Excuse me while I mash up BBC's Merlin with Arthurian legend proper. . .
Merlin stands on the shore, his throat tight and his hands clutching at each other until his bony fingers dig into his palms. The small boat is long out of sight and the water is wide and he cannot hope to follow, not ever; not there.
Merlin turns away, thinking how could you make me do this, you prat, and begins to walk, as he will walk the whole world, until it is time for the Once and Future King to rise, and his sorcerer - his Merlin - to return to his side.
Goodbye at Avalon (Merlin (BBC)-ish)
Merlin stands on the shore, his throat tight and his hands clutching at each other until his bony fingers dig into his palms. The small boat is long out of sight and the water is wide and he cannot hope to follow, not ever; not there.
Merlin turns away, thinking how could you make me do this, you prat, and begins to walk, as he will walk the whole world, until it is time for the Once and Future King to rise, and his sorcerer - his Merlin - to return to his side.