1970

"Here," Merlin said one day, thrusting a bowl of soup at the boy Arthur. "Taste."

Hesitantly, Arthur did. It was a delicious potage of venison and wild roots mysteriously spiced by Merlin when Arthur's back was turned. In fact, the soup was irresistibly good, and Arthur eagerly dipped his spoon again, only to have the bowl snatched from his hands.

"Wait, more," he mumbled, his mouth still full. Merlin shook his head. "The whole banquet is in the first spoonful," he admonished.

At first Arthur felt a surge of frustration and disappointment, but then he noticed that he felt as satisfied as if he'd eaten the whole thing. Later, when Arthur was dozing under a tree, Merlin quietly approached and left a large bowl of soup by his side. Walking away, the wizard muttered, "Just remember, what good would all those years of wizard school be if I couldn't show you everything in the first lesson?"

Artur e Merlin à conversa