- Merlin: Why did you never return?
- Balinor: I thought her life would be better without me.
- Merlin: Why?
- Balinor: Uther wanted me dead. If he'd found me, he'd have killed me... and your mother. I wanted her to be safe.
- Merlin: We could've come with you.
- Balinor: And what kind of life would you have had here?
- Merlin: We'd have been... happy. When we have finished in Camelot, I'm going to take you to Ealdor.
- Balinor: She won't recognize me. I see her in you.
- Merlin: Yeah?
- Balinor: You have her kindness.
- Uther Pendragon: [looks out a window] There must be some way to rid ourselves of this aberration.
- [the advisors look at each other and King Uther looks at Gaius]
- Uther Pendragon: Gaius?
- Gaius: [unfolds his arms] We need a Dragonlord, Sire.
- [Prince Arthur looks up]
- Uther Pendragon: You know very well that's not an option.
- Gaius: Sire what if... there was indeed one Dragonlord left?
- Uther Pendragon: [looks out a window] That's not possible.
- Gaius: But if there was?
- [King Uther turns around and walks towards Gaius]
- Uther Pendragon: What are you saying?
- Gaius: It may just be rumour.
- Uther Pendragon: Go on.
- Gaius: [quite confident] I'm not exactly sure but... I think his name... is Balinor.
- Uther Pendragon: Balinor?
- Arthur: Where does he live?
- Gaius: He was last seen in Cenred's Kingdom, in the border town of Engird, but that was many years ago.
- Arthur: [gets up, clutching his shoulder] If this man still exists, it is our *duty* to find him.
- Uther Pendragon: [to Arthur] Our treaty with Cenred no longer holds. We are at war.
- [Merlin uses magic to hurtle a spear at the Dragon, but the spear bounces off]
- The Dragon: [to Merlin] Do not imagine that your petty magic can harm me!
- [the Dragon flies away]
- Merlin: [shouts] Why are you doing this? You're killing innocent people!
- [Gwen is attending to Arthur]
- Gwen: [seriously] You shouldn't have risked your life.
- Arthur: [quite proudly] I wasn't going to let anything happen to you.
- [Gwen smiles and as she applies a wet cloth to Arthur's chest, he puts his hand on her hand. They don't see Gaius watching nearby and he happily walks away]
- Merlin: [working in his chamber] Who were the Dragonlords?
- [Gaius is walking around and Merlin turns to him]
- Merlin: Gaius?
- Gaius: [turns around] There were once men who could... talk to the dragons. Tame them.
- Merlin: What happened to them?
- Gaius: Uther believed that the art of the Dragonlords was too close to magic, so he had them all rounded up... and slaughtered.
- [short pause]
- Merlin: But one survived. How did you know?
- Gaius: [quite smug] I helped him escape.
- Merlin: [quite surprised] Gaius.
- Gaius: [walks towards the table Merlin is working at] Merlin, you've never heard the name Balinor?
- Merlin: No.
- Gaius: Your mother never mentioned him?
- Merlin: My mother?
- Gaius: [walks around the table] She took him in.
- Merlin: [seriously] She stood up against Uther?
- Gaius: [gently insisting] Yes.
- Merlin: [quite surprised] She was brave.
- Gaius: [in agreement] Yes. When Uther discovered where Balinor was, he sent knights to Ealdor to hunt him down. He was forced to flee.
- Merlin: [confused] Why didn't my mother tell me any of this?
- Gaius: [gently] Merlin... I promised her I would never speak of these things.
- Merlin: Of what?
- Gaius: [gently] I've always treated you as my son... but... that is not what you are. The man you are going to look for... is... your father.
- [Merlin is silently shocked and takes several sharp breaths]
- Merlin: [in disbelief] My father...?
- Gaius: Yes.
- Merlin: [emotionally] He was a Dragonlord. Why did no one ever tell *me*?
- Gaius: [gently] I wanted to. Your mother feared it would be too dangerous.
- Merlin: [insisting] I had a right to know!
- Gaius: [gently] She wanted to protect you.
- Merlin: [emotionally insisting] No. I had a right to know.
- [outside, soldiers and servants are attending to the damage as Merlin is preparing to leave]
- Gaius: You got everything you need?
- [Merlin is concerned he may have upset Gaius earlier]
- Merlin: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...
- Gaius: [nods understandably] I know that.
- Arthur: [approaching his horse] Come on Merlin.
- Merlin: You're ready?
- [Prince Arthur mounts his horse]
- Arthur: [annoyed] No thanks to you.
- [Merlin goes to his horse and sees Arthur silently straining]
- Merlin: You OK?
- Arthur: [not bothered] It's just a scratch.
- [Merlin mounts his horse and Prince Arthur rides on ahead]
- [Gaius joins Gwen on top of one of the castle walls]
- Gaius: Are you missing Morgana?
- [Gwen briefly smiles]
- Gaius: [assuring] She's stronger than people think. I believe that wherever she is, she'll be all right.
- Gwen: And Arthur?
- Gaius: You care a lot for him, don't you?
- Gwen: [smiling] Everyone does.
- Gaius: [turns to Gwen] I think he cares the same way about *you*.
- [Gwen smiles but looks uncomfortable]
- Gaius: [assuring] It's all right. I won't tell anyone.
- Gwen: [looks at the castle for a brief moment] I know it can never be.
- Gaius: [looks out from the top of the wall] Well, the world's a strange place Guinevere. Never underestimate the power of love. I've seen it change *many* things.
- [Gwen smiles and looks confidently from the top of the wall]
- Arthur: I always thought silence would be a blessing with you, but I find it just as irritating. You're a riddle, Merlin.
- Merlin: A Riddle?
- Arthur: Yes. But I've gotten to quite like you.
- Merlin: Yeah?
- Arthur: Now that I realize you're not as big a fool as you look.
- Merlin: Yeah, I feel the same; now that I realize you aren't as arrogant as you sound.
- Arthur: You still think I'm arrogant?
- Merlin: No
- [Shaking his head]
- Merlin: More... supercilious
- Merlin: That's a big word Merlin. Are you sure you know what it means?
- Merlin: Condescending.
- Arthur: [With a nod] Very good.
- Merlin: Patronizing,
- Arthur: [Shaking his head a bit] It doesn't quite mean that.
- Merlin: No. These are other things you are.
- Arthur: Hang On!
- Merlin: Overbearing.
- Arthur: [Arthur hears a twig snap and picks up his sword.] Shh...
- Merlin: [Not having heard the snap, he looks over and repeats louder] Very Overbearing.
- Arthur: Merlin!
- [Trying to get him to be quite.]
- Merlin: But, you wanted me to talk.
- Merlin: [Somberly, Merlin is helping put Arthur into his armor. Trying to lighten the mood] Well, look on the bright side Merlin, chances are you won't have to clean this again.
- Merlin: [Merlin looks very serious at him] You Must be careful today. Do Not Force the Battle.
- Arthur: Yes! Sire!
- Merlin: I'm Serious.
- Arthur: I can hear that.
- Merlin: Let matters take their course.
- Arthur: Merlin, If I die, please ...
- [He trails off and Merlin stops what he is doing and looks at him]
- Arthur: What?
- Arthur: The Dragonlord today ... I saw you; one thing I tell all my young knights: no man is worth your tears.
- Merlin: Yeah.
- [clearing his throat]
- Merlin: You're certainly not.
- Arthur: [Arthur picks up a sword and then looks puzzled when Merlin picks up one too.] What are you doing?
- Merlin: I'm coming with you.
- Arthur: Merlin, the chances are I'm going to die.
- Merlin: Yeah. Yeah. You probably would if I wasn't there.
- Arthur: [Scoffing] Right
- Merlin: Do you know how many times I've had to save your royal backside?
- Arthur: Well, at least you got your sense of humor back.