Introduction
Merlin is a very
important figure in Arthurian legend. There is no form of the legend
that has not included Merlin in some shape or form. He is usually
depicted as a magician, a wizard, and an adviser to King Arthur. He is
also depicted as a prophet, a bard, and Arthur's tutor. Merlin is one
of the wisest and most magical beings in Arthurian legend. His magical
powers knew no boundaries. He even learned to talk to animals after a
complete mental meltdown following a bloody battle. During that
meltdown
period he was known as the Wild Man of the Woods. He is the one who
is responsible for Arthur coming into power in Britain. In fact he is
behind the very birth of the future king.
In the first story you will see Merlin's version of Arthur's birth. You see, The King of Britain, King Uther Pendragon, wanted to sleep with Igraine who was the wife of his mortal enemy Gorlois. Merlin used his magic so that Uther took the form of his enemy Gorlois so that Igraine would sleep with him, thinking that she was sleeping with her husband. This affair came at a price because Uther had promised that if a child resulted from this affair, the baby would belong to Merlin.
In the second story we will jump ahead: Arthur is fifteen-years old living under the care of Sir Ector, while being tutored daily by Merlin, and he has no clue that he is the son of King Uther. Uther has now died, leaving no publicly known heir to his throne. The people are trying to figure out who should be the next king. Merlin, knowing that the time is drawing near for Arthur to take the throne, takes the sword named Excalibur, given to him by the mysterious Lady of the Lake, and he puts it in a stone, so that is can only to be pulled out by the one true and rightful king of Britain.
In the third story Arthur is now the new king and in the process of making a new kingdom. This kingdom is going to be the perfect kingdom, headed by the best possible king and defended by the best, loyalest knights. He even acquires his greatest knight during this transition who becomes the leader of his knights.
Finally we pick up King Arthur's final chapter, his death. Arthur had left to fight Sir Lancelot over the whole Guenevere thing. In doing so, he left his nephew, Sir Mordred, in charge of Camelot. Wrong move, because he announced that Arthur had been killed in the battle and he named himself as the new King of Camelot. Hearing the news Arthur, never engaging Sir Lancelot, turned around and headed back to Camelot to face his nephew.
In this storybook Merlin has become an old man now living in a small town in the woods just outside of Camelot. No one really knows who he is. They just know him as a crazy old man who sells junk in the town square. No one really talks to him and he really doesn't talk to anyone. He has just arrived at his stand filled with weird and unusual things, and he is just sitting there, watching the people as they pass by. He has been watching a small boy playing when the boy looks up at him and notices the awkward old man. They sit there just staring at each other, neither one turning away from the other's stare. Merlin, not really knowing what to do, next offers the boy an old toy. The little boy accepts the toy and starts asking questions about its former owner, causing Merlin to have occasional flashbacks, and that's where we begin....
Image Info: The magical side of Merlin
In the first story you will see Merlin's version of Arthur's birth. You see, The King of Britain, King Uther Pendragon, wanted to sleep with Igraine who was the wife of his mortal enemy Gorlois. Merlin used his magic so that Uther took the form of his enemy Gorlois so that Igraine would sleep with him, thinking that she was sleeping with her husband. This affair came at a price because Uther had promised that if a child resulted from this affair, the baby would belong to Merlin.
In the second story we will jump ahead: Arthur is fifteen-years old living under the care of Sir Ector, while being tutored daily by Merlin, and he has no clue that he is the son of King Uther. Uther has now died, leaving no publicly known heir to his throne. The people are trying to figure out who should be the next king. Merlin, knowing that the time is drawing near for Arthur to take the throne, takes the sword named Excalibur, given to him by the mysterious Lady of the Lake, and he puts it in a stone, so that is can only to be pulled out by the one true and rightful king of Britain.
In the third story Arthur is now the new king and in the process of making a new kingdom. This kingdom is going to be the perfect kingdom, headed by the best possible king and defended by the best, loyalest knights. He even acquires his greatest knight during this transition who becomes the leader of his knights.
Finally we pick up King Arthur's final chapter, his death. Arthur had left to fight Sir Lancelot over the whole Guenevere thing. In doing so, he left his nephew, Sir Mordred, in charge of Camelot. Wrong move, because he announced that Arthur had been killed in the battle and he named himself as the new King of Camelot. Hearing the news Arthur, never engaging Sir Lancelot, turned around and headed back to Camelot to face his nephew.
In this storybook Merlin has become an old man now living in a small town in the woods just outside of Camelot. No one really knows who he is. They just know him as a crazy old man who sells junk in the town square. No one really talks to him and he really doesn't talk to anyone. He has just arrived at his stand filled with weird and unusual things, and he is just sitting there, watching the people as they pass by. He has been watching a small boy playing when the boy looks up at him and notices the awkward old man. They sit there just staring at each other, neither one turning away from the other's stare. Merlin, not really knowing what to do, next offers the boy an old toy. The little boy accepts the toy and starts asking questions about its former owner, causing Merlin to have occasional flashbacks, and that's where we begin....
Image Info: The magical side of Merlin