Chapter Two How Arthur Performed the Miracle of the Sword and Discovered His Birthright.
When, back at the anvil, which was still unguarded, Sir Kay unwrapped the sword from the cloak,
He set its point upon the anvil's iron and pushed with all of his strength, but to no avail.
After a few minutes, and after he had turned almost purple from the effort, he gave up.
"'Father,' he confessed, "'no man may perform this miracle.'
"'Could I try?'
Arthur asked.
"'By what right?' said Hector.
"'By the right that I drew that sword out in the first place.
For my brother,' Arthur said.'
He was not bragging, only stating a fact.
He was still innocent, you see, with no understanding of the contest or of its meaning.
He did not know why his father looked at him so strangely now.
"'Are you angry with me?' he asked.
Sir Ector told his younger son that he wasn't angry and asked his older son to hand the sword over.
Both father and eldest son watched as Arthur hopped upon the marble block and easily pushed the sword back in.
Then he pulled it out and pushed it in again, performing the miracle twice.
Sir Hector gasped and kneeled.
He clasped his hands together as though praying.
Father, Arthur cried, dropping the sword and running over.
Aye.
I'm not your father, Sir Ector said, and Arthur's face fell.
Sir Kay's face had fallen too, but his at the thought that his brother instead of him might actually be king.
Sir Ector cleared his throat and began to tell a story.
The story had started eighteen years ago, he explained.
The wizard Merlin and the knight Ulfius had brought him a baby.
They had not told him what baby it was, only that he must name that child Arthur and raise him as if he were his own.
This he had done.
Sir Hector had never guessed who Arthur's father might be, he said, but today it seemed quite clear.
Surely no other baby but Uther Pendragon's could have performed such a miracle.
Arthur was the true king.
Why are you crying, my child? he asked Arthur.
I'm crying because I feel as though I have lost you Arthur replied and because I would rather have you as my father than be king.
At that moment, as if by magic, two men appeared.
It was the wizard Merlin and the knight Ulfius themselves.
I have seen all that has happened today in the surface of my magical-looking glasses.
Merlin explained.
I have been waiting for it to happen for eighteen long years.
Taking Arthur's hand in his own, Merlin told Arthur what his future held in store for him.
You will be the greatest and most famous king who ever lived, he said.
You will have many excellent knights gathered around you.
The world will talk of your deeds and adventures until the end of time.
Will you promise me something?
Sir Hector asked the boy, suddenly no longer his son.
Of course, Arthur replied.
When you are king of Britain, will you give your brother Kay a position in your kingdom?
Of course, Arthur repeated, but only if you will be my father forever.
Arthur sealed this exchange of promises with a kiss upon his father's forehead and also upon both cheeks.
Both men would keep their promises.
And this is how Arthur first discovered he was a king.
Listen to learn how the world discovered it as well.
By Christmas morning, the day of the contest, thousands of people had arrived to watch the challenge of the sword.
A platform had been built around the cube of marble and a fancy throne had been set out for the archbishop.
The rules said that in at least the first round, only those with a natural right to compete should do so.
Nineteen kings and sixteen dukes immediately stepped forward, including kings Pelennor Lot Urian, Leodogrance and Ryans.
Each of them tried, some of them several times, but all of them failed.
This made them feel angry and embarrassed.
The audience was surprised, too.
If these great men could not accomplish this task, they wondered, who could?
You have been tricked by Merlin, the kings and dukes told the archbishop.
This task is impossible.
Merlin has played a trick to make fun of us all.
In your wisdom, you must choose a new king from one of us.
Once you have chosen him, we will promise to follow him.
The archbishop almost agreed, but he could not believe that Merlin would have made such trouble.
We will be patient just a little while longer, he said, for the time in which it will take a man to count to five hundred two times.
If no one has pulled the sword out by then, I will do as you ask.
One, two, three, four, thank you, the kings and dukes cried, counting very quickly.
Four hundred and eighty, four hundred and eighty-one, four hundred and eighty-two.
Arthur, Merlin, and Ulfius eventually called.
They were enjoying the suspense and had waited until the last minute.
Who are these men walking with Merlin and Ulfius?
The crowd wondered aloud as Sir Hector, Sir Kay, and Arthur approached just before the deadline.
Merlin brought Arthur to the archbishop's platform.
Sir, he said, I have brought you the next contestant for the sword challenge.
By what right do you bring him? the archbishop asked.
By the right that he is the true son of Uther Pendragon, Merlin answered.
The crowd gasped.
Merlin had taken the boy so quickly that none of them had ever known Uther Pendragon's baby had been successfully born.
Merlin patiently explained, and Sirs Ulfius and Hector faithfully backed up his story.
The archbishop gave Arthur permission to try.
Just as he had done before, Arthur now laid his hands upon the sword, bent his body, and pulled.
All the world watched as the piece of metal slid smoothly out of the anvil.
As this time was even more exciting than the last, Arthur raised the sword over his head and swung it around three times in joyful celebration, so that it flashed like lightning.
The crowd went wild, shouting so loudly that the whole world seemed to shake.
At their cries, Arthur replaced the sword and pulled it out twice more.
He performed the miracle three times in total.
The kings and dukes watched in amazement.
Compared to them, Arthur was just a boy.
Some of the great men, including King Leodograns, were happy for Arthur and accepted him immediately.
Others, however, including Kings Pelennor, Ryans, Lot, and Urian, were bitter.
They wanted to challenge the result.
Sirs Hector and Kay stood off to the side.
Each one was feeling confusing emotions of his own.
Just a few moments before, Arthur had indeed only been a boy, a son and a brother.
But by performing the miracle again, he had immediately turned into a man.
The crowd strained to touch Arthur, if only to reach a piece of his clothing.
But seeing the emotions on the faces of the only family he had ever known, Arthur pushed through the crowd to reach Sir Echters and Kay.
He took their hands and kissed each one gently on the cheek.
The crowd cheered even more loudly then.
Arthur's heart and soul were so happy that the pair seemed to take wing and fly like a graceful bird.
Watching this magic, Merlin made a wish, namely that all who might ever hear the story, including you, would realize that they too may succeed in the things they try.
They need only passionately pull the sword of their dreams out from the solid iron of their situation.
Think about that, won't you, as this story continues.
