ON THIS STORY: so i had meant to properly rec this when i first read it way over a year ago now, i think. but i was too lazy as usual ha. it was written for the 2014 merlinreversebigbang  and you should also check out the art cause it’s brilliant.

this fic just…it really blew my mind. it’s very reminiscent of the show humans come to life merthur style with a really nice twist. the world building was SO SPOT ON AND WELL-CRAFTED I STILL CRY ABOUT IT. and the slow build between merlin and arthur was worth it in the end. ALSO, the storytelling was so well-done that it made me really REALLY want a movie based off this?? like all the details of how all the plot came together at the end was just so exceptionally written. like i mentioned, it had a really great twist. or maybe not a twist, more like the climax of the story made me go OH MY GOD, THAT IS FUCKING B R I L L I A N T. cause the entire time i was reading i was like, ooohh, how is the writer going to pull this off with a happy ending and the kind of explanation what will make sense within the characters and the relationships?? but they did. THEY DID IT SO. WELL. did i mention i would watch like a 10 hour movie of this?? it’s a 123k+ word count of a basically INCREDIBLY WELL-WRITTEN dystopian novel. READ IT PLEASE. if you haven’t already.

my fave canon writer in the fandom is destina. but they write merlin/arthur a little bit more differently from canon. like merlin/arthur are more….refined? if that makes sense. like on the show theyre full of banter and snark, but destina writes them a little less than that. their entire canon universe is a bit more regal. i dont think theyre ooc at all though, but idk if you’d see it the same way. BUT ANYWAY, destina’s merlin/arthur are always ALWAYS full of LOVE. like holy shit do they love the fuck out of each other. and the way theyre written is just so so so SO SO SO SO SO DFJAHFADS. and every time i read a destina fic, i find myself wishing that if the show could actual be fanfic from this fandom, i’d want destina writing it hajdhfas.

my top two fave fics from them are:

stars above, stones below (nc-17, 46k+)

summary: After the disastrous end of his betrothal to Gwen and the regret of his offer to Princess Mithian, Arthur swears off finding a wife until he’s ready to wed. When Merlin offers himself to Arthur as bedmate, Arthur suggests they hand-fast in secret for a single year of mutual pleasure without obligation. As their year together unfolds, and secrets and betrayals unravel around them, Arthur and Merlin learn there is no such thing as uncomplicated pleasure. Everything they thought they knew can change in the span of a single year.

AND THE SEQUEL:

para bellum (nc-17, 51k+)

summary: After Merlin goes missing, Arthur forges new alliances to repel a deadly threat to Camelot. Nothing will stop Arthur from finding Merlin, and nothing will stop Merlin from protecting Arthur – no matter the cost.

(^^^^^in like my top 5 fave merthur fics ever. i can honestly write harry potter novel-length odes to this fic)

more amazing destina fics:

the map of honor (r, 12k+)

summary: Arthur sustains a mortal wound in battle, and makes preparations to accept his fate. Merlin has other ideas.

wager of battle (r, 12k+)

summary: When a knight-in-training mistakes Merlin for a common servant, Arthur is Most Displeased. Trial by combat ensues…but Arthur isn’t the one who takes up the sword.

hidden light (pg-13, 9k+)

summary: During a winter hunting trip, Merlin finds he still has much to learn about Arthur.

okay now im just gonna skim my bookmarks list kjdfhdfkjafasd (these are all canon era and at least 10k or more)

in the winter of my soul by zairaa (r, 20k+)

summary: When Merlin reveals his magic and then gets cursed in an attempt to save Arthur, he runs away - the idiot. To find him, Arthur has no choice but to take up with an unlikely ally. But to save him, he not only has to face and understand what Merlin really means to him, he has to get Merlin to believe him, too.

what infinite heart’s ease by arcadianmaggie (nc-17, 65k+)

summary: Canon era AU. Betrayed by the people he loves best, Arthur finds comfort in the arms of his manservant, Merlin. In the wake of Uther’s death, the unrest to the east intensifies and shocking secrets are revealed. As a young king struggling to find his place and control a kingdom on the verge of war, Arthur must decide whether to continue his father’s crusade against magic users or place his faith in the one person he thought he’d never trust again.

from the ashes by randomslasher (nc-17, 42k+)

summary: When Merlin uses magic to save Arthur’s life, he is condemned to death, and Arthur is too late to save him. But when the grief-stricken prince, along with Morgana and Gwen, journeys to Ealdor to return Merlin’s ashes, a series of strange events leads them to believe the warlock may not be as dead as they thought.

so are they all, all honourable men by seperis (nc-17, 18k+) 

summary: Considering Arthur’s future wife will be chosen less for compatibility than for her political value, Merlin may be the only marriage he’ll have that won’t end in bloodshed or a great deal of fortifying wine.

in memories and mercy by bloodsongs (nc-17, 63k+)

summary: Historical Albion AU. Born a powerful sorcerer to an age even more unforgiving of magic than ever before, Arthur was the leader of the Resistance — a group of renegades that banded together to fight the oppression and murders of magic users orchestrated by the Guild, a formidable and mysterious collective ruling over Albion in a time of apparent peace for all except for those with magic. When his companions are killed and Arthur desperately flees for his life, the Guild sends for their best hunter to subdue him: the destructive but retired Merlin.

While initially reluctant to pursue Arthur after having cut all ties with the Guild, the threat to his own life moves Merlin to play a game of deceit as he joins Arthur on his fugitive’s journey to fight back against the very people he serves and to save his captured sister, Morgana. The inevitable betrayal happens, but as memories of a past life they didn’t know they had over the centuries begin to return to the both of them, Merlin and Arthur are forced to work together to escape and confront a great evil from their shared history together in Camelot.

(^^^^^okay this one isnt really canon era but its a reincarnation fic and its sooo good. and it holds a special place in my heart cause the writer was my paperlegends writer in 2013. and shes great and this is great. and it deserves more love. so you should check it out anyway :’)))

ivy and amaranth by thursday_next (nc-17, 41k+)

summary: While clearing out Morgana’s old rooms, Merlin discovers a pair of unusual magical bracelets. Arthur wants to destroy them, of course, and so begins a quest that will take them over snowy mountains and through rain-soaked forests, dealing with Druids, bandits and inns of questionable repute. With the future of magic itself hanging in the balance and matters complicated by the changing nature of their relationship, Merlin discovers that destiny comes at a price.

let us dare by kianspo (r, 29k+) 

summary: Uther dies instead of Ygraine when Arthur is born. Balinor helps Ygraine secure her position as regent, magic isn’t banned, and Merlin and Arthur grow up side by side. Camelot is different but not cloudless, destiny is still a troublesome thing, and Arthur is still charmingly oblivious when it comes to things that matter most in life.

the warmth of winter by eldee (nc-17, 25k+)

summary: Dragonlord Prince Emrys of the Druids is assigned the task of negotiating with King Arthur Pendragon of England in hopes that dragons and magic will be permitted to come back home again. (Hopefully that teenaged tryst Merlin and Arthur once had doesn’t make things awkward.)

(^^^^^this one isnt really canon-era but dystopian era but its got the same canon-era themes? its reallllyyyy good :D)

favorite by astolat (nc-17, 13k+) 

summary: Arthur was tipped back against the wall, his mouth open for breath and staring at the small arrow-slit window over Merlin’s head, trying to work out how it could possibly be that good with Merlin, of all people.

so that i might be where you are by cherrybina (nc-17, 13k+)

summary: When a spell goes wrong, Merlin and Arthur are linked together in an unusual way, which leads to lots and lots of UST.

at our best when it’s from the hips by derryere (nc-17, 12k+)

summary: Merlin goes to a brothel to get rid of that virginity thing and runs into Arthur. From there on, it’s all madness.

dying to return by stormdancer (pg-13, 19k+)

summary: When they try to hang him, he floats. They put him on the pyre at dawn.He doesn’t burn.

keep your secrets by new_kate, wangler (nc-17, 16k+)

summary: Arthur Pendragon is captured by the bandits. While he waits to be ransomed, he slowly gets to know Merlin, the prisoner being held in the next cell.

omg i wish i could give you MORE, but i linked ones that were at least 10k or more. plus there are probably a ton on livejournal that i am too lazy to look for hafjahfsd. and i read more modern aus than canon era djfhafjfadfsd. LIKE A TON MORE. but i hope you find a few things you like! :D

1. only three years (harry/draco) by sorion: (this links to ff.net but i read it on mugglenet.com first) this is the first m/m fic and pairing i EVER read and while, imo, it's nothing too special, it opened my eyes. A LOT. and it was THE START OF SOMETHING NEW, IT FEELS SO RIGHT TO BE HERE WITH YOU /sings

2. irresistible poison (harry/draco) by rhysenn: good fucking lord this fic literally took my breath away. and i wonder if it'll still take my breath away if i re-read it again. i havent read it in years but just the fucking INTRICATE as fuck way they wrote how draco's spell backfired was GENIUS. 

3. a thousand beautiful things (harry/draco) by geoviki: (another classic in the hp fandom) i first read it on skyehawke and as you can see it's an entire universe but you'll be more than fine if you just read this one. draco takes a vow of silence to help out harry. and it's just so well-written and well put together and such a FREAKING INTERESTING premise.  also gonna cheat and put: 3a. never mind the bollocks, it's draco/harry by geoviki: one of the best crack!fic you'll ever read seriously. i still quote a line from this fic to this day. MY SISTER quotes a line from this fic and she's never read it. 

4. all the things we never were (luke/noah) by kayceecruz: i re-read this fic so many times when it came out and more the following year. it just really fucking hurts. kat broke these boys in this fic but then put them back together so beautifully. 

5. so wise we grow  (kirk/spock) by deastar: FAVE KIRK/SPOCK FIC. so hilarious and witty and lots of great plot and drama. and kirk and spock's relationship development was fucking FANTASTIC. but dear god, don't read the sequel if you are the faint of heart and like to believe that kirk/spock lived happily ever after FOREVER. and even though you know eventually one of them will die, you don't want to have to READ about it hahadfkjhfajfas. (i'm sure the sequel is perfectly fab tho in the way it'll break your heart into a trillion pieces :'))

6. spoctoria (kirk/spock) by waldorph and screamlet: SECOND FAVE KIRK/SPOCK FIC. i mean: 

Spock is heir to the Federation throne, Jim is Prince of America because his fucking brother abdicated, and the Klingons are on the verge of blowing shit up--a love story.

says it all really. the royal au that every fandom needs and gets in ABUNDANCE, BRILLIANCE, AND QUALITY. :')

OH GOD I'M GETTING TO THE MERLIN SECTION. WHICH MEANS, I'LL FORGET ALL THE FIC CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING FIC THAT'S GOT ME DKJFAHFJDKFAHFAJFAFHSD.

7. para bellum (merlin/arthur) by destina: i mean, my comments on it should just speak for itself tbh hehehe

8. day in, day out (merlin/arthur) by suchgreatheights: this is my instant to-go-to medicine fic when i'm feeling like shit about anything. so happy-inducing. and it makes me feel great about love and relationships and people. 

9. the good times are killing me (merlin/arthur) by minor_hue: OF COURSE. I MEAN, I DON'T NEED TO SAY WHY, RIGHT?! 

10. for your information (merlin/arthur) by reni_days: I MEAN?!?! i laughed so fucking hard and i've never loved a fic so much that was mostly gen. and merlin/arthur don't even meet or get together until like the last few paragraphs and it's still one of my fave fics ever in this fandom.