fic: Braver Than We Are [E] Merlin/Arthur

[merlin-hols.livejournal.com]

Title: Braver Than We Are
Recipient:Rawks
Rating:Explicit
Pairings:Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 63k+
Content Notes/Warnings:Temporary Character Death
Summary:Merlin has lived - though he'd be hard pressed to call it that lately - on the outskirts of Avalon for several lifetimes. It's sometime in the late 17th century when rumor reaches him of a man claiming to have nearly been snatched by the fair folk, and he knows he must investigate. What he finds on the Isle of Avalon is... miraculous to say the very least. Yet despite how long and how deeply he's hoped for such a thing, there's something about this wondrous event that isn't quite right. Merlin struggles to balance his better judgement against his selfish wants, but he knows fate is a fickle thing that won't be ignored.
Author's Notes:Joyous Merlin-Holidays to you Rawks!
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. :) This was an absolute labor of love. As you can see, I took one of your prompts and kind of ran with it. Or rather, it ran away with me. I just hope I was able to craft something that makes you smile!

The title comes from an Album/Song by Meatloaf (it inspired quite a bit of the writing). I did an excessive amount of research for quite a few minuscule details to fit the time period, and yet the anachronisms right from the show caused me the biggest headaches! Also, my beta was pressed for time (which had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that I'm glacially slow... really...), so she and I both apologize for the excess commas that didn't get cleaned up as they should have.

My most profuse thanks to J for dealing with me and my slow-writing ass and for tolerating being thrown so much fic. And to Scylla and Daroh who listened to me whine. And last, but definitely not least, my extreme gratitude to the ever-patient Merlin Holidays Mods. You guys are the best.
AO3 link to fanwork: http://archiveofourown.org/works/8715298