In Vulgate Merlin, Nimue, the Lady of the Lake had first met Merlin, when she was only twelve. She was amazed by the power of Merlin. She promised to love him if Merlin would teach her all his crafts. Years later, Merlin met her again. Through subterfuge, Lady seduced him and used her magic to confine in a enchanted tower in which Merlin was powerless to leave, while the Lady could visit and leave the tower at will.

The Lancelot-Grail Cycle: Lady of the Lake learns her magic from Merlin, who becomes enamored of her. She refuses to give him her love until he has taught her all his secrets, after which, she uses her power to trap him either in the trunk of a tree or beneath a stone, depending on the story and author. Regardless of story version, Merlin is unable to counteract Lady because of his foresight; and because of such an ability and ‘truth’ it holds, he decides to do nothing for his situation other than continuing to teach her his secrets until she takes the opportunity to entrap him physically in a tomb, whether of tree or stone.

In the Suite Du Merlin: The Lady of the Lake is called Nivaine the Huntress. In this tale she is a fifteen-year-old girl with a very wild and cunning nature. She is compared often to the Roman goddess Diana, who is goddess of the hunt. There are many references to this goddess throughout the story. One reference is the Lake of Diana where Merlin, who is in love with Nivaine, builds her a special house that is invisible to everyone except those who live in the household. Another reference is a short story that Merlin tells Nivaine about the lake and how Diana killed her lover, Faunus, by trapping him under rock and pouring hot lead on him. She did this so that she could have Felix, a knight she met while she was out hunting. However when the deed was done, Felix was so appalled by the act that he cut off Diana's head and threw her body into the lake. This short story with in the Suite foreshadows Merlin's own demise caused by Nivaine at the end of the tale.

Adieu...