The Mark Of Nimueh (Merlin episode)

"The Mark Of Nimueh" is the third episode in the first series of BBC One's Merlin series. In this episode, a sorceress called Nimueh poisons the water supply in Camelot, causing the citizens to fall ill and die, and causing a witch-hunt for the culprit.

Episode Guide

The episode opens on the sorceress Nimueh casting a spell in a chamber. Through a font full of water, we see her watching a man walk through Camelot.

After the beginning credits roll, Merlin and Gaius are attending to the body of the man – who is now dead – and it’s obvious from his face that magic was the cause of death. They remove the bodt from the courtyard and conceal the death from Gwen.

Gaius is later called to the king, who shows him another corpse, killed by the same means. Uther is angry that Gauis knew of another death like this and didn’t inform him sooner. He tells Arthur that this is the kind of magic that undermines his authority, and tells him to allow Merlin to assist Gaius in tracking down the cause of the inexplicable epidemic.

As Gaius and Merlin are discussing the situation, Arthur calls on official business – the King has asked them to search every house for evidence of sorcery. As he inspects Merlin’s room, Arthur almost discovers a magic book, but Merlin uses a swift bit of magic to cover the book with a garment lying loose on the bed.

Merlin becomes frustrated by having to keep his magic secret. He feels that he could cure the sick with his powers, but Gaius implores him to keep the secret. However, the dead bodies pile up regardless. As a result, Uther orders Arthur to cordon off the lower village, as that’s where most of the victims live.

After the lower village is segregated, a courteer contracts the disease. Gaius establishes that it must be spread through the water supply. At the same time, Gwen’s father contracts the disease, and she pleads with Gaius for a cure. Gaius refuses, but Merlin uses his book to find a cure, sneaking into Gwen’s home and administering the cure while they are sleeping.

When Gwen tells him the next morning that her father is cured, he is almost exposed because he doesn’t show surprise at the news. He covers up by making a joke. Merlin later realises the consequences of his actions and the responsibilities he has as a warlock.

Later, Arthur comes across Gwen’s father and asks how he made such a miraculous recovery. This raises Arthur’s suspicions and he has Gwen arrested after discovering a poultice at her house.

Gaius attacks Merlin for being so rash, and shows him that he cannot use his magic as it causes other problems. In court, King Uther sentences Gwen to death, even though Morgana pleads on her behalf, saying that a powerful sorceress wouldn’t work as hard as Gwen does. Arthur also tries to intervene and shows a sense of justice when he states that the punishment should fit the crime. He also accuses Uther of becoming blinkered when it comes to sorcery, but this spurs Uther on to declare that Gwen should die by fire.

After visiting Gwen in the prison, Merlin storms into the chamber where Uther is and admits to having cured Gwen’s father. However, Gaius and Arthur leap to Merlin’s defense and convince the King that Merlin is infatuated with Gwen and merely trying to protect her. Uther pardons Merlin but warns him not to do it again.

Gaius and Merlin go into the castle’s water supply to take a sample of the water, but are disturbed by a beast in the water. Gaius identifies it as an Avank, and Merlin consults the Dragon. His response is that Merlin is one side of the coin and Arthur is the other, and that he cannot solve the problem alone.

Morgana, after discovering the news about the Avank, helps to convince Arthur to go under the castle in search of the creature. It proves a difficult creature to conquer, but Merlin uses his magic to assist Arthur, and the Avank is defeated.

With the death of the Avank, the plague on Camelot clears up, and Gwen is pardoned and released. Morgana confides in Merlin that she has discovered his secret, but to Merlin’s dismay she thinks he is in love with Gwen.

Unfortunately, Merlin’s actions attract the attention – and the wrath – of Nimueh, and she vows to get revenge on him.