Magic in Merlin

This post was inspired by one from yesterday asking about why Arthur didn’t seem to know about Mordred’s magic. My assumption has always been that not all Druids were sorcerers, just followers of the Old Religion and magic supporters/sympathisers, and a very many were sorcerers as well. Arthur never knew of Mordred actually using magic and assumes he’s a non-magical Druid (because why would a practicing sorcerer Druid want to serve Camelot?). I read some other comments and some people seem to think that magic should be something that’s passed down through families and I just wanted to point that that Merlin (and Morgana) being actually born with magic is made out to be something pretty much unheard of.

One user commented on how both Morgause and Morgana both have magic, so it makes sense for magic to run in families. However, Morgause and Morgana aren’t actually blood related (they thought each other half-sisters by way of Gorlois, who turns out to not be Morgana’s father) so their magic is unrelated. In the first episode Gaius demands to know where/how Merlin learned to use spells and is pretty incredulous when Merlin says he was born with magic, calling it “impossible”; this establishes someone naturally having magic is not commonplace and Merlin is special. Gaius himself was a sorcerer prior to the purge and sorcery seems to typically be something learned, which is supported by Merlin learning how to properly use his powers and use more spells/enchantments under Gaius’s tutelage (as well as Morgana learning from Morgause). I’m pretty sure that’s why after anyone finds out about Merlin he emphasises, “I was born with it.” It’s important to note his magic as being something different and, once again, special - uniquely tied into his destiny.

Though Morgana was also born with it, these are the only characters who are fully confirmed and established to actually have magical abilities from birth, likely due to the destinies they share. No other magic user is said/shown to have an innate ability and it’s established that other sorcerers learned how to use magic. Even with Morgana it’s possible Gaius didn’t know the extent of Morgana’s magic and thought she just had visions which he stifled with his draughts, this would still be in line with his initial disbelief of Merlin. The only thing that’s canonically confirmed as inherited is being a Dragon Lord.

I was wondering what anyone else’s thoughts are about this? Honestly I think it’s pretty important to the plot and characterisation of Merlin and Morgana that they are exceptional in this aspect, their lives being so influenced by something they couldn’t control.