merlin_holidays | Entries tagged with length: 5-15k

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: look this way and say "i love you"
Recipient: bunnysworld
Rating: T
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Word Count: 10,483
Content Notes/Warnings: Some cursing but that's pretty much it
Summary: In which Merlin is a superhero just trying to do his job, convinced the school's golden boy is onto him, and Arthur is just trying to ask his crush out before winter break.
Author's Notes: So, this is slightly off of what you asked for, but I tried to hit as many of your likes as I could, so I hope you enjoy it anyway!

My betas were absolutely lovely despite the fact that I asked two days before the deadline. Thank you, I love y'all so much.

The T rating is for language, and the title is from the Cardcaptor Sakura theme for reasons.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27959726

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: up close and personal
Recipient: SpiritWorld
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Gwaine/Percival
Word Count: 5,067
Content Notes/Warnings: N/A
Summary: "I need you all fighting fit, in case Morgana shows up," Arthur says. "That means no alcohol."
Despite his authoritative tone, he's met with many grumbles across the camp. At Arthur's frown, Merlin jumps in, trying to bolster everyone's spirits. "We could play a game?"

Merlin plays a magically-fortified truth game with Arthur and the knights.

Author's Notes: Diverges after season 3, before Morgana took Morgause to the Isle of the Blessed.
Happy Holidays, SpiritWorld! I combined the ideas behind a few of your prompts - hope you enjoy!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27726412

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: bleak expectations
Recipient:

awyvern
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, minor Gwen/Lancelot
Word Count: 9957
Summary: "I've always assumed that Arthur would be on the same level of bigotry [as his father]," Will admits. “Forcing opinions where they’re not wanted.”
“Arthur’s a prat, but it’s not the same as being a bigot.”
Doubtfully, Will says, "That’s quite a big change from calling him a... clotpole? if I remember correctly. You and your words, Merlin, I can’t even."
Merlin shrugs in acknowledgement of both statements and replies, echoing Gwaine’s words, "Arthur's only 30% of the arrogant ass he likes to pretend he is."
Author's Notes: Many thanks to oddishly for the beta, advice, Britpicking, and brainstorming/idea-bouncing sessions!
The title of this fic is taken from the eponymous BBC Radio 4 comedy series (in which Anthony Head is a cast member).

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27970436

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: The Most Wonderful Time
Recipient:

clea2011
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 14,363
Content Notes/Warnings: None

Summary: Where Morgana meddles, Arthur pines, and Merlin thinks he’s Lizzie Bennett – Christmas with the Pendragons is going to be a little different this year.

Author's Notes: Happy Holidays, Clea2011. I had such a hard time choosing from your prompts – there were so many good ones that I smushed a few of them together instead. I hope you enjoy the end result.

AO3 link to fanwork: The Most Wonderful Time

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: The Song of Avalon
Recipient: Gilli_ann
Rating: G
Pairings: Gwen & Merlin & Morgana & Arthur Pendragon
Word Count: 7632
Content Notes/Warnings: None

Summary: At the turn of the season, Uther purchases a valuable tapestry from a traveling merchant that proves to be an enchanted artifact of the Old Religion. With the help of his friends, Merlin must find a way to stop the imminent threat to Camelot all while keeping his increasingly unstable magic under control.

Author's Notes: This was definitely one of the most challenging things I've written in a while but it was such a fun idea. I tried to make it feel like an episode of Merlin where Arthur and Gwen know about Merlin and Morgana's magic and the four of them deal with these types of adventures all the time. I'd like to thank my betas as well (Ambrosius on AO3, @onceandfuturedawn on Tumblr, and @kingdowager on Tumblr) for all their help. This fic would be a mess without them. I hope you enjoy and happy holidays!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27958523

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: Upsetting the Apple Cart
Recipient: Polishmyarmor
Rating: T
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Morgana/Gwen
Word Count: 6571
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Summary: Kilgharrah saves Arthur after the Battle of Camlann. In a debt of gratitude Arthur and Gwen are eager to fulfill Merlin's request to help the aging dragon from the cold, harsh Camelot winters. Morgana is there too...healed from her hatred, and the four confide much to the dragon of the course of the season.

Author's Notes: Beginning Notes:

This story takes place in the months after the Battle at Camlann. It is canon divergent, taking a rather sharp right turn away from the final episodes of the series.

All my deep gratitude to Emrys_MK for encouraging me to sign up and for the last minute mega-beta.
And equally grateful gratitude to Pelydryn for holding my hand when I was panicked that I couldn't think of anything, listened to my rambling, and reassured me along the way.
And finally, of course, I'm so grateful to the mods for keeping this wonderful fest going!

Dear Polishmyarmor,
Happy holidays! I really hope you enjoy this fic. It diverged a bit from your prompt, but the plus side is that I think I incorporated even more of what you might like. At least I hope so! Wishing you a very happy winter, and a beautiful new year to come!

END NOTES:

According to this interview with Eoin Macken, Gwaine is not dead. https://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/merlins-eoin-macken-gwaine-isnt-dead/?cmpredirect

Quotes:

“Some say there is no truth, only perception”
-Gustave Flaubert

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.”
-Lao Tse

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
- Joseph Campbell

Bonus Quote:
“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.
-Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Thank you so very much for reading. Comments make me very happy. I love getting to 'meet' my readers!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27834454

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: Building A Sanctuary
Recipient:

fervidasaflame
Rating: T
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 9097
Content Notes/Warnings: Implied Animal Cruelty

Summary: Merlin is a dedicated dragon rescuer. He has snuck all types of animals into his flat before and has gotten in trouble with all his landlords at some point in time. But dragons are different. They're seen as dangerous and irredeemable. Dragons are not allowed in residential buildings and Merlin has gone and hidden a dragon in his flat for the last time. When he's evicted, Gwen volunteers Arthur and Camelot.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27836047

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: Melted Ice and Thermal Hearts
Recipient: TheDragon

lairofthedragon
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Word Count: 10832
Content Notes/Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary: Wherein Merlin goes from being cold and confused to warm and confused, Arthur accidentally learns gift giving is a love language, and socks are more trustworthy than neckerchiefs.

Author's Notes: Happy Merlin Holidays, TheDragon! I hope I have done the first of your prompt’s justice. This was my first time doing any sort of gift exchange challenge and I had fun with it and I hope you enjoy reading it :) Thank you to the mods for all your work organizing and running this! May all your holidays be bright, your hearts warm, and immune systems resilient in these times.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27835099

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: take me to paradise (oh my lover for life)
Recipient: Merlin Holidays Community
Rating: Teen and up audiences
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Morgana/Gwen
Word Count:11k
Content Notes/Warnings: mentioned death, anxiety attacks, talks of sex (mostly in a 'i dont want to do that' kinda way, but it's still there)
Summary:
In which Merlin is dead, but then he's not, and everything can finally go back to its natural order (just with a little extra romance).

Featuring: a presumed dead plotline that lasts for three seconds, first kisses, sharing of beds, midnight spells with two wlw and their friend, and, of course, confessions of love.

Author's Notes:
Hey! I hope you enjoy this fic! I put a lot of effort into it, although I left it to the last minute, and while I'm not completely happy with it, I did have a lot of fun while writing it. Thank you so much to my beta for being absolutely amazing and editing this!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27761566

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: in all the places you find love

Recipient:

rotrude

Rating: M

Pairings: Arthur/Merlin

Word Count: 11754

Content Notes/Warnings: no archive warnings apply / curse words / implied smut

Summary: Merlin goes into the city to play at a Christmas concert. During his stay he meets Arthur, and sparks soon fly. With plenty of banter and mischievous friends, watch as Arthur and Merlin become closer and closer throughout this holiday season.

Author's Notes: thanks to duckie for helping me immensely in making this fic!

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27811891#main

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: time lost, love gained
Recipient: Merlin Holidays Community
Rating: E
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Word Count: ~7k
Content Notes/Warnings: n/a
Summary: Merlin isn't asking for much. He just wants one—one—patrol where nothing bad happens. He wants one, single patrol that doesn't end up with them having to face yet another group of bandits. Why does Arthur feel the need to keep putting them in these situations?

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27788251

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: say it will always be like this (the three of us together)
Recipient:

afreezingnote
Rating: T
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur/Gwen
Word Count: 7400
Content Notes/Warnings: No archive warnings apply

Summary: The journey from maidservant to queen wasn’t always easy. Fortunately, Gwen had Arthur and Merlin by her side to share laughter, tears, and kisses.

Author's Notes:

Happy Holidays, afreezingnote! Thank you for giving me so many excellent prompts to choose from. It was difficult to pick just one. In the end, I took two and tried to combine them. I hope that you enjoy it!

Thank you, mods for continuing to host this amazing fest! I know it takes a lot of effort, but it’s so much fun.

(Prompts chosen:

1. Merlin/Arthur/Gwen, canon era, domestic fluff

8. The transition from commoner to queen is sure to be filled with difficulties, despairs, and delights. Gwen is strong, intelligent, and graceful enough to handle it, but she's not facing these challenges alone. Her new husband and her best friend are there for her, sometimes in ways she never expected.)

The title is adapted from “Mint Car” by the Cure

Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27784702

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: Snow is overrated
Recipient:

221b_marauder
Rating: NC 17
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: 10839
Content Notes/Warnings: none
Summary: Merlin's car breaks down and of course the battery of his mobile is dead, too. As he trudges along the road through the thawing snow, a car pulls up and a friendly stranger offers help.
Author's Notes: Dear 221B_Marauder,
I had so much fun playing with your prompts and I hope that you like what came out of it. I hope you're having wonderful holiday and all the best for the New Year!
Thanks to the mods for once again hosting the fest and to my wonderful beta who makes them speak proper English. Anything that is still in there is totally my fault.

AO3 link to fanwork: Snow is overrated

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: the violet sheds
Recipient: howshouldipresume
Rating: Not Rated
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Word Count: 7445
Content Notes/Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Pre-Slash, Canon Era, Episode: s04e07 The Secret Sharer, Fix-It
Summary: “Merlin!” Arthur made his name into a sharp warning. “I've had my heart broken enough already today. I don't want to lose another friend.”

Arthur stood up briskly, aiming to put an end to the discussion, but Merlin spoke before he could.

“Neither do I,” he said. “But if decades of loyal service can be swept aside so easily, what does that mean for the rest of us? I didn’t take you for the type of man to view his subjects as expendable.”

“You know I’m not.”

“Then prove it!” Merlin exclaimed.

Author's Notes: I combined parts of my giftee's requests to form this prompt: Hurt/comfort fics with hurt!Merlin. I’m thinking emotional suffering of Merlin in S4/5 being addressed somehow. Could be any tone: angsty, light-hearted, etc. + The Sigil. That’s it, that’s the prompt. Any series of events that leads to it being Known or Addressed by others that Arthur gave Merlin his mother’s sigil.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27748315

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: The Path with a Heart
Recipient: merthurmagic025
Rating: Teen and up
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: 11K

Content Notes/Warnings: Canon AU, Romance, Angst with a Happy Ending, Magic Reveal, H/C, Pining, Adventure, BAMF!Mithian. No Archive Warnings Apply.

Summary:

When Arthur mysteriously disappears on a hunt, Merlin sets out to search for him in the depths of the forest. With the unexpected help and support of Princess Mithian, Merlin will avert an invasion of Camelot, thwart Morgana's evil schemes, reunite with Arthur, and find true love and acceptance.

Author's Notes:

Dear merthurmagic025, happy holidays to you in this unusual year! Here is a fic based on one of your inspiring prompts. I hope you'll find it enjoyable. The story uses a scene in the Merlin S4 episode 'The Hunter's Heart' as its starting point, but the action soon goes AU and leaves canon far behind, as you will see.

My wonderful beta deserves a lot of thanks, and so definitely do the mods. In this challenging year, Merlin Holidays is especially appreciated. Disclaimer and more notes can be found with the fic on AO3.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27713305

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: I don't have a choice and I'd still choose you
Recipient: alby_mangroves
Rating: M
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Word Count: 6353
Content Notes/Warnings: None

Summary: Set during Arthur’s reign. When Arthur finally managed to fully comprehend Merlin, it had taken him some time to acknowledge the fact that his friend was something Arthur never could have predicted. An alternative ending for series four

Author's Notes: So, this is my first fanfictions exchange ever!

Dear Alby, it has been an honour to write for a Merthur goddess as you are. *makes curtsy* May the magic and excitement of the holiday season warm your days! Thank you for this opportunity. Title from “Poison & Wine” by The Civil Wars

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27671924

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: I'll Catch You When You Fall
Recipient: indyonblue
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Word Count: 9688
Content Notes/Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Summary: After discovering Merlin's magic, Arthur needs time alone to sort through his conflicted feelings. With the Winter Solstice rapidly approaching, Merlin leaves clues to show Arthur that magic isn't inherently evil. Will Arthur be able to overcome his sense of betrayal and confess his own secret?

Author's Notes:
Happy Holidays indyonblue !
You gave me the brilliant prompt: Canon-Era Arthur knows about Merlin's magic now and still doesn't know how he feels about it. Merlin gives Arthur his space but tries to show him that he uses his magic for good. It's not until the winter solstice that Arthur starts to get it. Would love to see repentant Morgana, with Gwen helping her (because she wants to, not as a servant).

This was a lot of fun to write, so thank you! I hope you enjoy what I came up with.

Many thanks to my awesome beta, achrilock-orbicular

__________________________

Obligatory disclaimer: I do not own these characters or this franchise. Written for the love of Camelot and its fandom, never for money.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21666769

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: Someone Who Loves You
Recipient:

elirwen
Rating:T
Pairings:Merlin/Arthur, Merlin/Mordred/Arthur
Word Count: 6064
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Summary: Arthur and his Court Sorcerer, Merlin, have a secret admirer.
Author's Notes: Happy Merlin Holidays Elirwen! Wishing you a lovely winter and a beautiful new year!
Thanks for your wonderful prompts. I hope you enjoy this very mushy mush.

Thank you also to the mods for running this wonderful fest which I look forward to all year, and for your tremendous patience and kindness.

And undying thanks and appreciation to @Diana_Prallon for holding my hand and going above and beyond to get me unstuck when I hadn't written a word for so long.

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21869506

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: A Pregnant Pause
Recipient:

rotrude
Rating: E
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Word Count: ~13k
Content Notes/Warnings: None
Summary: On their way to college, Merlin and Arthur get thrown a curveball neither of them is prepared for
Author's Notes: See AO3

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21932293

merlin-hols.livejournal.com

Title: To Strike Fear In The Heart Of Men (A Canon Era/Hunger Games AU)
Recipient:

oddishly
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Pairings: Merthur
Word Count: 6,149
Content Notes/Warnings: depictions of violence, injury, mentions of blood
Summary: They meet their fate just before the Games will make them enemies.
Arthur, a well trained carrier of eighteen years, joins voluntarily to prove his worth.
Merlin, a seventeen year old mage of the weakest rank, is reaped and forced to fight for his life.
On the training grounds the first wave of resentment turns into overwhelming attraction that leads to an affair under the cover of night.
Both revealing deeply hidden secrets in youthful ignorance, they say goodbye, knowing only one of them can survive.
But will they be able to let the Games run their course when they meet again?
Author's Notes:There's much I'd love to say here but can't just yet. So let me just say this much:

Thank you my beloved giftee oddishly for providing me with the buzzword <b>Hunger Games</b> in your prompt. It gave me the perfect opportunity to think of a scenario including elements from one of my most favourite franchises. And since you wrote, that you love canon era fics, I thought I could write you some Hunger Games during the Merlin era. I'd love to write the whole story one day, seeing all the ideas I came up with while writing. Ideas that I could unfortunately not include. Right now I can only give a glimpse into the scenario that's been building in my head since I started writing this short scene. But I hope you'll like it nonetheless.

This work was created as a part of the Merlin Holidays Fest. A big thank you to the mods for running this wonderful fest once again~

AO3 link to fanwork: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21758749