Merlin picked at the hems of his sleeves, focusing on the movement of his fingertips, and didn't make eye contact because then he'd have to talk and he didn't know what more he could say. He felt lighter, and in a while he'd consider it a weight off his shoulders, but in the moment he just felt hollow and bled dry.

He glanced up and across to where Artur was sitting.

"You're welcome, Arthur." And whether or not it was for telling him everything that he'd done, or for having done it, well...it didn't matter. It was just as true either way.