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me: Arthur Pendragon, sir, if you existed I would jump off of a cliff for you

me: [realization of what I just thought]

me:

me:

me: kindly shut the fuck up Inner Merlin™

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ok unpopular opinion time. I love Morgana, she’s one of my fave characters from the show, but the people who are all like ‘uwu morgana did nothing wrong’ and blame her entire going evil arc on Merlin instead of acknowledging the choices she made are severely missing the point 

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Gwaine: Why am I strength anyway? Out of all three that's the least special.

Gwaine: They literally called you magical. I can't disagree, you're awesome, but I'm magical too!

Merlin: Uh yeah, sure. That's totally what he meant.

Gwaine: And Arthur is courage. Why am I not courage? I'm just as brave as Arthur!

Merlin: Look! A spider.

Gwaine: *shrieks* Where? Where is it? Kill it Merlin!

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Merlin and Arthur: [behave like an old married couple 24/7]

BBC:

BBC: they seem to be very good friends

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You know what? I don’t mind that the general consensus is that Arthur has two braincells that just randomly float somewhere in his brain. I really don’t, that’s strangely endearing and(!) more or less compliant with the actual, written, arthurian legends (at least as far as I am aware)

What I don’t like is how we sometimes take it further and think of him as a simple fool.

Instead:

I want Arthur that falls silent when Merlin, bewildered, asks him “why on earth some folks believe that you, of all people, would execute them without remorse?”

I want Arthur who saw executions before he could even understand what one is

I want Arthur who executed people himself because sorcery is a disease you need to get rid off before it gets rid of you

I want Arthur who, even when he was so, so young obeyed king’s orders despite his unease when it came to raiding and killing sorcerers, because magic is wrong and not-well, and so, so twisted it leaves a sour-bitter taste in his mouth—

I want Arthur who, when he’s king, has to battle himself each time he tries a sorcerer. Because magic is so, so wrong but the sorcerer is still a person and to this point they were one of his subjects who he’d die for. Because the sorcerer didn’t even try to plot against Camelot, Christ, they were just doing their laundry.

I want Arthur who never thinks when he feels his subjects are in danger and almost gets himself killed because they are his people and his life is but a small price for their safety

I want Arthur who is not ashamed to cry and suppressed the tears just during his father’s reign, never after his coronation

I want Arthur who understands what is it like to sacrifice people in battle (“he’s lost so, so many over the years he can’t even remember”) and this is why he seeks peaceful ways to end conflict

I want Arthur who turns a blind eye to Lancelot pursuing Gwen despite her still being his queen and it hurting so fucking much beacause he just can’t be good enough, can he?

I want Arthur who’s so hot headed when it’s not about his kingdom’s well-being

I want Arthur who can never apologise verbally because kings can’t do that

I want Arthur who is all merciful and kind when he duels and it’s fair and one on one, but in the heat of the battle his mind’s hazy almost to the point of a full blackout, and there only blood, blood, screams and cries, who can’t think rationally then, because the only thing that matters it to stay alive and return home

I want Arthur who for the longest time is so fucking scared when he learns about Merlin’s magic. Of course, logically he knows he shouldn’t be, merlin is his most beloved friend after all, but still he’s so terrified he can’t even stop his body form flinching away, his heart from racing or his hands from shaking. Because if his most trusted friend could deceive him for years, about magic of all things, then… who else? Morgana, Agravaine, Merlin… he’s not sure he could take another betrayal.

I want Arthur who was so used to seeing executions that when Morgana witnessed one for the first time and was so terrified and got sick, he was genuinely shocked. Because… that... that was normal, right?

I want Arthur who, after Morgana tells him that watching people burn alive is not, in fact, how you spend your usual Saturday, makes sure that she never has to be present on the balcony again

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you know how we usually go “how the heck does Arthur not have brain damage?” and it’s all fun and shit?

the fuck he doesn’t.

of course he has brain damage.

no one can be this oblivious. no one. he must have lost all his braincells except like two in those freak accidents that keep happening to him. i absolutely refuse to believe otherwise

my poor child, they must have knocked him unconscious so many times during his training to be a knight

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There is this thing people in Merlin’s fandom don’t seem to realize: he is not a cinnamon roll, he isn’t a little ray of sunshine.  I mean, he was, at the beginning. He was the best damn human being ever. He was The saviour.

But towards the end, you can’t deny that he changed. He became this suspicious dark man, he became an  executioner rather than a saviour. His actions led to the finale we had. And I love it. I love it, because at some point it wasn’t about Albion and Magic anymore. It was just about Arthur.  And it is sad, and unfair, and if you think about all the time he had to realize that… My heart really breaks.  But I love it so much.

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✨ I’m in love bai ✨

The one where I fused canon-era(sorta)+modern,  Kilgharrah is a familiar and only listens to Merlin. okay so my ideas for the AU. Merlin an influencer/youtuber/does lives to help out people with magic learn new spells, the strenghts and weakenesses of their magic how to use it for good etc, Arthur is a knight, like, being a knight/jousting is a sport and he’s rlly good at it. aND OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE ROOMMATES, and so. Normally Merlin tries to keep Kilgharrah out of the room when he’s doing lives because he’s distracting and so he elects Arthur to keep an eye on the cat but Kilgharrah doesn’t listen to Arthur so Arthur gives up and brings him to Merlin and Merlin(known as Emrys on the internet)’s fanbase goes wild about it and eventually someone finds out it’s Arthur Pendragon and they freak out even more

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fucking hell this is so—— i can’t believe i forgot Will was never brought up again. this—-

Reblogging because i’m shit at remembering stuff and now i definitely want to have that somewhere in my WIPs

(of course not exactly as it’s written above, i’m just so mad i’ve forgotten about will jfc)

More flumadiddle from me lol

So. Of course, I’m salty about Will’s death, but another thing I’m salty about is how Will was never brought up again. Especially since Arthur legit thought he was a sorcerer. It just feels like something that should have been discussed more? When Arthur asked Merlin about magic idk why he never brought up ‘hey, you were friends with a sorcerer…why? was he not evil or something? did you not know at first?’

idk man. Merlin could have really ran with that and told Arthur all about some amazing things Will had done in the past. Like…oh, i don’t know…saving some prince’s life from all these vengeful attacks. Maybe he could have said ‘yeah, Will was born with magic so heads up - that’s a thing that can happen’

AND MORGANA! They never made it clear whether the rest of the village was listening when Arthur was all ‘I knOw MaGiC WhEn i sEe iT’ but if Morgana was then that seemed to be a perfect opportunity for Merlin to actually serve as a mentor to her. “I have no idea about magic PERSONALLY….but something Will used to tell me etc…” type thing. Also, “what would you know about MAGIC, Merlin?” Could be met with “idk Will used a lot of it so I know a thing or two.”

Something weird happened to Merlin? Oh, that’s just Will using his powerful magic from the dead trying to protect me, Arthur (:

Like, nobody let’s Gaius forget that he used to be a sorcerer back in the day. It seems like Merlin befriending a sorcerer should have been something occasionally brought up. OR WHEN THE FUCKING BULLSHIT DISIR EPISODE HAPPENED-

Merlin: there can be no room for magic in Camelot

Arthur: ….your poor, dead friend. Jesus, Merlin.

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Merthur with a dash of Cursed AU

Firstly, I have to give credit where it’s due. Because, let me tell you, this one art by @maryluis where Merlin from the BBC show rocks the Cursed!Merlin outfit (go check it out if you haven’t seen yet!!) inspired me so much, along with the song “The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman

ok credit’s given, let’s go

First of all, magic might technically not be illegal in Camelot, but it is heavily frowned upon, as Uther is still Uther, lmao. That means, that casting spells/enchanting in public may quite possibly get you thrown in the dungeon. For how long, it depends on what kind of magic have you cast (so that means some of the poorer people who are also coincidentally sorcerers may at times get themselves locked up deliberately, e.g. when it’s winter, it’s cold af and the food’s scarce)

However, at some instances having magic may get you led straight to your execution. What these instances are is, as of now, undecided.

The Pendragon siblings are not impressed with their father’s rule. Morgana often presses Arthur to just go and do something about it, and has trouble with understanding that Prince’s hands are often tied. She loves her brother, of course, but in her eyes, he should just try harder.

As for Arthur, he tries to better the life conditions of his people where he can. Seems not to be doing much but it doesn’t stop him from trying. And exactly that is why he doesn’t really have Uther’s favor. Frustrating thing, really.

Somehow, Gwaine is in Camelot as one of Arthur’s knights. I have no idea how that came to be.

One night, Arthur end’s up in the tavern. It’s debatable, how. Maybe to find Gwaine, maybe his knights convinced him to loosen up a little bit, whatever. The important thing is that he ends up there exectly when people start to whisper about the powerfull, all-knowing warlock who has just arrived to Camelot. They say his name is Emrys.

No one expects Emrys to be a lanky man with boyish features, ridiculous ears and this huge, radiant smile, which is exactly why literally nobody pays attention to Merlin when he gets to the Rising Sun. They might rise an eyebrow or frown seeing his, hmm, unconventional attire? The druidic triskellion doesn’t seem to be all that attention-worthy compared to his yale/royal blue coat and bare chest.

Also, he can somehow both hold his drink and totally fail at this at the same time, which continues to baffle the other guests.

At some point, there’s a brawl. Miraculously, both Merlin and Arthur get themselves kicked out, which is, as we know, a great way to start a relationfriendship

Okay, all’s fun and games but we can’t forget that Merlins is Emrys. So it’s not really surprising that he can see that Arthur is locked in a golden cage and some part of him want to get away.

And this is where we get to “The Other Side” part of this idea, as the negotiations start. Also, the tension is rising. They don’t reach a compromise that night, however, and part ways more exasperated and frustrated at each other than anything.

Oh! and a quick fun fact: Merlin and Gwaine totally know each other. And absolutely no one knows how they met, because the story changes each time they tell it per somebody’s request. Probably because they don’t know the story themselves, as they were both completely wasted.

I will continue this… some day. I think. When I finally come up with the title (I feel a little torn between “King of Conventional” and “Take Your Walls and Start ‘em Breaking”) and write the actual story to this point.

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the dragon!Pendragons AU that is still neither wanted nor needed but I’m making one anyway PART TWO

Ok so Merlin was sort of used to the way things were done by the time arthur was 21 one but then this little bitch got 4 times more temperamental what the actual fuck arthur

Well ok then you supercilious prat let’s see how you’d like your new shiny sword at the bottom of the lake (yes I know that Kilgharrah told Merl to hide it anyway but let’s just go with the idea that Merlin was feeling particularly spiteful)

everything continues relatively as normal up until after-2x13

then goes the mindfuck because???? arthur is???? not horrible???? doesn’t send him to stocks that often????? and is hissing at things at times???? and was that smoke coming out of his mouth????

naturally the logical course of action is to talk to the Great Dragon, who’s obviously not amused

“Young Warlock would you kindly just make up your mind whether I am supposed to stay away from your precious Camelot or not, I am an old, mighty dragon, not a dog”

but yess, he does, in fact, explain why that is. He seems greatly amused by that, too.

Cue the “screaming into the void” phase which lasts several weeks, maybe months.

But okay, they got it under control, especially since Merlin confessed about Balinor being his father. Not the warlock thing though, that’s still sEcReT

But then Morgana comes back. And plots to overthrow Uther, possibly killing Arthur in the process. But okay, Merlin can deal with that, right?

Oh. Well. What do you know, Morgana is a Pendragon as well. He’s fucked.

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merlin + light green

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waiT SHIT

so I said Pendragons get stupid pleased when listening to their Dragonlord. Since there’s like only one left that means Merlin ‘aight.

So like. Would that mean.

Morgana sort of listens to him too?

like imagine that

Morgana: *off to fuck the shit up with Morgause (or Agravaine cuz by this point I fucked the original plot in so many ways I don’t even know) because fuck you Uther that’s why*

Merlin: *judging stare* the fuck do you think you’re going

Morgana:

Morgana: *grudgingly goes back to her chambers to sulk but THAT DOESN’T STOP HER FROM PLOTTING CURSE YOU YOU INCONVENIENT MANSERVANT*

Morgause, somewhere in the forest, standing there for like the whole night probably: …sister...????

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the dragon!Pendragons AU no one wanted and no one needed but I’m making one anyway

As a bloodline, the Pendragons have an „inner dragon” of some sorts, why, I don’t know yet, gimme time (probably „the legends don’t mention the origins” or smn)

First triggered when they come of age (21 in this instance i suppose), then all goes downhill (as expected), it becomes more noticeable, the temper gets a lot worse and all that, BUT extraordinary circumstances such as, oh I don’t know THE LAST DRAGONLORD MAYBE might strengthen the dragon and generally make the whole condition more unpleasant than it should be lmao

Uther denies everything but it’s fine as his dragon doesn’t give a fuck about the guy either way

Arthur’s in trouble cause his dragon does, in fact, give a fuck about him so he can’t deny a single thing

In any case, his title as „the Once and Future King” might indicate that the dragons is going to be stronger (because reasons and because I said so); SO Arthur might have a new, annoying habit of hissing at things. And at times, he might spit smoke. He is entirely unable to convince his father he has never smoked in his entire goddamn life. And that he never plans to. No one likes those new habits. Least of all Arthur himself.

Extreme circumstances – like danger to self, danger to the hoard, etc. - might cause some shapeshifting to happen. And, yes, I fully intend to get this story to a point where Prince Arthur gets stuck in the dragon form bc reasons. It will probably have something to do with pulling Excalibur out of the stone (which, at this point, will have to look completely different to the show, oops) because I really want to have Dragonthur after freeing this “stupid chunk of metal” out of this “stupid goddamn rock” and extremely mad Uther going between “Jesus fuck kill this abomination now” and “SON PLS WAIT AND DO NOT SUCCUMB TO SORCERY I WILL DO EVERYTHING TO CuRe YOU” real quick

Technically they aren’t obliged to listen to the Dragonlords, but, tehee, merthur needs to happen so listening to their Dragonlord’s orders makes them incredibly, stupid pleased. More like euphoria-pleased. I mean I don’t really need it for merthur to happen, I just find this insanely amusing.

They know the dragontongue, somewhat, without having to learn. The dragontongue does things. I don’t know what things yet. Just. Yanno. Things.

Arthur basically gets disowned at some point because, hey, Uther’s dragon might be more dead than alive (and Arthur’s lizard is very lively), but it’s still his land and treasure, and hoard, and why would he let this young, little, eager to fight bitch even try to usurp that, how dare he >:c

Art and Morgana argue more

As a matter of fact, all Pendragons piss each other off a lot more. Somehow.

Arthur confronts Merlin directly after 2x13, because it is, dammit, in his right to know why the hell he gets this stupid urge to wag a tail he doesn’t even have every time Merls smiles. Also, why on earth does he feel like the knowledge about Dragonlords has been permanently drilled into his head (he somehow knows the words despite never learning and something, the beast, inside him stirrs)

Dragons, as expected, hoard things. For instance: Uther has always been interested in riches that might be hidden under Camelot (see 2x01), morgana loves her expensive dresses and jewellery, and Arthur… Arthur hoards people. His Kinghts of the Round Table. His magical, ridiculously powerful Dragonlord. His strange druid child whom no, Merlin, you can’t get rid of unless you wanna get me a new one, understood?

Permanent scales on the shoulders, elbows and knees (maybe the loins too? Dunno yet)

When pissed off, the pendragons’ pupils become slit, like a snake, but that’s for later (plot-wise)

I… feel like at this point, Merlin is just sort of screaming into the void in this one, but stay tuned or something

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we could have gotten such nice things if BBC weren’t a bunch of cowards and just let them elope and get a farm

Merthur x cottagecore aesthetic

Them baking bread in the morning only for Arthur to complain and just watch Merlin do it instead

Them making jam the night before and dancing around the kitchen, singing to a random song

Them going out for picnics in the forest behind their cottage and Arthur insisting they bring a huge basket of food

Arthur spending the day drinking tea and taking their dog on a walk through a field

Merlin having a little vegetable and/or fruit farm next to their house

Them owning a pet frog or snail or lizar- WAIT NOT THEY OWN A GECKO CALLED KILGARRAGH

They also have a white kitten called Aithusa. Their dog is called King

At night they lounge around in the sitting room with the fire on and they both read books silently on the couch

Them adventuring into the forest and Merlin pointing out different plants to Arthur who could care less, but loves listening to Merlin's voice

Merlin and Arthur trying to knit. Merlin can, but Arthur gives up and ends up giving the yarn to Aithusa

I have so many more ideas oh lawd

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*gets to the part i really started writing this fanfic for* me: *sternly* this better be good, me