Love in the Time of Dragons 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.

HUMMING

Gebeode ic pone

feorhberendne paere ealdan ae.

SNARLING

SNARLING

Calm yourself, my pretty.

SNARLING

We are home now.

Gaius, there have been disturbing rumours from outlying villages.

-Sire?

-Someone, some kind of physician, is offering treatments.

I fear magic may have been used.

What is it that makes you suspicious?

There are reports... of miracle cures.

A boy thrown from a horse, a farmhand mauled by a boar.

All hopeless cases, it seems.

And yet each and every one has made a full recovery.

It is very hard for me to comment, sire.

I would have to examine the patients myself.

That won't be necessary...

as a new case has arisen here in Camelot.

-Who?

-The innkeeper.

He has returned to work.

That's not possible The condition was critical. I saw him only days ago.

So you agree that magic must be involved?

Well, I couldn't say for sure.

Then go to the tavern and find out.

-If sorcery is at work here, we must act quickly.

-Yes, sire,

I'll see to it right away.

It's unbelievable. Uther has no problem turning to magic

if his family are threatened.

Keep your voice down, Merlin.

He is such a hypocrite!

He's also the King. So if you value your head, use it.

Welcome!

Gaius, what a pleasant surprise.

-Evoric.

-What can I get you?

-Nothing, I just dropped in to see how you were doing.

Much improved, as you can see.

Indeed. A remarkable recovery.

All thanks to you, Gaius.

GAIUS CHUCKLES I think not.

Evoric, I am, of course, delighted that you are well again,

but I must ask you - from whom did you obtain your remedy?

-I don't know what you're talking about.

-You mustn't be afraid.

I am not the King, after all.

My wife, she was desperate.

-I was slipping away.

-Go on.

She met a woman,

a healer, in the Lower Town and she gave her a cure.

Can I see it?

Interesting.

-Am I in some kind of trouble?

-No, not at all.

You've been most helpful.

What was the nature of this treatment?

-Hogwart and fenugreek.

-Excuse me?

Herbs, sire.

Whoever prescribed them was highly skilled.

Their grasp of the five principles of herbal conjoinment was...

What about the boy, and the labourer?

Surely they were beyond the help of such remedies?

Not necessarily, sire.

The physician's art can achieve great things.

But not miracles! The innkeeper was fatally ill.

You said so yourself.

Yes, that was indeed my diagnosis.

But my knowledge isn't perfect.

There are many branches of my craft are yet mysteries to me.

I could not heal the innkeeper.

Someone else could.

Are you absolutely satisfied that no magic was involved?

Entirely, sire.

Thank you, Gaius. You have set my mind at rest.

My lord.

I think it's great what you did.

-Protecting the innkeeper like that.

-What do you mean?

He was a sick man.

It was a matter of life and death.

-Magic was his only hope.

-But he didn't use magic.

The potion was enchanted. I saw it with my own eyes. We both did.

What you saw, Merlin, was a release of gaseous pressure.

Entirely normal in a preparation of that kind.

-But what about the totem?

-What totem?

-The totem.

In the innkeeper's doorway. It bore the marks of the Old Religion.

Nonsense.

You're obviously tired, Merlin.

I recommend you get some sleep.

Well, ca...?

CLATTERING

Gaius?

-Alice.

-Oh.

FOOTSTEPS

How did you know I was in Camelot?

I recognised your work. Your healing magic was always equal to none.

Oh, Gaius, you've lost none of your charm.

You've lost none of your skill. You saved the innkeeper's life.

I did what I could. As I know you did.

But my humble potion was not enough, it seems.

Look at you.

Always so solemn. So serious.

And you, always teasing me.

I've missed you.

And I you.

20 years. And here we are back in Camelot, together again.

It almost seems as though nothing has changed.

And some things never will.

-Uther.

-It's not safe for you here.

-He suspects that magic is at work in Camelot.

-But he doesn't know for sure?

Not yet. But if you stay, he will find you.

But, Gaius, healing is my only gift.

-It is my living. I must buy food, I must pay rent.

-But why here?

The dangers are too great.

Because I wanted to see you again.

Dawn is almost upon us. I must get back.

-Oh. You will come back tomorrow? Please?

-Of course.

SNARLING

You have done well. The physician is vital to our plan.

Please...

-Must we use him this way?

-I've told you before.

Uther trusts him. He alone can get us close enough to the King.

He will be blamed for everything that happens.

And you will not. How perfect.

But his punishment will be terrible.

ENRAGED SNARLING

You must put aside your feelings and do what needs to be done.

Yes.

Did you...go out last night?

Yes.

-I had to get some herbs.

-Herbs?

A...a new supplier. Just arrived.

Right.

Do your suppliers normally kiss you?

You followed me!

-How dare you?

-Gaius, it was the middle of the night, I was worried.

-I thought you might be in some sort of trouble.

-There's nothing wrong.

What's her name?

Alice.

She's an old friend.

-Well, more than a friend, if truth be told.

-What do you mean?

We were once engaged to be married.

When was this?

More years ago than I care to remember.

I had just been made physician to the King when I met her.

It was like finding a kindred spirit.

We had so much in common.

Our love of science, of healing...

and of magic.

Magic?

I was just a novice.

But Alice's power and ability was uncanny. She had the gift.

Soon she had mastered every aspect of sorcery, healing above all.

It was wonderful to behold, Merlin.

She saved a great many lives.

-It was Alice that cured the innkeeper.

-Indeed.

There was a time when her skills were famous in Camelot.

So what happened?

Uther declared war on magic.

-Overnight our world was turned upside down.

-The Great Purge.

Uther drew up a list of everyone suspected of using magic.

One by one they were hunted down.

As a close friend of the King, I was permitted to see this list.

-Alice's name was on it.

-What did you do?

The only thing I could do. I struck her name off.

-Gaius, if you'd been caught...

-I know.

But it bought her time. Just enough to get out of Camelot, to escape.

But you...stayed behind?

I was scared. I felt... I had no choice.

I thought I'd never see her again.

But now here she is.

After all these years,

I feel we've been given a second chance.

You have a kind heart. You always did.

It's the least I could do.

Will you stay?

-Please say you will.

-You are my only appointment for this morning.

I made sure of that.

-You recognise them?

-Of course. It is a totem of healing.

Come, is that the best you can do?

-Have you forgotten all that we learned together?

-Let us see.

It is a sorcerer's chime - to give it its proper name.

Each crystal bears an elemental sign of the Old Religion.

When enchanted, the crystals resonate,

their music giving succour to the ailing and the sick.

You have forgotten nothing.

I remember everything.

All that we saw,

all that we did, each and every day we spent together.

I remember the day you left.

Let's not dwell on that. We have found each other again.

Isn't that all that matters?

Ah, Merlin.

-I'd like you to meet Alice.

-Merlin, it's a pleasure to meet you.

Gaius speaks very highly of you.

-You too.

-Alice will be staying with us for a while.

-Great.

-If that's all right with you?

-Of course. I'll make up the spare bed.

-So you won't mind if she uses your room?

Be my guest.

GAIUS SNORES

Ow!

Good news, my pretty. >

Gaius has taken us into his home. >

-So he does not suspect?

-No, no. >

-Then you must work hard to keep it that way.

-Yes. Yes.

You're doing well.

-SNARLING

-Oh!

Take some of my venom.

Do not fail me. Be careful not to hurt yourself.

That's it.

SNARLING

When you first knew Alice, what kinds of magic did she practise?

All kinds. It was a time of experimentation, of learning.

Right.

What about dark magic?

I dare say.

-But those days are long gone.

-What if they aren't?

Last night, there was some kind of creature in her room.

-A creature?

-I've never seen anything like it. It had the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion.

Come on, Merlin.

-You must have been dreaming.

-No, I saw it.

With my own eyes. And I could feel its power.

It was magic like nothing I've ever felt before.

What utter nonsense!

If you don't believe me, Gaius, I can prove it. Come on.

This is it.

Merlin, put that back. This has gone far enough.

Oh, it's in there.

I know it is.

Ridiculous.

Gaius, no!

I hope you're satisfied, Merlin.

Morning.

Hemlock.

Nightshade.

Berg...

ALICE CHUCKLES

Oh, Gaius.

it's just like old times.

-We always made a good team, did we not?

-Yes.

I wish Merlin had your skills.

I fear he finds the physician's craft boring.

Well, never mind. You've got me to help you now, haven't you?

Indeed I have.

Now, where's the valerian?

Valerian... For an injury, I presume?

Perfectly correct. I prescribe it to Uther for an old battle wound.

-He takes it daily?

-Of course.

MAN CLEARS THROAT

Can I help you?

No.

Yes. I wonder, do you know anything about this creature?

Ah, now, that is the manticore.

-A manticore?

-Nasty-looking beastie, isn't it?

-You can say that again.

-I believe it was first referred to almost a thousand years ago.

The ancients lived in fear of it,

-trembled at its very name.

-I've never even heard of it.

Well, I'm not surprised, because as far as I'm aware the manticore is a legend.

-A figment of the imagination.

-Are you sure?

Oh, yes. So...

if you were hoping to see one, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.

-And now it is ready to go to the King.

-Fascinating.

Gaius, you said you had a rare form of mountain balm.

I should like to compare it with my own, if I may?

-Certainly.

-Oh.

Now where did I put it?

-Perhaps with the second-order palliatives?

-Of course.

I'm so sorry, Gaius.

Don't worry. Merlin will clear it up, won't you, Merlin?

No, no! I can do it.

SNORING

CLATTERING

What's that? Who's there?

-WHISPERS:

-No-one. You're dreaming.

Now go back to sleep.

SNORING

BELL RINGS

Gaius, I need to talk to you about Alice.

Merlin, this must stop.

There's a reason the box was empty.

-It's a portal, a gateway for the manticore.

-This must stop now.

Alice is up to something, and it isn't good.

-You're wrong, Merlin. Alice is the kindest and most compassionate person I have ever known.

-No!

You're wrong. You're just blinded by your feelings for her.

I can see perfectly well, Merlin.

And what I can see is that you cannot bear for me to be happy.

I cannot begin to guess why that should be.

But it saddens me... more than I can say.

DOOR OPENS

Gaius, there you are, I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to.

What's wrong?

It's nothing. A disagreement with Merlin, that's all.

Was it about me?

You musn't worry.

-He's probably a bit jealous, that's all.

-Jealous?

Well, it's only to be expected.

The poor lad's had you all to himself.

He's bound to be a bit hostile for a while.

Very hostile, if truth be told.

-He'll soon get used to having me around.

-I'm sure you're right.

Listen, why don't you sit yourself down for a while and take a break.

I must prepare Uther's medicine.

Well, I can take care of that.

You showed me how, remember?

Thank you.

You gave me this book, do you remember?

It was on your birthday, wasn't it?

Or was it when I was made court physician?

Have a look inside. I'm sure there's an inscription.

You're quite right, of course. My 50th birthday.

Here we are. All done.

Wonderful, thank you.

Hurry now. You wouldn't want to keep your King waiting.

Really, Alice, I can't imagine how I survived without you.

-Ah, Gaius, you have my medicine.

-I do, sire.

To my very good health.

BELLS RINGS LOUDLY

Father!

I found him this way. I can't rouse him.

The King's alive. But his pulse is weak.

-What's wrong with him?

-Please, I must examine him.

Seal off the King's quarters!

-What is that?

-Hush, Merlin.

-Well?

-I'm afraid I cannot yet determine the cause of your father's illness.

-He's been poisoned, hasn't he?

-I cannot say at this stage.

-Just look at him. What else could it be?

-We must not jump to hasty conclusions.

Please watch over him until I return.

-I don't think we need more information.

-Since when were you the expert?

-You don't need to be a physician to see what's happened.

-Merlin.

He's been poisoned and I think we both know who did it.

What exactly are you implying?

It was Alice. She's been helping you with the potions.

She's had every opportunity.

You have no proof of any of this.

-How else did he ingest the poison? There is no other explanation.

-Of course there is.

Come on, Gaius. I understand why you're protecting her

but in your heart, you must know it's true.

All I know is the King is gravely ill and your place is by Arthur's side.

It doesn't make any sense, his food and wine are tasted. Each and every meal.

It is brought here under armed guard. No-one can interfere with it in any way.

So it can't be his food and drink.

The only other thing he's had is...

..Gaius's remedy.

Arthur. I think I know what happened.

I think...I know who did this.

DOOR OPENS

What's going on?

The King has been poisoned. It appears that someone has tampered with his medicine.

But surely you don't think it was me?

Don't lie to me, Alice. Please.

Gaius, I...I...

Ugh! Ugh!

Alice.

DOOR OPENS

You are under arrest for high treason. Take her away.

I had no choice.

It was either her or you, Gaius.

It wasn't your choice to make.

-Do you admit to using magic?

-Yes.

-Admit to poisoning the King?

-Yes, yes.

-But it forced me to do it.

-Who forced you?

The creature, the creature!

You're lying! There's no creature.

-You're just trying to save your own skin!

-No, no.

Please, my father is dying.

If you have a single shred of goodness within you, you will tell me how to cure him.

I don't know.

I don't know! I'm so sorry. The manticore...

SHE GASPS

-How is he?

-He's fading. He won't last the day.

-Gaius...

-It's all right, Merlin.

I understand. You were only trying to save me from harm.

Thank you.

But I don't believe Alice wanted this.

I know she didn't.

The poison is from the manticore, the creature that was in Alice's room.

We cannot counteract the manticore's venom. It is too deadly by far.

So what can we do?

The poison is imbued with its magic.

With the manticore dead, it will lose its potency.

Here!

The manticore cannot live in this world long.

Its life source is the ancient evil that exists in the spirit world.

So, if we could trap it in this world...

Exactly. If we were to summon the creature,

and you kept it at bay long enough, perhaps I can break the box.

-The gateway.

-If the gateway is destroyed,

then the creature's connection with its life source will be destroyed with it.

And the manticore will die.

I believe so.

Gaius, the box is enchanted. It would need magic to destroy it.

I am aware of that.

Do you think you can... command such magic?

There was a time when I could.

I just hope I haven't forgotten.

Are you ready?

What if this doesn't work?

Then we're going to have a very angry manticore on our hands.

Cum her, ping scinnlce.

GROWLING

Gaius!

Ado pas sawolduru.

Ado pas sawolduru!

Gaius!

Gaius, It's now or never!

Ado pas sawolduru!

Gaius!

Not too bad for a has-been.

Not too bad yourself.

I am fortunate indeed that you found an antidote, Gaius.

It will take time, my lord, but you will make a full recovery.

What of the woman?

We have her in the cells, sire. She awaits your judgment.

-Sire, if I may?

-Yes, Gaius?

It seems this woman was in the thrall of some kind of creature.

Perhaps, in the light of that, her sentence might be...

She practised magic, Gaius.

There are no circumstances under which that is acceptable.

I'm sorry, Alice, there was nothing I could do.

Don't. I knew what my sentence would be.

Uther will never change.

No.

I hoped that I could learn from it. That I could harness its magic

for the good, for healing. But it was too strong for me.

At least you are rid of it now.

Yes.

It is far better to die free than to live as a slave.

I can only hope that's true.

Gaius...before I go I want you to know something.

I never forgot you.

Since we parted all those years ago,

not a day has gone by when I have not thought of you.

I fear I abandoned you, Alice.

I left you all alone.

You stayed behind to protect me, I know that.

You saved my life, And there is no greater gift that I could have hoped for.

And you have achieved great things here in Camelot whereas I...

-Alice.

-I have disgraced myself.

After everything I've done you would have every right to hate me.

Hate you? I could never hate you.

I have treasured these past days.

I love you, Alice. I love you. And I always will.

As I will you, Gaius.

I don't want to leave you.

Do not be afraid. Please.

BELLS RING LOUDLY

Something's happened.

Perhaps one of the prisoners has escaped.

How is that possible, I wonder?

The dungeons are so secure.

I really couldn't say.

You could have gone with her.

I could have done.

But then who would look after you?

Me? I don't need looking after. I can fend for myself.

Ah, well in that case, you won't be wanting any of this then.

Well, maybe just a slice.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd