Theme: Arthur Knows/Finds Out
One reliable standby in Merlin fics is whether or not Arthur knows about Merlin’s magic, Arthur Finds Out fics are a classic for a reason! These recs all contain Arthur knowing and/or finding out. Arranged in descending wordcount order.
Once Arthur catches Merlin doing magic once, it’s like he can’t not see it. This one’s really fun! I enjoy the variety in the times Arthur pretends not to notice. Each incident is a new experience and I enjoyed his internal struggle. Gaius is an entertaining addition. Overall, it made me smile.
Merlin’s days and evenings blur together into one long, overheated, mess. He is tired. The setup for our promised “Goodnight, I love you” is really good. That isn’t something that usually slips out easily and the back and forth between Merlin’s responsibilities and Arthur is lovely. Something about Merlin half-delirious with exhaustion patting Arthur’s head and calling him a good boy entertains me immensely. It’s just really sweet and fun!
Arthur liked to think of himself as a patient man. The bickering in this one is really fun. I especially enjoy the stage fright bit, it works great. Arthur gets to be observant which is always something I enjoy and he’s just a little fuzzy with painkillers which adds to the experience. There’s a lot to enjoy in this little one shot, it’s fun!