Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4962906-20151109114315/@comment-5817180-20151113084937

First off, Merlin was only summoned after being bound to the sword, as he did to the dark one centuries ago. Second, he doesn't have "god-like" power. His magic, like all others, comes with its limits, and a price, like all others. All magic comes with a price, and Merlin cannot break the laws of magic.

As for the hat, I'll bet Merlin made it to remove the darkness from Nimue's heart, as his apprentice did to Rumple.