Happy Alternate Universe Theme Week!

Title: Check/Mate (series)
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Categories: Historical AU, Age of Sail, Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Secret Relationship
Length: Epic (56,699 words over 13 parts)
Warnings: Some violence, mainly in the context of sea battles; some serious injuries; infidelity (offscreen, non-explicit) in later parts

Author on LJ: i_claudia
Author Website: i_claudia

Author’s Summary: (from Part 1)
The first encounter Arthur had with Merlin Emrys was entirely unexpected.

Review:
Every once in awhile, something I read really stays with me. This is one of those things. I first read Check/Mate over a couple of days, moving eagerly from one part to the next as time allowed. It was easy to read, but hard to forget. For days after, I found myself thinking of the universe and characters i_claudia so deftly and perfectly developed.

In this universe, the path to a relationship between Arthur and Merlin is fraught with danger. The consequences of discovery are dire, especially so for Merlin, as sodomy is considered a hanging offense in the Royal Navy, and as Merlin considers the matter in Check and Mate (Part 1) “…the accusation had needed to present very little in the way of true evidence.” Because of this, the initial connection between Arthur and Merlin is necessarily approached somewhat obliquely, with chess serving as both metaphor and excuse for them to rendezvous. Their regular chess matches serve as a point of continuity throughout the series.

While it is broken up into parts, Check/Mate feels very cohesive, each part a glimpse into the lives of Arthur and Merlin as they struggle to be together despite the obstacles and inherent danger of such an undertaking. Merlin is a man of the sea through and through, and the enforced separations driven by his duties to the Royal Navy lead to some lovely, emotional pining and angst. As a result of this desperate longing for one another, the love scenes are intense, deeply passionate, almost poignant, and sizzling hot. i_claudia’s use of language to evoke this fervor is masterful, as she not only depicts the interactions between Arthur and Merlin but creates the setting for them in such a detailed and perfect way that their relationship unfolds against an exceptionally well-realized backdrop and is all the better for it.

While the romance between Arthur and Merlin holds primacy throughout the series, all of the other characterizations are spot-on and there are some lovely moments featuring the supporting characters, especially in Farewell and Adieu (To You, Spanish Ladies) which is a humorous vignette in which the crew of Merlin’s ship come up with elaborate theories to explain the framed landscape kept lovingly in his sea chest (and sometimes on his desk), and the tragic, secret ladylove with whom he must be corresponding. While it is lighthearted and features an amusingly busy-bodying Gaius as Merlin’s steward, it is bittersweet as well, since it would of course be disastrous if anyone were to realize that Merlin’s love is no lady at all.

A final note to wrap this up; I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the characterizations of Arthur and Merlin as well. Arthur is perfectly Arthur, the medieval king transplanted to the English nobility and very well done, but the real standout characterization-wise is Merlin. I LOVE this Merlin, his confidence, his commanding presence on deck, his wit and charm — this is a Merlin who is realizing his potential and is as gifted in his chosen profession as canon Merlin was with his magic, with the added bonus that in this ‘verse, Merlin’s talents are known, lauded, and serve him well on his rise through the ranks of the Royal Navy.

This is one of those works that I could go on and on about and probably never convey all the wonderful things about it — even here I’ve only touched on a couple of the parts in the series when all of them are simply excellent — but I hope what I’ve said is sufficient to encourage anyone who hasn’t read it to give it a try. It’s well worth the read!

Check/Mate