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Everything That Was Once Hidden (Becomes Something Held) by maeven_k
Fandoms: Merlin (TV)
28 Jun 2025
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Summary
“It’s my job to protect you,” Merlin whispers.
Arthur’s brow creases. “At the cost of yourself?”
Merlin gives a crooked, painful smile. “That’s what protection is, isn’t it?”
Arthur doesn’t speak; he doesn’t know how to respond to that, how to even begin to unravel the lifetime of sacrifice tangled in those few words. Instead, he reaches out. Slowly. Gently. Fingers brushing Merlin’s forearm. Merlin flinches, not because he’s afraid, but because the touch is kind.
“Let me help,” Arthur says, voice raw. “Just this once. Let me take care of you.”
It's time for someone to hold what was once hidden.
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“How can I ask this of you?” Merlin whispered, “I was meant to bring peace to Albion, not destroy it. I’m no good if you get hurt.”
The king took his court sorcerer’s hands. They were trembling, frail things like little fledglings, and he gripped tight and didn’t let go, “Merlin. Camelot fights for what is right. Once magic was reinstated, I pledged to be an ally to you and your kind. I, and this kingdom, would be a disgrace to that promise if I did nothing now.”
Merlin gazed at him so desperately. Arthur didn’t know what to do with it. Merlin was always so strong, usually being the one to comfort Arthur. He was his best advisor, and his closest confidant, and he’d never seen him so anguished.
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The golden age of Albion was here, or so Merlin thought. After learning of sorcerers in the hundreds being captured and enslaved by a neighbouring kingdom, Merlin felt more useless than ever. What use is Emrys if he can't protect his people? He had to act, but he couldn't bring Camelot into it; the risk was too high. Unfortunately, his friends didn't see eye to eye with him on that, and insisted on fighting with him. Would they come out victorious?
Would they survive at all?
Series
- Part 1 of Merlin Hyperfixation Era
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Arthur has spent his whole life hunting the things that lurk in the dark. It's all he's ever known—rituals, monsters, weapons, salt lines, and scars. Merlin, on the other hand, is newer to the life, drawn into the hunt by tragedy. Together, they travel the backroads of America, chasing down the strange, the cursed, and the deadly. Both are searching for more than just the next case.
Arthur chases the shadow of a father he could never live up to, and Merlin is tracking a darkness that tore his life apart.
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- Part 4 of Paranormal Merlin Whump!
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Merlin attempts to right the mistakes of his past.
A mini comic!
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Merlin is the perfect servant.
That's how everyone figures out something is wrong.
After a large argument with Arthur, Merlin shuts off. He no longer will argue with Arthur.
Arthur is being driven insane by the silent treatment, or more accurately to respectful treatment, and drowns his sorrows at his father's ball.
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"Eternal one"? That's a new one for the resume, courtesy of a rather ominous prophecy unearthed with a suspiciously well-preserved tomb. For Merlin, reincarnation usually meant a quiet life (as quiet as it gets when you're surrounded by the oblivious reincarnations of the Round Table). But a near-drowning in a magically messed-up Lake Avalon and this sudden archaeological drama have rather spoiled the peace. Now, with Arthur's past-life déjà vu kicking in and- HER shadow lengthening across modern-day Wales, Merlin's starting to think fifteen centuries wasn't nearly long enough for a decent holiday. The lake tried to warn him. Probably. He just hopes they all don't end up drowning in the ensuing chaos. Again.
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arthur and his knight are actually pirates in this story. finding merlin prisoner on a pirate ship they raided. but little do they know merlin is actually one of the most feared creatures of the sea, a siren. with the help of morgana he hides his secret, but as time passes on he starts feeling apart of the crew.
basically a merlin siren pirate au
not a good writer so please tell me if i do anything wrong or badly! just be nice about it!
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Arthur's hands had not always been kind to him. Arthur was a knight, and much to Merlin's dismay that meant that the rough treatment was the closest thing to a hug he was ever going to get. Flying goblets, punches on the arm, overly hard pats on the back and rough hair tousling, nothing was new to Merlin. It had become familiar, almost welcome, the only kind of physical contact he was ever going to get out of Arthur. He did not like it, but he cherished it all the same.
That is to say Merlin was no stranger to a little unnecessarily violent contact. Yet feeling those warm, callused hands around his neck, squeezing so mercilessly it was as if he could feel all the years worth of blood they had already spilled.
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Arthur discovers that Merlin has magic. He does not take it well.
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Merlin is cursed by a powerful sorcerer and loses the ability to use magic. Terrified of what could happen to Arthur without his protection, Merlin becomes a bit too protective of him.
Meanwhile, Arthur doesn't understand why Merlin's acting so weird and paranoid lately. Much less why he basically refuses to leave his side, even if he offers him a day off. -
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Nine months have gone by and it is time to welcome Merlin’s and Arthur's child.
But it won't be that easy for the royal couple, not when everyone is so loud and annoying.
It won't be easy on Uther either. Oh it will be hard for the old man.Welcome to the journey of Uther after magic became legal in Camelot.
Series
- Part 5 of Uthers great plan
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He shot towards the dining table and everyone else moved too, probably thinking he was going to escape. In a way, he was. He reached the table first and grabbed the knife.
Arthur, Leon, Percival and Elyan still charged at him.
But then he lifted the blade to his neck.
And they went as still as stone.
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While on a hunt, Merlin's magic is revealed. Arthur couldn't love him more if he tried. In the face of an attack from Morgana, Arthur knows the coming days are crucial for Camelot.
Title taken from Ben Platt. Updating every few days
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The day of the wedding between Arthur and Merlin finally came.
Merlin still doesn't believe that he is worthy of standing next to Arthur, but he has some good friends that tell him otherwise.
Uther has problems, the people want to know about the heir.
A mystery guest comes and gives Uther a choice that will resolve all of his problems.Series
- Part 3 of Uthers great plan
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present day Arthur finds Merthur content and becomes very confused.
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"I'm writing you this message just so I can say that I love you."
Merlin, the fearless, loving, giving, selfless, warlock. Never bowing down to a challenge. He knows Arthur will be furious. He just hopes it's enough to keep him grounded. He doesn't want this. He never has. But it doesn't scare him.
Series
- Part 2 of Merthur Songfics
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One day, a stranger, seeking shelter from the rain, stumbles into Merlin's little magic shop. The stranger turns out to be a right prat. And yet...
“Hello again, Mr Emrys.”
The ladder creaks dangerously as the man turns to look over his shoulder. “Congratulations, you've found out my name. Should I be flattered?”
“You're too cheeky for your own good,” Arthur says and nearly smiles. There's a brief pause, during which the guy – Emrys – continues to dust off the uppermost shelf, leaning to the side so far Arthur is expecting him to fall off any moment now. “Looked you up in the company database.”
“Okay, I'm definitely flattered now.”
“In the database of the company that owns this whole block of buildings.” Arthur steps closer, puts a foot against the ladder and grabs one of the staves to stabilize it. “The company which happens to be mine.”
“Ohh, what are you gonna do, evict me on grounds of being cheeky?” -
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5 times Merlin thought he’d hit his limit; plus the one time he said something about it.
Series
- Part 3 of My Lady, Albion
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Merlin feels bad. Lancelot is there for him.
Can be read as either platonic or slash.
Series
- Part 4 of My Lady, Albion
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The title and tags sum it up well.
You can rip the fact they’d definitely have a weird hate sex thing going on in Season 3 if it wasn’t a family-friendly show from my cold dead hands.
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Merlin is so (not) lonely. He won't admit that he is. Until he meets a vaguely familiar stranger who reminds him that company is a good thing. He pretends he's fine. He's totally (not) fine. He presses on until he hits his limits and figures the prophecy he was given had been one last horrible lie to break him. Which it does. Hopelessness pulls him under and he nearly surrenders until the stranger returns with a friend. They help pull him back together until Merlin gets his greatest wish. The return of his best friend.
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A/N this does have a scene where Merlin does attempt to take his own life. It's not graphic as in blood or anything like that, however, his mental state and the moments during are described more then I generally will write. I describe him feeling detached from himself and a near drowning. So please be careful when reading.