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The man known as Merlin was a
sage, some say a sorceror, in a land darkened by war long ago. The fair
isle of Britain lay abandoned by her Roman protectors and encircled with
enemies: the Irish, the Scots, the Norse Vikings, and the Germanic Saxon
peoples from across the sea. It is said that Merlin was of the old Celtic
blood, a man blessed (or cursed) with otherworldly Sight, and it was this
power of prophecy that drew him to Vortigern, a Saxon invader King. To
Vortigern he proclaimed that a red dragon would rise to overcome the white
dragon of the invaders. Many believed this red dragon to be Uther
Pendragon, a great British warlord -- but the truth would reveal itself a
generation later.
Uther was a passionate man,
which served him well as a leader in battle. One day, Uther feasted in the
hall of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, and became enflamed with desire for
Gorlois' wife, the regal Lady Igraine. Uther swore he would not rest until
Igraine was his, and so he and Gorlois took their armies to the field to
wage war. On a stormy night, Merlin came to Uther's war tent and offered
him a path to Igraine's door -- with none to be the wiser of the tryst.
And so the two stole out into the tempest, disguised by Merlin's arts to
appear as Gorlois himself and one of his Lieutenants. Upon reaching the
gates of Castle Tintagel, they entered unchallenged and were received by
Lady Igraine who took the disguised Uther to her chambers. But a few hours
hence, the news reached Tintagel that Gorlois had died in battle the day
before, and Uther revealed himself and took the hand of Igraine -- that
she would be his wife and Queen.
Months passed
and Igraine grew great with child, and they rejoiced that there would soon
be a son to follow Uther Pendragon's reign. But as thunder rolled overhead
and the surf pounded the tower where Igraine gave birth, Merlin arrived to
take the child that he had helped create. Uther was wroth but could do
nothing, and so the babe was spirited away into the night. Uther would
never see his son, and Igraine would wait for many years to see the face
of the next King.
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