The Mists of Avalon

There is in-fighting amongst the Companions after a skirmish in the North. Though they are Christian, Gawaine and Gareth are wary of the religious fanaticism that has overtaken Arthur’s court. Mordred considers the possibility of banishing Gwenhwyfar and Lancelet, whose relationship is an open secret. Gawaine and Gareth see this as an extreme response. Gareth admits, “It is true I wish [Gwenhwyfar] at the bottom of the sea, or behind the walls of the safest convent in Cornwall. But while Arthur does not speak, I will hold my tongue” (847). Gawaine says that every time he has tried to interfere, Arthur says that Gwenhwyfar can conduct herself as she likes. Mordred wonders if he can make their relationship something that Arthur can no longer ignore. Niniane, who is present as Mordred’s lover, assures him that he has planted the seed of doubt in their minds and just needs to find other knights that will support his views.

Niniane and Mordred meet in the hills of Camelot under the cover of the mist. Mordred says that once the mist clears, Avalon will be visible and accessible from Camelot. However, support for Avalon has reached an all-time low. Mordred asks Niniane if Camelot will retreat into the mists, and she cannot answer: “I know not. Dragon Island is defiled, the folk dying or dead, the sacred herd prey to the Saxon hunters. Northmen raid the coast” (850). Mordred argues that Camelot’s light is dimming because of Gwenhwyfar’s conduct with Lancelet. Niniane says that he has no right to judge her by Saxon laws alone, as he is a child of Avalon and the Goddess. He scoffs, suggesting that Avalon’s heart is corrupted, and that its laws excuse Gwenhwyfar’s actions. Mordred tells her that the rules of men govern the new world, and Niniane tells him that he is a worse traitor than Arthur. In a fit of anger, Mordred strikes and accidentally kills her. Morgause finds him horrified at what he has done. She helps him send Niniane’s body into the mist and tells him to maintain his innocence.

Gwenhwyfar and Lancelet are sleeping with each other more than ever. She still maintains that adultery is sinful but feels as though her connection with Lancelet is soul deep. She hears noise in her chambers and calls for Lancelet, assuming he has arrived for the night. Instead, she is confused and horrified to find Mordred, who holds a knife to her throat. Gareth and Gawaine accompany him; they intend to catch her inviting Lancelet into her bed and warn her that they will kill her if she struggles. She tries to alert Lancelet when he moves to enter the room, but Mordred catches him. As light fills the room, the knights see that Lancelet is naked, confirming his intentions. Gawaine charges him with high treason; Morgause will watch Gwenhwyfar until they can both be taken to Arthur. While Mordred is distracted, Lancelet steals Gawaine’s sword and snatches Gwenhwyfar, meaning to run away with her. Gwenhwyfar feels that she should face Arthur, but Lancelet refuses, saying that Mordred will surely influence him.

Gareth dies in the scuffle, and Morgause weeps for her son. Gareth idolized Lancelet his whole life, and Morgause is angry that his life was taken so senselessly. Mordred turns on Morgause, blaming her influence for his death: “Gareth was the best of us, and I would not have sacrificed him for a dozen kings! It was you and your spite against Arthur always urging me on, as if I cared what bed the Queen slept in” (858). He banishes Morgause to her chambers. Defeated and grieving, Morgause finally gives up her quest for the throne and accepts her old age.

Gwenhwyfar and Lancelet flee the castle, relieved to finally be together without fear. However, Gwenhwyfar’s happiness fades as she notices the guilt that is overcoming Lancelet. He knows he killed someone, and Gwenhwyfar cannot bear to tell him it was Gareth. Gwenhwyfar refuses to stay with him, knowing that his remorse would eat him alive. She asks to go to the nunnery where she was raised. When she arrives, the abbess warns her that she will not be treated as a queen. Surprisingly, Gwenhwyfar feels relief at this. She tells Lancelet to return to Arthur, as he will need a friend to face Mordred. After a tearful goodbye, she enters the convent, feeling the walls that once symbolized her safety uncomfortably closing in.

Morgaine reflects on the final fight between Arthur and Mordred. Mordred resented the circumstances of his birth and now felt unbridled hate for Arthur and his values. As they prepared to battle on the shores of the Lake, Morgaine manifested in between them, pleading with them to make amends in the name of the Goddess. Arthur refused, saying he had always seen her as the Goddess and that she betrayed him. Mordred agreed, telling Morgaine that he would never follow her because she abandoned him at birth. Morgaine never saw them again until Arthur appeared, dying, on Avalon’s shores. Mordred was dead next to him. With the King Stag and the young stag slaughtered at each other’s hand, Morgaine knew she had reached the end of an era.

At Morgaine’s request, Lancelet took Excalibur and threw it into the Lake. Arthur, dying and growing incoherent, asked Morgaine why he failed. She replied:

You did not fail […] You held this land in peace for many years […] You held back the darkness for a whole generation […] If this land had fallen to the Saxons when Uther died, then would all that was beautiful or good have perished forever from Britain (868).

Lancelet, looking out at the water, told Morgaine that he saw a hand reach out to catch Excalibur. As Arthur begged to be taken to Avalon, Morgaine held him on the shores until he died.

A year after Arthur’s death, Morgaine dreams of Lancelet offering her water from the Grail. She takes a small clipping of the Holy Thorn to send to the outside world, knowing she must do this before Avalon is lost to the mists forever. Morgaine takes the barge to Ynis Witrin, where she finds a recently dead Lancelet: He died viewing the Grail at its resting place in Avalon’s ancient Christian chapel. The monks carry him into a separate chamber for burial, and Morgaine notices a smile on his face.

Morgaine asks a gardener to see Viviane’s resting place, and he guides her to her tomb. She sees Viviane’s skeleton and weeps. A nun approaches and comforts her, saying, “We pray always for her […] though I do not know her name, she was said to be the friend and benefactor of our good King Arthur in the days that were gone” (872). Morgaine silently prays with the nun until she meets Lionors, a nun who was married to Gareth. Morgaine asks to plant the cutting of the Holy Thorn, citing its connection to Joseph of Arimathea. Lionors says it should not be lost to the unholy land of Avalon. Morgaine tells her Avalon cannot be unholy if Jesus’s foster father placed his staff there and says the Holy Spirit is everywhere.

A group of young girls read the inscription on Viviane’s tomb, learning of her death after years of service to Arthur. One of the girls promises to pray at Viviane’s grave every Sunday. The girl asks that Morgaine pray for them in return. They show her a statue of the Virgin Mary. They are frightened to visit God’s altar, but feel safe under Mary, considering her their spiritual mother. As Morgaine leaves the chapel, she notices another planting of the Holy Thorn, which must have traveled there somehow from Avalon.

Morgaine is overcome with emotion, realizing that the Goddess lives on within the Virgin Mary: “I did the Mother’s work in Avalon until at last those who came after us might bring her into this world. I did not fail. I did what she had given me to do” (876). Morgaine steps through the thinning veil, knowing that she can finally be at peace.