Archive of Our Own ^beta

Works which have used it as a tag:

• Stumbling over a conspiracy... by Nelarun

  Fandoms: Merlin (TV)  

  • Teen And Up Audiences
  • No Archive Warnings Apply
  • Gen
  • Complete Work

  17 Oct 2025

  Tags

  • No Archive Warnings Apply
  • Merlin (Merlin)
  • ranger john
  • Tired Merlin (Merlin)
  • Merlin goes on an adventure
  • without Arthur or the knights
  • Background events that are trying to lead to the downfall of Arthur
  • As if Merlin's going to let that happen
  • The knights are starting to distance themselves from Merlin
  • They don't realise they're doing it though
  • Arthur comes in at the very end - they banter
  • Agravaine looms in the background
  • Horses being horses
  • The church plays a role
  • but not a big one.
  • Lots of people are being manipulated in this one
  • class warfare is simmering
  • Just because their actions are wrong doesn't mean they're necessarily wrong
  • Fantasy rangers are kinda badass
  • (ranger template is LOTR and The Ranger's Apprentice and realworld)
  • merlin gets kidnapped
  • Then John gets taken hostage
  • but it all works out in the end
  • Religious Manipulation

  Summary

  Merlin, disappointed after his friends are once again too busy to spend time with him, receives a job from Gaius - travel to the village of Cholcate and see how the people there are faring.

  Ranger John is asked to escort Merlin to his home village. Since he was going there anyway for his sister's wedding, he was pleased to do so. He wasn't expecting to stumble on a kingdom-ending conspiracy and a high-value target for the Camelot army. He just had to hope that they could deal with this and get to Cholcate on time.

  Series

  • Part 45 of The conspiracy of Sir Leon to commit treason (by trying to keep Merlin's head on his shoulders)

  Language:

  English

  Words:

  17,698

  Chapters:

  11/11

  Comments:

  47

  Kudos:

  36

  Bookmarks:

  1

  Hits:

  302