Merlin (Merlin character)

Merlin is a male character that features in Merlin.

Biography

Merlin was born in the small village Ealdor in Albion. His mother is Hunith and his father was unknown to Merlin until The Last Dragonlord where is it discovered to be Balinor (the last Dragonlord) from whom he inherited his magical gifts (upon the death of his father, Merlin became the last Dragonlord). Merlin was born with a strange power that enables him to slow down the movement of time, both mentally and physically, and move objects to wherever he wishes with his mind.

According to The Great Dragon, Merlin's birth has been prophesied by many cultures. For example the Druids refer to him as "Emrys" (Meaning "Immortal"), and it is the name Mordred calls him by. (The Beginning of the End) He is also known by this name to the Fisher King, although Morgause and her followers are unaware of Merlin's powers. Morgause as of being currently hostile with Morgana it is unknown if they will ever strike back to him.

The Dragon states that it is Merlin's destiny to protect Arthur Pendragon, aid him in uniting the kingdoms of Albion and return magic to the land.

Merlin is a young sorcerer who comes to Camelot from his small hometown of Ealdor. When he arrives, he soon discovers that magic is forbidden in Camelot and anybody who is caught using it will be executed. He meets Gaius, the court physician and Merlin's future guardian and mentor, who soon discovers the truth of Merlin's powers. With a warning to keep his magic hidden, Gaius gives Merlin a book of sorcery to study. Merlin befriends the maidservant Gwen, who initially likes him romantically, though he doesn't notice or return her affections. Merlin often finds himself in trouble, such as being thrown into the stocks for minor disobedience, and Gaius usually has to come to his rescue.

A magical voice leads Merlin to the Great Dragon and he is told of his destiny to protect Prince Arthur and unite Albion. Merlin initially dislikes Arthur for his apparent arrogance, and insults and fights with him, unaware that Arthur is a prince. However, after saving Arthur's life, Merlin is appointed Arthur's manservant. Though Merlin keeps his magic hidden from Arthur, the two gradually grow much closer, risking their lives for one another and working together to help Camelot. In "Valiant", Merlin saves Arthur's life and honor by revealing that the knight Valiant is using magic to kill opponents during a tournament. In The Mark of Nimueh, Merlin helps Arthur to kill a magical creature contaminating the city water supply. Merlin covers up for Arthur on several occasions, often being punished for it. He saves Arthur from drowning in The Gates of Avalon, saves King Uther Pendragon in both Excalibur and To Kill the King. Meanwhile, in The Poisoned Chalice, Arthur disobeys his father and risks his own life to find an antidote for Merlin after Merlin is poisoned by the witch Nimueh. Arthur also drinks poison in Merlin's place in The Labyrinth of Gedref, though he survives, and helps Merlin to protect his Ealdor from raiders in "The Moment of Truth". In the final episode, Le Morte d'Arthur, Merlin saves Arthur from imminent death by attempting to sacrifice his own life for Arthur's, though the plan fails when the High Priestess takes Merlin's mother's life instead of Merlin's. Merlin eventually manages to save both Arthur and his mother, while supposedly vanquishing the High Priestess Nimueh.

Merlin seems to have a connection with the Druids, a magical race persecuted by Uther, and especially the Druid boy Mordred, who the Great Dragon prophesies will kill Arthur, or at least cause his death indirectly. Merlin is the first to hear Mordred's telepathic cry for help, and helps the boy escape the guards despite knowing nothing about him. Mordred calls him Emrys (the Welsh form of Ambrosius, the name of a historical figure who has, in legend, been partially merged with Merlin), and the Great Dragon confirms this as one of Merlin's names, as Much has been written about you which you have not yet read. He claims he and Merlin are the same and will meet at some future point. Despite the Great Dragon prophesying Mordred will kill Arthur, whom Merlin is supposed to protect, Merlin still saves his life when he hears him call for help telepathically a second time. They also appear similar physically, with black hair and blue eyes, and only he and Morgana, who also has a protective interest in him, can hear him when he speaks in their minds.

The actual nature of Merlin's magical abilities is unclear, as is whether he needs to learn the magic words at all. In "The Dragon's Call" he claims, "I could move objects like that since before I could talk", which he does without speaking or moving. However, in later episodes, he uses audible spells when using most kinds of magic, including moving objects. His knowledge of magic seems to be, in part, innate, as he uses a Sidhe staff and other magics without learning how to do so and without apparent effort, but he must learn certain more complex spells from the book. He also seems to have faster reflexes and senses than others, or possibly unknowingly slows time around himself to cause this effect. His eyes glow golden (they are usually blue) when using any type of magic, but do not stay that colour for the duration of the spell. He also seems to have some kind of subconscious mental link with Arthur, as during "The Poisoned Chalice" he mutters constantly about Arthur's situation, though Arthur is miles away and Merlin himself is unconscious at the time. He is also able to send a light to Arthur subconsciously, so it seems he does not need to be awake or coherent to use his magic.

In "Le Morte d'Arthur", both the Great Dragon and Nimueh mention that Merlin is of the Old Religion like them. It is from the Old Religion that he draws his power and owes his allegiance. He is able to instinctively harness the power of Life and Death to save Gaius's life and stop Nimueh.

In "The Once and Future Queen", while helping Arthur participate in a duel in secret, Merlin loses his temper at the heavy burden placed on him because when he's not serving Arthur or helping Gaius, he's fulfilling his destiny by saving Arthur's life, and without recognition as he has to keep his magic secret or suffer death.

In "The Nightmare Begins", Merlin starts to feel pity for Morgana who does not know she has magical powers and is scared of her prophetic dreams. He argues with Gaius that he remembers how lonely and frightening it was when it happened to him and she should be told, but Gaius is unwilling at the risk of Merlin and Morgana's lives under Uther's rule. The Dragon also warns Merlin that it would be better if the witch never found out the extent of her powers. However, determined to help Morgana he tells her about the Druids who may be able to help her, but when she sneaks away Uther assumes she has been kidnapped and orders the arrest and execution of everyone who is under suspicion of using magic unless Morgana is returned. Horrified, Merlin follows Morgana and tries to convince her to return for the sake of the villagers, but Morgana refuses as she has found someplace where she belongs. Even so, he tried to help her and the Druids escape when Arthur and the Knights arrive at the Druid camp, but fails. Back in Camelot, Merlin visits Morgana and tells her that he will keep her secret. He does not confide in her that he also has magical abilities. Arthur assumes he has feelings for Morgana, but Merlin refuses

In "Lancelot and Guinevere" he is quite willing to go rescue Gwen, and is able to get Arthur to admit his feelings for Gwen. As usual when they are alone, their friendship shows through- Arthur is willing to open up to Merlin and explains why he cannot admit his feelings, as it would hurt him too much, as well as apologizing for risking his life. However, things revert to normal when they meet Guinevere and Lancelot.

In "The Witchfinder", Merlin's secret came closer to being exposed than it ever has when he used magic to shape the fire smoke into a horse. A woman then saw it and a witchfinder, named Aredian, was called in. He soon suspected Merlin as being a sorcerer, and to prove this Aredian asked to search his chambers. When doing so they found a magical amulet which Gaius took the blame for owning. In the end, it was learned that Aredian had placed the amulet there, and to prove this Merlin set a trap which made Aredian look like a sorcerer in front of Uther despite not being one.

In "The Lady of the Lake", Merlin rescues and falls in love with Freya, a cursed Druid girl who is eventually killed by Arthur in her beast form. Despite her death, her last words are to thank Merlin for showing her love in her last days, and promises to find a way to repay him.

In "The Fires of Idirsholas", Merlin is forced to kill Morgana to save Camelot after she was tricked into being a carrier for one of Morgause's spells. Though he poisons Morgana, he agrees to let Morgause save her in return for ending her spell. To achieve this, he is also forced to agree to release the Great Dragon.

In The Last Dragonlord, Merlin reunites with his father, Balinor, when Gaius suggests that they enlist the last Dragon Lord to defeat the Great Dragon. Although Balinor is slain, he passes on the power of the Dragon Lords to Merlin, who is then able to hurt the Great Dragon. However, faced with a chance to kill the Dragon, Merlin instead shows him mercy, ordering him to depart the Kingdom, prompting the Dragon to comment that his mercy reflects what he will become in the future.

In "The Tears of Uther Pendragon", Morgana returns to Camelot, but Merlin and Gaius soon learn that she is now an ally of Morgause. Morgana is now fulfilling her destiny- as prophesised by the Great Dragon- to be the darkness to Merlin's light. Having driven Uther to insanity with mandrake-induced hallucinations, Morgana and Morgause would allow a neighbouring kingdom of King Cenred the chance to invade and destroy Camelot. Although Merlin was caught while spying on them, subsequently being chained up and left to be killed by giant scorpion-like monsters, he was saved by the Great Dragon. When Morgana made the dead rise to fight Camelot from the inside as well as the outside, Merlin confronted her in the tombs, destroying the staff she was using to raise the dead, but he managed to conceal his magic from her, even as he is now left in the increasingly dangerous position of the only person in Camelot (Save for Gaius) who knows Morgana's true intentions, while she holds the potential blackmail card of revealing his role in her attempted killing and kidnapping.

In "The Crystal Cave", Merlin and Arthur are attacked in a forest, Arthur is seriously injured and while unconscious they take refuge in the Crystal Cave where a magician Taliesin shows Merlin a vision of the future in which Morgana stabs a sleeping Pendragon. On their safe return to Camelot, Morgana's birthday arrives, and to Merlin's horror, she is given a dagger by Arthur and steals into the king's room. Merlin pursues, and uses magic to thwart her. She is temporarily put into a coma during which time the king confides in Gaius that she is his natural daughter, Morgana overhears in her sleep. Gaius believes that Arthur should be told as now Morgana is a legitimate heir to throne and he stands in her way. Morgause meets with Morgana and is told the news, and warns her not to do anything rash. Morgana enraged by the king's rejection by failure to disclose her legitimacy she attempts to murder him, she is stopped by an all knowing Merlin hiding in the shadows.

Whilst assisting Arthur in the quest to recover the Fisher King's trident, Merlin was given water from the Lake of Avalon by the Fisher King, who told 'Emrys' that he would need it when Albion's darkest hour came. (Episode: The Eye of the Phoenix)

Most of the knights of Camelot have been slain while on a mission, among them Sir Leon. Sir Leon returns claiming to be resurrected by 'The cup of life' while in the care of the druids. Uther fearing the cup's power in the wrong hands instructs Arthur to seek it out secretly. Morgana tells Morgause everything, and goes about capturing the Cup for her and Cenred's men. Arthur and Merlin run into Gwaine, and claim the Cup off the druids. Merlin is told telepathically by the druids 'Emerys, it is up to you now, protect the cup'. Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine are attacked and the Cup is taken by Morgause. Morgause uses the 'Cup Of Life' to make Cenred's men immortal using drops of their blood. Morgause and Cenred's men seize Camelot by force. Merlin and Arthur return to a battle torn Camelot, and both witness Morgana being crowned queen of Camelot while Uther looks on being taking hostage by the immortal guards. (Episode: The Coming of Arthur, Part 1)

Camelot afterwards fell been under a reign of terror with Morgana as Queen and Morgause as consort. A bounty has been placed on Arthur and his men who are in hiding. Merlin still possessing the water given to him by the Fisher King, uses it to communicate with Freya's spirit, who tells him of the sword in the lake which can slay immortals. Arthur forms the Knights of the Round Table against the immortal knights, Merlin recovers Excalibur from the Lake and uses it to remove obstacles in Camelot with the help of Lancelot, he then empties the Cup of Life, thus destroying the immortal knights, ending Morgana and Morgause's campaign.

Overview

Powers and abilities

Even before learning any magic, Merlin was able to move objects with the power of his mind, later displaying the ability to slow down time around him in order to catch a moving weapon. After he begins to learn actual magic, Merlin demonstrates exceptional skill with his abilities, rapidly mastering many spells according to the situation facing him, ranging from simple spells such as breaking and sealing locks to more elaborate spells, such as enchanting a lance so that it could kill a griffin. By Season Three, he has mastered the ability to use magic in a fight with multiple opponents- as well as when surrounded by the knights of Camelot- without anyone noticing what he is doing, such as making a tree fall over after a knight accidentally hit the trunk with his sword, giving the impression that the knight's attack caused the tree to fall, or triggering the collapse of a roof to knock Morgana out while disguising it as a side-effect of the current siege.

He has even shown an ability to wield magic while unconscious from a fatal poison when Arthur was in danger (Although it is unclear whether he was aware of what he was doing at this time).

Although he has had no formal sword-training, Merlin has picked up some degree of skill with the weapon over the course of his time in Camelot- most likely from watching Arthur practise for so long-, allowing him to at least briefly hold his own against Morgana in a fight, although he still required his magic to prevail in the end.

Following The Last Dragonlord, Merlin possesses the power of the ancient Dragonlords, allowing him to injure and control all dragons he encounters; he was even able to summon the Great Dragon's aid from a great distance, and can 'force' the Great Dragon to teach him certain spells, although the Dragon is still able to express his disapproval of Merlin's actions and decisions.

Merlin's only real weakness is his limited practical knowledge of magic or the magical world. In many cases, he requires advice and information from his mentors such as Gaius and the Great Dragon on how to specifically deal with some of the more complicated threats facing him, such as needing to be taught a spell to dispell a spirit possessing another person or how to treat a dangerous skull fracture.

Notes

• Merlin was portrayed by actor Colin Morgan.
• The character was based on Merlin from Arthurian Legend.

Appearances

• Merlin:

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