Spirit

Uther Pendragon in the Spirit World.

“I sensed something, like there was someone there, watching me.”

— Percival to Gaius and Merlin^[src]

Spirits are apparitions of the deceased that can appear to, interact with, and possess the living. Most of the spirits that appear in the series are human, but places and elements can also have spirits associated with them.

Becoming a Spirit

Freya fulfills her promise to Merlin.

Humans (both magical and non-magical) appear to become spirits automatically after death. Most spirits reside in the Spirit World, but some are capable of existing outside of it (The Curse of Cornelius Sigan, The Coming of Arthur, A Herald of the New Age, The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Some sorcerers are unable or unwilling to enter the Spirit World death and instead remain in the real world. In most cases, these sorcerers have unfinished business among the living. For example, Cornelius Sigan tried to cheat death by trapping his soul inside an enchanted jewel (The Curse of Cornelius Sigan); Freya became the spirit of the Lake of Avalon in order to fulfill her dying promise to Merlin (The Coming of Arthur); and the Shrine Boy was unable to find peace in the afterlife until he had avenged his death (A Herald of the New Age).

The spirits of non-magical people are also capable of existing outside of the Spirit World, but they can only exit it with the help of necromancy or magical objects such as the Horn of Cathbhadh (Excalibur, The Sins of the Father, Lancelot du Lac, The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Interestingly, non-magical spirits who reside outside of the Spirit World, or who are summoned from it for a brief time, appear to retain their personality outside of while spirits who escape or are released become shadows of their former selves. For example, Ygraine retained her personality and love for her son Arthur when she was briefly summoned from the Spirit World while Uther, who was released from it, became a caricature of himself obsessed with Camelot (The Sins of the Father, The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Abilities

The Shrine Boy possesses Elyan.

Spirits appear to possess a number of abilities. They can interact with both people and objects; appear and disappear at will; pass through solid objects; and possess the living.

Sorcerers appear to retain their magical abilities after death. Cornelius Sigan, for example, was able to use his magic after possessing Cedric (The Curse of Cornelius Sigan), and the Seer Taliesin was able to use his magic to heal Arthur on an arrow wound (The Crystal Cave).

Interestingly, spirits of the non-magical people appear to gain magic when released into the living world. Uther, for example, was able to use magic to levitate objects and start a fire after he had been released from the Spirit World, but demonstrated no magical ability while inside of it (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon). Similarly, Ygraine - who was merely summoned from the Spirit World, not released - demonstrated no magical ability (The Sins of the Father).

Both magical and non-magical people appear to gain knowledge after their deaths. Freya, for example, was aware that Morgause had used the Cup of Life to create an army of the undead, that the sword Excalibur could kill the undead, and that Merlin had hidden the sword in the Lake of Avalon (The Coming of Arthur); and Uther was aware that Arthur had married Guinevere (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Types of Spirits

Many different types of spirits have appeared in the series. Some are capable of naturally existing in the living world while others have to be summoned with necromancy or magical objects or artifacts.

• Deceased: Spirits of deceased humans. Most reside in the Spirit World after death, but some are capable of remaining outside of it.
• Wraiths: Spirits of the dead reanimated with necromancy. They differ from Shades in that a body is required.
• Dorocha: Ghostly voices of the dead who can kill a man with a touch. They normally reside in the Spirit World and only come out at night.
• Vilia: Spirits of the brooks and streams. They normally reside in the Spirit World and possess powerful healing magic.
• Shades: Tormented souls resurrected by necromancy. They differ from Wraiths in that no body is required.
• Restless Spirits: Tormented souls unable to find peace due to the unjust nature of their deaths. The Druids use ancient rituals to heal the ground so that they can find rest, but only the atonement of the perpetrator can truly bring them peace.

Known Spirits

Name	Type of Spirit	Purpose	Photo	Trivia
Tristan de Bois	Wraith	Avenging his sister's death by killing Uther.		The Black Knight Ygraine's brother Agravaine's brother Arthur's uncle Conjured by Nimueh.
Cornelius Sigan	Deceased	Defeating death Conquering Camelot		Possessed Cedric Trapped his soul in an enchanted jewel. Extremely powerful sorcerer.
Ygraine Pendragon	Deceased	Summoned by Morgause to tell Arthur the truth about his birth.		Uther's wife Arthur's mother Her death triggered the Great Purge.
Taliesin	Deceased	Showed Merlin the Crystal Cave.		Seer to the Great Kings of Old.
Freya	Deceased	Spirit of the Lake of Avalon Fulfilling a promise to Merlin.		Druid Merlin's lover The Lady of the Lake
Lancelot	Shade	Conjured by Morgana to prevent Gwen and Arthur's marriage.		Had an affair with Guinevere. Was laid to rest by Merlin.
Shrine Boy	Restless Spirit	Sought peace by avenging his death.		Druid Possessed Elyan Killed in a raid led by Arthur Pendragon.
Uther Pendragon	Deceased	Obsessed with Camelot.		Ygraine's husband Arthur's father Morgana's father Accidentally released by the Horn of Cathbhadh.
Queen Mab	Forest Spirit	Guardian of the Impenetrable Forest and all other places of despair.		Helped Merlin find his way to the Dark Tower. Warned him that one of his party would not return.
Balinor	Deceased	Helped Merlin rediscover his magic.		Dragonlord Merlin's father

Trivia

• With the exception of his uncle Agravaine, all of Arthur's deceased relatives have appeared as spirits.
• Morgause appeared to Morgana in the Spirit World during a deleted scene in The Secret Sharer.

Gallery

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