Forest of Balor

"It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the Forest of Balor."

- Gaius to Arthur about the Mortaeus Flower

The Forest of Balor is a forest located beyond the Mountains of Isgaard. It is home to many rare creatures, including the Cockatrice and Balorian Spider. The forest is also the only known habitat of the Mortaeus flower, which grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree.

History
When Merlin was dying of a deadly poison, Arthur embarked on a quest to the Forest of Balor to find a Mortaeus flower, which was needed for the antidote. Soon after entering the forest, he met the High Priestess Nimueh and saved her from a Cockatrice.

Pretending to be a lost, runaway serving girl, Nimueh offered to help Arthur find the flower in the caves beneath the forest, but later betrayed him and left him to die. However, Merlin's guiding light allowed Arthur to escape the caves before he could be killed by Balorian Spiders (The Poisoned Chalice).

Trivia

 * The forest is likely located in a country called Balor, as the caves below the forest were known as the Caves of Balor (The Poisoned Chalice).
 * It is possible that Nimueh's caves were located near the forest, as she knew the area well enough to guide and trap Arthur (The Poisoned Chalice).
 * It is revealed in the novelisation of Valiant that the Serpent Shield contains snakes taken from this forest.

Mythology
Balor was a one-eyed giant in Irish mythology and leader of an evil race, perhaps an inspiration for these dark lands.