LINKDING

<blockquote>When Arthur stumbles from the Lake of Avalon 1,500 years after his death, he finds a world unlike the one he knew. Faced with the loss of everyone he loved, and the threat of impending prophecy, Arthur must quickly learn what it means to be not just a king, but the Once and Future King. Merlin does all he can to guide him in this journey, even as he struggles to hide his love for his king, and to conquer his fear of losing him again.</blockquote> ➤ A perfectly acceptable fic. I didn't love it but it passed the time pleasantly enough.

<blockquote>Arthur is just a boy when he realises that he gets excited from bridling his horse. When he's older, he steals a bridle and uses it to pleasure himself. One day, Merlin finds the bridle and offers to help him. As their mutual play develops, Arthur becomes Pony, Merlin's horse, and Merlin becomes his groom. Together they learn about love, responsibility and the value of service.</blockquote> ➤ read it because of the following note by someone on pinboard: <blockquote>[Note: THIS IS THE BEST PONYPLAY STORY YOU WILL EVER READ. VERY POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE MERLIN STORY EVER. I AM NOT KIDDING.]</blockquote> ➤ and indeed it is good! Although I have vague memories of a rather excellent ponyplay story from sga? so I don't know if I can count this as the best ponyplay I've ever read

➤ When Arthur comes out as gay to his father, Uther is horrified and doesn't understand anything but HE WILL NOT REJECT HIS SON so he determines to LEARN. And somehow Merlin ends up being the guy guiding Uther into a better understanding of gayness. ➤ Main focus is Uther-Merlin friendship ➤ originally on kinkmeme here: http://kinkme-merlin.livejournal.com/32553.html?thread=34760489

➤ the one where Merlin is an antiques appraiser who moves in with Arthur in the house Arthur's renovating. And Uther's crazy and murderous and thinks he ought to be king.

<blockquote>In which it's 1964, Camelot is an advertising agency with a budget problem, Merlin is a copywriter who loves to twist, and Arthur is a junior partner who loves to shout. More or less.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Arthur is a BNF and Merlin is his prized beta</blockquote> ➤ Aka fandom distilled in fic form.

<blockquote>immortal!Merlin meets Rory during The Big Bang and they bond over waiting</blockquote> ➤ and it is done just right. Lone Centurion fic.

➤ Merlin and Arthur are high-powered divorce attorneys who have this heated rivalry thing going on. ➤ And then there's the accidental Vegas marriage and pretending to be really in love with each other

➤ in which Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic through a spell-book Merlin's been writing notes in. And then there proceeds to be a lot of writing-notes-in-the-book

<blockquote>In which Merlin saves Arthur's life. Uh. Mostly.</blockquote> ➤ Merlin's father being mysterious, involves the fairy-tale immortality thing with the egg and the hare etc, and accidental soul-bond causing problems.

➤ modern day full cast au with Nimueh and Edwin etal being evil and out for nastiness, and starts off with what looks like a lolarious premise and then becomes really good. v long also at https://archiveofourown.org/works/4350257

➤ the rowing au

➤ in which Arthur is taught better behaviour by Merlin ➤ (he..tends not to think of other people)

➤ theme park au; Merlin works at Camelot, Arthur is son of owner

➤ in which one of Arthur's roles as prince is of Royal Arbiter for Suitable Suitors’ Disputes and has to arbite suits for Merlin's hand

➤ Merlin modern au with Arthur a prince and Merlin a doctor. v good at showing the hounding by paparazzi etc that comes w public life. ➤ wedding sequel: http://a8c-sock.livejournal.com/83475.html?thread=1445651#t1445651

➤ mm, delicious Merlin au cheese

➤ Merlin groundhog-day fic

➤ brilliant Merlin University AU with the brilliance and so FUNNY and PERFECT and angsty in all the right ways and then it's just AWESOME the end. Very long also at https://archiveofourown.org/works/91885