Interview with a legend: Part two

‘I was thinking about you. The sun will be up in a minute or two. You won’t be in shadow; you could come and sit down.’

Merlin sat; I could tell he felt weary. I let silence cover us for a while, let him catch his breath. I was wondering the whole time what he had been doing.

I had a dozen or so questions needing answers; some passed to me by others. ‘The Once and Future King, when will you wake him?’

‘Before you think your next question, just let me say, not all chivalry is lost. Over the past year, I have seen much of it on display. As to the sleeping one, I shall let him sleep a while longer. I have much to learn myself of this new world. We cannot change the past, no matter how far back we go. Nor can we change the religion that overlays our lands. There is much to learn from each branch.’

I felt glad to hear Merlin say it that way, as I cannot stick to one branch of religion. I like so much of each. I believe it matters not, what Gods we believe in, whether they are real or imagined. What you believe is true for you. If it works, don’t break it. The day may come when you look for more and need to know the real from the imagined. Not just the things you read, written so long ago by someone’s mind, pushing the pen. You may want to make your own religion, walk to the beat of your own drum.

‘Have a care, let go of history for a while. Make your own. The seed has been planted, Arthur sleeps, maybe for a long while. He learns the new way of things; the new battles he would face should I wake him. No more Romans, now you have the internet with its input to contend with. Roman cruelty, it seems, has taken on a new face. I tire; I will see you again soon.’

The air in my room felt heavy. Merlin seems lost in our world. I hope he has enough magic for himself to continue.

I spent the next few weeks wondering about imagination. How useful is it? The legend of Merlin came about when he was most needed, as did Christ. I hoped Merlin was far enough away, not to hear my thoughts. I didn’t want him to think I wondered if he were no more than smoke and mirrors. For me, Merlin is as real as the air I breathe. That’s my heart talking.

Now I am wondering what Merlin will come back with…