Arthur took himself to the small holdings round about, where women lived whose men had been killed by barbarians. To these he gave such gifts as were welcome: gold and silver to some, cattle and sheep to others; in all he provided for the widows through his lords that they should be cared for and their children raised without hardship.

Returning to Caer Edyn, Arthur and his lords sat together at meat and drink. It was here, when the company waxed joyful in celebration, that Myrddin Emrys stood up before all and called out, 'Pendragon of Britain, may your glory outlast your name which will last for ever! It is right to enjoy the fruit of your labour, God knows. But you would find me a lax and stupid counsellor if I did not warn you that away in the south men have not yet heard of Baedun and know nothing of your king-making.'

'Peace! I have only this day received my tore,' Arthur laughed. 'Word will reach them soon enough.'

'But I am persuaded that men believe their eyes more easily than their ears,' Myrddin replied, and the lords slapped the board with their hands and voiced their approval.

'So it is said,' agreed Arthur. 'What is your meaning?'

'Fortunate are the men of the north, for they have ridden beside you in battle and they know your glory. The men of the south will not be won with such news as comes to them in time.'

'There is little I can do about that, I think. A man may be made king but once.'

'That is where you are wrong, O King. You are Pendragon of Britain now – you can so order what is to be.'

'But I have already taken the crown here,' complained Arthur good-naturedly. 'What need have I of another king-making?'

'What need have you of two eyes if one sees clearly enough? What need have you of two hands if one grips sword tightly enough? What need have you of two legs if one runs swiftly enough? What need have you of two ears if-'

'Enough! I understand.'

'But it is not enough,' replied the Exalted Emrys. 'That is what I am saying.'

Then tell me what I must do to quiet you, and you may be certain that I will do it at once.'

At this the lords laughed aloud and clamoured their acclaim of Arthur and his Wise Counsellor. When they had quieted, Myrddin announced his plan. 'Summon the lords of the south to attend you in Londinium and witness your crown-taking there. Then they will believe and follow you gladly.'

This is exactly what they did. They enjoyed their feast that night and at dawn the next morning up they rose, saddled their horses, and rode to the shipyards of Muir Guidan. They sailed that very day. Messenger ships raced ahead, stopping at settlements along the coast to announce the king's summons.

In due time, Arthur arrived in the vicinity of Londinium, now called Caer Lundein, and ordered his fleet to be anchored on the Thamesis. Upon making landfall, he assembled his Cymbrogi, made his way towards the city and came boldly to the gates.

As the Wise Emrys had foretold, the men of Caer Lundein and the south did not esteem Arthur greatly. They knew nothing of the great battle at Mount Baedun. Neither did they have a care for any northern trouble, holding the fortunes of life between the walls but a thing of small consequence. This is blindness and folly, it is true, but they were men of little intelligence and less understanding.

But Aelle and the lords of the Saecsen Shore, who had not rebelled at Baedun, knew full well that Arthur was their rightful king. At Arthur's summons, they assembled their house carles and their wives and children, and marched at once to Arthur's summons – much to the shame of the Britons.

Still, the crowds of Caer Lundein, like crowds everywhere, loved a spectacle. At Arthur's approach they thronged the narrow streets and gathered on the rooftops of the ancient city, straining for a glimpse of the tall young man who paraded his subject lords before him.

'Who is he?' they asked one another.

'A Pict from the northland,' some answered. 'Look at his clothes!'

'No, he is a Saecsen,' said others. 'Look at his braid and his fair hair.'

'He rides a horse!' they said…'He is certainly this Arthur we have been hearing about.'

To which others replied, 'But he is young yet. This must be that famous warrior's son or nephew.'

On and on it went. No one could decide who it was riding into their city with his warbands and retainers. All they knew for certain was that they were seeing someone the like of whom they had never seen before, and never would again.

But not all who looked upon the fair stranger that day were pleased to see him. Far from it! Long had they forgotten the slim young man who had drawn the sword from the stone seven years before. They had forgotten the Council of Kings, and the strife which gripped the kingdoms of Britain and held them powerless.

They had forgotten and so they reviled what they saw with their eyes. Does he think himself a Macsen Wledig riding into Rome? they demanded. Does he think himself emperor?

Who is he? Arthur? What kind of name is that? They say he has defeated the barbarians. Who has he defeated? There are Saecsens walking around Caer Lundein bold as day! Look at him! He is too proud, too arrogant! He is a pretentious oaf and we will not be deceived by any northern conspiracy.

These things and more were muttered against Arthur, and some far worse. Arthur heard their mumblings and, though they stung him like the hairs of the nettle, he was not deflected from his purpose.

'I see they have learned no love for me,' he said to Bedwyr, riding beside him.

'Truth to tell, Bear, I have learned no love for them. Take the crown and let us be gone from this miserable place.'

Cai grew indignant. 'How long do they think their precious walls would stand if not for you, Artos? Let the Picti have it and be done.'

'I have come here to receive my kingship in the place where my father took the crown. When I have done what is required, we will leave this place.'

Arthur was received by the governor of Caer Lundein, a fatty haunch of pork named Paulus, who viewed all the world beyond the portico of his palace as unbearably backward. But Paulus had not scaled the height of his ambition without learning the uses of deceit. So he welcomed Arthur, his round face wreathed in jowly grins, right hand raised in friendship, left hand grasping the dagger behind his back.

Governor Paulus only waited to see which way the wind blew to know how to deal with Arthur. A battlechief from the north country was an unusual sight in Caer Lundein. Dux Britanniantm someone said – very impressive, very Roman. High King? Well, there were kings, yes; some were officially recognized. Pendragon? How charming, how quaint. Very rustic, in all; very refreshing.

Bedwyr was not misled by the fulsome governor's effusive welcome. 'He is a lizard, Artos. Do not believe a word he says. I would not drink a drop of his wine either, if I were you.'

'We satisfy the law in coming here,' Arthur told his retinue. 'Nothing more.'

'What law?' wondered Cai.

'The law established when the great Caesar first set foot on this island.'

'Which is?' asked Bedwyr.

'Every ruler must conquer Londinium if he is to hold Britain.'

'I have never heard any such law,' scoffed Cador. 'What is so exalted about this crumbling heap?'

'It stinks of urine and slops,' sneered Gwalchavad. 'From what I can see, the citizens of Caer Lundein are kin to barbarians.'

Arthur heard their complaints and explained patiently yet again. 'We are not staying here a moment longer than necessary. Once I have done what I came to do, we are away for CaerMelyn.'

When they had supped with the governor, Arthur and his retinue left the palace precinct and rode to the church – the same in which Arthur had stood and divers times pulled the sword from the stone. That keystone was now firmly in place in the central arch. Hundreds of people passed beneath that stone every day without realizing it. To them it was just an ordinary block of stone in an ordinary arch.