This is a masterpost for my entire Whumptober 2021 series, which you can find here on Ao3.
(The individual fics are linked in each title.)
(Don’t You Dare) Let Go – G, 1k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Faint shouts echoed through the trees. The bandits were onto them.
“Arthur, you have to let go.”
“What?!”
“You have to let go,” Merlin repeated. “Run. They won’t be so careless the second time if they catch you.”
Day 1 prompts; “You have to let go”, Bound
Canon Era
Noble(’s) Wrath – M, 7.1k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
“Yes, right, you deserve rest,” Galen interrupted him. His tone had gone from kind to patronising. “How would you like to rest more comfortably tonight, Merlin?”
“Sorry?”
Galen gave him a pitying look. “I mean that I would enjoy your company tonight, Merlin. Surely the prince hasn’t tired you out completely.”
It took a moment before Merlin understood what he meant. He tore his wrist out of the other man’s grip and took a step back, trying to keep the horrified expression off his face.
“I don’t serve Arthur in that way, nor would I someone else.”
Or:
A visiting noble propositions to Merlin and does not take Merlin’s rejection well. But Lord Galen’s displeasure pales compared to Arthur’s fury.
Day 2 and day 3 prompts; Choking, “Who did this to you”
Canon Era, magic reveal
No Stranger At All – T, 2.8k words, Merlin & Gwaine
Gwaine is working off a debt when Cenred’s men return with a captured Merlin – and he could hardly just watch and do nothing, right?
Day 4 prompts; “Do you trust me?”, Taken hostage
Canon Era, magic reveal
Lancelot’s Last Resort – G, 1.4k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Merlin is determined to sacrifice himself in Arthur’s stead, and Lancelot is forced to take drastic measures in an effort to save everyone.
Day 5 prompt; Betrayal
Canon Era, magic reveal
I Didn’t Know That I Was Starving ‘till I Tasted You – G, 8.1k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
“I would’ve thought you knew that I would never hurt you, Merlin, but I suppose I was wrong. When we return, you are relieved from your duties as my manservant for the time being.”
“Arthur, please, I—”
“Shut up, Merlin!” Arthur had shouted, the anger Merlin had expected finally bursting out of him. “I can hardly stand to look at you without losing my temper! Just— I need some space. To … think.”
—
In the wake of Merlin’s magic being revealed, both Arthur and Merlin fall into patterns that threaten to undo them.
Or: Arthur is touch-starved, Merlin is just starving.
Day 6 prompts; Hunger, Touch-Starved
Canon Era, post magic reveal
Just a Chill – G, 1.5k words, Gwaine/Lancelot
Lancelot catches the winter chill along with everyone else in Camelot – only he doesn’t recover. With Gaius at wit’s end, the last resort is Merlin’s magic.
Day 8 prompts; Exotic Illness, Definitely just a cold
Canon Era, post magic reveal
Stay With Me – M, 4.3k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
“Sorcerer! Sorcerer in the court!” screamed Uther, his face red with rage. “Seize him!”
“No! Father, he saved our lives!” exclaimed Arthur.
“A ploy, to deceive us, to make us trust him! All magic is corrupted, Arthur, when will you learn? I want him dead at once!”
Or:
The reveal of Merlin’s magic drives Uther into a rage with fatal consequences.
Day 9 prompts; Presumed dead, (blind) rage, tears
Canon Era, magic reveal, temporary character death
Waters Deep (As Your Secrets) – T, 4.3k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
“—prat, come on!”
Hard, rhythmic pressure on his chest.
“You cannot die on me here, you stupid, arrogant, moron of a prince!”
Merlin?
A soft, warm mouth blowing air into him.
Air. He needed air.
Or:
Arthur is aware of everything that happens around him while he’s under Sophia’s spell – and he learns more than he’d ever have dreamed.
Day 11 prompts; Drowning, Dehydration
Canon Era, magic reveal
Burn Like Her, Burn Like Me – M, 1.6k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
His magic raged inside him, fighting to break free. It was useless. Cold iron, tight and heavy around his strung-up wrists, shackled his magic as effectively as his arms. It hurt nearly as much as the whipping did.
Twelve.
A sob clawed its way out of his throat despite his best efforts.
“Finally,” drawled the man behind him. “I was beginning to worry you’d pass out before I got to hear your pretty voice.”
—
Arthur is forced to watch as Merlin burns.
Day 12 prompts; Torture, Made to watch, Begging
Canon Era, post magic reveal
A Mark Of Survival – G, 1.7k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Barely having survived Camlann, Merlin and Arthur return to a grieving, broken Camelot. As the kingdom heals, so does Arthur – but some scars won’t fade.
Day 16 prompts; Aftermath, Recovery, Scars
Canon Era (post-Canon), post magic reveal
My Breath In Your Lungs – M, 6.5k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
“Like your fish boy, do you? Well, in you go then.” He tore open the grid, hit Arthur again and pushed him inside the tank.
Arthur’s eyes widened with panic, and he surged up towards the surface — only to have the iron grid slammed in his face, trapping him underwater. He beat his fist against it, bubbles of precious air escaping his mouth in a wordless scream.
Or:
After saving a human from drowning, Merlin is captured and imprisoned in a tank. When help finally arrives, things might just get worse instead of better.
Day 20 prompts; Trapped Underwater, Solitary Confinement
Merman!Merlin AU
Blackout, Beaming, Gold – M, 18.7k words, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Art by Sunfall_of_Ennien
“Congratulations, Mr Pendragon; a fine purchase.”
And just like that all air was sucked from Merlin’s lungs. Purchase. He had been sold. Bought. And bought meant—
“If you would follow me, Mr Pendragon, there are some final procedures to complete in order to finalise your transaction; Mr Aredian will see to you momentarily. I hope you brought an iron seal of your family crest for the branding?”
—branded.
——
In a city of copper and steam, the life of Arthur Pendragon takes a turn when he finds himself inexplicably mesmerised by a slave in iron shackles on the market stage. His name; Merlin.
Over the five years since his capture, Merlin has only been sure of one thing; that nobody can afford him. But then, nobody is as rich as a Pendragon.
Prompts from days 7, 13, 23, 25, and 27; Helplessness, Numbness, Burns, Escape, Pursuit, Hiding, Auction, Collapse, Passing Out
Steampunk AU, Slave!Merlin
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