Merlin quotes

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.

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.

Lancelot

I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady.

Gwen

Lancelot. What are you doing here?

Lancelot

I have no time to explain. I need weapons, armor, the best you've got.

Gwen

What's this all about?

Lancelot

Arthur stands in mortal peril. I must do what I can to protect him. It's my duty, knight or not.

Gwen

You really believe that, don't you?

Lancelot

Yes, my lady.

Gwen

Lancelot, I don't believe I've ever met your like before.

Lancelot

Guinevere, if I should not return...

Gwen

Don't go, Lancelot. Please.

Lancelot

But go I must.

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!

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.

Gaius

It's all ridiculous. I didn't save Uther. You did.

Merlin

No, no. For once, I'm happy for someone else to take the credit. You were prepared to sacrifice your life to save me.

Gaius

Where do you get that from?

Merlin

I thought...

Gaius

No. I didn't do anything. You saved me and you saved Uther. Maybe you are a genius.

Merlin

You think so?

Gaius

Well, almost. One day.

Gaius

Has anyone ever told you you're a genius?

Merlin

You certainly haven't.

(to Uther) It seems the drugs I gave you have taken hold. Your body is now paralyzed. Now, open your eyes, my lord. I want my face to be the last face you ever see. You took my childhood from me and now, finally, I take my parents' revenge. Within a few hours, the beetle will eat into your brain and you will suffer- as they suffered. And I long to hear you scream as they screamed the night you gave the order for the fires to be lit. With your death, magic will return to Camelot.

Gwen

I don't want you to go. I don't trust Edwin. There was no blood in Morgana's ear. He put it there. He did something to her, I know he did.

Gaius

You need to be careful who you say that to.

Gwen

I'm saying it to you, because you can do something about it.

Gaius

I can't.

Gwen

But you think the same, don't you? He's evil.

Gaius

It's not that simple.

Gwen

So you're going to turn your back on us.

Gaius

I have no choice. I'm sorry, Gwen.

Gwen

In life you always have a choice. Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't.

Gaius

Well then, my choice is to leave.

Gwen

Then I'll miss you. Good bye, Gaius.

Gaius

Uther's right. It's time I stepped down.

Merlin

What are you doing?

Gaius

I cannot stay when there's no longer a use for me.

Merlin

You're not leaving?

Gaius

I believe it's for the best.

Merlin

Then I will come with you.

Gaius

Merlin, you're like a son to me. I never expected such a blessing so late in life.

Merlin

And you are more than a father to me.

Gaius

Then as a father, I must tell you, you must remain here. Camelot is where you belong.

Merlin

But you belong here too.

Gaius

Not any more. Merlin, you must promise me you will not waste your gifts.

Merlin

My gifts mean nothing without you to guide me.

The Great Dragon

How old a man can become and yet change so little.

Gaius

You have not changed either.

The Great Dragon

Twenty years. Almost a lifetime to make the short journey back to where you began.

Gaius

I'm not here for myself.

The Great Dragon

The boy?

Gaius

You know about Merlin?

The Great Dragon

You have struggled against his destiny but you can no more prevent it than he can.

Gaius

So it is true then?

The Great Dragon

Oh yes. He and the young Pendragon one day will unite the land of Albion.

Gaius

But he is in danger.

The Great Dragon

No, it is my jailer who stands in peril.

Gaius

Must Uther be sacrificed for the boy?

The Great Dragon

Their time cannot come until his is past.

Gaius

But is that time now?

The Great Dragon

(chuckling) That is of your choosing.

Gaius

I will not choose between them.

The Great Dragon

Then turn a blind eye. That is, after all, your talent.

Gaius

(about Morgana) She must never find out the truth.

Merlin

Why not? She had a premonition that helped save Arthur's life.

Gaius

And it could cost her her own. If Uther ever found out, things would never be the same again. It must remain a secret.

Merlin

Is she like me? Can she use magic?

Gaius

No one's like you, Merlin.

Merlin

But she has the gift?

Gaius

For her sake, I hope not.

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.