Hunith and Balinor aren't Merlin's biological parents. His real mother is the Duchess Matilda Sigourney Bennet-Beauchamp, King Uther's powerful Mistress. Merlin's mother will do whatever is necessary to keep her son's status as a Warlock, and the King's illegitimate son, concealed from the King and the rest of Camelot.Anything.
The characters from "Merlin" and the general plot of the show obviously don't belong to me. The only characters I do own are Duchess Matilda Sigourney Bennet-Beauchamp and her late husband, Duke Theobald Conrad Beauchamp.
I will attempt to update once in a fortnight.
As Merlin travels through the countryside to reach Camelot per Hunith's instructions, unknown to Duchess Matilda, Kilgharrah, in his dungeon, stirs from two decades of sleep, saying, "No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny. He cannot glimpse his part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, he must live and learn. And so it will be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will, in time, father the legend. His name: Merlin."
Entering Camelot, Merlin finds himself trapped in a crowd. Looking up, he sees the King on the balcony, next to a regal noblewomen with chestnut-brown, well-cared for locks that fell well past the middle of her back. Clearing his throat, Uther begins, "Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass." With that, the Tyrannical King gives a brief nod to the executioner, and Thomas Collins is without his head. The noblewomen briefly diverts her eyes, and spots Merlin. They lock eyes. The noblewoman's face becomes devoid of colour. Merlin feels his magic attempt to pull him towards her. He resists. They break eye contact when Uther continues; "When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin!"
Suddenly, an old haggard lady, who Merlin later finds out is Thomas' mother, Mary, screeches in vengeance, "There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son!"
Uther, angry at the blatant talk of treason and threat on his prized son and heir, commands, "Seize her!" However, the heartbroken sorceress evades the numerous guards and knights by chanting a spell of the old religion, causing herself to disappear, leaving a foreboding wind and wisps of smoke in her wake.
Merlin, shaken due to the execution and his new King's vile speech, gathers himself and asks the nearest guard to where to find Gaius the Court Physician of Camelot. After receiving instructions, Merlin heads towards Gaius' physician quarters.
After knocking, Merlin eagerly wanders in. "Hello? Gaius?", he calls. Suddenly, Gaius comes into view. Smiling after seeing Merlin, Gaius makes to greet his beloved god-son. However, the wise man ends up tripping over the steep stairs. Fortunately, Merlin saves his father-figure with an instinctive golden gold of his eyes.
"Merlin! Thank you! But you should be very careful - you are not in Ealdor - you are in Uther Pendragon's castle! Now! What are you doing here? You're not meant to be here till Wednesday!", nagged Gaius, hugging Merlin.
Merlin amusedly replies, "It is Wednesday."
"Ah, I see.", states Gaius awkwardly, "Right then, you better put your bag up there.", he points to a chamber at the end of a rickety case of wooden stairs.
"Okay, thanks Uncle Gaius. Ooh, Mum gave me this letter for you.", Merlin remembers, handing the sealed letter to Gaius.
Unknown to the two, outside the Court Physician's quarters, a baffled Prince of Camelot was left gawking at the clearly instinctual display of magic, and the possibility that magic can be used for good. Resolving to keep this from his father for now, and vowing to keep an eye out for this boy called Merlin, Prince Arthur of Camelot decided to head to his chambers, in order to retire for the night.
However, quite ironically, the eavesdropping prince did not know that behind him, the Duchess Matilda herself had followed her biological son from the square, and now was privy to the fact that the son of the hateful King knew all about her beloved son's magic. Stepping back into the shadows, the Duchess came to the conclusion that she should invite the Prince to her chambers soon for some tea and some snacks from the kitchen, as well as a discreet scrutinizing.
As Merlin unpacked in his new chambers, Gaius read Hunith's letter:
My dear Gaius, I turn to you for I feel lost and alone and don't know who to trust. Soon after the Duchess gave me her son, I knew that looking after him would not be an easy task. However, regardless of everything, I have, and will always love Merlin as my own. And due to that, I would happily give my life so that Merlin were not so special in the way that he is. Ours is a small village and he is so clearly at odds with people here that, if he were to remain, I fear what would become of him. He needs a hand to hold, a voice to guide, someone that might help him find a purpose for his gifts. I beg you, if you understand a mother's love for her son, keep him safe, and may God save you both, and Merlin's mother, too.
The next day, Merlin wakes in his new bedchamber, awoken by the Great Dragon's calls of "Merlin" in his sleep. Weirded out, Merlin goes down the stairs. Gaius greets him with, "I got you water. You didn't wash last night."
Merlin, embarrassed, replied with a sheepish, "Sorry".
Silently proud at his ability to intimidate his god-son, Gaius replied with a calm, "Help yourself to breakfast."
While Merlin was eating his porridge, Gaius began, "Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here." .Then, Gaius places a bunch of leaves - Sage - and a bottle on the table. This bunch of Sage is for the Duchess Matilda, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."
Merlin, abandoning his barely eaten porridge, sadly agreed with an, "Okay."
Gaius, taking pity on his new ward, added, "And here.". To Merlin's immense happiness, Gaius hands him a plate with a sandwich on it. Merlin beams while shoving the sandwich into his mouth. Half disgusted, Gaius prompts, "Off you go. And Merlin, I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed."
Merlin walks until he gets to a particularly lavish corridor of the Castle, where servants and nobles alike buzz, going about their day-to-day lives. Slightly amazed, Merlin knocks on the grand, wooden door. "Come in!", the warlock heard a melodious, light voice call-out.
Pushing the door open, Merlin was greeted with the sight of the noblewoman he locked eyes with from the execution yesterday, and a ginger-haired knight, sipping tea from cups and nibbling on CHOCOLATE. "Oh, hello," , greeted the noblewoman warmly, seemingly composed, "May I kindly inquire as to who exactly are you, and why you are currently in my chambers?"
"Erm, yes,", replied Merlin, suddenly nervous, "I'm Merlin, Gaius' new ward, he sent me to give you this bunch of Sage …. Your Grace."
Rising from her seat, the Duchess kindly pleaded, "Please, Merlin, call me Matilda - Gaius is such an old friend of mine, his ward should be allowed the courtesy of calling me by my given name." As Matilda took the bunch of Sage from Merlin's hand with a welcoming and comforting smile, she took the chance to probe, "Is it planned for you to be in Gaius' care in Camelot for the long-term, or is this a temporary arrangement, may I ask?"
"Oh." , let out Merlin, quite dumbly, surprised that a DUCHESS would take notice of him long enough to believe that HE was worth conversing with, "Erm, yeah. It's a long-term thing, you know. Mother .. well that is … well my mother, you know, wanted me to live with Gaius, because …..well, he has a lot to offer me you know? As a court physician?"
"Yes, that I must believe.", agreed Matilda pleasantly, internally fuming at Hunith's clear betrayal. "Would you like a piece of chocolate, Merlin? To take with you wherever Gaius has you going next?", she asked.
"Oh! ", the by-blow son of the King beamed, both surprised and happy, "Yes! I mean… yes please." Chucking slightly, the ginger-haired knight reached to break off a hugely generous piece of chocolate, being rewarded with an appreciative smile from the Duchess. "Here you go, Merlin.", supplied the Knight, handing over the delicacy to the peasant, "Your Grace, His Majesty has me on patrol right now, so with Your Grace's permission, I will take my leave."
"Of course, Sir Leon." , the generous Duchess replied.
As Sir Leon was leaving, Merlin remembered , "Thanks Sir Leon!".
With a calculating look in her eyes, Matilda called back Merlin just as he himself was about to leave and told him, "Merlin, dear. Could you please do me the favour of telling the dear Gaius that I wish to soon have a private discussion with him, yes, thank you!" With that, Merlin left to deliver Sir Olwin's bottle, but not before Matilda pushed a WHOLE bar of chocolate into his hands with a cheeky wink and a kind smile.
A few minutes later, Merlin finds himself outside a clean hut made of gray bricks. Knocking on the door he is greeted with the sight of a squinting old man. Sir Olwwin immediately grabs the bottle from Merlin's hands, pops the cork open and starts to drink it. Alarmed, Merlin tries, "Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at…" As Sir Olwin finishes drinking it. Averting his eyes, Merlin off-handedly mumbles, "I'm sure it's fine."
Coming back from Sir Olwin's, Merlin passes the training grounds, where he spots a blonde knight bullying a serving boy, Morris. After observing for a while, Merlin decides that enough is enough. When the target rolls to Merlin's feet, Merlin puts a bold foot on it so that poor Morris cannot pick it up.