Merlin: '10 Song meme'
1) Stellar* - ‘Magic Line’
Magic was a part of Merlin. He had been born with it, starting fires and moving objects since he was barely able to crawl and he couldn’t imagine life any other way.
Magic had, likewise, always been a part of Arthur’s life. He had been hunting out witches and sorcerers since he was old enough to wield a sword.
But now, magic has a different meaning for them both.
For Arthur, it comes in the glow that flickers in his manservant’s eyes when he thinks no one is looking. It’s in the falling tree, the miraculous escapes, and the lithe shadow of a servant following him everywhere.
For Merlin, it’s in Arthur’s smile.
2) Snow Patrol - ‘Take back the city’
Arthur’s eyes are calm as they look out over his kingdom.
His.
The bells ring out through the city, announcing his father’s demise.
The King is dead.
Long live the King.
Him.
Smoke billows and thickens the air, but the screams and shouts of battle have subsided and all that the new king can hear is the occasional wail of sorrow as a loved one is found amongst the dead.
(He knows the feeling too well.)
But the enemy soldiers have been defeated, and Camelot has been taken back into safe hands.
A pressure on his shoulder turns him from the destruction below, and Arthur feels his throat close over in relief.
“You will not harm him! You will leave Camelot - now!”
A flash of gold, and a scream.
Merlin looks at him with apprehensive eyes, not gold as they had been during the fight, but a weary blue.
Arthur does not hesitate in drawing him into a crushing hug, and he can feel Merlin’s tense shoulders sag in relief at the same moment Arthur releases the breath he’d been holding.
Camelot is back in his hands, where it belongs.
And so is Merlin.
3) The Fray - ‘Ungodly hour’
Merlin sighs as he rolls over in bed, sleep eluding him once again.
Morgana’s choked sobbing echoes in his mind, stabbing at his conscious.
The roar of the dragon and the smell of burnt flesh fill his empty room.
He hasn’t slept properly in weeks, and when he does manage to drift off, his dreams are filled with blood and screams and executions. They torment him almost as much as his waking life.
Since he followed Arthur to face the dragon, the Prince has been acting differently.
Arthur is still a prat. He still gives Merlin a list of chores every morning, still makes comments about his ears, still questions his intelligence. But it is done without the old bite. Now it’s almost a private joke between them, but Merlin can’t laugh.
Because Arthur treats him as an equal.
As a friend.
Merlin closes his eyes against the dark and against the tears.
He doesn't deserve Arthur's friendship.
4) My Chemical Romance - ‘ Welcome to the Black Parade’
When Arthur was a young boy, his father made him stand at his side and watch a witch burn.
He said that Arthur must defeat them, the demons and all the magical beings, because one day, Uther would not be there to do it - and someone must.
From that day on, Arthur stood at his father’s side as the people - no, as the sorcerers below screamed in pain, the flames licking at their skin as it peeled from their bones.
Sometimes he wonders if his mother is watching over him.
He wonders if she is proud.
And then one day the person - the sorcerer -
... but it’s not a sorcerer.
But it is.
But it’s Merlin.
But he’s a sorcerer.
He was defiant right up to the end, yelling lies of destiny, protection and love.
Then the fire was lit, and his yells turn to screams, his tears drying on his face in the heat of the flame.
Uther is still by Arthur’s side.
From that day on Merlin is not.
5) Vertical Horizon - ‘Everything You Want’
Merlin did not expect a destiny when he arrived in Camelot.
He expected a mediocre job. A mediocre life.
But then he was appointed to serve on Arthur, and things changed.
The man is a prat. He yells, and curses, and smirks, and Merlin hates him.
But the dragon says that the Prince is his destiny. That with Merlin’s help, Arthur will be great.
And slowly, as they go through battle after battle together, Merlin sees what will be.
He sees a land united under a loving King.
He sees Arthur, resplendent in his robes and ruling with a fair and just hand.
They become friends.
But it is not enough, and Merlin does not know why.
Then he sees Arthur kissing Gwen in the tent, and feels sick.
Arthur is everything Albion wants and needs.
Arthur is everything Merlin wants and needs.
He is also everything Merlin will never have.
6) James Blunt - ‘You’re Beautiful’
Arthur has a good life.
He is a prince, after all.
He has food, nice clothes, the best horses, the newest weapons, a warm room in a large castle.
He has a kingdom.
But when he sees Merlin with one of the younger knights...
He doesn’t know what to do with the feelings that rise up in his chest so unexpectedly.
He sends the knight on a round of the outlying villages.
Merlin doesn’t talk to him for a week.
Arthur finds himself starring at his friend, wondering how anyone could be that beautiful.
Wondering why he never noticed.
Wondering why it was that this - that Merlin - was the one thing he couldn’t have.
The one thing he couldn’t live without.
7) Aly & AJ - ‘Do You Believe in Magic?’
When Merlin first tells Arthur about his magic, Arthur laughs, his head thrown back and eyes closed shut against the truth.
But then when Merlin drops a bucket of water over his head - without the bucket or a well to get the water - then Arthur listens.
And Merlin tells him. He tells him about what he’s done for Arthur, and for Camelot.
He tells him about their destiny.
And when Merlin finally stops, his voice hoarse from exertion and emotion, Arthur stays silent for a moment, before leaning forward a pressing his lips against Merlin’s.
It is soft, and gentle, and kind, and to Merlin, it feels a little bit magical.
8) Glee Cast - ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’
Arthur is used to getting what he wants, whether it was a new toy when he was young, or a new weapon or horse now.
And then, one day, a gangly boy with large ears, raven hair and sparkly eyes comes stumbling into his life.
And Arthur wants him.
Badly.
Unfortunately, they get off on the wrong foot.
They kind of hate each other.
But slowly - very slowly - they become friends.
And, after a long, long, long time - (during which Arthur pretends desperately that he loves another, because really, it would never work between him and Merlin - not that it would work between him and Gwen either, but at least she had breasts...) - Merlin gets sick of Arthur’s (apparently obvious) pining, and kisses him.
And Arthur (of course) kisses him back.
9) Bryan Adams - ‘I’ll be right here waiting’
When Merlin is discovered, Arthur sends him away.
He doesn’t banish him, and he makes sure Merlin knows the difference as the two of them race underground through the maze that makes up Camelot’s dungeons.
Arthur expects Merlin to return.
But he has been King for nearly two months now.
And Merlin is yet to return.
Every chance he gets, Arthur stands at the top of the tower that overlooks the city, and he waits.
As he does, he thinks back to the time he and his manservant had spent together - all the times they had saved each other, all the smiles and fights and tears and blood that they had shared.
All the chances he had to tell him how he felt, all the times he never did.
One evening, a lone rider comes over the hill just as the sun begins to disappear behind the mountains. Arthur lets go a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding for the past year. He would recognise that awful riding posture anywhere.
He turns and starts running down the tower to meet Merlin, ignoring the strange looks he gathers as he sprints through his castle.
Arthur has had enough of waiting.
(and from the kiss he drags Arthur into the moment they are alone, so has Merlin...)
10) Shania Twain - ‘Forever and For Always’
Arthur dies.
A wound that can’t be healed, blood darkening the grass below him as Merlin pulls him into his arms on the bank of a lake, tears blurring his vision.
Arthur is pale and shaking as he smiles up at him, and Merlin chokes back a sob.
“H-hey now. None of that” Arthur says, his trembling hand reaching up to push back Merlin’s hair from his face, which is smeared with ash and blood and tears.
“Arthur- I- You’ll be fine. I won’t let you- You won’t...” Merlin chokes on his words again, and Arthur smiles sadly.
“I’m dying Merlin.”
“NO!”
The King winces and Merlin realises he had jostled him, aggravating the already lethal wound.
“Yes. The only reason I’m not dead already is you.” Arthur said, and Merlin can tell he is right. His magic, so desperate to keep Arthur with him, so desperate not to be left alone, is feeding into Arthur, trying to heal him.
But it is too late.
Merlin knows it is.
“W-we’ll be together again. I promise.” He whispers furiously into Arthurs ear, and the King smiles as he slips into oblivion.
Thousands upon thousands of years later... two strangers meet.