he legend of King Arthur is over 1000 years old. While there are many many variations of the tale, the basic story is the same:

Uther Pendragon, the King of Britain, was in love with a woman named Ygraine, who was married to one of the King's subjects. Uther conspired with his advisor, Merlin, who cast a spell that made him look like Ygraine's husband. He went to Ygraine that night, and they conceived a son. But also on that very same night, Ygraine's husband was killed. Arthur was born soon thereafter, and the King married Ygraine.

Ygraine's daughter, Morgan LeFay, hated the King, and blamed Merlin for her father's death. She also hated the child Arthur that her mother had with the King, and she cursed him with her magical powers.

When Arthur was 16 years old, the King mysteriously died. Merlin suspected that Ygraine's daughter, the angry Morgan Le Fay, might be responsible. Ygraine ruled as queen, but she was a weak leader. Different lords tried to step in as king, causing unrest within the kingdom.

Merlin brought together the kinghts and lords of England. Merlin showed them a strange sight: a sword in a stone, with a message that read: "whoever can pull this sword from this stone will be King of Britain." All of the knights and lords tried, but not one could pull the sword from the stone.

Soon after, Arthur was at a tournament with his brother, Kay. Arthur had forgotten Kay's sword, and ran to find it. He saw the sword in the stone, and thinking he would borrow it to give to Kay for the tournament, pulled it out.

When the knights and nobles discovered what had happened, they were stunned with disbelief. This young boy had pulled the sword from the stone? Arthur put the sword back, and one at a time everyone else tried to remove it, every time unsuccessfully. And every time Arthur tried, he pulled it out again with no effort. The knights and lords of the realm saw that their new king had come at last.

Arthur ruled as a strong and righteous king. His court flourished, and knights and maidens came to the frequent feasts and tournaments. After defeating a rebellion within the kingdom, Arthur took a wife. He married the daughter of King Leodegrance of Cameliard, a woman named Guinevere.

But Arthur's half-sister Morgan le Fay still sought vengeance. One night, she drugged Arthur, and sent her sister Morgause to him in the night. He mistook her for his beloved Guinevere, and Morgause left before he woke up the next day. Merlin realized what had happened, and prophesied that the child who would be born to Arthur's sister would someday destroy his kingdom.