chil_nico
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Loneliness is an insidious thing. When Merlin looks at Arthur, he sees not just a prince waiting for his time to rule, but a young man struggling to find his place in the world, with little help from anyone else.
The truth is, Arthur needs more than the friendship Merlin can offer. He needs people he can trust: men and women who will become his court and his confidants, and if he is going to survive to take the throne and lead Camelot into its golden age, he needs them sooner rather than later.
Finding loopholes in Uther’s laws is no easy feat. Court life is a dangerous game, but it’s one Merlin has every intention of winning so that Arthur can have knights of his choosing by his side.
And then there is the matter of his magic…
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Bookmarked by chil_nico
13 Feb 2026
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Arthur was not as stupid as many people thought, he figured out that Merlin was a sorcerer a long time ago. He just wished that Merlin would let him live in denial about it.
Merlin keeps trying to confess his love for Arthur, and Arthur thinks he keeps trying to reveal his magic.
Bookmarked by chil_nico
09 Jan 2026
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In many ways, things are the same as ever.
It’s only… Well, back when Merlin still had things like secrets, or privacy, or self-respect, he would have thought that of the secrets, the magic would have been the one to truly catch Arthur’s interest.
But no. It’s the other secret that Arthur picks and plucks at.
Bookmarked by chil_nico
08 Jan 2026
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“Forget I said anything,” Merlin tried, failing to smother his snickering. He lowered his eyes to the ground, and bit down on his grin even as his shoulders shook with laughter. Neither of them was fooled. “Of course you’re not jealous. Why would you be? Just because Ser Erden is so very charming—”
“He is not—”
“And chivalrous—"
“I bet he beats his servants,” Arthur insisted, with no proof or reason. “And his dogs.”
“And handsome—”
“Handsome?!” Arthur shouted, so loud that it boomed in Merlin’s ears. He jerked his head up in surprise. Dark spots of red had bloomed across Arthur’s cheeks, flush and furious. “He is not! He’s—shut up, Merlin!”
Bookmarked by chil_nico
08 Jan 2026
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The next time Arthur doesn’t say thank you, Gwaine puts his hand on Merlin’s back, stroking down the long length of it, from the short curls of hair at the nape of his neck to the neat cinch of his waist.
“Thanks,” he praises, throwing a wink to an agape Arthur as he does. It’s wonderful.
So wonderful, in fact, that for the next fortnight, for every brusque word that spills from Arthur’s lips, Gwaine spills three sweet ones.
Bookmarked by chil_nico
07 Jan 2026