The Mists of Avalon

This will be the first Pentecost feast that Lancelet has attended in two years. Gwenhwyfar and Arthur miss him dearly, and Gwenhwyfar reflects on the sorrow that Morgaine’s actions caused. Arthur tries to comfort her by talking about their future child, saying that Gwenhwyfar might still have children. Gwenhwyfar says they are being punished for their night with Lancelet. She accuses Arthur of loving Lancelet more than he loves her, asking, “Can you say in truth that it was to give me pleasure, or was it for the pleasure of him you loved best of all—?” (547).

Arthur cannot give her a satisfactory answer, and Gwenhwyfar tells him that he should have called his son back from Lothian to live with them. Arthur is confused, informing her that he has no son. Gwenhwyfar tells him what Morgaine told her, and Arthur balks, beginning to put the pieces together. He fetches Morgaine and demands that she tell him if he has a son. As Gwenhwyfar curses Avalon, accusing Arthur of being corrupted by pagan practices, Morgaine admits that she had a son 10 months after the ritual and that he is safe in Avalon. Gwenhwyfar erupts at both of them, telling him Arthur’s secrecy about this has cursed his union with her.