In Spite of Everything, the Stars

Fanfiction
Title:	In Spite of Everything, the Stars
Author(s):	polomonkey
Date(s):	September 2015
Length:	82K words
Genre(s):	Modern AU
Fandom(s):	Merlin (TV series)
Relationship(s):	Merlin/Arthur
External Links:	AO3
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In Spite of Everything, the Stars is a Merlin/Arthur story by polomonkey. It was a collaboration with mushroomtale for the After Camlann Big Bang.

It is one of polomonkey's best known works even though, as recorded in the author notes, "This was my first time with this or any Merlin fest."

Synopsis

The story is one of many Merlin stories which transpose the canon persecution of magic users into a fight to abolish legislation against or oppression of magic users in the present day. These stories are sometimes political, sometimes militaristic, and sometimes dystopian.

Summary: London. 2015. The government is set to vote on ending the microchipping of magic users, and Arthur Pendragon has been tasked with kidnapping prominent Magical activist Merlin Emrys to influence the outcome.

Locked away in a house on the North York Moors, tensions rise and confrontation ensues as Arthur is forced to re-evaluate everything he’s been taught about magic, and Merlin finds himself in a struggle for his life. And the fact that they’re falling for each other doesn’t help…

Reactions and Reviews

As of January 2019 the work has over 2,700 kudos and over 900 bookmarks on AO3.

Why PapySanzo recommends this ACBB: One of the first ACBBs I read and it has remained in my heart forever. The way Polomonkey describes the violence Merlin suffered, the way she talks about Merlin and his always being worried and looking over his shoulder, and the way the one time he decides to trust he is kidnapped is perfect.

Arthur’s characterization is one of the things I like most in this story, how he always tries to keep his head down because Uther is right, how his spirit is somehow broken but not completely, how being close to Merlin helps him and how he finally sees how much of a villain his father is and tired to make the right thing.

Every now and then I keep thinking back to different scenes that touched me and I end up re-reading it. In addition, the drawings are WONDERFUL.

Why Clea2011 recommends this ACBB: Polo’s writing is always excellent and well worth reading. This is one of those can’t-put-it-down stories, I think I must be due a re-read. Mushroomtale’s art is beautiful.

Inspired Fanworks

Fanart: In Spite of Everything, the Stars by mushroomtale.

• Fanmix: In Spite of Everything, the Stars
• Podfic by momopods (momotastic)
• Fanart: Almost Home by mushroomtale