#merlin

Read it on ao3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/90348051

by bookish_and_green

Merlin has been waiting over a thousand years for Arthur's return. He hasn't aged a day since his friend's death. But when Bradley “Arthur” James, a rich kid obsessed with Arthurian legends, turns 21, Merlin begins aging again. A year later, they meet, and the adventure that follows will change everything for them.

Words: 1410, Chapters: 1/20, Language: English

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Modern Era, Reincarnation, Slow Burn, First Kiss, First Time, Hurt/Comfort, Nightmares, Politics, Trans rights, Consent is Sexy, Hand Jobs, Anal Sex, Top Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Bottom Merlin (Merlin), Top Arthur Pendragon/Bottom Merlin (Merlin), Romantic Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Merlin: *nods*

Arthur: Powerful magic.

Merlin: *nods hesitantly*

Arthur: So... when we were captured that time... when they tortured you... you could have left at any time...?

Merlin: *hesitates*

Merlin: ...

Arthur, taking his silence as agreement: ...and yet... you stayed. Why?

Merlin, quietly: You would have hated me.

Arthur, who can't accept that answer, that reason:

Arthur, who knows he has a temper: Arthur, who knows he would have done anything to get Merlin out:

Arthur, who doesn't know what he'd have said if he'd found out like that:

Arthur, who hates he can't deny Merlin's words: ...

Arthur, who could never hate his little brother:

Arthur, who knows he could have done more harm then good in those moments:

Arthur, who hopes he isn't lying: I wouldn't.

Read it on ao3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/90341606

by Ace_Teagirl

Tumbling over the edge, Merlin threw his head back as ropes of white cum splashed across Arthur’s tanned chest. “Gorgeous,” Merlin breathed. Eager fingers drew patterns on Arthur’s chest, smearing cum all over his heated skin. It matted his thin, blond chest hairs and crusted around them as it dried. Merlin’s spent cock twitched as he thought about how good it would be to lick Arthur clean once he was done defacing him.

or: Merlin wants Arthur to fuck him until he achieves a dry orgasm. While getting fucked, he paints Arthur with his cum.

Words: 2552, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 11 of Teagirl's kinkalot 2026

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Prince Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Sub Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Dom Merlin (Merlin), Bottom Merlin (Merlin), Comeplay, Come Eating, Come Marking, Come Sharing, Multiple Orgasms, Dry Orgasm, Pain Kink, Face Slapping, Praise Kink, Cock Rings, Arthur Pendragon Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Rough Sex, Orgasm Delay, Orgasm Control

We see Merlin make the same decisions over and over and over again throughout the show, saving Morgana and Mordred each and every time, and trying to persuade Arthur to see that magic can be used for good.

And then we see the outcome of those decisions. Morgana and Mordred doing just as destiny told Merlin they would, magic once again becoming the villain in Arthur's eyes, everything always getting worse.

So, this is the moment, this is the time, this is the choice, that Merlin decided to learn the lesson the world seemed to be screaming at him. To let Mordred die, to demonize magic for Arthur, and to put his morals away so that he could keep the once and future king safe.

Only, that didn't work either.

Arthur doesn't see that what Merlin said was horrible and gross and gruesome enough to actually change his mind, he just accepts Merlin's words as his own (since they practically were already) and goes and seals his fate. Mordred doesn't even die. The universe just laughs in Merlin's face, yet again.

This, to me, proved that Merlin was never meant to win, that his choices had no baring on the outcome, that he couldn't have fixed the mess that Uther and Arthur made. That there was simply no escape from circumstance for him.