- Merlin's visit with Ygraine is a bit surprising. She is totally faking her illness, of course, just so that she can speak with Merlin. But there's something bigger: she wants to send a message to Uther.
- Ygraine really wants to accept Uther, but she can't communicate with him. She's kind of like a schoolgirl in love with the popular kid, only with the threat of armed men all around her.
- Merlin praises Ygraine for being so restrained and careful about her feelings for Uther. He tells her that other women would have acted in a way that would have led to war.
- Ygraine's less than impressed with Merlin's admiration—after all, she's not just any woman. It's clear to Merlin that she's got something special—if not a little scary—going on.
- It's also clear that Ygraine has some serious ambitions. She's not happy being just the Duke of Cornwall's wife; she also has her pride and won't "dishonor" Uther or Gorlois.
- Merlin reads between the lines. He knows that Ygraine wants him to tell Uther that she will only go to his bed as Queen of Britain. This also means that in that case, Gorlois' life will be quite short.
- Ygraine doesn't deny any of it.
- Merlin doesn't want to dance around the issue. He tells Ygraine that he has a plan to help her hook up with Uther without doing dishonor to anyone. He tells her to pretend that her "illness" that evening is due to pregnancy. Then, she will tell Gorlois that they have to clear out of London quickly.
- But Ygraine is worried about this. She knows that Uther will follow them to Cornwall, fight with Gorlois, probably kill him, and then divide the country.
- Merlin is impressed with how political Ygraine's mind is. He tells her that she and Gorlois will get back home to Tintagel safely. Uther will know that the pregnancy is fake.
- Then Uther will pretend to be enraged at Gorlois and will take his army to Tintagel, with the real intention of being with Ygraine. But Ygraine is skeptical: Tintagel is impossible to sneak into.
- Merlin discusses the details of his plan to sneak Uther into Tintagel so that they can, uh, be together while Gorlois waits outside the walls for the army.
- Merlin encourages Ygraine by telling her that he sees an encouraging vision about this, and that Cornwall will prosper.
- Ygraine ends the convo with a curse: if bloodshed or dishonor happens, then Merlin will die betrayed by a woman.
- Great.