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Summary
In many ways, things are the same as ever.
It’s only… Well, back when Merlin still had things like secrets, or privacy, or self-respect, he would have thought that of the secrets, the magic would have been the one to truly catch Arthur’s interest.
But no. It’s the other secret that Arthur picks and plucks at.
Bookmarked by candlelight
28 Sep 2025
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Arthur in Ealdor was like a tame lion at the dinner table: you weren't necessarily worried you were going to get torn to pieces, but it was still dangerous, decidedly out of place, and made the neighbors nervous.
Series
- Part 4 of The Beltane Cycle
- Part 15 of Merlin works
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 14,537
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 268
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- 7,728
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- 1,161
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Bookmarked by candlelight
12 Jul 2025
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“Perhaps we are doing her a favor then,” he says, pausing to chew the inside of his cheek before adding in a measured, careful voice. “I wouldn’t want to live without my love, either.”
Arthur whips around in the saddle to stare at him, eyes hard and dark, like the storm clouds building on the distant horizon. “What love? You haven’t got a love,” he snaps, like he’s the sole keeper of all Merlin’s secrets.
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- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 8,175
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 280
- Kudos:
- 6,680
- Bookmarks:
- 1,242
- Hits:
- 51,195
Bookmarked by candlelight
06 Jul 2025
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“I’m the king,” Arthur says grumpily, swallowing around the stone that has settled in his throat, “I can wear what I want.”
“What about what I want?”
“I’m the king,” Arthur repeats slowly, since Merlin is being particularly thick, “and so you can also wear what I want.”
Or, Arthur dresses Merlin, which goes about as well as you would expect.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 16,232
- Chapters:
- 2/2
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 382
- Kudos:
- 4,036
- Bookmarks:
- 1,012
- Hits:
- 36,770
Bookmarked by candlelight
16 Dec 2024
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Summary
“Get out of my sight, and don’t come back until you can prove to me why I should allow you to remain in my service.”
Merlin stares at Arthur, confused. His tone was ominous, and it certainly sounded like a threat, but Merlin can’t quite work out what part is supposed to have him shaking in his boots. He’s halfway back to Gauis’ chambers when it dawns on him: Arthur actually thinks this stupid, degrading job is something he would be willing to fight for - as though Merlin’s life wouldn’t be complete without the honor of scrubbing the sheets Arthur manages to soil on a disturbingly regular basis.
In which it takes Merlin a bit longer to warm up to Arthur than it does in canon, but he gets there in the end.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 13,438
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 2
- Comments:
- 153
- Kudos:
- 2,221
- Bookmarks:
- 716
- Hits:
- 15,038
Bookmarked by candlelight
16 Dec 2024