The Mists of Avalon

Nimue passes shortly after Kevin, leaving Avalon with no future Ladies of the Lake. Morgaine tries to find the Grail with the Sight, but has no luck until she hears that priests have been using it for holy acts. She comforts herself that Christians are treating it with the same reverence that Druids do.

One day, she is surprised to see Lancelet arrive in Avalon. He tells her of the knights’ quest for the Grail and confides that in their absence, Mordred has grown concerningly close to the king. Deep down, Morgaine realizes that Mordred now seeks the throne for his own gain. Despite Mordred’s bid for power, Lancelet still anticipates that Galahad will be crowned king, especially if his quest for the Holy Grail is successful. His coronation would mean that the ways of the Goddess are all but dead, but Morgaine begins to accept this, thinking, “[T]he Goddess was real while mankind still paid homage to her, and created her form for themselves. Now they will make for themselves the kind of God they think they want—the kind of God they deserve, perhaps” (809). Lancelet says he arrived at Avalon thinking that he was headed to Ynis Witrin, the Isle of the Priests, assuming Galahad would be there.

Lancelet, growing increasingly worried for the safety of his son, asks Morgaine to use the Sight to locate Galahad. Morgaine leads him to the Holy Well and searches for Galahad. In her trance, she hears chanting from Ynis Witrin. Looking through the mists, she knows that the cup is in Avalon. In her mind’s eye, she sees Galahad approach the Grail and drink from the cup. The room fills with a holy light and Galahad falls dead, killed by the Grail’s presence. She tells Lancelet, who swears to fetch Galahad’s body and end the quest for the Grail. She says it ought to remain safe in Avalon. The legend of the day it came to Camelot should live on as one final Mystery to inspire mankind.

In Lothian, Morgause completes ritual sorcery that will allow her to see the state of Camelot. To her delight, Mordred has been at Gwenhwyfar’s beck and call. He is all but sure to succeed Arthur now that Galahad is lost. She makes plans to ride for Camelot in the morning, to see if she can finally seek the throne once and for all.

As Morgause and her guide Cormac approach the castle, they are surprised to find that Camelot seems to have disappeared. Cormac suggests that Camelot might have been enchanted or taken to another world.

Eventually, they find Lancelet returning the body of Galahad to Camelot. He explains, “It was my son who found the Grail, and now we know that no man may look on it and live” (826). Morgause worries that Camelot will fall unless Arthur appoints Mordred his heir. Lancelet invites them to ride with him to inform Arthur of Galahad’s passing, and Morgause takes her place amongst Gwenhwyfar’s ladies, hoping that Mordred will keep her apprised of current events.