Original subtitles

They were going to kill Arthur.

Can you imagine?

They would have killed him too, but I put a stop to it.

The arrogance, the stupidity.

Not that Uther ever was one for a scholar's coat.

I heard about their sordid plan in the way that I have.

Whispers in the wind.

Faces in the embers of the fire.

And I made it my affair to save him.

The high king would do his worst.

But I would have my way.

My way.

Was it?

Was it ever my way?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I always am.

This is to be Arthur's story.

But there's more to Arthur than his birth.

To understand him, you have to understand the land.

This land, this island of the mighty.

And you have to understand me.

For I am the man who made him.

But my kingship, it has been my custom to give the first take of my salmon weir

to one of your number as a sign of my respect.

Respect for what?

Everyone knows that your boy is cursed.

So you say.

But the weir is mine.

And the salmon, mine to give.

Elton is my only son.

A man must do for his two sons what he can to advance their fortunes.

Bring a bounty boy and show them the curse is broken.

What if the nets are empty?

You might have warned me about the snow up river.

You might have warned me of your foolish plan.

All his ill luck of all time was nothing.

You've let him destroy the virtue of our weir.

He has something!

It's nothing!

A drowned carcass!

Why so eager to share this bad luck?

The scrawny thing's dead.

Who'd be for throwing a babe like that in the river?

Your child is bewitched. Throw him back in and be done with it.

Don't touch him.

The babe could be cursed, son.

I'm already cursed.

of the radiant frown.

Never in Quidno's Weir was there such good fortune as today.

And weak.

Yet there is virtue in your darkness.

A bard the boy will be.

A maker with words like no other from the beginning of the world.

And in his voice will be born a kingdom of summer.

Let no one say Elfin at Gwyzno.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm gonna go sit down.

I love it.

In Yathina!

Say I'm here, Dorothy.

My midnight daughter may even see a day.

You there, fetch me your Lord.

Be quick with you.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Peace, Afghan, peace.

What have you seen?

They're coming.

50.

From today, we will no longer speak of Irish Pict or Saxon, but of barbarian.

Unified.

I had hoped for a few more years.

One season, more or less.

What difference?

Take the day as it comes, O King.

Do you see victory for us?

Better to ask your son.

He sees these things much clearer than I.

I have not seen Taliesin in three days.

Where is he when I need him?

He'll be where he is needed most.

Asmother, behold your son.

Recognize your devoted servant, father of wisdom.

Speak to me that I may hear your voice.

Great goddess, queen of life, reveal to me the vision of your sight.

Speak a beautiful prayer.

The gods of this place must be pleased. It is unwise to sneak up on a man while

he prays. It is unwise to pray while a man sneaks up on you.

You're old to have climbed this hill alone.

You're young to have climbed it at all.

You think me young to seek the gods?

Few enough seek the gods, young or old.

The chair on which you sit belongs to the head of our order, the chief druid

the Island of the Mighty.

And are you a druid, then, Taliesin Ap Elfin?

You know me.

All men know of the great Taliesin.

They say you are the most powerful of your people.

I am as you see me.

Who are you?

Furious, isn't it?

Why did your order allow one of their sacred stones to fall?

It must have fallen long ago.

I wonder.

Will you be the man to raise it?

I see why it fell.

Forgive me, stranger.

Do the dead forgive?

It's very old.

What of the markings?

Canula.

The horned lord.

One of your gods?

No.

Much older.

No. No.

No.

No.

No doubt I think this Cernunnos would prefer you lift his stone upright.

He would have me revive the old ways. And what do you think?

Look upon me, then, shiny brow.

Have you nothing to say to me, great bard?

No song to sing or wisdom to declare?

On the day of your liberation, your tongue will be loosed and the words I

you will come.

You will be my bard, preparing my reign in the world of men.

Men will hear your voice and will know who it is that speaks.

Father!

You are my father.

That the gods should war for my soul.

You are my son, boy.

The greatest bard in the history of your people.

Nothing more.

Is that not enough?

Come now.

Our enemies gather against us.

I need you.

Don't remember a Roman legion requiring the aid of a Celtic Ola to avoid defeat.

You have a short memory.

So you've met the enemy.

Thank you for coming, Elton.

But I can't allow you to stay.

Barbarian have overrun the Gavallion.

I think you've got us.

The wall is falling.

Go home, friend.

Defend your own.

Both our people withstand a far better chance if we stand together.

Besides, we have my sons who are upon us.

Hail Taliesin.

I confess I should not like to miss the chance to fight under your blessing once

more.

Then you shall have it.

Will you join me teacher?

The horned god.

What did he offer you?

Great power.

You're a great bride.

Let us hope your refusal is not the doom of our people.

My acceptance surely would have been.

There is no other like him in all the Empire.

There is no other like him in all the world.

a traveller stopping for rest in shade.

I never thought we'd find it occupied.

One horse is hardly an occupation, Colin.

Still, we should wait.

Maybe they'll move on.

What are you doing?

We didn't come all this way to cow before the price.

Holy Mary.

Goodness.

Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, have mercy on us.

What manner of men are you?

Unworthy men, lady.

I see.

Why have you come here?

Seeking this holy place.

And who is this Holy Mary?

Of whom you speak?

I, uh... The Mother of the Most High.

Yesu, the Christ Saviour of mankind.

You are not the Blessed Lady?

There are those who would call me Saviour.

But I've never heard of this Goddess Mary.

God, forgive us, Lady.

We worship no god but the true god.

The god who was once worshipped in this very place.

The true god?

Worshipped here?

That seems unlikely.

Again, I beg your forgiveness.

We have travelled all the way from Gaul to find and restore this place in order

that the truth of our god might be proclaimed once more hereabouts.

You speak often of truth.

That God of yours is so interested in truth.

In truth, yes.

But also in love.

I see.

A strange God, then.

And often disappointed, I should think. It's blasphemy.

My companion studied under Brother Martin in Tours.

He is zealous, but perhaps less open -minded than the situation calls for.

He's honest.

If you wish to restore this place, you will need the permission of King Avalac.

Fairy.

You are of the fair folk who dwell in the Glass Isle.

The people here tell many strange tales about you.

Have you heard we change our shapes at will?

Have you heard we never sleep or rest?

And we have but to bid, and the wind brings us news from any corner of our

realm.

And more.

What do you believe, priest?

We will believe whatever the Holy God reveals to us.

I trusted a God once.

Long ago.

They killed him.

I've never seen anything like it.

Not in Rome or Athens or Constantinople itself.

Julie, she's all the fairies.

Hey, brother.

They're mortals, like as we.

Mortals, perhaps.

Never like us.

What strange men are you?

Priests, my lady.

Are they with the others?

Your father has given audience to a large group of strangely dressed Britain

father Morgan He asked that you join him on your return

My presence was not requested

You

think these painted men will strike this far south

In time.

Although, in Dufford, we heard the Emperor was withdrawing two legions from

and sending troops back to the war.

Here she is.

King Elfin Ap Gwythno. I present to you my daughter, the Princess Gareth,

saviour of our people.

Princess Karen, your father was just telling us how you delivered your people

from calamity.

It is the way of fathers to exaggerate the accomplishments of their children.

Never say it. Not an Atlantean draws breath that doesn't owe their life to my

daughter.

My people know something of loss as well.

We two are strangers in these lands.

Travelers are always welcome within these walls.

Please stay with us, if you can.

Allow me to share the bounty of my table this evening.

Your offer is most generous.

Please accept this token as a sign.

of our gratitude.

I gather his people have been driven from their homeland in the north.

Driven? By war.

or which will soon visit us in the South.

If it is as bad as they declare.

You don't believe them.

Desperate men can never be trusted.

Can they be trusted?

Powerful men can never be trusted.

What say you, son?

Tell me, Arthur.

Not lost in the past.

King Avalok has shown kindness when kindness is not required.

And yet... I sense danger in this place.

We must be wary.

Not any man?

Two -fold, the Capenal.

Two -fold, the Capenal.

Two -fold, the Capenal.

For your well, King Avalok.

An old wound, and deep.

Pay me no heed.

It is fortunate your people were able to escape the troubles of the North, King

Elfin.

The luck of Elfin Apguidno is legendary.

Among our people, when breaking bread with new friends, it's customary to have

thong.

Alas, our best minstrels lie dead at the bottom of the great sea.

Indeed.

We have all seen our homes lost and kinsmen killed.

And yet, our people escape not only with our lives, but with our greatest

treasure.

Afghan speaks truth.

The treasure is my son, Taliesin, a bard of extraordinary talent.

Is this true?

Tell him.

Is this true?

It is the way of fathers to exaggerate the accomplishments of their children.

False modesty is unbecoming, Taliesin.

King Abelac has shared his bounty with us. Let us share ours with him.

Here then, if you will, the lament of Pwysh, Prince of Anuvan.

In the days when the dew of creation was still fresh upon the earth, Pwysh was

lord over the seven cataracts of Dover.

Seven of Gwynedd and seven of Lloygar as well.

In Card Narve, his principal stronghold,

He awakened one morning to look upon the hills, abounding with game.

A thought came to him, and he assembled his men to go out hunting.

And this is the way of it.

I did fade into the western sea, into the sea.

We are here to help.

Princess Charis?

The saviour of her people is not here, stranger.

The fall is in breach.

I'm not strong enough to turn it.

I know the price and the power you display.

I've never spilled blood for power.

Perhaps that's why I failed.

Failed?

The foal has turned.

All be well.

Thank you.

Forgive me.

I seek the Princess Taris.

She come this way?

She took her grain road out.

She often bathes below the door at night.

Where there are fewer prying eyes.

Thank you.

I beg your pardon, princess.

I didn't mean to startle you.

Is it customary in the north to spy on a woman while she bathes?

Never, lady.

Then what do you hear?

I needed to see you.

Have you not seen enough of me?

It wasn't my intention to intrude into your thoughts. You intruded into my

I know what the bull god offered you.

Canuna's offered me the same.

And?

I made the same choice you did.

Then damn us both.

I do not find myself in need of company, less so the company of a savage.

You think of us as savages.

I only think of you as otherworldly.

Perhaps we're both just people.

I'm not just anything, Singer.

How dare you enter my chamber without leave?

You have no right.

It showed me more than it ever showed you.

Never! From curiosity.

How many times have I told you?

You were ever weak. And you were ever a fool.

Just like your sister.

Oh, yes, she had the right too. And what did she do with it, saviour of our

people? A thousand thousand of our kinsmen.

Swallowed by the sea and this savage plague is our substance.

True power is killing what you love, little girl.

Not letting it kill you.

I do not love the bard.

It's only the power I desired.

As I desired yours.

And now.

You have none left to give.

Prince Taliesin.

I lie.

Only Taliesin.

Hereditary titles are not known among the Cymru.

Savage as we are.

Never say it.

Your people are as noble as any I have encountered.

King Aberg.

Lady of the Lake.

I've never met another like him.

He's proud enough.

When he sings, I forget the pain of our loss.

Even my old wound grieves me less.

His song brings no comfort to me.

Truly?

I plan to gift them lands north of the Tor, if they'll have

them.

You would settle them here?

Their need is dire, and it is but a tenth of my holdings.

You object?

Why should I care what the singer Lisa said?

Harris!

Wait! I thought to find you barefoot.

Your boots.

You left them at the lake.

A true prince would have returned them.

As I said, I'm no prince.

But I'll redeem myself.

If you'd allow me.

These are yours.

Are they not?

They are.

Neither pain nor pleasure evermore.

I thought that's all I've held for me after our loss.

2 ,000 of us arrived on these shores after the cataclysm.

Only 1 ,000 remain.

And yet you live.

And while there is life in you, there is hope for your people.

You are young.

To your eyes, perhaps.

My people carry our years more lightly than others.

This place need not be a grave, Clarice.

I like to believe that something great and tragic occurred in this place.

Some time long ago.

Do not tell me otherwise, Bard, even if you know.

The world is made up of events both great and tragic.

Some are observed and remembered.

Others... There was a woman.

She came from across the sea.

Her life was hard, for the land was harsh, and she could not help

all she had left behind.

She longed to return to her home.

What became of her?

She grew lonely.

And died.

Was there no man to love her?

Once there was a man whose thorn captured her heart as easily as a fowler

catching a bird in a silken snare.

But they were from different worlds and it could not be.

Why this?

Neither pain nor pleasure evermore.

Look upon me, then, shining brow.

Or if this is an illusion, an echo of a voice that has died.

And soon that echo will cease.

Death before slavery!

Men are weak, Darius, and unwilling to pay the price for better work.

There is a new part of work in the world.

I've seen it. I've seen a land shining with goodness.

It's the kingdom of summer.

Where you came from, no man knows.

Where you are going, no man can say.

I will not be separated from you. I will not give my daughter to a barbarian.

Marry me, Carys.