01x08 - The Fey Queen

[bunniefuu]

[ominous music plays]

[monk] Send word to Father Carden.

Tell him I've found the camp.

Ride fast.

Return with numbers. Go.

[paladins] Yes, brother.

[horses bray]

[eerie ethereal music plays]

Why wasn't I told about this?

I thought it was your idea.

They rode all night from Rue Gorge.

In his condition?

[Gawain] I do not like

him bringing outsiders here.

Nimue.

This is Druna.

Druna's a smuggler.

A pretty queen.

[Arthur] Silks, spices,

-and people.

-[Druna] There are three ships.

Arrive in maybe six days.

I can move your people.

[Arthur] To Byzantium.

What about the Fey still in hiding?

The other villages? We can't run now.

We can't feed who we have.

You have the sword.

We have seen what you can do with it.

[Nimue] And it left me weakened, drained.

My power has limits.

[Arthur] There are Fey of ten clans here.

Think of what we could save.

Their cultures. Languages.

You could start over.

We have no gold to pay you.

[Druna]

The Red Paladins are thieves and liars.

They play pure,

then they take bribes and steal my cargo.

I'm happy to hurt them.

You said six days?

You are not considering this?

I promised them I would protect them.

I have to consider this.

[tense music plays]

[gasping breaths]

[grunts]

[Cora] There are still survivors

out there.

Villages that need our protection.

[Nimue] Cora, I know.

But as it is,

we can't even feed who we have.

Why are we to trust him?

Because he's earned it.

In blood.

[girl] They're coming!

-[Nimue] Who is?

-The Weeping Monk.

Red Paladins. I don't know how many.

They know where we are.

-How far?

-A day's hike.

-Maybe sooner.

-We need to fortify our defenses.

Fortify our

We can't stay here.

-They'll smoke us out like rats.

-Can the ships come any sooner?

They'll take longer, if anything.

So we need at least six days' shelter.

I need maps here!

The first city beyond Moycraig

is Gramaire.

Would your uncle help us?

[scoffs] Not in the best of times.

Besides, I was told that the Red Paladins

have taken Gramaire.

-[Nimue] And your uncle?

-Let him rot.

[Nimue] As long as

the paladins occupy Gramaire,

they have endless food and supplies

to wage w*r on us in the hills.

We'll never survive.

So we take it back.

Take what back?

Take Gramaire?

Even a holding force, we'd be outnumbered.

Four, five to one.

An hour ago,

you were ready to take on the king's army.

Yes, but this--

We are out of food and space.

Now we're out of time.

We would only have to keep it

for six days.

Time to rest.

Recover.

Resupply.

Look, this is our only chance at survival.

-They won't dare suspect it.

-[Gawain] Because

well, it's bloody mad.

Have you thought about how to do this?

They want the Wolf-Blood Witch.

So let's give her to them.

[Eydis] You have heard the truth

from Lady Cacher,

the midwife who delivered the dead heir

and paid in gold for the false king.

Uther Pendragon

is a fraud and a liar!

Spread her words.

Every man, woman, and child

should know the rot

that lords on over from on high!

False king!

[man 2] Usurper!

[exclamations of agreement]

[man 3] False king!

-[indistinct chattering]

-[Merlin] Cacher's testimony is spreading.

Soon the militias will turn your way,

softening the soil

all the way to Castle Pendragon.

The midwife serves you well.

She does.

Now, what does she cost?

The safety of one Fey girl.

That's it?

That's it.

Does this girl have a name?

Nimue.

Mm.

What is she to you, Druid?

To me?

Not very much.

It would be a promise kept.

For a moment, I thought the dreaded Merlin

had a human heart after all.

Don't you worry.

I will consider your request.

But for now, how's your appetite?

I hear northern venison is superb.

Watch him carefully, brother.

What are they doing here?

We have a guest from the south.

I think we will all have much to discuss.

Come.

So, let us feast.

[crows caw loudly]

[door slams closed]

Prior to your interference,

we had Merlin in check,

the Sword of Power within our grasp,

and now we have neither.

Only this

nonsense [chuckles]

of midwives and usurpers.

There are mobs chanting this.

Tell us this is just

one of Merlin's foolish parlor tricks.

Tell us!

I was never meant to raise children.

You see,

I was meant to rule.

That was my talent.

Queen Mother to all my subjects.

But in this pathetic world of men

with their foolish bloodlines

and antiquated rules,

that wasn't meant to be.

I was relegated to make you king.

And it would seem I've failed

in that one simple task.

-Mother--

-But I'm not, you see.

I am not your mother, Uther.

I assure you,

my true son

would be made of finer steel.

You are not the true king.

I bought you.

I claimed you as my own.

I placed you on the seat of power.

You have

ruined us.

[Uther sobs gently]

I may not be your mother, Uther,

but I shall always be the Queen Mother.

Now, you will do exactly as I say,

and you will forge alliances

as I instruct,

and only then will you weather this storm.

Tear us down,

and you will suffer

as we suffer.

I do not wish to be your enemy.

Nor do I fear it.

[Carden] My paladins cleansed these lands.

I bring them to you as an offering.

[Cumber coughs, laughs]

[clicks tongue] Is this how it works here?

The Church tells kings

which lands they own

and what to do with them?

A king guided by Rome

has the power of God behind them.

A king guided by Fey wisdom

as offered by a Druid

suffers the fate of Uther.

Now, I've got it.

Your accent.

That's the town of Dunrow talking,

isn't it, Carden?

You have a good ear.

[Merlin] Mm.

Not exactly known for its bishops,

though, is it?

Dunrow?

I assume your father worked the mines?

And his father before him.

I had a different call.

[chuckling] Ah! Get off it, Carden.

You didn't see God in the Church.

You saw an exit from that nothing town

you crawled out of.

The clergy took you,

but the Pope didn't.

You couldn't buy your way in,

so now you offer blood and ash.

Your paladins have grown

and are feared throughout this land.

And yet you remain here, instead of Rome.

There speaks a man

with neither faith nor country.

The Church and their Trinity Guard

have great power, my king.

None of it is sitting here.

[Carden] Merlin twists the truth

to complicate a simple choice,

Your Highness.

Are you for the Fey,

or are you for the Church?

I am for

myself, priest.

No other.

As it should be, Your Highness.

But know

that in a few hours, at sunrise,

the choice

will be taken out of your hands.

The Lord's fire

will purge the last remaining Fey

from existence.

[tense music plays]

[ominous music plays]

[monk] Advance.

There's no one here!

-[paladin 1] There's nothing.

-No one!

There's nothing.

Find them.

Scour the wood.

They can't have gotten far.

[paladin 2] There's no sign of them.

No one.

Burn it all.

Torch it!

Torch it all!

Brother.

[mystical twinkling]

[whispers] The Wolf-Blood Witch.

The Wolf-Blood Witch!

[shouts] The Wolf-Blood Witch! To arms!

To arms!

The witch is upon us!

Assemble the guards!

[paladin 1] Make ready!

[commander] Come on!

-Step aside! Out of the way!

-[horse brays]

Make way there!

Move! Move there!

Clear the way!

Move!

Make way for the paladins!

[tense music plays]

[horse brays]

[paladins yell]

[yelling continues]

[hoofbeats echo]

[horse brays]

[paladins continue yelling]

[paladins yell indistinct warnings]

[yelling continues]

[horses bray]

[ominous music plays]

[eerie clanging]

[horse snorts]

[paladin] There is no escape, witch.

Surrender your arms.

-[indistinct whispering]

-[slithering]

-[rumbling]

-[paladin] Did you not hear me?

[indistinct whispering]

[paladin] Surrender your arms!

[indistinct whispering]

[indistinct whispering continues]

[paladins scream]

[paladins scream]

[distant screaming]

[screaming intensifies]

[distant screaming continues]

[paladins yell in distance]

[screaming stops]

[distant horse brays]

[horse brays]

Send in another wave.

Did you not hear me?

Send in more men!

[paladin 1] The witch! The witch!

The witch! She's there!

[ethereal music plays]

[paladin 2] Witch!

[paladin 3] Draw your weapons.

She has powers!

[paladin 4] Keep your eyes open!

[paladin 3] She is unclean!

Surrender your arms!

Or meet the fate of your brothers

in the wood!

[indistinct murmuring]

[commander] Leave her!

-What's going to happen?

-Witch!

Vallus shall serve your head to Rome

on a spear.

[paladin 5] May the Lord keep us.

[murmuring]

[Nimue grunts lightly]

[Nimue pants]

-[mystical twinkling]

-[paladins murmur]

[paladins murmur]

[paladin 6] k*ll her!

[groans]

[paladin 6] Duplicitous wh*re!

-[paladin 7] Are you scared to fight her?

-[paladin 6] k*ll the dark witch!

[paladins jeer]

[paladins call out encouragement]

[Vallus] Come on, witch.

-Fight me.

-[paladin 8] That's right!

She has ungodly powers!

[paladin 9] Come on, Vallus!

-[paladin 10] Quickly, now.

-[paladin 11] Come now!

[paladin 10] k*ll the witch, Vallus.

[dramatic music plays]

-[grunting]

-[jeering]

[Nimue groans]

[paladin 12] Yes!

Nothing there, brothers.

[Nimue grunts]

[Vallus] There's nothing

to fear here, brothers. Nothing.

What you see is a child.

[Nimue grunts]

[paladin 13] Finish her! Finish her!

[Nimue groans]

[paladins shout encouragement]

-[groans]

-[cheering]

Nothing!

[Nimue groans]

[paladins] Come on!

Now you see!

Brothers, you see,

she is but flesh and bone.

[cheering turns to jeering]

[groans]

[jeering fades]

[groaning, panting]

Please. Give me your power.

Give me your strength.

I beg you.

[mystical twinkling]

-[suspenseful music plays]

-[paladins jeer]

[Nimue yells]

[Vallus groans]

[thud]

[Gawain] Drop your arms!

[bowstrings stretching]

Leave your swords,

and you will be allowed to live!

Death to the Fey!

[paladin] Stay back!

Anyone else think

they can outrun a Faun archer?

[panicked yelling]

Tell Carden the Green Knight

and the Wolf-Blood Witch

send their regards!

[paladin] Run, brothers!

[mystical twinkling]

[Nimue groans]

-[man 1] Fey Kind!

-[woman] Fey Kind!

[man 2] Fey at the gates!

[rousing music plays]

[townspeople murmur]

[tense music plays]

[seething breaths]

[ominous music plays]

She'll be all right, child.

Go back to your clan now.

Go on.

[Pym, muffled] Nimue.

I I'm here.

I'm here, Nimue. Open your eyes.

Pym?

Am I dead?

[chuckling] No, you idiot. I lived.

-Come here.

-[poignant music plays]

[both giggle]

[Nimue] Oh, sorry.

Hey.

I saw you. They they took you.

I know. I know.

When the arrows came, I ran.

I ran all night.

Then I fell in with the raiders,

and we ended up here

in the paladin dungeons.

And you you made it. You're here.

How are you here with Arthur?

Quit yapping like goats.

Respect the sick and dying.

That's a Moon Wing.

A mean one.

[chuckles]

Can you walk?

Uh

[Nimue winces]

[eerie wind howls]

[screeching]

[yelling]

-[Pym] Nimue?

-What?

Oh. Uh

Yes. Yes, I think I can walk.

Good. I need your help.

[knocking on door]

Arthur.

Aunt Marion.

Uncle.

-Where's your stolen sword?

-I'm not here to fight.

Oh?

What are you here for?

-For a hero's greeting?

-I'm here to tell you Gramaire is free.

Free, are we?

You declared w*r on the Church

on my behalf.

I didn't expect a "thank you."

But you deserve one, so thank you, Arthur.

We'll be here six days,

and then move on.

We hear them talking.

They're calling this girl the Fey Queen.

You don't follow a queen.

You follow a peasant

with a target on her back.

-You speak of her a--

-Arthur, no.

You could never hope to understand.

Nor would I wish to.

You can tell this Fey Queen

I will speak with her.

I have nothing more to say to you.

[door closes]

[indistinct chattering]

[bell tolls]

[bell continues tolling]

[ominous music plays]

[gasps]

Seek the dead man

who stands outside the Bell Tower.

[gasps]

[bell continues tolling]

[man groans]

[Morgana] Um

When they used to bring the sick

into the convent, I I would

I just thought

I could be of some assistance.

[Yeva] Don't think about what they are.

Help them pass peacefully.

[poignant music plays]

The Hidden work through you,

and I thought I thought Lenore,

she was a true healer,

and so maybe you can do something for him.

[Nimue] But, Pym, I

I've never healed anyone before.

And [sighs]

And I'm weak. I

[sighs]

I I barely even feel it right now

after the forest.

I'll try.

[Pym] Dof.

Dof.

This is Nimue.

She's the friend I was telling you about.

-She's here to help.

-[strained breathing]

[strained breathing continues]

-[strained breathing]

-[Nimue breathes sharply]

[poignant music plays]

[slithering]

[indistinct whispering]

[indistinct whispering continues]

[gasps]

[panting]

He's beyond my help.

-I'm so sorry, Pym.

-No, it's my fault.

Come on!

Dof.

Dof, Sigurd is with you now.

He'll protect you. Okay?

Can you feel it?

[weakly] Minnow.

Yes?

For you.

No. No, you need it more than me. I

I want you to have it.

Protect you.

[poignant music plays]

[Pym] Thank you.

Thank you for saving me.

Minnow.

You know I don't like that name, Dof.

What is your name?

It's Pym. [sniffles]

I know it sounds funny.

-Yeah.

-Funny.

My Pym.

I like it.

[breathes weakly]

[Pym] Dof? Dof?

Dof? Dof? Dof? No!

Nimue, please help me.

Dof.

[whispers] Dof?

[Nimue] Pym, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Come on.

Come on.

Dof would brain me from Valhalla

if I took that.

It's yours.

[raider] Fey Queen.

We thank you for giving us our freedom.

You've earned the thanks of the Red Spear.

By the gods, we need friends.

[strained breathing]

[wind howls]

[breathing becomes increasingly strained]

[heavy breathing]

-[eerie music plays]

-[whooshing]

[ethereal music plays]

[Morgana gasps]

[distant strained breathing]

-[eerie whooshing]

-[Widow inhales sharply]

[paladin gasps for breath]

[Morgana gasps]

[Morgana breathes shakily]

[ominous music plays]

[Morgana sniffles]

[eerie scurrying]

[Morgana breathes shakily]

[paladin gasps for air]

[eerie whooshing]

[breathes heavily]

[horse brays]

You wake us early.

You march us to the middle of nowhere.

For what?

For whom.

To beat a devil,

you must make a deal with one.

Milady, Regent.

Your Majesty.

It would seem

we have a mutual problem.

The eldest returns.

Tell.

The midwife plays her part.

The crowds believe her.

The first villages fell in line with ease.

And the others?

On the road, by the time

we reached the fourth or fifth city,

word had preceded us.

But in the last two towns, something

troubling.

Witchcraft troubles you?

That's a person, Father.

The symbol of the Wolf-Blood Witch,

the new Fey Queen.

She's called Nimue.

Ah

Merlin's Fey girl.

He wants her alive

and a friend to this court

as payment for the midwife.

[Eydis] Father,

she wields the Sword of Power.

With it, she's taken the city of Gramaire

from the paladins.

They say even humans now bow to her,

and call her--

I am the king of this land,

not some peasant witch!

[Eydis] This girl,

perhaps a few weeks ago,

she could have surrendered to you,

been a ward of the court,

the way the Red Spear--

We don't speak of her!

[sighs]

[Eydis] I don't mean to upset you,

but by possessing

the Sword of the First King,

this Nimue makes a claim

to what is rightfully yours.

She cannot be welcome here.

She must be conquered.

And the Sword of Power

should be wielded

by you alone.

[tense music plays]

[door opening]

[Ector] Ah! Here she is,

the Queen of the Fey.

Sorry to disturb you, my queen.

This man demanded

that you come before him.

Demanded?

Lord Ector,

I'm sorry we have not spoken sooner.

I thank you for this sanctuary.

Well, it was not offered, milady.

It was taken.

I had not finished.

True, it was taken.

But I assure you, until we leave here,

you are welcome as our guest

-Hmm.

-in Gramaire.

Once we have our safe passage,

the town will be returned to you.

But until then,

you are in my seat.

[Gawain] You heard her.

[door opens]

Did you devise this humiliation, Arthur?

You will address our queen.

[door closes]

Gods, you're all just children.

I have no argument with your kind

and no love of Red Paladins,

but do you truly think you're safe here?

Hmm?

Do any of you?

You were safer in your caves and trees

or wherever the hell you were hiding.

We were starving.

You'll starve here too,

but only if you're lucky.

You've doomed yourselves

and all of Gramaire with you.

I hope you're happy.

Enjoy your brief reign

Queen of the Fey.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[sighs]

[ethereal music plays]

[reverential music]

Can I sit on it?

[slaps] Manners, boy.

Ow!

What news?

In the light of the new day,

our count has come up short.

We're missing a dozen Fey, maybe more.

Some sick, some children.

A convoy of refugees

that should have arrived hours ago.

[Gawain] On their own,

ripe targets for paladin patrols.

Form a search party.

With your permission,

I will join the hunt.

May I go?

If the Green Knight allows it.

-Well

-[door closes]

alone at last.

It it suits you.

[chuckles] Don't be silly.

I don't know what possessed me.

Your uncle has a way

of getting under the skin.

[Nimue groans]

You're still weak.

I know.

It's all right.

Your hand?

It's it's nothing.

You're not all right.

The sword could be making you sick.

It's not.

There is a cost to using this magic.

-It's not just to your health, but to--

-To what?

I'm ready to leave this place.

As soon as Gawain returns,

I must ride to Rue Gorge

and secure the ships.

Must you?

It's just to have come this far,

only to run again.

Nimue

just because we took Gramaire

doesn't mean we can hold it.

The Church knows where you are now.

The king knows where you are,

and they know you have the sword.

-Don't be foolish.

-I've had enough lectures, Arthur!

It is cruel

to force these families onto ships.

To another unknown fate

while invaders occupy their land.

-Here, they have a roof over their heads.

-For how long?

Have you been in a siege before?

Have you?

-Stop trying to pull rank on me, Arthur.

-That's impossible.

You're the queen.

Is it the title that bothers you?

Or the fact that I took the throne

that you could not?

What's the bloody point

in talking with you?

-You'll do as you like.

-Arthur! Arthur!

[door slams closed]

[sighs]

[mystical twinkling]

[indistinct chattering]

[raven caws]

[caws]

[caws]

[caws]

[man] Ready for the witching!

-Make sure

-[caws]

[eerie whooshing]

Whenever you arrive in this fashion,

it frightens even me.

[Widow] A name has been given.

Whose?

[eerie whooshing]

[under breath] No

You said Nimue couldn't be seen

by your visions.

[Widow] This is no vision, Merlin.

Her name has been given.

And I am the Widow.

You know I am unable

to refuse this summons.

Just as you know her fate is now fixed.

How much time?

Days.

Hours.

Not her.

Please. Please, not her.

I tell you this as a friend.

Nothing can stop this.

You're wrong!

-[Merlin] Cumber!

-[guard] Halt!

[Cumber] Let him in.

[Eydis] You come

when not summoned, wizard.

[Merlin] Lord Cumber.

Our arrangement

The Fey girl will be safe here,

will she not?

Yeah, well, uh

only as a guest in my dungeons.

It seems this Nimue is a bit more

than a simple Fey girl.

Well, of course she is.

She wields the Sword of Power.

A detail you neglected to share.

Do you think me so foolish

as to wave the sword before your eyes?

Knowing how it clouds the judgment?

Do you think all my years

have taught me nothing?

Those who chase the sword

are doomed to obsession.

But those who are patient,

who let the sword come to them,

are the ones with the wisdom to wield it.

Now, do you want to be the one true king,

or don't you?

She presents as a rival to me, Merlin.

That's unacceptable.

Then your foolish northern pride

will cost you the greatest treasure

of the ancient kings.

We don't sweet-talk our enemies

in the Ice Realms.

We crush them.

Nimue doesn't seek to rule.

She's no threat to you.

Her followers are.

They answer the midwife's charge

with cries of "Fey Queen,"

not "Cumber."

I offer my dungeons to the Fey Queen

as a gesture of thanks to you

for bringing me the midwife.

You would be wise to accept it.

-[Merlin seethes]

-[dramatic music plays]

[horse brays]

[Merlin] Ya! Ya!

[horse brays]

[fisherman whistles]

[yelling]

[eerie ethereal music plays]

-[twig snaps]

-[sword unsheathes]

[swords clang]

[dramatic music plays]

[Gawain grunts]

[Gawain grunts, groans]

[Gawain grunts]

[Gawain grunts]

[Gawain grunts]

[monk groans]

[slithering]

How could you?

[gasps]

[strained breathing]

[breathes shakily]

Born in the dawn, to pa--

[thud]

[monk] They want you alive, Green Knight.

[Gawain grunts]

[Gawain groans]

[dramatic music plays]

[mystical twinkling]

[faint pained screaming]

[wind howls]

[faint pained screaming]

[mystical twinkling]

[mystical twinkling]

[faint pained screaming]

[pained screaming]

-[mystical twinkling]

-[pained screaming]

[gasps]

[door closes]

I surrender.

Scout party hasn't returned.

We have to make sure

we don't miss our window with the ships.

Do you think the Red Paladins have ghosts?

Do you think their spirits live on?

I suppose.

If any of us do.

Why?

[mystical twinkling]

[Nimue] I

I hear them.

In the sword.

I hear their screams.

You're tired.

What frightens me is

I don't mind the screams.

They comfort me.

Why don't you put it down?

-I'm fine.

-You don't sound fine.

[Nimue] Why do you want me to put it down?

Is it the same reason

you want me to run away?

-To give up?

-Those ships are your only hope.

You've never believed in me.

[scoffs]

I was the first to believe in you.

That's a lie.

You think I'm helpless

or mad,

but what is real?

Well, the Fey occupy Gramaire.

And dead paladins litter the road

from here to Hawksbridge, thanks to me!

-You want to keep fighting?

-Yes. Why not?

-Nimue!

-I am the Wolf-Blood Witch,

and I will slaughter every Red Brother

from here to Rome if I must!

[Nimue breathes heavily]

Is that you talking or the sword?

I can't tell anymore.

Because the difference is

the sword can survive the next battle,

we cannot.

But I won't leave you.

If this is where we make our last stand,

so be it.

No.

No.

No, I'm sorry.

[inhales shakily, sighs]

I'm not feeling myself.

[breathes shakily]

[door opens]

Secure the ships.

[man] No ships.

This

was thrown over the walls.

They found your smuggler.

[Fey guard] Milady. Milady, Nimue!

[mystical twinkling]

Kaze.

We were ambushed.

Are you all right?

It was the monk. He took Gawain alive.

[lookout] Armies!

Armies approaching!

-[murmuring]

-[lookout] Movement in the tree line.

[man 1] Everyone, get your weapons!

[man 2] To your stations!

[ominous music plays]

[man 2] Close the gate! Close the gate!

[distant yelling]

[marching footsteps approach]

[distant yelling]

[breathes heavily]

[eerie ethereal music plays]