The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin

They were going to kill Arthur.

Can you imagine?

They would've killed him too,

but I put a stop to it.

The arrogance, the stupidity.

Not that Uther ever was one for a scholar's coat.

I heard about their sordid plan in the way that I have,

Whispers in the wind, faces in the embers of the fire,

and I made it my affair to save him.

The high king would do his worst,

But I would have my way.

My way,

was it?

Was it ever my way?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I always am.

This is to be Arthur's story,

but there's more to Arthur than his birth.

To understand him, you have to understand the land.

This land, this island of the mighty.

And you have to understand me,

for I am the man who made him.

Every year of my kingship, it has been my custom

to give the first take of my salmon weir

to one of your number as a sign of my respect.

Respect for what?

Everyone knows that your boy is cursed.

So you say, but the weir is mine,

and the salmon mine to give.

Elphin is my only son.

A man must do for his true sons what he can

to advance their fortunes.

Bring a bounty, boy, and show them the curse is broken.

And what if the nets are empty?

You might have warned me about the snow upriver.

You might have warned me of your foolish plan.

All his ill luck aforetime was nothing.

You've let him destroy the virtue of our weir.

Elphin, enough!

He, he has something.

It's nothing, a drowned carcass.

Why so eager to share this bad luck?

The scrawny thing's dead.

Who'd be for throwing a babe like that in the river?

The child is bewitched.

Throw him back in and be done with it.

Don't touch him.

The babe could be cursed, son.

I'm already cursed.

By the goddess.

Behold.

Taliesin of the radiant brow.

Never in Gwyddno's weir

was there such good fortune as today.

Small you are, Taliesin,

and weak, yet there is virtue in your tongue.

A bard, the boy will be.

A maker with words like no other

from the beginning of the world,

and in his voice will be born a kingdom of summer.

Henceforth, let no one say Elphin Ap Gwyddno is unlucky.

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis.

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis.

You there, fetch me your lord.

And be quick with you.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

Peace, Hagan, peace.

What have you seen?

They're coming.

Picti?

From today, we will no longer speak

of Irish, Pict, or Saecsen, but of Barbarian.

Unified?

Mmm.

I had hoped for a few more years.

One season more or less, what difference?

Take the day as it comes, o'King.

Do you see victory for us?

Better to ask your son.

He sees these things much clearer than I.

I have not seen Taliesin in three days.

Where is he when I need him?

He'll be where he's needed most.

Earth Mother, behold your son.

Sky Mother, recognize your devoted servant.

Father of Wisdom, speak to me that I may hear your voice.

Great Goddess, Queen of Life,

reveal to me the vision of your sight.

Speak-A beautiful prayer.

The gods of this place must be pleased.

It is unwise to sneak up on a man while he prays.

It is unwise to pray while a man sneaks up on you.

You are old to have climbed this hill alone.

You are young to have climbed it at all.

You think me young to seek the gods?

Few enough seek the gods, young or old.

The chair on which you sit

belongs to the head of our order,

the Chief Druid of the Island of the Mighty.

And are you a druid then, Taliesin Ap Elphin?

You know me.

All men know of the great Taliesin.

They say you are the most powerful of your people.

I am as you see me.

Who are you?

Curious, isn't it?

Why did your order allow one

of their sacred stones to fall?

Must have fallen long ago.

I wonder, will you be the man to raise it?

I see why it fell.

Forgive me, stranger.

Do the dead forgive?

It is very old.

What of the markings?

Cernunnos, The Horned Lord!

One of your gods?

No, much older.

Ancient one.

No, no.

No.

Put it back!

Put the stone back!

No doubt I think this Cernunnos

would prefer you left his stone upright.

He would have me revive the old ways.

Ah, and what do you think?

Look upon me then, Shining Brow.

Have you nothing to say to me, Great Bard?

No song to sing or wisdom to declare?

On the day of your liberation,

your tongue will be loosed

and the words I give you will come.

You will be my bard,

proclaiming my reign in the world of men.

Men will hear your voice

and will know who it is that speaks.

Taliesin. Father.

Who am I, father, that the gods should war for my soul?

You are my son, boy,

and the greatest bard in the history of your people.

Nothing more?

Is that not enough?

Come now.

Our enemies gather against us.

I need you.

Hail Maximus.

I don't remember a Roman legion

requiring the aid of a Celtic ala to avoid defeat.

You have a short memory.

I see you've met the enemy.

Thank you for coming, Elphin,

but I can't allow you to stay.

The barbarian have overrun Luguvallium.

By the goddess.

The wall is fallen.

Go home, friend.

Defend your own.

Both our people will stand a far better chance

if we stand together.

Besides we have my son to uphold us.

Hail, Taliesin!

I confess I should not like to miss the chance

to fight under your blessing once more.

Then you shall have it.

Will you join me, Teacher?

The Horned God, what did he offer you?

Great power for a great price.

Let us hope your refusal is not the doom of our people.

My acceptance surely would've been.

There is no other like him in all the empire.

There is none other like him in all the world.

Who could it be?

Saecsen? Irish?

More likely a traveler stopping for rest and shade.

I never thought we would find it occupied.

One horse is hardly an occupation, Collen.

Still, we should wait.

Maybe they'll move on.

What are you doing?

We didn't come all this way to cower before the prize.

Ave Maria.

Goodness.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Christ.

Have mercy on us.

What manner of men are you?

Unworthy men, Lady.

I see.

Why have you come here?

Seeking this holy place.

And who is this Holy Mary of whom you speak?

Why, the Mother of the Most High,

Jesu the Christ, Savior of Mankind.

You are not the Blessed Lady?

There are those who would call me Savior,

but I've never heard of this goddess Mary.