At Easter, Merlin is still not of a mind to go to the coronation, but when he is commanded by the king, he prepares to go. The messenger who brings the command has ridden four days without stopping and has hurt his wrist in a fall from one of his horses. Merlin makes him come into the cave to bind his wound and allow time to rest and eat. While the messenger goes to tie up his horse, Merlin stands outside the cave and ponders Uther's command. Soon his vision blurs and he seems to be looking into the crystal globe where he sees the whole of Britain in his hands. He knows this is what he has been born for.
Cadal cautions Merlin that the king's command may spell trouble, but Merlin seems unafraid as always since it is not yet time for his end. The messenger turns out to be Ulfin, the servant of Belasius, the high druid priest of many years before. Ulfin reveals that Belasius is dead from a fever and he, Ulfin, had been saved from the druid custom of burying their servants with the dead, by being taken into Uther's service.
The first night, they stay at an inn near a crossroads which leads off
to the north. When Cadal comes up to their room, he tells Merlin of the
rumors from London: Uther has his eye on the Duchess of Cornwall. Uther
has been showing entirely too much attention to Ygraine, even in the presence
of her husband, a terrible insult given all the help Gorlois provided
Ambrosius and Uther. Merlin is concerned as well about the Duchess who
is half Gorlois' age and is often alone in his cold Cornish castle with
nothing to do but dream. It reminds him of his own mother who had also
had nothing to do but dream and that is how she got in trouble with his
father. Cadal supposes that Uther may need Merlin to break the spell of
this woman, but Merlin says he doesn't break spells, he makes them.
The command from Uther spells trouble since the king had sworn he wanted
nothing to do with Merlin's prophecies. But Merlin knows that this is
what he has been born for: to be an advisor to kings and he sees all of
Britain in his hands. His final comment to Cadal speaks volumes about
his sense of his mission: he goes to London to make a spell to help Uther.
New names in this chapter: Ygraine, the young wife of Gorlois,
to whom Uther is greatly attracted
Once they arrive in London, Merlin recognizes that Cadal was right: here is real trouble. When he is brought before Uther, the king is in his dressing gown and angry that it took Merlin so long to get there. In actuality, the four day ride was record speed. The king is obviously agitated about something.
Uther tells Merlin about his desire for Gorlois' wife who the Duke has heavily guarded. Uther says that the moment he was introduced to her, he knew she was the one. Merlin asks if she is worth losing a kingdom. Uther says he could have wrecked his kingdom many times by now, but has taken care that it never goes that far. He begs Merlin to help him by bringing the Duchess to him and making her love him. Merlin says he cannot make her love him, but that he will help him in some way that the god has not yet revealed to him. He promises that he will speak with Ygraine. Then, he looks into the fire and sees two dragons merging up the wall in flames and he is momentarily blinded by the vision. When he comes to himself, he tells Uther that he must make a child with Ygraine and that's commanded by the god. Uther promises.
Merlin makes a sleeping draught for Uther and tells Cadal he will see
the Duchess that night. He is not going to her, however; whoever is coming
will come to him. He sits alone by the fireplace until a knock at the
door lets him know he has a visitor: it is Gorlois. Merlin's first reaction
to Gorlois is to realize how old he has become. Gorlois has a heavy heart,
but he is being guided by forces of which he is not aware. He asks Merlin
to help his wife in two ways. First, he needs him to convince Uther to
allow them to return to Cornwall without waiting for the end of the coronation
feast. Second, he asks Merlin to come see his wife who says she is ill
and has requested Merlin's presence. Once again the god shows the way.
Uther's utter infatuation with Ygraine, the merging of the two dragons in
Merlin's vision, the Duke seeking out Merlin, and Ygraine's request for
Merlin's presence are all events guided by destiny. Everything is on a
path that will bring about the birth of Arthur.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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