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I promised you I'd look after you, and I will. No matter what. You really don't realise how special you are, do you?
Merlin to Freya

The Lady of the Lake is the ninth episode of the second series of Merlin, which was first broadcast on the 21st of November 2009.

It marks the first appearance and death of Freya, Merlin's only love interest in the series.

Synopsis

When Merlin and Gaius discover a beautiful Druid girl, Freya, trapped in a bounty hunter's cage, Merlin knows he must help her escape. Gaius warns him against getting involved, but Merlin refuses to listen, harbouring Freya in the catacombs beneath Camelot.

Yet with the bounty hunter searching for his missing prize and a ferocious magical beast on the loose, Freya cannot stay hidden long. Merlin's intense new friendship and love for her are tested to the limit, and Merlin is forced to make some heartbreaking decisions as he battles to keep Freya safe.

Plot

Freya meets Merlin

Merlin sees Freya in Halig's cage.

On a stormy night a bounty hunter named Halig arrives in Camelot. With him is a cage containing a beautiful Druid girl. Gaius and Merlin, returning home from tending to a patient, spot the girl and Gaius explains that Uther offers a handsome reward for the capture of any who use magic.

Despite Gaius's warnings not to interfere, Merlin returns later while Halig is in the tavern and frees the girl. Halig soon notices she is gone and walks around looking for her. When he stops under a sign board, Merlin uses his magic to make it fall on Halig's head, then leads the girl to safety. Before Halig passes out, however, he sees two shadows running away.

Merlin hides the girl in the catacombs beneath the city. He gives her his jacket and promises to look after her. She asks him why he saved her from captivity and he replies that he sympathises with her, as it could have easily been him in that cage. Merlin introduces himself and the girl tells Merlin her name is Freya.

The next day, Halig goes to Uther and warns him of Freya's escape. Uther assigns a detachment of guards to search for her. In private, Halig warns him that the girl is cursed; even the Druids were said to fear her. Gaius is surprised to learn the Druids cast her out, as it goes against their practice to help all in need, and Uther insists she must be found immediately, especially after Halig mentions an accomplice may have helped her in her escape. A search for Freya and her mystery accomplice swiftly ensues.

Meanwhile, Merlin steals some food from Arthur's breakfast and brings it to Freya. They talk for a while and Freya tries to tell him about her curse, but Merlin misunderstands and thinks that she's talking about having magic. He tries to show her that magic can be a gift by making candle flames dance in the air. He leaves soon afterward, but promises to come back later with more food.

Catacombs 2

Merlin visits Freya in the catacombs.

Merlin steals more food from Arthur's dinner, but Halig grabs him as he's leaving Arthur's chambers. Halig doesn't believe Merlin's claim that he doesn't know where Freya is and decides to torture him, but Arthur intervenes and says that Merlin has his complete trust. Gaius also interrogates Merlin, but he insists he had nothing to do with Freya's escape.

Merlin hurries to bring Freya the food and finds her crying. He asks her questions as she eats and learns that her family is dead and that Halig captured her a few days earlier after someone betrayed her to him. They bond for a while over their similar backgrounds and childhood homes and Merlin promises Freya that she won't be alone anymore because he's going to look after her. He also tells Freya that he's never met anyone like her, a sentiment which she returns.

That night, a strange, unseen creature prowls through the Lower Town, attacking and killing two young lovers. Their bodies are found the next day. Uther, Arthur and Gaius investigate the scene of the attack, but the evidence is confusing: the wounds on the bodies were clearly made by an animal, but human footprints lead away from the area. Uther swiftly concludes it to be the work of a magical creature.

Merlin, unaware of this, continues to tend to Freya and the two grow very close. After Halig nearly catches them while searching the catacombs, Freya became terrified that he'll find her and put her back a cage, but Merlin promises that he won't let that happen and they share a kiss.

Having fallen in love with Freya, Merlin decides to not only help her escape Camelot, but to go with her when she leaves. Freya insists that her life is too dangerous for him to risk it, but is clearly happy with the suggestion.

Bastet 2

Freya's curse forces her to transform into a Bastet.

Because Freya needs new clothes, Merlin steals a dress from Morgana's wardrobe, narrowly fending off a surprised Gwen and an astounded Arthur, who clearly has his own ideas on what Merlin wants with the dress.

That night, the mysterious beast attacks again, this time killing two guards. Again, the evidence is the same: the victims are clearly those of an animal attack, but only human tracks lead away from the site. Arthur also remarks eyewitnesses described the monster as a huge black cat with wings.

Gaius, remembering Halig's warning, tells Merlin that Freya that she is cursed: every night at midnight she is forced to transform into a Bastet, a vicious, bloodthirsty beast. Horrified, Merlin confesses to freeing Freya, but refuses to believe Gaius's claim. He begs for more time to get Freya to safety, but Gaius, knowing she will kill again, goes to tell Uther. Merlin runs to the catacombs to warn Freya, but she's already left, as she believes that Merlin would be better off without her.

As the city bells toll midnight, Freya is trapped by Arthur, Halig, and a group of Knights. She begs them to leave her alone, but her curse takes hold and forces her to transform. As a Bastet, she rips Halig apart and then attacks Arthur and his men. Arthur badly wounds her and she retreats into the courtyard. Merlin arrives as Arthur and his men pursue and corner her. The Bastet gazes sorrowfully at Merlin, who uses his magic to make a gargoyle topple in front of Arthur, distracting him long enough for Freya to escape.

Merlin runs after Freya and finds that she's returned to her alcove in the catacombs. Though still in Bastet form, Freya allows Merlin to stroke her affectionately and makes no move to attack him. A moment later, she retreats out of sight and reverts to her human form. She explains that her curse was the doing of an angry sorceress whose son Freya killed in self-defense.

Merlin209 1934

Merlin gives Freya a viking funeral.

Merlin helps Freya into Morgana's stolen dress and carries her to the Lake of Avalon in the hope of healing her, but she is too badly hurt. Grateful for his help, Freya thanks Merlin for making her feel loved and promises to one day repay his kindness. She dies soon afterward and Merlin, heartbroken, places her body in a boat and uses his magic to give her a viking funeral.

Back at Camelot, Gaius consoles Merlin and Arthur, aware that something has upset Merlin, helps cheer him up with a bit of friendly banter before setting him yet more tasks.

Cast

Main Cast

Recurring Cast

Guest Cast

Continuity

  • This episode marks the first appearance and death of Freya.
  • This episode marks Merlin's first and only romantic relationship in the series.
  • This episode marks the first instance of a character (Freya) receiving a viking funeral.
  • This episode marks the third appearance of the Lake of Avalon.
  • Halig imprisons Freya in a cage similar in design to the tumbril that Aredian owned.
  • Before Freya dies, she promises Merlin that she will one day repay his kindness.
  • Merlin steals a purple dress from Morgana's wardrobe for Freya. Freya is wearing this dress when Merlin burns her body on the Lake of Avalon.

Release & Reception

  • Air date: 21 November 2009. 6.30 million viewers.

Production Errors

Trivia

  • Though mentioned, Morgana does not appear in this episode.
  • Though this episode is named after Freya, she is never directly referred to as the "Lady of the Lake" in the series.

Gallery

Wiki-wordmark
To view the The Lady of the Lake gallery, click here.


Transcript

View the transcript here.

See Also

Series 2
The Curse of Cornelius Sigan  • The Once and Future Queen  • The Nightmare Begins  • Lancelot and Guinevere  • Beauty and the Beast  • The Witchfinder  • The Sins of the Father  • The Lady of the Lake  • Sweet Dreams  • The Witch's Quickening  • The Fires of Idirsholas  • The Last Dragonlord

Mini-episode: Children in Need special


 
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