Dragon: In a land ofmyth and a time of magic,
the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy.
His name, Merlin.
(Nimueh chanting)
Merlin.
Camelot welcomes you, lord bayard of mercia.
The treaty we sign today marks an end to war
and the beginning to a new friendship between our people.
Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?
You're a servant, Merlin, it's what you do.
My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside.
It's character building, as the old proverb says,
"hard work breeds...
"A harder soul."
There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up.
No, I didn't.
- Sorry. - It's all right.
Excuse me.
Let me give you a hand with that.
Hi. I'm Merlin.
Kara.
You're Arthur's servant, that must be such an honor.
Yeah, it is.
You know, someone's got to keep the place running.
Thank you, Merlin.
Oh, yeah. Uh, no problem.
It was nice meeting you.
Shouldn't you be busy running the place?
(Laughs)
(Chanting)
- When were these last cleaned? - Last year some time,
- before the feast of beltane. - Did it end in a food fight?
- Don't all feasts? - I wouldn't know.
The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me.
Not tonight, they won't be.
- I'm going to be at the banquet? - Not quite.
You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry.
If I have to sit through bayard's boring speeches,
I don't see why you should get out of it.
Be sure to Polish the buttons.
Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?
Won't this do?
No, tonight you'll be wearing
the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot.
You can't be serious.
(Laughs)
- Nice hat. - Thanks.
She's pretty, isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean.
She's pretty for a Princess, let alone a handmaiden.
Hmm.
Bayard: People of Camelot,
for a great many years we have been mortal enemies.
The blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot
to the gates of mercia.
And though we remember those who have died,
we mustn't allow any more to join them.
As a symbol of our good will and of our new found friendship,
I present these ceremonial goblets
to you, uther, and to your son, Arthur
in the hope that our friendship may last.
Merlin, I need to speak to you.
- What is it? - Not here. Please.
I don't know who else to tell.
Bayard: Tonight we toast to a new beginning for our peoples.
We look towards a future free from the toils of war.
It wasn't until I saw him give the goblet to Arthur that I realized...
Slow down, start from the beginning.
Two days ago, I was bringing bayard his evening meal,
we're supposed to knock, he didn't expect me to walk in...
So, what're you trying to say?
If he knows I said anything he will kill me.
I will not let that happen to you, I promise.
Please, tell me what you saw.
Bayard is no friend of Camelot.
He craves the kingdom for himself.
Kara...
Tell me, what has bayard done with the goblet?
He believes that if he kills Arthur,
uther's spirit will be broken and Camelot will fall.
What has he done with the goblet?
- I saw him putting something in it... - What?
- I shouldn't, he'll kill me. - Please tell me.
Was it poison?
And may the differences from our past remain there.
To your health, uther, Arthur,
the lady morgana,
the people of Camelot.
And to fallen warriors on both sides.
Merlin: Stop! It's poisoned! Don't drink it.
- What? - Merlin, what're you doing?
Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison.
This is an outrage!
Order your men to put down their swords, you're outnumbered.
I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged.
On what grounds do you base this accusation?
I'll handle this.
Merlin, you idiot, have you been at the sloe gin again?
Unless you want to be strung up
you'll tell me why you think it's poisoned. Now.
- He was seen lacing it. - By whom?
I can't say.
I won't listen to this anymore.
Pass me the goblet.
- If you're telling the truth... - I am.
Then you have nothing to fear, do you?
No. If this does prove to be poisoned,
I want the pleasure of killing you myself.
(Scoffs)
He'll drink it.
But if it is poisoned, he'll die.
Then we'll know he was telling the truth.
- And what if he lives? - Then you have my apologies
and you can do with him as you will.
Uther, please, he'sjust a boy.
He doesn't know what he's saying.
Then you should've schooled him better.
Merlin, apologize. This is a mistake. I'll drink it.
No, no, no, no. It's all right.
- It's fine. - He's all yours.
(Sighs)
(Choking)
- It's poisoned. - Guards, seize them!
Merlin. Can you hear me?
We have to get him back to my chambers.
Bring the goblet. We need to identify the poison.
Lay him on the bed. Quickly. He's struggling to breathe.
Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel.
- Is he going to be all right? - He's burning up.
- You can cure him, can't you, Gaius? - I won't know
until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet.
Ah, there's something stuck on the inside.
What is it?
It looks like a flower petal of some kind.
- His brow's on fire. - Keep him cool.
It'll help control his fever.
The petal comes from the mortaeus flower.
It says here that someone poisoned by the mortaeus can only be saved
by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower.
It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the forest of baloch.
The flower grows on the roots of the mortaeus tree.
That doesn't look particularly friendly.
A cockatrice, it guards the forest. Its venom is potent.
A single drop would mean certain death.
"Few who have crossed the mountains of lsgard
"in search of the mortaeus flower have made it back alive."
- Sounds like fun. - Arthur, it's too dangerous.
If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Merlin?
The mortaeus induces a slow and painful death.
He may hold out for four, maybe five days
but not for much longer.
Eventually he will die.
My lady. I am so sorry, I haven't been here to attend to you.
Don't worry. I'm all right. How's Merlin?
If Arthur comes back with the antidote in time, he'll be fine.
Then he'll be fine. You should be with him. I'll manage.
- I know what he means to you. Go. - Thank you.
What's the point of having people to taste for you
if you're going to get yourself killed anyway.
I won't fail, no matter what you think.
Arthur, you are my only son and heir.
I can't risk losing you for the sake of some serving boy.
Because his life's worthless?
No, because it's worth less than yours.
I can save him. Let me take some men.
- No. - We'll find the antidote and return it.
- No. - Why not?
Because one day I will be dead and Camelot will need a king.
I'm not gonna let you jeopardize the future of this kingdom
- over some fool's errand. - It's not a fool's errand.
- Gaius says that if we can... - "Gaius says"?
That's exactly what makes it so.
Please, father, he saved my life.
I can't stand by and watch him die.
Then don't look.
This boy won't be the last to die on your behalf.
You're going to be king, it's something you'll have to get used to.
- I can't accept that. - You're not going.
- You can't stop me. - Damn it, Arthur! That's an end to it.
You're not leaving this castle tonight!
Say what you like about the food,
but you can't beat our feasts for entertainment.
Morgana, I'm sorry, I should've made sure you were all right.
Disappointed actually.
I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle.
I'm sure the guards could've handled bayard and his men.
Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun?
Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous.
Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from uther.
If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one.
Not that I listened to him.
Sometimes, you've got to do what you think is right
and damn the consequences.
- You think I should go? - Doesn't matter what I think.
If I don't make it back, who'll be the next king of Camelot?
There's more than just my life at stake.
And what kind of king will Camelot want?
One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant
or one who does what his father tells him to?
Halt! Stop!
He's getting hotter.
(Chanting softly)
- What language is that? - None. The fever has taken hold.
None of those words are his own.
His pulse is weaker.
- What is it? - That can't be right.
The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage.
What does that mean?
It says here that once a rash appears,
death will follow within two days.
You said he had four days.
Something's increased the flower's potency.
It warns that the effect of the mortaeus will be more rapid
if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation.
An enchantment? But bayard's no sorcerer.
- No, he isn't. - Then, who did this?
It can't have been. She wouldn't dare come here.
- Unless... - Unless what?
- What happened to that girl? - Which girl?
Just before Merlin burst in to the hall,
one of bayard's serving girls took him outside.
She had dark hair, very beautiful.
Find her. Quickly.
Merlin: Arthur...
(Chanting)
I expressly ordered Arthur not to go!
- I see it worked like a charm, too. - Not another word.
My lips are sealed.
I should've put him under lock and key.
You can't chain him up every time he disagrees with you.
Just you watch me.
I will not be disobeyed, especially by my own son!
No, of course you won't.
You knew about this, didn't you?
Morgana? Don't lie to me.
Arthur's old enough to make decisions for himself.
- He's just a boy. - Have you seen your son recently?
You have to let him make his own mind up.
Even if it means letting him go to his death?
(Breathing heavily)
Let me guess, she wasn't there.
No one has seen her since the banquet. Who is she?
- Not who she claims to be. - But you know, don't you?
Kara. Though that's not her name, not her real name anyway.
- Then who is she? - A powerful sorceress.
Well, we should tell uther, maybe he could send riders out after her.
No. She'll be long gone. It's impossible to know where though.
- Oh, no. - What?
She knows the only place an antidote can be found is the forest of baloch.
Arthur could be walking into a trap.
Arthur... Arthur...
(Growling)
(Continues chanting)
(Sobbing)
Arthur: Hello?
Are you all right?
(Loud growling)
(Screaming)
Stay back.
(Continues growling)
(Screeching)
It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you.
Who did that to you?
My master.
I ran away from him, but then I got lost.
- Please, don't leave me. - I won't. I'm not going to.
- You can take me away from here? - Not yet.
There's something I have to do first.
Why have you come to the caves?
I'm looking for something and it can only be found here.
What is it?
I know this place. I could help you.
It's a type of flower that only grows inside the cave. It's very rare.
The mortaeus flower?
I know where they are. I'll show you.
Arthur, it's a trap.
It's a trap.
- His fever's getting worse, isn't it? - The poison's setting in.
(Continues chanting)
Could you fetch me some more wolfbane?
Yes, of course.
(Door opening)
Merlin, you must fight it.
There they are.
Keep back from the edge.
Don't worry. We'll be out of here soon.
(Chanting)
What're you doing?
(Continues chanting)
(Grunting)
- I expected so much more. - Who are you?
The last face you'll ever see.
(Hissing)
It seems we have a visitor.
(Screeching)
Very good, but he won't be the last.
I'll let his friends finish you off, Arthur pendragon.
It's not your destiny to die at my hand.
Who are you?
Arthur... It's too dark, too dark.
(Continues chanting)
Merlin.
What're you doing?
(Breathing heavily)
Come on, then, what are you waiting for?
Finish me off!
(Panting)
(Grunts)
Leave them, Arthur.
(Hissing)
Go, save yourself. Follow the light.
Faster. Go faster.
Follow the light.
Move. Climb.
(Grunting)
(Breathing heavily)
Inform the king. Arthur has returned to Camelot!
What're you doing? Let me pass.
I'm sorry, sire. You are under arrest.
- By order of the king. - You disobeyed me.
Of course, I did. A man's life was at stake.
Do not let Merlin die because of something I did.
Why do you care so much? The boy's just a servant.
He knew the danger he was putting himself in,
he knew what would happen if he drank from that goblet, but he did it anyway.
He saved my life. There's more.
There was a woman at the mountain.
She knew I was there for the flower.
I don't think it was bayard who tried to poison me.
Of course it was.
Gaius knows what to do with it.
Put me in the stocks for a week, a month even, I don't care.
Just make sure it gets to him. I'm begging you.
(Yells) No!
You have to learn, there is a right and a wrong way of doing things.
I'll see you're let out in a week.
Then you can find yourself another servant.
(Door opening)
He hasn't got much longer. Has Arthur got the flower?
I don't know. Uther won't allow anyone to see him.
(Groaning)
Is there nothing we can do to help?
Only the leaf of the mortaeus flower can save him.
Then we have to find out if Arthur has it.
- I could sneak in to the dungeon. - That will be very dangerous.
I've got to. Merlin will die if I don't.
(Continues groaning)
Be careful.
Food for the prisoner.
Set it down over there.
Thank you.
Wait a minute.
I couldn't possibly eat this, it's disgusting.
The state it's in, I'm not sure it's fit for anyone.
You. Wait.
Waste not want not, eh?
We're not all as precious as her royal highness.
- Food for prince Arthur. - Stay where you are!
(Footsteps approaching)
(Door opening)
- How is he? - Have you got the mortaeus?
Here.
His breathing's much worse. We have to hurry.
- Why have you stopped? - The poison was created using magic.
We may need magic to make an antidote.
But we can't. It's forbidden, even if we could...
I'll try and make it work without.
I need some fresh water.
(Chanting)
(Continues chanting)
Thank you.
Hold his nose.
Swallow, Merlin. Swallow it.
Gwen: He's stopped breathing.
What's happening? Gaius?
His heart has stopped.
He's dead?
He can't be.
It was his destiny.
It's my fault.
If I'd have got here sooner, if I'd have been quicker...
No, no.
It was me.
I should've looked after him better.
It's my fault.
That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.
You're old enough to be her grandfather.
Merlin, you're alive.
No, I'm a ghost come back to haunt you.
Sorry. I'm just... I thought you were dead.
It's fine.
It's more than fine.
What happened?
The last thing I remember is drinking the wine.
Sire? Forgive the interruption, but may I speak with you?
- Not now. - Your highness, it is important.
Word of bayard's arrest has got back to mercia.
- We're about to be attacked. - I fear that what I have to tell you
may have some bearing on your plans. Please, it will only take a moment.
- I know who tried to poison Arthur. - So do I.
- He's locked in my dungeon. - It wasn't bayard.
The poison was magical
and I'd recognize the hand that made it anywhere.
Nimueh.
- You must be mistaken. - I wish I was.
It can't have been. We'd know her.
That witch's face is not easily forgotten.
She's a powerful sorceress, she can enchant the eye that beholds her.
- We never knew it was her. - Have you any proof?
The poison used against Merlin was made more potent by the use of magic.
You're saying that she conspired with bayard to kill Arthur?
No. Bayard is innocent. Look at what's happening.
This is what she's wanted all along.
A war to bring strife and misery to Camelot.
How long before bayard's armies reach our walls?
A day, maybe less.
We should send our cavalry out to meet them.
Instruct your men not to leave Camelot until I give the word.
Sire.
You're making the right decision, sire.
Do you think Arthur should be told the truth about nimueh?
Okay, let the bragging begin. How did you manage it?
I'm not sure.
All I do know is I had help.
Someone knew I was in trouble
and sent a light to guide the way.
- Who? - I don't know.
But whoever it was, I'm only here because of them.
I'm glad you're back.
Arthur,
the woman you met in the forest, what did she tell you?
Not much, she was too busy trying to get me killed.
- It was strange though. - In what way?
I was at her mercy.
She could've finished me off but she chose not to.
She said it wasn't my destiny to die at her hand.
You must've been scared.
It had its moments.
Those who practice magic know only evil.
They despise and seek to destroy goodness wherever they find it.
Which is why she wanted you dead.
She is evil.
It sounds as if you know her.
I do.
To know the heart of one sorcerer is to know them all.
You did the right thing, even though you were disobeying me.
I'm proud of you, Arthur. Never forget that.
Still alive then?
Uh, yeah. Just about.
I understand I have you to thank for that.
Yeah, well, it was nothing.
A half-decent servant is hard to come by.
I was only dropping by to make sure you were all right,
check you'd be back to work tomorrow.
Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. Bright and early.
Gaius.
Arthur.
Thank you.
You, too.
Get some rest.
Arthur may give you a hard time, but at heart, he is a man of honor.
There aren't many who would've risked what he did for a servant.
It all would've been for nothing
if you didn't know how to make the antidote.
Eat your dinner.
I still don't understand why she went to all the trouble of framing bayard?
She could've just kept quiet and killed Arthur.
Destroying Arthur and Camelot wasn't all she was after.
She knew you would be forced to drink that wine.
It was you she wanted to kill.
It seems someone else knows you're destined for great things, Merlin.
Merlin: I owe Lancelot my life.
I am paying for that debt the only way I can.
It's my life's ambition to join the knights of Camelot.
Arise, sir Lancelot.
- If I should not return... - Don't go, Lancelot.
Okay, Merlin. It's now or never.