To Build A Castle

      In the shadow of the green hills a young knight came to Merlin. He asked the great wizard with the arrogance and foolishness of youth "Merlin, I wish to poses a great castle to build my kingdom upon. Will you partake to help me in my quest?"
      Merlin stepped forward, staff in hand, and looked into eyes that were pure and true. "A castle, no a great castle you say. Such places are sometimes hard for men to find. Are you worthy of such a place."
      The young knight looked back at him with a solid determination. "I have stood my ground beside my Lord on the field of battle, I have honored my father and my family. My words and deeds are true."
      Merlin looked deeper into his eyes, searching for a trace. "Yes, I believe they are. Such castles though must be built, stone by stone. One does not just stumble upon one in the woods you know."
      "Mock me not wizard. I could strike you down with one blow."
      "An interesting offer, though if you could accomplish such a feat, you certainly wouldn't be seeking my help."
      Anger rose in the knight's expression.
      A sly grin took over Merlin's worn face.
      "Patience my young friend, you must learn patience, quickness to anger is an unwelcome temptress. Not good for a wizard or a future king looking towards his 'great castle'."
      "Will you help me or not?"
      Merlin sighed and looked one last time. Did he see it, was it there. "Yes, yes I will help you to find your castle."
      As he had done countless times before to countless knights before, Merlin worked illusion of smoke and fire and thunder.
      With the mornings dawn the young knight arose. His preparations taken care of the night before he had but two things remaining to do. First was his wife, the beautiful young girl with the blond flowing curls, that had grabbed hold of him on first sight and to this day had not let go. He kissed her softly and said his private good bye.
      Second was young Artu, four years old, his son. He knelt down before the young boy and held him by the shoulders. "I must leave you now and head out on a great quest. A quest for our future, mine and yours."
      Artu wasn't sure what it all meant, but pushed through his fathers outstretched embrace and hugged him tight, none the less.
      "You are a strong one," said his father as he returned the hug, "you will make a fine knight and a better king."
      Now with matters of home behind him, it was time for the quest to begin. So with purpose of mind, he rode for the green hills of tomorrow.
      Time passed in the small village by the hills, as time has a tendency to do. It passed for the knight's young wife, it passed for Artu. It even passed for Merlin, though time never passed fast enough for him.
      Beaten and broken, the not so young knight returned from the hills. His gate still held a determined purpose, it was only its focus that had changed. With sword drawn and filled with the disillusionment of time, he made for the great wizard.
      "Merlin," he said placing the great blade to the wizard's chest, "I have fought Lords and knights and dragons and still my castle alludes me. You have sent me on a long and fruitless journey. You have betrayed me."
      Thunder and light once more rolled from the wizard's staff as he rose to his feet.
      One does not often rise to the occasion to challenge a wizard, and one never rises to challenge Merlin. Word spread quicker than the wizard's magic itself.
      Quick to the scene came a not so young woman and a young squire that was her son. They stepped forward and stood beside the stranger that was husband and father.
      With one grand movement of his staff, Merlin brushed aside the sword. Trails of radiant color floated on the air as the wizard stepped forward. Gasps arose from the crowd, the knight held his ground. Then Merlin, just as he had done before, looked to the knight's eyes. There it was, perhaps he was wrong the first time he looked, perhaps it wasn't there then. Perhaps it was the quest that had forged it, no matter, it was there now. "I have betrayed not one in my time. You came upon me to me look for your great castle, and so too now you have found it. The path you choose was your own, but that is and always will be the nature of your kind. It is your blessing and your curse"
      Just as he had done when he first arrived, not so long ago in his time, but too long in the days of men, Merlin walked the road from the village to the hills. He was needed here no longer and it was time to start his own journey again. Turning back only once to watch the three, together, walk back to their cottage in the village, to build their great castle.