I'm too tired to form a coherent comment, but YES to all of this. I felt so crushed after this episode, but like you, I keep holding on to hope/denial that things will work out okay. I cannot handle Arthur actually dying on my screen in front of me. NO.

I also love how Leon is always the one giving reports to the Council--I always imagine Leon as the stickler for protocol among the knights. :D

Oh, and I actually like it when Merlin calls Arthur "my lord" because it's a huge kink for me! ;)