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In some of the legends about Merlin, he is often associated with a famous woman. In one version of the legend, he is the teacher of Morgan Le Fay. She is partly responsible for the downfall of Arthur and Camelot. In many modern renditions of the legend, Merlin and Morgan La Fay are shown to be enemies.<ref> Hoffman, Donald L. "Malory’s Tragic Merlin." Merlin: A Casebook (1991): 332-41</ref> This is not the case in the original sources. In another story, he is shown to be infatuated with a beautiful young woman by the name of Vivian. Merlin teaches her the arts of magic and when she is powerful she rejects and imprisons him in a magical forest. In one of the most popular stories on the death of Arthur, he is put to death by the enigmatic Lady of the Lake, the great sorceress, who was associated with the mystical sword Excalibur.<ref>Tolstoy, p 119</ref>
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====The Druid Theory====
Monmouth who is credited with introducing the character of Merlin to the wider world claimed that he was a figure from history. The wizard of Camelot was based on some stories that were circulating in Wales or possibly Cornwall for centuries. These were areas, which still has a strong Celtic heritage, in the Dark Ages and down to the present day. Some have speculated that Merlin was based on a Druid, who was a Celtic priest or member of the learned class. These Druids are often portrayed as sorcerers and magicians and were very powerful. It is possible, according to some sources that vestiges of druidism survived in the British Isles.
There is evidence from Welsh hagiographies and poems that ‘druids’ were still active in the 6th century, even though they had been officially suppressed by the Romans. One 9th century Welsh poem, by Nenius refers to druids helping a Brythonic king and was his court magician and most trusted adviser. It is quite possible that Merlin was based on some folk memory of a druid and that Monmouth heard of these tales.<ref>Tolstory, p. 111</ref> There is the real possibility that one of the Brythonic war-leaders, upon whom the character of King Arthur is possibly based employed one such druid. In the Dark Ages, it was quite common for rulers to have court magicians, who legitimized their rule and gave them more power.
====Was Merlin a war-leader====
