Merlin

In a land of myth and a time of magic,

the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man.

His name...

Merlin.

Trapped, are we?

That's the idea.

On me!

Your Majesty! Look what we have here.

He comes with us.

I'll deal with prisoners when we get back to Camelot.

I fear this is no ordinary prisoner, Your Highness.

Well, well...

What is it?

This, Merlin, is the royal crest of Caerleon.

Is it not...

Your Highness?

This is not the first time he's trespassed on our lands.

No, Sire. Last week he seized Stonedown on the western borders.

But we're not at the borders now, Agravaine.

This is the heart of the Kingdom. He took a grave

risk coming here. Perhaps he doesn't see it that way.

I fear it's no coincidence that all this has happened

since Uther's death.

What do you mean?

Arthur, your father was a strong King.

His enemies feared and respected that strength.

Are you saying I'm not worthy of that respect?

No, Sire. Not at all.

There isn't a citizen of Camelot who would not lay down their life for you.

But your enemies,

to the enemies of Camelot you are still untested as a King.

You must send a clear message

that any action against Camelot will be met without mercy.

Did we not achieve that here today?

No, Sire. Not enough.

Not enough to deter Odin and Bayard and others who covet Camelot's wealth.

Then what do you suggest?

I suggest...

I suggest that we force him to accept a treaty on our terms.

He must withdraw his men from our land,

return our territories to us.

He must surrender Everwick.

He'd rather die than agree to such terms.

Then you are left with no choice.

I can't just kill a man in cold blood.

Arthur, you must do what you need to to assert your authority on this land.

There must be another way. There's no other way.

Think on it.

Decide by tomorrow.

Arthur...

Not now, Merlin.

Arthur...

Arthur...

Here.

Thank you.

You must be cold.

Have you not slept at all? I've been thinking.

About what Agravaine said?

So what are you going to do?

My father was a great king,

but I don't have his wisdom or his conviction.

I can only follow his example, and do what he would have done.

You're going to draw up this treaty?

I have to show my strength, show that I'm worthy

of my father's name. Caerleon won't sign it.

You know that?

Caerleon brought this upon himself.

Arthur, you've always shown mercy in battle.

You've never sought to humiliate your enemy in this way.

This isn't like you... You have no idea what it

is to make these decisions, decisions that will

shape the future of this land. Arthur...

So please stick to what you do know.

What is this?

You expect me to sign this? To humiliate myself before you?

You invaded our kingdom, took what did not belong to you.

And if I do not sign?

Then you will pay with your life.

And who makes these terms?

Arthur Pendragon...

King of Camelot.

Very well.

Then make it quick.

Think what you're doing, Caerleon.

This treaty could seal a truce between us.

There would be peace, like there was between your father and mine.

I am not my father.

And you are not Uther.

Do you really have the guts to kill me?

You leave me no choice. You do not choose anything, boy.

It is I who choose to die and I alone.

Get on with it.

So be it.

Your resolve has already earned the respect of both the council

and the people alike.

Your father would have been proud of you. Thank you, uncle.

I don't know what I would have done without your support and counsel.

Can't have been easy having a man killed like that.

I had no choice. A show of strength was necessary.

Don't you think compassion can also show strength?

Not to the likes of Caerleon, no.

No, an example had to be made for the good of the kingdom.

So you don't regret what you did.

My conscience is clean, Merlin, which is more than I can say

for my room so just do your job, will you?

Look, I'm just saying, if there's something bothering you,

you can talk to me.

You shouldn't push your friends away, you know,

not now, not when you need them most. You're wrong, Merlin.

I don't need anyone. I can't afford that luxury.

The kingdom is my responsibility now and mine to bear alone.

And you must learn to accept that.

This... this is no battle wound.

This is the work of cowards.

Arthur will pay for this, by God. The whole of Camelot will pay for this.

Come.

I am sorry to disturb you, my lord.

Is something the matter, uncle?

I dare to hope that my advice has been of some use these past months.

Of course it has, you know that.

There's something I wish to discuss.

But... it is a delicate matter.

Yes. It concerns Guinevere.

What about her?

She's a beautiful woman, Sire,

and possessed of many fine qualities, I have no doubt.

But she is a servant.

That doesn't matter to me.

Nor to me, I assure you, no. It's your people that concern me.

Surely as king I can do as I see fit.

No, Sire, you can not.

You must do what's expected of you.

You must present yourself in an appropriate manner.

The people, your people,

do not wish to see their king with the daughter of a blacksmith.

This isn't a matter of state, this is a matter of the heart.

You can not rule the kingdom with your heart, Arthur.

Your father understood that.

You didn't want to kill Caerleon, I know that. But you were strong.

You didn't let those emotions cloud your judgement.

You ruled with your head, like a strong king must.

Yes. Now you must show that strength again.

Set aside personal feelings for the good of your kingdom.

Set aside my feelings for Guinevere.

I'm afraid so.

You seem tense. What do you mean, "tense"?

You know, agitated, on edge, angry.

This is not anger, Merlin.

This is controlled aggression.

Great, I'm glad we cleared that up.

Sire, a messenger this minute arrived. What is it?

An army. He crossed our boarder at first might.

An army? Whose army? Caerleon's Queen.

At a forced march,

Caerleon's men will reach Camelot by sundown tomorrow.

Which means we have no choice.

We must intercept them before they reach the ridge.

That way we hold the high ground.

The knights of Camelot make ready as I speak.

We ride at dawn.

Long live the king!

- Long live the king! - Long live the king! Long live the king!

Halt!

Please, I mean you no harm.

I wish only to speak with your queen.

Morgana Pendragon.

Stealing into my castle in the dead of night,

you must have a death wish.

Sorry for the interruption, Your Majesty,

but I've come on urgent business.

What business could you possibly have with me, witch?

I come in the name of my father.

Is that so? When last I heard, you and he...

I speak not of Uther but of Gorlois.

Gorlois? Uther is my father by blood alone.

Gorlois raised me as a child, he made me who I am. I remember him well.

He was a good man, an honourable man.

He was, Your Highness, and his sole reward was death

betrayed by his king.

Well, then...

it seems we've both lost something at the hands of a Pendragon.

Now for the last time, what are you doing here?

Your Highness...

Your Highness, Uther was a curse upon this land, as is his son.

I seek revenge for the wounds they have inflicted, as do you.

If you'll accept it, I've come to offer my help.

Off again? Another week in the wilderness?

Eating weird animals, being eaten by weird animals.

No hot water, no baths.

This would be the last time either of us get to sleep

in a proper bed.

I'm prepared to face all manner of horrors in this world

but if you think I'm sharing this bed with you...

What? No, that's not what I meant.

Right, good, comfort to know.

Where are you going?

That's my business and, Merlin, don't be here when I come back.

Halt! Declare yourself.

Sorry, Sire, forgive me.

No harm done.