#merthurweek2025

And if you′d never come for me I might've lingered in purgatory You wrap around me like a chain, a crown, a vine Pulling me into the fire...

MERTHURWEEK2025 Day seven: “love didn’t change anything…but it was there.” + any color combo

☀️STARTING December 18th - 24th🌑

WE BACKKKKK. duh💅this is my baby, and i love and cherish everyone who has continued to support me or recently found themselves here—i appreciate everything and everyone. thank you for loving our forever sun and moon as much as i do💖

have fun and enjoy!!!☀️🌕

FOR FANFIC OR META WRITERS - prompts and/or themes for inspiration:

day one: fake/temporary death + angst

day two: childhood memory + protective!others

day three: “stay away.” + angst with a happy ending

day four: spell(s) gone awry + humor

day five: bamf!merlin + hurt/comfort

day six: “oh. oh.” realization + fluff

day seven: magic reveal + canon era💖

there is an ao3 collection under the name which can be found here 'merthurweek2025’ - if you wish to add your fics

please put the day and prompt in your summary if posting to ao3.

reminder: merlin/arthur do not need to be the one to say the line or be the things exactly! and the + means and/or. these are mostly for inspiration alone. if you would like to just write fake death au for day one, for example, and not use angst, then that's perfectly fine.

FOR GIFS/ VIDEO/ ART CREATORS - ideas and/or themes for inspiration:

day one: enemies of merthur + red hues

day two: favorite quote(s) said between/about them + orange hues

day three: favorite location(s) + yellow hues

day four: favorite merlin scene(s) + green hues

day five: favorite arthur scene(s) + blue hues

day six: favorite merthur scene(s) + purple hues

day seven: “love didn’t change anything…but it was there.” + any color combo💖

rules:

must be posted on tumblr so we can reblog

please tag your posts as #merthurweek2025 and/or tag us directly.

NSFW is allowed, just please tag appropriately.

have fun and enjoy yourself! this week is all about supporting each other and sharing your work!

day one (18) - fake/temporary death + angst 

Merlin is put on trial for sorcery, as a new servant claims to have seen him cast a spell on Arthur's armor. Merlin doesn’t deny it.

Arthur is interrupted during training by Uther. 

Uther doesn’t explain, just demands that Arthur put down his sword and let George take Arthur’s armor off. 

Arthur protests, but lets him. 

Uther commands Arthur come to the throne room immediately. 

In the throne room, in private, Uther has a witchfinder look Arthur over. 

Arthur demands answers

Witchfinder claims there is definitely magic on Arthur. Enchanted. 

Uther tells Arthur that Merlin has been accused of sorcery. 

Arthur argues, claims Merlin would never. 

Uther insists, and tell Arthur that Merlin is in the dungeons and will be burnt at the stake immediately for casting enchantments on the crown prince. 

Arthur insists that there must be an explanation, that Merlin would never, and that Merlin deserves a trial. 

Uther submits, but knows that he will have Merlin burnt either way. 

The council is gathered for Merlin’s trial. 

Arthur doesn’t have time to go see Merlin, as Uther keeps him in sight at all times

Merlin is brought up. He’s in Cold Iron. He looks sickly pale. 

He doesn’t meet Arthurs eyes, simply looking at his hands. 

Uther reads the charges. He asks Merlin how he pleads. When Merlin doesn’t respond, he demands an answer again. 

Merlin looks up, looks Uther right in the eyes (making Uther uncomfortable, and says he did enchant Arthur's armor. 

Uproar. Uther is bloodthirsty. He asks what other magic Merlin has committed. 

Merlin, unashamed, lists off all the things of Arthur’s Merlin has enchanted, even saying their spells. 

Uther seeths. He sentences Merlin to the stake. Asks if Merlin has any last words (expecting Merlin to beg for his life) 

Merlin turns to Arthur then, meets his eyes. He raises his hands, palm up towards Arthur, and Arthur thinks Merlin is about to beg, only to see gold fill Merlin’s vision, and Merlin to cast a spell (Druid prayer) 

Uther starts screaming, and Merlin in dragged out. Uther has Arthur locked in his rooms, until they know the ‘sorcerer’ is dead. 

Arhtur paces his rooms

He can see Merlin’s pyre being built from his window

He tries to understand why Merlin would try to curse him

Morgana bullies the guards into letting her enter, and demands to know what Arthur is going to do about this

Arthur, unsure, confesses he cant do anything. 

He and Morgana argue. 

Morgana gets him to confess that he wants to do something. Anything. But Merlin has maybe an hour at most, and Arthur doesn’t know what to do. 

Morgana tries to tell him that thats enough time to do SOMETHING, only to hear Uther’s voice from the window. 

They rush over. Morgana screams as they see Merlin being tied to the stake. 

Uther commands the pyre lit, and right as the fire catches, Merlin looks straight at the window, and Arthur sees his mouth move but cant hear.

Arthur throws himself away from the window, and Morgana turns in tears to scream at him, but is stunned to see him crying 

Arthur thinks he can hear Merlin screaming, and tries to cover his ears, and begs Morgana to leave

She leaves 

A week passes

Arthur can barely sleep, he doesn’t like his new servant, every day feels wrong

He learns what Merlin said while on the pyre (“It’s going to be okay. Look away.”) 

He keeps thinking about Merlin, and mindlessly doing his tasks. 

Uther claims that the fog Arthur is feeling is the magic leaving him. Arthur isn't sure. 

Morgana asks him to eat with her. They are silent most of the night. 

Morgana asks Arthur if anyone told Merlin’s mother. 

Arthur feels guilty, tells her it's unlikely. 

Morgana asks if he will help her and Gwen go see Hunith. Arthur agrees.

Arthur organizes for them to leave Camelot. 

He tells Uther that its for him and Morgana to go on a hunting trip 

Uther acquiesces, thinking a hunting trip would be good for him, but says they must take one knight and be back in two days 

Arthur knows that they’ll be longer than that, but agrees

Arthur, Morgana, Gwen, and Leon 

They go to Ealdor. 

Hunith sees them coming, and immediately knows something is wrong

Arthur cant think of what to say, and Hunith seems to know, and pulls him in for a hug

Arthur cries again, asking her why she would hug him, when it is his fault that Merlin is gone. 

Hunith says that she always knew that Merlin would protect Arthur 

Arthur says Merlin was executed for sorcery. For enchanting Arthurs things. 

Hunith is unsurprised. She tells Arthur that Merlin had been born with magic, and that if Merlin had been putting spells on Arthurs gear, they were for protection. 

Arthur asks how she knows. She says because Merlin loved Arthur so dearly, and would never do anything to harm him. Only keep him safe. “It was his destiny.” 

Arthur asks, and Hunith tells him what she knows about the prophecy. If he wants to know more, he’d have to talk to someone who knows such things. Maybe the dragon under the castle? “There’s a dragon under the castle?!” 

The crew go back to Camelot

Uther is furious they were gone for nearly a week. 

Arthur, filled with determination for find the dragon, says that they had been on the track of a great stag, and had gone further than intended. 

Arthur sneaks to find the dragon in the dungeons

Kilgarah tells Arthur about the prophecy 

Arthur wonders if Merlin only stayed with him because of the prophecy. 

Before he leaves, he asks Kilgarah about Merlin’s spell. Kilgarah tells him its not a spell, but a druidic prayer. It doesn’t do anything, but maybe, if said by Emrys, it will do something

Arthur goes to bed conflicted. 

Uther begins to grow more paranoid. 

Since Merlin was so close to the Heart of Camelot, Uther starts seeing magic everywhere. 

Theres more ‘trials’, Arthur is sent on more patrols, there’s more executions

Arthur, seeing his fathers madness, speaks with Morgana, who is also scared. 

Morgana confesses to Arthur, she thinks she has magic, and what if Uther comes for her next. 

Arthur promises to protect her, but its Gwen that is accused. 

Morgana begs Arthur to help. When he asks what he can do, she says she had a vision, Arthur riding a horse with Gwen, a druid camp, and a sword in a lake.

When Arthur senses shes holding something back, she confesses she’s also been having visions of Merlin.

Arthur agrees to help 

Arthur helps Gwen escape

He sneaks into the dungeons, helps Gwen get into the woods, then hides her in a hunters pit. 

He makes false trails leading into the trees, and goes back in time to hear Uther ranting. 

Arthur offers to lead the hunt himself “she could come after Morgana!” Uther agrees. 

Arthur sends the knights on the false trail “split up. Find her. Look all night if you must.” Then doubles back and gets Gwen on his horse. 

He takes her as far as he can, and runs into druids. He thinks about Morgana’s dream and asks about a sword and a lake

The leader, confused, mentions that the Lake of Avolon is supposedly where the Lady of the Lake guards the holy sword Excalibur

Arthur thanks him, and leaves Gwen with them and heads towards the lake. 

Arthur reaches the lake in the dead of night. 

Freya reveals herself, Arthur draws his sword. Tells her he was expecting someone else

She explains they have met before, and that her death at his hand has ascended her to godhood. After she had been put in the lake. 

Arthur asks if ‘Emrys’ is a god, and if he will return. 

Freya smiles knowingly, but dosn’t answer. Arthur takes that as a yes. 

She explains that Emrys entrusted her with a weapon, one steeped in Dragon Fire, that can slay the wickedness that holds onto Uther’s soul 

Arthur asks if that implies Uther is cursed. 

Freya corrects him that it was Uther’s own actions that made it so. A wickedness that strong, especially one steeped in the blood of innocent sorcerers, could return after death as a spectral plague.

Excalibur will prevent the evil in Uther’s heart from returning as a ghost

Freya presents Arthur with Excalibur, and Arthur reads the inscription. Overhead, storm clouds start to gather. 

Freya tells Arthur to go, and do what he must. 

Arthur rejoins with the knights and returns to Camelot

Arthur tells his father that he found the sorceress at a lake. That she now lies at the bottom. 

Uther applauds him, and says that Arthur should lead a witch hunter taskforce 

Arthur bows his head, and Uther says his first target is Gaius. 

Arthur asks what happened. Uther says magic books were found in Gaius chambers, and the man has fled. 

Arthur rides out at once, going looking for Gaius. He finds him in Ealdor, 

Gaius confesses he was going to go look for Balinor, the dragonlord. 

Hunith admits that Balinor is Merlin’s father. 

Arthur goes to help Gaius look. 

Balinor refuses at first, before Arthur jumps in, saying that Merlin died for casting protection spells on Arthur, and Arthur refuses to let his loyalty mean nothing. 

They scheme, coming up with the plan for a coup. If Balinor can get to Kilgarah and free him, they can get Kilgarah to help in the attack to take down Uther. 

Gaius asks Arthur if this is really what he wants to do, kill his father, and Arthur very gravely admits that its what must be done. 

Arthur returns to Camelot 

He tells his father that Gaius escaped into Essitir, that he followed, until risking war was to great

Uther calls him a failure. “How can you rule this pestilence ridden kingdom if you can not even kill one sorcerer?!” 

Arthur apologies, and is sent away. 

He finds Lance talking to Leon, saying he needs to get into the castle. 

Arthur catches him before he can mention Merlin’s name, and demands he shut up 

Lance says he had heard a rumor from some druids that someone important in Camelot was dead. Lance thought it might be Arthur and that Merlin might need a friend. 

Arthur fills Lance in, and asks him to be his outside man, and claim that Lance is a young witchfinder that is giving Arthur information 

Lance agrees, and goes on his first task to touch base with Balinor, and speak to the druids

Its been two months since Merlin’s passing. 

Arthur notices that, in the month since Arthur claimed Excalibur, there has been a dark cloud over Camelot. 

As it grows, Arthur realizes that its time. Lance has returned with word from everyone that would join Arthur, as well as a few others (Percival, Gwaine, Elyan)

Arthur and Morgana just have to let them into the castle. 

As the fighting begins, there's a divide between Arthur's knights and Uther’s knights. 

They try to get Balinor to the dungeons, Uther intercepts them. 

Arthur draws Excalibur, muttering “Take me up”, as the first crack of thunder finally breaks the storm.

They fight, rain pelting them. 

Arthur faces his father, but hesitates when he has the chance to kill his father

Uther goes for his own strike, seeing Arthur's weakness. 

A crack of thunder, a lightning strike between them. 

Merlin arrives, hand out, eyes glowing gold, magic personified. 

There's a tense beat, then... The glow fades, 

Merlin looks at the trashed battleground, and exclaims "what happened?! I am NOT cleaning this up!"

Arthur stares, gobsmacked, only to see Uther rage and about to swing. 

Diving in, Arthur deflects the blow, and shouts for Merlin to focus!

Merlin ducks an attack, sliding across the ground and throwing his hand out. Arthurs shield files back to Arthurs arm. 

Merlin says he IS focused. On all the WORK Arthur has saddled him with! 

Uther screams and swings at Arthur. Arthur shouts MERLIN and raises the shield. 

Merlins eyes glow, and then Arthurs shield is glowing, and Uthers sword shatters against it. 

Arthur bashes Uther with his shield, sending Uther sprawling. Arthur raises his sword, but Merlin comes to stand beside him. 

Merlin places a hand on his shoulder, asking if this is how Arthur wants to become king. 

Arthur lowers his weapon, and confesses no. 

Uther tries to attack, but Merlin casts magic, golden chains binding Uther. 

Uther screams obscenities, Arthur watching on in horror. He can’t recognize the father he grew up with. Or, at least, the father he thought he had. 

Merlin, taking pity, speaks in the magic tongue, “Tsak” meaning sleep. 

Uther crumbles, and Arthur sways. Merlin quickly catches Arthur, apologizing, since he’s getting used to the magic being so intense.

Arthur sits on the ground, leaning back with his shoulders on Merlin’s chest. 

He looks up, reaches but not touching Merlin’s cheek. “Are you real?” 

Merlin cups Arthur hand, bringing it to his cheek. “I told you. Everything is going to be okay. You did great, Arthur…” 

“I fought for you. For your memory. The faith you had in me…” 

“I know. And I’m so proud of you…” 

“Merlin?...” 

“Yes?...” 

A pause in their tender moment as Arthur asks if Merlin really came down from the heavens in a lightning strike. Merlin laughs. 

Arthur and the rest gather 

There's a bunch of others gathering, tears, welcoming back. 

They talk about whats next. Merlin says, obviously, Arthur becomes king. 

Someone asks how Merlin survived. Merlin confesses that he technically didn’t. 

Everyone grows quiet, Arthur can’t help but smile, “Even as a god, you still put your foot in your mouth.” 

A roar as they all ask what Arthur means. Arthur just smirks, as Merlin glares. 

Taking pity, Arthur steps forward, telling them to back off. 

Someone asks why Arthur, who is not yet king, can boss them around. 

Arthur tilts his head, smirks at Merlin, and says he is chosen by a god, and he would like to turn in for the night. 

Merlin, going pink, sparks with magic, there's a flash, and suddenly he and Arthur are in Arthurs chambers. 

They have a moment to themselves now. Arthur tells Merlin that he wished Merlin would have fought back. 

Merlin confesses he didn’t want to make Arthur choose between his father and him. If he had known it would drive Uther to madness, maybe he would have. 

Arthur tells Merlin theres a lot to catch him up on, but Merlin shakes his head, saying he was watching Arthur while he was gathering his strength. He knows about Balinor and all that. 

Arthur says no, that he realized something in Merlin’s absence. 

He confesses that he had been holding himself back for to long, that he adores Merlin, and he can’t risk Merlin slipping away again without telling him

Merlin shuts him up with a kiss and calls him a prat.

for @lightasthesun and @fancypantsshitstain !! my og muses for this fic!! thank you both❤️

day seven of @merthurweek2025 - magic reveal + canon era💖

okay, the hurt/comfort is pretty minor, but it’s there if you squint reaaaaaaal hard!

you can also read on AO3 if you prefer!

Arthur had been right: after he and Merlin had been given their pathetic supper of bread and cheese – signalling that it was well into the evening – the two guards on watch had soon both drifted off. 

Merlin argued that they were probably only in a light sleep, which Arthur dismissively waved away. “They’re fast asleep.” 

“What if they’re not? We can’t afford to mess this up, Arthur.” 

“Merlin,” Arthur raised an eyebrow at his servant as he slotted the key into the lock of the cell. “It’s fine, trust me.” 

“How can you be so sure?” Merlin queried further, and Arthur sucked in a sharp deep breath, turned to Merlin, and promptly slapping him upside the head. 

“Ow!” Merlin yelped, bending forward a little and rubbing a hand on the back of his head. “What the hell?” 

But Arthur just stood there, hip cocked, eyebrow raised. Merlin looked from him, to the guards who were both – annoyingly – still fast asleep, and back to Arthur, grumbling a little in annoyance that he had been right.