The Magic of Merlin Read online

  For Rena

  —S.S.

  To my loving husband, Sasha

  —V.S.

  CONTENTS

  Merlin the Wizard

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Merlin the Fool

  “It is,” said Merlin. “Within a month she will be your queen. And in time she will bear you a son.”

  These words pleased the king. “If this comes to pass,” he told Merlin, “I will give you whatever you wish.”

  “When it comes to pass, I will remember your promise,” said Merlin.

  Merlin worked his magic. Within a month the Lady Igraine became King Uther’s wife. Soon they had a son. His name was Arthur.

  At this time Merlin appeared before the king. “My lord,” he said, “do you remember your promise to me?”

  “I do,” said the king. “What is it you wish?”

  Merlin’s answer was a single word. “Arthur,” he said.

  King Uther grew pale. “My son?” he asked.

  “Yes,” said Merlin. “One day your son will be a great king. But not before

  But Merlin knew Arthur. He watched the boy in secret and liked what he saw. Arthur was kind. He was brave. He fought fairly.

  One day, when Arthur was seventeen years old, Merlin saw the future. Arthur was wearing a crown and holding a sword.

  The boy’s time has come, thought Merlin. He went to a church near London. That night–the longest of the year–he cast a powerful spell.

  A great stone appeared in the churchyard. Rising out of the stone was a sword.

  Arthur rode to the inn. He found it locked, for everyone had gone to the tournament. Arthur was troubled. How would Kay fight without a sword?

  He passed the churchyard, and a glint of silver caught his eye. It was the sword in the stone. “Here is a fine weapon for Kay!” said Arthur. He quickly drew the sword from the stone and carried it back to the tournament.

  you get this sword?”

  “I drew it from a stone–so Kay could enter the tournament.”

  “Will you show me how you did it?” asked Sir Ector. There was a look on his face Arthur had never seen before. Surprise, sorrow, and joy–all mixed together.

  “Yes,” said Arthur.

  In the churchyard, Arthur replaced the sword. Sir Ector tried to pull it from the stone. He could not.

  Then Sir Kay took hold of the sword. He pulled and pulled. The sword felt like part of the rock. It would not move.

  “Now you, Arthur,” said Sir Ector.

  “It is easily done,” said Arthur. And so it was. As Ector and Kay watched, Arthur drew the sword from the stone.

  “Here,” he said, holding it out to them. They fell to their knees.

  “Father!” cried Arthur. “Kay! What are you doing?”

  “I raised you, but you are not my son,” said Sir Ector. “You were given to me by Merlin. And now I know why. You are meant to be king.”

  “Merlin?” asked Arthur. “Who is he?”

  A man in dark robes appeared from behind the stone, as if he had been waiting. “I am Merlin,” he said. “And the words on the stone are for you.”

  “I–I cannot read them,” said Arthur.

  “Look again,” said Merlin.

  He raised his hand. The letters on the stone moved and swirled. Then they became still–and suddenly their meaning was clear.

  “King of England!” gasped Arthur. How can I be king? he thought. I am young. I have grown up on a farm. I know nothing of ruling!

  Arthur looked at Merlin. He saw a man who always spoke the truth.

  “When I am king,” said Arthur, “will you counsel me and be my friend?”

  “I will,” said Merlin.

  Arthur’s fears fell away. “Then all will be well,” he said.

  Sometimes he helped with advice. Sometimes he helped with magic. He saved Arthur’s life more than once.

  One day Arthur was riding through the forest by himself. Merlin had warned him against this. “You are king,” he said, “not some simple knight!

  The men saw a knight in armor on a big horse. The horse reared. The knight raised his sword. The men ran in fright.

  “Well, Merlin,” said Arthur, raising his helmet, “it seems I have saved you when magic could not.” He smiled. “Have you lost your powers?”

  Merlin had one secret. He could use his magic to protect others. But he could not use it on himself. He did not want anyone to know this, for it would put him in great danger. So he said, “You are closer to death than I,” and walked on in silence.

  Before Arthur could ask what Merlin meant, they came to a clearing in the forest. The shields of many knights hung from the trees. The grass was red with blood. “It seems many have done battle here,” said Arthur.

  Just then a knight rode into the clearing. He was the tallest man Arthur

  scabbards, they struck at each other again and again.

  Now the clearing rang with the clash of metal—a sound so harsh it drove the birds from the trees. Soon Arthur and Pellinore were covered in blood. They stopped to rest, then fought again.

  With a mighty blow, Sir Pellinore broke Arthur’s sword in two.

  “Surrender,” he said, forcing Arthur to the ground.

  “I will not,” said Arthur.

  Sir Pellinore did not know he was fighting the king. “Then you must die,” he said. He pulled off Arthur’s helmet and raised his sword. Arthur remembered Merlin’s words. I am indeed close to death, he thought.

  Merlin stepped forward quickly. He cast a spell on Sir Pellinore. The knight fell into a sudden sleep. His huge body toppled to the ground. It lay there like a fallen tree.

  Arthur sat up slowly, for he was in pain. “I hope you have not slain him, Merlin,” he gasped. “He is a fighter of great skill.”

  “I only cast a spell on him,” said Merlin. “He will wake from it unharmed. But your wounds are deep,” he said, helping Arthur to stand. “They will take three days to heal.”

  “Three days!” groaned Arthur.

  “Alas! That is the best my magic can do,” said Merlin. And now it was his turn to smile.

  “You shall have a sword this very day,” said Merlin. He led Arthur to a lake that gleamed blue, then silver, then green. Out of the bright water rose an arm. In its hand was a sword, shining like a piece of the moon. The sight made Arthur’s breath stop.

  Near the sword a young woman appeared. Her robes glistened blue, then silver, then green. “Who is she?” asked Arthur in a whisper.

  “She is the Lady of the Lake,” said Merlin. “The sword belongs to her.”

  The lady’s hair was golden. Her face was young and fair. “Good day, King Arthur,” she said.

  “Good day, my lady,” said Arthur. “Your sword is most wonderful. I—I wish it were mine, for I have none.”

  “The sword shall be yours,” said the lady, “if you promise to return it before you die.”

  “I promise,” said Arthur.

  “Then row onto the lake,” she said. “Take the sword and its scabbard. They will serve you well.” The water rippled and she was gone.

  that. Its hilt sparkled with jewels. Its blade flashed like lightning. “This is a wondrous weapon. I long to try it,” said Arthur, thinking of Sir Pellinore.

  Merlin knew exactly what Arthur was thinking. “Do you see this scabbard?” he asked.

  “Yes,” said Arthur, though his eyes were on the sword.

  “It does not flash or shine,” said Merlin, “but the scabbard is worth ten swords. If you wear it when you fight, you will lose no blood—no matter how deep your woun
ds. Keep it with you always.”

  They mounted their horses. Instead of turning toward home, Arthur rode back into the forest. “I would fight Sir Pellinore again,” he told Merlin. “This time cast no spells, I pray you.”

  “This time there is no need,” said Merlin.

  “You have my pledge,” said Sir Pellinore. “Tell me your name.”

  “He is Arthur, your king,” said Merlin.

  Sir Pellinore pulled himself to his feet. He bowed to Arthur. “Your majesty! I thank you for your mercy,” he said.

  “I hope that every knight who joins me is as bold and strong as you,” said Arthur. Suddenly Merlin saw the future once again. Arthur sat at a round table with the bravest knights in England. Their eyes were on him. Their hearts were with him.

  The dark times are over, thought Merlin. And he was glad.

  Text copyright © 2000 by Stephanie Spinner. Illustrations copyright © 2000 by Valerie Sokolova. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. Originally published by Golden Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, in 2000.

  www.randomhouse.com/kids

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Spinner, Stephanie.

  The magic of Merlin / by Stephanie Spinner ; illustrated by Valerie Sokolova. —

  1st Random House ed.

  p. cm.

  “A stepping stone book.”

  SUMMARY: An introduction to the story of the magician Merlin and his role in the

  life of King Arthur.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-53812-3

  1. Merlin (Legendary character)—Juvenile fiction. 2. Arthur, King—Juvenile

  fiction. [1. Merlin (Legendary character)—Fiction. 2. Arthur, King—Fiction.

  3. Knights and knighthood—Fiction.] I. Sokolova, Valerie, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.S7567Mag 2004 [Fic]—dc21 2003008533

  RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks and A STEPPING STONE BOOK and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  v3.0

 

 

  Stephanie Spinner, The Magic of Merlin

  Thanks for reading the books on GrayCity.Net