Karolina_Avalon
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« on: February 03, 2010, 04:28:09 AM » |
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The Labyrinth of Gedref Written by Howard Overman, Directed by Stuart Orme -While Arthur is hunting, he and Merlin come across what is possibly a deer in the forest. Arthur sends Merlin to flush it out, however, instead of finding a deer, it's a beautiful white unicorn. Merlin seems enchanted by it, and tries to shoo it away before Arthur can see it. But, Arthur, ever the hunter, ignores Merlin's protests and shoots the Unicorn with his arrow. Merlin reprimands Arthur, and as he and Arthur are arguing, he see a man standing behind Arthur. The man disappears quickly, and Merlin says nothing about his presence.
Back in Camelot, Arthur proudly presents the unicorn horn to Uther, who is delighted - but Gaius has his reservations, just like Merlin did.
The next day, Uther and Arthur ride out to survey a crop field that has died - Arthur expresses disbelief as he had ridden through the field the day before. Gaius tries to find a scientific answer to the death of the crops - but cannot find one, but is reluctant to suggest that magic is involved.
Gwen, while questioning Merlin about the reason for the dead crop field, attempts to draw water from the well. A horrified Gwen and Merlin find that all comes out is sand. Gaius is forced to confirm that it was magic, and Uther agrees- and demands Arthur find the sorcerer. As a precaution, and in hopes to catch the sorcerer out, curfew is instigated in Camelot. Back in Gaius' chambers, Gaius catches Merlin trying to change the sand back to water, to no avail. He tells Gaius that whatever did this, has far greater power than him. Uther orders Arthur to instigate an execution order if anyone is caught looting from the meager supplies that Camelot have left.
Later that night, Arthur catches Merlin out after curfew. As they are talking, they both see a figure walking through the deserted town, and chase after him. They lose him is the halls of the dungeons, then the man appears in front of them. He introduces himself as Anhora, keeper of the Unicorns. Arthur angrily confronts and blames him for the famine in Camelot, and demands that he lifts the curse. Anhora states that he cannot, for it is Arthur's doing, not his. He states that a series of tests have been devised, and that if Arthur passes, the curse will lift. If he does not, Camelot will perish.
Merlin tries to convince Arthur that what Anhora said was the truth, but Arthur dismisses it as the word of a sorcerer- until Merlin mentions seeing Anhora after Arthur had initially slain the Unicorn. That night, Merlin and Arthur guard the grain supply - and find a man trying to loot from the little amount . He begs to be let free, to be able to go back to his children. Arthur, despite his father's decree, lets the man go with a small bag of grain. The man smiles and tells Arthur that his kindness would 'bring it's own reward'.
The next day, the water has returned to Camelot's wells. Merlin suggests that the man near the grain silo the night before could have been one of the tests that Anhora had mentioned - so Arthur and Merlin set out to find Anhora in the forest, and possibly the second test. Merlin and Arthur get separated as Arthur chases Anhora through the forest - and he runs into the man from the night before, who turns out to be a thief. The thief taunts Arthur and his skill at leadership until Arthur is so angry that he attacks the man - as he moves to hurt the man, he disappears and Anhora appears, asking Arthur what the man did to deserve death. This had been the second test, which Arthur failed, and Camelot would be punished.
Camelot wakes to find that the last of the food supplies has rotted. Uther gives Arthur the directive to stop distributing food to the people of Camelot, which Arthur refuses and suggests going to the neighbouring kingdoms for help. Uther angrily tells him that would show weakness, and to think of his pride. Arthur argues back that he cannot think of his pride when his people are dying, and that Uther is going to have to give the directive himself.
Merlin, seeing how distressed Arthur is, goes to the forest and calls for Anhora. Anhora appears and Merlin begs for him to give Arthur another chance. Anhora tells Merlin that Arthur's final chance lies in the Labyrinth of Gedref, where there is a test he must complete, and that he must complete it alone.
Merlin relays this message to Arthur, but tells him that he is coming with him. Arthur forbids him to, and orders him to stay in Camelot. Merlin, while seeming to follow Arthur's directive, sneaks after Arthur and follows him. Arthur reaches the labyrinth and enters it, followed shortly by Merlin. Whilst in the labyrinth, Arthur and Merlin are separated, and Anhora appears in front of Merlin. Merlin angrily accuses Anhora of luring Arthur to the labyrinth to trap him, to which Anhora answers that the trap was not for Arthur, and uses magic to tie Merlin up using the vines in the hedges.
Arthur finally exits the labyrinth, to the view of the sea, and Anhora and Merlin, tied to a chair. Merlin apologises and Arthur angrily tells him that Merlin was supposed to stay in Camelot, and orders Anhora to let Merlin go. Anhora states that he cannot, as Merlin is part of the final test. Arthur sits across from Merlin, who is sitting at a table that has two goblets on it. Merlin and Arthur are told by Anhora that the test is this - and it begins with a riddle. One goblet contains poison, and the other is harmless. Each can only drink from one goblet, and the contents of both must be drunk. Arthur and Merlin bicker about how this should happen, and who should drink the contents of the cup. Merlin argues that it will be him, as Arthur is more important, while Arthur maintains that he would not let Merlin do so. Merlin deduces that to complete the task, they can combine the contents of two goblets together into one - therefore only one goblet will be used to drink from, but both goblets would be empty. Arthur teases Merlin's insight, and tells him sincerely that he is glad that Merlin is with him. He then distracts Merlin and downs the contents of the goblet before Merlin can stop him, and falls to the ground.
A distraught Merlin runs to Arthur's side, and yells at Anhora that he cannot fulfill his destiny, which was entwined with Arthur's. Anhora calmly tells him that Arthur is merely unconscious from a sleeping potion, and that Arthur had passed the final test. By drinking the potion in Merlin's stead, he had proved he was pure of heart, and selfless - which compensated for killing a creature that was pure of heart. Anhora confirms that once they reach Camelot, the curse would be lifted.
Upon their return to Camelot, Arthur and Merlin are met by Gaius, who tells them everything has returned to normal: the crops have regrown, there is plenty of food and water, and the people are no longer suffering. Arthur says there is one thing that he needs to do. He and Merlin go to the forest where Arthur had shot the unicorn, and bury the unicorn's horn there. As they do this, something catches Merlin's eye. He quickly calls Arthur's name, and they both turn to see a unicorn grazing. As they watch, Anhora's voice is heard saying "when he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again..."
Anhora played by Frank Finlay
The key points in this episode:
- The difference between Arthur and Uther's relationship to Camelot's people. Arthur shows that he has a very 'grass roots' approach to his people - if they suffer, he suffers.
- Another major point is , even though this Arthur is different to the one in the legends, as he has grown up knowing his place as Camelot's future ruler, he shows through some of his actions that he still has a lot of learning to do. Merlin - again, although not the old, teacher like figure of the legends, helps facilitate that lesson in this episode, by his reactions to the unicorn, and his reactions to Arthur's distress
- Despite this, Arthur manages to hint at the type of king he will come to be in this episode.
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