I remember reading this story closer to when you first posted it way back - I just re-read it and after all this time, wanted to stop by and say again that I'm glad you put this out there. It's a heck of a story, and you did so well with the characters and giving the whole thing such a satisfying conclusion. I read your A/N at the start of the last chapter here too, and you're right: it's never a waste to throw caution to the wind and put yourself and your work out there. Wherever you are now, I hope you're still writing, and either way I wish you the very best :) thanks for sharing.

Hello! I'm French and I love all your stories (even if I put very few reviews in English because it's not necessarily natural for me to write in English - I find it's easier to translate -)! So I was wondering if it would be possible to get permission to translate your fanfiction. ( mentioning of course the fact that you're the real author and that I'm just a modest translator). Moreover, I also translate for people who don't want to or can't. And I'm sure they would be very happy to read your writings.
Thanks to you for your writings, I'm looking forward to your answer!

I loved this so much!

Seriously?! You, a writer, with such great potential only wrote ONE story? For Merlin? Just ONE?
Quel dommage!
I demand, no plead, with you to please continue to share with us your special gifts and write another story. Pretty please!

Really like the alliteration: secret spellcasting servant who squanders his skills on a spoilsport king.

Also like the Merlin quest. Lovely word craft.

Remarkably well done!

This was amazing. Well written and completely in character. I have to say that you wrote depression and impostor syndrome very well, and in a way that wasn't over-doing the emotions at the heart of it. Very, very well done. Tears, genuine tears through most of this.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! *sniff sniff* I don't want Merlin to dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! *loud, tear-filled sobs*

This was fantastic! Very sad at times, but realistic (despite the magic of course) and an altogether brilliant portrayal of the characters and their possible reactions to such situations. Thank you so much!

"I am the law!" That reminded me so much of the grown ups 2 movie and I know that this is the time for Merlin and Arthur to reconcile things but that line was just so amusing I can't help but point it out haha

Love these remarks by MerlinYou think one sorry covers all that?”
That Arthur could have Merlin “Burnt at the stake? Beheaded? Banished? Pick. “B”
Love the haggling over when Merlin would return, the magic ball, the drama of the explosion, Gaius’s intervention, and Merlin agreeing to give doing what he was told “a go.”
Humor, wit, and love are in these lines, these characters, this plot.

Really like this description of the door latch as Gaius left the room after warning that Merlin was dying in the dungeonresounding loudly in the deathly quiet room, like the mournful tone of a Passing bell.”
Your writing is lyrical and so very dramatic.

As Arthur ends this chapter chillingly knocking out Merlin to prevent his suicide, sayingIf anyone’s going to kill you, it’ll be me.”

Love:
-The description of Merlin and the dragon as “both
of them victims of that pair of vicious whores that were fate and destiny”
-The irony of the gentle dragon coaxing Merlin too share his troubles at last. Wonder why he couldn’t have confessed his troubles to Gaius.
-Merlin’s “words were still a caustic acid; flaying his tongue and everything else they touched.”
“Nobody could fully understand the burden of shame he carried, and therefore their words of consolation were hollow anyway.

Love the descriptions:
Merlin’s mouthdryer than a tavern’s cellars, after a visit from Gwaine during the winter festivalMerlin’s eyes closed, as if by doing so, he could make himself invisible; go back to hiding in his cave of solitude, where only his own dark thoughts were permitted entry.”
So terribly sad that Merlin has closed himself off from all who love him.