Wyvern

Wyvern
Eye colour	Red
Family	Reptile
Skin colour	Dark Scales
Affiliation	Dragonlord
Appearances	3 episodes
Status	Extant

“Wyverns. Distant cousins of the dragon. They're creatures of magic, so be careful.”

— Gwaine to Merlin^[src]

Wyverns are creatures of magic that inhabit the land of Albion. They are distant cousins of the dragons.

History

The wyverns prepare to attack Arthur.

Several wyverns guarded the Fisher King's tower in the Perilous Lands. They tried to attack Arthur when he traveled there to find the Fisher King's trident, but Merlin commanded them to leave before they killed him. Another wyvern attacked Merlin and Arthur soon afterward and was killed by Gwaine (The Eye of the Phoenix).

When Morgause and Morgana went to the Isle of the Blessed, they discovered it had become infested with wyverns. The creatures did not attack them, but later pursued Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table when they sailed to the island to repair the veil between the worlds. Merlin used his Dragonlord powers to order them away, but the flock soon returned and continued their attack. Leon, Elyan, and Percival held them off while Arthur and the others completed their quest (The Darkest Hour).

Characteristics

Similar in appearance to dragons, wyverns were slightly larger than the average human with horns, dark scales, and birdlike red eyes. They were capable of fast flight and possessed sharp teeth and claws, but did not appear to be able to breathe fire or perform magic.

Though they seemed more animal-like than dragons and lacked the ability to speak, wyverns were capable of understanding of dragon language and were subject to a Dragonlord's command (The Eye of the Phoenix, The Darkest Hour).

Appearances

Series 3

The Eye of the Phoenix'

Series 4

The Darkest Hour: Part One (cameo)

The Darkest Hour: Part Two

Etymology

• The origin of the word wyvern comes from the thirteenth-century word "wyver", which in turn is derived from the French wyvere, which means both "viper" and "life."

Trivia

• Wyverns can be commanded by Dragonlords (The Eye of the Phoenix).
• A full grown wyvern is roughly the same size as a three-year-old dragon (Arthur's Bane).
• When Merlin first visited the Isle of the Blessed, there were no wyverns living there (Le Morte d'Arthur).
• Interestingly, the wyverns did not attack Morgause and Morgana when they visited the Isle of the Blessed, but did not hesitate to attack Arthur's party (The Darkest Hour).

Mythology

A Wyvern in European mythology.

Wyverns are winged, dragon-like creatures in European mythology. They are usually depicted as bipedal with a diamond or arrow-tipped tail, but in some legends are said to have only wings and a serpent's body. Their behaviour is usually unambiguously malicious.

Though they have the same strength and ferocity as dragons, wyverns lack their grace, intelligence, and ability to breathe fire. They are aggressive predators and typically prey on deer, goats, and other such creatures, but will attack anything thought to be a good meal.

Wyverns are often featured in heraldry and represent war, envy, and pestilence. They are seen as signs of strength by those who bear them.

Gallery