#merlin is a dumbass

[bitsandbobsofwriting]

Do you have one where the serving staff/guards know of Merlin’s magic, but they choose to keep it a secret because he helps them out a lot (since he cheats when no one is looking, they leave him alone for bigger tasks so they can just get things done faster)? (And that the atmosphere somehow just got…better when he started working there, even if the King is still a murder-bitch?)

Like Merlin, doesn’t know that they know. Nobles and visitors aren’t allowed to know and the staff help shield him/explain it away.

(Headcanon Masterlist) (Full Masterlist)

OK SO!!!

I'm gonna write this as a set of  rough headcanons as opposed to a fic, because I'm really struggling motivation wise at the moment, and this particular ask really spoke to me when I looked through my messages :D

It takes Gwen and George (as important, smart, and the-only-other-servants-whose-names-we-know) all of a week to figure out Merlin has magic. It takes the Cook two, it takes the Housekeeper a month and a half, and it takes the Steward just shy of six months. Yeah. Merlin isn't very good at being subtle. The former First Knight, Leon's grumpy, stick-in-the-mud-and-also-up-his-arse predecessor, never finds out (much to the effort of everyone), but Leon of course has it all lined up in his head an hour after he takes over the role. He'd suspected before then, but hadn't really had much to do with Merlin anyway until he'd taken on the job.

Anyway. All of this just means that Merlin has no idea how easy his life is in comparison to what it could have been if he's actually managed to keep his secret, well, secret.

Most of the knights don't know, but a few do. With the guards, it's the other way round. Most of them know, a few specific ones don't. Look, as much as a lot of people know, and it sounds like chaos, it's actually very well controlled. Well, it isn't at first. Merlin is very lucky that the first few people to find out are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because it's those first few that carefully control where and when the secret goes.

ANYWAY. And I actually mean it this time. A lot of people know and Merlin has NO fucking clue.

The whole thing goes unsaid, and bar a few of the main crew (the aforementioned Gwen, George, Cook, Housekeeper, Steward, and later on, Leon) no one knows exactly who else knows. So there's a lot of awkward shuffling and suspecting side eyes as they try and tiptoe around it all. None of the guards that don't know are EVER put to duty outside Arthur's chambers, and they're kept away from places Merlin frequents as much as possible (the armoury, the stables, the physician's chambers, the washer rooms, etc) just because Merlin has no spatial awareness and never realises when there’s a guard right next to him/just around the corner.

Oddly enough, other than Leon and Lancelot, none of the main knights are in the know, with everyone’s reasoning being that... they’re the most loyal to The King. And as much as Leon and Gwen can vouch for them, they don’t like actively telling people about the magic, they just... corral people if they find out accidentally. Lancelot, despite knowing about the magic, also has no idea about this whole thing, but everyone else knows that he knows. It’s stupid. It’s complicated. But Gwen, Leon, and George are in too deep now to backtrack so... they just carry on going.

So yeah. They cover for him all the time. At any given night there will be at least one knight or guard in the tavern, so whenever Arthur kicks up a fuss about how “Merlin can’t have been at the tavern again.” they’ll start spreading rumours about how whip smart Merlin is at poker, because he won against Halbrand, Remus, Gregor, and Flint last night. When they know Merlin has snuck out to deal with something, they’ll make sure someone in-the-know is posted on the outer city walls, so they can send word when Merlin is sneaking back in. This just means they can clear the main courtyard and route to the Physician’s Chambers of anyone so that Merlin can still think no one noticed him coming and going.

After a few years, people notice that there are two days a year, later on three, that Merlin does actually disappear to the tavern for. It took Leon a little while to figure out, and he still isn’t entirely sure he’s right, but the first one falls on the day that Merlin had to leave Camelot to protect his home from ransackers. Gwen had mentioned one of his friends had died, and the word is spread to make sure Merlin is left alone that day. The second... he isn’t sure, to be honest. He knows it falls around the week that the beast had appeared, bought by the bounty hunter, but he’s not sure if that’s relevant. He thinks maybe the beast must have killed one of Merlin’s friends, and again, the word is spread. The third is easy. The third falls around the day the dragon had attacked. Leon himself, as well as many of the knights and guards, head tot eh tavern that week. He finds it odd though, that Merlin seems to separate himself from the memorials, from the drinking songs, from those that gather in mourning, almost like he’s mourning something else entirely. But again, Leon doesn’t question it, and the word is spread.

When he’s noticeably injured, Gwen, George, the Housekeeper, and the Steward will randomly have free days/extra servants available to help out, to lessen his workload. When he’s exhausted, the Steward and Leon will reorganise things so Arthur doesn’t have anything important on in the morning, and Merlin can sleep in. I guess it’s just lots of stuff like that, small things, that Merlin could probably live without but... well, these people love and respect him so much, why would they leave him to suffer alone?? It’s not just the fact that Merlin protects the Kingdom with magic, after all, it’s the fact that he’s so lovely, to everyone. He helps treat the guards’/knights’ injuries without judgment, he’ll cover for people when they’re sick, he’ll do other people’s workloads just to be kind. So yeah, they look after him. Not just because he’s a vigilante or whatever, but because he’s Merlin.

I just... they look out for him, ya know?? And maybe he finds out, in which case he’s very embarrassed that so many people knew about it. Or maybe he doesn’t know, maybe he never knows, and all those people continue to protect him from behind the scenes, the same way he protects Camelot. Who knows.

~

I hope you enjoyed this, anon! I love you all so much, thank you for being patient with me!!!

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Merlin: ARE YOU-

Gwaine: Fucking

Merlin: KIDDING ME?! YOU-

Gwaine: Fucking

Merlin: IDIOT!

Arthur: *looks between Merlin and Gwaine*

Arthur: No. Just no. *walks away*

Merlin: *follows, yelling about Arthur being reckless*

Lancelot: ... What was that?

Gwaine: Princess banned Merlin from swearing, so I'm helping him out.

Leon: Shouldn't you be the one banned from swearing?

Gwaine: Yeah, but princess lost all hope in curing me of that a long time ago. He just wanted Merlin’s rants to be less intimidating.

Merlin, in the distance: Were you born without any self preservation or did you lose it somewhere in that big empty space between your ears?!

Leon: …

Lancelot: I wish him luck. Hell hath no fury like a scorned Merlin.

[irishmammonagenda]

"Solomon?" You ask, eyes unblinking like a lizard as you stare at your favourite Rat Bastard. "You know how you're immortal?"

Solomon turns to you in mock shock, "Really? Why I never wouldve guessed."

You deadpan. "It was a serious question."

Solomon smirks his usual evil smirk, which to anyone else observing would look like a pleasant smile. "Yes, and what about me being immortal, MC?"

"Well, did you ever know Merlin?" You tilt your head as Solomon's smile falters for a split second before he fixes it.

"..."

"Solomon?"

"Yes, I knew Merlin."

"Before or after you became a Rat Bastard?" You ask him, eyes trained on his pretty smile. (evil grin)

"Well...I may or may not've been good friends with him..."

"Do you think I could meet him?" You ask, bouncing one of your legs after you sit down on Solomon's workbench.

Solomon moves towards you, something flashing in his eyes for a split second before his hands find their rightful place around your waist. "No."

"Why not?" You pout.

"Because I'm the only famous sorcerer in your life." He states, that something flashing in his eyes once more. Something animalistic. If Solomon was a demon, you were sure his demon form would sprout out.

"What about Maddi?" You raise an eyebrow.

Solomon scoffs. "You hate Maddi. You put on a mask with Michael's face on it, and then tried to drown her in a ditch."

You shrug. "I'm just mad the bitch didn't drown."

"She did damage her oesophagos though." Solomon smiles evilly, actually evilly this time.

"So why can't I meet Merlin. I want his autograph." You bring th conversation back to the topic at hand, your flustered gaze trained to where the Great Sorcerer holds you by the waist possessively.

Solomon scoffs once more, grey eyes narrowed in on you. "And why do you want his autograph?"

"Because he's the greatest sorcerer to ever live? Duh."

Solomon's grip tightens at that. His brows furrow.

"...No he's not." The silver-haired sorcerer replies after an awkward moment of silence.

"Yes he is."

"No he's not." Solomon glares at you, grip tightening once more, it's almost painful. "I can give you my autograph if you yearn for one that badly. End of."

"But-" You pout, eyes flickering with the flame of mischief, wanting to see how far you can take this.

Solomon's eyes snap up and down your body before meeting your gaze, forcefully he moves closer to you, you lean back until he's directly in your face and your back is up against the surface of his workbench.

You feel his hot breath on your ear as he whispers, "The next words out of your mouth better be 'I love you Solomon!' or I'm not hearing them."

Your breath hitches, you suppress a grin, "It's just that-"

"Not hearing it."

"Emrys is just so cool-"

Solomon flicks you on the head for that one. He moves away from your ear so he can look at your face. Grey eyes instinctual and crazed.

"My darling apprentice....you don't want to know where this is headed." The Witty Sorcerer grits out, emphasising the word 'my' like it's an ancient incantation.

You stiffen, you've really done it now. There was no way you could keep teasing your favourite Michelin Star Murderer and come out unscathed.

A dark purple surrounds the sorcerer, are those flames?!

You pout, looking into the crazed feral eyes man who's about to lose control. You'd have to stop being a gremlin and take responsibility.

"Sol...I love you." You say, and you mean it.

And like clockwork, rhe dark purple flamey aura disappears, Solomon's grip loosens on you, he moves a little farther back, allowing you to get up off the surface of the workbench. His usual Rat Bastard smile returns, and the crazy feral look in his eyes diminish, never fully going away.

You raise an eyebrow teasingly, "So that's a no on meeting Merlin?"

Solomon sighs exasperatedly, love ever-present in his expression, "Forget Thirteen, you'll be the death of me."

You laugh, "Back to your Alchemy lesson now?"

Solomon chuckles. "Back to my Alchemy lesson." He nods, taking his hands off of you and walking over to his cauldron.

You follow him like a lost puppy, unaware of the extent of the danger just a few moments ago. Not danger you were in, of course, like Solomon could ever hurt you. But the rest of the realms?....well that's a different story....

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Never wake a sleeping dragon....

Never underestimate the obsession love that Solomon the Wise has for his Darling Apprentice.

[inamagicalhallucination]

merlin but merthur is dating except merlin doesn’t realize that their hand holding, cuddling, gift giving relationship is romantic until he fixes arthur’s crown and arthur leans down and kisses him and he’s like oh

[emrys-merlin]

There is one braincell being passed around Camelot and these two were not in possession of it :D

[icecreamkink]

the fact that merlin is so wholy unconcerned about arthurs threats is so funny to me. arthurs over here twirling one of his 15 knives in his hands going "if you say i told you so-" and merlins just. "no no id never.

BUT i did tell you-"

[onceandfuturelesbian]

reblog to be a clown about merlin on main

[let-me-cry-in-peace-guys]

Bitches be like "I want you, I need you, my every being, my every atom  gravitates toward you, I don't know what I'd do without you, I cannot breathe when you are near-" and still be 10000% convinced that they're Not In Love.

[nimrism]

i still can't believe merlin chose to reveal he had magic to the most random person on the planet who he had only known for a day (gilli in "the sorcerer's shadow") but NOT to morgana when she needed it most... by the time morgana figured out she had magic, her and merlin's friendship was already at a point where he could trust her with something like this, and he had already seen her stance on magic through the way she risked everything for mordred (a DRUID, aka a magical being). hell, she straight up said "what if [magic] chooses you?" to his FACE. he really had nothing to lose and morgana had everything to gain by him telling her he had magic too, and being there for her when she needed it. but nOoOoo merlin just HAD to listen to the overgrown basement gecko and keep it a secret. which i wouldn't really mind had he not gone and revealed that very same secret to a perfect stranger a season later. it just makes no sense whatsoever that he'd keep his magic a secret from morgana and refrain from helping her then turn around and show GILLI of all people that he had magic.

[zoyalaaai]

#5 of random merlin prompts

s04e08: Lamia

Episode AU where Gwen is also under the Lamia‘s influence and Merlin has to fight the monster alone as he endures the treatment of the knights and Gwen. But this time Arthur shows up earlier and seems strangely unaffected. Eventually Merlin figures out that it’s because Arthur was born of the high priestess’s magic, somewhat similar to the Lamia, while they try to save their friends.

possibly:

protective arthur when he realizes how badly everyone treated merlin

the Knights/Gwen under the Lamia’s influence playing on Arthur’s insecurities if he’s a worthy king <- Merlin reassuring him

Arthur thinking he’s unaffected because he’s already madly in love ( with Gwen Merlin)

(Oblivious) Merlin worried about him because following that logic, Gwen‘s feelings for him aren’t as strong as she‘s affected by the Lamia.

Pining Idiots in love trying to outprotect each other from the monster & safe their friends

magic reveal ?? & bamf merlin / bamf arthur

[that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction]

Arthur: *tapping on the table during a council meeting*

Merlin: *tapping back while rolling his eyes*

Councillor: What are they doing?

Leon: Morse code. We needed some way to get through these meetings without one of them getting mad and yelling at the other.

Councillor: Isn’t that one just a servant?

Leon: *about to put his head through a table*

Arthur: *stops mid tap and glares* You take that back you fossilised fuck! Actually, stand up, you’re off the council. Merlin, sit down. Even your idiocy doesn’t come close to his.

Leon: You and Merlin still need to argue in morse code, even if he’s got a seat.

Merlin: Yes, Leon.

Arthur: Yes, Leon.

[vi-visected]

this is my favorite ship dynamic

[mytragedyperson]

Wait help. So a while back I read merlin fanfic in ao3. It was part of a series and was the second part and it focused on mordred and Merlins friendship, and at some point, during knights training, they play some sort of capture the flag type game and tell mordred, since he's the newest Knight he can pick his team. So he picks merlin and all the knights are kinda questioning and low key making fun of this choice and then merlin and mordred absolutely whip the floor of them. It was multi-chapter fic I belive and this was around chapter 3 I believe. If anyone has even a vague idea of what this fic could be please help. It wasn't finished last time I read it and, last time I tried to find it, I couldn't. So please help.

[lovable-bastard]

God help Merlin and Arthur. Their both painfully oblivious that even me, an aroace person who can't tell the difference between platonic and romantic attraction, can see the pure fucking love these two possess.

[emrys-merlin]

  Merlin: The Sword in The Stone: Part 2 

What the hell was Agravaine thinking lol

[ladyofthelake]

Seeing such bad takes on Merlin on other social media and I wanna die so I'm gonna vent

No Merlin didn't owe telling anyone his secret not even his close buddies

I fucking love Merlin and Gwaines friendship and Merlin and Lancelot's but you don't need to shit on Arthur to lift them up

Someone said Arthur wasn't loyal to Merlin as much as the others...babe this isn't a competition and also what Arthur dying for Merlin, risking his life, disobeying Uther for him lying to Uther for him letting Merlin get away with so much shit when another person would have been fired immediately THIS ISN'T LOYALTY?!

And fucking don't forget that Arthur never knew about their destiny he kept Merlin around because he was Merlin and their bond was special soulmates two sides of the same coin this is canon. It does not negate the strength of Merlin's bonds with Gwaine Lancelot the other knights and all the other people he loves. Like girl I'm so tired of people shitting over Arthur and acting like was just an ass to Merlin every single second. Rewatch I beg and understand that many beautiful bonds can be shown that none are better than others but ultimately Merlin and Arthur's bond IS the heart of the show. I cant help it that it's canon.