Author's Note: Spoilers for Season 4, episode 3 "The Wicked Day." Any recognizable dialogue is from the show. I'm actually fairly proud of how this came out, so I hope you guys like this! A huge thank you to anyone who has been reviewing, alerting, or following this!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or it would never have gotten as heartbreaking as this episode did.
Chapter 33: Reason for Staying
Briefly, Merlin had considered leaving Camelot, because surely he had managed to turn Arthur from magic forever. However, he had discarded that plan almost immediately. Now he waits for Arthur outside the rooms that hold the dead king, and he wonders.
Why stay when things may be beyond repair?
"Merlin. It's a new day. You've been here all night?"
Getting up, Merlin hears what Arthur does not ask. "Why did you stay?"
It's so similar to his own question, and Merlin realizes he really only has one answer to either.
"I didn't want you to feel that you were alone."