4 Chapter 1

Prologue Just what are worthies, you might wonder? Good question. They were three very excellent, honorable lords of King Arthur's court: Merlin the Wise, Sir Pellias, and Sir Gawaine, and in this book we shall tell their stories one by one.

CHAPTER 1 How Morgana le Fay Planned Evil Against King Arthur and Sent a Young Girl to Trick the Wizard Merlin and How Vivien 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 Pellinore's son, SirTor, and his half sister Morgana le Fay's son, Sir Baudemagus. After much careful thought, Arthur decided that Sir Tor's greater deeds in chivalry made him the better choice. At this announcement, Morgana le Fay leapt up from a nearby seat. "What?" she cried. "You would choose Sir Tor over Sir Baudemagus, 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 Baudemagus remained angry, however, and both left the kingdom. Baudemagus 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 Vivien, who was without any heart, being cold and cruel to all who didn't give her her way. Vivien 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!" Vivien 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 Vivien off with a secret weapon: two rings that would unite their wearers' hearts forever. Vivien 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. King 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, Vivien 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 Vivien 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. Immediately, he knew he had been tricked. But almost as quickly, the ring started working its magic and he forgot all about everything except Vivien's youth and beauty. "How can I prove my love for you?" he asked her.