Disclaimer: This story is a missing scene from The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. The Crystal Cave is the story of Merlin’s childhood and youth as told by Merlin himself. I highly recommend it and its three sequels to everyone.

Author’s Note: Merlin is the bastard son of the daughter of a Welsh king. When he is twelve years old, his uncle becomes king, and Merlin knows his life is forfeit if he remains. By a strange twist of fate—or by ‘putting himself in the hand of the god’—Merlin arrives at the court of Aurelius Ambrosius, the Count of Brittany. For various reasons, Ambrosius’s brother, Uther, dislikes young Merlin.

This scene takes place just after Uther first sees Merlin wearing a brooch Ambrosius has given him—a brooch with the insignia of the royal red dragon. Uther then takes a good look at Merlin’s face and sees what others have seen.

( Merlin )