Fic: Five drabbles/Merlin BBC (15 pairings)

[keep_counting]

For 15pairings

Title: Smile
Author: keep_counting
Theme: theme set 6, #6 - apology
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Merlin/Elaine
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will
Rating: PG-13

 

Smile

There is nothing quite like galloping all your troubles away, the wind making her hair coil and whip against her face. She wonders, if she rides fast enough and long enough, will she be able to go on like this forever? When will her horse tire and collapse beneath her, when will the world stop, simply end like a thread being pulled, droplets falling over the edge?

If she rides fast enough, can she escape the feelings that are slowly ripping her apart, the torment of knowing that no one – that he – doesn’t want her.

The horse stops eventually, and Elaine gracelessly dismounts, falling onto the grass and just sitting there, wondering when her life became a messed tangle of magic and princes and a deep, searing pain in her chest.

A hand on her shoulder makes her shriek and jump into the air, heads colliding and groaned muffles exclaimed in pain.

“Oh! Sorry! Sorry, I’m sorry.” Elaine covers her mouth with her hands, face flushed in deep embarrassment and horror. Merlin mumbles something incoherent and rubs his forehead, but the smile he flashes at her is wide and genuine and she feels some of the awkwardness leave her.

Like always when he smiles like that.

 

oOo



Title: Melpomene
Author: keep_counting
Theme: theme set 6, #7 - 'I didn't expect that'
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: One-sided Morgana/Gwaine
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will
Rating: PG-15, violence, character death.

 

 

Melpomene

The battle is over and they have lost.

It’s hateful, this feeling, knowing that his fate is no longer in his own hands. Knowing that the witch with the cold eyes will surely doom him now, no matter than he can fight better than all of King Cenred’s soldiers.

All of Gwaine’s friends – newly-found but treasured deeply – all of them are dead.

Sitting here, on the damp and dirty floor of the dungeons, Gwaine thinks that it would have been better if he where death too.

There’s the rattling of keys and he raises his eyes, completely flabbergasted as he sees the silk-clad, dark figure of Morgana walk in.

“There’s not much time,” She whispers, her voice breathless. There are pink spots on her cheeks, she looks flushed and scared but also determined, and he thinks in that moment that she looks like an ominous mix of Arthur and Morgause, the dark hair a startling contrast to the pale skin. “You have to get out of here.”

“But… what?” His thoughts jangle into a mess and he has no idea what is going on, but the look in her eyes is frantic and honest and there’s something deep and unyielding that he can’t identify. “I don’t understand…”

“There’s no time. This isn’t a trick.” His sword clatters to the ground at his feet and she raises her hand, handing him the key. “Please. Just leave – now… I can’t.”

Tears, he realizes. Her eyes are shining with unshed tears, but he still doesn’t understand, doesn’t get why she would do this. He’s just watched her burn Merlin, turn his friend into a human flame, dust and ash all that was left of the warlock.

“Why?”

She looks shocked and, if possible, even paler. “I’m…” She’s shaking now, looking scared and he thinks that if she hadn’t murdered everyone he knew and loved, he would find her beautiful.

And then he gets it, with a sudden clarity that shocks himself more than anyone else. Slowly rising, he takes the key, carefully making sure not to let their skin come in contact. Without that much light, he thinks he can almost see the blood coating her hands.

“Just go,” She whispers, her voice desperate and Gwaine leaves before all of this truly catches up with him.

 

oOo

 

 Title: A Time of Dragons
Author: keep_counting
Theme: theme set 6, #8 - thoughtful
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Gaius/Alice
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will
Rating: PG-13

 

 

A Time of Dragons

The feeling of having found his father pretty much over-rid the odd knowing that his mother had been in love once, so when Merlin found out about Gaius and Alice, it was completely like being blown away. And he was talking, absolutely oh-god-I-have-magic-powers-and-fly-on-dragons crazy. Gaius was old, he was supposed to stay home and read books and force Merlin to clean his rooms and make the tea and all that. He wasn’t supposed to go lolly-gagging in the middle of the night, kissing suspicious types of females. Well, to be honest, maybe it just irked him because it seemed that Gaius had more of a romantic life than he himself did.

Thoughts like that went with dark hair and soft eyes and the shy smile Freya had displayed for him and Merlin thought that, if nothing else, he could sympathize with the well-hidden longing in his teacher’s eyes.

 

oOo

Title: Raging
Author: keep_counting
Theme: theme set 6, #9 - snow
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Morgause/Cenred
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will
Rating: PG-13

 

 

Raging

It was snowing the day she met him, the white softness crunching under her boots and melting between her fingers. She used to play with in, when she was younger and it would fall in heavy drapes over her home. The crystals would sit in her hair, almost identical in colour and she’d be drenched simply from rolling around in it.

Morgause had always loved the snow: the fragile water it turned into, the raging blaze of a storm that could freeze even the most courageous. What was even the bravest knight against the fiery blizzard, the sharp cold of frozen water?

Cenred’s hands are cold – as ice – as she holds them in hers and she has just time enough to wonder if his lips are just so, before he closes them over hers and Morgause has her answer.

 

oOo

Title: Never-ending
Author: keep_counting
Theme: theme set 6, #10 - play to win
Fandom: Merlin BBC
Pairing: Lancelot/Gwen
Disclaimer: Don't own, never will
Rating: PG-13

 

 

Never-ending

It’s a never-ending battle for him, a long road that goes on and on and on and no matter how far he goes, no matter how close he seems to his goal, he will always fall those few steps behind, always stand in the shadow.

Some days, it’s almost enough to make him give up entirely. To become a farmer instead of a knight, to hold chickens instead of swords. What does it matter anyway, when clearly the universe is held up by certain rules and he is not even privy to a few of them?

She holds him then and says things that sound like butterfly wings and sweet honey falling from her lips. He’s not always aware of the words, but the meaning, the intent is clear and he knows that, if nothing else, he can do this for her.

Most days, Lancelot rises to the occasion and then the road doesn’t seem so narrow. Most days, he’s still standing when most of the other have keeled over in their exhaustion and it is Gwen’s face that prompts him forwards, her smile and the brush of her lips against his.

It seems he isn’t completely out of the game yet.