Merlin Wiki
Advertisement
Merlin Wiki
Arrow leftSeries 5Right arrow

This time you've gone too far. You'll pay, Merlin.
Mordred to Merlin

The Drawing of the Dark is the eleventh episode of the fifth series of Merlin, which was first broadcast on the 15th of December 2012.

It marks the end of Mordred's time as a Knight of Camelot, the beginning of his alliance with Morgana, and Morgana learning that Merlin is Emrys.

Synopsis

Mordred finds himself torn between loyalty and love, but little does he realise that the path he chooses will shape Camelot's destiny.

As the drums of war beat ever louder, a desperate Merlin feels trapped by the cruel circle of fate. Is he powerless to stop his dreams of Albion from crumbling to dust?

Plot

511 25

Merlin, Arthur, and the Knights find the raided arms shipment.

Merlin, Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table are returning from a hunt when they find a crossbow bolt in the dirt. Percival acts as tracker and leads the group to a wrecked cart surrounded by dead Knights. They deduce that the arms shipment had been raided by Saxons who were after their cargo: weapons bound for Camelot.

As they check for survivors, Mordred sees a cloaked figure running from the scene and gives chase. The figure trips over a branch and is revealed to be a young woman, who Mordred recognises as Kara. He orders her to run, then lies to Arthur and the others by claiming that he mistakenly chased a deer. Merlin, however, saw the cloaked figure and believes it was a Saxon, though he keeps his suspicions to himself.

Back in Camelot, Merlin helps Gaius prepare for his rounds and tells him about Mordred's lie. Gaius assures him that Mordred is a loyal Knight and that he and Arthur have become great friends, but Merlin is preoccupied with Finna's warning for him not to trust him. He believes that everyone is beguiled by Mordred and blind to his true nature and is determined not to make the same mistake.

After Merlin and Gaius leave their chambers to attend to their patients, Mordred sneaks in and steals some medicine. He returns to the woods that night in secret and uses telepathy to find Kara, who has set up camp in a secluded nook near a large rock. Overjoyed to see each other, they share a hug and then Mordred begins treating her wounded leg.

Tumblr mdr8tblESB1rctgxfo1 1280

Mordred and Kara reunited.

Kara is surprised that Mordred has become a Knight and friends with Arthur. She says that he's a Druid and doesn't belong in Camelot, but Mordred replies that he believes in Arthur that one day things will change. He promises Kara that she'll be safe there and that no one will harm her, then returns to Camelot.

Meanwhile, Arthur holds a special council with Guinevere and Sir Leon in the royal chambers. Leon believes that they've found the route the Saxons used to ambush the arms shipment. Arthur orders extra patrol dispatched to the west and north to protect their supply routes and reminds Leon that they're at war.

After Leon leaves to organise the patrol, Arthur tells Gwen that he's troubled Morgana attacked so close to the citadel. He's worried that she doesn't fear them and by the fact that she has magic on her side. Gwen comforts him by reminding him that he has the strength and love of his people on his side, and that that's the most powerful weapon of all.

Upon returning to the citadel, Mordred finds Merlin waiting for him. Merlin confronts him about letting the Saxon escape and asks where he's been. Mordred is annoyed and tries to evade him, but when Merlin threatens to tell Arthur, Mordred admits that it wasn't a Saxon he'd seen, but a wounded Druid. He explains that she just needs a few days to recover and begs Merlin not to tell Arthur, and Merlin promises his secret is safe with him.

511 304

Arthur is shocked that Kara tried to kill him.

Merlin and Arthur return to the site of the raid and Arthur finds a trail of bootprints left by Mordred leading deeper into the forest. Merlin tries to convince him that they were left by other patrols, but Arthur insists that no one reported being through there and follows them.

The prints lead them to Kara's camp and find her hiding behind a rock. Seeing that she's wounded, Arthur puts his sword away to help her and Kara attacks him with a dagger. Merlin deflects the attack with his magic and Kara falls into Arthur's arm. Shocked, Arthur tells her she would have killed him and Kara replies that she's only sorry she failed.

Kara is arrested and taken back to Camelot. When Mordred sees her being led to the dungeons, he believes Merlin betrayed him and furiously confronts him. He throws Merlin into a wall and demands to know why he did it. Merlin swears that he didn't tell Arthur, but Mordred ignores him and snarls that he did it because he hates him. He declares that this time Merlin's gone too far and that he'll pay, then storms off as the Gwaine and Leon arrive and demand to know what's going on.

At Kara's trial, she freely admits being part of the Saxons who attacked the arms shipment, though she denies working for Morgana. She also denies that anyone in Camelot treated her leg wound, though Arthur points out that the bootprints that led him to her are proof that someone was there. In the audience, Mordred realises that it was he who led the trail to her. Because Kara shows no remorse for her actions, Arthur declares her an enemy of Camelot and sentences her to death.

511 455

Mordred asks Arthur to reconsider Kara's sentence.

Mordred visits Kara in the dungeons and she swears that she will never tell anyone he helped her. Mordred promises to speak to the King on her behalf. Kara says he will never show mercy to someone like her, but Mordred replies he will not let her die.

Mordred goes to Arthur and admits that he was the one who helped Kara. He explains that she's a good person being used by Morgana and that he's known her since he was a child and has always had feelings for her. However, Arthur refuses to risk the lives of his citizens by reconsidering her sentence.

After Mordred leaves, Merlin cautions Arthur that he'll lose his trust by breaking his heart and urges him to reconsider. However, Arthur is certain that in time Mordred will understand that and forgive him. Meanwhile, Mordred relays Arthur's decision to Kara and laments that he thought he and Arthur were friends. Kara replies that Arthur is a tyrant and a brute no different than his father and that Mordred did all he could.

Mordred later returns to Arthur and apologises. He says he will always remember how Arthur took him in and everything he's done for him. Arthur assures Mordred that he would never let a situation like this ruin their friendship and that he has rewarded him by becoming one of his most loyal Knights.

Arthur is relieved by Mordred's change of heart, but Merlin suspects that Mordred intends to help Kara escape and leave Camelot with her. Mordred confirms his suspicions and asks if he wouldn't do the same for the woman he loved. Merlin tells him not to be foolish and pleads with him not to do it, but Mordred replies that he knows Merlin did not betray him before and asks him not to do so now.

Kara3

Kara rejects Arthur's offer of leniency.

Merlin tells Mordred's intentions to Gaius, who points out that it's nothing Merlin hasn't done himself many times before. Merlin objects to this, saying that Mordred isn't just planning to set Kara free, but to leave with her. Arthur's decision has already set Mordred against him, and if Mordred leaves there will be no chance for reconciliation and Kara will lead him straight into Morgana's arms.

Merlin runs to Arthur (interrupting his dinner with Gwen) and tells him about Mordred's plan. They rush to the dungeons and find the guards unconscious from a smoke bomb and Kara's cell empty.

Meanwhile, Mordred and Kara sneak through the corridors. Kara kills a guard in cold blood, leaving Mordred shocked. As alarm bells sound, they flee into the woods with Arthur and the Knights close behind. Arthur reminds his men that Mordred is a fugitive now and they must put all personal feelings aside.

When Arthur and the Knights corner Mordred, he walks to Arthur with his sword raised. Kara telepathically urges him to kill Arthur with his magic, but Mordred objects that they're his friends. He begs Arthur to let Kara go and promises to leave Camelot and never return. He then tries to appeal to the Knights. When this fails, Mordred prepares to use his magic, but Percival knocks him out before he can do so.

After Mordred and Kara are arrested, Merlin regrets his decision and how it has turned Mordred against Arthur. He goes to Arthur and tries to convince him to free them both as a step towards peace. Arthur is reluctant, but ultimately decides to give Kara one last chance. He calls her before the court and tells her that if she repents her crimes, he will spare her life. However, Kara refuses the deal and stands firm in her belief that Arthur and Camelot must be destroyed.

Mordred Kneels

Mordred reveals Emrys' true identity to Morgana.

Later that morning, Kara is hanged in the main square. Mordred, crying in his cell, senses her death and screams in fury. He blows the doors off his cell with powerful magic and escapes. Camelot's search parties can later find no sign of him, and Arthur laments having ever trusted Mordred.

Meanwhile, Mordred goes to Morgana and swears allegiance to her cause. As a token of his loyalty, he reveals that her long-sought enemy Emrys is in Camelot and that his true name is Merlin.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Guest Cast

Continuity

Release & Reception

  • The Drawing of the Dark was broadcast on December 15, 2012 - 8.15pm on BBC One. 7.34 million viewers.

Trivia

Gallery

Wiki-wordmark
To view the The Drawing of the Dark gallery, click here.


Transcript

View the transcript here.

See Also

Series 5
Arthur's BaneThe Death Song of Uther PendragonAnother's SorrowThe DisirThe Dark TowerA Lesson in VengeanceThe Hollow QueenWith All My HeartThe Kindness of StrangersThe Drawing of the DarkThe Diamond of the Day
Rate this episode!
Advertisement