I'm so glad I found this story after it was complete. It is so amazing that if I had to wait so long for updates it would have driven me mad! Beautifully written; gosh you certainly have a way with words. I was just hoping that when Merlin looked at Arthur he would have seen a much better ending than the show gave us. And I didn't like what Merlin saw about Gwaine. Thanks for a great story.

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.
Thank you.
Thank you.

I hate how 99% of fanfics put the blame on Merlin for not coming out and 'telling the truth' - as if everything that happened in Camelot was his fault. I read and read and read fanfics waiting for one like this. For a line like this:
"And do you know what I did when I read her name Arthur? I closed the book, went upstairs, and fed your father dinner."

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.
A better line has never been written to sum up Merlin's life in Camelot. I'm crying. I'm bookmarking this fic forever. It's what I've been waiting for. Thank you.
THANK YOU.

I'm so glad you finished this fic so I could read it. Thanks for your diligence. Wow. Wow! Okay. I need to go read it again. And get a box of tissues.

Intriguing

Wow. That was intense.

It's amazing and tense and strange and interesting and horrifying and powerful and immense all at the same time. But it's really good!

A few things I'd like to mention.
First of, this: 'an endless sea of green grass and rolling hills,...; the sky was overcast and held a promise of rain, and any sort of shelter from it would be a comfort.' Is a very accurate description of England (I live there).
Secondly, the Stonehenge thing makes sense; Stonehenge is supposed to be some kind of pagan worship temple. Apparently it was used to do magic and the like.
Lastly, this is actually really good! I've read some crappy fics in my time on this website, and I'm pleased to say, "This is not a crappy fic, people! Read it - it's good!"

Where do I start... (1) Stonehenge has held something of a fascination for me since I was a boy, so I love the choice of setting.

(2) I drive past the place quite often, so although there are some trees in the landscape in reality, and I suppose there would have been more back in the day, I found the characterization of the landscape really very striking, and I love the way that you've made Stonehenge itself all the more special by using that setting.

(3) You write very skilfully. It's hard, initially, to pin down just what is going on in that place, and that reminded me of medieval beliefs about how inanimate things somehow intrude into our space, draw us into their sphere of influence whether we like it or not, and so take possession of us. You articulate the mystery of the place really quite beautifully. The 'not clearly good, not clearly evil' nature of the stones just adds to this.

(4) I'm glad you did finish this, in the end. I think I first discovered the story when you were three or four chapters in, and I followed it in the hope that maybe, maybe... And you delivered. Thank you!

(5) I would have struggled to know how to finish this story, I think because once you know the power of the place, and Merlin's true relationship with it, it's hard to know how to return to Arthur and Merlin's relationship. I'm not expressing this well; I mean that the story has such a big premise that writing about Arthur's feelings about Merlin's magic almost seems too mundane. What did it for me was that Merlin still kept that 'through-time' vision (the idea of which I love), and so somehow the grand nature of the premise still seeps through to the end of the story. I don't know how much sense that will make to you.

(6) I'm so glad about how Merlin sees Arthur at the end - I was certain that Arthur would be a constant, being once-and-future.

(7) Thank you for writing all of this! It's going on to my list of favourites.

Loved the story. Thank you o much for finishing it!

Ahhhh, I'm so glad you finished this! And also that Arthur and Merlin finally had this very important and emotionally fraught conversation, and that apparently Arthur's status as the Once and Future King somehow exempts him from Merlin's sudden-onset terrifying all-time-at-once vision.

I got the email alert to this update on the metro home from work, and I stared at it for a solid thirty seconds trying to process it because I had actually forgotten about this fic. Much like Merlin recognizing his inner reality in this chapter, the memory of this story and all of your amazing stories came back like a long-buried childhood memory.

It's only been three years, which is not that long in the grand scheme of things, but the past few years of life have been telescopic for me, and hearing from this story has thrown me back a few years that feel like decades.

Thank you so much for updating and concluding this story. I don't know if I ever reviewed much in the past, but your prose and style of writing is absolutely gorgeous, and despite this being fanfiction you manage to weave some published-level, knockout description and introspection without being too flowery about it, a trap I still find myself incapable of escaping. Back in the day, there were several authors who's example encouraged me to challenge myself and write more, write better. You were one of them. I love your portrayal of both of these characters, and it makes me long fondly for the days that I spend neck-deep in this fandom. I honestly don't read a lot of fanfiction these days, but the ending to this gem absolutely made my day.

Thanks for sharing, and the time you put into this. I hope you continue to write, whether here or elsewhere.

THIS. This.

*Whispers* this

Yes.

I’m crying. You brought it home. So. SO. Well.

Thank you for coming back and finishing this story. It’s like viscerally satisfying in a way I really needed today. I haven’t read a reveal that felt so true to the truth of the show in a really long time. And Merlin talking about reading the names gave me chills. Again thanks for the ending

My God
So breath taking and intense... I was holding my breath for some of it and feeling near tears. In magic reveals I'm usually on Arthur's side - because 10 years, really - but here I was so close to both of them 3
I saw that this has been marked as complete, so I thought I'd tell you - job well done! This is a lovely work, thank you so much. I'd have much preferred something like this to have happened in the series... I hope you'll continue writing more brilliant stories for the Merlin fandom
xx

This is soooo awesome. I love your immortal/eternal Merlin, his newfound perception of time an I WANT AN UPDATE, NOW!

One chapter a year has slowed to one chapter every two, I see (or hope, rather). The torturously slow updates doesn't make this any less one of my favorite fanfics on this site, though.

I love your story and your writing, so I beg of you: please continue!