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crack_van2012-07-31 10:33 am
dameange.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2012-07-31 10:33 am
Let Us Dare by kianspo (NC17)
Last, but certainly not least: Let Us Dare by Kianspo.
Thanks for a great month, hope you enjoyed all these long, luscious goodies!
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Author on LJ: N/A on LJ, but Kianspo is on dreamwidth
Author Website: AO3
Author's Summary:
Uther dies instead of Ygraine when Arthur is born. Balinor helps Ygraine secure her position as regent, magic isn’t banned, and Merlin and Arthur grow up side by side. Camelot is different but not cloudless, destiny is still a troublesome thing, and Arthur is still charmingly oblivious when it comes to things that matter most in life.
Why this must be read:
An amazing look into Arthur's life as it may have been if Uther had paid magic's price instead. Long, plotty, amazingly written, with in-character characters that still reflect the change in storyline.
Excerpt 1:
“Well,” Nimueh said as soon as the doors were closed. “This was certainly interesting. The boy is Gifted beyond any known precedent.”
“You don’t say.” Ygraine’s tone was dry. “This is the first time I’ve heard my son voluntarily use the word ‘please.’ Clearly, Merlin is the most powerful person in the kingdom.”
The Druid leader turned away from him, nodding at someone in the midst of the formation, and then—
Merlin.
It was Merlin walking towards him slowly, and Arthur almost swayed with relief but then, as he took in the man in front of him, he felt his heart trying to crawl into itself inside his chest, desperately seeking refuge.
It was undoubtedly Merlin, the same Merlin whom Arthur had known his entire life, but there was nothing of the gawky, awkward boy he remembered so well in this stunning young creature.
Tall, slender, strength hinted subtly in the broad line of his shoulders, in the whisper of muscles beneath the glorious stretches of creamy, pale skin, he walked confidently forward, bare feet gliding over the evening-wet grass. He was stripped from the waist up, his torso covered in the most exquisite ink patterns Arthur had ever seen, runes and symbols twining and curling in a mesmerising, mysterious display. Low, so low they went that looking at them felt almost indecent, and Arthur snapped his eyes up guiltily.
Shame flooded his veins as he realised what he had been doing. Merlin was so young, and his friend, and – and Arthur couldn’t stop staring.
Merlin’s face was free of ink, except for his eyes. Framed by smudged charcoal, they looked almost ethereal, too blue to be of this world. His lips were dark and glistening wetly, as if he’d only just been drinking some potent, viscous wine. There was a crown of grapevine leaves in Merlin’s hair that likened him to a forest spirit – wanton and innocent at the same time, like a mischievous child of a pagan god who lured travellers off their ways to seduce them into fate unknown.
Arthur couldn’t breathe. He wanted to pluck the leaves out of Merlin’s hair and throw a cloak over him to shield him from everyone’s staring eyes. He wanted to yell at him for making a spectacle of himself. He wanted to shake him, to remind him that he was still Merlin, Arthur’s Merlin. The boy with dimples and goofy smiles, not this manifestation of magical rebellion.
Arthur would do it, too, except he dared not touch him. He had a horrible, frightening feeling that he would not be able to stop if he did.
Immerse yourself in Kianspo's incredible new world in Let Us Dare.
Thanks for a great month, hope you enjoyed all these long, luscious goodies!
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Author on LJ: N/A on LJ, but Kianspo is on dreamwidth
Author Website: AO3
Author's Summary:
Uther dies instead of Ygraine when Arthur is born. Balinor helps Ygraine secure her position as regent, magic isn’t banned, and Merlin and Arthur grow up side by side. Camelot is different but not cloudless, destiny is still a troublesome thing, and Arthur is still charmingly oblivious when it comes to things that matter most in life.
Why this must be read:
An amazing look into Arthur's life as it may have been if Uther had paid magic's price instead. Long, plotty, amazingly written, with in-character characters that still reflect the change in storyline.
Excerpt 1:
“Well,” Nimueh said as soon as the doors were closed. “This was certainly interesting. The boy is Gifted beyond any known precedent.”
“You don’t say.” Ygraine’s tone was dry. “This is the first time I’ve heard my son voluntarily use the word ‘please.’ Clearly, Merlin is the most powerful person in the kingdom.”
The Druid leader turned away from him, nodding at someone in the midst of the formation, and then—
Merlin.
It was Merlin walking towards him slowly, and Arthur almost swayed with relief but then, as he took in the man in front of him, he felt his heart trying to crawl into itself inside his chest, desperately seeking refuge.
It was undoubtedly Merlin, the same Merlin whom Arthur had known his entire life, but there was nothing of the gawky, awkward boy he remembered so well in this stunning young creature.
Tall, slender, strength hinted subtly in the broad line of his shoulders, in the whisper of muscles beneath the glorious stretches of creamy, pale skin, he walked confidently forward, bare feet gliding over the evening-wet grass. He was stripped from the waist up, his torso covered in the most exquisite ink patterns Arthur had ever seen, runes and symbols twining and curling in a mesmerising, mysterious display. Low, so low they went that looking at them felt almost indecent, and Arthur snapped his eyes up guiltily.
Shame flooded his veins as he realised what he had been doing. Merlin was so young, and his friend, and – and Arthur couldn’t stop staring.
Merlin’s face was free of ink, except for his eyes. Framed by smudged charcoal, they looked almost ethereal, too blue to be of this world. His lips were dark and glistening wetly, as if he’d only just been drinking some potent, viscous wine. There was a crown of grapevine leaves in Merlin’s hair that likened him to a forest spirit – wanton and innocent at the same time, like a mischievous child of a pagan god who lured travellers off their ways to seduce them into fate unknown.
Arthur couldn’t breathe. He wanted to pluck the leaves out of Merlin’s hair and throw a cloak over him to shield him from everyone’s staring eyes. He wanted to yell at him for making a spectacle of himself. He wanted to shake him, to remind him that he was still Merlin, Arthur’s Merlin. The boy with dimples and goofy smiles, not this manifestation of magical rebellion.
Arthur would do it, too, except he dared not touch him. He had a horrible, frightening feeling that he would not be able to stop if he did.
Immerse yourself in Kianspo's incredible new world in Let Us Dare.