Recap / Merlin S 05 E 08 The Hollow Queen

The Hollow Queen

By night, a cloaked and hooded figure steals over Camelot's castle walls, injuring his arm as he falls from the parapets. In the courtyard he's stopped by a patrol of knights and Queen Guinevere. Though Sir Leon is suspicious, Gwen allows the boy to go on his way.

Up in her bedroom, she finds that Arthur has decked out the bed with garlands of her favourite flowers, and is quite eager for Merlin to leave the room. Merlin scurries away as Arthur carries his wife to the bed, knowing that Gwen is still brainwashed and working for Morgana. Awkward.

Meanwhile, the young man is breaking into the castle, showing an unerringly good knowledge of where keys and secret passages are located. Merlin is preparing hot water in the kitchen when he hears a noise. He turns around to see the boy, who introduces himself as Daegal and begs for Merlin's help. His sister is desperately ill and he needs a physician. He can't take her to Gaius as it's too dangerous for his kind to enter the city; raising his sleeve to display the Druids' triskelion tattoo. According to him, his sister is in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, a place that Merlin is reluctant to visit given how far away it is. Daegal begs and Merlin relents, telling him that he'll meet him outside in the forest the following day.

Naturally, Gaius is not happy about this plan, calling the Valley of the Fallen Kings a den of cutthroats and thieves. But by this point, Merlin doesn't think he can refuse, betting on the arrival of the Sarrum of Amata to distract Arthur from his absence. Daegal is waiting for him out in the woods, impressed by the fact that Merlin has not only shown up to help, but brought him some breakfast as well.

Meanwhile, Arthur is preparing for the Sarrum's arrival and finding it impossible to get ready without his manservant. He goes down to question Gaius as to his whereabouts, only to hear that he's gone out into the forest to look for herbs. Arthur isn't fooled by this at all: clearly Merlin is back in the tavern.

Marching through the forest, Merlin notices that Daegal has hurt his arm and insists on tending to him. They share a few stories about their respective families, and Merlin learns that Daegal's mother is dead. Meanwhile, Arthur is struggling with the impossible task of getting dressed, and ropes Gaius into helping him put on his shirt - a shirt that ends up being Gwen's nightdress. They eventually manage, and Arthur expresses his fears about the Sarrum's arrival. The man is renowned for impaling his enemies and assassinating his friends, but Arthur is hoping that he can learn more about the rumours that state he once held Morgana prisoner for a period of time. Other than that, Arthur is reluctant to deal with the man: he only knows that an alliance with him may be necessary for peace between the Five Kingdoms.

Merlin and Daegal continue to bond in the forest as Merlin shares food and drink with him. As they draw closer to their destination, Daegal seems more reluctant to go on. Guinevere sneaks out of the castle the same way Daegal came in and leaves a note in the roots of a tree, a note that Morgana retrives with a smile.

As Merlin and Daegal head into the valley, Merlin notices bandits marching on the ridge above them. Though he tries to telepathetically warn Daegal of the danger, he doesn't hear him and Merlin must tackle him in order to stop him from being noticed. Daegal thanks him for saving his life.

Back in Camelot, Sarrum and his entourage arrive. He's an imposing-looking older man, who notices Guinevere watching him from the parapets and smirks to himself. Arthur greets him as he nears.

Arthur: We are most grateful to the Sarrum for accepting our invitation and for gracing our palace with his presence. We welcome him and his warriors with friendship.

Sarrum: The last time I met you, you were ten years old. Uther held a tournament in your honour.

Arthur: I fight my own battles now.

Sarrum: Well, we shall enjoy putting you to the test.

On reaching an empty part of the forest, Merlin realizes that he's been tricked. Daegal isn't a Druid, and the marking on his arm has rubbed off. Standing on a nearby embankment is Morgana who throws Merlin into some rocks. She pays Daegal his money and pours a thick black liquid down Merlin's throat before kicking him off the ridge. Daegal is warned not to breathe a word and Morgana marches off.

Over dinner in the banquet hall, Arthur engages the Sarrum in conversation:

Arthur: There is a rumour that you held Morgana prisoner. Is it true?

Sarrum: She's nothing to be feared. I kept her like an animal.

Arthur: How did you capture her? She's a sorceress; a High Priestess.

Sarrum: I found her weakness. Everyone has one, even a High Priestess. A young dragon. Her love for that creature caused her to suffer more than she ever imagined possible. Not more than she deserved. I knew that she wouldn't dare to use magic against me, not while her beloved creature was at risk of harm. Such a shame - all that power, all that beauty - abandoned and forgotten in a living grave.

There is a Flash Back to the dungeon scene from Arthur's Bane Part II, in which Morgana and Aithusa are trapped within a circular cell, disturbed by a rumbling sound from above as a door opens and their captor looks down on them.

Arthur: You're a harsh judge, Lord Sarrum.

Sarrum: When it comes to sorcery, we must be merciless. I was not merciless enough. Morgana escaped. A lapse on my part. I will not be so foolish again. Not that her time with me was so entirely wasted. As the dragon grew, the pit became too small. Gradually the creature was crippled and twisted. At night you could hear its cries. They were even more heartbreaking than Morgana.

Arthur seems disturbed by this tale, and on his other side, Guinevere has been listening intently. She gets to her feet and leaves the room, tears in her eyes. She meets Morgana out in the forest and asks her if they really have to enlist Sarrum's help. Morgana tells her that the plan is perfect: thanks to her years in captivity she knows him well and is certain that his violent reputation will make him an obvious scapegoat for Arthur's assassination. All Gwen has to do is talk him into going through with it, after which the knights will turn on him and make Guinevere their ruler. Morgana only asks for one thing: that the Sarrum's last moments be filled with agony.

Merlin wakes up in the forest to find himself paralyzed. Convulsing in pain, he can't even use magic to heal himself. Back in Camelot, Gaius sits worriedly on Merlin's unslept-in bed while Gwen helps Arthur dress. She reassures him when he voices his fears over Merlin's absence, telling him that he just needs a break.

Later she watches from a high window as Arthur fights with Sarrum's champion in front of their men. Though Arthur is eventually overpowered by the more agile man, the Sarrum commends him on his fighting prowress, and offers to teach Arthur some pointers. Walking back through the corridors of the castle, Gwen approaches the Sarrum, quietly telling him that he should have let Arthur die. The Sarrum gestures his men away.

Sarrum: I must have misheard you.

Gwen: I don't think so.

Sarrum: You aren't happy with your husband?

Gwen: I'd be happy if he died tomorrow. If someone can make that happen, I'll make sure that they're richly rewarded.

Sarrum: I'm not sure I believe you...

Gwen asks him to meet her in the solarium after dark where they can talk in private.

Merlin is still slowly dying on the forest floor, when Daegal returns, willing to find the herbs Merlin needs to be healed. Merlin manages to blurt out some instructions, and some time later, Daegal offers him a tincture and holds him down as he begins to convulse.

Gaius enters the king's bedchamber in search of Arthur, only to find Gwen. He's worried about Merlin and asks that a search party be sent out to look for him: Gwen replies that it would be best if they kept the garrison intact whilst the Sarrum is visiting. She hurries away for her secret meeting for him in the solarium, making him a proposition: if he kills Arthur, she'll assume the throne, and then give Amata one-third of Camelot's lands. She assures him that the knights will support her and that the people will consider it necessary for their own safety. All Sarrum needs to do is organise the assassin to strike at the treaty-signing ceremony tomorrow. To this he agrees.

In the forest by night, Merlin wakes up and Daegal apologizes, telling him that he had no idea what Morgana planned to do. He only knows that she and the Queen plan to kill the king. Merlin lurches to his feet, determined to get back to Camelot in time, with Daegal helping him. Unfortunately, Merlin is still recovering, and he stumbles down an embankment right into the middle of a bandit camp. They surround the two of them, only for Merlin to throw their leader through the air. The rest immediately depart, much to Daegal's amazement.

As morning rises, Guinevere and the Sarrum meet in a corridor, and she slips him a key when he kisses her hand. However, as he prepares his henchman for the assassination, he declares that as soon as Arthur is dead, he'll take full control of Camelot.

Daegal is astonished at the fact that Merlin has magic and lives in Camelot, though Merlin is certain that one day Arthur will grant him his rights. Daegal offers to help him get back.

In Camelot, Gaius has come to Arthur about Merlin's disappearance. Gwen overhears and comes up with a cover-story, telling the two of them that Merlin has gone to see a girl. Arthur is astonished by this, and Gaius finds that he can't very well argue with her when she says that Merlin didn't want anyone else to know.

Daegal binds Merlin's leg and tells him that though his story was a lie, he did in fact have a mother who was killed by Uther's regime. Feeling better, the two of them head back toward Camelot. It's montage time as Daegal and Merlin sneak into the castle and begin to search the rooms, the Sarrum's henchman prepares his crossbow and heads for the balcony, and Arthur, Guinevere, the Sarrum and the knights enter the throne room and approach the Round Table. Merlin notices the unlocked door to the balcony and hurries up it, bracing himself on a staff, whilst the Sarrum leans down to sign the treaty. Slow Motion kicks in as Merlin confronts the assassin and uses magic to deflect an arrow and then a knife. After they're knocked backwards onto the ground, the assassin turns back to the room and prepares to fire - only for Merlin to magically throw the staff at him. He's knocked to one side just as he makes the shot, accidentally shooting the Sarrum instead. The Sarrum cries out and falls dead on the treaty as Arthur orders his knights up into the balcony.

Merlin checks the assassin, finding him dead and turns to congratulate Daegal - only to see that he's been fatally wounded by the assassin's knife. Pleased that he at least managed to do something good, Daegal dies in the corridor.

Over dinner with Guinevere, Arthur muses that he owes the unknown boy his life, asking that he be given a decent burial. He then asks that Merlin tells them more about this mysterious girl that he was supposedly visiting, and Guinevere pointedly gestures for her goblet to be filled, reminding Merlin of his powerlessness.

Merlin and Gaius stand before Daegal's simple grave, musing on how young he was. They walk off together, realizing that they have to do something about Gwen's condition - but what?

Tropes

• Badass Boast: Merlin gives a brief but effective one, punctuated by telekinetic magic.
  Bandit Leader: You don't even have a sword.
  Merlin: I don't need one. *sends the guy flying*
• Bald of Evil: The Sarrum
• Black-and-Grey Morality: Morgana's the Big Bad of the series, but once you learn what the Sarrum did to her and Aithusa, you want him to suffer too.
• Bond Villain Stupidity: Morgana could have killed Merlin, but she chose to poison him in a drawn-out and easily-cured way. She doesn't even think to eliminate the kid she bribed who has obvious sympathies.
• Cover-Blowing Superpower: Inverted when Daegal's inability to hear Merlin's telepathy is part of what gives him away.
• Death by Secret Identity: Daegal's death warrant was signed the moment he saw Merlin do magic.
• Gilligan Cut:
  Merlin: "[Arthur] won't even notice I'm gone."
  Arthur: "MERLIN!"
• Hypercompetent Sidekick:
  • Morgana gets some points for realizing this about Merlin and trying to eliminate him before ever enacting her plan. She screws it up in other ways to compensate.
  • Gwen is this to Morgana.
• I Kiss Your Hand: The Sarrum to Gwen, though it's a way for her to palm a key into his hand.
• Idiot Ball: An episode after discovering that Gwen is a) brainwashed into serving Morgana, b) has come closer than anyone in the show's history to killing off Arthur for good, and c) still at large, Merlin decides that instead of doing something about it, he'll go wandering off into the wilderness to help a dodgy-looking kid whose tale of woe bears a strikingly similar resemblance to that of Princess Mithian's (a family member who needs urgent help) who was also working for Morgana and trying to lead the heroes into a trap.
• Magnetic Hero: The only reason Merlin survives his encounter with Morgana is because he managed to win over Daegal's loyalties on the way there.
• Mugging the Monster: Mugging two unarmed men at forty-to-one odds? Bad idea if one of them's Merlin.
• No Name Given: "Sarrum" seemed to be a title rather than a name.
• Out-of-Character Moment: Just to refresh memories as to Gwen's brainwashed state, there's a scene in which she asks Merlin to prepare her a hot bath. Ordering Merlin around isn't something she's ever done in her right mind.

• Redemption Equals Death: Daegal.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: It only takes Merlin taking out one of the bandits for the rest of them to realize they've bitten off more than they can chew. Daegal's impressed.
• Sexy Discretion Shot: The bedroom scene ends just as Arthur finishes carrying Gwen to the bed.

• Take Our Word for It: The Sarrum states that he used Morgana's love for Aithusa to entrap her in a tiny well-like cell for two years. It sounds like an event worth putting on-screen, but we never get to see it happen and that's all the detail he goes into. We get no indication about how exactly Aithusa was used to trap Morgana, nothing on how the Sarrum managed to overpower her, and no idea how she managed to break free of his prison after so long.
  • Second-Hand Storytelling
• What Beautiful Eyes!: Arthur says this of Guinevere.