Part Three - Midwestern Running

[nieded]

Comments

[emeraldsword]

I really liked this. It felt very realistic - I very much liked the fact that you didn't take the easy route and have the great authorial handwave allowing everyone to live happily ever after. I liked the hint of hindsight during the party at the end there, where Arthur recognises the pivotal moment, because it implies that he grows further past the end of the story.

There was so much to this, I'll definitely reread.

[nieded]

Thank you!

I liked the hint of hindsight during the party at the end there, where Arthur recognises the pivotal moment, because it implies that he grows further past the end of the story.

That's exactly what I intended so I'm glad it came across. In return for the happy summer Arthur gave him, Merlin has given Arthur something too.

Thanks for reading!

[defencelaura]

Well... I don´t really know what to say. I´m not gonna lie, I hate sad endings, they always leave a bitter taste in my mouth so I prefers warnings for this kind of thing, but then I wouldn´t even gave a chance to this wonderful story full of emotions and brilliant writing. So... I´m going to go and wash away the bitterness and thank you for a few hours of excellent reading.

[nieded]

I apologize for not putting a warning on there if it took you by surprise. If I helps--and this may be my warped mind--I think there is a happy ending somewhere in this, perhaps not between Merlin and Arthur, but definitely for Arthur. Now he can learn and make better choices in the future.

Thanks for reading!

[lambertlover]

Oh my god. You just killed me. I was totally expecting a happy ending and this - don't get me wrong, the ending you did give us is so very perfect in its own way - is just so heartbreaking.

Please tell me you have some kind of sequel planned where Merlin goes to Washington University too!

All the tragedy aside though, the narrative was impeccably composed and Arthur's POV came across strong and sure.

Please keep writing!

[nieded]

Thank you for your comments!

I guess I haven't made plans to write a sequel because I'm doing my thesis this semester, but I have mused upon what Arthur would be like as an adult because of this experience. This is definitely a universe I love, so I'll probably come back to it. Just probably not within in these next four months!

Btw, I love your icon. ♥

[lambertlover]

Eeek....adult? As in...more than a year in the future? NOOOO! Arthur and Merlin need to discover their pure love for each other *without* the benefit of 5 or more years apart spent drowning in their own angst.

That said, if you did decide to set the sequel 5 years in the future, I'm sure you would do an amazing job with it. :D

Haha, thanks. Sue is a classic.

[quarterwhore]

Gorgeous. This feels... wise, in a way. Not sure how to describe it. The growing up, looking back, learning and living is a great part of this. And running is the perfect sport for that- all about moving forward.

[nieded]

Thank you! When I started writing this, I had the relationship between Merlin and Arthur as a base but struggled to find a medium to tell it through. Then one day on my run, wah la! I'm so happy the running worked for you!

[ladytelemachus]

WOW. I'm an absolute sucker for High School AUs, so I bookmarked this straight away, but had no inkling of how quickly I'd devour it - just couldn't stop reading! I love how each and every single character - Zach, Leah, Ms Smith - they're none of them 2-dimensional, you get hints of what makes them tick. I thought the relationship between Arthur and Morgan was so perfect, so well-drawn. And your writing is wonderfully paced - the running scenes were so exhilarating, and the introspective bits about Uther and Arthur's relationship so touching. I really can't praise this fic highly enough. So good. So, SO good. Thanks for an amazing read.

[nieded]

Thank you for your comments! I'll admit that Uther and Arthur's interactions were some of my favorites. I was always looking for ways to sneak Uther in there.