[4] came Uther with a great army, and laid a siege to the castle of Terrabil. And there was a great war, and many people were slain.
But then Uther fell sick, because of his anger and his love to Igraine. A noble knight named Sir Ulfius came to king Uther and asked why he was sick.
“I will tell you,” said the king, “I am sick because of anger and love to fair Igraine.”
“Well, my lord,” said Sir Ulfius, “I will find Merlin, and he will prepare a remedy that will cure you.” So Ulfius departed, and after great adventures he met Merlin.
“Who are you seeking?” Merlin asked him.
Sir Ulfius took a little pause to think.
“I will tell you who you are seeking,” said Merlin. “You are seeking Merlin, and you should seek no further, because I am he. If King Uther rewards me, and swears to do exactly as I say, I will give him what he wants so much.”
“I can promise you,” said Sir Ulfius, “that he will reward you and do as you ask, as long as you ask reasonable things of him.”
“Ride back to Uther,” said Merlin, “And I will not be long behind[5].”
Ulfius was glad to hear that, and rode in all haste back to king Uther Pendragon, and told him that he had met Merlin.
“Where is he?” said the king. “Sir,” said Ulfius, “He will be here soon.”
As he said that, he saw that Merlin was standing at the entrance to the pavilion. Then Merlin came to the king, and when the king saw him, he said he was welcome.
“Sir,” said Merlin, “I know what you wish with all your heart, so if you swear to me as a king that you will do as I say, you will have what you wish.”
The king swore on the Four Evangelists[6].
“Sir,” said Merlin, “This is what I want from you: the first night that you will lie with Igraine, you will conceive a child. When this child is born, he will be delivered to me to nourish. This will bring great glory to you and your child, if he proves worth it[7].”
“Let it be so[8],” said Uther. “You will have the child.”
“Get ready,” said Merlin, “Tonight you will lie with Igraine in the castle of Tintagil. You will look like her husband the duke, Sir Ulfius will look like Sir Brastias, one of the duke’s knights, and I will look like Sir Jordanus, another of the duke’s knights. Do not talk a lot with her nor her men, just say that you are sick. Go to bed, and rise in the early morning, and I will come to bring you back.”