Merlin

       In the beginning of this book, the opening story to the adventure of King Arthur shows the introduction of Arthur's mentor and powerful allie, Merlin. Before the days of Arthur a king named Uther Pendragon ruled England and Merlin served as his mentor as well. Through Merlin's guidance Uther becomes a very successful ruler. One day in the thick of a war, Merlin makes a deal with Uther to ensure that the king will win this war and recieve what he covetted, the opposing king's wife. In return for this service Merlin tells Uther that they will conceive a child, and that he must raise this boy. Uther agrees and all as he says comes to be. This boy that is born is Arthur. Time passes and Uther dies, but Arthur is unaware that he is to take the thrown, so England is thrown into a long rulerless era. When the time comes that Arthur is ready to take the throne, a test is presented to him. A sword driven into an anvil resting on a stone bears the words "whoever pulls this sword from this stone and anvil is king of all England by right of birth" (14). This ment that whomever was able to remove the sword was the true son of Uther Pendragon, and the next rightful ruler of England. Lords and knights from all over try and fail to remove the sword, the only one who is able to with ease is Arthur. Arthur is then crowned the new King of England. This sword does not become Arthur's permanent weapon. One day Merlin takes Arthur to a lake where there resides the mysterious Lady of the Lake. This lady gives to Arthur the sword Excalibur and a magic sheath to carry it in. This sword is a very powerful weapon, and in return for it the Lady asks only the Arthur to do her a favor whenever she is to ask for it. Through Merlin's guidance Arthur wins many battles, including one fought against eleven kings who refused to accept Arthur as their king. Arthur went on to be with many women over his time before eventually marrying the daughter of King Lodegrance, Guinevere. Before meeting his wife he slept with one woman whom he did not know to be his half-sister, and Merlin told Arthur that she would birth a child that would oneday destroy Arthur. Arthur wanted to change this prophecy without Merlin's knowledge so on the day that the child was fortold by Merlin to be born, Arthur ordered that all the babies be brought to him. He then put them on a ship and cast them out to see without a crew, only to sail to a promising death. The ship crashed upon rocks, and one baby's cry was heard by a man near by. This baby was the one Merlin talked about and he was then raised by this man and his wife. The story of Merlin ends here without the prophecy awaiting its fullfillment and a king who thinks he has avoided this crisis.