Once Upon a Time in The Land of Counterpane (Merlin/Arthur, ensemble cast, PG13)
Art Prompt Title: 1009
Art link: Art Masterlist
Artist: candymacaron
Fic Title: The Land of Counterpane
Author: Azile Teacup
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 26,000
Warnings: vomiting, vomiting on someone, diarrhoea (nothing too graphic for either, just mentioned), chronic illness, self esteem issues, equating dyslexia with stupidity (a character does this, I do not think this), Arthur insists on thinking that Merlin's dating a sixteen year old, when Merlin's about twenty/twenty one. The person in question is actually twenty, but Arthur makes two comment, high fevers, child neglect, loneliness, hospitalization, thinking asexual means broken, story in a story death, fear of abandonment, explicit talk of sexual acts.
Summary: As Arthur lies in bed, recovering, Merlin comes in and finds him. Their friendship starts there, and continues and grows for the following years. Merlin, upon finding Arthur, begins to tell him stories. These stories are read from books, but mostly they come from Merlin's imagination and as Merlin and Arthur's world expands, so does the story, weaving through their lives and friendships.
Thanks to my amazing beta, untiltimeends, for reading and re-reading and proofing and making suggestions. All remaining mistakes are my own.