Take Me up | Cast me away

Gaius: "On one side it says 'take me up', on the other 'cast me away'. May I ask who made it, Sire?"
Uther: "Merlin gave it to me. It was forged for Arthur."

~BBC Merlin, S01 E09 - Excalibur


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Did I mention that I got into Merlin in August? Well from then on, I followed the 5th series and therefore, the end. It was broadcasted on December 24, Christmas Eve (and when we celebrate Christmas and get presents here in Germany). I was pretty down the next day and that night, I even started writing fanfiction because I couldn't cope ([link] if you wanna read, I'm not ready though). It was really sad and those of you who saw it know what I'm talking about. I had this idea a few weeks ago during holidays but somehow I wasn't really motivated to draw and more to write (I wrote like...20.000 words in a few days? wtf...) so I didn't really draw anything. Just today, I discovered this recording program that (finally) worked out in the right way and I could record the progress of this drawing

About the pic: I really enjoyed doing this! And I think looking back on it, the imprint in Excalibur was really fitting for the show and these characters, in multiple ways. You could as well reverse the colours and persons but I thought this was the most fitting, putting Arthur and the Pendragon crest with the red and Merlin and the Crystal Cave in the background with the blue. I guess this is supposed to refer to the final (SPOILERS NOW) so when Arthur dies, he is to be taken/lifted up again and Merlin is pretty much cast away, broken but waiting until his king returns. Oh gosh, all these feelings T_T. I'm not really a Merthur shipper to be honest (I got a thing for ArWen and MerGana. I dunno why Mergana, it just...I think they'd have a passionate relationship, first filled with rage and then later with passion and magic. Also, they had this sort of potential during the first series, especially at the end of it. I couldn't help but ship it and now it doesn't go away ;_;. And Gwen and Arthur are just sweet together :3) but I like the thought of them having this deep connection due to the things they went through together. I guess you call that Bromance?
Yeah, well! Here you have

Arthur Pendragon and Merlin Ambrosius (Emrys) with the great sword Excalibur, forged in the breath of the great Dragon Kilgarrah.

Sorry, I just had to add that, it sounds so cool I know Arthur doesn't look like Bradley here and I'm sorry for that...I really tried D: I have to get the hang of this half realistic half cell shading style but I love it very much x_x. I'll probably try to perfect it in the future AND WHO THE F*** INVENTED CHAINMAIL?! That stuff is a pain to draw...I cheated a little

BTW I'm taking COMMISSIONS! Did all of you get that message? Because there're still 10 spots free More in my Journal


To reblog it on tumblr: [link]

Oh and a happy new year to you all! I know it's old by now but this is my first upload in 2013 so...way to go! Hope this year is going to be as awesome as the last one
Take care, love you! ~


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Reference: Some pictures from Google from Bradley James and Colin Morgan + the crest, the crown, Excalibur and the Crystal Cave (Which is a Screenshot)
Merlin © BBC
Texture © ~jm-stock → [link]
Time: 5 1/2 hours
Medium: PS CS 5 | Wacom Intuos 4