This story belongs in an epic narrative that the reader might already understand in part. By selecting ancient mythic characters, the author suggests that the nature of this story is that it is epic and deeply symbolic. Then again, the story seems more oriented around Merlin than Arthur during most of the action, and even the name of the novel points to Merlin's magic, whereas a title like The Sword in the Stone points to Arthur's story.
Merlin's magical attachment to Arthur's story is also an attachment to the entire community that Arthur represents, and one of the most important considerations in his opinion seems to be the flow of romance in the community as people beget children with their partners. This aspect of life is important to Merlin in the same way the magical elements of nature are. The "alchemy" of new life is certainly among the most important themes in the story, because he is always watching as new couples are formed, and when they think they're being sneaky, he's already onto them anyway.
Ultimately, this tendency leads to Arthur's own romance. He is tasked to be married, and his wife-to-be is Guenever. She is symbolic in many regards. For instance, she has no family, because her parents have died. As an orphan, she is symbolically unable to provide him a dowry, but she was raised by the Queen, a symbol of their compatibility. They are married, and at the wedding, Merlin is poisoned by Morgause—a sign for the duality of fate. While one man is married and celebrating, another is fighting for his life.
