dollsome: (merlin;; the mystic's dream)
dollsome ([personal profile] dollsome) wrote2010-12-23 05:39 pm

holiday ficlets | merlin | uther/morgana & merlin/morgana

A few more, Merlin-style!

for [livejournal.com profile] vega_ofthe_lyre!--


merlin | uther/morgana | grace is a gift for the fallen, dear

The king falls ill, and the news sweeps the land. Even its dark corners. Morgana would like to watch him die. It’s a pleasure she’s earned. So one night she puts on Arthur’s face and walks right into the castle. Into the king’s bedchamber. The guards bow their obedience and let her pass. Their loyalty is so plain to see. It’s a wonder Arthur has taught them to bow at all, when one considers his grandiose devotion to equality.

Uther is mad with fever. Morgana hasn’t set eyes on him for years. He looks like his own skeleton. She recalls sitting in the stands, watching him vanquish his every pretend foe during tournaments. He would always glance back at her (unnecessarily, smiling a little) to make certain she’d witnessed the victory. Now— why, he’s an old man. She has always called him one; at last he looks it properly. He twists and turns, mumbling, whimpering.

She comes to his side and presses a hand that does not look like hers to his forehead.

“Father,” she says in Arthur’s voice.

He calms beneath her touch.

“My child,” he answers. His bleary eyes open and rest on her. God, the love on his face.

She pulls her hand back, fingers stinging. This is all she needs. To know she’s fooled him one last time. Death will claim him any day; it doesn’t need her help. If it did she would happily lend it.

“Morgana,” he breathes then. Seeing through her at last.

She meets his eyes, frozen. The enchantment slides off her like rain. It’s old magic, the kind that comes at a price and can’t be easily broken. And here stands the prodigal daughter.

“I knew it,” he raves, the madman. He laughs, cries, pathetic in his happiness. “I knew—I knew your soul would find mine.”

As if souls could wander, leaving shells behind them.




In the morning they find him dead. There’s a look of such peace on his face.




For [livejournal.com profile] copperiisulfate!--


merlin | merlin/morgana | once and future

“You’ve mellowed in your old age,” Merlin remarks. It’s obviously a compliment. They’re sitting in a Starbucks, looking a great deal like any twenty-something couple sitting in a Starbucks. Morgana is having dangerously passionate feelings about the peppermint mocha she’s halfway finished with. Also, jeans. Jeans are brilliant.

“You’re not nearly as bearded as we’d all hoped you’d be,” she responds.

“I tried that for awhile,” Merlin says. “Didn’t feel it suited me.”

“From what I’ve picked up, the all-powerful old bearded wizard has become a bit of a cliché,” Morgana admits.

“Sorry about trying to kill you,” Merlin says. “All those times.”

Morgana shrugs it off. “Sorry about trapping you in that cave for a bit.”

“Centuries,” Merlin says.

“A bit,” Morgana reiterates airily.

“Of course,” Merlin grumbles. “Somehow that got pinned on Nimueh in the stories, anyhow.”

“Just for once,” Morgana sighs, “I’d so love the proper credit.”

“They really like making you a hideous old crone,” Merlin says. He sounds very innocent, but looks far too delighted for anyone’s good.

Morgana glowers. “Don’t remind me.” She takes another sip of perfection, then asks, more seriously, “Why do you think we’re here, Merlin? Isn’t it a bit odd for us to be, you know, awake?”

“I expect it’ll have to do with Arthur,” Merlin says.

Morgana pulls a face. “Doesn’t it always?”

Merlin laughs, then sobers. He looks very old and very wise for a twenty-something. “We’d best get to work.”

“We’d best,” Morgana agrees, every bit as somber.

Then:

“D’you think we have time to split a muffin first?”

“Blueberry?”

“Pumpkin, obviously!”

“Right,” Merlin sighs. “We’re doomed never to be on the same side, aren’t we?”

“Buy us a muffin, then, nemesis,” Morgana orders cheerily.

ext_23738: donna noble (merlin: you and i we're forbidden)

[identity profile] wondygal.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
Bantering modern frenemies Merlin and Morgana! I would watch that show so hard.
ext_7442: ([merlin] bradley/katie)

[identity profile] amathela.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
The Merlin/Morgana ficlet was fantastic! Jeans are brillliant.

[identity profile] hariboo.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Merlin/Morgana: <3<3<3<3 FOR CENTURIES.

[identity profile] firthgal.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
Oh man, the Uther/Morgana one was so utterly beautiful. HE RECOGNIZED HER. Morgana's tenderness despite the fact that she went there to watch him die for pleasure. And it was such a sweet irony that she gave him peace instead of his death bringing her peace, and this just added to her ire. SHE WILL NEVER BE FREE OF UTHER'S LOVE. NEVER.

Also, the Merlin/Morgana one was adorable.

[identity profile] darling-ashes.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Merlin/Morgana as modern BFF/enemies is flawless.

[identity profile] vega-ofthe-lyre.livejournal.com 2010-12-24 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
DSKFD;LK ALL THE THINGS I LOVE MOST IN THIS WORLD: UTHER/MORGANA AND IRON & WINE. You know me way too well, my darling! Ohhhh, this was GLORIOUS, thank you!

Merry Christmas x infinity ♥

[identity profile] wakingworld.livejournal.com 2010-12-25 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
THAT MERLIN/MORGANA FICLET. I CAN'T. FLAWLESS. WHY-- HOW ARE YOU SO AMAZING LKAD;JFKDL;FJSAK;.

[identity profile] eppic.livejournal.com 2010-12-26 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
THIS IS THE BEST POST EVER.

[identity profile] copperiisulfate.livejournal.com 2010-12-27 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
dude. DUDE. DUUUUUUDE! I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS FIC OKAY AND NOT A LOT OF COHERENCE to go with them ♥

peppermint mocha! PEPPERMINT MOCHA. okay so you do not know this but I have a very huge soft spot for peppermint mochas.

AND. AND MORGANA'S FASCINATION WITH JEANS! and their oh-so-wry reconciliation! So I totally have a thing for inversion of mood--if that makes any sense--basically, what you have done here by taking this angsty angsty pair of folks and made them DELIGHTFUL TO NO END :D :D :D

AND THIS IS SO PERFECT IN LIKE ELEVENTY BILLION, TRILLION WAYS:

Morgana shrugs it off. “Sorry about trapping you in that cave for a bit.”

“Centuries,” Merlin says.

“A bit,” Morgana reiterates airily.


<-- I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE PART OF WHY I SHIP IT.

OH MAN. it's short and simple and IT HAS WON MY HEART, also possibly made my week. thank you so much, darling ♥ I am only sorry I didn't have time to remark upon it sooner and I hope you have had/are having a very happy holiday! ♥♥♥

[identity profile] chicaintcheap.livejournal.com 2010-12-29 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, that M/M fic! *_* Adorable!

[identity profile] magpieinthesky.livejournal.com 2011-10-23 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
OH MY GOD, THIS MUST BE WHAT PURE JOY FEELS LIKE.

How did I miss this before? Anyway, I LOVE how 21st century Merlin/Morgana actually WORKS and is darling and smart and funny and LOVE.

[identity profile] dollsome.livejournal.com 2011-10-23 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Awwwwww, thank you so much! <3 I still flirt with the idea of expanding this somehow, because omg, it was so much fun to write!