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crack_van2009-04-13 06:20 pm
solar-cat.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2009-04-13 06:20 pm
A Chuisle by Ad_Exia (R)
Hello, all! Before I get to the rec, I'd like to apologize to the Merlin van for our late start this month! I had two convention weekends in a row and then the Easter holiday, so I was a little swamped. I'll try to make up for the missed time, though, and I hope you all enjoy the recs! This is my first time driving the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
crack_van, so please do let me know if I've made any mistakes and I'll correct them as quickly as possible!
Off we go!
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~26,000 words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ad_exia
Author Website:exlibris_tenisu
Why this must be read:
An oft-overlooked fic that really shouldn't be.ad_exia has crafted a beautiful, melancholy tale, in which Merlin casts a spell to save Arthur that has more consequences than he'd realized. I love pretty much everything about this fic, in particular how believable it is that the "big reveal" of Merlin's magic would not go smoothly, at all. Plus, the writing is excellent; my heartstrings were tugged in exactly the right ways at exactly the right times, and the end is just the right shade of bittersweet. This is a staple of my re-reading list.
“I think… I think we have somehow become bound, my lord,” Merlin said, ducking his head and feeling altogether most uncomfortable. He may not have planned out beforehand what to say, but he knew he was going to have to tread carefully if he was going to keep his magic a secret. He knew that if Gaius found out, he’d have Merlin’s head – if Uther didn’t first, that was. And that would have more dire consequences than he cared to think about right now.
“What?” Arthur was incredulous now, his eyes wide and staring when Merlin chanced a glance up at the prince. “What on earth do you mean, Merlin? Bound how, by whom?”
“By magic,” Merlin said carefully, his head still bowed but his eyes locked on Arthur’s. “That night… in the forest. You died that night, Arthur, right before my eyes. But something brought you back.” My magic, he thought silently, but could not bring himself to tell the prince that part of it. That would surely sign his death warrant, and suddenly Arthur looked angry enough to make Merlin wonder if maybe he’d already said too much. But still he plowed on, “It was… I think it might have somehow done something to us. ”
“Done something?” Arthur was quiet for a long moment, and Merlin let him work it out for himself. Then, “… No,” Arthur said, quietly at first and then again, louder – “No!” He slammed his fist down on the table; the sound made Merlin jump, and his heart began to race. He wasn’t sure which of them was responsible for it, or if it was both of them at once, but his heart sped along all the same. He felt short of breath, and shook his head.
“It’s not a bad thing, Arthur – you’re alive because of it, you –”
“No!” Arthur shouted again, and for the first time Merlin was truly frightened of him, of the anger and despair he could see mingled in Arthur’s eyes, and of the shock and hurt coursing through his veins.
Then Arthur turned, looking straight at Merlin. His face was livid. “How dare you suggest such a thing. Get out of here, Merlin.” Merlin took a step back, but stood his ground, until Arthur advanced on him, arms waving in anger. “I said, leave me alone!”
Merlin did as he was told the second time, slipping out of the room so quickly that he could scarcely remember doing it; he stood for a long moment in the corridor, his heart still beating a frantic rhythm against his chest.
A Chuisle
Note: Chapters are not linked, so you'll need to use the tag to get to the next one
crack_van, so please do let me know if I've made any mistakes and I'll correct them as quickly as possible! Off we go!
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~26,000 words
Author on LJ:
ad_exiaAuthor Website:
exlibris_tenisuWhy this must be read:
An oft-overlooked fic that really shouldn't be.
ad_exia has crafted a beautiful, melancholy tale, in which Merlin casts a spell to save Arthur that has more consequences than he'd realized. I love pretty much everything about this fic, in particular how believable it is that the "big reveal" of Merlin's magic would not go smoothly, at all. Plus, the writing is excellent; my heartstrings were tugged in exactly the right ways at exactly the right times, and the end is just the right shade of bittersweet. This is a staple of my re-reading list. “I think… I think we have somehow become bound, my lord,” Merlin said, ducking his head and feeling altogether most uncomfortable. He may not have planned out beforehand what to say, but he knew he was going to have to tread carefully if he was going to keep his magic a secret. He knew that if Gaius found out, he’d have Merlin’s head – if Uther didn’t first, that was. And that would have more dire consequences than he cared to think about right now.
“What?” Arthur was incredulous now, his eyes wide and staring when Merlin chanced a glance up at the prince. “What on earth do you mean, Merlin? Bound how, by whom?”
“By magic,” Merlin said carefully, his head still bowed but his eyes locked on Arthur’s. “That night… in the forest. You died that night, Arthur, right before my eyes. But something brought you back.” My magic, he thought silently, but could not bring himself to tell the prince that part of it. That would surely sign his death warrant, and suddenly Arthur looked angry enough to make Merlin wonder if maybe he’d already said too much. But still he plowed on, “It was… I think it might have somehow done something to us. ”
“Done something?” Arthur was quiet for a long moment, and Merlin let him work it out for himself. Then, “… No,” Arthur said, quietly at first and then again, louder – “No!” He slammed his fist down on the table; the sound made Merlin jump, and his heart began to race. He wasn’t sure which of them was responsible for it, or if it was both of them at once, but his heart sped along all the same. He felt short of breath, and shook his head.
“It’s not a bad thing, Arthur – you’re alive because of it, you –”
“No!” Arthur shouted again, and for the first time Merlin was truly frightened of him, of the anger and despair he could see mingled in Arthur’s eyes, and of the shock and hurt coursing through his veins.
Then Arthur turned, looking straight at Merlin. His face was livid. “How dare you suggest such a thing. Get out of here, Merlin.” Merlin took a step back, but stood his ground, until Arthur advanced on him, arms waving in anger. “I said, leave me alone!”
Merlin did as he was told the second time, slipping out of the room so quickly that he could scarcely remember doing it; he stood for a long moment in the corridor, his heart still beating a frantic rhythm against his chest.
A Chuisle
Note: Chapters are not linked, so you'll need to use the tag to get to the next one