Arthur and Merlin (Colin Morgan) are being transported to Ismere and the journey is cold and arduous, with none of them getting any food. Led on by Saxon leader Ragnor (Stephen McCole). He refuses them food or water and Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) says they should feed them or at least take the journey much more slower. He refuses naturally as he's a Saxon and thus brutal and hungering for his money. Mordred later gives Merlin a morsel of bread and tells him Arthur saved his life; he's honouring a debt. He also mentions keeping Emyrus's secret safe.
At Camelot, Gwen (Angel Coulby) being a true queen hasn't shown any feelings over Arthur and how he might be fearing, especially since she knows he was betrayed by Ruadan (Liam Cunningham). Sefa (Sophie Rundle) approaches Gaius (Richard Wilson) or rather, the other way round, oops and begs an audience with Gwen. She is relentless and is determined for the execution to go ahead. Finally she reveals her plans: her intentions are for Ruadan to rescue his daughter and thus she wants him caught. There may be more traitors so she hasn't told anyone of this and only tells Gaius now. Gwen finally showing some humanity here with not having any intention to execute her from the outset keeping Sefa in the dark and not adhering to the laws of Camelot.
Arthur feigns being too weak to travel and Merlin asks for water, a rouse for Arthur to steal Ragnor's dagger. They escape after some use of magic by Merlin and a fight, arriving at a crevice which they manage to jump, even Merlin with some slipping over the edge action, well almost. Men search for them and Arthur holds them off with the crossbow, whilst Merlin insures they can't jump to the other side. Arthur saves Mordred again by not killing him and Merlin is distraught at missing the opportunity to kill him. Strange Merlin should want Arthur to kill him, when he's got magic at his disposal, sure he'd have much more of an effect. He seems to be overstepping the moral boundaries in wanting to see Mordred dead, but not having any hand in it. Granted he is a wizard and not a soldier.
Ruadan arrives to save Sefa and manages to use magic, for a bit. He fights with Elyan (Adetomiwa Edun) and he wounds him, fatally. Sefa wants him to cure himself but he doesn't have enough power for that, surprise, surprise, he manages to get her to send a message to Morgana warning her of Arthur's arrival. Sefa escapes.
Mordred arrives at Ismere and Morgana is furious no one could kill Arthur. She mentions the return of the old religion and how they were persecuted for their magic. Merlin and Arthur arrive at the mines, through a sewer, cue lines about smelly food and Merlin getting dirty again. Arthur manages to get Percival (Tom Hopper) a sword or two and he rallies the others. Meanwhile the blue creature, the Euchdag (Josette Simon) takes care of Gwaine (Eoin Macken) hiding him from the guards. Oh put some shirts on!
Merlin and Arthur manage to rescue Gwaine and they come across the Euchdag. She knows who Merlin is and disappears. They also come across the dragon which gives chase. Merlin goes after it and wonders what Morgana has done to it. The dragon is unable to speak. Being the Dragonlord Merlin is able to speak to the dragon and tells him to run when he hears Arthur. Arthur comes face to face with Morgana who wields a dagger at his back with her magic. He tries to reason with her, recalling how kind she was at a child and mentions Uther being her father and they are brother and sister, which gets her gall up even more.
She is about to kill Arthur, when Mordred stabs her in the back, literally and metaphorically and you can't help but think this was just a ploy to get into, worm himself into Arthur's good graces and give him reason to trust him more.
Merlin talks with the Euchdag after he was thrown to the wall by Morgana and was unable to use his magic to save Arthur. She tells him who she is and how she has the weight of the world on her, so much knowledge. He finds it difficult just being himself. He asks about Arthur's bane and she replies Arthur's bane is "Arthur himself." Is this cos he just can't help himself and others, trusting them when he should be more weary. Back at Camelot, Mordred is knighted and Merlin helps him. He tells him he believes Arthur is right when he speaks of love and Morgana was wrong. Merlin doesn't trust him and neither do we, as Merlin shares his concerns with Gaius over his fave pudding. It's just that Mordred isn't giving anything away with his poker face, so cold.
Gwen wasn't giving anything away with her cool exterior was she telling Gaius: "wars aren't won without risk." She also remained calm when the alarm bell was sounding, probably cos she wouldn't be the one going after Ruadan. yet she has been married three years now, she's used to such things. Compare this with Morgana who is seething at every opportunity but at least she no longer smirks as she did in series/season 3, showing she has really grown into her role as evil, revenge-seeking Morgana. Who is foiled at every opportunity. Stabbing her seemed so easy and she didn't even see it coming as once again she wonders alone in the wilderness, in the snow this time, last season it was the forest, followed by her dragon. Who doesn't leave her side. Betrayed once again by Mordred whom she thought she could trust, which is her 'bane'. This should give Arthur et al cause for concern since if he could do this to Morgana, there's nothing stopping him from doing the same to Arthur.
Morgana calls the dragon Aithusa, by his name, how did she know what his name was? Did she find out by asking him, was he able to speak? Did he have his tongue cut out, by Morgana or someone else. Obviously the Euchdag was the Diamair, the key, but Morgana never got her hands on it either. Of course the other tried and tested formula rears its head again of the Diamair being the "last of my kind." That's been said a lot, especially where the dragon was concerned. Was the Morgana nightmare scene showing a grown up Aithusa, was this a future nightmare or did some aspects of it hint at what happened to them both over the past three years?
Merlin: "I feel the die is cast and for good or ill, Albion's great trial has begun." Again he shows his concern, having once again to use caution and not be trusting. Overall, this series continues to bring in possible future storylines, whilst leaving open possibilities of being the best one so far as Merlin comes of age.
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