Once again, I am back with recaps for new Merlin episodes. This time around Gaius is charged with treason against Camelot and Arthur is approached by a woman claiming to have known his mother.

Episode 7 – The Witchfinder

Didn't your mother teach you that pointing fingers is rude?

Manipulating smoke to look like a horse brings a new kind of trouble to Camelot for Merlin. A witness to the apparition notifies Uther of what she saw and he sends for Aredian, also known as the Witchfinder. The Witchfinder has worked for Uther in the past, helping to seek out sorcerers and magic creatures who the king claims are a threat to the kingdom. Aredian begins his work right away, after making sure Uther can pay and feed him for his troubles.

You can tell from the moment they see each other that there is hatred between Gaius and Aredian. Perhaps Aredian was jealous of Gaius’ appointment to court physician. Gaius and Merlin do their best to keep Merlin’s magical abilities a secret, but the Witchfinder does have some skill and calls out Merlin for being a sorcerer. He offers several witnesses who claim to have seen things, even though Merlin hasn’t practiced magic since the Witchfinder arrived. Arthur scoffs at the idea of Merlin using magic, but Uther orders that Gaius’ home be searched for evidence. Aredian orders the guards to practically destroy the home, but not before he somehow smashes one very particular jar and finds a magic amulet hidden within. Gaius claims the amulet to be his, to cover for Merlin and spare him.

No Waterboarding, Just Medieval Torture Techniques

Gaius is then thrown into the dungeon and tortured by Aredian. During questioning, Gaius mentions that he has treated Morgana for nightmares. Aredian talks to Morgana, trying to find out more about them, and seems to be able to sense the magic abilities. Now he approaches Gaius with a deal: plead guilty to treason and practicing magic, or else he will reveal Merlin and Morgana’s secrets to the king. Gaius does so and is sentenced to death. Arthur sneaks Merlin into the dungeons for a visit with Gaius where the two realize the amulet had been planted. Merlin then slips into the Witchfinder’s rooms and finds belladonna in one of the cupboards.

Merlin runs to Gwen’s and tells her of the belladonna. They conclude that the witnesses Aredian brought forward when first accusing Merlin had to have hallucinated. But since Aredian could not have given it to the ladies directly, he must have disguised it somehow. Searching various shopkeepers leads them to one who sells belladonna eye drops to women who want their eyes to be more beautiful. After some bullying he admits it was the Witchfinder who sold him the drops. Merlin then sneaks back into Aredian’s room to do one last thing before Gaius’ execution takes place in the morning.

Gwen convinces Arthur to stay the execution long enough that Merlin can present evidence to Uther of Aredian’s lies. When his plot starts to unravel, Aredian is sure there is no physical proof to tie the story of belladonna eye drops to him. Now it is time to search Aredian’s chambers, where the cupboard is opened and dozens of amulets spill out and vials of eye drops sit on the bottom shelf. While claiming that Merlin is setting him up, he begins to cough and a toad comes right out of his throat. Convinced he is a sorcerer, Uther demands he be captured. However Aredian missteps and falls backwards out one of the bedroom windows.

For now, Merlin and Morgana’s secrets are safe, but Gaius and Uther’s friendship has become strained.

Episode 8 – The Sins of the Father

Lady in Shining Armor

It’s a beautiful day in Camelot. Uther is knighting new members to the royal guard, everyone is happy. And then a mysterious figure slaughters several guards upon entering the castle, throwing their gauntlet for Arthur to pick up. Arthur accepts the challenge and asks the knight to show their face. Surprise! Her name is Morgause.

Arthur and Morgause battle it out in front of everyone, only because Arthur can find no law saying a woman cannot cast a challenge. She wins and tells Arthur she will spare his life if he promises to meet her in three days time and undertake a challenge she will give him then. He agrees.

Morgana feels that she knows this Morgause somehow and has a short chat with her. She confides in the stranger that she has not been sleeping well, and Morgause offers her the bracelet she wears, saying it will help her. Morgana refuses, but the night after the duel, the visitor slips into Lady Morgana’s room and leaves it at the foot of the bed. Morgana has her first decent sleep in ages.

Before leaving in the morning, Morgause approaches Arthur as he is preparing for a morning ride. She informs him that she knew his mother, which makes him even more inclined to accept her challenge. She promises him that when the time comes, he will know how to find her and rides off. Needless to say Uther isn’t happy that Arthur accepted a challenge from the stranger, and becomes even more upset when Arthur says Morgause claimed to know his mother. Uther then commands that Arthur is forbidden to leave and puts a guard outside the door. But confinement has never stopped Arthur before. Merlin gathers supplies and the two leave in the middle of the night.

Queen Igraine

It’s soon discovered that Morgause enchanted Arthur’s horse to lead him to her castle beyond the waterfalls. Once inside, Morgause puts forward the challenge: that Arthur place his head on a chopping block. He does so, she lifts an axe and….. nothing. He kept his promise and so she now offers to let Arthur “see” his mother. She calls forth the spirit of Igraine, who then tells Arthur of the circumstances surrounding his birth and her death. When Igraine vanishes, Arthur storms off, fueled by immense hatred for his father.

Meanwhile, Uther has search parties looking for his son and speaks with Gaius about what Morgause could possibly know. Gaius then breaks his silence, telling his king that years ago instead of seeing Morgana’s half-sister killed, he had sent her to live with people from the Old Religion. Now they are left wondering if Morgause knows Morgana is her sibling, and how to make sure Morgana doesn’t find out.

Arthur vs Uther

When Merlin and Arthur return to Camelot, Arthur tells his father that he knows the truth. It becomes a very heated argument, with Uther not confessing to anything other than loving his son. Swords are drawn and they fight it out in the dining room. Arthur is just about to kill his father when Merlin bursts through the door and lies to Arthur. He tells his friend that Morgause was an enchantress, lying to him to turn him against his father. Merlin knows the truth, that what Morgause and Igraine said was all true. But Arthur needs his father, and breaks down crying while his father holds him.

Uther knows what Merlin did and that the boy knows the truth. He thanks Merlin in private for aiding in the fight against magic and pretty much threatens to kill Merlin should he tell anyone the truth about Arthur.