'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 once again intones.
Morgause walks behind tall cobwebbed figures in the chamber of an empty old castle.
'The knights of Medhir,' Arthur understood.
'Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla sind min sáwla. Onwác and cóm hér eft. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft. Gehðu, Uther Pendragon!' the witch incanted which lights a fire in the middle of the circle of figures and they begin to move.
'That has to be dark magic,' Arthur said.
Merlin nodded, 'raising the dead in most circumstances is.'
In the council chambers a shepherd stands before the king.
'I'm a herder from the northern plains, Sire,' Joseph introduces himself. 'Three nights back, we were camped beneath the walls of Idirsholas.'
'I wouldn't,' Elyan grimaced, 'I've heard the rumours in my travels.'
'Not rumours,' Merlin said grimly.
'I'm not sure I would've chosen such a place,' Uther notes.
'Good pasture is scarce at this time of year, Sire,' explains the shepherd.
'What time of year was it?' asked Hunith.
'Winter,' Merlin replied.
'The winter is always hard,' sighed Hunith.
Merlin nodded at this.
'And what is it you have to tell me?' questions the king.
'While we were there we, we saw smoke rising from the citadel,' explains Jospeh.
'And did you see anything else?' asks Gaius.
'No,' admits Joseph.
'Did you go inside?' asks Uther.
'No. Nobody has stepped over that threshold for 300 years! You must know the legend, Sire,' Joseph says.
'When the fires of Idirsholas burn, the knights of Medhir will ride again,' Gaius explains.
'As they did,' Arthur said.
'See to it this man is fed and has a bed for the night. Take a ride out there,' the king orders.
'Why?' asks Arthur.
'So we can put people's minds at rest,' replies the king.
'Surely this is superstitious nonsense?' asks Arthur.
'Superstitions usually come from somewhere,' Gaius said.
'Gather the guard and do as I say,' the king ordered.
Merlin is in the physician's chambers.
'Why is Uther so worried?' Merlin asks.
'Because the Knights of Medhir are a force to be reckoned with,' Gaius explains.
'Do you believe the story as well?' asks Merlin.
'It's not a story,' Gaius seemed offended.
'Well I didn't know that at that time,' Merlin retorted.
'It's more than a story, Merlin. Some 300 years ago, seven of Camelot's knights were seduced by a sorcerer's call. One by one, they succumbed to her power. At her command, they became a terrifying and brutal force that rode through the lands leaving death and destruction in their wake,' Gaius explains.
'What happened?' asks Merlin.
'It was only after the sorcerer herself was killed that the Knights of Medhir finally grew still. Merlin, if what Joseph says is true, then something has awoken them, and I fear for each and every one of us,' Gaius says.
Morgana enters her room and finds her window open and a little box on her window ledge. she opens it and read the note placed inside.
"My dearest Morgana,
Meet me tonight after sundown in ...outside the castle gates. I will...the marked and distinctive...
Until then, keep..."
'Morgause,' Merlin said grimly knowing what he had been forced to do because of her spell.
'Are you all right?' asks Gwen.
Morgana crumples the note, 'yes, just a little cold,' lies Morgana.
'Do you need something warmer?' asks Gwen.
'She's sneaking out again,' Gwen said.
Merlin nodded.
'It was her and Morgause who cursed to castle,' Leon said suddenly.
Merlin's eyes darken, 'yes,' he agrees.
'No, thank you,' Morgana shakes her head.
Merlin and Arthur's party rides through the woods, 'what is it, Merlin? Don't tell me you've been listening to Gaius's bedtime stories again.'
'Gaius' "bedtime stories" are almost always right,' Merlin reminded the future king.
'I just hope that's all they are,' Merlin replies.
Morgana sneaks out of the castle at night to meet Morgause in the woods, 'you look well,' Morgause compliments.
'Thanks to you,' Morgana touches the enchanted bracelet Morgause gave her. 'I wear it all the time. I can't remember when I last had a bad dream.'
'Does she ever have nightmares now?' asked Gwen.
'There was the time when the goblin stole her bracelet,' Merlin said, 'but apart from that I don't know she's not exactly going to confide in me nowadays,' he sighed knowing the poisoning was coming up.
'But you do not seem happy. Why is that?' Morgause asks.
'Fear,' Merlin sighed.
'I would be if I didn't have to pretend,' Morgana explains.
'It was fear and loneliness that turned her against us,' Arthur said.
'And betrayal,' Merlin closed his eyes.
'Betrayal?' asked Lancelot.
'You'll hate me,' Merlin murmured.
'Pretend?' asks Morgause.
'That I'm Uther's loving ward when I hate him,' Morgana replies.
'You just disowned him that's hardly pretending,' Merlin replied.
'Have you ever imagined a new world, Morgana? One where Uther was no more?' asks Morgause.
'And the whole of Camelot,' muttered Merlin glaring at the screen.
'Sometimes,' Morgana admits.
'All the time, now,' Arthur looked like he had pain on his voice.
'And is that what you'd like?' asks Morgause.
'To be Queen,' Merlin said grim.
'I once had the chance to be his assassin,' Morgana admits.
'And what stopped you?' asks Morgause.
'Loyalty,' Lancelot frowned.
'I don't know. I believe he cared for me. But not anymore. He cares for no one,' Morgana says.
'He does,' Gaius said, 'he loves Arthur, and Morgana. He loved Ygraine as well.'
'So, you want Uther destroyed and his reign to end?' asks Morgause.
'Obviously,' snorted Arthur.
'More than anything. But it doesn't matter what I want. The future's not of my making,' Morgana said.
'You are wrong, Morgana. You underestimate your importance. The decisions you make now will change the shape of everything that is to come,' Morgause tells her sister.
'And so were mine,' Merlin sighed.
'What do you mean?' asks Morgana.
'Whose side are you on, Morgana?' questions the witch.
'It's not that simple,' Merlin said. 'Yes I want the persecution to end but not like that.'
'Are you with Uther?' the witch continues.
'Not for a while,' muttered Arthur.
'I'm not with Uther,' Merlin said. 'But I am with Arthur.'
'Or are you with me? Are you prepared to help me bring about his downfall?' asks the witch.
'I am,' agrees Morgana.
'I can't tell me how much it means to hear you say that,' Morgause's eyes glow and Morgana passes out in Morgause's arms.
'What is she doing?' asked Percival.
'A curse,' Merlin looked at the screen.
Morgause lays her on the ground and begins to draw a circle around Morgana with a stick.
'Acene slæp swilce ... Acene slæp swilce ... Acene slæp swilce ...' Morgause incants.
'More dark magic,' scowled Arthur.
Sort of,' Merlin said, 'sleeping spells aren't dark it was only its use that's dark. But in this case it says "sleep resembling violent death" if it had been a fake death then fine but not in this case.'
'Uh huh,' Arthur didn't understand what the warlock was saying but decided not to say anything and look like a fool.
Morgana begins to glow.
'What's happening to her?' asked Arthur.
'She carries the spell,' Merlin explained.
Morgana wakes in her bed the next morning.
'Morning, My Lady. Morgana. Morgana,' Gwen wakes up.
'Yes,' Morgana agrees.
'Did you sleep well?' yawns Gwen.
'And so the curse spreads,' Merlin frowned.
'Yes. Better than you, by the looks of it,' Morgana points out.
'I couldn't understand why I suddenly felt so tired,' Gwen said.
'You were under a curse,' Gaius replied, 'we all were.'
'Sorry,' Gwen sighed.
Uther sits up in bed, sweating, 'I have court business that needs attending to,' the king says.
'You have to stay in bed, Sire,' the physician says. 'You have a fever. I'll prepare a tonic for you. When did he first fall ill?' the physician asks.
'It came on this morning. It's not something to worry about?' Sir Leon asks.
'After Morgana and he breakfasted,' Leon muttered.
'No. It will soon pass. Be sure to let me know if there's any change,' the physician says.
Arthur's party rides for the fortress and enters the ruins.
'What's that noise?' asks Merlin.
'I didn't hear anything,' Arthur said.
'You don't have magic,' Merlin replied.
'What noise?' asks Arthur.
'A sort of trembling sound,' Merlin explains.
'That's your knees knocking together,' Arthur tells him.
Gwen sits, waiting for Gaius to give her a remedy.
'I fear this contagion is spreading,' Gaius says.
'Wherever Morgana or anyone she had seen went people would fall asleep,' Gaius frowned, 'didn't realise that until Merlin woke up.'
'You're the fifth person I've seen today,' the physician admits.
'I'm sure it's nothing,' Gwen assures the old man.
'Oh it's something,' Arthur remembered everyone lying asleep on the floor.
Gaius knocks a potion bottle to the floor, which shatters.
'Its getting to you,' Hunith sighed.
'Damn,' Gaius curses.
'I've never heard you curse,' Merlin looks surprised.
Gaius bends down, 'ooh.' Gaius straightens back up, 'I'll pick that up later. I think I might need a little something myself. If I can ever find what it is I'm looking for.'
Arthur's party enters the chamber in the fortress where Morgause awoke the knights at the beginning. Arthur checks the ashes of the fire.
'It seems part of Joseph's story was true. Probably just travellers passing through,' Arthur says.
'Or not,' grins Gwaine.
Merlin turns his head back toward the entrance, 'or maybe not.'
'You sensed them,' Arthur said.
Merlin nodded.
Knights of Idirsholas draw their swords and Arthur's party fights the knights. Arthur runs one through, but it doesn't fall. Arthur loses his sword in an un-dead knight's gut.
'Arthur!' Merlin shouts and throws Arthur a sword.
'Thanks for that,' Arthur said.
'Run, Merlin! Go!' Arthur orders. Merlin passes Arthur, but then stops, 'What are you...? Do as I say!' Arthur shoves Merlin toward the entrance.
'You know me,' grins Merlin, 'I never do as you say.'
Arthur rolled his eyes.
Merlin waits in the doorway for Arthur. Arthur fights his way to the door and faces approaching un-dead knights.
'Ahríes þæc!' Merlin pulls Arthur backwards out of the room as the entrance crumbles.
'That was you,' Arthur realised.
Merlin rolled his eyes, 'haven't you realised yet that lucky accidents like that are always me.;
Merlin and Arthur run into the woods and then stop, 'what happened to your arm?' asks Arthur.
'Oh, I must have caught in on something,' Merlin shrugs.
'Let me see. Your first battle wound. Here,' Arthur rips off the bottom of his tunic.
'Er, no. No, don't...You'll ruin it,' Merlin attempts to stop the prince from ruining his clothes.
'Let him help, Merlin,' sighed Hunith.
'Don't worry. You can mend it,' Arthur replied.
'Arthur,' Gwen shook her head.
Arthur wraps Merlin's arm.
'Did anyone else escape?' asks Arthur.
'I couldn't save them,' Merlin sighed, 'even my magic can't fight the dead.'
'Excalibur can,' Lancelot reminded his friend.
'Excalibur was in the Lake of Avalon,' Merlin replied.
Merlin shakes his head.
'We need to get back to Camelot, gather reinforcements,' Arthur said.
'That would do no good they're still un-dead,' Gaius told Arthur.
Merlin and Arthur dismount at the city entrance where the guards are lying on the ground.
'Are they dead?' asks Merlin.
'No. They're breathing,' Arthur replies.
'What's happened to them?' Merlin asks.
'I don't know,' Arthur answers.
'It was so unnerving to come back to see the whole of Camelot asleep,' Arthur said.
They jog into the Square where guards and knights are strewn about.
'What's going on?' Arthur asks.
A horse comes into the Square with a cart, the driver fast asleep.
'It only affects humans,' Percival commented.
'Apparently,' agreed Merlin.
'I'll get Gaius,' Merlin jogs into the palace. 'Arthur?' Merlin calls.
Arthur runs in after Merlin where people are passed out on the staircase.
'They're all fast asleep. Must be some kind of sickness,' Merlin tells the prince.
'So you have picked up something from living with me,' smiled Gaius.
Merlin grinned back.
'Where's my father?' Arthur asks.
'In bed,' Gaius said.
Arthur rushes in to the council chambers but it's empty.
'That's where he usually would be,' Arthur muttered.
'But he was one of the first to interact with Morgana and get ill,' Merlin said, 'second to Gwen.'
'Where is he?' Arthur demands.
Merlin runs into the physician's chambers.
'Gaius!' Merlin sees Gaius is asleep on his work table.
'It must be the work of magic,' Merlin tells Arthur.
'We have to find my father!' Arthur repeats.
Arthur and Merlin pass Morgana's Chambers and go inside. Arthur notices Gwen lying on the floor and moves her to the bed pulling her hair away from her eyes.
'Your very good to her,' Elyan approved.
'When I'm not enchanted,' agreed Arthur.
They hear the curtain behind them move and Arthur draws his sword and pulls Morgana out from behind it.
'Morgana,' scowled Arthur.
'Morgana,' sighed Merlin sighed sadly, 'this is the day the Morgana I knew and cared for died.'
Arthur shouted and Morgana screamed.
'It's me! It's me, Morgana!' reassures Arthur. 'What's happened?' he asks.
'I didn't know it was you!' Morgana cried.
'Calm down, Morgana,' Arthur reassures his sister. 'Just tell me what happened.'
'People were complaining, saying they weren't feeling well,' Morgana tells the prince.
'And what then?' encourages Arthur.
'They started falling asleep. Everyone, everywhere I went,' Morgana explains.
'She didn't know,' Arthur said.
Merlin shook his head pain in his eyes, 'she had no idea. She was a tool for Morgause.'
'And they're supposed to be sisters,' Elyan muttered.
'Was someone here?' Arthur asks.
Morgana shakes her head.
'Then why were you hiding?' Arthur asks.
'I told you, I didn't know who you were,' Morgana explains.
'Where's my father?' Arthur asks.
'I don't know,' Morgana says.
'Arthur, she's distressed,' Merlin stops the interrogation.
'If she was awake then she must have seen something,' Arthur says.
'I didn't see anything,' Morgana stresses.
'You saw people getting sick, what did you do?' asks Arthur.
'What could I do?' asks Morgana.
'Stay away from them,' muttered Merlin.
'Morgana, I don't understand. Why is it that you're the only person awake?' Arthur says.
'She's the carrier so immune to the magic itself,' Gaius explained.
Knights of Medhir ride out from Idirsholas. Arthur, Merlin, and Morgana walk down the corridor.
'Don't worry, I won't say anything,' Merlin tells Morgana.
'Did you know it was her?' Arthur demands.
'Then no,' Merlin said. 'I thought it was her magic making her immune since I hadn't felt anything then. It was only when I did that I realised something else was going on.'
'About what?' asks Morgana.
'The illness,' Merlin replies.
'That has nothing to do with me,' Morgana says.
'It has everything to do with you,' Arthur said bitter at Morgana's betrayal.
'No, of course not, but you have magic,' Merlin said.
'You haven't told anyone that!' Morgana looks scared.
'Only Gaius,' Merlin said.
'No, and I won't tell Arthur, but...there must be something keeping you safe, and I think that must be it,' Merlin explains.
'Right,' Morgana agrees.
'I found him!' Arthur calls back to the witch and the warlock.
Arthur lifts his father from his slumped position over the table in the king's chamber.
'Father,' Arthur says.
'See, he's all right,' Merlin consoles the prince.
'I don't think unconscious is "alright"' Hunith shakes her head.
'He was alive and no worse off than anyone else,' Merlin replies.
'He is not "all right"' Arthur retorts.
'He's just asleep. All we have to do is find the cure. A way to wake them,' Merlin consoles.
'Who could have done this? You're the only one who's hot been affected, Morgana. There must be a reason,' Arthur turns to his sister.
'She's behind it,' Gaius frowned.
'I don't know,' Morgana repeats.
'That's all you keep saying! You must know something!' Arthur says frustrated.
'She's not going to tell you,' Gwen looked unhappy at her friend's treachery.
'No, they just fell asleep one by one!' Morgana tells them.
'It's obvious. When she started feeling sick, Gaius gave her a potion, right?' Merlin invents.
'The remedies did nothing,' Gwen said.
'When was she sick? She never said that,' Arthur said.
'She was one of the last to be affected. Somehow the potion must have helped,' Merlin lies.
'What about everyone else?' asks Arthur.
'By then Gaius was too ill. He didn't have a chance to treat anyone else,' replies Merlin.
'Go and see if you can find this potion. I'll search for signs of life in the lower town. Morgana, you stay here. You look after my father. Keep him safe. Here. Protect him with your life, you understand?' Arthur tells Lady Morgana.
'I don't think she will somehow,' Lancelot said.
'I know but at that moment I had no idea that Morgana even hated father,' Arthur sighed. 'They'd argue but then they always had.'
Morgause meets her un-dead knights in the woods. They dismount and bow before her.
'What is it about Morgause, Morgana and the un-dead?' muttered Merlin.
Merlin flips through his magic book in the physician's chamber with magic.
'All right, Gaius, this is going to wake you. Ic ácwice þé,' Merlin tries.
'None of my magic would work,' Merlin sighed, 'not with Morgana there.'
Gaius springs up with a goofy grin.
Everyone bursts out laughing.
'You didn't tell me that happened,' Gaius said.
'I didn't think you would want to know,' Merlin admitted.
'Gaius!' Merlin greets.
Gaius has a blank stare.
'Gaius? All right. Er,' Merlin flips pages in the magic book with his magic once again. 'Oh. We could try this. Ic þé bebíede þæt þú mé slæpest!'
Gaius's chair collapses and he ends up on the floor.
'Why did that happen?' asked Arthur.
'It was trying to wake me up,' Gaius explained.
'Well, maybe not. Er,' Merlin sighs. 'Oh, come on, Gaius. I need you to wake up.'
'How did you find the way to break the enchantment?' asked Leon.
'Kilgharrah,' growled Merlin.
'I wouldn't have thought he'd help you after last time,' Percival said.
'Not without a vow,' Merlin agreed.
'To release him?' Arthur asked.
Merlin nodded, 'I did two things that I never wanted and regret every day of my life,' Merlin sighed.
'Release the dragon,' Arthur understood, 'what else did you do?'
'Got Morgause to break the enchantment,' Merlin said.
'That's good, though,' Lancelot said.
'Not for Morgana,' Merlin sighed.
Gaius is still staring forward with a silly grin.
'That's getting creepy,' Hunith said.
'Tell me about it,' Merlin agreed.
'I really need your help,' begged Merlin magically flipping through the book. 'Ah, here we go. Brimstréam!' Merlin said hopefully.
'What was that supposed to do?' asked Gaius, 'it means "sea"'
Merlin blushes.
The spell splashes water in Gaius's face.
'Ah it was supposed to wake me,' Gaius understands, 'that is why I woke up wet.'
'Yeah, sorry about that,' Merlin replied.
'Merlin!' Arthur calls.
Merlin snaps the book shut.
'Come quickly!' Arthur orders.
Merlin and Arthur watch from the battlements as eight riders head for Camelot.
'According to the legend there were only seven nights of Medhir,' Merlin remembers.
'Then who's the extra rider?' asks Arthur.
'I don't know. Camelot is defenceless,' the warlock says.
'We have to get back to my father,' the prince says.
Medhir riders pass through the lower town.
Merlin and Arthur return to Uther's chambers.
'This will be one of the first places they look. We have to get him somewhere else,' Arthur realises.
'What's going on?' Morgana asks.
'Your sister and her knights are coming to destroy Camelot,' Arthur glared at the screen.
'We're under attack. No time to explain. Grab his legs, carry him. You're not meant to be sweeping the floor with him! Pick his feet up!' orders the prince.
'His feet aren't the problem,' Merlin replies.
'Merlin,' Hunith is torn between laughing and scolding.
'Someone like you should not be insulting the king,' Gaius agreed.
'Nobody should be insulting the king,' Arthur adds.
'Morgana, give him a hand,' Arthur orders Morgana who's standing away from the men.
The riders cross the drawbridge.
Merlin grins as Uther snores while they drag him through the corridor.
'It is not funny, Merlin. Did you find the potion Morgana took?' Arthur asks.
'Er...no,' admits Merlin.
The riders dismount in the square.
'Can't you ever stay out of trouble,' groaned Hunith.
'No,' Arthur and Merlin answer together Merlin with his signature grin on his face.
Arthur, Merlin, and Morgana drag Uther into the Arthur's chambers where Merlin and Morgana drop his legs.
'Neither of you had much concern for the king,' commented Leon.
'We're both magical who have every reason to fear and hate Uther Pendragon,' Merlin replied. 'I just saw no reason in killing him or else the circle would begin again: we're attacked, we lash back, non-magical people believe we're evil so attack us, we attack back… and so on. Never changing, never ending always the same,' Merlin sighed.
'We can't leave him here! We have to lift him onto the bed,' Arthur says.
'Why?' asks Merlin. 'He's asleep. He's not going to know,' Merlin points out.
'Merlin,' Hunith shook her head.
'Merlin!' Arthur cries.
'Well...I'll get him a pillow,' Merlin tries.
'He's the King!' Arthur reminds the servant.
'All right. Two pillows,' Merlin says.
Gaius shakes his head, 'only you.'
'Arthur accepted it,' Merlin replied with a shrug.
Merlin and Arthur put pillows under Uther's head. Arthur staggers as he stands up.
'It's beginning to affect you now,' frowned Gaius.
'You alright?' asks Merlin.
'Are you feeling the same?' asks Arthur.
'We're getting sick,' Merlin looks at Morgana who's still fine.
'That's when you realised it wasn't her magic keeping her safe,' Percival said.
Merlin nodded, 'otherwise I would be fine as I'm more powerful than she.'
'We can't let that happen. We must keep my father hidden,' Arthur says.
'Why don't we disguise him?' asks Merlin.
'That might just work,' Arthur agrees.
'We could dress him as a woman,' suggests Merlin.
'Merlin,' Gaius and Hunith scolded.
'Well I did,' muttered Leon.
Gwen grinned at this.
'That, on the other hand...' Arthur gave Merlin a look.
'We could dress him as a servant,' Merlin suggests.
'That's better,' agrees Arthur.
'I'll get him some clothes,' Merlin says.
'Are you alright, Morgana? You seem quiet,' Arthur notes.
'I'm fine,' Morgana assures her.
'You sure? I can always tell when you're lying. Don't worry. I won't let any harm come to him,' Arthur promises her.
'Arthur I don't think she'll care if any harm comes to Uther,' Lancelot said.
Merlin hides from the un-dead knights wandering through the castle. He goes to the Dragon's Cave.
'What's going on? Why is everyone asleep?' Merlin shouts.
Kilgharrah pretends to be snoring.
'I thought you said he helped you,' frowned Percival.
'He did,' Merlin said.
'Please not you as well. I need your help! What am I going to do? Don't pretend. I know you're listening to me,' Merlin shouts.
'Oh he was pretending,' Percival then understands.
'It only affected humans,' Merlin replied.
Kilgharrah yawned, 'I don't need to listen to you, Merlin. You always say the same thing: "Help me". And yet you refuse to give anything in return. Now you will face the consequence of that decision. Camelot's end is nigh, and there's nothing you can do about it.'
'So nice,' Arthur muttered.
'I know I promised to free you, and I will!' Merlin repeats.
'Unfortunately,' scowled Arthur.
Kilgharrah laughs at this.
'I will! I promise!' Merlin repeats.
'I no longer trust your promises,' Kilgharrah replies.
'He has reason to,' Lancelot says.
'And Merlin has reason not to want the dragon free,' retorts Arthur.
'I swear on my mother's life!' Merlin shouts.
'Careful what you say,' warned the dragon.
'That's an oath,' frowned Gaius.
'I know,' agreed Merlin.
'If you hadn't kept it what would have happened?' asked Arthur.
'Hunith would have died,' Gaius answered.
Arthur paled and nodded, 'I understand why you did what you did I'd have done the same.'
'You have to help me. Please?' Merlin begs once more.
'Her life matters more to you than your own,' Kilgharrah points out.
'It shouldn't,' Hunith sighed, 'your more important than me.'
'This is an oath I believe you will honour,' Kilgharrah says.
'I will,' agrees Merlin.
'I didn't have much choice then,' muttered Merlin.
'It is one thing to cast a spell that puts everyone to sleep. The power to maintain it is a very different matter. It will need more than just words to break this enchantment,' warns the dragon.
'What do you mean?' asks Merlin.
'You must eradicate the source, Merlin,' the Great Dragon explains.
'Morgana,' Arthur's eyes widened.
'What did you do?' Gwen asked.
'Destroyed her,' Merlin closed his eyes.
'Great. What is that?' Merlin asks.
'Not what, but who. Such spells need a vessel, a constant living presence to give them strength. The source of this pestilence is the witch, the Lady Morgana,' explains the Great Dragon.
'Can't be,' Merlin whispers.
'I didn't want to believe it but I knew it was true,' sighed Merlin.
'I have warned you about her in the past, but you have failed to take heed. She is dangerous!' repeats the Dragon.
'Very,' agreed Leon who had witnessed her take over.
Merlin sighs, 'no.'
'And now she has chosen to turn her back on her own,' Kilgharrah adds.
'She did when she joined Morgause,' Arthur sighed.
'She didn't know what she was doing,' Merlin argued.
'How do I stop her?' asks Merlin.
'That is easy, young warlock. You must kill her,' Kilgharrah tells the warlock.
'But you didn't,' Arthur said.
'I might as well have,' Merlin replied with a sigh.
'No!' whispered Merlin.
'The spell is woven with magic of such power that even you are not immune. You must act now before it's too late. If you do not, then Camelot will fall and Arthur will die, and the future you were destined to share will die with you,' Kilgharrah warns.
Merlin grabs clothes, a water skin, and a bottle of Hemlock from the physician's stores.
'You poisoned her,' Arthur was angry. 'No wonder she hates us when you poisoned her!'
Merlin nodded, 'I know,' he whispered. 'Trust me I know. I destroyed her. I left it right till the last moment hoping that I could do something, anything else. But in the end the choice came down to Morgana or the whole of Camelot; what would you chose? Someone who sided with your enemies or the good people of Camelot? I wish there was some other way but there wasn't, there never was.'
The knights and Gwen frowned but they decided to reserve judgement for later.
Merlin runs down the corridor where Arthur grabs him and pulls him into an alcove, 'what took you so long?' demands the prince.
'I didn't know Uther's size,' Merlin replies.
Merlin and Arthur hear un-dead breathing, so they peek around the other side of the alcove to see Morgause walking down the corridor with the un-dead knights. Furious Arthur tries to pull his sword, but Merlin stops him.
'Why did you stop him?' asked Lancelot.
'It was eight against one and he was ill,' Merlin replied.
Merlin enters Arthur's chambers.
'I was worried about you,' Morgana tells him.
'After that you still poisoned her?' Gwen asked her friend quietly.
'Yeah I hated myself for it but I had no other options. Arthur was about to die at that point,' Merlin explained.
'It's not right,' muttered Lancelot.
'No,' agreed Merlin, 'it wasn't.'
'They're here! They're in the castle!' Merlin explains.
'Where's Arthur?' asks Morgana.
'She still cared about me, then,' Arthur said.
'It wasn't until I betrayed her that she began to hate everyone not just Uther,' Merlin replied.
'So you're the reason she's evil,' Arthur said coolly.
Merlin nodded.
'Gone to find somewhere safe to move to,' Merlin replies.
'Thank you for not saying anything to him,' Morgana says.
'She thanked you-'Gwen began.
'I know, I know I still poisoned her. But I had no choice,' Merlin choked out.
'It's all right,' Merlin answered.
'You're a good friend,' Morgana tells him.
'Or not,' Lancelot had always thought Merlin the bravest and loyal of them but this wasn't either.
Arthur enters, 'we have to move my father before Morgause gets here.'
'Morgause!' Morgana whispers.
'Why didn't she say anything?' asked Gwen.
'She was more loyal to Morgause than the rest of Camelot,' Lancelot looked at Merlin. 'That's when you decided to put your plan into motion?'
Merlin nodded.
'Come on! Let's go!' Arthur orders.
'You're not surprised?' Merlin asks Morgana.
'No, I am,' Morgana lies.
'She was willing to let the whole of Camelot die for Morgause?' Arthur asked shocked, 'and that was before you poisoned her…' Arthur trailed off not feeling as angry at Merlin anymore.
They drag Uther into a servant's chamber.
'Should be safe in here for a while,' Arthur says.
They drop Uther on the low bed. Merlin and Arthur sit down while Morgana stands at the window unaffected by the spell.
'Must be the potion Gaius gave her,' Arthur said.
'Yeah, must be the potion,' Merlin doesn't look convinced.
'We can't keep this up much longer,' Arthur tells the servant.
'I know. Wait. We're in a servant's quarters. If we leave him here, they'll just think he's a servant,' Merlin suddenly says.
'Not if Morgause sees him. We need to get him out of Camelot,' the prince realises.
'When we arrived there was a cart in the main square, remember?' Merlin remembers.
'You are full of good ideas today, Merlin. You go and look,' orders the prince.
Under normal conditions Merlin would point out that Arthur had complimented him but not when most people in the room where so angry that he had poisoned Morgana.
Merlin looks out a window at the cart in the square when he is attacked by an un-dead knight in the corridor.
'Atres!' Merlin incants and the spell throws the knight against the wall. Merlin flees whilst the knight gets back up.]
Merlin runs into the servant's chamber.
'They're closing in! We won't make it to the cart, not carrying Uther,' Merlin tells them.
'That's why we've made this. We're gonna pull him,' Arthur peeks out of the servant's chamber at an un-dead knight, closes the door, draws sword and hides behind a column.
'Get down. Keep quiet,' Arthur orders the other two.
Merlin and Morgana hide behind another column and the un-dead knight enters and Arthur attacks.
'Protect the King! Get him out of here!' Arthur orders the enemies of the king.
Merlin and Morgana drag Uther out of the room and down the Corridor an un-dead knight pursues them. Morgana trips and falls, 'Merlin!'
Merlin pauses and then keeps dragging the King.
'You were going to turn a blind eye?' asked Gwen.
'I thought it was better than poisoning her,' Merlin replied.
'Please!' Morgana cries.
The knight goes to strike her. Morgana screams and cowers on the floor. The un-dead knight stops and looks at her, then goes after Merlin.
'Why didn't it attack her?' asked Percival.
'They were on the same side,' Leon frowned.
Merlin drags Uther down a corridor. Merlin's about to use magic against the knight, but Arthur jumps in to fight it and kicks it down a spiral set of stairs.
They enter the council chambers.
'Merlin, help me,' Arthur orders.
'I didn't have the strength to bar the door on my own,' Arthur muttered.
Merlin and Arthur bar the door, 'Morgana, we need the remedy that Gaius gave you. Morgana.'
'I don't have it,' Morgana tells them.
'I know that, but you must remember what it was, what was in it? Come on, Morgana! We can't keep going much longer! Think!' Arthur cries.
'I'm sorry! I...' Morgana begins.
'It doesn't matter. We can't get it now anyway, we're trapped,' Merlin says.
'There has to be something we can do!' Arthur says frustrated.
'There was only one way to end it,' Gaius said.
'Why didn't that knight kill you?' Merlin whispers.
'How do I know? Because I'm a woman?' suggests Morgana.
'Yeah, maybe,' Merlin agrees with her.
'Unless we can rid ourselves of this sickness, then I don't see how we're going to hold out,' Arthur says.
'We have to destroy the source of the magic,' Merlin says.
'Which is?' asks Arthur.
'I don't know,' Merlin lies.
'Our only chance is to get out of Camelot,' Arthur decides.
'If Morgana's still there then it would do nothing to help,' Gaius sighed.
'Help me with my father. You cut the blanket up. We'll tie it to my father, and we'll lower him onto the cart,' Arthur decides.
'Arthur-'Morgana begins.
'Morgana, please just do as I say. I'll fetch the cart 'round to the window,' Arthur decides.
'You're going out there? I'll come with you,' Merlin says.
'No. No, you stay. You protect my father,' orders Arthur.
'You won't reach the cart alone. Its suicide,' Merlin tells him.
'We have no choice,' Arthur says.
'And neither did Merlin,' Gaius reminded them all.
'How you feeling?' Merlin asks his master.
'Not bad,' Arthur lies.
'You look horrendous,' Gwen said.
'Gee thanks,' snorts Arthur, 'at least I'm awake!'
'You sure?' Merlin asks.
'Yeah, you?' Arthur asks.
'Never better,' Merlin too lies.
'You don't look any better,' Gwen frowned.
'Get me a pillow, could you,' Arthur asks.
'Don't mess around. Arthur you... Arthur? You need to stay awake,' Merlin tells Arthur.
Arthur begins to fall asleep leaning against the door and Merlin smacks him.
'That's one way to keep him awake,' Gaius muttered.
'Merlin!' Arthur said.
'That's better!' Merlin said.
'If you ever do that again,' threatens Arthur.
'Well, don't fall asleep, then!' Merlin too threatens.
Arthur takes the water skin from Merlin and splashes his face with it as the un-dead knights' growl outside the door.
'Your going to fight them,' Gwen sighed.
'If there was any way to go out I'd go out fighting,' Arthur said.
'And I protecting you,' Merlin added.
'That your knees again?' Arthur asks.
Arthur and Merlin unbar the door.
'If I need a servant in the next life,' Arthur breathes.
'Don't ask me,' Merlin laughs.
Arthur too laughs and draws his sword and jumps out into the corridor. Merlin re-bars the door.
'He's not going to survive out there,' Morgana tells him.
'And there it came down to it; Morgana or Arthur!' Merlin sighed.
'No choice,' Lancelot said.
'I know,' Merlin agreed.
'We've got to do something,' Morgana says.
'I know,' Merlin agrees resigned.
'You're going to poison her,' Percival frowned.
Arthur fights outside and Merlin and Morgana take Uther's dragging cloth.
'Here. You tear this up. I'll make some rope,' Merlin poisons the water skin.
Merlin turned away, 'I can't watch this.'
'Here, have some water,' Merlin holds out the water skin.
'I'm not thirsty,' denies the witch.
'Does she suspect you?' asked Percival.
'No,' Merlin said.
'If we get out of here, you may not get another chance to drink,' Merlin warns.
'If we get out of here,' Morgana muttered.
Merlin hands her the water skin, but she puts it down. Arthur fights in the corridor. Merlin picks up the water skin and pretends to drink.
'You tricked her,' Arthur frowned at his friend.
'I know,' Merlin agreed.
'Here,' Merlin holds out the water skin again.
'I'm fine,' Morgana replies.
'No, you have some before I finish it,' Merlin says.
'Thank you,' Morgana sighs.
'She's going to take it,' Percival said.
Merlin nodded at the wall.
Morgana drinks. She begins to have trouble breathing.
'How did she survive?' asked Percival.
'I bargained her life for the curse to be lifted,' Merlin replied.
Morgana looks at the skin and then at Merlin who's not looking at her tears in his eyes. Merlin wipes his eyes and then turns to face her. Morgause notices something's wrong.
'She knows what's happening,' Percival said.
Merlin nodded.
Merlin tries to hold Morgana as she struggles to breathe and fights against him. Morgause begins to hold her throat like Morgana and she blows the council chamber door open and rushes to Morgana, taking her from Merlin's arms.
'What has he done to you?' Morgause asks her sister.
'I had to,' Merlin whispers.
'You poisoned her!' Morgause cries.
'You gave me no choice,' Merlin tells her.
'Tell me what you used and I can save her,' Morgause says.
'First, stop the attack!' Merlin orders.
'You're nothing but a simple servant! You don't tell me what to do!' Morgause cries.
'He tells me what to do and I'm the future king,' snorted Arthur.
'Are you angry with me?' asked Merlin.
'Of course I am,' Arthur glared at his servant.
'I'm really sorry,' Merlin winced.
'I know that's why I can't hate you I saw how it destroyed you to do so,' Arthur sighed. 'But you're not getting off the hook that easily!'
Merlin nodded, 'I wouldn't expect to.'
'If you want to know what poison it is, you will undo the magic that drives the knights!' Merlin orders.
'Tell me the poison or you'll die!' warns Morgause.
'Then she'll die with me. I don't want this any more than you, but you give me no choice. Stop the knights and you can save her,' Merlin says.
Arthur is still fighting un-dead knights.
'Astýre ús þanonweard! Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft,' Morgause finishes the curse.
The knights drop in front of Arthur. Merlin hands Morgause the hemlock bottle. Arthur bursts in with other knights of Camelot, 'what have you done with my father?'
'He's safe!' Merlin assures the prince.
Uther wakes up on the floor.
'Morgana!' Arthur sees the sister together.
'Keep away from her! Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!'Morgause and Morgana disappear in a windy cloud of smoke.
Uther looks at Morgana's jewellery and Arthur enters, 'I couldn't find you. Are you alright?'
'No,' sighed Gaius, 'it was his daughter.'
'Is there still no sign of her?' asks Uther.
'She won't be found until she wants to be found,' warned Hunith.
'She was behind father's madness,' Arthur said suddenly.
Merlin and Gaius nodded together.
'We've looked, Father,' Arthur tells his father.
'Morgause must not be allowed to get away with this,' warns the king.
'Yes, Father,' agrees Arthur turning to leave.
'Arthur. I haven't had a chance to say thank you,' Uther stops his son.
'I failed, Father. I should have protected Morgana,' Arthur admits.
'No. That was my duty. Her loss will forever my on my conscience, not yours,' Uther says.
'And it still is,' sighed Arthur.
In the physician's chambers Gaius is comforting Merlin.
'You did the right thing,' Gaius assures the warlock.
'I don't know about that,' sighed Merlin.
'You had no choice,' Gaius comforted the warlock who was watching the box with glazed eyes.
'You don't mean that. Morgana was your friend, too. You cared about her,' Merlin argues.
'It would have been easier if you hated me,' Merlin sighed.
'I never could,' Gaius gave Merlin a smile, 'I hold by what I said it wasn't your fault.'
'I did. But I fear that, unlike you, Morgana chose not to use her gift for good,' Gaius said.
'She most certainly didn't,' Percival said coolly.
'You had no choice. Would we be sitting here now if you had not made that decision?' asks Gaius.
'No,' Arthur frowned; his people or Morgana?
Merlin gets up suddenly.
'Where are you going?' Gaius asks.
'The dragon,' Arthur scowled.
'I'll eat that later,' Merlin said.
'I didn't realise what had happened until the attack began,' Gaius sighed.
'Merlin?' asks Gaius.
'There's something I have to do,' Merlin says and goes to his room to fetch a sword and heads to Dragon's Cave.
'You must steal a sword from the Knights of Medhir. Their blades were forged by the Old Religion. If you harness its power to your own, you will have the strength to break the chains with which Uther Pendragon keeps me prisoner,' Kilgharrah's voice says.
'So only a magical person can free it,' Arthur said.
'And a powerful one at that,' agreed Gaius.
'He used magic to bind him,' Arthur said.
Merlin nodded.
The dragon flies down to Merlin.
'The time has come, young warlock,' the Great Dragon says.
'Where will you go?' asks Merlin.
'I am the last of my kind. There is but one road I can take,' informs the Last Dragon.
'Revenge,' Merlin said.
'What does that mean?' Merlin asks.
'You will see,' the Great Dragon replies mysteriously.
Merlin climbs down the steps to the base of the dragon's giant chain.
'Before I do this, you promise me that you will not harm Camelot,' Merlin shouts.
'I think there have been enough bargains, don't you?' the Great Dragon asks.
'I knew what he would do I hoped he wouldn't but deep down I knew,' Merlin sighed.
'Ic bebeode þisne sweord þæt hé forcierfe þá bende þæra dracan. Un clýse!'Merlin swings the sword and breaks the chain.
The dragon roars and flies away.
'And so the dragon was released,' sighed Arthur.