The collection put together by Ariadne

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Before we start I would like to mention that none of this writing is mine I don't own any of this-this is like advertising for fanfiction I won't be using their entire bit of writing just snippets I will include the author's name and the title of the story in case you want to keep reading said story

Shipping is ridiculous!

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Chapter 1

MERLIN part 1

Merlin and Morgana

Loves curse- angel-castiel-rules-the-world

"I promise." Merlin swore honesty radiating from his eyes. Eyes that trapped Morgana's own just as the memories had previously done when she looked at the flowers. It was for that reason, and that reason alone that she did not move away as Merlin's face came closer to hers, that was her excuse anyway. Though she was not sure how well it would hold with how she did not pull away when his lips sealed upon her own. In fact all she did when that happened was sway towards him, her mind having left her body to its own devices. As such she had no control over anything that happened. No control over how Merlin's kissed her, nor any control on how she returned it.

And oh, what a kiss it was. It may have been just a meeting of their two pairs of lips, but it was as if her magic itself was singing at the connection. It dazed her causing her to blink up at the man in front of her stupidity when he pulled away.

Merlin for his part had no clue what was going on. Why was he in Morgana's chambers holding her face? Oh good lord, he was holding the face of his enemy, tenderly. What was wrong with him? And had he just been… was he really just kissing her? No. There was no way he would kiss Morgana. Nope. This had to be some crazy dream because there was no way this was happening. He would not kiss Morgana if you paid him. No. but as he stared down at the woman who he was still holding the face of, (why hadn't he let go yet?) he saw in her eyes something of the woman he used to know. The kindhearted woman who had been his friend. The woman he had poisoned to save Camelot. Okay, no matter what he saw, he needed to get out of here. Now. Because something was clearly going on.

"Umm Morgana I…" Merlin tried to say, not sure what he could say in this situation. Well at least she wasn't trying to kill him. Maybe she was enchanted? It was the only reason he could think of that she was looking at him like she was. As if she cared for him. It was definitely not the snide look of loathing she usually threw his way. But what was he to do now? He had no idea what was going on or how he had gotten here. He needed to go and work this out. He needed to leave this room.

"Yes. You should go. We do not want anyone to find us together. But Merlin, I look forward to the next time." Morgana replied to his unintelligent attempt at a sentence while taking a step back so he was no longer touching her. She needed time to process what had just happened, and to make sure she never let down her guard like that again. She did not care for Merlin, he tried to kill her. He was her enemy, and nothing more.

"Right. Yes, umm, so do I." Merlin agreed before quickly turning and fleeing from the room. It wasn't like he could tell her he hated her was it? He needed to find out whatever spell she was under and rectify it. Because who knew what damage she could cause Camelot when under an enchantment? Great. If it wasn't bad enough that he had to stop all her evil plans with her sister, now he had to stop other peoples that seemed to involved her as well. Would he ever get any peace? With that thought Merlin carefully made his way to Gaius quarters. He was going to need his mentors help with this one, he was sure.

Gaius was still trying to find something he could use to help Merlin, when said man came running through the door. He couldn't hide his surprise at seeing him, nor the raise of his eyebrow which happened when he took note of the fact that Merlin was just leaning back against the door with a look of confusion on his face.

"Merlin, is everything all right?" He asked gently, not sure what had happened but hoping that no one else had found out about his enchanted love for Morgana. That would not go down well.

"I think Morgana may be enchanted." Merlin replied pushing himself away from the door as he made his way to the bench Gaius was working at, and sat down frowning down at the wood. Though when Gaius said nothing more he looked up, only for his attention to be caught by the book Gaius was reading, or more the page he was on. His eyebrows rose when he saw it was all about enchantments. Was it possible that Gaius already knew and was trying to work on a solution? But if that was the case, why didn't he remember? There was something more going on here. something he was missing.

"Oh? Why do you think that, Merlin? Did she not like your flowers?" Gaius guessed, not sure what else would make an enchanted Merlin think that Morgana was the one under a spell. Surely he expected her to love him, so the only reason he could think of was that she had shown no affection for the boy.

"What? Gaius, are you mad? Why would I give Morgana flowers?" Merlin asked disgust in his voice at this idea of a joke from his mentor. What was wrong with him? But even as he said the words he found a vague memory of searching for flowers through mud force its way into his mind. What was going on?

"Merlin, tell me, what are your feelings for Morgana?" Gaius asked going instantly alert at his words. It seemed the enchantment had broken, though how Gaius had no idea. But he would not look a gift horse in the mouth as they say. Of course he also wanted to make sure he was correct in thinking Merlin was back in his right mind.

"My feelings for… Morgana? She is betraying Camelot to Morgause, so I'd say, not exactly friendly." Merlin answered confusion written across his face at Gaius words. Was everyone in the castle crazy today? First Morgana and now Gaius?

"Ah." Gaius replied sitting himself heavily down opposite his ward. It seemed the enchantment was broken, but how? How had Merlin done it?

"Gaius, what is going on?" Merlin asked. He had had a sudden idea that maybe it wasn't everyone else that was off, but maybe it was him. After all he didn't actually remembered anything he had done that day. And that was never a good sign. What had happened now?

"It is not Morgana who is under an enchantment Merlin, it is you. Or was you. How did you break it?" Gaius asked tilting his head as he studied the man opposite him, trying to work it out from his behaviour as much as his words.

"Break it? I wasn't enchanted Gaius." Merlin denied, though that niggling in the back of his mind was telling him that he did indeed have the symptoms of someone who was enchanted. But if he was, why had it broken when he had was with Morgana? What had she done to free him? Or more probably what he done to free himself? He really wished he knew.

"You told Arthur that you loved Morgana and therefore had to go pick her flowers, as well as telling him she was his sister." Gaius responded dryly enjoying watching Merlin's eyes widen at his words. He ward had caused him a lot of stress that morning, it was only fair he get some in return in his mind.

"I… no." Merlin stuttered in response. No he couldn't have told Arthur he loved Morgana. But again vague memories pushed their way into his mind. A conversation with the prat, and him saying… Oh good lord, he was never going to hear the end of that one. Arthur would never let him live down the fact he had told him he loved Morgana. Oh just kill him now. It would be favourable to the torture Arthur was going to put him through. With that thought he ran his hand through his hair, his sleeve falling back so that the bracelet on his wrist was on show. Gaius reached across the table and grabbed it.

"Hey Gaius. My arm is attached to my body you know." He screeched at the sudden pull of his wrist across the workbench causing him to almost fall forwards.

"I am aware. It would require much more force to remove it." Gaius replied in an absent tone while studying the bracelet on Merlin's wrist which he knew he had never seen before. Looking up at his boy he asked. "Where did you get this bracelet Merlin, and when?"

"Huh? Oh. I don't know… wait. Morgana was in my room last night, she had hold of my wrist and said something, then… nothing." Merlin replied frowning off into space as he tried to remember what had happened. He hadn't even thought about that before now, he probably should have, considering he was sure the words she had spoken were those of the old religion. That was never good. Just what had she done to him this time?

"I see." With that Gaius forced the tile up slightly so he could look at the underside. He couldn't see what spell it was that was engraved there, but he could see enough to know it was a spell. And considering the effects he and Arthur had both witnessed he would say that it was the enchantment that Merlin had been under. So if it was still on his person, how did he break it?

"She enchanted you with a strong love spell. It is on the underside of the tile." He explained releasing Merlin's wrist so the boy himself could try and see the enchantment written underneath it.

"Then we need to get it off. I don't want to be enchanted." Merlin replied alarmed at the idea. It was bad enough that he had been that morning and he could barely remember what happened. He didn't want to go back to being like that if this was just a temporary relief. No way. He needed it off him now.

"But it seems you no longer are. How did that happen?" Gaius asked frowning at Merlin as he tried to find out what he had done to save himself when it seemed this morning as if he most certainly didn't want to be saved. Or maybe Arthur and Gwen had found his loved? Maybe that had worked?

"Maybe my magic broke it?" Merlin suggested ruling out the idea of Arthur and Gwen finding Merlin's true love from Gaius' mind. If they had, the boy would know about it he was sure. After all he would have come out of the enchantment just after kissing her.

"It is possible. What were you doing when you came back to yourself?" He asked deciding they needed to get to the bottom of this. He needed to know if there was a chance that Merlin would revert to how he had been earlier that day. Because if he did he needed to make sure he had a good store of drugging potions in stock to stop him getting himself killed.

"Well I was with Morgana, we had just… no." Merlin shouted. There was no way. No. That wasn't possible. Because he remembered what they had discovered when Arthur had been enchanted, and he knew how love spells were broken. Just as he knew he had come to right after he and Morgana had kissed, but no. No way. There had to be another explanation, because that one wasn't possible. Merlin did not love Morgana.

"Merlin?" Gaius asked, his eyebrow raising at him as he stared at the younger man, making him tell him what he had been doing when the enchantment was broken. He was surprised that Merlin managed to hold out for a full ten breaths before he cracked and told him what he wanted to know.

"I… I think we kissed." Merlin mumbled knowing exactly what Gaius was going to try and make out of that. But it wasn't true, so…

"You kissed, and the enchantment was broken?" Gaius asked hoping for further clarification. Because if that was true, then it meant Merlin's feelings for Morgana were deeper than even he had ever believed. It seemed that she was his wards true love. Well that certainly did complicate things somewhat. What with the way they kept trying to kill each other. But then, there was a very fine line being love and hate in his experience.

"There is no way it's what you're thinking Gaius. Because I do not have feelings for Morgana." Merlin stated standing up and placing his hands on the worktop in the hopes of accenting his point. Because it wasn't true. He would know if he had those kind of feelings for Morgana. And he didn't. It was as simple as that.

"And yet it does seem that the kiss broke you from her control." Gaius replied amiably not at all concerned by Merlin's dramatics, he had gotten used to them over the years after all.

"Why would Morgana enchant me anyway?" Merlin asked crossing his arms as he changed the subject away from his supposed feelings, which he didn't have.

"Maybe to stop you getting in her way?" Gaius suggested, thinking that was the only real explanation he could think of. If Morgana had Merlin under her control, then she would be able to do as she wished within the castle with no one any wiser of it. It was a rather ingenious plan he had to confess, or it would have been, if it wasn't for the fact that Merlin was obviously harbouring a secret affection for the lady.

At that Merlin groaned before slumping back down onto the bench and looking beseechingly at his mentor. "So what do we do now?" He asked hoping he had the answer, because Merlin himself could come up with nothing.

"Well the best course of action would be to remove the bracelet and then you can pretend that is what broke the spell, and not the kiss." Gaius replied pragmatically. It seemed an obvious solution to him.

"It wasn't the kiss. I do not love Morgana." Merlin growled glaring at his mentor. He really wished he would give up on this idea that it was true loves kiss that had broken the enchantment, because it just wasn't true. But before Gaius could respond to that another voice joined them from the doorway.

Merlin and Arthur

Finding home- ThreeOfWands

"Mummy, what is that?" The curious child roamed closer. "Oh. It's a boy!"

Nimueh entered the room, confused. Why on earth would there be a boy hidden in the bowels of the castle? Unless. Uther wanted to get rid of the creature that killed his beautiful wife, but couldn't bring himself to slay his own son. How could he destroy the only remaining piece of his queen? Instead, Uther locked the boy away and told the entire kingdom of a tragic stillborn. This way, he wouldn't be reminded of his desperate desire for an heir that was the death of Ygraine. Uther had hid the evidence and banned magic to ease his own guilt.

"Arthur?" Nimueh asked gently.

The prince shifted and stared up with frightened eyes. His flaxen hair was long and matted. Arthur's skin was pale and drawn. His cheeks were hollow, eyes sunken and dull. When the boy saw the intruders, he flinched back. "Did he send you to kill me?" Arthur rasped in a hoarse voice.

"No, Arthur. We're here to see you. We won't hurt you, I promise." Nimueh said in a placating tone.

Arthur didn't stop trembling. "That's what he said." The boy whispered. "He said he wouldn't hurt me. But then he punishes me. He hits me and starves me. Tells me what a monster I am, how I wasn't worth my mother's life."

Nimueh blinked back tears. This was her Arthur, hers and Ygraine's. Not Uther's. How dare he treat him like this, like an animal. It broke her heart to see Arthur like this. He couldn't be any older than Merlin. He should be in the sun, running around like other boys. He should have friends and nurses doting on him. He should have a wonderful, enviable life, as crown prince. Nimueh supposed it was lucky he knew how to speak and function like a normal human. Arthur could have easily been left in a dark cell or simply killed.

"Mummy can we keep him?" Merlin peered up through his lashes.

"Merlin, Arthur's not a puppy. You can ask him."

Merlin turned to the boy. "Hello. I'm Merlin. Can we keep you? You won't have to see the mean man again."

Arthur, being only a child, a scared lonely child, said, "Okay."

So Nimueh had both her boys now and she was happier than ever. They brought Arthur back to their village and cleaned him up. Merlin showed him how wonderful magic was and how to have fun. Nimueh taught him rules and morals that Uther never bothered to mention. Slowly, Arthur was able to forget about the horrors of Camelot and sleep without waking up screaming from awful nightmares.

Merlin and Arthur grew up like brothers. They learned to read and fight together. When Arthur fell out of a tree, Merlin made him better. When the other village boys were mean to Merlin, Arthur protected him. They explored and played games together. Merlin always ended up playing the damsel in distress to Arthur's knight in shining armor.

Nimueh showed Merlin how to control his magic, often taking him on trips to the Isle of the Blessed. There they met other priestesses of the Old Religion, like Morgause, who terrified young Merlin. Nimueh instructed Arthur on ways to defend himself with muscle and steel. Nimueh also taught both of them about Arthur's past. They memorized his family tree and studied maps of Camelot. She instructed them on courtly manners and etiquette from her own years at Camelot. "You are destined to be king, Arthur." Nimueh would say. "It doesn't hurt to be prepared."

When Nimueh told Merlin of his true parentage, he threw a tantrum for three days. He climbed into the highest tree in the village and refused to come down. It wasn't until Arthur tried to climb up after him, nearly breaking his arm, that Merlin finally came down. He calmly accepted his identity and began training to be a dragonlord.

When they were thirteen, they fought a griffin together. Merlin lighting up the lance with ethereal blue fire and Arthur impaling the beast.

At fourteen, the boys faced a Sidhe. Then they killed a manticore and vanquished the questing beast.

The next year, Arthur kissed Merlin for the first time, which then turned into much more. Soon after, Merlin discovered, to his disappointment, that he couldn't pet the unicorn anymore. But taking Arthur as his lover made up for it.

Now they were eighteen. Arthur was hunting in the forest with the longbow Nimueh had made. He had long since banished Merlin from going hunting with him. The warlock may be powerful but he could not be quiet if his life depended on it.

That was how he stumbled upon the patrol from Camelot. Their magic wards must have gotten weak. Nobody from Camelot had ever found them in the past thirteen years. Ironically enough, they weren't even looking for him, the knights were only sent out with an announcement.

"You there! Boy! Take us to your village!" One of the men shouted. There were five in all, red clad and on horseback.

Arthur picked up the rabbits he had shot and obediently led them back to the village.

Nimueh peered out the window the instant she heard the clatter of horses. She nearly fainted when Arthur came into view surrounded by Camelot red.

"Merlin! Merlin, go out there and find out what's happened. They'll recognize me. They've got Arthur!"

Merlin tripped out of the house and hurried to the village square. He slipped in between Arthur and his friend Will. "What's going on?"

Arthur gave him a reassuring smile. "They're not here for me." He explained in a low voice. "They're just messengers."

"Attention!" The leader of the knights called out. "I am Sir Leon of Camelot. King Uther has issued a proclamation. In two fortnights' time there will be a tournament at Camelot. Any available bachelor aged between fourteen and forty living in the five kingdoms may attend. The winner will get the Lady Morgana's hand in marriage as well as the throne when Uther passes."

The villagers began murmuring amongst themselves.

"There will be several days of competition to test one's strength and soundness of character. At the end of the week, King Uther will decide on the victor. May the best man win."

Merlin and Mordred

The love that binds us- CarpeDiemForLife

Mordred let his eyes slide up from the table to a certain servant, who was standing predictably in the same spot as always. Merlin's attention was focused on a different man: to be specific, the King. There was a slight crease in Merlin's brow, telling Mordred that the warlock was thinking hard about something.

What's wrong? he asked telepathically. Merlin's eyes flashed round to his.

What do you mean?

You're staring pensively at Arthur, he explained. You do that quite a lot. You might want to think about stopping, or people might get the wrong idea.

Like wha- Merlin cut himself off as his thoughts caught up to Mordred's. Oh, please, no. Just don't.

The knight smothered a smirk. Are you telling me that you feel nothing for the King?

Arthur is the most… prattish, royal dollophead alive. So yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you. And why would you care anyways? asked Merlin teasingly.

Ah, now don't think you can distract me so easily. You haven't answered my question.

And what was that again? asked Merlin innocently.

Don't be cute about it. Was it just Mordred's imagination flaring up or did Merlin's ears really turn pink? What's on your mind?

It's nothing, said Merlin simply.

Merlin expected Mordred to get annoyed if anything. He was not, therefore, prepared for the quiet sadness that entered the young man's eyes. Merlin felt his gut twist at the sight. Why did it bother him so much? Was he just so unused to seeing anything resembling vulnerability in Mordred's countenance? Yes, that must be it. He was only used to picturing Mordred as a strong, closed-off individual. This sadness was entirely contrary to the image he had built up of the druid boy in his mind.

You can trust me, Emrys. With anything, thought Mordred, his presence in Merlin's mind quieter than usual. Staring into his friend's eyes, Merlin found himself wanting more than anything to unburden himself to the one person who could possibly understand. And there that person was. Waiting. Asking.

Arthur's bane. I know what it is, he finally revealed.

How?

The Diamair. I found it, and it told me.

Then what is it?

Merlin hesitated, but only for a fraction of a second. What harm could it do? The answer wasn't Mordred, after all.

It's himself. Arthur's bane is himself. But how can that be true? What does it mean? I was also told that Arthur's bane stalks him like a ghost in the night. How can he be stalking himself, I just don't… Merlin's thoughts drifted off in desperation.

Don't worry yourself sick over it, Mordred advised calmly. Mysteries always unravel in the end. But if you spend all day and night thinking only of this, you will wear yourself down to nothing, and you will be no good to Arthur that way.

But I'm supposed to protect Arthur! How can I protect him from himself? pleaded the manservant.

Merlin knew that his face was revealing far too much of his helplessness and despair, but he couldn't bring himself to hide his emotions. It was so freeing, finally telling someone about the Diamair's parting gift of knowledge. A part of Merlin's brain wished that he and Mordred were discussing the matter in private, so that he could be physically closer to him, for comfort's sake. But that was silly. Why should he want Mordred to comfort him with anything more than words?

I don't know, answered Mordred, returning Merlin's attention to the question he had asked. I wish I did, so that I could tell you… if only to wipe that frown from your face.

There was no way Mordred's mind was playing tricks this time. Merlin's cheeks had definitely reddened.

What? the druid man asked innocently. Can't I be concerned about a friend?

Of course! I didn't- I mean- Merlin's thoughts stuttered.

I'd tell you to stop being cute again, but I don't mind it so much this time, murmured Mordred, his voice level and face perfectly relaxed. Merlin flushed even brighter, and the younger man struggled to restrain a laugh and maintain his careless facade. Flirting with Merlin was all too rewarding.

Strange though… When he'd first started flirting with the warlock, he'd only done it with the intent to throw Merlin a bit off-kilter, but he'd since discovered that it was more fun than he'd expected. Every time Merlin colored or stuttered in embarrassment, Mordred felt the oddest sensation in his stomach. If he were forced to describe it, he would say it felt as though tiny fairies were performing little dances inside of him. It was a strange and new feeling, but not an unpleasant one.

Before Mordred could ponder more on what these feelings meant, one Sir Gwaine interrupted him by slinging an arm about his shoulders and shaking him a bit.

"By all the Gods, how long can this lovers' gaze continue?" cried the inebriated knight. "If you don't look away from Merlin and drink some wine with me this instant, I shall be forced to perform love ballads for the two of you!"

As Mordred and Merlin quickly looked apart, the other knights roared with laughter and wolf whistles echoed throughout the hall. Even Gwen couldn't quite hold back an amused grin, though she looked apologetic.

Gritting his teeth, Merlin stared so intensely into the wall that he wouldn't have been surprised had the stones exploded into dust. Mordred, for his part, was momentarily surprised, but conquered his embarrassment and presented a shy smile and a flimsy excuse about a staring contest. Luckily the other knights were all willing to accept this explanation (his opinion of their general stupidity only increased with this), and Gwaine assured him that he'd only been joking.

Merlin's heart calmed down a bit when he heard this, but he made absolutely sure not to speak another silent word to Mordred the whole night. Still, the irony of Mordred's warning about being caught staring at Arthur did not go unnoticed.

Merlin and Gwaine

Of autumn and unicorns- Hiza Montmorency
A soft crash broke him from his reverie and alerted him just in time to be swept up into a tackle-hug from behind by Gwaine. Shrieking, he let himself be silenced by a firm, but loving kiss. Melting against him, he lazily reached up to fist his hands in Gwaine's long hair- he loved the feel of it against his skin.

When they separated, Gwaine was grinning, arms still wrapped around Merlin's waist. Shaking his hair out of his face, he beamed at the younger man. "Surprise."

Merlin grinned at him, leaning in for another kiss. "I like surprises."

They ended up wandering aimlessly through the wood, Arthur probably having fallen asleep in the nice heat of the day, and if he hadn't, well, neither of them was very concerned. They wandered over streams, along paths, and around rocks, hands intertwined, simply enjoying each other's company and the time that they got to spend as Gwaine-and-Merlin, not Gwaine-the-knight-that-used-to-be-a-drunk and Merlin-who-is-the-Prince's-slightly-less-than-useful-servant-and-possibly-friend.

At least, up until a whistle caught their attention.

Merlin nearly groaned as Elyan, Lancelot, Leon, and a very amused Percival stepped out from a copse of trees. "Lovely," he muttered under his breath. Gwaine simply grinned, reaching up and gently ruffling his hair as the rest of the knights came forward to greet them.

"Out on a date, then?" Elyan teased gently, grinning broadly as they carefully picked their way over a series of boulders that lay along the path.

Gwaine smiled, lifting their linked hands. "Yes, as a matter of fact, and you're all interrupting."

Merlin, who was violently aware of the color flooding his cheeks, kicked him gently in the shins.

The group continued down the path, gently teasing the two with absent goodwill, Gwaine and Merlin still clinging to each other, hands swinging back and forth between them. They'd just rounded a corner when they saw it.

"Is that…a unicorn?"

"…Yes, it is."

"…It's staring at us."

The unicorn eyed them peacefully.

"Merlin…What do we do?"

"What? Why are you all looking at me?"

"Well, you're the one who's seen one before!"

The unicorn began calmly chewing on some grass.

"…I want to ride it."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"What? Just because I want to ride it-"

"You have to be pure of heart, don't you?"

"Yes…."

"So? I'm pure of heart! Not necessarily body, but heart at least!"

The unicorn looked back up, and snorted lightly, then returned to the grass.

"…."

"So, Merlin… Can I try to ride it?"

"…. 10 gold says the thing gores him."

"Thank you, Elyan, for that rousing round of enthusiasm."