{art} for "Falls the Shadow"

[altocello]

Title: Illustrations for "Falls the Shadow," an AfterCamlann Big Bang fic by scotscookie
Artist: altocello
Pairings/characters: Merlin
Warnings: None for the art, but the fic does have a fair amount of angst.
Medium: Pencil on sketchbook paper and digital paintings.
Summary: The King is dead. Long Live the King. Camelot is Arthur's now, and Merlin had believed they would achieve their destiny together. But when Arthur pulls away and betrays Merlin utterly, he goes to find the one person who understands his hurt the most.
Notes: Huge thanks to scotscookie, who had faith in my ability to get art done for her even though I disappeared on holiday for almost a month this summer. I also owe so much love and the huggiest of hugs to my betas, amphigoury and alby_mangroves for helping me stay sane and for troubleshooting while these pieces got created, and to rocknvaughn for being my main cheerleader; I honestly, really and truly, could not have done it without you! Thanks also to k_nightfox (and to the supporting mods for helping her get it all done) for making this possible in the first place by keeping the Merlin summer Big Bang ball rolling with this new fest; you done good! *hugs*

Disclaimer: These are non-profit fanworks; no harm intended, no money made.

Chapter Breaks

I have an inordinate love of chapter breaks. I love to see them in stories, and I love to make them. For any of you who do not share this love, I'm very sorry, on so many levels. But I'm sharing these with you anyway. :D All of the chapter breaks were drawn using GIMP and a digital drawing tablet.

I decided to try to come up with a visual representation of Merlin's immortality. The design on this pendant is a variation on an ouroboros, the snake that eats itself, a symbol of the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation. Because Merlin is a Dragonlord, the serpent is a dragon, and because he is actually immortal and rides the wheel of life without end, I twisted the ouroboros into an infinity symbol. The pearl is borrowed from eastern dragon traditions, in which dragons hold a pearl of wisdom, which I found apt for Merlin in his role as Arthur's touchstone.


Emrys




This was actually the first piece that I created for this fic, even before I'd seen any actual text! Cookie and I were talking about the plot and she mentioned that Morgana would play a significant part, so I went off and drew this for the parts of the story where Morgana is prominent:


Morgana




Cookie also mentioned that the cursed pendant from "The Wicked Day" would have an important part to play. It took a few tries for me to figure out the celtic knot in the frame on this one (the secret is that it's a layered knot that loops back over itself, very tricky!) but I got there.


Cursed Pendant

Illustrations:

I really do wish that I had been able to get more of these drawn, but I didn't. I had plans for at least 3 more and simply ran out of time. So, with apologies, I really did mean to draw more characters than just Merlin, but I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out. Both of these were drawn with pencil on white paper.

"A blast of power sends him flying backwards, left on the floor winded but unhurt as the old man runs from the room in a flurry of whirling robes.

Leaving him unhurt.

Leaving him remembering the teasing; the humour in an old man’s eyes; an entreaty he could not begin to understand.

The old man’s eyes.

Were not old mans’ eyes."

Epiphany

"Merlin drew in another gulping breath and staggered onward. The spell he’d been using didn’t seem to mask his scent and he could hear the baying of hounds drawing ever closer."

Hunted



Also on: DW | AO3 | Tumblr | DA

Thanks so much for looking, and if you should feel so moved comments are very much loved!

Comments

[alby-mangroves.livejournal.com]

BEAUTIFUL WORK!! i do love your dedication. It really shows in the quality of the end result! <333

[altocello.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU, ALBY! I always try my best! <3333