altocello | {fanart} The Mirror of His Soul (Reply)

Title: The Mirror of His Soul
Prompt #: #31, Merlin as Dorian Gray
Rating: G is for Gothic (and Gen Audiences)
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Merlin, Emrys
Medium: Pencil on sketchbook paper
Warnings: Creepy?
Summary: Merlin as Dorian Gray. Specifically, "This portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors. As it had revealed to him his own body, so it would reveal to him his own soul. And when winter came upon it, he would still be standing where spring trembles on the verge of summer. When the blood crept from its face, and left behind a pallid mask of chalk with leaden eyes, he would keep the glamour of boyhood. Not one blossom of his loveliness would ever fade. Not one pulse of his life would ever weaken. Like the gods of the Greeks, he would be strong, and fleet, and joyous. What did it matter what happened to the coloured imaged on the canvas? He would be safe. That was everything." -The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Notes: Many thanks to my awesome beta,

amphigoury, for her help with brainstorming for this one, and for catching those little things that make such a big difference! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention my faithful and wonderful cheerleader,

k_nightfox, who helped keep my spirits up when I had my inevitable moments of self doubt. *hugs you both* Thanks also to Shine and Merlinskeep for the promo photos I used of Emrys and Merlin, and to Google for helping me find photos of Oscar Wilde. That's his velvet suit that Merlin is wearing. And yeah, I chose my own prompt. LOL!