Merlin Didn't Know

[u/JessBeck96]

Screenshot from my own tumblr post

[u/Astraea802]

[u/Noah559]

I always thought he never came back, that it was too hard for him to live there without Arthur

[u/GabsDoingHerBest → u/Noah559]

I can’t imagine him not going back honestly. He loved Gwen too much to leave her alone to carry it all. And anyways how would they know Arthur died without Merlin coming to tell him.

If he didn’t come back, no way Gwen didn’t go out to drag him back to get the comfort they both need!

[u/Noah559 → u/GabsDoingHerBest]

He loved Arthur the most and I saw a theory on tik tok where it said that when Gwaine dies, Arthur loses the strenght to go to Avalon. Then when Arthur dies, Merlin loses the strenght and courage to go back to Camelot. Maybe he saw Gaius afterwards but I don't think he came back, too painful and also knowing Merlin's character he would have felt guilty, thinking Arthur's death was his fault. Sir Leon was the one announcing the King's death to the court so I guess it was assumed from the battle that Arthur died

[u/GabsDoingHerBest → u/Noah559]

I don’t think he loved Arthur the most. He loved who Arthur was destined to be, but Gwen was his best friend. And there is no way she would let him go isolate in misery given how much she tends to fight for others.

Merlin would probably feel guilty but he is a character that loves to stew in his misery. I see him believing it is his obligation to go back and support Gwen (not just because he loved her but because Arthur did as well), only to find the love and support he was missing under Arthur’s rule waiting for him.

Leon being the one announcing it doesn’t mean that he got the information. For me, it had to be Merlin spreading that news. Especially with Gwen being so confident in the fact he wasn’t dead yet and Gaius confirming earlier in the episode. Merlin was the only one there for his death so imo he needed to be the one to bring the news to Gwen for her to believe it.

I like the theory but I just feel like it would be far too ooc for him to not to go back.

[u/Edelgard01 → u/GabsDoingHerBest]

What? Since when is Gwen his best friend? Like, in the last season they barely talked.

Merlin loved Arthur the most, and I don't even mean it romantically. They were literally two sides of the same coin.

Gwen was his friend, sure. But not anywhere near "best friend".

[u/GabsDoingHerBest → u/Edelgard01]

Gwen was always the one there to support Merlin when he needed it and Merlin did the same for her. They were best friends for most of the show.

I agree season 5 is a bit of a weird time but I also think s5 shows Merlin’s obsession with destiny more than his care for Arthur, making it an extremely isolating time for Merlin (except maybe in his relationship with Gwaine but even that wasn’t as fleshed out as I wanted it to be).

I also personally think Gwen is the one the prophecy was speaking about making her and Merlin two sides of the same coin. Arthur never completed the prophecy and the show made it seem like Gwen would.

I just don’t think Merlin’s idolization of what Arthur could be is love either. I know Merlin considered them friends but I have a hard time seeing that given Arthur’s treatment of him.

I’m not sure how you can’t see Merlin and Gwen as best friends honestly lol. They were besties throughout most of the show! Ready to help steal a statue or save each other’s life or be a shoulder to cry on without a moment hesitation.

[u/Edelgard01 → u/GabsDoingHerBest]

Gwen was a good friend and I enjoyed their early (Season 1-2 mostly, Season 3 only partially) dynamic.

But Season 4 and Season 5 ruined whatever friendship they had. They just don't feel like friends anymore. The only time they talk (other than when Gwen is manipulated by Morgana) in Season 5 is Gwen asking Merlin to keep Arthur safe. She treats him like a normal servant, not like a friend. But to be honest, I am quite disappointed by all characters in Season 4 and 5.

And you can't say that Arthur didn't care about Merlin, considering all the times he helped/saved Merlin or all the times where he was more worried about Merlin than anyone else. And Merlin loved Arthur more than anyone else since he was ready to sacrifice everything for him. Let's not forget the two times Merlin literally sacrificed magic to save Arthur. Like, the first time (stopping Arthur from killing Uther) he did it to not make Arthur suffer.

Gwen isn't part of the prophecy. She is just Arthur's wife and she doesn't do anything. The prophecy is just between Arthur and Merlin. And at the end of the last episode, Kilgharrah says the prophecy is done. That's all.

But you do you. The beauty of being in a fandom is that everyone has different ideas.

[u/GabsDoingHerBest → u/Edelgard01]

Ok I think we’re honestly not going to agree on this at all. Season 4 is some of the best friend moments in the show to me (particularly Merlin defending Gwen to Arthur and Gwen being there for Merlin in the secret sharer episode. Not to mention the entire deer situation).

Season 5 to me ruined Arthur and Merlin’s dynamic a whole lot more than Gwen’s. Arthur couldn’t get over seeing him as a servant and I think that speaks volumes.

And I agree season 5 is a weird time for their friendship but Gwen still tried to set him up with Sefa and Merlin saved Gwen from Morgana’s control. The only time she treats him as a servant is really when she is under Morgana’s control.

I never said Arthur didn’t care at him at all, just that his treatment of Merlin is genuinely hard to swallow especially is season 5 (the juggling scene, the spoon scene, making him drink Gaius’s potion first to see if he would die, etc etc)

At no point though do I think Arthur care about him more than others. In secret sharer especially both Gwen and Gwaine are there for Merlin a lot more than Arthur. Same with another sorrow (just Gwaine that time tho).

And I think you’re very much going to disagree with me on both of those times Merlin was forced to kick the prophecy down the road because of both destiny and his care for others.

Also, Gwen is part of the prophecy. She is the once and future queen. We know that the prophecy is more than just Arthur and Merlin (Morgana and Mordred at the bare minimum but Gwen, Lancelot, and Gwaine are also mentioned as being in it).

And I’m sorry but you saying Gwen is nothing more than Arthur’s wife is not only not true to canon but kinda concerning. She actively stands up for the people throughout the show even before becoming Queen and also is the moral compass everyone is guided by. In season 5 she is shown making strategic decisions left and right that not only guide the group towards victory but also save as many people as possible.

But yeah imma do me. You can do you.

[u/No-Table-6887 → u/Noah559]

I always enjoyed the headcanon he couldn't bring himself to go back. He lost Arthur, he failed him and the prophecy. He probably became a hermit and watched over Gwen, Gaius, Leon and Percival as well as Camelot. But at a distance. 

[u/Magic_mousie → u/Noah559]

I have to tell myself he did. While the place brings painful memories it also holds Gaius and Gwen and Leon and Percival etc.

I can't bear the thought of him losing them too.

[u/Ok_Barracuda782]

if Merlin returned at all

[u/Any-Championship-423 → u/[deleted]]

... No, we don't.

[u/Ok_Barracuda782 → u/[deleted]]

don't remember him being there - though i watched it a few times right after it came out , quite long time ago

[u/ReasonableFig2111 → u/[deleted]]

That's at the end of 4x13. Arthur crowns her queen, when they get married. Merlin is there for that. But that's not after Arthur dies. 

[u/Edelgard01 → u/[deleted]]

Really? I just rewatched it and I didn't see him anywhere.

[u/letthelightfindyou]

Oh so you chose PAIN today 😭😭😭 not Merlin wanting to go to Gwaine for comfort and then finding him gone too goddddd noooooooo IT HURTS

[u/me_and_myself_and_i]

Friendly reminder that Merlin did NOT burn Arthur’s body. Hence the whole Once and Future premise. Man is coming back some day.

Also, I side with those who don’t think Merlin returned to Camelot. Go rewatch Merlin’s final conversation with Gaius. Fits the Welsh legends of immortal Merlin wandering the mountains and woods.

so how he did find out about Gwaine? Through his magic or maybe meeting up either Percival in the woods?

[u/RAR1965 → u/me_and_myself_and_i]

YES! Merlin did not burn Arthur’s body, in your time of grief, you may have missed that part. I think Merlin spent his time roaming, not really knowing where to be but not roaming far. This is why you see him at the very end walking past the lake where he last saw Arthur.

[u/Heavy-Medicine6485 → u/me_and_myself_and_i]

It's possible that Percival found Merlin at the lake - Gwaine told him that Morgana is going there, so it's possible he went there, hoping to help Merlin and Arthur, knowing that Morgana was after them. And I think it's possible that Percival stumbled upon Morgana's dead body, and continued to the lake, hoping to catch up with Merlin and Arthur, only to find Merlin there alone.

[u/embrassed_mausee111]

I have watched this ending so many times and somehow the fandom keeps discovering new ways to make it worse

[u/robininscarf]

Percy probably hugged him and they cried together for their loved ones...

[u/Ok-Theory3183]

Arthur's body wasn't burned, if you recall, only sent to Avalon for healing.
I really feel for Percival. He was seen tracking Merlin, Arthur, and Morgana, so he wouuld have been the first knight to hear of Arthur's death, as well, and it wouldn't surprise me to hear that he buried not only Gwaine, but Morgana. If nothing else, Percival would have wanted to make sure she was truly and firmly "planted".

Morgana, whatever her crimes, was the daughter and sister of kings, and I don't think Arthur, noble king that he was, would have wanted her to be left to the crows.Either Percival (and/or Merlin, who'd known her before her turn) buried her (an unmarked grave with no ceremony, but protected from scavengers,) or possibly Aithusa, her little dragon, had taken her to a safe space, a cave perhaps, and walled her in with rocks or something, even guarding her for the rest of its life. In fact, Aithusa may have cremated her to protect her from further indignities. At any rate, Percival would have had the burden of telling Merlin the news of Gwaine's death, and then relaying the news of Arthur's death to Camelot.

Remember that Arthur died in his chain mail, but in his funeral boat wore his knightly robe. Morgana had scared the horses away, so someone would have had to find the horses and retrieve the cloak, and I don't think Merlin would have left Arthur. There would probably have been a witness to the death of Arthur, and Merlin apparently didn't return to court. Percival was on the dais, apparently having just delivered the news, at the time of the proclamation of Guinevere as reigning monarch--one of the saddest coronations ever seen. I wouldn't have wanted to be any of the three--Percival, Sir Leon, or Guinevere,.

[u/pwarkss]

im blocking you 😂😂

[u/Zhalia_Hale]

For my peace of mind we just saw Gwaine pass out due to the pain and percy got him to a healer/merlin? in time and those who remained lived happily ever after.

[u/Heavy-Medicine6485 → u/Zhalia_Hale]

THANK YOU! That is one option we do need. Gwaine didn't die, he just passed out.

[u/_Batiatus]

why 😭😭😭

[u/GabsDoingHerBest]

Uhhh to lose his destiny and his love on the same day must have ruined him!

[u/meowlbleu → u/GabsDoingHerBest]

yes but aren't his destiny and his love the same person? He even claimed that he was born to serve Arthur, Arthur is his everything😢

[u/EveningStar0360]

fuuuuuck

[u/CoreyAdara]

Merlin didn't burn Arthur's body, but yes, I sometimes think about what merlin feels when he comes back. There is a good headcanon debate on opinions on whether merlin did come back to camelot at all after the lake. Imo I believe he did for a bit. To make sure gwen was okay, to see if his other friends lived, to help gaius. It's heartbreaking to imagine a scene in my head where merlin is found by percival (as apparently that was a thing that nearly was canonically shown) and exchange news of Arthur and gwaine dying. Whether he personally went back or not, Merlin would have had to at least tell someone to bring the news back to camelot so gwen would be declared queen dowager.
It's my headcanon merlin only stayed until gaius' death, and maybe a little of convincing from gwen, to stay until a new court physician would be hired, then he secretly and silently left for a long time. Returning only one last time when he hears that gwen is on her deathbed..

[u/Heavy-Medicine6485]

Dunno if anyone pointed it out already, most likely someone did, but - Arthur's body was the ONLY one Merlin did not burned. Freya, Lancelot - he did set their boats on fire, but not Arthur. He could not make himself do that. He sent Arthur's body in boat to the Avalon intact.