How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
She was crossing herself, her eyes at once startled and severe, and through it all afraid. "Merlin—" but on the word a cough shook her, so that when she managed to speak again it was only a harsh whisper: "Beware of arrogance. Even if God has given you power—" (IV.3.20)
Niniane is a good Christian, which means that she's particularly appalled at the deadly sin of pride. She's pretty sure that Merlin's heading for hellfire when he starts to talk about how powerful his supernatural abilities are. But Merlin—ever the dutiful son—reassures her that he has no personal pride or serious ambitions. He just misspoke.
Quote #8
"You cannot serve me as you served my brother. You must know that. I want none of your prophecies. My brother was wrong when he said that we would work together for Britain. Our stars will not conjoin." (V.2.27)
Uther clearly has his own agenda, and he's not worried about alienating his own flesh and blood to fulfill it. There's no love lost here: Merlin doesn't particularly want to serve Uther and has no sense of allegiance to him. Merlin now has his own ambitions, which only partly depend on his uncle.
Quote #9
"I was married at sixteen to the Lord of Cornwall; he is a good man; I honour and respect him. Until I came to London I was half content to starve and die there in Cornwall, but he brought me here, and now it has happened. Now I know what I must have, but it is beyond me to have it, beyond the wife of Gorlois of Cornwall." (V.5.32)
Ygraine is in a serious dilemma. Up until now, she's been content with her honorable life as Duchess of Cornwall, even though her husband is old enough to be her grandpa. Now, she's the object of King Uther's lust, and she can't stand the temptation. It turns out that she has unfulfilled wishes of her own—and she'll need Merlin's help to achieve them.