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| Episode 201: The Curse of Cornelius Sigan Recap
 The story opens in the dead of night in Camelot. Deep beneath the castle a group of workers dig into the stone. A man strikes his pick into the wall and it goes through, forming an opening. Foul air gusts in and the workers shield their faces. The worker peers through the dark opening into a chamber that has been undisturbed for hundreds of years.
A stone coffin rests at the center, surrounded by a king’s ransom of treasure. Excited now, the workers break through the opening, eager to enter the chamber.
Arthur Pendragon is also awake at this late hour. The constant banging from below has kept the young prince from his sleep. He tosses in his bed, sighs and calls for Merlin.
 Merlin rushes into the room, “Yes sire?”
“Are you deaf?” The sleepy Pendragon asks.
“I wish…”
Arthur orders Merlin to go below and tell the workers to stop for the night, despite the fact that they are working under the King’s orders. Merlin protests.
“But you’re working under mine.” Arthur tells him and climbs back into bed.
When Merlin comes upon the scene the workers are fleeing past him, screaming for their lives, they’d entered the chamber before Merlin had arrived and had tripped an ancient trap in the floor. They weren’t sticking around to find out what would happen to them.
 Merlin enters the chamber cautiously. A soft whisper emanates from the stone sarcophagus. A crystal heart sits in the chest of the stone coffin. It glows blue with unearthly light. Merlin bumps up against a man kneeling at the base of the stone coffin. He touches the man’s shoulder gently and the body topples over.
The victim’s face is cold and grey as stone, his eyes wide open, face frozen in the horror of a painful death.
Gaius and Merlin inspect the chamber. Gaius is drawn to the glowing heart. Merlin asks him how the man dies, who the tomb belongs to, is the place cursed, but Gaius has no answers for his many questions. Gaius steps onto the base of the coffin, triggering the trap. A poisoned arrow shoots from the mouth of a crow statue above the coffin, but Merlin’s quickly levitates a metal dish from the floor and saves Gaius with the makeshift shield.
Gaius thanks are cut short as Arthur and Uther Pendragon enter the room. Uther is pleased that so much treasure was found beneath Camelot and brushes aside the dead body on the ground. He’s not surprised that there are traps in the chamber, there’s a lot to steal. He orders the tomb locked and sets Arthur in charge of keep it guarded round the clock.
 Still later that night two men meet at the Rising Sun Tavern. Our villain for the episode Cedric listens to an intriguing story about the treasures of the burial chamber. The worker who discovered the treasure trades the location of the key to the tomb for a bag of coins, which Cedric immediately steals back when the gullible worker looks the other way. Now only one thing stands in Cedric’s way, the keeper of the keys… Arthur Pendragon and the only other person who’s allowed in Arthur’s room, Merlin.
The next day Cedric is in full plan mode and he watches Merlin and Arthur leave the castle. One of Merlin’s new tasks it seems is being a human step stool for Arthur as he mounts his horse. Arthur sits proudly on the horses back for one moment before the saddle buckles slips loose and Arthur topples to the ground. The common folk of Camelot are wise not to laugh!
“Merlin!” Arthur growls, picking himself off the ground.
“I don’t understand. I did that girth up myself.”
“Well I think that might have been the problem.”
 Cedric swoops in with Arthur’s horse and secures the girth correctly.
“It’s an honor to be of service to the Prince.” Cedric says humbly.
Arthur gives Merlin a bit of a look. “An HONOR, did you hear that Merlin.”
Cedric produces a brush out of nowhere and dusts the prince off. “Allow me the honor of brushing your clothes down” Cedric continues.
“The HONOR.” Arthur mouths to Merlin to drive the point home.
Arthur is enamored with Cedric’s attention and invites him to be a beater on the hunt. Merlin gets the last word as he hands Cedric a beater and slams it into Cedric’s stomach.
“Here, you need a beater…”
(Seems Merlin’s a bit jealous?)
Back at the castle, Gaius is in investigation mode. He examines the crow engraving on a ring he found in the tomb and matches the bird to the coat of arms of “Sigan” in his handy coat of arms book. He heads back to the tomb with his magnifying glass and inspects the runes around the crystal heart. He’s onto something!
 In the forest, Arthur and his men are on the scent, Arthur motions for the men to be quiet and with barely a warning a giant, (and I mean giant as in medium elephant sized) boar comes charging towards them. The knights all kind of look at each other like… um no It’s YOUR turn, and Arthur who seems to be the only one with guts, hurls his spear at the beast but it barely scrapes the boars side and doesn’t slow him down. Cedric drops his spear and backs away, Arthur’s in the line to be trampled … and Merlin saves the day by levitating a spear and firing it into the boar’s side. Cedric humbly takes the credit, when he sees no one else is stepping forward. Arthur offers him any reward and Cedric makes his move.
“I only desire one thing sire, position in the royal household.”
Cedric’s got his in.
 Merlin returns home dejected as usual.
“I saved Arthur’s life, someone else got the credit. "Just the usual.” He mopes.
Gaius draws his attention away by showing him his findings. Gaius has transcribed the ruins from the coffin and is trying to decipher them. He tells Merlin about Cornelius Sigan, the most powerful sorcerer who lived. He could change day into night and whose spells built Camelot itself. But Sigan knew his end was coming and searched for a way to defeat death.
“Do you think he found it?” Merlin asks.
“Let’s hope not, for all our sakes…” Gaius says gravely.
Gaius brings his concerns to Uther Pendragon. He warns Uther that the tomb they discovered belongs to Cornelius Sigan and that if they continue to excavate they may unleash the soul of Sigan onto Camelot. Sigan had cursed Camelot, vowing to return and raise it to the ground. Uther isn’t having it though; Gaius’ warnings are irrational he believes. No man can overcome death. He warns Gaius before he leaves the hall
“Do not spread panic amongst my people. This is foolish superstition, nothing more."
 For the first time this season we see Morgana, she is in her bedchamber, tossing in her sleep. In her dreams a giant raven flies over Camelot, its wings large enough to black out the moon. The bird screams and rips Morgana from her sleep. She screams for Gwen who comes running to her. Gwen holds her, tries to comfort her, but Morgana seems inconsolable.
The next morning, Merlin enters Arthur's chambers, carrying a modest breakfast of bread and cheese.
“Is that lunch?” Arthur asks?
No it’s break….fast...” Merlin turns around and sees the feast that Cedric has prepared and is serving Arthur. Cedric winks at Merlin’s obvious defeat. Arthur assures Merlin that Cedric has everything covered, but Cedric has one humble suggestion.
“I regret sire there is one thing I failed to do… muck out your horses…” Cedric struggles to keep a contrite look on his face and Merlin is beside himself.
“Off you go.” Arthur sends him on his way. (Ouch)
Cedric kindly gets the door for Merlin. (OUCH)
 Gaius visits Morgana in her bedroom. She tells him of her dream of the raven, but Gaius plays it off as nothing. Morgana is panicked that her nightmares are returning, but Gaius reassures her and his solution is that he’ll have Gwen give up poor Morgana heavier drugs.
“Like a blow to the head.” Morgana says glibly. “I’m sure she wants to.”
Gaius has no answer for her.
Down in the stables, poor Merlin sets about cleaning the stables. Somehow unaware of the giant smoke bomb that’s been tossed into the window. He mucks as the room fills up with smoke… (Really?) and passes out, into a pile of horse manure! Merlin can not get a break here!
Cedric sneaks in and frees all the horses, sending them charging into the streets of Camelot and past Arthur.
 Arthur stands over Merlin who wakes up from his slumber.
What are you doing?
Uh, Nothing?”
“I can see that”
Merlin stands up, half his face covered in horse manure.
I wasn’t sleeping…. I was just… bending down.” Merlin offers confused…
“Looking for something…” Arthur adds.
Yes…
“Perhaps we’re looking for the same thing?”
“What…”
“Oh I don’t know… THE HORSES!”
“The… Hor… ses…” light bulb on. “Oh!”
Cedric slips into the middle and suggests that Merlin perhaps take the night off to rest. Merlin protests, still a bit baffled, but growing angrier. He accuses Cedric of treachery and loses it calling Arthur a “clot pole” and is dismissed for the night.
Merlin slumps back to Gaius’ heartbroken. Gaius can do little to console him. He wipes the dung from his face and Merlin starts into a bit of a slashy speech.
 “I’m not an idiot.” Merlin sighs.
“What happened?”
I just want Arthur to trust me and to see me for who I really am.
One day he will.”
When? Everything I do is for him and he just thinks I’m an idiot.”
Gaius again, brings him out of his sulking with more bad news. He’s translated the carvings and Camelot is in grave danger.
“He who breaks my heart completes my work.” The crystal jewel contains the soul of Cornelius Sigan. If someone removes the stone, then Sigan will be free.
Cedric has finally made it to Arthur's bed camber. He steals the key as Arthur retires; his work there is done; now it’s off to do some looting! It doesn’t take him long to spot the GIANT crystal heart and force it free with his dagger. A cloud of blue smoke overtakes his body and Sigan has found a new host.
Merlin wakes as the transformation is complete. Gaius and Merlin investigate the tomb and Merlin quickly comes to the realization that the only one who could've stolen the key to the tomb was Cedric. You can almost see Merlin screaming “I KNEW IT, THAT BASTARD!” inside his head. He runs to warn Arthur.
 “Cedric is possessed by an evil spirit…” Merlin launches into his crazed explanation about souls and evil magicians that has Arthur wondering if Merlin’s been drinking.
Merlin loses what tiny amount of patience he has and screams for Arthur to listen to him.
Arthur instead has Cedric escort Merlin from the palace. Or so he thinks. Merlin launches into smack down mode and attempts to strangle Cedric on Arthur’s floor. After a bit of ineffectual wrestling and face pushing, Arthur tackles Merlin and has him thrown into the dungeon.
That night, Cedric/Cornelius stands all Gothed out in Camelot square, he’s even had time to brush his hair and find the best raven feathered jacket in town. Unlike Cedric, Cornelius Sigan has style! His first order of business is calling down the gargoyles to attack the town. Arthur reports to Uther that there are gargoyle attacks all over the city, Uther sends the knights to defend Camelot.
 Gaius finds Uther and delivers a bit of an “I told you so!” Uther is stubborn.
Camelot will not fall to a sorcerer while I’m king he says as a huge crack forms in the wall and the crest of Camelot tumbles to the ground. (Um…)
Arthur and the knights fight the gargoyle with little success. Gwen, Gaius and Morgana tend to the wounded and Merlin paces around his cell. Arthur gets a few blows in on the gargoyle but gets thrown back by a powerful stone left hook. Merlin gives up on calling for help and busts open the door wizard style.
Outside, a gargoyle dive bombs at Arthur but he’s pulled out of the way by Gwen, who’s had to have been working out if she can drag a man in full armor out of the path of a gargoyle! Not to be outdone, she saves him again, pushing him to the ground out of the path of the dive bombing gargoyle (shouldn’t they be looking for cover/) and landing on top of him.
 “Sorry sire.” Gwen says flushed at her position.
“No, my pleasure.” He returns. (And so the first GwenxArtur exchange of the season has begun!)
They hurry back to the castle and she tends to him.
Guinevere, I wanted to say… just… you always surprise me.” (Cue romantic music)
“Is that is sire,” Gwen says, getting flushed again.”
That’s it… oh and... Thank you.”
Uther comes in to get the grim report. Arthur tells him that there have been countless deaths. Uther orders to seal the citadel, but Arthur protests. Sealing the citadel would mean leaving the people who are caught on the drawbridge to die. Arthur leaves to save who he can, as his duty to Camelot and himself.
Merlin calls Gaius aside; he has to find a way to destroy Sigan. Gaius tells him there is only one being alive who is old enough to know how to defeat Sigan, the great Dragon. He confesses to knowing about Merlin’s visits to the great dragon. Merlin is skeptical. The last meeting with the Dragon had been less than pleasant. Gaius urges him, there is no other choice.
Arthur and the Knights arrive at the drawbridge and find only bodies, it’s too late. The orders switch from rescue to checking for survivors, but even that order is halted as a gargoyle swoops in to attack.
 Merlin once again goes down to the place he swore he would never return to. The chamber of the great Dragon.
“You told me I would not see you again.” The Dragon announces upon his arrival.
“I’m not here for myself, I’m here for Arthur.”
“Arthur’s path lies with yours, you’ve made it clear that you do not walk with me.
The Dragon is still angry at Merlin’s betrayal. “At least Sigan knows where his loyalties lie.” Merlin challenges him, tells him that he knows that although he may be pissed off at him, The Dragon is not an evil being and won’t let Camelot fall. The Dragon agrees, on one condition, Merlin must give him the promise that one day he will free the Dragon. “If I release you, what will you do?”
“That is not your concern…”
Merlin’s hand is forced. There is no other way to save Camelot so he makes the promise and the Dragon breathes the ancient knowledge into him.
 Back in the square, the gargoyle is raining down damage. Arthur’s path of retreat is cut off and the men are ordered to retreat without him. The Knights rush back into the castle and seal the doors. Uther is overcome with grief; his son has been left to die. The Knights hold him back, if Uther opens the door, they will all die. The castle walls begin to crumble.
Merlin rushes onto the scene and saves the fallen Arthur from an attacking gargoyle with a powerful blast of magic. The square is filled with mist, bodies litter the ground. He rushes to Arthur’s side.
“Who would've believed it? You, a sorcerer.” Cornelius Sigan strolls forth to see his adversary. “And a powerful one.”
 “I won’t let you hurt him.” Merlin lays down the challenge, stands up before Sigan to defend the fallen Arthur.
“And you’re going to stop me?” Cornelius challenges.
“I’ll stop you."
He does not deserve your loyalty. He treats you like a slave.”
“That’s not true.”
“He casts you aside without a moment’s thought.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“But it must hurt, so much, to be so put upon, so overlooked…”
Sigan launches into his Darth Vader “Join with me, together we can rule the world” speech but Merlin turns him down.
“Better to serve a good man, than to rule with an evil one.”
Cornelius realizes that there’s no arguing with him. If you don’t join with me, I shall switch to plan B…
Cornelius switches to plan B. Possession.
Cornelius’ spirit leaves Cedric’s body and the blue smoke snakes around Merlin, Merlin tries to counter, reciting the spell the Great Dragon taught him, but the soul enters him. Merlin falls to the ground convulsing, and for a moment, Merlin’s eyes go black with Cedric’s soul. (Not looking good here!)
 Gaius approaches cautiously onto the scene of carnage. He calls out to Merlin, standing in the fog, Merlin walks forward, serious and dark and we don’t know. Is he, isn’t he? Even Gaius looks uncertain, until Merlin flashes his wide smile and holds up the crystal heart, now pulsing blue again with the trapped soul of Cornelius Sigan.
Sigan’s tomb is walled up again, and the blue heart buried forever.
 The next day, Gaius meets with Uther who is now convinced that the only way to go is a complete crackdown on all magic. “Magic is evil. It is our greatest threat.” He’s going to step up his ban. It's going to be open season on sorcerers and their followers; he’s gearing up for a cleansing of Camelot.
The final scene is at hand. Gaius gives Merlin a small reward for his once again saving Camelot… stew! Arthur shows up and gives a roundabout apology, and also a By the way, here’s my armor to polish. Once again. Things are back to normal in Camelot.
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