Hunith was the mother of Merlin and former lover of Balinor. She lived in the village of Ealdor in Cenred's Kingdom.
Biography
Early Life
Hunith lived in Ealdor, a small outlying village in Cenred's Kingdom. Near the end of the Great Purge, Gaius sent Balinor, a Dragonlord, to stay with Hunith after helping him escape the slaughter of his people. Hunith and Balinor fell in love and lived together happily for a time, but Uther eventually discovered Balinor's whereabouts and sent men to arrest him. Balinor was forced to flee Ealdor and leave Hunith behind, unaware that she was pregnant with his child.
Hunith later gave birth to a son, Merlin, who was born with the instinctive ability to use magic. Afraid for his safety, Hunith taught Merlin to keep his powers secret and refused to tell him anything about his father.
When Merlin was around eighteen years old, Hunith discovered that he'd told his friend William about his magic. Angry that he'd disobeyed her and worried by how at odds he was with the people of Ealdor, Hunith decided to send Merlin to live with Gaius in Camelot. She did so in the hope that Gaius could help Merlin master and find a purpose for his developing magic (The Dragon's Call, The Last Dragonlord).
Battle of Ealdor
Hunith appeals to Uther for help.
Several months after Hunith sent Merlin away, Ealdor was raided by bandits. They were led by a man named Kanen, who demanded half of the village's harvest and gave Hunith a black eye when she confronted him.
After Cenred refused Ealdor's requests for help, Hunith traveled to Camelot and appealed to Uther. He sympathised with her, but was unable to help because sending an army into Cenred's Kingdom would constitute an act of war. However, though Hunith received no official aid, Merlin decided to return to Ealdor with her to help and was accompanied by his friends Arthur, Gwen, and Morgana.
Hunith participated in the Battle of Ealdor alongside the rest of the villagers. She was show not be a bold fighter and wielded a both broom and a cane (The Moment of Truth).
Near Death
Hunith dying of a deadly plague.
When Arthur was bitten by the Questing Beast, Merlin went to the High Priestess Nimueh and offered his own life in exchange for Arthur's. Nimueh agreed and saved Arthur with water from the Cup of Life, but chose to take Hunith's life instead of Merlin's.
Hunith was stricken with a deadly plague and made her way to Camelot, where she collapsed at the door to Gaius' chambers. Merlin decided to see Nimueh again and barter his life in exchange for his mother's, but Gaius went to the Isle of the Blessed ahead of him and offered his own life instead. Enraged by Gaius' death, Merlin mastered the power over life and death and used it to strike Nimueh with lightning, trading her life for Gaius' and saving both him and Hunith in the process.
Hunith's near death also caused Merlin to break ties with the Great Dragon. He was angry that he had lied to him about the true price for Nimueh's help and vowed that he would ensure the Dragon would never be released for what he'd done (Le Morte d'Arthur).
Reunion With Merlin
Hunith reunites with Merlin.
After escaping the Second Fall of Camelot, Merlin and Arthur decided to seek refuge in Ealdor. They soon reunited with Hunith, who happily embraced Merlin and welcomed them and their allies Tristan and Isolde into her home.
While Arthur and the others rested, Merlin went walking with Hunith and they discussed Gwen, who had been staying in Ealdor since her exile. Their conversation was interrupted by Agravaine and his men, whose arrival forced Merlin, Arthur, and their allies to flee (The Sword in the Stone).
Personality
Hunith stands with her friends and neighbours.
Hunith had a very determined and decisive personality and was fiercely protective of her friends and family, as shown by her willingness to confront Kanen and to journey to Camelot to seek help for her people. She could not stand to see her loved ones in danger and always stood up for what was right. Hunith's strength of character was such that it even earned Uther's sympathy, and his regret that he could not help her.
Hunith was a loving and caring mother whose son was the most important thing in her life. She was supportive of Merlin's magic and believed he was destined for great things, but was sometimes forced to make difficult decisions to ensure his wellbeing. For example, Merlin's difficulties in Ealdor caused her to send him to live with Gaius in Camelot, despite magic being punishable by death there. She did so in the hope that Gaius could help him learn to control his magic and find a purpose for it.
Hunith was a very maternal figure, constantly worrying about how Merlin was faring while he was living far away. She also served as a mother figure to others besides Merlin, showing concern for Gwen and Morgana when they came to Ealdor, opening her home to them and Arthur, and making breakfast for them (The Dragon's Call, The Moment of Truth).
Relationships
Merlin
Hunith and Merlin
Merlin was Hunith's only child and son. As his sole parent, Hunith was very close to Merlin in his youth and loved him very much. However, she often worried about him and the dangers he faced because of his magic. She raised him to keep his powers secret for his own safety, kept his father's identity from him for the same reason, and became very angry when she learned he'd told his friend William about his magic behind her back.
Despite her worries, however, Hunith was very supportive of Merlin and believed he had a great destiny. She made the decision to send him to Camelot because she hoped that Gaius could help him find a purpose for his magic, and was very kind and welcoming to his friends Arthur, Gwen, and Morgana whenever she encountered them (The Dragon's Call, The Moment of Truth, The Sword in the Stone).
Arthur
Hunith and Arthur
Hunith and Arthur had a generally friendly relationship. She supported his leadership when he helped defend Ealdor from Kanen and his men, and opened her home to him during his stay. And though Arthur did a poor job at times of hiding his dislike of her food and Ealdor's spartan conditions, she handled his attitude with grace and treated him with kindness and courtesy.
Hunith was also supportive of Arthur's friendship with Merlin, though she was uneasy with the idea of Merlin telling him about his magic (The Moment of Truth).
When Merlin and Arthur returned to Ealdor following the Second Fall of Camelot, Hunith again welcomed Arthur into her home and helped tend to his wounds (The Sword in the Stone).
Guinevere
Gwen and Hunith
Hunith and Guinevere had a generally friendly relationship. Hunith opened her home to Gwen when she helped defend Ealdor from Kanen and his men, and Gwen was grateful for Hunith's hospitality and reprimanded Arthur for complaining about her food (The Moment of Truth).
When Arthur banished Gwen from Camelot for her indiscretions with Lancelot, Hunith welcomed her with open arms and helped her get settled. She seemed somewhat concerned about Gwen's emotional state, at one point telling Merlin that her broken heart would take time to mend (The Sword in the Stone).
Gaius
Hunith and Gaius were good friends. Gaius trusted Hunith to shelter Balinor after he helped him escape the slaughter of his people, and Hunith entrusted Gaius with her son Merlin's safety and with helping him learn to control his magic (The Dragon's Call).
Balinor
Hunith and Balinor were former lovers. Hunith hid Balinor in her home after his people were slaughtered during the Great Purge. They fell in love and Hunith became pregnant, but Uther's men found Balinor and forced him to flee before she could tell him.
Balinor left Hunith behind in the belief that she would be safe in Ealdor. Though they never spoke to or saw one another again, Balinor often though about Hunith and never stopped loving her.
Hunith eventually gave birth to Balinor's son, Merlin. She never entered into another romantic relationship and never stopped loving Balinor (The Last Dragonlord).
Appearances
- Series 1
- The Dragon's Call
- The Moment of Truth
- Le Morte d'Arthur
- Series 2
- The Fires of Idirsholas (Mentioned only)
- The Last Dragonlord (Mentioned only)
- Series 4
- The Sword in the Stone: Part One
Trivia
- Richard Wilson stated in a Secrets & Magic interview that Gaius was Hunith's elder brother. However, this was never officially confirmed or referenced within the series.
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