It had been a month since the last body showed up, and Arthur was inclined to think that the killer had gotten scared and stopped.

thoughts: this was on ffn! it remains to this day one of my favorite pieces of merlin whump and fic in general. there’s a scene in it that absolutely haunts me from when i first read it. gripping and well-written. 

Uther discovers the ultimate weapon against magic and, mad from the loss of Morgana, turns against his own beliefs in order to restore order. Merlin begins to act strangely and Arthur has the heart to finally ask what is wrong but something is keeping the boy from confessing his own woe. As things unravel, Arthur must rethink all that he thought he knew about his father, magic, and the world he lives in.

thoughts: this is just plain fun. 

The Dorocha. They are the voices of the dead, my child. And, like the dead, they are numberless.

Or

A different take of the dorocha. Instead of them being faceless screams that attack you, they are actually figures of the dead. Merlin doesn't quite realize how much death affected him until him and the knights go to close the veil.

thoughts: more emotional whump! i absolutely adore this concept. it’s so intriguing and fitting, and it delivers.

It's time for another tournament in Camelot but when Arthur offers Merlin's services to a knight whose servant got an unfortunate injury, Merlin finds the man intolerable and demanding. Will he be able to make it through the tournament serving two masters? Hurt/comfort, gen

thoughts: i feel like this is a classic premise but it can’t go wrong. 

After Merlin experiences abuse at the hands of a visiting lord, Arthur decides his manservant needs to learn how to defend himself. But Merlin is unimpressed with Arthur's solution, and Arthur is forced to confront some unpleasant truths about what happens right under his nose. How can he protect a kingdom when he can't even protect those inside his castle? One-shot.

After Uther's death and a mishap on the training field, Merlin chooses to suffer in silence in an effort to allow Arthur to grieve unburdened. But everyone has their breaking point – even the newly crowned king of Camelot. Written for Febuwhump on Tumblr. Day 13: hiding injury

thoughts: Emachinescat is one of the authors i immediately think of when i think “Merlin.” you probably know them. here’s a fic that’s a little closer to home. 

Merlin doesn't duck the chair in the tavern brawl, but due to delayed response, he doesn't realize how severe his concussion is.

thoughts: love this fic. it completely feels so merlin, and the friendship in this is excellent stuff. 

Merlin saves the day - yet again - when he manages to get an injured Arthur and knights to safety. But Merlin's troubles are far from over when an investigation into what had happened to the king and knights leaves him in a bad way, and now it's Arthur and Gwaine's turn to be there for him.

thoughts: made it to the bottom of this list? good. this is, hands down, my favorite merlin whump fic. i read it years ago on ffn and continuously revisit it. it’s so visceral. the hurt hurts, the comfort comes in like warmth on a cold day. when you read this fic, you feel every part of it.