Will would most definitively ride to the Isle knowing he would/could die, and be "You are kind of a bitch, aren't you? Leave him alone" on Nimueh. He'd probably be mighty pissed off on Merlin's behalf that she hurt his mother, as she could be a mother figure to him as well (and they probably talked of Merlin together when he left the village).
I have wondered about that too, but did not conclude it that way. Merlin seems easily swayed by arguments, but only if he thinks they make sense. He would have gingerly followed and helped Arthur for the first few days to see how it goes, and then drawn his own conclusion and followed it. There's indeed a lot of interraction moments missing to explain how Merlin came to like Arthur, that I'm filling up with fics, but I think he wouldn't give thought to that destiny if he couldn't see something for himself already. He doesn't strike me particularly as a "plan the future" type of person (especially given how little of thinks of consequences), and more of a carpe diem. So, to me, there must be something in this position or in Arthur himself that makes him stay, rather than some eventuality.
On that, I like to think he grew into loving part of his manservant job (learning about castle life, going almost as he pleases, Arthur's lenancy towards his attitude) and took a liking to Gwen and perhaps other castlefolks (kitchen staff?) so that he wanted to stay, plus a lack of ambition at the moment. From there, he learned to like Arthur, and, in some parallel direction, started to love the Prince, and to really enjoy being able to use his powers for something more. A sort of gradual thing that would be extremely hard to explain to Will when asked why he's content with being a manservant for Arthur. The Mordred episode set it for me, as Merlin went 'fuck destiny and the easier path, I'm going to do what I want, and do what I can, and take it from there'.
no subject
I have wondered about that too, but did not conclude it that way. Merlin seems easily swayed by arguments, but only if he thinks they make sense. He would have gingerly followed and helped Arthur for the first few days to see how it goes, and then drawn his own conclusion and followed it. There's indeed a lot of interraction moments missing to explain how Merlin came to like Arthur, that I'm filling up with fics, but I think he wouldn't give thought to that destiny if he couldn't see something for himself already. He doesn't strike me particularly as a "plan the future" type of person (especially given how little of thinks of consequences), and more of a carpe diem. So, to me, there must be something in this position or in Arthur himself that makes him stay, rather than some eventuality.
On that, I like to think he grew into loving part of his manservant job (learning about castle life, going almost as he pleases, Arthur's lenancy towards his attitude) and took a liking to Gwen and perhaps other castlefolks (kitchen staff?) so that he wanted to stay, plus a lack of ambition at the moment. From there, he learned to like Arthur, and, in some parallel direction, started to love the Prince, and to really enjoy being able to use his powers for something more. A sort of gradual thing that would be extremely hard to explain to Will when asked why he's content with being a manservant for Arthur. The Mordred episode set it for me, as Merlin went 'fuck destiny and the easier path, I'm going to do what I want, and do what I can, and take it from there'.
This got long. x_x