Chapter Text
Once upon a time there was a king named Balinor who ruled the magical kingdom. All those with magic in their blood lived in peace and harmony under his rule. He was a just and kind king. He married his true love a young farm girl named Hunith. Yet, he was sad for he was growing old and had no child to inherit his throne.
Then happily a son was born, a prince, and he was given the name Merlin. Prophecies were writ of this child that he would be the most powerful sorcerer to ever exist. He would bring about a new world of peace, however, he was only one half of this prophecy. The other would be the Once and Future king. No one yet knew who this would be. Their only clue was that he would be the other side to Merlin’s coin.
Kings and Queens from all the human kingdoms came to introduce their sons in hope to be deemed fit of the prophecy. Many brought gifts to offer this magical child. They hoped such gifts would gain them favor with the infant prince. Among them was the widower Uther and his young son Arthur.
As each prince laid their gift around Merlin’s crib, the baby simple stared at them. None so far had pleased the infant. At a prompt from his father, young Arthur approached. He had brought Merlin a golden chain with the emblem of a falcon on a pendant. When he dangled the chain over the baby, he suddenly smiled and cooed reaching out for the pendant.
It was then as they watched their sons that Balinor and Uther wondered if perhaps this was it. Together they devised a plan. Arthur and Merlin would be brought together each summer in hopes that they would prove to be two sides of the same coin. If they were their kingdoms would join forever.
But unknown to all was another plan, that of the evil enchantress Morgause. For long she had been the apprentice to King Balinor. Once she had hoped to win his hand only to be turned away in favor of Queen Hunith. Then, year after year before they could produce an heir she hoped to be named King Balinor’s predecessor. Merlin’s birth only confirmed that she would never be seen by Balinor for her skills. If she could not win the throne, she would take it. She was preparing to take Balinor’s kingdom by means of the dark arts.
King Balinor learned of her plot and on the eve of his assault Balinor attacked. Morgause’s powers were plunged into darkness. Years of her work destroyed, magic stripped from her skin. Despite calls for her death, the enchantress was only banished.
“I’m not through with you yet, Balinor! Some day I’ll get my power back. And when I do, everything you own, everything you love will be mine!” She warned.
King Balinor pointed for her to leave his kingdom, and never return.
Many feared King Balinor too kind.
But in time, the threat was forgotten, and all attention was turned to that not too distant summer when Arthur and Merlin would meet.