One af the most tragic things about the plot of Merlin is that if he had completely chosen either his own instincts or the prophecies it probably could have ended relatively well.
Like, if he had trusted himself, Morgana would have had a support network, he could have been there for Mordred more without the constant suspicion hindering him, and that would have prevented so many issues. Also everyone’s mental health would be so much better, o my god.
If he had completely trusted the prophecies Morgana and Mordred would be dead, and Merlin would probably never forgive himself or be free of guilt ever again, but Arthur probably would have lived and there would be a path to a better future for them.
But instead all these problems were left to fester under the surface, because Kilgarrah and Gaius made him to scared to reach out and solve things the emotionally mature way, but hus own conscience prevented him from solving his problems with some good old-fashioned murder.
