Because Merlin Is Still Trending And Because I Love To Be As Annoying As Possible, Here Is A List Of

I was watching the episode where Merlin disguised himself as the “dolma” and I was feeling frustrated at Arthur’s lack of concern to Merlin’s whereabouts. It goes against everything we’ve ever seen of him. He never forgets Merlin and he’s never calm when Merlin is in potential danger.

So I was thinking to myself, why? Why would Arthur forget Merlin? And I remembered that, despite being an old woman sorceress, he immediately felt like he knew her somehow. She is everything that Merlin is not (to his knowledge), and yet he somehow knows her. Just like he did with “Dragoon”.

“You seem familiar, sorceress” - Arthur

And as the “dolma” points out he’s forgetting something, he jokes with her the exact way he does with Merlin. “Ah, I thought things had gone unusually smoothly” + other lines. Why would he do that?

Because a part of Arthur knows Merlin is standing right in front of him. He’s unable to recognize that he’s forgetting Merlin, because he can feel that he’s standing right there. He bickers with her because that’s Merlin. She has to explicitly point out that it’s Merlin he’s forgetting, in order for his brain to override his feelings.

Arthur always knew the true Merlin. Even if neither of them knew it.

“I would recognize you in total darkness, were you mute and I deaf. I would recognize you in another lifetime entirely, in different bodies, different times. And I would love you in all of this, until the very last star in the sky burnt out into oblivion.” - Recognition

Smash or Pass: Merlin

Merlin characters as tags from this poll

(BBC Merlin & Text Posts [i guess] 13/?)

"fuck it we ball" is for stress about the future "it is what it is" is for stress about the past and "this too shall pass" is for stress about the present thank you for coming to my TED talk

Fics that you should read before Arthur comes back: clown edition

Now I know we might all be clowns, and that they're probably playing with us as usual, but honest to God I don't care. I am going to get my hopes up because I have been doing exactly that for the past lord knows how long. So better stay consistent, ok? Better remain true to the cause.

Now here are some post-canon fics that the writers should put into consideration if they know what's good for them.

1. These Ghosts Might Be Mine by @peaceheather. 68K, G.

The only thing I wrote in my bookmarks over this was that it's "the ending we deserved". Pretty sure that sums up exactly what I want to say. It's not just your ordinary time travel fix-it fic, but one that is done with such brilliance that it leaves you marvelling in awe at times. You must do yourself a favour and read for this author if you actually want to get a good understanding of the characters past canon.

2. Seo Gaestlufe/The Soul's Love series by flowerofnettles. 180K, T/E.

I know how hesitant some are when it comes to series, but listen. This one is simply not long enough from how GOOD it is! I rarely read wip fics, (it's now complete) but I genuinely loved living a journey with the author while it was being written, and I felt the amount of love and passion the author spent on it. What a creation, honestly. It's one of the very best out there.

3. I will turn your fear into a handful of dust by @regulusrules. 1K, G.

I am biased, ok? I want my own happy ending for them. I want to see them grow old and weary together. I want them alive. And if what it takes is a 1k drabble of them lying together by the sea, then I'll take it. I'll take it every single time you guys.

4. Albion's last bulwark by Saturne. 92K, E.

You know when there's a halo around a fic that you intensely remember a scene from but never the whole? And the scene alone is more than enough to remind you how good of a fic it is? Yeah. Yeah it's definitely the case here. I vividly feel its effect still. Absolutely planning on rereading soon because of how brilliant it was.

5. And like the cycle of the year, we begin again by @katherynefromphilly. 207K, M.

And lastly, the fandom requirement. The one that we will throw fists for if we don't see a scene or two from. As much as I am always more into canon deviations than accepting the idea of immortality and Arthur rising after millennia, this fic was definitely a pro in trying to make me less in denial. It certainly set the expectations high for any adaptation they might make now, and for good reason.

ARTHUR WILL RISE AGAIN.

but also imagine you've spent 30+ years successfully repressing any trace of homosexuality from your outward persona and then the second you leave town everyone you know starts calling you a faggot behind your back when you can't defend yourself against the allegations. I'd be so pissed

bbc merlin - 03x13 The Coming of Arthur, Part II

their expressions get me every. single. time

Gwen having terrible gaydar for 4 minutes 'straight'

I posted this on my tiktok but I thought I'd chuck it here as well. enjoy

It IS true that being on here gives you a tumblr accent. This morning my mother asked me something and i replied "i don't know i've never heard these words in that order" and she nearly choked laughing. It wasn't even that funny

this reminds me of the time someone on tiktok said fanfiction websites are like drug dealers: if you want the good shit, you go to a good dealer; bad quality drugs on wattpad, mid quality drugs on ff.net and excellent, well-sourced drugs from ao3. as someone who doesn't even do drugs this still makes total sense

Reading fanfiction on ao3 is like being addicted to drugs.

The first time you read one you experience this immense amount of euphoria and satisfaction (because of a well-done story or your ship having a solid dynamic etc.)

The high lasts for quite some time until you want way more of that special feeling so you read more and more until eventually nothing can satisfy you anymore.

But instead of trying to quit, we embrace the madness and let it takes us wherever it wants.

And I think that's beautiful.