In a land of myth and a time of magic,
the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy.
His name - Merlin.
Check for survivors.
Seems their attackers headed north.
Come on.
Do you think we should be going after them?
You are such a girl's petticoat.
Sire, how many more men are you going to lose in this quest?
As many as it takes.
I need to speak to you as a friend. I have no time for friends.
Then I'll speak to you as your physician.
This is madness.
She has been missing for more than a year now.
When are you going to stop?
When Morgana is found.
BIRDS CAW Ow...
Is there something wrong with you?
Yeah, I've been on a horse all day.
Is your little bottom sore?
Yes. It's not as fat as yours.
You know, you've got a lot of nerve...for a wimp.
I may be a wimp, but at least I'm not a dollop-head.
There's no such word. It's idiomatic.
It's what?!
You need to be more in touch with the people. Describe dollop-head.
In two words? Yeah.
Er...Prince Arthur.
AN ARROW FIRES
MEN ROAR AND SHOUT
On me!
Ecg geteoh ping to!
We're not playing hide and seek, Merlin.
Dollop-head.
A BIRD'S WINGS FLAP
Morgana.
You need to rest.
I'll stay with her.
Call me when she wakes, Guinevere.
How is she? She'll be fine.
There's nothing wrong with her?
Nothing physical.
May I see her?
Best wait till morning.
Yes. Of course.
Gaius?
Thank you.
DOOR OPENS
Did you talk to her? She's sleeping.
Did she say anything about me? Nothing as yet.
Well, she's going to.
Does she know your secret, Merlin?
Does she know you have magic?
No, she doesn't. No-one does.
Good. Because if Uther finds out...
She knows I tried to poison her. She knows that. You had no choice.
Camelot was dying. Morgana was the source of the enchantment.
Either you poisoned her or the kingdom fell.
Uther won't know that. All she'll say is I tried to kill her.
We can't be sure, Merlin.
What do you think Uther will do to me?
Let's just wait and see what tomorrow brings.
Merlin.
Arthur's requested your presence...
..in Morgana's chambers.
I was kept in a cell for almost a year.
I thought I'd go mad.
How did you escape?
They moved me about a week ago. I don't know why.
It may have been the patrol from Camelot.
The patrol found you?
I thought I was going to be free.
But then I saw them killed.
Every one of them cut down.
But that night the bandits were distracted by their spoils.
I took my chance.
When I saw you, I couldn't believe it.
SHE SOBS
I think I need to rest.
Everything's going to be all right. You're safe now.
Merlin?
I want to speak to you.
I know what you did.
You tried to poison me.
I...I didn't want to.
It's all right, Merlin. I understand.
You were just trying to protect your friends. I would've done the same. Really?
I was so naive, Merlin.
I don't think I really understood what I was doing.
But, believe me,
I have seen the evils in this world.
I have seen first-hand what it is that Uther fights against.
You don't know how much I regret everything that I've done.
I just...
hope that you can forgive me.
I am so sorry for everything you've been through.
It's good to have you back.
What are you looking so happy about?
The sun is shining, we've found Morgana,
and I've just finished all my chores.
Hmm.
Do you have to go in there right now? Why?
I just washed the floor.
Don't worry. I won't slip over.
You really have no idea, do you? All you have to do is wipe it.
How would you know? I beg your pardon, Merlin.
It's just you've never had to do it.
Oh, I know how to use a cloth and bucket.
Oh, yeah.
It's easy. Here. Let me show you.
Hmm?
Hmm!
HUMS TO HIMSELF
HE HUMS
Mmmm.
Would you like me to show you how to use the bucket? No.
The grain stores are running low, but we're expecting supplies
from the northern borders before the end of the week. That's enough.
Leave us.
You should sit. No, no. That's all I've done for the past year - sit...
and pray that you hadn't given up on me.
Oh, never. I don't know why. I wouldn't blame you.
You've done more for me than any guardian.
You've always cared for me, loved me like I was your own daughter.
And yet I've insulted you, defied you, hurt you.
I don't know why you put up with me.
And I promise that in the future I will show you the love and respect that you deserve.
I will leave you to your counsel.
My sister.
How have you fared? Camelot has welcomed back its daughter with open arms.
Uther does not suspect?
He laps up my lies like the snivelling dog he is.
And the boy?
Merlin.
He believes I've changed.
And he's right.
Soon he will see exactly how much.
You've done well.
The tears of Uther Pendragon have only begun to fall.
PIERCING SCREAM
The mandrake root is very special.
Only those with magic can hear its cries.
But for those without magic,
the mandrake pierces the very recesses of the soul -
twisting the unconscious into the very image of fear and dread.
Uther Pendragon will find that his great kingdom
counts for nothing when he has lost his mind.
Mid paem wundorcraeft paes ealdan aew ic pe hate niman
Utheres wopdropa ond pa gemengan mid his blode.
Sy he undewittig ond deofolseocnes his heortan afylle.
How is Morgana? She seems to have made a remarkable recovery, my lord.
She was always like that as a child. Very brave.
She inherited much from her father. Gorlois was a great man.
Indeed. I trust she will be well enough to attend the feast?
I see no reason why not. Thank you, Gaius.
Let's change weapons.
What do you think?
I've seen better.
Of course. Well, you are the expert at fighting with your eyes closed.
You didn't see what I did when we rescued Morgana.
Because you were hiding behind a tree. No, I was not.
I'm not going to use a blindfold. I'm just going to fight like Merlin here.
HE WHIMPERS
"I'm Merlin, don't hurt me." LAUGHTER
"Don't hurt me!"
Ready?
HE GROANS
ARTHUR COUGHS AND SPITS
Standing here, seeing so many happy faces,
it seems almost like a dream.
I can tell you I have not felt like this in a long time.
What, drunk?
Drunk with happiness. I would've searched the entire world -
the seas, skies, stars...
for that smile.
To have it stolen from me was like a blade to my heart.
Morgana, there are no words.
You mean more to me than you will ever know.
To the Lady Morgana. ALL: The Lady Morgana!
Oh...I need some air.
Who is that?
Arthur?
HE LAUGHS
SCREAMING
Oh!
(Please.)
HE CRIES OUT
Please!
AH!
HE SCREAMS
HE PANTS
MORGANA: Careful.
Is he going to be all right? He should sleep till morning.
What could've made him like this?
I've no idea. Gaius, he was lying on the ground crying.
Exhaustion.
Gaius.
What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with him?
Tell me.
When I found him, he was mumbling.
Most of it was incoherent but...
What?
He kept mentioning your mother's name.
He never talks about her.
He claimed that he saw her.
In the well.
Did the guards see him in this state?
I think you're worrying too much. If the people get to know about this...
We'll say that he was ill, but now he's recovered.
Already the rumours are spreading. The mandrake's poison does its work well.
Soon all of Camelot will believe that their king is going mad.
And a kingdom without a king is ripe for the picking.
When do you go to Cenred?
Tomorrow. And he will do as we wish?
Cenred wishes only to please me.
Then your time with him has been well spent.
PIERCING SCREAM
Lady Morgana?
I was just taking a stroll.
What's that, my lady?
Nothing. You're bleeding.
I'm fine, really. You're wounded.
My lady.
I saw the light. I wanted to make sure you were all right.
I'm fine. You're still dressed.
I'll prepare MYSELF for bed.
Are you sure? That will be all, Gwen.
To what do I owe this pleasure?
If you will not leave your castle then I must come to you.
I see that you've lost none of your audacity.
I wish I could say the same. But I find the great King Cenred
cowering in his chambers when he should have met me at the border.
Perhaps he has lost his nerve.
Perhaps he is a coward.
You are very beautiful when you're angry.
Is that why you continue to defy me?
You wouldn't like it if I made it easy for you.
I'm certain you've not come all this way just to drink, Morgause.
You know me well. Extremely well.
And yet somehow we're still close.
I've come to talk to you about our old friend.
Uther Pendragon.
Yes, I've heard the sad news.
He's finally lost his mind. Camelot is weak - weaker than it's been for years.
The kingdom is vulnerable, just as I promised.
Yet it doesn't change the fact that the citadel is still impregnable.
So, even without his wits, Uther is too strong for you.
You're a woman of great courage, Morgause, but I don't think with my sword.
An assault on Camelot cannot be undertaken lightly.
You forget, we have an ally in the court.
That is no guarantee.
Traitors blow like the wind.
Not this one.
She can be relied upon until the end. You can be certain of that.
We've had reports that mercenaries are streaming into Cenred's kingdom.
Do we know why? There is rumour that Cenred is amassing an army.
I think we should send a patrol out to assess the situation.
Father?
Leave me alone.
Get out of here.
Father, we...
I said, "Get out."
Get out!
I will have you hanged!
You...you...you...
There must be some explanation.
During the Great Purge, Uther drowned many he suspected of sorcery.
And some, God help them, were children -
killed for the magic they were born with.
Maybe his conscience is playing tricks with him.
Whatever it is,
we can no longer hide this.
A king's hold on his people's a very fragile thing, Merlin.
If they start to lose faith in him,
I fear for Camelot.
CHURCH BELLS RING
Take this man to my chambers.
I need to speak to Arthur as a matter of urgency.
The sentry must have been attacked at some point during the night.
Who could've done this? That is the sigil of the Bloodguard.
The Bloodguard?
Warrior Priests sworn to protect the High Priestesses of the Old Religion.
Surely they were wiped out during the Great Purge? Not all of them.
So, you believe there's a traitor in Camelot? It is possible, sire.
The sentry will be able to tell us soon enough.
He's still alive? Indeed.
Gaius?
Merlin?
Gaius.
You said he was recovering.
I thought he was. Then what happened?
You don't think it's strange?
Very.
Sorry you had to wait. There was much to discuss.
But your visit was successful?
Cenred's army ride for Camelot on my command.
There is nothing you cannot do.
It is you that gives me strength, sister.
How goes the battle for Uther's mind?
When Cenred marches on Camelot,
he will find a kingdom without a leader.
Then finally we are ready.
Not quite.
Merlin suspects me.
Has he told Arthur?
Not yet, but he will.
Then we must stop him.
That will not be difficult. Why?
Because he's already here.
Did you really I was that stupid, Merlin?
How are you, sire?
It's not me who's sick.
It can't be easy to see your father this way.
No.
He's always been so strong.
He lifted this kingdom from its knees, Gaius.
To see him now...
I'm sure that, over time, he will recover.
But until then, we have to make plans, Arthur.
We need you to assume control.
That's ridiculous. Camelot needs a leader.
It falls to you.
You must fulfil your role as Regent.
This is not just me talking. Members of the court have spoken.
So now you've taken to whispering behind my back?
What kind of treason is this? It is for the good of the kingdom.
I'm not going to usurp my father.
The palace is awash with rumours. The people are restless.
I swore allegiance to my king, and as long as there is breath in his body it is my duty to uphold that.
Arthur, please...
You are giving up on my father. That is something I will never do.
You intrigue me, Merlin.
Why does a lowly servant continue to risk everything for Arthur and for Camelot?
You know the answer, but you're not telling me. Why?
Come on, time and again you put your life on the line.
There must be a reason.
I believe in a fair and just land.
And you think Arthur will give you that? I know it.
And then what? You think you'll be recognised, Merlin? Is that it?
All this so one day you can be a serving boy to the king.
No, there's something more.
Something you're not telling me, isn't there?
I've told you.
Well, you can take your secret to your grave.
Weorp untoworpenlic!
You chose to poison one of my own. You may regret that.
Merlin!
You're going to be...
Abrecap benda.
Abrecap benda!
Irenfaestnunga onlucap me!
BRANCHES CREAK
Have you seen Merlin? Not since yesterday.
Is there a problem? I'm not sure.
What is it?
Merlin didn't come home last night.
That's not like him.
No.
RUMBLING
Min strangest miht hate pe tospringan!
I need him to get better.
I know.
I'm glad you're here.
I'll make sure he's looked after, don't worry.
Awendap eft wansaeliga neatu!
Forletap me a!
Ah!
HE ROARS
Oh... drakon, e male so ftengometta
tesd'hup'anankes.
The great battle for Camelot has begun.
It is your fate to be the greatest king Camelot has ever known.
Retreat! Morgana, she's summoned an army of the dead.
What are you going to do? Kill me?