BOOK IV - The Red Dragon

CHAPTER 2

Summary

This chapter begins a flashback to Merlin riding hard with Cadal and Gorlois to meet his father. Gorlois predicts correctly that Vortigern will head, not for his fortress of Caer-Guent, but for Doward. They know that Merlin's mother and the force of Vortigern's men with her are but a day ahead of them. They plan to not catch up to this force, but to meet them on the way back and wipe them out. They stop in a village called Bremia where Merlin learns that his mother had been taken ill, but has ridden on, and that Ambrosius has landed. Everywhere they stop, they meet up with men who are riding south to join Ambrosius' army. They convince many of these men to wait one day where they are and they will have weapons and horses after fighting Vortigern's forces returning from Maridunum. They agree to do so and the combined forces behind Gorlois meet Vortigern's forces, robbing them of twenty men for every three of their own.

When they finally arrive in Maridunum, the first person Merlin meets is his cousin, Dinias. Dinias is afraid that Merlin believes he had intended to betray him to Vortigern because he took the money. But Merlin assures him he knows it was not deliberate on Dinias' part. He learns from Dinias that his mother is somewhat better and that all of Vortigern's men have cleared out of Maridunum to join him in the north. He also discovers that what the villagers have said is true - his father has landed and is marching north - and that Dinias has, like so many other people, heard what happened at the cave. Dinias says he wants to join Ambrosius, but that Vortimer has gone to make his peace with Hengist and the Saxons, because he wants Britain for himself. Finally, Dinias tells Merlin that Vortigern had killed all the children born to Camlach and his grandfather, whom he taken hostage. He asks Dinias for a favor: to stay in his grandfather's old house that night, which Dinias readily agrees to.

That night, Merlin tells Dinias his whole story except that he is Ambrosius' son. Until all is victory, he trusts no one. Dinias agrees at Merlin's request to ride westward in the morning and summon what support he can for Ambrosius from the fringes of Wales. Merlin knows this former bully is in awe of his powers. Merlin tells us that Dinias followed through and brought a few hundred men to Ambrosius, but that he died of wounds he received in a later skirmish. Merlin never sees him again.

Merlin tells Cadal as they prepare for sleep that he eventually wants to return to the crystal cave. Cadal tells him that he inquired at the nunnery and his mother is better, but she won't rest quiet until she sees Merlin. Merlin plans to tell her everything and then, they'll ride out to meet Ambrosius. He sleeps poorly, worrying that he should not have sent Vortigern flying for Doward since it might be harder to siege. Then, he settles down, knowing that his words to Vortigern came from the god and he should not lie awake looking for reasons.

Notes

It is ironic that Dinias is now in awe of the very boy whom he had bullied so much. It is, however, touching that he follows through with his promise to Merlin, even though it leads to his death. Merlin once again allows his human side to question the commands of the god. He must keep reminding himself that it is his responsibility to obey and not question.

New names in this chapter: Caer-Guent and Doward, two fortresses used by Vortigern; Bremia, the village where Merlin learns his mother has taken ill; Hengist, the leader of the Saxons.

CHAPTER 3

Summary

Merlin and Cadal return to St. Peter's to visit his mother. He is taken by the young nun who opens the gates to them, but wastes no time in seeing his mother. She insists she is on the mend and in spite of her paleness and fatigue, Merlin leaves her health to the care of the sisters.

He pulls up a chair beside her bed and begins to tell her everything she wanted to know. He says she watches him with the emotion a cage-bird might feel if you set it to hatch a merlin's egg. In other words, she half fears what he might tell her even though she wants desperately to know. However, she is content when she learns Ambrosius has acknowledged Merlin as his son.

Merlin crosses to the window of her room for a moment and sees the young nun again in the courtyard as if waiting for him. She looks up and their eyes meet and Merlin is for the first time is struck by a physical attraction to a woman.

When Niniane speaks again, she has questions about Ambrosius' ability to defeat both Vortigern and Hengist. Merlin replies by saying, I have said so, so it must be true. Niniane crosses herself and cautions Merlin against arrogance. He comforts her with the words that he meant not that he was so powerful but that the god had presented his power through Merlin. It must be so, because it is in the stars. He also tells her not to be afraid for him because he is the god's instrument and he will be safe as long as he is needed. She reminds him that there is only one God and he agrees.

Merlin returns to see his mother again the next morning and is led to her room by the same young girl who had opened the gates the day before. The arrow of love still thrums where it struck him. He discovers from his mother that she is the daughter of Keridwen who had worked at the palace when he was young. He doesn't remember her and Niniane is amused, because Keridwen was his grandfather's whore. The third day he visits the girl is not there and he wonders if she has been deliberately kept from his sight. But on the fourth day, once again, she answers the door and he learns her name is Keri. As he lays awake that night thinking of her, Merlin waits for the god to speak to him and tell him if she was meant for him. His last thought before sleep is that the gods do not visit you to remind you what you already know.

By the last day of April, Niniane is able to sit up in a chair by the window and enjoy the sun. Merlin tells her that Vortigern and his queen are dead and that Hengist is moving south with a vast force that includes the army of Vortimer and his brother, Pascentius. Ambrosius and his army are on their way to meet them. He goes on to tell her about the fires set by Ambrosius at Doward and then, gets up to leave, asking her if she has a message to be given to Ambrosius. She relies, When I see him again, it will be time enough. When he turns to leave, she is staring past the flowers on the wall to something distant in time and space.

As Merlin leaves St. Peter's, he sees Keri in the shadows. She runs to him, complaining that she has a terrible toothache and begging him to touch it and heal it. He says he cannot help her, but she grabs his hand and places it against her cheek. She kisses his hand and quickly returns to the convent.

Notes

These scenes between Merlin and his mother create a sense of sadness that he, perhaps, has not consciously admitted to himself: his mother is no doubt more ill than she lets on.

The attraction which springs up between Merlin and Keri is doomed, because even he knows that love is not for him. The god has a greater destiny in mind for Merlin.

New names in this chapter: Keridwen, a whore who lived in Merlin's grandfather's house, she is Keri's mother