Dragon's voice:
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.
(Incanting)
(Incanting continues)
Osgar...
You know what
must be done.
I do.
Stand.
Take it.
The fate of Arthur pendragon
is in your hands now.
See that you honor it.
(Theme music playing)
(Grunting)
You're getting good,
mordred. Very good.
(Grunts)
My lord.
I may have to
start trying soon.
My lord.
Always remember...
(Indistinct)
Did you see how mordred
used a contre quarte
to my high line attack?
It was skillfully done.
Really. You understand
what a contre quarte is,
right?
I'd guess it's
a type of parry
beginning in
the quarter position
and ending with
a twist of the wrist.
You have been
paying attention.
What do you think
of young mordred?
He's making progress.
He has all the makings
of a fine knight.
Don't you think?
There are many
fine knights in Camelot.
Yes, but if
I'm not mistaken,
he'll be one of
the finest.
And I'm determined
he will receive
nothing but
encouragement from me.
You think
he's not ready?
It's not that.
He's an excellent swordsman.
You think he's too young.
Too headstrong.
He's always been
thoughtful and modest.
Well, he sounds
perfect, Merlin.
I can't ignore
what I saw.
Gaius, mordred is destined
to play a part in Arthur's
death.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
The future has many paths.
That is only one.
Have you ever seen
him show anything
but kindness
towards Arthur?
- No, but...
- If mordred wished
Arthur ill,
he's had ample
opportunity to do so.
He's a likeable boy, Merlin.
I know.
I like him myself.
But I can't ignore
what I saw.
Seeing is not
the same as knowing.
And we must
know for certain
before we act.
What news from the east,
sir Leon?
Serious news
I'm afraid, sire.
As you know,
a few days ago
our Garrison in
the forest of breckfire
intercepted the man
who goes by the name
of osgar.
The sorcerer.
The same.
They were trying
to apprehend him
when he used
his powers to escape.
I'm sorry to report
sir ranulf was
mortally wounded.
Sir ranulf?
He was a loyal
and true knight.
Place all the men
in the eastern territories
on high alert.
Yes, sir.
I personally shall
lead a patrol
to bring this
osgar to justice.
Is it necessary
for you to go in person?
A king must lead
or what's the point of him?
You led the men when you
saved mithian's father
and I nearly lost you.
Sir ranulf's death
cannot go unpunished.
You have many fine men
to avenge him.
He wasn't just
a knight, Guinevere.
He was a friend.
We knew each other as boys.
I must go.
Have no fear.
I'll be perfectly safe.
As you say, I have many
fine knights.
(Knocking on door)
Yes?
You wish to see me, sire?
Ah, mordred.
Come in. Come in.
The time has come for you
to accompany your king.
My lord?
I want you to join me
on a patrol to white mountain.
Me?
To breckfire?
Congratulations.
This is a great honor.
- I...
- You've earned
your place.
Be ready
to ride at dawn.
I shall be, my lord.
You won't regret this.
I promise.
- (Door closing)
- He has all the makings
of an excellent knight.
I do believe
you've grown fond of him.
It's one of those
things I do.
You sure you haven't
forgotten anything, mordred?
Do you think so?
Isn't he missing
a dagger?
I can't see
a water bottle.
His boot.
He's missing
a boot I think.
(Laughing)
You sure this
is a good idea?
He's a good fighter,
a brave knight.
He's very young.
Where would any
of us be, Merlin,
if no one had
given us a chance?
Gentlemen.
(Horses galloping)
Merlin?
You will take
care of him?
Doesn't always
make it easy.
I know.
Merlin?
It is a tradition.
Goes back years.
We all had to do it
on our first patrol.
Mordred, what on earth
are you doing?
Melding the saddle,
my lord.
As in the ancient
tradition of melding.
Ah, of course.
I trust your breeches
are on inside-out.
My lord?
(Laughing)
(Horse whinnies)
It's osgar.
He's close.
He's getting careless.
Sire.
Who are you?
What's your purpose?
I was beginning to fear
you had taken the wrong path.
Who are you?
My name is osgar,
and I have an important
message for your king.
Take me to him.
It'll be our pleasure.
Do you not know
who I am?
You are a sorcerer,
a heretic, and a murderer.
No.
Just a man who
values his freedom.
Take me to your king.
Would you
challenge me?
(Grunts)
(Incanting)
(Grunts)
Stop!
Sire.
- My name is osgar.
- I know who you are.
I am sent from
the sacred disir
to pass judgment
on Arthur pendragon,
the once and future king.
What right have you
to pass judgment?
No man is above the disir,
however royal.
It is my duty to pass
their judgment onto you,
dread king.
My sacred duty.
Your hand,
Arthur pendragon.
It is done.
What is the meaning of this?
It is both
judgment and fate.
You have waged war
on the people of
the old religion.
Now the ancient gods
answer you.
The disir have spoken.
The circle of fate
begins to close.
For even as
Camelot flowers,
the seeds of her
destruction are being sown.
What nonsense is this?
It is not too late,
Arthur.
Not too late to find
the true path.
Redeem yourself.
No further chance
shall be given.
(Twig snapping)
What would
the king say?
Sorcerers are not
permitted marked graves.
It's all right, Merlin.
I'd have done the same.
He was one of us,
after all.
It won't always
be like this.
One day we'll live
in freedom again.
You really believe that?
I do.
Until then...
We go unmarked
in death as in life.
(Chuckles)
Swelling should
go down by morning.
Let's hope so.
How is he?
I've applied poultices.
They'll make
a full recovery.
You're a skilled
physician, Merlin.
Watched Gaius,
that's all.
He also makes
a very fine breakfast
as you'll soon discover,
eh, Merlin?
Now I've offended him.
(Chuckles)
Come, Merlin.
Warm yourself.
Have a drink.
To young mordred
on his first
successful mission.
It was nothing.
It was timely
and vigilant.
- Merlin?
- Congratulations.
If he died and was
granted eternal happiness,
I do believe he'd find
reason to be miserable.
Come, Merlin.
We've triumphed.
Osgar could have
easily killed you.
He didn't, did he?
But he was a sorcerer.
It was quite
within his power.
He was deranged.
The rune Mark.
A trinket.
Nothing more.
Here.
I'll have the jeweler
mount it as a memento
of our success.
Are you feeling
all right, Merlin?
Quite, my lord.
I think more and more
I find your face resembles
the back end
of a cat.
See, you don't even
laugh at my jokes anymore.
Seriously.
I haven't seen you smile
these past three days.
I'm not sure there's
a great deal to smile about.
(Sighs)
Sire, thank you
for coming.
Please.
Don't tell me Merlin's
got you believing
his nonsense too,
Gaius.
This is a rune Mark,
my lord.
That's what everyone
keeps telling me.
In times past,
this Mark aroused great fear.
It was given to those
found wanting
by the court
of the disir.
The disir?
The highest court
of the old religion.
Three women were
chosen at birth
to be trained as seers
and soothsayers.
Their only task
was to interpret
the word of
the triple goddess.
When they sat in judgment,
their word was final.
All this worn out
superstition
has no relevance now.
I don't see what bearing
it has on me or Camelot.
Because, sire,
the disir have seen fit
to give you this.
This is the judgment
of the gods against you.
This is nonsense, surely.
The old religion held
that the rune Mark
not only contained
the man's guilt,
but the path that the gods
have chosen for him.
That is why it is both
a judgment and fate.
I make my own path.
Do you?
It is said that
only the gods
can alter
a man's fate.
And even then...
Only when he repents
and appeases them.
You don't believe
any of this?
Gaius?
I'm an old man, sire.
Old enough to be wary
of dismissing
other people's beliefs.
Have I not made Camelot
a fairer and more just kingdom?
You have, my lord.
Have I not rid it
of the cruelties
and injustices
of the past?
You have.
I am not my father.
No.
Then why do they
judge me so?
I'm not sure I'm
the person to ask.
I am asking you,
Merlin.
Man to man.
Well, perhaps I feel
you're worthy enough
to be judged.
What do you
mean by that?
Judgment is wasted on
a man who won't listen.
You think I should
take them seriously?
I think you
already have.
If there's
nothing else...
No, thank you.
(Incanting)
You were right
to summon me, Merlin.
The disir are the mouthpiece
of the triple goddess.
It is she who has
decreed Arthur's fate.
What is it to be?
The rune Mark predicts
Arthur's death.
When?
When will Arthur die?
The future is
never clear, Merlin.
You should know
that by now.
There are many paths.
Not all lead
to Camelot's ruin.
Do they lead to mordred?
The druid boy?
His fate and Arthur's
are bound together
like Ivy around a tree.
I fear he is dangerous.
There is good cause
to doubt him.
Is there nothing
I can do?
Sometimes to save the tree,
the Ivy must be cut.
You had a chance to kill
the druid boy once before.
If you have another,
you must not fail.
Arthur?
I thought you
might be hungry.
You ate nothing
at supper.
Thank you.
That's kind.
He was a deranged,
desperate man.
You said so yourself.
Merlin was right.
He could have killed me,
but instead he thought
it was more important
to give me this.
And he gave his life
doing so.
Who can fathom
the mind of a fanatic?
It wasn't what was
in his eyes, Guinevere.
There was no hatred there.
It was something else.
Pity almost.
Why would a sorcerer
pity a king?
Come. Eat something.
What if the disir are right?
What if I have transgressed
in some way?
What if I've put
Camelot in danger?
Arthur, you are
a good and just king.
The disir don't
seem to think so.
That is because they don't
know you like I do.
If they did,
they would feel
nothing but love.
(Pounding on door)
Is it late?
Have I overslept?
Not yet dawn.
(Pounding continues)
My lord?
Where can I
find the disir?
Sire, I...
Gaius, if anyone knows
where to find them
it's you.
Until yesterday,
I didn't know
they still existed.
They do as we know.
So again,
where can I find them?
Sire, I do not think
it is wise for...
Gaius.
Do I look like a man
to trifle with?
(Sighs)
It is said that...
The disir divine
using an ancient pool.
In turn, the pool
is fed by the sacred spring
at calandry.
The source of the spring
is a grove of yew trees
in the white mountains.
The grove at breneved.
Thank you.
We leave
within the hour.
Be careful, Merlin.
I don't know what
you'll encounter.
But the old ways
will be at their
strongest there.
The calandry is at
the very center
of their powers.
Mordred:
My lord. You are going
to the white mountains?
Arthur: I am.
Then I humbly petition
to come with you.
This is not for novices,
mordred.
Did I not
serve you well?
You did.
Then I will do again.
There's no mere sorcerer
this time, mordred.
Our mission is dangerous
in ways
we cannot perhaps imagine.
Then you will need
good men by your side.
Let me serve.
Let me do my duty.
Arthur: Merlin?
See to it he has
everything he needs.
Stay close.
Know your positions.
My lord.
What is it, Merlin?
This place
is sacred.
Arthur: It's a cave, Merlin.
Merlin: It's more than that.
Any one cave is the same
as any other.
You can't go armed
into a sacred place.
You want us to go
in there unarmed?
Of all the ridiculous things
that you've ever said, Merlin...
There's been a few...
That's the most ridiculous.
By far.
I am Arthur pendragon,
king of Camelot.
I've come to know
the meaning of this.
Grove of breneved
is in the kingdom of Camelot,
subject to its laws,
its decrees.
Every man,
however humble,
however noble,
has the right to be judged
only by his peers.
Yet you judge me
in my absence.
Explain yourselves.
We do not judge.
We do not
condemn.
We are but the internuncio
of the one who presides
over all.
- Who sees all.
- Who knows all.
All: The triple goddess.
And you,
Arthur pendragon,
have angered her.
How so?
Have I not been
an honorable king?
Have I not made Camelot
a fair and just kingdom?
So much is true,
but you have denied
the old religion.
Dismissed its faith.
Persecuted its followers.
Even unto slaughter.
I fight against sorcery.
Superstition, that's all.
Embrace the ways
of the old religion, Arthur.
Or risk the ire
of the goddess.
The destruction
of everything you most value.
The end of your reign.
The fall
of Camelot itself.
I refuse to be judged
by those who do not know me.
You are known, Arthur.
You have always
been known.
And now, you come here
to the most sacred
of the sacred.
To the very heart
of the old religion.
With weapons drawn.
Trampling hallowed relics.
Treating our sacred space
like you do your kingdom.
- With arrogance.
- With conceit.
With insolence.
Enough!
You speak of the king.
On me!
Merlin!
Fall back!
How is he?
It's not a simple wound.
Sorcery's involved.
Is there anything
you can do?
This is beyond
my skills, sire.
We need to get him
back to Camelot.
That's a long
and arduous journey.
What if he doesn't
survive it?
Look,
I fear that Gaius
is the only one
that can save him.
Mount up.
We ride for Camelot.
He grows worse.
There has been
little change.
I should have
never let him come.
He wanted
to prove himself.
And he has.
He saved my life
for the second time.
Merlin is right.
This is no
ordinary wound.
There is magic
at play.
Can you save him?
I'm but a physician.
There are limits
to my knowledge.
But there must be something
that can be done.
Perhaps.
I shall do everything
in my power, sire.
Let me know the moment
he improves.
Or...
I shall.
(Door opens, closes)
Only your magic
can save him, Merlin.
I cannot save
the life of a man
destined
to kill Arthur.
If mordred is destined
to take the king's life,
why has he
just saved it?
I cannot ignore
what the dragon said.
What happened to the young boy
who came into my chambers
just a few years ago?
He grew up.
And he learned
the meaning of duty.
It's not your fault.
He begged you
to let him go.
It was a kindness
to allow...
- It was foolishness.
- No.
You told me once
that mordred had
a strong sense of duty.
That's true.
You also told me
that he was impetuous.
I should have
listened to you.
No, you shouldn't.
If mordred hadn't gone,
it could be you
in Gaius's chambers.
Mordred did his duty
so you could do yours.
To be king.
(Knocking on door)
Yes?
(Door opens)
- Sire.
- Is there any news?
I thought that
once we got him
back to Camelot,
your care...
The staff that
caused the wound
was forged using
powerful sorcery.
All the same...
The poison that runs
through his veins
is beyond remedy.
There must be...
Something you can do.
I'm afraid not.
Only the disir themselves
have the power
to counteract
their own sorcery.
I'm afraid we must
prepare ourselves
for the worst.
I'll go to them.
Sire, I do not
think that...
And beg for mercy.
Prepare the horses.
We leave at once.
Why do you risk
so much for one man?
I'd do the same
for any knight.
Though obviously not me.
Actually, I would.
Servants are
hard to come by.
Even the bad ones.
I'm touched.
Mordred saved my life.
What greater debt
can there be?
A debt to your people.
To your destiny.
You almost sound
as if you care.
I do care.
About who you are,
Arthur.
Who you are
destined to become.
It's fated. It doesn't
matter what I do, does it?
- It'll still happen.
- There's a difference between
fate and destiny.
You think too much,
Merlin.
The situation's
quite simple.
A brother in arms
saves my life.
When he in turn
is threatened,
it's my duty to do
all I can to save him.
I'm not totally
insensitive, Merlin.
I can see
that some people feel
that this is a sacred place.
I'm even prepared to admit
that you were right sometimes.
Obviously I'll deny
ever saying that.
Obviously.
Arthur pendragon.
King of Camelot.
We have been
expecting you.
My men and I behaved
with arrogance
and stupidity.
We dishonored this place
and insulted your faith.
I humbly beg your forgiveness.
One amongst us,
sir mordred,
may yet pay
the ultimate price.
I've come here
to petition you
for his life.
Why should we help you?
I ask not for myself
but for a young man
whose only crime was
to sacrifice himself
for his king.
The future holds much
pain and suffering for you,
Arthur pendragon,
for you and your people.
If you wish to save
all you hold dear,
if you wish to save
your kingdom,
embrace the old religion.
Learn her ways.
Bow to the goddess.
You know
I can't do that.
Consider carefully.
You have until dawn.
How did you know
this place was sacred?
That's obvious.
Pretend it isn't.
Everything here...
So full of life.
Every tree.
Every leaf.
Every insect.
It's as if the world
is vibrating.
As if everything is
much more than itself.
You feel all that?
Don't you?
What will you do?
I don't know.
My heart says
do anything I can
to save mordred.
But I've seen what misery
unfettered sorcery brings.
Before my father
outlawed magic,
Camelot was almost
destroyed by sorcery.
In my own time,
morgana's used it
for nothing but evil.
What would you do?
In my place?
Me?
I'm just a lackey,
maker of beds.
Lackeys can be wise.
It's not like you
to be silent.
The kingdom's future
is at stake.
And a man's life.
You must protect Camelot.
You must protect the world
you spent your life building.
A just and fair
kingdom for all.
You'd have me
sacrifice a friend?
I would have you become
the king you're destined to be.
If I do save mordred,
all my father's work
will be for nothing.
Sorcery will reign
once more in Camelot.
Is that what
you'd want?
Perhaps my father was wrong.
Perhaps the old ways
aren't as evil as we thought.
So what should we do?
Accept magic?
(Sighs)
Or let mordred die?
There can be no place
for magic in Camelot.
You have returned.
Is your decision made?
It is.
I cannot do
as you ask.
Consider carefully,
Arthur pendragon.
This is your last chance
to save all that is dear to you.
It will not
come again.
I've seen too much
to allow sorcery again
within Camelot.
You have made
your decision.
Sealed your fate.
And that of
your kingdom.
Disir: Farewell.
Arthur pendragon.
You did the right thing.
I condemned
a man to death.
For the sake
of Camelot.
He saved my life,
Merlin.
More than once.
I know.
Merlin: How could I
have been so stupid?
You did what
you thought was best.
I assumed the best way
to protect Arthur
was to kill mordred.
Perfectly natural
assumption.
But all I did
was make sure he lived.
That was the disir's
judgment.
Mordred's life
is Arthur's punishment
for rejecting magic.
You mustn't blame yourself.
But it is my fault.
Mordred is
alive and well.
He's free to play his part
in Arthur's death
and there's nothing
I can do to prevent it.
(Cheering)
Nothing.
Merlin.
Where is she?
I thought we could
play a little game.
(Chuckles)
(Screams)
Whatever twisted game
you're playing,
I want no part in it.
(Theme music playing)