Amazing piece of writing! Very evocative and with the perfect touch of the boundless feel of infinite emotions.

I'm not sure if I reviewed this story, back when I first favorited it, but I'll say it: I love, love, love this story. I love the character of Kay, Arthur's relationship to him, and the way Arthur KNOWS he's not a great person and WANTS someone to tell him when he's off. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful little tale!

Very interesting and well written, thanks!

Super concept! Well done you!

I'd read this one before, a long time ago, but hadn't really understood it because I hadn't seen Merlin (I just wanted to read more of your stories). Having actually watched all of Merlin now, I appreciate this even more now! :)

Thank you for always telling wonderful tales, and so well!

how have i missed this fic til now?
okay, as far as structure goes, i love that you put the quote before the section, tying arthur's past to that particular line of dialogue in a revealing way...
i like kay. i like that he's arthur's servant and trainer and doesn't put up with his sh*t, even as a child. i love that he gives his eyesight for arthur's (and are we to assume he's done this behind uther's back?) i like how he tells arthur, everyone's evil, but everyone is capable of good, too. i like (in a sad, sweet, melancholy way) that he dies protecting arthur - and that thomas collins is the link between kay and merlin, who never met but are very much alike, even as they are also very different...
i like the bit explaining the attack on the druid camp. i like the glimpses of gwen and morgana. i like arthur at this point wondering who he is (everyone does, just usually not so clearly), i like him threatening the mob with magic, and not with his status as prince.
i LOVE the eulogy-poem. did you write that? i'm going to assume yes, since you didn't attribute it to anyone else... poetry today (blank verse) seems so insipid when compared to something like this, so perfect within the form, rhyme and repetition and a bit of effective alliteration!
and, gasp. kay was uther's son. older than arthur, so if he had been willing to acknowledge him, then the purge would never have happened... but then, no arthur and no merlin... wow. just, wow.
no. freaking. way. uther and nimueh?
and really, no wonder arthur was acting out, being such an *ss... merlin's got his work cut out for him! ;D

This is heartrendingly sad.
but very, very good.

I really like this, it gives Arthur some depth I think he lacked in the actual show. It also makes his three episode transformation from jerk-prince to questing-for-a -servant-prince more believable.

Great idea, and great job. Thank you for the read.

It was special, unique the way you started off with the story of Kay and Arthur, before continuing off with Merlin at the ending. Kay led a tragic life though. And Uther and nimueh..!? Loved this; unique work. :)

Hate it? No... certainly not. Very well written. I don't know what you were rambling on about. This was great! It puts a very unique spin on all Arthur's future actions. I know this is just a oneshot, but it'd be interesting to see this 'verse continue!

I felt it was a bit strange when Kay didn't show up in the show, but oh well. They changed so much anyway.

People are always saying that Uther and Nimueh had a thing, but I've never seen it. Your story was odd, but then again all your stories are, a bit;) It was enjoyable.

No! Kay! ;_;

Little Arthur is adorable, and Kay is an awesome big brother in this. I was just as outraged when Uther confessed about using him, although I can sort of see how Nimueh would hold even more of a grudge against Uther for that.

I actually did like this, though it was not entirely clear at times. But I do like Kay's character and your take on events. Well done!

Wow. Oh, Wow.
This is unbelievable. First of all, it's outstanding how everything falls perfectly under canon and it actually makes sense. There is a wonderful character development, both of Arthur and Kay, that sets the stage for Merlin's later appearance and it's just too brilliant to be true. Amazing. Love your use of Nimueh and Uther's shady background story to round everything up ( and make it even more heartbreaking in my opinion.) Then, your use of Thomas Collins. I don't even need to tell you that was out of the charts genius!
Oz wasn't kidding. This is simply great. Thank you for the cookie by the way! :D
Oh, and before I forget...your use of Wart? Brilliant. The fact that Kay mentioned Emrys before he died?... I can't even...
So yes, this is a job well done. You deserve a round of applause. :D

I /love/ this. This is fantastic. I'm working my way (very slowly) through T.H. White's The Once and Future King right now, so I like the references there—Kay calling Arthur Wart, for example. The repeated motif of red was an interesting thread running through the story—especially since there was a lot of it in the death scene and none thereafter. Arthur and Uther both felt very in-character, and I really like the flash-forward vignette format. This is tremendous and a very moving piece of writing. It may be experimental, but I think the par is at least as high as your regular work!