EPISODE 158

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MERLIN : 

…I am leaving Britain forevermore.

ARTHUR : 

Excuse me?

What do you mean by that?

MERLIN : 

…Do you remember when you were little?

You once asked me

why I named you Arthur.

I told you it meant “bear”, in my native language.

When I had prophetic dreams about you,

I always saw you as a bear in them.

At least…

…that’s what I claimed.

Bears are often used to represent warriors.

How could I be sure my visions were about you, and not about some other warlord?

…

I think

that in some way, I’ve always forced my own prophecies.

ARTHUR : 

Damn it, Merlin, what is it you’re trying to say?

MERLIN : 

That the interpretation of my dreams, the source of my prophecies,

was always my own, imperfect as I am.

I am not a god, nor am I a full Sidhe…

…Is it my human half that’s failed me all this time?

ARTHUR : 

…

Did you make a mistake, interpreting your dreams?

MERLIN : 

Not exactly, no.

…I believe my own emotions clouded my judgment.

ARTHUR : 

About what? 

MERLIN : 

…

The timing of a dream is just as important as its contents.

You see, the night you conceive Mordred, I woke from a dream

of a great snake slithering out of your mouth

and destroying the Round Table as it choked you to death.

Sounds self-evident, doesn’t it?

A threat you created yourself, revealed to me the night Mordred was conceived…

…

However,

there is another possible interpretation, one I set aside.

Out of stubbornness, like as not. 

ARTHUR : 

How so? 

MERLIN : 

The snake represents a cycle.

Its ability to shed its skin, perpetual renewal.

So I believe that snake from my dream

means it took from you its power of renewal, to emerge stronger still.

But then, who is it that used you for their own ends?

It was me. 

…I have always sought to preserve Britain.

To unite it against invaders, whoever they might be.

For a long time, I searched for support among its warriors.

Some of those that came before you tried, like Uther, your father.

But ultimately, they all strayed towards their own goals. 

All but you, Arthur.

I gave you my cause, which, under your guidance,

was born anew..

ARTHUR : 

Your prophecies are always right, Merlin. 

Always.

If you’re that snake, bound to destroy everything, then why…

…did you never tell me?

MERLIN : 

…I refused to see it.

It was much easier to deny it.

Arthur⎯

ARTHUR : 

Enough.

I spent my life honoring the ideals you gave me…

…and for what?

For you to deceive me like this?

I did everything I could so that prophecy wouldn’t come to pass,

going as far as to accidentally cast Mordred into that role…

…all because you lied to me?

What else have you lied about?

Did you know about the Grail wraiths?

MERLIN : 

The Grail wraiths…?

ARTHUR : 

Dinadan told me about them on his deathbed.

According to him, those giant monsters…

Each used to be a knight, knighted by Excalibur.

He found a connection between their families

and their knighting by different kings of Logres.

Did you know about this too?

MERLIN : 

I didn’t.

But…

…Damn Dinadan. He had a sense for these things, even if it sent him to his death.

…I understand now why I must leave you.

ARTHUR : 

So this is how it ends?

You confess your mistakes to me, and now we’ll never see each other again?!

MERLIN : 

…

I have no other choice, Arthur.

ARTHUR : 

…

…Is that all, then…?

MERLIN : 

…Do you remember?

When you were little, you also asked me what my mother’s name was.

I told you I did not remember it.

Not her name, nor her…nor her face.

My longevity has its drawbacks.

You asked me then, if a day would come that I would forget you.

Arthur… 

I will never forget you. For you are

the once and future king. 

[ cool. ]

MORDRED : 

Don’t listen to my mother’s counsel.

Many did, to their sorrow. 

MORGAN : 

Mordred…

This is a matter of common sense.

To ally with the Irish would grant us⎯

MORDRED : 

⎯control over Cornwall, which is what you seek, isn’t it?

An opportunity to claim your birthright and ascend the throne?

MORGAN : 

…

MORDRED : 

It doesn’t matter.

We will follow the plan as it was made.

Gaheviez has always opposed Arthur,

and if our negotiations succeed, we can replenish our troops’ supplies there.

Arthur must be aware of what we’re trying to do, so

I suggest we force him into battle here, if we must.

We will make camp here, on the outskirts of Camlann. 

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