The beard could change his appearance so much that his friends don't recognize him at first. This could lead to some comical misunderstandings in the fanfiction. For example, Gwaine might challenge him to a fight thinking he's an intruder, or Gaius might think he's a new wizard in town. As the story unfolds, they would then discover it's actually Merlin, and this could lead to a deeper exploration of how appearances can be deceiving.
In fanfiction, Merlin growing a beard could signify a passage of time or a new phase in his life. It might be a symbol of his increasing wisdom or a mark of a more mature and powerful Merlin. Maybe he grows it during a period of isolation, where he has time to focus on himself and his magic, away from the chaos of Camelot.
Well, perhaps in this fanfiction, Harry grows a beard as a sign of his maturity and the many years of hardships he has endured since defeating Voldemort. Maybe he's living a more reclusive life, away from the spotlight of the wizarding world, and the beard is like a shield from all the attention he used to get. He could be devoting his time to research on ancient magic, and the beard just gives him that wise, old - wizard look.
Well, perhaps the story could be about Percy's journey of self - discovery as he grows a beard. Maybe he starts to look more mature and it changes the way people perceive him in the fanfiction world.
Well, if Merlin gets drunk in a fanfiction, it could lead to some really interesting character interactions. He might lose his usual inhibitions and act more freely. This could result in him getting into trouble with the court or the knights. He could also make a fool of himself in front of Gwen, which would be quite embarrassing for him later when he sobers up.
Well, Merlin might take the baby under his wing and protect it with his magic. Maybe he'd have to hide the baby from those who would use it for evil purposes.
Fans of Percy in the original story would likely be interested. If they love the character, they'd be curious to see how this new aspect of him, the beard, changes his character arc.
They might have a tense encounter. Given their past history in the original story, Merlin could be cautious. Maybe Morgana has changed in the future, but Merlin still has his doubts. He might be on guard, ready to use his magic if needed.
One possibility is that Merlin's revelation of his magic could lead to a change in his relationships. For example, his friends who were previously unaware might react with shock, some with fear and some with acceptance. His enemies, on the other hand, would likely see him as an even greater threat and might plot more vigorously against him.
Well, he might bring his powerful magic skills to the Order. Maybe he could use his magic to create new defensive spells for the Order's headquarters.
Well, they could have an interesting exchange of magical knowledge. Shirou, with his reality marble skills, might be intrigued by Merlin's ancient and powerful magic. Merlin, on the other hand, could see potential in Shirou and perhaps offer some guidance on how to further develop his abilities.