Thank you for the fanservice - Comment Fest

[marguerite_26]

I don't know about anyone else, but I found last night's episode very … inspiring.

So much so that I need to write something and I want to read EVERYTHING that has to do with that ep.

Therefore I'm shamelessly stealing this concept from the speedpr0nz community (and hope the lovely mods don't mind -- this is a tiny one-off thing).

The challenge:1)

Comments

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

Merlin was gazing at him expectantly, a curious combination of hope and resignation on his face. Arthur grasped his hand and squeezed gently. "I know what I said." He let out a deep breath, ploughed on. "But I can't do this just yet, Merlin. I need to sollify my position, prove to my people I can lead them. Only then will I be able to... to think about informing the Court." He sighed. "We knew this wouldn't be easy."

Merlin withdrew his hand. "We did. But if you're -- if you're ashamed of me, Arthur..."

"No," Arthur all but shouted. "No, I am not. But you are a man, Merlin. My feelings for you do not change that." His feelings. Whether he talked about them or not, they remained useless and unsignificant in the eyes of the people he, at times, didn't want to care about, but couldn't help but do just that anyway.

Merlin considered him carefully for a moment, then lowered his gaze. "I suppose it was too much to hope for."

"One day," Arthur heard himself say, clinging to the hope Merlin had, or had had.

A tilt of the head. "Do you really believe that?" Merlin asked him, curiosity slowly replacing the small hints of hope on his face. He had small scorch marks on his neck, Arthur suddenly noticed, and on his hands as well. An experiment with Gaius gone wrong?

"I want to believe that," he corrected, reaching out and touching one of the angry looking burns on Merlin's skin. Even if the chances of telling his Court there would be no heir were slim to none. Even if the possibility of placing another King on the throne beside his sounded ridiculous even to his own ears.

Merlin placed his hand on top of Arthur's. "I won't be believing in any of that, Arthur," he said quietly, and something cold clenched around Arthur's heart. Merlin's fingers gently stroked Arthur's skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "I will trust you to make the right decision. I will believe in you."

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[prplhez8]

Oh this is sweet & angsty! I'm so excited to see what this is going to churn out!!! Just lovely & well done!

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

N'aww, thanks! :D

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[marguerite_26]

oh! lovely. Very nice coda expanding on the whole wrestling in front of the court thing.

I love that Merlin chose to believe in Arthur making the right decision...

Thank you for writing for this! Hope it was a fun little writing experiment. :)

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

Thanks! I was cringing a bit during that scene the first time I watched it because I kept thinking "how will they ever take Arthur seriously again?" but re-watches have certainly helped me appreciate the "moment" more. ;-) Also, Bradley James' thighs are very other thoughts-absorbing.

It was a fun experience; the first A/M fic I've ever written.

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[marguerite_26]

to be completely honest, I couldn't watch it the first time through. I have a HUGE Second hand embarrassment squick and that scene was so mortifying. But um... it's grown on me. LOL.

YAY for your first A/M!!!! *pops champagne*

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

I was watching through my fingers, haha. Embarrassing fact: my mom was sitting next to me.

*clinks glasses* Thanks!

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[lady_drose_sd]

Wow so beautyful and angsty...

Love it! Great great job!

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

Thank you! It was going to be crack!fic, but the story wouldn't let me go down that road. ;D

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[katie_andrew]

Boys ♥

This is just lovely. :)

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[jammeke]

Thanks! :D

Re: We Have Nothing If Not Belief

[archaeologist_d]

Poor Merlin. I liked that Arthur wasn't ready yet and Merlin accepted it.