Fic: The Letter Q (Merlin/Arthur)

[merlin-hols.livejournal.com]

Title: The Letter Q
Recipient: slantedknitting
Author: anonymous
Rating: R
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 11.8k
Content/Warnings: Gay rights (includes mentions of harassment based on sexuality, statistics on self-harm and the history of progression toward equality)
Summary: Morgana wasn't lying when she said Merlin Emrys was well-loved. He's something of a star in the LGBT community, a gay rights activist who answers e-mails personally, who hopes that one day he'll be unemployed because there won't be need for a gay rights activist anymore -- there will just be rights, and he'll be part of the reason it became that way.

Arthur isn't sure he's ready to take the risk of writing an article about Merlin, though. If he doesn't he leaves himself open to questions about why he chose gay rights, accusations that maybe he has a personal interest.

To be honest, he does. But Arthur isn't about to risk his entire career for Merlin, no matter how addicting his smile is or how convincing his words are.

No, really -- he's not doing it.
Author's Notes: slantedknitting, I'm going to be completely honest and admit that I wanted to cry a little when I found out I was assigned to you. My e-mail back to the mods went something like, "GOD, THE FEAR OF FAILING IS EATING ME ALIVE ATM. COULD I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED SOMEONE LESS AWESOME? HOW DO I LIVE UP TO THIS? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?" and then I worried for the next month and half over what I should write. I started three different fics (which is progress, let me tell you!) but I felt most confident about this one (which doesn't really mean anything...) so it's the one I stuck with and I'm seriously crossing my fingers hoping it doesn't disappoint you too much!

As usual, thanks so much to I (who told me a week before this was due that I didn't have time to start over but, look, it's done! :P) and S for reading this over for me and quelling my fears by lying promising it wasn't too melodramatic. You're both lovely.

The Letter Q

Fic: The Shoemaker (Freya/Gwen)

[merlin-hols.livejournal.com]

Title: The Shoemaker
Recipient: sophinisba
Author: anonymous
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Freya/Gwen, (background Arthur/Merlin, Freya/Merlin)
Word Count: 23K
Content/Warnings: Reincarnation, romance/adventure, crossdressing, strap-ons, genderqueer character
Summary: Historical magical AU. In turn-of-the-century Glastonbury, Freya Lake heads up an orphanage for magical children. And despite all of the seers’ dire warnings, Freya is happy; her infatuation with the shoemaker’s apprentice—who may or may not be a girl underneath his shirt and trousers—is slowly coming to a head. But then a woman claiming to be Morgana le Fay shows up on the orphanage steps, demanding to see Emrys, and Freya is forced to rearrange her priorities.
Author's Notes: Sophie, I was absolutely delighted when I got my assignment; I’ve been wanting to write about both Freya and Gwen for a while now. I hope you enjoy!
Thanks to C, F, and J for being astoundingly cheerful cheerleaders and betas.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to Shine and BBC. I make no profit from this endeavor.

The Shoemaker