Title: The Sorcerer and the King
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Categories: AU, Drama, Dark, Angst, Action/Adventure
Length: Epic (~85,000 words)
Warnings: major character death (don't worry, he gets better)

Author on LJ: winterhill
Website: Works on AO3

Summary: Merlin's death is only the beginning; with no-one to protect the kingdom, Camelot falls to an enemy sorcerer and Arthur is forced to serve in the court that he once ruled. When an escape attempt goes horribly wrong, Arthur is rescued by someone he never expected to see again -- and it's their destiny to put things right.
Review:
This is an interesting premise that most Merlin fic doesn't go into great depth about- what if Arthur doesn't save Merlin from burning when he's found out as a sorcerer? There are interesting character choices that I can really see happening, and a casefile that's rather intriguing. I loved Arthur's inner turmoil over letting Merlin die, and the interesting OCs winterhill brings to the table. Although some places drag a little, this is a solid submission to the paperlegends Merlin Big Bang Challenge, and a wonderful read.
The Sorcerer and the King