Narrator: In a land of myth...
And a time of magic...
The destiny of a great kingdom...
Rests on the shoulders of a young man.
His name, Merlin.
Man: You there.
Show yourself.
Your highness?
Are you all right? Is something wrong?
No, no. All is well.
It's dangerous to be out at such an hour.
I'm grateful you are so scrupulous in your duties.
It's not where I thought to have found you, your highness.
One doesn't always wish to be your highness, percival.
I miss the old town. Its streets, its people.
So I go back sometimes.
Is that wise?
Well, people only see a queen when they expect to.
- All the same... - And it reminds me of elyan.
And I need that sometimes.
Of course.
I understand.
I'm not sure Arthur would.
I won't mention it.
Thank you.
Morgana: You're late.
Gwen: I'm sorry. Morgana: Was there a problem?
Nothing I couldn't handle.
Did you get what I asked for?
It wasn't easy.
It details the route the Levy collection will take.
The names of the knights, their arms, and the day they depart.
Morgana: You've done well, Gwen.
Gwen: How can I further our cause?
No, my lord.
Morgana's too powerful. Now's not the time.
- How could she do this? - She's not the Gwen you love.
She's fallen prey to a dark and powerful magic.
If I lose her, I lose everything.
We'll find a way to bring her back, Arthur.
I promise.
I thought I might ride this morning.
- Yes? - Would you like to join me?
That won't be possible.
Oh, perhaps this afternoon then.
Perhaps.
Arthur, is everything all right?
What do you mean?
You seem distracted.
Pressing matters of state. That's all. I'm sorry.
I understand.
Is there anything I can help you with?
Won't be necessary.
You've hardly eaten.
- I have a training session I must attend. - Well, perhaps I'll see you later.
Arthur: Gentlemen, this is the new route to collect the Levy. Commit it to memory.
Mordred: My lord. Arthur: Tell no one of the change of plans...
- Until the patrol's on its way. Understood? - Sire.
Mordred?
Of course, but may I ask why we're changing the route, my lord?
- This is another day's ride. - Arthur: I can't tell you that.
I just ask you trust me.
Good. We leave in three days.
Merlin: Why did I promise to help Gwen?
I have no idea what to do.
Is there really no remedy?
If Gwen has suffered what I suspect, then no, I fear not.
You know what happened to her.
When I was young I heard talk of an ancient ritual of the old religion...
Called the teine diaga.
Teine diaga?
Gaius: The sacred fire.
The ritual used the mandrake root to bring unimaginable terror to the victim.
Their screams could be heard 20 leagues away.
When it was finally over, their will was no longer their own.
They were slaves of the high priestesses for eternity.
- Who performed this ritual? Where? - I've told you all I know.
Such mysteries were revealed only to a handful of female initiates.
As a boy, I was privy only to rumors.
There must be someone who can help.
I could think of only two people who truly know the old ways.
One is morgana pendragon.
But be warned, Merlin.
The dochraid cannot be trusted.
She must never know your true identity.
Who dares enter the sacred cave?
I come to petition the dochraid.
Give me your hand.
- I smell the stench of enmity. - I come in peace.
- In friendship. - You are no friend of the old religion.
No friend of morgana pendragon.
- Great dochraid... - Silence!
I know you, emrys.
Your queen will find no relief here.
- How do you know why I come? - Ah.
I am the dochraid.
The earth speaks to me.
You are not welcome here.
- Depart! - Oh, I cannot do that.
Ahh.
Not until I have what I came for.
You dare challenge me, the ancient dochraid?
You, a puny sorcerer?
And yet I will have what I came for.
I'm a creature of the earth.
You cannot kill me.
This sword...
Was forged in a dragon's breath.
And it will do my bidding.
You do not have the power to wield such a weapon.
I wish you no further harm, dochraid. Tell me what I need to know.
Your queen is doomed, emrys.
Her spirit has been consumed by the teine diaga.
Bound by the silver wheel for all eternity.
Her body is nothing but an empty vessel filled by the will of another.
Morgana.
Once she has served her purpose, then that too will be cast away.
How do I break this spell?
Only the greatest of sorcerers could attempt such a thing.
- How? - Ugh.
You must travel to the cauldron of arianrhod.
There you will need all of your powers...
For you must summon the white goddess herself.
And that is all?
No, emrys.
The queen must enter the cauldron.
Its waters hold the goddess's power.
Only their touch can heal her.
Remember, emrys...
The queen must enter the water willingly.
If she is tricked, forced, or beguiled...
She will fall into the abyss...
And be lost forever.
Thank you, great dochraid.
Thank you.
- Is all well? - Yes, thank you.
If there's anything I can do?
Sorry?
Just wanted you to know I'm always at your service.
I never doubted it, mordred.
Merlin: There are too many things to go wrong.
And summoning the white goddess?
- That may be beyond me. - I think not.
Merlin, the only person who ever doubts your powers is you.
And even if I do manage that, we need to get Gwen to the cauldron in the first place.
- And she's hardly likely to go willingly. - I've already thought of that.
- Tincture of belladonna. - All that studying has paid off.
It's a powerful and dangerous drug, Gaius.
More dangerous than a traitor in the heart of Camelot?
Gwen needs to be conscious when she enters the cauldron.
She must do so of her own free will or the spell will not be broken.
That I agree may not be within our powers.
- Well then, the rest is futile. - But there is someone for whom it is possible.
Arthur?
Only he can reach the part of Gwen that remains true.
Won't work.
You underestimate the power of love, Merlin.
No, not that. Me. How can I use my magic with Arthur there?
He'd discover me in an instant.
Not if he didn't recognize you.
Heh, no.
No. Not again.
You know how exhausting the aging spell is, Gaius.
I don't have the strength to do that and perform the ceremony.
Then you must find the strength.
Arthur: This tincture of belladonna, what are its effects?
- Patient is rendered into a deep sleep... - Patient?
It is generally used for the badly wounded.
- How long does it last? - A few hours.
It has to be administered several times a day to provide a continuous sleep.
- But for no more than three days. - It is true, sire.
The tincture should not be taken for an extended period.
Or?
The body will not tolerate it.
Thank you, Merlin.
Three days is time enough to ride to the cauldron of arianrhod.
- You've done the journey yourself, have you? - I cannot claim to.
Any mishap, any unexpected circumstance...
There is no reason to suspect that all will not go well.
My lord, if we do nothing, Gwen is already taken from you.
Merlin?
Summoning this goddess...
Will it require magic?
It is a ritual that can only be performed by a sorcerer.
It is the only way, sire.
Sorcery has to be fought with sorcery.
I'll be breaking my own decrees.
To save your queen. To save your wife.
Very well.
There'll be a sorcerer. Can he be trusted?
Upon my life.
You assured me so once before, Gaius.
Then my father died in the hands of such a man.
- This sorcerer will be entirely different. - How can you be sure?
Because sire, this time, I have chosen...
How was the training, my lord?
Fine.
Did you win, lose?
Little of both.
You're a terrible liar, Arthur.
You're wearing the same clothes you were this morning...
And your armor remains untouched.
I'm not a fool.
Wherever you've been, it wasn't the training ground.
- I, um... - Have I done something wrong?
Spoken out of turn, said something I shouldn't?
I'm your wife, Arthur. I wouldn't see you hurt for the world.
Now tell me, what's troubling you?
I love you, Guinevere, more than you can imagine.
There isn't anything I would not do for you.
I know.
What do you think?
Gaius: Ah.
- It quite suits you, actually. - Heh.
- Thanks. - You're forgetting one thing.
Remember, you have to administer two drops every two hours to keep Gwen asleep.
Do you really think we can succeed, Gaius?
We must.
- Wine, my lady. - Not tonight. Thanks, Merlin.
A toast.
My lord?
Toast to...
A toast to the queen.
Me? What have I done?
Just being yourself, your highness.
Very kind, Gaius, but shouldn't it rather be...
- To Camelot? - To Camelot, yes.
- Gaius: Camelot. - Camelot.
Gwen: To Camelot.
- You haven't eaten, my lord. - No.
Ihaventuu
- you're sure this is safe, Gaius? - I'd stake my life on it, sire.
You may have to.
- She's still a queen. - It's the best I could do.
Gaius: We have to hurry, sire.
Careful.
- No one will know. - You're sure this is gonna work?
You'd be amazed how much license old age lends you, sire.
Merlin, come. We meet at the docking wood.
- Merlin, if you drop her... - I know. I lose my head.
Just so we're clear.
Gaius: Uh, keep up, boy. Keep up.
Why I keep him is beyond me.
- Are you all right? - She's a lot heavier than she looks.
- That might very well be grounds for treason. - Oh, no.
- Gaius and Merlin. - And a barrow of linen.
- Sir Gwaine, sir mordred. - Planning on changing a bed?
- Or perhaps to run up some clothes? - Don't touch that!
Not unless you want to risk an attack of red thrush fever.
- I've never heard of it. - Ah, and you're fortunate indeed.
More fortunate than the young man who's just died in these very bed clothes.
They have to be burned immediately.
The last thing Camelot needs is an outbreak of red thrush fever, is it not?
Yes. Of course. Sorry.
- Gaius? - Sire?
What is the name of the unfortunate young man?
So that I may send something to his family.
Timothy.
- Where's Merlin? - It's all right, sire. He comes.
What kept you?
Do you have any idea how steep those slopes are?
She looks so innocent and perfect.
Gaius: She still is, sire.
The only evil in her is morgana's. Come. You must be on your way.
Merlin: The sorceress lives at the westernmost peak.
That would be the highest. Always is, isn't it?
Better get started then.
Wait.
We're being watched.
One of your funny feelings again?
It's all right then.
Tether the horses here. It'll be quicker on foot.
What about the supplies?
- We'll manage. - We can't take it all.
I'll be carrying Guinevere.
Heh, she's half the weight of that lot.
Are you suggesting that I risk the safety of the queen and carry even more?
I can take her, and...
She's my wife.
- I'd be careful. - And you're the servant.
- These funny feelings of yours... - They're not funny.
Stupid then.
Where do they come from, you think?
You still there, Merlin?
- Don't tell me you've gone into a sulk. - Ugh.
I'm not sulking.
I'm carrying a load even a horse would struggle under.
Do you good.
- How come it wouldn't do you good? - I'm already good.
Well, maybe I...
Merlin?
Merlin!
Emrys is working to thwart your plans.
He means to cleanse Guinevere at the cauldron of arianrhod.
You must help me, aithusa.
This cannot be.
Merlin?
Merlin!
Mordred: Arthur!
- Check on Guinevere. - I already have, sire.
She sleeps soundly.
Mordred: Doesn't seem possible.
- The queen has the sweetest of natures. - It was never her.
Just morgana.
I'm sorry I didn't confide in you.
Mordred: It's best you didn't.
If I hadn't had my suspicions, I wouldn't have followed you.
Merlin acting strangely.
- Is that so unusual? - And the Levy route being changed.
You had a funny feeling.
My lord?
I'm glad that you did, mordred.
Without you, I fear I would have lost my arm at the very least.
- I would have woken. - Merlin, if I had to rely on your timekeeping...
- I'd have lost my arms and my legs to boot. - Heh, heh.
Arthur: It's good to have you with us.
Three's always better than two, isn't that right, Merlin?
Of course.
- It's time. - I'll do it.
Two drops only.
You don't trust me do you, Merlin?
I believe you to be a...
A fine knight.
But not one to be trusted.
It's all right.
I know you have the king's best interests at heart.
I only wish you'd believe that I do too.
One day, I shall prove my loyalty to you and to the king.
Then I hope we may be friends.
I could wish for nothing more.
Mordred: What's the meaning of these banners?
Marks the way for pilgrims.
This is a sacred site for those who follow the old religion.
How do you know such things?
Gaius told me.
- How much further? - Not far.
This gorge leads to the cauldron.
Here!
Morgana must be close.
- You go. I'll distract it. - No.
- You must. - You're the only one...
- Who knows where the sorcerer is. - Arthur!
Mordred: Get Gwen to safety, sire.
We'll cover you and join you beyond the gorge.
Very well.
- Stay here. I'll divert the creature. - Merlin, you can't.
I know what I'm doing, mordred.
What happened?
Merlin.
- Come on. - The dragon?
We need to move.
Merlin!
Where's mordred?
No, Arthur.
- I won't leave a knight behind. - I saw morgana.
Mordred's given us a chance. We can't throw it away.
Why don't you kill me?
My argument's not with you, mordred.
How could it be?
We're of a kind.
Never.
You wear the uniform well, but we both know what lies beneath.
Do you think Arthur would tolerate you for one minute if he knew the truth?
One of his knights, a sorcerer?
One day he will know.
One day we will be accepted.
Your naivety would be charming if it wasn't so dangerous.
- Where's emrys? - Emrys?
You pretend you do not know of whom I speak?
It is a name I've only heard of.
He's not here?
- With you? - If he was...
Would we both not feel the presence of such a great sorcerer?
Then I have no further use for you.
You would strike one of your own?
I am not strong enough to defeat you, morgana, but know this.
Such hatred as yours can never triumph.
I hope one day you will find the love and compassion which used to fill your heart.
It's as Gaius described.
The cauldron of arianrhod.
Where's the sorceress?
Gaius says she's a recluse. She shuns the company of men.
She's gonna have to make an exception.
We haven't got much time. Guinevere could wake up.
- I've got more tincture. - No.
No more. I won't risk it.
I'll search her out.
You didn't think this was gonna be free, did you?
What are you talking about?
The sorceress.
She likes to be paid in clothes.
She can't get to a tailor.
Why would a recluse be interested in clothes?
I don't know, Arthur. She's a sorceress. She's not gonna be normal, is she?
Not long now, my love.
Mordred?
- I thought we'd lost you. - So did I.
How did you escape morgana?
Even she is no match for a knight of the round table.
Seriously, mordred.
Now it makes sense.
- Merlin said she had trouble getting clothes. Merlin: Who are you?
What business have you in this sacred place?
Are you the dolma?
Ancient sorceress of the cauldron of arianrhod?
Who else would I be?
Does she look familiar to you?
- There is something. - Merlin: What say you?
Why do you mutter?
You look familiar, sorceress.
Oh, heh.
Is that so?
My lord, where is Merlin?
What have you done with my servant?
The gangly boy.
If you kill me, you'll never see him again.
I am an old woman.
Is it not natural I seek some surety?
The boy will be returned to you when we have concluded our business.
- You know why we're here. - Nothing is hidden from...
The dolma.
Now hurry, before your queen awakes.
Set her by the pool.
Great king...
The magic which has ensnared your queen is strong indeed.
It can be fought.
It can be broken, but it may also prevail.
- Do you understand this? - I do.
What we attempt will not be easy. If we fail, your queen will be lost forever.
- I understand. - Merlin: Very well.
When I awake Guinevere from her sleep...
She must walk into the cauldron of arianrhod of her own will.
Only then will the spell be broken, but be warned.
All the magic that binds her will fight against it.
- How then can we succeed? - Merlin: You...
Must reach her, Arthur.
Reach that part of your queen which has remained untouched by the evil of morgana.
- Is there such a part? - You must believe there is.
Prepare.
When she wakes, you will have but a few moments.
Where am I?
- What have you done to me? - You've been asleep for a long time.
- Guinevere... my Guinevere. - Get away from me! Your Guinevere?
You stupid foolish man. I was never yours and never will be.
You must reach her, Arthur. Reach out or all is lost.
- Who's this old crone? - You loved me once.
You're easily fooled, Arthur.
- And still do. - It was a trick.
Nothing more.
A subterfuge to pass Camelot to its rightful queen.
- I don't believe that. - Believe what you like.
- Fact remains. - No, it must be of her own will.
Look at me.
- Tell me you don't love me. - Let me go.
Do you remember when I asked you to marry me?
Do you remember what you said?
You said "with all my heart." That's what you said, Guinevere.
That was no subterfuge. No trickery.
With all my heart.
Come.
Arthur: I owe you a great debt. We both do.
If there's ever anything I can do in return... perhaps a new dress?
- Arthur! - She likes clothes.
There is one thing.
- Name it. - Remember what saved your queen.
Magic and sorcery.
It was also sorcery that bewitched her.
There is no evil in sorcery, only in the hearts of men.
My request is...
That you remember this.
You have my word.
Aren't you forgetting something?
The boy?
Of course, I thought everything had gone unusually smoothly.
That boy was your surety, great king.
Without him, your queen would still be lost.
- Not sure that's quite true. - And I say it is!
You owe him a greater debt than you can possibly know.
Right. Um...
I'm sorry. I'll...
Give him the afternoon off.
One day, great king...
You will recognize the true worth of those that surround you.
Mordred: Arthur's a lucky man.
Not just to have Gwen, but to have you.
He'll find someone else to do his chores soon enough.
It was hardly a chore.
That was your magic back there, wasn't it?
Have no fear. I will not divulge your secret.
I admire you.
It can't be easy to do so much for so little reward.
I do not seek reward.
- Recognition then. - When my friends are safe and well...
That's all I require.
You see, Merlin, we do have something in common after all.
The future of Camelot.
Merlin.
I want you to tell me where emrys is.