I sense that the spelling of the title is in-tension-al... I'm sorry I just love puns way too much and the title makes me so happy. This story is the part of Merlin that they didn't film because it was too deep and subtle for the show's original premise. The sentiment was there, but it was an undercurrent and I think a lot of people try to capture it in fanfiction but this is definitely the best/most successful I've ever seen.

Great

Ouch. But so Merlin.
Excellent story.

Thanks for writing and posting, it's appreciated

You know we see so many adorable/romantic/fluffy Merlin fics and they're oh-so-wonderful, but not often does he have to face his being a hero like a real person. Tremendous premise, and I love how expressive your writing is.

I'm not gonna say it, nope, I refuse to.
But...
I mean...
...
Ah, forget it.
Wow.

This was beautiful. I cried. Props.

Aw, my heart hurts for him :( Definitely fits well into season five because we could see poor Merlin really struggling with the weight of his destiny in the last season, which is what made the finale all the more devastating! Season 5 was my least favorite season. It was just to heartbreaking for Merlin. His secret should have been revealed at the end of season 4 or the beginning of season 5.

Beautiful writing though.

DX WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO MY BABY?!

AND WHY MUST YOU BE SO GOOD AT DOING IT THAT I FORGIVE YOU?!

Sorry if my first review doesn't make sense. I meant to say, I wish there were more to read because I can't get enough of it. :P

Wow. This makes me wish there were to read. Destiny is one of my favourite themes to see explored in Merlin fanfics, particularly ones where Merlin is aware of how trapped he is. The way this story deals with it? Beautiful and heartbreaking. Fantastic work!

I really like this idea. I was always interested in the Druids and felt that canon could have done so much more with them than they ended up doing. What I like about what you're doing here is giving us a chance to see more of them, and how they interact with Merlin while at the same time giving us a deeper understanding of the weight of Merlin's destiny. Because its not just Arthur's life that is riding on his decisions, but all these people and their futures. And it may be worse to have someone's absolute faith than their disbelief, when you don't believe in yourself, which is what you've shown here.

It takes everything we've seen in canon and just gives it so much more life and depth and gah I adore you like a million much.

And, of course, you ripped out my heart and stomped on it with all of Merlin's despair and doubt and the way he is trapped into this role, so there is that too.

I really enjoyed that. Thanks. My heart is really bleeding for
Merlin here. You captured his tormoil perfectly.

Great story, fantastic mixture of light and dark and a killer last line.

For the love of - Oh my god, I can't think straight. That was stuffed full of angst, and *wipes eyes* It was soooo beautiful. I think that was perfectly in character for what Merlin must have been feeling, and... oh my gosh, I don't even have words for it. But that was absolutely wonderful, and so inexplicably beautiful. I'm not even kidding. Please update soon. Are you possibly going to make this into a reveal?