Issue #12
Picks of the Week from eosrose
[fic] Neither fish nor fowl by adelagia | PG-13 | ~11,400 words
Summary: Trusses of flowers, personalised letters and whole roast chicken had always been sure-fire ways to win a person's heart, at least in Arthur's experience. Merlin's heart, however, was an entirely different story.
eosrose says: I love a good romance (in case you hadn't guessed) and this is certainly that! When Arthur and Gwen marry, they are already well aware of the fact that they don't love one another. They do it for companionship and because they have little hope of having their real love interests return their feelings. But maybe this isn't true. And maybe it's never too late for love.
Themes: era - camelot, first kiss, king arthur, queen guinivere, oblivious!arthur, oblivious!merlin, unrequited love
[fic] The Knights' Discontent by rotrude | R | ~11,000 words
Summary: A few green knights, eager to suck up to Arthur, are jealous of the relationship between Merlin and Arthur, as well as the liberties that Merlin takes with Arthur (calling him by his first name, ignoring propriety, etc). In order to knock Merlin down a peg, they bully him.
eosrose says: rotrude, darling, you really need to stop writing such awesome fic. You're making the rest of us look bad! Kidding, kidding. Seriously, if you like looking in on Arthur and Merlin's relationship from an outsider's perspective and/or adore protective!Arthur, then you'll really enjoy this story.
Themes: era - camelot, established relationship, knights, outside character, protective!arthur Pick of the Week from katerina_black
[fic] As It Ever Was (Or, Arthur and Merlin do Woodstock) by waldorph | NC-17 | ~3,000 words
Summary: Merlin fucking loves this decade.
katerina-black says: This, this is one completely heart-wrenching piece of reincarnation fic. Seriously. They are both so broken, and the ending is like a gut wound. But it is worth it, I promise.
Themes: arthur knows, au - with magic, bottom!arthur, character death (major), era - modern, first kiss, first time, reincarnation, war Mutual Pick of the Week
[fic] Leashed by riventhorn | NC-17 | ~1,300 words
Summary: Written for the kinkme_merlin prompt: In the fashion described regarding the treatment of Damane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damane) in The Wheel of Time, rather than killing all sorcerers, Uther has a select few "leashed" and enslaved to the service of his armies. Merlin is leashed and Arthur is his master.
eosrose says: Maybe I'm biased because I was the anon who requested this, but it's absolutely one of the best slave-stories I've ever read. Arthur and Merlin are children when they first meet and despite the dark world around them their inner light and goodness shine through. Never once do I step back and doubt that the characters are honest and true given the world around them. Without each other, they likely would have become twisted shadows of themselves but instead they turn to each other for guidance and comfort and it is positively wonderful.
katerina-black says: I loved the idea of this prompt, and the execution was really wonderful. This could have become much more dark than it was, but instead, the love between Merlin and Arthur continually shines through, though neither is unmarked by Merlin's time as a slave. It doesn't hurt that the damane and sul'dam are a truly awesome, if completely disturbing concept.
Themes: arthur knows, au - with magic, arthur knows, character death (major), era - camelot, experienced!arthur (girls only), fusion, bondage, bottom!merlin, first kiss, first time, king arthur, powerful!merlin, protective!arthur, protective!merlin, slavery, uther knows, virgin!merlin Classic of the Week
[fic] Dominion by burkesl17 | NC-17 | ~5,000 words
Summary: Arthur doesn't sleep with servants, but why?
eosrose says: If you like seeing Arthur torn between what he wants and his deep sense of honour, then you'll like this story. The master-servant dynamic explored in this story is something that will never be explored enough in this fandom.
katerina-black says: I love how in this Arthur is so honorable it has made him desperately insecure, how Merlin is oblivious until he isn't, how the rumours are abounding, and how horribly awkward but wonderful they both are. This is sweet, and bittersweet, and hot all at the same time. A truly wonderful read.
Themes: arthur finds out, era - camelot, first kiss, first time
[fic] Neither fish nor fowl by adelagia | PG-13 | ~11,400 words
Summary: Trusses of flowers, personalised letters and whole roast chicken had always been sure-fire ways to win a person's heart, at least in Arthur's experience. Merlin's heart, however, was an entirely different story.
eosrose says: I love a good romance (in case you hadn't guessed) and this is certainly that! When Arthur and Gwen marry, they are already well aware of the fact that they don't love one another. They do it for companionship and because they have little hope of having their real love interests return their feelings. But maybe this isn't true. And maybe it's never too late for love.
Themes: era - camelot, first kiss, king arthur, queen guinivere, oblivious!arthur, oblivious!merlin, unrequited love
[fic] The Knights' Discontent by rotrude | R | ~11,000 words
Summary: A few green knights, eager to suck up to Arthur, are jealous of the relationship between Merlin and Arthur, as well as the liberties that Merlin takes with Arthur (calling him by his first name, ignoring propriety, etc). In order to knock Merlin down a peg, they bully him.
eosrose says: rotrude, darling, you really need to stop writing such awesome fic. You're making the rest of us look bad! Kidding, kidding. Seriously, if you like looking in on Arthur and Merlin's relationship from an outsider's perspective and/or adore protective!Arthur, then you'll really enjoy this story.
Themes: era - camelot, established relationship, knights, outside character, protective!arthur Pick of the Week from katerina_black
[fic] As It Ever Was (Or, Arthur and Merlin do Woodstock) by waldorph | NC-17 | ~3,000 words
Summary: Merlin fucking loves this decade.
katerina-black says: This, this is one completely heart-wrenching piece of reincarnation fic. Seriously. They are both so broken, and the ending is like a gut wound. But it is worth it, I promise.
Themes: arthur knows, au - with magic, bottom!arthur, character death (major), era - modern, first kiss, first time, reincarnation, war Mutual Pick of the Week
[fic] Leashed by riventhorn | NC-17 | ~1,300 words
Summary: Written for the kinkme_merlin prompt: In the fashion described regarding the treatment of Damane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damane) in The Wheel of Time, rather than killing all sorcerers, Uther has a select few "leashed" and enslaved to the service of his armies. Merlin is leashed and Arthur is his master.
eosrose says: Maybe I'm biased because I was the anon who requested this, but it's absolutely one of the best slave-stories I've ever read. Arthur and Merlin are children when they first meet and despite the dark world around them their inner light and goodness shine through. Never once do I step back and doubt that the characters are honest and true given the world around them. Without each other, they likely would have become twisted shadows of themselves but instead they turn to each other for guidance and comfort and it is positively wonderful.
katerina-black says: I loved the idea of this prompt, and the execution was really wonderful. This could have become much more dark than it was, but instead, the love between Merlin and Arthur continually shines through, though neither is unmarked by Merlin's time as a slave. It doesn't hurt that the damane and sul'dam are a truly awesome, if completely disturbing concept.
Themes: arthur knows, au - with magic, arthur knows, character death (major), era - camelot, experienced!arthur (girls only), fusion, bondage, bottom!merlin, first kiss, first time, king arthur, powerful!merlin, protective!arthur, protective!merlin, slavery, uther knows, virgin!merlin Classic of the Week
[fic] Dominion by burkesl17 | NC-17 | ~5,000 words
Summary: Arthur doesn't sleep with servants, but why?
eosrose says: If you like seeing Arthur torn between what he wants and his deep sense of honour, then you'll like this story. The master-servant dynamic explored in this story is something that will never be explored enough in this fandom.
katerina-black says: I love how in this Arthur is so honorable it has made him desperately insecure, how Merlin is oblivious until he isn't, how the rumours are abounding, and how horribly awkward but wonderful they both are. This is sweet, and bittersweet, and hot all at the same time. A truly wonderful read.
Themes: arthur finds out, era - camelot, first kiss, first time