Merlin Fic: Challenge drabbles inspired by 'Sir Gawain & the Green Knight' by Simon Armitage (G)
A few weeks ago, I volunteered to take part in hermitknut's Drabble Challenge. Each participant received five four-line rhymes from Simon Armitage's translation of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', and had to write a related drabble of exactly one-hundred words. We were allowed to change characters, pairings, genders, etc. if we wanted to, and could write any pairings (or not) so long as it was a Merlin drabble.
Now, I have issues with drabbles because, as you've probably gathered by now, I'm rather ... verbose. :P (I once wrote a '1,000-word' fic that ended up being 10,000 words.) So, I find it hard! And I found some of the rhymes a bit tricky to write for (especially the last one!) - but I've done it. In plenty of time, for a change, instead of at the last second! I could've had another whole week! XD.
Everything was beta'd by the genuinely wonderful ice_elf. I don't know what I'd do without her! *sends hugs*
The pairings and any other explanatory notes are described in the LJ cuts. Enjoy!
Merlin/Arthur; future fic
And wonder, dread and war
have lingered in that land
where loss and love in turn
have held the upper hand.
Walls scorched by magic. Farmland churned to mud and left bloodied by the dead and dying. Not a good day for either side. The twinkle in Gwaine’s eyes had flickered out. Elyan’s smile had frozen to a rictus. The last cut of Arthur’s sword had struck Mordred to the heart, but the sorcerer’s dying breath had held a curse.
Merlin knew the evil magic could do - and the good it couldn’t. He swallowed. “I can’t save you.”
“The Isle of the Blessed…?”
“Maybe - I don’t -”
“Try,” Arthur said, and Merlin nodded. He needed this one last victory over death.
~~~
Gwaine/Merlin
But mind your mood, Gawain,
keep blacker thoughts at bay,
or lose this lethal game
you’ve promised you will play.
Gwaine stared out of the window. The town and even the castle looked different at night. More like a home. Less like a prison of his own making. Easier to slip away from.
He turned back to the bed, where Merlin lay. His skin was pale against the deep red coverlet. Gwaine shivered, wanting to touch. Love was a dangerous game, if it kept him here.
But here there were friends; good wine; a comfortable bed. And Merlin, he though with a smile. Don’t forget that. No; such thoughts wouldn’t sway him. This game was one he intended to win.
~~~
Arthur/Merlin
Beneath the din of drums
men followed their affairs,
and trumpets thrilled and thrummed
as those two tended theirs.
The great hall was filled with music and bubbling with a cheery froth of conversation. The tournament had attracted many visitors to Camelot; now locals and guests alike were enjoying an evening of feasting. Someone had drafted in a troupe of jugglers and acrobats to tumble and spin in the open space in the centre of the tables.
Merlin bent to refill Arthur’s goblet. The prince lifted the hand that had been propping his chin and brushed the back of his fingers against Merlin’s throat. He turned his head.
“Later,” he said, and the single word was filled with promise.
~~~
Arthur & Gwen, Arthur/?; future fic
At length, when they had laughed,
the woman kissed Gawain.
Politely then she left
and went her own sweet way.
Arthur expected that explaining to Gwen would be difficult. He hadn’t lied when he promised to love and honour her; but he couldn’t pretend that love was more than platonic. His heart had always been someone else’s.
He didn’t expect her to laugh at his admission, or to kiss him as she stood to leave.
“Where are you going?”
Gwen looked over her shoulder. “If I’m lucky, I’ll catch Lancelot before he changes out of his wedding clothes. Or while he’s changing.”
And with a smile that was thoroughly wicked, she skipped out of the door and left Arthur laughing.
~~~
SPOILERS for 'The Wicked Day' (S4E03). Gen; missing scene
Now he is geared and gowned
he steps outside and thinks
those nobles of renown
are due his thorough thanks.
As Merlin fussed with the coronation outfit, Arthur realised that he had not been alone since Uther’s death. Between them, Merlin and the Knights had made sure that one of them was always with him. Merlin during his night-long vigil. Gwaine bullying him into eating a bellyful of breakfast. Percival arriving just as Merlin had to leave with the plates. Leon sitting with him for the time Merlin spent buffing his chainmail; and Elyan while Merlin was shining his boots.
He smiled as he stepped into the corridor, thinking that, when this was over, he ought to thank his friends.
~~~
.
Now, I have issues with drabbles because, as you've probably gathered by now, I'm rather ... verbose. :P (I once wrote a '1,000-word' fic that ended up being 10,000 words.) So, I find it hard! And I found some of the rhymes a bit tricky to write for (especially the last one!) - but I've done it. In plenty of time, for a change, instead of at the last second! I could've had another whole week! XD.
Everything was beta'd by the genuinely wonderful ice_elf. I don't know what I'd do without her! *sends hugs*
The pairings and any other explanatory notes are described in the LJ cuts. Enjoy!
Merlin/Arthur; future fic
And wonder, dread and war
have lingered in that land
where loss and love in turn
have held the upper hand.
Walls scorched by magic. Farmland churned to mud and left bloodied by the dead and dying. Not a good day for either side. The twinkle in Gwaine’s eyes had flickered out. Elyan’s smile had frozen to a rictus. The last cut of Arthur’s sword had struck Mordred to the heart, but the sorcerer’s dying breath had held a curse.
Merlin knew the evil magic could do - and the good it couldn’t. He swallowed. “I can’t save you.”
“The Isle of the Blessed…?”
“Maybe - I don’t -”
“Try,” Arthur said, and Merlin nodded. He needed this one last victory over death.
~~~
Gwaine/Merlin
But mind your mood, Gawain,
keep blacker thoughts at bay,
or lose this lethal game
you’ve promised you will play.
Gwaine stared out of the window. The town and even the castle looked different at night. More like a home. Less like a prison of his own making. Easier to slip away from.
He turned back to the bed, where Merlin lay. His skin was pale against the deep red coverlet. Gwaine shivered, wanting to touch. Love was a dangerous game, if it kept him here.
But here there were friends; good wine; a comfortable bed. And Merlin, he though with a smile. Don’t forget that. No; such thoughts wouldn’t sway him. This game was one he intended to win.
~~~
Arthur/Merlin
Beneath the din of drums
men followed their affairs,
and trumpets thrilled and thrummed
as those two tended theirs.
The great hall was filled with music and bubbling with a cheery froth of conversation. The tournament had attracted many visitors to Camelot; now locals and guests alike were enjoying an evening of feasting. Someone had drafted in a troupe of jugglers and acrobats to tumble and spin in the open space in the centre of the tables.
Merlin bent to refill Arthur’s goblet. The prince lifted the hand that had been propping his chin and brushed the back of his fingers against Merlin’s throat. He turned his head.
“Later,” he said, and the single word was filled with promise.
~~~
Arthur & Gwen, Arthur/?; future fic
At length, when they had laughed,
the woman kissed Gawain.
Politely then she left
and went her own sweet way.
Arthur expected that explaining to Gwen would be difficult. He hadn’t lied when he promised to love and honour her; but he couldn’t pretend that love was more than platonic. His heart had always been someone else’s.
He didn’t expect her to laugh at his admission, or to kiss him as she stood to leave.
“Where are you going?”
Gwen looked over her shoulder. “If I’m lucky, I’ll catch Lancelot before he changes out of his wedding clothes. Or while he’s changing.”
And with a smile that was thoroughly wicked, she skipped out of the door and left Arthur laughing.
~~~
SPOILERS for 'The Wicked Day' (S4E03). Gen; missing scene
Now he is geared and gowned
he steps outside and thinks
those nobles of renown
are due his thorough thanks.
As Merlin fussed with the coronation outfit, Arthur realised that he had not been alone since Uther’s death. Between them, Merlin and the Knights had made sure that one of them was always with him. Merlin during his night-long vigil. Gwaine bullying him into eating a bellyful of breakfast. Percival arriving just as Merlin had to leave with the plates. Leon sitting with him for the time Merlin spent buffing his chainmail; and Elyan while Merlin was shining his boots.
He smiled as he stepped into the corridor, thinking that, when this was over, he ought to thank his friends.
~~~
.