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All I know is that, for your many faults, you are honest and brave and truehearted, and one day you will be the greatest king this land has ever known.
Merlin to Arthur

The Sword in the Stone comprises the twelfth and thirteenth episodes of the fourth series of Merlin and is the two-part finale which was first broadcast on the 17th and 24 December 2011.

Synopsis[]

Part One[]

With Morgana at the helm of a vast Southron army, a deadly net is closing in around Camelot. When the sorceress strikes, the ferocity of her attack forces everyone to run for their lives - even Arthur. But Morgana will not let him escape that easily. And so begins a chilling hunt...

Can Merlin save the King from Morgana's clutches? Or has Arthur's luck finally run out?

Part Two[]

Morgan and Helios have successfully captured Camelot, and Merlin and Arthur are outlaws on the run. Trapped in Ealdor with a ruthless army closing in, their situation becomes desperate.

Arthur must take control before Camelot is lost forever, but faced with Agravaine's betrayal and the strength of Morgana's forces, the young King has lost his conviction. Only Merlin can restore his faith, and only an extraordinary act can prove to the King that he was born to rule. Will the young warlock convince Arthur before his dreams of Albion fall to pieces?

Plot[]

Part 1[]

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Agravaine leads the Southrons into Camelot.

While the court of Camelot celebrates Beltane, Agravaine uses the siege tunnels to lead a contingent of Southrons into the city. They quickly kill the sentries and set the Lower Town ablaze, signaling to Morgana and Helios that it is time to launch their attack.

As the Knights of Camelot work to put out the fires and repel the invading Southrons, Arthur is alerted to the attack and he and the other knights attending the feast leave to join the battle. Merlin evacuates the guests and helps Gaius treat the wounded, then leaves to find and protect Arthur.

Merlin finds Arthur battling Southrons in the castle corridors. Noticing that the King has been injured, Merlin quickly distracts the Southrons with his magic and helps Arthur escape. They find a hiding place near the courtyard, where Arthur sees Agravaine marching with Morgana and Helios. Enraged by his uncle's betrayal, Arthur moves to confront him, but Merlin talks him out of it.

As Morgana's forces capture Camelot and she takes her place on the throne, Sir Leon leads the Knights of Camelot in evacuating Camelot's citizens into the Darkling Woods. Meanwhile, Gaius binds Arthur's wounded ribs and conspires with Merlin, Gwaine, and Percival to sneak him out of the citadel.

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Merlin arranges to travel with Tristan and Isolde.

Knowing that Arthur would never willingly abandon his people, Merlin secretly casts an enchantment on Arthur that takes away his free will, leaving him compliant and easily controlled. Merlin easily persuades the confused king to escape into the woods with him and Percival, but Gaius and Gwaine remain behind to distract Morgana. However, when she realises the situation, Morgana immediately orders Gwaine and Gaius to be imprisoned and chases after Arthur.

Merlin, Arthur, and Percival reunite with Elyan in the woods and at Merlin's suggestion, the group decides to seek refuge in Ealdor. However, Morgana soon chases them down and attacks them with a stunning spell. Percival becomes separated from the rest of the group and Elyan decides to stay behind to fend off the Southrons following them, forcing Merlin and Arthur to continue alone.

Once he's sure they're safe, Merlin has Arthur disguise himself by exchanging his chain mail for peasant's clothes. They continue their journey and eventually run into a group of smugglers led by Tristan and Isolde. Though initially weary, Merlin decides to tag along with them when he learns that they're heading in the same direction.

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Morgana uses a Nathair to torture Elyan.

Meanwhile, back in Camelot, Morgana uses a Nathair to torture Elyan, who reveals that Arthur is heading for Ealdor. Morgana then has Elyan imprisoned with Gaius and Gwaine and orders Agravaine to Ealdor. Agravaine is reluctant to leave and cautions Morgana not to trust anyone but him, not even Helios, but Morgana successfully manipulates him into leaving.

The next day, Merlin's enchantment finally wears off and Arthur demands to know what's going on. Merlin explains that Camelot has fallen and that they're escaping to Ealdor. He also advises Arthur to continue acting like a simpleton to avoid suspicion, but Agravaine and his men ambush the smugglers soon afterward and Arthur's identity is revealed to Tristan and Isolde.

Though Tristan despises Arthur for his status as King, Isolde was injured in the ambush and Merlin convinces them to accompany him and Arthur to Ealdor. When they make camp that night, Arthur laments over Agravaine's betrayal, saying that he was as blind to his treachery as he was to Morgana's, and Merlin comforts him by assuring that they didn't betray him out of hatred, but because they crave his power for themselves.

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Arthur and his allies plan their escape.

Meanwhile, in Camelot, Morgana forces Gwaine to fight her Southron soldiers for her entertainment. If he wins, he is given bread for Gaius, who is ill and starving.

The next day, Arthur, Merlin, Tristan, and Isolde reach Ealdor. Merlin is reunited with mother, Hunith, and Arthur is unexpectedly reunited with Gwen, who has been staying in Ealdor since escaping from Helios. Gwen and Arthur admit they've missed each and tentatively reconcile.

As Gwen and Arthur embrace, Agravaine and his men arrive and begin to surround the village. Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Tristan, and Isolde escape into the woods, but Agravaine sees them and orders his men after them.

Part 2[]

Merlin and Agravaine

Merlin kills Agravaine.

Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Tristan, and Isolde run through the woods to escape Agravaine his men. Merlin briefly lingers behind the rest of the group and calls the Great Dragon to come and breathe fire on Agravaine and his men, killing most of them, then leads Arthur and the others to a tunnel system in the nearby mountains.

Though they initially appear to be safe, they soon realize that Agravaine and his remaining men are pursuing them through the tunnels. Sending the others ahead, Merlin doubles back and leads Agravaine to a dead end.

Seeing that he has Merlin cornered, Agravaine threatens to kill him if he doesn't tell him where Arthur is. However, Merlin uses his magic to repel him and his men. The soldiers are instantly killed, but Agravaine recovers and gleefully realises Merlin has magic. He also guesses that Merlin is Morgana's enemy Emrys and tries to kill him, but Merlin quickly blasts him into some nearby rocks, killing him.

Merlin catches up with the rest of the group and leads them out of the tunnels. They decide to head back to Camelot through the Forest of Ascetir. When they make camp that night, Tristan continues to poke at Arthur, convincing him he is no one special and doesn't deserve to be King. Gwen tries to talk to Arthur, but he cannot bring himself to forgive her and says their reunion in Ealdor was "a moment of weakness".

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Arthur prepares to claim Excalibur.

Meanwhile, in Camelot, Gaius, Gwaine, and Elyan are still imprisoned and slowly starving. Morgana continues to make Gwaine earn food them by fighting her Southrons and orders him to fight several men at once with a short wooden sword. After winning, Gwaine is thrown back in their cell and given a small loaf of mouldy bread. Morgana sneers at him to enjoy his meal, as it will probably be his last.

As Arthur continues to doubt himself, Merlin calls Kilgharrah for advice and is told he must restore Arthur's confidence. The next morning, Merlin leads Arthur through the forest and tells him the story of Bruta, the first King of Camelot, who placed a sword in a stone before he died to serve as a test for his descendants to prove that they were true Kings. He tells Arthur he found the stone and leads him to Excalibur, still lodged in the rock Merlin had placed it in.

The survivors of Camelot appear and surround the clearing. Arthur doubts he can pull the sword from the rock, but Merlin tells him to believe and that he is special. Arthur tries, but can't pull it out. He tries again as Merlin tells him he is meant to pull the sword from the rock, and that he has to believe he is destined to be Albion's greatest King. When he sees Arthur starting to truly believe in himself, Merlin uses his magic to unseal Excalibur from the stone.

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Arthur and his men plan their attack.

Back in Camelot, Morgana learns that Agravaine and his men are dead. She convinces herself that Emrys is responsible, declaring that only he could command a dragon.

With many of his Knights - including Sir Leon and Sir Percival - and his people back at his side, Arthur decides to retake Camelot. Tristan watches his efforts and begins to have a change of heart and Isolde urges Gwen not to give up hope that Arthur will forgive her.

Arthur confides in Merlin that Morgana's powers greatly tilt the odds in the enemy's favour. Merlin assures Arthur he believes in him, and sneaks into Camelot that night disguised as Dragoon the Great. He casts an enchantment by burning a poppet, which he then hangs beneath Morgana's bed. He is spotted by Morgana as he leaves the citadel and is chased by some guards, but manages to escape.

The next morning, Arthur and his forces leaves for the citadel. Tristan and Isolde decide to join the fight because Arthur showed them that he fights for what is right and fair, and Gwen tells Arthur that she understands why he can't forgive her, but has never stopped loving him.

Upon reaching the citadel, Leon leads most of the Knights in an open assault on the castle while Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, Tristan, Isolde and Percival sneak in through the back. Once inside, Percival separates from the rest of the group and frees Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius from the dungeon.

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Arthur finally confronts Morgana.

Meanwhile, Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, Tristan, and Isolde confront Morgana in the Helios in the throne room. Arthur asks Morgana what happened to her and why she turned against him, but Morgana bitterly reports that he is no different than Uther and should pay for his crimes. She then attempts to kill him with her magic, but Merlin's enchantment nullifies her powers and she flees.

Merlin and Gwen pursue her while Arthur and the others fight Helios and his guards. Morgana is wounded by a knight as she tries to escape, but later engages Gwen in a duel and easily defeats her. However, before Morgana can kill Gwen, Merlin uses his magic to blast Morgana away from her, causing some stone and rubble to fall on her. When the dust clears, Morgana is gone.

Meanwhile, Arthur fights Helios while Tristan and Isolde take care of his men. Arthur is injured and gets knocked down, but as Helios prepares to kill him, Isolde stabs Helios from behind. As he dies, Helios swings around and slices Isolde across the stomach, mortally wounding her. Tristan holds her as she dies.

In the aftermath of the battle, Arthur finds Gwen in his chambers tidying up. She says she will leave if he wants her to, but Arthur tells her to stay. Gwen says she can never forgive herself but Arthur says that he doesn't care and never wants to lose her again, finally forgiving her. He asks her to marry him, and she says yes with all her heart.

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The Coronation of Queen Guinevere

Later, the court gathers in the Great Hall and Arthur crowns Guinevere, Queen of Camelot. They kiss and ascend to their thrones as Merlin, Gaius, and everyone else proudly watch.

Meanwhile, Morgana stumbles through the woods and collapses on the ground, seemingly at her end. However, the white dragon Aithusa finds her and uses its breath to heal her. Morgana gratefully watches it fly away.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

Continuity[]

Part One[]

Part Two[]

Release & Reception[]

  • Part One: 17th December 2011
  • Part Two: 24th December 2011
  • The last episode, The Sword in the Stone: Part Two, marks the first time an episode of Merlin has been originally broadcast on December 24, Christmas Eve. Unlike the revived Doctor Who, which has annual Christmas specials on December 25, Merlin has never had an episode on Christmas Day, nor an official Christmas special.

Production Errors[]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Wiki-wordmark
To view the The Sword in the Stone gallery, click here.


Transcript[]

View the transcript here.

See Also[]

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Series 4
The Darkest HourThe Wicked DayAithusaHis Father's SonA Servant of Two MastersThe Secret SharerLamiaLancelot du LacA Herald of the New AgeThe Hunter's HeartThe Sword in the Stone
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