Ozymandias

me: [realization of what I just thought]

me:

me:

BBC:

What I don’t like is how we sometimes take it further and think of him as a simple fool.

Instead:

I want Arthur that falls silent when Merlin, bewildered, asks him “why on earth some folks believe that you, of all people, would execute them without remorse?”

I want Arthur who saw executions before he could even understand what one is

I want Arthur who executed people himself because sorcery is a disease you need to get rid off before it gets rid of you

I want Arthur who, even when he was so, so young obeyed king’s orders despite his unease when it came to raiding and killing sorcerers, because magic is wrong and not-well, and so, so twisted it leaves a sour-bitter taste in his mouth—

I want Arthur who, when he’s king, has to battle himself each time he tries a sorcerer. Because magic is so, so wrong but the sorcerer is still a person and to this point they were one of his subjects who he’d die for. Because the sorcerer didn’t even try to plot against Camelot, Christ, they were just doing their laundry.

I want Arthur who never thinks when he feels his subjects are in danger and almost gets himself killed because they are his people and his life is but a small price for their safety

I want Arthur who is not ashamed to cry and suppressed the tears just during his father’s reign, never after his coronation

I want Arthur who understands what is it like to sacrifice people in battle (“he’s lost so, so many over the years he can’t even remember”) and this is why he seeks peaceful ways to end conflict

I want Arthur who turns a blind eye to Lancelot pursuing Gwen despite her still being his queen and it hurting so fucking much beacause he just can’t be good enough, can he?

I want Arthur who’s so hot headed when it’s not about his kingdom’s well-being

I want Arthur who can never apologise verbally because kings can’t do that

I want Arthur who is all merciful and kind when he duels and it’s fair and one on one, but in the heat of the battle his mind’s hazy almost to the point of a full blackout, and there only blood, blood, screams and cries, who can’t think rationally then, because the only thing that matters it to stay alive and return home

I want Arthur who for the longest time is so fucking scared when he learns about Merlin’s magic. Of course, logically he knows he shouldn’t be, merlin is his most beloved friend after all, but still he’s so terrified he can’t even stop his body form flinching away, his heart from racing or his hands from shaking. Because if his most trusted friend could deceive him for years, about magic of all things, then… who else? Morgana, Agravaine, Merlin… he’s not sure he could take another betrayal.

I want Arthur who was so used to seeing executions that when Morgana witnessed one for the first time and was so terrified and got sick, he was genuinely shocked. Because… that... that was normal, right?

the fuck he doesn’t.

of course he has brain damage.

no one can be this oblivious. no one. he must have lost all his braincells except like two in those freak accidents that keep happening to him. i absolutely refuse to believe otherwise

Firstly, I have to give credit where it’s due. Because, let me tell you, this one art by @maryluis where Merlin from the BBC show rocks the Cursed!Merlin outfit (go check it out if you haven’t seen yet!!) inspired me so much, along with the song “The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman

ok credit’s given, let’s go

First of all, magic might technically not be illegal in Camelot, but it is heavily frowned upon, as Uther is still Uther, lmao. That means, that casting spells/enchanting in public may quite possibly get you thrown in the dungeon. For how long, it depends on what kind of magic have you cast (so that means some of the poorer people who are also coincidentally sorcerers may at times get themselves locked up deliberately, e.g. when it’s winter, it’s cold af and the food’s scarce)

However, at some instances having magic may get you led straight to your execution. What these instances are is, as of now, undecided.

The Pendragon siblings are not impressed with their father’s rule. Morgana often presses Arthur to just go and do something about it, and has trouble with understanding that Prince’s hands are often tied. She loves her brother, of course, but in her eyes, he should just try harder.

As for Arthur, he tries to better the life conditions of his people where he can. Seems not to be doing much but it doesn’t stop him from trying. And exactly that is why he doesn’t really have Uther’s favor. Frustrating thing, really.

Somehow, Gwaine is in Camelot as one of Arthur’s knights. I have no idea how that came to be.

One night, Arthur end’s up in the tavern. It’s debatable, how. Maybe to find Gwaine, maybe his knights convinced him to loosen up a little bit, whatever. The important thing is that he ends up there exectly when people start to whisper about the powerfull, all-knowing warlock who has just arrived to Camelot. They say his name is Emrys.

No one expects Emrys to be a lanky man with boyish features, ridiculous ears and this huge, radiant smile, which is exactly why literally nobody pays attention to Merlin when he gets to the Rising Sun. They might rise an eyebrow or frown seeing his, hmm, unconventional attire? The druidic triskellion doesn’t seem to be all that attention-worthy compared to his yale/royal blue coat and bare chest.

Also, he can somehow both hold his drink and totally fail at this at the same time, which continues to baffle the other guests.

At some point, there’s a brawl. Miraculously, both Merlin and Arthur get themselves kicked out, which is, as we know, a great way to start a relationfriendship

Okay, all’s fun and games but we can’t forget that Merlins is Emrys. So it’s not really surprising that he can see that Arthur is locked in a golden cage and some part of him want to get away.

And this is where we get to “The Other Side” part of this idea, as the negotiations start. Also, the tension is rising. They don’t reach a compromise that night, however, and part ways more exasperated and frustrated at each other than anything.

Oh! and a quick fun fact: Merlin and Gwaine totally know each other. And absolutely no one knows how they met, because the story changes each time they tell it per somebody’s request. Probably because they don’t know the story themselves, as they were both completely wasted.

Ok so Merlin was sort of used to the way things were done by the time arthur was 21 one but then this little bitch got 4 times more temperamental what the actual fuck arthur

Well ok then you supercilious prat let’s see how you’d like your new shiny sword at the bottom of the lake (yes I know that Kilgharrah told Merl to hide it anyway but let’s just go with the idea that Merlin was feeling particularly spiteful)

everything continues relatively as normal up until after-2x13

then goes the mindfuck because???? arthur is???? not horrible???? doesn’t send him to stocks that often????? and is hissing at things at times???? and was that smoke coming out of his mouth????

naturally the logical course of action is to talk to the Great Dragon, who’s obviously not amused

“Young Warlock would you kindly just make up your mind whether I am supposed to stay away from your precious Camelot or not, I am an old, mighty dragon, not a dog”

but yess, he does, in fact, explain why that is. He seems greatly amused by that, too.

Cue the “screaming into the void” phase which lasts several weeks, maybe months.

But okay, they got it under control, especially since Merlin confessed about Balinor being his father. Not the warlock thing though, that’s still sEcReT

But then Morgana comes back. And plots to overthrow Uther, possibly killing Arthur in the process. But okay, Merlin can deal with that, right?

so I said Pendragons get stupid pleased when listening to their Dragonlord. Since there’s like only one left that means Merlin ‘aight.

So like. Would that mean.

Morgana sort of listens to him too?

like imagine that

Morgana: *off to fuck the shit up with Morgause (or Agravaine cuz by this point I fucked the original plot in so many ways I don’t even know) because fuck you Uther that’s why*

Merlin: *judging stare* the fuck do you think you’re going

Morgana:

Morgana: *grudgingly goes back to her chambers to sulk but THAT DOESN’T STOP HER FROM PLOTTING CURSE YOU YOU INCONVENIENT MANSERVANT*