Cailleach

"When she spoke, her voice... It was as though it came from the depths of the earth. And her eyes... They were so sad. So much pain in them."

- Merlin to Gaius about the Cailleach

The Cailleach is a powerful deity in the Old Religion. She serves as the Gatekeeper to the Spirit World, and as such holds dominion over it, the veil between the worlds, and spirits such as the Dorocha.

Biography
The Cailleach appeared to Morgana after she sacrificed Morgause to tear the veil between the worlds. She explained that the Dorocha had been released and would bring destruction to her enemies, but also warned Morgana to beware the sorcerer Emrys, who was both her destiny and her doom.

The Cailleach also appeared to Merlin in Camelot during the Feast of Samhain, after which he was overcome with shock and cold and collapsed.

Merlin encountered the Cailleach again on the Isle of the Blessed. Though Arthur intended to sacrifice himself to heal the veil, Merlin knocked him out and approached the Cailleach in his stead. She refused to accept his offer, however, as his time among men was not yet over, and Lancelot stepped through the veil instead. His sacrifice healed the rift and both the Cailleach and Dorocha disappeared from Camelot (The Darkest Hour).

Personality
The Cailleach was a mysterious, solemn being charged with looking after the souls of the dead. She did not appear to enjoy this occupation, as Merlin once noted that her eyes seemed sad and full of pain.

Her discontent may be the reason for her occasional bitterness and cruelty. She laughed at the idea of innocent people dying and saw no reason to end suffering that someone else had caused. It was also hinted by Kilgharrah that a sacrifice was not strictly necessary to heal the veil, but was merely the price that the Cailleach demanded.

Despite her emotional detachment, however, the Cailleach was capable of surprising gentleness. She was kind to Morgana when she was frightened by the Dorocha and warned her to beware the sorcerer Emrys, who was destined to bring about her doom. The Cailleach also seemed to have some fondness for Merlin, as she did not reveal his magic or identity and seemed pleased by his decision to challenge her (The Darkest Hour).

Abilities
As a goddess and the Gatekeeper to the Spirit World, the Cailleach was known to be a very powerful sorceress. She held dominion over the Spirit World, was capable of repairing the veil between the worlds, and could command spirits such as the Dorocha.

The Cailleach was also capable of powerful magic. Though the full extent of her abilities is unknown, she easily bested Gwaine with a non-verbal stunning spell and was confident that she could defeat even Merlin in magical combat. She was also able to occupy two places at once, as she appeared to Merlin in Camelot while speaking with Morgana on the Isle of the Blessed.

It may also have been implied that she knew when every living being's time to die was. She knew that Morgana would meet her doom at Emrys's hand and refused Merlin's sacrifice because his time among men was not yet over (The Darkest Hour).

Etymology

 * Cailleach is Irish for "hag" and Scots Gaelic for "old woman".

Trivia

 * Like the Dorocha, the Cailleach appears to emanate cold, as Merlin became severely chilled when he first encountered her (The Darkest Hour).
 * The wood used to make the Cailleach's staff is conifer. The staff was made by Andrew Duncan, who is a bushcraft instructor. Andrew also made the staff used by Dragoon, which was made from twisted hazel.

Mythology
The Cailleach (also known as Beira, Queen of Winter in Scotland) is a divine hag in Gaelic mythology. She is a seasonal deity who rules the winter months between Samhainn and Bealttain, and is known to herd deer, fight spring, and own a staff that freezes the ground.

As the personification of winter, the Cailleach is in partnership with the goddess Brighde, who rules the summer months. Some believe that Brighde and the Cailleach are two faces of the same goddess, while others interpret them as separate beings.

The Cailleach is also associated with the weather and the creation of landscapes. She is credited with making numerous mountains and large hills, which were formed when she crossed the land and accidentally dropped rocks from her wicker basket or creel. She also carries a hammer for shaping hills and valleys, and is said to be the mother of all the gods and goddesses.