I love Gwaine/Merlin :) Actually I don't have an OTP in this fandom (in fact I dunno if I've ever had an OTP in any fandom) and I pretty much go for Merlin/anyone :D

I prefer canon most of the time, partly because for me some of the show's attraction is in the Camelot 'verse with its magic and dragons and ridiculous anachronisms, and partly because the canon itself just offers so many awesome ideas for AUs or missing scenes or fix-it fic or whatnot. I used to not read any modern AUs; now I do read some but I prefer them to still have some elements of canon (like magic or Once and Future King-ness). I love canon AUs though.

I will try and get something finished before you lose Merlinficlove!