Carpet Burns and Carousels
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Hunith curled up tightly, burying her head in her arms. "Fuck. Fuck!" She let the tears flow now. She should have gone north with Balinor, should have demanded he let her stay with him. Abandoned the farm and let Thomas take the fields. Surely the refugees from Camelot could find another safe house along the border. She shouldn't have to do this alone!
Series
- Part 1 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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This was the best chance Merlin was going to get, and he knew it. Arthur had been training late into the afternoon and was now relaxing after his favourite dinner. The fire was burning warm in the hearth, lighting across Arthur's hair in that way Merlin liked so much. They were sitting together, sharing a bottle of wine that Arthur liked and Merlin didn't, and the witch's words floated to the forefront of Merlin's mind.
"You will know when it is your last chance."
Series
- Part 2 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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Arthur looked away, poking at his eggs with his fork. "I don't want to look surprised when you start working with Morgana. I don't want to worry her or have her think I'm...intimidated."
Merlin's heart jumped into the back of his throat when he realized what Arthur meant. "You want me to show you magic now?"Series
- Part 3 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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The relief of Morgana's forgiveness meant more to Merlin than he could express. It felt like a knot at the back of his neck had slipped undone. He understood her disbelief. Arthur knew about their magic and was going to watch them practice it right in his room. It was unbelievable. No wonder Morgana was excited.
Series
- Part 4 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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The dust in the air blackened, going a horrible greenish-blue first as the red floated away. The light of it all dimmed. Merlin felt sick. "Magick bled and burned and died, not only by Uther's command but in grief at what it had lost. A part of it had been turned into something else, and now it was gone. So Magick went to find it."
Series
- Part 5 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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Merlin had long given up on not laughing at Arthur. The prince prided himself on being an amazing hunter yet hadn't been able to catch a single insect in the last hour. To add insult to injury, the other toads in the pond were really showing him up.
"Just stay still and then flick your tongue out!" Merlin laughed. Arthur glared at him as if to ask what exactly Merlin thought he'd been doing.Series
- Part 6 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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In hindsight, Merlin had known that Morgana was a bold woman, crusading for freedom and justice no matter the cost.
In hindsight, Merlin had known the Great Dragon was manipulative and hated Uther.
In hindsight, Merlin shouldn't have taught Morgana the spell to open locks.Series
- Part 7 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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The knights gasped. Leon looked horrified, though he didn't step away, just kept pressing to slow the blood leaking from Merlin's chest. His eyes roamed across Merlin's exposed torso, taking in the burns, the slashes, the scars.
Series
- Part 8 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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"I know it's one of the round table knights. Leon swears it's not him, and I believe him. But the rest of them are still a possibility."
Merlin nodded. He had also assumed that it would be one of the knights they'd all grown close with—Arthur's unofficial inner circle.
"I just wish whoever it is had asked my father or me before they started courting Morgana."Series
- Part 9 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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Merlin supposed he couldn't take sole credit for the way Arthur said the word magical. The tender hope and adoration poured into the word couldn't all be because of Merlin. But as the king reached out and Merlin took his hand, he thought maybe he had a fair bit to do with it.
Series
- Part 10 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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His magic surged up, swelling in his chest, and then his stomach twisted, and his heart pounded in terror. He slammed his magic back down, the way he'd done a thousand times.
Series
- Part 11 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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It was nice standing in Gwen's kitchen, helping her cook. Lancelot would be back from training soon, and he'd help them tidy up. It was a reliable thing for Merlin, cooking in Gwen and Lance's cottage. Plus, it was good to get to know the newest member of the household.
Series
- Part 12 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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"What if..." Merlin swallowed against the ravenous slashing at his throat. Tears welled up behind his eyes, and his worst fear came out at last. "What if I'm not the person you love anymore?" His ribs cracked under the assault of his magic.
Series
- Part 13 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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"Usually, I'm frightened that my visions will come true. It's somehow much worse to be afraid that they won't."
"Oh, Morgana..." Arthur sighed. "I want so badly to tell you that it'll all be great, but I... I don't know what he'll say. I wish I did. I wish I'd been able to see how much you two love each other every day."
"Yeah." Morgana smiled, but there was no happiness in her amusement. "It was a fun game at first but then... I'm so afraid to make it real. You're right, we haven't taken it seriously, even after all these years. I...I love him, I can't imagine loving anyone else, but our love has always just been between the two of us. It was private. No one else needed to know."
Merlin didn't need telepathy to know he and Arthur were thinking the same thing.
"Secrets can keep you safe," Merlin acknowledged. "But they can hurt worse than hellfire."Series
- Part 14 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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Merlin took a deep breath. "Gaius, that is me."
Gaius looked from the image of the old witch to Merlin's bearded face and back again. "I'm afraid I fail to see the resemblance."
Merlin groaned.Series
- Part 15 of Carpet Burns and Carousels
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"The future does not exist."
When a witch comes to give Merlin a warning about the nature of prophesies themselves, he heeds it, and everything changes. Arthur knows about his magic now, and he can help Morgana, but will they be able to make it to the Golden Age of Albion?
Series
- Part 16 of Carpet Burns and Carousels