List of Merlin Characters - M - Lady Morgana Pendragon

Lady Morgana Pendragon

Morgana Pendragon (portrayed by Katie McGrath) was the daughter of Uther Pendragon who later became an evil High Priestess of the Old Religion. Morgana was the half-sister to both King Arthur and Morgause, and was Uther's ward (later to be revealed as his daughter). Throughout the first series, Morgana is seen as kind and caring, although also independent, bold and smart. Morgana possessed the power of prophetic foresight, something she was frightened of and used only to protect her friends. She told Gaius, the court physician and Gwen, her maid servant, of her dreams, but they usually shook them off. Morgana has been involved in a series of Merlin's early adventures, including rescuing the city from a plague, saving Merlin's village from bandits and taking care of a young druid boy, Mordred, who she formed a strong bond with. Morgana showed early stages of rebellion to Uther's rule, and was consistently shown as being opposing and disapproving of his hatred towards magic. After Uther imprisoned her in the dungeons for opposing him and executed Gwen's father, Morgana planned to have him assassinated but quickly scrapped the plan after Uther showed great care for her.

In the second series, Morgana starts to panic after several events cause her to believe she has magic. She only confides this with Merlin and became closer to him after he helped her deal with her heritage, although he did not admit to her that he, too, had magic. Merlin suggests that Morgana visit the Druids, who can help her. Morgana plans to run away with them, but this plan falls apart after the camp is invaded by Arthur and soldiers. Morgana accepts the fact that she has magic, believing it is a force for good. She first meets Morgause after she arrives to a have a duel with Arthur; Morgana feels she had met Morgause before, and it is later revealed that Morgause is her half-sister. Morgana admits to Morgause that she hates Uther and wants him dead, and Morgause enlists a plan in which a sleeping plague will take over Camelot. She makes Morgana the source of the plague without telling her. When Merlin later finds out about this, he reluctantly attempts to kill her in order to save the kingdom. Morgana is hurt by his betrayal, and seemingly dies in his arms before Morgause arrives and reluctantly undoes the spell to save Morgana. She then takes Morgana into her care for a year. During this time, she corrupts her and Morgana becomes fully pledged to evil.

In the third series, Morgana returns to Camelot and fakes being Uther's loving ward, when it is later revealed she is fueled with a desire to kill him, and hates Merlin, Arthur and all her former friends. Morgana takes part in a scheme to overthrow Uther and Camelot, which is discovered by Merlin. Merlin eventually escapes but does not tell anybody about Morgana's new found alliance after she threatens him. Merlin begs her to see sense and attempts to help her, but she dismisses his help and continues her alliance with Morgause. She actively takes part in plans to kill Arthur, and eventually Gwen. Eventually, she and Morgause take over Camelot with an immortal army and imprison Uther. Morgana's rule proves to be tyrannical; she kills the townspeople to force the knights to pledge allegiance to her and keeps Uther alive long enough to see her kill Arthur. Merlin and Arthur, meanwhile, with the help of Gwen and other friends, form a rebellion and overthrow Morgana and Morgause. Morgana escapes with a wounded Morgause, warning Merlin that it isn't over and that "it had just begun".

In the fourth series, Morgana is fully committed to evil. She seeks revenge on Arthur and all of Camelot. Morgana blames Merlin for the disfigurement of Morgause, and is forced to sacrifice her to the Underworld to unleash spirits upon Camelot. She is told by the Cailleach that "Emrys" is her "destiny and doom", although she is unaware that he is, in fact, Merlin. Morgana forms an alliance with Agravaine, Arthur' uncle, and eagerly awaits to see the downfall of Camelot. After her plan fails to succeed, she becomes fearful towards Emrys. Morgana later takes part in Uther's death, but was not satisfied until Arthur would suffer the same fate. She becomes involved in more schemes with Agravaine, including attempting to kill Arthur in a single-combat duel, kidnapping Merlin and taking over his mind to kill Arthur, kidnapping and torturing Gaius to discover who Emrys is and causing Guinevere's exile. She later takes over Camelot after confiding in a warlord, Helios, and becomes queen; however, her reign is short-lived when Arthur, Merlin and other surviving victims of her rule overthrow her army. Arthur tearfully asks Morgana what happened to her, citing that he thought they were friends. Morgana told Arthur he wasn't as different from Uther, and Arthur surprisingly retaliated with the same argument. Morgana is wounded in battle after attempting to escape and is knocked out by Merlin. She finds her way to the forest, and almost dies from her wounds; she is saved when Aithusa, a white dragon, breathes life back into her. Morgana is last seen staring gratefully at Aithusa before the season ends. In the season 5 episode 'A Lesson In Vengeance' Morgana is plotting with Gwen to kill Arthur. Morgana orders Gwen to cause a bag to explode. As a result of this sorcery, Arthur's horse was spooked and Arthur injured his shoulder. Morgana then bewitches Gwen to kill Arthur by poisoning his food. Morgana does this so she will be the heir to the throne after Arthur's death and when she kills Gwen. Fortunately, Arthur recovers with the aid of Merlin's powers. Mordred is the betrayer who wounds Arthur by stabbing him in the final battle against Morgana at Camlann. Arthur is dying and Merlin takes him to Avalon to be healed. Percival and Gwaine go after Morgana and succeed in stabbing her but are captured by her. She tortures Gwaine to death and finds where Arthur is heading. Percival breaks free and arrives in time to see Gwaine die. Morgana attacks Merlin and Arthur. She reveals she cannot be harmed by normal weapons. Merlin stabs her with Excalibur and reveals it was forged in a Dragon's breath, meaning Morgana dies.