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The Round Table represents everything that separated Arthur from Uther. People repeatedly point out how Arthur isn't so different from Uther as he'd like to think, because he, too, shunned magic. But that is because of upbringing, and inputted thoughts.
Arthur believed in equality.
The first time he met Percival, he told him to call him Arthur instead of the expected address (my lord, sire, my king). When he first found the Round Table, Merlin was an inseparable part of it, even though he was his servant. This is because he remembered and agreed with what Gwaine said, "Nobility is defined by what you do, not by who you are." He married the servant girl, daughter of a condemned blacksmith, for goodness' sake, because she was wiser than most nobles.
Why he refused to accept sorcerers and magicians is because he did not see them as equal. Every single sorcerer he had met had betrayed him in one way or another, were dangerous people he needed to be careful around. Nimueh, the witch-hunter, Kara, Dragoon the Great, Mordred and his beloved Merlin. His mother and father both died of sorcery. He lost his half-sister to magic. They were criminals. Why would he allow sorcerers equal status if he wouldn't grant that to petty criminals or those acquitted of treason?
No, Arthur was fair to the very end.
He promised Dolma that he would remember there is no evil in sorcery, only in the hearts of men, and he forgave Merlin.
The sword in the stone episode is practically the essence of the whole show. It is Arthur and Merlin, both, that stand before all the people, but everyone's eyes are on Arthur, as usual. Merlin used his magic under their very noses and not a soul noticed his eyes glow gold. The scene where Arthur pulls out the sword? If that isn't a symbol of Arthur and Merlin's entire time together, then I don't know what is. Arthur is fully aware of his strengths as a warrior, but doubts his kingly qualities, and even though his love interest Gwen is there, he needs Merlin to reassure him. Merlin tells him of the legend of the sword and takes him to the sword. Mind you, he is fully aware it is by magic that the sword is stuck in the stone, and that it is stuck fast, but also that using magic he could easily get Arthur to pull it out with his thumb alone. Nonetheless, Merlin stands back and first lets Arthur try. He lets him try anyway. Despite. Because he knows it is impossible for someone to pull it out without magic, and yet he is so sure Arthur is the greatest king to ever exist that he momentarily forgets that a major part of the legend is his own brainchild. But Arthur cannot, and yet he does not fail. Because he's got a Merlin. When Arthur is struck with panic and dread when he realizes for a moment how impossible the idea is, Merlin is there, as always, telling him what he needs to hear, a part of his heart and brain in a whole different person. Merlin tells him, "Have faith." This may or may not be the first time he's said it out loud, but the idea was always there. Merlin has no great warrior-like skills that Arthur knows of, and yet he is dragged along on every great and perilous journey and quest, because he has faith in himself when Merlin is around. And they always somehow get back home with two hands, two feet, and their own teeth. He has faith in Merlin. And the most important part, Arthur does manage to pull the sword out. He knew it was impossible, and he knew he did it. He knew it was magic, but he doesn't complain, because it would be foolish to refuse magic, because one, it was then that they needed it the most, and two, because magic has always been at the heart of Camelot.
god, I love the dynamics between Merlin and all the other characters because he does such WEIRD shit and they all just DEAL WITH IT
it’s like. imagine you’re a prince and you’re used to getting everything you want and then suddenly your servant is this teen that regularly gets into fights with raccoons. this supposed alcoholic is just following you around and trying to fight everyone every second. every day you wake up to this kid like. attempting to put out a fire in your room and you just?? accept it??
or imagine you’re a knight and your one job is to protect the prince and this punk ass kid is just. throwing stuff at him. and the prince keeps threatening to stop him but he hasn’t?? and like this kid is scrawny but he’s about to throw a full table at your boss and instead of being responsible your knight friend Leon is just completely losing it. he’s not even breathing he’s in hysterics watching someone threaten the future king. he’s been laughing for a solid minute and you can’t even tell if he’s breathing. like??
Gwen probably went home every day and just immediately passed out because her bestie is some freak that drinks goblets of poison and refuses to explain himself. how do you even emotionally deal with that? with this weirdo placing himself into your life and like. stealing the princess’ clothes? absolute legends, all of them