Merlin/Arthur Modern AUs Rec List I-O
Merlin/Arthur Modern AUs M-Z
(go to: A-H ; P-Z ; Canon Era)
- I -
If Perfect’s What You’re Searching For by i_claudia ; PG-13; 2 Parts; 19k words
A/S : In which Arthur is the deputy chief of the fire department, and Merlin accidentally sets a lot of stuff on fire.
This is the firefighter AU you were looking for ! (And if you weren't, give it a try) It all starts with a calendar of our wonderful knights (and it makes me think we should hassle the BBC to have a Merlin sexy calendar) and a magical Merlin. Arthur is a prat, which is the way it shall be, and Gwaine longs after Merlin, which is nothing but true.
I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell, by miakun ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 7656 words
A/S : Arthur and Merlin face various obstacles in the search for a semi-traditional family Christmas.
I didn't stop laughing reading this fic... Or rather... there is several "parts" in this fic, and I ended up laughing my heart out at the end of each one. I can't tell, of course, cause that would spoil the pleasure, but really, really, it's a very enjoyable reading. Even better if you didn't sleep enough and the author of the thing you're working on is pissing you off ! All the characters are a bit caricatural, but in a very nice way, and I hope Arthur gets a good shag in the end !!!
Incurable, by glimmergirl ; PG ; One-Shot ; 5000 words
A/S : modern au, wherein Arthur is a very grumpy sort of patient, and Merlin provides professional, and then non-professional, fussing.
This is kind of a pre-slash fic, but this is mostly the story of how Merlin is slowly arriving into Arthur's life, and creating a place for himself. This is a sweet, slow story, without any angst whatsoever just the way life unfolds to become happier. This is a truly lovely story.
Inevitability, by tierfal ; PG-13 ; 2 Parts ; 8258 words
A/S : An American-university AU (because that is the sort of university I know!) in which things are inevitable indeed.
This is a sweet sweet and very funny fic. There's love, and college-student-innuendo, and Uther is being intrusive and funny and sentimental (but only when drunk), and Lancelot and Gwen are sweet too. The sequel is even better than the first part, because feelings are really considered and Arthur is being incredibly stupid and in love at the same time, which is lovely. And Merlin wears a different bandana every day <3
Inside Outright, by frantic_allonsy ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 6896 words
A/S : Arthur would probably have forgotten about him, looked away and maybe had one more drink before heading home because he rather desperately wanted to be curled up in bed with his cat, Sasha, watching Lost and drinking hot chocolate (absolutely no one knew of this ritual except, of course, Sasha, who had promised never to tell). But suddenly the guy opened his eyes and looked directly at Arthur, and something in Arthur felt total, final recognition. Whatever was in this skinny, awkward kid's eyes was exactly what was inside Arthur-- a deep-seated, unending loneliness, the knowledge that there could never be anybody who understood or wanted him.
This fic is HOT, firstly, because it starts with a bunch of strangers!sex in the bathroom of a (Arthur's) club. Secondly there's something about the way they're all longing for each other and wanting to find the other but... well, not quite managing, that is so REAL I can feel it in my gut! And well, it's kinda cute, you know? And they're stupid and oblivious like they usually are and I love it! This is a wonderful fic!
Inside the Pendragon Institute, by ForzaDelDestino ; NC-17; 34 chapters and its sequels you will find on the author's page; 72k words
A/S : Arthur is Assistant Director at a museum of medieval art. Morgana's the senior curator. Lance is the armour specialist, Gwen works with tapestries and textiles. Merlin is a new employee with a reputation for quirky brilliance.
This is a story (understand, this story and its sequel) I read and reread a lot of times. It happens in the museum universe in New York (which is quite a good start) and it's a story full of event and fun. The summary forgets to mention Leon, Head of Security, Gaius, Head of the Conservation Departement, and, of course, Uther, Director of the Pendragon Institute... Mordred, who is a genious younger brother of Arthur and Morgana, is absolutely lovely. Everyone is, and has a great characterisation. I don't know if the author knows anything about museum work, but it sounds like she does, or did her research quite well. I don't think I'm doing this WONDERFUL story justice with this commentary but well... Just GO READ IT !
I Only Came Home, by verasteine ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 11k words ; Warning : domestic violence, alcoholism
A/S : They met in university, and Arthur never said a word. Now, his life is spinning quietly out of control, and Merlin is halfway around the world, unaware of everything.
This fic is difficult to rec because it stroke me so close to the heart that I'm almost afraid of cutting myself while talking about it. If you're looking for fluff and easy romance, this is not the fic for you. But if you're waiting for a glimpse of Life, as the bitch it can be, as demanding and hard and real it can be, but where there's still Love, and it doesn't solve everything but it's there and it' what makes surviving possible, then you're in the perfect place.
NEW! I Owe You A Love Song, by lady_ragnell ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 10k words
A/S: In which Arthur's courting Gwen by mix CD (and other means) and Merlin is a backwards Cyrano de Bergerac who builds robots.
This is the perfect fic for Christmas even if it isn't a Christmas fic. It's sweet and adorable and awesome and it makes you feel so good and happy, and there's loads of multimedia bonuses. All the side character are awesome and there's thousands of backstories that'll hopefully get written at some point. I love that no character is really mean or stupid or bitchy.This is just a lovely and wonderful story, even if you may shed one tear at one point, if you're very emotional...
An Issue of Mind over Matter, by rotrude ; NC-17 ; 3 Parts : 20k words
A/S : Written as a fill for this kinkme_merlin prompt: Where Arthur is older than Merlin maybe 30/18 and Merlin doesn't tell Arthur that he's still a virgin, because he fears that Arthur wouldn't have had sex with him.
But soon Arthur realizes that something is wrong with Merlin with the way the boy is making noises of deep destress when Arthur's pushing inside of him.
I read this fic on KMM and waited patiently for it to be de-anoned to rec it! Now it's done. This is a real nice fic, with Merlin being childish and everything, yet very... Merlin, and a bit mature too. Arthur is a prat, but how is that a change? A very nice read!
It Started at the Frat Party, by tierfal ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 3540 words
A/S : When Merlin comes back at six-thirty Saturday morning, he has quite a story for Gwen.
This story is kind of... stupid. There isn't even much of a story to begin with. But it's awesome. And the character are just... SO themselves, that it's absolutely and utterly amazing, and you get very excited seeing them interact in this new universe and... well. This is a light, fun, joyfull story, to be read, especially when you're in a foul mood!
- J -
The Job Interview From Hell, by winterstorrm ; NC-17 ; 25 parts (actually 13, with 12 of them being cut in two) ; 93k words
A/S : On the TV show ’The Apprentice’ Merlin is a candidate, Sir Uther is mean and Arthur is his boardroom assistant. Will Merlin make it through the twelve weeks without hearing the immortal words, ‘You’re fired’? Is he playing to win the job or Arthur's heart?
I was a bit dubious at first, because I don't really like this kind of show... And I have to admit the beginning (read, the prologue and first chapter) were nice, but not much more... And then... I kept on reading and it was the best idea I ever had! You then get completely swallowed by the story and absolutely can't stop reading. I LOVE that there's a lot of different characters (almost all of them coming from the show), and they all have their importance, and an evolution thru the fic. And the A/M relationship is absolutely delightful. And Uther is WONDERFUL! The POV is Merlin's, and it's great because the Merlin is very attaching too. I could go on like that for a while but I hink you get it: read this fic!
The Journal of Geoffrey the Cat, Aged 3 years and 5 months, by magog_83 ; PG ; One-Shot ; 1822 words
A/S : Modern AU in which Arthur has a pet cat called Geoffrey, who keeps a journal. Then Merlin moves in across the road. Yes, really.
I think you need to read this to understand how amazing this is. This is incredibly funny, and endearing, and great. The cat!POV is the best thing I ever read! Just go read it, this is delightful!
Journey into the interior, by Amber ; NC-17 ; One Part ; 9910 words
A/S : Merlin works in Camelot Massage Parlour, London. This is where Arthur finds him. | 'Arthur' chokes and flushes, as though they're not standing in an erotic massage parlour, as though 'Arthur' doesn't have a copy of Penthouse held loosely in one hand. "I'm hardly trying to pick you up, Merlin." He chuckles a little bitterly. "Look, d'you really not know who I am?"
This is a nice story, a bit kinky if you want it, with hint of prostitution, so don't go there if it disturbs you. Arthur is famous and Merlin is oblivious and thus they can try and see what's real in each other. This is a real pleasure to read. Morgana and Gwen are fantastic, too.
Just Holding Your Hand by lady_ragnell ; PG (?) ; One-Shot
A/S : In which there are copious jazz and 40s references, Elena is Arthur's BFF, and Gwaine is Jane Bennett. Yet it's somehow not crack
Because I needed a fic with the gorgeous duo Gwaine and Elena, and this is one very good exemple of it. And because this is a crazy, crazy fic, thus incredibly loveable.from
- K -
- L -
NEW! L'Amour Est Bleu/Love Is Blue, by rotrude ; NC-17 ; 4 Parts ; 31k words
A/S : Arthur's a corporate genius, but his French language skills are so catastrophically bad, he courts disaster during an informal meeting with a financial backer. (Though it's only the fault of near homophones, if you ask him.) Uther's not happy, Freya might have been expecting Arthur's communication debacle, while Merlin might just be the solution to Arthur's Babel problems. And then there's Gwaine who woos people with apples and wants to be the teacher's pet.
This story is very sweet and beautiful. I have a soft spot for the French side of it, since I'm French myself and Merlin as a teacher is the most marvelous thing I've ever read. It has magic and, for once, a pretty good explanation of why Balinor left. It's a simple (in a good way) story, with nice falling in love and a very hot and full of love porn scene. And Merlin owns a dog named Kil whi whines when Arthur's not there... I love many things about this story, but I have to mention the last line, which is wonderful, and Freya being Arthur's PA, which is an amazing idea. Go read it!
The Last of the Old Gods by lemniciate ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 5900 words
A/S : Arthur left the business three years ago wanting a quieter life, but Merlin's back with a job offer Arthur doesn't know how to refuse. Hackers AU. Or, this is a story about reconciliation and Arthur's many, many feelings.
This is a beautiful, beautiful fic, that sends things and feelings to your heart. There's a loneliness and a waiting in Arthur that is so so moving, and the things unsaid, the unspoken feelings, the old pain that still stings like they're new but that you got used to... It's incredible. And the way they need each other is even more. I really love this fic, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
Laundry Letter, by dysonrules ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 7900 words
A/S : Arthur attends a prestigious university and seems to have everything going his way… except for an inability to do his own laundry.
This fic is only adorable. Or, more accurately, the kind of fic that brings a big smile to your lips. Arthur is a bit immature and spoiled, Merlin is adorable and is walking dozens of dogs at a time (and this image is ridiculously endearing) and Gwaine is the kind of person who is okay to bully someone, as long as it's not Merlin. And there are post-it messages, and smiley t-shirt, and Gwen is too sweet to be true.
Learning Curve, by cherrybina ; R ; One-Shot ; 2700 words
A/S : Arthur and Merlin are hot for each other, but completely clueless about gay sex. Wacky sex-related hijinks ensue.
This is very cute and the kind of fics too rare and that I love. This is schoolboys discovering how to do gay sex, and not getting it right first, but they still go on because they are so besotted with each other, and they really want to feel good and make the other feel even better and... well I love that.
NEW! Lend me your ears, and I'll sing you a song, by merle_p ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 1280 words
A/S : Arthur likes Merlin's ears.
Hum... I wouldn't say the summary says it all, but it somehow does. It's a collection of snippets of how Arthur loves Merlin('s ears), from when he was pulling them when he was a baby to well he is licking them when they're having adult sex together... It's kind of cute and sweet and sometimes heartbreaking.
A Lever and a Place to Stand, by twoskeletons ; PG-13 ; One Part ; 12k words
A/S : Modern day AU. When a peaceful march for the equal rights of magicians ends badly, Merlin is forced to hide out in the apartment of law student Arthur Pendragon.
This is almost a gen fic. Another magical!AU wherein Nimueh is a politic leader, and Merlin one of his close help. This is weird, because Nimueh isn't very different from the one in canon, except that in this story, she's on "our" side. See what I mean? Anyway that's not what the story is about. It's about Arthur breaking all his father's rules to protect Merlin, wwhom he doesn't know. It's about how meeting some people can change your way of seeing the world. It's a very deep and thoughtful story.
Like A Hole In The Head, by agenttrojie ; NC-17 ; 5 chapters; 10k words
A/S : In which Uther owns Albion Records, Arthur is his talent scout, and Merlin is the new bass-player for established pub-circuit band Old Religion.
Maybe I liked this fic more than it deserved because of it's indie rock band universe. But even if it's the truth, it's still a pretty good fic. And the universe is incredibly described. It follows Arthur POV and it's really interesting because it's a bit like the Arthur of Series 1, who doesn't know much and is pretty much manipulated in his belief by everybody around, and then get to become his own man, because inside him is the roots of a true wonderful King. There's that in that fic.
NEW! Like grabbing my heart and taking my breath, by pandatwirls ; PG-13 ; Two Parts ; 12k words
A/S : Written for kinkme_merlin for this prompt: Arthur/Merlin modern!au Merlin has severe asthma and always ends up with breathing difficulties when he looks at Arthur, is around Arthur, is kissing Arthur etc. Inhaler use a must.
This story is stupidly endearing. Like, you get out of reading it with a big smile on your face for the rest of the day. I love Merlin, who is terribly endearing, overprotective!Arthur, smelly!Will, meddling!Morgana, gweny!Gwen and so on.... It's the kind of University!AU I love the most, when Arthur appears as a prat but turns out not to be one...
Listen, Learn, by Anon on kinkme_merlin ; R (?) ; 5 Parts (10 comments)
Prompt : Arthur/Merlin, Modern AU. Uni student Arthur reads textbooks on tape for extra money. Merlin is blind.
This is a beautiful story. It goes in two ways that comes to meet each other in the middle, and the feelings, all unsaid but very loud and clear in the meantime, are overwhelming. I've always been sensitive to blind!stories, and this one treats the subject with a lot of finesse and intelligence. I'm glad I read this story. Hope you will too!
Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love, by new_kate ; NC-17 ; One Part ; 15k words ; Warning: Mild drugs and alcohol use, pegging, mention of mental illness, transgender issues (one of the characters is pre-op ftm)A/S : Modern AU. Arthur moves to a a different city to start a new life and become a new man. On a whim he decides to share a flat with an attractive stranger, and quickly gets drawn into Merlin's odd little world.
I love love love the universe of this story. It's the kind of thing that takes me by the heart. And the important point of the story is even more. I can't tell you because I don't want to spoil you, but it's really amazing. ........ I feel like I'm bound to say nothing. But go read it!
Live To Tell The Tale, by planetjane ; NC-17; 4 Parts; 28k words
A/S : Arthur Pendragon is dying. In a fit of spontaneity he decides to preserve his form in the shape of a Real Doll. After he dies, however, Arthur discovers ... he isn’t dead. Instead, he’s trapped inside the body of the Real Doll - only able to see and hear, unable to feel, react or respond. His reluctant owner, the shy and lonely Merlin, is persuaded by his friends to include Doll Arthur in his everyday life, but the situation eventually becomes intolerable for them both. Arthur wants to be real, Merlin wants a real man.
This is a really touching fic. Can be a bit heartbreaking at the beginning, but it doesn't matter because as words passes, everything unfols and it gets better and better. The POV is Arthur's, and thus very interesting, and Merlin is too adorable for words. A very good read !
NEW! Living in Hearts Left Behind, by giselleslash ; NC-17 ; Four Parts ; 36k words
A/S : Arthur has been living abroad for several years, wanting to get as far away from his family and the expectations placed on him as possible, but the unexpected death of his brother brings him back home where he must confront the things that drove him away. He has to deal with the guilt of not being in his brother's life for the last few years, and how much he missed because of that, as well as coming to terms with the fact that maybe his father isn't the unreachable man he thought he was. Making everything more complicated is his brother's boyfriend, Merlin, who might just be his salvation if their guilt and sadness doesn't drown them before they even get started.
This fic made me cry then laugh then cry then laugh then cry then laugh then cry and laugh AT THE SAME TIME, and then I cooed, because the epilogue is so lovely and sweet and I love them so much! Morgana and Uther are absolutely wonderful. Actually Morgana is more than wonderful, because she is kind of perfect and yet she's still so utterly Morgana that it's amazing. And Uther loving is son so much and wanting to finaly be a good dad is making my heart swell. Arthur and Merlin and OC!Henry are absolutely amazing. All Merlin and Arthur go thru, the sorrow, the guilt, the confession, the sadness, the weeping, everything was so incredibly despicted that you feel like you're here. Reading this fic is like a life experience, and it makes you think, and feel and you get out of it trusting yourself a little more and finding the world a little better. (my rec is mostly a c/p from my review because I think it's relevant)
London Needn't be Eighteen-Century Venice, by rotrude ; PG-13 ; 6 Parts
A/S : Modern London AU. On the day that Arthur swore he'd never take the tube again, he met a student called Merlin.
This is a nice worryless story. All the characters are amazing, and Will is even better !!!!! There's a bit of multimedia use, and it's very nice and well... It's weird because it's not a story with an utterly amazing scenario, or anything, but it's so well written that you end up loving it a lot. I especially recommand it if you're in need of something happy !
/love, by shesakicker ; R ; Two Parts ; 13k words
A/S : A response to a kinkme_merlin prompt: Arthur/Merlin, World of Warcraft. Arthur and Merlin meet in-game.
This fic talk to the geek in me, and you don't have to play WoW to have this side. But apart from the interesting prompt and the interesting situations it could take us to, this fic also deals with Arthur being himself, a man raised to live up the overwhelming expectations his father puts on him, and a prat facade to hide the insecurities. This is a really great fic!
Love in the Time of Scholar-a, by itachitachi ; R ; One-Shot ; 9063 wordsA/S : In which there is something resembling a modern AU. Merlin characters as professors (except for Geoffrey of Monmouth, who is a respected academic source).
Arthur and Merlin being both professors or something like that in the same university is the kind of AU I love. Arthur being a un-social workaholic akward teacher is strange, but much more interesting and, in this fic, so nicely put that it fits Arthur very much. Merlin is perfect, but that's how he is, isn't he? And Morgana and Gwen are great too... This is a very very nice fic and don't let the "something resembling a modern AU" frighten you. It's really worth it!
- M -
Map our Escape, by lady_ragnell ; PG (?) ; One-Shot
A/S : Arthur feels tied down and unhappy with his life, so he throws a dart at a map--and ends up in Ealdor.
This is your dream "go away and start a new life" fic. Personally, it makes me dream. This is the kind of fic that makes you believe in chance or such things, and sometimes it's nice not to be rational and just let your mind wander and take you to this kind of places.
Master and Servant, by nyxelestia ; NC-17 ; 3 Parts, second one having 3 chapters itself ; 26k words ; Warning : BDSM (spanking, gangbang, collars, leashes/chains, D/s relationship, orgasm denial, bondage, blow-jobs, facials, exhibtionism (the sex club), rope bondage, vibrating egg, spreader bard, lingerie and so on...)
A/S : This series is a BDSM epic, with Dom!Merlin and sub!Arthur. Merlin is fairly new to BDSM and still somewhat learning, even if learning fast, while Arthur is somewhat experienced, at least in the idea. Both are exploring this new part of their relationship, testing their limits, and finding ever more ways to fuck and things to do.
If you didn't get it with the warning, this fic is no light bondage. If you're bothered or think you might possibly be, DON'T GO THERE! To tell the truth, I myself was slightly bothered by the first part. I liked it, of course, but... you know, it didn't feel quite right. But then I went to the second part and didn't regret it one second. Not only is it hotness, but it's also very interesting how the relationship D/s is working and growing, and how Merlin is finding his way in this. But let me warn you again: this is serious BDSM, to the point of being a lifestyle. But if you think you can be okay with reading that, run, this is really good. (The third part with Gwaine is awesome!)
MERLIN followed by A Random Collection of Firsts, by moonythestrals ; NC-17 ; 3 Parts (2 + 1) ; 18k words
A/S : Arthur, Merlin, frat brothers, the Dragon, Arthur's BlackBerry, script writing, shitty hip-hop music, Dogma, FATE & DESTINY - oh God I wish I were joking.
This is completely fun and completely crazy. Arthur is a frat!boy (and thus somehow stupid), and Merlin is a bio-engineer. They're suppose to be writing a script for a creative writing assignement. It turns out to be MERLIN. Kind of... A lot of laughs ahead! I wasn't sure if I should rec the sequel, because there are some attitudes that are bothering me, but it's mostly a lot of fun, and some parts are really worth it, so I decided to go for it anyway. Enjoy!
Merlin Emrys' Biggest Fan and a Sequel, by magog_83 ; PG ; 2 Parts ; 5-6k words
A/S : Written for kinkme_merlin : ‘Arthur/Merlin. Merlin is a world-famous celebrity whom Arthur has been pining after for years. He finally has a chance to meet him (screening? convention? concert? up to you), and on a whim slips him a note with his hotel and room number. Merlin unexpectedly (for both of them) takes him up on his offer. Bonus points for reincarnation!fic and Merlin teasing Arthur about his crush.’ This is a little different from the prompt - but hopefully not too much!
I enjoyed this immensely, which tells you how good this fic is because I'm usually not a very good public for reincarnation fic. But this one is real fun. Arthur as a desperate fanboy is wonderful, Morgana as a 12 years old science geek is awesome and terribly believable, and Merlin is EVIL mouahaha! (meaning he finds thousand of ways of teasing Arthur)
More Than Just Pillows, by cherrybina ; PG-13 ; One-Shot ; 1400 words
A/S : Arthur is kind of clueless. Merlin thinks it's cute.
Well this IS terribly cute. Clueless!Arthur is clueless and cute... And did I mention cute ? But he's cute in an Arthurish way (which is even cuter) and Morgana is an evil witch making fun of him (somehow...) and Merlin is Merlin... thus cute too... And the pillows are cute too, I think.
- N -
Natural Selection, by minor_hue ; NC-17 ; 3 Parts ; 11k words
A/S : In which Arthur goes on blind dates, Merlin is his waiter, and everyone takes a ride on the crazy train.
This fic is completely crazy (especially the epilogue which is, matter-of-factly, called "crazy") and very very fun. This is a good mood fic, but not quite a fluff fic. But Arthur and Merlin are besotted with each other. Morgana is terrifying and Lance and Gwen's joined message are frighteningly accurate and gives you rotten teeth (and it is totally intended). Leon is sweet, and Arthur's dates are all unbearably fun (not for him, though). A great read!
Near-Mint Condition, by paragraphs ; R ; Twenty Chapters ; 82k words
A/S : Merlin owns a small comic shop on Cardiff Bay. Life's been a struggle for Merlin lately; he's had to downsize the shop he inherited, half the bills are overdue, his boyfriend has left him for a more exciting life in London, something's been frightening the tourists, and now there are rumours of a new comic mega-store moving into Cardiff. His life is surely over. There are a few things that keep Merlin going though; the support of his friends, an agent is interested in his online serial, and the hot bloke on the comic forums likes him. At least he thinks it's a bloke. If only he could be sure, and if only he could figure out how to save his shop. Oh, and there's one more thing. Just like his favorite comic book heroes, he can move objects, control the wind, and can even make his dog Kilgharrah do the most amazing tricks. He doesn't know whether to don a cape or check himself into a psych hospital. But he's no superman, just an average guy with a lot of problems, and the biggest one of all is named Arthur Pendragon.
The summary is kind of long, I know. And you don't have to read it, because you are just going to drop what you're doing and read this NOW! And beside, who doesn't love a good surprise? Anyway. This fic is utter gorgeousness. I think I used the word "amazing" twenty times in my review. This story is amazing because it has so many side to itself, and yet it stands firmly and wonderfully as one whole. There's the comic book side of the thing, which, even if I'm not a connaisseur, is amazing. There's the magic kind of the thing, which is treated in a very interesting way (cause seriously, if you had mafic in our modern world, how would you react?). There's the Pendragon thingy (which is more the Uther thingy) which is an amazing adaptation of the Canon situation over to a Modern AU. There's the mystery/murder plot, which isn't taking too much place, but just enough so that it doesn't look like the vampires who arrivein page 356. There's the whole Ellie thingy (Ellie is an amazing OC). And talking about that, the characters are WONDERFUL. All of them. There's a marvelous impersonnation of Percival (and I'm happy because I think Percival is not loved enough), there are amazing OCs, there is Alice (\o/), Gwen and Lance and Gwaine of course, and an amazing Morgana (but Morgana is always amazing isn't she?). And last but not least, there's the whole complicated and amazing (see?) Arthur/Merlin thingy, which is probably the best of them all. All of them are treated wonderfully and all of them are so closely entwined that it makes the story some kind of big multi-faced thingy of awesomeness. (And yes, I know, my rec is longer than the summary... but wait, you're not already reading it? What are you waiting for? GO! NOW!)
NEW! No Business Like Show Business by lady_ragnell ; PG-13 ; One-Shot
A/S : In which Merlin is promoted from production intern to talent, is easily mortified, and has Post-It arguments with Arthur while the art department watches in glee. Also, there are gay dragons.
A wonderful, wonderful fic, where Merlin and Arthur are the voices of cartoon characters for a popular (gay friendly) tv show. This is a whole lot of fun. And there's also a sequel No People Like Show People where they discover fanfictions and fanarts, and this is really great !
Edit (Oct. 2011): There's new a new sequel: Get That Happy Felling
Edit 2 (Nov. 2011): another sequel has been added! It's called Stealing That Extra Bow and it's maybe the cutest part of this verse (is that possible?)
NEW! No One Else to Find, by darkdeeplakes ; R ; 6 Parts ; 38k words ; Warning: homophobia
A/S : Modern AU, Arthur is in the closet and in denial of his homosexuality until he meets Merlin.
I know I don't usually paste the warnings unless I find them very relevant, but the homophobia in this fic is very important because it is by the form it is the most accepted in: religion. The way it is despicted here is very remarquable, because it takes you to the heart. This fic is about Arthur's journey to find his true self, and build some real self-esteem. He does so with the undying love of Merlin, who looks very canon, in one point of view, and of his friends, who are amazing. Morgana is kinda OOC, but not in a bad way. Her characterisation is very strong and interesting. A great fic.
NEW! No Regrets, by planejane ; NC-17 ; Two Parts ; 11k words
A/S : Arthur and Merlin used to be together. Then they split up, but while Arthur acts naturally and a little bit cheeky in front of Merlin, Merlin gets shy and is more reserved.' It turns out, though, neither of them has moved on.
This is a fic about so much love it makes your head fuzzy. But this is also a fic about growing up (even though the person growing up is an adult) and finding peace with oneself. Because Arthur is a prat who is afraid to love, and he can't keep on like that until the end of his life. The side characters are wonderful. I especially love Leon being of friend of Merlin's (even if he was a friend of Arthur's first) and growing overprotective over him. Leon and Merlin are not often associated together and I'm happy to read it here. This is a wonderful fic, all in all, and it'll make you happy.
Not an Act, But a Habit, by mellacita ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 18k words
A/S : Inspired by the kinkme_merlin prompt. Arthur is a spoiled university student. After one transgression too many, Arthur's father makes him spend a night at a hostel for homeless youth to give him a reality check. While there, he meets a tough-talking kid who is more than he seems. In spite of themselves, they become inseparable.
This fic is full of happiness. This can seem a little strange provided the situation in which Arthur meets Merlin, but I think the situation makes the rest of the story even more joyful. The relationship between the boys and the way Arthur is growing and becomming more adult as well as in love is marvelous. Merlin is this teenager that is already an adult, and yet still has this immaturity he gets to grow off slowly in contact with new people. This is a delightful fic.
Not In This Land Alone, by torakowalski ; R; 4 Parts; 38k words
A/S : Modern AU. When Merlin Emrys gets a summer job at Buckingham Palace, he doesn't expect to even meet King Arthur, let alone become involved in protecting him from a plot to overthrow the monarchy.
I read this fic a while ago but I remember having a lot of fun reading it. I kpt picturing an ultra-modern kitchen in the middle of the Buckingham Palace and it made me giggle. And Merlin is adorably Merlin, meaning, a bit like in Season 1 when he stumbles on everything and so on ! And Morgana is gorgeous ! And Arthur, well, it wouldn't be as much fun without Arthur right ? And there's magic !!!
Numbers and Figures, by planejane ; NC-17 ; 4 Parts ; 26k words ; Warning : physical abuse
A/S : From a kinkme_merlin prompt, Arthur/Merlin, Modern AU, Uther is violent at home and Arthur has to hide the bruises in school. New pupil Merlin sees through his popular bullshit at once and discovers the truth.
This fic is much more complex and complete than what the summary can lead us to think. The relationship between Arthur and Merlin is really interesting and complicated, and the way Merlin slowly gets under Arthur's shield is beautiful. Plus, I love that Merlin has "math magic". Gwen is nice too. And, unexpectedly, Vivian. Great fic!
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Of Essays and Destiny ( Part 2 ; Part 3), by rotrude ; NC-17; 3 Parts ; 21k words
A/S : When Arthur’s English Literature essay tanks, thus endangering his further stay at Oriel College, Oxford, he’s given an option. D. Phil student Merlin Emrys is to tutor him. What a reluctant Arthur hasn’t reckoned with is his budding attraction to his new tutor.
The first thing I love about this fic, it's that it's full of quotes from English litterature. And reading beautiful beautiful texts makes me cheery anytime of the day and night. Secondly, the story really is great and weel written and there's an interesting use of the secondary character of the show. And as I'm not that fond of Highschool AUs, I LOVE University AUs so I'm obviously very happy with this fic !!
Off the deep end, by b_b_banana ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 12k words
A/S : When they say crazy in love, they mean it literally. Why else would anyone keep coming back?
To tell you the truth, the summary didn't really appeal to me. But I went for it anyway and I really don't regret it. There's a lot of UST, unspoken and love in this fic. And the relationship between all the characters and Merlin are amazing.
Of witches and bagels, by snowblood7 ; PG-13; One-Shot ; 2767 words
A/S : Fill for kinkme_merlin (the prompt contains almost all the fic so don't read if you're afraid of SPOILERS): Radio moderator Merlin runs a late night show called "Lovesick - Just another dickhead dumped me", where lovesick people can call him to pour out their hearts and talk about their ex-boyfriends/girlfriends. The thing is that there's this prattish guy, named Arthur, who calls him almost every night to complain about his dad's diabolical girlfriend Morgana. Merlin knows that Arthur's little problem has nothing to do with the topic of the show, but nevertheless he's always looking forward to Arthur's slightly annoying calls. Then Arthur stops calling and Merlin realises that he misses him quite a lot. So he decides to go and find him.
This fic is terribly adorable. The idea of Arthur coming and complaining on Merlin's late-night show for lovesick is absolutely wonderful. Merlin as a talk host to aid late-night show is wonderful too. And there's this story about bagels that is even better than the rest. Eat bagels people, it's good for you heart!
Oh Baby I'm a Fool For You, nu_breed ; NC-17 ; One-Shot ; 7700 words
A/S : Arthur doesn't like the new guy at all. It has nothing to do with Merlin, of course, who he isn't even remotely interested in. And if he was? Well, he'd never admit it. Not even with the aid of a lot of alcohol, karaoke and a meddling sister.
This fic is full of pining!Arthur, and I love that. This is a Arthur-gets-jealous-of-Gwaine kind of fic, so it involves a lot of Gwaine awesomeness, and that, my friend, is exactly what you need! The boys are being stupid, as usual, and it's a Company!Fic and it contains basically everything I like in a Modern AU. So just go read it!!!
One Sister's Vow by ansera ; NC-17 ; 6 Parts ; 39k words
A/S : When Special Auror Merlin Emrys is forced to protect Muggle Arthur Pendragon, he assumes that the job will be an easy one. Then he meets the man, and he just might kill Arthur before anyone else can.
Merlin x Harry Potter Crossover. I'm usually a little wary about crossovers, because I'm afraid of how the fans are gonna meld thetwo universes together. And Harry Potter was my favourite fandom before I got into Merlin. But this fic is absolutely brilliant ! It's not only a "HP Universe Merlin fic" but a real crossover, meaning all the characters from Harry Potter are in here too (and if you read it you can tell me who you think Harry's mysterious date is. I have my own opinion about it !). A must read if you like both fandoms !
The One Where Arthur Sells Tongue B/C Being Rich Is Hard Life, by derryere ; PG-13 ; 10 Comments
A/S : For the Arthur/Merlin Kiss Meme : No porn, says you? ALL RIGHT, SAYS I. I'LL MAKE PG13 BE PORN NOW.
Hum... Between the title and the summary, you have a pretty good idea what you're up to. But let me tell you again; this is HOT, and this is purely kissing, which is even hotter! And Arthur is kind of a prat, and Merlin is kinda inexperienced but he manages quite alright, believe me!
NEW! The One Where Merlin Dances Ballet, by misswinterhill ; NC-17 ; Two Parts ; 11k words
A/S : Arthur wanted to spit the coffee out and say something wonderful and perfect like people in romantic movies said, all deep and shit, but he was Arthur and he was awkward when it came to emotions, and so he just ended up with the rather unpleasant feeling of coffee trying to back its way up into his nose.
This fic is light and nice, even though there's one very point where it might make you shed a tear, because Merlin is in such a shity position, and nothing seems to be in his favour, and you just want to have a magic wand and fix it better. But Arthur (and the others) do it for us... and Merlin pretty much does it by himself too. As the title says, Merlin is a ballet dancer, which is all kind of wonderful (even if it means he's all graceful, which is a bit... weird if you consider Canon!Merlin) and fits very well. Arthur is an over-famous!footie player and Morgana is a dancer/actress. And it's all kind of amazing.
Oscillate Widly, by suntipped ; NC-17 ; 2 Parts ; 11k words
A/S : Fucking Arthur, he thinks, pushing his head against the seat. It’s not so much that he’s breaking promises left and right by bringing up that thing between them in public again; it's just his ever-irritating sense of entitlement. It’s Arthur being a prick and thinking he can go around doing anything he wants sometimes, because obviously, obviously the entire world exists only to amuse him.
This is a lovely lovely fic, with a lot of UST, and tension, and even more misunderstandings. If the boys could only learn to speak, it would do them a lot of good. What's great in this fic is that the situation is not because of one of them, but a complicated matter of both origins, and you feel bad for both of them for very different reasons. This is amazing, anyway, really amazing.
Our breath rose in the cold, by lastling ; NC-17 ; 3 Parts ; 17k words
A/S : Arthur Pendragon is pretty happy with life on the hills. He's got a comfortable life with Gwen and his younger brother Bran, but really, he should know better than to think good things never end. When Bran mentions a new presence on the hills, Arthur knows something's about to change, but he never anticipated how much it would change.
This is a fantastic story, in every way you can imagine. It's a magical twist, and I don't even know how to describe it without spoiling everything. I can't, thus I'll just leave you to it and tell you to read it and embrace the mystery...