Crystal Cave Summary

The Crystal Cave is a 1970 fantasy novel by Mary Stewart. The first in a quintet of novels covering the Arthurian legend, it is followed by The Hollow Hills .

Plot introduction

The protagonist of this story is a boy named Myrddin Emrys, also known as Merlin, which is the Welsh form of the word "falcon". Emrys is also known as Ambrosius, or Prince of light.

Plot summary

This novel covers the time from Merlin's sixth year until he becomes a young man. The Romans have recently left England, which has now broken up into a number of mini-kingdoms loosely united under a High King; and the Saxons are a big threat. Merlin is the illegitimate son of a Welsh princess, who refuses to name the father. Small for his age and often a target of abuse and neglect, Merlin is a very observant little boy who gains information through spying, but also occasionally has a clairvoyant vision. This and his unknown parentage cause him to be referred to as "the son of a devil" and "Bastard Child" by townspeople and some of his relatives. Educated by a hermit, who teaches him to use his psychic powers as well as his earthly gifts, Merlin eventually finds his way to the court of Ambrosius Aurelianus, High King of Britain, and assists in his preparations to rule over a truly united Britain. It's revealed that Merlin is Ambrosius's son, the result of a brief relationship between Ambrosius and Merlin's mother before he fleed Britain. Merlin returns to Britain in advance of Ambrosius and Uther's invasion but finds his mentor killed and is captured by Vortigern's men. Vortigern intends plans to build a fortress at Dinas Emrys but each night the newly built walls collapse and the king's mystics say the fort will only be built when a child with no father is sacrificed and his blood split on the ground. As Merlin's father is unknown, Vortigern plans to use him as the sacrifice. Merlin knows that the fort is actually built on unstable foundations due to the caves below ground, but he attributes the problems to dragons beneath the ground. As a result of this Merlin becomes known as Vortigern's prophet. Days later Ambrosius arrives and defeats Vortigern and his allies, Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon leaders. Merlin uses his engineering skills to rebuild Stonehenge but begins to have visions of Ambrosius's death. When this happens, a comet appears in the sky and Uther becomes King, with the title of Pendragon. The kingdom however is soon thrown into chaos when Uther goes to war with the Duke of Cornwall over his wife Ygraine. Despite his moral misgivings, Merlin helps Uther enter Tintagel castle by stealth, knowing it will lead to Arthur's birth.

Crystal Cave (2009)

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