Welcome to The Tavern, a BBC Merlin prompt challenge and fanworks blog. Every 3 months we share a new prompt challenge for you to fill, as well as host quarterly "quests" or mini-fests based on specific themes.
You're welcome to join us on Discord (note: 18+ only)!
Creator: BeBraveDearHeart Rating: E Length and/or Medium: Fic, 3127 Words Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: “All’s fair in love and war.“
“And which is this?”
“That’s for you to decide.”
“Well then, I know what I pick,” he hummed, stepping closer to Arthur. “And who can blame me?” Merlin reached to touch him at last, hands going to Arthur’s soft hips.
“Mm. I don’t know. I’m not the young, virile knight I was when we met.”
Welcome, Tavern-goers, to our fifth quest: Thicc Arthur Fest!
For this quest, we invite you to create a fanwork featuring our favourite thicc king, Arthur Pendragon!
We are here for several thicc weeks, so give us your entries on any Thicc Thursday from 20 March - 1 May 2025!
Here are the rules of the quest:
All works should focus on a thicc Arthur
Any pairings and types of fanwork are welcome. The minimum requirements are:
Fanfic: at least 500 words.
Fanart: at least 1 completed work.
Podfic: at least 5-10 minutes long (and please get the fic creator’s permission!).
Fanvids: at least 2-3 minutes long.
For other fanwork formats, please contact us so we can decide on a suitable minimum amount.
Please note: No AI generated or assisted works are allowed for this fest
The fest is self-posting and runs on Thursdays from 20 March - 1 May 2025. Anything posted beyond that timeframe will not be included in the masterlist/fest round-up post.
How do I participate?
Post your fanwork wherever you like. If you would like, you are welcome to post your creation to our AO3 Collection specifically for this fest (tavernfest_quest5).
Creator: reges_criniti Rating: Explicit Length and/or Medium: 5,180 words Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Warning(s): mentions of food, vague body insecurity Summary:
Has the castle changed so very much while I’ve been gone?” Merlin asks, addressing the men on duty. “I was led to believe these were the king’s chambers and yet I seem to find them occupied by a bear instead of a man.”
“Out,” Arthur rumbles, steely command in the low pitch of his voice.
“Don’t worry,” Merlin calls to the retreating guards. “I’ll handle this creature in here. If you happen to see the king, please inform him I’ve returned!”
. .
Or: Merlin leaves Camelot for a year, Arthur’s thicc, and their reunion is full of poorly timed history lessons
Welcome, Tavern-goers, to our fifth quest: Thicc Arthur Fest!
For this quest, we invite you to create a fanwork featuring our favourite thicc king, Arthur Pendragon!
We are here for several thicc weeks, so give us your entries on any Thicc Thursday from 20 March - 1 May 2025!
Here are the rules of the quest:
All works should focus on a thicc Arthur
Any pairings and types of fanwork are welcome. The minimum requirements are:
Fanfic: at least 500 words.
Fanart: at least 1 completed work.
Podfic: at least 5-10 minutes long (and please get the fic creator’s permission!).
Fanvids: at least 2-3 minutes long.
For other fanwork formats, please contact us so we can decide on a suitable minimum amount.
Please note: No AI generated or assisted works are allowed for this fest
The fest is self-posting and runs on Thursdays from 20 March - 1 May 2025. Anything posted beyond that timeframe will not be included in the masterlist/fest round-up post.
How do I participate?
Post your fanwork wherever you like. If you would like, you are welcome to post your creation to our AO3 Collection specifically for this fest (tavernfest_quest5).
Round #14 is now officially CLOSED and we will announce a new round in the future; however, if you find yourself inspired to create something for this or any of our previous rounds, we will be accepting submissions indefinitely!
For more info on how to take part, check out our FAQ or send us an ask 🙂 In the meantime, you can find a list of Round #14 submissions below!
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Title: What They Don’t Know Doesn’t Hurt Them…or Hurts a Lot Creator: TrebleMaker07 Rating: T Length and/or Medium: 4,457 Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Warning(s): None Summary: It’s Yule, and that means festivities are in the air. But is a pre-Yule celebration really necessary? Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52651294
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If you have a moment, please remember to stop by and leave the creators some love! ❤︎
Very belated, but a huge thank you to those who have contributed to the Merlin Horror Month last year! In case you missed them, you can find a link to the fantastic fanworks below ❤️
Creator: miyriu Rating: Gen Length and/or Medium: 2,959 Pairing(s): None Warning(s): Lots of emotional hurt Summary: The figure hums. It sounds like the rustling of leaves, like the soft swishing of waves when they caress shores, like the gentle hum of the magic in all living things. These sounds all sing in unison, neutral and loving.
Creator: tansyuduri Rating: Teen Length: Around 25k when it is done being posted. Multi-Chapter Fanfic (Two chapters a week) For Merlin Horror Month. Pairing: Merlin/Arthur Warnings: Lots of nearly dying. Summary: Trying to atone for the sins of his past, Arthur Pendragon instead stumbles upon a being who casts upon him a terrible curse. Nine times circumstances will align to kill the one he loves best: Merlin. Desperate and reeling from guilt, Arthur soon tries to make the one harmed by the curse himself instead. Merlin, however, has other ideas. Trapped in an increasingly deadly game, can Merlin and Arthur survive? Link:Tumblr And A03
Welcome, Tavern-goers, to our fourth quest: Merlin Horror Month!
With spooky season coming up, how about making a little something to give us all a scare with our Merlin Horror Month?
Is someone being haunted? Are there monsters and ghouls in Camelot? Is there a serial killer on the loose? It’s time to be brave and show us some fanwork entries that will strike fear into the hearts of other fans!
So, what is Merlin Horror Month?
For this quest, we invite you to join us and post a spooky, scary or in some way horrific Merlin fanwork. Maybe there’s something strange in the neighbourhood. Or has a dead body been found? Perhaps the dead have come back to life (again)… It’s up to you!
We are here for the whole of the spooky month, so give us your entries at any point from 1-31 October!
Here are the rules of the quest:
All works should have a spooky/scary theme
Any pairings and types of fanwork are welcome. The minimum requirements are:
Fanfic: at least 500 words.
Fanart: at least 1 completed work.
Podfic: at least 5-10 minutes long (and please get the fic creator’s permission!).
Fanvids: at least 2-3 minutes long.
For other fanwork formats, please contact us so we can decide on a suitable minimum amount.
Please note: No AI generated or assisted works are allowed for this fest
The fest is self-posting and runs from 1 October to 31 October. No fanworks for the fest will be accepted before or after those dates.
How do I participate?
Post your fanwork wherever you like. If you would like to post your creation to our AO3 Collection specifically for this fest (tavernfest_quest4).
