I'm not as Think as you Drunk I am

List of Mag7 fics with positive interactions between Nathan and Ezra

2014-06-18T16:23:59Z

First thing: I have been reading Mag7 fics for a couple of years around the 2010, so I basically came into the fandom very late. Occasionaly a go back to the Mag7 fandom to read some fics and reread my favourite ones so there is the certainty that I have surely forgot to add some story to this list or that I missed many stories that I have never read.

And of course, this list is based on my own perception of positive relationship/interactions and it may not be shared by everyone. Plus I am an Ezra fan and a hurt/comfort fan so many of the stories I've read and added will have those two elements.

For this reason every comment and recommendation is gladly accepted! Feel free to suggest any fics about Ezra and/or Nathan where you can see a positive relationship (an evolving positive friendship starting from a rocky start or them as BFFs or anything else) between them!

The stories are under the cut

THE CURE (J. Brooks)
This is an excellent story which has a real 'episode' feeling. Every character has a part but I think we can say that the focus is mainly on Ezra and Nathan and they have a relationship of friendship and trust. The story is about a conman selling fake medicines in Four Corners, a piece of Ezra's past, some insicurities of Nathan and his role in the town.

A FINE PAIR OF LIARS (Delphi) JUST ADDED
Ezra thinks of Nathan and his ability to lie to keep secret their relationship. Very short and amazing at the same time. Slash.

THE CARNIVAL WAKE (Delphi) JUST ADDED
This story. This story is what I have never tought I would want. Delphi writes perfectly and I love how she writes Nathan, especially, and Ezra. This is a post tv show story where Nathan and Ezra have known each others for almost twenty years. I won't spoil you much but this is the plot "Following a mutual loss, Nathan tracks down a missing Ezra to New Orleans. Against the backdrop of Mardi Gras revelry, the two men reflect on their histories with the city and on whether their relationship has a hope of surviving into the future." The story has Josiah/Nathan and Josiah/Nathan/Ezra in it (in flashbacks) but the main focus is the relationship between Nathan and Ezra. Slash.

MALADY (Delphi) JUST ADDED
This is the hottest Nathan/Ezra story I have ever read, mark my words, subtle feelings coming out from gestures and it warmed my heart. Slash.

AND HAVING WRIT (icarus_chained) JUST ADDED
Nathan gest mildly hurt and Ezra offers to take care of the wound for him. UST everyone. Also slash undertones.

THE COLOR THAT DIVIDESAn amazing and long Nathan centric story, told mostly in Nathan's POV and where he gets along with his six friends (Ezra too) but has to face troubles and racism from other citizens of Four Corners. It has some really great insight moments for Nathan both in relation to his past before the war and for his need to help the people around him and save them and some amazing plots were basically the town turn against the seven (because of what happened with Nathan in the story and with JD in the episode when he killed Annie).

And I particularly loved this sentence where Ezra explains to himself his relationship with Nathan: "Nathan was his morale gyroscope. Whenever there was a question of ethics, Ezra could always count on Nathan to answer it." The only negative note is that a little side plot is left open or maybe I need to reread and I didn't understand that part!

FELLOW TRAVELERS (J. Brooks)

This story is a sort of kid AU where Ezra is a kid and he escapes with Nathan who is like an older brother to him. They later meet Buck, Vin and Chris. There is some hurt/comfort and sick!Ezra and Nathan being an amazing protective older brother.

CAUSES AND THEIR EFFECTS (Derry)

Lovely story post-Serpents with a lot of interactions between Nathan and Ezra (discussions about the money and Nathan being quite worried about Ezra), some scenes about Buck and his decision to marry, some Ezra/Inez hints and overall a quite satisfactory post Serpents story, in my opinion, with an unexpected twist at the end!

WHEN THE RANGERS CAME TO TOWN (K Hanna Korossy)

This story is all Ezra centric with a lot of Nathan. Some misunderstanding. Nathan jumping to conclusions- I know what you are thinking, but here no one gets hurt, Nathan is a little haste in his conclusions but he has reasons and it may be IC in the early development of Nathan and Ezra's friendship. Also, no Ezra martyr because here is quite irritated at being misunderstood.

CAVE IN (KellyA)

This is a hurt/comfort hurt!Ezra story with a lot of Nathan. Nathan appears a bit hostile at the beginning but his reasons are explained and his character is not bashed. I really liked the backstory for Nathan's knowledge of mines and his feelings.

SUCH BOLD AND BLOODY CAUSES (Debra Hicks)

Hurt!Ezra story where Ezra is gravelly wounded defending a village and Nathan, Vin, JD and Bucky take care of him (and later Josiah and Chris arrive too). There are some good Nathan moments with some self doubt Nathan and some Nathan&Ezra moments. It is also very well written with very IC characters.

GOOD FOLKS (Pat)

A Nathan centric story narrated in first person. Nathan helps a family, bamf Nathan using his knives to save Ezra and himself, some doubts that Ezra would take a bullet for him even if they get along and Ezra does just that. Some mentions of racism and you will want to hug and protect Nathan forever by the end of this story.

FIFTEEN MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (Helen Adams)

Nathan meets a not-quite-drunk-but-going-there Ezra the last night of the year and Ezra voices to him some of his own insecurities.

THE SAMARITAN's CHOICE (sablecain)

Nathan centric and Ezra centric story, post the episode "The Trial". Some hurt!Ezra and Nathan has to take some difficult decisions. It focuses on Nathan's past, the adventures, the hurt/comfort and the relationship between Nathan and Ezra.

There is also a sequel (more Ezra centric): https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6513855/1/Two-Wolves

SUSPENSION (Delphie)

Preslash, Nathan looks at Ezra.

PAYDAY (K Hanna Korossy)

An absolutely delicious story where the seven minus Nathan realizes that Nathan basically never get paid for his work as a healer and that supplies and medical stuff if costly so they decide to give him gifts.

LESSONS UNLEARNED (Tarlan)

A Nathan centric pre-series fic. I really wish it was longer and there were more stories exploring Nathan's ability to throw knives and how he chose to become a healer. Sorry no Ezra here, but there is some Josiah. Read the warnings at the beginning of the story.

THE FUNERAL OF OBEDIAH JACKSON (Pat)

I think the title says it all. This is a Nathan centric story with a lot of Ezra, where Nathan reacts to the funeral of his own father. There are different POVs. I find it a little unrealistic that Ezra spent so much time taking care of Nathan's father but it is a nice bittersweet short story.

A DOCTOR IN THE MAKING (KellyA)

Hurt!Ezra in an incident at the beginning of the story, Nathan works with another doctor to save him in the rest of the story. Super happyending.

BENEATH THE SKIN (Polly Esther)

Hot Nathan/Ezra story. (at Adult Blackraptor)

A PLACE TO START OVER (Angie)

A rare kid/teen!Nathan where the other help him start a new life in Four Corners. It's a AUish story but still placed in Four Corners and in Old times. Young Nathan is still a healer and there is also the remade little scene of Ezra's dislocated shoulder.

BLOOD AND WATER (Meg Tipper)
This is my favourite Meg's story. Nathan is the main character with a lot of Ezra and the rest of the seven. In the story Nathan finds again his three sisters and they come to town. These new characters feel very real and I would pay to watch an episode with just this plot and these new characters. There is also some talking about Ezra's racism (between Ezra and Rachel, one of Nathan's sisters) and there are no hard feelings between Nathan and Ezra. Plus adventures!

DIAMONDS AND BEANS (Meg Tipper) suggested by 487carrie JUST ADDED
In this story there is some mistrust between Ezra and Nathan, maybe Nathan's level of mistrust is a bit too high but knowing what happened in "Serpents" it may be understandable. There is adventure and missing diamonds, some hurt!Ezra and Nathan and Ezra saving each others and by the end of the story they are closer than the beginning.

GLASS (Delphi)

Mirrors kink and Nathan/Ezra sexyness.

HIDDEN PLACES, FORBIDDEN SPACES (MAC)

Short delicious ATF Nathan/Ezra slash story.

POLARITY (VampyrAlex)

Short slash story. To forget the pain Nathan drinks a little too much and Ezra helps him to return home.

GONE WRONG series (winks)

This is an ATF au in three parts. The first part is about Ezra and Buck undercover and being discovered and tortured (there are some graphic parts) while the others work to save them. The other two parts are about their recovery. It is Ezra centric and in the last part Nathan is the one who works with Ezra the most to help him. There is even some little Rain appearance, a rare and appreciated thing!

NOTTASHA's stories

She writes some great, adventurous stories, often with delicious hurt/comfort and often Ezra-centric but she also wrote a Nathan centric story. Anyway the relationship between Ezra and Nathan is positive most of the times (I'll try to add a list of stories for every author).

JOJO's stories

JoJo writes amazing Chris/Ezra and Gen stories where the character are always in character. In particular the Strange Bedfellow series has an amazing Nathan & Ezra debating with hurt/comfort for Ezra. In some of her other stories Nathan is usually the one getting along better with Ezra.

GRACULUS's stories

Graculus' writes wonderful Mag7 stories with a lot of precious and rare Nathan/Ezra slash fanfictions. Her stories are really a must for every Nathan&Ezra fan.

DANI O'MALLEY's stories

Three preslash Nathan/Ezra old west stories.

A GHOST STORY (quietcontrary) suggested by 487carrie JUST ADDED
This is a short story about Nathan trying to defend a Native American burial site from treasure hunters and Ezra doing the unexpected.

NATHAN'S BENEDICTION (Angela B) suggested by 487carrie JUST ADDED
This story is a part of a 7 brothers modern AU (7 B ranch) but I think it can be easily read as a standalone (I have yet to read the rest of the series). There is a lot of Nathan and Ezra but everyone makes an appearance. Ezra is a kid/teen.

NECTAR DE'STANDISH (Pat) suggested by 487carrie JUST ADDED
A wounded Nathan and Ezra are left alone in the middle of nothing. Ezra has to take care of Nathan and the others have to look for them.

Happier things: Arthuran interviews

2013-07-07T09:27:04Z

Now for happier things.

Jessica Bonito sent me a copy of her arthurian novel "Camelot Lost": She had been superkind and she had contacted me because she saw me talking about it around. It had been a strange and amazing surprise. The novel was also quite unique in its genre because it took into considerarion Mordred and Amr (AMR, can you imagine!) as the two main characters, along with a lot of Guinevere, Arthur and Morgana. Also, I recommend it to people who like the relationship between Guinevere and Mordred (as in Monmouth, consensual relationship).

And I managed to interview Phyllis Ann Karr and Douglas Clegg (mail interviews of course). I randomly sent them mail asking for an online interview (because I am shameless) and they... said yes! So now you can find answers and questions (all arthurian related) at these links:

INTERVIEW TO PHYLLIS ANN KARR

iNTERVIEW TO DOUGLAS CLESS

(The Phyllis Ann Karr has a little mistake, I have still to correct it, sorry, my life has been crazy, but I will do it soon)

LOCKED LJ + YOU CAN FIND ME / VIDEO / FANFICTIONS / EXCHANGES

2013-02-10T07:50:26Z

I am rarely on livejournal in these days but if you want to see the friend-locked post just drop by/send me a note and I will add you as a friend.
Usually you can find me at:

My personal tumblr

Fuckyeaharthuriana: tumblr dedicated to arthurian legends

Fuckyeahvalvert: tumblr dedicated to Javert&Valjean of Les Miserables

AO3 (most fics are locked, this means that only registered users and logged users can see them)

Arthurian advent calendar: 25th december

2012-12-25T09:40:32Z

Merry Christmas! Or just happy holidays! And for all the atheists like me: Have a nice day!
This
will probably be disappointing not only for my inability to write n
English but also because I didn’t manage to finish. This is just a sort
of first chapter of a probable steampunk arthurian au.
I hope you will like it anyway!

(Congratulations on surviving the end of the world!)

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language

25th DECEMBER: (steampunk au)

The vial was now empty in Morgause’s hands but the only thing she regretted was not being able to see Uther agonizing on the floor, spitting blood and cursing, slowly dying. The fact that her mother’s rapist and her father’s murderer was finally dead was not enough but it would have to do.
“Maybe, it is enough that is is because of me,”
said Morgause, Governor of Orkneys, after her husband’s death. The void in her, filled with anger, wasn’t vanishing but maybe that night she would not have to dream her mother’s desperate eyes or the moment Uther sent her to Lot.
Morgana nodded.
Ambrosius had given Morgause the recipe of the poison, a deadly liquid impossible to detect by smell or colour, and Morgana had administered it in Uther’s last meal.
“It is enough for me, sister,” replied Morgana, the witch who used to live in the woods and had decided to come back to civilization for revenge and sisterly love.

Guinevere was writing an article about potatoes. Not that there was a lot to say about potatoes or vegetables, a part from mentioning the way the soils got impoverished because of the wars. But she couldn’t even do that. She could only write about cooking potatoes.
She stopped, massaging her temples. How the mighty have fallen. Not that she considered herself one of the mighty ones but surely, she deserved better than a little column about cooking in the newspaper. She knew she deserved better.
She had had better.
She had had a newspaper of her own, “The Quest”, she had written what she had preferred, she had not stopped from writing what she felt had been right: the useless war against the kingdom of Saxons, the useless deaths of soldiers, caused only but Uther’s need to control his people with fear and threats of conquests. She had had told the truth, of that she had been sure: Uther was more of a king or a dictator than the President of the Cities of Camelot.
The people had not liked her truths. The people and the police.
She had been endangering her family, her sister Guinevak had had to face difficult times for her restourant, her fiance Arthur had had to change university to get his degree in politics.
Uther was a murderer, Uther was a dictator, Uther was-
“Uther is dead! Our president has been killed!” shouted Guinevak, stumbling in the room, nearly tripping over one of the mechanical cats Bedwyr gave them as a gift the previous Liberation Day.
“Careful, Guinevak- but- what? What did you said?”
“Uther is dead! Uther!” answered Guinevak, letting herself fall in her sister’s bed. “That bastard is dead.”
“I don’t believe it… he is dead,” repeated Guinevere. She felt empty. The man she had considered the enemy, the monster, was dead. She felt regret, for not having been able to disgrace him, to discovers all his dirty secrets, she felt relief, but mostly she felt filled with fear.
What was going to happen now? What was going to happen to the Cities of Camelot which were born with democracy and justice but had been tainted all those years by Uther’s influence?
“Guinevak, was he killed?”
“Yes, I told you. Someone poisoned him. That’s what the people are saying.”
“I didn’t want this. I fear, oh, Guinevak, I fear martyrs.”

Arthur tried to be as quiet as he could. Bedwyr hates the noise while he worked.
The problem was that Arthur was quite bored. He was raining and he had still to find a job and his abilities with mechanicals were quite useless compared to Bedwyr’s and even compared to Kay’s mediocre abilities in fixing broken clocks and mechanical dogs.
“I could-“
“Arthur, please. Just… drink some tea,” smiles Bedwyr, without looking at him.
Arthur sighed and looked at Kay who was smiling in a corner and reading one of Guinevere’s old books.
“He never tells you to just drink some tea,” complained Arthur, whispering to his foster brother. Kay shrugged: “It’s because I am quite.”
“It’s because you sleep with him.”
“Technically it’s because I have sex with him.”
Bedwyr glared at them but before he could offer more tea (he just needed to finish fixing the little wheel of a client’s toy before dinner) someone knocked on the door. Arthur jumped up, glad to have something to do. He was quite surprised when he found his teacher Merlin in front of him. Merlin had taught him a course at the university (Foreign Politics) and had been quite famouse. People had liked to gossip about him having mystical powers or being a wizard. Arthur had never seen any enchantments from him but had been enchanted by his speechs, by his charisma and his ideas. They had never been friends. The coldness of the relationship between the master and the student had always been quite clear, still Arthur had missed him in those months away from the university. He had missed Merlin’s brilliance.
He had never thought he would see him again if not in some pathetic revivalist party of university times. “Mr. Emrys?”
“Oh, call me Merlin, Arthur. You are not one of my students now.”
Embarassed and feeling awkward all of a sudden, Arthur decided to do the one thing
Ector taught him in case of danger: “Would you like some tea?”
“Oh, no, not at all. I am just here to talk to you, Arthur.”
Bedwyr abandoned his work, glaring at the stranger old man dressed in elegant black clothes.
“Why don’t we go upstair? My-“
“Uther is dead and you are his son.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 24th december

2012-12-25T09:36:56Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language, ages ages ages! (Ector was 20 when he adopted Arthur, Arthur was 15 when he conceived Mordred, Mordred was 19 when Melou was born so basically now Arthur is 33 and Ector is 54)

24^th DECEMBER: (Ector, Melou, Hug)

Arthur takes the little baby in his arms. Kay is trying really hard not to smile at Melou’s sleepy face and Mordred is twitching as if he doesn’t completely trust his father to not let the baby fall.

Guinevak smiles at her husband, taking his hand.

Suddenly a voice calls from the hall. “Let me see, let me see!”

“Father!” recognizes Kay, opening the door of the little room to let his father Ector enter.

“I am a great grandfather,” says the big ruffly man. He feels old, but not that old to be a great grandfather also if his hair are already all white and he can’t fight anymore because of his wounded leg.

“Yes, you are,” smiles Arthur. Mordred stops twitching. “We told him, of course. He is still your grandfather. I hope it’s all right, Mordred.”

“Of- of course,” manages to answer Mordred, who suddenly feels suffocated by all that family.

The imponent figure of Ector advances toward Arthur and with incredibly careful hands he takes the tiny Melou in his own arms. Melou mewls softly before stirring and taking one of Ector’s old and big hands into a hug.

Arthurian advent calendar: 23rd december

2012-12-25T09:36:00Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language, slash

23^rd DECEMBER: (Sagramore, Aglovale, Love)

“You are in love.”

Aglovale nearly jumped. For a man who was twice his size, Sagramore had always been incredibly quiet while moving.

“Why?” asked Pellinore’s son, trying to look casual and bored.

“You have been carving in that piece of wood all morning. And that is a heart. And that is another heart.”

Aglovale looked down at the knife and the wood. He had to admit that there were a lot of little hearts.

“Who is the lucky maiden? One of Guinevere’s handmaidens? Or is him a knight?” asked Sagramore, sitting beside his friend. It was no secret (not even to the little disapproving Perceval) that Aglovale’s tastes run in both directions.

“It’s a him,” answered the knight, nervous.

“Who is he, then? It’s not Lancelot, isn’t him? Because the list of damsels and knights who are infatuated by our handsome champions is a bit too long.”

“No. Not Lancelot. Not- not a knight.”

Sagramore frowned, surprised, massaging his black beard. “A man who is not a knight. The king?!”

“No. No, Sagramore, he is, he is just a blacksmith. He lives near Tintagel, in a village. You surely do remember when I was wounded and I took refuge in a village and there I met him- he is not a knight.”

Sagramore bursted into a sudden laugh. “That’s what’s troubling you?” he asked, trying to not run out of air, among the tears. “Don’t say ‘he is just a blacksmith’. He must be a damn good blacksmith if you are in love with him.”

Aglovale smiled, feeling his own face burning. “Yes, he is. A damn fine man.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 22nd december (I am so late, sorry!)

2012-12-25T09:34:39Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language

22^nd DECEMBER: (Guinevere, Elaine of Corbenic, Pain)

Elaine tried to get up, without much success. She had a bad fall and her horse Lily was ignoring her calls.
Brisane had been right, Elaine should have never left the castle alone. But she had been desperate to see Lancelot. Her Lancelot.
“Are you hurt?”
Elaine turned. A woman was looking at her. She had managed to take Lily’s rein and in her other hand she had the rain of a beautiful white mare.
“Yes, I mean- a bit. That is my horse.”
“I imagined,” smiled the woman. She wasn’t exactly beautiful. Brisane
would have disapproved the way the stranger was dressing (with red which was awful with her strange orange hair) and smiling (like… like a peasant girl) but Elaine felt strangely charmed by the woman’s sincere smile.
“Let me help,” said the woman, giving Elaine a hand to get up and helping her to get on Lily. “Where are you going?”
“To Camelot.”
“Wonderful!” laughed the stranger. “I am the queen of Camelot!”

Arthurian advent calendar: 21st december

2012-12-20T19:41:59Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language, superhero AU

21^st DECEMBER: (Ettard, Tor, Christmas)

Tor opened his eyes that night of Christmas all of a sudden.

He could see projected on the wall the soft lights of his Christmas tree. Which was strange because he was alone at home and he always switched them off.

“Who is there?” he called. No one answered.

He got off the bed, advancing towards the open door of his room, to enter into the living room. He took his mother’s umbrella, ready to use it if necessary.

“Are you a thief? Or am I crazy?” he tried again.

“Merry Christmas.”

Tor jumped, dropping the umbrella for the surprise.

There was a woman in his living room. She had a mask on her face and she was dressed in green and gold. “I am not a thief, before you ask me again. Au contraire. I am here to bring you a gift.”

“What- what gift? How did you enter?”

“I like the posters in your room. All those superheroes. The great
Pendragon, the Lady of the Lake, Merlin, Pellinore… Don’t you want to
become one of them?”

“Who are you?” asked Tor this time.

“Please, don’t call me Santa Claus. My name is Ettard and I am one of them also if I don’t fight exactly in their same league. Let’s say that I have a little grudge with the Lady of the Lake.”

“You are a supervilain!” shouted Tor. Everyone knew that the Lady of the Lake was the Pendragon’s most trusted ally and everyone in England had something to thank the Pendragon for.

“It’s a point of view, of course. But I have another story to tell you, if you care to listen. It’s about your father. Then you can decide the side you want to fight for.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 20th december

2012-12-20T19:39:01Z

The Selkie by ~yaamas

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language

20^th DECEMBER: (Merlin, Clarissant, Selkie)

When Merlin meets Clarissant he knows there is something different in her.

She is a simple girl with long red hair and a round nose, but her eyes are watery and long for the sea.

“What are you?” he asks her. Clarissant smiles, before answering: “Did you mean ‘who am I’? I am Clarissant, the daughter of Morgause.”

“No, you are not. I know Morgause, she may have raised you but you are not her daughter.”

“Why? What do you think I am?”

“You are a witch?”

“Maybe,” Clarissant shrugs. “Maybe not. Maybe I am becoming a witch.”

“You are not human,” tries Merlin, looking at her face. Her skin is ridiculously pale, almost blue.

“I like you. You know spells that Morgause doesn’t. You are useful. And you are not human either, you are the son of a demon. If you will help me, teach me your magic, I will promise I will tell you who I am.”

“First you must explain to me why you want my spells.”

“To find my brother. A mad woman stole him from my mother’s arms, a mad woman who had lost all her other children because of the king’s wars.”

Merlin nods. Clarissant’s face seems sincere, eager. “Then, tell me what are you.”

“I come from the sea. I am a selkie and I’ve hidden my pelt into a cave, maybe one day I will show it to you. My mother calls me Dindrane and I am a Nimue, a seeker of the ones who were lost in your human world.”

Merlin shakes her hand. She is a selkie. The power of a selkie- Merlin will help her find her brother and then he will look for her pelt.

Maybe the power of the selkie will help him saving Arthur’s kingdom and himself.

Arthurian advent calendar: 19th december

2012-12-20T19:37:22Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language, steampunk au (based on this), f!Lancelot

19^th DECEMBER: (Lancelot, Guinevak, Food)

“Where are we going?” asked Lance, for the tenth time.

“To my sister’s restaurant, I’ve already told you,” answered Guinevere, rolling her eyes. She knew Lance didn’t trust her (not enough) but she couldn’t do anything now.

Arthur needed her and he needed Lance. As the Champion of Lake City, Lance had an incredible popularity.

“I am not hungry,” replied Lance, without a trace of humor in her voice.

“You will be, now follow me and hush.”

For once, Lance obeyed, deciding to ask questions later when they would probably be off the night streets and the eyes of Morgause’s Controllers.

When they arrived at a little isolated restourant they stopped. The place had clearly seen better times in the past and appeared quite depressing at the sight.

“I have no intention of eating-“

Guinevere took Lance’s hand and they entered. A mechanical voice greeted them but at ‘-to our lovely restaur’ it suddenly stopped.

“Guinevere!” called the woman behind the counter. Lance had to admit that there were no doubts about her identity. Guinevak had Guinevere’s eyes and smile.

“Guinevak, this is Lance of the Lake,” said Guinevere, pointing at the armored woman beside her.

“No offense, madam, but I am not eating in your restourant.”

Guinevak gaped at her. “You are a prick. And I take offense. But you are not here to eat.”

Without any more words, Guinevak turned around and took a little key from the necklace she was wearing. She pressed down some of the buttons of the counter of the desk, too quick for Lance to follow her, and finally she used the little key in one of the locks on the wall.

The wall -which clearly had not been a very stable wall- opened slowly with a creaking sound.

“It’s… a secret passage?” asked Lance, finally shocked and surprised.

“It’s our refugee. And you are welcome.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 18th december

2012-12-20T19:34:49Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language

18^th DECEMBER: (Dindrane, Lucan, Forest)

“You are here for the Grail, valiant knight.”

Lucan, surprised, stopped the horse, watching among the leaves and the trees of the forest.

“Sir knight, you are looking for the Grail,” repeated the voice. It was the voice of a woman who Lucan had never heard before.

“Well, I guess my quest if Grail-related but-“

The mysterious woman came out of the woods. She was very beautiful, with long blonde hair and calm and brown eyes. “I know, knight. But I fear the Grail is not for you.”

“But I-"

“You may console yourself with the fact that you at least tried-“

Lucan rised his voice a bit. “Iactuallyhavethegrail.”

The lady stopped, confused. “What?”

“But it was a mistake. Sir Kay was reorganizing the kitchen and suddenly he was ‘Look at this cup, isn’t it ridiculous’ and then Morgana arrived, you know her, she is always where she needs to be, and starts screaming at us ‘That’s the Grail! Heretics!’. You know, she was raised in a nunnery, that’s a touchy subject and then she asks us how did we find it and sir Kay answers ‘Well, the Fisher King married and it seems like that damn penny-pincher decided to recycle some old pot-“

“Enough!”

Lucan looked at her, blushing. He felt kind of guilty. All the knights were out looking for that cup and all for nothing. “I think… I will give it to you?”

The woman nodded, severe and quite irritated.

Arthurian advent calendar: 17th december

2012-12-20T19:33:19Z

Arthurian Advent Calendar - THE CALENDAR (list)

warning: English is not my first language

17^th DECEMBER: (Perceval, Galahad, Ice)

“It was what her grail destined for her,” says Galahad, with a broken voice and Dindrane’s blood in front of him.

“It was the grail wish,” says Galahad, when he is named king of Sarras with Bors and Perceva at his side.

“It is our destiny, that’s why the grail took us here,” says Galahad, looking at their people and longing for Camelot and his father.

It has always been the grail for Galahad.

Until Perceval’s death.

“God will save him, the grail will save him,” says Galahad when the ice breaks and Perceval falls under wanter, returning to Sarras feverish and cold. He doesn’t believe it.

Arthurian advent calendar: 16th december

2012-12-17T10:42:26Z

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warning: English is not my first language

16^th DECEMBER: (Gareth, Lynette, Knitting)

“Look, Clarissant, look!”

Clarissant looks. Gareth is particularly happy that morning, quite radiant, in fact. But a part from that Clarissant has no idea of what she should be looking for.

“Did you cut your hair?” she tries but her brother shakes his head.

“No, look at what I am wearing.”

Gareth is wearing a shapeless brown tunic which clearly someone knitted especially for him because on the front, in yellow, there is stitched his name.

“It is a fine tunic.”

“Lynette made it for me, isn’t it amazing?”

“It is,” answers Clarissant, smiling patiently. “Why don’t you show it to Gawain? I am sure he will love it!”

Gareth nods, enthusiastic and when he turns, Clarissant notices that Lynette added some more stitched words on the back of the tunic.

In elegant white there is written: I smell of kitchens. (I am actually a Knight of the Round Table, if lost or wounded, please, bring me back to Camelot, tower 4, Lynette’s room).

Arthurian advent calendar: 15th december

2012-12-17T10:37:19Z

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warning: English is not my first language

15^th DECEMBER: (Arthur, Mordred, Cats)

The blacksmith was talking animately about his wife, his children, his horses.

Arthur was distractly listening at him, more intent in keeping tracks on some invisible line on the map in front of him.

Mordred instead was listening at Dan, nodding at his adventures and laughing at his jokes.

Arthur lost the topic, for a bit. Guinevere’s idea of building a wall and a series of towers on the east was replaying in his mind and suddenly his eyes moved from the map to Mordred’s face, his son’s face.

He was as pale as a sheet, his eyes fixed on Dan’s face.

The blacksmith was taken by his own words and story “- we are full. I mean, we have three dogs which require a lot of food and we don’t have time or need to take more cats. My little Anne wanted to keep them, ‘do not drown them’ she kept asking me, but my dear, I told her, what do I have to do? My wife instead is quite a determined woman. ‘Little one’, she said to Anne, ‘that’s what you do with the puppies you do not want, you throw-“

“Dan!” shouted Arthur, a bit more brusque than he intended to.

“Sire?” asked te blacksmith, confused.

“I- we will take the kittens, please. Guinevere and her ladies would love them.”

“Are you sure? They’re little bast-“

“I am perfectly sure. If you could go and bring them here, please? Right now?”

Dan nodded, confused but quite glad to be able to please his king and he hurried out of the room.

“I am sorry, Mordred-” started Arthur. His face was burning.

“I don’t know why are you apologizing,” answered his son, he was still pale and his hands were shaking sightly.

“Would you like to have the cats?” asked the king, shily, feeling stupid and cruel. He needed to touch his son, hug him, beg for his forgiveness, but he couldn’t moved.

“Why? I have no need for cats. You can keep them.” And with these words, the son who escaped the drowning, sixteen years before, left the room, closing quitely the door after himself.

Arthurian advent calendar: 14th December

2012-12-14T11:18:49Z

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warning: English is not my first language

14^th DECEMBER: (Morgause, Laurel, Hate)

“Mother!” said Gareth, Mordred, Gawain, Agravaine and Gaheris, all of a sudden, all together.

“Children,” answered their mother, the Queen Morgause, even if they had stopped being children many years before “one at a time.”

“I am going to Camelot! I want to be one of Arthur’s knights!” shouted Gareth, full of enthusiasm.

Morgause paled, shocked: another lost son!

“I am going to support Arthur’s choice to marry Guinevere,” continued Gawain, happy and smiling, before his mother could answer back to his brother.

Morgause gasped.

“I am taking lesson of music from Dinadan,” tried, timidly, Gaheris.

“But-” started Morgause, just to be interrupted by Mordred, her younger son who quicly exlaimed: “I don’t really want to be king and kill Arthur. I want to write novels!”

“I hate you all!” shouted Morgause, before standing up and leaving the banquet.

“I… I am going to marry Laurel?” added Agravaine, looking at the young woman who was sitting near him.

“That was awkward,” she commented.

“Our family banquets are always awkward.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 13rd December

2012-12-14T11:17:08Z

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warning: English is not my first language

13^rd DECEMBER: (King Mark, Iseult, Marriage)

Iseult arrived in Cornwall feeling the need to hate its king. She hated him because she asked her parents to marry her.

Iseult arrived at the enormous Church with the need to hate his future husband. She hated him because he had sent Tristan to bring her in Cornwall and Tristan had been handsome, young and full of life

Iseult arrived at the alter with the need to hate the man in front of her. She hated him because she knew he had not really wanted a wife and he was almost thirty-three, her father’s age.

Iseult looked at the man in front of her, for the first time. Mark’s hair are already beginning to turn grey, his eyes are red and he seems nervous, as she is if not even more.

That man, that man that she hates is afraid of her, of her who is going to be soon his wife.

For a second, Iseult feels powerful and full of pity.

(Sorry, I am so late!) Arthurian advent calendar: 12 th december

2012-12-14T11:13:49Z

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warning: English is not my first language

12^nd DECEMBER: (Lynette, Lyonesse, Gifts)

“Shouldn’t you take a gift?”

“Lyonesse, we are clearly in danger. Actually, you are clearly in danger. Do you see that knight over there? He wants your castle. We don’t have time for gifts.”

“But, Ly, I can’t ask for Arthur’s help without giving him something. It’s almost Christmas and it would be rude.”

“Okay, Okay. But I am leaving immediately. I have no time to look for a gift. I’ll just tell to the king that we’ll give him something.”

“Tell him that we have a wonderful grail. Lovely.”

“I will, Lyonesse. Grail. Wonderful. I can remember it.”

Three months later, knights of every age and duty were leaving Camelot to look for a Wonderous Grail.

Arthurian advent calendar: 11st december

2012-12-14T11:12:40Z

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warning: English is not my first language

11^st DECEMBER: (Agravaine, Pellinore, Snow)

The other boy is strange, very strange, thinks Agravaine. He is as old as him and he has all dark hairs and his skin is darker than Agravaine. He is very strange.

“What is your name?” he asks him. He is curious. There are not many children in the Orkneys, just him and his brothers and sometime some of the villagers.

“Aglovale,” answers the strange child. His hands take the snow and let it fall again.

“Our names!” shouts Agravaine, excited. “I am Agravaine. Our names are similar! This is destiny, like a prophecy!” he continues, wise in his seven years old.

“Like Merlin’s prophecy?” asks Aglovale and Morgause’s son nods. Neither of them has the faintest idea of what a prophecy is but they think they can at least manage to grasp the concept behind the difficult word.

“And what does the prophecy say?”

“Prophecies don’t talk,” answers Agravaine. His mother is a witch. He knows these things.

“Then what do they do?”

“They do dangerous things. And other things. We should play with the
snow,” suddenly proposes Agravaine. A wise move. He has no idea about
what exactly a prophecy do. Better to change the topic.

Aglovale, who clearly is a barbarian (They have no manners in Camelot?) suddenly jumps on him, throwing him in the snow, laughing.

“No, no, that’s not how you play with the snow. You have to built things.”

Aglovale looks at him with his enormous eyes, hungrily observing Agravaine’s hands which model the snow, creating a face, a body, a castle. They spend an hour creating the best castle they have ever seen (Agravaine actually wants to send someone to call his uncle Arthur because Camelot is not nearly as beautiful as their castle) when their games are interrupted by a knight.

The knight is tall, enormous, and angry.

“What are you doing?” he asks. His voice is old and harsh.

Agravaine is about to answer that he can do what he wants because he is the king’s nephew when Aglovale speaks before him: “I am playing, father. This is how it is done, with the snow.”

“With him? He is one of Lot’s little poisonous snakes!” continues Aglovale’s father and he takes his son hand (which is cold from being for such a long time in the snow).

Agravaine would like to tell him that he is not a snake. That he is quite human, in fact. And he is quite sure e is not poisonous because a
week before his cat bite him and did not die of poison. He only manages to say “I am not-“ that the angry knight has taken away his new friend.

(When he asks Gawain who Aglovale’s father is, his big brother answers “He is the man who took away our father!”. Agravaine feels that he has quite the reasonable motif to feel hatred for such a man).

Arthurian advent calendar: 10th december

2012-12-10T21:09:42Z

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warning: English is not my first language

10^th DECEMBER: (Gaheris, Ragnelle, Fire)

“You are a witch.”

“I am, dear boy.”

“You really were awful. I mean, not to offend you- but you looked like a… a hag or something- it was painful to look at you.” Gaheris has the decency to sound embarassed.

“And I should care about others being offended by my looks… why?” asks Ragnelle, impassible. That boy is starting to become annoying.

“Well, a lady should be graceful. You were not what I would call graceful.”

“I can show you graceful,” mutters Ragnelle, gracefully tracing a sign in the air.

“What was that?”

“I think your scabbard is on fire,” replies Ragnelle, smiling graceful, pointing to the scabbard and the sword on Gaheris’ side.

Arthurian advent calendar: 9th december

2012-12-09T07:55:48Z

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warning: English is not my first language (but Italian is!)

9^th DECEMBER: (Galahad, Mordred, Italy + my lovely Verona)

“I don’t like this,” mumbled Mordred, looking around himself. He didn’t like Italy. Too much sun, too much people. No one knew English and the Italian kids made fun of the few words he knew (“Grazie”, thank you and “Prego” you’re welcome).

“You never like anything,” answered his brother.

“You like too many things, Gareth,” protested Mordred. Simply because it was true. Gareth liked too many people (he even adored that strange old man named Merlin and their aunt Morgan… no one ever liked their aunt Morgan).

Gareth simply smiled. He always smiled like that, as if he had a strange secret, something he was the only one to know. Especially since he met Perceval. Mordred hated Perceval (among the other people he loathed) because he was always at their home, pestering his brothers on ancient useless legends.

“Why are we here, again?”

“We are on a holiday, Mordred. Do you remember? The holiday. Gawain’s brithday. Italy?”

“Of course I remember,” growled Mordred. “I meant why are we here in Verona alone? I thought we were going to the lake with the others.”

“I just wanted to meet an old friend. I think you may like him.”

Again, that irritating smile.

They walked a bit, looking at the little stands there for Christmas, full of Italian food to try or little gifts to buy. They bought a scarf
for their mother and a bracelet for Laurel, Agravaine’s girlfriend, because Agravaine is a disaster in buying gifts.

When they arrived at the bridge on the river, Gareth stopped, starting looking around himself. Suddenly, a voice called Gareth’s name.

“Galahad!”

Mordred looked at the stranger man. He was about Gareth’s age, a couple of years younger than Mordred himself. He had blond hair and smiling eyes.

“Mordred, this is Galahad, a friend of mine. He is in Erasmus here in Italy.”

“Wonderful,” commented Mordred, not feeling really impressed.

“Lui è Mordred, l’ho riconosciuto,” answered Galahad, talking to Gareth. (In Italian, very irritating, thought Mordred who didn’t know a word in that language while he knew that Gareth was in a position of advantage, having studying Italian for years now).

“E’- lui. Non si ricorda nulla. Vuoi parlare da solo con lui?” Mordred looked suspiciously while Galahad blushed. “No, non saprei cosa dire. Non mi conosce più, non sa chi sono.”

“Ti conoscerà di nuovo. Ti ha amato una volta e questo da parte sua è già tanto, conoscendo la sua tanto nota acidità. Guarda,” continued Gareth, “già ti adora.”

“So, have you any intention to talk in some understandable language?” blurted out Mordred.

“Of course,” immediately replied Galahad, smiling again and bushing furiously. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mordred.”

TRANSLATED SENTENCES FROM ITALIAN

Lui è Mordred, l’ho riconosciuto = He is Mordred, I’ve recognised him

E’- lui. Non si ricorda nulla. Vuoi parlare da solo con lui? = Yes, he is- him. He doesn’t remember anything. Do you want to talk alone with him?

No, non saprei cosa dire. Non mi conosce più, non sa chi sono. = No, I wouldn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know me anymore, he doesn’t really know who I am.

Ti conoscerà di nuovo. Ti ha amato una volta e questo da parte sua è già tanto, conoscendo la sua tanto nota acidità. Guarda, già ti adora. = He will know you again. He loved you once and that’s a lot to say about him, you know how angry and nasty he can be. Look at him, he already adores you.

Arthurian advent calendar: 8th december

2012-12-09T07:52:26Z

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8^th DECEMBER: (Bedivere, Kay, Hawk)

“You stayed away for nearly a month to find me a hawk,” shouted Kay, looking furiously at the other knight.

Arthur looked at them, embarassed. “I- I should go and see- stuff. Stuff about Guinevere. Yes, Guinevere needs me,” he blurted out, running away from the room and leaving his stepbrother and his trusted knight alone.

“Yes, I sort of did,” answered Bedivere, looked something between guilty and hopeful. “I wanted to find a deserving gift but I couldn’t. It has not been easy.”

“I don’t care about gifts,” whispered Kay. “I don’t care. You stayed
away a month only for a gift. I don’t want any other gifts, just, don’t. I am trapped here in Camelot and you knights go away and fights and quest and wathever but my duties are here. You were away and I couldn’t go and look for you, I had to ask Lancelot. Lancelot.”

Bedivere’s newly formed smile slowly disappeared. “I am sorry. I just wanted- I am sorry, Kay.” He opened his arms, almost timidly, and sighed of relief when Kay accepted the hug and Kay’s arms tightened around him.

“Now, let me see that hawk. I hope it is majestic.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 7th december

2012-12-07T21:45:53Z

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warning: English is not my first language

7^th DECEMBER: (Guinevere, Arthur, Camping in the woods)

“Are you lost?”

Arthur would like to say yes. Yes, thank you very much, ms stranger, I am lost. I was camping in the woods. I wanted to recuperate my inner self and my feelings with nature and something like that. My sister’s idea, really. And I got lost. Which is most embarassing because I used to be a king in Britain and I was the best at it, especially if it involved riding into the woods.

Instead he finds himself gaping. He supposes he looks quite silly with his glasses broken in half, ruffled and sweaty hair and the look of desperation (lost in the woods for nearly a day, he was quite desperate).

The woman in front of him is perfect with her hawk like nose and short curly black hair. Her skin is dark, perfectly smooth like he remembers and she has a little mole on her left cheek.

She wears the red uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and she is on an enormous white horse. She is absolutely stunning.

“So, are you lost, Arthur?”

She had recognized him.

Arthur cannot help himself and he answers, happy and enthusiastic as he wasn’t in years. “Yes, I am lost. Thank you for finding me, Guinevere.”

Arthurian advent calendar: 6th december

2012-12-06T17:27:50Z

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warning: English is not my first language

6^th DECEMBER: (Morgana, Merlin, knitting)

“I must go, Arthur.”

“Why? I need you! I need you now. It’s almost my marriage and-“

“Arthur,” murmored Merlin, smiling. “I understand you are nervous but the girl loves you and you love her, all will be fine.”

“You said that the last time. You left Camelot last december, just like every december. And I slept with my sister,” answered Arthur, completely not fine at all.

“Well, that was just a casuality.”

“And the year before I lost myself in the woods. And Pellinore defeated me.”

“Well, that was kind of your fault-“

“Why do you have to leave every year at december? It’s bad luck for me.”

Merlin tried again to explain him that luck (or bad luck) really didn’t exist but Arthur was a stubborn man.

“If you put it this way then I shall reveal you what I must do every year at this time of year,” he spoke at least, dramatically. “I am an old man and my magical powers need restoring, so once in a year I must put myself in a dreamless sleep so that I can return to you more powerful than before.”

Arthur kept looking at him suspiciously all the night but, fortunately, he seemed to have accepted the explanation and the day after he let him go without protesting too much.

Meanwhile, in a cold and dark (but still incredibly rich and beautiful) castle of Lothian, two sisters were talking happily about their future plans. Cakes, adpting a couple of kittens, maybe a marriage and three or four murders.

“And so I shall take the young stableboy and-” Morgause stopped, noticing that Morgana seemed quite distracted. “What are you writing?” she asked, noticing the note that the sister was compiling.

“Just a little something for our old Merlin. This year I’ll take him away from Camelot again, sister, so that you shall work your magic on Arthur’s marriage.”

“Marvellous! You never disappoint me.”

Morgana smiled at her, proud of herself. Tricking Merlin was both fun and useful. And she was always winning.

She put down the quiver and she looked at her own note, ready to call a travelling crow and send it to the wizard.

On the paper there was written: Waiting for you at the Knitting competition, loser.

Arthurian advent calendar: 5th december

2012-12-06T17:22:20Z

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warning: English is not my first language

5^th DECEMBER: (Galahad, Dindrane, Chocolate + Christmas)

So this was the Grail. The Holy Cup, the Cauldron, the symbol of the union of the religions who loved so much to fight against themselves, looking for non existent truths.

“So this is the Grail,” speaks Perceval, with veneration in his voice.

“It seems so. It is beautiful. So white.”

“Shiny,” comments sir Bors, without moving from the door.

“Shall we take it?” proposes Perceval.

“I think it should take us. To heaven. Or something,” replies Bors.

Galahad ignores them (everyone should have his own journey to the grail) and decides to walk towards the sacred cup.

The cup is beautiful. Elegant, small, perfect to be kept in the warm protection of two holding hands. Galahad is now at just some steps from the cup, he stretches his own arm and touches it with his esitant fingers.

It’s warm and smooth.

He takes it.

And just in that moment he notices that there is a liquid in the cap. It’s brownish and it is smoking.

“What-“

There is a note under the cup, written in the elegant calligraphy of Dindrane. Dindrane, the woman who followed them and whose body disappeared after her useless sacrifice to save an old dying queen.

Guys (especially you, Galahad)
I salute your naivety. I’ve taken the Grail with me. It was quite nice. But I would never like to see you disappointed so I am leaving some nice hot chocolate for you. You don’t even know what cholocate is. Well, you should try it.
I assure you it’s a lot better than the Grail.
A hug (and a kiss for you, my sweet Galahad, maybe one day we will meet you again) and Merry Christmas.

Your favourite time traveler,
Dindrane

Arthurian advent calendar: 4th december

2012-12-06T17:18:56Z

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warning: English is not my first language

4^th DECEMBER: (Tristan, Palamedes, Nostalgy)

Palamedes’ eyes are closed. It’s rarer every minute to see his brownish eyes opening now.

Tristan does what he can with the knowledge that Iseult gave him. Water, warm, cleaning the wound, making him feel safe.

“When I will be dead-” starts Palamedes. Tristan interrupts him. He can’t hear it. The very idea of it makes him want to throw up or to destroy Camelot and Arthur’s court.

“You will not die, my friend. You will live enough to see us all buried in out tombs.”

“That is kind of you to say,” smiles Palamedes. His eyes still closed.

All for the Grail, thinks Tristan. He is furious. He is angry with Arthur and his silly quest for an impossible object. He is angry at Palamedes because he left for the Grail only to show Iseult that even a pagan like him can find the holy object of the Christian religion. His is angry at himself. He shouldn’t love Iseult. Not when Palamedes loves her so much.

“You are a kind man, Tristan. When I will be dead you should write songs about our story.”

“I can’t-” tries Tristan, before nodding because he has tears in his eyes and Palamedes will make fun of him. “I wil try,” he answers, finally.

“I miss Alexandria. I have been in Alexandria once, my friend. It was glorious. It was- magnificent. I wish your king will build-“

“We will go to Alexandria,” promises Tristan, taking Palamedes’ hand in his own. “You, me and Iseult. We will visit Alexandria and your home, near the deserts as you told me. And Arabia. The Mecca. Everything, I promise.”

Palamedes smiles again. “Of course, Tristan.”

Tristan would like to thank you. Thank you for letting me make that promise. I have never listened to your stories enough. There are so many questions.

But Palamedes is dead.