Recap / Merlin S 05 E 09 With All My Heart

With All My Heart

It's night over Camelot, but a cloaked figure is making its way through the corridors. It's Guinevere, sneaking out to meet Morgana in the forest. She is temporarily waylaid by Percival, but smoothly excuses herself by saying that she sometimes walks in the lower town in order to remember her brother. He lets her go, and Gwen continues out into the forest to give Morgana a plan of the tax levy.

But unbeknownst to both of them, Merlin and Arthur are watching from the trees. Merlin talks Arthur out of attacking Morgana immediately, insisting that Guinevere is under a dark spell. They need to act carefully, but he promises they'll find a way to bring Gwen back.

In a locked room, Arthur tells Leon and Mordred that there's a change of plan concerning the levy route through the forest. Though Mordred questions why there'll be another day added to the journey, he doesn't get an answer, only that he trust Arthur. Mordred watches as Arthur burns the new map.

Gaius and Merlin research Gwen's condition in the physician's quarters, and Gaius voices his suspicions as to what she must have gone through: an ancient ritual of the Old Religion involving mandrake roots in order to create slaves of the High Priestesses. Gaius knows nothing else about it, telling Merlin that there are only two beings left in the world that know more: Morgana and the Dochraid.

Merlin approaches the Dochraid's lair in the roots of an ancient tree, downing the aging potion before he enters. Behind him, the Dochraid stirs and asks for Merlin's hand, identifying him as Emrys and telling him that she won't help his Queen. He refuses to leave until he gets the answers he needs, drawing Excalibur from his robes with which to threaten her. She recoils in horror, and Merlin slashes her arm.

Merlin: I wish you no further harm, Dochraid. Tell me what I need to know.

Dochraid: Your Queen is doomed, Emrys. Her spirit has been consumed, bound by the silver wheel for all eternity. Her body is nothing but an empty vessel, filled by the will of another.

Merlin: Morgana...

Dochraid: Once she has served her purpose, then that too will be cast away.

Merlin: How do I break the spell?

Dochraid: Only the greatest of sorcerers could attempt such a thing.

Merlin: How?

Dochraid: You must travel to the Cauldron of Arianrhod. There you will need all of your powers, for there you must summon the White Goddess herself.

Merlin: And that is all?

Dochraid: No, Emrys. The Queen must enter the Cauldron. Its waters hold the Goddess's power. Only their touch can heal her. Remember, Emrys. The Queen must enter the water willingly. If she is tricked, forced or beguiled, she will fall into the abyss and be lost forever.

Merlin thanks her for the information and turns to leave, only for the Dochraid to telekenetically throw a dagger at him. Merlin casts it aside and then returns to wound the Dochraid with Excalibur. She screams in pain and falls to the ground as Merlin departs.

Arthur is staring out of an upstairs window when Mordred approaches and asks if anything is wrong. Arthur tells him all's well.

Downstairs, Merlin is worrying about the task before him, but Gaius has at least sorted out a way of getting Gwen to the cauldron - it's a potent sleeping draught of course. (It's a been a while since he's had the chance to use one). Merlin wants to know how he's supposed to use magic in front of Arthur, but Gaius has a way around that as well. Though Arthur isn't keen on the idea of giving Gwen such a dangerous tincture, he agrees on the realization that there's no other choice. He's also not happy about the fact that a sorcerer will be necessary for the ritual to save Gwen, especially as the last time he did such a thing, his father ended up dead. Gaius reassures him that this time will be different: this time he's selected a woman. Cue one priceless Reaction Shot from Merlin.

Arthur is still brooding in his chambers when Gwen approaches and teases him about the fact that he's clearly keeping something from her. Arthur just tells her that he loves her and hugs her tightly.

Over dinner with Gaius and Arthur, Gwen refuses the drink that Merlin offers her. Stymied already, Arthur proposes a toast and the three men watch as Gwen takes a sip of the spiked wine, waiting expectantly until she passes out on the table. Immediately they rush into action, fetching a wheelbarrow with which to transport her downstairs and covering her with linen. As Arthur heads for the woods, Gaius and Merlin bluff their way past various knights. Only Mordred notices Gwen's hand slipping out from beneath the sheet as they turn a corner.

Out in the woods, Gaius and Merlin meet up with Arthur, and Gwen carried to a horse as they ride for the Cauldron. Meanwhile, the injured Dochraid stumbles through her cave and cries out an enchantment. It calls a raven to her, and she ties a short message to its leg.

Merlin and Arthur have reached the outskirts of the mountainous region where the Cauldron lies, only for Merlin to get a funny feeling. He claims they're being watched, and this time Arthur takes it a bit more seriously than usual. After deciding to leave the horses behind to continue on foot, there's a brief squabble over who gets to carry Gwen and who's going to be stuck with all the supplies in the saddle-bags. No prizes for who gets what. Whilst tramping toward the Cauldron, Merlin (struggling under the weight of the supplies) slips down the gorge. Laying Guinevere down, Arthur climbs down after him toward his unconscious body, only to slip and tumble down. Several rocks fall alongside him, and he ends up with his arm pinned between two large boulders.

In a forest glen, Morgana retrieves the Dochraid's message and learns that Emrys is on his way to cleanse Guinevere at the Cauldron. Morgana screws up the note and goes to where Aithusa is resting in a small cave, asking for its help.

Arthur is still struggling and Merlin still unconscious when help arrives in the form of Mordred, who was intelligent enough to bring rope and climbs down to aid them both. Around the campfire later that night, Arthur goes to administer more of the sleeping draught. Merlin is clearly a little resentful over Mordred's presence, and the younger man goes to speak to him while Arthur is tending to his wife.

Mordred: You don't trust me, do you Merlin.

Merlin: I believe you to be a fine knight.

Mordred: But not one to be trusted. It's alright. I know you hold the king's best interest at heart. I only wish you'd believe that I do too. One day I shall prove my loyalty to you and to the king. Then I hope we will be friends.

Merlin: I could wish for nothing more.

The following morning the three men walk down toward the Cauldron with Guinevere sleeping in Arthur's arms. From the rocks above, Morgana watches them. They are caught unawares as Aithusa swoops down on them, breathing fire, and race for the cover of a stone outcrop. Merlin and Mordred tell Arthur to go on whilst they cover him, and as soon as he's departed with Gwen, Merlin insists that Mordred stay behind. He uses Dragon-speech to stop Aithusa from coming any further.

As Mordred and Merlin make a dash for the Cauldron, Morgana steps out and throws them telekenetically through the air. Mordred is knocked unconscious - and Merlin doesn't hesitate to get to his feet and leave him there, telling Arthur that Mordred stayed behind to buy them some time.

Morgana gently brushes Mordred's cheek and he awakens, seeing her crouching over him.

Mordred: Why don't you kill me?

Morgana: My argument's not with you, Mordred. How could it be? We're of a kind.

Mordred gets to his feet and steps away from her.

Mordred: Never.

Morgana: You wear the uniform well, but we both know what lies beneath. Do you think Arthur would tolerate you for one minute if he knew the truth? One of his knights, a sorcerer?

Mordred: One day he will know. One day we will be accepted.

Morgana: You're naivety would be charming if it wasn't so dangerous. Where's Emrys?

Mordred: Emrys?

Morgana: You pretend you do not know of whom I speak.

Mordred: It is a name I've only heard of.

Morgana: He's not here? With you?

Mordred: If he was, would we both not feel the presence of such a great sorcerer?

Morgana is quiet, struck by this idea. Deciding that Mordred is telling the truth, she prepares to dispose of him, only for Mordred to tell her that he hopes one day she'll be able to reclaim the love and compassion she once knew. As she hesitates, he uses his own powers for the first time (that we've seen) in years to throw her backwards through the air and knock her unconscious. He lowers his arm, tears in his eyes.

Arthur and Merlin arrive with Guinevere at the lakeside and Merlin goes in search of the sorceress Dolma, excusing the presence of a dress in his bag by telling Arthur that it's payment for her help. Merlin ducks behind a mound of rocks and begins to change. Arthur is sitting with Gwen when Mordred reappears, and Arthur's questions as to how he managed to escape Morgana are interrupted with the arrival of Dolma.

As Merlin does his best old-lady impression, Arthur asks her whether she's the sorceress of the Cauldron, and Alex Vhalos visibly struggles not to laugh. Arthur finds her vaguely familiar and Mordred asks him where Merlin is. "Dolma" tells them that Merlin will be returned to them once their business is over. Guinevere is laid out by the water's edge, and Dolma explains the rules to Arthur: when she wakes up, she must walk into the lake of her own volition or else she is lost. However, as all the magic within her will fight against this, Arthur must make an appeal to her true self - the part that Morgana does not control.

Mordred and Arthur watch as Dolma casts the spell that awakens Guinevere. She opens her eyes and is horrified at where she finds herself. She jumps to her feet and tries to run, but Arthur catches her.

Arthur: Guinevere. My Guinevere...

Guinevere: Your Guinevere? I was never your Guinevere, you stupid, foolish man and I never will be.

His initial pleas fail and he tries to pull her toward the water. Dolma warns him that it must be of her own will, and he tries another tactic: by reminding her how she answered when he asked her to marry him. Hint: it's in the title. Struck by this, Guinevere is still as Arthur lets go of her and walks backwards into the water, waiting for her to follow. Softly she repeats the words and walks forward. Arthur reaches out and she takes his hand, heading into deeper water as Dolma begins the enchantment. Gwen is bathed in a bright white light. As it fades she turns and reaches for Arthur; the two of them embrace in the water as Morgana's spell breaks.

Later, Arthur asks Dolma if there's anything he can do for her: she only asks that he remember that it was magic that saved his Queen's life, and that good and evil only reside in the hearts of men - not in magic. He promises to remember, and they all turn to leave when Dolma reminds them that they're forgetting something: Merlin is still missing. Dolma takes the opportunity to chide Arthur on his treatment of Merlin, telling him that one day he'll realize the true worth of those that surround him.

On the ride back to Camelot, Mordred quietly tells Merlin that he's figured out what was really happening at the lake, and promises not to tell anyone. Once again, Merlin rebuffs his gesture of friendship, and slips into a grim silence.

Tropes

• Alien Blood: The Dochraid has green blood.
• Back for the Dead: Her fate was left ambiguous, but it would appear that the Dochraid's second appearance will be her last thanks to Dragoon and Excalibur.
• Bad Liar: Arthur: Gwen understands immediately there's something wrong, and later called him out on it.
• Beautiful Dreamer: Arthur comments on how innocent Gwen looks while she's asleep.
• Break Them by Talking: Mordred has Morgana conflicted and on the verge of tears in four sentences. He's the only one who managed to reach her on an emotional level since season three.
• Bridal Carry: Arthur carries Gwen like this, though there's a couple of Over The Shoulder Carries as well.
• Call-Back: To Arthur's marriage proposal. The raven messanger service also makes a return.
• Disguised in Drag: Merlin as Dolma.
• Fascinating Eyebrow: When Merlin discovers that he'll be Disguised in Drag for the ceremony.
• First-Name Basis: A little oddly, Mordred refers to Queen Guinevere as "Gwen" on two occasions.
• Green-Eyed Monster: It's not just his premonition of the future that makes Merlin prickly toward Mordred.
• Held Gaze: Arthur and Guinevere just before the spell is broken.
• Keep Away: The knights with Gwaine's helmet. Arthur interrupts — and then joins in.
• Life-or-Limb Decision: With an unconscious manservant on the rock below and an unconscious wife on the cliff above, Arthur looks as though he's seriously contemplating cutting his own arm off once it gets trapped under a rock fall. Only Mordred's arrival prevents him.
• My Significance Sense Is Tingling:
  • Merlin's and Mordred's funny feelings. Merlin can tell the Dochraid is watching them, and Mordred could probably sense Merlin. Surprisingly, Arthur seems to catch on, if only slightly.
  • Also invoked and subverted later, when Morgana asks Mordred where Emrys is. Mordred says that if he were near, they would both feel his presence. While Mordred might be able to sense Merlin, Morgana can't.
• Nice Guy: When Gwaine heard some random guy "died", he asks his name to send condolences to the family.
• No One Gets Left Behind: Subverted. When Mordred and Merlin are attacked by Morgana, Merlin doesn't hesitate for a second before leaving an unconscious Mordred behind (and then lying to Arthur about it).
  • Also, after the ceremony, Arthur makes to leave, forgetting all about Merlin, and he doesn't even seem that put out or apologetic when "Dolma" points this out.
• Oh, Crap!: Merlin disguised as Dolma, when Mordred asks where Merlin is. You can see Merlin think about strangling Mordred here and there.
• Played for Drama: Dragoon in this episode is completely serious.
• The Power of Love: Invoked by Gaius as the only means to reach Gwen in her brainwashed state.
• Smart Ball: Merlin tells Arthur that Gwen is enchanted, and manages to prove it to him. This is an incredibly rare thing by this show's standards. In fact, the last four episodes are pretty much an abridged version of season 3, except with competence instead of idiocy.
• Tempting Fate: Three times, with the Dochraid. She first tells him that he cannot harm her. Cue him drawing Excalibur. Then she says he can't wield it, and he cuts her with it. After this, she complies... and then tries again to kill him with a knife. He blocks it and injures her with Excalibur.
• Title Drop: Also a Call-Back.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Merlin gives Arthur quite the calling out while disguised for his treatment of Merlin and his ungratefulness at Merlin's role in bringing Gwen back. Arthur says he'll give Merlin the afternoon off, and Merlin tells him that one day he will appreciate what others around him do for him. Arthur doesn't seem to comprehend this.
• Wounded Gazelle Gambit: The closest trope that describes what Mordred pulls off with Morgana: by first unsettling her with the way he Faces Death With Dignity and trying to reach her with talk of her past self, he then violently throws her backwards with his own magic as soon as her guard is down.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Morgana attempts this trope on Mordred. He defies it by asking her how far she's gone that she's willing to casually off her own kind, and she backs down.