#merthur:explicit

Let Me Be Your Canvas

Rating: explicit Words: ~11.000 Ship: Merthur Author: marguerite_26 Summary:

Merlin wants a tattoo. And maybe the tattoo artist as well.

Review:

Yeah, well. What is there to say? I really enjoyed reading it, it has a lot of depth, even though it is rather short and focuses on the topic of tattoos. The material could easily fill a lot more chapters! At least, I would like it. We don't get to know what's with Morgana in the end or with Arthur's yacht.

Anyway, it is really hot. Merlin is just 18 and wants a tattoo so badly. But Arthur isn't the kind of guy he expected to see; just the word "Excalibur" graces his chest - which Merlin not discovers until Arthur stands shirtless behind him in his room.

While Merlin is really attracted to the way Arthur scribbles his sketches on his skin, Arthur has found his muse in Merlin and loves his artistic skills. He wants his own created motives tattooed; but beside his tattoo ideas, there are also sketches of dicks in his book. And, well, Arthur gets to see them.

No Matter How Far Away You Roam Rating: explicit Words: ~12.000 Ship: Merthur Author: lady_ragnell Summary:

“I was wondering if you might come home with me.” Merlin stops mid-rant and stares at him, and then down at his panini again, and back at Arthur. This is a panini of lies and pain. He can tell 

“For Christmas? I’ve got an uncle and a mother and a sister waiting for me at home, in case you hadn’t remembered, I’m not going home with you just because you’re a workaholic."

“No, it’s. My mum might be under the impression that we’re a little bit married."

In which Merlin gets conned into spending Christmas with Arthur's family and pretending to be his husband, because somehow this is his life.

Review:

I really didn't know that I needed such a fic. But now I know that I do and I will definitely read them more in the future.

It's so delicious that they pretend to be boyfriends, in this case even husbands. Even though - or especially - you kind of feel that Arthur doesn't have to fake it.

He even buys them wedding rings with "once and future" engraved. It's so funny how Merlin's family knows that they aren't together and Arthur's thinks that they've been together for years.

A Modern Manservant

Rating: explicit Words: ~113.000 Ship: Merthur Author: Mamalaz Summary:

A modern magical comedy very loosely based on Ugly Betty. Publishing king Uther Pendragon has had enough of his playboy son seducing every female assistant he has ever had so he hires Merlin, a man he is sure Arthur will never sleep with. Merlin would be more insulted by this fact if he wasn’t so busy trying to juggle his duties, save Arthur's skin from ruthless fashionistas and keep his magic a secret at the same time. Expect appearances by oil-lathered knights, the occasional mad druid, a perverted Will and a mental caretaker who lives in the basement and keeps harping on about coins and destiny.

Review:

Finding Home

Rating: explicit Words: ~8.000 Ship: Merthur Author: riventhorn Summary:

When Gaius retires, a new physician takes over, one that quickly kicks Merlin out of his room and takes it for himself, Arthur finds Merlin sleeping in the stables..and it's winter.

Review:

It's been long since I've read a sweet hurt/comfort FF and I forgot that it's actually a nice thing to read (when it's good written and not exaggerated).

And yeah, it was. You know these little stitches you feel in your chest when something hurts that you read? I had them and it was nice for once. 

Basically, Arthur finds Merlin in the stables and lets him sleep in his bed. That continues on for weeks, even though Arthur agrees to find Merlin another place, since Merlin's scared that Arthur will find out about his magic. 

The King Of Queens

Rating: explicit Words: ~45.000 Ship: Merthur Author: pickitup Summary:

Modern AU. Merlin has always dreamed of going to Cambridge University and is thrilled to win a place at Queens’ College. Whilst there he falls hopelessly in love with the JCR President, drinking society President, Lacrosse captain and all-round popular guy Arthur Pendragon. Arthur takes him under his wing until Merlin stands to be LGBT Rep on the JCR and Arthur realises that Merlin likes boys. Full of Cambridge slang, UST, Arthur being a knobhead with no knob, and eventual happy ending. I promise.

Review:

This fanfic really keeps its promises. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it (because, yeah, you know that I dig this kind of stuff. Arthur being a bully and all this), but it's lovely made and I like them being at Uni and it seems like a big adventure when Merlin moves there.

I liked that Arthur seemed so fascinated with him from the start and that they quickly became friends. Also it's awesome that they made fun of both of their names. That happened in other fics I've read, too, but not in this way and I laughed.

Uhm, as I said, I kind of like Arthur being a homophobe. Although you kind of know from the beginning on that it's only a facade.

I enjoyed that Merlin knew and said that he deserved someone better, that he didn't give up but was so self confident to let him go somehow, even though Arthur realised in the end. 

It was a tingling, nice fanfic and it lulled me into a comforting Uni-atmosphere. Even though the end was a bit ... too problem-less. Kind of. That it was just a big seesaw between those two and Arthur's mind. 

Coming Up

Rating: explicit Words: ~40.000 Ship: Merthur Author: Thursday_Next Summary:

90s high school AU. Merlin can think of a billion reasons why moving to Camelot-on-Sea in the middle of his A-levels is a terrible idea. He would much rather play his guitar than work in his uncle's chip shop and he has no intention of making friends. Until he joins head boy Arthur Pendragon's wannabe-Britpop band and finds himself falling head over heels for the stuck-up prat.

Review:

All Bets Are Off

Rating: explicit Words: ~23.000 Ship: Merthur Author: Magnolia822 Summary: 

Merlin has been in a series of failed relationships since uni, and Arthur has been a slag for just as long. After Merlin's most recent breakup, Arthur bets he can stay in a relationship longer than Merlin can stay single. Neither of them suspects their little bet will backfire so spectacularly—or open up so many possibilities.

Review:

I literally wanted to read it since I started reading Merthur fanfiction but somehow I never really did it. Only this time I kinda forced myself because it sounded so good and of all things I've read these past months - it's probably one of the best. 

I'm in love with stories about friends that become lovers and it was perfect. This stupid bet and you could feel that Arthur was jealous and then the next time you'd think that, no, he's not. And the overly-gay (is that even a word?) Leon and Morgana who reminded me of a female version of Brian Kinney from Queer As Folk. 

The Lonely King Rating: explicit Words: ~57.000 Ship: Merthur Author: corilannam Summary:

The Prince of Wales at his school. Merlin was sure it was all just a very bad joke. A modern royalty AU.

Review:

Wow, it was just wow. It really felt like reading The Student Prince again, although not quite but it's the second best modern royalty fic I know. 

And that's funny because I remember having started to read it at the very beginning of my merlin-phase. And the first scenes bored me and I stopped. (Also I actually don't like it that much when the perspective changes, but it's really well done.)

But I knew that everyone loves that fic, and I love modern royalty as well, so I gave it another go and I don't regret anything.

It felt realistic, although I think it'd be much more of a problem if the King was gay. But I liked that Merlin was the one in the closet - and bi. 

I liked that Agravaine, although not appearing that much, was nice and not a bad character. I almost cried when Arthur and Morgana made up again.