A Heavy Heart to Carry by xthursdaynextx (R)
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~12,000 words
Author on LJ: xthursdaynextx
Author Website: Masterlist on LJ
Why this must be read:
Author's Summary: When Merlin is captured and injured, Arthur must face up to his own feelings for his manservant as well as the many secrets he discovers are being kept from him.
This fic is a beautiful example of straight forward h/c, feverish meanderings, realizations, get-togethers, and a reveal!fic that doesn't drown in the melodrama. It's your classic tale of boy-gets-captured, boy-gets-rescued, world-shattering realizations are made, and boy-gets-his-man. And yet, there's so much more to this as well. Her character voices are outstanding, especially Arthur's. She has his princely tone down pat and yet there's the caring and tender side to it as well. Gwaine will just make you giggle at how irreverent he is.
"Arthur..."
He sounds so distressed that Arthur can't find it in him not to respond.
"I'm here, Merlin," he says, as gently as he can.
"Yes, you're... it's our destiny. The dragon said." Merlin falters, then opens his eyes and looks right at him, but seems not to see him. "Arthur mustn't know," he says, wild-eyed, desperate, "He mustn't know about my magic. Don't tell him, will you?" Arthur thinks his heart stops, just for a second, then a leaden weight seems to settle in his stomach. Merlin is still looking at him, though, eyes pleading, clutching onto his cloak, so he forces himself to reply.
"I won't tell," he says evenly, which seems to soothe Merlin, who settles back with his head against Arthur's chest, his hair brushing against his chin. Arthur swallows, hard.
"Thank you," Merlin says, barely audible.
Arthur can't think. He can barely breathe. It seems like Merlin has just confessed to having magic. But he's delirious, of course, he doesn't know what he's saying. He wasn't even sure who Arthur was, for goodness sake. And yet, and yet...
A Heavy Heart to Carry
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~12,000 words
Author on LJ: xthursdaynextx
Author Website: Masterlist on LJ
Why this must be read:
Author's Summary: When Merlin is captured and injured, Arthur must face up to his own feelings for his manservant as well as the many secrets he discovers are being kept from him.
This fic is a beautiful example of straight forward h/c, feverish meanderings, realizations, get-togethers, and a reveal!fic that doesn't drown in the melodrama. It's your classic tale of boy-gets-captured, boy-gets-rescued, world-shattering realizations are made, and boy-gets-his-man. And yet, there's so much more to this as well. Her character voices are outstanding, especially Arthur's. She has his princely tone down pat and yet there's the caring and tender side to it as well. Gwaine will just make you giggle at how irreverent he is.
"Arthur..."
He sounds so distressed that Arthur can't find it in him not to respond.
"I'm here, Merlin," he says, as gently as he can.
"Yes, you're... it's our destiny. The dragon said." Merlin falters, then opens his eyes and looks right at him, but seems not to see him. "Arthur mustn't know," he says, wild-eyed, desperate, "He mustn't know about my magic. Don't tell him, will you?" Arthur thinks his heart stops, just for a second, then a leaden weight seems to settle in his stomach. Merlin is still looking at him, though, eyes pleading, clutching onto his cloak, so he forces himself to reply.
"I won't tell," he says evenly, which seems to soothe Merlin, who settles back with his head against Arthur's chest, his hair brushing against his chin. Arthur swallows, hard.
"Thank you," Merlin says, barely audible.
Arthur can't think. He can barely breathe. It seems like Merlin has just confessed to having magic. But he's delirious, of course, he doesn't know what he's saying. He wasn't even sure who Arthur was, for goodness sake. And yet, and yet...
A Heavy Heart to Carry