When Merlin heard Arthur say the name of Morgana's hide out all rational reason fled from him. He used magic to add speed to his movement. When he reached the lower town, he quickly mounted his horse and dashed out of the court yard. He was just thankful that he packed supplies before going to the castle. He rode at full speed and only stopped to take a break. He knew he would do his mother no good if he was too weak to stand. He decided to make camp near a stream so he could scry the castle just in case. He didn't trust Agravaine to remain locked up. Little did he know he was right.
While merlin rode out he used magic to hide his tracks so Arthur couldn't follow him. He didn't doubt the kings willingness to help his mother, but he didn't want to take any chances. His plan worked as Arthur couldn't find his trail. Immediately he ran out of Camelot to find his mother, a knight came up to report to Arthur that Agravaine had escaped before he reached the dungeons. Apparently he pulled out a hidden dagger from his sleeve and slit the throats of the two knights sent to take him down the dungeons.
When the knight delivered the message to Arthur he cursed under his breath. He quickly ordered his men to mount up so they could catch up to Merlin before he did something foolish. In truth he was more worried about Agravaine catching up to merlin. He knew merlin had been training with Gwaine and occasionally other knights but he couldn't help it. When they entered the forest he ordered his men to look for hoof prints maybe they might see either Agravains or Merlin. Leon called out that he had spotted Lord Agravaines trail. So they set off following the trail with no rest. When they neared the castle Arthur told them of the secret passage that he knew. He led them down the tunnel. He figured Morgana will not think he is foolish enough to come down this passage again. But alas he was wrong. Before they could turn Morgana's men quickly surrounded them. They were thrown in the dungeons and left there. But the king was thrown in a different cell. He thought he was alone until someone coughed behind him, when he turned he was shocked to see Hunith looking pale on the floor.
Merlin woke up with a start. He had a bad feeling. When he looked up the sun was beginning to rise. He ate the bread he found in his sack, and took his horse to the stream so he could drink. After watering his horse Merlin decided to scry the castle of fyrien maybe he could find an easy way in. When he looked in the water he felt like screaming. He saw his mother in a cell with Arthur, the King wrapped his cape around his mother. Merlin enhanced the image to look at his mother. Her skin was too pale and she had cuts on her face. He looked for Morgana and saw her discussing with Agravaine. Apparently they were talking about him, Agravaine was wary Morgana seemed to ignore him. After taking the information he wanted he walked over to his horse and rode to the Castle of Fyrien.
When he was near the castle he cast a spell to make him invisible. He tied the horse to a tree and walked through the gate without being detected. He laughed quietly to himself marveling at how easy it is. Due to the scrying he was able to get the layout of the castle. He quickly made his way to the dungeons. He wanted to avoid any confrontation. When he neared the dungeons he heard a familiar voice yelling at the guards and another voice cautioning him. Gwaine and Leon were here too. He decided to free them to cover him. He dropped the spell making thereby becoming invincible. The guards were surprised and wondered where he came from.
'Who are you?' the fat guard asked him. Without answering he freed his sword from the sheathe and attacked the guards, in a few minutes he defeated the guards and opened the door. He was surprised the warning bell didn't ring. He was tackled immediately he entered the cell Gwaine thought he was one of Morganas men. After freeing the rest of the men he led them to the cell holding his mother and Arthur but they were not there. He decided to let his instincts guide him to Morgana. He ended up in the throne room. It looked like Morgana knew he was here. He saw his mother hanging upside down from the roof. When Morgana saw him she conjured swords from the ground. Then turned to face him.
'Hello Merlin. I see you managed to get rid of the formorrah.' Morgana said.
'Let my mother go Morgana. You don't have to do this. We were friends once. You once helped me in saving my village and you convinced Arthur to look for the Morteus flower for me. Please take me let my mother go.' Merlin pleaded with her, hoping just this once he could get through to her.
'You have no right to ask anything of me not after you poisoned me. Maybe I should do the same to your mother.' Morgana said with a mad glint in her eyes.
'No.' 'What?' Arthur and Merlin said respectively. 'What do you men Merlin poisoned you?' Merlin hadn't noticed Arthur. His hand was bound behind his back and Agravain had a sword pressed to his neck.
'You mean he haven't told you that he poisoned me?' she then went on to explain what happened on the day she was supposedly kidnapped. When she finished she was shaking with emotions.
'Please Morgana its me you hate. Take me let my mother go.' Merlin tried again.
'You played a key role in always disrupting my plans Merlin. You have hurt me more than anything. You will pay for what you did to me right here. Let us test your loyalty to Arthur now shall we. Or your mother.' With that she released the magic holding merlins mother and left her to fall. When Merlin attempted to run over to catch her, he slowed time with magic, Morgana used her magic to push him out of the way. He hit his head on a wall, then he heard his name. Someone screamed his name. His Mother. He watched as his mother fell to her death unable to do anything about it.
The next few minutes was a blur. He heard Morgana shout Emrys. And then there was exchange of spells. He knew morgana vanished after she deflected his spell and it hit Agravaine killing him instantly. When he finally calmed down the castle was half destroyed. When he saw his mother all mangled with rocks on top of her, he levitated the rocks from her. He then remembered that Arthur was here. He searched for him and when he didn't see him he called out. 'Arthur. Where are you?'
Behind him he heard swords drawn. When he turned around thinking it was bandits he went into full magical mode but it wasn't bandits. It was Arthur and his knights. 'Stand right there sorcerer.'