"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." "Arthur, you are not serious." "What else do you have in mind?" "Anything." "Nothing good ever happens in the Valley of the Fallen Kings." " No one in their right mind would go in there." " Exactly." "The route's a secret, Merlin." "That's why we chose it." " Not so secret after all." " No need to get cocky." "Arthur!" "They need to work through their anger." "They just did." "On you." "A night's rest and you'll be polishing my armor." "It could definitely do with a scrub." "I've seen worse." " Definitely seen worse." " On a dead man." "You're not going to die, Merlin." "Don't be such a coward." " If I do die, will you call me a hero?" " Probably." " But whilst I'm still alive, I'm a coward." " That's the way these things work, I'm afraid." "You get the glory when you're not around to appreciate it." "Unless you're the king." "Come on, it's got to have some advantages." "You have a very good servant." "You're right." "I do." "A servant who is extremely brave and incredibly loyal, and to be honest, not at all cowardly." "Thank you for saving my life." "You'd do the same for me." "I'd love to say we can stay and rest, but another 10 minutes we'll be mercenary mincemeat." " Unh." "Leave me." " Now's not the time for jokes." " Please leave me." " Sure, whatever you say." "Merlin!" "We lost how many men?" "And you bring me how many men?" "Or should I say, how many servants?" "Arthur was within our grasp." " That's supposed to make me feel better?" " The rockfall was hardly our fault." "I must show my presence in Camelot." "The old physician already suspects me." "Gaius is shrewd." "You should take care." "After all, if your true nature is revealed, I really don't know what use I'll have for you." "Morgana" " I'll dispatch this servant." " You will do no such thing." "Arthur is strangely fond of the boy." "He could prove useful." "Very useful indeed." "Good morning." " Is it?" " Oh, don't be like that." "We've a lot of catching up to do." "After all, I haven't seen you since you condemned my sister to a slow and painful death thwarted my plans to take over Camelot and forced me to live in a hovel." "Couldn't do me a favor, could you?" "Let Arthur know." "He still thinks of me as an underachiever, but I'm quite proud of those accomplishments." "I can die happy." "Oh, you're not going to die." "Oh, no." "I'm not going to make it that easy." "Nice to see you too." "Where's Merlin?" "He's alive." "Last I saw of him, he was still alive." "Dispatch patrols at first light." "Scour every inch of that forest." "Yes, sire." "We'll find him, Gaius." "We will." "You know, there's one thing I don't understand, Merlin." "You're Arthur's servant, nothing more." "Yet time and again, you've proved yourself willing to lay down your life for him." "What are you doing?" "You've never seen Gaius clean a wound before?" "All right, I know what you're doing." "What I don't know is why." "I believe I asked you a question first." "Why are you so loyal to Arthur?" "I don't expect you to understand, Morgana." "You have no sense of duty, no sense of loyalty." "You're wrong." "Don't think I don't understand loyalty just because I've got no one left to be loyal to." "We have scoured the forest." "Scour it again." "Sire, there is no sign of Merlin." "None but this." "I am sorry you've lost such a loyal and" "The mercenaries, what news of them?" " We found no trace." " Surely sent by that snake, Alinor." "It can't be." "How?" "Our route was known only to a few within Camelot." "Then there's only one conclusion we can draw." "We have a traitor in our midst." "I take it you've never met a Fomorroh before." "Oh, he's a little grumpy." "He's not used to being out in the light." "Well, my friend I have called you from your depths for a very good reason." "The Fomorroh are creatures of dark magic." "Even if you cut off their heads, you cannot kill them." "Another will just grow in its place." "In the days of the old religion, they were revered by the high priestesses because they allowed them to control people's minds." "The Fomorroh will suck the life force out of you and everything that makes you Merlin will be gone." "And in its place, there will be just one thought." "One thought that will grow until it's consumed you completely." "One thought that will be your life's work." "You will not be able to rest until it's done." "And that one thought is simple." "You must kill Arthur Pendragon." " Who are you?" " I am your new manservant, sire." "I have polished your armor, sharpened your sword, selected your clothes." "There is a slight chill in the air today, sir." "And now, if you would allow me, I would like to serve you breakfast." " What's your name?" " George, sire, at your service." "George." "Listen, George, it's all very impressive." "Very impressive indeed." "But I already have a manservant." "All right, he's shabby-looking, has appalling manners." "He's extremely forgetful." "He seems to spend most of his time in the tavern." "But he is my manservant." "To be honest, I quite like it that way." " I'm as worried about Merlin as you are." " You're not going to change my mind." "Who knows if the mercenaries have even left the forest?" "I have to go." "The patrols found no sign of him." "Do you really expect me to accept that?" "Just to sit here and take their word that Merlin's gone?" " I won't rest until I at least try." " I know." "Just do one thing for me." "Please don't go alone." "He won't be going alone." "See?" "Now you've condemned me to a day of mindless chatter." "Good." " We'll return." " You'd better." "You know what I like about Merlin?" "He never expects any praise." "All these things he does just for the good of doing them and" "Declare yourself." "Merlin." "I thought we'd lost you." "Don't do that again, Merlin." "My heart cannot take the strain." "Yes, well, you are getting on a bit." " What is this?" " It's a special welcome home." "Your favorite." "I think that you should stick to cooking up potions, Gaius." "This tastes like the bog Arthur found me in." " How did you escape?" " With great skill." " Can I ask you something?" " Yes, of course." "Anything." "What is the strongest poison that you possess?" "I had this great opportunity to lace the bandits' food with poison and nothing to do it with." "Well, that would be aconite." ""Aconite."" "I think I should take some of this with me from now on." "You never know when you might need to kill someone." "Indeed." "Ooh, you stink worse than your food." "Back to work, or I'll be using your face to scrub that pot clean." "Ah, bog man." " I have to say, you're smelling better." " This is food for the king of Camelot and is not meant to be soiled by your filthy fingers." "Thank you, Gwynevere." "That is very kind." " Oh, I might have known." " Hello, Merlin." "What's this?" "Uh, lunch." "Look, I know you like to take every opportunity to be by his side but this is just getting ridiculous." "You'll be pouring his bathwater next." " Merlin, is something wrong?" " This is what's wrong." "I was just trying to help." "I thought you needed some rest." "Rest?" "No, I don't need rest." "Do you know how long it took me to prepare this meal?" "I cooked it myself." "I think this is just a case of a simple misunderstanding." "Yes, you would take her side, wouldn't you?" "Excuse me?" "Merlin, I think you must be tired." "You've been through quite an ordeal." "I just want to resume my normal duties." "Well, I'll be pleased to have your assistance preparing for the knighting ceremony later." "Thank you, sire." " Merlin, are you all right?" " I--I'm pacing." "Yes, I can see that." "A man who is all right does not pace, Gaius." " No, well, that's why I asked." " I am wrestling with a problem." "And there are many factors to take into consideration and I have not yet come up with a solution." "Well, can I be of assistance?" " No." " Would you like to share the problem with me?" "No." "Sometimes two heads are better than one." "Yes, but not when one of them's yours." "What are you after?" "Arthur wants a crossbow." "That one's ancient." "Probably wouldn't hurt a fly." "Well, if you did want to hurt a fly, or even a human, what would you use?" "You would use a thing of beauty like this." "Carved from 50-year-old ash." "Um, be careful." " Oh!" " Will that do the job?" "Oh, yes." "That will do the job nicely." " Uh, what is the job exactly?" " To kill Arthur." " Driving you mad, is he?" " Not for much longer." "Talk about a bad use of time." "A potential traitor in our midst and I have to prepare for a knighting ceremony." "Maybe it's one of the knights who wants to kill me." "Maybe it's you." "Heh." "Don't look so worried, Merlin." "I don't really think you want to kill me." "Aconite." "Wolfsbane to you." "The most deadly poison known to man." "What was it doing on Arthur's food?" "Merlin took some from here earlier." "He was really angry when he realized Arthur wasn't going to eat it." "He has been behaving very strangely." " But why would Merlin want to kill Arthur?" " Merlin wouldn't." "Not if he was in his right mind." " Have you seen Merlin?" " He was in the armory." " What did he want in there?" " A crossbow." "I think Arthur must be getting on his nerves." "Why?" "He said he was going to kill him." "What do you think about Percival?" " He's very big." " Does that make him a traitor?" "Are you going to get dressed?" "Have you got somewhere to be?" "Percival's family were killed by Cenred's army." "He hates everything to do with Morgana." "You're right." "And he has pledged his allegiance." "I'm wrong to doubt him." "I need to put it from my mind." "You must get dressed." "Indeed." "Elyan didn't ride out with us." "Maybe he's concerned about my relationship with Gwynevere." "Elyan." "Could he be the traitor?" "My father killed his father." "Could you get me my ceremonial sword?" "The ceremonial sword." "Of course." "I find it hard to believe that Elyan would think ill of me, but I can't trust anyone." "In fact, I think you, Merlin, are the only person I can trust." "I know." "I'm late." "I feared as much." " What is it?" " It's a Fomorroh." "Whoever put it there was very highly skilled." "What does it do?" "In the days of the old religion, they were used by the high priestess to enslave the minds of her enemies." "Once a thought was planted, the victim would not stop till they'd accomplished it." "First we must paralyze the serpent." " Is it dead?" " Sadly not." "Merely dormant." "Now for the tricky bit." "Pass me the blade." " That's it?" " I believe so." "We have the old Merlin back." "Arthur is safe once more." "Let us hope so." "Arthur." "An unexpected pleasure." "There's something I wish to discuss with you, uncle." "Of course." "I am afraid I don't take the matter of the traitor as lightly as you do." "Sire, I hope you don't think I meant" "I have been looking into how the mercenaries discovered the route through the forest." "None of the knights had the opportunity to betray me." "I have questioned the counselors." "Only three were aware of the treaty." "Of those, none but yourself knew of the route I was planning to take." " Are you seriously suggesting that I--?" " It brings me no pleasure to doubt you, uncle." "Then let me reassure you that you have no reason to doubt." "You are all that is left of my dear sister." "If I betray you, Arthur, I betray her." "And that, I will never do." "There is one other person who knew your route." "Gaius." " How do you feel?" " Never better." "It's great to have you back." " What do you remember?" " About what?" "I take it that means nothing." "I've got a feeling today's going to be a good day." "My father prepared me well for being king." "But he told me nothing of the loneliness of the job." "What it's like to have all eyes on you, waiting for you to provide the answer." "In all the years I watched him, he never wavered in his certainty." "He was strong, he was sure." "And I'm not in that place yet." "I value the guidance of others." "Maybe I have been foolish to do so." "Everyone has their own agenda." "It feels like I can trust no one anymore." "Is that how you see it, Merlin?" "Gwynevere." "Arthur." "Heh." "Gaius." " You're not Merlin." " No." "There was a problem with the bathwater." " Really?" " Yes, it's cold." "Very cold." "Merlin's gone to remedy it." "I don't think you can have a bath today." "Right." " Good job I'm not very dirty then." " That's a good job indeed." "So let me get this straight." "If you kill one, another grows in its place." "I've heard such stories in the past, but never thought they were true." "That will silence it for a while." "Ah!" "What is that, Arthur's socks?" " What are you trying to do to me?" " I'm trying to stop you from killing the king." "Ooh." "So you don't remember anything?" "I remember Morgana conjuring the snake, but nothing more." " No." " Lucky for us you're such a bad assassin." "Well, all is well now." "I feel fine." "For now, the serpent is dormant." "But when it wakes, your mind will be Morgana's once more and nothing will stop you from killing Arthur." "How do we get rid of it if it keeps growing back?" "There's only one way, I'm afraid." "You have to kill the mother beast." "That creature that lives in Morgana's hut?" "Great." "How long have I got?" "How long before this thing wakes up?" "A day, no more." "And I wouldn't face her alone." "Don't worry." "I won't be there at all." "Well, not exactly." "She won't recognize me if I'm 80 years old." " Uh, what shall I say if Arthur asks for you?" " Uh, tell him I'm anywhere." "Anywhere but the tavern." "Ah." "Oh." "Ah." "Gentlemen." " What a pleasant surprise." " I wish we could say the same thing." "Move away from the horse, please." "What lovely manners." "I do admire a man who says "please."" "Now." " Have you got bigger?" " You'll be getting shorter if I have my way." "Nice." "I like it." "Leon, really, there must be something in the knights' code about how to treat an old man." "You're not just any old man, though, are you?" "You escaped the flames once." "You won't escape again." " So!" "And you are not what you seem." " What is he talking about?" "I've a good mind to run you through right now." " I think Arthur would prefer to see him alive." " Oh!" "Oh, no." "Really, Arthur does not want to see me." "Believe me." "In fact, if Arthur does see me, he will be in grave danger." "Are you threatening the life of our king?" "Percival!" "That is a sword." "It does hurt." "Yes, I am afraid to say that if you don't let me go then there is every chance that I will kill your king!" " Say that again." " Why?" "Have you got ale in your ears?" " Aah!" " Stop!" "Ha!" "Thank you, gentlemen." "So considerate to help an old man." "Stupid." "I trust you bring me news of my brother's untimely death." "I wish it were so, my lady." "But I do bring information of an equally enticing nature." "I have planted the seed of suspicion in our young king's mind." "I have struck a blow at the very heart of Old Camelot." "Go on." "Arthur grew unsure of my motives." "But I have turned the situation to our advantage." "How so?" "I used it to implicate an old friend of yours, Gaius." "I think there are some interesting times ahead for our physician." "You have done well." "But it's hardly information of an enticing kind, is it?" "Is Gaius dead?" "No." "Is Gaius mortally wounded?" "Does Gaius have so much as a sore head?" "No, my lady." "So, my lord, you can do better." "And you will do better." "Ah." "You're not real." "Whatever you say!" "You're just my imagination." "That's right." "I'm not really here." "Just pretend that I'm not really here." "And I'll just get this and go." "So, Emrys, it seems you will not be my doom after all." "If I'm to die by your hand, you can at least tell me who you are." "Did Arthur send you?" "But you're no friend of his." "Magic has no place in Camelot." "It never will." "Not until I take the throne." "Please spare me." "I only want what is rightfully mine." "Perhaps it can still be so." "This is becoming something of a habit." "Heh." "I hope not." "Well" "Don't worry." "It cannot grow back again." "Merlin." "You're back." " Dare I look?" " Oh, don't worry." "It's completely gone." "I've no desire to kill Arthur." "That's great news." "Although I'm afraid, right now, he does want to kill you." "Two whole days in the tavern." "I'm not quite sure it was that long." "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't get rid of you on the spot." "Because you would have no one to polish your armor make you breakfast, organize your clothes." "Ah, well, that's where you're wrong." "George." "Merlin, meet George." "George is perhaps the most efficient servant I've ever seen." " He'll be spending the week teaching you." " Teaching me?" "If you wish to remain in my service." "We will start in the armory." "Lesson one is my favorite: polishing." "Yes, that's my favorite too." "Tell me something." "If he's so good, why don't you just give him the job?" "He's seriously boring." "I've never met anyone so dull." "The man makes jokes about brass." "Anyway, off you go." "It'll be fun." "Morgana?" "Morgana?" "Morgana." "Morgana." "Merlin." "Go on, sleep." "I know everyone thinks he's a traitor, but he's not." "He's been abducted." "He may even be dead." "Who is Emrys?" "Merlin's onto us." "He's out searching for Gaius even as we speak." " So you know who Emrys is?" " Indeed, I do." "Then tell me."