don't be dull, be fannish

"He Was Steeping" by anon | Arthur/Merlin | AU | Arthur falls in love with a partially deaf Merlin. | Words: unknown but short-ish (kinkmeme)

"Hi," Gwen says, all cheer and delight, and then stops as Merlin steps in closer to shake her hand. "Oh," she catches a glimpse at his ears (and Morgana had noticed them before as large as they were, but not until Merlin stepped closer did she notice the hearing aid). Gwen blushes to almost a shade of purple, "I don't know any signs," she says uselessly, "Just turtle," Gwen says and then makes a gesture with both her hands that does not look like a turtle, but more like what Arthur bragged about with the Frenchie.

I just love Morgana's POV here. AUs where Morgana and Arthur get along well are my favorite kind!

"Blood and Bloom" by canarypaper | Future!fic | Merlin/Gwaine; Lancelot/Gwen and Arthur/Gwen implied | "To see Merlin standing there, his blue cloak in tatters and his eyes shining golden made Arthur's heart stop in fear for the man. Felt his stomach twist at what Merlin was doing in the name of Camelot. What he was doing in the name of duty." | ~8.000

For the love of Camelot, Arthur repeated, watching as Gwaine reached over from his own horse to brush his fingers against Merlin's arm, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

For the love of Camelot, he thought, watching as Merlin's face remained stony, but his hand reached out to grasp Gwaine's own.

Or maybe, Arthur thought, staring at the misty valley unfurling before them, where Morgana's army awaited their fate, maybe just for love.

"For Albion," Merlin whispered, looking toward Arthur as he dismounted his horse. He stared at him, long and hard. "It has been an honor, my king," he said, slipping the blood vial from around his neck to pour it over the invisible barrier.

Wow. Seriously. Wow. This fic floored me. Must be one of the best Merlin fics I've ever read. Although Merlin is in a relationship with Gwaine and Arthur is married to Gwen, the fic is all about the depth of friendship between Merlin and Arthur, about what Merlin means to his king. Amazing!

"So Are They All, All Honourable Men" by Seperis | Arthur/Merlin | H/c, humor | Considering Arthur's future wife will be chosen less for compatibility than for her political value, Merlin may be the only marriage he'll have that won't end in bloodshed or a great deal of fortifying wine. | ~18.000 words

Normal people (i.e., Arthur) express temper in ways that make *sense*--and also emphasize that they are, in fact, angry. Throwing things, stomping, killing several large, dangerous forest creatures--they cleanse the spleen and clear the mind, leaving one refreshed (or so they say). And they're *visible*. So no one calls anyone insane when one says "My manservant's current exemplary service is a petty temper tantrum and I'm heartily sick of clean clothes and efficient cleaning. Make it stop."

This fic has it all: hilarious humor, hurt/comfort and most of all, protective!Arthur. My first Merlin fic read and I'm smitten, smitten, I'm telling ya *_*