MERLIN CLUB: The Fires of Idirsholas

MERLIN CLUB: THE FIRES OF IDIRSHOLAS

Or the One Merlin Finally Listens to the Dragon and Breaks Jess' Heart

Before we get to the recap and questions... I'm going to take a moment to squee about If Ever Would I Leave You being released this week. :) 

I can't tell you how excited I am about this book--there just aren't words to adequately describe it. 

I got to write about Arthurian legend and be a part of a collection with Jenny and Bronwyn - two of the most amazing people I know and am lucky enough to call my friends. 

Not only that, but this book made me fall in love with writing all over again. Seriously. How freaking lucky am I? 

So I invite you to buy this book and enjoy three amazing Authurian-inspired stories. 

Surfacing by Bronwyn Green

A Choice Fit for a Queen by Jenny Trout 

and

The Deepest Cut by yours truely. :)

Available NOW on Amazon & Smashwords

And now on to our regularly scheduled Merlin Club post...

RECAP—The episode opens in the ruins of a castle (I think) with Morgause performing magic near seven still figures, and when she is done (Ending with the ominous “Uther Pendragon!” which is never a good thing, yeah?), the figures can now move.

In Camelot, Uther is informed that smoke has been seen from the citadel of Idirsholas. Gaius warns Uther of the legend that says the Knights of Medhir will ride again if the fires of Idirsholas burn. Even though he’s skeptical, Arthur decides to investigate

Gaius tells Merlin what’s what—three hundred years ago, seven of Camelot’s knights were seduced by the sorceress Medhir. They swore to serve her, destroying everything in their path. They only stopped at Medhir’s death, becoming lifeless without her magic.

When Arthur, Merlin and some knights get to Idirsholas, they are met by the Knights of Medhir. 

Merlin uses magic to defend them—secretly, of course—but in the end, it’s only Arthur and him who survive. They decide to go back to Camelot to come up with a plan of attack.

Morgana is contacted by Morgause, and they meet in secret. So much tension between the half-sisters…and not the angry kind. O.o 

They both hate Uther so much that Morgana agrees to help Morgause. The sorceress puts Morgana to sleep and performs some sort of spell over her. When Morgana wakes, back in her bed, she finds that a strange illness is sweeping through Camelot—people become weak, tired, and eventually fall asleep.

When Arthur and Merlin return, everyone is asleep, and the boys can’t wake them. They make their way through the castle. In Morgana’s rooms, they find Morgana hiding. Arthur seems suspicious that Morgana is the only one awake, but Merlin says, Gauis gave her a potion before he fell ill, so that must have made her well.

They hurry to get to Uther and hide him as Morgause and the Knights enter the castle. Things go from bad to worse when Arthur and Merlin begin to fall ill with the magical sickness. Merlin says he’ll go search for the potion Morgana took.

He manages to elude the Knights and ends up down below the castle asking the Great Dragon for help. The dragon, who is pretty pissed at Merlin, finally agrees to help when Merlin swears on his mother’s life that he will release him if he does. The only way to break the spell is to kill the source of the magic—Morgana.

Though hesitant and troubled, Merlin takes a bottle of hemlock from Gaius’ chambers and returns to Morgana and Arthur who are trying to get Uther to a cart outside. They are stopped by the Knights, and Arthur fights with them to give Merlin and Morgana a better chance to get Uther out.

Morgana falls, and Merlin ignores when she calls for help. A Knight nearly kills her but stops, as if recognizing her. He goes after Merlin instead but Arthur saves him. The group ends up in the throne room. While Arthur fights off the knights again, Merlin poisons the water he has and offers it to Morgana. She refuses several times, but finally drinks it. She has trouble breathing, and Merlin apologizes as she begins to die.

Morgause senses her sister’s distress and rushes to her. She demands to know what poison Merlin used, but he says he’ll only tell her if she stops the attack. She threatens to kill him, but he points out Morgana will die with him. She halts the attack and Merlin gives her the empty bottle. Morgause uses magic to escape with Morgana.

Uther thanks Arthur, but Arthur feels he failed because he didn't protect Morgana. Uther says it is his fault.  He insists Morgause can’t be allowed to get away with what she has done.

In Gaius’ chambers, the physician tries to comfort Merlin, telling him he did the right thing. He says that Morgana chose to use her gift for evil. Merlin leaves, saying he has to do something. He gets a sword he took from a Knight—crafted in the Old Religion—and goes down to the Great Dragon. He asks what the dragon’s intention are. His response: there is only one road he can take.  When Merlin begs him not to harm Camelot, the dragon says enough bargains have been made. Merlin breaks the chain with the sword and the dragon is free.

If I’d written this episode, I would have changed…I don't know that I'd change anything about this episode specifically. I've already talked about things I'd change about events leading to this, but things being what they are...I don't see anything I'd change, really. 

Thing(s) I loved about this episode—The Merthur moments, of course--Arthur protecting Merlin, treating his "first battle wound". 

The slap, when Arthur starts to fall asleep. 

And freaking A, Colin Morgan. The guy can act. When Merlin poisons Morgana...damn, he's good. 

Thing(s) I hated about this episode—Gauis saying Morgana chose not to use her gift for good. Pisses me off because it was the lies and everything Gaius kept from her that drove Morgana to do what she did (helping Morgause etc). She was desperate for acceptance and love, and didn't have that in Camelot. She was alone. 

Something I never noticed about this episode before—Jen pointed this out when we were watching... When Arthur goes to fight off the Knights, he says "Protect the king." Not "my father", but "the king". Shows how, in that moment, Arthur is all about duty to his king and his people. He's not thinking as a son. 

Here is proof of some head canon I’ve created—The tension between the sisters...there's something there. Seriously. The incest-y vibe, I can't be the only one feeling it. 

Also this is where Morgana's character turns completely. She hates Uther, yes, but after this episode and being with Morgause, she becomes completely different when we next see her. I'm convinced Morgause does more than just take care of her; she uses magic to gain Morgana's full allegience. 

Favorite costume—

This pic shows my fave costume--the green cloak--and my least favorite--Morgause's dress. I hate it. 

What would Bron steal from Camelot in this episode? Morgana's cloak. 

What made Jen lose her shit (in a good or bad way) in this episode? Oh this is a tough one this week. I'd say Uther lounging on his throne at the beginning of the episode...he's all lazy and smug...

Bron’s Merlin Club: The Fires of IdirsholasPost

Jen’s Merlin Club: The Fires of Idirsholas Post

Next week, 7/14 at 8pm EST, we wrap up season two with The Last Dragonlord.

Get your tissues ready.There will be crying, my friends.

 We’ll be on Twitter with the hashtag #MerlinClub