#merlin and arthur mirroring each other with the whole mourning process of two people they cared deeply for

[justaz]

Yeowch jumping from foot to foot as I throw a hot pan in the air then catch it again as my hands burn

Arthur knowing about Daegal’s importance and significance to Merlin as he watches Merlin cradle the boy’s head and cry silently when he dies protecting Arthur. Merlin insists that he will be the one to put Daegal to rest but it won’t be in Camelot, not under a Pendragon crest which is like a stab in the heart to Arthur’s already heavy guilt at someone dying for him, someone Merlin deeply cared for. But he understands. (Not really - can’t remember if the boy was a Druid or not but I’m gonna say he was because that makes the most sense bc Merlin was referring to the fact that he didn’t want to put another Druid to rest in a kingdom where so many of their kind has been hunted and slaughtered. Arthur thinks Merlin blames him. He doesn’t. Maybe a little but not really.)

Anyways, Merlin sets off into the woods to bury Daegal outside of Camelot, on the border of the kingdoms so he doesn’t belong to any one nation where his people have been killed. He thinks he goes it alone. Arthur follows far behind. Merlin puts Daegal to rest then kneels by his grave long into the night when magic grows stronger and Daegal’s spirit visits him before departing to the Otherworld. He thanks Merlin for giving him something he had not realized he needed - kindness, compassion, love. He thanks him for putting him to rest and says he is back with his mother now, so he’ll be alright. Merlin watches him go and spends the rest on the night still kneeling beside his grave.

When morning finally comes and he gets up to leave, he finds a horse a few yards down the path with a figure waiting for him. Its Arthur. He looks like he hasn’t slept a wink all night. Merlin slowly shuffles over and watches him for a moment before calling out his name. Arthur turns and takes in Merlin’s bedraggled appearance which Arthur mirrors, miserable and guilty - Arthur blaming himself, Merlin blaming himself, Arthur thinking Merlin blames him, Merlin tired from losing people.

Merlin stares for a moment before asking quietly, “You’ve been here all night?”

And Arthur just stares back and whispers, “I didn’t want you to feel that you were alone.”