In a land of myth and a time of magic,
the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man.
His name... Merlin.
Halt! Stay where you are.
- Where are you headed? - The Seas of Meredor.
What's in the cart?
Lady Morgana!
- (Morgana) Are you alright? - Yes, thank you, sister.
But we must hurry.
Night is nearly upon us and we still have far to go.
♪ Merlin 4x01 ♪ The Darkest Hour Part 1 of 2 Original Air Date on October 1, 2011
Sorry!
- What are you doing in my kitchen? - Er, the prince's shirt...
Keep your dirty fingers off my food. D'you understand?
(cook) Oi!
(Lancelot) You could try a bit of saIt.
Arthur is going to kill me.
Let's see.
- You've faced far worse, Merlin. - He needs it for tonight.
I’m sure a man of your talents can think of something.
Fordwin wamm!
- You're dressed. - Yes' Merlin. I’m not an idiot.
- Are you sure about that? - I beg your pardon?
- It's just that... - Merlin, I’m trying to write a speech.
- Do you want help? - No.
You won't want this then. I spent all night working on it.
- What do you think? - It needs a polish.
I'll add it to the list.
Merlin, few servants get the chance to write a prince's speech.
Obviously it's too much for you to say thank you.
The Isle of the Blessed.
You know where we wish to go.
You've not eaten, sire.
Sire...
It doesn't seem to make any difference.
I’m not sure it ever will, but at least it gives him peace.
It's been a year since Morgana betrayed him.
(Gaius) Well, his heart is broken
and his spirit is gone.
Will you join us at the feast tonight?
I don't think so. I need to stay with the king.
(distant screech)
The reports are true, sire. We caught up with Morgana on the Plains of Denaria.
- Was she alone? - There was someone else.
- (Arthur) Morgause? - I couldn't be sure.
- Where was Morgana heading? - The Seas of Meredor.
The Isle of the Blessed.
- I'll send out patrols at first light. - Thank you, Agravaine.
Sire, you should know, her powers have grown.
Sir Bertrand and Sir Montague are both dead.
Inform me of any developments.
For months, nothing. Why now?
She couldn't stay hidden forever. Today, tomorrow, what does it matter?
We mustn't live in fear, Arthur.
Camelot is strong. If Morgana were to act, we'd be ready for her.
You're right, of course.
I don't know how l'd have got through these last few months without you.
Thank you, Uncle.
I made a promise to your mother.
I'll always be there for you.
(distant screech)
(screeches)
Samhain...
It is the time of year when we feel closest to the spirits of our ancestors.
It is a time to remember those we have lost
and celebrate their passing.
(Morgause) Samhain is almost upon us. We must hurry.
I can't do this.
Sister...
Remember what l've told you.
It is the only way.
What you are about to do
will affect everyone, even you.
But most importantly it will bring our enemies to their knees.
You must be strong and remember that.
Do not be scared.
I am not long for this world.
There is nothing left for me here now.
Please, sister...
Let my parting be my final gift to you.
To the king!
(bell chimes)
(Morgana) Eala leofu sweoster,
paem gastum befaeste ic pe.
Alys pa peosterpe inne onwunap;
ongunne dwolma!
(blade strikes)
(slow-motion) To the king!
To the king!
(eerie screeching)
Emrys...
Who are you?
I am the Cailleach, the gatekeeper to the spirit world.
You have torn the veil between the worlds.
(eerie screaming)
The Dorocha.
They are the voices of the dead, my child,
and like the dead they are numberless.
You are right to be afraid, Morgana.
Your enemies will rue this day and all the destruction it brings.
But you must beware.
Tearing the veil between the worlds has created a new world.
And you will not walk through it alone.
The one they call Emrys will walk in your shadow.
He is your destiny.
And he is your doom.
(Cailleach) Emrys...
- What happened? - I don't know.
l've never feIt anyone so cold before.
Will he be alright?
I’ll need hawthorn to improve the blood flow.
And blankets.
Lots of blankets.
When she spoke, her voice...
It was as though it came from the depths of the earth.
And her eyes...
They were so sad.
So much pain in them.
Who is she?
The Cailleach. The gatekeeper to ohe spirit world.
Why was she there?
It was on the stroke of midnight on Samhain's Eve,
the very moment when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.
It cannot be a coincidence.
- Why was I the only one to see her? - You have great power, Merlin.
For someone so gifted, such visions are not uncommon.
You don't understand. It wasn't a vision.
She knew who I was.
She called me Emrys.
What is it? What does it mean?
I’m not sure.
But if someone has torn the veil between the worlds,
then God help us all.
(tray clatters)
Merlin!
- Merlin! - What?
- (knocking at door) - Merlin!
That's not me.
Excuse me, sire.
You're needed in the council chambers urgently.
(woman sobs)
- What happened to her? - Her village was attacked.
- By whom? - It's not entirely clear, sire.
- What's your name? - Drea.
Drea...
I’m Arthur.
- Don't be frightened. - (Drea sobs)
(Arthur) Tell me what happened.
My mother, my father, my little sister, they're...
It's alright. It's alright.
Someone attacked them?
Who?
There was no one... Just shapes.
You didn't see their faces?
They had no faces.
(eerie wailing)
(Drea) I keep telling you.
They were there, but... they weren't there.
They moved so quickly.
It was as if they weren't real, but...
...they must have been.
I could hear the people screaming
and then... silence.
They were all... dead.
Hey, thank you.
- Where's this village? - Howden.
It's to the esst of the White Mountains. No more than haIf a day's ride.
Ready the men.
(woodpecker taps)
Merlin, you need your comfort blanket.
- What do you mean? - You're making me edgy.
- (neighs) - That's a horse.
- Maybe it sensed something. - That you're a clotpole.
- That's my word. - Yeah, and it suits you perfectly.
(Arthur) It's too quiet.
(creaking)
(door bangs)
(bleats)
(loud crunch)
Sorry.
(Elyan) Here!
You saw it?
We're literally chasing shadows.
Come on.
(rustling)
(squawks)
(heavy breathing)
(eerie moaning)
(distant screaming)
Leoht!
Leoht. Leoht!
(distant screaming)
(screaming continues)
(shrieks)
Fleoh nu on moras! Fleoh nu on moras!
Merlin!
What happened?
My magic... I couldn't use it.
- There's something out there. - You saw it?
- It saw the light and fled. - Let's get the horses.
It's not something you can chase or something you can kill.
We need to get out of here.
(eerie screaming and wailing)
(shouting / bells clang)
Gwen! Warn Gaius. There sre more victims by the western gate.
(shrieks)
(distant screaming)
Gaius.
Merlin.
You saw them?
Here, help me. Give me some more sheets.
Merlin?
My magic is useless against them.
l've tried.
I have never felt so powerless.
There's something deep inside.
And when it came for me, I felt this emptiness...
I couldn't breathe.
- I’m scared. - Merlin... It's alright.
It's not your fauIt.
We've suffered 50 desd, maybe more, mainly in the Lower Town.
There's no way of fighting them?
Our only weapons are torches and the light only repels them.
- What are they? - The Dorocha, sire.
The spirits of the dead. On Ssmhsin's Eve in the time of the Old Religion,
the high priestesses would perform a blood sacrifice and release them.
- Who would do such a thing now? - Morgana.
You see her hand in this?
(Gaius) We know she was travelling to the Isle of the Blessed.
How do we defeat these creatures?
I don't know, sire. No mortal has ever survived their touch.
(distant screaming)
I thought I saw something.
What was it, a spider?
Just pick it up.
- Do you want one of the maids to do it? - It's not a joke.
Yeah.
You see, Merlin, I could never be like you.
I couldn't let myseIf look so spineless.
Oh, I’m different. I could never let myseIf look heartless.
- What? - Alright, thoughtless.
- Never. - Definitely humourless.
That's because you're not funny.
(distant screaming)
You're not scared?
Oh, I am, Merlin.
Maybe more than you.
(distant screaming)
(whimpering)
Hey, hey, hey. It's alright.
It's alright. You're safe now.
(distant screaming)
(shrieks)
Thanks.
Couldn't let you have all the glory, could I?
They're coming from across the kingdom, looking to Camelot for protection.
- We will give it to them. - (Agravaine) We cannot house them all.
- We have to try. - (Agravaine) How?
We cannot live like this forever. We must try to vanquish these creatures.
Somewhere in your books, Gaius, there must be something.
All I’m asking for is a way to fight them.
I fear the Dorocha cannot be defeated by swords and arrows, sire.
If I’m right and the veil between the worlds is torn,
then there's only one path open to us:
to travel to the Isle of the Blessed and repair it.
- How do I do that? - I’m not sure.
But for the tear to be created, it would have required a blood sacrifice.
To seal it will require another.
We'll ride before nightfall.
And who will be the sacrifice?
If laying down my life will spare the people of Camelot,
then that is what I must do.
- My lady? - My lord.
I trust you bring me good news.
Tell me.
(Agravaine) The kingdom is on its knees.
- How terrible. - lndeed.
- What of the people? - More fall every night.
Such a shame.
You should know that Arthur intends to vanquish these creatures.
(chuckles) Impossible.
He makes ready to go to the Isle of the Blessed.
If the Dorocha don't kill him,
our brave little lamb intends to sacrifice himseIf to repair the veil.
Something's troubling you.
Morgana?
Something the Cailleach said.
She spoke of someone called Emrys. Called him my doom.
Your doom? What did she mean?
I don't know.
Morgana, we should be celebrating.
Arthur will be dead within the week,
leaving the throne open for Camelot's rightful heir.
There are many things I have to thank you for.
You've taught me so much.
But most of all you have taught me... what it is to be a prince.
I hope that this time you'll be proud of me.
Don't leave me.
I have to, Father.
Please...
Promise me you'll look after him when I’m gone.
What is it?
You don't have to go.
I do.
Please, Arthur, take care.
You are precious, not just the kingdom.
- Smile. - I can't.
Do you remember... the first time I kissed you?
There. That's the memory I want to take with me.
Take this. It bears the royal seal.
In my absence, responsibility for the kingdom rests with you.
What about your father?
Should he die, you're to assume the throne.
- Arthur... - You're the only person I trust, Uncle.
I beg of you, there must be another way.
My mind's made up.
I’m just grateful you're here.
Merlin, what are you doing?
- It is my destiny to protect Arthur. - How?
You're powerless against the Dorocha.
Then I must sacrifice myseIf in his place.
- No. - My life is marked out by destiny.
If this is meant to be...
..I’m not afraid.
I will gladly die, Gaius, knowing that one day... Albion will live.
Gwen...
- Will you grant me a favour? - Anything.
Look after him. Bring him home.
I will protect him with my life. You have my promise.
Thank you.
(horse neighs)
Elysn, look after the horses. They need water.
I need someone to volunteer to get wood.
I’ll do that.
You shouldn't be here. You have no powers.
Doesn't matter.
You're not a warrior, Merlin. I don't want to see you hurt.
If you leave in the morning, I’ll cover with Arthur.
It's your duty to protect Camelot, no matter what the cost.
Well, it's my duty to protect Arthur.
Surely you can understand that.
I can understand that very well.
(echoing shouts)
(caws)
(Morgana) Help me, emrys, please...
ls this really what you wanted, Morgana?
(gasps)
Emrys!
We need to reach Daelbeth by nightfall.
(Arthur) Pair off. Find any wood you can. Get the fires burning.
(eerie screeching)
(distant scream)
(distant screaming)
(eerie screeching)
(man screams)
(screaming)
(screams)
- Let's go! - We haven't got enough.
Go!
Bael onbryne!
It won't get us through the night.
It'll keep the area safe for a while.
The last one. Maybe we should draw lots to see who gets some more.
- I’ll go. - You'll need help.
I’ll go with him.
You sure you're the right person?
Since when have you known how to collect firewood?
(all chuckle)
(shrieks)
Merlin!
Let's go!
- They should be back. - Someone needs to look for them.
- We've only got one torch between us. - Who's coming?
(distant screaming)
You alright?
- It's cold. - Right.
You're not feeling it?
Merlin, you're braver than I give you credit for.
Really? Was that a compliment?
Don't be stupid.
(screaming)
Of all the things l've faced,
l've never worried about dying.
I don't think you should now.
Sometimes you puzzle me.
- You never fathomed me out. - No.
I always thought if things had been different, we'd have been good friends.
Yeah.
That's if you hadn't been such an arrogant, pompous dollophead.
We'll defeat the Dorocha.
We will, Arthur. Together.
I appreciate that.
You're a brave man, Merlin.
Between battles.
You don't know how many times l've saved your life.
If I ever become king, I’ll have you made you court jester.
(screaming)
They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
- Feels pretty dark right now. - It can't be long then.
(screaming)
Merlin, no!
What happened?
The Dorocha cannot be allowed to remain in this world.
The sundered veil must be restored.
(Merlin) Arthur intends to sacrifice himseIf to heal the veil.
I must take his place.
Merlin, you must not do this.
Corrected by Aiser for addic7ed.com