Merlin

Merlin

Background

Merlin is a sorcerer in Britain.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 1 Homecoming played by Joseph Fiennes

During the feast, King Uther eats from the soup and starts to choke. Merlin runs into the castle and Queen Igraine asks him to help Uther. Merlin tells Uther that he is going to die and has him sign a will leaving Britain to Arthur. Merlin takes Uther's ring and the piece of parchment and leaves. He goes to Arthur's Foster Mother and Ector's home and Merlin tells Arthur that Uther is dead and that he is Uther's son. Ector tells Arthur that Merlin is telling the truth and that Merlin brought him to Ector and Arthur's Foster Mother when he was less than a week old and asked them to look over Arthur. Merlin shows Arthur, Uther's will and gives him Uther's ring. Arthur tells Arthur's Foster Mother that she will always be his mother and tells Ector that no son had a better father. Arthur asks Kay to join him and he, Merlin and Kay ride away.

Merlin tells Arthur that he had a vision of mankind falling into darkness and he wants to use Arthur to prevent it. Arthur, Merlin and Kay come across a large pile of people who had been slaughtered. They ride into a village and are met by Aldred who tells them to continue on their way. Merlin gets off his horse and Aldred recognizes him and lets them stay. Merlin tells Arthur about his birth and how Uther wanted Igraine, who used to be married to the Old Duke of Cornwall. Uther asked Merlin to change him to look like the Duke of Cornwall so he could have sex with Igraine and Arthur was conceived that night. In the morning they leave the village and while Arthur is peeing, he is ambushed by Lot's Outrider and kills him.

They arrive at Camelot and they walk into the great hall of Camelot and meet the warriors who have sworn allegiance to Arthur, Ulfius, Leontes, Brastias, and Pellinor among others including Uriens. Leontes tells Arthur that Uther was a great man and they give their loyalty to him. Merlin tells Arthur that his enemies include King Lot, the Duke of Cornwall, Nentes, Scotland and Carados. He tells Arthur things about Uther and that Morgan is his half-sister. Lot and Morgan arrive at the castle and Morgan denies that Arthur is Uther's son. Igraine walks into the hall and says that Arthur is her and Uther's son and Lot and Morgan leave. Arthur has a dream where Guinevere walks out of the ocean and they have sex. He wakes up and Merlin asks who he dreamt about. Morgan, Lot, Scotland and others arrive with their armies and Morgan tells Arthur to leave or he will lose everything. Arthur demands their allegiance and respect and Lot has the body of Lot's Outrider brought into the hall and tells Arthur that the Outrider was his eldest son. Arthur's Foster Mother is brought into the hall and Lot stabs her dead. Lot tells Arthur that he has five days or his family and friends will be slaughtered.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 2 The Sword and the Crown played by Joseph Fiennes

Arthur and Kay mourn at the casket of Arthur's Foster Mother. As Leontes and Ulfius are about to close her tomb, Arthur starts to blame himself for her death. Merlin tells him that King Lot murdered her so Arthur would give up. Arthur tells the others to leave while he stays to mourn. At Camelot, Merlin tells Arthur's knights to work on strengthening the defenses at Camelot. In the morning, Arthur, Kay, Merlin and Leontes go to where a sword is stuck inside the top of a waterfall. Merlin tells the legend of the sword, that whoever pulls it from the stone shall be the king to reunite Britain. Kay throws a rope over a stump jutting out of the cliff and ties the other end around Arthur.

A Naysayer tells Merlin that Kay pulling Arthur up the waterfall is cheating. Leontes tells Merlin that even if Arthur pulls the sword, there is no way for him to come back down safely. More people gather to watch Arthur's attempt and the Naysayer says that Arthur will fail. Arthur makes it to the sword and pulls the sword out, but then falls to the lake below. Leontes pulls him from the lake, but Arthur is unconscious. Merlin tells Leontes to light the beacon and to tell everyone that Arthur has retrieved the sword. Arthur regains consciousness and Merlin shows him the sword. Arthur goes to see his new followers and Morgan rides up and tells Merlin that Lot is going to attack. Arthur has his coronation ceremony and the Archbishop crowns Arthur king. Kay is made marshal of England, and Ector and Leontes are made champions. Igraine tells Merlin that he hasn't aged at all since they last met 20 years ago. Arthur notices suspicious men in hoods and a battle breaks out. Pellinor is killed by Lot who then fights Ector. Lot fatally stabs Ector, who then sticks a dagger through Lot's neck. Ector tells Arthur and Kay that he loves them and then dies. Morgan tells Merlin that she will find another way to take the throne and Arthur asks her to work together, but she tells him it is either her or him.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 3 Guinevere played by Joseph Fiennes

As Arthur, Merlin and Kay are walking through Camelot, they walk through a crowd of people asking for favors. Beseecher asks to speak with Arthur as does another. Leontes walks up to Arthur in a hurry and then takes him to see Guinevere and Bridget. Leodegrance tells Arthur about the bandit attack and Leontes asks if they can stay at Camelot. Merlin says no, but Arthur says they can stay. Leodegrance mentions Guinevere and Leontes' upcoming marriage and Merlin insists they have the wedding at Camelot.

Vivian rides into Camelot and tells Arthur that Morgan invites him to her castle. Arthur tells her that he accepts, which upsets Merlin. As they are riding to Morgan's castle, they stop at Borin's bar. Merlin tells Arthur that he knows he has feelings for Guinevere which Arthur denies. They arrive at Morgan's castle and Merlin suspects that something is not right. At night, Morgan gets Merlin drunk and he places his hands on her face and sees the past, where she puts the poison in Uther's soup disguised as the Scullery Girl. Merlin wakes up handcuffed to the bed and finds Morgan clipping his toe nails. He tells her that he knows she murdered Uther and warns her that the power she is using is hurting her. She shows him her ability to change into the Scullery Girl and afterwards she starts bleeding from her ears. Merlin gets himself loose and warns Morgan again about using her magic.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 4 Lady of the Lake played by Joseph Fiennes

The day after the wedding, Igraine is watching Arthur eat when Merlin offers her breakfast and suggests she go and eat with Arthur. She and Merlin then notice Arthur watching as Guinevere and Leontes kiss. Gawain asks Arthur what he and his warriors are fighting for and Arthur tells him freedom. Gawain tells Arthur to show him how he fights, easily beats him and breaks Arthur's sword. Merlin says that Arthur needs a sword fit for a king and Gawain suggests he get a sword from Caliburn. Merlin pulls Arthur aside and tells him to stop lusting after Guinevere.

Merlin finds Caliburn and tells him that he needs a sword for Arthur. Caliburn tells him that Arthur will have to come himself if he wants a sword. Merlin tells him who he is and Caliburn agrees to make the sword. He tells Merlin that he used to be a famous warrior, but quit to make weapons, but even now he still sometimes gets the lust for battle. Caliburn asks Merlin how it feels to use his powers and Merlin tells him that it feels like an extra emotion. Merlin uses his powers to make the fire grow in the rock hearth and is caught by Excalibur. She asks him what he is doing and he puts a knife to her throat. Caliburn threatens Merlin and tells him that in the morning, he will have his sword ready. Merlin has a dream that Caliburn kills Arthur and wakes up. Caliburn finishes the sword and tells Merlin that he will give the sword to Arthur himself, but Merlin refuses. Caliburn tells Merlin that if he can't give Arthur the sword personally, then Arthur can't have it. They fight and Merlin kills Caliburn by making the forge fire engulf him in flames.

Excalibur sees Caliburn dead and takes the sword and runs away from Merlin. He chases her to a lake and she gets into a boat and rows away. Merlin uses his powers to make the lake start to ice over and the boat gets stuck in the ice. He starts to walk towards Excalibur and she falls into the lake with the sword. Excalibur manages to break the ice with the sword and sticks her arm with the sword out of the ice. Merlin takes the sword and Exaclibur drowns and sinks to the bottom of the lake. Later, Merlin goes to Borin's bar and starts a fight with Borin and a Warrior. The Warrior then proceeds to beat up Merlin, who doesn't fight back. Merlin returns with the sword and tells the others that he found Caliburn dead and rode to a lake where he saw an arm sticking out of the lake holding the sword and that its name is Excalibur.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 5 Justice played by Joseph Fiennes

Merlin dreams of the day he watched Excalibur drown and took the sword. Later, Igraine finds Merlin in a lower level of the castle, but he tells her to leave him alone. She brings Merlin food and tells him of the tribunal Arthur set up. Arthur goes to see Merlin and Merlin tells him that they are behind schedule. Merlin admits to Igraine what happened to Excalibur. He and Igraine talk and she tells him that she dreamed of a husband that would treat her like an equal, but has yet to find one. Igraine tries to kiss Merlin, but he pushes her away.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 6 Three Journeys played by Joseph Fiennes

Brastias, Ulfius, Leontes, Gawain and Kay are putting up banners with the Pendragon logo on them when Merlin rides up and tells them that they are going to Kay's old home to retrieve Ector's books. As Merlin and the others are riding, they come across a camp that was attacked. They find Herlewin still alive, but his wife dead. Merlin tells Herlewin that he is dying and Kay asks Merlin to use his powers. Merlin refuses to and Gawain snaps Herlewin's neck. Merlin explains his powers to the others and how using magic comes with a cost. Kay and the others ride into Kay's old home and find it plundered and the books gone. Merlin tells Gawain that his powers bring him into the dark, but Gawain tells him that he must use his powers just like they do. Kay has a dream of Ector reading to him and Arthur and when he wakes up, sees a spectral image of Ector. He follows the image which leads him to a hidden basement and the books. Kay and the others pack the books up and ride back to Camelot. As Leontes is riding, he is thrown from his horse and dislocates his shoulder, Merlin uses magic to distract him and Gawain puts his arm back into its socket.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 7 The Long Night played by Joseph Fiennes

Arthur, Kay, Igraine, Merlin, Guinevere, Leontes, Gawain, Brastias, Ulfius, and Bridget ride to Morgan's castle. During the feast Arthur's men get drunk and Morgan offers her love and devotion to Arthur. Igraine doesn't believe Morgan's words and tells Merlin that Morgan covets Arthur's throne. A group of [[Dancers (Camelot)|Dancers start dancing in front of the group and at the end of the dance stick swords in front of the diners. The Dancers leave with most of Arthur's men except, Arthur himself, and Leontes. After dinner, Merlin questions Morgan about Sybil, and Morgan tells him that she has changed her ways.

The castle suddenly is attacked by flaming arrows. A Girl is surrounded by flames and Arthur goes to save her. Merlin grabs Morgan's Captain and tells him to ready the defenses. Everyone gathers for a meeting and Morgan wonders who is attacking her and Merlin thinks Aldwulf, a warrior king from the east might be behind the attack. Merlin questions Sybil about why she is at the castle. Harwel, who was part of a scouting group, returns wounded and says that Aldwulf is preparing to attack. Morgan sends some of her soldiers out of the castle, leaving even fewer people to defend the castle. Merlin tells Igraine that Morgan killed King Uther. In the morning, Morgan's Captain returns and says that they defeated Aldwulf's men. Arthur and the others ride back to Camelot.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 8 Igraine played by Joseph Fiennes

Merlin knocks on Igraine's door and brings her food. Later, Igraine goes to Merlin's room and asks him what his plans are for Morgan. She asks him if he is attracted to Morgan and she tells him that King Uther beat Morgan when she returned from the monastery. He says that Igraine is twice the woman Morgan is and then asks her if she brought the food. Igraine brings Redwald to Merlin's room and Merlin tells him that since no one knows when Redwald's birthday is, they will celebrate it that day. Merlin gives Redwald a leather armor set that fits him and little toy soldiers. While standing outside a balcony, Igraine asks Merlin what he thinks of her. She tells him that she wants him, but Merlin pulls away from her. In the morning, Igraine shows Merlin the dead body of Redwald and Merllin notices Redwald's sleeve is torn. He tells Igraine that there is no redemption for someone who kills a child. When Igraine returns to her room, Merlin is waiting and they have sex.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 9 The Battle of Bardon Pass played by Joseph Fiennes

Igraine goes into her room and Merlin is confused by her behavior and her physical condition. She tells him that she saw herself staring back at her and that Sybil had her captive at Castle Pendragon. Merlin figures out that Morgan was impersonating her and they have to find out what Morgan learned. Leontes grabs his sword and as he is walking, runs into Merlin. Leontes tells Merlin that Arthur had an affair with Guinevere and Merlin tells him that he will deal with Arthur. Merlin tells a Camelot Guard to tell Arthur, he wants to speak with him. Merlin sees Arthur and punches him in the face and then tells him to cover what happened between him and Guinevere up. Albion climbs up to Arthur's window and tells him Bardon Pass is under siege.

Merlin tracks down Leontes and tells him about Bardon Pass, but Leontes plans on leaving Camelot. He agrees to go, but tells Merlin that he will leave Camelot when they return. Merlin tells Gawain to protect Arthur if Leontes tries to harm him and Arthur and his men head to Bardon Pass. Merlin and Igraine leave to bring Morgan back to Camelot to face charges. Merlin and Igraine ride into Morgan's castle and when Morgan comes out, Merlin accuses her of numerous charges. Injured Woman says that Morgan is the only one they can trust and Morgan and Sybil take Igraine and Merlin to where Igraine says she was tortured. The room has been transformed into a prayer room and Igraine realizes that Sybil is trying to make them look crazy to the locals. Merlin tells Morgan that she is under arrest and instead Merlin and Igraine are arrested. Merlin and Igraine are bound with ropes and dragged behind Morgan and Sybil as they ride to Camelot.

During the events of Camelot: Season 1 Episode 10 Reckoning played by Joseph Fiennes

Morgan arrives at Camelot with her entourage and Bridget tells her that Arthur is at Bardon Pass repelling an attack. A Camelot guard sees Igraine tied up and goes to untie her, but is stopped by a Pendragon guard and Sybil tells the crowd that Merlin and Igraine ransacked Castle Pendragon and threatened Morgan. Morgan has Igraine taken to her room while Merlin is put in a pillory. Morgan taunts Merlin and then walks away. Camelot Guard tries to stop Bridget from giving Merlin food and she tells him that Morgan has her guards everywhere. He tells her to have faith in Arthur and that he will return. Sybil taunts Merlin and then has him released from the pillory so he can watch as Morgan presents Arthur's sword to the crowd. Borin asks who will be the new ruler and Sybil nominates Morgan and she accepts.

Morgan is about to be crowned queen when Arthur walks into the throne room. Morgan runs to him as if she is happy to see him, but Arthur whispers to her that he knows everything. He chastises the people for so quickly crowning a new leader and Merlin is released. Borin asks where Arthur was and Arthur tells Morgan to give him back his sword and crown. Morgan says he has lost the will of the people, but Brastias takes Arthur's sword from Vivian and the crown from Sybil. Gawain and Kay drag Wallace into the throne room and Wallace tells the crowd of Morgan's plan. Sybil tells everyone that she planned everything and Morgan knew of nothing. Merlin finds a dying Igraine and tries to use his magic to heal her, but she stops him and tells him to protect Arthur and then dies. Merlin cleans Igraine's body and apologizes to Arthur. Gawain takes Sybil to her execution spot and before Gawain cuts off her head, Merlin tells her that there is no god. Merlin tells Arthur that he is leaving and that Arthur will be great.