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

[derryderrydown]

I am so looking forward to putting this on my ebook reader and WALLOWING EPICALLY in it.

[paradox18.livejournal.com]

This was just amazing. I loved the premise, and the very epicness of this fic and it was merlin/gwaine, i think this is the longest fic i have read with that pairing and it delivered so well. I loved the neat solution of arthur/gwen/lancelot pairing.

[hope]

:D Enjoy the wallowing! I'm kind of planning on re-reading it myself on the flight over, haaah. <3 EBOOKS <3

[hope]

Thanks! I certainly wish there were more merlin/gwaine epics out there, though it was a lot of fun writing this. Glad you enjoyed it too :)

[lymnilia]

I was hooked by your fic for the last 24 hour. It was epic and sweet and I could feel Gwaine's sadness and doubts. I really like the way you managed to put depth in both plots - the romantic and the politic one. It's not that common in fanfiction and it makes yours even better.
Thank you for this wonderful read!

[hope]

Yay, thanks so much! I was concerned that it would be too political, but I'm glad it all worked. Cheers!

ART: Merlin's Letter

[(Anonymous)]

User waltzing_mice referenced to your post from ART: Merlin's Letter (http://merlingwainebar.livejournal.com/62052.html) saying: [...] Title: Merlin's Letter Summary: This is another illustration for the epistolary fanfiction [...]

[wistful-fever.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. This is so amazing I am left scrambling to put together feedback to suit it, but I think I'll fail. Just totally fail. I can only say that somehow I've been sitting locked in the same position for at least twenty minutes, and my back hurts, simply because I was so invested in reading this wonderful fic and not blinking. Great, great read. I'll come back to this again and again.

[vesperdivum.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I just sat here and read this without stop because I was so completely hooked. This was nothing short of incredible. Really gorgeous and plotty and just. God. Amazing. I loved how unbelievably perfectly fleshed out everything about this was. The take over and the court politics and intrigue and all of the characters and just. Holy shit. I am left completely speechless over how truly beautifully fantastic this was. Epic epic story.

I loved the letters and the slow build. I loved the courting and the sharing and mutual insecurities and the back drop of this important take over and tension between countries and courts and just. Everything. Absolutely every single thing. This was truly amazing. &hearts

[hope]

*beams* Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :D

[hope]

Thank you for the lovely feedback! I was worried that all the politics and worldbuilding would detract from the happy fanfiction place, so it's great to hear that it complemented the story well!

:D Seriously, thanks so much! Yay!

[luisadeza.livejournal.com]

So, I just finished the first part and omg, it's soo soo good so far and I'm completely torn between just reading it all in one go or making it last for as long as I can.
*flails a little*

[alba17.livejournal.com]

I'm downloading it from AO3. Can't wait to read it!

[luztremula.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I absolutely loved this. It was just so epic, romantic, and I loved the slow build of their relationship and how perfectly they consumated it. :) Thank you for such an awesome story.

[hope]

:D Glad you're enjoying it! Hope you continue to do so :) :)

[hope]

Enjoy!

[hope]

Thank you for reading!! I'm glad you enjoyed it :D

[iichristinll.livejournal.com]

Lovely! Just absolutely brilliant. ♥

[hope]

Thank you!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Loved this. It was so full of plot and intrigue. Loved the letters and how the reader could tell what was going on back in Camelot while Gwaine was away. Loved the tension between Arthur and Merlin for a while even though we don't see it! Great job.

[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.

[fuzzytomato02.livejournal.com]

oh, i loved this so much! the letters back and forth were precious and you built up the tension and the ust so nicely. loved Gwaine being so loyal and smitten with Merlin and Merlin's love in return. loved Merlin's blue paint. loved the arrangement between Lancelot/Arthur/Gwen. loved really everything about this. thank you.

[kattale.livejournal.com]

This was ... one of the most utterly beautiful love stories I have ever read. The characterization was amazing, I was so caught up in Gwaine's hopes and fears and self-doubt. Gods, long distance relationships are a bitch, even in Arthurian times, I guess! The story underlining the romance was compelling, I loved Gareth - you had me fooled, even though all the clues were so obvious in retrospect, you'd think I'd never read any Tamora Pierce, because I didn't know until you deliberately revealed the secret. Good on you for spinning out the clues at the right pace that nothing was given away, but it was all there to see. :)

The depth of love in this story was immense, and intense, and just leaves my heart overflowing. Truly a beautiful tapestry that you have woven. Thank you.

[luisadeza.livejournal.com]

Oh, I did! I so did! I've been longing for epic, satisfying fic for this pairing for some time and this exceeded all my expectations.

I love the world you built and the longing was so so sweet!
And it built up so perfectly to the end and I think the reader's about as glad that they're together again as Merlin and Gwaine are.

Thanks so much! ♥

Also, I'm now anxious to know if Gareth makes it to knighthood. *g*

[slightlytookish]

This is so beautiful and epic! I loved the letters Merlin and Gwaine shared, and their reunion, and Gwaine's friendship with Lancelot. And Gareth! His true identity was such a nice twist. I hope he becomes a knight soon!