“Every man carries the seed of his own death, and you will not be more than a man. You will have everything; you cannot have more…”
Merlin dedicates himself to advising Arthur to mold him into the High King who will unite all of Britain. In the assertion Merlin refers to the great future the young Arthur will have, in that he will have everything. However, even though Arthur is meant to be a legendary leader who will defy great odds to secure his place at the throne, his legend ends in a tragedy. The Arthurian legend is all about fate, Merlin as the foreseer is aware and conveys the truth that death is on the horizon. Defying his fate is near to impossible since it is dictated by aspects or actions of the individual from the start.
“But out there in the light I have a young king and a bright sword to do my work for me, and build what will stand when my name is only a word for forgotten songs and outworn wisdom…”
The statement demonstrates Merlin’s loyalty towards Arthur and the legend he foresees when the king-to-be is still in his infancy. He spends the entirety of his life either protecting or advising Arthur in order to secure his rightful place as High King. Even after he secures the throne he still avails himself as a servant and serves the King. His dedication to ensuring the legend comes to pass at the expense of his own legacy proves the loyalty he harbors.
