World Shaking Down (Part 9/?)

[talesofyesac]

Title: World Shaking Down (Part 9/10)
Author: talesofyesac
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: Merlin, Arthur (gen)
Word Count: 3,106
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

[flying_tokoeka]

This story made me so sad for merlin, so emotional over what arthur had to do, and yet i think the last bit was so hopeful, like it will get better.. I thought it was a beautiful ending- part of me was wondering if arthur would ever trust merlin - and let go of his reservations enough- to relinquish his check on merlin's magic. Is there any possibility of future fics in this verse, or just fics that acknowledge this happening in the past even if it's not central to the story?

Thanks so much for the writing this, I really enjoy character fics like this, with all the emotional pain and anxiety for the characters!

[talesofyesac]

Well, there's at least one more chapter to go. As for future stories in this verse... well, it's not out of the question, but as of yet I don't have anything planned. Thanks very much for your kind words! :) I think those, more than anything, make me inclined to possibly explore this further.

[brunettepet]

Arthur accepting Merlin's magic and being angry that Merlin would blame himself for Balinor's death and being a bully and ordering Merlin not blame himself was wonderfully in character and I love how Merlin takes comfort in his prince being the man he is. Between that and Merlin magicking his dragon to his side, it feels like we've finally turned a corner and now the healing can begin.

[talesofyesac]

I'm very pleased you found all that plausible, as I totally got blasted this morning by some lovely person on ff.net for having implausible character interactions. I was more amused than anything by it (flames tend to evoke that reaction in me), but it's always nice to hear that other people don't agree. Thanks very much. :)

[archaeologist_d]

I liked how Merlin could see Arthur;s flaws and yet they were still part of him and honorable in a way. I liked that Arthur let his magic run free enough to give him some comfort. I wonder if it's enough though. Merlin is still in shock. Well done.

[talesofyesac]

I agree: Merlin is still in shock. Trying to portray that accurately is why I've taken so long to post the epilogue (which I've finally gotten done--YAY!). I wanted to make that shock clear while still not completely changing his final conclusion. Hopefully, I succeeded. I dunno--you be the judge.