Comments | b_hallward: Drabble: Realpolitik (Merlin/Arthur, "Curiosity")

b_hallward

Drabble: Realpolitik (Merlin/Arthur, "Curiosity")

Feb 15, 2009 01:38

Summary: It isn't a serious marriage negotiation. And anyone who understood life at court would know this. (Written for Merlin100's Curiosity challenge.)

RealpolitikThe nets are drawn back, doves pale against a blue sky, wings flapping in a noisy rush. A political marriage is all he has ever expected, though this is just for show, one of his father's ( Read more... )

fixed-forms, tense: present, pairing:arthur/merlin, fanfic, words: 100, fanfic: merlin, merlin, discussion-in-comments, drabbles

Comments 24

tirra_lyrra February 15 2009, 12:34:42 UTC

This is so we11 done! You've made Arthur so alone, a little trapped, and yet an echo of his father . . . and in only 100 words. I know it is unimportant to the story, but if no alliances have been made then are you implying that Uther married him to Morgana?

b_hallward February 15 2009, 18:08:28 UTC

Thank you!

implying that Uther married him to Morgana

Since it's just some visual rhetoric--acts that look vaguely betrothal-ish--and not actually going to end in a marriage, using Morgana as the other prop would make sense in some contexts, since publicly advancing even the most ambiguous betrothal-like gestures with another kingdom's princess and then breaking it off would be a very definite political act--though I suppose there are contexts in which doing so would make sense.

(Yet, on the other hand, if Arthur can pick up on the fact that this isn't a serious marriage negotiation, then the other side might too, and similarly be using whatever this public shows is--releasing doves, having them appear together in public, whatever--to forward their own political objectives by hinting at the possibly of an alliance and seeing how the various kingdoms react.)

...which is probably more of an answer than you wanted. *g*

xel1980 February 15 2009, 19:13:04 UTC

Oh, I loved it! <3

b_hallward February 15 2009, 20:09:59 UTC

Thank you! ♥

archaeologist_d February 15 2009, 20:14:50 UTC

Arthur should be ashamed, thinking that Merlin were not particularly missed and yet he kisses him.

Well done.

b_hallward February 15 2009, 21:53:46 UTC

Well, Arthur is amazingly oblivious and chooses repression as a way of life. And is a bit of a bastard. But I like to think he'll make it up to Merlin in some (deeply opaque but totally obvious to Merlin) way. Perhaps involving a bed? Dare one hope?

Thanks!

duskwillow February 15 2009, 21:23:44 UTC

Oh this is really amazing, you managed to express so much with only 100 words.

b_hallward February 15 2009, 22:15:12 UTC

Thank you! I'm a big fan of drabbles. And I'm so glad you liked this.

truly_bohemian February 15 2009, 21:37:53 UTC

I love the characterisation of Arthur in this. How he gradually realises what he's been doing to Merlin, and the comparison it bares with his father. It's marvellous. I really like the way you've used that rather Tudor-ish political pageantry as a backdrop too. I wish I'd thought of it! ^^o

b_hallward February 15 2009, 22:59:22 UTC

Thanks! I'm so glad you liked this. Merlin, as a show, has such a vague view of politics and court life that it's always tempting to see how things begin to change when you start reading these factors back in. And growing up at court--his father's son--would so shape Arthur, introducing slight warps and odd twists, even though he's kept that core of splendid decency intact.