Hear me out ! I have an idea for an alternate version of BBC Merlin Season 4 Episode 9 : “Lancelot Du Lac”
The title of this prompt/fanfic or whatever you wanna call it would be : “The Puppet Soul”
So, to remind you in case you don’t remember that specific episode : it’s the one where Arthur proposes to Gwen and Morgana uses necromancy to call Lancelot’s void soul back from the dead to sabotage their marriage and prevent Gwen from becoming Queen.
Let’s twist that episode to fit the Merthur narrative, shall we ?
Here is how it would go : what if Merlin (who would’ve previously harboured feelings for Lancelot, which would’ve been totally plausible given how zesty this show was) is in complete denial about Lancelot being nothing more than Morgana’s puppet, and for once in the entirety of the show…just lets himself feel ?
He is so emotional about Lancelot’s return that he spends every waking moment with him, which makes it so very difficult for the puppet soul to fulfil Morgana’s wish.
I haven’t thought the details or the process through yet, but the evening where Lancelot is supposed to find Gwen in the council chambers, nothing goes as planned.
Instead of finding Gwen there, Lancelot somehow finds Merlin, who is looking suspiciously red in the face. After a lot of nervous babbling and a few tears, Merlin confesses his feelings to Lancelot and that’s when everything blows out of proportion.
Just like in the actual episode, Arthur was woken up by Agravaine, and there they are, witnessing a scene that should’ve featured Gwen confessing and kissing Lancelot out of his mind, not the gangly manservant ! Agravaine is deeply aggravated and embarrassed.
Arthur watches. He watches Merlin, his manservant, confess and kiss Lancelot. The puppet soul sees beyond appearances, he sees the pure, unfiltered rage hidden, contained in Arthur’s eyes. If this can tempt the king out of wedlock, then so be it.
Arthur’s blood runs cold. His world narrows down to this very moment. Nothing makes sense any longer.
There is a scream. Arthur struggles to understand where it comes from, until he realises he is the one screaming at the top of his lungs as he mindlessly lunges at Lancelot, sword at the ready.
Lancelot retaliates while Merlin panics.
Arthur has Lancelot pinned to the ground, his sword raises for the final, fatal blow. Merlin comes between them.
His eyes shine gold and the sword is discarded with a swish. Arthur and Agravaine see it all. Magic.
Lancelot is sentenced to death.
Merlin is locked up in a cell.
Arthur has cancelled his wedding with Gwen.
