Part 1.
The Story of Merlin.
Chapter 1.
How Morgana Le Fay planned evil against King Arthur and sent a young girl to trick the wizard Merlin, and how Vivian planned Merlin's downfall.
Merlin has already been mentioned as a helper to King Arthur, but he also had a story of his own.
The story of a man so wise yet so weak that he finally tricked himself.
Listen to how that happened and learn.
In a long and dangerous battle with five enemy kings, Arthur lost eight great knights.
After a period of sadness, Arthur had to choose other men to fill the eight empty seats of the round table.
He decided he would choose four old and skilled knights and four new knights, and so he carried on, until only one new knight's spot remained.
Over this spot, he was torn between two knights.
King Pelennor's son, Sertor, and his half-sister Morgana Le Fay's son, Sir Bodemagus.
After much thought, Arthur decided that Sertor's greater deeds and chivalry made him the better choice.
At this announcement, Morgana Le Fay leapt up from a nearby seat.
What? she cried.
You would choose Sertor over Sir Bodemagus, my son and your own nephew?
Arthur apologized but stood firm to his decision.
He felt that it had been the right choice.
Morgana Le Fay and Bodemagus remained angry, however, and both left the kingdom.
Bodemagus went to seek different adventures, and Morgana Le Fay went to seek revenge from afar.
Arthur, not knowing her plans, sent his half-sister off in style to the Isle of Avalon.
Morgana Le Fay had certain magical powers which Merlin had taught her when she was a beautiful young girl.
One thing he had not taught her was how to see into the future.
Nevertheless, she knew for certain that she could never get even with Arthur if Merlin was around.
But Morgana Le Fay had a plan.
She found a beautiful young girl named Vivian, who was without any heart, being cold and cruel to all who didn't give her her way.
Vivian also, Morgana Le Fay knew, greatly wanted wisdom.
I can help you get the knowledge you seek, Morgana promised.
She explained that Merlin, with all of his amazing powers, also had a large weakness his love of beauty.
Morgana also revealed Merlin's biggest secret.
Although he could see into anyone else's future, He was blind to his own.
I will trick Merlin with my beauty, Vivian swore.
I will make him teach me everything.
And once I have all of his wisdom and magical powers, I will cast a spell on him so that he will be made powerless.
It is wonderfully evil, said Morgana Le Fay, smiling.
Morgana sent Vivian off with a secret weapon two rings that would unite their wearer's heart forever.
Vivian swept into King Arthur's court during the middle of a party.
Having already put on one of the rings, she presented the other one as a challenge.
She said that only the wisest and most worthy man there could wear it.
Arthur tried first, but the ring shrunk so when he touched it that it would not even slip over the tip of his finger.
All the other knights tried as well, but with no luck.
Finally, Vivian stood before Merlin. the only man in the room who had not yet tried the ring.
Merlin was suspicious, but he could see no future.
That involved himself, and Vivian was very beautiful.
Merlin tried on the ring and found that it fit, and he was pleased and proud.
When he tried to slip off the ring however, it stuck to his finger as if part of his skin had.
Immediately he knew he had been tricked.
But almost as quickly the ring started working its magic and he forgot all about everything except Vivian's youth and beauty.
How can I prove my love for you? he asked her.
You can give me your wisdom and teach me your magic.
Vivian replied, and the lovesick old wizard did just that.
It took a very long time, but Vivian was patient.
Eventually, she learned just about everything Merlin knew, including how to build castles out of nothing more than earth wind, fire and sky, and then how to make them disappear again with just the wave of a wand.
One day she brought Merlin a delicious meal.
Merlin could not see that the meal contained a powerful sleeping potion.
He ate and began to get very sleepy.
Merlin realized again that he had been tricked.
This time, not even his love for Vivian could distract him.
Before he fell asleep he asked Vivian to go and save King Arthur from some coming danger that Merlin could see was about to occur.
Feeling strangely guilty and thinking it would lessen her sin.
Vivian promised and Merlin started to snore.
Once Merlin was completely asleep and helpless, Vivian finished him off.
She wove a silver web around him so that even after he woke up, he was unable to move a single muscle.
Vivian smiled as her attendants pulled at Merlin's whiskers and beard.
Finally, to make sure that he stayed where he was, she placed Merlin into a large heavy box and partially buried it, covering it up with a magical mist.
And this was the shameful end of a very wise but very weak old man.
