Radiant Under Every Sort of Light, Final Chapter (8/8)

[zarah5]

Full headers & links to all chapters & Chapter 1 are [ here].

So, this is it. The last chapter. It took us a while to get here (about 55’000 words, actually), so thank you for staying with me.

Merlin/Arthur (additional background pairings)
R
Length: ~55’000 words overall, ~8’600 for this chapter
Summary: Just your everyday Circus AU

Comments

[meredyth_13]

Yaye! Now I can read this! *is excited*

But damn, it's getting late and I have an interview in the morning. Curses!

*plans a late night of reading anyway*

:D

[zarah5]

Hee! Enjoy, I hope!

(But, yo. I am not to be held responsible for any after-effects of lack of sleep! Not my fault!!!)

[meredyth_13]

Unfortunately, disease and sleep won out, as I was coming down with a cold, but man, this has been the best way to spend part of a truly awful day today in between destroying tissues and being miserable.

There are so many good things about this story, I hardly know where to begin. Your ability to set a scene, to transport your readers into another country, or time, or in this case, another world within our world, is truly amazing.

And to take beloved, familiar characters, and place them in such an alien setting, both in time and place and circumstance, and still have them feel - totally familiar? Brilliant!

All your people were layered and real, and fitting. You found just the right niche and tone for all of them.

As someone who actually got offered the chance to 'run away with the circus' when I was a teenager, and was too scared to do it, this rang some very deep emotional bells for me.

Loved it! Keeping it!

Thank you. :D

[zarah5]

Oops. This took me ages to reply to - I am sorry! But the point is that oh, I'm glad this story distracted you from being sick. (It's the season, huh? Swine flu, yay!)

Thank you. I sometimes think I'm overly fond of AUs, but that's exactly it - I love being able to transport familiar, shiny characters into a different universe. In a way, it gives me a lot of freedom and room to play with, you know? Canon!fic is somewhat restrictive in its settings, and people know it to a certain extent. (Although I currently am considering a canon!fic that's set in a different kingdom, so... Well.)

You had the chance to run away with the circus?! Oh, oh. What would you have done?

Thank you so, so much!

[myrimidryad]

*dies*

*saves to memories*

*dies again*

[zarah5]

*blinks* You didn't seriously read it this fast, did you?!

[myrimidryad]

Hells yeah I did! Fast reading is a skill of mine. ^^ And all the better because, y'know, this = awesome. Just beyond all winnage. Glitter never hurt anybody! XD! Love to Arthur for defending his secret (not so secret really, is it?) glitter!love! ^^ And hot, hot jeans sex. Nggh.

[zarah5]

It apparently is because, yes, that was some impressively fast reading; you must have started the moment I posted! Also, yes! Glitter, indeed. And boys behaving like overeager teenagers during sex is something that I find quite sexy, for some reason. Well, at least in stories.

[frogspace]

It's done and it's brilliant and I love this story so much! I want to read it again and again and again. Thank you so much for this version of Merlin and Arthur. ♥

[zarah5]

Hi, hey, thank you for staying with me throughout this story! It's been a delight! &hearts

[gogo_didi]

I have loved this so so much!! Brilliant :-)

[zarah5]

Thank you very much for lasting throughout the entire story! *g*

[thismaz]

I have so many things to do today, but I just hit refresh and saw this... so *shrugs* they had to wait.
Thank you for a perfect ending to this lovely story. The fact that every last detail has not been tied up, makes it even better. Arthur has pulled a royal coup and Uther has shown his weakness, so Arthur will have more influence in future. Plus, Uther will come around in the end. He will have to, because he won't lose his son.
I'm sad this is over, but happy that it ended as it did.
Thank you for a lovely read.

[zarah5]

Anything that isn't Merlin can't possibly be urgent!

And thank you! I am fairly certain some people would have prefered a rather more concrete ending, but in all honesty, this seemed more believable to me. Life never ends neatly, and it would have felt rather too sweet otherwise. So, uh. Yes, thank you. You have been lovely throughout this. &hearts