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These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, the invasion of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soon after landed with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, and afterwards burned alive in the castle he had taken such pains to construct. On the death of Vortigern, Pendragon ascended the throne. Merlin became his chief adviser, and often assisted the king by his magical arts.
When the time had come that a child should be born to the King and Queen, Merlin appeared before Uther to remind him of his promise; and Uther swore it should be as he had said.
The squatter'd stepped forward directly in front of her while he was urging his suit. "My daddy ain't old an' he ain't goin' to die, uther," flared Tess, an angry light in her brown eyes. Oh, how she loathed and hated this fellow who blocked her way! "You shan't say such things about my daddy! I don't want any man but 'im."
So spake each day all that passed by the way. Vortiger bethought him what he might do, and thought to send messengers into other lands, after foreign knights, who might him defend; and thought to be wary against Ambrosie and Uther. These were the fairest men that ever here came, but they were heathens that was the more harm!
Now have the elders, the noblest in land, chosen Aurelie his surname is Ambrosie if they may through all things they will make him king; and Uther, thy brother, yet sucketh his mother.
So on the morrow all the barons, with Merlin, stood round the bedside of the king; and Merlin said aloud to Uther, "Lord, shall thy son Arthur be the king of all this realm after thy days?" Then Uther Pendragon turned him about, and said, in the hearing of them all, "God's blessing and mine be upon him.
And Uther with his men drew to the mount, and had lost in the fight his dear knights, full seven hundred -his hap was the worse! The mount hight Dunian, that Uther was upon, the mount was overgrown with a fair wood. The king was there within with very many men, and Octa besieged him with the heathen men night and day -besieged him all about, woe was to the Britons!
However, by the Celtic custom of fosterage the infant is intrusted to Sir Ector as his dalt, or foster-child, and Uther falls in battle. Arthur is later approven king by the adventure of drawing from the stone the magic sword that no other king could move.
"And could he find a woman in her womanhood As great as he was in his manhood The twain together might change the world." Guinevere. Arthur accepted the lady with the utmost gratitude, and Merlin then proceeded to satisfy the king of the rank of his son-in-law; upon which Laodegan, with all his barons, hastened to do homage to their lawful sovereign, the successor of Uther Pendragon.
Then in the deep silence the dying king raised his hand in the sign of blessing, and in a hollow whisper said: 'Such is my desire. With God's blessing I wish my son Arthur to take this kingdom after me, and all that love me must follow him. His eyes closed, a shiver passed down the tall frame as it lay beneath the clothes, and with a sigh the soul of Uther sped.
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