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crack_van2009-06-03 10:13 pm
laceymcbain.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2009-06-03 10:13 pm
slán sábháilte by dotfic (PG-13)
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~6400 words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dotfic
Author Website: dotfic's Merlin stories on LJ
Why this must be read: Since my Irish pronunciation is a little rusty, I tend to think of this fic as "the one with the selkie." Oh, those naughty water spirits who just can't stay away from Merlin and his addictive magical self. The selkie, though, is only a small part of the story.
The heart of the tale is Merlin and Arthur's habit of saving one another, and how frustrated they get with one another when the other is in danger. They're not ready to call it anything beyond friendship and duty, though, until a mysterious stranger lures Merlin away, and Arthur must declare the truth of his heart in order to save Merlin once more. Don't think this is all hearts and flowers, though - it's very much in character for the boys and their banter, and the other characters are present and well-utilized.
Merlin kicked for the surface, feeling the current pulling him too fast. His pack was heavy, holding him down. He wriggled his arms out of the straps and allowed their provisions and the herbs he'd gathered for Gaius to drift away.
As he broke the surface, Merlin sucked in a deep breath and struggled to put his feet down, but the creek was too deep there. In a dizzying moment, he realized how far below the log bridge the water had carried him. The waterfall noise was growing thunderous in his ears.
He spied a tree growing out of the ravine wall up ahead. His lips had started to form a phrase when he saw the blond head in the water nearby. Arthur swam with the strength and ease of a seal.
If he used his magic now, Arthur might see. He was an arm's length away.
The water closed over Merlin's head again. Surrounded by the murk, Merlin decided he had no choice, he'd have to--
Arthur's arm curled around him, hooking across his chest with a powerful grip. They broke the surface together. Up ahead, there was a place where the ravine lowered enough to form a narrow bank.
He could whisper a spell, Merlin thought, as Arthur pulled him towards the bank. Maybe Arthur wouldn't see his lips move, wouldn't connect that with the tree branch falling, or with the sudden odd buoyancy of the water, or the way the creek bed had grown shallow.
But they had reached the bank already. Arthur pulled and shoved him onto the gritty, pebbled sand and they collapsed, gasping for breath, limbs tangled. Arthur left his head resting against Merlin's chest a moment as they shivered.
Arthur rolled away, spat out creek water. "You idiot," he shouted, or would have shouted if he hadn't been so out of breath. He got to his feet and shook himself like a large dog, sending droplets of water out in every direction.
Merlin lay on his back, looking up towards the blue spring sky through the trees at the top of the ravine. He'd never get the sound of water from his ears, and he felt dizzy like he was still swept along in the current.
Reaching down, Arthur grasped his lower arm, and helped him to his feet.
Read the story: slán sábháilte
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~6400 words
Author on LJ:
dotficAuthor Website: dotfic's Merlin stories on LJ
Why this must be read: Since my Irish pronunciation is a little rusty, I tend to think of this fic as "the one with the selkie." Oh, those naughty water spirits who just can't stay away from Merlin and his addictive magical self. The selkie, though, is only a small part of the story.
The heart of the tale is Merlin and Arthur's habit of saving one another, and how frustrated they get with one another when the other is in danger. They're not ready to call it anything beyond friendship and duty, though, until a mysterious stranger lures Merlin away, and Arthur must declare the truth of his heart in order to save Merlin once more. Don't think this is all hearts and flowers, though - it's very much in character for the boys and their banter, and the other characters are present and well-utilized.
Merlin kicked for the surface, feeling the current pulling him too fast. His pack was heavy, holding him down. He wriggled his arms out of the straps and allowed their provisions and the herbs he'd gathered for Gaius to drift away.
As he broke the surface, Merlin sucked in a deep breath and struggled to put his feet down, but the creek was too deep there. In a dizzying moment, he realized how far below the log bridge the water had carried him. The waterfall noise was growing thunderous in his ears.
He spied a tree growing out of the ravine wall up ahead. His lips had started to form a phrase when he saw the blond head in the water nearby. Arthur swam with the strength and ease of a seal.
If he used his magic now, Arthur might see. He was an arm's length away.
The water closed over Merlin's head again. Surrounded by the murk, Merlin decided he had no choice, he'd have to--
Arthur's arm curled around him, hooking across his chest with a powerful grip. They broke the surface together. Up ahead, there was a place where the ravine lowered enough to form a narrow bank.
He could whisper a spell, Merlin thought, as Arthur pulled him towards the bank. Maybe Arthur wouldn't see his lips move, wouldn't connect that with the tree branch falling, or with the sudden odd buoyancy of the water, or the way the creek bed had grown shallow.
But they had reached the bank already. Arthur pulled and shoved him onto the gritty, pebbled sand and they collapsed, gasping for breath, limbs tangled. Arthur left his head resting against Merlin's chest a moment as they shivered.
Arthur rolled away, spat out creek water. "You idiot," he shouted, or would have shouted if he hadn't been so out of breath. He got to his feet and shook himself like a large dog, sending droplets of water out in every direction.
Merlin lay on his back, looking up towards the blue spring sky through the trees at the top of the ravine. He'd never get the sound of water from his ears, and he felt dizzy like he was still swept along in the current.
Reaching down, Arthur grasped his lower arm, and helped him to his feet.
Read the story: slán sábháilte