A collection of short stories about the characters of 'Merlin'. Includes friendship, drama, comedy and more! Chapters 50 - 53: Too Much to Bear - Merlin is overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the weight of his responsibilities and the secrets he is forced to keep. Gwaine and Arthur are worried about their friend and try their best to help.

That, Michelle thought, was a real hero. Somebody who risked their own life to save others, no matter who they were, and never sought any recompense or even recognition. If Mr Robertson wanted them to study heroism, he'd be better off looking right in front of him than looking to a fictional character created over 400 years ago. Michelle knows a secret about Peter Parker.

'He had seen Tony Stark confident, cocky and brash. He had seen him as a CEO, and a mechanic, and a superhero. He had fought beside him and, more recently, against him. He had seen him defeat aliens, build machines and babble in science-talk far beyond his own comprehension. But he had never seen Tony Stark cry.' When Peter is injured, Tony seeks comfort from a former friend.

After Gwaine's period of near-starvation during Morgana's brief rule of Camelot, he pushes himself too hard and takes longer to recover than anyone expects. Whump.

Adam has never been able to write about things that make him happy. Now he pleads with a comatose Mia not to make him write a song.

Mrs Hudson inadvertently opens Sherlock's eyes to the pain he caused John in allowing the doctor to believe he was dead. Sherlock wonders if his actions have cost him his best friend.

'They rushed out, they saw Dumbledore kneeling before Harry, and in one awful, heart-wrenching moment Hermione was sure he was dead.' Set during 'Order of the Phoenix', in the Ministry of Magic. Told from Hermione's perspective as Voldemort inhabits Harry's body.

'Only Luke could come back from a near-death experience and be running around again two days later – with a smile on his face, no less.' A short conversation between Han and Luke, set during Empire Strikes Back.

Adam reveals to Mia how much he's suffered since she broke up with him. Mia is stricken, and finds it difficult to reconcile the broken man before her with her former boyfriend.

My take on Cap's walking out of the Accords meeting after receiving THAT text message. What would have happened if Stark had been a little more obnoxious (as per usual) and tried to stop Steve leaving?

Thor decides to test the impact Midgardian weapons have on him. Cap walks in at the wrong time.

Lord Sidious finds Darth Vader on Mustafar. A short piece examining what Palpatine/Sidious may have felt at finding his valued apprentice dying.

A very short vignette told from Adam's point of view whilst he is sitting with an unconscious Mia in the hospital.

Whilst out riding Merlin, Arthur and the knights are attacked by a creature only Merlin can see. The warlock follows the creature and manages to defeat it, but is seriously wounded in the process. He collapses into blissful unconsciousness, unaware that Gwaine has seen the whole thing...