A Servant of Two Masters

"But why would Merlin want to kill Arthur?"

- Gwen

A Servant of Two Masters is the sixth episode of the fourth series of Merlin.

Synopsis
When Merlin falls into Morgana's hands, he becomes a deadly weapon in her fight for supremacy, as the magical drama continues. Using ancient magic, she puts friend against friend and creates the perfect assassin.

An oblivious Arthur is in great danger. Will anyone notice Merlin's unusual behaviour before he does the King some serious harm?

Plot
The episode opens with King Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table journeying secretly via the Valley of the Fallen Kings. Merlin is concerned and fears a possible attack on their group, but Arthur is confident their location remains secret. Suddenly, they are ambushed by mercenaries. A battle ensues and Merlin risks using his magic to save Arthur, but is wounded and struck unconscious in the process.

Later at night, Arthur and Merlin manage to escape the battle where they rest and assess Merlin's injuries. They joke and jibe about death and glory, and at the end of the conversation, Arthur sombrely acknowledges Merlin's bravery and loyalty. Merlin thanks Arthur for saving his life.

The next morning, Arthur is awakened by movement in the forest. Merlin's condition has deteriorated further and he is now more pale and unable to move freely. As they continue their journey back to Camelot, they once again encounter the mercenaries, which Arthur engages in combat whilst Merlin looks on helplessly. As a fresh wave of mercenaries rush towards Arthur, Merlin uses the last of his strength and blocks their path by causing a rockfall using his magic, as Arthur shouts out his name. This results in Merlin's capture.

Agravaine is revealed to be behind the ambush, and rejoins Morgana with Merlin in tow. Morgana is unimpressed with Arthur's escape and angrily rebukes Agravaine, who draws his sword to kill Merlin to abate her displeasure. Morgana stops him, saying that she will use Arthur's fondness for Merlin against him, and Agravaine returns to Camelot.

Back at Morgana's hovel, Merlin is woken up when Morgana douses him with water. Merlin is prepared to die before betraying Arthur or Camelot, to which Morgana replies that she does not plan to kill him. She heals Merlin with her magic and later, with her dark magic, she summons a Fomorroh, a multiple headed snake, similar to the Hydra, revered by the high priestesses of the Old Religion. Morgana explains it is capable of enslaving the minds and wills of the hosts it possesses, forcing them to obey the summoner's will and consuming their personality until it is the only thing they seek. As Morgana implants the Fomorroh into Merlin's neck, she says "You must kill Arthur Pendragon."

Meanwhile, Arthur and his Knights return to Camelot, where a search party is commissioned to rescue Merlin. Agravaine reports that Merlin is lost forever, but Arthur is unwilling to accept it. He is still troubled over the ambush, to which Sir Leon replies that they must have a traitor in their midst who revealed their location. The next morning, Arthur wakes up in his room and blurrily sees a stranger wearing similar clothes to Merlin. The stranger turns out to be Arthur's new manservant, George, who is highly efficient albeit dull and obsequious. Arthur asserts that he does not need a new manservant, and that he prefers things the old way.

Arthur sets out with Gwaine to search again for Merlin, whilst Gwen expresses her concern. They later stumble across Merlin emerging from a bog, seemingly unharmed. Arthur is relieved and overjoyed, hugging Merlin even though he is filthy, and the three return to Camelot.

Back in Camelot, Gaius and Merlin have lunch; however, Gaius is unsettled by Merlin's change in personality, which is much more hasty and offensive. Merlin takes a bottle of Aconite, a potent poison, and plans to lace Arthur's lunch with it. His attempt is foiled by Gwen who has already prepared Arthur lunch. Merlin is angered and strides out of the room, tossing the poisoned food into a pig pen. Later, he sets up a crossbow in Arthur's wardrobe which is triggered by opening the wardrobe door. This attempt fails as well, but Arthur is too distracted by the traitor problem that he does not notice the attempt on his life. However, by now Gaius and Gwen confirm their suspicions and rush to save Arthur, only to witness Merlin knocking himself out whilst rushing at Arthur with a sword. Gwen clobbers Merlin with a pitcher for good measure.

In Gaius' chambers, they discover the Fomorroh in Merlin's neck, paralyse it and extract it, leaving him to recover and assuming that all is well. Hours later, when Merlin wakes up, Gaius notices that the Fomorroh has returned and is very puzzled. In Arthur's room, Merlin prepares the bath and pours in a jar of corrosive salts, which turns the bath into acid strong enough to corrode steel. Gaius and Gwen rush into the room, the latter again clobbering Merlin unconscious with a pitcher.

Gaius discovers that the Fomorroh is able to regenerate even if it is killed. He sedates the Fomorroh with a poultice, and revives Merlin. They devise a plan to save Merlin by destroying the mother beast, disguised as Dragoon the Great while the Fomorroh remains dormant. Merlin journeys out to Morgana's hovel and transforms along the way, but is happened upon by the Knights of the Round Table having difficulty re-mounting his horse (due to his old age). The Knights plan to arrest him and take him to Camelot. Merlin, as Dragoon the Great, attempts to talk his way out but is forced to immobilise them with magic when Gwaine moves to strike him. Using his fallen friends as steps, he mounts his horse and rides away.

Agravaine goes to Morgana to deliver news that he has turned Arthur's suspicions from himself to Gaius. Morgana is still unimpressed and warns him to do better, before going out herself to collect firewood.

Merlin returns to Morgana's hideout and begins his search for the mother beast. As he is looking, Morgana returns and is startled, fleeing the room, having been warned that he (Emrys) would be her doom. When she returns, she is evidently shaken and scared even claiming that he is not real. Merlin plays along with it, until Morgana moves forward to stab him and he blasts her back with unspoken magic.

Outside, a magic battle ensues with both persons taking damage (Merlin moreso due to his old age). Merlin has the opportunity to kill Morgana, but hesitates allowing Morgana to hit him directly with her telekinesis. Merlin, recovering and angered, summons a great whirlwind to attack Morgana, knocking her unconscious and magically destroys the Fomorroh in a small campfire.

Back in Camelot, Gaius again extracts the snake as Gwen enters the room, saying that Arthur is looking for him. He rebukes Merlin for his two-day absence and sentences him to learn how to be a proper manservant from George.

In the woods, Agravaine is seen looking for Morgana and discovers her lying unconsious, though still alive.

Cast

 * Merlin - Colin Morgan
 * King Arthur - Bradley James
 * Gaius - Richard Wilson
 * Agravaine - Nathaniel Parker
 * Morgana - Katie McGrath
 * Guinevere - Angel Coulby
 * Great Dragon - John Hurt
 * Sir Elyan - Adetomiwa Edun
 * Sir Leon - Rupert Young
 * Sir Percival - Tom Hopper
 * Sir Gwaine - Eoin Macken
 * George - Leander Deeny
 * Audrey - Zee Asha

Broadcast
5 November 2011 at 7.55pm on BBC One

Trivia

 * Arthur is finally alerted to the fact there is a traitor in Camelot
 * Meet George. Arthur’s perfect new manservant and Merlin’s replacement
 * Gwen knocks out Merlin. Twice
 * Gaius and Gwen catch Arthur naked
 * Someone discovers Agravaine’s secret
 * Emrys fights the Knights
 * Emrys and Morgana battle each other using magic…with only one left standing