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Do you remember when I asked you to marry me? Do you remember what you said? You said with all my heart. That's what you said Guinevere. That was no subterfuge. No trickery.
Arthur to Guinevere

With All My Heart is the ninth episode of the fifth series of Merlin which was first broadcast on the 1st of December 2012. It marks the end of the alliance between Morgana and Guinevere.

Synopsis[]

Merlin is determined to break Morgana's twisted control over Gwen. But it will be no easy task. Only the most powerful magic can save the Queen, and Morgana will not give up her puppet without a fight...[2]

Plot[]

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Arthur learns of the alliance between Guinevere and Morgana.

Guinevere is sneaking out the citadel when she runs into Percival, who asks where she is going. She tells him that is going to visit the Lower Town, as she misses it sometimes and it reminds her of Elyan. Percival believes her story and allows her to leave.

She meets with Morgana in the forest and gives her the plans for Camelot's levy collection and asks how the information will further their cause. Unbeknownst to Gwen and Morgana, Arthur and Merlin are spying on them from deeper in the woods. Shocked and horrified, Arthur begins to draw his sword to attack, but Merlin stops him. He explains that Gwen has fallen prey to a dark and powerful magic and promises that they will find a way to free her from Morgana's control.

The next morning, Gwen and Arthur have breakfast together in their chambers and Gwen invites Arthur to go riding with her. Arthur declines and pretends to be distracted by pressing matters of state. He then excuses himself by claiming he has a training session to attend.

After leaving Gwen, Arthur holds a secret, closed-door meeting with Sir Leon and Mordred. He gives them a new levy collection route to memorise and instructs them not to tell anyone about the change in plans until the patrol is its way. Mordred asks about the change and points out that the new route with add another day's ride, but Arthur asks them to trust him and instructs them to leave in three days.

Emrys with excalibur

Dragoon threatens the Dochraid with Excalibur.

Meanwhile, Merlin searches Gaius' library for a way to help Gwen, but is making no process because he doesn't know what's wrong with her. Gaius speculating that she is likely under an enchantment called the Teine Diaga, an ancient ritual which used the mandrake root to bring unimaginable territory to a victim and bind their will to the High Priestesses.

Because he has only heard rumours about the ritual, Gaius advises Merlin to consult the Dochraid for help. However, he warns Merlin that she cannot be trusted and must never know his true identity.

Merlin enters the Dochraid's dwelling disguised as Dragoon the Great. He tells the Dochraid that he comes in peace, but she can tell by his scent that he is Emrys, and as such is no friend of the Old Religion or Morgana. She also knows the reason he has come to her, as the earth speaks to her. The Dochraid declares that he is not welcome there and orders him to depart.

Refusing to leave without what he came for, Merlin threatens the Dochraid with Excalibur. The Dochraid doesn't believe he has the power to wield such a weapon, but is proven wrong when Merlin slashes her arm. The Dochraid explains that Gwen's spirit has been consumed by the Teine Diaga and her body is nothing but an empty vessel filled by Morgana's will. The only way to free her is to take her to the Cauldron of Arianrhod and summon the White Goddess. The Cauldron's waters hold the Goddess' powers and only their touch can heal Gwen, but she must enter them willingly or her soul will be lost forever.

Gwen Drugged

Merlin, Gaius, and Arthur conspire to drug Guinevere.

Lowering Excalibur, Merlin thanks the Dochraid and turns to leave. When his back in turned, the Dochraid uses her magic to throw a dagger at him. Merlin repels the attack and slashes the Dochraid with Excalibur, severely wounding her.

Back in Camelot, Arthur stares out a window and watches Merlin return from his expedition. Mordred approaches and asks Arthur if all is well. Arthur says that it is, but Mordred is unconvinced and reminds Arthur that if there's anything he can do, he's always at his service. Arthur replies that he never doubted it and Mordred leaves.

Merlin tells Gaius what the Dochraid told him as they walk to their chambers. He worries that summoning the White Goddess might be beyond his powers, but Gaius encourages him and remarks that the only person who ever doubts his powers is Merlin himself. They concoct a plan to drug Gwen with belladonna in order to take her to the Cauldron, where Arthur will persuade her to enter its waters. Merlin will then perform the ceremony to cleanse her while disguised with an ageing spell to hide his identity from Arthur.

Merlin and Gaius tell their plan to Arthur. Arthur is wary of using magic, as doing so would be breaking his own decrees, but Gaius manages to talk him into it. Arthur is also wary of Gaius' claim that he knows a sorcerer who can help them, as the last time Gaius sent him to a sorcerer they wound up killing his father. However, Gaius assures him that it will be different this time, as the sorcerer he has chosen is a woman.

509 400

Merlin falls from the cliff.

After making the necessary preparations for their journey, Merlin, Arthur, and Gaius conspire to drug Gwen at dinner that evening. Merlin and Gaius place her unconscious body in a wheelbarrow, cover her with a sheet, and wheel her out of the castle. They pass Gwaine and Mordred along the way and claim that they're disposing of a victim of a terrible fever, but though Gwaine accepts their story, Mordred is unconvinced.

Merlin and Gaius take Gwen to the Darkling Woods, where Arthur is waiting with a pair of horses. Meanwhile, the Dochraid recovers from her wounds and uses her magic to summon a raven. She uses the bird to send a message to Morgana warning her that Emrys' intends to cleanse Gwen at the Cauldron of Arianrhod.

Merlin and Arthur reach the mountains where the Cauldron is located and continue their journey on foot. Arthur carries Guinevere while Merlin carries all their supplies. While complaining about the heavy load, Merlin falls from a cliff and is knocked unconscious. Arthur also falls while trying to reach him and his arm becomes pinned beneath a large rock. Fortunately, Mordred appears and rescues them before Arthur is forced to take drastic measures to free himself.

Later that night, Arthur explains the situation to Mordred and apologises for not confiding in him. Mordred says it's probably best he didn't, as if he and Merlin hadn't been acting so suspiciously, he never would have followed them. Merlin is displeased by Mordred's presence, and Mordred privately tells him that he knows he doesn't trust him, but hopes to one day prove his loyalty to him and to Arthur so that they may be friends.

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Morgana attacks Merlin and Mordred.

The next day, the trio find banners marking the way to the Cauldron of Arianrhod. Soon afterward, they are attacked by Morgana and the dragon Aithusa, who breathes fire at them. Merlin sends Arthur ahead to safety, then tells Mordred that he plans to divert Aithusa. Though Mordred objects, Merlin runs out into the open and uses his Dragonlord powers to order Aithusa away.

Merlin returns to Mordred and gathers their supplies. As they run to catch up to Arthur, however, Morgana appears and attacks them with her magic. Mordred is knocked unconscious, but Merlin quickly recovers and finds Arthur, leaving Mordred to Morgana's mercy. Arthur insists on going back for him, but Merlin convinces him that Mordred has given them the chance to reach the Cauldron before Morgana.

Meanwhile, Mordred wakes to find Morgana gently stroking his head. They briefly argue about their current loyalties and Morgana demands to know where Emrys is. Mordred denies any knowledge of the sorcerer and Morgana prepares to strike him with her magic, but hesitates when Mordred tells her that he hopes she will one day find the love and compassion that used to fill her heart. Taking advantage of her distraction, Mordred then uses his own magic to knock her unconscious.

Upon reaching the Cauldron, Merlin leaves Arthur and disguises himself as an old woman called the Dolma. Mordred returns while he's gone and both he and Arthur are taken aback by the Dolma's familiar appearance. Mordred wonders where Merlin is, and the Dolma covers up his disappearance by claiming that she's holding him as her surety and will return him when the ceremony has concluded.

Merlin

The White Goddess restores Gwen to her true self.

After making sure Arthur understands the risks, including the possibility that Gwen may be lost to him forever, the Dolma wakes Gwen from her slumber. Shocked by her surroundings, Gwen struggles to get away from them and Arthur tries to force her into the water. However, the Dolma reminds him that she must enter of her own free will.

Arthur finally gets through to Gwen by reminding her of what she said when he asked her to marry him. His words reach the part of Gwen that has remained untouched by Morgana's evil and she enters the Cauldron willingly. The Dolma then summons the White Goddess, restoring Gwen to her true self.

After the ceremony is finished, Arthur thanks the Dolma and tells her they owe her a great debt. The Dolma asks Arthur to remember that it was magic that saved Gwen and requests that he remember there is no evil in sorcery, only in the hearts of men. Arthur gives her his word that he will.

Arthur, Gwen, and Mordred begin to walk away until the Dolma reminds them that they've forgotten Merlin. She angrily tells Arthur that Merlin acted as his surety and without him his Queen would be lost, to which Arthur awkwardly promises to give Merlin the afternoon off. Irritated, the Dolma tells Arthur that one day he will recognise the true worth of those around him. Then, with a small wave, she runs away to change back into Merlin.

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Merlin and Mordred discuss the day's events.

While riding back to Camelot, Mordred tells Merlin that Arthur is a lucky man to have his loyalty. He knows that it was Merlin's magic that cured Gwen and promises to keep his secret. He also says he admires Merlin, who does so much for so little reward or recognition. Merlin says that if his friends are safe and well, that's all he requires, and Mordred replies that they have something in common after all: the future of Camelot.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Recurring Characters[]

Continuity[]

  • This episode marks the second and final appearance of the Dochraid.
  • This episode marks the third appearance of Aithusa.
  • This episode marks the sixth appearance of Merlin's alter ego, Dragoon the Great.
  • Arthur learns that Morgana has taken control of Guinevere.
  • Arthur points out that the last time Gaius sent him to a sorcerer for help, they killed his father.
  • Mordred confronts Merlin about his distrust and reveals he hopes to one day prove his loyalty and become friends.
  • Mordred is reunited with Morgana, who spares his life. However, he chooses to remain loyal to Arthur and knocks her out with his magic.
  • Arthur reaches Gwen's true self by reminding her of what she said when he asked her to marry him.
  • Merlin (as the Dolma) summons the White Goddess and frees Gwen from Morgana's control, restoring her to her true self.
  • Merlin (as the Dolma) asks Arthur to remember that magic is what saved Gwen and that there is no evil in sorcery, only in the hearts of men. Arthur gives his word that he will.

Release & Reception[]

  • With All My Heart was broadcast on December 1, 2012 - 8.00pm on BBC One. 6.76 million viewers.[2]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

Wiki-wordmark
To view the With All My Heart gallery, click here.


Transcript[]

View the transcript here.

See Also[]

References[]

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
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