The Crystal Cave

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature: Best Novel winner (1971).

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys – or as he would later be known, Merlin – leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon... and the conception of Arthur – king for once and always.