Fic: Increments (Merlin/Arthur)

[b_hallward]

Summary: Ten times Arthur relied on Merlin's magic and one time he didn't.

Comments

[veleda_k]

From the very first five words, I knew that this was going to be incredible. I was not wrong. As usual, I am unable to pick a favorite, but I am especially fond of the fifty word one, as the wisdom and cleverness of animals is one of my favorite fantasy tropes.

Did I tell you that this is amazing? Because it is.

[b_hallward]

Thanks! It's part of my own personal fanon that Merlin talks with animals. (And that Arthur keeps it near the top of his internal list of evidence that Merlin is more than merely odd, but rather simple or crazy. Even when it works. No, especially when it works.)

I'm sort of overwhelmed that people actually liked this as a story.

[p_zeitgeist]

These are all wonderful. I especially love the twists on legends: who does want to kiss a hag?

As for ninety -- oh, how can anyone not love Merlin? Why do these sorts of things keep happening?

Which wasn't what I started off meaning to say. What I meant to say was, I think this is one of the things that makes the Arthurian mythos so emotionally satisfying: that neat blend of tragedy with not-tragedy. Merlin never grows old. Arthur never dies; there's a catastrophe, an inevitable tragedy waiting for them all, but the principals are coming back. And when they do, there'll be a chance to get it all right.

[rohaa]

Merlin never grows old. Arthur never dies;

You know, I'd never thought of it like that. There's something utterly tragic and beautiful about that.

*thoughtful*

[p_zeitgeist]

It's so perfect. In a way, it's the core myth of Western culture: Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?

Only, this time, with dragons and dreamlike white-turreted castles. Bliss, says I. Bliss.

[b_hallward]

how can anyone not love Merlin?

I don't know! Sometimes he just buries his face in his arms and I think: yes. Yes, exactly.

blend of tragedy with not-tragedy

The 'Once and Future' aspect is so perfectly judged: the appeal of a lost, unsustainable ideal and the promise of an eventual return where all losses are restored and sorrows end.

[rohaa]

I think you have just discovered a new fic format. It's amazing how much of a story you can tell with so few words. Less words don't seem to make you tell any less of a story. I'm envious. I could keep reading this stuff forever.

Well done!

[b_hallward]

Thank you! I would love to see other people's take on this format/experiment--I expected the variations in length to make a much bigger difference than they did.

BTW, I adore your icon.

[b_hallward]

They're like little signposts dotted across the landscape of Merlin and Arthur's developing relationship, somehow managing to map out everything between.

That's one of the nicest things anyone's said about my writing. Thank you!

[elven_wolf]

I love this. You wonderfully compacted depths of emotion, event, meaning, into even the shortest scenes. Bravo.

[b_hallward]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it.