Arthur Pendragon quotes from Merlin

Arthur

I believed you. I trusted you and you made me look a complete fool.

Merlin

I know it didn't go exactly to plan...

Arthur

Didn't go to plan? My father and the entire Royal Court think I'm a coward. You humiliated me!

Merlin

We can still expose Valiant.

Arthur

I no longer require your services.

Merlin

You're sacking me?

Arthur

I need a servant I can trust.

Merlin

You can trust me!

Arthur

And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!

Arthur

I thought I told you to get out of my sight.

Merlin

Don't fight Valiant in the final tomorrow. He'll use the shield against you.

Arthur

I know.

Merlin

Then withdraw. You have to withdraw.

Arthur

Don't you understand? I can't withdraw. The people expect their prince to fight. How can I lead men into battle if they think I'm a coward?

Merlin

Valiant will kill you! You fight, you die.

Arthur

Then I die.

Merlin

How can you go out there and fight like that?

Arthur

Because I have to. It's my duty.

Morgana

Has your father apologized yet for not believing you?

Arthur

He'll never apologize. I hope you're not disappointed Valiant's not escorting you.

Morgana

Turns out he wasn't really champion material.

Arthur

That was some tournament final.

Morgana

Tell me about it. It's not every day a girl gets to save her prince.

Arthur

I wouldn't say I needed exactly saving. I'm sure I would have thought of something.

Morgana

See, you're too proud to admit you were saved by a girl!

Arthur

Because I wasn't.

Morgana

You know what? I wish Valiant was escorting me.

Arthur

Me too. Then I wouldn't have to listen to you.

Arthur

I wanted to say, I made a mistake. It was unfair to sack you.

Merlin

No, don't worry about it. Buy me a drink and we'll call it even.

Arthur

I can't really be seen to be buying drinks for my servant.

Merlin

Your servant? You sacked me.

Arthur

Now I'm rehiring you. My chambers are a complete mess. My clothes need washing, my armour needs repairing, my boots need cleaning, my dogs need exercising, my fireplace needs sweeping, my bed needs changing and someone needs to muck out my stables.

Arthur

You should stay here.

Morgana

I'm coming with you.

Arthur

No.

Morgana

Scared I'll show you up?

Arthur

Father would slam us both in chains if he knew I endangered you.

Morgana

Good thing he doesn't know about it, then.

Arthur

I'm telling you, Morgana. Turn back. You could get hurt.

Morgana

So could you, if you don't get out of my way.

Uther

What's happened to him?

Gaius

I don't know, sire. It's the second case I've seen today.

Uther

Why didn't you report it to me?

Gaius

I was attempting to find the cause.

Uther

What did you conclude?

Gaius

I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one.

Uther

Why do you conceal it from me?

Gaius

Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying within twenty-four hours and it's spreading fast.

Uther

What is the cause?

Gaius

I think we should say the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery.

Uther

(taking Arthur aside) You must find who did this.

Arthur

I will, father.

Uther

Conduct door-to-door searches. Increase your presence in the town. Double the guards on all the gates and lend the physician your servant.

Arthur

Merlin?

Uther

I'm going to need Gaius to find a cure. He needs all the help we can give him. If Gaius is right, believe me, the city will be wiped out. This is the kind of magic that undermines our authority, challenges all we've done. If we cannot control this plague, people will turn to magic for a cure. We have to find this sorcerer and quickly.

Arthur

Tell Gaius my father wants to see him now.

Merlin

Gaius, I...

Gaius

I heard.

Merlin

Why could he just tell you himself?

Gaius

Because that's the way it is. You're a servant.

Merlin

If he knew who I was, what I've done...

Gaius

You'd be a dead servant.

Uther

Arthur, you are my only son and heir. I can't risk losing you for the sake of some serving boy.

Arthur

Because his life's worthless?

Uther

No, because it's worth less than yours.

Morgana

Okay, let the bragging begin. How did you manage it?

Arthur

I'm not sure. All I do know is that I had help... Someone knew I was in trouble and... sent a light to guide the way.

Morgana

Who?

Arthur

I don't know. Whoever it was, I'm only here because of them.

Morgana

I'm glad you're back. [Morgana walks away]

Arthur

Grumant's the third to fail this month. How am I supposed to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?

Merlin

Well, I think I might be able to help.

Arthur

You? You haven't the faintest idea what it takes to be a knight. Courage. Fortitude. Discipline.

Merlin

No. No, of course I don't. But I do know someone who does.

Arthur

Yeah?

Merlin

He saved my life.

Arthur

That's blown it for starters.

Merlin

No, no. He's really good. Honestly.

Arthur

That's great, Merlin. I'm sure he's terrific but you forget the First Code of Camelot.

Merlin

The what?

Arthur

The First Code. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So, unless your friend is a nobleman...

Merlin

Oh, he is a nobleman.

Arthur

Is he?

Merlin

Absolutely.

Arthur

Very well, bring him to the training ground tomorrow and make sure he brings his seal of nobility.

Arthur

I should have known. How could I have been so stupid? You don't sound like a knight. You don't even look like a knight!

Lancelot

I'm sorry.

Arthur

I'm sorry too. Because, Lancelot, you fight like a knight. And I need... Camelot needs...

Lancelot

The creature?

Arthur

We could not kill it. I've never faced its like.

Lancelot

I faced it myself, sire, some days past. I struck it full square. I wondered how it endured.

Arthur

There are those who believe this creature, this griffin, is a creature of magic. It's only magic can destroy it.

Lancelot

Do you believe this?

Arthur

It doesn't matter what I believe. Use of magic is not permitted. Knights must prevail with steel and sinew alone.

Lancelot

Sire...

Arthur

There's a horse waiting outside.

Lancelot

Thank you. Thank you, sire.

Arthur

Lancelot, take it and never return to this place.

Lancelot

No, no... please... It's not my freedom I seek. I only wish to serve with honor.

Arthur

I know.

Lancelot

Then let me ride with you, sire.

Arthur

I cannot. My father knows nothing of this. I release you myself but I can do no more. Now go, before I change my mind.

Merlin

They'll restore your knighthood, of course they will. You killed the griffin.

Lancelot

But I didn't kill the griffin. You did.

Merlin

That's ridiculous.

Lancelot

'Brechdan An Weal'. I heard you. I saw you. Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me, but I cannot take the credit for what I did not do. There'll be no more lies, no more deceit.

Merlin

What are you going to do?

Lancelot

The only thing I can do. (Lancelot attempts to enter the chamber but is stopped by guards)

Uther

What is this?

Lancelot

(to the guards) Let me speak.

Uther

Wait. I will hear him.

Lancelot

Forgive me, sire. I have come to bid you farewell.

Arthur

What is this, Lancelot?

Lancelot

I lied to you both and now there is conflict between you. I cannot bear that burden, as you should not bear mine. I must start again, far from here, and maybe one day fate will grant me another chance to prove myself a worthy knight of Camelot.

Arthur

But, Lancelot, you've already proved that to us.

Lancelot

Well, I must prove it to myself. (bows) Your Highness. (bows) Prince Arthur. (Lancelot leaves the chamber)

Arthur

I confess it, sire. I released him and I'll take the consequences but surely Lancelot's actions change things!

Uther

His actions change nothing. He broke the Code!

Arthur

He lay down his life for me! He served with honor.

Uther

I see you feel strongly about this, Arthur. Under the circumstances, a pardon perhaps...

Arthur

No. Not good enough, father. You must restore Lancelot to his rightful place as a knight of Camelot.

Uther

Never. The law is the law. The Code bends for no man!

Arthur

Then the Code is wrong!

Uther

When you failed to show up for patrol this morning, I feared you'd eloped with Sophia in a fit of passion.

Merlin

I wish he had, because then I wouldn't be stood in front of you looking like an idiot. Again.

Uther

This is becoming a near daily occurrence with you.

Merlin

But there was a mistake, and I would not say it was anyone's fault... not really... You could say it was mine.

Uther

Could somebody tell me what happened?

Merlin

Well...

Uther

Somebody with a brain.

Arthur

After Sophia left, I wanted to take my mind off her so I went for a hunt.

Morgana

So killing things mends a broken heart?

Arthur

No, but it's good fun. Merlin was meant to inform you that I wouldn't be back til later today.

Uther

Have you some kind of mental affliction?

Merlin

Probably.

Gaius

I'm looking into it, sire.

Uther

Well, I hope for our sake you find a cure or we'll find ourselves with a food shortage on our hands.

Merlin

Food shortage?

Merlin

Arthur?

Arthur

What happened? Where am I?

Merlin

Can you remember anything?

Arthur

(sitting up in bed) Oh, my head. There was a girl. Sophia. She... I asked my father something about her... I asked him... What was I thinking?

Merlin

Well, we did wonder. Especially when you eloped with her last night.

Arthur

I did what?

Gaius

Merlin had to bring you back to Camelot.

Arthur

I don't recall any of this.

Gaius

It must have been some blow.

Arthur

What blow?

Merlin

Well, when I caught up with you, I couldn't persuade you to return. You were beyond reasoning. So I had to make you.

Arthur

You managed to knock me out?

Merlin

Yep. With a lump of wood.

Gaius

He only did it to bring you back safely.

Arthur

No-one can know about this. Any of it.