The Veil

"Tearing the veil between the worlds has created a new world, and you will not walk through it alone."

- The Cailleach to Morgana

The Veil Between the Worlds is a magical barrier separating the Spirit World from the living. It is guarded by the Cailleach, the Gatekeeper to the Spirit World, and can be accessed with magical rituals or artifacts such as Blood Sacrifices and the Horn of Cathbhadh.

History
In the days of the Old Religion, the High Priestesses would gather together on Samhain's Eve and perform a blood sacrifice. This action tore the veil between the worlds and released the Dorocha into the living world (The Darkest Hour).

The Priestesses would also gather at the Great Stones of Nemeton at Beltane and use the Horn of Cathbhadh to enter the Spirit World for a brief time. They were taught never to look back as they exited, as doing so would release the spirits into the living world (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Morgause used a magic ritual to open a door to the Spirit World so that Arthur could speak with his mother. This ritual can only be used to contact a spirit once, and once the doorway is closed, it is closed forever (The Sins of the Father).

One year after her failed attempt to conquer Camelot, Morgana sought revenge by sacrificing Morgause on the Isle of the Blessed. Doing so tore the veil between the worlds and unleashed Dorocha upon Camelot.

To banish the Dorocha, Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table traveled to the Isle of the Blessed to offer another sacrifice, which was required to heal the veil. Arthur intended to offer his own life for this purpose, but Merlin knocked him out and stepped forward in his place. The Cailleach refused to accept his offer, however, and Lancelot stepped through the veil in his stead (The Darkest Hour).

On the third anniversary of Uther's death, Arthur went to Nemeton and used the Horn of Cathbhadh to speak with him in the Spirit World. He left when the veil began to close, but looked back at his father and accidentally released his spirit into the living world.

With Gaius and Merlin's help, Arthur later used the Horn to reopen the veil and return Uther to the Spirit World (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Appearances

 * Series 2
 * The Sins of the Father


 * Series 4
 * The Darkest Hour


 * Series 5
 * The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Trivia

 * The veil is at its thinnest at the stroke of midnight on Samhain's Eve (The Darkest Hour).