The Poisoned Chalice: Dunh! Dunh! DUNH!!

One thing I'm growing accustomed to feeling, is pure dread every time that an episode begins with Nimueh. She is seen being cryptic and swearing vengeance on Merlin, as usual. Honestly, Nimueh is a bit of support for the stereotype that women are spiteful and vindictive. It's very unfortunate. She's chanting again and putting something on a cup/chalice. (Vocabulary Lesson: It should be noted that that goblet-like wine glass is indeed called a chalice. )

 Next she is seen rubbing some sort of flower along the rim and once again swearing that Merlin shall die. This girl seriously needs an anger management course or something. To continue, after the wonderful theme of Merlin plays, I am now in the kingdom. Uther and another king, called Bayard. The imposing men seem to declare peace and a feast begins. On his way to attend to Arthur at the feast Merlin meets a pretty girl. It's Nimueh. But of course, Merlin is Merlin and can never resist a pretty girl, so he befriends her.

Later, once both Nimueh and Merlin are at the feast, Uther and Arthur (I never quite realized their similar names until now, huh) are given two chalices by the king Bayard. It should be known that Arthur's is Nimueh's magic-y chalice. Nimueh then convinces Merlin that Bayard is trying to poison Arthur and when Merlin slaps Arthur's hand away, he must prove this treachery. By drinking from the chalice himself. This, of course results in Merlin being poisoned, and falling to the ground with a haunting thud. I and the rest of the court gasp. Bayard is blamed for treachery and Nimueh glides down the halls with a sinister smirk.

Luckily, Merlin is not dead. Yet. He is very ill and has approximately 3 days to live. Arthur is feeling very guilty and sentimental towards Merlin, after all Merlin saved his life. And, regardless of his father's objections, he sneaks out of the castle to find the antidote, which is a plant that grows only in certain caves about a day's ride away. As Gwen and Gaius tend to poor dying Merlin, Nimueh is set to stop Arthur. As he arrives at the caves, thanks to a map from Gaius, he finds an injured girl being "attacked by a beast". This girl is Nimueh and, because he's Arthur, he rushes to defeat the beast.

Thankfully, Arthur gets away scott-free  and comes back to Nimueh. She, playing the damsel in distress, gives her "immense gratitude" to our blonde hero and asks for assistance to return home. Arthur promises to take her home, after he gets the flower from the caves. Nimueh then responds that she can help him find it and the two set off into the cave together. Now, as expected, when they reach the ledge with the plant, a ledge which is across from an abyss, Nimueh pushes Arthur off the cliff. Luckily, he holds on and latches himself to the side with the plant. To make matters worse, however, Nimueh was the one carrying the torch and as she leaves, as does the light.

Now, encased in darkness, Arthur must struggle to find a way to retrieve the plant. Merlin, even though he's in his bed, dying, senses that Arthur's in trouble. As Gaius sends Gwen away to avoid Merlin's magic being discovered, he lifts the sheet off of Merlin to reveal a ball of glowing light in Merlin's hand. Merlin seems to be mumbling in his sleep and talking to...Arthur? He keeps telling Arthur to go towards the light.

Freaky, right?

This becomes much clearer as the scene changes to Arthur and the ball of light being in front of his face. Disregarding his mistrust of magic, Arthur follows the light to the plant. Arthur snatches the shrub in his hand and debates on how to escape his current dwelling. Thankfully, the ball of light raises and leads Arthur up and out of the caves. At this point, Merlin's magic seems a lot more powerful as I wonder how his dying self knew how to find Arthur and help him.

 However, once Arthur had returned to Camelot, before he could run to Merlin, he was stopped by his father. Uther, the jerk that he is, can not consent to Arthur risking his life for a "mere servant', this particular line made me want to punch the old guy. Arthur is marched to the dungeons before he can give Gaius the flower to cure Merlin and the latter is nearing the brink of death.

As Arthur is scolded by his father, Arthur accepts all berating. However he is probably blocking Uther out because he asks that since he already has the cure, to have the plant given to Gaius to save Merlin after he saved Uther's son. Honestly, not much to ask (and I think I'm falling in love with them both), yet Uther merely crushes the plant before Arthur can stop him and says that this should be a lesson for disobedience.

Luckily,  Arthur retrieves the crushed flora and is now left to find a way to get it to Merlin. Enter Gwen. Good ol' Guinevere enters Arthur's cell with "food for the prisoner", which Arthur rejects under the pretense that it is disgusting and places the cure on the tray. As Gwen is revealed not to have been sent to the cell, she sprints on her little legs to Gaius' chambers and gives the antidote. Once Gaius makes the potion, uses magic to strengthen it, and feeds Merlin, our dear boy is alive!!! Thank God! (I believe that while watching this, I actually shouted for joy!)

 To close the episode,Merlin asks Arthur if he did anything dangerous to save him. To which Arthur responds that he wanted to. This moment I think, cemented their budding friendship and commenced their adorable bromance.

All images from: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/16600000/The-Poisoned-Chalice-prince-arthur-merlin-16689311-400-224.jpg

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