Time for two more Merlin recaps. This time its all about love as we get to see Merlin discover feelings for the fairer sex and witness more of the developing Arthur & Gwen love story.

Episode 9 – Lady of the Lake

Merlin and Gaius walk past a girl in shackles who is to be offered to the king for reward. Merlin does not agree that she should be kept prisoner like that, and sneaks out to free her once Gaius is fast asleep. He keeps her hidden within Camelot, bringing her food and candles to make sure she is okay. He discovers that she is said to be cursed, but does not believe it, and opens up to her, sharing his secret of being a sorcerer with her. She tells him her name is Freya but is reluctant to say much more.

Meanwhile her captor and the castle guards are on the lookout for her, and people are turning up dead in the morning. They appear to have been attacked by a large creature, yet human footprints are seen fleeing the area. During this time, Merlin and Freya talk more about themselves, Merlin moreso than Freya. Merlin is besotted with Freya and wants them to both leave Camelot and live together somewhere where no one can harm them.

Freya Turns into a Bestat at Midnight

Gaius has figured out that Freya is cursed and knows Merlin is the one who set her free, even if he doesn’t tell him the truth. He warns Merlin of what she is and tells him that he needs to inform Uther, for the safety of the people of Camelot. Merlin rushes to get Freya and leave, but she is not in the caves when he arrives. She has tried to leave on her own, but is cornered by Arthur and his men, just as the clock strikes midnight.

Merlin arrives in time to witness Freya’s change into a Bastet, a giant winged panther-like creature. She attacks the man who captured her, and is about to attack Arthur when Merlin causes a gargoyle to fall from the walls and distract his men. Freya is wounded and flees back to the caves. Merlin finds her gravely wounded and about to die. She recalls her story of days spent with her family before she became cursed, and so he takes her to a place similar to what she speaks of. She cannot be healed, but thanks Merlin for making her feel loved. Merlin then gives her a ship burial and returns to Camelot.

Episode 10 – Sweet Dreams

Alined & Trickler

A peace conference gathers the kings of the five major kingdoms in Camelot, where they are to negotiate a peace treaty. However, one of the kings conspires with his jester to halt the peace talks, as his kingdom thrives on war. King Alined has his jester, Trickler, create a love potion that will make Arthur fall in love with King Olaf’s daughter, Lady Vivian, who has accompanied her father to Camelot. Olaf is overly protective of his daughter, and would more than likely end the peace talks if Arthur and Vivian were to be entangled in some manner.

While under the spell of the potion, Merlin mistakes Arthur’s besottedness for Vivian with Gwen instead, stirring up emotions again for Gwen. Merlin eventually realizes that Arthur is under a spell and attempts to thwart Trickler’s plans to have Arthur and Vivian caught by Olaf. But when that doesn’t happen, Trickler takes it a step further, placing Vivian under the same enchantment. Merlin is hard at work trying to find a way to reverse the spell and thinks he may have found the answer. He arrives too late. Arthur mistakes a note from Gwen requesting a midnight rendezvous as a letter from Vivian and the two are discovered in bed together. Gwen goes to bed heartbroken that Arthur didn’t arrive, Merlin can’t break the spell in time and Olaf challenges Arthur to a contest to the death.

Breaking the Enchantment

The contest begins and Arthur is being pummeled. Unable to think straight due to the enchantment, Arthur faces the possibility of death. Merlin rushes to seek advice from the Dragon, who informs him that only true love can break the spell for an enchantment such as this. The young warlock rushes to Gwen, explaining the situation and begging her to save Arthur. Because she truly loves him, she rushes to his side, gives him a giant smooch and the enchantment is lifted. Arthur heads back onto the tournament grounds and faces Olaf in the final round of the contest.

When Arthur has Olaf pinned and is about to claim victory, he helps up the king and announces that it is no way to bring peace. Alined is furious as he sees that Arthur will not kill the king and start a war. The treaty is signed and the kings return home, Alined dragging Trickler behind his horse and Vivian still under the enchantment. Gwen and Arthur talk again about how their roles keep them from being together, and Merlin teases Arthur about the kiss in the tent.

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