Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of the characters. If I did, I'd lock Merlin and Arthur in a room and say "You're not coming out until you admit your love for each other, damnit!"
Story: In an attempt to challenge myself I am writing from Arthur's POV instead of Merlin's like I usually do. I have taken eight words, chosen at random from a dictionary, and made a story about how those eight things bring Arthur and Merlin together.
REALISATION
It wasn't long after Merlin had touched Arthur's shoulder in the forest that Arthur finally realised his feelings for the servant boy. He just couldn't get Merlin out of his head at all, even Morgana had commented on how distracted he had become lately.
He was in love with Merlin – his smile, his voice, his ivory skin and black hair. His kind nature. And not only did he love Merlin as a person, but he wanted Merlin too, he wanted to kiss Merlin, to hold Merlin's body against his. The thoughts plagued him night and day, until he finally decided to confide in someone. Someone that he knew would give him their honest opinion.
"I think you should just tell him, Arthur. He'll probably figure it out sooner or later anyway. He's not actually as stupid as you think he is."
"Morgana, he's the best servant I've ever had! I don't want him to run screaming in the other direction," Arthur said, with hand gestures demonstrating how much he didn't want that.
"You're assuming he won't feel the same way." Seeing Arthur's blank expression she got exasperated. "Arthur! Open your eyes! Merlin is a gentle country boy, sensitive, honest, kind!"
"I know that Morgana. What's your point?"
"Well, don't you think it's more likely that he'd fall in love with a man than a woman?"
Morgana's words, with Arthur's own realisation of his feelings, made him decide that he had to try and get closer to Merlin. He could attempt to figure out if Merlin felt the same way before telling him how he felt.