would raise the child.

The old knight took the

baby in his arms, glad for a second child. He
named the baby Arthur, and raised the child
as his own.
When Arthur was ten years old, the same
stranger returned to Sir Ector’s home. He
could read and write, and so Sir Ector hired
him to teach his two sons. Kay could not sit
still for lessons and he stopped coming. But
Arthur listened with wide eyes. He learned
everything. I bet you have guessed by now
who that stranger was – none other than
Merlin the Magician!
At the end of each day when Arthur finished
his chores, that was time for the
lessons. Merlin would sit with Arthur for
hours and teach him about the world. Arthur
was a thin lad, not strong like his big brother
Long ago in England, a wise and just king
Kay. Merlin said not to worry about that. He
ruled the land. His name was King Uther.
said what mattered most was to have a heart
Times were good and the people lived
that was big and strong. Merlin saw how the
well. King Uther wanted a magician at court.
birds, foxes and deer followed Arthur. He
And so he chose the famous Merlin the
could see that the boy had a very big and
Magician. Merlin could see into the future.
strong heart.
And he knew those good days were not going
By the time Arthur was 16, his brother Kay
to last.
had become a knight. He was now called Sir
King Uther and the Queen Guinevere had a
Kay. Arthur loved nothing more than to serve
child, a baby son. At a castle party for the
his brother as a squire. He kept great care of
royal birth, Merlin the Magician took the King
his brother’s tunic and helmet, his spears and
aside. He said, “Sire, there is something you
lances.
must know. Soon a great darkness will fall
over this land. Your child is in great danger.
Let me take the baby far away. I will be sure One day at lesson time, Merlin looked
he stays safe.” away. He stood up.
“Merlin!” said the King in surprise. “You are a
great magician. And you are my friend. But “What is it?” said Arthur.
there is no way we would let anyone take our “The people need hope,” said Merlin. “Arthur,
child away!” there is something I must do. I must go now.”
Sadly, soon after the child’s birth the Queen That night, when the nighttime was at its
died. Not long after, King Uther was killed in most dark, Merlin the Magician came to
battle. That very night, Merlin swept into the London’s market square. He stood in the
castle and took the child. The next morning, middle of the square. He held both his arms
the royal nurse went into the nursery. Alas, high. And pointed his wand to the stars.
an empty crib! In fear, the nurse, the nobles The next morning at dawn, people started to
and servants looked everywhere. But the arrive at the market. There in front of them
baby was gone! was something most odd. A block of white
For years, there was no king to sit on the marble stood in the middle of the town
throne. No king to set the laws. Men of high square. Resting on the block was a giant
rank fought each other to be king. Darkness stone the size of a very large rock. At the very
fell over the land. Robbers and bands of wild top of the stone there was a golden sword
men ruled the streets of London. Evil men handle and a few inches of the blade, shining
broke into houses and took what they in the sun. Yet – this was most odd – the rest
wanted. Travelers on the roads were jumped of the blade was buried deep into the stone.
and robbed. The people of England lived in None of this was there the day before!
fear. What’s more, these words could be seen on
Yet far away, there was a quiet place. A good the top of the blade:
knight, Sir Ector, lived in peace with his two “Whoever pulls out this sword from this stone
sons. His first son was named Kay. His is the true king of England!”
younger son Arthur had been adopted as a As soon as the crowd knew about the
baby. Years before, a stranger had come to message, men jumped up to that white
Sir Ector with a baby. He asked if Sir Ector marble block. One after another, they gave
the sword a yank. Each tried and tried, but from today. Knights from anywhere and
the sword stuck fast. It would not move. everywhere in England are invited to
One said in gloom, “There is no man alive come. There will be contests and prizes. And
who could pull out that sword!” a grand feast for all!” The Duke said to his
“We’ll see about that!” said a voice in the wife, the Duchess, “If I know men, this
crowd. The Duke of Cornwall, dressed in tournament will draw the strongest, finest
silks and ribbons, stepped up to the white knights in all of England!”
marble block. “Hear ye, hear ye!” he said. “I Said the Duchess, “Good idea, my dear. All we
call for a tournament to be held, one month need is one knight who is so strong he can
pull that sword from the stone. Then we will Arthur ran back into the tent. Maybe he had
have a king again, at last!” left Kay’s sword there? He searched through
The people danced and cheered. At last there the bag of armor and weapons. How could he
was something to feel happy about! News of let such a thing happen? Then he had an idea.
the tournament traveled fast. From castle to Very fast, Arthur rode back to the market
village, to every far corner of the land. At last, square. The guards were not there anymore
word got to the far-away home of Sir – they must have all gone to the tournament.
Ector. Sir Kay heard the news when he was Arthur stepped up on the marble
polishing his helmet. block. “Let’s see if that sword can get
“Arthur!” he called out. Arthur was once unstuck.” He took hold of the handle of the
again by the woods, feeding birds from his sword. He moved the sword a bit. “Hey!” he
hand. He set down a pile of seeds for the said. “It’s looser than I thought.”
birds, and a pile for the squirrels. Then he
ran fast to see his brother. With one big tug, the sword slid out. Arthur
was thrown back, but the sword was safe in
“There you are!” said Kay. “There will be a his hands. “I will be sure to bring it right
tournament in London. We must set out at back.” He raced to the where his brother was
once!” waiting.
What great news! Arthur had never been “Here it is,” he said, handing the sword to his
more than a few miles from home. He would brother.
be the best squire ever for his brother! Arthur Kay took one look. “Oh!” he said in surprise.
ran back to the house. In the courtyard his “What is it?” said Arthur. But his brother was
father was getting the horses ready. gone. Soon after, he heard his brother’s voice
Sir Ector and his two sons rode through outside the tent. “Father, I have something to
London on their way to the show you.” Kay and his father stepped inside
tournament. Riding through the market the tent.
square, something shiny glinted in the sun. “Look!” said Kay. He pointed to the sword.
“That sword looks like it goes right into that Sir Ector stared. His face turned
stone,” said Arthur. “But how can that be? white. “Kay,” said the father, facing his older
That’s impossible.” But why were guards son, “where did you get this sword?”
standing all around it? “It is mine!” said Kay, holding it close to
The father and his two sons reached the him. “I have it now.”
tournament. Sir Kay ran off to get in line to “Kay!” said the Father again in a stern
register. Sir Ector greeted many old friends – voice. “I will ask you one more time. Where
dukes, earls, barons, counts and countesses. did you get this sword?”
Arthur sat in their tent, polishing his The young knight’s head dropped down.
brother’s helmet till it shone bright. “From Arthur,” he said. “He lost my sword!
A bugle sounded. The tournament was about Somehow he got this one.”
to begin! “Get my sword, demanded Kay” “Arthur?” The father turned to his younger
“Right away,” said Arthur. But where was it? son. “How is it that you came by this sword?”
Arthur looked around in panic. Kay’s spear, “I’m sorry!” said Arthur. “Father, I will put it
battle-axe, and dagger were right where they back right away. I only meant to borrow it
should be. But no sword. “Kay…” he said, when I pulled it from the stone.”
“how about a battle-axe?” “You must take us to where you found this
“Arthur, I said my sword!” sword. At once!” The three of them rushed
“Yes, of course,” said Arthur. “But just a over to the market square.
moment.” Arthur climbed up onto the marble block. “It
“Be quick about it!” said Kay. came from here,” he said. He lifted the sword
over his head.
Then he dropped the blade back into the “Hey,” said Sir Kay. “I still need a sword!” He
stone. “Now it’s back.” jumped up onto the marble block. Grabbing
the hilt of the sword, he pulled and looser it would get. But when each man took
pulled. But it did not move. their turn, the sword did not move for them.
Kay shouted to Arthur, “What did you do to “Let the lad try now,” said the Duke of
it?” Cornwall. “Arthur, go ahead.”
“Nothing!” said the lad. Arthur stepped up to the stone again. In one
“You must have done something!” yelled Sir motion he freed the sword. This time, he held
Kay. it high above his head. The blade flashed in
“Hush! Both of you!” said the father. “It is the sun. Amazed, the crowd did not know
better if no one sees or hears us.” what to think.
But it was too late. A crowd had already One called out at last. “He must be our new
started to form. king!”
“Hey! Did you pull that sword out of the “We have a king!” called another. “At last!”
stone?” called one. “Stop!” shouted the tall knight. “Do you really
“Yes,” said Arthur. “I did.” think this skinny boy should rule over all of
“Do it again!” called another from the crowd. us?”
“Yes, let’s see it!” “Yes!” said a voice. All eyes turned around. It
Arthur put his hands around the golden was Merlin the Magician.
handle. With one tug, the blade slid out. “I know this boy. I know his heart. There is
“Who are you?” called another voice. “What’s no one in England who has a heart that is
your name?” bigger and stronger than his. The sword has
“Arthur,” said the lad. told us this young man is to be the next king
“Wait a minute, put that sword back!” A tall of England. And there is something else!”
knight pushed forward from the “The lad,” said Merlin, pointing to Arthur, “is
crowd. “Anyone can pull it out, once it’s been the true child of King Uther. He is the missing
pulled!” baby!”
“Go ahead. Put it back, son,” said a voice. It
was the Duke of Cornwall, the one who had Cheers began to ring out. “Hail, King Arthur!”
called for the tournament. called someone from the crowd.
“All right,” said Arthur. He slipped the blade
back into the stone, with ease.
“Let me at that now!” said the tall knight. He Sir Ector fell to his knees. Then Sir Kay. One
jumped up and grabbed the handle of the person after another fell to their knees,
sword. But pull and tug as he might, the too. All cheered. At last, a king had been
sword would not move. Not even a bit. chosen. A fresh young king, and a new day for
Another knight tried. Then another. But no England!
one could move the sword. Some waited,
thinking the longer they pulled the sword, the