Im newish to Merlin fandom and working my way through fics but just wanted to say that yours are pretty much the best Ive read!
I adored this fic - even though I ended up getting only 5 hours sleep because of it - and having seen the movie, I definitely think you improved on it and gave it a heart it didnt really have. I loved the way you got so far inside Arthurs head and the way you painted the other characters through his POV (I love tight third done well!). Morgana, Lancelot and Uther were wonderful as were the less pivotal ones all beautifully drawn.
I think my ONLY caveat at all was Merlin in this though I think you did a fabulous job of creating and sticking to a specific personality for him which was consistent throughout! To explain my own feelings bout him: I never felt this Merlin loved this Arthur with a fraction of the devotion that Arthur felt for him, which made me very glad Arthur kept his dignity after Merlin essentially dumped him. It began for me when Merlin planned to just run away when he realised Arthur was prepared to marry him because Arthur loved him THAT much, and I thought the 'prince winked at me' thing was brutal when he knew of Arthurs adoration. It actually showed how self centred this Merlin was that he didnt even realise what he'd done- that scene was brilliantly realised BTW!
I admit I actually felt disappointed when Arthur took him back pretty much instantly once he realised Lance wasn't part of the equation. I know apocalypse would concentrate Arthurs mind to grab hold while he could :p but my daft need to feel some balance had me howling 'Nooo! Make him at least TRY to make an effort for you too!'
I think the crux for me was picturing that wonderful moment you painted when Arthur had to choose the person he would save - only in reverse. I truly couldnt see him writing down Arthur's name. I could see him grandstanding about taking everyone and then refusing the chance to go, because I kind of thought that his feelings for Arthur always came a very poor second indeed to his Messiah complex. Arthur would have torn down the world to be with him; Merlin agreed to be with Arthur when it kinda fitted with his new 'lifestyle' ( for want of a better description :p). Merlin wasnt going to sacrifice anything he really wanted for Arthur; he didnt even want to try; he belittled Arthur and who he was - his royal identity - repeatedly and for all his martyr thing, when it came down to it I felt he would always choose his own wants (the Messiah thing) over Arthur, which is actually very realistic for this type of personality. In fact right to the end he just kept on throwing insane challenges at Arthur, which poor old Arthur met to try not to disappoint him, even though Merlins insistence they save everyone almost killed Arthur and did kill his two friends, which Merlin actually showed no guilt about at all. If Arthur ever slipped in his nobility and didnt come up to Merlin's expectations, what then? So kind of - in a nutshell - I'd really hate to be in love with a person like this Merlin; being in love with a person like this Arthur on the other hand would be fabulous!
APART from that though (*cough*...can you tell this Merlin kinda peed me off? :p and it was a purely personal reaction to this type of personality only) I thought the fic was utterly sublime!!! You are INSANELY talented and Im praying you write more Merlin fic by the bucketload! :-D
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2011-04-08 12:12 pm (UTC)I adored this fic - even though I ended up getting only 5 hours sleep because of it - and having seen the movie, I definitely think you improved on it and gave it a heart it didnt really have. I loved the way you got so far inside Arthurs head and the way you painted the other characters through his POV (I love tight third done well!). Morgana, Lancelot and Uther were wonderful as were the less pivotal ones all beautifully drawn.
I think my ONLY caveat at all was Merlin in this though I think you did a fabulous job of creating and sticking to a specific personality for him which was consistent throughout! To explain my own feelings bout him: I never felt this Merlin loved this Arthur with a fraction of the devotion that Arthur felt for him, which made me very glad Arthur kept his dignity after Merlin essentially dumped him. It began for me when Merlin planned to just run away when he realised Arthur was prepared to marry him because Arthur loved him THAT much, and I thought the 'prince winked at me' thing was brutal when he knew of Arthurs adoration. It actually showed how self centred this Merlin was that he didnt even realise what he'd done- that scene was brilliantly realised BTW!
I admit I actually felt disappointed when Arthur took him back pretty much instantly once he realised Lance wasn't part of the equation. I know apocalypse would concentrate Arthurs mind to grab hold while he could :p but my daft need to feel some balance had me howling 'Nooo! Make him at least TRY to make an effort for you too!'
I think the crux for me was picturing that wonderful moment you painted when Arthur had to choose the person he would save - only in reverse. I truly couldnt see him writing down Arthur's name. I could see him grandstanding about taking everyone and then refusing the chance to go, because I kind of thought that his feelings for Arthur always came a very poor second indeed to his Messiah complex. Arthur would have torn down the world to be with him; Merlin agreed to be with Arthur when it kinda fitted with his new 'lifestyle' ( for want of a better description :p). Merlin wasnt going to sacrifice anything he really wanted for Arthur; he didnt even want to try; he belittled Arthur and who he was - his royal identity - repeatedly and for all his martyr thing, when it came down to it I felt he would always choose his own wants (the Messiah thing) over Arthur, which is actually very realistic for this type of personality. In fact right to the end he just kept on throwing insane challenges at Arthur, which poor old Arthur met to try not to disappoint him, even though Merlins insistence they save everyone almost killed Arthur and did kill his two friends, which Merlin actually showed no guilt about at all. If Arthur ever slipped in his nobility and didnt come up to Merlin's expectations, what then? So kind of - in a nutshell - I'd really hate to be in love with a person like this Merlin; being in love with a person like this Arthur on the other hand would be fabulous!
APART from that though (*cough*...can you tell this Merlin kinda peed me off? :p and it was a purely personal reaction to this type of personality only) I thought the fic was utterly sublime!!! You are INSANELY talented and Im praying you write more Merlin fic by the bucketload! :-D