Some Say It's a Blessing, Some Say It's a Curse by winterhill (PG)
Title: Some Say It's a Blessing, Some Say It's a Curse
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Categories: Magic reveal, powerful!Merlin, captured!Arthur, humorous moments
Length: medium (3,000 words)
Warnings: Minor character death: original character
Author on LJ: misswinterhill
Author Website:
winterhill (This story not on AO3)
Author's Summary: “Last warning,” said Merlin, raising a hand. “If you try to harm him, I will kill you. If you succeed, no-one will leave here alive.”
Review:
Magic reveal is often a great plot turn about three quarters of the way through a story, but this KMM prompt fill is, from beginning to end, strictly about the reveal - both the fact that Merlin has magic and the enormity of what he can do with it.
I love reveal moments. This one may be my favorite for the combination of a powerful Merlin who's deadly serious about protecting Arthur but is still down-to-earth and irreverent in the end. It also doesn't hurt that the reveal unfolds over 3000 words, so I get to roll around in it and enjoy for a bit.
There's no angst here, though it is an emotional moment. I love that Winterhill sets up a dramatic exhibition of what a wrathful Merlin could look like, then undercuts it beautifully with humor: their usual banter and some snarking that has me smiling the moment the danger has passed. Plus I love the way Arthur is both blown away and yet not completely surprised after all.
Some Say It's a Blessing, Some Say It's a Curse Looks like this is no longer available in print form.
Podfic by margi_lynn
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Categories: Magic reveal, powerful!Merlin, captured!Arthur, humorous moments
Length: medium (3,000 words)
Warnings: Minor character death: original character
Author on LJ: misswinterhill
Author Website:
winterhill (This story not on AO3)
Author's Summary: “Last warning,” said Merlin, raising a hand. “If you try to harm him, I will kill you. If you succeed, no-one will leave here alive.”
Review:
Magic reveal is often a great plot turn about three quarters of the way through a story, but this KMM prompt fill is, from beginning to end, strictly about the reveal - both the fact that Merlin has magic and the enormity of what he can do with it.
I love reveal moments. This one may be my favorite for the combination of a powerful Merlin who's deadly serious about protecting Arthur but is still down-to-earth and irreverent in the end. It also doesn't hurt that the reveal unfolds over 3000 words, so I get to roll around in it and enjoy for a bit.
There's no angst here, though it is an emotional moment. I love that Winterhill sets up a dramatic exhibition of what a wrathful Merlin could look like, then undercuts it beautifully with humor: their usual banter and some snarking that has me smiling the moment the danger has passed. Plus I love the way Arthur is both blown away and yet not completely surprised after all.
Some Say It's a Blessing, Some Say It's a Curse Looks like this is no longer available in print form.
Podfic by margi_lynn