Merlin Fan Fic Rec

My friend Emmanuel runs the Peace African Hope organisation, which is supporting Congolese people who have been displaced by the ongoing genocide.

Emmanuel's camp is currently home to 6,000 people, including 800 pregnant people and 100 babies, and obviously there will be more babies coming very, very soon.

Emmanuel is raising money so he can purchase formula, prenatal vitamins, and nappies so he can cover the healthcare costs, such as getting vaccinations for the newborn babies, so he can purchase clothes and shoes. So please consider donating to his campaign if you can.

Please note this campaign is in Norwegian kroner, so about 11 kroner equates to one US dollar.

I mean people love to get mad at Merlin for not telling Morgana about his magic. But in that scenario, Merlin would not be 'balancing the scales', like some kind of 'you know my secret I know yours' thing, but rather giving the princess/king's ward of his NATION power to have him burned at the stake.

And you could say Morgana would never use it, but the fact is Morgana was in a vulnerable position and yet also a position of power in comparison to merlin. Should she ever be on the verge of getting caught, or something similar Merlin would literally be the perfect diversion because he has no defence.

Morgana's word would be enough to get him done, and the fact that Merlin was ACTUALLY magical, meant he had no evidence to the contrary.

Morgana had a limited number of ways she could get caught, most of them involving directly outing herself to Uther. Merlin did not have the power to have her executed.

Morgana would have, if Merlin had told her.

In Hunith’s introductory letter to Gaius, she describes Merlin as a bright, well-meaning boy yet at severe odds with too many people of the town. Therefore, she sends him away to live with a foster father who she trusts for two reasons: (1) to provide him with a strong male influence unlike he’s ever had in life thus far as he becomes a young adult and (2) to teach him to control his craft, despite the fact that she’s sending him to the most dangerous place for a boy learning to control that craft.

Morgana is highly intelligent with pure intentions, which together put her at odds with most her household. We know literally nothing about her mother (except that she was clearly the magic parent between the half-sisters), but can reasonably assume Viviane sent Morgana away to live with a “foster” father who she trusted to raise Morgana safely during the Purge because (1) it would be better for a young girl to grow up in luxury than in a single-mother household during a war and (2) Uther was either unaware of the women’s magic or so desperate to have a child that he wouldn’t harm Morgana, just raise her to never know of it.

This all boils down to the classic Nature v Nurture. Merlin and Morgana have the same nature — the same innocent love for those close to them and excessive wit that leads them into trouble — and only differ in how they were raised — with an overwhelmingly loving mother he was sure was his own in a small town and at least one friend who was his equal vs with a harsh father she was sure wasn’t her own in a huge, cold castle and seemingly only one friend who was her servant.

And as their powers emerge, the differences grow. Merlin is guided by that judgmental yet warm foster father who assures him over and over that magic is not inherently evil and that his destiny is full of great things. Morgana is controlled that harsh and dictatorial foster father who convinces everyone that magic is the source of all evil and all those with magic deserve only painful death.

Until Morgause changes the dynamic, forcing Merlin’s and Morgana’s hands in opposite directions, they could have saved each other. But Morgause’s interference, her gift of acceptance and agency, raises Morgana from foil to direct antagonist. In turn, her villainy and manipulation forces Merlin to act in ways that lower him from pure-hearted hero to well-intentioned but misguided protagonist. It’s not Morgause’s fault, not directly. Each of them reacts to her of their own volition and makes their own choices — choices driven by their nurture which put them at odds with their nature.

Merlin | The Adventures of Merlin

I must find out why she would risk her life for me.

"A voice for Congo.

This young artist uses his talent to shed light on the

struggles and injustices faced by Congolese people every day. From child soldiers to exploited women and stolen resources, it's time the world listens and takes action. Together, we can amplify this message. Thank you for standing with us!"**