The Mists of Avalon

Gwenhwyfar is plagued with dreams of Morgaine taking her to the Beltane fires to be received by Lancelet. She begs Arthur to ban the ritual, but Taliesin intervenes, saying that the peasants have few other sources of genuine joy and that it would be unfair of Arthur to dictate an individual’s innermost thoughts and beliefs. Gwenhwyfar says that a ruler must use their power to enforce right and wrong.

Arthur leads Gwenhwyfar to the edge of Camelot’s walls. He reflects on his promise and appears apprehensive at his betrayal. Gwenhwyfar is concerned that his head is filled with “pagan nonsense” and reminds him, “[W]hen you turned to the one true God, then did he give you that greatest of victories, so that you drove the Saxons forth from this island for all of time” (427). Arthur says there is no way to guarantee the security of any land forever. As they sit on the wall, they see Kevin riding up to the castle, accompanied by a mysterious figure they eventually recognize as Morgaine, who has been missing for five years. Morgaine does not respond to any questions about where she has been, saying only that she “had ill fortune […] on the road” (429).