[Fanfic: Merlin] Loaded March #14: Storm on the Horizon

[loaded_march]

First, allow me to apologize for (a) taking so long to write LM14 (even though it actually didn't take that long? word-count wise, anyway), (b) letting real life get in the way (which, unfortunately, is no one's fault), and (c) struggling through the edits and taking even longer (I had trouble with this part for reasons that are best left unsaid).  I hate making people wait, and no matter how many reassurances I get that it's worth it, I will still feel bad about it.

Second, I may have rushed through the second half of the second part of LM14 because this is the first weekend in a really long time that I actually have that isn't stupidly crazy busy, and I'm hoping that I can veg my brains out tomorrow, at least for a few hours.

And third, if you've read all this instead of clicking the link below first, thank you, because I'm about to ask for a favour.  It's come to my attention that many people who have been waiting for LM14 are currently right in the middle of examination season.

If you are one of them, good luck! and, for the love of grade point averages, please wait until you've written your last exam/handed in your last assignment/done whatever you need to do to wrap up your semester before you read LM14.  Your studies are more important, and LM14 will be there for you when you get back.

If you are lucky enough not to be writing any exams, please tag your spoilers (on Tumblr, the Hive Mind has decreed the spoiler tag to be LM14) or hide them under a cut.


And now without further blathering:

Title: A Storm on the Horizon (AO3, 2 chapters)
Rating: NC-17
Word Count:

Summary:
The world is in chaos.  Civilization is menaced by a looming threat.  Violence holds entire cities hostage, hapless citizens hiding in their homes.  When the magic released by the NWO's bomb settles, it's only a matter of time before the war begins.

In Camelot, it's easy to forget what's coming, even if it's only for a little while.  Among family and friends, broken bodies can heal, shattered hearts can mend, and betrayals stop hurting, becoming a dull ache that allows others to trust again.

The team has been kept in a heightened state of readiness while they wait for the Brass to reactivate them.  They train until they're exhausted, they recruit new members, and they make sure that their new home and their loved ones are safe and protected.

It's idyllic until it isn't, not anymore.

Comments

[mandralyne.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :) I hope you do get a chance to just veg out tomorrow.

[angelofalbion.livejournal.com]

I'mnotlookingatthesummaryI'mnotlookingatthesummaryI'mnotlookingatthesummary

I have exams and thank you for posting about the tumblr tag! I will e racing to read it once I am free of this hellish week of revision!

[repna.livejournal.com]

THAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!

(I have 15 minutes before midnight strikes. That's 15 golden reading minutes!! Yay!!! I'm off to LM-land!!)

[emeraldteal.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling. I hope you will get your well deserved rest.

All the best for those taking exams! xoxo

(well that was pretty restrained. *kermit-flails away*)

[aku-rin.livejournal.com]

OHHH SUCH A WELCOME SURPRISE
I actually gasped when I saw the mail from AO3 ♥

...

Unluckily I'm one of the poor people under examination.
SIGH
Midweek reading it is /crushed by having to wait

breathless

[kamihana.livejournal.com]

OMG! You posted it! Thank you so much for all your hard work and time.
I haven't read it yet because I am too excited to settle down and understand the words. Thank you.
And now, I think you should rest. A lot.

[sidara.livejournal.com]

You are amazing. There needs to be shrines made for your brain and its plot bunny priests so that we, your loyal subjects, can worship. Best Saturday spent in a long while 8D

[rinsachi.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you thank you for this.
It feels like no wait is to long for another of your masterpieces.
I can't wait to read it. Thank god I'm studying in a country where exams aren't due until mid summer. I hope until then I'll be finished reading it, ah no I'm sure I will be.
So thank you again for your hard work.
And don't worry about real-life everyone knows it'S a bitch and it really loves to cross our plans. I hope it will get better soon for you.

[floffypineapple.livejournal.com]

YAY! Unfortunately, I am one of those with exams coming up - three of them, in fact. Will be back at the end of June... But just wanted to say - thank you so much, and hope you have a fantastic weekend :)

[manuuchin.livejournal.com]

thank you!!

i dont have exams but I do have things to do and your advice let me breathe a little because I really want to read this but priorities!

Thank you for the new chapter & Gwaine's back on TV!!!

[icantremembersn.livejournal.com]

This is great! And I'm wholeheartedly taking your note seriously lol. I KNOW if I start the new chapter I will not meet any of my deadlines this week.

You need to know that 'Gwaine' is back on TV if you haven't heard yet. He is an ex-military 'knight'-shift medic in a San Antonio hospital. He is shirtless within the first 5 minutes. He is very much still our Gwaine. The show is called Night Shift. I'm mid-first episode and so far its primarily been all about his character.

Best wishes with your big move and thank you for sharing your writing with us all.

[capitanacanija.livejournal.com]

I’m in the middle of exams, so I wasn’t going to read it right now. But in the end I did, and I must say it was a good idea. This part made me really happy (suicide bombers, Sigan, /teenage dragons/ aside), it helped my motivation to study and keep on working. I guess the day I spent reading could have been used to study… but I was so tired, bored and unmotivated that I think I’m doing more now than I’d have done if I had spent yesterday studying.
This part has become one of my favourite so far, and I’m glad you posted it when you did. I hope real life goes better for you now (without more lost notebooks, the stress of moving, etc).
Thanks for writing this (And so fast! Really!)

[scinscire]

This was lovely. I got sick yesterday, so spent all day in bed reading. I love everyone in this part. All of them. I want to squeeze all of them!

Thanks!

[snickelpop.livejournal.com]

Loved it!

[aku-rin.livejournal.com]

... You destroyed me with the last 9 lines.
I'm typing and crying because you broke my heart, just so you know that.

[puckboum.livejournal.com]

AAAAH I'm so excited about this! I almost missed it because I haven't logged in LJ for a while...
Now I'll be spending next week away from home without internet so the right thing to do would be to wait until then to read it, but at the same time I really want to read it right now...
Either way I'll be sure to leave a comment once I've finished it! I'm sure it will break my heart, as usual ahah. (But that I'll love it anyway!)c:

[micx04.livejournal.com]

I'm sending all the love to you! You are amazing! I think it's fair to say that we would drop everything to read a new chapter from you. Definitely worth the wait and more.

[zooni5.livejournal.com]

Oh no. No no no no nooooo why did I check your journal today? whyyyy right before my big big BIG exam followed by two even bigger ones that I simply can't afford to score less than 90%? ; ; Somebody please kill me for my timing...
I won't be creative though when I say, it really is worth all the waiting for your stuff, so don't you worry, eh? ;)
Now, I'm going to read it whole today and nothing can st-- I mean, I'll see it after my last exam, thank you very much and have a great day ;D

Loved it!!

[ke-smith.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was wonderful. I loved the wedding, how Merlin was getting back on his feet, and how Arthur was getting better again too. They all had so much to go through. I was wondering if everyone was going to find out about Merlin and Arthur being married. I was hoping that they would. Gwaine should know that he was right.

I felt bad for Balinor. Merlin does have a right to be upset but he's acting like a spoiled child right now towards Balinor. They've already established that Merlin would have turned out a lot differently without the choices that were made and it wasn't going to be for the better. We know that the NWO would have had Merlin if his magic was unfettered at an early age. We know that Balinor faked his own death to protect the lives of his family. It was a hard choice to make but he made it. I like that Will tried to get Merlin to see it from another side because no one else has yet and all Merlin seems to want to do is squeeze Balinor out and take over the dragons himself without having to deal with Balinor attempting to place all powers under Arthur. Sometimes everyone has to learn how to get along and not all powers will always be placed under one individual. That is too much power to have at times. Considering Merlin is also an artifact. Arthur wouldn't abuse it but that doesn't mean that the others would feel good about relinquishing all of that power. Especially to a Pendragon. Whether Arthur is not like Uther or not. And Merlin's actions did not show as someone who was ready to wield that kind of power. I can see Balinor being nervous about telling him of his full birthright. Especially since Merlin isn't listening to him.

Hopefully Merlin will try to have a relationship with him. Life is too short and he will be filled with regrets if he doesn't at least attempt to try and Balinor dies. Sort of like Arthur needs to talk to Uther. Uther never did him wrong. He needs to try to talk to him. I wonder if Uther knows that Arthur and Morgana are alive.

I also liked Will being a genius. I also sense something between him and Kay. They are both supposed to be straight but they seem a little closer. If not more than a strong bromance but Will is talking about getting hot more now in relations to men.

Morgana saying have Christmas early to Arthur was sad. Those soldiers dying was heartbreaking. Nimueh, Sigan, the Disir... The Disir doesn't stop either. Looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

I also loved Mordred. The poor boy hasn't truly lived yet. I hope he lives through this. I think that's what I'm nervous about for the next installment. They are going to war. I don't want any of them to die. And they just got Merlin back. Kay and Will too after being tortured. And I wonder where Cennyd is in all of this now. This was an excellent installment. So looking forward to the next part and please excuse any typos here.