Anything and Everything

there’s so much I love about this addition in the tags by @fuckingfandomfreak but what’s especially killing me is the comparison to arthur. because. yeah. I feel like throughout the show we watch arthur become a much kinder and warmer person, influenced largely in part by merlin. and yet merlin in that same time becomes a much more cynical and dark person, willing to do anything and everything it takes to keep arthur alive, no matter the cost.

I love it bc there are so many factors (imo Arthur is a softer person than Merlin in general) but not least of which is each other. Obviously, Merlin influences Arthur, but there is this element that just knowing and loving (in any way) Arthur personally influences Merlin both negatively and positively

Arthur fell the moment this twink with an attitude came to him and called his ass out. No one aside from Morgana has ever dared SASS him in his life and it made him find out some things about himself. Whereas Merlin saw an asshole and said: "What a bitch" and tried to punch him. Arthur liked that. Merlin didn't like Arthur sending him to the dungeons.

In the first episodes, Merlin is keeping him safe because of destiny, while Arthur is willing to trust him (ep. 2) save his life after a magic confession (ep. 3), and give his life (ep.4).

Arthur fell first.

By the time season five arrives Merlin is lost. He hasn't just fallen for Arthur. He has dug himself a hole so deep he can't see the bottom just that he can fall that much harder. He is quite simply obsessed with keeping Arthur safe and happy. Not for his destiny (which he has by now completely forgotten) but for Arthur.

There is no one else in his mind but his King, so much so that in the first episode of the last season he would not think twice before leaving all his knight friends to die, if it meant bringing Arthur to Camelot safe and away for Morgana. He gives up his and thousands of people's life and freedom for Arthur. This guy is completely gone for Arthur and can't think about anyone else.

On the other hand, Arthur CAN and does think about others... Gwen, his knights, and his people, even if he values Merlin "above all others".

So Arthur fell first. But Merlin fell harder.

I want to talk about Merlin. RIP to all you, but s5 Merlin is my MAN. He’s an absolute jackass. Not even a bitch anymore. He’s a fucking DICK and he learned it from the literal king himself. Arthur’s personality not only rubbed off on Merlin so badly, but it was compounded by Merlin’s actual fucking ego. The way I love this man…

Merlin is so hostile to Mordred and he’s not even shy about it, and poor Mordred can’t do anything about it bc not only does Merlin have the King’s ear (which Merlin is not afraid to flaunt) but also he’s way more powerful than him.

The way Merlin’s head SNAPPED to Mordred’s when Mordred laughed at Arthur’s joke. The way Merlin gives Mordred the tiniest most hostile smile and glare when he’s agreeing with Arthur about being happy Mordred is with them. The way the MUSIC stutters and clicks like Merlin’s a goddamn monster in the shadows when Merlin agrees. Mordred is literally pissing his pants.

and my God, my heart hurts at the look on Arthur's face when they're taking him brainwashed and away from Camelot.

This was always going to happen.

[He’s] been dead since the beginning.

uther doesn't approve of bottom!arthur, but nevermind the relationship with his manservant

[ALSO, thank you guys so much for all the love in the last merlin meme redraw, i really didn't think it would get that much attention!! :00 so thankyaa <3 you're amazing]

"(The griffin is a creature of magic.) It is born of magic, sire, and it can only be killed by magic." - Gaius, S1E5

Alright, since Merlin is trending again for no reason I'll share one of my lastest headcanons I came up with during my last Merlin rewatch.

There was something about this line from Gaius and the way the camera then directly pans out to Arthur that made me think of an interesting headcanon that would explain how Arthur managed to survive so long without Merlin.

You see, according to this logic, because he was born of magic, Arthur can only be killed by magic (or weapons forged by magic *winkwink*). So he could never really die from simple illnesses or battle wounds unless those were directly inflicted by magic. And, since Uther started the purge against magic right after Arthur was born, he probably wouldn't have had much contact with it in his early years (at least until he became a knight and started going out on quests, raids, etc).

That would explain why (much like Merlin) he seems able to endure so many injuries (broken ribs, poisoned arrows, etc) that other knights can't. (I mean, just the fact that this man didn't sustain some severe brain damage from all the times he's been knocked out is impressive lol)

What I'm saying is that being born of magic must have given him some sort of endurance that other mortals don't have, because by Gaius' logic the circumstances of his birth in itself made him a sort of creature of magic (just like Merlin).

It would also make for a good Canon divergence fic in which this was the reason that made Uther start the purge in the first place (to protect his son from the only thing that could kill him)...and it can get even more angsty if you add in the fact that Merlin is literally magic itself, but I digress.

Just a vilain who know Merlin is powerful ™ or who know that Merlin, a simple servant, is trying to save Arthur and finding it funny [either because Arthur doesn't know or because they think Merlin will be easy to take down and use as an way to break Arthur]