this is probably me just hitting peak insanity after scrolling on this website for too long but like
whoever had the brilliant idea of making the well-known old merlin character into a young man (younger than arthur, mind you, and upending the stereotypical mentorship role characteristic of the legend!) and basing the entire story on the bond (romantic! i will die on this hill) between merlin and arthur and THEN MAKING IT WORK was a genius
like imagine if 500 years from now when an ip like harry potter is public domain and ubiquitously known as a tale of magic, someone just straight up decides to rewrite the story by de-aging dumbledore and making him the same age as Harry and then writing an entire story based on their bond.
we’d all freaking look at them like they were crazy
Currently rewatching Merlin.
Arthur is so goddamn funny. Like every time Merlin is out of castle with him he is like "my god ,Merlin, you are so useless blah blah blah" but if you really THINK about it, there is no reason for Arthur to take Merlin everywhere with him. ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING REASON. Merlin is terrible with a sword, and im pretty sure Arthur can attend to himself in the wild (he is a hunter after all) so he probably doesn't need the servant with him this much. In 2x04 when Arthur went to rescue Gwen he took only Merlin with him. Not Leon, not Morgana (who is very good with a sword) but Merlin. It is just so fascinating to me, how strongly he craves Merlin's company
They had talked before of their ideal future, fantasizing about leaving everything behind, running away together to start a new, simpler life. A small farm, their own place, just the two of them. Arthur knew, of course, that it was all just wishful thinking, the kind of place the mind wanders to amidst the fresh air, the sounds of birdsong, long days on horseback, and the scent of a late-night campfire. Each stolen glance and shared smile held the promise of a future that might never come to pass, a future they dared not voice for fear of breaking the delicate balance of their lives. And so, with a weary heart, Arthur knew their dreams had to remain just that—beautiful, wistful dreams that lived in the quiet corners of their hearts.
(I'm not good at writing at all but I tried to add a bit of context for this animation. If any of you talented writers is inspired in any way to write something based around this animation I would be so thrilled though!)
ladies and gentlemen: Camelot’s deadliest warrior meets the world’s most powerful sorcerer
Arthur could have killed or seriously injured Merlin during the "take you apart with one blow" fight if he'd wanted to, but he's just... pulling pigtails.
Like he swings that mace for about 10 seconds while he's got Merlin cornered on the floor, waiting for Merlin to get back up and play fight. Then he incapacitates Merlin harmlessly and looks at him all 😍😍 "You're stupid, but you're brave. There's something about you, Merlin." OK, Arthur 👍
reblog if you believe fanfics are as valid as books that were published and sold by authors who write as their main careers. I'm trying to prove a point
me, logging into ao3 5 minutes before bedtime: WAITER! bring me your finest enemies to lovers!
ao3 tag search function: excellent choice, sir! how would you like it cooked?
me: explicit. with a side of hurt/comfort
ao3: lovely! and may i suggest a drizzle of mutual pining?
me: of course, and can you add a spritz of angst? make it a 100k slowburn for good measure
ao3: coming right up, sir
me: thank you. oh, and waiter?
ao3: yes, sir?
me: make it gay
pov you're some noble attending a royal gathering or whatever in camelot and you're all excited to meet the prince and then you get there and he's just hanging out with his twink of a manservant the whole night
arthur yearndragon u hurt me so bad
AND IT’S ONLY THE 4TH EPISODE!
Arthur is literally standing in a jail cell, jailed, because of his love for Merlin. How did Uther not know his son was gay, “why do you care so much? the boy’s just a servant.” MAYBE he did know fuck. ARTHUR GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR MERLIN. LET THAT SINK IN.
concept: Arthur dies at Camlann and Merlin’s magic goes feral and resurrects him right then and there. like, he doesn’t heal him, Arthur is actually dead and Merlin is just like “nope” and bends the laws of life and death for him.
and what if Arthur comes back changed? like maybe he takes something back with him (an ability, some sort of magic?) and Merlin has to help him adjust
I’m sure there are probably fics like this- please drop any recs!
hear me out:
Arthur is a rich bachelor who owns a farm
Merlin is his farm hand who lives in the local town
He’s been working for Arthur for 3 years- they got off on the wrong foot by insulting each other but since then have become close friends (not that either of them would admit it)
Morgana secretly signs Arthur up to the TV show Farmer Wants a Wife
Arthur has to host 4 beautiful women on his farm and take them on dates (and everything is being filmed)
Arthur starts to realise he misses Merlin- that he would rather be mucking out the stables with him, than on a boring picnic date
Maybe he kisses one of the women and realises he’s not attracted to her and he’s like Oh Shit: Sexuality Crisis
Of course some fun banter between Merlin and Arthur around the farm when they’ve stopped filming for the day- Merlin teases Arthur about the whole Wife thing
Maybe one of the women is Gwen and she Notices how much Arthur talks about Merlin, and she Notices how awful it was when Arthur kissed her, and she puts the pieces together
Maybe Arthur and Gwen become close as friends, and at some point he confides in her (off camera) and she’s like “I know.”
MAYBE ALL THE GIRLS HAVE INDEPENDENTLY FIGURED IT OUT- and they compare notes “yeah, he was SUCH a bad kisser” “definitely gay for his farm hand” AND THEY WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET ARTHUR AND MERLIN TOGETHER
Arthur doesn’t know what’s going on, but the girls keep calling in “sick” and he keeps ending up on romantic dates with Merlin???
Don’t really know how to end this, but of course they end up together, Arthur’s a good kisser when it’s Merlin he’s kissing, he remains good friends with Gwen and the girls, and they make television history
(Edit: I started writing it. Stay tuned)
(Edit: chapter one is up- read it here)
she/her | 22trying my hand at a bit of fanfic writing | ao3 mostly just Merthur
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