Merlin fic: Para Bellum (Paper Legends 2013 Master Post)
Title: Para Bellum
Author: destina
Artist: goss ( Temporary art masterpost!)
Pairings/characters: Merlin/Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon, Percival, Gwen, Morgana, Mordred, King Lot, Mithian, Ruadan, Alator, Kara, Eira, Iseldir, Grettir, Aithusa, George.
Rating: adult (NC-17)
Word Count: 51,535
Warnings: Implied threat of rape. (No actual rape.) Graphic violence, of the sort you might see on the show itself.
Summary: After Merlin goes missing, Arthur forges new alliances to repel a deadly threat to Camelot. Nothing will stop Arthur from finding Merlin, and nothing will stop Merlin from protecting Arthur -- no matter the cost.
Author's notes: This story is a sequel to last year's Paper Legends story, Stars Above, Stones Below, which diverged from canon after 4x11 (The Hunter’s Heart). However, Para Bellum is a stand-alone story, and you don't need to have read the previous story to read this one. For a one-paragraph summary of Stars Above to set the scene, please see the bottom of this post.
nu_breed and corilannam went so, so far above and beyond with their amazing and insightful beta reading. I can never thank them enough. Thanks also to killabeez for her early cheerleading. I also have to acknowledge the Merlin wiki, from which I stole/bastardized every one of the spells and words of power.
The fantastically talented Goss created several gorgeous pieces of art for this story, many of which are embedded within the story itself. However, she has suffered a major PC crash. As a result, she wasn't able to make a master art post in her own journal, and she hasn't yet posted all the pieces she made for this story. I've created a temporary art master post for her here, so please feel free stop by there to leave feedback on her art!
And finally, three cheers to the_muppet for all the tireless organization and wrangling on this challenge. :D
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Story on AO3
Temporary master post for Goss' art
Summary of Stars Above, Stones Below:
Arthur and Merlin handfast for a year so Arthur can bed Merlin in an honorable way, while moving past the disastrous end of his relationship with Gwen and the ill-advised engagement to Mithian. During that year, Arthur and Merlin fall in love. When Gwen returns to warn Arthur of Agravaine's treachery, Arthur must deal with his feelings about her return, in light of his feelings for Merlin. Merlin reveals his magic by killing Agravaine to save Arthur and casts a difficult spell to save Camelot which almost costs him his life. When he wakes, he writes a confession of all his past uses of magic, and swears never to use magic again unless Arthur commands it. Arthur comes to slow acceptance of Merlin’s magic and his lies, and they learn to love each other all over again, in the wake of these new revelations. Merlin becomes court sorcerer and helps Arthur put laws in place to protect the kingdom from those who would use magic for evil. As the year is coming to an end, Arthur and Merlin pay a state visit to King Lot, who is now married to Mithian. Lot threatens Merlin, Arthur nearly goes to war to protect him, and they realize just how deeply in love they are now. Arthur has no intention of ending the hand fast. Merlin and Arthur are properly handfasted by the Druids, and Merlin becomes Arthur’s consort.
Author: destina
Artist: goss ( Temporary art masterpost!)
Pairings/characters: Merlin/Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon, Percival, Gwen, Morgana, Mordred, King Lot, Mithian, Ruadan, Alator, Kara, Eira, Iseldir, Grettir, Aithusa, George.
Rating: adult (NC-17)
Word Count: 51,535
Warnings: Implied threat of rape. (No actual rape.) Graphic violence, of the sort you might see on the show itself.
Summary: After Merlin goes missing, Arthur forges new alliances to repel a deadly threat to Camelot. Nothing will stop Arthur from finding Merlin, and nothing will stop Merlin from protecting Arthur -- no matter the cost.
Author's notes: This story is a sequel to last year's Paper Legends story, Stars Above, Stones Below, which diverged from canon after 4x11 (The Hunter’s Heart). However, Para Bellum is a stand-alone story, and you don't need to have read the previous story to read this one. For a one-paragraph summary of Stars Above to set the scene, please see the bottom of this post.
nu_breed and corilannam went so, so far above and beyond with their amazing and insightful beta reading. I can never thank them enough. Thanks also to killabeez for her early cheerleading. I also have to acknowledge the Merlin wiki, from which I stole/bastardized every one of the spells and words of power.
The fantastically talented Goss created several gorgeous pieces of art for this story, many of which are embedded within the story itself. However, she has suffered a major PC crash. As a result, she wasn't able to make a master art post in her own journal, and she hasn't yet posted all the pieces she made for this story. I've created a temporary art master post for her here, so please feel free stop by there to leave feedback on her art!
And finally, three cheers to the_muppet for all the tireless organization and wrangling on this challenge. :D
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Story on AO3
Temporary master post for Goss' art
Summary of Stars Above, Stones Below:
Arthur and Merlin handfast for a year so Arthur can bed Merlin in an honorable way, while moving past the disastrous end of his relationship with Gwen and the ill-advised engagement to Mithian. During that year, Arthur and Merlin fall in love. When Gwen returns to warn Arthur of Agravaine's treachery, Arthur must deal with his feelings about her return, in light of his feelings for Merlin. Merlin reveals his magic by killing Agravaine to save Arthur and casts a difficult spell to save Camelot which almost costs him his life. When he wakes, he writes a confession of all his past uses of magic, and swears never to use magic again unless Arthur commands it. Arthur comes to slow acceptance of Merlin’s magic and his lies, and they learn to love each other all over again, in the wake of these new revelations. Merlin becomes court sorcerer and helps Arthur put laws in place to protect the kingdom from those who would use magic for evil. As the year is coming to an end, Arthur and Merlin pay a state visit to King Lot, who is now married to Mithian. Lot threatens Merlin, Arthur nearly goes to war to protect him, and they realize just how deeply in love they are now. Arthur has no intention of ending the hand fast. Merlin and Arthur are properly handfasted by the Druids, and Merlin becomes Arthur’s consort.