Knights of the realm, it's a great honour to welcome you to the tournament at Camelot. Over the next three days, you will come to put your bravery to the test, your skills as warriors and, of course, to challenge the reigning champion - my son, Prince Arthur. Only one can have the honour of being crowned champion and he will receive a prize of one thousand gold pieces. It is in combat that we learn a knight's true nature, whether he is indeed a warrior or a coward. The tournament begins!
S1 E2Valiant
Knight Valiant of the Western Isles, my lord.
I saw you fighting today. You have a very aggressive style.
As my lord said, to lose is to be disgraced.
I couldn't agree more.
They all seem rather impressed by Knight Valiant.
They're not the only ones.
You're not jealous, are you?
I don't see that there's anything to be jealous of.
It's most odd. Look at this. See these two small wounds? Looks like a snake bite.
How could he be bitten by a snake? He was injured in a sword-fight.
His symptoms are consistent with poisoning. Slow pulse, fever, paralysis.
Can you heal him?
If it's a snake bite, I'll need to extract venom from the snake that bit him to make an antidote.
What happens if he doesn't get the antidote?
Then I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do for him. He's going to die.
I've just seen one of the snakes on Valiant's shield come alive. He's using magic.
Are you sure?
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.
Is there any chance you might be mistaken?
I know magic when I see it.
Perhaps, but have you any proof?
Don't you believe me?
I fear you'll land yourself in trouble. How will you explain why you were in Valiant's chambers?
That doesn't matter! He's using magic to cheat in the tournament.
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.
So what I say doesn't count for anything?
I'm afraid it counts for very little as far as the king is concerned. That's the way it is.
You talk to Gaius, you can see the puncture wounds in Ewan's neck where the snake bit him. Ewan was beating him. He had to cheat.
Valiant wouldn't dare use magic in Camelot.
Ewan was pinned under Valiant's shield. No one could see the snake bite him.
I don't like the guy but that doesn't mean he's cheating.
Gaius is preparing an antidote to the snake venom. When Ewan's conscious, he'll tell you what happened. If you fight Valiant in the final, he'll use the shield. It's the only way he can beat you. Look at it! Have you ever seen any snakes like this in Camelot? I know I'm just a servant and my word doesn't count for anything. I wouldn't lie to you.
I want you to swear to me what you're telling me is true.
I swear it's true.
Then I believe you.
You have no proof to support these allegations. Have you seen Valiant using magic?
No. But my servant...
Your servant? You make these outrageous accusations against a knight on the word of your servant?
I believe he's telling the truth.
My lord, am I really to be judged on some hearsay from a boy?
I've seen those snakes come alive!
How dare you interrupt! Guards!
(The guards come forward and seize Merlin)
My lord...
Wait.
I'm sure he was merely mistaken. I wouldn't want him punished on my account.
You see? This is how a true knight behaves. With gallantry and honour.
My lord, if your son made these accusations because he's afraid to fight me, then I will graciously accept his withdrawal.
Is this true? Do you wish to withdraw from the tournament?
No!
Then what am I to make of these allegations?
Obviously there has been a misunderstanding. I withdraw the allegation against Knight Valiant. Please accept my apology.
I believed you. I trusted you and you made me look a complete fool.
I know it didn't go exactly to plan...
Didn't go to plan? My father and the entire Royal Court think I'm a coward. You humiliated me!
We can still expose Valiant.
I no longer require your services.
You're sacking me?
I need a servant I can trust.
You can trust me!
And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!
I thought I told you to get out of my sight.
Don't fight Valiant in the final tomorrow. He'll use the shield against you.
I know.
Then withdraw. You have to withdraw.
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?
Valiant will kill you! You fight, you die.
Then I die.
How can you go out there and fight like that?
Because I have to. It's my duty.
Is it true what you said about Valiant using magic? (Merlin nods) What are you going to do?
Why does everyone seem to think it's down to me to do something about it?
Because it is! Isn't it? You have to show everyone that you were right and they were wrong.
Where are you? I just came to tell you, whatever you think my destiny is, whatever it is you think I'm supposed to do, you've got the wrong person! That's it. Goodbye.
If only it were so easy to escape one's destiny.
How can it be my destiny to protect someone who hates me.
The half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole. Very soon, you shall learn that.
Oh, great. Just what I needed. Another riddle.
That your and Arthur's path lies together is but the truth.
What is that supposed to mean?
You know, young warlock, this is not the end. It is the beginning.
Just give me a straight answer!
Has your father apologized yet for not believing you?
He'll never apologize. I hope you're not disappointed Valiant's not escorting you.
Turns out he wasn't really champion material.
That was some tournament final.
Tell me about it. It's not every day a girl gets to save her prince.
I wouldn't say I needed exactly saving. I'm sure I would have thought of something.
See, you're too proud to admit you were saved by a girl!
Because I wasn't.
You know what? I wish Valiant was escorting me.
Me too. Then I wouldn't have to listen to you.
I wanted to say, I made a mistake. It was unfair to sack you.
No, don't worry about it. Buy me a drink and we'll call it even.
I can't really be seen to be buying drinks for my servant.
Your servant? You sacked me.
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.
S1 E3The Mark of Nimueh
You should stay here.
I'm coming with you.
No.
Scared I'll show you up?
Father would slam us both in chains if he knew I endangered you.
Good thing he doesn't know about it, then.
I'm telling you, Morgana. Turn back. You could get hurt.
So could you, if you don't get out of my way.
Merlin, I wanted you to know your secret's safe with me.
My secret?
Come on. Don't pretend. I know what you did.
You do?
I saw it with my own eyes.
You did?
I understand why you don't want anyone to know.
Well, obviously...
I won't tell anyone. You don't mind me talking to you about it?
No. It's... you have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden.
Well, you can continue to deny it but... I think Gwen's a very lucky woman.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Merlin pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.