[At that flash, Merlin parts his lips to tell her not to feel guilty about it, but then she keeps talking and is hugging him and he forgets briefly about it as he returns it with a soft smile. Everything he can?

He exhales a puff of breath, sort of like a form of laughter.]

I think that might be a lot to tell. But, okay, I'll try.

[Gently, he places his hand at the back of her head and leans his cheek against it.]

Then you need to promise me not to feel even a little bad about this; it was my choice.