winterknights | Entries tagged with fest: 2020

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It's time for our final masterlist and reveals for the 2020 WinterKnights fest!

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the fest by showing your love through comments and kudos! If you haven't made it through all the fantastic works yet, it's never too late! Feedback is always appreciated.

The AO3 Collection has been revealed, and you may now cross-post your entries anywhere you please with your name attached.

Thank you all for another wonderful WinterKnights!

( ART )

( ART + FIC )

( FIC )

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Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's WinterKnights fest! We had 22 fantastic entries, including 4 pieces of artwork, 1 fic/art combo, and 17 fics.

Please continue to enjoy these marvellous works and share your love with the creators! Reveals will be going up in a few days.

( ART )

( ART + FIC )

( FIC )

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Title: The Bookshop Around the Corner
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Loosely based on this prompt: Arthur is working in a bookshop and is absolutely done due to the stress of working Christmas time in retail. He‘d be so close to quitting if it wasn‘t for his one charming customer (Merlin) who seems to need another book for another present every other day and thus takes Arthur all over the shop for his opinion/Expertise on different genres
Word Count: 2475
Rating: Gen
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks to the mods for letting me send in this rather late submission and my beta for stepping up at the last minute to help me with this.
Summary: After a sudden rainstorm sends Merlin running for cover, he discovers a delightful bookshop and an even more delightful bookseller inside, who just might be the best Christmas gift of all.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28517439

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Title:Winter Ball
Pairing(s):Morgana/Gwen
Prompt: (vaguely used) #53 New Year's Eve formal dress masquerade ball. Gwen/Morgana, or any (author's choice). Bonus if there's some sort of fight over who wins a raffle prize.
Word Count/Art Medium: digital
Rating: M
Contains (Highlight to view): *Mild nudity - boobs*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thank you for the lovely fest<3
Summary: Not the kind of masquerade ball you'd expect, but the one we need this year.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27981507

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Title: blow cold the season
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Normally, it would be snowing by Yule, but this year there is no sign of it. Merlin loves the snow, so he magics some up for the holiday.
Word Count/Art Medium: 4105 words.
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): *Brief mentions of past canonical character death, Uther's A++ parenting.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thank you so much to the mods for being so patient, and for keeping the fest running for another holiday season. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you all a safe and happy New Year!
Summary It's Yuletide in Camelot, but things are far from merry. Homesick for the familiar traditions of Ealdor, Merlin can't help feeling lost amidst the hustle and bustle of castle life, and it doesn't help that Arthur has been in a terrible mood recently. Fortunately, as the longest night commences, Merlin comes up with a way to cheer them both up—and maybe give destiny a helping hand into the bargain.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28425090

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Title: Fizz the Season
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Prompt: #14: Merlin is buying some wine or champagne to bring to a New Year's party, and Arthur is another customer judging what he chooses to buy
Word Count/Art Medium: 3.8k
Rating: E
Contains (Highlight to view): n/a
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks so much to my beta!

Summary:
"You're not seriously thinking of buying that?"

Merlin whirls around to look at the man who spoke. Tall, fit, blond hair, blue eyes. Immaculately pressed suit, leather shoes, an expensive-looking gold watch on his wrist.

And a smirk on his face that marks him as an absolute prat.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27861714

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Title: A yule portrait
Pairing(s): Merlin/ArthurPendragon
Prompt: Arthur’s yule gift to Merlin is a portrait
Word Count/Art Medium: Digital Art
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): None
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thank you to katherynefromphilly for always looking over my stuff xD I wish you and everyone else a merry Christmas!
Summary This portrait didn't went as planned.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27919384

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Title: how long ( did you know )
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Knights are going missing all over Camelot, and no one knows how or why. When [insert knight of your choice] disappears shortly before Christmas, Merlin sets out to find him, a grumpy and Definitely Not Jealous Arthur tagging along at his side. Arthur is convinced that Merlin's interest in [Sir Whoever] is romantic and does his best to be supportive of his friend/manservant/love of his life while secretly eating his heart out; meanwhile, Merlin is equally certain Arthur's comments are intended as a way of letting him down gently and is quietly crushed by the rejection. Unbeknownst to either of them, the knights have been carried off by the Wild Hunt, and it will take all of Merlin's magic to get them back again. The question is, can he do so without sacrificing his relationship with Arthur into the bargain? Happy Merthur endgame, if you please :)
Word Count/Art Medium: 1676
Rating: (G to NC-17) G
Contains (Highlight to view): *Mentions of Lancelot/Gwen, Mentions of Kidnapped Knights.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thank you all for reading. I didn't stick completely with the prompt because... of reasons, lmao. But I hope the story is enjoyed, especially since it's my first time writing for the Merlin fandom, with the Merthur pairing, and I've only seen like, up to the first few episodes of season two aha.
Summary Knights have gone missing, Merlin knows how to find them and Arthur thinks Merlin is in love with Lancelot.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28223127

( how long ( did you know ) )

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Title: The Perfect Kiss
Pairing(s): Merlin/Morgana
Prompt: 80- A and B make a deal to find the perfect new year's kiss for next year but they can't seem to find the right person. ends with A and B kissing, the rest is up to you!
Word Count/Art Medium: 2030
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view):
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks to the mods for hosting this very fun fest!
Summary Merlin and Morgana make a deal to find someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve, but have trouble finding the right person. What will they do?

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27828013

( The Perfect Kiss )

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Title: Under False Pretenses
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Prompt: Pretend BF trope. One of them either pays a stranger or asks a friend to pretend to be their partner on a trip home for christmas for whatever brilliant reason suits the author – and THERE IS ONLY ONE BED
Word Count/Art Medium: 10363 words
Rating: G, i'd say? There's some kissing, and i think fuck is said like twice
Contains (Highlight to view): *Texting.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: beta'd by @Ceewelsh and @gelishan
Summary Merlin knows pretending to date the person he's in love with is probably unwise, but here's the thing: he didn't really think it through before he told Arthur he'd do it.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28004268

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Title: Secret Santa
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Character A gifts Character B with what they think is a very pretty ornament for Christmas, only for it to turn out to be a live dragon egg.
Word Count/Art Medium: Three pieces of traditional art, dividers and 2993 words
Rating: Teen
Contains (Highlight to view): *Art, Humour, Modern era, snow, eggs, dragons, fluff, secret santa, getting together, silly Christmas jumpers, jealousy, happy endings*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thank you for the mods for running this wonderful fest and to my fantastic Christmas beta elves who did all the quality control checks for Santa.
Summary: Merlin miraculously pulls out Arthur’s name in the secret santa, but what to get the man who has everything? Merlin thinks he has found the perfect gift.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27962042

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Title: Pining To Get Lucky
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Self: Arthur is a customer that stops by Merlin's café a lot.
Word Count/Art Medium: ~3000
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): *Modern!AU. Evil!Morgana+Uther. Arthur has family problems.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks a million to my beta: ilikestopwatches.
Summary The cute man who came into the café had everything Merlin wanted.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27821701

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Title: dance me very tenderly
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Canon setting, Yule festival in Camelot. Merlin and Arthur both attend the formal banquet of course, but Merlin drags Arthur with him (in disguise) to the celebration in the lower town where they dance together in the snow
Word Count/Art Medium: 1400
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): *alcohol*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks to anonymous for the prompt!
Summary It's the winter solstice, and Merlin and Arthur are at the celebration banquet. Merlin has other plans for the rest of the night. Arthur wants in, too.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27846510

( dance me very tenderly )

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Title: Maybe this Christmas
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Stuck at the Airport at Christmas
Word Count/Art Medium: 48.000 words
Rating: NC-17
Contains (Highlight to view): *Very graphic descriptions of yoga poses, embarrassing Christmas tropes and cute kittens.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes:
Thank you: To my wonderful beta aoigensou, who did such a great job in betaing my story - you were so thorough and your suggestions were brilliant! Thanks also to Serena, who cheered me on through the early conception of this story and who spent a late night talking to me about it. Last but not least, thank you to my wife, who as always, made my fic better with her constructive criticism - you are the voice of reason, darling, and I love you for it!

Notes on the story: Named after one of my favourite Christmas songs, this story is so self-indulgent, I almost feel embarrassed. Apart from the Christmas fluff factor it features very detailed (if not graphic) descriptions of Merlin doing Ashtanga/Vinyasa yoga. So here it is, my love of Merlin and yoga combined in one very schmoopy fic.

Summary It’s almost Christmas and all the flights at JFK airport in New York have been cancelled due to a storm. Stuck at the airport, Arthur, a young businessman on the verge of burnout, meets Merlin, a yoga teacher from Cardiff. Sparks fly and what starts out as a heated, head-over-heels Christmas romance has the potential to become more - much more.

If it weren’t for the baggage both of them bring with them…

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27896884/chapters/68311708

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Title:A Meowy Christmas
Pairing(s):Merlin/Gwaine
Prompt: character A finds a cat in the cold of winter and brings it home to make sure it survives. only problem? cats aren't allowed in A's apartment. cue character B to help A! bonus: meowry christmas cat puns
Word Count/Art Medium: 723
Rating: (G to NC-17) G
Contains (Highlight to view)No warning
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks to mother_of_lions for the beta
Summary That’s how everything had started...With a little kitten nestled in Merlin’s arms, wet and shivering. And with Merlin's big pleading eyes…

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27878625

( A Meowy Christmas )

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Title: Winter For Three
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: None
Word Count/Art Medium: Digital art, photomanipulation
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary It's their first winter with their little one and after a year of hope and battle, they couldn't be happier nor prouder.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27858874

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Title: softened by the snow of your heart
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Normally it would be snowing by Yule but this year, there is no sign of it. Merlin loves the snow so he magics some up for the holiday.
Word Count/Art Medium: 4797
Rating: G
Contains: none
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Just want to say, thank you al for being such a lovely beta, and happy holidays, everyone!
Summary: It's winter in Camelot, and Merlin has been much quieter than normal. Arthur is determined to find out what's wrong and help Merlin in any way he can.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27952217

( softened by the snow of your heart )

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Title: No Footsteps On The Ground
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur
Prompt: Merlin hates Christmas because that's when his father left and it always makes his mum sad. Arthur is determined to make the holiday happy for them both.
Word Count/Art Medium: 592
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): *No warnings apply*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: It was great to participate again.
Summary Merlin hates Christmas.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27916063

( No Footsteps On The Ground )

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Title: The Best Part of Waking Up
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Prompt: "The Folgers Christmas commercial (you know the one) but make it Merthur and maybe add smut."
Word Count/Art Medium: 4,112
Rating: NC-17
Contains (Highlight to view): *No actual siblings were despoiled in the writing of this fic*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Thanks to the lovely

degrees for the beta, and to the Merlin Fic Book Club gang for motivating me to write this
Summary: Finally, reluctantly, Merlin let go and led Arthur into the house. They went into the kitchen where Merlin had a pot of freshly brewed coffee waiting.

“I waited up all night for you, you know.”

Arthur smiled at him apologetically. “It’s a long way from West Africa.”

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27858349

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Title: The Spirit of Christmas
Pairing(s): Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Prompt: I haven’t followed one prompt, but found inspiration in a few of them, mostly these two: #49 Sometimes, being snowed in isn't so bad after all, especially when there's someone around to keep you warm! #63 Merlin works in a café on Christmas, counting the minutes till he can leave. Arthur is his last customer, who refuses to spend Christmas alone and decides to bother Merlin instead
Word Count/Art Medium: 13.2k
Rating: G
Contains (Highlight to view): *Unless you have something against Christmas fluff, I don’t think there’s anything triggering.*
Disclaimer: Merlin characters are the property of Shine and BBC. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: This is my first Merthur fic ever and I’m so excited (and also a little bit nervous) to share it. I hope you enjoy it! A lot of people helped me with this and I’ll never thank them enough. Special shout out to my amazing friend and beta.
Summary: On Christmas Eve, a chain of events puts Merlin's holiday spirit to the test. When a blizzard unexpectedly hits Camelot, and he has to spend the night at Albion—the coffee shop that he owns—Merlin believes that things are beyond repair.

Except, Merlin's not alone: Arthur is here, and he has a plan.

Link to work on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27939067