#so it's almost like when arthur returns it'll be arthur's job to support merlin from the shadows

[camelotsheart]

Writing (or more like copy-pasting) this down because @witchmd13​ told me to. Thank you for always encouraging my spirals 😂💖

I’ve heard people throw around the theory that Kilgharrah lied to Merlin in the finale, and I think there is a potential parallel in Merlin lying to Arthur about Excallibur in 4x13 to prevent him from giving up on Camelot, and Kilgharrah lying to Merlin in the finale to prevent Merlin from giving up. They both even use similar phrases: "when Camelot needed it most" vs "When Albion's need is greatest". Plus, the scene where Merlin tells this to Arthur (the same scene he says "and I believe in you. I always have") has Freya's theme over it, drawing an allusion to Avalon and Freya's ‘return’ at "Albion's time of need" in 3x13.

The beautiful thing about this hc is the potential self-fulfillment of the prophecy and the reason of Arthur's return.

Arthur doesn’t try to pull the sword out because believes Merlin's story; even when he’s already pulled it out he comments “you’re making this up”. Arthur believes and trusts in Merlin. And in the end, Merlin's fake prophecy about the sword comes true anyway because Merlin considered Arthur to be worthy and gave him the power to pull out the sword. From this we can assume that in 5x13, Merlin doesn't believe Kilgharrah, but he believes in Arthur; in Arthur's love for his people and his speech of about how he will fight for the future of Camelot, Albion and the united kingdoms. So if we draw the parallel, the prophecy of arthur’s return will come true, just like Merlin’s prophecy does. Both prophecies become self-fulfilling.

Furthermore, if we draw a parallel with Freya - we can infer that Arthur’s personal reasons for returning is not to save Albion. That is merely a side effect. Because Freya's ‘return’ in 3x13 saves Albion, but when Merlin thanks her for her help, she replies: "no, it's giving me the chance to see you again". Freya saves Albion, but she returns for Merlin; to repay him for making her feel loved and to see him again. Arthur will save Albion, but he returns for Merlin; to repay him for all that he’s done for Arthur and Camelot (and to see him again).

This is even more highlighted by the fact that that the next scene after Kilgharrah makes the prophecy is Merlin throwing Excallibur in the water and Freya catching it. The soundtrack in there is the exact same one used when Arthur pulls the sword out of the stone. In the finale, this scene is probably the one with the most hopeful tone, tying with Gwen’s coronation and the very last scene where old Merlin walks by Avalon, which is backed to the soundtrack used in 1x13 when Gaius comes back from the dead (or near-death). In fact, there are a lot of parallels to be had with 1x13 and 5x13; amongst them the quotes: “We haven't done all the things we're meant to do.... He's my friend" (not to mention the book version of this scene which states Merlin put more importance in the fact that he wants to be by Arthur's side over Arthur fulfilling his destiny”), “My destiny? This is my mother!” (”All you have dreamt of building has some to pass” “I can’t lose him, he’s my friend!”), and Merlin saying to Hunith "I don't want you to worry about me. I know that the gods will look after me. And that one day, I will see you again"