.: Merlin recs :.
This is not a very long rec list because I haven't read that much in this fandom. It will be updated later, though.
MERLIN/ARTHUR
All I Want For Christmas (Is You) by
dreamdustmamaNC-17 | Completed | Arthur is not amused when his (probably insane) father decides to hold a Secret Santa exchange for the entirety of Pendragon Corporation. He's even less amused (and more than a bit panicky) when he draws Merlin's name.
Notes:
coda An arse is an arse by
aeroport-artNC-17 | Completed | Merlin accidentally walks in on one of Prince Arthur's...indiscretions.
A New Low by
rosemaryandrueNC-17 | Completed | Prompt: diabetic!Merlin stuck in a lift with Arthur.
ASL by
undrsomestairsR | One-shot | Arthur meets Merlin at a Pride parade, and they manage to overcome their language barrier.
A Story of Love and Menswear. Edited for Clarity by Arthur Pendragon by
magog_83G | One-shot | 17 year old Arthur is the Saturday supervisor on Menswear, and takes his job very seriously indeed. Merlin is the new boy who Arthur falls in love with at first sight. Emotional constipation ensues.
Backfire by
oxoniensisNC-17 | One-shot | In which there are giant ears, a curious cat, backfiring spells, a stick figure Arthur, some unfortunate truths and some very welcome ones.
Be Wise and Keep On by
ladyflowdiNC-17 | One-shot | “Patience,” Arthur said, and nudged Merlin’s foot up onto his shoulder. His tongue was caught between his teeth. “It can’t be this difficult, there’s only so much room in here.”
But It's a Good Refrain by
lady_ragnellPG-13 | Complete | Arthur doesn't care much about the popular radio program Dragon's Lonely Hearts until his ex-girlfriend calls in to slag him off and get advice. When he calls in and has an on-air argument with the host, it starts off more than he expected, including meddling friends, overinvolved fans, and maybe love.
Communications In Binary by justthismorning
PG | One-shot | University AU. Merlin came whirling into Arthur's life and left everything in shambles on the floor - literally. They couldn't be less alike - Merlin with his computers and his easy, goofy grin, Arthur with his breeding and his need for everything to be in it's place. They have nothing in common besides a key to the same room, but as the academic year progresses and Arthur finds himself wearing tiaras and critiquing Westlife and having picnics on his living room floor, Arthur comes to learn things about himself he didn't even know he didn't know.
Completely Inappropriate by
glimmergirlR | One-shot | Modern AU set in an American university, in which Arthur teaches freshman comp, Merlin spills coffee, and they both spend too much time in Arthur's office.
Context by
andthedescentPG-13 | One-shot | Merlin knew that the spell he'd remembered mentioned heat. He'd just forgotten the context.
Despoiling by
astolatNC-17 | One-shot | In which various people become various things they weren't before.
Details In the Fabric by
karakalynNC-17 | WIP | Mafia!AU inspired by
steam-pilot's
comic.
Dirty Laundry by
elandrialoreG | One-shot | Merlin did a lot of laundry.
Drastically Redefining Protocol by
rageprufrockNC-17 | One-shot | In which Prince Arthur meets Merlin and all hell breaks lose.
Notes:
trailer by
zoetropeSequels:
Honeymoon |
Throw-In |
Keepsake |
Services Rendered |
Five Secrets That Ought to Be Kept (And One for the Road) |
Bank Holiday Driving Lessons by
hermetteNC-17 | One-shot | It's bad enough that Arthur is going to have to get a stupid fucking stats tutor because he spends all of his lectures staring at the back of Merlin's neck and wondering what sort of noises he'd make if Arthur scraped his teeth against all that pale skin. But now, now he's supposed to tolerate Merlin showing up at his door early in the morning with snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes? Now he's supposed to spend four hours alone in a car with him, and fuck all, there is no way Arthur comes out of this without making some manner of arse out of himself.
Easy There by
syllicNC-17 | Completed | Arthur is an Oxford Blue. Merlin is an Oxford cox. Lancelot is Merlin's romantic-dalliance-loving friend. Morgana is horribly clever; Gwen is cleverly waiting for Lancelot to grow up. Merlin and Arthur rub each other the wrong way, at first, but it soon becomes clear that Arthur is a university-class rower with a world-class heart (yes, I typed that). Clichés ensue.
Every Story is a Love Story by
lady_ragnellNC-17 | Complete | Camelot Publishing publishes romance novels, and when Arthur founds a new imprint of gay romance and invites his best friend and pet writer Merlin to write for it, it's a bit too easy to miss the fact that apparently he's living in one.
Fire Sign by
moonythestralsR | One-shot | Merlin is rather unsure about the direction in which his destiny seems to be taking him, and the Dragon is completely unhelpful. Watch for unexpected sap.
Notes: You have to add
moonythestrals to read the fic.
Fools of Us All by
adelagiaNC-17 | Complete | Merlin accidentally makes everybody in Camelot fall in love with him. Everybody except Arthur, that is.
For the Good of the Kingdom by
magog_83PG-13 | Complete | Merlin returns from his sojourn with the druids in the company of a man who is criminally handsome. Arthur reacts in the mature and reasonable fashion you would expect.
For Worse or For Better by
anna-zeePG-13 | Completed | Summary: none
For Your Information by
reni_daysPG-13 | Completed | Merlin sighs. "After your...announcement," he explains, "your father decided he needed a bit more information. Which is apparently where I come in. I'm sort of like his gay tutor, it's hard to explain."
Four Times Merlin Cock-Blocked Arthur, and One Time He Didn't by
oxoniensisR | One-shot | He doesn't mean to the first time. Truly. It was an honest mistake.
Four Ways Arthur Fails at Courting Merlin, and One Way He Doesn't by
lavvyanG | One-shot | Thing is, Arthur hasn't the faintest idea how one would go about courting a sorcerer.
Freedom Hangs Like Heaven by
derryereNC-17 | One-shot | It's happened five times and they don't talk about it.
From Where I Stand You're In My Sky by
paperclipbitchNC-17 | Completed | Arthur looks away from the terrified, accusing dark eyes of the man on the newspaper, and turns his attention to his breakfast.
Fruition by
spinyNC-17 | One-shot | It was really all Sir Wynston's fault.
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a liar, but that's okay by
mclachlandR | One-shot | The thing about magic is that it's a lot like chest congestion.
He Was Steeping by
miakunPG | One-shot | Morgana can't quite figure out why her brother is becoming a normal human being.
Notes:
Deleted Scene Home Is Where The Prat Is by
timetraveledR | One-shot | Summary: none
Innovation by
magog-83PG | Ficlet | Summary: none
Inside Outright by
franticsgaNC-17 | One-shot | 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).
Insubordination by
mclachlandR | One-shot | Arthur, being the crown prince, is allowed a certain amount of power. Actually, a lot of power, really. Except when he isn't.
Keep Calm and Carry On by
chibirhmR | Completed | How Arthur Pendragon, Director of Communications for Prime Minister Gaius, and his assistant, Merlin Emrys, fell in love - a story in goldfish, cats, webcomics, cups of tea, and sharpies.
Knowing and Nobility by
srinNC-17 | One-shot | In which Merlin is oblivious, Arthur is nobly repressed, Gwen knows everything, and Morgana takes matters into her own hands.
Lend me your ears, and I'll sing you a song by
merle-pPG-13 | One-shot | Arthur likes Merlin's ears.
Let me be your canvas by
marguerite-26NC-17 | Complete | Merlin wants a tattoo. And maybe the tattoo artist as well.
Love And Marriage by
kei-rinPG | One-shot | Arthur finds out his cousin Gawain also loves Merlin.
Lovestruck by
social-retard86PG-13 | Completed | Modern London AU. On the day that Arthur swore he'd never take the tube again, he met a student called Merlin.
Love Is a Grave Mental Disease by
knowing-shadowsPG | One-shot | Modern-day AU, in which Arthur tries to be romantic for Valentine's Day but everyone, including Merlin, thwarts him.
Love, Toast, and Post-It Notes by
themadlurkerPG-13 | One-shot | It was love at first sight, and Merlin knew it - when it came to the flat, that was. Merlin wasn't anything like as clear about the man he was going to have to live with.
MERLIN by
moonythestralsNC-17 | Completed | 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.
Chapters:
Part II |
A Random Collection of Firsts Millions of Peaches by
dsudisNC-17 | One-shot | "I know what this is, Merlin."
A Modern Manservant by Mamalaz
Nc-17 | Complete | A modern magical comedy very loosely based on Ugly Betty. Publishing king Uther Pendragon has had enough of his playboy son seducing every female assistant he has ever had so he hires Merlin, a man he is sure Arthur will never sleep with. Merlin would be more insulted by this fact if he wasn’t so busy trying to juggle his duties, save Arthur's skin from ruthless fashionistas and keep his magic a secret at the same time. Expect appearances by oil-lathered knights, the occasional mad druid, a perverted Will and a mental caretaker who lives in the basement and keeps harping on about coins and destiny.
Needlework by
zarathuseNC-17 | Completed | In which Merlin saves Arthur’s life. Uh. Mostly. Hijinx ensue. (More serious than it sounds, unfortunately.)
Next Time, I Will Remember This And I Will Say 'No' by
paperclipbitchPG-13 | Completed | “Arthur wants you to pretend to be him so that he doesn’t have to get married to Princess Helena?”
Not Quite Mary Poppins by
claire-debonairPG-13 | One-shot | The one where Merlin is a nanny, Arthur’s both a prat and a normal human being, Morgana schemes and Uther does relatively little.
Sequel:
Not Quite Mrs Banks Either Obeisance by
casspeachPG-13 | One-shot | It's not that Arthur won't share his toys, just that he expects to get them back undamaged.
Pairing Pendragon/Merlin by ?
PG-13 | Complete | Arthur is a BNF and Merlin is his prized beta.
Past Imperfect by
thehoydenNC-17 | One-shot | "You're being annoying, so no, I'd have to say this seems perfectly normal."
Privileges of Rank by
seperisNC-17 | One-shot | Arthur's biggest problem to date, Merlin thinks darkly as he carries yet another load of suspiciously not-really-dirty clothing down the stairs, is an unaccountable fear of anyone, anywhere, suspecting he's capable of being other than a complete and utter prat.
Prove All My Hypotheses by
minor-hueNC-17 | Completed | Merlin is an emo/scene kid. Arthur is a jock with a secret kink for emo/scene kids. They meet in a club and chaos ensues. Privately referred to as, "Merlin and Arthur are full of feelings."
Reciprocation by
astolatNC-17 | One-shot | He only meant to complain; you didn't take serving girls on hunting trips, and the alternative interpretation didn't even occur to him until Merlin said indignantly, "I'm not going to do that!"
Reversal of Fortune by
srinPG-13 | One-shot | Wherein Arthur is not the rich boss, and Merlin is not the assistant.
Shooting the Unicorn by
eos-roseNC-17 | WIP | Merlin has been attracting a lot of supernatural attention as of late and although he has (perhaps too innocently) passed this off as an unfortunate side-effect of his own inner magic, everyone else has come to a very different conclusion. Who knew that Merlin's virginity could possibly be a threat to Camelot!
Strangers on a Plane by Mad_Maudlin
G | One-shot | It's bad enough that Arthur has to fly business class--why does he also have to sit next to this guy?
Straws In The Wind by
i-claudiaNC-17 | Complete | Merlin meets Arthur when Arthur runs him over on the ski slopes. Everything goes downhill from there.
That Conversation About Knocking by
skipmcgeeR | One-shot | Merlin was loathe to admit it but he did occasionally forget that there were lines he couldn't cross with the Crown Prince.
The Albion University by
solanyxePG | WIP | There is a university of high repute, known as the Albion University. In it, Uther still reigns as a king, and woe of all woes, his ideas of discipline haven’t changed much from the last time you’ve seen him. It’s a university where Arthur is still a prince, Morgana is still dangerous, and Gwen still stutters. It is also a university where Merlin is still…underappreciated.
The Boy Next Door by
lady_ragnellPG-13 | One-shot | In which there is pining, Merlin bakes, Arthur borrows batteries he doesn't actually need, and did I mention the pining?
The Incident with The Thingy or Arthur's Adventures in Spying by
sparky77R | One-shot | Arthur is a spy. Merlin is his handler. What? It makes perfect sense. Really.
The Joye of Sexe by
aleathielNC-17 | One-shot | Arthur has a lot of sex.
The Kingdom of the Blaggers by
hackthisNC-17 | Completed | Summary: none
The Lies My Father Taught Me by
pforteNC-17 | Two-shot | Arthur had been taught right from wrong and this, this was wrong!
The One Where Arthur Despoils Merlin in a Cave by
ifyouweremineNC-17 | One-shot | “Yes I know what sex is, I’m not an idiot!” said Merlin. Arthur quietly disagreed.
The Office Christmas Party by
social-retard86NC-17 | One-shot | Merlin is no ordinary intern and while his crush on Arthur isn't surprising, Arthur's crush on him is.
The Pendragon Guide to How Not to Date by
definewisdomNC-17 | Completed | Modern day student AU. Still set in Britain. Morgana sends Arthur on some blind dates that don’t go quite according to plan.
The Route To Advancement by
magog-83PG-13 | Completed? | New Knight hopeful, Percy, has been at Court four months, but it might be another four years before Prince Arthur stops calling him Perrin. That's where Merlin comes in.
Chapters:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 The Sex Shop Around The Corner by
hermetteR | Completed | Nothing says I love you like a ball gag.
The Tournament of All Magicks by
corilannamNC-17 | Completed | Merlin is invited to compete in a tournament of magic. Sure, he'd like to become the champion of all Albion, but first he has to get past giant creatures, a seductive sorceress, and the crown prince of Camelot.
The Weight of Words by
waldorphNC-17 | One-shot | Merlin is not the only one for whom words have power.
Three Tasks by
syllicNC-17 | Completed | Arthur is the Royal Arbiter for Suitable Suitors' Disputes. He (and his trusty companion, the golden-dragon-tasselled hat) alone can determine who is fit to woo royal servants and other assorted courtiers in Uther's court.
Timshel by
emsNC-17 | Completed | Merlin is definitely supposed to work for Arthur, but spends most of his time mocking Arthur's dress sense, berating him via IM with Morgana, sending Gwen capslock-filled emails about him and, most of all, trying not to fall in love with the shiny-shoed ponce. Arthur, meanwhile, is definitely supposed to be taking over his father's company some day, but instead spends most of his time scowling at Merlin, making lists about him, trying to find excuses to fire him and, most of all, trying to pretend he is totally not head-over-heels for the jumped up little upstart. Someone's got to make some difficult choices eventually, and this can only lead to one thing: angst. Or hilarity. Or, embarrassingly enough, self-discovery.
Truth is a Whisper by
seperisNC-17 | Completed | Words can also be mightier than the sword.
Notes:
Sequel by
shinetheway Two Weeks Notice by
ras-ficNC-17 | Completed | Arthur is a prattish Executive VP of the Pendragon Corporation with a disturbingly non-ironic love of Demotivational posters. Merlin is a tree-hugging barista with a "magic" tongue. Morgana's a peeping Tom and her breasts have superpowers. Gwen and Lancelot get married. Owain is the company bicycle. Arthur attempts to steal Merlin's affections from Will through epic DDR combat. Merlin gets drunk a lot. There is a pillow fight, and a helicopter ride, and rooftop confessions, and Arthur decides Merlin really is his destiny, whether he likes it or not.
Underdeveloped Instinct by
srinPG | One-shot | There are cabbages that try harder to safeguard their own lives than Merlin does. At least cabbages have contrived to smell funny in order to keep people away.
Why Merlin Should Never Be Left Alone with Arthur's Knights Whilst Drunk and Dressed as a Woman by
graspthethorn PG | One-shot | "She's come down with lice or fleas or the plague or something -- I wasn't really listening -- but the point is she can't come to the feast and now I'll have to go alone. Alone, Merlin! Everyone else will have a girl on their arm and then in their bed and I won't."
Merlin stared. "Right. As distressing as that is, Arthur, what's it got to do with me?"
"Oh for goodness sake, do keep up Merlin! You're thin enough, and with a bit of padding in the right places, we can stick you in one of Morgana's dresses and be done with it."
(wires/fingers) crossed by
robot_skyPG | One-shot | In which Merlin is promoted, Gwen is upset, Morgana is lewd, and Arthur thinks he’s getting some free sexing.
Woods for the Trees by
hackthisNC-17 | One-shot | Summary: none
OTHER PAIRINGS
Gwaine’s masterful, brilliant and fool-proof plan by eyebrowofdoom
PG-13 | One-shot | Forethought is for ponces, as far as Gwaine is concerned.
Notes: Gwaine/Percival
COLIN MORGAN/BRADLEY JAMES
Accented by
antihystericR | One-shot | Summary: none
A Jump and a Climb by
coffeejunkiiNC-17 | Two-shot | A week in February during which Bradley and Colin wonder if their relationship is more than a house of cards.
Colin Morgan and the Crawl of Doom by
spinyNC-17 | One-shot | In the last five minutes, Colin Morgan has decided to become a priest.
Five things Colin learns while filming Merlin by
timetraveledPG-13 | One-shot | Summary: none
Five Times Colin Fell In Love With Bradley by
adelagiaPG-13 | One-shot | Summary: none
Healing Therapy by
kat-fanficPG-13 | One-shot | Summary: none
Home Truths by
lamardeusePG-13 | One-shot | Summary: none
Lucky Knickers by
franticsga &
hija_palomaR | One-shot | "That's it, then? No other burning questions you've been dying to ask about my sex life, you pervert?"
Yes, Bradley thinks, and says, "No." I need to know what else you do, what else you like, and if you think maybe you could like it with me. "I think that's everything for now."
RPS DOESN'T GET TO HAVE A TITLE by
derryereR | Two-shot | In which Bradley thinks people should call him to hang out and do stuff.
Spiders Can Play Cupid Too by
timetraveledPG | One-shot | Matchmaking spiders.
The Horse and His (Co-star's) Boy by
spinyNC-17 | One-shot | Summary: none
Wherein Wooing Colin is Somewhat More Difficult than Anticipated by
ifyouwereminePG-13 | One-shot | “If you were hypothetically me and I were hypothetically courting Colin, what would you-and by you I mean me-do to win his heart and make him let you carry him off into the French sunset for a lifetime of sweetsweet lovemaking?” said Bradley.
Winning Isn't Everything (if Colin Morgan is the consolation prize) by
timetraveledPG-13 | One-shot | Summary: none
► Want more recs? Check out the
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