Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking. Arthurian legends have a million different versions with various authors and translations, so it is essentially like everyone just wrote a bunch of fanfic in a group project-like setting and nobody knows 100% what the OG version actually was.
This can be explained by Merlin simply trying to annoy Arthur back into the land of the living.
You know what would tick him off? Is if I said Mordred was his kid.
Yo Arthur. I’m telling everyone I raised you. Anything to say? No? You’re not going to burst out of the lake and say you’re technically older than me? Okay then.
Arthur, guess what? I’m telling everyone how Morgana - DAUGHTER OF YGRAINE - is your half-sister....because she was also YGRAINE’S CHILD.... no? Okay.
Fuck it. If you don’t come back soon I’m gonna say you slept with Morgause. I’ll fucking do it.
I’m changing Leon’s name to Galahad because you’re being a bitch. Come out and stop me if you don’t want me to.
I’ve decided to be part demon. No real reason. Just thought I would condemn myself in the eyes of history for being a child of Hell... if you feel differently you should say something.
And then, other people start adding their own stories and things start getting uhhhh more R-Rated.
So.... I did tell everyone you slept with Morgause. But, just to clarify, it was not me who said she was your sister, okay? I don’t really know how that happened.
Bad news. Ummmm don’t be mad, but things kind of got out of hand. You know that thing that happened between Gwen and Lancelot before you got married? Well, in a story that I most certainly did not spread....uh. It kind of escalated.
You know, people are now saying Lancelot is a hoe, but between you and me....yeah, I started that one. It’s true and we both know it.
....remember how you told me that lovely story on how your parents met? Well, apparently that is not the version the rest of the world knows. You might want to come back and correct that bc I’m honestly at a loss for words here.
You better fucking come out of this goddam lake you fucking coward. These idiots are saying my bestie was your magic-hating father. I’m okay with my legacy being a child-stealing demon, but I draw the line at being called Uther’s bitch, alright?
They found Geoffrey’s records. Turns out he misunderstood a lot of what was going on. We’re screwed.