Merlin/Mab

[himiko]

AND THUS, HIMIKO SAID UNTO THE BOARD, I SHALL CREATE A THREAD FOR THE DISCUSSION OF MAB/MERLIN AS A PAIRING, AND A THREAD WAS CREATED!

I am bored and unemployed. Humour me.

Ummm, yes- basically, since there seem to be a few Mab/Merlin fans about the boards these days, I figured it might be fun to discuss what we like about it/ hate about, etc.

Personally, Mab/Merlin is one of my favourite pairings- it might well be my absolute favourite at the moment. However, I don't find it quite as easy to articulate why I love the pairing as I do with Mab/Mordred....

I think it might be a kind of "alternative ending" thing, in a way. Mab and Merlin both end up as increasingly abandoned and out of place in the world throughout the film/ books, and they are related in some way, and yet they spend almost the entire film as each other's enemy. The film is basically a catelogue of losses for the pair of them, until Merlin gets Nimue back at the very end. It's nice to envision an alternate world in which they actuall manage to relate to each other in some way. I think that's why I like a variety of Mab/Merlin fanfic- I love a lot of platonic or familial Mab/Merlin, where there is some friendship or more of a mother/son dynamic there, without a romantic or sexual pairings, just as much as I love fics with a pairing. I also like fics where there is some sexual tension between them but they remain enemies, and I think this is partly because I can see that being the most realistic outcome- and I just like them

One thing I do have a problem with is how the pairing would end up. I mean, they have been enemies for a long time, and mixed in with the stubbornness and lack of understanding of each other's sides, there are some pretty compelling reasons for that. I don't see them settling down together- more because of the characters than the pairing- and there is a lot of background tension there.

So, yeah, the pairing/ friendship works in several different ways for me, but its always hard to envision how it will end, if that makes any sense?

[Arwen17]

I like it for the same reasons you do himiko, in addition I like it because Merlin is the same species as Mab. Who better to understand her than someone who also has fae-blood? *stubbornly ignores humanparts*

I think the relationship would end with Merlin's death and then Mab would grieve for him forever, but she wouldn't let that destroy her.

I don't think Mab "settles down" with anyone. She's not a human. I just think certain lovers would be more special to her and last longer before she discards them. I think she would never discard Merlin and would remain with him as long as his lifespan held out because he is the most special. She created him to be her perfect champion.

[spellboundinfinity]

You're totally right, Arwen, forget Merlin's human parts. They've done nothing but cause trouble for Mab anyway ;D

Mab/Merlin I can see happening if they were forced to work together for some reason, particularly against a common enemy. If they had to work on the same side I can see them gaining a better understanding of each other, maybe not forming a romance but a friendship. At the very least, a truce from their war.

[himiko]

Absolutely, I can definitely see them managing to bond over a common enemy. I think forcing them to work together on something would (aside from being amusing at first ) force them to notice what they have in common, and perhaps see things from the other's point of view.

I see what you mean, Arwen- I can see that outcome being likely, should this pairing ever occur as something other than hatesex, although I can see Mab taking other lovers whilst Merlin is still alive- I don't think she'd be tied down to one person. But yeah, I definitely think she'd grieve him. I like to think that if the outcome of their final battle had been different, and Merlin had died, Mab would have mourned him. I also like to think Merlin mourned Mab, in his own way, after the film, and I ignore anything that suggests otherwise- because I can

[Mabforever]

I am bored and unemployed.
Tell me a bloody bout it Im going to go mad doing nothing all day for much longer.

I love the Mab/Merlin pairing in all those ways it's nice in general to see some kind of connection with them that isnt there war after a while in the film the fact that Merlin is Mab's son is almost forgotten up until the end where she tells him she loves him. Now them settling down which is an idea but I have trouble envisioning Mab settling down with anyone. As far as I can see Mab's longest relationship in the film is with...Frik...which is odd when I say it like that.

I like it for the same reasons you do himiko, in addition I like it because Merlin is the same species as Mab. Who better to understand her than someone who also has fae-blood? *stubbornly ignores humanparts*

Species is a great reason I love the pairing, but I totally agree in ignoring his humanness, I hate how despite Merlin being half of what she is he still is incapable to understand her and her reasons at all. It sucks, again had this Merlin been turned into a tv series it would have been cool to see Mab work some magick to draw out Merlin's fae side letting us see him on her team for a while possibly, enter Dark!Merlin.

I think she would never discard Merlin and would remain with him as long as his lifespan held out because he is the most special. She created him to be her perfect champion.
Yush he's her creation so he's perfect meaning he wouldnt be thrown aside like her other lovers.

Absolutely, I can definitely see them managing to bond over a common enemy. I think forcing them to work together on something would (aside from being amusing at first ) force them to notice what they have in common, and perhaps see things from the other's point of view.

Hence my love for An Illusion of Magic ;D

But yeah, I definitely think she'd grieve him. I like to think that if the outcome of their final battle had been different, and Merlin had died, Mab would have mourned him. I also like to think Merlin mourned Mab, in his own way, after the film, and I ignore anything that suggests otherwise- because I can
Same

[sleepyqueenie]

I seem to have difficulty pairing Mab with anyone. I am not a big Merlin/Mab fan. I do prefer it to Mordred/Mab.
Merlin and Mab have a lot in common and I will never stop wishing that Merlin would see this!

I think the relationship would end with Merlin's death and then Mab would grieve for him forever, but she wouldn't let that destroy her. aaaw yes. Tragic Mab. A destiny she can't avoid.

I also like to think Merlin mourned Mab, in his own way, after the film, and I ignore anything that suggests otherwise- because I can excellent

I am bored and unemployed.
Tell me a bloody bout it Im going to go mad doing nothing all day for much longer. My heart goes out to both of you. I am in the same position.
*wishes Mab would employ us*

As far as I can see Mab's longest relationship in the film is with...Frik... lol true.
Several days ago I had this image stuck in my head of Mab and Frik being the two last magical beings.
Mab, as ever, was determined not to die. They were sitting on the floor in front of each other. She had folded her arms over her legs. I could tell she was gathering her courage. She was not wearing any clothes and staring at Frik.
Frik was scared out of his wits.

[NyssaSaraLee]

Several days ago I had this image stuck in my head of Mab and Frik being the two last magical beings.

How sad!! this reminds me of that song by Within Temptation •Forsaken•
That is exactly how I pictured mab and frik during this song...
(minus the nude mab)

[Mabforever]

I am bored and unemployed.
Tell me a bloody bout it Im going to go mad doing nothing all day for much longer. My heart goes out to both of you. I am in the same position.
*wishes Mab would employ us*
*nods desperately* yes!

Several days ago I had this image stuck in my head of Mab and Frik being the two last magical beings.
lol when reading this the words, "Not if you were the last gnome on earth" popped into my head.
Mab, as ever, was determined not to die.
As she is.
They were sitting on the floor in front of each other. She had folded her arms over her legs. I could tell she was gathering her courage. She was not wearing any clothes and staring at Frik.
Always a good image.
Frik was scared out of his wits.
again as above but for different reasons.

[maellowyn]

Oh my I haven been around here for a long time... there is a thread on my favourite pairing and I haven't noticed.

1st they are not related by blood but by magic, nor did she bring him up

2nd they are equally headstrong characters

3rd lets admit it due to their charisma Sam Neil and Miranda Richardson would have looked good together

4th the whole story of the movie screams love-hate relationship between them, which is the most dynamic and dramatic combination you can get (something like that is promising passion)

But anyway give me a good told story with an arc of suspense, that is told in a believable way I might accept any pairing in Merlin.