The Mists of Avalon

On Midwinter-eve, Igraine and Morgause hear an army entering Tintagel’s courtyard. The guards refuse to let them in until the Merlin steps forward from the crowd. Taliesin shows Gorlois’s ring to Father Columba and the guards. As the hubbub dies down, Igraine notices Uther. She realizes that everyone in the castle thinks Uther is Gorlois but remains calm until they are alone. Uther explains that Taliesin enchanted him to look like Gorlois, whose ring he won in battle. He insists on pursuing Gorlois until his death as punishment for breaking his oath. Igraine asks if he will “have his lady, too—by conquest and by right” (101). Uther says he believes Igraine made her choice since he overtook Gorlois with her help. He feels that they knew each other in a past life and vows to love her forever.

In the morning, another army arrives. Igraine rushes downstairs and has a vision of a pale and sickly Gorlois, missing a few fingers from where Uther took his ring. She realizes that he “loved her, in his own harsh way, and whatever he had done to hurt her had been done for love” (106). Soldiers rush into the hall, announcing that Gorlois was killed and that they are delivering his body. Noticing Father Columba’s confusion, the Merlin admits to enchanting Uther and orders him to marry Uther and Igraine immediately. As Igraine pays her final respects at Gorlois’s side, Taliesin says she can finally fulfill her fate. Igraine uses the Sight for what she swears will be the last time and envisions her pregnancy.

In the present day, Morgaine recalls Igraine’s wedding to Uther. She does not remember having a strong relationship with him, as he mostly cared for Igraine and their son, Gwydion. Morgaine was initially jealous of Gwydion but began to love him as she took on more responsibility caring for him. Some years after Gwydion’s birth, Morgaine, Gwydion, Uther, and Igraine attended Morgause’s wedding to King Lot of Orkney. Here, Morgaine met Viviane for the first time. Viviane treated her as an equal despite her age and asked if Morgaine had the Sight. Worried that Uther would send her to a nunnery, Viviane vowed to take Morgaine to Avalon for proper training.

Seven years into Uther’s rule, he establishes a court at Caerleon. Viviane is at Avalon in front of a magic mirror, trying to use the Sight to see into the future. She thinks of how narrow-minded Christians are for disavowing magic so quickly. She begins her ritual, asking for Igraine and her children. She sees visions of Uther fighting alongside her men, Igraine’s coronation, Morgaine crying, and a motionless young child. Viviane is worried, unable to tell which visions have already occurred. She makes plans to travel to Caerleon and arranges to send a message to the Merlin.

Viviane arrives at Caerleon and hears that Gwydion fell off a horse. Viviane demands to see him and Igraine. Gwydion is bruised and battered, but Viviane determines that he will live.

Viviane later encounters Morgaine in Igraine’s chambers. Morgaine explains that Gwydion snuck onto the back of Uther’s stallion, who bucked after seeing a mare. Morgaine says that Gwydion is not usually a rulebreaker, leading Viviane to think that someone may be plotting against his life. Viviane asks if Morgaine ever uses the Sight to see if Gwydion will be in danger. She offers to train her to harness it, but Morgaine balks, saying that Uther forbade sorcery in his court. However, she tells Viviane she trusts her judgment and that she does not find sorcery to be inherently evil. Viviane thinks that she has found “the successor the Goddess had sent her, a kinswoman with the Sight […] [who was] looking up at her with complete trust” (122).

Viviane helps Morgaine use the Sight with a basin of clear water. Morgaine sees several visions—one of four queens on the barge of Avalon, one of a man wearing a crown of antlers trampled by a herd of deer, one of Gwydion napping, and one of Morgause and her four sons quarreling over land. Viviane realizes that if Uther died without an heir, the throne would likely go to Lot and Morgause: The attempts on Gwydion’s life could have easily been their doing.

Viviane gets Uther alone and informs him that Gwydion must be under close watch: The vision that prompted her journey to Caerleon was “a sign to [her] that [his] child is guarded by the Gods, for he is needed” (125). Viviane suggests that Gwydion be fostered, either in Avalon or with a trusted vassal. She then asks him to let her train Morgaine as a priestess. When Uther refuses, she threatens to incite the Tribes to rebellion, insisting that he must do something material for them. Uther agrees, stating that he trusts the Merlin will look out for Morgaine and Gwydion on their respective paths.