The Moment of Truth
Looking at the darkening sky outside Hunith decided it was time for dinner.
'Okay wait a moment while I get started on the dinner,' said Hunith.
Gwen and Hunith left but came about ten minutes later with nine round, flat breads covered with cheese.
'What's that?' asked Arthur.
'It said "pizza" on the boxes,' said Gwen.
Arthur took a piece suspiciously and nibbled it, 'mmh it's nice.'
Soon everyone was eating. Merlin turned on the next episode.
'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!' Kilgharrah as always began.
'When will I become a man?' Merlin groaned.
In Ealdor the people of Ealdor are going about there lives but scatter when bandits come.
Merlin growls at the bandits attacking his home.
'Search the place! Find him!' Kanen, the leader, orders.
The bandits bring Matthew to Kanen with his arms full of food, 'It's harvest time,' the bandit said.
The bandits hand Kanen the bags Matthew was carrying.
'What's this? Where's the rest of it?' the bandit demands.
'I only kept back what we need to survive,' Matthew protested.
Merlin growled again.
'Survive? I'll be back in one week, farmer, and I want to see all of it,' Kanen threatened.
'You can't take our food! Our children will starve! I won't let you do this!' Hunith said righteously.
'Now I know where Merlin gets his strong head from,' said Arthur.
Hunith and Merlin looked at each other both with a slice of pizza on their ways to their mouths.
Hunith tries to grab the bags that Kanen took.
'You're not taking any of it!' the woman shouts.
Kanen smacks Hunith, who falls to the ground.
'He did not just hit you!' Merlin said his voice cold.
'I'm okay,' said Hunith.
'I know,' said Merlin, 'but you're my family, my only family. I don't want you hurt.'
'I feel the same,' Hunith smiled.
'Hunith!' a villager runs to help Hunith; Kanen shoots him with a crossbow.
'I will give you a week. Don't you dare disappoint me! I'll see you later, sweetheart,' he leaves.
Merlin's eyes flash again and he puts a protective arm around his mother.
The bandits ride off. Matthew helps Hunith get up.
Hunith walks into Camelot. Merlin sees her as he's collecting water from the well.
'Mother?' Merlin asks.
'Merlin!' Hunith goes to hug him, but he notices her bruise.
'What happened? Who did this to you?' Merlin demands.
Hunith stands before Uther and the court in the throne room.
'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,' Hunith appealed to the king.
'Was it really that harsh?' asked Arthur.
Merlin and Hunith nodded.
'Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility,' Uther pointed out.
'Because Cenred is such a merciful king,' said Gwaine sarcastically.
'He joined Morgana and Morgause,' added Leon.
Merlin and Hunith nodded.
'I don't think I would really be welcome back in Cenred's kingdom,' said Merlin, 'due to me continually stopping him taking over Camelot.'
'I'm sorry,' said Arthur.
'It's not your fault,' Merlin sighed.
'We've appealed to our King, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope,' appealed Hunith.
'I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth,' Uther said.
'You'll help us?' asked Hunith hopefully.
'I wish I could,' Uther said.
'Surely we can spare a few men?' asked Arthur
'Resources are not the problem,' replied Uther.
'Then what is?' demanded Morgana.
'Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Essetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war,' explained Uther.
'Never stopped you before,' muttered Hunith bitterly.
'What?' asked Arthur confused.
Hunith cast a fearful look at Merlin, 'nothing,' she said quickly.
Hunith drops to her knees, '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,' Uther said.
Morgana glares at Uther and escorts Hunith out.
Arthur looks out over Camelot. Merlin joins him.
'I'm sorry. If it were up to me, we'd be on our way there now,' Arthur said.
'You tried,' said Hunith smiling at the prince.
Arthur started, 'you're so like your son.'
'You tried,' Merlin said.
'See,' said Merlin.
'And thank you for getting an audience with the King.'
'I wish that Camelot was able to help people regardless of how far away they lived,' Arthur said.
'I'm going back to Ealdor,' Merlin told his master.
'Of course,' Arthur agreed.
'It's been an honour serving you,' Merlin said.
'I think that's the only time you've ever said that,' said Arthur.
'I don't want it to go to you already bloated head,' grinned Merlin.
'You'll be coming back,' Arthur said.
'Oh you do care,' grinned Merlin.
'Well, she's my mother. I have got to look after her before anyone else. You understand?' Merlin attempted to explain.
'I'd do exactly the same. Well, you've been terrible. Really, I mean it. The worst servant I've ever had,' Arthur laughed.
'Thank you, Sire,' Merlin grinned.
'Merlin. Good luck,' Arthur said.
Gwen helps Merlin pack for his trip.
'Here,' Gwen hands Merlin a sword. He starts to reach for the blade and she sucks in her breath. Merlin grabs the hilt.
'Tell me how it feels?' asked Gwen ever the black smith's daughter.
'Yeah.' Merlin tried it out. 'Yeah that feel...that feels really good. It's very, erm, you know...swordy.'
'Swordy?' asked Arthur.
'I'm a warlock not a knight,' said Merlin.
Gwen raises her eyebrows, 'I've packed some armour for you.'
'I won't be able to carry all that,' Merlin said.
Morgana enters dressed in trousers and a corseted tunic, 'you won't have to. We're coming with you.'
'What do you mean?' asked Merlin.
'You're going to need all the help you can get. I can mend armour and sharpen swords,' Gwen informed Merlin.
'And I know how to fight,' Morgana added.
'But y-y- you can't. I mean, why would you?' asked Merlin.
'If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life,' Gwen smiled.
'I also put you in danger in the first place,' Merlin said.
'By saving my father,' retorted Gwen. 'You really have to stop beating yourself up over that.'
'Okay,' said Merlin.
'And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you. Both of us,' Morgana added.
In the physician's chambers Merlin and Gaius are talking, 'you got the food I prepared for you?' asked the physician.
'Yes,' Merlin assured him.
'Be careful with the wine. You know what you're like. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor,' Gaius warned.
The men burst out laughing.
'You sing brilliantly when drunk,' grinned Gwaine.
Merlin groaned, 'I'm not that bad.'
'You never drank before leaving for Camelot,' said Hunith frowning.
'That's what happens when you take the country boy and put him in the big city,' Elyon laughed.
'I'll be fine,' Merlin said once again.
'Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?' Gaius asked.
'It's okay, really. I'll be alright,' Merlin assured his mentor.
'Well, make sure you are. Do whatever it takes,' he said at last.
Gaius hugs Merlin.
Merlin, Morgana, Gwen, and Hunith ride for Ealdor.
The woman and Merlin make the camp for the night. Merlin sits at the campfire with his mother, the others asleep.
'They shouldn't be here,' Hunith is saying.
'I should so,' said Gwen.
Hunith smiled at Gwen.
'Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?'
'That's what we thought,' said Arthur bitterly.
'Not that you'd know it. She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him,' Merlin said.
'I'm not,' said Arthur.
'You're frightened of his disapproval,' Merlin said quietly.
'It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women,' Hunith said.
'Barbarian,' muttered Arthur.
'I know. But I couldn't talk them out of coming,' Merlin admitted.
Merlin looks at the healing bruise on his mother's face.
'I want to make him pay for what he did to you,' Merlin said
'Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you,' Hunith said earnestly.
'That's kind of null and void,' said Leon.
Hunith nodded, 'it's a mother's job to worry.'
'They won't. They never do,' Merlin said.
'They have now,' grinned Gwaine.
'Get some rest,' said Hunith.
Hunith goes to lay down. Merlin takes a burning stick from the fire and blows some flecks into the air.
'Draca,' Merlin whispered.
The glowing flecks take the shape of the Pendragon dragon.
'That's beautiful,' said Gwen making a mental note if she married Arthur to get Merlin to do that at their wedding. 'What does "drasa" mean?' she asked.
'Draca,' Merlin corrected. 'Dragon.'
Merlin shifts in his sleep and hears horse in the woods. He draws his sword and goes searching through the dark. Someone puts a sword against his back.
'I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any.'
'Arthur!' Merlin whips around and Arthur ducks as the sword swings near his head.
'We really should keep you away from swords,' said Gaius.
'I'm not that bad,' Merlin pouted.
'Put the sword down, Merlin. You look ridiculous,' Arthur told the servant. Arthur takes Merlin's sword and walks toward their camp.
Back at the camp Arthur and Merlin sit at the newly stoked campfire.
'How much further is it?' Arthur asks Merlin.
'Er, maybe a few hours,' Merlin shrugged.
'How many men does Kanen have?' asked Arthur in military mode.
'Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty,' Merlin replied.
'You should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow,' Arthur said.
'Thank you. Erm, I know you didn't have to come,' Merlin said.
'But he cares about you even if he'll never admit it,' Gwen said affectionately.
'Get some sleep,' Arthur said.
Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, Gwen, and Hunith ride for Ealdor.
Bandits burst into the village looking for the rest of the food.
'Wait,' Matthew begs.
'What's in here? What's there?' asked Kanen. 'If you're hiding anything from me,' Kanen warned the farmer.
Merlin's party continues to ride. Kanen's men discover a hidden stash.
'Kanen!' a bandits calls. The bandit holds up bags of food. A village woman touches a young girl on the shoulder.
'Stay there. Stay there,' the woman said.
'Please, we have to eat,' begged Mathew.
'Oh?' asked Kanen.
'And re-sow the fields for next year! We only kept the bare minimum! Everything else you can take,' Matthew begged.
'That sounds fair,' Kanen strikes Matthew, and raises his axe for a final blow.
'No!' Matthew cries.
Arthur throws a sword into the post behind Kanen, rides up, dismounts, fights the bandits. Merlin rides up and dismounts too.
'Kill them!' Kanen orders.
Merlin fights a bandit; the girls arrive and dismount. Merlin caught against a door in his sword fight.
'Hætende,' Merlin whispers.
'What does that mean?' asked Arthur.
'Become hot!' Merlin shrugged.
The bandit's sword heats up as Will watches Merlin.
Merlin's eyes darkened. Hunith put a hand on Merlin smiling sadly.
Bandit drops sword. Merlin kills him. A bandit attacks Arthur from behind, but Morgana parries and kills him.
'Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?' Morgana laughed.
'She hasn't beaten us yet,' Arthur said coolly.
'Thanks to Merlin,' Lancelot said.
'That never happened,' Arthur denied.
Kanen mounts, 'you'll pay for this with your lives! All of you!' he shouts.
'You still up to the same old magic tricks again?
'He knew,' asked Arthur hurt by his loyalty to the other boy.
'When Merlin was small he couldn't control it as well as he can now,' Hunith explained.
Arthur calmed down at this.
'It was you not Will wasn't it,' said Gwen.
'Obviously,' Arthur rolled his eyes.
Look, I thought I told you I didn't want your kind around here?'
'That's an awful thing to say,' Lancelot said offended.
Will smiles and Merlin grins back.
'Oh it was a joke,' Lancelot understood.
'No wonder you like Gwaine so much,' said Percival.
'I missed you, too, Will,' Merlin grinned.
The two boys hug.
'It's good to see you again,' Merlin smiled.
'How've you been? I, er, hear you're skivvying for some prince,' Will didn't sound impressed about that.
'No. I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy,' Merlin said.
'Merlin! Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them,' the prince ordered.
'Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking-'Merlin began.
'You were saying,' Percival raised an eyebrow.
'Now, Merlin. There isn't much time,' the prince ordered.
'Yes, Sire,' Merlin hurried off.
Arthur addresses the villagers, 'I know Kanen's kind. He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare for.'
'Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?' Will asked rudely.
'He really didn't like you?' Gwen commented.
'It's nothing personal,' said Merlin, 'he didn't like nobles.'
'Why?' asked Leon offended.
'His father died,' Merlin said simply. 'That's how we became friends the two fatherless boys.'
'I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot,' Arthur said proudly.
Will scoffs, 'yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor,' Will said sarcastically.
'Keep quiet. He's here to help us,' hissed Hunith.
'But 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 warrants,' Will said.
'He saved Matthew's life!' Hunith defended the prince.
'That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?' asked Arthur.
'We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men,' Will said.
'And we have Emrys,' said Arthur grinning at his friend. 'That's what you were going to tell me?'
Merlin nodded.
'So what's the alternative?' asked Arthur.
'Give him what he wants,' Will suggested.
The other villagers shake their heads.
'Then what?' Arthur asked again. 'Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the harvest after that.'
'We'll manage. We'll survive,' Will said.
'How?' asked the villagers.
'The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him,' Arthur stated.
'No. You just want the honour 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 looked angry.
'Arthur is one of the few decent nobles,' said Gwaine.
'Will,' warned Merlin.
'I'll follow you. If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting,' Hunith said.
'That goes for me, too,' Matthew joined in.
'You can count me in,' a village man agreed.
'I'm in,' a village woman said.
'Me too!' another village volunteered.
'Yeah!' villagers said.
'You can count me in!' another village man joined the throe.
'You do have a knack of encouraging hope and loyalty in people,' said Leon.
'I wish that worked for Morgana,' sighed Arthur.
Merlin approaches Will in his home.
'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,' Merlin admitted.
Will right's a stand that has a chainmail shirt and tabard on it, 'well, nothing's changed there, then.'
'But, in time, I came to respect him for what he stands for, what he does,' Merlin added.
'Yeah, I know what he stands for: princes, kings, all men like him,' Will sounded bitter.
'Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this,' warned Merlin.
'Brining up Nathanial's not going to help convince Will,' Hunith said quietly.
'Nathanial?' asked Arthur.
'Will's father,' Merlin and Hunith said together.
'I'm not. Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant,' Will said.
'He's also my friend,' Merlin said.
'Friends don't lord it over one another,' Will told Merlin.
Arthur winced at the truthfulness of that statement.
'He isn't like that,' Merlin defended him.
'Really? Well, let's wait until the fighting begins and see who he sends in to die first. I guarantee you, it won't be him,' Will said.
'I trust Arthur with my life,' Merlin said.
'Is that so? So he knows your secret, then? Look, 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,' Will said.
'I didn't want you to have to chose between me and your father,' said Merlin.
In Hunith's home the Camelot party lie on the floor.
'Have you always slept on the floor?' Arthur asked Merlin.
'I still can't believe people live like that,' said Arthur.
'Yeah. The bed I've got in Camelot's luxury by comparison,' Merlin said.
'Must've been hard,' Arthur said softly.
'Mmm. It's like rock,' Merlin said absent mindedly.
'I don't think he means literally,' laughed Gaius.
'I know that know,' said Merlin.
'I didn't mean the ground. I meant, for you. It must've been difficult,' Arthur said sympathetically.
'Mmm. 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 got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy,' Merlin said.
'Sounds...nice,' Arthur doesn't sound convinced.
'You'd hate it,' Merlin said.
'No doubt,' Arthur agreed. 'Why'd you leave?' asked Arthur.
'Things just...changed,' Merlin shrugged.
'There was an accident with my magic and I knocked over a couple of trees,' said Merlin. 'Well people weren't very happy about it,' Merlin shrugged.
'I didn't know the persecution was that bad,' said Arthur.
'In Ceredian's Kingdom usually no but we're too close to Camelot,' said Hunith, 'traders and all.'
Arthur nodded.
'How? Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me,' Arthur demanded.
'I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did,' Merlin said.
'Somewhere that executes your kind?' asked Gwen.
'Good point but Camelot's more home than Ealdor ever was,' said Merlin.
'You have a purpose,' said Gaius.
'And a group of friends,' added Merlin looking around at the prince, the knights and the future queen.
'Had any luck?' teased Arthur.
'I'm not sure yet,' Merlin said thoughtfully.
'I have,' Merlin reassured them.
Hunith was happy to see her son so happy.
'We'll start training the men tomorrow,' Arthur said.
'And woman,' added Gwen.
'It's gonna be a long day. Get the candle,' Arthur ordered.
The next day Merlin helps Arthur put his jacket on the next morning.
'You still not learned how to dress yourself?' jibed Morgana.
'He still hasn't,' laughed Merlin.
'You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself. No offense, Merlin,' Arthur said.
'None taken,' Merlin said.
'Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast,' Hunith came in carrying a bowl of porridge.
Arthur made a face.
'Didn't I?' asked Arthur.
'Come on, eat up,' Morgana smiled annoyingly.
Arthur pretends to eat the porridge, 'Mmmmm,' he fakes. Arthur hands the bowl off to Gwen. 'Right. Let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it.'
'Of course,' Merlin agreed.
Gwen finished Arthur's breakfast and hands the bowl to Hunith.
'Arthur said it was lovely,' Gwen lied.
Hunith and Merlin are talking.
'He must care for you a great deal,' smiled Hunith.
'Arthur'd do the same for any village. That's just the way he is,' Merlin shrugs.
'True,' Arthur said, 'but you're still my friend.'
'It's more than that. He's here for you,' Hunith said.
'I'm just his servant.' Merlin said.
'And one of the few people who treat me as Arthur not the prince,' said Arthur.
'Give him more credit than that. He likes you,' Hunith said.
'And you're the one servant who lasted more than a week,' laughed Gaius.
'I don't like boot lickers,' muttered Arthur.
'And they don't like boots being thrown at you,' added Gwen.
'I do not throw things at people,' Arthur said affronted.
'You do so,' Merlin said.
'You're different,' Arthur said.
'I feel honoured,' Merlin said sarcastically.
'That's because he doesn't know me. And if he did, I'd probably be dead by now,' Merlin said.
'What would you have done if I'd told you then?' asked Merlin.
'I don't know,' admitted Arthur. 'I didn't know you that well then but you'd saved my life enough times so I don't know.'
Merlin nodded, 'that's why I didn't tell you at first, then I didn't want to hurt you by admitting to lying to you and your father and your relationship is hard enough without me coming in between the two of you.'
'You don't really believe that, do you?' Hunith asked.
Later Merlin walks toward the woods with an axe.
'Merlin! Where are you going with that thing?' asked Will.
'To a feast,' said Gwaine sarcastically, 'what does it look like?'
'Leave it,' Merlin said not liking his late friend being insulted.
'What does it look like? We need wood,' Merlin said.
'We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree,' Will laughed.
'Oh,' said Gwaine.
'I take it you usually fell trees with magic,' said Percival.
'Yeah,' Merlin grinned.
'Got you in a lot of trouble too,' laughed Hunith.
Merlin grinned.
'And I remember the trouble it got me into. I nearly flattened Old Man Simmons,' Merlin said.
'He must have loved you,' said Gwen.
'He never like me before hand,' said Merlin.
'Ha. Yeah, well, he deserved it, stupid old crow,' Will said.
'That's not fair,' Lancelot said offended.
'He was very grumpy none of us children like him,' Merlin said.
'Mmm. He never did like me anyway,' Merlin said.
'Well, even less after that,' laughed Will.
Merlin chuckles, 'why are you being like this?' asked Merlin.
'You were always his best friend,' said Hunith, 'and then you come along with a stronger companionship and friendship with another friend, and a noble – worse. He was jealous,' Hunith explained.
'Oh,' Merlin said.
'You know why. Why did you leave?' Will asked.
'He feels abandoned,' Arthur understood.
'It wasn't what I wanted. My mother was worried. When she found out you knew, she was so angry,' Merlin admitted.
'I worry,' Hunith defended herself.
'I wouldn't've told anyone,' Will retorted.
'I know that now,' Hunith smiled.
'Yeah he said he was the sorcerer,' said Gwen.
'Well, I know you wouldn't,' Merlin smiled.
'You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?' asked Will.
'You did,' Arthur said.
'I'm not sure. Maybe,' Merlin said avoiding the anser.
'Well, so what's stopping you? So what if Arthur finds out?' demanded the boy.
'I don't expect you to understand,' Merlin said.
'Try me,' Will said coolly.
'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,' Merlin said.
'If you were allowed leave alive,' said Gaius quietly.
'Are you telling me you'd rather keep your magic a secret for Arthur's sake than use it to protect your friends and family?' Will said offended.
Later in the village Arthur trains the village men.
'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, how to parry a blow, how to land your own. On my count! One! Two! Three! Four! Now, you may have to watch for the feint. So, keep your feet moving, and only stay in range long enough to land your blow. And again. One! Two! Three! Four!' Arthur kept going.
Morgana and Gwen watch the training as they sharpen swords.
'One! Two! Three! Four!' Arthur repeated.
'There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off,' Morgana said.
'Men aren't the only ones who can fight,' Gwen said.
'Again. One! Two! Three! Matthew. I want you to organise sentry duty to keep an eye out for Kanen and his men,' Arthur ordered.
'Be glad to,' Matthew said.
Hunith sighed Matthew always had been a great help when winters were hard.
'If there's any sign of attack, I want you to ride straight back here. I don't want you fighting all on your own,' Arthur ordered.
Later Matthew nods.
Arthur draws water from the well to drink.
'Looks like the battle's already fought and lost,' Morgana and Gwen come up to talk to Arthur.
'Not with Merlin here,' grinned Arthur.
'They'll toughen up,' Arthur said not sounding convinced.
'They need to,' Gwen added.
'How are we doing for weapons?' asked Arthur.
'There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need,' Morgana replied.
'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,' Gwen said.
'Arthur's not going to like that,' said Merlin.
'You haven't enough men. If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance, but they're not,' Morgana said.
'It's too dangerous,; Arthur walks towards the resting men.
'Right! Back on your feet! Come on, let's go!' Arthur shouts.
That night in Hunith's house the Camelot party are on the floor about to go to sleep sleep.
'We don't stand a chance,' Gwen said.
'Arthur can't see that. He's too stubborn,' Morgana said.
Merlin wakes.
'How come you never wake up in time for me?' asked Arthur.
'I have two jobs, a destiny and trying to learn magic,' replied Merlin.
'Why do you think he came here?' asked Gwen.
The same reason we did: Merlin. Arthur may act like he doesn't care, but he wouldn't be here if he didn't,' Gwen explained.
Arthur speaks to the men.
'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-'Arthur is cut off by a village woman screams. Arthur and the men rush outside to investigate. Matthew is slung over a horse.
'Get him down from there!' Arthur ordered.
The village men take Matthew down as villagers gather around. Arthur reads the note that's on the arrow in his back.
'What does it say?' asked Merlin.
'"Make the most of this day, it will be your last,"' Arthur read from the note.
'Matthew! No! No! No!' a woman screams.
'Who was she?' asked Arthur.
'His fiancé,' sighed Hunith.
'Was Flora alright?' asked Merlin
'Now,' replied Hunith.
'You did this! Look what you've done! You've killed him!' Will yelled at Arthur.
'It wasn't his fault,' Merlin defended his friend.
'He would have died before we came,' said Hunith.
Merlin nodded.
'If he hadn't been strutting around, treating us like his own personal army, this would never have happened!' Will shouted.
'These men are brave enough to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't!' retorted Arthur.
'You're sending them to their graves! You killed one man. How many more need to die before you realise this a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're gonna be slaughtered,' Will said angrily.
Merlin follows Will into Will's house, 'don't bother, Merlin. I'm not interested,' Will told his friend.
'You should be. Because tomorrow Kanen attacks, and whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight,' Merlin said grimly.
'Not if I'm not here,' Will said.
'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?' asked Merlin.
'What, like you did?' snapped Will.
Merlin winced, 'I'm here now,' Merlin replied.
'Yeah. Yeah, you are. And you could end this. If you used your magic, then no one else would have to die,' Will replied.
'You know I can't,' Merlin sighed.
'Can't or won't? I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlin. You are,' Will said.
Later Arthur is sharpening his sword. Merlin sits down next to him, 'William's father was killed fighting for King Cenred, so he doesn't trust anyone of nobility.'
'I can understand that,' said Gwaine.
'Do you think the villagers believed him?' asked Arthur.
'No. He's always been a troublemaker,' Merlin explained.
'Mary and I could never keep you two out of trouble,' Hunith groaned.
'I take it Mary's Will's mother,' said Gwen.
Hunith and Merlin nodded.
'They're used to ignoring him.'
'And if he's right?' asked Arthur sadly.
'He isn't,' Merlin said.
Hunith overhears them from inside her house.
'You were eavesdropping?' asked Merlin outraged.
'I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight. They, they haven't got a clue! You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanen returns,' Arthur sighed.
'No, we're going to stay. We're going to fight, and we're going to win,' Merlin told the prince.
'Merlin, it can't be done. The odds are too great,' Arthur told the other young man.
'It can. We're going to make Kanen rue the day he ever came to this village,' Merlin said with conviction.
'We?' laughed Arthur, 'I think it was just you.'
'All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest will take care of itself,' Merlin said.
'How?' asked Arthur.
'With magic,' grinned Gwaine.
'You've just got to believe in them. Because if you don't, they'll sense it, and the battle'll be lost before it's even begun,' Merlin advised.
'Good advice,' said Percival.
'Merlin is an idiot mostly but when he offers brilliant advice when it's needed,' Arthur said.
Later Arthur addresses the villagers.
'Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods,' Arthur told them.
'We're not going anywhere!' Gwen said.
'I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous,' Arthur reasoned.
'The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do!' Gwen said every bit the queen she would become.
'But none of you know how to fight,' Arthur reasoned again.
'The more of us there are, the better chance we stand!' Gwen argued.
The women of the village step forward.
'This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honoured 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 because 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! And when you're old and grey, 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!' Arthur raises his sword.
The villagers stand with swords raised.
'For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!' all those in the communal hall shout.
That night in Hunith sits pensively in her home. Merlin enters and hangs up his jacket.
'Come here,' Hunith's calls her son.
Merlin sits down beside her and she strokes his face.
'I do love you, my boy,' Hunith smiles sadly.
'What's wrong?' asks Merlin.
'I should never have gone to Camelot. I've ruined everything for you,' sighs Hunith.
'You haven't. Why would you say that?' Merlin asked shocked.
'I know what you're planning to do,' admits Hunith.
Merlin sighs, if it comes to a choice between saving people's lives and revealing who I really am,' he shrugs, 'there is no choice.'
'That is why I know you're not evil,' Arthur said.
'You can't let Arthur know about your gift,' Hunith said.
'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,' Merlin looked worried.
'You were more worried about my acceptance than your life,' said Arthur.
'Like you could capture me if I didn't want to be,' retorted Merlin eyes flashing gold and appearing away from his mother next to Gwen.
'Is that why we can never capture any powerful sorcerers?' asked Leon.
Merlin nodded tense.
Arthur stands watch. Gwen brings him a bowl of Hunith's home cooking.
'Arthur, Hunith made you some food,' Gwen brought him a bowl of food.
'Thanks,' Arthur looks less than impressed.
'I was brought up on that,' said Merlin.
Gwen turns to leave.
Arthur mutters, 'I think.'
'It's not that bad,' said Hunith.
'Just because we don't live on banquets,' said Merlin.
Gwen stops and turns back around, 'food is scarce for these people, you shouldn't turn your nose up at it!'
Arthur stares at her.
'Falling in love,' teased Gwaine.
'Is that really what made you fall for Gwen?' asked Elyon.
Arthur shrugged.
'Arthur likes people who are honest with him, who are willing to speak their minds and are not frightened or see him only as the prince,' Merlin said.
'Oh, no. I-I shouldn't've spoken to you like that. I'm sorry,' Gwen said realising that she had spoken out of turn.
'Arthur doesn't mind,' Merlin reassured Gwen.
'Gwen,' Arthur said.
Gwen hurriedly starts leaving, 'I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again.'
'Guinevere!' Arthur said.
'You know you're the only one Gwen allows to call her Guinevere,' said Elyon.
'Even as a child she was the same,' added Leon.
Gwen turns to face him.
'Thank you. You're right. And you were right to speak up. I should've listened to you and Morgana,' he mutters his sister's name. 'We're going to need all the help we can get,' he adds.
'We'll be fine,' Gwen assures him.
'How can you be so sure?' Arthur asks.
'Because I have faith in you,' Gwen said instantly.
'When you and Merlin work together you can defeat all the odds,' said Gwen.
'I mean, we all do,' she said quickly looking embarrassed.
'Thank you,' Arthur said gratefully.
In Hunith's home Merlin starts to help Arthur with his armour.
'No, not today,' Arthur said.
'Put on your own,' Merlin said.
They dress for battle. Merlin struggles with the buckle on one of his bracers. Arthur helps him out.
'You ready?' asked Arthur.
'My throat's dry,' Merlin admits.
'Me too,' Arthur hold out his hand and Merlin shakes it.
'It's been an honour,' Arthur added.
'Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me,' Merlin begged.
'You were trying to tell me about your magic,' said Arthur.
Merlin nodded.
'I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlin,' Arthur assured the raven haired man.
'Sorry for not listening,' said Arthur.
'Don't worry about it,' Merlin said. 'I knew you would find out about it when fate wanted it. Not the way I expected,' Merlin admitted.
'Nor I,' agreed Gaius.
'That's not what I meant,' Merlin said.
'What is it? If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it,' Arthur said.
'I was trying you never gave me much of a chance,' said Merlin.
'Arthur. They've crossed the river,' Morgana interrupts Merlin's almost confession.
Outside of Ealdor Arthur goes down the line of villagers, shaking hands.
'You ready?' Arthur asks a villager.
'Ready,' the villager replies.
'For Ealdor,' Arthur said.
He reaches Gwen and shakes her hand.
'Are you frightened?' Arthur asks her.
'Not in the slightest,' Gwen said.
Gwen, Arthur, and Merlin take their hiding positions. Kanen and his men ride out of the woods and into the village.
'Hold. No one moves until they give the signal,' Arthur ordered.
Kanen and his men stop and look around the empty village.
'Hold,' Arthur orders.
'Come out, come out wherever you are,' Kanen calls.
'Now, pull!' Gwen ordered.
Gwen and a villager pull up a hidden gate, trapping the riders inside. Morgana tries to light a fire with flint.
'Now, Morgana. What are you waiting for?' asked Arthur frustrated. 'Something's gone wrong,' moaned Arthur.
Merlin rushes off to help Morgana.
'Merlin!' Arthur hisses after the servant.
Kanen spots Merlin running.
'You gave us away,' groaned Arthur.
'There's one. Get him!' Kanen orders his men.
Hunith tenses us, why did Merlin have to get into so much trouble.
Merlin dodges the arrow.
'Few,' whispered Hunith.
Merlin returns to sitting beside his mother, 'I'm okay mother.'
'Kill him!' Kanen orders.
Hunith grabs onto her son.
Merlin dodges again and reaches Morgana, still desperately trying to light a fire.
'Give me the flint,' Merlin tells the seer.
Morgana hands them over and Merlin pretends to use them.
'Baerne,' Merlin whispers and lights a fire and a prepared line flames up, trapping the riders.
'I take it that means fire,' said Gwen.
'Burn,' corrected Merlin blankly.
'Come back! Don't run away!' Kanen catcalled.
Kanen's men ride back into the village.
'Now!' Arthur calls.
The villagers give a battle cry as they spring out of hiding to fight. A rider comes up behind Merlin and Will jumps off a roof in his father's armour to unhorse the rider.
'I didn't think you were coming,' Merlin said surprised.
'Is this really the time to have that conversation?' asked Arthur.
Merlin shrugged, 'probably not,' Merlin agreed.
'Neither did I,' Will agreed.
Merlin and Will fight back to back. The villagers start losing. Merlin and Will stop to assess the situation.
'There's too many of them,' Will groans.
'Not for me there isn't,' Merlin smiles. 'Cume thoden,' Merlin lifts up a hand and conjures a windstorm.
'That was useful,' said Arthur, 'what does come though-den mean?' he asked.
'Cume thoden,' Merlin corrected, 'means "come whirlwind"' replied Merlin.
'Which is exactly what it did,' Gwen noted.
Arthur sees the whirlwind and the villagers start winning and the remaining bandits flee. Gwen and Morgana hug. Kanen marches out to face Arthur.
'Pendragon!' Kanen shouts.
Arthur fights Kanen and wins, running him through. Then he marches angrily towards Merlin and Will.
'Your in trouble,' teased Gwaine.
Merlin tensed up knowing that his childhood friend was about to die.
'Who did that?' Arthur demanded.
'What?' Merlin asked.
'Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made that happen,' Arthur said.
'Sorry,' Arthur said, 'I made it sound like I was going to have one of you executed.'
'It's your upbringing,' Hunith smiled sadly.
'Arthur-'Merlin began.
Kanen picks up a crossbow and aims it at Arthur.
'Look out! ' Will pushes Arthur out of the way and gets hit himself.
'No!' Merlin cried.
'You really cared about him,' sighed Arthur.
Merlin nodded, 'I wish he hadn't come back at least he'd still be alive.'
'Why did he die for me?' asked Arthur, 'he hated me.'
'Not you,' Merlin said, 'nobles.'
'For Merlin,' said Hunith, 'he saved you because he knew it would hurt Merlin if something happened to you.'
Merlin sighed.
Kanen dies.
'Will!' Merlin cries.
'You just saved my life,' Arthur said in shock.
'Yeah. Don't know what I was thinking,' Will spat out through the pain.
'Come on! Get him inside!' Arthur ordered.
Merlin, Arthur, and a couple village men carry Will inside his home, 'that's twice I've saved you,' he whispers.
'He's taking the blame,' said Lancelot.
Merlin nodded.
'He was a good man,' said Arthur.
'I know,' Merlin sighed sadly.
'Twice?' Arthur questioned the dying man.
'Yeah,' Will breathed, 'it was me. I'm the one that used the magic,' will coughed.
'Will, don't,' Merlin said.
Arthur looks at Merlin.
'It's alright, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me. I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming and I had to do something,' Will said.
'His dying wish was to protect you,' Gwen gave a sad smile.
'You're a sorcerer?' asked Arthur in surprise.
'Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?' he spluttered through his pain.
'No. Of course not. Do what you can for him,' Arthur told Merlin.
Merlin nods. Arthur puts his hand on Will's shoulder and then leads the women out.
'I was right about him. I told you he was going to get me killed,' Will said.
'You're not going to die!' Merlin said.
'Couldn't you use magic to save him, like father?' asked Elyon.
'I didn't have the right ingredients to make a poultice,' said Merlin, 'and I hadn't learnt to heal without.'
'Plus your really bad at healing,' added Gaius.
'Thanks, Gaius,' scowled Merlin. 'It's hard to practice,' Merlin made an excuse.
'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,' Will whispered.
'Thanks to you,' Merlin said tears in his eyes.
'This place has been boring without you. It was good to see you again,' Will admitted.
'Yeah, you too,' Merlin said.
'Merlin. Merlin, I'm scared,' whispered Will.
Merlin had tears in his eyes.
'Don't be. It's going to be alright,' Merlin said.
'Merlin...' Will begins but dies.
'You were his last word,' sighed Gwen.
Merlin nodded tears in his eyes.
The villagers stand at Will's funeral pyre.
'I'm sorry. I know he was a close friend,' Arthur said.
'He still is,' Merlin admits.
'You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you? That's what you were going to tell me?' asked Arthur.
'Yes,' Merlin lied. 'It was.'
'You know how dangerous magic is,' Arthur said sharply.
'No wonder you didn't tell me the truth,' said Arthur, 'saying things like that.'
'You shouldn't've kept this from me, Merlin.'
Arthur walks over to Morgana and Gwen. Hunith walks over to Merlin.
'You better be going,' Hunith said.
'I don't have to go,' Merlin said.
'Yes, you do,' Merlin's mother said sternly.
'If anything were to happen to you-'Merlin began.
'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,' Hunith smiled.
'Have you been talking to Kilgharrah recently?' asked Merlin.
'I've heard someone say that about us before,' Merlin said thoughtfully. 'I'm going to miss you,' Merlin hugs his mother.
'I'm going to miss you, too,' Hunith returns to hug. 'When you left, you were just a boy. Now look at you. I'm so proud of you. '
Gwen, Morgana, Arthur, and Merlin ride for Camelot and you here Hunith talking, 'when the time is right, the truth will be known. Until then, you must keep your talents hidden. It's better for everyone.'
'Do you believe that?' asked Merlin.
'I do,' said Hunith.