#rvbb25

Merlin reached out and picked one of the seeding dandelions. “I’ve always loved these…” he began. “They only last a short time. I enjoy them while they are around.”

He proceeded to blow some of the seeds into Arthur's face. 

“So you’re saying…” Arthur began as he watched the seeds float in the air. He needed Merlin’s confirmation. Merlin smiled at him.

“I’m either saying you are a dandelion or that yes, I want to be with you, even though it won’t last forever.” His night blue eyes stared up at Arthur, teasing, “Take your pick.”

A blissful warmth spread through Arthur's body. There it was, the confirmation. The future would come, he knew that, but he had now. And he would spend now with Merlin. 

He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to those of the man he loved. Immediately, energy shot through him, almost like a battle rush; he felt fulfilled and happy. Under that was a feeling of happiness, safety, and home. The sheer joy of kissing Merlin for the first time turned into a singular purpose as the world faded around them. Arthur was only aware of Merlin, of where they touched, of their interlocked lips, of the scent of him, of the small delighted sound he made as he kissed Arthur back. Merlin. His Merlin. It was more than worth it, even knowing he could not stay; he hoped Merlin felt the same.

Merlin pulled back first and murmured a single word, “Dizzy.” 

Arthur felt a bit smug that his kisses had such an effect on the man he loved.

— For Now or Forever by @tansyuduri

Distressed by the impossible workload Uther has given his son, Merlin accidentally summons a second Arthur, an act that goes against every law of magic he knows.

Second Arthur is adamant that he cannot be for the long term. However, addressing the unknown magic situation is fraught with potential danger, and Merlin knows he cannot be the one to “unmake” Arthur.

Soon, Merlin finds himself dividing his time between serving two royal prats, one of whom now knows about his magic and shows himself to return Merlin’s romantic feelings.

As if things were not complicated enough, however, everything is not as it seems.

Merlin’s fate, and that of both Arthurs, hangs in the balance.

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Written by @tansyuduri Art by @schweetheart Betas: Calamity_Talvi, Rawks, Schweet_heart Created for @bbcmerlin-reversebang 2024-2025

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Arthur caressed Merlin's pale face helplessly. “No…. Don't... Come back to me! Merlin! MERLIN!” But Merlin was lifeless and unresponsive in his arms. Arthur should have left sooner; he should have done something. He should have accepted the magic instead of shoving that reality away. Perhaps then, Merlin would have been comfortable talking to him about what he had done. And now, Merlin was dead because he hadn't done any of that. Merlin was dead, and it was all Arthur’s fault. He pulled his body closer and rocked desperately. Sobs caught in his throat.

No. Arthur couldn’t accept this; he wouldn't accept this. He couldn't handle a world without Merlin in it. Arthur wouldn't accept a world without Merlin in it. So, Merlin could not be dead.

He looked up at his other self, desperate. “Tell me what to do… There has to be something to do!!”

The other him’s eyes were wild. Almost insane. Arthur imagined he would look like that too if he had been the one to do this… or if the other him had no solution. 

“Kill me!” the other Arthur suddenly demanded. He sounded like a man clawing onto one last hope rather than a man asking for death. “I don’t know if it will…!?” he continued, “but it might save him… It's all I can think of. Perhaps the life energy will go back into him? There will be side effects. It might also kill you. But I don’t think we care.”

Arthur would take advantage of any chance to return Merlin to him, no matter how small and no matter the possible cost. His hands shook as they plucked his blade from where it lay.

He held it before him and gently lay Merlin back down. He pushed himself to his feet, hoping and praying. Then he rushed forward, plunging his sword into his other self's torso. 

— For Now or Forever by @tansyuduri

Distressed by the impossible workload Uther has given his son, Merlin accidentally summons a second Arthur, an act that goes against every law of magic he knows.

Second Arthur is adamant that he cannot be for the long term. However, addressing the unknown magic situation is fraught with potential danger, and Merlin knows he cannot be the one to “unmake” Arthur.

Soon, Merlin finds himself dividing his time between serving two royal prats, one of whom now knows about his magic and shows himself to return Merlin’s romantic feelings.

As If things were not complicated enough, however, everything is not as it seems.

Merlin’s fate, and that of both Arthurs, hangs in the balance.

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“You’re the same as he is. You have his memories… his abilities…” Merlin stammered. 

Making the second Arthur go away would be killing an Arthur, and he couldn’t. Merlin could never do that. Even if there were no side effects to worry about, Merlin would not be able to destroy this new Arthur. Not now. Not knowing he was the same as the original.

“If you are gotten rid of, there might be side effects.”

Arthur scowled. “I order you to find a way to do so, Merlin. You don’t get to back out of it because there might be some backlash.”

Merlin fell to his knees. “I can’t...”

“You know, I always thought you were brave…” Arthur’s voice was scathing. “I suppose I was wrong about that, too.” 

Merlin looked up at Arthur, his eyes wide. “I can’t… You’re Arthur, I can’t hurt you… I can’t kill you. Gods, I can’t… I can’t… “

Arthur knelt down beside him. “There can’t be two of me, Merlin! I know you’re scared of what might happen if you destroy me, but there cannot be two of me.”

“I can’t!” Merlin’s voice broke. He grabbed Arthur by the shoulders. “You don’t understand. I could never EVER hurt you.”

Realizing he was holding onto the other man like a lifeline, Merlin made himself let go. 

Arthur Two stared at him. Something shifted in his expression. “You were telling the truth… that you use it for me, weren’t you? You’re being honest. I wish you had told me, Merlin. I’m upset. But I can’t… I can’t believe you’re evil.”

Merlin could feel tears forming and streaming down his face. Arthur didn’t hate him for having magic? Arthur didn’t want to kill him?

“You’re accepting… that I have magic?” he stammered in disbelief.

Arthur Two seemed to consider for a long moment. “I suppose I am. You can’t be evil. l — You’re not evil. I had hoped…”

Merlin threw his arms around Arthur two before he could stop himself. “Thank you,” he gasped. “Thank you.”

Arthur froze, and Merlin realized what he was doing. He let go of Arthur and pushed himself back. Arthur was red in the face, staring at him. 

“Sorry,” Merlin apologized. “Sorry.”

“It's alright,” Arthur stammered, probably in shock and just indulging him. “Just… just warn me next time,” Arthur’s tone evened out, and as if to make up for his sudden indulgence, he continued, “And stop crying. You’re acting like a girl.”

Merlin wiped his face and gave Arthur Two a look. “Oh, excuse me. So sorry. I started to cry when I learned you would accept the part of me I’ve been keeping hidden for years and having nightmares about you burning me for. Silly me for not being an emotionally repressed cabbagehead like you!"

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Written by @tansyuduri Art by @schweetheart Betas: Calamity_Talvi, Rawks, Schweet_heart Created for @bbcmerlin-reversebang 2024-2025.

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“You teleported me.” Arthur Two’s voice rose. “You have magic!”

Merlin corrected Arthur without thinking, perhaps still in shock over what he had just done. “Actually, I think I accidentally made a second version of you. You’re the second version. It was just because you had so much work! I wanted to cast a spell to make things easier on you. But… I made you instead.” Rambling like this was probably not the best thing at the moment

“That's ridiculous!” The second Arthur snapped and waved his hands as if to dismiss the idea. “This is ridiculous… You have magic…”

“I was born with it,” Merlin told him, sagging slightly. This was not how he had imagined revealing his secret. “I’m not evil, Arthur. I use it for Camelot, for you! Only for you! I was trying to help you!”

Arthur Two collapsed onto Merlin's bed and stared at Merlin. Merlin expected Arthur was putting together the many odd occurrences that now had only one reasonable explanation. He gave Arthur time to process it, even though he wanted to hyperventilate.

“Leave me,” Arthur finally snapped. “You should have told me!”

Merlin didn’t move. “I was scared, Arthur. Camelot executes sorcerers, if you haven’t noticed!” Arthur winced. “And I can’t exactly leave you yet…” Merlin continued, “I think I created you somehow… with magic… even if that goes against everything I learned about making lives with magic. Unless… Unless…” A horrible thought occurred to him. What if he had somehow drawn life from another Arthur to make this one?

“I’m made with magic?” Arthur choked.  “I mean, the other you was made with magic too. Differently, but…” Panic was starting to overwhelm him.

“I was always made with magic!?” Arthur pulled his legs up onto Merlin's bed and curled up, turning toward the wall, and went silent.  Merlin didn’t want to leave him, but he needed to make sure that what he suspected had not happened.

“Stay here,” he ordered. Arthur Two did not respond. Merlin rushed to Arthur's chambers and stayed just long enough to confirm he was alright, before running back up to his bedroom where he had left Arthur Two in.

Arthur was standing up now. “Unmake me,” he demanded, approaching Merlin. “There cannot be two of me. For the good of the kingdom, you have to unmake me.” There was determination on his face, but Merlin could also see small signs of fear and emotional strain. Arthur looked down at his hands, not meeting Merlin’s eyes.

Arthur's evil grin widened. “Well, Merlin, let’s see.”

And then, before Merlin could so much as dig in his heels, Arthur was dragging him toward one of the dancing groups.

Panic rushed through Merlin; there was a reason he had avoided harvest dancing at home. Well, unless he had been ridiculously drunk with Will. That reason being his propensity for falling over his own feet. But if he tried to stop this, Arthur would win!

Arthur adapted to the flow of the dance as easily as he adapted to the flow of different fights. The difference this time was he pulled Merlin in with him. As Arthur joined the jig and twirls and quick footwork perfectly, Merlin stumbled clumsily. Every time he did, however, Arthur caught him. Slowly, with Arthur’s help, he actually started to enjoy himself.

Merlin threw back his head and laughed, realizing that he didn’t have to worry about falling with Arthur there. Arthur grinned at him and accented their dance with a particularly hard leap.

“Always a showoff!” Merlin teased, but he was happy. He continued to laugh as they spun around the tavern together. 

“Considering I’m pretty much holding you up, I get to show off,” Arthur countered and laughed. His eyes were alight, and his smile was irresistible. He had never looked more beautiful.

If Merlin’s knees gave out just them, he blamed the dance fully.

— For Now or Forever by @tansyuduri