#leon would protect merlin

[pandasaurio-espacial]

Even the most loyal of Arthur's people defending Merlin in a magic reveal scenario, not for Merlin's sake but Arthur's is so important to me

[justaz]

somehow some time magic goes wrong and young arthurs from different points in time are pulled into king arthur era. everyone kinda has this back and forth of who is going to watch the literal 8 month old. gwen and lancelot are pretty good at taking care of him, so is percival but he doesnt seem comfortable with it so no one forces him. elyan tried to hold him but baby!arthur started wailing after three seconds. leon is sorta good but he has like no idea how babies work or what they need so when baby!arthur found his sword and almost lobbed his own head off, leon was forbidden from taking care of the child. gaius is too old and busy researching how to reverse the issue. who the HELL would trust gwaine with a child? arthur has this Odd aversion to the child but no one pushes him on it. ofc merlin, magic incarnate, has this like aura or energy that draws all these innocent woodland creatures to him so obviously little arthur is also drawn to him. in fact, merlin seems to be the person he likes the most. and merlins a natural w kids apparently so hes often the one that baby!arthur is handed off to.

he complains about it at first but when baby!arthur breaks into a fit of giggles after merlin calls adult!arthur a clotpole, he has merlin wrapped around his little finger. merlin stops complaining but does let arthur know that the one thing he Will Not Do is change his diaper. arthur laughs and walks away. merlin talks to baby!arthur like they’ve been friends for years (bc they have). arthur points out that baby!arthur cant understand him and merlin retorts that its like how it normally is. merlin gets to perform magic in front of baby!arthur and he LOVES it

my point to this was merlin dotting on little versions of arthur is a way that no one ever really did for him growing up and adult!arthur seeing it and healing little pieces of his inner child as he watches merlin play games with baby!arthur and make sure he’s taken care of. it especially hits him when gaius finally finds a way to send baby!arthur back and while everyone seems torn between upset they have to say bye, they’re also relieved to get the baby back where hes supposed to be,, merlin is like choking back fat tears. everyone backs off to give them privacy and merlin just kisses baby!arthur’s forehead and whispers some encouraging and heartachingly sincere words that have adult!arthur choking back tears.

then BOOM the spell also backfires and while yes baby!arthur got back to where hes supposed to be, now theres toddler!arthur. he has this gravitational pull to gaius (can recognize him) and merlin (magic soulmates ofc he has an innate trust in the man). merlin is happy to have his little friend back and gaius goes back to the drawing board. now they have this little 2-3 year old toddling after them and blabbering something that sounds like english if you’re patient enough

(merlin makes another comment about how little arthur has changed over the years)

the cycle repeats, merlin and toddler!arthur get attached and adult!arthur watches and heals a bit more of his inner child. gaius finds another cure that falls through the same way and now they have child!arthur. he has a bit more of uther’s influence in him but hes still a child. he gets hurt and tries to fight back tears but merlin sees he’s in pain and tells him it’s okay to be hurt, to feel pain, to cry. child!arthur says in that stutter cry children do when they’re fighting back tears that his father says boys shouldn’t cry. merlin wipes a tear that slips down child!arthur’s face and whispers about how he cries and lets himself feel his sadness before picking himself back up and dusting himself off before getting back to it, that it doesn’t make him weak but stronger. adult!arthur hears this and this may not be the beginning of his deconstruction but it makes a tremendous amount of progress in him rewiring his brain away from his father’s toxic ways of thinking.

idk if they’d get a teen!arthur since gaius probably would’ve learned his lesson by then but if they did, we’d get to watch Merlin vs Arthur Showdown 2.0 as merlin humbles the young prince and i think that’d be funny. especially for gwaine since he didn’t get to see it happen the first time.

[tiredcowboyy]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[quinnoliver]

Leon: why do you want to be a royal guard?

Wilfred: it would be my honour to protect the greatest king of all lands!

Leon: .... Lovely, yes. Absolutely.

Now

Leon:

Wilfred: The king will be late because....Merlin

Leon: *sigh*

Wilfred: at least they're not making out in the corridor-

Leon: *sigh*

[larluce]

MERLIN PROMPT

Merlin is capture by some bandits for information. Normally he would escape quickly, but these ones figure out soon that he has magic and restrain him with cold Iron. They do torture him in other ways to try to make him speak, but being cut off of his magic is what really traumatizes Merlin. He manages to escape in the end, but one of the bandits shouts at him while he’s running that he will tell the king what he is. So, even when Merlin is later save and sound in Camelot, he’s in constant fear his secret will be exposed at any moment.

The thing is, when Arthur, after sending a lot of search parties, finally finds Merlin in the woods all scarred and terrified and later Merlin refuses to talk about what they did to him, yet Merlin flinches of every touch and is constantly a mervous wreck around everyone, he thinks the worst: Merlin was not only tortured, he was raped. His best friend, the person he treasures the most and has feelings for has been hurt in the worst way possible and it was his fault.

Arthur shares his suspicions with the knights, who share his grief, and they make a vow to protect Merlin. They basically take turns watching over him. Even Lancelot believes this, since Merlin hasn’t told him anything either, but he does think there's more to it, because he finds weird Merlin hasn’t been able to defend himself with his magic. They also make their own investigations to find the bastards who did this to Merlin.

Then the day comes where a man appears in the castle, saying he has relevant information for the king regarding his personal manservant. Arthur, believing is someone who has information about the bandits who took Merlin months ago, lets him in. However when the man is about to speak Merlin storms in.

Arthur: Merlin?

Bandit: (smirks at Merlin) Hello, little pet.

Merlin: (to Arthur, begging in full panic mode) Arthur, please don't listen to him!

Arthur: You know him?

Bandit: (points at Merlin) This man is a sorcerer. He killed all my men with magic!

Silence. All the knights and Arthur somber their gazes. Is not the first time Merlin is accused of magic, but it's definitely the first time he looks so terrified.

Arthur: That's a grave accusation you're making.

Bandit: I can prove it, sire. If you allow me.

Arthur: (turns to Merlin) Merlin? (Thinking) Why aren't you denying it?

Merlin: (breaks into a crying mess) I'm sorry I didn't want you to find out this way.

Bandit: You see? he confessed!

Lancelot: Wait, why did you call him like that?

Bandit: What?

Gawain: (incipient fury) You called him "little pet". Why?

Leon: That's a strange way to call the evil sorcerer who killed all your men, don't you think?

Arthur: (conects the dots, hardening his features) It was you. You are the bastard who raped him!

Merlin and Bandit: (utterly confused) ... what? ����

Arthur: (roars in rage an launches at the bandit)

Gawain: (does the very same thing)

Elyan, Percival and Leon: (trying their best to stop Arthur and Gawain despite being as furious cause the man can't pay for his crimes if he's turn into a pulp)

Merlin: (too stunned, not knowing what's happening or how to feel)...

Lancelot: (to Merlin) He didn't do that to you, did he?

Merlin: No.

Lancelot: (sighs in relief) Should we tell them?

Merlin: Maybe later... when they are, you know, more willing to listen.

[achillesuwu]

Au where merthur have soulmate identifying mark but merlin is the only one who know they are because if Arthur knew he would find out about his magic 👀 (arthur's mark being a beautiful dragon mainly on on his back but its tall is draped on his torso, a wing stretch on his right shoulder, another end on his hip and its head rest upon his stomach. As if it were jealousy protecting him. its scale are of a blue so dark it nearly look black. It has golden eye and tread of gold on is horn, gold shimmer on its body highlighting its scale at some place.

It screams powerful sorcerer.)

And thus it doesn't change anything from the show. Merlin doesn't tell him not even at the very end (Merlin's mark is a smaller red dragon with its head on his shoulder and who is is holding itself on his shoulder)

It would be very angsty but also SO FUNNY if in a post return futur where arthur (Gwen, the knights) are very confuse and lost but luckily for them there exist multiple center for "People who got Teleported at the wrong place/Bought back from the dead? We are here to help!/ your five yo drank a weird potion? No problem! Etc" basically Magic help center.

Just imagine basic social worker sorcerers who tries to do their job at 3 am and see THE Emrys mark ™ on a random dude and they are like *gasp*.

Them : what the fuck

Arthur :???

Them :WHAT THE FUCK

the others :????

Them : we are calling your soulmate RIGHT NOW. WHAT THE FUCK should I call the government too???? I'M NOT PAY ENOUGH FOR THIS.

Arthur : my???

Them : YOU. DO NOT MOVE IF I LOSE YOU I'M DEAD. DEAD.

You can imagine arthur pendragon pacing like a 13 years old stressed before an oral presentation because even if he was afraid then thought he globally didn't really care about his soulmate. He realised that it wasn't so much that he didn't care but he thought it would simply never be so he just... Kinda forgot about it. Now he just can not put it away because is soulmate IS coming and WHERE IS MERLIN WHEN HE NEEDS HIM (he is blocking any thoughts about Merlin potential dead thank you very much)

(Gwen is currently finding the situation extremely funny because she figured out in 5x13 and she is 80 yo (in a younger body but still) . And she is waaaayyyyyy to old to see her former husband stay in his denial.

Leon is 78 years old and he is slowly recognising the dragon in question that look very much like Merlin's family crest. He is looking at his wife in a very conspiracy way.

Gwaine is currently not really giving a damn about the whole soulmate thing. What do you MEAN you can send messages to people in less that a second?!?!?

Elyan would usually not give a damn but he is very much not happy ™ to find out that his sister (first) husband had a soulmate mark who isn't dead and he is glaring at Arthur but he is also getting a hug from gwen so it doesn't look menacing at all.

Perceval (57) is right behind Gwaine but he is currently watching himself in the mirror because seeing his younger self again is weird asf

Meanwhile Lancelot is talking with the assistant (on the verge of a break down because they are going to see the GOD OF MAGIC OH MY GOD) about magical history

[specialagentlokitty]

Arthur x reader - our secret

Can you do Arthur with Merlin’s sister who also has magic and uses it to save him and he keeps her secret because he cares about her.🙃🙂 - @faithm120601 💜

Running through the hallways, you were cursing your brother out for making you do this.

You didn’t want to be a part of anything, but he made a good point of Arthur probably had no idea about the intruders, and that somebody had to warn him but it was too last.

Since Merlin could keep them back a little and use his magic without Arthur being there, he then left telling the prince of Camelot to you.

“Is everything alright (Y/N)?” Leon asked.

“Intruders at the front! Merlin trying to hold them off!” You called.

“What?!”

“Go! I’ll tell Prince Arthur!”

Leon nodded his head and ran in the direction you had just come from while you carried on your route.

You were close, just a few more hallways and you were be there.

Running around the final one, you stopped to take a few breaths, walking over to the doors where there were supposed to be guards.

But there were none and that put you on edge as you approached the large doors.

You could hear the signs of struggling, and you peaked through the gap in the door.

You could see anything, but you could tell there was a fight going on inside, so, cautiously you opened the door a bit more so you could slip in.

Arthur was in there, pinned to the wall, struggling to hold back the sword that was against his neck.

You didn’t know what to do, and in your panic of not wanting to let him die, you raised your hands, eyes turning gold as you whispered something under your breath.

You threw your hand to the side, and the attacker went flying on the floor.

Quickly you lowered your hand and hid yourself behind a cabinet.

“Who’s there?” Arthur called.

He looked around, but couldn’t see anybody.

He couldn’t search the room, he needed to deal with the attacker.

After a few moments you stood up.

“Sire, there’s been intruders, Sir Leon has been told and he has gone to my brother who is at the front of the castle with them.” You said.

Arthur looked at you, then the unconscious man on the floor.

“I think the warning came a bit too late.” He snapped slightly.

“I’m sorry, I came as fast as I could.”

Arthur sighed, shaking his head.

“It’s fine, who else has been told?”

“King Uther, as well as the other guards.” You explained.

Arthur slowly nodded his head, narrowing his eyes at you a little bit.

He carried on binding the man so he couldn’t break free, and began to slowly move around the room.

You watched him carefully, making sure that he was okay.

Seeing movement behind him you looked at it.

“Arthur behind you!”

He wasn’t going to be able to turn around quick enough, you saw that.

So, you did the one thing you’re good at.

Using your magic, you used it to throw a book at the man, and you quickly put your hands behind your back.

“You have magic?!” Arthur hissed.

You said nothing.

He marched over to you, standing right in front of you, sword still clutched tightly in his hands.

“Please don’t tell my brother… or Gaius…” you whispered.

He furrowed his brows.

“They don’t know?”

You sighed, looking at him, shaking your head a little bit.

“No, I knew what would happen to me if anybody found out, I never wanted to bring them into that. They know nothing of it.”

Arthur looked a little confused.

“You know what will happen to you but still you chose to use magic in front of me? Why?”

You gave Arthur a little smile.

“Because you’re the prince, it may not be my duty to protect you, but you were in danger. I would do it over again, between you dying to some intruders, and me being executed for using magic, I guess the choice is as simple as any.”

“You were the one behind the defence last week, aren’t you? Bandits suddenly disappear, what did you do with them?”

“I am, but they didn’t get hurt. I simply trapped them in a different part of the valley to you is all. Then scared them away.”

Arthur slowly nodded his head.

“Why will you not run away?”

“What’s the use? You already know, I knew what my fate would be when I made that choice sire, why run?”

He looked at you and you smiled at him.

“Please Sire, Merlin and Gaius may be confused, but don’t tell them. Tell them I left, I had to go home, I’ll write a note, it’ll be easier on them.”

Arthur sighed softly, nodding his head.

“Of course, I’m sorry it has to come to this.” He said quietly.

You smiled slightly.

“It’s okay.”

You both turned to the door as it was opened, and Uther came rushing in with some guards.

You bowed your head in respect, stepping away from the Prince.

You listened to them as they talk, but stayed lost in your own mind at the same time, not really taking the words in.

You were trying to think of what would happen to your brother, your best friend, you just wanted at least for him to be okay.

“You did this?”

You snapped out of your head, turning to the king, nodding your head.

“Yes sire, I did.”

He looked at you, walking closer.

“You brought down a fully grown man? How?”

You went to speak, but Arthur beat you too it.

“She threw the book! She has a good throw from what I saw.”

Uther turned to his son.

“Threw a book?”

Arthur quickly picked up the book you had used your magic on, and set it down on the cabinet.

“I see.”

Uther turned to you.

“In that case, thank you. I dread to think what would have happened if you hadn’t of come.”

“You needn’t thank me. I would do the same again if I had to.”

Uther smiled a little.

“That’s reassuring to hear, I will have these two taken out and guards placed at the door, more this time. Find somebody to clean this up.”

“I will do it Sire, I’m here already.”

He nodded and left, and you began to clear up the mess that had been made in the room.

After a few minutes when you were sure everybody was gone, you glanced up at Arthur who was just about to leave the room.

You decided not to bring it up there, so you waited.

Maybe he was still going to tell his father, but over the next few days nothing happened.

You found the Prince stood near some shelves, so you walked over, pretending to clean them.

“Sire?”

“Yes?”

Arthur turned to look at you.

“Why haven’t you told anybody?”

“Why would I?”

You glanced at him before turning away.

“You saved my life, I owe you that much to do the same to you at least. But you need to promise me no more.” He whispered.

You slowly shook your head.

“I can’t make that promise, I would do it again if I had to.”

“Then you risk being exposed, please, no more (Y/N)…”

You sighed, turning your attention to him.

“Okay…”

He smiled, looking around before he stepped closer.

“Thank you..”

With that, he brushed his hand against yours as he left with a little smile on his face, and you smiled as well, know at least for now everything was going to be okay.

But who knew what the future would bring

[whydon-twego]

For your celebration prompt writing: i would absolutely love something about touch-starved (and maybe additionally emotionally repressed) Arthur. Angst with a hopeful/happy ending and perhaps also merthur would be peak but honestly do what you feel like with it. love your writing either way

Arthur knows he is doing the wrong thing.

Arthur knows that he would just like a gentle touch once in a while and a pat on the back and a voice saying "well done!"

Arthur knows that all this can never come from his father (except for things Arthur greatly despises doing, and what kind of man is Arthur if by now his line of thinking differs from the king's?) but he also knows that he could easily receive it from Merlin.

He would like to receive it from Merlin.

How many times did Merlin try to pat him on the back? To initiate a hug? Once he even tried to take his hand and Arthur found himself in a total panic, as he has never been in his life, not even in battle, and pushed him away.

Arthur is incapable of receiving affection. Morgana has always told him so. And even if she is not among the friendliest people on the face of the earth at least she can be herself with Gwen.

Why can't he?

Arthur watches Merlin walk back and forth across the room picking things up from the floor and complaining that Arthur is a pig and not a prince, that he should at least learn and keep the room tidy because it is one thing to be a manservant and another to be a slave.

Arthur nods and simply continues to stare at him.

It is strange how easy it is to be around Merlin.

It is strange how comfortable Arthur feels without the need to prove himself to be something he is not.

It is strange that he does not feel so at peace with himself even with Leon, with whom he has been squiring and is actually the person he has known the longest.

So why can't he accept a compliment? Why can't he accept a simple caress? Why can't he accept something he wants?

"Arthur, are you all right?"

Arthur looks up to find Merlin kneeling before him, the serious, contemplative face of someone who has probably tried to call him several times.

Arthur does not understand the question but nods anyway.

Merlin does not seem convinced.

It is with a certain kind of reverent shyness that Merlin raises a hand and shakes off Arthur's fringe, resting his cool palm on the other man's forehead.

Arthur leans heavily on that touch.

"Prat. You're burning up, that's why you're so quiet today, come on, I'll help you lie down."

Merlin passes an arm around his waist and helps him up and Arthur actually feels tired. Perhaps all those thoughts about Merlin stem from the fever and nothing more.

The fact that Merlin's arm around his waist makes him feel protected must surely be another symptom.

Finally, Arthur manages to lie down and Merlin is there with him, helping him undress and cover himself with blankets.

"You're an idiot. All you do is complain about irrelevant things but then you have to be stoic when you feel really bad" Merlin rolls his eyes and sighs but doesn't leave, remaining sitting on the edge of the bed looking at Arthur in that strange way that makes Arthur's guts twist and he can't decipher.

Then Merlin takes his hand (because Merlin is nothing if not persistent) and stays there, staring at him with a half-smile and intimating that he should sleep, that he will go to Gaius soon to get some medicine but that in the meantime he should try to bring his fever down with a nap.

Arthur, tired, nods and closes his eyes, Merlin's hand clasped between his and Merlin's smile etched in his mind.

Everything is already much better because Merlin is there with him.

Everything is already much better because Merlin is at his side.

Everything is already much better because Arthur is happy that Merlin is there with him, always.

A thought makes its way into Arthur's head and suddenly he opens his eyes again, bringing them to the figure of Merlin who is sitting next to him, stroking the back of his hand with his thumb and looking at him smiling, beautiful as the sun.

… Oh.

[maxie-fallon]

I feel like Gwaine and Leon are a tragically overlooked ship.

Like I can just imagine them with this flirty troublemaker/mum-friend-who's-110%-done-with-their-shit dynamic while also pulling each other out of their comfort zones, making them question their previously held beliefs, and being fiercely protective of one another. It'd be so interesting to analyze their relationship and how it shifts over time.

For example, I can see Gwaine being weary of Leon at first. We know how he feels about nobles and the first time they meet Leon is arresting Gwaine after he defends Merlin from being attacked by "knights". It wouldn't be until after they take down Morgana and the Round Table knights are officially brought in that these two would get the chance to properly get an idea of each other and I can see Gwaine being hesitant to do so. Gwaine probably stuck close to the other common-born knights, fully expecting the noble-born knights to be stuck up, entitled, assholes who would look down on them, Leon included. And then Leon just...doesn't do that. Instead, Leon treats each of them with the same level of respect he does any other knight. Leon defends their place in the ranks from anyone who claims their not worthy. Leon spends extra time helping them practice moves they're unfamiliar with since they weren't traditionally trained and does so with zero complaint or judgment. At first, Gwaine thinks he's this stoic yesman who follows orders without question until he really gets to know Leon. Good, kind, loyal, honorable, noble Leon who is everything a knight should be. And Gwaine can't help but think "Maybe there's another noble worth dying for".

I can see after the initial bump in the road Gwaine constantly flirting with Leon to try and get out of trouble. At first, Leon's having none of it but over time his annoyance fades into amusement. His responses go from being an unimpressed flat refusal because he knows what Gwaine's doing, to a more playful response that says he still isn't letting Gwaine off the hook but he's willing to joke about it first. And then amusement develops into fondness. He starts looking forward to whatever stunt Gwaine will pull next and the resulting flirtatious attempt to avoid the consequences. He starts joining Gwaine at the tavern with the excuse that Gwaine can't make up excuses if Leon's a witness to the shenanigans that inevitably ensue. He starts being the one to tease Gwaine first just so he can hear whatever witty comeback Gwaine comes up with, just because he wants to hear him talk (not that Gwaine needs much encouragement). And by the time he realizes what's happening Leon's fallen head over heels for this absolute hot mess of a man who keeps accidentally starting fights in the tavern and passing out drunk in the stables.

I could honestly rant about these two for hours, there's so much untapped potential! I just needed to draw some more attention to them.

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

A BBC Merlin fanfic I wrote recently and then promptly forgot about

Merlin saves (tries to kill) Arthur

That one scene in A servant of two masters where Merlin is running at Arthur with the sword but he’s been fighting against the Fomorroh and finally wins.

(Part 2)

—

Arthur had been getting ready for almost half an hour, he still hadn’t gotten dressed but talking to Merlin about the suspected traitor was helped him to process.

Merlin hated this. The detachment from his own body, the fact that he was fighting for control over himself, that his magic had retreated so far from his reach so the fomorroh wouldn’t be able to use it. He hated that Arthur was grappling with issues he couldn’t help with and while Merlin made sure he failed to properly set a crossbow to kill him, made sure to hide his magic from Morgana and the Fomorroh, it wasn’t enough to fix this. He’d think about Leon later and beg the man to at least question him when he made such obvious threats to Arthur’s life.

His usual threats were much more comedic. Leaving Arthur to dress himself till he died of embarrassment, letting him fend for himself for a day till he starved to death or accidentally poisoned himself with bad cooking, stopping adding holes into his belt till he squeezed himself in half.

Just killing him was never something Merlin would say now he’d become friends with Arthur. Maybe while he was still a pratish prince, but not anymore.

Arthur opened the wardrobe, Merlin panicked for a moment until the crossbow failed. Fomorroh was angry, of course, but it gave him a little longer to break out of its control.

He could hardly focus until distantly, he heard Arthur ask for a sword and Fomorroh preened. Merlin fought harder than he ever had before, calling on his magic to do anything to protect Arthur as he desperately tried to take back control.

It felt like a gasp of momentary fresh air.

“Arthur,” he murmured, pained and weak.

Arthur turned back, but his hold wasn’t enough to keep Fomorroh back. Merlin was lost in his mind again by the time Arthur started to ask: “Merlin? Are you alright?”

“Yes, fine. Fine. Ceremonial sword. Of course.” A distant voice that sounded like his own but distorted and broken echoed through Merlin’s skull.

“Yes…” Arthur looked him over and turned away. Arthur was saying something, Merlin used his voice as an anchor to reality. To remember that Arthur was his friend, his king, his destiny. That he would do anything to keep him safe, “but...can't trust anyone.”

Merlin hated the irony of it in that moment.

His hand was on the hilt of a sword.

Merlin struggled for control again. He’d do anything. He’d rather fall on the sword himself.

He held it up, testing the weight and ability to run a man through.

Merlin desperately fought, pushing his magic forward so he could at least protect Arthur.

“In fact, I think you, Merlin, are the only person I can trust.” Arthur said, his back to Merlin and the sword and all the bitter horrible irony of being the one to literally stab his best friend in the back after so many betrayals.

His body took a step, then another,

The door to Arthur’s chambers opened with a panicked Gwen and Gaius looking at him, horrified at what he was about to do.

Merlin felt a surge of magic finally win out over the dark forces that powered the Fomorroh’s will.

Arthur turned around, seemingly recognising the fear in Gwen and Gaius, and saw Merlin taking rushed steps towards him with a sword raised.

Then Merlin’s eyes flooded with gold as he froze, mid movement, gasping and trembling to hold onto the control he’d fought desperately for. He just needed a moment. It wasn’t going to last but if he could just-

“Merlin!” Arthur stumbled back, shock and confusion and betrayal on his face.

Arthur’s voice gave him a focus point to stay in control.

“Morgana-“ he forced out, focusing solely on Arthur and his best friend and keeping him safe no matter the cost. “Mind control. Fomorroh. Knock me out.” He looked to Arthur with gold in his eyes, seeing fear to match his own looking back at him, “Please.”

Arthur was frozen, but in the corner of his eye Merlin saw Gwen move, then his head snapped to the side with a sharp pain and everything went black.

—

Hope you enjoyed. Thoughts?? I might rewrite/continue this as a fix-it for the whole episode :)

[justaz]

country bumpkin merlin not knowing anything about city life and accidentally courting arthur without knowing

merlin, watching gwen give lancelot her favor: why do you do that

gwen, heart eyes at lance and not paying that much attention to the conversation: so he knows i’m rooting for him

merlin, with an Idea: ah.

gwaine, lover of chaos, pisser offer of nobles and royals alike, ultimate wingman: merlin…you have such lonely lips. shall i introduce them to mine?

merlin, unaware of the game gwaine is playing: so you can steal my breath away? i think not, scoundrel

arthur, crushing his goblet in his hand:

merlin: arthur’s been in a bad mood recently :( i should cheer him up

merlin, remembering when arthur was put out when merlin brought morgana flowers and not him: i know just the thing

merlin, bringing a bouquet of carnations, roses, and tulips and setting them on arthur’s table while he’s eating breakfast: good morning, sire

arthur, trained on flower language in hopes that one day when he was to take a queen he could woo her easily, trying not to audibly choke on his sausage as he reads merlin’s declaration of love sitting in front of him:

arthur, who recently found out about merlin’s magic and was trying to find a way to bring it up, catching him in the act and watching merlin panic to explain himself:

merlin, Freaking: and i swear to you arthur, i have only ever used it for you. my magic is yours. my life is yours. i am yours. i would never do anything to harm you. i have protected you for years and will continue to do so at your side if you’ll have me

arthur, already believing them to be courting, desperately trying to figure out if that was a proposal for marriage or not but tired of being confused and deciding fuck it: here.

merlin, taking it: i…uh…huh?

arthur, watching merlin with hawk eyes and trying to figure out what he’s thinking and feeling: it’s my mothers sigil

merlin, confused as FUCK but is focusing on the fact that arthur is handing him something of his mother rather than a death sentence: my…my lord?

arthur, realizing how scared merlin’s must be about him finding out about his magic and trying to comfort him while also proposing, killing two birds with one stone: i will always keep you at my side, merlin, so long as we both shall live. if you’ll allow me.

merlin, almost collapsing with relief and tearing up, smiling at arthur as if he had parted the storm clouds to allow sun to shine down on them in that moment: of course…of course, arthur. always and forever.

merlin, watching the castle staff rush this way and that: wow. this banquet must be incredibly important

sir leon the long suffering, day one ride or die, one of the original merthur shippers: banquet? merlin, this is for your wedding

merlin, overworked and exhausted: my WHAT? to WHO??

leon, regretting everything he’s ever done in his life that led him to this moment: to…arthur?

merlin, over joyed but also absolutely befuddled: i’m getting married to ARTHUR?????

leon: you two have been courting for the past year or so, have you not?

merlin: i’ve been COURTING ARTHUR?????? FOR A YEAR?????????

[merwaineisbetter]

This is my first post(sorry had to point that out)

So I've recently joined the Merlin Fandom and have decided to ask about what's happening with the ships.

So like with every Fandom the MC is normally shipped with anybody and everybody but normally the ships have no way to actually work, but with Merlin you could ship him with practically everyone and it would work in canon because everyone has had a crush on him.

Arthur? Their infatuated with eachother

Gwaine? "Not Arthur" he's so FAITHFUL AND LOYAL AND IT HURTS

Lancelot? Obvious

Will? Childhood friends to lovers? Claiming he's the sorcerer instead of Merlin to protect him?

Morgana? GwEN? LEON? PERCIVAL? ELYAN?

EVERYONE FREAKING WORKS AND ITS SO CONFUSING

Mordred had a puppy crush on him (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called when you admire someone as greatly as Mordred admired Merlin) like there's no such thing as a rare pair in regards to Merlin because you could ship him with anyone above and almost everyone would be like "that works" or "okay" like obviously everyone has different tastes in ships and prefers a ship VS another ship but still (for example, I don't like morganaxmerlin or Mordredxmerlin)

Anyways thanks for coming to my TED talk

[hopelessromantic5]

It happened during a knighting ceremony of all places.

Sir Chester finally lasted longer than a minute in combat with the King, it was time to bring him into the fold.

It was all going rather smoothly. That is, until a witch appeared seemingly out of thin air, and lingered only long enough to aim a razor sharp dagger at the King’s heart.

It may have only been seconds. But that was as long as Merlin’s instincts ever took to kick in.

Unfortunately, Merlin did not, for the first time in his life, consider the repercussions of using magic before actually doing it. Maybe because it had been a while since Arthur was in the up-close-and-personal kind of danger, maybe because Merlin was caught off guard, the one time he sets his weight back on his heels to just take a breath, exist, and this happens.

The witches body slammed against the wall behind the king and fell to the ground, lifeless.

Just as the ‘thud’ sounded across the throne room, so did the sound of Excalibur leaving it’s sheath.

Merlin saw it coming, because he never took his eyes off Arthur.

Arthur was approaching slowly, with his sword pointed as far as it would go away from his body. An attachment to his arm, another limb, as it always had been. Merlin braced for what was coming.

What he didn’t expect was Leon of all people, alongside Lancelot, stepping between Merlin and the King of Camelot.

The sorcerer was stunned.

So, it seemed, was the King.

He narrowed his eyes at two of his most trusted knights, sword never wavering in it’s place, pointed directly at Merlin, still.

“You would choose Merlin over your sovereign?” Frustration was present in his tone but it gave no indication of what Arthur wanted the answer to be.

So, instead, Leon told the King the truth.

“No, sire. We would choose Merlin because you are our sovereign.” Arthur was taken more aback at that. “If we allowed any harm to befall Merlin, even by your own hand, you would never forgive us, Arthur.”

At once, Arthur knew Leon was right.

The fight left his body and the King’s sword, maybe for the first time in his life, fell from his weak grasp. Hitting the stone floor with a deafening clang.

“Everyone out.” Arthur finally said to the room at large. “Everyone but Leon and Lancelot, out.”

Arthur caught Merlin’s eye, his manservant already knew that he was expected to stay, as well. It would likely be his official trial.

Maybe Leon and Merlin both knew that Arthur would not harm his friend, but he was still the King and often felt he had to uphold the law regardless.

The rest of the knights that were in attendance for the ceremony began shuffling out of the throne room. Once again, Arthur’s voice rang out, halting them momentarily.

“If I hear a single word about what happened here today, trust that I will find its source.”

None of them trusted themselves enough to speak, they simply nodded and bowed before finally taking their leave.

When the door closed behind them, Arthur visibly deflated even further. The King slipping out of his shoulders, it was just Arthur.

Merlin braced himself for the bite. The other shoe to drop.

Finally his voice came, quiet and carefully balanced.

“I assume Lancelot knew.”

“Only because he was close enough to see it for himself, I never told him.” Merlin answered, trying to make Arthur understand just how badly Merlin had always wanted him to know.

“So then, why…”

Merlin took a chance and stepped forward. Toward Arthur, away from the sanctuary of Leon and Lancelot’s protection.

“Think of all that’s happened. Even from that first day. Vengeful witches and beasts of all natures. Love spells and bandits and horrible, corrupt rulers. When would’ve been a good time to explain that not all of us are trying to kill you? That I would never-“ Merlin cut himself off, he was going off in the wrong direction.

“When Morgana ran with Morgause, I knew that I may never be able to tell you. The betrayal would’ve been too much. When the lady returned, sought our help, I held out hope that maybe you could open your heart to magic, and you did. I’ve never been more proud.” A very long pause. No one moves a muscle. “Then, your father fell ill. I knew, almost immediately that it was Morgause taking her revenge. For the death of her parents but also for ‘stealing’ the one thing she truly cared about in all this world: her sister. There was nothing I could do. Everything I’ve kept you apart from, every time death has ever grazed just past you, that, losing your father, was the one fate I wanted to save you from, more than any of it.” Merlin was staring directly into Arthur’s unflinching blue eyes, the way they always have. Saying everything without saying anything. But Merlin decided, before he dies, he would like to say it.

The newly outed sorcerer fell to his knees, nearly putting his forehead to the floor at his King’s feet.

“I am so sorry I could not save him, sire.” It was nearly a whisper but in the silence, it was blaring. “I tried.” He choked out. “I tried everything I knew to do and nothing worked. I’m so sorry.”

It was quiet for a long time. Merlin didn’t dare to look up. Keeping his blurred gaze on Arthur’s boots. Thinking of how he may never get to wash them again.

Suddenly, movement was heard behind him.

Merlin’s first assumption was that the knights were finally coming to their dutiful senses and hauling him to the dungeons. But the sound of rustling armor didn’t get any closer. In fact, it got further away.

When Merlin finally tore his gaze away, he found both knights leaving. Not sparing a glance backward.

Had Arthur given them permission to leave? The manservant never heard him say a word.

“Merlin. Please, stand up.”

Arthur never said please. Not if he wasn’t dying.

Merlin stood without thinking, meeting those startling eyes, once more.

The King whispered, as if reassuring a child,

“It is not…your fault.”

Merlin almost fell again, out of sheer relief, this time. Relief and heartache and grieving for the years of his life he’d spent hiding from the one person in the world he never wanted to hide from.

“If you truly did everything you could, then it was…it was his time, Merlin.” Merlin could almost laugh at Arthur Pendragon explaining death to him. “Even if you had not tried, I would understand. Not only was my father murdering your people for decades but he probably would’ve put you on the pyre himself, had you succeeded in saving him.” Merlin saw the way shame drained the color from Arthur’s face and hollowed his eyes. He would carry this the rest of his life. “Merlin, I am sorry. For all he did, and every part I have ever played in it. And I apologize for-“ His eyes dropped away, to the ground, to the doors, Merlin finally realized he was trying not to cry. “I apologize for drawing my sword. Even if circumstances were different, and you were not my manservant, you did nothing to threaten me. It was-“

“Arthur.” Merlin cut him off, feeling his feet begin to solidify under him again. “For someone who grew up here, with the lessons you were taught, it was a completely reasonable instinct.”

“All this time you’ve been…” he trailed off, seemingly replaying memories behind his glazing eyes. “You’ve been protecting me.”

“I am trying my best. You don’t make it easy.”

A smile appeared on Arthur’s face for the first time since Merlin’s eyes turned gold. And Merlin wanted to cry. But he would not. Not in front of his King.

[zykamiliah-temporal]

nah bro the thing is gwaine saw merlin as the brave man that was more noble than any highborn. And also the best friend he could ever had. Whether he knew about the magic or not it's up for debate and. in some way that's also how elyan and percival and leon and arthur saw merlin too. and no wonder! the purge and uther's campaign against magic created a great prejudice against magical beings. how could someone as good as merlin be a sorcery when sorcery is evil? if he knew any sorcery it would be like what gaius knows, so he's able to identify dark magic and do something about it.

and gaius knew about merlin magic but was always telling him how to use it, to hide it from anyone and to ONLY use to protect arthur, the king or camelot.

and freya new the boy that was born with magic, but it was cut too short so she didn't get to know the man well

and arthur himself knew the man the friend but never the sorcerer that carried the weight of destiny in his shoulders

and then there's lancelot. who knew everything about merlin. the boy the man the warlock the greatest sorcerer who's ever walked the earth

and they took him from merlin

[georgies-ftts]

just another Merlin headcanon/fic idea that i may or may not write… (AU: Post canon/nobody dies, Arthur knows about Merlin’s magic but not quite what Merlin does for Camelot in his spare time)

Merlin and Arthur have been teetering around each other since the Battle. Arthur showing a more protective and outwardly caring side to the younger man. Merlin leaving lingering touches and soft glances whenever he’s able, defending Arthur more openly and strongly to those he never would’ve dared to before.

The Knights have bets on their relationship. Leon is winning. Gwaine is in debt. Percival wants to rip his hair out, Lancelot and Eylan are secretly betting on Gwaine going bankrupt before Merlin and Arthur even admit their feelings out loud.

After a particularly close encounter with his servant, soon to be court sorcerer, Arthur finally works up the courage to ask Merlin if he feels the same as he does, to tell Merlin that marrying for an heir is what the court want, he wants to marry for love, and he loves Merlin.

He asks Merlin, by a letter that he thinks gives a clear light to his intentions, to meet him outside the castle, in a spot they sometimes sit at together when the days have been long and stressful. The spot where the moonlight shines brightly over the flowers and the grass is somehow soft year round and in the summer a small refreshing cross breeze is created by the way the trees are sprayed out scarcely before them.

But Merlin never shows and Arthur feels embarrassed, hurt, somehow more betrayed than when Merlin revealed the gold dragon within the flames of the fire but he understands that Merlin must’ve read Arthur’s intentions loud and clear and saved him the mortifying rejection of his manservant. So instead he turns to avoiding Merlin, that seeing him after the clear rejection would only send him into a spiral so he tries his best to stay away.

However he notices that, despite his effort to avoid him, he hasn’t seen the sorcerer anywhere at all, his chores untouched, a dreadful feeling that hasn’t been there until that morning fills the air. It’s obvious the others within the castle feel it too.

Arthur turns to the knights, questioning if they have seen Merlin, if he is okay and well, but they have not seen him and that only causes Arthur to panic more.

He sends the guards to search the castle, the stables, Gwens house, even the small opening by the lake where Merlin traipses off to when he’s feeling rough, when he’s hiding. But he’s never gone this long.

He orders them to tear Camelot apart if they have too.

But he’s found in none of those places.

Instead Merlin and Gwaine find him, bloody, broken and shivering beneath the castle where he hasn’t been able to move himself for the past two days even calling for help had been pointless so far below the occupied layers of the castle.

Merlin is rushed to Gauis as he his eyes flutter and Arthur can do nothing but sit and panic as Merlin’s wounds are tended too.

Once he is awake and competent Arthur sits beside his cot and, though it feels wrong too, he questions him deeply, his voice tremors and his fingers shake but he does it anyway.

And Merlin tells him everything, how he received the letter and his heart almost gave up on itself at the thought of alone time with the King, how he’d been sneaking around near the stores, trying to find a bottle of wine or two just before their meeting so they could truly relax after a stressful council meeting and had caught the assassin that had been snooping low in the castle. A poisoned dagger strapped to his belt.

He had been strong and relentless and had nearly left Merlin with less than his life but Merlin had fought for Arthur and he had won, even if he ended the scrap with blood coating his body and an ache in his ribs that made him hiss and cough with each movement.

That even before Arthur knew about his magic this had been a large part of his daily life, to keep Arthur safe and to never let him know just how much it hurt him, how much it broke him. He jokes that he doesn’t even know where the tavern is.

But Arthur echos that now he doesn’t need to hide, he can ask for help, and he will receive it.

Then Arthur realises that Merlin truly had no idea what he was going to ask him and he knows that if he doesn’t do it now he won’t ever be able too again.

So he asks.

And Merlin replies.

[i-am-a-teabag-cause-i-can]

BBC Merlin Prompt:

ok; so we know next to nothing about Dragonlords in canon, because there's literally 2 of them in canon, Balinor and Merlin, so the whole inheritance thing isn't really fleshed out. Can only sons inherit. if a Dragonlord has multiple children does only the oldest inherit. I only the oldest inherits do the others have Magic and so on.

For this idea I took the option of all the children have varying degrees of Magic, but only the oldest would inherit the actual commanding a Dragon.

Anyway back to the actual idea:

VERSION 1#

Balinor wasn't an only child. He had a younger brother. A younger brother who by the time of the Purge was already married and had a son. He like all the other folks gets arrested and burned at the stake. His wife then immediately remarries to protect her son from being drowned and is like "my child, son of a sorcerer? oh no sir" and lies about having stepped out on her husband. So at the end not even her son knows who his real father is.

This child also doesn't know he has magic, because like Morgana he repressed it. Being marginally less powerful than either Merlin or Morgana he never notices. He joins the knights and one day he unknowingly meets his younger cousin. No one sees the resemlancy, because unlike the rest of his family he inhereted his mothers blond hair.

Now you may be wondering who this son is. It's Leon. And one day After s2e13 The Last Dragonlord, but Balinor survived and is hiding at his families old Keep. So anyway Leons mom meets Merlin and is like "Balinor?" cause Merlin looks a lot like Balinor did as a teenager. And that's how Leon learns he has magic and a stupidly powerful cousin. And later meets his grumpy uncle and together they might manage to teach Merlin some swordfighting.

and at some point there's the typical magic/dragonlord reveal.

VERSION 2#

In my second version the younger brother survives the Purge and flees to Cearleon where he changes his name etc. and joins the knights there maybe falls in love again and has a second son. He later dies in the Kings service. Leaving his second wife and son penniless.

Because of magic and destiny and what not. The second son also meets Merlin later in his life. He like Leon is part of the Knights of the Round Table. And Leon is like wtf THAT'S?! my little brother?

So now Balinor has his cryptid, magic god son, his noble knight nephew and his not so noble tavern-loving nephew, aka Gwaine.

if anyone wants to write this feel free, just tag me or something.