The Mists of Avalon Page #6

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We'll be fine on our own,

won't we, poppet?

You've quite won him away from me.

We're twin souls, he and l.

Now I'll have him all for myself,

won't that be nice?

You must promise me one thing:

Never let Viviane get her hands

on Mordred.

She wants to foster him.

You must never allow it.

l promise.

And so the day came

when l returned to Camelot...

...the beating heart of Britain itself...

...and the place where

l had spent my childhood...

...with my little brother, Arthur.

Knights.

My sister has returned from Orkney.

-You remember Gawain.

-Morgaine.

Percival, Gallahad, Accolon.

l heard you were educated

on the Isle of Mists.

l was trained there as a priestess.

l long to go there one day...

...and know the mysteries

of the hidden world.

My lord...

...aren't you going to present me as well?

-My queen.

-We've met briefly, but hardly spoke at all.

it's more fitting

that l should bow to you, Morgaine.

You were in the king's affections

long before l was.

Come, let us talk as sisters...

...for sisters is what we are.

l will not pretend l am not afraid of you.

l was raised in great suspicion

of the old religion.

But your head tells you we're the same.

Something like that, yes.

And yet--

We couldn't be more different.

Very good.

They taught you well

to read another's thoughts.

l read another's thoughts

as well as any woman can.

But the training, Morgaine...

...it must have been good for something.

For instance, did Avalon train you

in herb lore and spells?

Of course.

Tell me what I'm thinking now.

l couldn't guess.

Then l will say it aloud, if l must.

There are herbs...

...that can make a woman conceive,

are there not?

Is that what you want?

Please do not make this any harder

than it already is.

There is a charm that is sometimes used.

But you, surely, would never touch it.

Tell me you are not a witch.

Tell me it is not the devil's own spell...

...and that l will not burn for it.

This time, this one time...

...l will believe you.

You will have it by the night of Beltane.

There, my friend. Everything's all right.

You'll gallop like a colt!

You have a way with horses.

Better than with people, l sometimes think.

All people, or just some people?

I'm speaking of women.

l would have thought

you'd have a bride by now.

Or does your heart still long

for the woman you can't have?

The rumors are not true.

You may speak of it to me, Cousin.

After all, I'm the one that brought it about.

l lifted her into your world.

Little did l know

all that would come from that moment.

l love Arthur more

than l have ever loved another man.

But whatever else is in my head,

or my heart...

...will stay with me until l die.

And do you know

what is in my head and in my heart?

l feel the loss of you, dear Cousin.

No one touched me like you did.

And still, even now, l yearn for you.

l have fought many battles, Morgaine...

...but none like the one l fought

since that day in Avalon.

Come to bed, Arthur.

The moon waxed and waned...

...and the time

of the fertility rites of Beltane...

...came round again.

This will make me conceive?

Don't be surprised if the charm works

better than you think it should.

The ways of the Goddess are her own.

Seems fitting, doesn't it?

The night of Beltane, but l don't care.

Let them practice their pagan magic...

...if their goddess will bring me a child....

Drink, men, drink.

We'll have our own Beltane celebration

within these walls...

...where it's safe.

You would walk without light?

There is light enough over there.

it's dangerous to light the fires these days.

The priests don't like it.

The priests are becoming more powerful.

But tonight, just tonight...

...we can forget about the priests.

Shall we walk, my lord?

My queen.

Guinevere and Lancelot.

Two people l love most in the world.

Do you love me, both of you?

Sometimes l think

Lancelot is the best of us.

Up you come.

Come, lie beside me. Both of you.

l want to talk to you...

...and if drink won't help me say this...

...it will never be said.

Guinevere has no child.

Don't you think l see

how you two look at each other?

-Arthur--

-No.

l will get to the end of this...

...even if l have to command your silence.

My wife thinks it's her fault

we have no child...

...but l believe it's me.

Yes, sometimes the fault lies

with the man.

Even when that man is king.

Arthur, please do not continue with this.

My kingdom needs an heir, my sweet.

Otherwise,

everything I'm fighting for is lost.

A son of yours, Lancelot...

...conceived in the king's bed...

...would be heir to my throne.

Better that,

than the son of Lot should reign, is it not?

Sure, Bishop Patricius would say

it was a grievous sin...

...but l say it's a greater sin

to provide no son to inherit my crown...

...and let the kingdom slip

into such chaos...

...as there was

before my father came to the throne.

My friend...

...my cousin, will you do this for me?

it's for my lady to say.

My lord, no. l have given my vows to you.

To me, yes.

To be mine, and to obey me,

as your husband and your king.

For years our forefathers

have done these things without shame...

...in the faces of the very same gods

who look over us tonight.

We will both be with you, together.

And if the child we want

should come of this...

...none of us need ever know for certain.

And you will be able to swear...

...in truth...

...that our child was conceived

in the king's bed.

l wish you were the sister

of some lesser man.

Good morning, Cousin.

You gave her a charm, didn't you?

Guinevere?

She told me.

-it was not meant for you.

-Was it not?

l had no idea it would be you.

Then the ways of the Goddess

are beyond your understanding.

The king himself...

...asked me into his bed with the queen.

All three of you?

How can l go back...

...to the way things were?

How can l sit at his table...

...how can l kneel before him

and call myself his servant?

You are not to blame for loving Guinevere.

What can l do?

Don't worry, Cousin.

We will put our heads together.

l just never dared hope...

...then the Lady Morgaine

told me there was hope.

And l spoke to him, and he asked me.

Who asked you?

Lancelot.

Your Majesty,

I'm the happiest woman in England.

Lancelot asked you to be his wife?

And you said yes.

Of course you did.

What could be more natural?

Your Majesty?

You have a husband, very good.

But do l have a child to give my king? No.

That's what you'll whisper

to the rest of my women, isn't it?

''The queen has her courses again.''

Get out of my sight!

-Two options:
we can go to the north--

-Arthur.

Take over for me.

So much for the love of your friend.

So much for your dear sister's potions.

Guinevere, calm yourself.

What is it that brings you?

My courses have come on me, Arthur.

l bear you no child.

But, my queen--

l took poison from a witch...

...l slept with you and your friend

and gave myself...

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