Whumptober 2021
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"Put your arm in here," he snaps, and Merlin bites back a hiss at the sting from the cool water. As Arthur unrolls bandages, he says sharply, "what the hell were you thinking? Were you thinking? What on earth possessed you to put your arm in a burning fireplace?"
Merlin makes a disconcerted noise and Arthur looks at him intently, frown furrowing his brow. He looks, really looks, and Merlin wonders vaguely what he's seeing. The tiredness, the fear, the shadows. He knows he looked a mess earlier and that was before the execution.
Merlin freaks out during the execution of a sorcerer.
Series
- Part 1 of Whumptober 2021
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Gritting his teeth against the pain shooting up his leg with every step, Merlin shifts the heavy tray to a more comfortable position. In the process he bashes his elbow, sloshing the jug and causing him to bite down a yelp. Great. As if he doesn't have enough injuries. He curses everything, the visiting knights, Uther, even Arthur for being so damned oblivious now when he wasn't two weeks ago.
An asshole knight visits Camelot and Merlin has to serve him.
Series
- Part 2 of Whumptober 2021
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He turns over, punching his pillow. The words of the knights spin through his mind, "nothing but a servant" and "no interest in your opinion" and "keep your mouth shut, or I'll shut it for you" running, twisting his thoughts. By the time the sun rises, filtering in through his window, he's almost convinced himself that they've always thought of him like this.
Merlin struggles after the encounter with the Lamia.
Series
- Part 3 of Whumptober 2021
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After a week, he stops counting the days. He sleeps a lot, pacing when he doesn't, five steps forward, five steps down, five steps back, five steps up, walking in a square. The pain in his cheek and knees has diminished, then gone, and that's how he knows time's passed. He misses everything, painfully at first but then settling as a dull ache in his chest as he starts to forget things. Arthur's laugh, Gwen's curly hair, the smell of Gaius' herbs, it's been too long, too long on his own in the dark with no sound that he hasn't made, nothing to smell, nothing, nothing, nothing.
Uther locks Merlin up to stop him influencing his son.
Series
- Part 4 of Whumptober 2021
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The bandit puts a knife to his throat. "Drop the sword, Pendragon."
Arthur stretches his arm out slowly and drops Excalibur, keeping his eyes locked on the knife at Merlin's throat. "Let my servant go. He's no danger, and you've got me instead. You don't need him."
"Arthur, no—"
The bandit tightens his grip. "That's where you're wrong. We were paid for that servant."
"Why?"
"Didn't ask. But if you don't shut up I'll cut my losses and get rid of you both."Merlin and Arthur are captured by bandits.
Series
- Part 5 of Whumptober 2021
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The men step back, looking satisfied, but Merlin doesn’t move. He feels a tingling sensation go down his spine, and everything dulls. He can barely feel his magic, and certainly not any nearby. Earlier he could feel the city, feel the trees and the life in it even through the man-made structures, but now it’s like there’s a hole where he used to feel all that.
The man in charge laughs at the fear on his face. “There you go. Told you Bors’ potions worked, men.”After King Arthur legalises magic, some people aren't happy. And who better to take it out on than a young warlock who's new to the city?
Series
- Part 6 of Whumptober 2021
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"Indeed I do. I saw your friend on the news this morning, by the way."
"But you never watch the local news." And there's no way something like that would've made it to the national news.
His father shrugs, a dangerous gleam in his eye. "I'm very sorry. Perhaps we should send Nollar round with some flowers. He lives at 12 Excalibur Drive, doesn't he?"
Arthur freezes. There's no way he could possibly know where Merlin lives unless… would he really be that cruel?
He catches his father's eye and reads the threat there, clear as day. Uther did this. And if he knows what's good for the both of them, he'll do as he's told and forget about Merlin.
"Then again, he's probably got enough 'get well soon's. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, sir."Uther threatens Merlin's life to force his son to obey him. But Arthur isn't about to just let that stand.
Series
- Part 7 of Whumptober 2021
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The attack had come from nowhere, plunging into Arthur’s chest before they knew what hit him. The one time he doesn’t wear armour and this happens.
Merlin sacrifices himself for Arthur.
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- Part 8 of Whumptober 2021
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Arthur waits until it’s dark before sliding the knife out of his boot and cutting through his and Merlin’s bonds. Merlin’s pale, unconscious, breathing shallowly, and he picks him up despite the pain in his head, staggering out of the camp.
Merlin's hair doesn't feel right to Arthur after they escape from bandits. He decides to rectify it.
Series
- Part 9 of Whumptober 2021
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Arthur inclines his head a little and walks off down the corridor as the guard repeats his spiel at the next visitor, stopping at the entrance to the former throne room. He strolls inside, taking a complementary glass of wine and sipping it as he takes his seat. He's going to need alcohol to get through this.
He opens the booklet, carefully keeping the disgust off his face as he looks through the mugshots. Auctioning people off like prize farm animals, it's disgusting.Three weeks ago, Merlin was lost on a mission. Now, infiltrating a slave auction, Arthur finds the last person he expects, triggering the discovery of something he'd rather not know.
Series
- Part 10 of Whumptober 2021
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Merlin splutters awake when the water hits him. It takes him a moment to get his bearings but then he remembers and uncurls himself, stretching out his wings. They were once iridescent, like a raven's, but they're turning dull from lack of proper nourishment.
"What, no— no punches?"In a world where magical people are barely seen as human, Merlin's been captured by a circus. It's time to get him out.
Series
- Part 11 of Whumptober 2021
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The man stops keening abruptly, spinning round and staring at Arthur with red-rimmed, piercing blue eyes.
"Who're you?"
"I'm Arthur. Why are you upset?"
"He stole my coat!"
Arthur frowns. "Your coat? But– it's only a coat, surely it's not something to get so upset about?"Arthur meets a trapped selkie on a visit to his uncle.
Series
- Part 12 of Whumptober 2021
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"What's wrong Merlin?"
"Nothing's wrong, sire. May I be excused?"
'Yes' is on the tip of Arthur's tongue, but he can't let it out. Maybe it's Leon's question still lingering in the back of his mind, or it could just be his extreme reaction to a hat, of all things, but whatever it is stays his tongue, and he finds himself replying, "no. Not until you've told me what's going on."
Merlin turns an alarming shade of grey at his words.Arthur finds out about Merlin's childhood, and his odd behaviour takes on a new light.
Series
- Part 13 of Whumptober 2021
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Arthur doesn’t sleep. He feels heavy with guilt at the knowledge that he nearly killed his best friend. His only friend. He wishes he’d never found out about Merlin’s magic. Then this wouldn’t have happened.
Or, no, that’s not true. He didn’t have to react that way, didn’t have to use cold iron. He could’ve at least spoken to Merlin first. But he didn’t, and now his only friend’s nearly dead. Every time he closes his eyes he sees Merlin’s terrified, accusing look.
Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic and decides to keep him safe by stopping his magic. Unfortunately, thinking he's protecting him and actually doing so are completely different things.
Series
- Part 14 of Whumptober 2021