Slight spoilers for the Last Dragonlord. If you haven't seen that, then you might not really understand what's going on here.


Arthur likes to think that he and Merlin have become friends. They argue less frequently now and even when they do disagree, it's become more like friendly bickering than actual fighting. The prince likes to believe that Merlin has come to care for him at least a little.

That belief is shattered when he sees Merlin crying over the fallen dragonlord. His servant tries to hide the tears and Arthur pretends not to see them, but inside his heart is aching.

Who is this man? What has he done to deserve Merlin's heartache and mourning? Arthur has bled for him, has been on the verge of death for Merlin; he's gone to the ends of the world and back for him. Arthur has put trust in Merlin time and time again and Merlin spills his tears for some man fallen in the forest?

He tells Merlin that no man deserves his tears. What he really means is that no man but Arthur deserves Merlin's tears, that Merlin should weep for him and only him. But he'll never tell his servant that. He'll wait until Merlin says something first. He won't risk being hurt again.