Dragon: 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.
(Children chattering)
(Hooves pounding)
(People screaming)
Search the place.
(Screaming)
Find him!
(Ducks quacking)
(Dogs barking)
Found him.
It's harvest time.
What's this? Where's the rest of it?
I only kept back what we need to survive.
Survive?
I'll be back in one week, farmer,
and I want to see all of it.
You can't take our food.
Our children will starve! I won't let you do this.
You're not taking any of it!
(Exclaims)
Hunith!
I will give you a week.
Don't you dare disappoint me.
I'll see you later, sweetheart.
(Neighing)
(People talking indistinctly)
Mother!
Merlin.
What happened?
Who did this to you?
The winters are harsh in ealdor and there are many children.
Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive.
We barely have enough food as it is
and if kanen takes our harvest,
our children won't live to see another summer.
Please, we need your help.
Ealdor's in cenred's kingdom.
Your safety is his responsibility.
We've appealed to our king,
but he cares little for the outlying regions.
You're our only hope.
I have the deepest sympathy for you
and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth.
- You'll help us? - I wish I could.
Surely, we can spare a few men.
Resources are not the problem.
- Then what is? - Ealdor lies beyond aesctir.
For an army of Camelots to enter it would be an act of war.
I know you're a good king, a caring man.
I'm begging you. Help us, please.
The accord we've struck with cenred was years in the making.
I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village.
I'm afraid Camelot cannot help.
I'm sorry.
If it were up to me we'd be on our way there now.
Oh, you tried. And thank you for getting an audience with the king.
I wish Camelot was able to help people
regardless of how far away they lived.
I'm going back to ealdor.
Of course.
It's been an honor serving you.
- You'll be coming back? - Well, she's my mother.
I have got to look after her before anyone else.
- You understand? - I'd do exactly the same.
Well, you've been terrible, really.
I mean it, the worst servant I've ever had.
Thank you, sire.
Merlin.
Good luck.
Here.
Tell me how it feels.
Yeah, yeah, that feels really good.
It's very, um, you know, swordy.
I've packed some armor for you.
I won't be able to carry all that.
(Door opening)
You won't have to.
- We're coming with you. - What do you mean?
You're going to need all the help you can get.
I can mend armor and sharpen swords.
- And I know how to fight. - But you, you can't.
I mean, why would you?
If it was the other way round you'd help us.
You already have. You saved my life.
And you helped me get the druid out of Camelot.
We owe it to you, both of us.
- You've got the food I prepared for you? - Yes.
Be careful with the wine. You know what you're like.
One width of a bar maids apron, you're singing like a sailor.
I'll be fine.
You're sure you don't want an extra blanket?
It's okay, really. I'll be all right.
Well, make sure you are.
Do whatever it takes.
Hunith: They shouldn't be here.
Especially the lady morgana.
Isn't she the king's ward?
Nobody knows.
She's the only person I know who isn't frightened.
It won't make any difference to kanen that they're women.
I know.
But I couldn't talk them out of coming.
(Fire crackling)
I'm going to make him pay for what he did to you.
Promise me you'll be careful.
No one can find out about you.
They won't. They never do.
Get some rest.
(Chants)
(Hooves pounding)
(Horse snorting)
I'd ask you for money but I know you don't have any.
Arthur!
Put the sword down, Merlin. You look ridiculous.
- How much further is it? - Uh, maybe a few hours.
- How many men does kanen have? - Oh, I'm not sure.
I think from what my mother's said, maybe as many as 40.
We should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.
Thank you. Um...
- I know you didn't have to come. - Get some sleep.
(Chickens clucking)
(Screaming)
What do you have here?
What's in here?
If you're hiding anything from me...
(Grunts)
Kanen!
(Sighs)
Please, we have to eat.
Oh! And re-sow the fields for next year.
We only kept the bare minimum.
Everything else you can take.
That sounds fair.
(Grunts)
(Shouts) No! No!
(Grunts)
Kill them.
(Chants)
(Whimpering)
(Grunts)
Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?
Thatneverhappened.
You'll pay for this with your lives.
All of you!
You're still up to the same old magic tricks again?
I thought I told you we didn't want your kind round here.
I miss you too, will.
It's good to see you again.
How have you been, I hear you're skivvying for some prince?
- No, iwouldn't say I'm his skivvy. - Merlin?
Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them.
Yeah, in a minute. Just talking...
Now, Merlin. There isn't much time.
Yes, sire.
I know kanen's kind.
He'll be back and when he is, we must be ready for him.
First of all, we have to prepare...
Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?
- I'm prince Arthur of Camelot. - Yeah, I'm prince William of ealdor.
- Keep quiet. He's here to help us. - He's made things worse.
Kanen will be back and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge.
- You've just signed our death warrant. - He saved Mathew's life.
It's all right, hunith. This is his village.
What would you have us do?
We can't fight against kanen. He has too many men.
So what's the alternative?
- We give him what he wants. - Then what?
(All murmuring)
Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest,
- and the harvest after that. - We manage, we'll survive.
Villagers: How?
The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him.
No! You just want the honor and glory of battle.
That's what drives men like you.
Look, if you want to fight,
then go home and risk the lives of your own people. Not ours.
Will!
I'll follow you. If I'm to die,
then I want to go out fighting.
- That goes for me. - You can count me in, too.
- And me. - You can count me in.
He knows what he's doing. You've got to trust him.
Look.
When I first met Arthur, I was exactly like you.
I hated him. I thought he was pompous and arrogant.
Well, nothing's changed there then.
But in time I came to respect him for what he stands for,
what he does.
I know what he stands for. Princes, kings, all men like him.
Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this.
I'm not!
Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant.
- He's also my friend. - Friends don't lord over one another.
He isn't like that.
Really? Let's wait until the fighting begins
and see who he sends in to die first.
I guarantee you, it won't be him.
- I trust Arthur with my life. - Is that so?
So he knows your secret then?
Face it, Merlin. You're living a lie, just like you were here.
You're Arthur's servant, nothing more.
Otherwise you'd tell him the truth.
Have you always slept on the floor?
Yeah. The bed I've got in Camelot's luxury by comparison.
- It must've been hard. - Mmm.
- It's like rock. - I didn't mean the ground, I meant,
- for you it must've been difficult. - Hmm.
Not really, I didn't know any different.
Life's simple out here.
You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together.
As long as you've food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy.
Sounds nice.
- You'd hate it. - No doubt.
Why did you leave?
Things just changed.
How?
Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me.
I just didn't fit in anymore.
I wanted to find somewhere that I did.
- Had any luck? - I'm not sure yet.
We'll start training the men tomorrow.
It's gonna be a long day.
Get the candle.
Have you still not learned how to dress yourself?
You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself.
- No offense, Merlin. - None taken.
Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast.
- Didn't I? - Come on, eat up.
Mmm.
Right, let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it.
Of course.
Arthur said it was lovely.
He must care for you a great deal.
Arthur would do the same for any village. That's just the way he is.
It's more than that. He's here for you.
- I'm just his servant. - Give him more credit than that.
- He likes you. - That's because he doesn't know me.
And if he did, I'd probably be dead by now.
You don't really believe that, do you?
Merlin? Where are you going with that thing?
What does it look like? We need wood.
(Chuckles)
We both know that you don't need an ax to fell a tree.
And I remember the trouble it got me into.
I nearly flattened old man Simmons.
(Laughs) Yeah, he deserved it. Stupid old crone.
- Hmm, he never did like me anyway. - Even less after that.
- Why are you being like this? - You know why.
Why did you leave?
It wasn't what I wanted.
My mother was worried.
When she found out you knew, she was so angry.
- I wouldn't have told anyone. - I know you wouldn't.
You'd be able to defeat kanen on your own, wouldn't you?
I'm not sure. Maybe.
So, what's stopping you? So what if Arthur finds out?
- I don't expect you to understand. - Try me.
One day, Arthur will be a great king. But he needs my help.
And if anyone ever found out about my powers,
I'd have to leave Camelot for good.
You're telling me you'd rather keep your magic a secret for Arthur's sake,
than use it to protect your friends and family?
I won't be able to teach you everything there is to know
about fighting with a sword,
but you can learn the basics.
The stance, parry a blow,
how to land your own.
On my count, one, two, three, four.
Now you may have to watch for the feint.
Keep your feet moving and only stay in range long enough
to land your blow. Again.
One, two, three, four.
There's no way they're gonna be able to hold kanen off.
Men aren't the only ones who can fight.
Again. One,
two, three.
Matthew.
I want you to organize sentry duty to keep an eye out for kanen and his men.
I'd be glad to.
If there's any sign of attack, I want you to ride straight back here.
I don't want you fighting him all on your own.
Looks like the battle's already fought and lost.
- They'll toughen up. - Gwen: They need to.
How're we doing for weapons?
There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need.
It's not the weapons that worry us,
it's having enough people to use them.
We think the women should be allowed to fight.
Morgana: You haven't enough men.
If they were trained soldiers maybe you'd stand a chance but they're not.
It's too dangerous.
Right, back on your feet! Come on! Let's go!
Gwen: We don't stand a chance.
Arthur can't see that. He's too stubborn.
Why do you think he came here?
The same reason we did. Merlin.
Arthur may act like he doesn't care
but he wouldn't be here if he didn't.
We're not going to be able to defend ealdor with sword and sinew alone.
We're going to need a plan. We need to find some way
of limiting their mobility and drawing them into a trap.
If we fight them on their terms then...
(Woman screaming)
Get him down from there.
What does it say?
Make the most of this day, it'll be your last.
Matthew! No!
No! No!
You did this! Look what you've done! You've killed him.
It wasn't his fault.
If it hadn't been instructing around,
treating us like his own personal army,
this would never have happened.
These men are brave enough
to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't.
You're sending them to their graves.
(Sobbing)
You've killed one man.
How many more need to die before you realize
this is a battle that can't be won?
When kanen comes, you haven't got a chance.
You're going to be slaughtered.
Don't bother, Merlin, I'm not interested.
You should be.
'Cause tomorrow if kanen attacks,
whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight.
Not if I'm not here.
Well, that's up to you, but the rest of us are staying.
Join us, will. This isn't about Arthur,
this is about your friends. Are you really going to abandon them?
- What? Like you did. - I'm here now.
Yeah, you are and you could end this.
If you used your magic no one else would have to die.
You know I can't.
Can't or won't?
I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlin.
You are.
William's father was killed
fighting for king cenred.
So he doesn't trust anyone of nobility.
Do you think the villagers believed him?
He's always been a troublemaker.
- They're used to ignoring him. - And if he's right?
He isn't.
I'm treating these men like soldiers and they're not.
You've seen them fight.
They haven't got a clue.
You need to tell them all to leave the village before kanen returns.
No, we're going to stay, we're going to fight and we're going to win.
Merlin, it can't be done.
- The odds are too great. - It can.
We're going to make kanen rue the day he ever came to this village.
All you need to do is get the men ready for battle,
and the rest will take care of itself.
How?
You've just got to believe in them.
Because if you don't, they'll sense it.
And the battle will be lost before it's even begun.
Tomorrow morning,
the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry
and go to the woods.
We're not going anywhere.
I know you want to help. Women can't stay here, it's too dangerous.
The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do.
But none of you know how to fight.
The more of us there are, the better chance we stand.
This is your home,
if you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice.
I'd be honored to stand alongside you.
Kanen attacks tomorrow.
Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill,
which is why he will never defeat us.
Look around...
In this circle we're all equals.
You're not fighting 'cause someone's ordering you to.
You're fighting for so much more than that.
You fight for your homes, you fight for your family,
you fight for your friends.
You fight for the right to grow crops in peace.
And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes,
fighting for your very right to survive!
When you're old and gray, you'll look back on this day and you'll know
you earned the right to live every day in between.
So you fight! For your family!
For your friends! For ealdor!
- For ealdor! Ealdor! - Ealdor!
Ealdor! Ealdor!
Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!
Come here.
I do love you, my boy.
What's wrong?
I should never have gone to Camelot.
I've ruined everything for you.
You haven't. Why would you say that?
I know what you're planning to do.
(Sighs)
If it comes to a choice
between saving people's lives and revealing who I really am...
There is no choice.
You can't let Arthur know about your gift.
Why not?
Maybe it's meant to be this way.
And if he doesn't accept me for who I really am,
then,
he's not the friend I hoped he was.
Arthur?
Hunith made you some food.
Thanks. I think.
Food is scarce for these people,
you shouldn't turn your nose up at it.
Oh, no. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm sorry.
- Gwen. - I'm sorry.
I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again.
Guinevere.
Thank you. You're right.
And you were right to speak up.
I should've listened to you and morgana.
- We'll need all the help we can get. - We'll be fine.
- How can you be so sure? - Because I have faith in you.
I mean, we all do.
Thank you.
No, not today. Put on your own.
- You ready? - My throat's dry.
Me, too.
It's been an honor.
Whatever happens out there today,
please don't think any differently of me.
I won't. It's all right to be scared, Merlin.
- That's not what I meant. - What is it?
If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it.
Arthur. They've crossed the river.
- You ready? - Ready.
Ealdor.
- Are you frightened? - Not in the slightest.
(Yelling)
Hold.
No one moves until I give the signal.
Hold.
Come out, come out, wherever you are.
Now, pull!
(Horses whinnying)
Now, morgana, what're you waiting for?
Something's gone wrong.
Merlin!
There's one. Get him!
Kill him!
Give me the flints.
(Chanting)
Pull back! Go the other way!
Now!
(All yelling)
(All grunting)
Thanks.
- I didn't think you were coming. - Neither did I.
(Grunting)
There's too many of them.
Not for me, there isn't.
(Chanting)
(Rumbling)
(All cheering)
Pendragon!
(Groaning)
- Who did that? - What?
Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere.
I know magic when I see it. One of you made it happen.
Arthur...
Look out!
Will!
- You saved my life. - Yeah.
- I don't know what I was thinking. - Come on. Get him inside.
- That's twice I've saved you. - Twice?
It was me.
- I'm the one that used the magic. - Will, don't...
It's all right.
I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me.
I did it.
I saw how desperate things were becoming,
I had to do something.
You're a sorcerer?
(Chuckles)
Yeah, what are you gonna do? Kill me?
No. Of course not.
Do what you can for him.
I was right about him.
I told you he was gonna get me killed.
You're not going to die.
You're a good man, Merlin, a great man,
and one day you're going to be servant to a great king.
- Now you can still make that happen. - Thanks to you.
This place has been boring without you.
Good to see you again.
Yeah, you too.
Merlin.
- Merlin, I'm scared. - Don't be, it's gonna be all right.
Merlin...
(Gasping)
I'm sorry. I know he was a close friend.
He still is.
You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you?
That's what you were going to tell me.
Yes. It was.
You know how dangerous magic is.
You shouldn't have kept this from me, Merlin.
You'd better be going.
- I don't have to go. - Yes, you do.
If anything were to happen to you.
I know where to find you.
You have to go, Merlin. You belong at Arthur's side.
I've seen how much he needs you, how much you need him.
You're like two sides of the same coin.
I've heard someone say that about us before.
I'm gonna miss you.
I'm going to miss you, too.
When you left, you were just a boy.
Now look at you. I'm so proud of you.
When the time is right,
the truth will be known.
Until then, you must keep your talents hidden.
It's better for everyone.
I am anhora, keeper of the unicorns.
Merlin: Arthur, don't!
Anhora: When you killed the unicorn, you unleashed a curse.
For this Camelot will suffer greatly.
The kingdom is under attack.
- Arthur: Undo the curse. - It is not in my power.
- He will be tested. - Arthur: One of us has to die.
What have you done?