Before the Sun Rises
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| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Before the Sun Rises |
| Author(s): | marguerite_26 |
| Date(s): | 16 April 2011 |
| Length: | ~9,000 words |
| Genre: | slash fanfiction |
| Fandom: | Merlin |
| External Links: | Before the Sun Rises (Glomp Fest) Before the Sun Rises (AO3) |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Before the Sun Rises is a Merlin/Arthur Canon AU by marguerite_26. It was written for Glomp Fest for pkai7.
Summary: After saving King Arthur's life, a seventeen year old Merlin is asked to move to Camelot and become his manservant.
In this story Merlin is seventeen and Arthur is in his mid-twenties. Uther died through the knife that was meant for Arthur (in episode 1 it's Merlin who saves Arthur) and Arthur has been king since then.
The author wrote a DVD commentary for the story.[1]
Comments
Apparently I haven't been spending nearly enough time thinking about how age disparity can be used to introduce whole new levels of emotional complexity and sexual tension into this pairing. Thank you for rectifying this situation, and in such spectacular fashion! I really enjoyed getting to know this slightly older, wiser, more burdened Arthur who is completely at ease in his own skin, but guarded with his heart.[2]
Switching things up and having Uther die....I just love this dynamic and poor Merlin being shamelessly flirted with.[3]
I love the way the court is subtly changing under Arthur and the hints of politics. [...] The reveal scene was so wonderfully gentle and lovely and I loved the way things played out in this AU, both different and so similar."[4]
Loved innocent-and-slightly-clueless Merlin, and how he made Arthur laugh and want. I liked Gwaine's interest and that Arthur was all noble about it, "You know, he's great, if you want him" and Merlin's careful answer had me swooning.[5]
I love the different slant it gives for Merlin to arrive later and as a seventeen year old. He's not helpless; he's in Camelot because he saved Arthur's life, and he's still a powerful sorcerer, but Arthur is already king, and Merlin's a bit more in awe of him. Then he walks in on Arthur alone in his bed, and awe is accompanied by teenage lust. Marguerite_26 keeps this taut with sexual tension and warm with affection. There's also the question of what Arthur will do about the laws against magic and the fact that Merlin has it. Arthur's protective, and Gwaine's nicely roguish. It's so well done that, though I especially love Merlin calling the shots, in this instance the change of pace with a younger Merlin was a treat and never made me feel like he couldn't stumble his way into holding his own.[6]
References
- ^ marguerite_26. Before the Sun Rises – DVD COMMENTARY, 10 April 2011. (Accessed 29 April 2011)
- ^ _grainne_. Comment, 16 April 2011. (Accessed 29 April 2011)
- ^ prplhez8. Comment, 16 April 2011. (Accessed 29 April 2011)
- ^ vesperdivum. Comment, 16 April 2011. (Accessed 29 April 2011)
- ^ eldee. Comment, 17 April 2011. (Accessed 29 April 2011)
- ^ "Rec by mothlights at epic_recs, July 8, 2013". Archived from the original on 2023-03-10.