i think arthur is much more aware of his homosexual feelings for merlin than vice versa and HERE'S WHY. bc merlin. merlin views arthur canonically as his other half. he is like wow arthur u are my destiny. i would die for u happily, it is an honor and a privilege to serve you. u are my king and i am destined to function as your sword in battle and your advisor and your friend. we have a great destiny together and i will devote my life to seeing that destiny come true (badly). meanwhile arthur is like. feeling exactly the same way that merlin feels abt him. like arthur also feels the same. like as the other half of the prophecy he must have the same feelings, that merlin completes him, that merlin makes him whole, that he needs merlin. except he doesnt have like. the reasoning behind it like no one has told him "hey arthur u and merlin are two sides of the same coin" arthur is just like yeah thats my manservant who i would die for who i trust more than anyone who completes me. like surely at some point arthur had to sit down and be like why tf -- and merlin too but at least merlin could brush it off as like. his destiny, etc. arthur is just like yes this is how i feel abt my insane friend the bravest man ive ever known my manservant whom i love. like thats crazy... like arthur what do u think is happening man....