Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Hi guys, my New Years resolution this year is to write/upload chapters more regularly, I want to add one more multi chapter fic to write in the hopes that once I’ve got one to write my brain will actually focus on them instead of trying to plan all of them. I would like you to read the descriptions and extracts from some of the fics I’m vaguely planning and write the name of your favourite in the comments of this chapter (chapter 1). If you have any questions about the fics let me know in the comments of that fics chapter and I’ll answer as best as I can 🙂. I’m going to check the votes on the 25th of December so I can start writing the first chapter in the new year. I’ll definitely be writing shorter fics and oneshots in between because I have no focus 

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Balinor is a pirate who visits Hunith and Merlin, when Hunith goes missing he collects a mostly deaf Merlin. Years later Merlin goes to Camelot to rescue Mordred unfortunately Arthur catches them, when they escape the cells the prince follows them and stowaways on their ship

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From somewhere the crew had managed to pull a fiddle and an accordion, everyone was getting pissed, singing and dancing in the dark belly of the ship. Balinor’s deep voice rang through the room as he slurred out shanties and dirges. The only one who wasn’t drinking was Merlin but as usual he was acting as if he was shitfaced anyway, perched on a barrel with his good leg tucked under his injured one joining in with his father’s singing or dancing along, occasionally dabbing his wound with a rag if it stated bleeding again a stupid grin permanently stuck on his face. Arthur was stumbling over to have a chat when Merlin suddenly started singing in an amazingly energetic fashion bouncing around half furiously signing half acting out the lyrics and throwing his arms around wildly. Arthur thought he was going to tip the barrel over because of how far back he’d lean back before throwing himself forward just as far. His raven hair bounced into his eyes with his animated movements and Arthur was pretty sure he looked far too happy for someone miming himself being hanged 

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After a car crash Hunith can’t look after Merlin so he goes to live with Gaius. He has to start a new school where he’s talked about and made fun of for his scars. Meanwhile Arthur’s having a sexuality crisis 

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Merlin lay alone in the dark, he wished that they could have a light on. Logically he knew he wasn’t alone, the quiet snores of the other kids on the ward that he’d been moved to earlier reminded him of that but he felt alone. Merlin knew that his da was dead. No one had told him or said anything, he just knew. It terrified him. His da was the best man in the world. Tears started welling up in his eyes and he sniffled 

“What’s wrong?” A voice asked from his left he couldn’t see who was talking because of these stupid bandages that coved the whole left side of his face

“I think my da’s dead” he whimpered 

“Mine too” the boy said after a minute “and me mammy”

“Sorry”

“‘S okay, it’s not your fault. My name’s Edwin, by the way.” 

“I’m Merlin” he said the boy snorted

“Like the wizard” Merlin shook his head although he wasn’t sure whether Edwin could see it

“Nah like the bird”

“There’s a bird called Merlin?”

“Yeah, they’re a Falcon. My ma and da said they met because of one”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah my da bought one into my ma’s vet, covered in scratches because it woke up on the way in the car and panicked” both boys snickered quietly as to not wake up the others

“It was nice to meet you Merlin”  Merlin heard the boy moving and assumed that he was going back to sleep “Merlin, me arm’s gettin’ tired” he said after a minute, making Merlin jump. He turned over to see the curly haired boy lying on his front with his arm stuck over the bed making a fist. Merlin grinned and returned the fist bump

“Sorry, I can’t see ‘causes of the bandages” he said pointing at his face

“Are you blind now?”

“No but the doctors said I was close to being”

“Same” Edwin said, lifting his head and pulling back his curly hair to show a healing burn on his right cheek. Merlin winced in sympathy “battle scars” Edwin said “show we’re tough” Merlin nodded although his injuries didn’t feel like battle scars yet. Soon Edwin rolled back over and went back to sleep and Merlin rolls over to look at the ward door

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When Nimueh sieges Camelot Gaius sneaks the Pendragon siblings out to his niece in Ealdor. Her son Merlin however isn’t too happy with the new royals invading his home (specifically the blond boneheaded prince)

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Merlin opens the door with a wide grin that promptly freezes and falls. Two people sit at his table. The girl is wearing a bloodcloak and the man is clearly a knight. Has someone told? Is his mother okay? Where is she? He thinks as he looks around frantically for her. He thought he’d be safe, the threat of invasion warding off anyone telling about his magic, especially Camelot. Cendred would be furious they harboured him for this long, maybe burn their crops as punishment but Camelot would completely wipe them off the map. He’s been standing there frozen for too long and the bloodcloaks’ faces have gained concerned scowls

“Get. Out.” He hisses and the girl’s face changes from concerned to terrified 

“Hunith told us to stay here.” The man says lifting his chin “who are you?” It feels like he’s been punched in the gut. His mother turned him in? He tries to think back to what could have been the last straw. 

“Merlin you’re blocking the door love” his mother says from behind him and gives him a light shove, in his panicked state he stumbles out of her way “I swear only you can trip over your own feet” she jabs kindly. The man and woman at his table stand up together. Merlin sees the movement out of the corner of his eye and presses himself into the stone wall. The scowls are back. “Merlin it’s okay. They’re guests, they’re not here to hurt you. You’re safe” Merlin shakes his head and his mum pulls him into a hug reminding him that he’s safe and that she would never let them hurt him. They can’t be guests, they’re dangerous, what was his mother thinking letting bloodcloaks into their safe place and one of the few places he could use his magic safely. His mother pulls back “this is Prince Arthur and the Lady Morgana” she says gesturing to her ‘guests’

“I must have misheard you Prince Arthur! What is King Uther hiding here to?!”

“Merlin Balinor Ambrosius!” His mother snaps, usually that would have been enough to make him stand down but not today. Instead he glares at her and her ‘guests’ pulls open the door and stomps off like a thunderstorm.

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When Arthur returns Merlin runs a home for magical children where he teaches them how to use their powers safely and guides them through life (especially with magic)

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Merlin woke to the sound of screaming and crying 

“DADDY!” The voice sobs. Merlin jumped out of bed immediately and pulled on pyjamas as he ran through the hall to Hannah’s room. When he got there toys were flying around the room in a whirlwind, he dodged a stuffed Peppa pig and made it to Hannah’s bed

“Hey Hannah what’s the matter?” He asked lifting the little girl onto his lap

“Nightmare” she sobs “the man was was sinking” the objects in the room started spinning faster and faster the more upset 

“Hannah breathe sweetie” he said hugging her “where’s Bun?” He asked and a tattered pink bunny flew into his hand “good girl” he praised stroking Hannah’s long brown hair “let’s show Bun how grown up you are yeah?” Hannah nods “come on then, sing with me” Merlin encouraged 

“Flower, gleam and glow” they sang together “let your power shine make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine” as they sang the tornado of objects slowed until Hannah had calmed completely and they dropped to the floor. 

“There was a man in the water” Hannah said as she curled into Merlin “he kept shouting Merlin”. Merlin sat there stunned long after Hannah fell asleep, no one outside of Guinevere house had called him Merlin for centuries. A sick feeling curled in his stomach. Hannah’s visions had started blossoming when she moved in her nightmares had stopped almost completely as her visions got stronger, first it had been small things like dreaming of a dog they would see the next day then thinks like Nico falling over and now... this. When he was sure Hannah was completely asleep he slid out from under her and tucked her back into bed at the door he swished wrist and in a flash of gold the room righted itself. Merlin trudged back to his own room, wrote down the nights events in Hannah’s fodder and went to sleep, making a mental note to call everyone who knew his as Merlin in the morning.

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Merlin and Arthur have been together since college 

Arthur is a YouTuber and Merlin is a school teacher and occasional cameraman who makes comments offscreen. Merlin doesn’t want his face, voice or name to be in videos so when he speaks it’s subtitles (like buzzfeed unsolved) and he’s known by Emmie and they/them pronouns on camera. Merlin becomes a meme on Arthur’s channel. Merlin’s students watch the videos

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Merlin ran though the pouring rain and nearly slipped on a puddle as he entered the hall. As nonchalantly as possible he stood next to Gwen 

“Nice of you to turn up Merlin” she said out the corner of her mouth as she pretended to listen to Kilgharrah’s start of term speech 

“Sorry” he whispered back as he ran his hands over his hair and shirt, his eyes glowing as he dried them “Arthur’s got spoiled with me not having to get up for six weeks. He’s forgot that some people have proper jobs that they actually have to leave the house for” 

“Now that we’re all present and correct” Kilgharrah said loudly looking pointedly at Merlin with his dragon like eyes. Gwen the traitor snickers “I’m going to assign you to your form tutors” Kilgharrah said before clearing his throat and starting to read off the names.

Gwen got a bunch of year sevens, Merlin swore they were getting cheekier but not as much as his new year tens

“To Mr Pendragon: Vincent Adder, Freya Bastet Mordred Druid, Morgana Pendragon” at this Morgana turned around in her chair and glared at Merlin who grinned and waved, she rolled her eyes and turned back around huffily. Oh this year was going to be fun.