Fic: Along a Wandering Wind (Merlin (BBC), Gwaine/Merlin, NC-17)

[hope]

Title: Along a Wandering Wind
Author: hope / angstslashhope
Fandom: Merlin (BBC)
Wordcount: ~64,000
Rating: Mostly PG-13, eventual NC-17
Pairing: Merlin/Gwaine, peripheral Arthur/Gwen/Lancelot
Notes: This story could not have been completed without the support of my various alpha, beta and gamma readers: winterhill, vanessarama, true_statement, doro, msilverstar and the amazing neifile7, who helped me make the major changes that carved the story into a much better shape (and also came up with the summary. Seriously, thank you). Title is from Tennyson.

Summary: Just when Gwaine finds a reason to end his roaming, he must leave Camelot again, this time on royal orders. Whether and how he returns may depend on the secrets Merlin—and others—are keeping from him. (A romance of letters, intrigue and knightly apprenticeship, set post-S3.)

Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six

Note: due to length restrictions of LJ posts, all parts are posted on Dreamwidth. Please feel free to comment on the Livejournal masterpost if LJ is your preferred feedback space!

Or

Read the whole thing on the Archive of Our Own

ETA: Also check out the lovely fanart by waltzing_mice: Thinking of the Quill and Merlin's Letter.

Comments

[lewisian-gneiss.livejournal.com]

This has been on my mind for the past 24 hrs: while I slept, drove, ran, googled and wiki'd (starting with Dr James Barry). 24 hrs ago I'd have said how I loved the letters gradually revealing Merlin and Gwaine to each other. 12 hrs ago I was pondering identity. Now, I'd say how everyone (?nearly everyone) in this fic had secrets, “So much of survival relies on keeping secrets,” . By the end, identities are revealed, and while Gareth's past remains generally unknown, who he is is, and always has been, known, "I’m not her, I’m Gareth!". (apologies for missing the point, and gazillion apologies for inadvertent disrespect on gender identity issues). Thank you for provoking my thinking.

[hope]

Thanks for the lovely feedback. It makes me so happy to hear that the story provoked that kind of thinking. Weaving in those threads of themes and identities and un/shown elements is my favourite part of writing, so it's extremely glee-making to hear that you enjoyed that so much!

And I totally fell in love with my OCs too, and worried they'd be too off topic for a piece of fanfiction, so your interest in Gareth in particular is delightful. Thank you!!