Lancelot du Lac 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.'

Uncle.

It is late, Arthur, what's troubling you?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

But I have made a decision and I felt it only right

to inform you right away,

though I fear you are not going to like what I have to say.

I am going to marry Guinevere.

PLATE CLATTERS

Sorry!

That is, if she says, "Yes."

-Sire...

-No, I know what you're going to say.

She is a servant, I am the king, it is not the done thing.

It's a little more serious than that.

Guinevere has proved herself a valuable support

and shrewd counsellor these past few months.

You don't need a woman for support, sire. I am your counsel.

I fear you have rather too much stubble to be my wife.

Good counsel, solid support, they're exactly what I need.

I don't want a queen who spends her days floating around the castle, agreeing with my every word.

The people do not want that either.

So I have made up my mind.

I want Guinevere to be my queen, and I want you to accept her as such.

Arthur is to make Guinevere his queen.

It is just like in my dream.

I will not see that woman upon my throne.

I don't see how we can stop her.

There is one that can ruin King Arthur's plans,

one that can come between them.

We all have our secrets, and unfortunately for Guinevere

I know hers, I know exactly how to destroy her.

I come in peace.

I need your help.

It was a gift from my sister.

A most interesting present.

The price of a soul.

You must travel to the last of the Five Gateways

Find the Pool of Nemhain,

whose waters are as black as night

Cast the coin into its depths

and your wish will be granted.

My name is Lancelot, my lady.

I am yours to command.

You must be tired.

You have been on a journey few have ever dreamed of.

I know not where I have been, my lady.

Only that I am yours.

Slow down. You won't be needing that. Well, not yet.

We have work to do.

It is not your sword I require, so much as your heart.

'There is a woman. A serving girl.

'A lowly peasant called Guinevere.

'Or Gwen as she is known to her friends.

'There are many that have tried to win the hand of King Arthur.

'But it was Gwen who won his heart.

'She is honest and straightforward, a simple soul.'

Arthur trusts her entirely...

..as he does you.

For you are Lancelot the noble, the brave, the honourable.

You are everything the Knight's Code stands for.

'Before she was Arthur's, she was yours, Lancelot.

'You were her first love.'

And you will be her last.

Guinevere, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?

Is that a "yes"?

Oh, sorry. Yes! Yes! Yes!

How is it with our old adversary?

He is learning fast.

Soon he will know enough

to convince everyone he is the Lancelot we all knew.

I thought it would please me, moulding his mind.

Instead, I feel curiously sad. He was once so mighty.

Now he is nothing but a shade, I shall be sorry to see him go.

I've got to hand it to you. if nothing else,

it's certainly an original engagement present.

Well, as romantic gestures go.

You could have given her flowers,

you could have had a song written,

instead, you've given her two days

of sweaty men knocking the sense out of each other.

As it should be. My father had a tourney before his wedding. It's tradition.

Ah, so it's not even an original gesture, then.

I think my future wife understands.

Thank you very much.

FANFARE

Who on earth is that?

I have no idea.

I fear I remember very little after the moment

I stepped through the veil.

My story will not be as illuminating as I would like.

We are just pleased to see you.

-Well, pleased and amazed.

-I owe everything to the Madhavi people.

When they found me I was near death.

Luckily for me, their customs dictate

that they must give food and shelter to the needy...

..and I was certainly that!

Where did they find you?

On one of the silk road passes, high in the Feorre Mountains.

Cenred's Kingdom.

I travelled with them for many weeks,

deep into the deserts of the south.

Then slowly my strengths returned.

When I was able, I earned my passage the only way I know how -

by the sword.

Then I slowly made my way north.

You made your way home.

We can't thank you enough

for what you sacrificed on the Isle of the Blessed.

It will be remembered always.

It is indeed good to see you once again.

I would like to propose a toast...

..to the people I hold most dear.

To Camelot.

To Camelot.

You can have my bed.

No, no.

Really, after all you've been through it's the least I can do.

Thank you, Merlin. It's good to see you too.

I've spent so long thinking about what happened...

Could I have saved you?

And if there was anything I could have done...

If I could have used magic...

If any of us had any magic, Merlin...

then life would be a lot easier.

Good night.

Oh, no. I've seen that face before.

I want to believe that everything is fine.

That we really have Lancelot back.

It certainly looks like him!

Yeah.

What is it?

I don't know...

Something's wrong.

When he was telling his story I sensed it.

The way he greeted me, that made me suspicious,

but what happened just now, that's made me sure.

He forgot I had magic.

Lancelot would never do that.

Mmm. Strange indeed. Give him time.

HORSE SNORTS

I am keen to hear your news.

I'm sure you'll be very proud, my lady.

Arthur and his knights were completely taken in.

And Gwen?

This must be the last thing she hoped for on the eve of her wedding?

If she was flustered, she certainly didn't show it.

I fear she truly does love Arthur.

Any feelings she had for Lancelot are in the past.

I had considered that eventuality.

Beclypp thinne idese thaet heo hine lyste.

I think it's time to re-awaken those feelings.

KNOCK AT DOOR

I wasn't sure I'd find you here.

I thought you might have rooms in the palace.

I want to stay here as long as I can.

It may not be much, but it's my home.

May I come in?

I only want to wish you well.

I never thought I'd see you again.

I know.

When I'd heard what you had done, I felt so guilty.

-No.

-You were protecting Arthur, just as I'd asked.

If it weren't for you, there would be no wedding.

There are no words to thank you enough.

There is no need for that. I did what I felt was right in my heart.

You taught me that, Gwen. To be true to myself.

You will make a wonderful queen.

Your love for your people is surpassed only by your love for Arthur.

The Madhavi people gave me

this token of good fortune for my journey.

I'd like you to wear it, for I see their goodness in you.

It is a rare thing, and I was lucky to have been touched by it.

I wish you and Arthur everlasting happiness, Gwen.

DOOR CLOSES

CHEERING

HORSE WHINNIES

Mmm. The chicken is good. It's a nice broth.

What do you know about necromancy?

What?

Well, you know lots...about lots of things, don't you?

Necromancy is the most dangerous of all magical practices.

Even in the days of the old religion such sorcery was viewed

with the utmost suspicion.

I know I'm going to regret asking this, Merlin,

but why do you want to know?

I think that someone has raised Lancelot from the dead.

By "someone," I presume you mean Morgana?

The old legends do speak of such creatures. They call them "shades".

Poor, tormented souls summoned from their rest by the necromancer's art.

So, it is possible?

Even if it is possible, we have no way of knowing for sure.

Or do we?

Onluc tha sothan treow.

It's time.

MUFFLED SCREAMING

I didn't want it to be true.

I know. We all wanted him back.

Yeah. More than anything.

This man is a shadow of his former self.

A shadow with ill intent.

Do you think he means to harm Arthur?

Whatever his reason for being here, it can't be good.

Here. Let me.

Thank you.

I just wanted to wish you well.

Shouldn't you be saying that to your future husband?

I do.

I have.

I will.

I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm here.

CHEERING

HORSE WHINNIES VIOLENTLY

Don't look so worried, Merlin. Arthur won.

Yeah.

You must be ready, Merlin. Your magic might be needed.

CHEERING FADES

Arthur should withdraw. He's in no fit state to continue.

He wouldn't withdraw if his head was hanging by a thread.

What's going on? Why did he yield?

I suppose I should be pleased Arthur's alive.

My liege.

Arise, Sir Lancelot. That's not necessary.

I always thought you were the noblest of my knights. You just proved me right.

Thank you for your courtesy.

It won't be forgotten.

Your Highness.

If he's not here to kill Arthur, what's he here for?

I don't know.

I wish I did.

Everything is prepared.

Gwen is on her way to our assignation as we speak.

You've done well. The Lady Morgana will be very pleased with you.

Arthur.

Arthur.

I'm sorry. There 's something you must see.

ARTHUR SCREAMS

Please... Stop! Please! Please, this has to stop. Please.

Far be it for me to advise you on personal matters, Sire,

but this is also a matter of state.

You've been made a fool of and you must respond robustly.

You will leave, please.

All of you.

Now.

You too, Uncle.

-Sire...

-Now.

What happened, Guinevere?

We were happy... I know we were happy...

You felt it too?

You mean everything to me.

All these years I have waited for you.

You only had to wait one more day.

All I've ever wanted is to be your queen.

I still want to be your queen.

I cannot look on you every day.

-You will leave Camelot at first light.

-Arthur...

-No. No, no, no! I cannot be without you.

-That is my decision.

Where will I go?

I am sorry.

I am truly sorry.

This is what Morgana wanted all along.

She couldn't suffer the ignominy of seeing Gwen on her throne.

It is indeed a cruel revenge.

But it is Morgana who created it.

I must make Arthur see that.

If he knew that Lancelot was a shade...

It wouldn't change what Gwen has done.

It's her betrayal that matters to the King, Merlin.

Telling him of Lancelot's true nature won't change that.

It's Gwen who must pay the price.

This is from our Lady Morgana.

She has one last wish for you.

Whatever my lady desires.

I am hers to command.

It is not too late, Sire.

I know what Gwen did was desperately wrong, but she is a good person.

I truly believe that.

As do I, Merlin...

..as do I.

Can you find it in your heart to forgive her?

That's not the problem.

Agravaine?

Well, it is Agravaine, isn't it?

He's wrong. The people won't find you weak, or a fool,

they will find you merciful, understanding.

You're brave to speak out, Merlin.

Gwen's your friend, I understand.

But I'm afraid you're wrong.

I love Gwen with all my heart.

And I'm sure, in time, I'll find a way to forgive her.

But I'll never trust her.

I can't live like that, not as a king, and certainly not as a husband.

Though it pains me...

..it's best that she's gone.

Sire.

The guards found him.

In all ways but one... Lancelot was a man of honour.

See to it that he receives a proper burial.

Grith faestne mid thisse tintregedan sawole.

Merlin.

Thank you.

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