When the boat with Lancelot's body comes to shore, Merlin casts a spells equivalent to "Give calm and peace/stability to this tormented soul" and the real Lancelot returns. He is freed from the torment that Morgana put him through. The chains that connected Lancelot to Morgana broke for Merlin to see his close friend again, even for a little moment.
The way Lancelot looks at Merlin when he says "Merlin. Thank you" indicates pure gratitude. And the way he says it is heartbreaking. It sounds like a whisper, as if Merlin is the only one supposed to hear it. He wants to reassure Merlin that he doesn't blame him for not saving him from Morgana earlier. He doesn't care if Camelot will remember him as an adulterer/traitor. He doesn't care if his sacrifice will be erased from the other people's memories.
Because the sacrifice was for MERLIN. The person who knows the truth about the Shade and freed him from Morgana, even late. The person who will ALWAYS remember the sacrifice he made, despite what everyone else will remember from now on. The person whose secret he promised to keep safe from Uther's regime, the person he sought to keep safe despite how powerful he is. The young man he thought as "the bravest of them all".
This moment is supposed to be for them and ONLY them!!! It's their secret!!! In this moment, Lancelot realizes that he is TRULY LOVED! THAT MERLIN STILL LOVES HIM! HE KNOWS THAT HE IS LOVED!
And Merlin's laughter later on is heartbreaking. Because on one hand, he is sad because he thinks that he failed Lancelot, the person who loved him as he was instead of some God - like saviour and before any prophecy. On the other hand, he is happy because he got to see the real Lancelot again, farewell him properly and share with him a moment that was only for them! A moment where BOTH could be themselves!
THE MOMENT WHEN BOTH OF THEM REALIZED THAT THEY WERE LOVED BY THE OTHER!!!
Tag List: @legowolas @wlwlancelot @eruthiawenluin @sapphickittykatherine @nie-narzekam @rainbowvamp @toocool2btrue @twosidesofthesameidiot @0hheytherebigbadwolf @that-nerd-who-writes-fanfiction @aithuzah @fratricideknight @kairennart @lit-in-thy-heart @little-ligi @owlswithfins @observaureium @eowynlyra @cursedmerlinedits @gwen-cheers-me-up @aaand-read-all-over