What was it like to live in Arthurian time? No one living today can actually know, but after reading The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart, one feels as if they had. Those who haven't read this yet must obtain a copy. Stewart delves into the personal life of Myrddin Emrys, better known as Merlin the magician, counselor, and guardian of King Arthur. Intertwining fact, legend, and fiction, Stewart interprets the mystery surrounding Merlin and his powers into a personal, heartfelt story of a very misunderstood individual.
This book starts when Merlin is very young and living in his grandfather's castle in Madridunum. We follow him through the trials of growing up without knowing the identity of his father, interacting with his Uncle Camlach who tries to poison him, understanding his mother, and discovering his power which is later referred to as "The Sight". This power he possesses perplexes, terrifies and intrigues him. One day he travels far into the hills around his town and finds a cave full of crystals and an old man named Galapas. Here he learns of his powers and how to control them. When his grandfather is killed, he runs away in fear of his uncle.
Soon he is kidnapped but this leads to meeting Ambrosius, who is later discovered to be his true father. Ambrosius keeps him as a counselor and lets him live as he pleases. Many years later he goes back to Madridunum to visit his mother and seek out information for Ambrosius when he is captured by men of Ambrosius' enemy, Vortigern. He goes through trials of staying alive and soon prophesizes of a cave and two dragons. This is the turning point from which the normal legend of Merlin turns dark. In Stewart's version, though, Merlin is also in awe of his powers and has fear of what he is becoming.
Up to this point the book is intriguing and fast paced, but now it turns to the more historical side and even cuts out most of the dialog. The story of Ambrosius, his brother Uther, Vortimer and his father Vortigern with the Saxon wife drags on for about a fourth of the book.
Soon enough, Ambrosius is the High King and wants to take Killare, the stronghold of Ireland. Inside this fortress is a huge ring upon ring of enormous stones called The Dance. Ambrosius wants it moved to his new stronghold of all the empire. While this seems impossible, Merlin again surprises the kingdom with his supposed magic and thinks of a plan. Suddenly Ambrosius dies and Merlin dedicates himself to moving this and burying Ambrosius under the center stone, which has magical qualities itself. This new Dance is better known as Stonehenge. Now Uther is King, and Merlin and Uther must work out their problems to rule the kingdom.
Presently, Uther falls in love with another ruler's wife. She, named Ygraine, wants him also, but is constantly followed by guards. Merlin, his devoted servant Cadal, and Uther devise a plan to impregnate Ygraine with Uther's baby, but let her husband think it is his child. This plan is barely carried out, and in this process Cadal and other servants of Ygraine and her husband are killed. Merlin, saddened, but with high faith, returns to Galapas' Crystal Cave, which is now his own.
What makes this book so unique is that Stewart portrays Merlin as a real human being with emotions, fears, and dreams, unlike the legends show. She lets the reader see into his head and understand that he was just a highly intelligent human used by the gods, not a sinister wizard. After reading it, the real Merlin Emrys becomes an odd but graspable character with whom one can connect. This true mastery shown by Mary Stewart beckons me to read the next two books in the trilogy.
