The Mists of Avalon

Morgaine leaves Avalon to prepare for the Great Marriage with the priestess of the Tribes, who takes her through an elaborate ritual in which she is naked and painted with blue markings. She is then led outside in a deerskin cloak; she can see the outline of the man she is supposed to be with but is only able to tell that he is tall, athletic, and has blond hair. The man receives a crown of horns and prepares to hunt King Stag.

As Morgaine begins to take on attributes of the Goddess, she cannot help but feel as though “she had known this face, this man, her consort, from the beginning of the world” (174). Morgaine uses the Sight to cast a blessing over the forest in order to protect the Horned One and deter King Stag. The Horned One is caught in a frenzy of deer, wrestling with the King Stag until he finally stabs him in the heart. After a ritual dinner, Morgaine is taken to a cave and prepares to adopt the face of the Goddess, feeling brief terror at the significance of what she is about to do. The young man enters as the Horned One, and the two complete the fertility rite, which Morgaine describes as an out-of-body experience. The two fall asleep tenderly holding each other.

When they wake, the young man wakes and smiles at Morgaine, telling her that he finds her beautiful and asking her if they could have sex not as the God and the Goddess, but as people. Morgaine obliges and finds it a much more enjoyable experience, thinking that “she had never been so happy in her life” (180). However, as she dries his tears in a moment of high emotion, he recognizes her as his half-sister. Morgaine learns that this future king is Gwydion, now Arthur. Morgaine and Arthur are both horrified at what they have done, and Morgaine mentally calls out in anguish to the Goddess, asking “Why did you do this to us? Great Mother, Lady, why?” (181).

Morgaine spends the ride back to Avalon feeling sick. She is ashamed knowing her second sexual encounter with Arthur was willing and enthusiastic. Ten days later, Viviane sends for a furious Morgaine and introduces her to an unfamiliar bard named Kevin. Viviane tells Kevin that Morgaine will be Lady of Avalon one day. Though Morgaine is initially flattered, she feels that Viviane is manipulating her, thinking, “She thinks she can say a kind or flattering word and I will rush to lick her feet like a bitch puppy!” (184).

Morgaine watches Kevin, drawn to his intensity. As Morgaine relaxes and lifts her veil, she notices that Kevin’s hands are misshapen and burnt and his face scarred. Kevin explains that these are injuries from a Saxon invasion. He studied bardcraft with the Druids and eventually came to Avalon when Taliesin summoned him. The Merlin reveals that he is training Kevin as his successor.

The Merlin announces that Uther Pendragon is dying and that a new High King will soon be chosen. Viviane states that Arthur is the only option. The Merlin has seen visions of Arthur on the throne and says that they must encourage the other kings to accept him. Viviane reveals her plan for proving Arthur’s worth, saying that she will hand him “a sword out of legend, never before wielded by a living hero […] for that sword, [she] shall exact from him a pledge. [She] shall swear him to be true to Avalon, despite whatever the Christians may do” (189).

The discussion reminds Morgaine of her rage, and she confronts Viviane once Taliesin and Kevin leave. She accuses Viviane of acting like her will is equivalent to the Goddess and fate itself. Viviane is hurt by this, but Morgaine is relentless. Viviane says that Arthur was the only one worth giving her to, and that he never needs to find out. Morgaine reveals that their recognition of each other was mutual, and that Arthur was just as disgusted. Viviane ultimately tells Morgaine that Britain’s future is more important than her feelings.