World Shaking Down (Part 2/?)

[talesofyesac]

Title: World Shaking Down (Part 2/?)
Author: talesofyesac
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: Merlin, Arthur (gen)
Word Count: 4,891
Warnings: Some violence and eventual character death (minor character). Also, spoilers for 2x13 and anything before that.
Summary: You can't save the dying with words... and, yet, Balinor is still breathing.

Comments

[archaeologist_d]

He probably should have told Arthur to go to hell when he asked for Merlin's power but now it's too late. I wonder if Arthur will really ever understand just what has happened. Great job.

[talesofyesac]

I agree--that would have been the smarter option. As far as Arthur understanding, though, I don't know that he really has the capacity to. He's been raised with the idea that he has a right to people's allegiance, and also a right to control others. He may be a good person (I do view his character that way) but in many cases he is pretty entitled.

[fabyenn]

What a lovely story! I love the way you lay out every thought of Merlin's - and of Arthur's in the previous chapter. Great work! I can't wait for the next update.

[talesofyesac]

Thank you! Sometimes I worry I'm putting too many of their thoughts down, though--too much thinking and not enough happening, or something like that.

[talesofyesac]

I think you make a very good point: Merlin's character is still just a step bellow being blindly loyal to Arthur: he'd never betray him, I don't think, but he doesn't entirely trust him, either. I'm glad you think I've managed to translate that into this story, as it's an aspect of the show that I find really fascinating.

[rocketgirl2]

Aww, such a sad part. :( I love it, but gahh, my heart.

And that? It is something Merlin trusts. Arthur’s word is good. Arthur is a good man. Arthur will be a great king. Those are things Merlin really believes, and it’s not enough to settle this situation by any means, but it’s all he has.

It’s still not enough.
Your writing here = ♥

Arthur waves his hand in Balinor’s direction. “You should. Do it. We need him healed.”

Not “I care because he’s your father” or “I know what his death would do to you,” though Merlin hadn’t really expected anything of the sort.
Arthurrrr, why.
You capture his character so well, but man, I wish he wasn't so...so Arthur sometimes.

[talesofyesac]

Thanks! :) They do all rather need hugs here, don't they? And, yes, I sometimes wish Arthur were a little less Arthurish too.

[brunettepet]

Arthur feeling that it's his right to have this control over Merlin is believable. He's given Merlin a great gift just by letting him live. Merlin not being terribly happy about the exchange is understandable. Now Arthur's got Merlin on a leash and Balinor to help with the dragon. Merlin's magic accomplished both things. You'd think Arthur would be a bit grateful.

[talesofyesac]

As far as I can tell with the character of Arthur, sometimes things concerning emotions take awhile to set in with him. He might act one way at first, but after he sits down and has a little time to process, he sometimes changes. That's the angle I'm taking here, anyway.