1 Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 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 Ector. "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 Ector gasped and kneeled. He clasped his hands together as though praying. "Father," Arthur cried, dropping the sword and running over. "I am 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 Ector had never guessed who Arthur's father might be, he said. But today it seemed quite clear. Surely no other baby but UtherPendragon's could have performed such a

miracle. Arthur was the true king. "Why are you crying, my child?" he asked Arthur. "I am 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 glass," 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 Ector 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 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, at least in the first round, only those with a natural right to compete should do so. Nineteen kings and sixteen dukes immediately stepped forward, including Kings Pellionore, Lot, Urien, Leodegrance, and Ryence. 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.