Merlin doesn't believe that someone like Arthur should ever be allowed to cry.
Arthur's supposed to be strong. He's not supposed to break. And no matter what, he's not supposed to look weak—not ever.
And yet now, Arthur's on his hands and knees and even though his head is down, Merlin knows that he's crying. And when Arthur lifts his head, just a fraction, there's tears in his eyes and his cheeks are damp and...
He looks weak.
He looks so weak...pathetic, even.
He looks like everything that's he's not supposed to be.
It would be foolish to reach out—Merlin knows that. It's not his place. He is a mere servant boy; what place does he have to comfort Prince Arthur? And although he knows all of that, it doesn't stop him from wanting to comfort Arthur. It doesn't stop him from wanting to reach out and touch his shoulder...hug him...to comfort him in the only ways he knows how. He'd do anything, so long as it stops Arthur from crying.
Because Arthur looks so broken. So weak. So powerless.
So Merlin doesn't believe that someone like Arthur should ever be allowed to cry.
Not if they look like that.