Merlin (TV series)/Recap/S02/E04 Lancelot and Guinevere: Difference between revisions

Back in Camelot a newly-dressed but still bloodied Morgana storms into the Council Chamber and demands that Uther send out a new team of knights to rescue Gwen. Arthur voices his opinion that it is Hengist who is responsible for the attack, and Uther points out that in that case, it would take a small army to retrieve a mere servant-girl.

 

'''Arthur''': My father's right. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. }}

 

Down in the physician’s chambers Merlin is packing his own belongings.

 

'''Gaius''': I wasn't going to try and stop you, Merlin. All I ask is you make sure you come back safely, too. }}

 

As Merlin and Arthur gallop through the woods Merlin manages to fall asleep in the saddle and topples off onto the forest floor. Arthur empties his canteen onto his face and demands that they keep riding.

 

 

Guinevere sits curled up on the bed in her prison cell when she hears a noise at the grating in the wall that looks out into the corridor. Standing on the bed, she’s able to peer through at Lancelot. Explaining the switcheroo with Morgana, Gwen tells him that when the ruse is discovered, she’ll be thrown to the Wilderen.

 

'''Gwen''': I still see the hope in you. I do not accept it is gone. }}

 

Arthur and Merlin look over a map, pinpointing where the ransom was meant to be delivered. Arthur comes up with a shortcut through the tunnels of Andor, but Merlin realizes from his face that there’s a catch. Arthur reluctantly tells him that the tunnels are infested with Wilderen.

 

'''Merlin''': Maybe we should go over the mountains. }}

 

Lancelot peers through the grate into Gwen’s cell and is relieved to see her still there. He promises that he won’t allow her to die here, only to say that he himself has little to live for.

 

'''Lancelot''': Then you have given me a reason to live. Be ready. I will come for you before nightfall. }}

 

Arthur and Merlin wash the gaia berries off by a stream and Arthur casually remarks that he was surprised they worked. Merlin is not at all impressed by this.

 

'''Merlin''': If she feels as you do, she'll wait for you. }}

 

In Hengist’s keep Gwen is shoved into the cage where Hengist is waiting, demanding to know why Uther doesn’t pay the ransom for his beloved ward. He backs her up against the bars of her cage and grabs one of her hands.

 

 

He orders her to be taken back to her cell and calls for Kendrick, having noticed that Lady Morgana has the hands of a serving girl. Back in her cell, Gwen finally breaks down in tears as she curls up on the bed and covers herself in Morgana’s cloak, unaware that at this moment Lancelot is drugging the guards by dripping a sleeping draught from a grate in the roof down into their stew-pot. Once they’re knocked out, Lancelot collects the key to the dungeons.

Guinevere hears the cell to her door open and sits up in alarm – but it’s only Lancelot who reaches out for her. With a wide smile, Gwen takes his hand and he whisks her from the room. Together they run down a dark tunnel as Hengist bursts through the cell and realizes that she’s escaped. With the fortress on alert, Lancelot guides Gwen to an escape tunnel and orders her to follow it until she reaches the forest; telling her that he’ll buy as much time for her as he can.

 

'''Gwen''': As long as I live, my feelings for you will never fade. }}

 

From the woods, Arthur and Merlin survey the fortress and Arthur decides the only way in is to scale the wall. Inside, Lancelot awakens from unconsciousness to find himself tied up in the cage, surrounded on all sides by laughing and jeering bandits.

 

'''Lancelot''': She is worth more to me that you will ever understand. }}

 

Facing death in the cage, Gwen apologies for not escaping, and Lancelot reassures her:

 

'''Hengist''': Release the Wilderin! }}

 

Lancelot stands guard and Merlin joins him as Arthur and Guinevere sleep in the background.

 

'''Lancelot''': My feelings do not matter. I will not come between them. Tell Gwen...tell Gwen that she has changed me forever, but some things cannot be. }}

 

Merlin and Arthur head down the castle steps together, noting an older couple walking arm in arm.

 

'''Arthur''': You really are a complete idiot, aren't you, Merlin? }}

 

* [[Holding Hands]]: A frequent motif between Lancelot and Gwen, perhaps most [[Tear Jerker|Tear Jerkingly]] when they link their fingers together on facing certain death. It's also what tips Arthur off to their attraction to each other.

* [[Go Out with a Smile]]: Lancelot ''almost'' manages this:

* [[Just in Time]]: Arthur and Merlin arrive just as Lancelot and Guinevere are being attacked by the Wildereen.

* [[Kick the Dog]]: Guinevere endures hell in this episode, having been kidnapped by bandits, forced to impersonate Morgana, spending two days in captivity, and continually threatened with death should the ransom money she ''knows'' isn't coming not be delivered. By the time of her rescue she's emotionally and physically exhausted, only for Arthur to protect his wounded pride by making a callous remark about why he came to save her. On the [[DVD Commentary]], even Colin and Bradley admit that it's pretty harsh.

* [[Shout-Out]]: No doubt the Wilderin were inspired by the R.O.U.S. in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]''.

* [[Single Woman Seeks Good Man]]: Gwen.

* [[Wham! Line]]: Not so much a line as a scene; when Arthur sees Gwen and Lancelot [[Holding Hands]] and their rather intense [[Held Gaze]].

* [[Window Love]]: Lancelot and Gwen talk through the barred window of her cell.

 

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[[Category:Recap]]