Unconcerned

by Y-Pen-yn-y-Garreg

Alternate ending to "The Castle of Fyrien". What if Merlin's "Help, the Prince has escaped" ploy hadn't worked? Just how hard has Morgana's heart truly become? Did she urge Cenred and Morgause to kill Arthur quickly solely out of fear that delaying might facilitate his escape? Or was there some feeble ghost of a misgiving niggling deep down in her long-dormant conscience?

1. Act One

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A "Castle of Fyrien" alternate ending in descriptive screenplay format.

This story was inspired by the difficult to interpret expression on Morgana's face during episode 3x07 in response to Morgause's sinister little comment about Cenred having his "methods". Let's just say it got me wondering …

To avoid any confusion, I should tell you from the start what this story isn't:
1) It's not Arthur/Morgana romance – implied, one-sided or otherwise.
2) It's not an attempt to justify Morgana or to make her appear nicer than she is at this point in the actual show.
3) It's not an in-depth analysis of Morgana's internal thoughts. It's written in screenplay format, so all thoughts and feelings are shown as they would be in an actual episode: through what the characters say (or don't say) and how they say it (tone, word choice, facial expressions, body language, etc.).

What this story is is an honest extrapolation of how canon Morgana might have reacted if Cenred and Morgause's plans had gotten further than they did in the actual episode.

INT. = interior
EXT. = exterior

---

MERLIN

"UNCONCERNED"

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (DUNGEON CELL) – DAY

Merlin pounds on the iron cell door.

MERLIN
(shouting frantically)
HELP!
(with increased urgency)
QUICK!

He pounds on the door again. Hurried footsteps can be heard on the other side. The centre hatch is wrenched open, and a guard in a shemagh head scarf peers through.

MERLIN
(through the hatch)
The Prince has escaped!

Confused, the guard peers around the cell through the hatch, then, starting to panic, makes to open the door.

A VOICE
Not so fast.

A second guard has appeared behind the first. He glares suspiciously at Merlin through the hatch.

SECOND GUARD
(trying to see past Merlin into the cell)
If your master has escaped, why are you so quick to tell us?
We're your captors, not your allies.

MERLIN
(thinking quickly)
Because – he – ran off and left me here! If he thinks I'm gonna
stay loyal to him after that, he can think again! Quick, I'll show
you where he got out. If you hurry you can still catch him, and
serve him right for leaving without me!

The first guard reaches for the door latch again, but the second guard stays his hand.

SECOND GUARD
If you know where he got out, why haven't you followed him?

MERLIN
Because – it's – too high up! I tried to climb up there, but I
couldn't! And instead of helping me, he just looked down at me
and laughed. And then he took off! A man like that deserves
everything your king's got planned for him, so far as I'm concerned!
Now hurry and get after him before it's too late!

The first guard tries to open the cell yet again, only to be stopped once more.

FIRST GUARD
It can't hurt to check!

SECOND GUARD
Weren't you listening to the – to the warning we were given?
(turning to Merlin)
We had it from a – reliable source – that Prince Arthur was certain
to try and carry out some half-baked escape plan.

FIRST GUARD
(looking through the hatch into the cell again)
Yeah, and he's succeeded! He's not in there. Look!

Once again the second guard stops the first guard from reaching for the latch.

SECOND GUARD
We were also warned, that whatever we did, we were not to open
this door under any circumstances, until ordered by King Cenred himself.

MERLIN
Fine, then, don't even check! And see if I care when Cenred has
you both strung up for standing around and doing nothing while
the Prince swaggers on back to Camelot!

FIRST GUARD
(panicking)
I'm going after him! I don't care what you say!

The first guard has his hand on the latch before the second guard wrestles him away.

SECOND GUARD
You idiot! Prince Arthur hasn't gone anywhere! This is all a trick
to get us to open the door so they can try and overpower us.
(to Merlin)
I know for a fact that there's no way out of that cell.

MERLIN
Are you willing to bet your life on that?

FIRST GUARD
He's not in there! I've looked!

SECOND GUARD
(to Merlin)
I'm willing to bet, that even as we speak, your precious Prince Arthur is –
(suddenly sticking his head all the way
through the hatch and looking to his right)
– standing behind the door!

There's no one there.

The guard's head snaps quickly to his left. There's nothing there but an empty corner.

MERLIN
(smug)
I told you he had escaped.

Head still stuck through the door, the guard looks up at Merlin with the first traces of worry in his eyes.

But then they narrow again in suspicion.

SECOND GUARD
Climbed up the walls to escape, did he? I think rather …
he climbed up the walls … to hide on the ceiling!

The guard twists his neck around and looks up at the roof.

Wedged between two rafters, pressed against an iron grating, and looking extremely put out, is Arthur.

The guard grins up at him triumphantly.

Suddenly, Arthur lets go. He lands on his feet about a metre from the cell door and makes a lunge for the guard's head. The guard tries to yank his head out of the hatchway, but Arthur manages to grasp a hold of a fistful of his head scarf.

The two of them grapple for a moment, but then the guard manages to wrench himself away, leaving Arthur with nothing but an empty scarf.

Arthur lunges for the hatch, but it's slammed shut before he can get his arm through. He tries to slam it back open, but one of the guards is already latching it in place.

Arthur kicks the door furiously as the guards' footsteps retreat away from the cell. Arthur and Merlin are left alone in silence.

Arthur turns to Merlin and throws the empty head scarf at him in frustration. It bounces off Merlin's chest, and he catches it unthinkingly.

ARTHUR
You idiot!

He steps up close to Merlin and whacks him across the back of the head.

MERLIN
(rubbing his head)
Ouch! How's it my fault the plan didn't work?

ARTHUR
All you had to do was put on a convincing act.
I had the hard part!

MERLIN
(affronted)
I did the best I could! That first bloke believed me! If it had just
been him we'd be out of here! It's not my fault the second guard
had more brains.

ARTHUR
More brains than you, certainly.

MERLIN
(slightly shrill)
What more could I have done?

ARTHUR
(taking a step back)
Oh, you're right, Merlin, I'm sorry. It was my fault.

Merlin looks surprised but pleased.

ARTHUR
I should have known better than to put my trust in your acting
abilities! For you to be able to pull the wool over somebody's eyes
about anything, they'd have to be completely brain dead!

MERLIN
Oh, yeah? Well – you – just – remember you said that … for future reference.

Arthur scowls and cuffs Merlin across the back of the head again.

MERLIN
(whining)
Ouch! Will you stop that? It hurts!

Arthur lets out a derisive laugh.

ARTHUR
(taking a step towards Merlin)
Oh, you think that hurts, do you? Well, then, you just wait –
(shoving Merlin backwards)
– until they start torturing you!

MERLIN
(gulping)
But I thought – I thought you said they were only planning on torturing you?

ARTHUR
Well, you had just better hope that that's true, because so help
me, Merlin, if Cenred gets it into his head that he can better make
me talk by forcing me to watch while he tortures you, then as
soon as they're done with you, I'm going to torture you myself!

Merlin scratches his head, unsure what to make of this.

MERLIN
(brow furrowed)
Run that by me again?

Arthur scowls. Merlin raises the guard's head scarf in front of his face like a shield.

Arthur just scowls again and starts looking around the cell.

ARTHUR
(looking up at the iron grating that
bars the only opening in the stone roof)
There's got to be a way out of here …

A VOICE
(from behind the cell door)
Oh, there is.

The hatch in the door clangs back open, but this time it's Cenred who looks through.

CENRED
But unfortunately for you, Arthur Pendragon, that way out is death.
(sneering)
And even more unfortunately for you, you won't be getting to avail
yourself of it for quite some time.

Cenred steps back from the hatch and addresses some unseen guards.

CENRED
Bring him.

Merlin drops the head scarf and moves to stand in front of Arthur.

MERLIN
If you want Arthur, you'll have to get through me first.

Cenred laughs. Arthur raises his eyes to the ceiling.

ARTHUR
(exasperated)
Don't be an idiot, Merlin.

Arthur steps forwards and shoves Merlin behind him.

ARTHUR
Just go … sit down, all right? The last thing we need is you trying
to be a hero.

Arthur tries to shove Merlin towards the wall, but Merlin doesn't budge.

ARTHUR
(in a vicious undertone)
I meant what I said just now.

CENRED
No, no, that's quite all right. He can come too. I love an audience.

Cenred jerks his head at his guards, and a loud clanging rings out as they unlatch the cell.

Arthur glares at Merlin. Merlin stands his ground beside his master, scared but defiant.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – DAY

Morgana and Morgause stand alone in the dusty throne room. They're both silent. Morgana is listening intently for something.

A stifled yell sounds from somewhere beyond the aged wooden doors.

MORGANA
(frowning)
Is that Merlin? What's Cenred brought him up for?

MORGAUSE
(shrugging)
Cenred's always been a showman. Perhaps he wanted to make the boy watch.

Morgana strains her ears even harder. Just audible through the thick wood of the doors, a dull thud is heard, but nothing more.

Morgause watches Morgana's expression as she listens. Morgause frowns.

MORGAUSE
You seem troubled, Sister?

MORGANA
I just want this to be over. I'll rest easy again when I know that
Arthur is dead and my path to the throne is clear.

MORGAUSE
The more we learn from Arthur about Camelot's defences, the
clearer your path to the throne will be.

MORGANA
(softly)
Of course …

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – LATER

Morgana and Morgause still stand together in the same spot, listening.

Several moments pass in silence. Morgana frowns, straining her ears.

And then a swishing sound cuts through the silence, like something long and thin slicing through the air. It's followed by the unmistakable crack of a whip finding its mark.

Morgana flinches, but then she tries to cover up the movement by stretching out her arms as though she's merely trying to ward off muscle stiffness. Morgause frowns again.

MORGAUSE
What's wrong, Sister?

MORGANA
(pointedly ignoring the continued sounds of the whip)
Nothing. I just … I don't see the point to this, that's all. Arthur's
never going to talk. He'd rather die in agony than tell Cenred
anything that might endanger his precious Camelot.

MORGAUSE
(smiling)
Then die in agony he shall.
(watching Morgana closely)
Does that not please you, Sister?

MORGANA
(quickly)
Of course it does.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – LATER

Morgause has taken a seat on the throne. Morgana still stands as before.

The sounds of the whip have died away, and Morgana listens hard once again.

For a long while, there's nothing, and then another stifled yell that clearly comes from Merlin, and then more silence.

Moments later there's a muffled, echoing clang, like metal hitting stone. It echoes into more silence.

And then, unmuffled even by the stone walls and the heavy doors, comes a short, sharp cry of pain, quickly stifled, but the voice is unmistakably Arthur's, not Merlin's.

Morgause sits up on the throne and smiles.

MORGAUSE
It seems our prince has finally found his voice. It's a start …

MORGANA
(grimacing)
There's a far cry from screaming in pain to laying bare all of
Camelot's secrets.

MORGAUSE
Patience, Sister … these things take time.

There's another cry of pain, which Morgana pretends not to hear.

MORGANA
And the more time we spend doing this, the less time until Uther
realises his son's gone missing and sends the Knights of Camelot
out to look for him.

MORGAUSE
Uther doesn't even know which direction Arthur took. He'll never
think to look here.

MORGANA
Uther may not, but that doesn't mean there's no one in Camelot who
will. Merlin's sure to have told Gaius, for one. And Gaius will tell Uther.

MORGAUSE
(unworried)
But not for days. We have plenty of time.

Arthur cries out again, and it's more drawn out this time. Morgana's mouth hardens, and she fixes her eyes on a shield on the opposite wall. As Merlin's muffled voice rings out, shouting something incoherent, Morgause rises from the throne and moves towards Morgana, a troubled look on her face.

MORGAUSE
Sister … you aren't … feeling sorry for him … are you?

MORGANA
For who? Arthur?

Morgana forces a stony look onto her face as another scream of pain echoes from behind the closed doors.

MORGANA
(a little too quickly)
Of course not.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – LATER

Morgana and Morgause are sitting side by side on the animal-skin rug at the foot of the throne.

Another scream comes from beyond the doors, more agonised this time, yet somehow weaker.

MORGANA
(sighing)
How much longer must this go on?

MORGAUSE
As long as it takes to gather all the information we need.

MORGANA
I bet Arthur still hasn't told Cenred a single thing! Exactly what
information does he want from him anyway?

MORGAUSE
Only every last ounce of knowledge Arthur has to give.

MORGANA
(talking louder to cover up the next drawn-out scream)
I could have got more information out of Arthur myself with a few dazzling
smiles and cleverly worded questions than Cenred will get like this.

MORGAUSE
The information you have provided us has always been invaluable,
Sister, but Arthur commands the Knights of Camelot; he knows things
that you don't, things you couldn't ask him without arousing suspicion.

MORGANA
Arthur's not a very suspicious person, especially of me, but he is
stubborn. He won't talk, no matter what Cenred does to him.

MORGAUSE
Everyone has a breaking point.

MORGANA
He'll die first. It makes more sense just to kill him outright. Why
waste so much time and effort?

Arthur screams again. Morgana sighs and looks at her knees.

MORGAUSE
(watching Morgana carefully)
What fun is there in killing him quickly?

Morgana opens her mouth, doesn't seem to have an answer, and closes it again.

MORGAUSE
(in a low voice)
You are feeling sorry for him, aren't you, Sister?

MORGANA
Of course not. Any affection I once had for Arthur died a long time
ago. Did I not bring him to you so you could kill him?

Arthur screams again, and Morgana looks away from Morgause.

MORGAUSE
Why, then, do you seem so distressed?

MORGANA
I'm not distressed, I'm impatient. Every moment we keep Arthur
alive is a moment too long. Even now Merlin could be plotting an escape.

MORGAUSE
What can a servant boy do?

MORGANA
He's thwarted our plans before. He –

Arthur screams, and Morgana falls silent. Morgause frowns.

MORGANA
I just want Arthur dead, that's all, not …

MORGAUSE
You want him dead, but you don't want him to suffer?

MORGANA
That's not what I said.

MORGAUSE
Then why do you flinch every time he screams?

MORGANA
I'm not flinching.

Arthur screams again. The muscles in Morgana's jaw tighten.

MORGAUSE
Do you not think he deserves this?

MORGANA
(without conviction)
Of course I do.

MORGAUSE
Remember what he is, Sister. Remember what he and his father
have done to our kind.

MORGANA
(with genuine malice)
How could I forget?

Arthur screams, and Morgana makes a valiant attempt at a smirk, but somehow it comes out as a grimace.

MORGAUSE
You must not forget, Sister, that if Arthur knew who you truly are –
that you have magic – he would see you killed without so much as
batting an eyelash.

Morgana hesitates a second too long before answering.

MORGANA
I know that.

MORGAUSE
Do not let his professed affection for you now cloud that knowledge,
Sister. We discussed this at length during our year together. I would
not have let you go back to Camelot unless I thought you were ready.

MORGANA
Sometimes I wish you hadn't. That year we spent together was
one of the happiest of my life. You can't know how freeing it was
not to have to pretend any more. I wouldn't have agreed to go back
at all if you hadn't made me see how necessary it is to take Uther down.

MORGAUSE
And Arthur.

Arthur screams. Morgana forces herself to look steely.

MORGANA
And Arthur.

MORGAUSE
He does not love you. Not the real you. What Arthur loves is a
shadow – a pretence. I love you for what you are, Sister. Arthur
loves you for what he thinks you are.

MORGANA
I know that. He is nothing to me.

Arthur screams again, and Morgana tries for another smirk. This time she manages it.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – LATER

Morgana and Morgause are standing near the throne again. There's silence outside the room. Morgana is listening intently again.

Footsteps can be heard now, some retreating, and a single set approaching.

The doors swing open and Cenred enters. He's wiping his hands on a piece of white cloth.

MORGANA
(to Cenred)
So?
(when Cenred just keeps wiping his hands)
Is Arthur dead?

CENRED
(throwing the cloth aside)
Not yet.

MORGANA
Has he told you anything?

CENRED
Not yet.

MORGANA
So you've accomplished nothing.

MORGAUSE
Patience, Sister.
(to Cenred)
Why have you stopped?

Cenred crosses over to the throne and sits down on it, stretching leisurely.

CENRED
I thought he could use some time to mull things over.
(almost as an afterthought)
Besides … my torturers seem to be suffering from a string of bad luck today.

MORGAUSE
What do you mean?

CENRED
Just one thing after another, really. Best way to combat these things
is to let them burn themselves out – hope we have better luck tomorrow.

MORGAUSE
(growing impatient)
What happened?

CENRED
Well, first Leodgar missed and hit the wall instead of Arthur. Broke
every bone in his fist. Then Alred somehow managed to get tangled
up in his own whip … Osmond burnt himself on the fire iron … It was
strange … Somehow the heat managed to travel all the way down
to the end he was holding … Then, of course, there was the moment
when Arthur's chains broke, shortly followed by Raynar's neck – although
that second bit was less due to bad luck and more due to Arthur
swinging the end of the broken chain around his neck and … yanking.

MORGANA
(grudgingly impressed)
Typical Arthur.

CENRED
Yes, well, Wulfric made him regret it … although perhaps not as
much as Wulfric himself regretted tripping face first into the fire
pit … He probably won't survive the night …

MORGAUSE
It sounds to me as though your men suffer from incompetence,
Cenred, not bad luck.

CENRED
I've got the situation under control.

MORGANA
It doesn't sound like it. I still say we should kill Arthur now and be
done with it. If you couldn't get anything out of him all day, a night
in the cells won't change that. And leaving him alive overnight just
gives him another chance to escape.

CENRED
(laughing)
He's in no state to escape.

MORGANA
He had no trouble snapping your man's neck.

CENRED
He got lucky.

MORGAUSE
Worry not, Sister. Arthur won't escape.

MORGANA
He won't talk, either. You're wasting your time.

CENRED
You may call today a waste, but I say we've weakened him. Tomorrow –

MORGANA
Tomorrow will be no different from today.

CENRED
But you're forgetting, Morgana, I have plenty of cards left to play.
Tomorrow, I think I'll use the servant boy … It's as you said, they
do seem to share a strange bond.
(chuckling)
You should have seen the way the boy was fighting my guards
today, trying to get to his precious Arthur … Tomorrow we'll find
out just how much Arthur will do for him … And once he's died a
slow, agonising death … I'll start on the girl. Just how much pain
do you think Arthur will be able to stand seeing her in? By the time
I'm finished, Arthur will be begging to tell me his secrets.

Morgana has no answer.

MORGAUSE
And if Cenred fails, I have methods of my own. One way or
another, we'll make the Prince talk.

Morgana nods tersely, her expression unreadable.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (DUNGEON CELL) – NIGHT

The cell door slams open and Arthur is thrown roughly inside, followed by Merlin.

The door clangs shut, and Merlin picks himself up, but Arthur stays where he is.

MERLIN
Arthur?

Merlin drops down beside Arthur, but he seems afraid to touch him. Arthur's no longer wearing his chainmail from before, just his red linen shirt, but it's ragged and redder in places than it should be.

MERLIN
(gingerly touching Arthur's shoulder)
Arthur … Arthur, are you …?

Merlin tries to blink the tears out of his eyes. He lets go of Arthur and reaches up to wipe them away but sees he's got blood on his fingers. He uses the other hand.

Arthur stirs.

MERLIN
Arthur?

ARTHUR
(barely audible)
Merlin …

MERLIN
I'm here.

He gently touches Arthur's shoulder again. Arthur rolls over, trying to look at Merlin, but he winces as his back hits the rough floor of the cell. He grabs Merlin's arm, trying to pull himself up.

MERLIN
Don't try to get up.

ARTHUR
(groggily)
Merlin … Merlin …

MERLIN
(grasping Arthur's arm)
What is it?

ARTHUR
(weakly)
Merlin, we … we need …

MERLIN
What do we need, Arthur?

Arthur's eyes flicker open and he looks straight into Merlin's eyes.

ARTHUR
We need a new escape plan.

Merlin laughs through his tears.

MERLIN
(grinning)
I'll get right on it.

ARTHUR
Excellent … Tell me how it goes …

And then he blacks out.

Merlin climbs to his feet, looking determined. He faces the door, and raises his hand.

MERLIN
Tospringe.

Nothing happens.

Merlin wipes his eyes with the back of his hand, and then he musters all his willpower.

MERLIN
Tospringe!

A golden fire blazes in Merlin's determined eyes, and the cell door creaks open.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – NIGHT

Morgana and Morgause stand alone again.

MORGAUSE
Shall I show you to your chambers, Sister?

Morgana nods distractedly. Morgause sighs.

MORGAUSE
You aren't feeling sorry for Arthur again, are you?

MORGANA
(heatedly)
No.

MORGAUSE
One of the others, then? Perhaps the boy, Merlin? You told me
you once considered him a friend.

MORGANA
That was before he tried to poison me. I'm more than happy for
him to die as slowly and painfully as possible.

MORGAUSE
The girl, then? Guinevere?

MORGANA
I knew she was to die when I brought her here …

MORGAUSE
Do not forget, she is loyal to Camelot. That makes her our enemy.

MORGANA
I know. And if her death can aid our cause … We're at war. Harsh
measures are necessary … but … what if it all comes to nothing?
What if Cenred tortures Gwen and Arthur still won't talk? He'll think
of the people of Camelot, and what if he decides that he can't trade
their lives to spare one girl pain, even if it is Gwen? I don't mind being
cruel for a purpose, but why be unnecessarily cruel? Is Arthur's
information even worth all this?

MORGAUSE
If it can help us take Camelot? Of course it is. And given what he's
been willing to endure so far to protect what he knows … that
speaks for itself.

MORGANA
I doubt Arthur would tell Cenred where to find gaia berries
under torture. Don't mistake his stubbornness for anything else.
I fear the more Cenred pushes him, the harder his resolve will become.

MORGAUSE
You give him too much credit, Morgana.

MORGANA
I'm not giving him credit. I just know what he's like.
(lowering her voice)
You said you had other methods of finding out what Arthur knows?
Magical methods? Why not use them now? Why waste time on
Cenred's crude techniques?

MORGAUSE
I think Cenred might start to question our alliance if I didn't let him
have some of the fun.
(when Morgana opens her mouth to protest)
Sister, there are magical methods of interrogation that are virtually
foolproof, but alas, at this time, I don't have them at my disposal.
The methods available to me work best on more vulnerable victims.
After Arthur has seen all his friends die cruelly at Cenred's hand,
that's when he'll be most susceptible to my magic, and that's when
I'll extract everything that's left, everything Cenred has failed to obtain.

MORGANA
(sighing)
I just hope Arthur's information is worth it … Frankly, I'd rather be
doing this to Uther. He's the true enemy. Arthur's nothing but a
witless pawn who chases blindly after his father's every whim.

MORGAUSE
Sister, after we take Camelot, Uther will be yours to do with as you please.

Morgana cheers up considerably at this prospect.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (DUNGEON CELL) – NIGHT

The cell door stands open and light floods inside. Merlin kneels beside Arthur.

MERLIN
Arthur. Arthur, wake up.

He taps Arthur on the shoulder, but doesn't seem to want to shake him for fear of hurting him.

MERLIN
(holding out his hand over Arthur)
Ic awrece þe.

Merlin's eyes flare with golden fire and Arthur's shoot open.

MERLIN
We need to go.

Arthur gives Merlin a faint smile.

ARTHUR
You're right. We do.

He closes his eyes again.

MERLIN
We need to go now, Arthur.

ARTHUR
(his eyes still closed)
We have to get the door open first …

MERLIN
It's open. Look.

Arthur's eyes flutter open tiredly. He looks unbelievingly at Merlin. He turns his head to look towards the door, and then he jolts awake properly. He pushes himself up with his elbows, trying to ignore the pain.

ARTHUR
(weakly)
How?

MERLIN
I'll explain later. Can you stand?

ARTHUR
Of course.

Merlin waits.

MERLIN
Are you going to?

Arthur tries to push himself the rest of the way up but almost falls back again. Merlin grabs his arm and steadies him.

MERLIN
Let me help.

Merlin pulls Arthur's arm around his shoulder and hauls him to his feet. Arthur lets out a gasp of pain.

MERLIN
I'm sorry.

ARTHUR
(breathless)
I'm fine.

MERLIN
Do you think you can walk?

Arthur nods.

Merlin helps Arthur towards the door.

ARTHUR
The guards.

MERLIN
Took care of them.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (DUNGEON CORRIDOR) – CONTINUOUS

Merlin and Arthur emerge from the cell. Two guards lie sprawled on the ground. Arthur blinks at them as though trying to clear his vision.

ARTHUR
Who did this?

MERLIN
(sounding slightly offended)
I did.

ARTHUR
(sceptically)
You?
(disbelieving pause)
How?

MERLIN
I –
(sighing resignedly)
I managed to steal a set of keys from one of the guards who was
restraining me while they were –
(pauses uncomfortably)
– you know. And then I just … bided my time, unlocked the door,
sneaked up on the guards from behind, and knocked them out.

ARTHUR
(disbelieving)
You did? By yourself?

MERLIN
Yes.

ARTHUR
Wow … I never knew you had it in you to show that kind of initiative.

MERLIN
One day you're going to realise that I'm actually an incredibly
competent person.

Arthur lets out a laugh, then winces.

ARTHUR
Merlin, please. Don't make me laugh. It hurts too much.

Merlin helps Arthur along the stone corridor.

ARTHUR
We have to find the others. Any idea where they might be?

MERLIN
Probably in the cell around the corner, where the other guard was.

ARTHUR
Was?

MERLIN
I took care of him too.

They round a corner, and sure enough a third guard is lying unconscious on the ground.

ARTHUR
(dazedly)
Are you sure I'm not just hallucinating all this?

MERLIN
Not unless we're sharing the same hallucination.

Arthur lets go of Merlin and stumbles towards a second cell door near the fallen guard. He falls against it and fumbles with the latch.

ARTHUR
I don't suppose you managed to steal a key for this one too?

Merlin looks down at the guard but doesn't see any keys. He steps up to examine the door.

MERLIN
I don't think there's a key. It just unlatches, look.

Arthur takes an unsteady step backwards and shakes his head, trying to clear it.

ARTHUR
But you said –?

MERLIN
Our door was different.

Merlin doesn't give Arthur time to think about it. He presses the latch and the door swings open.

Gwen and Elyan are huddled together inside the cell.

GWEN
(delighted)
Merlin!
(looking over Merlin's shoulder and catching sight of Arthur)
Arthur!

Without thinking, she rushes past Merlin and throws her arms around Arthur.

His knees give out under the added weight and he nearly falls. Gwen only just manages to catch a hold of him. He slumps against her.

GWEN
(scared)
Arthur, what's wrong?

ARTHUR
(struggling to stand on his own again)
Nothing. I'm fine.

Once she's fairly certain Arthur's not going to fall again, she gingerly lets go of him. She looks down at her arms to see that her sleeves are smeared with blood. It stands out far more vividly against her white shirt than his red one.

Her eyes widen in horror, and she looks up at Arthur and takes in his dishevelled appearance.

GWEN
(distraught)
What happened?

ARTHUR
Hmm?
(swaying slightly where he stands)
Oh, this … It's nothing. Looks worse than it actually is.

She reaches out and takes him gently by the arms, because he looks as though he might fall again at any moment.

GWEN
(her eyes starting to fill with tears)
Arthur …

Arthur looks groggily at Elyan, who's standing behind Merlin, then into the cell, then all around him.

ARTHUR
Where's Morgana?

GWEN
(looking around too)
She's not with you?

Arthur shakes his head, suddenly looking more alert.

ARTHUR
She must be somewhere else. We have to go.

He reaches down and takes the unconscious guard's sword, somehow managing to straighten up again without falling. It's as though Morgana's absence has given him a sudden rush of adrenaline.

ARTHUR
Come on.

He leads the way down the corridor, barely even stumbling.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – NIGHT

A warning bell begins to toll and Morgana and Morgause look up.

MORGANA
What's happened?

Cenred bursts into the throne room.

CENRED
Arthur. He's escaped …

MORGANA
(incensed)
I told you!

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (UPPER CORRIDOR) – NIGHT

Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and Elyan round a corner as the warning bell begins to toll.

MERLIN
They know we've escaped.

ARTHUR
You three run for the horses. Ride straight for Camelot and don't look back.

MERLIN
Us three? What about you?

ARTHUR
I have to find Morgana.

MERLIN
Don't be ridiculous! You're in no state to be wandering around the castle
on your own. You'll be caught. We all have to get out of here now!

ARTHUR
(adamant)
I'm not leaving without Morgana, Merlin.

GWEN
Then we'll come with you.

ARTHUR
(insistent)
No. I'm not endangering all of us. Besides, one alone stands a better
chance of moving through the castle undetected than all four of us.

MERLIN
Not if it's you! You can barely stay standing.

ARTHUR
All the more reason for you three to go on. I would only slow you down.

GWEN
(desperately)
Arthur –

ARTHUR
I've got a lifetime of training and experience functioning while
physically compromised. I can free Morgana. Now, go! Maybe we'll
catch up to you on the road. If not, we'll see you back in Camelot.
We haven't got time to stand around arguing. Go!

Gwen still hesitates. Arthur grasps her by the shoulder.

ARTHUR
Please.

Gwen nods. Arthur lets go of her and moves away down the corridor. Elyan coaxes Gwen in the opposite direction. Merlin stays where he is.

MERLIN
(to Gwen and Elyan)
Good luck.

Gwen turns back to him, questioning.

MERLIN
Well, I'm going after him, obviously.

Gwen smiles.

GWEN
Bring him back safe, Merlin. Him and Morgana.

Merlin falters for a moment, then nods. He and Gwen and Elyan move off in opposite directions.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (CORRIDOR) – NIGHT

Arthur moves carefully along the corridor. He comes to an open doorway, halts beside it and listens. There's nothing to be heard.

Arthur hesitates for a moment, as though worried what he might find. Then he steels himself and ducks around the doorpost.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (STONE CHAMBER) – CONTINUOUS

Arthur peers through the doorway into the chamber.

It's almost bare except for a long chain suspended from the roof, ending in a set of manacles dangling about seven or eight feet above the ground. The stones beneath are splattered with something dark.

Lying nearby is a chain similar to the one hanging from the ceiling, but it's been snapped in two near the middle. Further off there's a raised stone pit beneath a shaft in the roof. An assortment of iron rods protrude over its edge.

There's not a person in sight.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (CORRIDOR) – CONTINUOUS

Arthur backs away from the doorway, looking relieved. He continues on down a narrow adjoining corridor opposite the chamber.

At the far end of the corridor, Merlin creeps around a corner, careful not to be seen by Arthur. As he passes the doorway to the chamber he glances inside and gives an involuntary shudder, before inching towards the corridor opposite.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (ANTECHAMBER TO THRONE ROOM) – NIGHT

Arthur peers around a corner into the narrow antechamber. Two soldiers stand guard by the doors to the throne room. Arthur grimaces and raises his sword.

He darts around the corner. The guards take a moment to recover from the shock, but Arthur, too noble, as always, for his own good, waits until they've drawn their swords to strike.

Arthur's outnumbered two to one and in considerably less than prime condition, but the guards are still no match for him. Soon he's knocked them both to the ground.

As the second guard falls, Arthur staggers for a moment, short of breath, but he quickly shakes it off. He hurls himself at the doors to the throne room.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (THRONE ROOM) – CONTINUOUS

Arthur bursts through the doors.

Cenred stands holding a sword to Morgana's throat. He has a second sword pointed at Arthur.

Arthur hesitates a moment, then raises his sword, swaying a little as he inches forwards.

ARTHUR
Let her go.

Cenred laughs.

CENRED
Or what?
(loosening his grip on Morgana and pushing her off to the side)
Look at yourself. You can barely keep your feet.

Arthur takes advantage of Cenred's moment of overconfidence and lunges at him. Cenred only just manages to parry the blow. He yanks Morgana in front of him again and tightens his grip on the sword at her throat.

CENRED
One more step and she dies.

MORGANA
(to Cenred)
Please don't hurt me.

Arthur stands still, sword poised.

ARTHUR
(circling to the side but not moving forwards)
You're a coward, Cenred. You always were. Are you still afraid to
fight me? Even now?

Cenred only chuckles.

CENRED
It's cowards that survive, Arthur. Now, put down your sword.

Arthur does no such thing. Cenred jerks the sword closer to Morgana's neck. She winces.

There's a sound of footsteps and Morgause suddenly materialises from behind a pillar.

MORGAUSE
Do as he says.

Arthur looks up at her as she approaches, blindsided. Morgana's eyes dart fearfully in the direction of the voice, as though she didn't know Morgause was there all along.

MORGAUSE
(to Arthur)
You seem surprised.

Arthur recovers himself, swinging his sword back around and aiming it at Morgause.

ARTHUR
Hardly.
(raising the sword higher)
I know what you're capable of.

Unnoticed, Merlin pokes his head around the door.

MORGAUSE
(standing in front of Cenred and Morgana)
Oh, you have no idea.

Arthur keeps his sword held high, his expression undaunted, but he sways a little where he stands. Morgause smiles.

MORGAUSE
I would just kill you now, but … it seems a shame to let
all Cenred's hard work go to waste.
(lifting her hand)
Ic edcwice þin cwealmnesse.

Arthur gives a strangled cry, his sword clatters to the ground, and he falls to his knees.

Hidden behind the door, Merlin recoils slightly, unsure what to do.

Morgause smirks. Cenred relaxes the sword at Morgana's neck. Morgause raises her hand once more.

MORGAUSE
Gehæfte!

Golden fire flares in Morgause's eyes, and ropes snake through the air towards Arthur.

Behind the door, Merlin leaps into action.

MERLIN
Miere þa rapas!

Merlin's eyes burn brighter than Morgause's.

The ropes explode outwards with such force that the whole room shakes and the ceiling cracks, raining chunks of rock down on the room's occupants. Morgause, Cenred and Morgana are blasted backwards. Arthur, already on his knees, is knocked onto his back. A deluge of rock narrowly misses him. Morgause isn't so lucky. She's knocked unconscious as rubble rains down upon her.

Merlin looks up from where he's fallen beside one of the guards Arthur took down earlier. He squints through the dust.

Arthur is first to stir inside the throne room. He drags himself to his feet, clearly in pain, but not letting it stop him.

He looks around frantically for Morgana, to find her conscious and slowly pulling herself into sitting position. Both of them look towards Morgause. She isn't moving.

Arthur fumbles amid the rubble for his fallen sword, then staggers towards Morgana. He half kneels, half falls down beside her.

ARTHUR
Are you all right?

Morgana finally tears her eyes away from Morgause and looks at Arthur.

MORGANA
I'm fine …

Her gaze strays to the blood and the bruises and lacerations visible through his tattered shirt, her eyes full of some indefinable emotion.

ARTHUR
(glancing down)
Oh, this is nothing. Looks worse than it actually is. Come on.
We need to go.

He tries to help her up but fails to get either one of them off the ground. Morgana looks back over at Morgause.

ARTHUR
We need to get out of here quickly, before she wakes up.

Morgana doesn't move. Arthur wrenches himself to his feet, then takes Morgana's arm and tries to pull her up, but he hasn't got the strength.

ARTHUR
(with growing urgency)
Morgana!

She allows him to pull her to her feet. He pushes her towards the door.

Merlin comes walking through it. Arthur looks furious.

ARTHUR
Merlin, what the hell are you doing here?

MERLIN
I came to help!

ARTHUR
(incredulous)
Help? Now I've just got another damsel to –

Morgause stirs. Morgana looks her way. So does Arthur.

ARTHUR
Merlin, take Morgana and run! Do not wait for me.
I'll only slow you down.

MERLIN
I'm not leaving without you.

Before Arthur has a chance to argue, Merlin seizes his arm, throws it over his own shoulder, grabs Morgana's hand with his other arm, and drags both of them from the room.

INT. CASTLE OF FYRIEN (UNDERGROUND TUNNELS) – NIGHT

Merlin, Arthur and Morgana hurry through the tunnels. Merlin leads the way with a burning torch. Arthur still has one arm slung over Merlin's shoulder, but he has a hold of Morgana with the other.

MORGANA
(dragging her feet)
I can't go on!

MERLIN
(harsh)
What's the matter? Worried about your friends?

Arthur looks at him like he thinks he's lost his mind.

ARTHUR
(to Morgana)
What's wrong?

MORGANA
It's my ankle.

Arthur lets go of Merlin and looks back down the tunnel. There's a sound of pursuing footsteps.

ARTHUR
I'll carry you.

MORGANA
Don't be ridiculous! You can't carry me.

ARTHUR
(with all his usual bravado)
'Course I can.

He grabs her and tries to haul her over his shoulder. He staggers. She throws all her weight downwards, making both of them go crashing to the tunnel floor.

MORGANA
(as Arthur tries to pick himself off the ground)
I told you!

Merlin tries to pull Arthur back to his feet, but suddenly the tunnel fills up with soldiers. Arthur hauls himself off the ground, drawing his sword. He takes a defensive position in front of Merlin and Morgana.

More soldiers pour into the tunnel. They mill around Arthur, Merlin and Morgana, surrounding them.

LEAD SOLDIER
Surrender, Pendragon.

But Arthur's not about to give up without a fight. With a furious cry he launches himself at the speaker. He knocks the man to the ground within seconds, but another closes in behind him, sword raised.

MERLIN
Ecg misse.

Merlin's eyes blaze and the man's sword falls from his hand. But two more soldiers grab Merlin and pin his arms behind his back. Morgana backs away, watching.

Arthur fights two men at once. A third creeps up behind him. He raises his sword. Merlin, struggling with his captors, doesn't see him.

Arthur knocks one of his opponents to the ground, as the third unseen man's sword swings towards his unarmoured back.

And then, out of nowhere, something collides with the assailant's head. He drops to the ground.

Arthur spins around, cutting down his remaining opponent as he goes.

ARTHUR
Guinevere!

Gwen stands over the unconscious man, wielding a heavy piece of driftwood.

ARTHUR
I thought I told you to –

Two more soldiers come barrelling towards them.

GWEN
No time for that now!

She swings her piece of driftwood and knocks the first soldier's sword out of his hand. Arthur makes short work of the second. The first soldier scrambles for his sword and tries to run at Gwen. Arthur cuts him down before he can get anywhere near her.

ARTHUR
Where's –?

Elyan comes charging around a corner. He snatches up a sword from one of the fallen soldiers and joins the fray.

Under cover of all the commotion, Merlin's captors suddenly go flying through the air, and Merlin straightens up, one of their swords clutched in his hand.

Soon, only three of Cenred's men are still standing. Elyan duels with one of them. Gwen and Merlin occupy a second. Arthur's fighting the third.

Morgana watches from the back of the tunnel, her eyes fixed on Arthur. She glances down at a sword lying near her feet. She steps forward and picks it up.

She looks over at Merlin, Gwen and Elyan. None of them are paying her any attention. Arthur's mere feet away from her, but facing the opposite direction.

Morgana lifts her sword, and with a triumphant smirk, she plunges it straight at Arthur's back.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

---

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The first part of the first scene and parts of the scene between Arthur, Cenred, Morgana and Morgause in the throne room come straight from the original episode. If you're curious to know which lines are old and which are new, you can compare it with the transcript over at Merlin dot wikia dot com.

Spell Translations:

Tospringe = "Spring apart" (from the show)
Ic awrece þe = "I awaken thee" *
Ic edcwice þin cwealmnesse = "I renew your pain" †
Gehæfte = "Bind" ‡
Miere þa rapas = "Disrupt the ropes" **
Ecg misse = "Sword be lost" (from the show) ††

* Adapted from one of the spells Merlin uses on Gaius in 2x12 "The Fires of Idirsholas" when he's trying to wake him from his cursed sleep. The Merlin wikia lists the spell used in that episode as Ic acwice þe, "I revive you". It sounds more like awice to me, but there's no such word, so who's to say.
† The syntax is based on the spells in the show, but otherwise this one's completely made up.
‡ Based on the spell Anhora used to capture Merlin in "The Labyrinth of Gedref", Gehæftan, the only difference being that Anhora's spell was an infinitive whereas Gehæfte is an imperative. Infinitives are frequently used for spells in series one, whereas in later series imperatives are more often used. The imperative forms make more sense, so I went with Gehæfte.
** Modeled on the spell Merlin uses in the actual episode, Miere torr sweoloþhat, "Disrupt the burning tower". The verb mierran "to mar, disturb, confuse" seems like a rather dangerous one, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was Merlin's word choice that was responsible for that column of fire exploding the way it did, rather than just the fact that it was a column of fire to begin with. Maybe if he'd said Þylle torr sweoloþhat, "Calm the burning tower", the result would have been less violent.
†† Used by Merlin in episode 4x09, "Lancelot du Lac", to make Lancelot's Shade drop his sword.