- “I want you to bring me peace. You must right the wrong that was done to me.”
- — Shrine Boy to Elyan
A Herald of the New Age is the tenth episode of the fourth series of Merlin, which was first broadcast on the 3rd of December 2011.
Synopsis
While on patrol, Merlin, Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table stumble across an eerie shrine deep in the forest, its chilling atmosphere betraying a dark history best left undisturbed.
But when Elyan ignores Merlin’s warning, his actions spark a chain of events more frightening than anyone could possibly have imagine. Can a grievous wrong be put right? Or will the past demons change the future forever?
Plot
Elyan disturbs the Druid boy's spirit by drinking from the well.
While out on patrol, Merlin, Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table discover a Druid Shrine in the woods. Merlin, made uneasy by a strange presence, warns the others not to touch anything, but Elyan, thirsty because Gwaine drank all his water, drinks from a small well. Doing so disturbs and frees the spirit of a young Druid boy, who begins following him.
Later, Gaius tells Merlin he was right to be cautious of the shrine, as the Druids erect them to bring rest to tormented souls who are unable to find peace in the other world. He explains that the magic used on a shrine is very delicate and easily disturbed and asks if any of the group touched anything, as doing so could release the spirit. Unaware of Elyan's actions, Merlin assures Gaius that no one did and Gaius warns him not to go near the shrine again.
That night, the spirit of the Druid boy appears to Elyan, dripping wet and deathly pale. Having overheard Gwaine teasing Merlin about how to ward off an evil spirit, Elyan makes a ring of salt under the foot of his bed and goes back to sleep.
The next day, the spirit begins to exert control over Elyan during the Knights' training session. He loses control while sparring with Merlin, flies into a rage when Gwaine shoves him, and then becomes catatonic. Gaius examines Elyan and finds no medical reason for his strange behaviour. He does, however, find the ring of salt beneath his bed, which leads him and Merlin to suspect that Elyan is being possessed.
Elyan regains awareness during the night and the spirit appears to him again. This time, the spirit speaks to Elyan and asks him to bring him peace. He also explains that to do so, Elyan will have to right the wrong that was done to him by killing the King.
Under the spirit's power, Elyan goes to Arthur's chambers and attacks him. But though he catches Arthur off guard, Arthur's superior skill saves him and Elyan is forced to flee. He is later apprehended by the other Knights and thrown in the dungeons, where the spirit reappears and torments Elyan for failing him.
Agravaine urges Arthur to have Elyan executed while Merlin insists he is being possessed and not acting of his own accord, leaving Arthur conflicted. Worried that Arthur will be forced to have Elyan executed, Merlin comes up with a plan to exorcise the spirit from Elyan. He helps him escape from the dungeons and tries to trick him into drinking a sedative so he can remove the spirit, but the spirit warns Elyan and he knocks Merlin out and escapes into the woods.
The next day, Gaius and Merlin return to the shrine to learn more about the spirit. Merlin is drawn to the well and his magic allows him to hear terrible wailing and the sounds of battle. He tells Gaius that something terrible had happened there and Gaius shows him several crossbow bolts he had found, which reveals that the camp must have been attacked.
Later, armed with a crossbow, Elyan kills three knights and makes his second attempt on Arthur's life. Arthur's skill again allows him to defeat Elyan, but he hears Elyan speaking with a child's voice instead of his own and realises that Merlin was right about him being possessed. Because of this, he allows Elyan to flee.
Gaius explains to Arthur that the Druid boy is seeking vengeance for his unjust death, which is preventing him from finding peace. He comments that when the Purge was at its height, Uther was merciless in his persecution of the Druids and many were killed, and speculates that the boy may have been one of these.
Gaius informs Arthur that to appease the restless spirit, the perpetrator of the injustice done to it in life would have to atone for his crime. Believing Uther to have been responsible, Gaius tells Arthur he has no choice but to put Elyan to death since it is impossible for Uther to redeem himself from beyond the grave.
That night, Arthur slips out of the castle, only to be tailed by Merlin. Arthur catches Merlin following him, but allows him to accompany him. Together they return to the Druid Shrine, where Arthur discards his sword and summons the spirit, who is still possessing Elyan. Arthur then kneels before Elyan and reveals it had been him who had led the raid on the Druid camp, not Uther.
Filled with remorse, Arthur explains that he had been young and inexperienced and had lost control of his men. Promising that the Druids would be treated with the respect they deserved in future, Arthur finally allows the spirit to find peace and the spirit forgives him. The spirit then releases Elyan and Merlin and Arthur take him back to Camelot.
Cast
Main Cast
- Colin Morgan as Merlin
- Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon
- Richard Wilson as Gaius
- Nathaniel Parker as Agravaine de Bois
Recurring Cast
- Rupert Young as Sir Leon
- Eoin Macken as Sir Gwaine
- Adetomiwa Edun as Sir Elyan
- Tom Hopper as Sir Percival
Guest Cast
- Nicholas Croucher as the Shrine Boy
Continuity
- Agravaine and the Knights assume Elyan's attempt on Arthur's life is motivated by Gwen's banishment.
- Merlin also assumes that Arthur's uncharacteristic moodiness is related to Gwen.
- Gwaine reveals he has a sister he doesn't get along with.
- Agravaine advises Arthur to execute Elyan to avoid appearing weak. This is the same reason he advised Arthur to execute King Caerleon.
- Arthur reveals that as a young and inexperienced knight, he led a raid on a Druid camp that turned into a slaughter when he lost control of his men.
- Arthur promises that from this day forth, the Druid people will be treated with the respect they deserve.
Behind the Scenes
- The scene of Elyan's escape from the dungeons, featuring Adetomiwa Edun and Colin Morgan, was shot in the depths of Pierrefonds while, outside in the square, another unit shot Princess Mithian's arrival.[1]
Trivia
- Due to Gwen's banishment in the previous episode, no female characters appear in this episode.
- This is the fourth episode not to feature Gwen, the others being Love in the Time of Dragons, The Sorcerer's Shadow, and Aithusa.
- This is the sixth episode not to feature Morgana, the others being The Lady of the Lake, The Last Dragonlord, Love in the Time of Dragons, Aithusa, and Lamia.
Gallery
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To view the A Herald of the New Age gallery, click here.
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Transcript
See Also
- Characters: Elyan, Shrine Boy, Druids
- Locations: Druid Shrine, Darkling Woods, Knights' Chambers
- Creatures: Spirit
- Magic: Possession, Telekinesis, Locking/Unlocking Spells
- Objects: Crossbow
- Events: Duel between Arthur and Elyan
References
| Series 4 |
|---|
| The Darkest Hour • The Wicked Day • Aithusa • His Father's Son • A Servant of Two Masters • The Secret Sharer • Lamia • Lancelot du Lac • A Herald of the New Age • The Hunter's Heart • The Sword in the Stone |