I loved this Ned central chapter. I crave any bits of happy Stark family at Winterfell I can get! Those bits that you added with Ned talking with The older boys and Cat really were great. Thank you for not portraying Cat as a bitch too. She's a complicated character with some deep flaws but a lot of people forget her good qualities.

Ned seriously is the best and him and Merlin together will be unstoppable. Step aside Cersei with your wild fire, and Dany with your dragons! The Starks have friggin Merlin with them! And maybe Freya too if she stays sounds of mind during her transformations. Oh, and her and Merlin breaking down into tears, it was so touching.

Oh yes. This is totally less depressing. Merlin and Freya were exposed, their new friends are turning on them like people before them did, Freya might die, and Jory tried to commit suicide. Even Lancelot has seemingly turned his back on his sister and Merlin, though I can understand he's just trying to protect his family and neither Merlin or Freya begrudge him.

Poor Merlin, can he not have some happiness for himself? He gave everything to Arthur on the show, which I hated. At least Ned has promised that Merlin can still love peacefully with the Starks, even with his magic out in the open. But I just hope they find some way not to kill Freya. Even exile would be better then death. Great job!

So I do have a question. In this combined world of yours, how much and how often to the people of Albion interact with the people of Westeros and Essos? Have the nobility of Westeros had any sort of interaction with those of Albion, like the Pendragons? Will the people Merlin left behind ever reappear in the story?

Wow, so Victarion settles a mutiny against him to lessen the humiliation he already is enduring at being over powered, then he murders his own wife because Euron did the Westerosi equivalent of date rape her. I mean I can see that he is worried about it appearing that he is forgiving and accepting a wife that willingly cheated on him with his own brother, but she didn't. This really just shows plain as day how misogynistic Westerosi society can be. There are areas where women have more respect, rights, freedoms, but every region has it to a certain extent. Ugh, that was difficult to read but it was extremely well written. Good on you for tackling such complex topics in such nuanced and multifaceted ways. Can't wait for the lighter chapter though! Keep up the good work!

Why couldn't you just let Euron die? You have made so many other changes, why not let a villain die early, heck you could have had Merlin mirror life and death, killing Euron to heal Tamara.

They should just wait for the Night before the full moon, in Bastet form Freya is a terror to fight, so if Merlin break out while she's transformed, he should be able to get to her before she get hurt, from there they can slaughter the Ironborn.

How the heck did a random pirate give Merlin trouble in a beam battle, not even Nimueh could win one of those against Merlin.

And it was in the first season he faced Nimueh, he's already killed one of the most powerful witches in Albion, and used her lifeforce to restore Gaius.

Merlin is Emrys, if you want him to have trouble in a match of raw magical might, you should either have him face someone like Euron or Melisande, or you should send a whole cabal of sorcerers to fight him.

Freya's curse has nothing to do with the full moon, it comes at any moonlight, her life would be so much easier, if she only transformed 3 times a month.

Enjoyed this chapter! I’m excited to se what happens now that the insurrection is overt and Ned knows Merlin and Freya’s secrets.

Ah, this chapter was sad! I never thought Carroth was an evil character or bad at all. He was misguided, desperate, and afraid, and because of that, he made some less than honorable decisions and horrible mistakes. Maybe he wasn't the bravest guy, but he wanted to look after the only family he had left in the world, and in the end, despite his mistakes, he did that. He ensured his sister had the chance to start a new peaceful, stable life surrounded by people that would be kind to her and honor their promise to look after her.

He went out well. He knows he did bad things and regrets them. He doesn't try to escape justice and faces his death with bravery and dignity. I think that says a lot about his character. This mini arc of his has been complex, thoughtful, and tragic. It jad the perfect bittersweet ending. The last letter he wrote to his sister and him seeing his dead loved ones were beautiful.

His death also illustrated how good the Starks are. How kind northerners can be given the right leadership. You made me miss Ned even more. Ouch. Well, wonderful job friend!

Why do you have Merlin so much weaker than he's supposed to be? It's ridiculous, there's pretty much no possible way he could fail to take out an entire ship's worth of pirates with ease, considering where this story started from.

The fic went from pretty good to just plain confusing with this chapter. Impossible to figure out or keep straight what's supposed to be going on, and equally impossible to keep track of the seemingly dozen or so new characters introduced all at once with far too little context.

The action scenes had very nice detail as usual. It was interesting to also see Ned as a warrior. You never get to see him fighting much in canon. His characterization was great accept for one point. I don't think he would causal mention the Tower of Joy and offer to tell a servant boy he's known a matter of months about an intimate experience he won't even tell his own family about. Ned also found out about Merlin and Freya's secret. I wonder what he will do with the info?

The grief exhibited by Jory and his wife was heart wrenching. To use a young adolescent child right on the edge of adulthood is truly devastating. What is the conflict about letting Jory have his justice though? Ned obviously doesn't want a trusted advisor and friend committing suicide, and Carroth is obviously guilty of treason. He'll probably be sentenced to death any way. Why not let Jory be the one the behead him? Another great update one! Can't wait for the next!

Why did you leave it on a cliffhanger like that!? Moon Lantern, you're killing me here! It looked like it would be a nice long chapter to read, and objectively it was, but the action was so well written and fast paced, that it felt WAY too short. Get that new update out quick! I can't stomach the idea of Ned in danger! Merlin, save him, will you? He'll be a lot more receptive to a warlock in his household if sed warlock reveals his magic by saving Ned's life.

The action really was phenomenal, but that didn't mean that it was lacking in character moments. Merlin's inner conflict was just as poignant and nerve wracking as the external one. Ned will take the revelation of Merlin's talents much better than Uther. There's no outright law against magic, and while he might be weary, I think if Merlin proves his good intent with it, Ned will be accepting. The way you write Merlin and Freya is phenomenal. Even their brief conversation was a delight to read. You've expanded and enriched the Freya from canon into a plausible, badass character. Bravo friend!

Also, can't forget to mention that I did enjoy seeing the Stark boys fight alongside their dad, sort of even. You know I root for them always, so even if they're side characters, I'm happy to see them with their family, safe but fighting for their loved ones.;-) Bravo on another great chapter friend, because it truly was! Can't wait for the next update!

Carroth is spying but for who, Winterfel, another kingdom or a third party?

I stand corrected... Is the man Gwaine?