02x12 - And the Camelot Conundrum

[bunniefuu]

[music]

- [bell dings]
- [crowd booing]

[laughter]

[crowd booing]

Those men are enormous,

yet they fail to dislodge
the sword.

Look at me, Merlin,
how can I possibly do

what those giants cannot?

You possess what these people
can only dream of.

Destiny.

You are the true son
of King Uther Pendragon.

[sword clangs]

[crowd booing]

I don't understand, Merlin.

But why are you so confident
in me?

Because, my child,

you are the purest of heart.

Humble, noble, and courageous.

Hmm?

You are the chosen one.

I'm the chosen one.

Uh-hmm.

- I'm the chosen one.
- [crowd booing]

[music]

[suspenseful music]

[expl*si*n]

[crowd gasps]

On second thought,
I think I am the chosen one.

Rhyddha'r cleddyf.

[dramatic music]

[crowd gasps]

[cheers and applause]

MERLIN:
The Sword Caliburn is mine!

I, Merlin of Camelot,

am now and forever,

your king!

[crowd cheering and applauding]

MERLIN: Yes!

Long live the king!
Long live the king!

ALL: Long live the king!
Long live the king!

[crowd cheering and applauding]

Merlin is rewriting history,
making himself King over Arthur.

With his knowledge of the past
and the future,

he will try to change
the course of events.

[crowd cheering and applauding]

[music]

Maybe he can save Camelot?

Maybe he can make things better.

CONNOR:
Not according to the Library.

I've been all through
the archives.

Apparently,
there's only one timeline

where ultimate good defeats
ultimate evil,

and we lived in it.

If Merlin succeeds,

our timeline will dissolve.

And all of us along with it.

So, how did we travel back
in time? How did he?

We were all in the Annex
one second,

and then, the next,
we were here.

The Reverie's Torc was used
to bring Merlin back.

Wait. So, we were caught up
in the spell

that brought us back to Camelot?

VIKRAM: Be glad we did.

For now, we have the opportunity

to thwart his plans.

He referred to the sword
as Caliburn.

Uh, wasn't it Excalibur

that Arthur pulled
from the stone?

Unfortunately for us,

it is not Excalibur,

or we could have had an ally

in this endeavor.

A common misunderstanding.

Often retold incorrectly.

Much like the erasure
- of my knighthood.

Caliburn was the sword
in the stone.

Excalibur was a gift
from the Lady in the Lake.

Also, how is Merlin worthy
of pulling the sword

- from the stone?
- MRS. ASTOLAT: He wasn't.

- He used a summoning spell.
- LYSA: Oh.

His addiction to magic has
already begun to corrupt him.

Like most addicts, he thinks
he'll never suffer

the consequences of his actions.

So we're out of time.

And Merlin has magic again.

But he is limited in his power.

We must stop him now
before he grows stronger.

Do not forget,
I am of this time.

I remember
those who opposed Merlin.

There may be enough
to raise an army.

Okay. So, we capture Merlin,

take him back to the Library,

and drain him of his magic.
Easy.

You and Charlie see
how many men you can gather.

Connor, Lysa, and I
should reconnaissance here

and find weaknesses.

We can meet back
at Broceliande Forest

before nightfall.

[metal clanking]

[music]

[metal clanking]

I can hear the gears clicking
in your head, Lysa.

- What are you thinking?
- I'm thinking that

the steam engine gave birth
to the Industrial Revolution.

And even though we're a thousand
years before it was invented,

watching that armorer
makes me realize,

we have all the knowledge
we need to create one.

Or something more powerful
perhaps?

We could build something
that Merlin's troops don't have.

What do you need to create
such a device?

Uh, materials.

Uh, I don't know what's possible

- in this time period.
- CONNOR: At Stuttgart,

I wrote a paper
on post-Roman Britannia.

I know what gets shipped
in and out.

I know the supply routes.

- Perfect.
- VIKRAM: Go.

See what you can find.

I shall try to retrieve

the Reverie's Torc.

[music]

[grunting]

What is it?

My God.

They're children.

- CHARLIE: Who are they?
- MRS. ASTOLAT: In a short time,

they'll be known as
the Knights of the Round Table.

[music]

[grunting]

[chuckles]

Well, you best keep
practicing those skills,

should you want
to be Knights of the realm.

It can't be.

[music]

Excuse me.

[panting]

Might I have a word with...you?

If you wish to tell me
I shan't battle boys

with sword and shield,
you're too late,

as I've already bested them all.

Your name is Elaine, is it not?

Do I know you?

You do not.

But I know you.

As well as I know myself.

I don't have time for riddles.

If you'll excuse me,
I have chores.

The kitchen chores
your father Bernard,

Lord of Astolat, requires
of you that you always avoid?

Or the chores you set yourself

to perfect the ways of battle,
to combat?

You know my father?

You do not know who I am.

And I cannot tell you.

But if you look into my eyes,
your heart will know

that I offer you truth

and knowledge
you should hold dear.

And what truth is that?

As intoxicating as it seems,

magic is not to be trusted.

- No matter who advises you to--
- You're talking about Merlin.

He is a manipulative trickster

who will say anything
to consolidate power.

He is not to be trusted.

Merlin is the only one
who believes in me.

Stay away from him.

His council is not
in your best interest--

Good day.

[groans]

Lovely day for a coronation,
was it not?

Hi.

He's pinned the Torc
with the sword.

Hmm.

[metal clanking]

[grunts]

Stone, release this sword.

Hmm?

[grunting]

As a Librarian, I command you,
release the sword.

Hmm?

[grunting]

Please!

MERLIN: It appears
you are simply unworthy.

You Librarians
are so predictable.

I knew you'd come for the Torc.

- [music]
- [chain clinking]

You are a fool, Merlin.

You cannot change
the course of time.

I already have, Librarian.

By making sure
this dim-witted imbecile

doesn't become King!

Um, Your Grace, shall I have
your meal prepared now?

Leave us.

You will fail, Merlin.

The corruptive powers of magic
are too great, even for you.

Had you listened to me,
you would be King.

Your weakness awakened
my strength.

It has already begun
to affect you, can you not see?

I see a world where magic can be
used properly.

Camelot could fulfill
its promise.

It was magic
that destroyed Camelot!

Not this time.

This time, I alone

hold the power of magic,

and will rule over a new world.

We will stop you.

The Library will stop you.

It will be fun watching you try.

I've seen every move
you've made.

I see all.

[suspenseful music]

MERLIN:
I will create the Camelot

that could have been.

And these loyal souls
will be my knights.

Not fools like Galahad
or weaklings like Lancelot.

My liege, we stand ready
to follow and protect you.

Yes. Yes, yes.

You are switching timelines.

Do you not know what that means?

It means no Spanish Inquisition,

no Black Death,

no world wars
to torment our future!

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

ARTHUR: Uh, I'm sorry, Your--
sorry, Your Grace.

Uh, Your--Merlin--
uh, Your Majesty?

King. Majesty--

What now?

I thought I'd sent you away.

- Your guest has arrived.
- My guest?

Elaine of Astolat.

MERLIN: Oh, yes.

Of course.

Send her in.

[music]

YOUNG ELAINE: You sent for me,
Your Highness?

Oh. Rise, my child.

- How may I serve you?
- I have beckoned you here

for a great purpose.

As your new King,
I will need a trusted coterie

of loyal knights dedicated
to the high ideals of Camelot.

A literal inner circle
that will sit with me

at the Round Table
to chart a brighter future.

It sounds wonderful.

But I do not understand
how that involves me.

I have chosen you
to be First Knight.

Me? Your Grace, being a knight
has been my dream!

Yes, yes. I know.

But I didn't think
it was possible.

In my realm, my dear, truly...

- nothing is impossible.
- Don't listen to him, Elaine.

Silence him, Arthur!
Quickly, boy!

ARTHUR: This is not gonna hurt.

Merlin... [grunts]

[laughs]

Yes, my dear.

You will lead my royal guard.

Now, we shall need a name.

How about the Knights
of the Round Table?

Oh, shut up, you idiot!

No.

This will be the birth
of a new order.

One that will live
on for centuries.

This fellowship hereafter

shall be known

as "The Serpent Brotherhood."

[music]

- LYSA: Stop!
- Whoa, whoa, there.

Stop!

I beseech thee!

I, uh--uh, please,
uh, I need thy help.

- What troubles ye?
- Hildebald.

- Hildebald?
- Yes. Hildebald!

Is that--is that your kin?

No, no. It is my pet.

- Your pet?
- Yes. My pet...

weasel.

Uh, he was in my basket,

and then, he escaped,

and absconded to the shrubs--

uh, that way, sorry.

- A weasel?
- Yes.

It must be well gone
by now, lass.

Do not say that, man.

He is the most dearest creature
I know.

I don't know
what I would do without him.

I love him
more than anything else.

Now, now. Don't despair.

I will help you find him.

Oh, wonderful. This way.

Do we--he's, uh--
oh, no, that's a rock.

- OXCART DRIVER: Oh.
- LYSA: Wait, if you--

can you see--
can you see movement?

OXCART DRIVER: Not really, no.

LYSA: Maybe if you go further.

- OXCART DRIVER: Further?
- LYSA: Yeah.

OXCART DRIVER: Oh, Hildebald!

LYSA: All the way.

[music]

CONNOR: Is this enough coal?

Uh, yeah, it should be.

Okay. So, my thinking is
this coal dust,

along with the magnesium
chloride that we've extracted

from the briny lake,
should interact

with a few more
natural compounds and...

Boom.

- Boom.
- Boom.

- [horses neigh]
- [music]

You men can set up
your camp over there.

[horse neighs]

That's it?

That's the army?

More may come later. I hope.

- What did you say to them?
- Merlin has many enemies.

Didn't take much to persuade
them to join our cause.

- Who did you say that we were?
- The Librarians, of course.

[chuckles]
Even works in medieval times?

If you do it right.

Still no word from Vikram?

[crow cawing]

I'm not waiting any longer.
I'm going after him.

Vikram can take care of himself.

He's a grown man.

Have you met Vikram?

Well, grown-ish man.

You were right.
Your friend is being held

in a chamber deep inside
of the castle.

MRS. ASTOLAT:
My spy has returned.

- That's it. I'm going.
- Ugh.

Milady, it's impossible.

The castle
is being heavily defended.

Hey, look, if I've learned
anything from you, Charlie,

is that we have to work
as a team, all right?

If we're gonna save Vikram,
we need a plan.

Did you learn
what Merlin was planning?

SPY: No. But when I left,

several of Merlin's men
rode off.

I heard one of them shout

that they were on some kind
of divine quest.

Did you see
where they were headed?

Yes. They went up north
on the Asgorath road.

- [horse neighs]
- [music]

[horse neighs from a distance]

Unhand me.

I told you
to stay away from Merlin.

Merlin made my dream come true.

He Knighted me.

Why should I trust you?

[sighs] Because I am you.

What is this divine quest
Merlin sent you on?

Our quest?

To retrieve the Holy Grail.

- [horse neighs]
- MRS. ASTOLAT: Listen.

We cannot let Merlin
find the Grail.

If he drains
that vessel of its magic,

he'll become too powerful for us
to take back to the Library.

But in Arthurian legend, Arthur
never gets the Holy Grail.

Galahad found it.

And he brought it back
to the Library.

Yes, but Merlin
is rewriting history.

He knows where
the Holy Grail was found

and he's sending
his knights there as we speak.

Except he's getting it wrong.

You said
you intercepted Merlin's men

on the Asgorath path?

That leads
to the town of Corbenic.

But the Grail was found
in Corbenic, was it not?

No, no.
When we went on our expedition

into the depths of the Library,
I went through the archives

of hundreds of artifacts.

I remember reading
that the Grail was not found

in the Town of Corbenic
as commonly believed,

but was, in fact,
found in the Corbenic Caves.

But that's in the complete
opposite direction.

From our position here,
we can get to the cave and back

before they realize
their mistake.

Then, let's go.

LYSA: Connor, this is amazing.

- Thanks Lysa, but, uh--
- No, hey.

Connor, you literally told us
that your greatest fear

is to fall down
a rabbit hole of the Library,

and lose it, but--

I mean, look at you.

You're amazing at this, like...

you were born to be a Librarian.

[music]

[muffled speaking]

- [grunts]
- Yes?

It is not too late to undo
the damage that you are causing!

Stop this derangement
while there is still time!

Deranged?

No. What is deranged

is you not accepting
the power I offered you.

Changing the past
will not relieve the guilt

you feel
over the fall of Camelot.

It's not my misuse of magic
that caused its demise.

Had it all been in my hands,
none of this would've happened.

- You shall see!
- Oh, you are deluding yourself!

Ugh! You are so negative.

- [muffled speaking]
- MERLIN: Arthur!

Yes, my liege.

Yes. Send word to my Knights.

The real location
of the Holy Grail

is in the Corbenic Caves.

Corbenic Caves,
Holy Grail, Corbenic Cave.

MERLIN: Quickly, lad!

CONNOR: Ah, the texts
in the Library said

that it was found
hidden in a stalagmite.

Described it
as "a chaste vessel."

There must be hundreds of.

About a needle in a haystack.

LYSA: Hey, guys.

Come check this out.

This stalagmite looks weird.

Natural ones are formed
by calcium carbonate,

slowly deposited
by dripping water.

Uh, it creates this, uh, layers

and, and tiny impurities
that are trapped inside. See?

But this one's surface
is smooth. It has no banding.

Without impurities that
could be considered "Chaste."

- What is that?
- Vinegar.

You just happened to have
a vial of vinegar?

Vinegar is very useful.

It's always good
to have some handy.

Ah. See? No fizz.

Real calcite would react with
acid, to create CO2 bubbles.

This one is made
of some resin or plaster,

maybe a synthetic material.

This is the one.

Now we just have to figure out
how to get inside. Uh...

- CHARLIE: Okay.
- Wait. Ooh.

- [stalagmite shatters]
- CONNOR: Ooh.

Well, that is one way to do it.

- [panting]
- [music]

I can't believe
I'm holding the Holy Grail.

MERLIN: It won't be for long.

Hand it over.

- You know I can't do that.
- Take it from him.

[swords unsheathing]

[swords clanking]

[grunting]

[rumbling]

[grunting]

[music]

[rumbling]

CONNOR: Lysa!

[music]

LYSA: [groans] Thanks, Connor.

Connor! [gasps] Oh, my God!

- Oh, my God!
- CHARLIE: Come on, help me.

[grunts] Come on!
Come on! Come on!

[grunts] Come on!

[panting]

LYSA: Help. Oh, my God.

No. No, we can save him.

We can use
the Holy Grail to save him.

Where is it? Where is it?
And we could use it.

- We can save him, right?
- MRS. ASTOLAT: Charlie.

Lysa.

We need to get out
of here right now.

No. No.

Charlie,
get her out of here now!

- LYSA: No.
- Leave them.

We have what we need.

[horse neighing]

[music]

It should've been me.

He died saving me.

No, this is isn't your fault.

I was his Guardian.

I should've done more.

I just can't believe he's gone.

MRS. ASTOLAT: Enough of this.

We have no time for tears.

Mrs. Astolat,

- Connor is--
- Dead.

And if you want to honor him,
then let's finish the job.

How can you be so heartless?

Merlin has the Grail.

If he completes the ritual
to drain it of its magic,

his power will increase tenfold.

We can all tally our losses
when and if we prevail.

If we do not,
then none of this will matter.

We must smash through the gates
if we're to have any chance

of capturing Merlin.
Have our troop numbers grown?

Another 10 arrived,
but that is all we have.

[clicks tongue]
It will have to be enough.

We will need a full as*ault on
the gates. We must get inside.

And once we're inside
the courtyard and on position,

I will snap off the valve, the
liquid will drain and combine,

and will create an expl*si*n
that will take out the guards.

Once we get inside the Castle,
we just have to stop Merlin

draining the Grail of its magic.

And save Vikram.

If we're not too late.

The sun will soon set

and I can start the ritual of
taking the magic from the Grail.

I mourn the loss of Connor.

His death weighs on me.

But you should have
listened to me, Vikram.

His blood is on your hands.

Hmm.

[music]

Boy, alert the troops.

Inform our guards to attack
the intruders out on the bridge.

MRS. ASTOLAT:
Why are they opening the gates?

You think it's a trap?

VIKRAM: You underestimated
the Library, Merlin.

Your arrogance
will be your downfall.

CHARLIE: We're out of time.

Trap or no trap, we have to go.

- Attack!
- [troops hollering]

[grunting]

Arrogance is a human trait.

You forget, I'm only part human.

O drakon,
e male so ftengometta...

Merlin, Merlin no.

[grunts]

VIKRAM: Merlin,
you cannot summon that!

I already have.

- [dragon roaring]
- [music]

The dragon
will k*ll indiscriminately.

[screaming]

Your own men
will be lost as well!

[fire sizzling]

Lysa!

[grunts]

- You ready? Okay.
- Yeah.

[grunts]

MRS. ASTOLAT:
Come on. Let's go, Lysa!

[Charlie grunts]

[dragon roaring]

[Lysa gasps]

MRS. ASTOLAT: Hurry!

- I'm sorry. I can't do this.
- Huh?

Hold it together, Librarian.

I can't. Charlie...

It's up to us now.

You have to set off the device,

so that we can get
inside the Castle,

or she will have sacrificed
herself for nothing.

- Yeah. Okay.
- Uh-hmm.

You stay here.
The blast is gonna be intense.

- What about you?
- I'll be fine.

Once I break the seal,
I'll have seven seconds.

- Right.
- Okay.

Yeah.

[panting]

[gasps]

[music]

Merlin, I beg you! End this!

[music]

MRS. ASTOLAT: No.

No. No!

[device explodes]

[knights screaming]

Lysa!

[Mrs. Astolat screams]

[music]

[knights grunting]

[swords clanking]

[knights grunting]

[music]

[thuds]

MERLIN: Well done.

I'm impressed.

[panting]

You're coming back
to the Library with us, now.

The only person
going anywhere is you

to your final resting place.

You forget, you cannot harm her.

Elaine of Astolat is immortal.

She wasn't always immortal.

[whistles]

Elaine, no.

My dear, as First Knight,

will you do anything
for your king?

Of course, Your Majesty.

Then die for him.

[grunts]

[music]

No.

MERLIN: You cannot be immortal

unless you live long enough
to become immortal.

[music]

You are a monster, Merlin.

Look at what you have become.

I offered you the world,

all the magic and power.

You would've had it all,

but your mind is too small.

You lack the vision

to understand the good
you could've done.

Good?

Good?

Like the good you're doing now?

How many people
have you k*lled, Merlin?

And for what?

You cannot change time.

[exhales sharply]

As someone who tried,

you cannot go back
and fix the past.

[music]

Arthur!

Your Highness?

Take this vile rogue
to the tower!

I can't stand to hear
any more of his wretched voice.

[chains rattling]

[music]

[chains rattling]

I'm sorry about your friends.

It must be a terrible loss.

Perhaps.

Perhaps?

It doesn't have to be this way.

I can bring them all back.

What? But how?

The Merlin who rules as King,

is he the same man
you have known your whole life?

No. Just before he grabbed
the sword from the stone,

he's become a different man.

A horrible man, is he not?

We can stop him.

We can end all of this madness.

And I can bring my friends
back to life.

How?

The Reverie's Torc.

That is what changed
the Merlin you once knew.

Release me.

I can get the Torc
and reset everything.

I can use its magic
to restart this timeline,

save my friends, and free you
from Merlin's tyranny.

Surely, this is not
the Camelot you imagined

in your heart of hearts.

[music]

My God.

We must hurry
while Merlin is preoccupied.

[music]

[footsteps running]

[music]

[metal pot clangs]

[music]

[explosions]

We just need to free
the Reverie's Torc.

Then I can undo
all of this insanity.

But how will you get the sword
from the stone to free it?

Not me, Arthur.

You.

What? I can't.

Yes, you can.

The sword was
always meant for you.

You are pure of heart.

You are the one who's worthy.

Trust me.

[music]

I did it.

I released the sword.

And I have the Torc.

Now, all I have to do is--
[grunts]

Die.

Just like your friends.

[thuds]

[swords clatters]

[panting]

[music]

[panting]

You fool.

What have I done?

It wasn't supposed
to be like this.

I didn't mean to k*ll them.

It was supposed to be
different this time.

I was supposed to bring glory
to Camelot.

It wasn't supposed
to be like this.

You were good.

I saw that.

[sobs] I thought, with you,

I could rewrite history.

But you warned me.

You told me my obsession
with magic had blinded me.

You were right.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

And now, just like before,

I've destroyed everything.

[cries]

VIKRAM: Finally.

Oh.

It's about time
you came to your senses.

How?

Oh, that? Yes.

[grunts]

[sighs]

I have a history with daggers.

[music]

Wait, what happened?

- A little nightmare magic.
- Sound familiar?

The same legerdemain
you employed against us.

Turnabout is fair play,
is it not?

When I knew
you tried to steal the Torc,

I realized what I had to do.

Just as you had manipulated us

by entering our dreams
and nightmares,

we would do the same to you.

You believed
you had taken the Torc

and absconded with it
back to Camelot,

but I had actually activated it

and sent you into a deep sleep.

No. I am still the master

of Reverie's Torc.

So everything that happened
after that point...

Was a dream.

Or rather, your nightmare.

[sighs] Thank goodness.

CONNOR: And if you weren't
in a dream state,

you would've known
that the Reverie's Torc

has no magic
that would allow time travel.

The Torc is an artifact
that allows its users

to enter the dream state
of another person.

We had to enter yours
to bring you around.

- Bring me around?
- Uh-hmm. Yeah.

We realized
that this isn't your fault.

Your need for magic is--
it's an addiction.

CONNOR: And an addict
can only truly see

their own compulsive behavior
when they hit rock bottom.

So we made sure you could see
what would happen

if you had all the magic
you craved.

Of course, even as a dream,

had I not retrieved the Torc,

we all would've had to suffer
the consequences

of that reality.

Well, I am sorry.

You risked it all for me.

To save me.

We didn't actually save you.

You're too powerful a wizard.

Anyone who can conquer Merlin
is Merlin.

"Sometimes dreams reveal
the truth reality obscures."

A very, very wise man
must've said that.

I don't know what to say.

Say yes.

MERLIN: Now what's this?

An invitation from the Library.

Turns out, the Library
is in need of an Archivist.

VIKRAM: Hmm. You'll need
to work deep in the Library

using your invaluable
knowledge of magic

to categorize and preserve

the greatest magical artifacts
the world has ever known.

See it as a chance
to start over.

Redemption.

We're big on second chances
here at the Library.

[music]

Remarkable.

VIKRAM:
Mrs. Astolat will escort you

to where you will be working.

I'm afraid
it's rather a long walk.

Your kindness and generosity
overwhelm me.

Well, empathy is
a Librarian's greatest tool.

Hmm.

You could not change
the past, Merlin.

But this is your chance
to shape your future.

You have opened my eyes,
all of you.

And though I have a long way
to go on my journey,

I realize now that,
despite my best intentions,

magic belongs only in one place,

here, in the Library.

My gratitude to all of you
will be my guiding star.

Okay, now you're
just monologuing.

One last thing.

Do you all really trust me

with the most powerful magical
artifacts in the world?

The Library has a way
of keeping everyone--

- And everything.
- --in line.

[Excalibur whining]

- Yeah, we're not stupid.
- [Excalibur whining]

- Excalibur. Yes, my old friend.
- [Excalibur whining]

- I hope to make you proud, too.
- [Excalibur whining]

Well, if you are ever in need

of a knowledgeable, educated,

and, hopefully,
contrite magician,

you all know where to find me.

Shall we?

[music]

[Excalibur whining]

- Good job, Librarian.
- Yes, Librarians.

Good job, indeed.

Agreed. Well done, Librarians.

Really?

No appreciation
for the Guardian?

Seriously?

ALL: Thank you, Guardian.

- VIKRAM: Come on.
- CHARLIE: Okay.

So, who is up
for a new adventure?

[music]