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“i don’t know what else you need to hear, arthur. i’m telling you, camelot has every trust in you.”
“not anymore. i let them down. i let them die.”
“you’re not to blame for that. you didn’t invite morgana’s army to our doorstep.”
“no, but i trusted agravaine, who let that happen.”
“you’re not a bad king for trusting people. you had no reason not to trust agravaine. he’s your uncle!”
“no, i should’ve seen the signs. he had been misleading me the whole time he was in my court. my lack of judgement is the reason my people are either dead or homeless right now. they deserve a king who doesn’t let blood impair his judgement. they deserve a king who is strong enough to fend off morgana and who can put to rest her vengeance.”
“the people of camelot deserve a king who can not only see his faults, but admit them and want to repair them. they deserve a king who understands their pain and wants to do everything he can to fix it. they deserve you, arthur.”
“any decent person could do that. tristian was right, there’s nothing special about me. i’m just like everyone else.”
“that’s not true. not just anyone could inspire an entire city even when odds are this bad. they want to fight and they know they have a chance because they trust you. you’re a worthy king.”
“i’m good with a sword, that’s all.”
“look at me, arthur. your people trust you. they respect you. they have seen the great king you are. they love you, arthur.”
“and you?”
“sorry? and me what?”
“you think all of those things about me, too.”
“that’s why i’m still by your side. that’s why i’m still fighting with you.”
“and you love me?”
there’s a pause as merlin holds arthur’s gaze. a small smile tugs at merlin’s mouth.
“yeah, arthur. i do. i love you.”
a meaningful look passes between the two of them. arthur doesn’t quite know what to say.
“alright then.”
“alright then?” merlin clarifies.
“gather everyone. we need to discuss strategies.”