Lamia
Everyone in Longstead is preparing for bed, when suddenly a man’s scream fills the night air. John, the village elder, rushes outside to see what has happened, searching along the path and checking behind doors, until he finds one of his people in a state of complete shock. He senses something hiding nearby but cannot see what it is. (more…)
Alator of the Catha
Agravaine has brought Morgana back to her hut, letting her rest while he takes care of her. She finally stirs and tells him of her confrontation with Emrys. Agravaine is certain that Gaius has been informing Emrys of their traitorous plans, and with Morgana’s help, he sets a plan in motion to set Gaius up publicly as Camelot’s turncoat.
While Agravaine works on Arthur, Morgana heads off to recruit a powerful ally. This magician is known as Alator, and as a member of a group called the Catha, he knows how to extract information from the unwilling. His training as a warrior priest is what Morgana desires because she is certain Gaius will not easily give up what he knows of Emrys. Offering him the healing bracelet given to her from Gaius as payment, she hires Alator to kidnap Gaius. (more…)
Arthur, Merlin and the Knights are ambushed by mercenaries when they attempt to take a shortcut through the Valley of the Kings. Merlin takes a blow to the chest and Arthur helps move him to a safer location where they both can hide. Under the cover of the night, Merlin and Arthur try to make the situation a bit more lighthearted, talking of heroism and cowardice. When they wake in the morning, Arthur hoists Merlin over his shoulders, hoping they can outrun the men chasing them. Unfortunately, they are pinned in a narrow passageway, forcing Arthur to put Merlin down and fight. Merlin does what he can to ensure Arthur’s safety by causing a rockslide, but he is now alone and injured. (more…)
A thief sneaks into a cave where a group of druids are hiding out to steal a fragment of a triskelion said to open the way to a great treasure. Once he has it in hand, he turns around to find the druids awake and flees with his winnings. His next stop is Camelot, to visit an old friend and find the final piece of the key.
In the middle of the night, there is a knocking on Gaius’ door. Merlin wakes to see what is going on through a crack in his bedroom door. The thief, a man called Borden, has come to show Gaius the triskelion and ask for his assistance is collecting the final piece, which has been locked up in the castle vault. Once complete, the triskelion will lead the bearer to the Tomb of Ashkanar, which legend says contains a dragon egg. Gaius tells Borden he will not help him, that he believes that Arthur will be a better king than Uther was. He sends Borden out, and Merlin talks to Gaius of Borden and his claims. Gaius explains that Borden has always been a shady character, always out for himself. (more…)
A huge day of feasting and celebration is planned for Arthur’s birthday, including performances from a traveling carnival, Teatro del Sol. Uther is much more aware of himself today, interrupting Arthur as he tries to talk of courtly matters, insisting he is well enough to attend the party.
During the meal, the ring leader challenges Arthur to take a spin on his wheel and take part in his knife tossing demonstration. Arthur accepts and finds himself with an apple shoved in his mouth as he spins round and round. Merlin stands at the ready to save the prince should any of the knives go astray, but all is fine as the third knife lands squarely in the apple. A very relieved Arthur gets off of the wheel and munches away on the apple…. which has been laced with a sedative. (more…)
In Part Two of The Darkest Hour, we pick up with the Knights deciding how to proceed now that Merlin is on the verge of death. So that Arthur does not abandon the quest, Lancelot offers to take Merlin back to Gaius. Merlin begs Arthur to let him come along, but the prince refuses and sends the two back toward the castle. Lancelot leads them through the Valley of the Fallen Kings, stopping at a river to collect water and check on his friend. Here, the Vilia (water spirits) call out to him, offering shelter from the Dorocha and to heal Merlin. (more…)
A year has passed since Morgana drove Uther insane and had their plans to rule Camelot ruined by Merlin and the newly formed Knights of the Round Table. While some of the Knights head out on regular patrol, they come across the sorceress heading for the Isle of the Blessed, her dying sister in tow. She moves on towards the Isle with Morgause, arriving on the eve of Saiun when the veil between worlds is at it’s weakest. When midnight strikes, Morgana sacrifices her sister on the altar and tears open the veil, allowing the Dorocha freedom to attack the living. (more…)
Sir Leon drinks from the Cup of Life
The two part season finale of Merlin begins with Cenred slaughtering a patrol from Camelot he claims trespassed on his lands. One of his messengers brings part of a cloak and news that all the knights are dead to Uther. However, druids hiding in the hills nearby find one of the men barely alive and bring him back to their camp to be treated with the Cup of Life. (more…)
A young man heading for the Citadel is harassed and robbed of his weapons by two thugs also looking to enter the tournament in Camelot. As the two men leave him with the rest of his possessions, Gilli finds they did not take the magical ring hidden within.
The open tournament is hosted every ten years, allowing all types of entrants and any type of weapon they wish to battle with. The winner takes home a prize of one hundred gold coins, and this year Arthur will be competing. Merlin is a bit doubtful of Arthur’s odds to win when he sees some of the weapons fighters are using, but Arthur assures him it will be fine. (more…)
Morgana wakes from a vision night after night in which Arthur is King of Camelot and is crowning her servant, Gwen, as his queen. Disturbed by the thought that this vision could possibly come to pass, she speaks with Morgause who tells her to make sure she does whatever she can to destroy any chance of this coming to pass. (more…)
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