The teenaged warlock Merlin is sent to the bustling kingdom of Camelot by his mother, to work as an apprentice under the tutorage of Gaius, the court physician. On his arrival, he witnesses the execution of a man accused of sorcery as the tyrannical King, Uther Pendragon, has forbidden sorcery on pain of death. The executed man's mother, a sorceress, vows revenge on Uther and promises to kill Uther's only son, Prince Arthur. That night, Merlin hears a mysterious voice calling him and he discovers Kilgharrah, a great and powerful Dragon, bound and shackled down in the dungeons by Uther. Kilgharrah tells Merlin he and Arthur share a destiny and Merlin must protect Arthur until the young Prince becomes King and unites the land of Albion, restoring magic. Upon meeting each other, Merlin and Arthur instantly clash, with Arthur's arrogance annoying Merlin. However, after the old sorceress attempts to assassinate Arthur and Merlin saves him, a grateful Uther appoints Merlin as Arthur's personal servant.
