World Shaking Down (Part 8/?)

[talesofyesac]

Title: World Shaking Down (Part 8/?)
Author: talesofyesac
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: Merlin, Arthur (gen)
Word Count: 3,009
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

[sothecrownfits]

Oh. God. This is beautiful. I love that Merlin tried to fight even though he knew it was a lost cause, and the way Arthur broke his arm to save his life? I don't know, but somehow that just speaks to how much he really loves and cares for Merlin. He would never cause that kind of pain unless he absolutely needed to. And the end. Where he just held Merlin, just so touching.

I loved it.

[talesofyesac]

This was honestly my favorite part of the story to write--and while I felt really terrible for Merlin, though, I felt almost as bad for Arthur. :( Thanks for reading!

[archaeologist_d]

I loved it. I know it was inevitable that Balinor would die but the way Merlin was still waiting for Arthur to act and save his father and when he didn't, trying to do it himself knowing he'd fail was breathtakingly sad. I wonder how much Merlin will blame Arthur and how much it will change their relationship. I know you wrote that he'd be more loyal to Arthur but still, he did let Balinor die. Great job.

[talesofyesac]

I know everyone was rooting for Balinor to live, and part of me just really wanted to make that happen. My main focus in this story, though, was looking at the relationship between Merlin and Arthur, and if I'd had Balinor live, I feel like I wouldn't have been able to get as deep at things between them. Like you said, Merlin may think he's going to be more loyal to Arthur, but there's an awful lot unresolved there.

[kattale]

NOOOOOO!!!!! Oh gods, how I feel Merlin's grief, and Arthur's anguish. This was so brilliantly written. I know that from a literary perspective, Balinor had to die, but I hate it. I hate it SO. MUCH. I was holding on to the last second that the dragon might take it upon himself to rescue Balinor, and then Balinor would have his control of the dragon to hold over Uther to ensure Merlin's survival... My mind has been working non-stop trying to find a way to salvage this situation. *cries*

[talesofyesac]

I know that from a literary perspective, Balinor had to die, but I hate it. I hate it SO. MUCH.

Oh, I'm with you on that. It made sense for the story, but even as I was writing it, I was completely wishing it didn't have to go that way. Thanks for reading, though, despite the overload of angst!

[talesofyesac]

To be completely honest, when I started writing this, I intended for the ending to be a whole lot different from what it turned out as. It just sort of morphed as I was writing it. It's kind of fun that way, though--as a writer, being surprised by where the story goes is an amusing surprise. Thank for reading! :)

[brunettepet]

The shifting points of view worked beautifully in this emotionally devastating, tightly written chapter. Arthur had no choice but to fight him, and Merlin had no choice but to fight back. The fight was well choreographed and vividly drawn and when Merlin broke that window, my heart was in my throat. I was sure he was going to do something foolish, condemning himself in the process. Arthur, thankfully, was stronger and quicker. Acknowledging Balinor as his father would have found another pyre burning merrily in a matter of hours.

The image ofthe two men lying on Arthur's floor, blood stained and awash with the light of the pyre, was haunting.

In all the angst and drama and betrayal, Merlin coming through this with his loyalty to Arthur even more solid than before is remarkable and you made it believable.