Gaius quotes from Merlin

Gaius

(to Uther) You see foes where there are friends, you see sorcerers where there are servants! I am not the first to be falsely accused of magic and not all have been as lucky as I.

Gaius

What did your mother say to you about your gifts?

Merlin

That I was special.

Gaius

You are special. The likes of which I've never seen before.

Merlin

What do you mean?

Gaius

Well... magic requires incantations, spells that take years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental. Instinctive.

Merlin

What's the point if it can't be used?

Gaius

That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin.

Merlin

Did you ever study magic?

Gaius

Uther banned all such work twenty years ago.

Merlin

Why?

Gaius

People used magic for the wrong ends at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons.

Merlin

What, all of them?

Gaius

There was one dragon he chose not to kill. He kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no-one can free it.

Merlin

Hello? Gaius? (He spots Gaius standing and clears his throat. Gaius is startled and falls.)

Gaius

Whoa!

Gaius

What did you just do?

Merlin

Ehm.

Gaius

Tell me.

Merlin

I ... I ... I have no idea what just happened.

Gaius

If anyone has seen that ...

Merlin

Oh no, that was .. that was nothing to do with me, that was.

Gaius

I know what it was. I just want to know where you learned how to do it.

Merlin

No I..

Gaius

So how is it that you know magic.

Merlin

I don't.

Gaius

:(after Merlin uses magic to save him from a fall) Where did you study? Answer me!

Merlin

I've... I've never studied magic or been taught.

Gaius

Are you lying to me, boy?

Merlin

What do you want me to say?

Gaius

The truth!

Merlin

I was born like this.

Gaius

That's impossible!

Merlin

I save Arthur from being killed and end up as a servant. How is that fair?

Gaius

I'm not sure fairness comes into it. You never know, it might be fun.

Merlin

What, you think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun? You should see my list of duties.

Gaius

We all have our duties, even Arthur.

Merlin

It must be so tough for him, with all the... girls and the glory.

Gaius

He is the future king. People expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure.

Gaius

It's most odd. Look at this. See these two small wounds? Looks like a snake bite.

Merlin

How could he be bitten by a snake? He was injured in a sword-fight.

Gaius

His symptoms are consistent with poisoning. Slow pulse, fever, paralysis.

Merlin

Can you heal him?

Gaius

If it's a snake bite, I'll need to extract venom from the snake that bit him to make an antidote.

Merlin

What happens if he doesn't get the antidote?

Gaius

Then I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do for him. He's going to die.

Merlin

I've just seen one of the snakes on Valiant's shield come alive. He's using magic.

Gaius

Are you sure?

Merlin

The snake ate a mouse. One swallow, straight down. Ewan was fighting Valiant when he collapsed. It must have been one of the snakes from the shield. I have to tell Arthur.

Gaius

Is there any chance you might be mistaken?

Merlin

I know magic when I see it.

Gaius

Perhaps, but have you any proof?

Merlin

Don't you believe me?

Gaius

I fear you'll land yourself in trouble. How will you explain why you were in Valiant's chambers?

Merlin

That doesn't matter! He's using magic to cheat in the tournament.

Gaius

But you can't go accusing a knight of using magic without proof. The king would never accept the word of a servant over the word of a knight.

Merlin

So what I say doesn't count for anything?

Gaius

I'm afraid it counts for very little as far as the king is concerned. That's the way it is.

Uther

I've never heard of an Afanc before.

Gaius

It's conjured from clay by powerful magic. The type that can only be invoked by an ancient sorcerer. One who has the power to mirror the spirit of life. I found this at the water source. (showing a piece of the Afanc's egg) It bears the mark of Nimueh.

Uther

No.

Gaius

We must be vigilant, sire.

Uther

Will I never be rid of her?

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.

Merlin

Look at him, Gaius. Does Lancelot not deserve this moment?

Gaius

I never said he didn't, but destiny and desserts are not the same thing. You played God, Merlin. You set him on a path of your choosing. Tonight might have brought him triumph but who knows what the future holds?

Merlin

Yeah. I don't know what it said on your invitation but on mine it said 'celebration'.

Merlin

You're not a nobleman by any chance, are you?

Lancelot

A nobleman? No. Good lord, no. Why do you ask?

Merlin

It's just that...

Gaius

The First Code of Camelot states that only those of noble blood can serve as a knight. Uther created the knights to protect this kingdom from those who would wish to destroy it. He knew that he would have to trust each of his knights with his life, so he chose them from the families that had sworn allegiance to him.

Merlin

Nobility.

Gaius

And thus the First Code of Camelot was born, and ever since that day only the sons of noble families have served as knights.

Merlin

That is not fair!

Gaius

Fair or unfair, that's the way it is. I'm sorry, Lancelot. Truly I am.

Merlin

He's trying out for the knights.

Gaius

The First Code of Camelot has never been broken for any man. What have you done, Merlin?

Merlin

OK, I bent the rules a little. But the rules were wrong. They're unfair.

Gaius

You bent the rules. Using magic?

Merlin

It was nothing, honestly. More of a trick than actual magic.

Gaius

Your magic is not a toy, Merlin. It's not for you to use or abuse as you see fit.

Merlin

I know, I know.

Gaius

Then why did you do it?

Merlin

I owe Lancelot my life. I'm paying for that debt the only way I can by giving him the opportunity he deserves.

Merlin

Is it true? The griffin can only be killed by magic?

Gaius

Yes, Merlin, I'm certain of it. If Arthur rides out against it, he'll die.

Merlin

He must be stopped. Uther must see reason.

Gaius

Where magic is concerned, our king is blind to reason, and yet... magic is our only hope.

Merlin

You're not suggesting...

Gaius

(nodding) It is your destiny, Merlin. The true purpose of your magic.

Merlin

You saw it, Gaius. I can't go up against that thing.

Gaius

But if you do not, Arthur will surely perish.

Merlin

No, no. This is madness. I don't have magic that powerful. There must be another way.

Gaius

This is the only way.

Merlin

Do you even care what happens to me? 'Oh, just do this, Merlin. Do that, Merlin. Go and kill the griffin, Merlin, I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire!'

Gaius

Merlin! Merlin, you are the only thing I care about in all this world. I would give my life for you without a thought. But for what? I cannot save Arthur. It is not my destiny. You know that.

Merlin

I'm sorry.

Gaius

I don't know what else I can say.

Merlin

I'll say it for you. We have two hours to find a way to kill that thing.

Merlin

Perhaps you were right, Gaius. Perhaps I should have never got involved.

Gaius

No, Merlin, I was wrong. Lancelot needed you and you needed Lancelot. Your destinies were entwined.

Merlin

Will he ever return?

Gaius

That I cannot say.

Merlin

Til next time then, Sir Lancelot.