Daegal was a boy that Morgana hired to lure Merlin away from Camelot. After she poisoned the warlock and left him for dead, Daegal had a change of heart and concocted an antidote to save him. He then accompanied Merlin back to Camelot, where he died helping him save Arthur from an assassin.
History
Early Life
Little is known about Daegal's early life. His mother, a sorceress, was killed by Uther at some point in his childhood, and from that point on he was left to fend for himself. Nothing is known about his father, and he once told Merlin that he had no sister (The Hollow Queen).
Hired By Morgana
After their first attempt to assassinate Arthur failed, Morgana and Guinevere conspired to trick Sarrum of Amata into killing the king for them. In order to ensure that Merlin didn't interfere with their plans, they hired Daegal to lure him away from Camelot. The boy met with them only once and didn't know what they planned to do to Merlin, but he did seem to be aware that they meant to kill King Arthur.
When the time came to carry out their plan, Daegal snuck into Camelot after nightfall and made his way to the citadel. He was briefly stopped by a squad of Knights who were escorting the Queen, but managed to avert suspicion by claiming that he'd been out catching frogs. Guinevere supported his story and sent him on his way.
Daegal found Merlin in the palace kitchens preparing a bath for the Queen. Identifying himself as a Druid, he claimed that his younger sister was dying of a sweating sickness and he needed Merlin to come treat her. The warlock initially refused to help him and advised that he bring his sister to Gaius, but Daegal objected that it was too dangerous for their kind and begged Merlin to accompany him to the Valley of the Fallen Kings. Unable to turn him away, Merlin finally agreed and instructed Daegal to meet him at the entrance to the Darkling Woods at first light.
True to his word, Merlin met up with Daegal early the next morning and they started off on their journey. The warlock was very kind to the boy, sharing his breakfast with him and insisting that they stop so he could treat his injured arm. Daegal was delighted but confused by his kindness, and at one point asked Merlin why he was doing so much for him. He explained that most people he'd met didn't care about him because he didn't matter, to which Merlin earnestly replied, "Don't ever think that. We all matter."
It took them most of the day to complete their journey. At one point they nearly ran into a patrol of bandits, and when Merlin realized the danger he tried to warn Daegal with his telepathy. The supposed Druid boy, however, failed to hear his warning, and he was forced to grab him and physically drag him to safety. This incident, together with the fact that Daegal had become increasingly somber as they neared their destination, made Merlin suspicious as to whether the boy had been entirely honest with him. His suspicions were confirmed when they arrived at the Valley and found no one there. Revealing that he knew Daegal had been lying to him and that Druid symbol on his arm was rubbing off, Merlin angrily confronted the boy and demanded to know why he'd brought him there.
Before Daegal could answer, Morgana appeared and used her magic to knock Merlin unconscious. The witch complimented Daegal on a job well done and paid him the money she'd promised him, which the boy accepted with more than a little guilt. He then watched in horror as Morgana uncorked a bottle of poison and poured it down Merlin's throat, after which she kicked his body down the hill. Satisfied that the warlock wouldn't be meddling in her plans again, Morgana threatened to use the last of the poison on Daegal if he told anyone what he'd seen, and though the boy was clearly uneasy about the part he'd played, he ultimately chose to heed her warnings and left soon after she did, abandoning Merlin to his fate.
Helping Merlin
The next night, a remorseful Daegal returns to Merlin, and attempts to save his life (which he does do successfully with Merlin's instructions). Daegal explains to Merlin, Morgana and Gwen's plan to assassinate Arthur, Merlin gets up and, with Daegal by his side, makes his way back to Camelot. On their return journey, the pair run into bandits, but are saved by Merlin's magic. Later, Daegal tells Merlin that his mother used magic too, but died for it. Daegal is quite surprised that Merlin has magic.
They arrive back in Camelot just in time for the signing of the peace treaty and follow Albin to where he was about to shoot Arthur with a crossbow. Merlin deflects most of Albin's arrows and knives, but Daegal is mortally wounded by a stray knife, and dies with Merlin grieving by his side. A dying Daegal is told by Merlin that he is a good person at heart and he did the right thing.
Personality
At first, it seemed that Daegal was only working for Morgana for money because it was tough to earn money in his life. Half-way through the episode he had a change of heart and decided to save Merlin's life as Merlin showed him many instances of kindness that not many others have.
Skills and Abilities
After traveling with Merlin for almost three days, Merlin teaches Daegal some physician abilities.
Trivia
- It is unlikely that Daegal had any magic since he could not hear Merlin's voice when he was being spoken telepathically to and he did not know Merlin had magic.
Appearances
Series 5
Gallery
