How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I had never since I was a child felt so helpless, so naked of either knowledge or power, so stripped of God. I knew, with bitter failure, that if I were in the crystal cave with fires blazing and my master's eyes on me, I should see nothing. I remembered suddenly that Galapas was dead. Perhaps, I thought, the power had only come from him, and perhaps it had gone with him. (III.7.47)
This is the downside to having phenomenal mystical powers: they don't come for the asking, even when you're in a desperate situation. Poor Merlin stands before Vortigern with a sword to his side, and he just can't do anything about it. He still doesn't really know how his power works, so he has plenty of room to doubt himself. Merlin's also only seventeen, so confidence in his abilities is low.
Quote #5
"I was never alone in my chamber, but he came through doors and windows and walls, and lay with me. I never saw him again, but heard his voice and felt his body. Then, in the summer, when I was heavy with child, he left me." (III.8.11)
Niniane feeds Vortigern the same old story she used to tell her dad about how she got pregnant with Merlin. (Basically: a demon did it.) She's trying to protect both Ambrosius (the real dad) and Merlin by clinging to her supernatural conception story. The funny part? This is exactly what Vortigern wants to hear, because he needs a supernatural solution to the problem of his tumbling tower walls.
Quote #6
"Does it not occur to you, King, that the son of a spirit of darkness might have a magic that outstrips the spells of these old fools? If what they say is true, and if my blood will make these stones stand, then why did they watch them fall not once, not twice, but four times, before they could tell you what to do? Let me but see the place once, and I will tell you." (III.9.31)
Merlin decides to play up the old story about being fathered by a demon in order to save his skin. Vortigern wants to sacrifice Merlin (because he thinks the boy doesn't have a human father) and use his blood to help his tower walls stand.
Yeah, it's pretty whack. But Vortigern is getting his engineering advice from a bunch of "priests." Merlin knows that his solution will be more scientific, but you can bet he's going to dress it up in magic to make it seem more legit to these people. Go figure.