Warning: Tentacles

Merlin Recs:
[ART]
Give Yourself Away by yue_ix [NWS, dub-con] Merlin/Morgana


[FIC]
Snowed in at Heathrow and Other Christmas Disasters by rotrude [NC-17] (28k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Sometimes the weather conditions work a little like fate. And sometimes you find love in the most improbable circumstances.

Having been trapped in an airport for many hours myself... i don’t remember anything remotely interesting as this happen. But now I wish it had! It’s a fun fic with two people taking advantage of a moment outside either of their worlds and ... having scorching hot sex in the loo. And a nice little plot to wrap it all up in.

Stage of the Ice, the Solid Ocean by m_frantic [NC-17] (9k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: When Police Sergeant Lance Dulac begins to investigate a crime in the small Welsh village of Camelot, it stirs up decades of secrets.

The author crafted an interesting setting in this one. I really liked the ‘small Welsh village’ with its cranky old men who protect their own and how everyone seems to know everyone. The Lancelot POV as an outsider really worked for me.

Borderlands by nympha_alba [NC-17] (11k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Canon era AU. When Arthur is separated from his knights by a mysterious fog on the Mercian border, he finds himself trapped in a place that seems to balance between dream and reality. To regain his freedom he must put his trust in one of Lord Bayard's closest men - a man who calls himself Merlin.

This fic is full of gorgeous atmosphere and a clever little plot in an canon-era AU setting. The entire piece (nearly) takes place inside a cottage, where Arthur and Merlin (strangers to each other) are trapped. They’re forced to work together and get along to survive. There are moment of h/c, of domestic life, of UST and truths revealed. On the whole, an excellent read.

Run, Neon Tiger by canningtonclose [NC-17] (7k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Arthur could live the life his father wanted, without hiding from 'copters and trying to build the resistance in a dystopian world, but it wouldn't be a life worth living without Merlin.

This is a fic for those that love world building, especially the on-the-run in a dystopian world type thing. It’s well crafted, drawing a perfect picture of this dark world, where all Merlin and Arthur have are each other.

Uncommon Side Effects May Include by flammablehat [NC-17] (6k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Arthur has a problem. Merlin has questionable luck and terrible timing. Gwaine has it coming to him.

Silly and entertaining and sexy. A mess of cracky, hot fun.

Wassail by bananahater336 [NC-17] (2k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Merlin and Arthur go wassailing on a Yule night.

a lovely canon future!fic. loved the idea of wassailing and the Yule traditions that Arthur and Merlin share with the people of Camelot.

skin by lyryk [NC-17] (2k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: It begins several days after Arthur’s coronation: the slow, tentative learning of each other’s skin.

very sweet and sensual. Nice little moment in time fic.

Reminder: List of Merlin Holidays Recs. If you are reccing for the fest, send me a link.

Disclaimer on Merlin Holidays recs: I’m a mod, which means while the author is anon to you, they are not to me. If that’s a concern for you, feel free to scroll on past. A list of other reccers provided below. Also my reading order is not the same as the posting order. So while i plan to read every fic, I haven’t necessarily read all the fics posted so far even though I have read many that haven't been posted.

[ART]
Sketch Merlin X Arthur kisses by ~woshibbdou

Merlin 14 by *MisterKay

The Light of Dawn by amythystluna Merlin/Arthur [R]

Dance Down to Nothing by arithilim Merlin/Arthur [PG]


[FIC]
The Blessing by corilannam Merlin/unicorn, implied Merlin/Arthur [NC-17] (4k)
Summary: Set immediately after episode 1.11. The unicorn has come back to life, but it still wants something from Merlin.

This was written for Kinkspiration Round 1, so warning: bestiality (human/unicorn sexual activity). To which I say: \o/ BRING IT ON. And this delivers. Very naughty and wrong and so delicious.

Stranded by fluffssnowflake Arthur/Merlin [R] (5.6k)
Summary: When Merlin and Arthur find themselves in a tight spot, they get help from an unexpected source.

Well... i pretty much love everything about this fic and would have loved to read a 100k of it, but I think the author did an excellent job of making it work perfectly in 5k (I just need to keep re-reading it, is all). The premise is that an older Arthur from the future comes back to help out when he's needed, and not only does he eradicate the evil beasties, but he gives younger!Merlin hope and a glimpse of the future that is more precious that anything Excalibur can do.

The Very Important Quest by angstslashhope Arthur/Merlin [NC-17] (25k)
Summary: On a Very Important Quest, Arthur and Merlin share clothes, beds, bathwater and secrets.

First: there is a warning for gore here – which is due to animals eating other animals. That bit is easily skimable. I really loved the banter in this fic, the dynamic between Merlin and Arthur, the way they look after each other. Lovely quest fic.

Until Morning Light by myashke Arthur/Merlin [NC-17] (9k)
Summary: The citadel is coldest during Midwinter vigil, but warmth comes in many forms on that magical night.

This is a gentle, warm fic that made me smile the whole way through. I adore the atmosphere of the Midwinter vigil and ritual of it all, as well as the quiet friendship between both Merlin and Arthur.

On Pins and Needles (In the Company of Wolves) by coffeemugged Uther/Merlin [NC-17] (17k)
Summary: Sometimes, the fairy tale heroine isn't just a cutout victim waiting for her saviour, but the agent of her own fate. Merlin thinks so, anyway, as he tries his best to woo a beast of his own - his English Lit teacher - Mr Pendragon.

This fic comes with warnings for: D/s, student-teacher relationship, age disparity (Merlin is 16), BDSM.... which basically reads like all my favourite kinks. What I liked most about this fic was Merlin’s self-awareness. He knows he’s a sub, and knows he responds to Uther’s Dom characteristics and he loves to push the Dom in Uther to the forefront, even if he’s a bit clumsy at it. IDEK... but that just hits all my buttons.

Same River Twice by kianspo Arthur/Merlin [PG-13] (22k)
Summary: Modern royal AU. When Arthur, the Prince of Wales, was seventeen, he had made a mistake that is still haunting him. Eight years later, can he finally make it right?

This fic? HEARTS IN MY EYES the whole time. A fantastic, quick read that immediately became one of my favourite Royal AUs. A sweet, romantic, fun fic to read on a winter’s afternoon.

Reminder: List of Merlin Holidays Recs. If you are reccing for the fest, send me a link.

If I post a rec this late, does anyone read it? I hope so, because you should totally not miss this. :D

The Cup and the Dagger by piscaria Arthur/Merlin [NC-17] (14k)
Summary: When Merlin dies defending him, Arthur sets out on a quest to get him back.

This is a wonderful post-3.13 quest fic! Merlin is close to death and Arthur must find someone capable of using the cup of life in order to bring him back. It’s a great journey for Arthur who plays with fate and destiny, and learns much about himself and his manservant in the process. A wonderful adventure, great tragedy and romance. I think I’ll always remember this as the first really plotty post-S3 fics I read and it was lovely.

A Moving Target by chicaintcheap [NC-17] (7k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Canonverse AU. The story of a prince and his assassin.

This is a lovely re-writing of canon, with Merlin having been trained by other magic users to become an assassin and his assignment is to kill Prince Arthur to avenge the purge. Nothing goes as planned, of course, because Merlin is still Merlin and has a heart of gold and sees more in Arthur than just a prat. Neat premise, I liked it a lot.

The New Tutor by shippouzrus [NC-17] (41k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Arthur is a single father to Mordred, who happens to be a smart-ass. When Mordred needs a new tutor, Arthur finds himself suddenly attracted to the new tutor, Merlin.

Magical Modern AU. Not a lot of really long reads coming out lately, and I really like the originality of Mordred being Arthur's son (as we see in some legends) as is the role of magic here, in this modern setting. Enjoyable read if you are looking to curl up with something over the holidays.

Of Cabbages and Kings by riventhorn [NC-17] (17k) Arthur/Merlin
Summary: In which Merlin makes the mistake of tempting fate and finds himself in a fairytale world surrounded by monsters, witches, and one very annoying Pendragon.

A charming adventure story, a magical modern AU/reincarnation/trip down the rabbit hole … very unique and a whole lot of fun with great OCs and lots of action.

Also! camelotsolstice has begun posting! I haven't started reading yet, but I've got the first few printed to enjoy in the next couple days. :)

Picture Maker by tourdefierce [NC-17] (25k)
Summary: Hipster: a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. Hipster: a group of people Arthur Pendragon despises.

This is one of the most fascinating fics I’ve read in a long time. It’s also incredibly filthy. It made me blush and ... yeah, that takes a lot these days. Read the warnings – nothing too hard-core, but it’s certainly dirty. But this Merlin... yeah, he’s a bit of brilliant and I totally understand how Arthur's completely in awe of him (which is not something I often see in non-magical modern AU’s, tbh) but I’m with Arthur, staring slack-jawed at this outrageous, talented, dead-sexy Merlin who lives a life so far from anything I have ever, will ever experience that I felt a bit like Alice following a white rabbit. Unique fic, incredibly hot and epically romantic.

Questing by emeraldsword Gwaine/Merlin, one-sided Merlin/Arthur [NC-17] (3k)
Summary: set during 3x8, The Eye of the Phoenix, contains some spoilers for that. It clearly makes sense for Merlin to go and get Gwaine to help him save Arthur. There are lots of valid reasons for him to do that, it's not just that Gwaine's very attractive… Merlin's needs aren't met very often, but then, neither are Gwaine's.

Kink warning: Watersports. I love the way this author portrays the vulnerability of both Merlin and Gwaine and the acceptance they show each other. It’s one more thing that binds them together, and builds their trust. Very hot with honest emotions nestled in there nicely!

ETA: So What Have You Eaten Today? by lolafeist Gwaine/Merlin [NC-17] (770)
Warnings: (or summary, really) Just some gratuitous porn, nothing to see here. Come play, a joke about watersports. Honestly, it's a joke. But yes, come play.

come play!!! really delicious (heh) come play! a fun moment of Gwaine and Merlin in bed together and Merlin's curious about what come tastes like. UNF!