This time when I read a couple of passages that I especially liked, I made note of them:

Merlin, having returned to the cave - "Like a drunkard who, as long as there is no wine to be had, thinks himself cured of his craving, I had thought myself cured of the thirst for silence and solitude."

When he encounters the girl picking bluebells - I stood still with all my dignity round me like a robe, and under it my  body fretting like a horse that feels curb  and spur at the same time."  What a clever way to say that one can't decide whether to come or go, which way to jump....  Like I've said before, I love Mary Stewart's writiing.  What a way with words!

Linda

I really wondered how she'd handle the whole set up of Arthur's conception.  I liked that it wasn't really magic/power, just audacious but very careful deception.  Neverthelesss, I am a bit ambivalent about it.  The explanation of Uther wanting nothing to do with Arthur seemed very weak.  I think it's the only thing in her book I really didn't like.

Flying through this book. :) In the documentary I watched about Merlin, his demise came from a female magician he'd falled for who tricked him out of his powers and left him for dead. That was one legend, I believe. It was also said that he moved Stonehenge across the lands. So as I'm reading this, I keep thinking back to that documentary and all of the different legends and stories about him. Very neat. :)

Kelly, I would love to see that documentary!   I love the way Mary Stewart took the "magic" in the legends and showed us how things could really have been.  

Exactly Vicky the sciences that seemingly became lost during what we call the dark ages, must have seemed like magic. 

I love that about her, too! It makes it seem more real, like it all could have really happened. :) Vicky, here's what I wrote about that documentary in one of our other discussion threads.

I watched this documentary on the Smithsonian channel called "Merlin: The Legend" and didn't know that Merlin was created by combining two legends/stories of people into one - Merlinus Caledonensis (a prophet and madman) and Ambrosious Aurelianus (historical war leader). It was a fascinating documentary that went through the beginning of Merlin through today and how the legend has spread from Wales to other countries and talked of why the legend of Merlin is so strong after so many years/generations. It was pretty cool.

Thanks Kelly, for reposting that!  (I was looking for it)  ;D

This section has so much happening, especially with Merlin losing both parents.  King Ambrosius takes his armies through Britain, subduing his enemies and riding the country of the Saxons.  His support grows and Britain is united under his rule but the long task of rebuilding begins.  I was saddened by the death of Merlin's mother.  In other reads, much more is written about this wonderful woman and her powers.  I found joy in Merlin's return to the cave.  And, it saddened me, too when he fortold the death of Ambrosius.  Stewart's telling is quite different from the tale told by Stephen Lawhead but equally as enjoyable to read.