Maerlyn

“I have also been called Merlin or Maerlyn—and who cares, because I was never that one, although I never denied it, either. I am sometimes called the Magician . . . or the Wizard . . . but I hope we can go forward together on more humble terms, Andrew.

The hooded man distinguishes himself from the legendary Merlin/Maerlyn despite having been called that name.

Then—perhaps it was something in Steven Deschain’s eyes—Cuthbert’s smile faltered. “Isn’t it?” “Not all the old stories are true, but I think that of Maerlyn’s Rainbow is,” Steven replied. “It’s said that once there were thirteen glass balls in it—one for each of the Twelve Guardians, and one representing the nexus-point of the Beams.”

The Gilead discussion identifies the thirteen colored glasses as Maerlyn’s Rainbow.

But if it didn’t turn back to the baby soon, she’d turn it back in that direction herself. “The magic went away. Maerlyn retired to his cave in one world, the sword of Eld gave way to the pistols of the gunslingers in another, and the magic went away.

The narration recalls Maerlyn retiring into his cave as magic diminished.

It flipped up again and became the size of a tablecloth. Tim thought the women of Tree would much like to have magic like that when beds needed to be made, and wondered if such an idea were blasphemy. “No, no, I’m sure you’re right,” Maerlyn said absently.

Maerlyn talks with Tim as the rescued wizard in the narrated fairy tale.