minxy

Oy, guys. I've had a couple of months here that have been crazy. Beyond usual craziness, I moved, got in a car accident, had massive traveling issues for the holidays, have been fighting with my advisor so incessantly at work that I think I'm going to leave either in May or at the end of the summer (we're in negotiations on that point,) and have become a closed-beta tester for Dreamwidth.

And throughout it all, you guys have been entertaining me with stories. And I, without internet at home (but armed with a prodigious number of tabs open with stories to read) have not been leaving nearly the amount of feedback I used to manage.

So it's high time to at least recommend the stories that I have so relied on for a happy, sane, or otherwise predictably smutty end to some of the craziest days ever.

Which means I need to tell you about a new fandom I've been reading. Now, I've seen the canon, and I loved the canon, but it's the kind of show that is quite happily derivative fiction taking massive, massive liberties with the original universe. (If that's not your thing, or you take exception to messing with beloved Arthurian mythos, I will understand if you skip this recs post.)

I refer, of course, to the BBC's Merlin. Which I will now describe so that you know all you need to know if you want to just read the fic, but the show itself is quite pretty and I recommend if you're inclined.

If I were describing this show like I do stories, I might tell you that Merlin is to Arthurian Legend as Smallville is to the Christopher Reeve's Superman movies. This is a young adult AU (and Smallville, for the record, never really caught me because it seemed to be a teenager AU, which, meh. Merlin is 20-somethings, for what that's worth. The age makes a difference to me), where every eventual relationship is turned on it's head as a starting point. Guinevere is a cheerful handmaiden to Morgana (they get on well), who is a ward of King Uther (tyrant, largely because he has a problem with magic and summarily executes anyone associated with it, played endearingly by Anthony Head) and grew up like a sister to Arthur (they... get on like siblings). Merlin is a country boy sent to live in the city who accidentally finds himself appointed manservant to Arthur. He is very bad at keeping his magic secret. And yet he manages to not get beheaded the entire first year.

Merlin and Arthur don't get along, for at least a couple of episodes. By the end of the first season they're gazing adoringly into each other's eyes as they sacrifice for one another, face death together, and generally try to never, ever be too far apart. With snarking. And talk of destiny. An occasionally capes.

This is a slashers dream show. Except that Launcelot shows up and everyone is smitten with that guy (Gwen is particularly adorable) and I really don't know how anyone resists putting their hands in Morgana's hair. Morgana herself is given to loudly saying exactly what she thinks (often at odds with the king) and strapping on armor when the situation arises. So does Gwen, for that matter, and she's the go-to girl if you ever need a sword, fighting clothes, or training in how to put armor on a Prince.

It's a fun romp. Not overly serious, of course, considering the ability of the Gaius father-figure to express epic sarcasm with single glances and the enigmatic talking dragon in the basement (who is very, very poorly guarded, incidently, but we won't get into that now.)

Themes tred upon in canon: class, free-will, secrets, the hypocricy of using magic and then blaming it when the outcome goes sideways, having to hide who you are even from people you trust, redemption, the morality of having power and when to use it, father issues, when-to-listen-to-dragons, how to not make promises about enchanted swords lightly, and the difficulties of rescuing unconscious Princes from lakes when they are wearing full armor.

Themes explored much more thoroughly in fanfic: SLASH, revealing skills that the King would kill you for having, inevitable separation if the king finds out, the characterization of Arthur based on Prince Harry, turning from friends to enemies. Also slash. And responsibilities.

These are some of my favorite (very good for introductions) stories the Merlin fandom has produced so far:

This one has Arthur finding out as the need arises, and the need is great, and the threat is... kind of tragic, actually, and really overshadows the revelations for a while. As a result, the emotional ramifications emerge in time with some really fantastic action, and great hurt and care and all the comfort they can manage on a budget. Fairly dark story; I loved it.

takadainmate's The World Under Heaven, Here All Is Lent (goes to part 1) Arthur/Merlin, R rated for violence more than slash.

In the category of separation when the king finds out:

enjambament's Fleet of Foot, using a great reverse timeline and multiple POVs. Short and touching. PG, Arthur/Merlin.

When Arthur already knows about Merlin's magic, and the king doesn't, and what they get up to: Onfindan by

astolat.

In which the very capable

rageprufrock takes the characterization of Arthur-as-Prince-Harry and resets Merlin as present day British royalty. With slash, obviously. And Gwen is wonderful. Drastically Redefining Protocol. And, on the occasion of William and Kate's Royal Wedding Extraveganza, commentfic.

In non-Arthur/Merlin stories, a fantastic one that's backstory between Uther and Nimueh, before Nimueh became the enemy of most of season 1, and before Uther had turned on magic. In fact, this is the beginning of what will set both those events in motion, before Arthur is even born. Marvelously dark. More Fool She, Uther/Nimueh, R rated by

anonymous_sibyl.

There really is a lot of potential for great, dark stories in that fandom (I think everyone's just a little distracted by the shiny, epic-ly slashable, lead relationship right now, though. I mean, you could easily, EASILY argue that every fade to black at the end of the show could be a euphemism for Arthur and Merlin snogging like mad and it would work.)

ETA: The Student Prince God, I love a modern setting with a satisfying romance. Comfort food with a side of wacky traditions. Merlin/Arthur at St. Andrews, Morgana talks World of Warcraft, and it's wonderful. NSFW, probably. by

fayjay

Quickening Days by

mercurial_wit Merlin + Groundhog Day with a side of slash.

Past Imperfect by

thehoyden A moment of oops and domesticity and realization. Very sweet.

Merlin at Polyamorous Recs Shrift and Nestra rule, man.

seperis's Truth is a Whisper in which there is lots of sexing going on among Arthur's knights, though not Arthur himself, and Merlin is kind of easy. I return to this story; it's crazy sweet and loyalty is a kink of mine.

Also

seperis, Job Orientation Series comprising the one with the tower and the one with the sea serpent and fabulous manly Not-Talking.

The one where Merlin meets Morgana Le Fay at a support group for People With Freaky Unnatural Powers. We're a Storm in Somebody Else's Teacup by

paperclipbitch

The Moral of the Story is Gwen the Queen, in a dark turn. Amazing. by

mint_amaretto Het, not worksafe.

To Be Known is a reveal story, where Arthur is less a prince in the woods, and there is no magic in Merlin to come between them any more. by

sometimesophie worksafe.

The Definition of a Life Saved in which a sorcerer has attacked the castle, and Merlin wakes up hurt. by

shinetheway worksafe.

Oh gods, so funny. Merlin gets to be out about magic and he gets a little too enthusiastic about it. Innovation Merlin/Arthur by

magog_83. Worksafe

From the wonderful and lovely

destina, Arthur being his noblest, and Merlin his bravest. What more could you ask for, if not a protective Gwaine (he's there too.) Map of Honor. Arthur/Merlin, not work-safe.