Board Thread:(Re)Writing "Merlin"/@comment-5674726-20141115233456/@comment-80.111.11.144-20150318191301

Sir Dagonet the jester wrote: Well, maybe I looked from my point of view. Id someone told me that the fate of a whole state depended on me I would have trouble accepting this so fast

A lot of people would but I'd say that Merlin's background may have predisposed him to accept what Kilgharrah had to say about his alleged destiny. He grew up with powers that he had to hide, even from his closest friend. I'd lay odds that Hunith made sure to drum it into his head that he was never to use magic when there was the slightest chance that anybody else might see it, and that he was never to tell anybody about his magic. She probably did her best to reassure Merlin that his magic wasn't bad but, at the same time, he's bound to have picked up on the fact that it worried her.

When he arrives at Camelot, he's both frustrated at not being able to use his magic and desperate to believe that he was given his powers for a reason. Next thing he knows, he's being told that he has this amazing destiny and that, not only will a day come when magic will be embraced and the land will enjoy a golden age, he will be instrumental in bringing it about.

It's worth noting that Merlin's objection to the prophecy isn't because he doesn't want the future Kilgharrah paints for him or because he doubts his ability to play his part but because he believes that Arthur is an idiot.

He believes that he is meant for greatness because he wants to believe it.

It's a little like the young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter, who has no trouble whatsoever believing the stranger who tells him that he has magic because he is ready and willing to believe that he is special.