User blog comment:Longlivemerlin/Temporary? Or Permanently? Magic reveal talk! (SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 12 & 13!)/@comment-190.55.67.166-20121219021359

I love the 'Merlin will lose his magic' twist! Remember the very first episode? Merlin literally says: 'If I can't use magic I might as well die...'. So even if his magic is gone only temporarily, this is going to hit Merlin hard.

As for it being temporary or permanent: I just don't see Morgana defeated without Merlin being there to defeat her. I mean: the knights of Camelot battle with the Saxons, the two Dragons might battle it out, Arthur takes on Mordred in a (magical?) sword fight and Morgana just stands on a hill and magically executes every enemy in sight... The battle is going to be a close call and without someone in Camelot to balance the magical component it just doesn't feel right. So temporary I guess. His youth might be the price he has to pay.

Another thought: Who/what will be the diamond of the day? A silver lining, a hero, someone who repents, a special crystal from the crystal cave? Nobody seems to be discussing it or did I miss something there?