THIRD ROUND: 5th Tilt

Just occurred to me that from Arthur's perspective yes Merlin seems really brave and stupidly loyal but also like someone with a death wish. Not necessarily wanting to die in the straight forward sense but reckless with his wellbeing in a way similar to characters like Lockwood from Lockwood & Co. Arthur doesn't know Merlin has magic so he has no reason to think Merlin is anything other than a defenceless servant who is reckless with his life to a concerning amount.

I've seen discussion and fan fics exploring how it should have been obvious to Arthur that Merlin was in love with him because of how devoted to him he was in such a self sacrificing way but I think you can justify Arthur not assuming Merlin's behaviour was born out of love for him because from Arthur's perspective it seems far more likely that Merlin just doesn't value his own safety and life to a concerning level. He's always joking that Merlin has a mental affliction, doesn't question truly strange behaviour because oh that's just Merlin being Merlin he's an unstable weirdo. Arthur counting the days since he saw Merlin smile because gods forbid Merlin's reckless lack of care for his own life developed into something with more intent.

Basically I think Arthur believes Merlin is legit just mentally ill in some way. Because frankly without the contact of Merlin's magic and the prophecy his behaviour is really concerning (frankly even with context it's pretty concerning by the final few seasons, that boy is not okay) and because to Arthur that is a much more logical explanation for Merlin's behaviour than Merlin actually loving him (platonically or romantically, doesn't matter) because Arthur can't comprehend someone loving him like that.

Also makes his reaction to the magic reveal make some painful sense because he's never factored Merlin's love for him into his understanding of Merlin's behaviour so when the weird behaviour he'd assumed was a mental affliction seems to be revealed as just a lie to hide his magic Arthur has no basis of Merlin's devotion to him to fall back on and use to make sense of why Merlin would be loyal to him despite having magic.

Arthur doesn't see Merlin's self sacrifice as the result of love from him but as a result of lack of love for himself.

Since I've been on a roll with short au prompts recently, here's another one! This is an au where, during the battle of Camlann, Merlin manages to save Arthur and defeat Morgana and her army. However, it comes at the cost of revealing his magic and his identity as Emrys. Furious at the perceived betrayal, Arthur attempts to fight him, but Merlin doesn't want to fight.

Here's the twist though: the story is written like a video game boss battle from Arthur's perspective. Here's an example:

Final Boss: EMRYS ATK: 999999999 DEF: 999999999 HP: ∞

EMRYS: I don't want to fight you, Arthur.

What will you do? >Attack Talk Use Item Run

You attack with a steel sword! 0 damage!

EMRYS: Please, stop this. EMRYS chooses to spare you!

What will you do? Attack >Talk Use Item Run

What would you like to say? >Insult Question Appease

You call EMRYS a traitor. EMRYS looks guilty. EMRYS's DEF lowered!

EMRYS: I never wanted to hurt you. EMRYS chooses to spare you!

What will you do? Attack >Talk Use Item Run

What would you like to say? Insult >Question Appease

You ask EMRYS why he has magic. EMRYS: I was born with it. I use it only for you, Arthur. EMRYS's DEF lowered!

EMRYS: My life has always been yours. EMRYS chooses to spare you!

What will you do? Attack Talk >Use Item Run

What item would you like to use? Dagger Steel Sword >Excalibur

You draw Excalibur from its sheath! EMRYS's ATK, DEF, and HP lowered!

EMRYS: If that is what you want, then I will accept it. EMRYS chooses to spare you!

SECOND PHASE CONDITIONS MET!

Final Boss: MERLIN ATK: 0 DEF: 0 HP: 1

MERLIN looks at you with tears in his eyes. MERLIN: I will accept your judgement, Arthur.

What will you do? >Attack Talk Use Item Spare

…

What will you do? Attack Talk Use Item >Spare

Hello everyone! Thank you all so much for all of the love you've given my latest au! I'm working on a continuation for the "Arthur misunderstands what a warlock is" au and will hopefully have it posted by tomorrow!

However, I have a question for everyone! I'm considering starting a new writing project based on Greek mythology (essentially a horror retelling of the Odyssey where mortal become less and less human every time they interact with the gods), and I'd love to share my work with you all! But, I'm conflicted on whether or not I should make a new blog for this project or not.

I know that most (probably all) of you are here for my Merlin content, and I want this blog to be enjoyable for everyone, so I want your thoughts!

I originally created this blog to share my silly Merlin au's and fanfics with you all, and I'm happy to keep it exclusive to that if you guys want that! However, I'm also happy to share all of my writing, Merlin-related or not, here!

I want this blog to be as fun as it can be for both you all and myself, so I value your feedback! Happy voting, and I'll be back soon with my au continuation post! :D

Hello everyone! After seeing the overwhelming support for my last au idea, where Merlin is reincarnated and is captured by a maybe-undead Arthur while exploring the ruins of Camelot, I've decided that I'll do a continuation of that prompt and (hopefully) have it posted tonight!

I've still got another au idea that I want to post after this continuation, but I'm conflicted as to which idea to post after that (since I have about 15 half-finished prompts sitting in my drafts).

So, I figured that I should let you guys vote on it! I'll probably post all of them eventually, but this will help me determine which ones I should post first!

I'm keeping them vague as to not spoil anything, but I think all of them are pretty good au ideas! I'm looking forward to seeing what you all choose!

I don't know why, but I kind of get the vibe that you're a person who has a lot of pets!

Reblog this post to ask mutuals to tell you their weirdest theory about u

Aaaand we're at #4 on trending again. I have no clue what's in the water today (besides the general desire for escapism), but let's party on Merlin fandom!

Merlin fandom, are we all doing okay?? Because this is the third time THIS WEEK that THIS has happened:

I feel like I've missed something here. What the hell is happening?! Or have we all just collectively awakened and decided like the hive mind that we are to take over tumblr again?

Reporter: How does it feel to be the worst servant in all of Camelot??

Merlin: In a city full of ass-kissers I wear it as a fucking badge of honor!

Reporter: what about the rumors that you’re always in the tavern?

Merlin: WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT

A little Merlin angst for you all on this lovely day!

In the show, we never really see the "consequences" that Kilgharrah speaks of when Uther wields Excalibur instead of Arthur in season 1.

What if, by being the first person to be granted Excalibur by Emrys (even if it was accidentally), Uther was made the "Once and Future King" instead of Arthur? Uther, of course, never lifts the bans on magic, and the show goes on as normal. However, 1500 years later, as Merlin sits by the side of Avalon lake awaiting his king's return, it isn't Arthur who rises from the lake, but Uther.

Lancelot: What the fuck? People actually tell their crushes they like them??

Percival: What the hell do you do?

Lancelot: I die? What kinda question...

This probably won't happen in my Eldritch Merlin fic, but I think that a scene like this would be funny!

Merlin: *Is in his true form as Emrys, which takes the form of golden, twisting strands of magic surrounded by an uncountable number of glimmering eyes centered around a blindingly bright golden light, its shape ever changing and fluid, emanating pure magic and power*

Emrys: *Speaking despite not having an actual mouth* Be not afraid!

Most of the knights: AHHH HOLY FUCK!

Leon: Sighs

Gwaine: ... You know what? Smash.

Arthur: *Turns to Gwaine* Be more afraid!