Fortunately, Arthur did not adopt that mindset. Unfortunately, he still thought it to be wrong. Merlin tended to ramble to Arthur and Gaius about his problems, but he told nobody about you. Gaius only knew that he was in love and that it may kill him, but was prepared to perform the spell if he needed to, as Merlin instructed him to. His destiny came before love.

Merlin's condition worsened over time, and he started to slow in his tasks. Arthur masked his concern with complaints, telling him to see Gaius. Gwen would berate Arthur for picking on his own friend. She gave Merlin sympathetic smiles when she caught him coughing or holding a piece of cloth to his mouth. The flowers increased in number, going from one every week to multiple every day. He had to keep a bucket by his bed.

"Merlin, this isn't good for you," Gaius had told him one day.

He sat on the chair beside Merlin's bed.

"There is always a solution. You will not die if you are rejected, but if you wait, it will kill you either way. Take a chance."

"I couldn't. It's... It's wrong, Gaius," Merlin croaked out. "The one I love is a man."

"And who says it should be wrong? A few others with this disease have died because they were afraid it was wrong. One of the most tragic tales came from two women who loved each other dearly, and both died of the same disease. This is hurting me as much as it hurts you. I have a feeling I know this man you speak of, and I think he feels the same. There is no one more worthy of his love than you, and no one more worthy of your love than he."

With that, Gaius tapped his leg as if to drill the wisdom into Merlin, and stood slowly to leave. Seconds after he had gone back to brewing something, you had burst through the door, shouting a quick greeting to Gaius and dashing to the bookshelves.

"(Y/N)! Be careful!" Gaius exclaimed.

"Sorry, busy!" Merlin heard you say.

You pulled a book out of the shelf and dashed to Merlin's room. You sat in the chair Gaius was just in moments ago and flipped through the pages. It was the same book you had chosen the first time.

"I was thinking I remembered that flower I saw from you over the last few weeks. At first, I thought you were planning to give them to someone, but I remembered seeing one in your hand at the lake. It's a disease!" you said with enthusiasm.

"I know," Merlin said, "and I will die."

Gaius was back again, standing just outside the door frame. You looked at him sadly as you placed the book down, the pages falling open to the wretched flower.

"Can't you do anything? Any magic that wouldn't remove your feelings or memories?"

"No. This ends in one of three ways," Gaius said.

"I don't intend to tell anyone except for Gaius about my condition, and I can't- don't want to die," Merlin caught himself, then turned the other way to choke out a flower into the bucket next to him.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, leaning over to place your hand on his.

"I'm sorry, too."

Merlin was quite literally on his deathbed. He once nearly died on the same bed he was in currently. He had collapsed onto the closest surface after doing some cleaning in Arthur's and Gwen's room, and it just so happened to be the one Gaius used to treat patients. He grabbed his bucket that he had conveniently brought down from his room to clean earlier that day  and coughed into it painfully.

Flower petals and blood. That was all he could think about these days.

Gaius walked in, placing his herbs down and going about his work until he noticed Merlin on the bed.

"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed.

"Gaius, please get him," Merlin whispered.

Gaius gave him a disapproving look and walked over, pulling the sheets on top of Merlin. He took the book he needed and placed it on the table close to Merlin's head. Then he left without another word. In minutes, you, Arthur, and Gwen all ran inside, with Gaius' voice in the distance telling them not to disturb anything.

"Merlin!" you shouted, running over to him and kneeling by his bed. "You're dying, aren't you?"

"Am I spitting blood or what?" he snarkily replied, and promptly lurched over the bucket.

"Stop it! You know this hurts all of us!" Gwen cried.

Arthur put his arms around her in a hug as she leaned into him, tears beginning to collect in her eyes.

"Merlin, if we can find the person you love, you can tell them. If they reject you, then there's that thing Gaius can do, right? Some herbal paste thing?" Arthur asked desperately.

"Yes, that," Gaius mumbled.

He looked to you, and you nodded, a silent sign that you had lied to keep them safe.

"Thank you for... everything," Merlin said, his eyes trained on you. "You're all my best friends and I'm so lucky to have you all, but I think I have to get those... herbs that Arthur mentioned."

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Gwen whispered. "You love... him."

Her head turned fully to you, as did Arthur's.

"If he's not complaining about me, he's talking about you," Arthur added.

He didn't dare look at you, afraid to see the hate or disgust on your face. He choked once again on a sudden attack of flowers from his mouth, and you instantly reached over to rub his back.

"You're so stupid. You're so, so stupid," you whispered. "I should have known, should have said something earlier."

"What are you talking about?" Merlin rasped.

"I'm saying I love you too, you daft clotpole."

"That's my insult."

You took the cloth Gaius offered you and wiped his face, pressing your lips to his forehead.

"You're really so stupid."

Merlin smiled back, and he felt the weight that he hadn't even noticed on his insides removing themselves, like the curse was being physically lifted from his body. And as he thought that, a light left his body and the bucket, anywhere with flowers or blood, and disappeared into the air.

"I think that worked," he said, voice much stronger.

Everyone else gave a cheer of joy, and Gwen kissed Arthur right on the lips. Obviously he whined right after that they should only be doing that in private.

"Merlin will need his rest. (Y/N) can stay but the two of you will have to leave. I'm sure you both have matters to discuss. The love of two men, correct?"

"You're right, Gaius," Arthur smiled.

"Maybe you could look into that magic issue too, while you're at it. It could have saved Merlin," you suggested.

"As if!" Arthur scoffed.

Gwen hit his chest and they both left after hugging Merlin. Merlin turned back to you, and he barely noticed Gaius leaving to his room.

"That's some curse," he laughed, bringing you close. "But never steal my insults again."

I couldn't love you... or maybe I could.

[panharmonium]

Merlin 👀

First impression:

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

I loved how curious and sunny and optimistic he was.  I loved how he was so genuinely interested in everyone around him and so willing to get involved in their lives to help them.  I loved how much hope and faith he had that things could get better.  I loved the little moments when you were reminded that he was a teenager (I laugh every time he throws himself dramatically onto the bed after Gaius scolds him about using magic - he has a legitimate reason to be upset, obviously; it’s just still so funny when the camera cuts to him lying face-first on the mattress).  

Impression now:

Merlin did something I didn’t expect any character to ever be able to do and just barely knocked Obi-Wan Kenobi out of my “top character” slot.  Merlin is my all-time favorite character in anything ever.  I’ve never been quite so invested in a fictional character’s happiness before.

Favorite moment:

This is an impossible question, lol.  Every single moment is my favorite moment.  I honestly tried to go through and pick one for this, but there’s no way I can do it.

Idea for a story:

Welp, I am currently working on one about the immediate post-Season 3 era, because Lancelot and Merlin’s relationship is one of my favorites to explore and I can’t believe the show skipped the entire year they were in Camelot together.

Unpopular opinion:

This isn’t an unpopular opinion; it’s an unpopular fact: Merlin isn’t in love with Arthur. XD

Favorite relationship:

Literally every single one of Merlin’s relationships is compelling to me.  Gwen, Gaius, Arthur, Gwaine, and Lancelot are particular faves.  

And then obviously I think everybody knows by now that I am deeply invested in Merlin’s friendship with Will. <3

Favorite headcanon:

Again, I don’t know if this counts as a headcanon per se; it’s just more of how I choose to interpret the character, but if I had to pick something to put here, I guess I’d say that I have very set opinions on how Merlin connects to his home.  

I know sometimes fanworks will have him think things like “Camelot was his true home” or “Ealdor had never really been his home anyway,” but I personally don’t believe Merlin sees things that way.  I think Merlin has always considered Ealdor (and Cenred’s kingdom, by default) to be his home.  He’s carved out a place for himself in Camelot, too, but when Freya asks him, “Where is home?” he doesn’t say, “Camelot.”  He says “Ealdor.”

Camelot might be important to him in a different way, but if somebody asks about home, the answer is always going to be Ealdor.  And the thing about Merlin and Ealdor is that even though he struggled there sometimes, it’s clear that he still feels deeply connected to the people and the land.  He cares tremendously when his community is under attack.  He cheers “For Ealdor!” with just as much pride as the rest of his people.  He exposes his magic to save those same people’s lives.  He is still very much a part of that community, whether his childhood there was lonely or not.  He knows all of his neighbors intimately.  Their village is tiny.  He used to work alongside these people every day - everyone pitches in together.  And even if his neighbors didn’t always love him in quite the way he wished they would, there is clearly something about all of them that he cares about, something that he finds valuable and admirable and worthy of protection.

So it isn’t exactly a headcanon, I suppose, but whenever I write Merlin in Camelot, I’m writing a Merlin who feels that he’s far from home.  Camelot is miles from Ealdor, not just geographically, but in terms of the life Merlin is used to having and the work he’s used to doing and the land he’s used to living on.  The city is wildly unfamiliar and completely foreign to anything Merlin’s ever known, and I think he finds this exciting at first, but as time goes on (and especially after Season 1 is over) a sort of permanent, low-level homesickness sets in, one that he knows he can’t ever fix, because he definitely doesn’t want to go back to Ealdor, and he knows he could never live there again, but he still misses the land and the life he had there.  He loves his home, in a complicated way.  Sometimes he glances out his little window at the White Mountains and sees how small and distant they look on the northern horizon, and he remembers how they towered over the valley where Ealdor lay and blotted out the stars on a clear night, and he feels a hollow tug in his chest, like he left a piece of himself behind there.

So I guess what I would say about my “headcanon” is just that I think Merlin’s home looms larger in his mind that he lets on.  I think there are very specific reasons why he virtually never talks about it, but I think it’s something that is often in his thoughts, and I think his upbringing there always determines his reaction to things in Camelot that he finds bizarre or silly or frustrating (see: “I think you’re mad; I think you’re all mad.  People should marry for love.  Not convenience.”  Or: “Oh, yeah, the tournament where the knights ride around hitting each other with blunt weapons for no good reason?”).  Camelot isn’t the norm for Merlin; Ealdor is.  Merlin is a rural peasant farmer from a rural peasant village.  That’s always going to be true, whatever else becomes of him later.

[roostercrowedatmidnight]

Morgana was in love with Gwen – an analysis of series 3 of Merlin

This is an analysis I wrote of why I think Morgana was in love with Gwen, and how it culminated in Morgana’s betrayal of Gwen and Arthur in series 3.

When Morgana comes back from her year away at the start of series 3, she quickly turns on the people she used to care about. It’s understandable that she feels hate towards Uther, who has threatened and physically harmed Morgana before, as well as continuously prosecuting Morgana’s people; Gaius, who gaslighted her and consistently drugged her in an attempt to hide her identity; and Merlin, who literally tried to murder her. However, the two people who didn’t directly wrong Morgana were Gwen and Arthur. Her hatred of Arthur could be linked to the fact that he often assists his father in hunting down and executing magic users. But it could also be for another reason.

Morgana doesn’t attempt to directly harm or kill Arthur and Gwen for the first half of series 3. While she is more distant with both of them, she doesn’t make any obvious acts of aggression towards either person. Morgana doesn’t actually attempt to hurt Gwen or Arthur until episode 7, ‘The Castle of Fyrien’. After that, she continues trying to cause them harm, especially after dreaming of Gwen marrying Arthur in episode 10 of series 3, ‘Queen of Hearts’. Maybe it’s because she didn’t have any good opportunities to kill Arthur in the first few episodes. Or maybe it’s because of the events of episode 6, ‘The Changeling’.

Unlike Merlin, Morgana is unaware of Arthur and Gwen’s feelings for each other in series 2. She doesn’t figure it out until ‘The Changeling’, when she notices Gwen and Arthur’s eye contact at dinner.

We all know that Morgana is a very good actor. She may not reveal much about how she feels in this scene, but you can tell she’s a little shook. You can see in her eyes that her braincell is firing up.

It’s after this episode that Morgana starts going hardcore on trying to kill Gwen and Arthur. She first harms Gwen to hurt and manipulate Arthur, and then later on does it because she knows Gwen will marry Arthur one day and become Queen. When discussing these things with Morgause, Morgana frames it as though she wants power, and Arthur and Gwen are both standing in her way. Morgause has strongly instilled in Morgana that ruling over Camelot just as brutally as Uther is the only way that Morgana can get revenge and free magical people from oppression. And while it’s true that Morgana hurts Gwen and Arthur to gain power, I think another reason why she does it is because she is in love with Gwen.

In Merlin, magic is a thinly veiled metaphor for being LGBTQ (at least in my opinion -- if you think it’s a metaphor for a different group facing oppression then I’m totally behind that idea as well). While they never canonically make any of the characters overtly LGBTQ (because TV writers are cowards), holding the secret of having magic can easily be paralleled with holding the secret of being queer, and Morgana’s discovery of her own magic in series 1 and 2 can be paralleled with her coming to terms with the fact that she’s queer. If we assume that these things are linked, then Morgana’s discovery and acceptance of her magic in series 1, 2 and 3 is happening at the same time as her realisation that she’s queer and has a crush on Gwen. When Morgana comes back at the beginning of series 3, though much has changed, I believe she still genuinely cares about Gwen. And then she finds out about Gwen and Arthur.

Morgana has noticed Gwen having crushes on people before. She could tell that Gwen liked Merlin, and I think she had an idea of Gwen’s feelings for Lancelot when he first arrived. Neither of these crushes seemed to bother Morgana very much. Lancelot arrived and then quickly departed, so Morgana probably thought Gwen’s feelings would be a fleeting thing. Morgana probably didn’t consider Merlin much of a threat either -- maybe she thought his and Gwen’s feelings would be short-lived. Morgana also wasn’t very close to Lancelot, nor was she super close to Merlin at the start of series 1. With Arthur, though, it’s personal; Arthur is one of the people Morgana trusts the most, and she probably knows that he is the sort of person who doesn’t bestow his affections lightly. To Morgana, Arthur’s feelings for Gwen, as well as Gwen’s feelings for Arthur, are a direct and deeply personal betrayal.

One of Uther’s and Morgana’s biggest weaknesses is their unwillingness to forgive and let go of the past. Arthur, unlike his sister and father, has a great capacity to move on from past wrongs and forgive others, as do Gwen and (sometimes) Merlin. Uther’s failure to move on from the mistakes of the past is the driving evil of the show, while Morgana’s determination to get revenge on the people who have wronged her is what makes her begin to lose her way as the show progresses. So when Morgana finds out about Arthur and Gwen, it is an unforgivable betrayal from the two people she once loved more than anyone else.

The one time Morgana offers forgiveness is in the series 3 finale. Near the end of ‘The Coming of Arthur: Part 1′, Morgana believes she is about to achieve her great victory. She is close to dethroning Uther, and Arthur is either dead already or walking towards certain death. Morgana’s ascension is no longer threatened, and with Arthur gone, neither is her relationship with Gwen.

Morgana could easily allow Gwen to die, since it’s possible that she still threatens Morgana’s future reign. Strategically speaking, Morgana doesn’t gain anything from offering Gwen safety. But she does it anyway -- in her own way, Morgana is offering Gwen once last chance to choose her over Arthur.

Yeah, Gwen’s lying, and understandably so: Morgause’s people are ruthless and her hold over Morgana dangerous, Merlin and Arthur are still Gwen’s friends and she wants to protect them, and if Gwen refuses Morgana’s offer she will definitely be killed. But Morgana doesn’t know Gwen is lying. Morgana is still suspicious - she is used to being lied to and betrayed - but she also truly hopes that Gwen is telling the truth.

When Morgana discovers that Gwen is still on Arthur’s side, Morgana feels betrayed once more. She no longer cares what happens to Gwen. It is only because of Morgause’s plan to enchant Gwen to find Arthur that Gwen lives.

So in summary, I think Morgana was in love with Gwen, and her inability to forgive is what made her turn so suddenly on Gwen and Arthur. Morgana has been betrayed by pretty much everyone in her life, either intentionally or unintentionally, and it leaves an emotional scar that Morgana never heals from.

This was very long, but whatever. Hope you enjoyed. Shout out to @cats-n-swords​ for our combined braincell leading to our initial realisation that Morgana hated Arthur so much because she was in love with Gwen.

[coinofstone]

4x09 Lancelot du Lac

Merlin dropping that armor at exactly the moment Arthur says "I'm going to marry Guinevere" is such a cheap comedy gag but it's also perfect

I do love a supportive Merlin.

This dochraid lady telling Morgana she's destined to bring back the old ways makes me think the show knew they were never doing the whole 'time of Albion' thing and they wanted to start dropping hints that prophesies can be wrong

So, just to be clear, you toss a special coin into a magic lake and get a naked Lancelot? Is that how that works? IS THIS WHY JASKIER WAS ASKING EVERYONE FOR COINS

I know it looks like Merlin is creeping outside but really be was the one who lit all those candles 😂

Gwen forgetting to actually say 'yes' is really just the best thing ever.

"You could've given her flowers, or had a song written, instead you've given her two days of sweaty men knocking the sense out of each other" Merlin is talking shit but of those options I know which I'd choose for a gift, and it's not one of his suggestions.

Although, really, Arthur could've gotten someone better than Agravaine to sit with her.

"Deep into the deserts of the south" ah yes, the desert climate of southern England, where all the vaguely Arab-ish fighters come to Camelot from, apparently.

Whyyyyyyyy is Lancelot crashing with Merlin instead of a guest room.

Gwen got a new dress! It's a beautiful shade of purple

Ok but also take that thing off before Arthur sees you wearing jewelry your ex gave you

I know Leon is sitting somewhere watching this and going "oh sure when I let him win he tore me a new one, but when Lancelot does it, he's the noblest knight of Camelot"

Which reminds me! I hope those knights apologized to Merlin AND Guinevere for the way they treated them while under the Lamia's spell

I know I've said this before but truly, season four proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this series suffered for its lack of diversity in the writer's room. They really reduced Morgana to a 2D villainess and didn't even do Gwen the courtesy of actually turning her heel, just left her on a shelf until 'Arthur's girlfriend' was needed. And then they did ... this.

Ugh.

I really take exception to the idea that Arthur would have them both thrown in cells like that. For one thing, if he hadn't, only the people in the room would've known what happened. For another, he must remember when Morgana was locked up by Uther.

Gaius is an idiot. If Lancelot is a shade being controlled by Morgana, why is it unthinkable for Gwen to have been manipulated into the affair? How do you know for a fact that Morgana did this but not suspect she used magic to compel Gwen to play her part? Why is this so stupid?

Merlin is so ready to fight Arthur, thinking Agravaine convinced him to banish Gwen. Poor Arthur is so broken he doesn't even react to Merlin badmouthing his uncle again, he's just like, "nah, mate, I need her to leave because I can't trust her" and he's got a fair fuckin point - it's not like HE can go anywhere, and keeping her on staff at the castle is out of the question. Realistically, he should've given her more time to leave, some money, a horse. Realistically, where the hell was Eylan? He doesn't speak up for her, he doesn't help her pack, he doesn't escort her to a village he knows, somewhere he'd been on his travels where he thinks she can set up a life? No he just sees his sister get banished by their king and goes 'that's not my business' ok cool. But again, this is drama, not always the most realistic - and this stuff isn't even what bugs me the most.

What bugs me the most is nobody talked to Gwen. Nobody saw the bracelet. Merlin and Gaius knew what Lancelot was, knew he was sent by Morgana, but couldn't tell Arthur how they know - that's fine. But they didn't go to Gwen either. If they had, maybe Merlin would've seen the charmed bracelet.

It's just bad writing, and it's such a disservice to two excellent characters.

[where-dreamers-go]

“Oblivious” Arthur Pendragon x Reader

(Anon asked: ‘“wow. Im so oblivious.” For Arthur pendragon? AS FLUFFY AS POSSIBLE PLEASE!’

Thank you for requesting. Here we go! I sort of merged funny and fluffy in this one. I hope it’s entertaining! Arthur really isn’t one to say his feelings right off the bat.

Word Count: 1,568)

Fingers moving almost on their own accord you were rearranging items on display for purchase for perhaps the third time that morning. You did your best to occupy yourself even as your thoughts deemed too loud. It wasn’t always that way.

Your days were usually spend creating artisan creations such as bracelets and necklaces being your most popular items. 

“How come you never mix the colors around?” Merlin piped up.

The manservant leaned against your station watching you sort the crafts again.

“If you mean display them randomly? I don’t like it. It’s too chaotic for trying to appeal to others. Once they’re bought they can be put any which way someone chooses.”

The boy nodded in understanding. He normally was the type to be open-minded and not judge too harshly as long as you were compassionate.

Being friends with Merlin as an adventure in itself. You were never quite sure if he was up to something on purpose or by chance. He was always kind to you if not accompanying a sarcastic attitude at times. You knew he meant well even if that meant teasing you a little.

Despite minor teasing, you trust Merlin, enough so that he knew about your large crush on Arthur Pendragon. The prince was quite friendly with you whether you talked in person or Merlin related a message. You were too indecisive to call Prince Arthur your friend considering his status, you had some underlying worry considering other’s opinions. Your crush was reasonable except that it was not entirely a crush anymore and was something else entirely.

Your friend Merlin knew almost as soon as you did how you felt. Yet it wasn’t simple to have strong feelings in Camelot. Being that Arthur was still a prince and King Uther ruled above all in Camelot, there was a problem in terms of safety.

How were you even suppose to know if Prince Arthur saw you as anything more than a merchant? How could any of it be possible in Camelot?

Merlin had some ideas.

“Are you busy later?” Merlin asked hurriedly. “After lunch?”

“Merlin!”

“Oh! No, no! Not like that.” He cleared his throat. “I have a plan. If you’re willing.”

“A plan? A plan for what? Merlin, that sounds anxiety written already.”

“I can get you inside the castle and there you can both talk. Sort things out. Express your feelings.”

You knew instantly to whom he was referring to.

“Can’t I just send him flowers? That sounds much easier. Not to mention less risky, Merlin.” You hissed.

“I know. I know. Just trust me on this. I promise everything will work out according to plan.”

“Which is what exactly?”

During the mid afternoon you found yourself trailing behind Merlin inside of the castle of all places. Not one person gave you so much as a side glance.

It truly was busy in there.

Not to forget that you were with Merlin.

Did anyone pay much attention to him? He did have a partial claim to be called a fool by some in Camelot.

You weren’t about to question him. Through it all, you were the one who would be out of place.

“If I get hung for this, give everything I have to Gaius and Gwen.”

Merlin went to open his mouth, but you cut him off with a sharp look.

“Everything will be fine,” he lead you around another corner, “we’re simply walking through.”

“Right.”

It took a lot in you to keep yourself from turning around and bailing. There was still doubt you needed to brush off as you made your way to see Arthur.

Pacing. Pacing around the table, pacing across the floor, pacing by the windows in his chambers, and becoming irritated with himself with each step.

Arthur Pendragon was not one who enjoying waiting. As each minute went by his thoughts teetered between positive and negative outcomes. He was still unsure if it was a good idea to tell Merlin how he felt about you. Arthur was serious about his feelings, however that didn’t mean that anything could work out. Could it?

The prince knew that expressing his feelings to you or perhaps asking you on an outing was a large step in a future he truly hoped to have. Seeing your bright smile, hearing your laugh, and conversing with you as simply people was what brought warmth to his heart.

Growing a love and relationship in Camelot while being prince would be tricky. But for you, Arthur was willing to be strategic to keep you safe. Laws or none about royalty being with those of lower status.

Pushing the wooden door open, Merlin walked himself and you inside of a large room.

“Merlin, whe—You came.”

Prince Arthur stood in the middle of his chambers with his blue eyes set on you.

You gave a small wave.

“Hello,” you smiled.

Merlin cleared his throat as he crossed his arms and looked at Arthur expectantly.

“What?” The prince glanced over to the brunette.

“Do I have to do everything? You said that you would talk to (Y/N). Well?”

“Right.” He coughed, “I did.”

“You did,” Merlin stood like a chaperone with two children.

You looked between the two boys with mild humor. The two of them together never seemed to offer a dull moment.

Arthur’s hands wrung together as his eyes flicked between you and elsewhere in the room.

Waiting for Arthur to speak first caused your stomach to flutter. You had no idea what he would say and Merlin had already informed you that Arthur was going to be doing the talking.

“Arthur?” You spoke up, urging him to speak.

The prince pulled at his shirt sleeves as he finally kept his gaze on you.

Merlin rolled his eyes.

“Good afternoon,” Arthur greeted you.

“Good afternoon, Arthur.”

Merlin tapped his boot in a rapid rhythm.

“How are you?”

“I’m well. Business as usual today. Nothing too exciting. And you?”

“Busy. Very busy with….princely….duties.”

Merlin threw his head back and spoke through his frustration, “You both fancy each other.”

You glanced wide-eyed at your friend.

Was that entirely necessary?

“You couldn’t have given me five minutes?” Arthur turned to his manservant.

“At the rate you two were going it would have taken a month,” Merlin retorted.

“Thanks, Merlin,” you wrung your hands together.

Your gaze fell to Arthur’s spotless brown boots.

“Your turn (Y/N),” Merlin looked at you and gestured to Arthur.

“Alright. Er…”

“About how you like him even though he’s a knight,” he whispered poorly.

“Being a knight isn’t a downfall, Merlin. Arthur’s—,” you looked to said knight, “you’re a great person regardless of your status and…I think you’re really sweet.”

Arthur smiled.

“As long as your ego doesn’t entirely inflate your head.”

The prince frowned towards Merlin, “did you tell her that.”

“Once or twice.”

“I…,” you bit your lip briefly before continuing, “I really like you and I see you as more than a friend.”

Arthur remained standing with both you and Merlin, mouth open in wonder.

“Wow.” Arthur put his hands onto his hips, “I’m so oblivious.”

Merlin turned to you, “I guess you should have gave him the flowers, then at least he would have gotten the right message.”

“I would have had to hand deliver them apparently,” you murmured with a smirk.

“Hey.” Arthur looked between you both.

“Sorry. I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” you were quick to point out.

“Yes, but…would you really have given me flowers?”

“I would if given a good talk first. There’s nothing wrong with giving you flowers, is there?”

Merlin bit back a grin as Arthur stood there with a mixture of thoughts running through his mind.

“I….I guess not.”

“So you wouldn’t have minded me giving you flowers even though it would be stepping out of my stature?”

Arthur’s shoulders relaxed and took a step towards you.

“I wouldn’t turn away from you giving me flowers.”

A bright grin framed your relieved face.

Merlin took the chance to leave. Slipping away quietly and out of sight.

Arthur looked upon you in awe.

“I wasn’t sure if you would have feelings for me at all.” He took another step.

“Stating my feelings so bluntly wasn’t the smartest thing to do. You have responsibilities and I really should be following the laws to their every point. Thinking I could even have a real chance given the opinions of our king is quite stupid on my part.”

Arthur stepped closer still, in your personal space.

“You are not stupid. Your feelings are worth more than a law and I don’t think you’ll have to worry about my father for a while.”

“Why not?”

“He has other business to pay attention to,” Arthur’s eyes glanced lowered than your eyes.

“But you—.”

With lips soft and lips chapped, the prince of Camelot kissed you just like that.

Questions were stopped in their long building line in your mind and your eyes slowly closed. Touch became the ruling sense in the short moments Arthur took in altering the subject.

When his lips had left yours, you found his hands cradling your face gently. A tenderness in his blue eyes ensured you only good things were sure to follow.

With a smile, you rested your hands over his chest.

“I guess I should thank Merlin.”

“Who?”

~~~

(If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful. coffee

Best wishes and happy reading.)

[thegreymoon]

But wasn't the point that she liked both of them at that point? I always thought that she did like Arthur then

I was really not under that impression. She didn't really like Arthur at all at the time. She definitely liked Merlin that way until Lancelot came along. Arthur was starting to have fantasies about marrying her at this point, sure, but she still thought that he was an entitles, self-absorbed manchild. Sure, she liked Arthur, but like she liked him in S01E01, because he's a lovable prince who is not as great an evil as his monster of a father. The episode when she reads him the riot act when he just shows no respect for her in her own house was just a couple of episodes before this. When she's reunited with Lancelot, she transforms, she's so obviously in love, and Arthur mopes by the campfire, realising he's being stupid and stands no chance. She's so lost and broken at the end of the episode when Lancelot just ups and leaves her again, this time without even bothering to explain himsef, or say good bye! What's a self-respecting girl to do after that, other than write him off? 😠

In fact, I think this episode is the turning point for her and Arthur, because Lancelot turns out to be such a disappointment. She only starts considering Arthur here, because he was clearly there for her, made his intentions obvious and proved he was willing to make big sacrifices for her. She doesn't like the both of them until season 3&4, when Lancelot returns, and she clearly still has feelings for him, but has already moved on with Arthur because Lancelot was gone without a word and hadn't given her any reason to hold out hope or wait for him (the opposite, in fact).

Neither of them act on these feelings, though, because come on now, Lancelot served her to Arthur even at the peak of 'loving' her, while she still loved him and had no interest in Arthur whatsoever. Also, there was zero chance of Arthur actually marrying her at that point and Lancelot basically left her because a prince expressed an interest into making her his mistress, all because he was so awestruck by the said prince 🤮 There was no way he would do anything now that Arthur was almost-king and he and Gwen were officially a couple. What was she even supposed to do? There was no choice to be made here, Lancelot was not even an option! I'm convinced that if he had wanted her, she would have still still chosen him, always chosen him, and Arthur would have wished them well, but what was she supposed to do? Break it off with Arthur for a man who had already dumped her twice and for all intents and purposes was not interested in her?

(Truth be told, I don't think he was particularly interested, he liked the idea of her, and loved the thought of being romantically in love, but he had no regard for the actual woman. I got the impression that the biggest draw for him was the fact that he was positioned as Arthur's 'rival' because he was so enamoured with everything Arthur was, plus it let him maintain the illusion that he was being all noble and self-sacrificing, when he was never actually interested in a life with Gwen from the very start. She was simple and gentle, and he wanted glory and adventures! Quite frankly, the set-up in season 3&4 was all his dreams come true, smh 😖)

I have so much anger at the story arc when Gwen 'cheats'. The show makes it clear the spell that makes her act on her love for Lancelot works on real underlying emotions she's suppressing, unlike the 'fake' love spells that manufacture them (like what happened with Arthur and Vivian). It's why she couldn't defend herself when they were caught, because she really loved this useless man, even if, left to her own devices, she would never have acted on it at this point. Arthur knew it, it's why he was angry she didn't tell him she wanted out and instead violated their engagement, endangering his crown in the process.

In conclusion, I'm not saying Gwen didn't love Arthur, she clearly did, because love is not a finite resource. I'm saying that Arthur was never her true love or her first choice, that was always Lancelot, but he was messy and unworthy and left her with no reasonable choice but to marry another man, so why not choose the handsome, golden prince who would make her Queen and the most powerful woman in the land?

(In fact, I think that the draw of that crown and being Queen was particularly powerful for Gwen, because she was always powerless. Her family and her were consistently and persistently killed, tortured and persecuted in spite of being loyal and doing everything right, just because they were commoners and the nobles thought them disposable. Just look at what Morgana, whom Gwen loved and who claimed to love Gwen back, did to her! I will not even start with Uther, Agravaine and the rest of the injustices perpetrated in Camelot! If I was her, I too would have chosen to take back the power once it was offered to me over the unreliable dick of a vagabond who had only ever disrespected me and let me down, feelings be damned. But I will leave that rant for another day.)

[heka-write]

Merlin Rewrite #4: The Arthur-Gwen-Lancelot Triangle

This addition to the series will be both about the individual characters, and the relationships between them. After all, the former is what determines the latter

Gwen’s Role in the Story: 

I feel like once the story hit it’s second season, Gwen’s character was really just reduced to love fodder for Arthur and Lancelot. 

In season 1 we are introduced to Gwen as a shy and nervous village girl. She had lived in Camelot her entire life, and had obviously had to deal with hardships in her family (only a father living with her, brother and mother were visibly missing). She has to deal with being treated as lesser than from the privileged royals, as seen in the many episodes where she is constantly scolded or tried for magic. She has a friendship with Morgana where they talk openly about their problems with one another  (Morgana trusted her with her secret of Mordred in “The Beginning of the End”, and they both decided to go help Merlin in “The Moment of Truth”)  and even Morgana’s interest in other royal men/knights. 

Then Season 2 comes around, and Gwen is suddenly a lot more poised. Her movement is more graceful, her clothes are definitely a glo up from season 1,  and she suddenly is able to criticize Arthur with ease in “The Once and Future Queen”. Like Morgana’s character, Gwen’s seemed to have gone through a personality transplant, albeit a lot more subtle. 

Just look at how she criticizes in Arthur in Season 1 vs Season 2. 

Vs. Season 2, where she is suddenly a lot more articulate and bold. Her words are crafted perfectly and there is no hint of her being nervous at all. 

Maybe it’s just me but clip 1 sounds like a shy, normally hesitant girl who just had to speak up because she saw something wrong, something a royal wouldn’t understand. We know she has great respect for Arthur (as noted in the first clip, “I have faith in you”) but something happened that she just had to say something, despite her nature. 

Clip 2 sounds much more like a headstrong girl who kept her mouth shut because she felt like she had to until her bold personality exploded and she couldn’t contain it. She even says later she thinks he’s an ass, which is a bold statement for a shy girl who said “I have faith in you” so many times to believe. 

Not that there is anything wrong with the latter personality, I just don’t think it was true to Gwen. I feel like they had to mold her personality to make the couple happen in such a short amount of time. 

I feel like in season 1, she was meant as a shy girl who would speak up Arthur did something objectionable, and then come back into her shell. In season 2 she is more hesitant on the basis that he is royal, but she has a bold view on him nonetheless. 

Look at how she talks about Arthur in season 1 and 2 when he’s not around. 

Even in Season 1 “Le Morte d’Arthur” where she is praising him while he sleeps, she is a lot more hesitant and shy about it. She even denies she praised him after he wakes up. Whereas in season 2, she openly trashes him like she didn’t like him at all. 

I feel like Gwen was originally supposed to have admired Arthur from afar but known up front he was an arrogant royal she could never have, like the typical nerdy girl who has a crush on the jock. That’s why she called him a jerk in the first episode and said “who would want to marry Arthur” while secretly professing her faith in him while he was asleep in the season 1 finale. 

 IMO, season 2 seemed to have turn her into the girl that Arthur wanted, and the “only one” who called him out on his shit and then made him fall in love with her. They seemed to turn her into a Cinderella like character who is graceful and poised but stuck in poverty until the prince sees her and falls in love with how great and confident she is. They seemed to flip the script and instead wanted her to be the one who was desired, not the one who was desiring and admiring Arthur from afar. 

Now I LOVE the idea of Gwen going from a shy, nervous village girl to the confident and graceful Queen of the kingdom. The problem with the show, however, was that like Morgana’s character there was no real gradual development. She ends season 1 one way, and starts season 2 a completely different way. There was a big leap in her development. With Gwen, the writer’s went from A-C instead of A-B to B-C, just like they did with Morgana in the end of season 2 and the start of season 3. 

The Arthur and Gwen Relationship 

Not only was Gwen’s development rushed, but it felt like her relationship with Arthur was rushed as well. The same episode where she calls him out for the second time, they fall in love and are kissing. Considering they only interacted twice in season 1, their progression felt very fast. The basis of their relationship was that she called him out, okay. But is that really it? There was nothing else they could have added before having them kiss? And then having 10 different episodes where Arthur almost marries someone and pines for Gwen so they can show how “In love” these two are.

For Arthur, as the show stands, I don’t really know what Gwen brought to his character that Merlin already did. Merlin was already criticizing him, Merlin was already helping him become a better person and a better King, etc. 

If I were doing this relationship, I would make them have a similar connection that Merlin had with Morgana in “The Nightmare Begins”. I will address my feelings on the Merlin and Morgana relationship later, but what is relevant now is that Merlin could understand Morgana’s struggle of figuring out she had magic and feeling alone and afraid of it. He empathized with her pain and reached out to her because of that. They were able to form a quick friendship because of it until later in the season. 

I would have Arthur and Gwen have a similar connection, as they were the non-magical beings in the main quartet of the show. I would probably have them both bond over their love of Camelot. Gwen lived in it her whole life, living amongst the people and the bustling city, and Arthur grew up being taught to care for it and make the best decisions for it. 

I could see them bonding by Gwen teaching him more about the actual village life, not just the politics and the royals behind it. This concept would be an expansion of the “Once and Future Queen” episode because it wouldn’t just be Arthur living in her house for one day; it would be him continuously getting to know the citizens of his kingdom on a personal level. I wouldn’t have them bond just in one episode and then decide they are in love, I would let it happen gradually. 

There’s also the fact that they both seem to have lost their mothers at a young age. They both have a lot of responsibility, Gwen with running her house after her father and brother are gone and Arthur with ruling the Kingdom. There are a lot of things that their characters could have bonded over, but instead of taking advantage of that I feel like the writer’s just rushed to have them together with blaring violins in the background. 

I could see Gwen showing Arthur to love the parts of the Kingdom (and the people) he wasn’t exposed to due to his sheltered upbringing. I could see her continuously calling him out the way she did in season 1, and him genuinely learning from her. This would be a new perspective brought into Arthur’s vision since Merlin did not grow up in Camelot. We would actually see Arthur seeing her love for the Kingdom he also loves. 

I could also see Arthur slowly helping her out of her shell. Not only does he have a huge ego that he can share (lol), but he could show her not to be afraid since he’s a trained fighter. If anyone could reassure her she’s a help to the kingdom, it would be him. 

The Gwen-Arthur-Lancelot Triangle 

The love triangle that is so infamous in Arthurian legend, was very underplayed and underutilized in the show. 

Gwen and Lancelot seemed to have a genuine attraction to each other in the first and second season. Once Arthur had taken over as King, however, it seemed Gwen and Lance was brushed aside for Arthur X Gwen with the cheating scandal being all magical compulsion and not real feelings. This lead to really boring conflict, imo, because we all knew that Gwen was innocent and there was no question that she would find her way back to Arthur. There was no real question or complexity in the situation. 

Obviously, I don’t condone cheating IRL but I do think it would have been much better for the show if Gwen did actually had an affair with Lancelot. At the time of the situation, Arthur was increasingly starting to act like Uther. He decided he would fight against magic, he was mistreating his citizens, following what Agravaine told him to do and following tradition instead of improving it. I could definitely see a situation where Gwen gets put off with Arthur losing his humanity and compassion, and she turns to his rival (Lancelot) who still embodies those attributes. 

Heck, we could avoid the cheating aspect of the situation altogether if they did an Arwen slow burn. Arthur could be ready to confess his feelings for Gwen and ask her to go steady but stops when he sees her getting close to Lancelot. Seeing them could kick start his development by asking what he was doing wrong (becoming like his tyrant father) that made Gwen choose his rival over himself.

This situation would be a lot more interesting because Gwen’s feelings would actually be conflicted between the two men, instead of having the audience already know. Having the love triangle influence Arthur’s development would affect the main plot of him accepting the poor/magical people and changing the old ways of Camelot. 

Conclusion: 

Gwen’s character, and her famous relationships with these two men were seriously underdeveloped in the show. I think what I presented has a lot of potential for interesting conflict and the show should have followed suite, imo. 

[join-the-joywrite]

Ana -- 1.1

When Ana wakes with no memory but her first name, in a strange room in a strange kingdom and a strange doctor taking care of her, she has no choice but to accept the help of the physician's apprentice, an arrogant prince and a new friend. As Ana searches for her identity, she uncovers more questions than answers, leaving her at the mercy of she who holds but cannot give all the answers.

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Chapter 1 - The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

My name is Ana, and that's all I know. I have no recollection of my life, no memory of any family, and no idea where I am.

"Are you all right, my dear?" an old man asked. She thought his shoulder-length hair looked rather funny in its white waves. His blue robes swept the floor and she wondered if he wasn't afraid he might trip, the candlelight being the only light in the dark room.

Slowly, she sat up. "I believe so. What happened?"

He thought for a moment before answering her. "You drank from a poisoned chalice on behalf of someone to prove the truth, but that was a very long time ago. You've fully healed now."

Ana nodded, not fully understanding why she'd have done such a thing. It must've been someone important to her, otherwise what reason could she have for doing something so risky? She looked around and noticed a man fast asleep on another bed near her, his head facing the other way. "And him?" she asked, wondering what could've possibly happened to the blonde man.

"He's tired himself from exhaustion. Come, you must rest too."

Reluctantly, Ana did as she was told.

The next time she woke, the sun had not yet risen but the blonde man was gone. She looked around for the old man, seeing him soon enough seated at a table with books sprawled across it. He glanced up as she sat up. "How do you feel?" he asked her.

"Fairly well-rested, thank you."

He smiled. "You should. You've slept for a very long time."

"Oh." Slowly, she got up and pulled up a chair to sit in front of him, on the other side of his desk. "Where exactly am I?"

He closed the book in front of him and looked at her, folding his hands over the book. "Camelot, my dear. What do you remember about yourself?"

"My name," Ana answered, "That is all."

He sighed. "It's a shame, that's all I know of you - and that you're quite a heroic young lady."

"I am?"

"Yes. You might not remember it, Ana, but you risked your own life for the lives of others. My name is Gaius," he added. Ana nodded, not bothering to introduce herself as he'd already said he knew her name.

"Well, since I see no way I can return to wherever it is I've come from, I do hope you won't mind if I stayed here until then. I promise to earn my keep."

He shook his head, standing up and going around to pull her up too. "You needn't worry, Ana. You can always help poor Merlin, he's almost always in a rush."

Ana smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Gaius . . . who's Merlin?"

Before he answered, a door on her left opened and a young man walked into the room. Ana assumed he might be Merlin. "Gaius, there's a problem." He then noticed her. "Ana. You've woken." Almost instantly, he turned back to Gaius. "I need to show you something. Now."

Gaius glanced at Ana. "I shall be back soon."

"Ana can come too -- if she's feeling all right, I mean."

Ana shook her head. "No, no. You go, I'll wait here."

Merlin shrugged, clearly in a hurry. "Suit yourself. Gaius, now, please."

After Gaius has closed the door behind him, Ana got up and walked around. From the titles of books and the labels on bottles and jars, she concluded that Gaius must be a physician. Perhaps Merlin was his apprentice? Son? Friend?

. . . All three?

It was a few minutes later when the door opened again, and a dark-skinned woman entered. "Gaius, have you - Ana! You're awake!"

Before Ana could respond, the woman crossed the room and engulfed Ana in a hug. "Hi?" Ana said uncertainly

"Oh!" She stepped back and smiled, shaking her head, her messy curls bouncing. "I'm Guinevere, but everyone calls me Gwen."

Ana nodded again, not sure exactly what was going on.

"Come with me," Gwen said after a while, "I'd like to show you something."

It was only a few seconds after they've met, but Ana decided to trust this young woman who somehow knew her and she followed Gwen through the town. Gwen opened a door to one of the houses and allowed Ana to enter first.

"Oh! I like your house, Gwen. It's rather quaint."

"Thank you," she replied with a smile, closing the door. "Now, Ana, I must tell you something."

She sat on the bed in the corner and patted the space next to her, so Ana sat. "Ana, you must listen carefully to me. Magic in Camelot is forbidden and anyone caught practising sorcery will be charged with treason and shall be executed, by order of the king."

Ana nodded. "Why do you tell me this so worriedly? I do not practice sorcery."

"Ana, you are special. None can remember all that you've done, but I do. I know far more about you than you yourself, Ana, but I'm sworn to secrecy until such a time when I can reveal to you what I know. What I will tell you is that magic in the hands of those working to goodness is not an evil thing, but you must be careful. You must not tell anyone."

"But, Gwen, if no one else can remember what I've done, how do they remember my name?"

Gwen shook her head. "Because I've been allowed to tell them that much - and then too, it is only Merlin and Gaius that I've been allowed to tell. All they know is that you drank from a poisoned chalice on Merlin's behalf, but that was forever ago. Ana, you must be careful."

Ana nodded. Gwen shook her head and smiled, her earlier cheeriness returning. "There is something I've kept safe for you until you've woken."

She reached into a chest and pulled out a cloak - a beautiful one made of velvet, with a silk lining on the underside, in a deep red, with a gold trim. She motioned for Ana to stand up and fastened the cloak over Ana's shoulders. "This cloak in itself is magic, you will soon learn to control it once again. It will protect you and allow you to avoid the eye of many an enemy."

"Thank you."

"Ana, it is the source of your power. You can't lose it, or you shall suffer a great deal."

Ana nodded once again. "Thank you, Gwen."

Gwen nodded as well. "You mustn't tell anyone what I've told you, Ana . . . Shall we return? I fear Gaius may start worrying about your whereabouts."

"Yes, let's."

As soon as they got back, Gaius insisted Ana take a sleeping draught and get some rest.

Morning - or rather, afternoon - brought with it the sound of Merlin slumping into the room with a brown patch on his cheek that Ana suspected must be horse dung - due to the smell.

"What happened?" she asked, mildly surprised when he didn't answer, choosing to instead walk through the room and through a door on her right.

Gaius glanced at Ana before getting up and grabbing a bowl of water and a washcloth. He then followed Merlin. Ana could hear them from outside.

"Merlin," Gaius said slowly, "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"I'm not an idiot," Merlin said a moment later. Ana felt the hurt beneath his words and slowly got up to follow Gaius.

"What happened?" Gaius repeated.

"I just want Arthur to trust me. And to see me for who I really am." Merlin sighed.

"One day he will," Gaius assured him.

"When?" Merlin asked, sounding exhausted. He sounded far more normal when he continued. "Everything I do is for him and he just thinks I'm an idiot."

"Not everyone thinks you're an idiot. Although, looking at you now. . ." Ana bit back a laugh at Gaius's words as he trailed off and wiped the dung off Merlin's face with the washcloth.

"Now is not the time to be questioning these things, Merlin," Gaius continued, "I believe that you and Arthur are destined for greatness and that your calling is to serve and protect him."

"It's hard."

"I know it's hard. But Camelot is in grave peril. I've translated the inscription. 'He who breaks my heart completes my work'."

Merlin frowned at Gaius. "What does it mean?"

"Do you remember the stone in the tomb, how it glowed?"

"Yeah. I've never seen a jewel like it."

"That's because it's not a jewel, it's the soul of Cornelius Sigan."

Ana frowned. A soul? In a stone?

"You think he's alive?" Merlin asked.

"His soul is. But in order to truly live, a soul needs a body."

"So, if the stone is removed from its setting . . . then the heart is broken and the soul released?"

"That's what I fear."

"Someone trapped a soul in a glowing stone and that's bad?" Ana asked, speaking for the first time since she'd come to the door.

Merlin looked up to see Ana standing in the doorway. Gaius followed his gaze and noticed the slight confusion on Ana's face. Gaius was about to answer when Merlin softly said that he'd tell Ana about it. Gaius nodded and left, closing Merlin's door as he did. Ana took Gaius's place next to Merlin.

"So, who's Cornelius Sigan?"

Merlin grinned. "Don't worry, I didn't know who he was either. According to Gaius, he was a very powerful sorcerer - from before Camelot itself. When he died, he managed to put his soul in a stone, which rests over his grave in the tomb . . . which is in the mines below."

Ana nodded. "And if anyone removes the stone from its setting . . . say a thief . . . then Sigan's soul is out and most likely in the body of the thief?"

Merlin nodded. "Gaius believes Camelot is doomed if that happens. But I'm not really worried. Uther's so in love with the jewels and gold down there, he's got the whole tomb under lock and key - and only Clotpole Arthur has the keys to -"

Merlin broke off as Gaius popped his head in, saying the king requested his presence in the tomb. As soon as the words left his lips, Merlin stood up. Ana followed down and into the mines.

"Sound the warning bell," a new stranger to Ana told a guard, as he and an older man left.

"Merlin," Gaius said, grabbing Ana's and Merlin's attention, reaching for something on the floor. "Whoever did this got more than they bargained for."

He held up a clear cut stone that Ana thought resembled a heart-shaped diamond.

"Is that the stone?" Ana asked.

Merlin nodded. "I don't understand how they got in. The gate's not even damaged."

"Maybe whoever came in had a key?" Ana offered.

Merlin shook his head. "Arthur's got the only key."

"Where does he keep it?" Gaius asked.

"On his belt with the others."

"Does he ever take it off?" Ana muttered, thinking about sleeping with a ring of keys on one's belt. How uncomfortable.

Merlin smiled for just a second. "Only when he's asleep. He keeps it next to his bed."

"Then it was someone who had access to his chambers," Ana said. "Who has access, at night?"

"Just me," Merlin replied, but Ana could see he'd just realised something. "And Cedric."

"Who's Cedric?" Ana asked as Merlin rushed out.

Gaius motioned for her to exit the tomb first. "Arthur's just hired him today. Merlin doesn't seem to like the man."

Ana nodded. "Do you think it was Cedric?"

Gaius shrugged as they began the walk back to the physician's quarters. "It's possible. Merlin believes Cedric is a thief, only looking for a position in the royal household in order to steal what he can. If he's heard of the size of the stone before . . . Merlin's probably right."

As they walked through the corridors, two guards passed them, restraining Merlin between them. Gaius seemed only mildly annoyed - to Ana's surprise. "He never learns," Gaius mumbled, surprising Ana further by continuing in the direction of his quarters.

"Aren't you going to find out what's happened?" she asked, catching up to Gaius, who shook his head in reply.

"Merlin probably tried to attack Cedric. He never realises that Arthur is as thick-headed as he himself is." Gaius glanced at Ana. "You can go see him if you'd like. Keep him from getting too bored until he gets out again."

Ana nodded slowly, before turning and running in order to catch up to the guards and not get lost.

Once they left Merlin's cell, she crept past and stood at the gate. "Hi."

Merlin's frown morphed into a smile. "Ana, nice to see you."

Ana smiled too. "So, you get thrown in here often?"

Merlin came to stand on the other side of the bars. "I have my moments."

"Hm, and do you often call - who was it? - Arthur a clotpole?"

Merlin laughed. "No, it's a new development. I just wish he'd see what I see. Cedric is Sigan - and now Camelot is in danger."

Ana smiled. "I'm sure it's only because he needs glasses."

Merlin laughed once more, but before he could reply, they heard the rattling of keys and the voice of a guard. Ana glanced to her right before turning back to Merlin. "I must go. I trust you'll get out of here when all the chaos begins?"

Merlin smiled. "Of course."

Ana left quickly, heading for Gaius's place.

That night, on the drawbridge, Cedric found himself staring up at the sky. But it wasn't him - in his mind. Cornelius Sigan saw the world through the eyes of Cedric, and he saw only the kingdom he vowed to destroy.

"I am returned," he said softly, a sound so chilling, it would scare any who heard it - and it would terrify those who knew to whom the voice belonged. Then louder, "Ic cume eft to Camelot. swá þæt ic mæg min fæhþ awrecan! Nu 'ic lybbe ece and ic mæg rædan min burh!"

The stone gargoyles began to move, act like living creatures, and in the dark, hidden by the shadows, Cornelius Sigan forced a sinister smirk onto Cedric's face.

Uther was furious - but more at a loss than anything else. What was it that was threatening to raze his kingdom to the ground?

"I don't know what this creature is, where it's come from."

"There's more than one, Father," Arthur replied, "We've had several reports. There's panic in the lower town. People are fleeing the city."

"You must hunt these creatures down," Uther told the prince, "And kill them."

Arthur nodded, expecting those words. "Yes, sire," he said as he left with the knights.

Gaius stayed to talk to Uther after everyone had left, and Ana decided to see what Merlin was up to. On her way there, she glanced over the balcony and noticed one of the creatures prowling towards Arthur - who'd tripped backwards. Watching them from the ground was Gwen. On instinct, Ana held out her hand and muttered a spell in a language she did not recognise. The creature flew over Arthur. She watched as he stood up.

"Guinevere."

Gwen glanced around. "Sire," she said, with a small bow of her head.

"That thing could've killed you," Arthur said.

Gwen glanced behind him. "And it still might!" Catching the prince off guard, Gwen managed to knock them both down, avoiding the talons of the creature by an arm's length.

Despite the terrifying creatures flying around Camelot, Ana smiled. Then she hurried down to the dungeons. "Merlin!" she called out, making her way to the bars. She noticed a figure lying asleep against the wall. Merlin was asleep?

"Merlin," she whispered. She waited a few seconds, then decided it couldn't be Merlin. She'd only met him a day, but Ana knew Merlin would not sleep while Camelot was in such great danger. Ana left and headed to the temporary ward, where she'd met the Lady Morgana earlier that night.

As she entered from one end, she saw the king enter from the other. "Arthur," he said, noticing his son's bandage.

"It's nothing," Arthur said quickly.

"Have we driven the creatures out?" Uther asked, stepping forward. Gaius bowed his head slightly and stepped back.

"They have control of the lower town. The market has been all but destroyed." Arthur sighed.

"How many dead?"

"Too many to number," Arthur replied, looking down at his sword.

"I'm sealing the citadel," Uther said after a moment.

"You can't!" Arthur burst, looking up sharply.

"I have no choice," Uther said, "I have to protect those who have a chance. If I don't, we will all fall. Where are you going?" he asked when Arthur stood up and grabbed his sword.

"There are people trapped on the drawbridge," Arthur said.

"I forbid you," Uther said, fear for his son's life blatant in his eyes.

"I'm not leaving them to die!" Ana was mildly stunned at the ferocity of Arthur's voice.

"It's suicide!"

"I must do my duty to Camelot!" Arthur argued, his hand on the door. "And to myself!"

A while later, Ana noticed Merlin slip into the temporary ward and smiled. Slowly, she made her way to Gaius as soon as she noticed Merlin doing the same.

"Merlin!" Gaius sounded very surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I have to help Arthur," Merlin stated.

Gaius looked less surprised. "Merlin, Sigan's power is far beyond yours."

"I don't have a choice," Merlin said, shaking his head.

"But Sigan is immortal and you are not. If you face him, he will destroy you."

"There must be something," Ana said, sounding very hopeful.

"There is only one alive who is old enough to give us the answers we need."

"The Great Dragon," Ana said, not even realising the words she'd spoken. While Merlin argued with Gaius, Ana wondered where she'd ever heard of a dragon. She'd certainly not heard it from Gaius - or from Gwen, Ana thought, remembering all that Gwen had told her back in the town. Merlin hadn't said it, and Ana was sure Arthur didn't even know the dragon existed.

So where had she heard it then?

"Are you all right?"

Ana shook her head faintly as she realised Morgana was speaking to her. "Yes, I'm all right, my lady. I just hope Arthur succeeds."

Morgana didn't know of the dragon's existence either, Ana was convinced. Morgana nodded. "As do I," she said, the worry clear on her face.

It was then that Sir Leon tumbled into the temporary ward. "Seal the doors!" he yelled as a dozen or so knights followed.

"Where's Arthur? Where is he?" the king demanded, walking towards the door they'd just barred off. "You can't leave him out there. He'll be torn apart!"

"You can't go out there, sire!" Sir Leon yelled, restraining Uther. "If you open those doors, you will die. We will all die!"

Ana glanced around. Everyone was focused on the king and Sir Leon. She had to help Merlin - she knew that. She knew that whatever power he had would be only just enough, but only if he could harness all of it. Ana wasn't about to go out there weaponless like Merlin, though. She looked around, but the only weapons in the room were the swords strapped to the waists of the knights. The door was being pushed open from the outside by one of the creatures. The gaps that were formed every few seconds were only small enough for a small person to fit through - for Ana to fit.

She made her way through the knights undetected, and carefully timed how long it took before the knights managed to close the door again. Taking a deep breath, Ana gently placed her hand around the hilt of the nearest sword. The next time the door opened, she ran. She knew she'd not be able to kill the creature, but she'd be able to wound it.

It took a few swings of the sword before the weight of it felt natural in her hand, and in two more, the creature's horns lay beside her as it took off into the night sky.

The door behind her was slightly ajar. She glanced at the sword in her hand. "Seal the doors!" she yelled. It seemed as though they'd forgotten about the dangerous creatures.

Ana found Arthur instead of Merlin, but she went to help him anyway. His back was towards her, and he was fighting off two creatures. He'd never manage both.

"Evening, my lord," Ana said casually as she fell into step beside Arthur.

"Ana?" Arthur asked in surprise.

After a few moments, they stood back to back and kept the two creatures at bay. It didn't take long before Ana swung at the horns of the creature and it took off towards the lower town. Ana sighed and waited a few seconds before she pushed Arthur aside and took on the creature herself.

Arthur watched in a mix of awe and confusion as Ana battled the creature like no one he'd seen before. Her untidy braid of blonde locks swung with her, and her crimson cloak blew in the wind. Arthur found himself comparing her to a warrior princess he'd once seen in old books in the library many years ago.

Again, Ana sent a creature away howling, while its horns lay on the floor. She dropped the sword and took a few clumsy steps toward Arthur. "You're bleeding," she said softly.

"Oh, yes. There's that."

Ana raised an eyebrow. "Are you all right, my lord?"

Arthur nodded . . . and collapsed.

"That can never be!" Ana froze as she heard Merlin's voice. She hadn't heard it before, over the sound of their swords and the sounds of the creatures, but now they were as clear as day.

Sigan's reply was all too clear. "It can, if you join me. Together we can rule over this land. Arthur will tremble at your voice, he will kneel at your feet."

"I don't want that."

"You'd rather be a servant?" Sigan asked, somewhat amused.

"Better to serve a good man than to rule with an evil one."

Ana smiled, Merlin really wanted to help Arthur.

"So be it. If you will not join me, I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will."

Ana watched as the blue smoke swirled at Merlin's feet. As he said a spell, Ana found herself reciting one of her own. She felt the energy and power drain from her body and prayed it was enough for Merlin to succeed.

Gaius had managed to get out of the ward. He walked through the smoke. He first saw Arthur on the ground. Then Ana, next to a knight's sword and two sets of horns.

"Merlin?" he called uncertainly, seeing a figure approach him through the smoke.

Merlin smiled and held up a heart-shaped stone that glowed blue. Gaius smiled too. "Well done, my boy."

When Ana woke up, Merlin was busy bandaging a wound on her arm. "Lay still," he said softly. "It's a deep wound."

Ana sighed and rested her head back on the pillow. Merlin glanced at her. "You saved Arthur's life," he told her.

Ana shrugged. "You were prepared to risk getting possessed. I saw no point to that if the prince were to die."

Merlin laughed softly as he helped Ana to sit. "You're ridiculous, Ana," he said, helping her to the table where Gaius had placed a setting for her.

"You won't get any thanks, Merlin," Gaius said.

"I'm not a complete idiot," Merlin replied, grinning slightly when Ana hid a laugh behind her hand.

At that moment, Arthur entered. "I've come to see Merlin. I've not forgotten about your lazy, insolent ways, or the fact that you called me a clotpole, but I do have to admit that there was some truth in your accusations against Cedric."

Merlin grinned. "Does this mean you're admitting that on this occasion I was actually right?"

"Not exactly, no. It means that I have a knighthood to bestow first thing tomorrow and no one to clean my armour."

Ana lifted her bowl off the table as Arthur dropped a large pile of metal on the table. Merlin's eyes seemed to pop. "All that?" he asked in disbelief.

Arthur nodded and smiled. "Yep." Then he left.

Gaius leaned towards Merlin. "Clotpole," he said decidedly.

Ana giggled, but then she remembered something. She handed her bowl to Merlin and rushed out after the prince.

Arthur turned as she heard her call his name. "Oh, hello. I almost didn't recognise you without the cloak and the sword."

Ana smiled. "I just wanted to ask, my lord, if we've met before that moment in the tomb after it had been broken into."

Arthur frowned. "You know, I know we've not met before, but I can't help but feel like I know you. It's Ana, right?"

Ana nodded. "Thank you, my lord."

Arthur nodded and turned to leave. He stopped after a few seconds. "You're very good with a sword, Ana."

Ana smiled. "I'm not entirely sure where I learnt to use one."

Arthur nodded again. "We should fight sometime. See if you're really that good against a person."

Ana laughed. She placed a hand over the bandage on her other arm. "As soon as I heal, my lord. I trust the look on your face when I beat you will be worthy of the time I shall waste fighting you?"

Arthur laughed, clearly in the belief that Ana couldn't possibly be better than him. She was a woman, after all!

Ana smirked and turned back into the physician's chambers. Arthur shook his head and left. Ana reminded him of someone, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Although, the more he thought about it, the more she reminded him of Merlin - despite the stark differences between them.

Arthur shuddered. One was enough, he'd hate to deal with two of them.

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