How come, OnceUponAFairytale?

Just asking because I'm interested in other fan's opinions :-)

Well, I don't not like it, it's just not one of my favorite episodes.  Also, it bothered me the way that Gaius handled Morgana's magic, which led to Merlin trying to help her himself, which led to a peaceful druid camp being killed.

Am I the only one who thinks it was okay for merlin not to reveal his true nature to Morgana?

Yes, he could hve taught her, and they could have practised magic together, and grown close. But Morgana had a manipulative streak, right from  beginning. Skewed sense of justice and fairness as well. There has been times when she has manipulated Arthur, Uther, lied to people as well. There was high possibility, Morgana would have used merlin's secret to blackmail him and get her way. She would have forced him to join his schemes or even out him when he would be too dangerous for her. And in a situation where Morgana and Merlin face off and she outs him as a wizard in front of Uther, her words would have been considered over Merlin's.

Merlin acted out of self preservation, I find it okay.

I agree that Merlin had reasons. This actually shows that he distrusted her already for some reason and I think it should have being stated out by the writers in order to let the viewers know about Merlin's doubts. Another reason why he didn't tell her probably was the consequences of his attempt to help, which was the slaughter of the druid camp.

From his perspective, any interference would bring pain and misery, given that Uther was overprotective of Morgana. However, another reason, at least it came across that way, was that he and Gaius wanted to protect her from Uther. I suppose they feared that one day she would throw it in his face and then be executed, but honestly, this reason seemed to be far-fetched. Morgana was impulsive and often aggresive but I doubt that she would have revealed herself to Uther simply out of anger.

Gaius should have been the one to guide Morgana. That way he could have continued protecting Merlin too.  And Merlin had reasons for not telling her, yet things might have turned out differently (better) if he had revealed himself.

But yes, there's still doubt that things would have gone better, as mentioned in my previous posting.

I do not think Merlin consciously chose to suppress his identity. I think it was instinctive or sub-conscious. Morgana was his friend, but for  some reason he was not entirely comfortable with his secret. I mean he opened out to Freya instantly. But even when in danger, he never openly used magic to save morgana

It'd be difficult for them to turn out worse. I agree that Gaius was the best person to help her, given that Uther already knew of his history with magic and that he'd have been able to give her some serious food for thought about how the Great Purge came about, and the problems magic caused before it.

I don't understand why Merlin opened to Freya so easily. Morgana was he's friend and he'd know her longer. Morgana is just as pretty as Freya if not prettier. Gaius also told Merlin not to get involved. What was so different about Morgana than Freya? 

I would say that it's because Merlin was in love with her. He felt a great affection from the beginning already, and it's always easy to open up in front of someone you're in love with or who fascinates you. Plus, Merlin knew that Morgana could easily become a threat to him since she was Uther's "ward". Uther would have believed the word of his daughter or any noble person over the word of a servant, whereas he wouldn't have believed a convicted magical "beast" or a magic-user  so readily. If Freya had told Uther about Merlin, it probably would have been seen as a desperate attempt to save her own life.

Imagine Morgana telling Uther about Merlin's powers (for whatever reasons) - he would have sentenced him to death immediately because at that point of time, Uther had no reason whatsoever to not believe what his beloved daughter says.

Merlin also knew that Morgana was manipulating and capable of homicide (she tried to kill Uther in season one already), but in Freya he saw a helpless girl who needed support and someone who was able to rescue her. He had no reason to believe that she would ever betray him, especially since her own life was at stake.

I think this whole nightmare is at least partly thanks to Kilgarrah's actions, as well as Merlin's. If Kilgarrah hadn't been so stuck in the prophecies, then maybe Merlin might have tutored Morgana and she wouldn't have gone bad... though that's kind of a big if...

I love this episode, but I do agree with ErinKenobia2893 that Kilgarrah is very much responsible...

I just wish Morgana had stayed the same as she was by the end of this episode, accepting of herself, and less frightened...

Lovely to see Mordred/Asa again :) and the Druids are lovely tbh- and Merlin and Gaius made some odd choices, especially Gaius, but they tried- and as for Uther, well I find his  intense hatred of magic infuriating, but he seems to genuinely love Morgana