- “People like us, we have a gift. Do you not think it should be used to make this a better world?”
- — Edwin to Merlin[src]
Edwin Muirden was the son of Gregor and Jaden Muirden.
Biography
Early Life
As a child, he was instructed in sorcery by his parents. During the Great Purge, his mother and father were both burned at the stake for practicing magic. Edwin attempted to save them by jumping into the flames and was badly burned across his face. His wounds were tended to by Camelot's court physician Gaius, who had once been a friend of Edwin's parents.
Revenge on Uther and Death
Edwin Muirden arrives in Camelot
Some twenty years later, Edwin returned to Camelot under his mother's maiden name, posing as a physician. He delivered a deadly beetle, by way of anonymous flowers, to Morgana. The insect crawled into Morgana's ear and burrowed into her brain, rendering her unconscious and feverish. When Gaius was unable to diagnose or treat her, Muirden arrived at the Court to offer his services. He summarily summoned the beetle out of Morgana's ear, claiming that she had a cranial hemorrhage. Edwin's actions allowed him to gain Uther's trust and Uther offered him a place as Court physician, which Edwin accepted. However, Edwin still harboured a hatred for Uther due to his parents' deaths and tried to kill the King by paralysing him and getting another beetle to crawl into his ear. After leaving the King's bedroom, he was confronted by Gaius, who then tried to attack Muirden with magic.
Edwin speaks to Uther before he tries to kill him
However, since he had not used magic for twenty years, he was unable to pronounce the spell properly. Muirden slammed him against a pillar with the same spell pronounced correctly before summoning a ring of fire around him. Merlin then burst into the room and Edwin offered him a chance to join him. After Merlin refused, he attacked Merlin by telekinetically controlling an axe - Merlin deflected this with his own magic causing the axe to fly toward Edwin and kill him (A Remedy to Cure All Ills).
Personality
Edwin Muirden was a cunning and bitter man who was obsessed with having revenge on Uther for the death of his parents. He acted as a loyal servant to the king while gaining his trust and then revealed his true intentions while Uther was weak, paralysed and helpless. He also displayed a slightly sadistic streak by telling Uther that he longed to hear him scream just like his parents had. Despite this, Edwin appeared to be fond of Merlin to some extent, though he told Gaius that he would tell Uther about Merlin's magic if Gaius told anyone, including Merlin, that Edwin was an enemy of the king. He also didn't hesitate to try and kill Merlin when he turned against him.
Edwin clearly loved his parents, as he had tried to rescue them from the flames as a child. However, he let his grief for them turn into hate.
Abilities
Edwin was a powerful sorcerer, well accomplished in many of the magical arts, including spell-casting and potion making, he was also able to perform magic non-verbally, a skill that few other magic users have managed to perform. His power was still below Merlin 's, as he was beaten in a magical duel by tthe young warlock.
Edwin also possessed some knowledge of medicine, but he mainly used his healing Magic, suggesting he didn't know enough to heal someone without it.
The face of Edwin Muirden
| Series 1 Enemies |
|---|
| The Dragon's Call: Mary Collins † • Lady Helen (indirect) † Valiant: Valiant † • Devlin • Serpent Shield The Mark of Nimueh: Nimueh † • Afanc † The Poisoned Chalice: Nimueh † • Balorian Spiders • Cockatrice Lancelot: Griffin A Remedy to Cure All Ills: Edwin Muirden † • Elanthia Beetles The Gates of Avalon: Sophia † • Aulfric † • Sidhe elder The Beginning of the End: Uther Pendragon † Excalibur: Nimueh † • Tristan de Bois † The Moment of Truth: Kanen The Labyrinth of Gedref: Arthur Pendragon (indirect) † To Kill the King: Tauren • Morgana † • Uther Pendragon † Le Morte d'Arthur: Nimueh † • Questing Beast • Kilgharrah |
| Kingdom of Camelot |
|---|
| Queen: Guinevere Pendragon Court Physician: Gaius Keeper of the Royal Library: Geoffrey of Monmouth Knights: Sir Leon • Sir Percival • Sir Brennis • Sir Cador • Sir Geraint Other Allies: Merlin • Annis • Odin • Rodor • Mithian • Godwyn • Bayard • Elena • Alined • The Diamair • Vivian • Olaf Former Allies: Morgana Pendragon † • Nimueh † • Cedric † ? • Cornelius Sigan † • Tristan de Bois † • Lady Catrina † • Edwin Muirden † • Uther Pendragon † • Agravaine de Bois †• Sefa• Mordred † |