Chap. 1The Silent Kingdom and the Wizard's Idea

Suddenly, a swirl of purple mist appeared near the garden rose bushes. Out stepped Merlin the wizard. He wore a tall, pointed hat and a long robe covered in silver stars. His long white beard was so long it reached his leather belt. Merlin leaned on his carved wooden staff and looked at his friends. He told them that a kingdom without music is like a garden without any flowers. Just then, two brave knights walked into the garden to join them. Sir Lancelot wore shiny silver armor and a bright red cape that flowed behind him. Sir Gawain also wore shiny silver armor, but his cape was a deep forest green. Both knights had very friendly faces and big smiles. They stood with the King and Queen under the warm sun. Merlin told the group that it was time to bring music back to Camelot. The knights clapped their metal gloves together, making a loud clinking sound. Everyone wanted to hear a song, but they had a big problem. There were no harps, no flutes, and no drums in the castle. They did not have any instruments to play a grand tune.

Merlin chuckled a magical laugh and pointed his wooden staff toward a corner of the courtyard. There sat a big pile of old wooden boxes, empty metal tins, and dried gourds. The knights thought it looked like a pile of junk, but Merlin called them hidden treasures. The wise wizard explained that they could make their own music using things they found around the castle. Arthur’s eyes brightened with excitement. He ran over and picked up a hollow brown gourd and a long piece of golden string. Guinevere gathered some colorful silk ribbons and a handful of small, smooth stones from the path. The knights looked at their round silver shields and wondered if they could make a steady beat. Merlin promised to teach them how to turn these simple objects into the Great Song of Camelot. He told them that with a little bit of art and a lot of heart, they could create the most beautiful music ever heard. Arthur looked at his friends and knew that a wonderful adventure was just beginning. He wondered what kind of magical sounds they would create together using their hands and their imaginations.