I Want To Have A Little Chat With Whoever Decided To Get Rid Of This Slutty Red Shirt And Necklace

These are the tiny moments I love. It’s the way Arthur’s eyes don’t leave Merlin after he looks away. Not only do they not leave him, but you can literally see his eyes flick around Merlin’s face.

It’s a moment just for Arthur. To observe and appreciate his friend up close. He even does a little gulp as he’s taking in his side profile, his cheekbones, his chin. His Merlin.

Arthur loves Merlin. He was destined to.

The awkward smile/unsure expression Merlin does after repressed Arthur punches him on the shoulder, because he doesn’t know how to communicate feelings (just kiss and make up).

writing fanfics is so great because you can literally write ANYTHING. that idea’s been done before? who cares? that trope is overused? use it again! that exact plot line happened in another piece of media? call it a fusion fic!

as long as YOU are writing it and enjoying it, GO FOR IT. fanfiction is literally free!

If I can hold you again, I won’t let you go.

●^●

The way Arthur says: “You can’t address me like that!” to Merlin in the pilot. The suppressed laughter, the delighted surprise at his audacity, the hint of fondness already there.

You can tell that apart from the possible exception of Morgana, no one has spoken to him so freely in his life. 

Bradley James!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

this is the BEST way for them to fulfil their destiny and unite the lands and get the happy ending they deserved! I NEED A FIC LIKE THIS!!!!

Idea for an alternate ending:

Merlin gets Arthur to the lake in time and manage to save him.

They spend the night by the lake just talking, like they have been for the past few days, and realise that neither of them is ready to return to Camelot. For various reasons. They decide to take to the roads instead, just disappear, together.

Eventually their (few remaining) friends start to worry and the queen sends out her knights searching for them. Maybe Gaius points them towards the lake and maybe the knights find a neat pile of Arthurs belongings nearby, like his armour and cape (To heavy to carry and to easy to identify) and just assumes the worst. They knew Arthur was injured, and now presumably dead, but where is Merlin? Perhaps the grief was just to much for him? Perhaps he went home? But Hunith hasn't seen him either.

They are both gone. And life moves on.

Until a few months later when rumors start reaching the castle, about two heroes helping people throughout the realm. A fighter and a sorcerer working together using their skills to take out different threats from low life bandits to magical creatures attacking people.

No one really suspects anythingat first, but Gwen sends out her knights to find these two heroes. To confirm the rumors and if so offer a reward for their bravery. And maybe see if they would be willing to join forces?

It's not until Sir Leon hears a description of the two that he start to wonder.. A blond sword fighter with blue eyes and a regal nose who talks like a noble? A dark haired sorcerer also with blue eyes and a wide infectious smile? And they are constantly bickering and insulting each other? It couldn't be? Could it?

Trying not to get his hopes up Leon still doubles the search efforts.

No matter what they do though the knights seems to always be one step behind the two. Always gone before the knights reach the village or town they just saved. Missed them by a few days, a few hours down to mere minutes.

Somewhere along the way Leon hears about The Kiss. Told by an eye witness who saw the blond grab the warlock by the front of his tunic, haul him in and kiss him fiercely for almost getting himself killed (again, the idiot <- Arthurs note).

And suddenly things are making alot more sense. Why they never came back. Why they are staying away and don't want to be found.

He never tells Gwen. Or anyone. But that is the day Leon starts pulling back, cutting down on the search. Telling everyone it's not worth it, it has been over a year ( several years?) and there are more important things for the knights of Camelot to do then chasing ghosts. It's better if people start moving on with their lives instead. They are not coming back.

An undecided amount of time later Leon finds himself drinking alone in some random tavern in some random town, in an unknown part of the kingdom. When two cloaked strangers sit down uninvited at his table. And as he looks up their hoods fall back to reveal two very familiar and very dear faces.

Merlin grins widely. 'We heard you were looking for us?'

ok, i did in fact scour the internet for fics like this (and sadly there is not many! @ fic writers please feed us) but here is a list of ones i found:

Kissing Lessons by objectlesson [6k words | Rating: E]

Summary: Arthur is a shitty kisser. Merlin offers instructional assistance.

This fic is AMAZING and it is a CRIME that it's still incomplete! (but still reads well as a standalone piece)

People Should Marry for Love, Not Convenience by Fantasy_lalaland [6k words | Rating: M]

"So you don't know a lot about women." Arthur stands, strides over to his bed and flops ungracefully onto the mattress. "But you do know lots about men. Well I'm a man. Show me." Merlin's definitely hallucinating. There'd been something in the wine because this was impossible. Arthur waiting for him to come to his bed and fool around with him. He doesn't move from his spot on the floor. He only peers curiously at Arthur from beneath his heavy eyelids. "How will that help you know how to bed your wife?"

That Awkward Age by i_know_its_0ver [3k words | Rating: M]

Arthur is secretly in love with Merlin but can't tell him, so he comes up with a plan to get Merlin to help him "practice" his kissing.

Only Incidentally Homosexual by itsspanner [6k words | Rating: T]

“Merlin, would you be willing to kiss me?” Arthur asks nonchalantly, sounding perfectly monotone as if that was an acceptable thing to ask Merlin first thing in the morning, or at any time really. Merlin and Arthur kiss for the first time, never intending for a repeat. But who were they kidding really by thinking that they could stop once that they had a taste of what they wanted most? Or 5 times Merlin and Arthur kiss and one time they actually do anything about it

These probably exist, perhaps I even read them, but that's only more reason to ask for recs:

Arthur has never been kissed. As prince, it's hard for him to go out and try these things, and he mentions it to Merlin.

Merlin may or may not opens up the idea that he and Arthur could... You know...

Practice

arthur "babe what's wrong?" pendragon

So Arthur actually did the thing, you know. That oh so romantic thing described in all fantasy romantic books, where the main character rips a piece of their clothing to bandage their not so lover’s wound.

So like, Arthur ripped his tunic to bandage Merlin’s bicep. And made a silly joke about it, even? “First battle wound :D.” He was so excited, and Merlin was worried about Arthur’s clothes too.

But they’re not canon, apparently, yeah, okay, fine. Believe what you want. *rolls eyes*