The Coming of Arthur - Part 1 Merlin

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.

It was Cenred who did this - you're certain of it?

Yes, my lord. His messenger has only this minute departed Camelot.

Cenred said that the patrol trespassed on his land,

and an example had to be made.

The Knights?

All lost.

Edric, Alduuf...

Osric.

And Sir Leon.

Here!

Quick!

Help me. We do not have much time. Ready.

His spirit leaves him. We must hurry.

ALL: Buthed gwared... hrag pob ailed...

hrag pob evnis... boyd un thilis.

THEY REPEAT THE INCANTATION

Welcome back.

We thought you were dead for sure.

I was dead, or as good as. Until the Druids found me.

The Druids?

How did they heal you? Did they use magic?

-Well, I...

-Yes or no? It's a simple enough question.

I only know that I drank from some kind of cup, Sire.

Cup?

It was extraordinary, my lord.

I have known nothing like it. From the moment it touched my lips,

I could feel my life return to me.

Well...

your trials have left you weary, I'm sure.

We must let him rest.

-Is that it?

-That's it.

He is exhausted, Sire, and severely dehydrated,

-but given time he'll make a full recovery.

-Thank you, Gaius.

Well?

It's remarkable, Sire.

He bears no sign of any kind of wound. He is in perfect health.

And the cup he spoke of?

From his description, I would say it was the Cup of Life.

You are aware of its power, Gaius?

I am indeed, Sire. But the Druids are a peaceful people.

They would only ever use the cup for good.

Sir Leon is surely proof of that.

Be that as it may, according to Sir Leon's description,

the Druids' cave lies within Cenred's kingdom.

It is imperative that we get to the cup before he does.

My lord...the Druids are secretive by nature.

They will have the cup well hidden.

Might it not be wise to leave it where it is?

I am not prepared to take that risk.

I thought the cup was destroyed with Nimueh, when I defeated her

on the Isle of the Blessed.

The cup cannot be destroyed.

Its magic is eternal, unbound by time or place.

But why does Uther fear it so much?

Because the cup can be used for evil as well as good.

I don't understand.

Many centuries ago, it fell into the possession of a great warlord.

One night, he gathered his army before him.

He took a drop of blood

from each and every man and collected it in the cup.

Such was the vessel's power

that the soldiers were made immortal where they stood.

So they could not be killed.

The carnage they wrought was beyond all imagining.

The King's no fool. He knows that the forces of the Old Religion

are rising against him once more.

Heaven forbid that the cup should fall into the hands of Morgause.

Or Morgana.

With such a weapon at their disposal,

Camelot would be all but lost.

-You called for me, Father.

-Cenred is our sworn enemy.

-We cannot risk him getting his hands on the Cup of Life.

-I know, Father.

You must retrieve it.

Your mission must remain secret. You can speak to no-one.

I will take only my most trusted men.

We have seen what happened to the last patrol

that entered Cenred's land.

You must go alone.

I am sorry to place such a burden upon you

but there is no-one else I can trust.

I understand, Father.

You will be ready by sunrise, won't you, Merlin?

If I don't know where we're going,

how do I know what to pack? Will it be hot, cold? Wet, dry?

-We're not going on holiday.

-Holiday? What's a holiday?

Not that. Nothing bearing the crest of Camelot. We're going undercover.

This is ridiculous. Are you going to tell me where we're going or not?

Well, I can tell you it'll be dangerous.

-Great(!)

-We'll be travelling through bandit-infested lands.

-Terrific. Then where?

-I can't tell you that.

You don't know.

-No.

-I

-know where we're going. I just can't tell you, that's all.

Right. Cos if you do, you'll have to kill me, I suppose.

Immediately and without hesitation.

Great.

It'll be a surprise.

I love surprises. Who doesn't love a good...surprise?

What is it you wanted to tell me, sister?

Arthur rides at dawn.

He's been sent to recover some kind of cup.

The Cup of Life, they called it.

The Cup of Life - are you sure?

I heard every word.

How long I have searched for it...

Is it as powerful as they believe?

Oh, yes.

Trust me, sister. With the cup in our possession,

Camelot would soon be at our mercy. Where is the cup now?

It is in the hands of the Druids.

All I know is that their camp lies within Cenred's kingdom.

Then perhaps Cenred will be of use to us again.

He has spies everywhere. If he can have Arthur followed...

Then Arthur will lead us all the way to the cup itself.

Which way was the Prince heading?

For the Forest of Ascetir, my lady.

Send word to the scouts in the area. They must be prepared.

Yes, Sire.

Can your scouts be relied upon?

Of course.

I hand-picked them myself.

Why does that not reassure me?

Do not concern yourself, my lady.

The Cup of Life will soon be in our hands.

And when it is, Camelot will be ours.

You forget yourself, Cenred.

It is Morgana that will take the throne, not you or I.

I make no claim upon the throne.

Only the spoils of victory.

-We're going to Cenred's Kingdom, aren't we?

-What makes you say that?

Er, we're in the Forest of Ascetir. We're not stopping.

-You can think what you like, Merlin.

-Come on. You might as well tell me.

Then I'd have to kill you. I told you that.

Go ahead. I'm probably going to die anyway.

Look at what happened to the patrol that came here.

Dead, the lot of them.

Sir Leon survived.

Right. So that gives me, what?

A one in 40 chance of making it?

Rather less, actually. There are only two of us.

So I'm not probably going to die - I'm DEFINITELY going to die.

Always the pessimist, Merlin.

Who knows? Maybe just this once, we'll have no trouble.

Maybe you're right.

But if past experience is anything to go by...

HORSE NEIGHS

What was that you were saying about me being a pessimist?

Must have slipped my mind.

-Touch me again...

-Gwaine?!

No manners, you royals. Merlin, old friend, you look terrible.

Likewise.

-What are you doing here?

-You know. Wrong place, wrong time.

-Where exactly are we?

-The bowels of an old castle.

Belongs to a fella named Jarl.

-Never heard of him.

-Lovely bloke. Slave Trader.

We're going to be sold as slaves?

Right, you filthy vermin!

Which one of you is ready to face my champion in the arena?

No volunteers?

Well, I shall have to choose one of you toerags myself, then...

Let me see...

How about...you?

Me?

You should be honoured.

Who is this so-called champion?

Can he crush nothing but weaklings like this?

You think you could offer a better contest?

I guarantee it.

Arthur, no.

Very well.

But if you lose...

I'll feed your little friend to the crows, piece by stinking piece.

Are you ready, my champion?

I am.

How could you let this happen?

You let Arthur slip through your fingers.

-He was taken before my men could get to him.

-Taken?

-By whom, exactly?

-The slave trader, Jarl.

He's been working our western border for months.

And you let him?

We have an understanding. He doesn't bother me, and I don't bother him.

And where is this Jarl now?

Don't worry, Morgause. I'll find him soon enough.

See that you do.

Are you threatening me?

Trust me, Cenred.

When I'm threatening you, you'll know about it.

RAUCOUS CHEERING

Gentlemen. The rules are simple.

One man lives and one man dies.

CHEERING

Let battle commence!

CHEERING

-Take it easy, will you?

-It's got to look real, hasn't it?

Fine. If it's real you want...

-So far, so good.

-What comes next?

Er... There was no next.

Forbaern aeltaewlice.

CROWD EXCLAIMS

FRENZIED SHOUTING

THEY PANT

Now, that's somewhere I'll not be in a hurry to see again.

-Best stay out of trouble, then.

-I could say the same to you.

You could do, but I wouldn't have any idea what you were talking about.

C'mon. You must have done something to end up in a hole like that.

Actually, we were on a quest.

We're looking for the Cup of Life.

What part of the word "secret" did you not understand?

It's...Gwaine.

Gentlemen, gentlemen,

it seems - whatever it is that you're after -

you could use a little help.

No-one makes a fool of Jarl!

No-one!

I want to know who they are and where they're hiding!

My lord...

-What's that?!

-It was confiscated from the prisoners, my lord.

It may hold some clues.

I don't want clues.

Ugh!

Well, well, well.

It seems we were entertaining royalty.

HE CACKLES

So according to Merlin here,

if you tell me where this cup is, you'll have to kill me.

That's correct.

May as well tell me, then. I mean, let's be honest -

you couldn't kill me even if you wanted to.

Yeah? Try me.

I already did. Back in the arena. I had you bang to rights, did I not?

That...was just a game.

Oh, a game? Right. I won that game, did I not?

No, you didn't! One more minute...

One more minute and you both would have been dead! Neither of you won.

Your plan was a half-baked disaster

and if it was not for that fire, we would all be pushing up daisies.

You're certain it was Arthur?

Oh, yes. It was the prince, all right.

Matched your description exactly.

He had his servant with him. Him and another man.

And you have proof of this?

-Where were they headed?

-West.

Into the Forest of Gedney.

They've no horses -

the tracks told us as much. You'll soon run them down.

-Excellent.

-Always glad to be of help to...

people of quality, such as yourselves.

Perhaps some small compensation for my time and trouble?

My dear man. How remiss of me. You will have your reward this instant.

HE GROANS

Well, don't tell me, we're actually here.

Easy, Merlin. Wouldn't want to rile the prince.

It has to be here somewhere.

Where is it?

Hmm?

Where's the cup?

-Tell me.

-Let him go, Arthur. He's just a boy.

Where...is it?

Arthur.

Stay out of this, Merlin.

No, Arthur, really...

One step closer...

There is no need for violence, Arthur Pendragon.

The boy has done you no harm. Release him.

Not without what I came for.

You seek the Cup of Life, do you not?

I do.

It is yours.

Please, now...

The boy.

You meddle with a power you do not understand, Arthur Pendragon.

By taking the Cup of Life, you risk more than you know.

I'll take my chances, thanks.

Let's go.

-IN MERLIN'S HEAD:

-'Emrys...'

'The cup is in your care now. Guard it well.

'The future of this land depends on it.'

Hard work, this quest business.

Trust me - it's a great deed we did here today.

Are you sure the cup wasn't safer with the Druids?

They can't be trusted, Merlin. No-one can.

The only safe place for the cup is the vaults of Camelot.

Yeah, but we have to get it there first.

Get the cup.

We're approaching the border of Cenred's lands.

Beyond the forest lies Camelot.

And food and water and a nice hot bath.

Quiet.

Listen!

SILENCE

I can't hear anything.

Exactly.

Never satisfied, you city types. It's too noisy, it's too quiet...

Run!

Agh!

Merlin! >

That doesn't look too great.

The arrow must have been poisoned.

He's got a fever. We need to keep him warm.

I don't get it.

Why all this bother over a cup?

Because in the wrong hands, it can become a terrible weapon.

Not so great Cenred's got it, then?

It's worse than you can possibly imagine.

Loyal friends...

..our time is at hand.

From today, no sword will fell you,

no spear will stop you short.

Your blood will not be spilled in vain...

..but in victory.

You march with the mightiest weapon of them all...

..immortality!

Gegadra anne here

fram pisse bune ond heora blod...

Swa paet he ne abuge and ne swelte noht,

ac libbe a on ecnysse.

Arthur should be back by now.

I'm sure there's a simple explanation, Sire.

You know as well as I do he's been gone too long. Take a patrol.

As many men as you need. Whatever it takes, find him.

Yes, Sire.

You show great strength, my lord.

What do you mean?

Day after day, you must send your only son into danger.

Not a responsibility any father would wish to bear.

You must try not to worry.

He is the First Knight of Camelot and your greatest warrior.

He's made it home safe in the past.

Why should this time be any different?

You're right.

Of course you are.

-We need more firewood.

-You're right about that.

D'you want to go and get some?

Not really. Thanks for asking.

There's wolves out there. Bears, boars...

-Exactly.

-I'm not a warrior. I can't defend myself like you.

Never too late to learn.

Merlin...

don't you know when someone's joking with you?

If I die collecting firewood, keep it to yourself.

I've got my reputation to consider.

Gehalge.

Gehalge.

Come on.

Arthur, come on.

Magnificent, aren't they?

-My army of immortals.

-YOUR army?

-Well, they are my men.

-Correction. They WERE your men.

It is I that made them immortal - they are bound to me now.

Do not think for one moment that you can cross me, my lady.

Cross you?

Never.

Ic bebiode the thine cyning cwellan!

What are you doing?

Have I not always been honest with you, Cenred?

Stop!

Stop! You answer to me, not to her!

Morgause, Morgause, make him stop! Please, I beg you. Make him stop!

My God!

All right. Come on.

ARTHUR COUGHS

Where's the cup?

Where's the cup?!

Cenred's men - they took it.

-Then what are we still doing here?!

-You were unconscious.

Always an excuse, Merlin. HE GROANS

We have to get back to Camelot before it's too late.

CHURCH BELL TOLLS

We must convene the Council of War.

They cannot be stopped. The soldiers, Sire. They will not fall.

-What are you saying?

-They will not die.

Gather the Knights. Prepare whatever defences you can.

-But, Sire.

-DO IT!

It's Cenred. It must be.

How? The location of the cup was secret.

There's only one explanation, Sire.

We have a traitor in our midst.

-Gwen.

-Is it true they attack at dawn?

I'm afraid so.

And no word from Arthur?

Nothing.

Then all is lost.

Not everyone has to die.

What do you mean, "not everyone"?

Those that defy them.

Those that choose to fight, they will surely die.

But those who do not resist,

those who choose to welcome change...

They will have a future here.

Everyone has a choice, Gwen.

You know I have always been loyal to you, Morgana.

And I always will be.

Then have no fear.

No harm will come to you. I can promise you that.

MOB ROARS

We need to hurry. We're still a day's march from Camelot.

A Camelot patrol.

There's not a single enemy body.

Who could have done such a thing?

An army of men that cannot die.

Come on.

Here...let me.

Elyan!

I'm sorry.

Where is everyone?

-I-I-I thought that...

-Elyan, please. What happened?

They came out of nowhere.

A mighty army. Weapons were useless against them.

They were men, Sire, but not men...

Where's your sister? Where's Guinevere?

She was in the citadel when they attacked.

There's still hope.

Sire...

..the citadel's been taken.

Let's go.

How much longer can he keep going like this?

I don't know.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Where now?

Now, er... Now we, er...

Arthur. You can't go on.

-We must. We must find the others.

-You can't go on without treatment.

-Guinevere...my father.

-Elyan, do you know the way to the dungeons?

-Yes, I think so.

-Go with Gwaine. See if you can find them.

-I'm going with them.

-You're not.

-That's an order.

To hell with your orders. You're coming with me.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

You're disobeying orders, Merlin. I'll have you in the stocks for this.

Fine. Now, stay put. And try not to move that leg.

< GLASS SMASHES

Gaius!

Merlin!

Are you all right?

All the better for seeing you!

ARTHUR CLEARS HIS THROAT >

Arthur!

I tried to heal him, using magic, but it didn't work.

ARTHUR GRUNTS

This may hurt a bit, Sire.

-HE GROANS

-The wound's infected.

I'll have to re-dress the leg,

-to reduce the inflammation.

-No, no, no.

We haven't got time. Just...give me something to keep me going.

Yes, Sire.

It's the army of immortals, isn't it?

We'll be lucky to get away with our lives. Any of us.

Where are you taking me? I am the King!

I demand to know.

The effect will be instant, Sire,

but I cannot guarantee how long it will last.

Thank you, Gaius. DOOR OPENS

The King, Sire. He's alive!

-Where is he?

-They're taking him to the throne room as we speak.

-This may be my last chance.

-There's too many - you'll never make it.

I won't leave my father to die here alone. Gwaine, Elyan, take Gaius

and make your way to the woods beyond the castle.

I hope we meet again.

Merlin, you should go with them.

Nah, I've seen the woods already.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Are you all right?

Keep moving.

Well, Uther...

How the mighty have fallen.

I don't think you'll be needing this any more.

This is unlawful.

You cannot do this.

You have no right to the throne!

No, she does not.

But I do.

I am your daughter, after all.

Don't look so surprised.

I've known for some time.

By the power vested in me...

..I crown thee, Morgana Pendragon...

..Queen of Camelot.

No!

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