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From what you tell me, the spell has captured his heart."
"And his heart is controlling his brain.
Kilgharrah and Merlin about Arthur[src]

Love Spells are enchantments that induce feelings of love, often to the point of obsession. They can be used to make the victim fall in love with either the caster or someone of their choosing.

Because they interact with love, the greatest force of all, love spells are very difficult for even highly skilled sorcerers to break. In fact, some are so strong they can only be broken by a kiss from the victim's true love.

History

Sophia's Love Spell

You don't know what you're doing. She's cast a spell on you.
Merlin to Arthur about Sophia[src]
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Sophia's enchantment made Arthur her slave.

When the Sidhe exiled Sophia and her father Aulfric from Avalon, they decided to earn passage home by sacrificing Arthur. To ensure his cooperation, Sophia took advantage of Arthur's affections and enchanted him with a love spell.

The effects of Sophia's enchantment made Arthur her willing slave. He believed anything she told him and did anything she asked. He was even willing to allow her to drown him.

Sophia had to maintain eye contact with Arthur while incanting this spell, and both their eyes turned red when it took affect. She also had to refresh the enchantment several times over the course of the day. The effects of the spell appeared to wear off automatically after her death (The Gates of Avalon).

Catrina's Love Spell

There's more than one way to enchant a man.
Catrina to Jonas[src]
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Catrina enchants her necklace with a love spell.

As part of a plot to gain the wealth and power associated with the throne of Camelot, a troll disguised herself as the Lady Catrina in order to marry Uther. Catrina easily gained the king's affections, but when Merlin and Gaius grew suspicious of her, she accelerated her plan by giving Uther a necklace she'd enchanted with a love spell.

The effects of the troll's enchantment made Uther very compliant to her will, to the point where he was willing to disinherit Arthur at her suggestion. Uther was also completely oblivious to her true nature. Even after her disguise failed and her true form was revealed to all, Uther was unable to see her as anything but a beautiful woman.

According to Kilgharrah, this enchantment could only be broken by making the victim cry tears of true remorse. Merlin and Arthur accomplished this by faking Arthur's death, after which a heartbroken Uther was able to see Catrina for what she truly was (Beauty and the Beast).

Trickler's Love Potion

When you wake, may your thoughts be only of Vivian.
Trickler to Arthur[src]
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Trickler enchants Arthur with a love potion.

While in Camelot to work on a peace treaty, King Alined had his jester Trickler enchant Arthur to fall in love with the Lady Vivian. They hoped that when her father discovered the affair, he would start a war with Camelot to defend her honour. They later used the same enchantment on Vivian after she rejected Arthur's advances.

Trickler used a potion to cast his enchantments, the ingredients of which are unknown. When the potion was finished brewing, he waved a lock of hair over it and incanted a spell. The hair belonged to the person he intended the victim to fall in love with. He then placed a drop of the potion on his victim's eyes while they slept, after which he incanted a second spell to activate it.

While under this enchantment, Arthur and Vivian were completely obsessed with each other and oblivious to how their actions affected the people around them. The spell was so strong that ordinary magic was useless against it; only a kiss from the victim's true love could break the enchantment. A kiss from Gwen was able to free Arthur from its effects, but Vivian was still enchanted when she finally returned home (Sweet Dreams).

Morgana's Love Spell

I was drawn to him. I couldn't stop myself. I don't know why.
Gwen about Lancelot[src]
Gwen and Lancelot

Morgana's enchantment made Gwen inexplicably drawn to Lancelot.

To prevent Gwen from becoming Queen of Camelot, Morgana raised Lancelot from the dead in the hope that seeing him again would reawaken old feelings. When Gwen remained dedicated to Arthur, Morgana altered her plan by having Lancelot give Gwen a bracelet she'd enchanted with a love spell.

While under Morgana's enchantment, Gwen felt inexplicably drawn to Lancelot. She repeatedly sought him out and showed him intimate signs of affection. She was somewhat aware of her actions, as she became visibly confused at one point and questioned why she kept returning to him, but was unable to stop herself.

Later, when she was arrested after Arthur caught her kissing Lancelot in the council chambers, Gwen broke the spell by removing the bracelet and throwing it away. Because of this, though she and Arthur eventually repaired their relationship, no one ever found out that Gwen had been under a spell (Lancelot du Lac).

Known Spells

  • Used by Catrina to strengthen her enchantment (Beauty and the Beast):
    • "Nu meaht þú begalan. Nu meaht þú..."
  • Used by Trickler to enchant his potion (Sweet Dreams):
    • "Alese... Lufaþ he híe þonne he onwæcnaþ. Biþ his hyht þæt he her seón mote ána oftíe þonne ealle mán."
  • Used by Trickler to activate his potion (Sweet Dreams):
    • "Héo hæfþ þín heorte."

Appearances

Series 1
The Gates of Avalon
Series 2
Beauty and the Beast
Sweet Dreams
Series 3
Queen of Hearts (Mentioned only)
Series 4
Lancelot du Lac

Trivia

  • Some poultices can be used to cast love spells (Queen of Hearts).
  • According to Merlin, there are over 636 love spells, over 150 of which involve a lock of hair (Sweet Dreams).
  • The Lamia's powers bore some resemblance to a love spell. She was able to control and influence mens' minds, and her targets often became aggressive, possessive, and jealous to the point of obsession and irrationality (Lamia).

Gallery

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