Merlin recs
OH HI. Er, this rec-list is very much a WIP. There will be more fic. Eventually. It's just that time is a bitch and I can't afford bitchin', right about now. D:
♥ What Isn't by sparky77. Merlin/Arthur, NC-17. Dark!fic.
Author's summary: All this because you were too damn lazy to use a broom.
Review: Chilling view of how it could go down if Arthur would fall under Merlin's spell. I love how the fic seems at times so light and innocent, and how easily things slip into something darker.
The Fields of Vermont by aeroport_art, Merlin/Arthur, R.
Author's summary: A cat, a horse, and Arthur, and miles left to travel. Future!fic.
Review: Oh, I love how this fic feels so very fairytale-like, and I sometimes want to lick the imagery she uses. Oh, Arthur.
If Wishes Were Horses by takadainmante. Merlin/Arthur, DG for drunken groping.
Author's summary: Merlin has had a bad day and it's all Arthur's fault.
Review: Thoroughly amusing. Drunken!Arthur is priceless.
Stripped by shinetheway, sequel to Wild Magic, Merlin/Arthur, NC-17, porny!fic.
Author's summary: "I know what you are," Arthur murmured.
Review: ... I think my brain may have actually combusted. Arthur knows Merlin's little secret - both of them, as it turns out - and I spent the entire fic holding my breath to see what Arthur's final stance was going to be.
I'm Colorblind, Kid by brbsoulnomming. Merlin/Arthur, PG-13.
Author's Summary: "It figures that even as a dog, you’d be a prat." Arthur gets turned into a dog, and is the worst pet Merlin's ever had, despite being completely adorable. Or something like that. There might be some plot, I'm not entirely sure.
Review: Cutest fic ever (in a good way). It just gives me warm fuzzies. :D (Oh, and there is some witch killing, which is slightly less cute. But only slightly, really.)
Untitled by derryere. Merlin/Arthur, R, 72 words. Seriously, nothing that short should be that hot. Ngh.
Warlock by aftertherain, NC-17, ~18 000 words.
Author's summary: "Take me up; cast me away. What happens in the aftermath of a truth revealed."
Review: This is beautiful but completely heart-breaking. It doesn't end sadly, but by the time you get there, you'll have had your heart ripped to shreds several times over: Merlin's magic is discovered, and things don't go too well for him. The writing is lovely and engaging, just make sure not to read this when you're already feeling depressed.
AU
The Golden Hours by saucery. Hints of Merlin/Arthur, PG.
Author's summary: Was Merlin a lunatic or a knave? Or was he really - as he claimed to be - from the second star to the right?
Review: Utterly delightful Merlin/Peter Pan cross-over. The prose is beautiful, and Arthur and Merlin are too adorable for words.
Crack!fic
♥ The Incident with The Thingy or Arthur's Adventures in Spying by sparky77. Merlin/Arthur, R.
Author's summary: Arthur is a spy. Merlin is his handler. What? It makes perfect sense. Really.
Quote: Arthur grins at Merlin and looked at the tux speculatively. "What else does it do?"
"First, tell me how much you love me," Merlin demands.
"There are occasionally times when I don't regret not killing you on sight," Arthur responds.
Review: This is glorious, glorious crack. Merlin is brilliant as the somewhat cracked (ha!) handler and this fic will make you laugh and laugh and laugh.
Undead by lassiterfics. Rated Z for zombies and C for crack.
Author's summary: The night the zombie apocalypse came to Camelot.
Review: Ahahahaha OMG. Erm.
♥ How Merlin Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Arthur His Destiny by mint_amaretto, Merlin/Arthur, NC-17.
Author's summary: In which Merlin moves to the Cursed Kingdom of Camelot, Arthur puts a little too much faith into the rules of courtly love and Lancelot has no problem being faithful to his lady.
Review: OMG. This fic is complete and utter crack. It's basically a gay!Camelot!AU, in which nothing gets taken seriously. I may have hurt myself laughing while reading; the ways in which she rewrites the episodes is completely brilliant. And yet, beside the crack, there is some delicious UST - I just wanted to grab the boys by their collars and smash them together. Funny and hot.
Art
Openmouthed by aeroport_art, NC-17. So pretty and hot.
Kink
Blush by cherrybina, NC-17, ~2000 words. Oh, God, this. Spanking fic that is somehow sweet and loving and blistering hot all at once. Gah.
A Hard-On For Violence by kick_flaw, NC-17, ~3800 words. Modern!AU in which Arthur and Merlin are on the same sports team, and they lose because of Merlin. Starts out very angry and violent, with a lead-in to dub-con, but then takes a left turn and turns into a very hot first-time fic. Oh, yes.
Favourites from the kinkme_merlin challenge:
- You Can Pick Your Friends and Getting To Know You by mad_maudlin, PG, ~2700 words. Written in response to a request for servant!Arthur. This isn't kink, or porn, but oh, my only problem with it is that I want more, dammit. In which Merlin's new to Camelot and gets locked in a cell with another servant: Arthur.
- Untitled, NC-17, ~1700 words. Written in answer to the prompt: "Arthur exerts his power over Merlin in a cruel way." In which Arthur tries to take advantage of Merlin, and Merlin turns the tables on him. Guh. [Warning: dubious consent.]
- To One Undiscoverable Guess, NC-17, ~650 words. Answer to the prompt: "After a night of crazy rabbit-fucking, Merlin's exhausted but Arthur's still horny. Unable to keep Merlin awake for more rounds, he (maybe a little guiltily) takes Merlin while the latter is sleeping." I love how there's so much in this: it's porny, obviously, and with somewhat dubious consent (as Merlin's asleep), but there's also Arthur's complex feelings shining through, and the last line made me smile.
- Auspicious Symbols All by anowlinsunshine, R, ~2400 words. Written in response to the prompt: "without moral compass their love is a dangerous thing, all of Albion is aquiver." Compellingly dark and with some wonderful imagery. [Warning: dark!fic.]
- Untitled, NC-17, ~490 words. Written in response to a request for slutty!Arthur. Arthur is the crown prince of Camelot, and as such, it is his responsibility to know his subjects.
- At Least Twice A Week by
instantramen, NC-17, ~1500 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Merlin, who has been waiting centuries, senses his birth but it takes him years to actually find him. Arthur is now a teenager and Merlin is obviously older. He still has the same feelings for Arthur but feels all freaked out because Arthur is technically a child and he feels wrong for being attracted to him as he is now." Unable to resist!Merlin and seductive!Arthur are just about the best things ever. [Note: Arthur's 16 in this.]
- Past History by magog_83, PG-13, ~1300 words. Written for the same prompt as above. In which Arthur is a student in Merlin's Arthurian history/lit class. This just made me grin a lot.
- All In The Timing by srin, NC-17, ~5600 words. I'm inserting this here, because it has the same premise as the story above, but it's much more detailed, obviously. This fic just gives me the warm fuzzies. [Note 1: Arthur is 17 in this. Note 2: I was thrown, at some point, by how American Arthur sounded to me. But then, English isn't even my mother tongue, so I could be horribly wrong about that.]
- Users Are Losers, by derryere, NC-17, ~4400 words. Written in response to the prompt "Arthur/Merlin, AU future!fic - Merlin's a whiz-kid chemistry student at uni who mixes/grows/magics drugs to pay the bills. Arthur's a new client who's hesitant about the product, so Merlin agrees to sample with him.". Oh, yes.
- The One Where There Is A Truly Ridiculous Amount Of Fucking by ifyouweremine, NC-17, ~1000 words. Absolutely filthy porn. Really. Involves felching, which won't be everybody's cup of tea, but oh God, possessive!Arthur does things to me, ngh.
- Dream A Little Dream by mad_maudlin, NC-17, ~2100 words. Written in response for a "possessed!Merlin, dubcon" prompt, and I did not initially include it in this set of recs, because, well, I find it sort of sad that Merlin is indeed not himself, and would have liked to have some kind of resolution for that. But then I reread it, and good God, this is smoking hot; bottom!Arthur wanting it in spite of himself pushes quite a few of my buttons, and well. Here you go. [Warning: dubious consent.]
- It Took Far Too Long To Get Him Back by rurounihime, R, ~2100 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Arthur is captured by bandits and subjected to torture/rape. Merlin rescues him and tries to help him deal with what happened." And, oh, I love the quiet moments in this, and Arthur just breaks my heart.
- Lost At Sea (Not A Team-Building Exercise) by xsmoonshine, PG-13, ~870 words. And now, for something completely different... Erm, warning for bestiality? Sort of? And also, for delicious, adorable crack? This just makes me happy.
- Spoils of War by casspeach, NC-17, ~3000 words. In response to the prompt: "Uther periodically sends his knights to takeover bordering unprotected land. On one such outing, Arthur attacks Ealdor and claims Merlin for his piece of the loot." Starts out snarky and ends up sweet. :D
- Age Ain't Nothing But A Number by mad_maudlin, NC-17, ~3700 words. Vampire!Merlin AU. This made me go "hee" a lot - I love that she gave the story a proper build-up, that Arthur was believable, and that Merlin wasn't a traditional vampire, but somehow still hot.
- Medical Practice, NC-17, ~1850 words. Written in response to the prompt: "paramedic!Arthur has a tough day at work and comes home to med-school!Merlin boyfriend in a terrible/ansgty mood. Bonus points for ugly green uniform and comfort sex." I love the warmth of this, and the fact that their personality so clearly shines through in spite of how short it is.
- Grave Mental Disease, NC-17, ~2400 words, in which Merlin is Arthur's shrink, and they both slip down a slippery slope together. This is the kind of fic it's impossible not to get drawn into, and although it will leave you feeling unsettled, the sheer need in this makes my heart sing. [Warning: dark!fic... sort of.]
- The Frog Prince, PG-13, ~1500 words. In which, yes, Arthur gets turned into a frog. The ending's just a bit too sweet for my tastes (if rather fitting), but frog!Arthur absolutely melted my heart. Can I have one of my own, please?
- Untitled, PG, ~970 words. Written in response to the prompt: "sometimes Arthur just needs to let go", though it's probably not what you're thinking. Bittersweet. Will break your heart, but beautiful nonetheless. Oh, Arthur. [Warning: character death.]
- Blood Sinister by writteninhaste, R, 100 words. Very dark drabble involving dark!Arthur, but I love the twistedness of this. [Warning: non-con, dark!fic.]
- Arcane Asylum, NC-17, ~5600 words. Modern day!AU in which Arthur gets framed and thrown into a prison for magic users. I think that what I like best about this fic is the absolutely wonderful way the author builds the intimately dark atmosphere inside the prison. And I have special love for sinister!Edwin in this. [Warning: near-rape scene (not M/A), violence, dark!fic - sort of.]
- I Guess That I Just Don't Know by cherrybina, NC-17, ~3700 words. In which Merlin becomes addicted to a magic book that gives him a little too much pleasure (yes, that kind of pleasure) and Arthur is determined to help him break the addiction. My primary notes on this were: adskqjlkfdk hot. So, yes, that, and I love the way she describes the increasing addiction and the way Arthur and Merlin come together in the end.
- The Prince's Tutor, PG-13, ~3700 words. AU in which Merlin is older than Arthur and comes to Camelot to become his tutor. Older!Merlin just squeezes my heart in this, and, oh, Arthur's such a prat, but he makes perfect sense.
- The Fool, The Magician and the Priestess by fortassetu, R, ~1450 words. OMG. OMG. OMG. Written in reply to my prompt: "aware of being under a love spell, but helpless to its effects." And before you think I'm that enthusiastic because it was written for me: I could've just as easily stayed anon as a prompter. This was just so beautiful I couldn't be bothered. This completely bowled me over; it'll break your heart, yes, but it'll also leave you with a hopeful ending.
- Elevation, NC-17, ~1500 words. In which Arthur and Merlin are stuck in a lift. Loved the dialogue in this.
- Not In Control, NC-17, 167 words. Written for the prompt: "Arthur can't help blurting Merlin's name and things he would never admit otherwise during sex. Merlin loves it and deliberately does things to make him do it more." Brief but oh so hot.
- It's Not, Until It Is, PG, ~2750 words. Written in response to the prompt: "A stolen moment on the edge between friendship and something neither of them would ever admit to." I love the atmosphere of this, and the characterisation which I think is pretty close to canon. The ending is bittersweet, as you might expect from the prompt, but I take the title in the most hopeful fashion. (By the way, this is ridiculously hot considering that nothing happens.)
- Four Times Arthur And Merlin Made It Work (And The One Time They Didn't) by flash_indie, R, ~1300 words. This is reincarnation fic, written for a prompt requesting that one time they don't work out. This covers several reincarnations, though, and, oh, yes, this is so very quietly sad, but also completely beautiful, and oh, God, Arthur, Merlin.
- Quid Pro Quo by allothi, NC-17, ~1200 words. Written for the prompt: "Arthur is a new minister, in charge of environmental affairs. Merlin is a young scientist who tries to convince him to sign laws for greater protection for endangered animals and their habitat. Merlin will bribe him any way, to make him do the right thing." Gaaaaah. Hot and wrong and sort of heart-breaking. [Warning: dub-con.]
- Ars Latet Arte by glimmergirl, R, ~1150 words. Written for a statue!kink prompt and surprisingly hot and touching. Warning for a sad ending, but definitely worth the read if you ask me.
- That Bloody Poltergeist, PG-13, ~2500 words. Modern AU in which Merlin moves into a new flat, which turns out to be haunted by... Arthur. This is sort of cracky, by turns funny and adorable. Some people thought the ending was sad, but I thought it was rather fitting given the circumstances. :o)
- The Devil At The Gate by skellerbvvt, NC-17, ~2600 words. Features dark!Merlin and an Arthur who is desperate to protect Camelot, but is ultimately doomed. I love this kind of twisted dark!fic, and Skeller does it very well. [Warning: dark!fic, non-con, violence.]
- A Suitable Reward by allothi, PG-13, ~770 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Why is being the prince's manservant a suitable reward?" This made me grin, and also go "aww", just a little bit. ;o)
- Learning Curve by cherrybina, R, ~2700 words. Modern!AU. Neither Arthur nor Merlin has ever had sex with a guy before, and they have to go through a lot of awkward stages before getting it right. Funny and hot, yay!
- The Resulting Paperwork Was Horrific, PG, ~1000 words. In response to the prompt: "Modern AU in which Arthur is an agent in a special government team responsible for investigating magic-related crimes. Merlin is the genius criminal and magic user that is released into Arthur's custody in order to "work off his debt to society" by helping out with investigations." Bwahaha, the dialogue - it is made of awesome. Gwen and Morgana make their appearance as well!
- Sugar Daddy, NC-17, ~1500 words. Written for the prompt: "Modern!AU, Arthur's Merlin's sugar daddy." This was a lot cuter than I expected - and it's pretty amusing, too.
Friggin' Epic
- You're A Mile Away And You Have Their Shoes by mad_maudlin, PG-13, ~22 000 words. In which Arthur and Merlin accidentally switch places, the fabric of the universe is starting to come apart, and Arthur is the only one who remembers the way things used to be.
- The Way Out Is Through by derryere and sequel in the comments by cherrybina and derryere, Merlin/Arthur, Merlin/Mordred/Arthur, Mordred/OMC, ~8900 words + ~13 400 words for the sequel. Oh, don't miss this! And don't miss the sequel ajshdlkdk (seriously). Um. Written in response to the prompt: When Arthur and Merlin go to drop Mordred they are followed by Uther's knights and all the druids are massacred and the three have to run with a bounty on their head. (The sequel is set 10 years later, when there's a bit of M/M/A.) This will break your heart. And then put it back together again. Also, the writing is beautiful. ♥
- At Least It Would Seem That We Don't by derryere, NC-17, ~15 800 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Reincarnation, one time they get re-born as brothers." Adksqfkfsdk. Oh, the glorious angst, the beautiful writing - there's such an intimate atmosphere to this, and the boys, oh, I love her characterisations. I could grow lyrical about this one, but I suggest you just read it. [Warning: incest, but you guessed that from the prompt, right?]
- Best Intentions Aside by derryere, NC-17, ~6900 words. AU in which arrogant arsehole Arthur Penn discovers Harry Potter slash and that one of the HP artists is a fellow student - and decides to have a little fun. I love Arthur being a complete bastard in this; it makes for a particularly amusing beginning of the fic, and the smut, when it finally happens, is ridiculously hot. Don't worry, Merlin gives as good as he gets.
- Live To Serve (Falling Into The Sky Backwards Remix) by skellerbvvt, NC-17, ~8550 words. Written for the prompt: "Merlin is a castrate sex-slave given to his son by Uther." My initial description of this was: "This was actually quite a bit sweeter than I expected, and somehow managed to be hot (I have to say that when I saw the prompt, I winced at the castrate part, so I'm rather pleased they made this work)." And then she posted an extended version, and awww. She writes all the things you don't quite expect. I may be a little in love with this fic. Oh, Merlin.
- From Russia With Love by derryere, NC-17, ~7000 words. OMFG. Need to review first.
- Freely in the Shrubbery, PG, ~8000 words, gen!fic. Merlin and Morgana accidentally swap bodies, and a crisis ensues. Oh, and they all find out about Merlin's magic. Oops. Funny and a bit angsty.
- Reversal of Fortune, PG-13, ~7300 words. Modern!AU in which Merlin becomes Arthur's boss, and oh, I just want to hug this fic. Guaranteed to make you happy-sigh. :D
(I seem to notice a trend, here...)
Ozzeur Pairings
- Shards, Arthur/Uther, NC-17, ~1100 words. Warning for explicit and painful non-con, but oh, this is such glorious dark!fic! Like a punch to the gut: beauty in the breaking. [Warning: non-con, dark!fic.]
- Physical, Chemical, Morgana/Mordred, R, ~650 words. Yes, you read that right. Not normally my cup of tea, but this fic is just so twisted and sad. My heart breaks for all of them (and Arthur and Merlin are in there, too), and that's impressive given that it's one of the only fics here to actually fit into a single comment.
- Untitled, Gwen/Morgana, R, ~670 words. In response to the prompt: "AU where they're first-year roommates at university." I don't normally read femslash (because it sadly does little for me), but this one's just so full of warmth and love that it made me happy nonetheless. Oh, girls!
Art
- Afterglow [ART] by lizardspots. Aww, the boys snuggling! <3
- As Her Highness Commands [ART] by lizardspots. Girl!Arthur/Merlin and just asjskdjkajskl.
- Untitled, in response to the prompt: "Gwen, anyone, like a queen." Pretty, naked, happy Gwen.
- Watching by pandora_gold, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Arthur fucks himself with something. Merlin watches." Guh.
- Submission by pandora_gold, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Arthur on his knees submitting to Merlin." God, yes.
- Trying to Bloom, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Tears and bondage." I'm not usually into femslash, but this is gorgeous, and hot, to boot.
RPF
- An Ever-Fixèd Mark by casspeach, NC-17, ~8500 words. Bradley/Colin, but also Arthur/Merlin. Written for the prompt: "reincarnation with a twist. Colin is Arthur reincarnated and Bradley is Merlin," and she somehow makes it work amazingly well. I was really impressed, and oh, Merlin/Bradley's want. Mmm.
- A Day At The Museum by significantowl, PG, ~1600 words. Bradley and Colin at the Louvre, and oh, there's no porn in this, but the banter is absolute love. [Note: the story can be found in one post here, but she seems to have scratched one of my favourite lines, which is why I'm linking to the chopped up entry on the kinkme challenge.]
- All The Best Pranks Involve Bananas by woldy, NC-17, ~2500 words. In which Colin teases Bradley and gets more than he bargained for. (Written in response to a prompt for "deep-throating".) Goes from funny through tense all the way to happy. :D
- Thank You, Mr Stanislavski by montanaharper, NC-17, ~6000 words. Written in reply to the prompt: "Bradley and Colin get cast in a film where they play gay lovers and have to do explicit sex scenes." And that's exactly what it is - a bit angsty, a bit funny, and a bit hot. I really love how Bradley realises what he's feeling, and the slight awkwardness in the smut, which works in the best kind of way.
- While You And Me We Hold And Lean by cherrybina, R, ~2900 words. Bradley and Colin keep falling asleep together, until Katie walks in on them. Just, ngh, sharing body heat and feeling comfortable together really is one of my kinks.
- Friction by likethesunset, NC-17, ~3600 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Bradley likes to unwind from a hard day of filming by fucking. Colin likes to unwind by sleeping. Complications ensue." And it's exactly that, with all the necessary misunderstandings and insecurities, but also with a lot of humour and a bit of hot porn, and it is a lovely story for it. :D
- with a language upside down, PG, ~2600 words, Colin/Katie. In which Colin is not in love with Katie (no, really! Well, maybe...), Bradley is entirely unhelpful and Katie is just a little bit evil. Left me with a grin.
♥ What Isn't by sparky77. Merlin/Arthur, NC-17. Dark!fic.
Author's summary: All this because you were too damn lazy to use a broom.
Review: Chilling view of how it could go down if Arthur would fall under Merlin's spell. I love how the fic seems at times so light and innocent, and how easily things slip into something darker.
The Fields of Vermont by aeroport_art, Merlin/Arthur, R.
Author's summary: A cat, a horse, and Arthur, and miles left to travel. Future!fic.
Review: Oh, I love how this fic feels so very fairytale-like, and I sometimes want to lick the imagery she uses. Oh, Arthur.
If Wishes Were Horses by takadainmante. Merlin/Arthur, DG for drunken groping.
Author's summary: Merlin has had a bad day and it's all Arthur's fault.
Review: Thoroughly amusing. Drunken!Arthur is priceless.
Stripped by shinetheway, sequel to Wild Magic, Merlin/Arthur, NC-17, porny!fic.
Author's summary: "I know what you are," Arthur murmured.
Review: ... I think my brain may have actually combusted. Arthur knows Merlin's little secret - both of them, as it turns out - and I spent the entire fic holding my breath to see what Arthur's final stance was going to be.
I'm Colorblind, Kid by brbsoulnomming. Merlin/Arthur, PG-13.
Author's Summary: "It figures that even as a dog, you’d be a prat." Arthur gets turned into a dog, and is the worst pet Merlin's ever had, despite being completely adorable. Or something like that. There might be some plot, I'm not entirely sure.
Review: Cutest fic ever (in a good way). It just gives me warm fuzzies. :D (Oh, and there is some witch killing, which is slightly less cute. But only slightly, really.)
Untitled by derryere. Merlin/Arthur, R, 72 words. Seriously, nothing that short should be that hot. Ngh.
Warlock by aftertherain, NC-17, ~18 000 words.
Author's summary: "Take me up; cast me away. What happens in the aftermath of a truth revealed."
Review: This is beautiful but completely heart-breaking. It doesn't end sadly, but by the time you get there, you'll have had your heart ripped to shreds several times over: Merlin's magic is discovered, and things don't go too well for him. The writing is lovely and engaging, just make sure not to read this when you're already feeling depressed.
AU
The Golden Hours by saucery. Hints of Merlin/Arthur, PG.
Author's summary: Was Merlin a lunatic or a knave? Or was he really - as he claimed to be - from the second star to the right?
Review: Utterly delightful Merlin/Peter Pan cross-over. The prose is beautiful, and Arthur and Merlin are too adorable for words.
Crack!fic
♥ The Incident with The Thingy or Arthur's Adventures in Spying by sparky77. Merlin/Arthur, R.
Author's summary: Arthur is a spy. Merlin is his handler. What? It makes perfect sense. Really.
Quote: Arthur grins at Merlin and looked at the tux speculatively. "What else does it do?"
"First, tell me how much you love me," Merlin demands.
"There are occasionally times when I don't regret not killing you on sight," Arthur responds.
Review: This is glorious, glorious crack. Merlin is brilliant as the somewhat cracked (ha!) handler and this fic will make you laugh and laugh and laugh.
Undead by lassiterfics. Rated Z for zombies and C for crack.
Author's summary: The night the zombie apocalypse came to Camelot.
Review: Ahahahaha OMG. Erm.
♥ How Merlin Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Arthur His Destiny by mint_amaretto, Merlin/Arthur, NC-17.
Author's summary: In which Merlin moves to the Cursed Kingdom of Camelot, Arthur puts a little too much faith into the rules of courtly love and Lancelot has no problem being faithful to his lady.
Review: OMG. This fic is complete and utter crack. It's basically a gay!Camelot!AU, in which nothing gets taken seriously. I may have hurt myself laughing while reading; the ways in which she rewrites the episodes is completely brilliant. And yet, beside the crack, there is some delicious UST - I just wanted to grab the boys by their collars and smash them together. Funny and hot.
Art
Openmouthed by aeroport_art, NC-17. So pretty and hot.
Kink
Blush by cherrybina, NC-17, ~2000 words. Oh, God, this. Spanking fic that is somehow sweet and loving and blistering hot all at once. Gah.
A Hard-On For Violence by kick_flaw, NC-17, ~3800 words. Modern!AU in which Arthur and Merlin are on the same sports team, and they lose because of Merlin. Starts out very angry and violent, with a lead-in to dub-con, but then takes a left turn and turns into a very hot first-time fic. Oh, yes.
Favourites from the kinkme_merlin challenge:
- You Can Pick Your Friends and Getting To Know You by mad_maudlin, PG, ~2700 words. Written in response to a request for servant!Arthur. This isn't kink, or porn, but oh, my only problem with it is that I want more, dammit. In which Merlin's new to Camelot and gets locked in a cell with another servant: Arthur.
- Untitled, NC-17, ~1700 words. Written in answer to the prompt: "Arthur exerts his power over Merlin in a cruel way." In which Arthur tries to take advantage of Merlin, and Merlin turns the tables on him. Guh. [Warning: dubious consent.]
- To One Undiscoverable Guess, NC-17, ~650 words. Answer to the prompt: "After a night of crazy rabbit-fucking, Merlin's exhausted but Arthur's still horny. Unable to keep Merlin awake for more rounds, he (maybe a little guiltily) takes Merlin while the latter is sleeping." I love how there's so much in this: it's porny, obviously, and with somewhat dubious consent (as Merlin's asleep), but there's also Arthur's complex feelings shining through, and the last line made me smile.
- Auspicious Symbols All by anowlinsunshine, R, ~2400 words. Written in response to the prompt: "without moral compass their love is a dangerous thing, all of Albion is aquiver." Compellingly dark and with some wonderful imagery. [Warning: dark!fic.]
- Untitled, NC-17, ~490 words. Written in response to a request for slutty!Arthur. Arthur is the crown prince of Camelot, and as such, it is his responsibility to know his subjects.
- At Least Twice A Week by
instantramen, NC-17, ~1500 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Merlin, who has been waiting centuries, senses his birth but it takes him years to actually find him. Arthur is now a teenager and Merlin is obviously older. He still has the same feelings for Arthur but feels all freaked out because Arthur is technically a child and he feels wrong for being attracted to him as he is now." Unable to resist!Merlin and seductive!Arthur are just about the best things ever. [Note: Arthur's 16 in this.]
- Past History by magog_83, PG-13, ~1300 words. Written for the same prompt as above. In which Arthur is a student in Merlin's Arthurian history/lit class. This just made me grin a lot.
- All In The Timing by srin, NC-17, ~5600 words. I'm inserting this here, because it has the same premise as the story above, but it's much more detailed, obviously. This fic just gives me the warm fuzzies. [Note 1: Arthur is 17 in this. Note 2: I was thrown, at some point, by how American Arthur sounded to me. But then, English isn't even my mother tongue, so I could be horribly wrong about that.]
- Users Are Losers, by derryere, NC-17, ~4400 words. Written in response to the prompt "Arthur/Merlin, AU future!fic - Merlin's a whiz-kid chemistry student at uni who mixes/grows/magics drugs to pay the bills. Arthur's a new client who's hesitant about the product, so Merlin agrees to sample with him.". Oh, yes.
- The One Where There Is A Truly Ridiculous Amount Of Fucking by ifyouweremine, NC-17, ~1000 words. Absolutely filthy porn. Really. Involves felching, which won't be everybody's cup of tea, but oh God, possessive!Arthur does things to me, ngh.
- Dream A Little Dream by mad_maudlin, NC-17, ~2100 words. Written in response for a "possessed!Merlin, dubcon" prompt, and I did not initially include it in this set of recs, because, well, I find it sort of sad that Merlin is indeed not himself, and would have liked to have some kind of resolution for that. But then I reread it, and good God, this is smoking hot; bottom!Arthur wanting it in spite of himself pushes quite a few of my buttons, and well. Here you go. [Warning: dubious consent.]
- It Took Far Too Long To Get Him Back by rurounihime, R, ~2100 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Arthur is captured by bandits and subjected to torture/rape. Merlin rescues him and tries to help him deal with what happened." And, oh, I love the quiet moments in this, and Arthur just breaks my heart.
- Lost At Sea (Not A Team-Building Exercise) by xsmoonshine, PG-13, ~870 words. And now, for something completely different... Erm, warning for bestiality? Sort of? And also, for delicious, adorable crack? This just makes me happy.
- Spoils of War by casspeach, NC-17, ~3000 words. In response to the prompt: "Uther periodically sends his knights to takeover bordering unprotected land. On one such outing, Arthur attacks Ealdor and claims Merlin for his piece of the loot." Starts out snarky and ends up sweet. :D
- Age Ain't Nothing But A Number by mad_maudlin, NC-17, ~3700 words. Vampire!Merlin AU. This made me go "hee" a lot - I love that she gave the story a proper build-up, that Arthur was believable, and that Merlin wasn't a traditional vampire, but somehow still hot.
- Medical Practice, NC-17, ~1850 words. Written in response to the prompt: "paramedic!Arthur has a tough day at work and comes home to med-school!Merlin boyfriend in a terrible/ansgty mood. Bonus points for ugly green uniform and comfort sex." I love the warmth of this, and the fact that their personality so clearly shines through in spite of how short it is.
- Grave Mental Disease, NC-17, ~2400 words, in which Merlin is Arthur's shrink, and they both slip down a slippery slope together. This is the kind of fic it's impossible not to get drawn into, and although it will leave you feeling unsettled, the sheer need in this makes my heart sing. [Warning: dark!fic... sort of.]
- The Frog Prince, PG-13, ~1500 words. In which, yes, Arthur gets turned into a frog. The ending's just a bit too sweet for my tastes (if rather fitting), but frog!Arthur absolutely melted my heart. Can I have one of my own, please?
- Untitled, PG, ~970 words. Written in response to the prompt: "sometimes Arthur just needs to let go", though it's probably not what you're thinking. Bittersweet. Will break your heart, but beautiful nonetheless. Oh, Arthur. [Warning: character death.]
- Blood Sinister by writteninhaste, R, 100 words. Very dark drabble involving dark!Arthur, but I love the twistedness of this. [Warning: non-con, dark!fic.]
- Arcane Asylum, NC-17, ~5600 words. Modern day!AU in which Arthur gets framed and thrown into a prison for magic users. I think that what I like best about this fic is the absolutely wonderful way the author builds the intimately dark atmosphere inside the prison. And I have special love for sinister!Edwin in this. [Warning: near-rape scene (not M/A), violence, dark!fic - sort of.]
- I Guess That I Just Don't Know by cherrybina, NC-17, ~3700 words. In which Merlin becomes addicted to a magic book that gives him a little too much pleasure (yes, that kind of pleasure) and Arthur is determined to help him break the addiction. My primary notes on this were: adskqjlkfdk hot. So, yes, that, and I love the way she describes the increasing addiction and the way Arthur and Merlin come together in the end.
- The Prince's Tutor, PG-13, ~3700 words. AU in which Merlin is older than Arthur and comes to Camelot to become his tutor. Older!Merlin just squeezes my heart in this, and, oh, Arthur's such a prat, but he makes perfect sense.
- The Fool, The Magician and the Priestess by fortassetu, R, ~1450 words. OMG. OMG. OMG. Written in reply to my prompt: "aware of being under a love spell, but helpless to its effects." And before you think I'm that enthusiastic because it was written for me: I could've just as easily stayed anon as a prompter. This was just so beautiful I couldn't be bothered. This completely bowled me over; it'll break your heart, yes, but it'll also leave you with a hopeful ending.
- Elevation, NC-17, ~1500 words. In which Arthur and Merlin are stuck in a lift. Loved the dialogue in this.
- Not In Control, NC-17, 167 words. Written for the prompt: "Arthur can't help blurting Merlin's name and things he would never admit otherwise during sex. Merlin loves it and deliberately does things to make him do it more." Brief but oh so hot.
- It's Not, Until It Is, PG, ~2750 words. Written in response to the prompt: "A stolen moment on the edge between friendship and something neither of them would ever admit to." I love the atmosphere of this, and the characterisation which I think is pretty close to canon. The ending is bittersweet, as you might expect from the prompt, but I take the title in the most hopeful fashion. (By the way, this is ridiculously hot considering that nothing happens.)
- Four Times Arthur And Merlin Made It Work (And The One Time They Didn't) by flash_indie, R, ~1300 words. This is reincarnation fic, written for a prompt requesting that one time they don't work out. This covers several reincarnations, though, and, oh, yes, this is so very quietly sad, but also completely beautiful, and oh, God, Arthur, Merlin.
- Quid Pro Quo by allothi, NC-17, ~1200 words. Written for the prompt: "Arthur is a new minister, in charge of environmental affairs. Merlin is a young scientist who tries to convince him to sign laws for greater protection for endangered animals and their habitat. Merlin will bribe him any way, to make him do the right thing." Gaaaaah. Hot and wrong and sort of heart-breaking. [Warning: dub-con.]
- Ars Latet Arte by glimmergirl, R, ~1150 words. Written for a statue!kink prompt and surprisingly hot and touching. Warning for a sad ending, but definitely worth the read if you ask me.
- That Bloody Poltergeist, PG-13, ~2500 words. Modern AU in which Merlin moves into a new flat, which turns out to be haunted by... Arthur. This is sort of cracky, by turns funny and adorable. Some people thought the ending was sad, but I thought it was rather fitting given the circumstances. :o)
- The Devil At The Gate by skellerbvvt, NC-17, ~2600 words. Features dark!Merlin and an Arthur who is desperate to protect Camelot, but is ultimately doomed. I love this kind of twisted dark!fic, and Skeller does it very well. [Warning: dark!fic, non-con, violence.]
- A Suitable Reward by allothi, PG-13, ~770 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Why is being the prince's manservant a suitable reward?" This made me grin, and also go "aww", just a little bit. ;o)
- Learning Curve by cherrybina, R, ~2700 words. Modern!AU. Neither Arthur nor Merlin has ever had sex with a guy before, and they have to go through a lot of awkward stages before getting it right. Funny and hot, yay!
- The Resulting Paperwork Was Horrific, PG, ~1000 words. In response to the prompt: "Modern AU in which Arthur is an agent in a special government team responsible for investigating magic-related crimes. Merlin is the genius criminal and magic user that is released into Arthur's custody in order to "work off his debt to society" by helping out with investigations." Bwahaha, the dialogue - it is made of awesome. Gwen and Morgana make their appearance as well!
- Sugar Daddy, NC-17, ~1500 words. Written for the prompt: "Modern!AU, Arthur's Merlin's sugar daddy." This was a lot cuter than I expected - and it's pretty amusing, too.
Friggin' Epic
- You're A Mile Away And You Have Their Shoes by mad_maudlin, PG-13, ~22 000 words. In which Arthur and Merlin accidentally switch places, the fabric of the universe is starting to come apart, and Arthur is the only one who remembers the way things used to be.
- The Way Out Is Through by derryere and sequel in the comments by cherrybina and derryere, Merlin/Arthur, Merlin/Mordred/Arthur, Mordred/OMC, ~8900 words + ~13 400 words for the sequel. Oh, don't miss this! And don't miss the sequel ajshdlkdk (seriously). Um. Written in response to the prompt: When Arthur and Merlin go to drop Mordred they are followed by Uther's knights and all the druids are massacred and the three have to run with a bounty on their head. (The sequel is set 10 years later, when there's a bit of M/M/A.) This will break your heart. And then put it back together again. Also, the writing is beautiful. ♥
- At Least It Would Seem That We Don't by derryere, NC-17, ~15 800 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Reincarnation, one time they get re-born as brothers." Adksqfkfsdk. Oh, the glorious angst, the beautiful writing - there's such an intimate atmosphere to this, and the boys, oh, I love her characterisations. I could grow lyrical about this one, but I suggest you just read it. [Warning: incest, but you guessed that from the prompt, right?]
- Best Intentions Aside by derryere, NC-17, ~6900 words. AU in which arrogant arsehole Arthur Penn discovers Harry Potter slash and that one of the HP artists is a fellow student - and decides to have a little fun. I love Arthur being a complete bastard in this; it makes for a particularly amusing beginning of the fic, and the smut, when it finally happens, is ridiculously hot. Don't worry, Merlin gives as good as he gets.
- Live To Serve (Falling Into The Sky Backwards Remix) by skellerbvvt, NC-17, ~8550 words. Written for the prompt: "Merlin is a castrate sex-slave given to his son by Uther." My initial description of this was: "This was actually quite a bit sweeter than I expected, and somehow managed to be hot (I have to say that when I saw the prompt, I winced at the castrate part, so I'm rather pleased they made this work)." And then she posted an extended version, and awww. She writes all the things you don't quite expect. I may be a little in love with this fic. Oh, Merlin.
- From Russia With Love by derryere, NC-17, ~7000 words. OMFG. Need to review first.
- Freely in the Shrubbery, PG, ~8000 words, gen!fic. Merlin and Morgana accidentally swap bodies, and a crisis ensues. Oh, and they all find out about Merlin's magic. Oops. Funny and a bit angsty.
- Reversal of Fortune, PG-13, ~7300 words. Modern!AU in which Merlin becomes Arthur's boss, and oh, I just want to hug this fic. Guaranteed to make you happy-sigh. :D
(I seem to notice a trend, here...)
Ozzeur Pairings
- Shards, Arthur/Uther, NC-17, ~1100 words. Warning for explicit and painful non-con, but oh, this is such glorious dark!fic! Like a punch to the gut: beauty in the breaking. [Warning: non-con, dark!fic.]
- Physical, Chemical, Morgana/Mordred, R, ~650 words. Yes, you read that right. Not normally my cup of tea, but this fic is just so twisted and sad. My heart breaks for all of them (and Arthur and Merlin are in there, too), and that's impressive given that it's one of the only fics here to actually fit into a single comment.
- Untitled, Gwen/Morgana, R, ~670 words. In response to the prompt: "AU where they're first-year roommates at university." I don't normally read femslash (because it sadly does little for me), but this one's just so full of warmth and love that it made me happy nonetheless. Oh, girls!
Art
- Afterglow [ART] by lizardspots. Aww, the boys snuggling! <3
- As Her Highness Commands [ART] by lizardspots. Girl!Arthur/Merlin and just asjskdjkajskl.
- Untitled, in response to the prompt: "Gwen, anyone, like a queen." Pretty, naked, happy Gwen.
- Watching by pandora_gold, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Arthur fucks himself with something. Merlin watches." Guh.
- Submission by pandora_gold, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Arthur on his knees submitting to Merlin." God, yes.
- Trying to Bloom, NC-17. In response to the prompt: "Tears and bondage." I'm not usually into femslash, but this is gorgeous, and hot, to boot.
RPF
- An Ever-Fixèd Mark by casspeach, NC-17, ~8500 words. Bradley/Colin, but also Arthur/Merlin. Written for the prompt: "reincarnation with a twist. Colin is Arthur reincarnated and Bradley is Merlin," and she somehow makes it work amazingly well. I was really impressed, and oh, Merlin/Bradley's want. Mmm.
- A Day At The Museum by significantowl, PG, ~1600 words. Bradley and Colin at the Louvre, and oh, there's no porn in this, but the banter is absolute love. [Note: the story can be found in one post here, but she seems to have scratched one of my favourite lines, which is why I'm linking to the chopped up entry on the kinkme challenge.]
- All The Best Pranks Involve Bananas by woldy, NC-17, ~2500 words. In which Colin teases Bradley and gets more than he bargained for. (Written in response to a prompt for "deep-throating".) Goes from funny through tense all the way to happy. :D
- Thank You, Mr Stanislavski by montanaharper, NC-17, ~6000 words. Written in reply to the prompt: "Bradley and Colin get cast in a film where they play gay lovers and have to do explicit sex scenes." And that's exactly what it is - a bit angsty, a bit funny, and a bit hot. I really love how Bradley realises what he's feeling, and the slight awkwardness in the smut, which works in the best kind of way.
- While You And Me We Hold And Lean by cherrybina, R, ~2900 words. Bradley and Colin keep falling asleep together, until Katie walks in on them. Just, ngh, sharing body heat and feeling comfortable together really is one of my kinks.
- Friction by likethesunset, NC-17, ~3600 words. Written in response to the prompt: "Bradley likes to unwind from a hard day of filming by fucking. Colin likes to unwind by sleeping. Complications ensue." And it's exactly that, with all the necessary misunderstandings and insecurities, but also with a lot of humour and a bit of hot porn, and it is a lovely story for it. :D
- with a language upside down, PG, ~2600 words, Colin/Katie. In which Colin is not in love with Katie (no, really! Well, maybe...), Bradley is entirely unhelpful and Katie is just a little bit evil. Left me with a grin.