Merlin, where have you been?
This post has the Arthurian Characters discussing in a script format the lack of Merlin’s involvement in most of the stories we have read so far, almost acting as an accusatory discussion.
Arthur: My knights, let this table discussion come to order. Today, Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, Sir Agravane and Sir Kay join me for this discussion. To start, I must ask: Sir Lancelot, how is my most respected knight?
Lancelot: Things are going rather well, my king.
Arthur: I still never told you how grateful I was for you slaying Malagant last week. His stealing of my queen was quite uncalled for and I appreciate you coming to her aid.
Lancelot: I was merely serving as any knight would.
Agravaine: *Cough* Liar *Cough*
Lancelot: What was that, Sir Agravaine? Do you doubt me?
Agravaine: I doubt that you didn’t use this as an excuse to get into Queen Guinevere’s good graces, and perhaps even her bed. You see, I believe that-
Arthur: Sir Agravaine, we have heard your theories before, but I still require proof to believe anything is amiss.
Agravaine: I speak the truth! All know it but you, my king.
Gawain: Calm yourself, brother. Tis the king’s business, not our’s.
Kay: Besides, Sir Agravane, if you wish to pick fights, perhaps you should pick one with Merlin.
Arthur: And what do you mean by that, my friend? Merlin has served both myself and the kingdom well.
Kay: I sincerely doubt that. He has been strangely absent during the adventures we have faced so far. Why, I still recall when Sir Gawain, Bishop Baldwin and I all visited the Carle of Carlisle. That beast of a man was, at least according to Sir Gawain, cursed. I missed all of the details, but the important thing is that he was slaying men who disobeyed him! I ask you, where was Merlin then?
Gawain: I am sure he had a good reason for not aiding us. We were far away from Camelot, in Inglewood Forest. How could Merlin have known to help us when we were not near him?
Kay: His magic knows no bounds, he could have easily helped us. And besides, this Carle had killed many knights. You are telling me that Merlin was unaware of the problem?
Arthur: Merlin works in mysterious ways. He surely had his reasons.
Kay: You all defend him, but I would like to see him defend himself.
Arthur: Very well. Sir Agravane, go look for him.
Agravane: It shall be done.
Gawain: You know, Merlin could have been helpful during my encounter with the Green Knight. As I learned and told you all, it was a plot by Morgana Le Fay to kill Guinevere from fright when his head was cut off and he magically survived. Should Merlin not have aided us in dealing with him, especially if the queen’s life was in danger?
Arthur: You forget that we all learned a great lesson from that Knight about keeping one’s word. We still wear green with our armor in memory of that lesson.
(Agravaine and Merlin enter the room)
Merlin: You called for me, my king?
Arthur: Yes, we have been discussing your lack of involvement with our adventures as of late.\
Merlin: Yes, I had heard as much from Sir Agravaine on the way here. I suppose I will have to answer some of your questions.
Agravaine: Why have you not told our king about Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot?
Gawain: Why did you not help us with the Green Knight?
Kay: Why did you not defeat the Carle of Carlisle when he was killing so many people?
Merlin: Those are important questions indeed. Perhaps I should ask a question in return: have you not all learned something from those problems you faced?
Arthur: Perhaps some of the quests we have gone on have taught us things, but not all of them.
Merlin: Then it is good that everyone out there reading this likely did learn something. Even if the lesson isn’t always obvious, we always learn something from hardships, especially ones that are not our own.
Lancelot: He has a point, my king. We serve many purposes. Not just to serve you, but to also teach others about our virtues. We can only show those virtues by suffering through hardships. If Merlin were there, things would be too easy.
Arthur: Well, then I am sorry we ever doubted you Merlin. You have not been abandoning us. You have been teaching us a lesson.
Merlin: I understand how you might have been frustrated. Thank you for understanding in the end.
Gawain: Hail Merlin, the greatest wizard!
Arthur: I suppose this is a great place to stop for today. Come, we shall have a feast to celebrate Merlin.
(All leave except Merlin)
Merlin: I can't believe they bought that. I’ve just been so busy with learning new spells that I completely forgot to watch over Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.I have nothing to worry about, though. I can work on my new spells and they can continue to learn. What’s the worst that could happen?
Picture; Andrew Chang, Young Merlin Costume Design for Live Action