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crack_van2010-08-18 11:27 pm
sandystarr88.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2010-08-18 11:27 pm
To Kill the King by allothi (PG-13)
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Gen; Tauren, others
Length: 3,855
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: 'fic' tag
Why this must be read:
This story is a fascinating read as the author really brings these characters to life as she explores how these men came to this point and their dreams of a free Camelot where magic could be practiced openly. Even during the episode I sympathized with what Tauren and the others where trying to accomplish, and after reading this piece I fell in love with them and their ideals even more.
When the treaty was declared with Camelot, Barric didn't think that much to worry. What could he have done, if he had? Up and left, perhaps, but the new guy's always most suspicious of all, and nowhere's really a good place to be a sorcerer. And he's -- he was -- settled where he was, had things sorted. Not many problems. Why think about change? But the idea was still there, hanging about his head, ready to be tipped over.
He doesn't need to get caught up in all this. But he feels caught. He's drawn into moving forwards. It's the stone, too, it has a big kind of power -- even Barric could feel it, across the table, could have reached out and touched it -- and power's something you can believe in. Power for sorcerers, even, power instead of fear. Amazing, this thought almost nearing on reality. That they could make a change for themselves.
In Lundein, there's not many people who know what Barric is. Just about no one, really. The few who know a little, they might have forgotten.
Magic's always been legal here. But there are reasons you don't see people doing flashy stuff, even non-flashy, letting on, like Tauren last night. First, actually, it's difficult. Very difficult, without a whole load of power, to do anything much not involving ages of chanting or brewing or symbols all over your bedroom.
Second, legality or no technical legality, there's plenty of people won't trust a sorcerer. And sorcerers generally won't trust people. Barric lived in Camelot as a child, had relatives who stayed when he left. Some kinds of paranoia, once you've learnt them, you don't drop.
He's had a normal life here. Quiet. Untroubled. He could stay, easily. Grow his crops, go to market. The Mermaid's Toes, twice a week. Take advantage of the promotions. Get drunk. Even if laws against magic do come, he might be all right. With some luck. Good sense. Circumspection. Tighten up that story about his background. Persuade those one or two guys who know better to keep quiet for him. They might. They have this far, at least. He knows in Camelot they execute for concealing that kind of information, but that's only an issue if anyone finds out, and finds out that anyone else had previously found out and been less sharing of their findings.
Barric wonders if it's the years of paranoia, the day-to-day tense buildup, somewhere back beyond emotion, around the bones at the base of his skull -- something like that that's driving him now. Or fear? Or a very old grudge. It could be all of those things.
As the three of them are just about to go, Ector walks into Barric's cottage, eyes glowing golden, full of light, he says: "I overheard, last night. I want to join you."
Fucking hell. It could even be hope.
To Kill the King
Pairing: Gen; Tauren, others
Length: 3,855
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: 'fic' tag
Why this must be read:
This story is a fascinating read as the author really brings these characters to life as she explores how these men came to this point and their dreams of a free Camelot where magic could be practiced openly. Even during the episode I sympathized with what Tauren and the others where trying to accomplish, and after reading this piece I fell in love with them and their ideals even more.
When the treaty was declared with Camelot, Barric didn't think that much to worry. What could he have done, if he had? Up and left, perhaps, but the new guy's always most suspicious of all, and nowhere's really a good place to be a sorcerer. And he's -- he was -- settled where he was, had things sorted. Not many problems. Why think about change? But the idea was still there, hanging about his head, ready to be tipped over.
He doesn't need to get caught up in all this. But he feels caught. He's drawn into moving forwards. It's the stone, too, it has a big kind of power -- even Barric could feel it, across the table, could have reached out and touched it -- and power's something you can believe in. Power for sorcerers, even, power instead of fear. Amazing, this thought almost nearing on reality. That they could make a change for themselves.
In Lundein, there's not many people who know what Barric is. Just about no one, really. The few who know a little, they might have forgotten.
Magic's always been legal here. But there are reasons you don't see people doing flashy stuff, even non-flashy, letting on, like Tauren last night. First, actually, it's difficult. Very difficult, without a whole load of power, to do anything much not involving ages of chanting or brewing or symbols all over your bedroom.
Second, legality or no technical legality, there's plenty of people won't trust a sorcerer. And sorcerers generally won't trust people. Barric lived in Camelot as a child, had relatives who stayed when he left. Some kinds of paranoia, once you've learnt them, you don't drop.
He's had a normal life here. Quiet. Untroubled. He could stay, easily. Grow his crops, go to market. The Mermaid's Toes, twice a week. Take advantage of the promotions. Get drunk. Even if laws against magic do come, he might be all right. With some luck. Good sense. Circumspection. Tighten up that story about his background. Persuade those one or two guys who know better to keep quiet for him. They might. They have this far, at least. He knows in Camelot they execute for concealing that kind of information, but that's only an issue if anyone finds out, and finds out that anyone else had previously found out and been less sharing of their findings.
Barric wonders if it's the years of paranoia, the day-to-day tense buildup, somewhere back beyond emotion, around the bones at the base of his skull -- something like that that's driving him now. Or fear? Or a very old grudge. It could be all of those things.
As the three of them are just about to go, Ector walks into Barric's cottage, eyes glowing golden, full of light, he says: "I overheard, last night. I want to join you."
Fucking hell. It could even be hope.
To Kill the King