teddy !!

Look, this is not to dipute any of these ships. I am mainly a Merthur shipper myself, yet I understand quite well why they chose Arwen in canon and I love their dynamic too. I respect all the ships, this is a personal observation.

First of, this has nothing to do with honesty. If Merlin had confessed his magic before the final episode, I'd still stand behind this opinion, from a writers point of view.

Gwen and Merlin stand, for the most part, for the same things. They stand for the rights of the people (Merlin represents the druids, Guinevere the common people), they talk against Arthur, when Arthur doesn't realize how inconsiderate he is and they tease him to their hearts content.

But when you look at the episode, where Arthur fights as a simple knight (sir William) in the tournament, you will notice main differences.

The episode starts with Arthur being told by Leon that none of the knights would want to harm Arthur, because he was crown prince.

When Arthur then asks Merlin, if Merlin thinks that Arthur could win, Merlin answers: what do you want me to say?

Which is unchractaristic for Merlin in the way that he's not clear about his opinion, but characteritic in the way he doesn't outright lie to him.

When Arthur is getting ridiculed by Guinevere later in that episode, she does this when Arthur asks, but she doesn't hold back. She calls him rude, she questions his morals, while Merlin does, against popular belief, not. Merlin indulges Arthur's lies. His choices. Everything he does. The whole cooking idea. He provides wise intakes on things when asked, but he does never question Arthur's morales, because he believes in him. His actions, not quite as much, but Arthur's heart he is certain in. It's why he was the one to convince anhora in the unicorn episode to give Arthur another chance. Because Arthur is "pure at heart".

And herein lies the difference. Gwen speaks to Arthur as future king. She speaks to Arthur on his virtues, his values, his morale, the reason for his choices. All of which she shares.

It's why she falls for Lancelot and why she falls for Merlin. Because they are noble. Because they care for the people of Camelot. They love Camelot. As Guinevere loves Camelot. And I think she stops loving them the moment she realizes that they both have more selfish reasons for that.

Lancelot does it all to be noble for the sake of being noble. For doing the right thing. Not for doing this for the people. He wants to fight and protect people, but he would do that anywhere he is. Because Lancelot believes in the cause. He does not love the people.

Merlin speaks to Arthur as the person behind the crown. Merlin, too, speaks for the people. But he does not do it with the same passion that Gwen does. Merlin does it, as he does everything, for Arthur's sake. Because Merlin loves Arthur.

And that is the difference. Arthur and Guinevere are on the same wavelength, because they share the same goals for Camelot. The same heart, so to speak. The same legacy.

Merlin on the other hand, wants Arthur to succeed. To be happy. To be a bit silly. To be himself.

That's why Arthur loves Guinevere with all his heart and vice versa.

It's why Merlin and Arthur love each other, too. But also why their love doesn't translate to marriage.

That's why Merlin losing Arthur is much more tragic. Because Gwen can rule in Arthur's stead. Can take on the kingdom, can keep the legacy and the heart of Camelot with her; she has Arthur's heart with her, while Merlin loses everything he believed in.

Because Arthur and Guinevere love Camelot and love each other for it.

Arthur and Merlin simply love each other.

That doesn't make either ship superior, mind you. Arthur's and Gwen's relationship is stronger in their fundamentals, in my opinion.

While Merlin and Arthur's feelings for one another are stronger, as Bradley James would say. Their feelings are, in my opinion, more chaotic and bold and have little to do with Camelot, despite their shared destiny.