Merlin was born in Ealdor , a small village located in the kingdom of Cenred , Essetir . His mother is Hunith , and his father was Balinor . Gaius helped Balinor, a dragonlord , escape Uther 's Great Purge , hiding him with Hunith in Ealdor. The two fell in love, but Uther soon discovered Balinor's hideout, and sent knights to arrest him. Balinor was forced to flee, leaving Hunith behind. Before or after Balinor's departure, Hunith discovered that she was pregnant, and Merlin was later born. Merlin would not see her father until many years later. Merlin was born withmagic , and according to this, he did magic before he learned to speak. According to the Great Dragon , Merlin's birth was prophesied by many cultures. For example, Druids refer to him as "Emrys" (meaning "immortal"), a name first used by Mordred . The Dragon also stated that it was Merlin's destiny to protect Arthur Pendragon , and help him unite the kingdoms of Albion , and return magic to the region. During his childhood in Ealdor, Merlin befriended William , the only one who knew of the existence of his magical powers. On one occasion, Merlin felled a tree with his magic intent on chopping wood, nearly crushing old man Simmons , who hated Merlin, in the process . But according to Will, the grumpy guy had it coming. Merlin left his native village, Ealdor , to live in the kingdom of Camelot , where he became the servant of Prince Arthur, with whom he eventually became very close friends. Since then, and acting in reference to the prophecy made by the Great Dragon, Kilgharrah, Merlin began his duty to protect Arthur on his way to the throne. Merlin is destined to become the greatest and most powerful sorcerer who ever lived, and use his powers to unleash magic, and revive the Old Religion to coexist with the new religion. He too is destined to stand by Arthur's side as his advisor and companion, and thus reunite all the kingdoms of the country into Albion in an era of peace and prosperity.