Original subtitles

[Captioning sponsored by WARNER BROS.]

( woman singing ethereal melody )

WOMAN: No one knows the real story

of the great King Arthur of Camelot.

Most of what you think you know about Camelot

Guinevere and Lancelot and the evil sorceress

known as Morgaine le Fay is nothing but lies.

I should know, for I am Morgaine le Fay

priestess of the Isle of Avalon

where the ancient religion of the Mother Goddess was born.

( men shouting )

( villagers screaming )

It began in the midst of the most violent upheaval

Britain has ever seen.

The Saxon barbarians swept into my country

killing Christians

and followers of Avalon's Goddess alike.

( arrow lands )

( screaming )

( men shouting )

( villagers screaming )

( screaming )

Unless one great leader could unite Christians

and followers of the old religion

Britain was doomed to barbarism

and Avalon would vanish.

My Christian father, Gorlois, battled tirelessly

against the Saxon hordes.

For Christ, for Britain!

MORGAINE: Back home in Cornwall, I was only a child at the time

but I knew that my mother, Igraine, was still a follower

of the old religion

and secretly practiced its ancient magic.

Her sister, my aunt Morgause

had lived with us for as long as I can remember.

She relished the power of Avalon.

Mother?

Mother, what's the matter?

Mother?

Shh.

Let her have her vision, lamb.

I want to know what the Sight is bringing her.

But she's afraid. Let her have her vision!

And Father will be angry if he hears about her using the Sight.

Then he won't hear about it, will he? Shh.

What is it, Igraine?

What do you see?

Anything for me? A lover?

A husband?

The Lady of the Lake is coming

and the Merlin of Britain with her.

We must make ready.

What do they want?

You can ask them yourself.

They're here.

( men shouting )

And so Viviane came to Cornwall.

The eldest of the three sisters

Viviane was the High Priestess of Avalon

and the voice of the Mother Goddess on Earth.

She had just one goal:

to save Avalon

from the Saxons.

Sister, we have to bring this fighting to an end.

MERLIN: The Saxons will destroy this land.

Unless we prevent it.

How?

By giving this land a leader to whom

both followers of Christ and the Goddess can give allegiance.

Someone with the blood of Avalon in his veins.

Well, the High King could still father a child.

But he'll be dead within six months.

Viviane has foreseen it.

He'll die without leaving an heir.

You mean, my husband will become High King in his place?

Then I will bear this leader that you speak of?

You will bear the King, Igraine, yes.

But not to Gorlois.

MERLIN: You will bear the child

to the man who wears this sign.

sizzles )

VIVIANE: He is a follower of the Goddess

and he will be King.

But I'm married to the Duke of Cornwall.

I've borne him a child.

I will not betray him.

I gave him my vows.

You gave them first to Avalon.

Well, if you want this child to be born of Avalon

then you can bear this great, new king yourself.

There is no need, Viviane.

Let me bear the child.

I have no husband to betray.

Let me bear the King.

Have you no shame, Morgause?

Leave us.

I have as much Avalon in my veins

as she does.

Let me make this man fall in love with me.

I know the arts as well.

No man or woman can live another's fate, Morgause.

You have a king in your future, and sons.

Who?

You will know when you see him.

Be content with that.

MERLIN: You must remember, Duchess

that Viviane is not just your sister.

She is the High Priestess of the faith

to which you have promised your very breath.

The violence can end.

The choice is yours.

But my word...

Sometimes we have to sacrifice small virtues

to achieve great ones.

This year's harvest is tilled with the blood of your own men.

( groa)s

Morgaine screams )

Morgaine!

What happened?

What is it, child?

A dead man!

Tell me, child

do you often see things others don't?

Yes, all the time.

( sobbing )

She has the Sight already.

MORGAINE: Three months later

the High King summoned all the great chiefs to London

to name his successor.

And he invited my mother as an honored guest.

GORLOIS: The Saxons will never forget the blows you dealt them.

MAN: You and I, Gorlois, we dealt them together.

But I think I shall be fighting no more Saxons.

Of course, you will. There will be many years...

That is why I have called this Council.

It's why you're here.

I must tell you, Igraine

my priests don't like it

that your Priestesses of Avalon

have been placed on an equal footing with them.

But I say that you both serve the Great One above us

by whatever the name.

And women are, after all

the carriers of original sin.

( all chuckle )

That's not quite how we advance it, sir.

Do you not say that women are the means by which

evil came into the world?

There is in your Bible a fantastic tale

about an apple and a snake.

The Bible merely recounts the Truth, good lady.

The old religion embraces yours, Bishop.

But your priests deny the power of Avalon.

Perhaps people no longer believe in it.

Perhaps it's because you tell them not to.

GORLOIS: Igraine...

Your wife speaks her mind, Gorlois.

I honor her for that.

( door opens )

( dogs barking )

MAN: Back!

Come on!

Come on!

( dogs howl )

Back, you hounds of Hell! Back!

Hey, come on!

My lord, forgive me.

You are forgiven, but get those dogs out of here.

Can't you go anywhere without them?

barking )

Allow me to introduce you, Uther Pendragon, to my wife

the Lady Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall.

And sister to the Lady of Avalon.

It's an honor to meet a daughter of the Holy Isle.

MERLIN: You will bear the child...

of the man who wears this sign.

Excuse me, my lord.

panting )

Viviane.

Viviane, why are you doing this to me?

Now, listen to me.

What I am about to say

will be of great importance to you all.

Did I do something to disturb you, Lady?

I felt unwell, sir.

You left the moment you saw the dragon on my wrist.

I have no fear of dragons.

I'm a child of the Old World, myself, sir.

Why do you call me "sir" in such a manner

when you know that we're on familiar terms?

We've not met before.

Not in thlife.

But like all of us of the old ways

you must believe that this is not

the only life where we could have met.

There's something between our souls already.

You felt the power of it.

And that's why you left the hall.

Am I right, Lady?

If I am, could you rightfully resist it?

I am the sworn wife of Gorlois.

And so I will remain.

So, you knew what I felt?

Sir...

Come away with me.

Please, get back to the Council.

There's nothing to do but give in to it.

If you do not come with me

then I will come for you

before the moon is full again.

My lord.

Is the council finished?

It is.

Let's get back to the proceedings, then, shall we?

Don't you want to ask the leave

of your new high king, lady?

You?

No.

Ambrosius has named Uther Pendragon

his successor.

Don't envy me, Gorlois.

The lady belongs to you.

You should take care to avoid gossip.

No chaste woman is safe with Uther Pendragon.

People may gossip if they like.

It doesn't concern me.

It concerns me.

Are you questioning my honor?

I'm questioning your judgment.

Well, if your judgment is no better than that

then your word will cease to concern me as well.

How dare you play the shrew with me.

I told you to avoid him.

I'll teach you.

Think before you strike me, Gorlois

or I will teach you that a daughter of the Holy Goddess

is servant of no man.

And so, my father was caught up in Viviane's plots.

Sire.

A messenger for the High King.

He waits at the gate.

He would speak with...

I have come, my lord...

To ask for my troops to aid the Pendragon.

'Tis the High King's bidding.

I need my men here

in Cornwall.

The Saxons are massing off our coast.

Well, the King believes it's just a feint, Gorlois.

He's ordered all his war dukes to assemble on the south coast.

Uther Pendragon can't know the mind

of the Saxons.

And I must keep the safety of my land.

Sir, this is not a request.

It's an order from your King.

He's asked you to bring your army to him

straightaway.

I am the Duke of Cornwall, Captain.

Uther Pendragon is not.

But as his duke, you've sworn your army to him.

Are you going to betray him at the first test?

Watch what you say

Captain.

When I've seen off this Saxon threat

then I'll consider

whether I'll be able to help the Pendragon

in his schemes.

If you refuse the High King now, he will become your enemy.

If Uther Pendragon thinks he can fight the Saxons

and then fight me after

let him try.

laughter )

MORGAINE: I was too young then

to understand why my father hated the High King so much.

But the moment he rode out

to hold the Saxons at bay at Cameldun

the magic of Avalon began to work.

Sister.

Sister, hear me.

Sister, hear me.

Sister.

Viviane.

Viviane: Igraine, you must listen

if you want to see Uther alive again.

I will not see him.

I will not betray my husband.

Then the man you love will die tonight.

I do not love Uther.

Sister, listen, because there isn't much time.

Gorlois is planning to surprise Uther while he sleeps.

You must warn him.

Save him, and save Avalon.

But like all of us of the Old Ways

you must believe that this is not the only life

where we could have met.

There's something between our souls already.

Now, my mother could see

how she could save Uther's life.

But she did not see the terrible price

we would all have to pay.

( crying softly )

There he is, sleeping away his last night on Earth.

I want Uther deep in his dreams

when I drive my sword in his chest.

Uther.

IGRAINE: Uther!

What was that?!

There's magic at work.

I can feel it.

echoing ): Uther!

thunder crashing )

Uther.

Gorlois is not at Cameldun.

His men are in the hills above your camp.

Save yourself.

Save yourselves.

Igraine?

Igraine!

Sir, are you not well?

Let's prepare, Captain...

to show how we best welcome a traitor.

Uther?!

( men yelling )

( grunting and yelling )

We can stop this now, Gorlois!

It's up to you!

yelling )

swords clashing )

MORGAINE: Mother, where are you?

Mother?

Mother!

She'll be all right.

Igraine!

There are herbs that will cure her.

Let's get her into bed.

( geese honking )

Open the gate!

The Duchess is ill.

We have to find the herbs.

MORGAUSE: Open the gate.

We have orders not to, my lady.

What? Neither you

nor my Lady Igraine is to leave the castle

in the Duke's absence.

My mother is dying.

I'm sorry.

I have my orders.

Be careful, Morgaine.

All right.

It's over there by the trees.

Do you see Morgaine there?

Fetch her.

Come along, Morgaine.

Would you fly in the face of your father's authority?

The herbs are for my mother.

She's dying!

Captain! That's enough.

Now, let me pass.

Not you, Merlin, nor any man.

Not even your Lord Gorlois?

Sir?

I recognize your armor.

But, Sir, I must do as you commanded me.

I must ask to see your face.

Show him your face, Gorlois.

Let my daughter go.

Father.

I was overjoyed that my father

had come safely back to us.

But then I saw the dragon...

and I began to understand.

What are you doing here?

I'm waiting for my father.

( sig)s

He's upstairs with your mother.

My father is dead.

Well, if your father is dead...

then who would that be upstairs?

The man with the dragon.

( wind softly blowing )

The man of the prophecy.

You be wary of Viviane, child.

She'll catch you in her web

like a little fly

just as she's tried to do to the rest of us.

She won't have me, though.

I've learned to keep a step ahead of her.

This is witchcraft.

He challenged the High King.

It was not Uther's wish to kill him.

He had no choice.

MORGAINE: What went through my mother's mind

as she saw her husband lying dead

at the hand of Uther Pendragon?

None of this mattered to my Aunt Morgause

because in King Lot of Orkney, she saw at last

her own path to power.

For the first time, I saw Uther Pendragon face to face

and began to understand the power of Avalon.

Britain's greatest Christian warrior was dead.

King Uther alone would turn back the Saxon hordes

and Avalon would be saved

by one who believed in the Goddess.

Uther took us to his castle at Camelot

and made my mother his High Queen.

woman screaming )

( baby crying )

All the unhappiness of the past seemed to be swept away

when I saw my little brother Arthur

for the first time.

( goats bleati)g

Help me!

Arthur!

Morgaine!

( laug)s

ARTHUR: What are they doing?

They're praying to the Goddess

for a good harvest.

The Goddess?

The one Father Cuthbert doesn't like?

MORGAINE: And now she'll look after the seeds

and make them grow all through spring.

So these people don't like Jesus Christ?

Some of them do.

But others still pray to the Goddess.

Can there be a God and a Goddess

at the same time?

Of course.

It's just like...

having a father and a mother.

It was a time of happiness for me and my little brother.

And it seemed my new father, King Uther

would keep the Saxons at bay forever.

( both laughing )

( growls )

Then one day, I heard a familiar voice

down in the royal chamber

and I knew that everything was about to change again.

VIVIANE: ...Uther Pendragon, we shall now teach your son.

But he's still a boy.

Arthur must be fostered to protect his future destiny

and to protect him from his enemies.

It was an agreement you made a long time ago.

And with this

you must give me Morgaine to foster

in Avalon.

Never!

She has the Sight.

She was born with it.

She can never escape the unseen.

I'd rather raise her as a Christian woman.

No!

At worst, no harm could come to her

behind convent walls.

The girl was born to be a priestess.

She must be properly trained to her gifts.

Enough of this, woman.

You're in my land now, where I am King.

You are King.

But who put you there?

And how long to you think you'll hold on to the throne

if Avalon withdraws its support?

You'd bring ruin to your own sister

in order to have your way?

I'd do anything to see

that Arthur and Morgaine fulfill their destinies.

You can't take both my children from me at the same time.

Your children will be safe

and happy

each growing toward their own fate.

You must learn to be content with that

and with each other.

You will always be in my heart.

Always.

( sobbing ): Bye-bye, Mother.

Father!

What are you doing?

Mother?

Come on. Where are you taking him?

You must understand, child

you each have training to undergo.

This must happen in different places.

No, you can't take my brother away from me!

Don't leave me, Morgaine!

Arthur!

Don't take him away from me, please.

I'll do anything you ask.

I'll be good! I promise!

We all make sacrifices, Arthur.

What we want to do and what is right to do

are sometimes different things.

sobbing )

You must give him your strength, child.

Morgaine sobbing )

We'll be strong, Arthur, won't we?

That game we play...

At night, if you get scared

you can call to me...

and if you hold your breath

and listen hard enough in the dark

you'll hear me whisper back to you.

I'll never leave your side.

Good-bye.

Bye.

Come, Morgaine.

Come.

MORGAINE: Leaving my parents was hard

but leaving my little brother

was almost more than I could bear.

Still, on that day we parted, one north, one south

riding towards our separate fates.

thunder rumbling )

The Goddess is everything in nature

and everything in nature is sacred.

Look...

that is her face.

Listen.

( birds chirpi)g

insects buzzing )

That is her voice.

She's in everything that is beautiful

and everything that is harrowing, as well.

The guardians of Avalon appeared silently on the hilltops

as we came nearer the lake

that enclosed the mysterious island.

When we reached the edge of the lake

and looked out into the mist

I couldn't believe that behind it

lay all the wonders that I'd dreamt about.

Where are we?

On the borders of Avalon.

This... is Avalon?

As we moved closer to the mists

a chill crept across my heart.

If I passed through that curtain

would I ever be able to return to my little brother Arthur?

( bell tolling )

Is that Avalon?

It looks like a Christian monastery.

VIVIAN: It does

but Avalon is beneath it, behind it

deeper in the mist.

It was there

long before the Christians built their monastery.

( bird cooing )

( wind whirling )

birds squawking )

( bird squawki)g

How beautiful.

Beautiful, yes

but unless we succeed in our quest

it's also doomed.

I finally arrived and was about to enter

the great sisterhood of the Goddess.

What is your name?

Her name is Raven.

She's taken a vow of silence to the Goddess.

But silence, I think, is not for you.

You have your own challenges to meet.

Come.

The Goddess holds all things in balance.

Good and evil

death and rebirth

the predator...

and the prey.

Without her, destruction and chaos would prevail.

And so began my initiation into the secrets of Avalon--

a path that would lead me

to become a priestess of the ancient religion.

Gradually, I began to look on the Mother Goddess

as my own mother

and as the Mother of the Earth itself.

But there was more to being a priestess

than acquiring knowledge.

There was also the task

of acquiring power over every element

one by one.

( gas)s

How did you do that?

Show me, Viviane. I want to learn.

( wind whirling )

thunder rumbling )

( laughing )

ARTHUR: Morgaine?

giggles )

Morgaine

you have to concentrate.

giggling )

B-But I saw my brother.

You must learn to distinguish visions from reality. Now come.

And this time keep your mind in one place.

It would take years

until I was deemed ready for the greatest test of all--

to part the mists of Avalon.

# A clouded dream on an earthly night #

# Hangs upon the crescent moon #

# A voiceless song in an ageless light #

# Sings at the coming dawn #

# Birds in flight are calling there #

# Where the heart moves the stones #

# There that my heart is longing for #

# All for the love of you... #

MORGAINE: And at last I was fit to be given the sacred mark

that only those dedicated to the Goddess may wear.

( man speaking softly )

# A painting hangs on an ivy wall #

# Nestled in the emerald moss... #

Welcome to the service of the Goddess.

# Then it draws me far away... #

She's been taken.

# ...her crimson cloak #

# Your lamps will call, call me home. #

As a priestess of Avalon, I was bidden one day

to open the mists for a visitor.

I was certain

that my longing for my little brother

would finally be over.

Arthur?

Arthur?

Not Arthur, Lady, but his cousin.

Your cousin, I think, if you're Morgaine.

My cousin?

By whom?

Your mentor, the Lady of the Lake.

Then you must be...

Lancelot.

You can embrace me, if you like.

We are family, after all.

Come.

Lancelot had not come

for the pleasure of seeing his relatives.

He had come to confront his mother, Viviane.

Mother, not even you would want me to stay in Avalon

while the Saxons destroy the real world.

Then Avalon's not real for you?

It's as real as battle.

You always say we mustn't deny our nature.

Well, it's my nature to fight at the front lines.

If you stayed here to gather our wisdom

you could lead the struggle

rather than being caught up in it.

I have come here for your blessing.

I'd be glad to have it.

I'm asking for it, Lady

but, in truth, I will set my course

with your blessing or without it.

I have lived in a world

where men do not wait on a woman's bidding

to come and go.

How dare you speak to me like that?

Mother, please.

Don't think you can soften me on this.

Mother, I don't expect

to soften you on anything.

Go up to the Stone Circle, both of you.

If you must say your farewells to Avalon

I insist you make them from there.

Why, Mother?

You wish me to approve of your decision?

Then do as I ask.

( both laughing )

( coughing )

I think you spend too much time riding horses.

Well, this is it.

This is what your mother wanted me to show you.

Nonsense.

You must know my mother by now.

She wanted us to feel the power of the Ring together

so I would...

So you might decide to stay.

She's full of strategy, my mother.

( laughing )

I think you may be right.

I do feel it, though.

The Ring.

I can feel it flowing through me.

I felt it as a child.

Now, it's... it's different.

Do you feel it?

Of course.

I am of the same blood as you.

Look.

The Christians.

Can they see us?

No. They're in Glastonbury.

We're in Avalon.

They can't even see the stones.

Are you sure they can't see us?

( laughing ): Yes.

She senses something.

You can part the veil between worlds.

Do it.

No, I will not use the arts for play.

This is not play.

Or is it because you can't do it, cousin?

Hmm.

Where did you come from?

Don't be frightened.

We haven't come from anywhere.

You have.

You're in Avalon.

gasping )

One of the fairy people.

Keep her away from me.

She's not a fairy.

She's as mortal as you are.

I'm Lancelot.

And this is my cousin

Morgaine.

Who are you?

Guinevere.

Daughter of King Loedekrantz.

I must be dreaming.

This can't be Avalon.

Avalon doesn't exist.

Oh, it does.

Where does it lead--

that path?

Down to the lawns and the groves.

Each place is more beautiful than the last.

May I stay awhile?

Will you show them to me?

Of course.

You may stay as long as you like.

Can you hear me?

Where did you go?

Lancelot?

She's trained you well, your mentor.

What do you mean by that?

For a moment there, when I looked at you

it was just like looking at my mother.

I know she's waiting.

I shall go and give her my decision now.

And what have you decided, cousin?

I have the power to lead men in battle.

That's what I intend to do.

As Lancelot announced his decision

deep within me, there stirred something

I had felt for no man before.

Within days, on the orders of Viviane

I was on my way to take part in the fertility rites

known as the Beltane Feast.

The ceremony she called The Great Marriage.

To whom I would be given

I did not know, but Viviane assured me

that the future of Avalon depended on my playing the role

of the Virgin Huntress, and that my partner

would be the man who killed the King's Stag.

women ululating )

As I returned to the Holy Isle

a great longing gripped my heart.

I hoped that the man

at the Beltane rites had been Lancelot

but I had never seen his face.

There had been no hint as to who he really was.

Who was she?

When can I see her again?

You were only meant to know her for one night, Arthur.

Well, you can conjure.

At least show me her face.

I never saw her face.

You will never know the identity of the Virgin Huntress.

That knowledge is sacred, and you must let it be.

Now, Arthur, your training is over

and you must return to the new world.

Why now?

Because your father needs you.

As Arthur rode in search of his father that day

Uther Pendragon was facing his greatest test:

the Saxons had descended on Britain again in force.

grunting )

grunting )

Father!

grunting )

grunting )

groaning )

grunting )

grunting )

Father!

Father! Arthur?

Arthur...

you've come home only in time to see me die.

You're not going to die.

My boy, let's forget this world now.

Let's talk about the next.

Come closer to me.

I'm cold.

Come, my boy.

I'm here.

And so ends the High Kingdom of Britain.

It is a great pity you never had the chance to rule.

I think you would have been a good king.

gently exhaling )

Father?

( birds singing )

Father!

Arthur.

I know.

There isn't any time.

coughing )

I call on the powers of heaven and earth.

Aid me now!

I call on the God of Heaven and the Goddess of the Earth.

Help me, now!

VIVIANE: You called on God and the Goddess.

It is the Goddess who answers.

Listen, Arthur.

You are ready to be High King.

And this will be granted to you

you have the support of Avalon.

Avalon will lift you up

if you promise to obey the old ways

and keep the Goddess alive in men's hearts.

Swear it!

I swear!

Then look to the altar.

It is Excalibur--

the great sword of Avalon.

You are blessed by the Goddess.

You have the strength to draw it.

Take it, Arthur!

Take it and rule.

Take it, Arthur.

Take it and rule.

Arthur?

Arthur?!

To me!

Follow Excalibur!

To me, men of Britain!

To me!

horses whinnying )

Arthur turned the tide of battle

and the Saxons were thrown back from our shores--

for a time, at least.

As the day approached for his coronation as High King

all of Britain seemed to be gathering at Camelot

to celebrate the beginning of a new era.

Even King Lot of Orkney

had come down from the Scottish Islands

with my Aunt Morgause as his wife and Queen.

My dear child.

You can't call me that anymore.

Morgaine...

Morgaine.

Mother, is this my cousin?

It is. It is.

This is Gawain, our firstborn.

It's an honor to meet a priestess of Avalon.

The pleasure is mine.

I've heard many interesting things about the place.

They say you make yourselves tiny

and ride around on sparrows.

I think the fancy

is more interesting than the facts, Gawain.

It is good fortune that you returned, Morgaine.

Your mother will take great comfort

from your presence.

Where is she?

( dog whimperi)g

Mother.

Mother?

I lost them all.

All those years when you were a little girl.

I should have been with you, not Viviane.

I should never have allowed it.

Mother, you had no choice.

He used to sit there, where you are now

when he was at home.

You must not let this grief keep you

from celebrating Arthur's accession.

Morgaine...

when Arthur is crowned, I'm going to go to Glastonbury.

Why don't you come to Avalon with me?

Oh, I've given enough to Avalon.

Your mother has many Christian friends.

They will be good to her.

You mean, you'll be taking vows?

I've buried two husbands.

I won't love again.

And now Uther has gone.

I need forgiveness for what I did to your father.

And I'll only find that in Glastonbury.

cheering )

ARTHUR: Remember...

the future of Camelot lies within you all.

cheering )

grunting )

cheering )

( metal clangi)g

cheering )

Watch.

Come on. Watch the eyes.

Kay, keep that shield up.

Otherwise Bedevere will have your neck.

( cheering and laughter )

laughter )

Here, my friend.

( booi)g

cheering )

( laughter and cheering )

And that's what happens

when you let a king teach you how to fight.

Almost a king.

MAN: Bravo! Bravo!

Another bride for you?

Come. You must meet her.

This one is special.

The Bishop wants me to marry her.

You are ever welcome at Camelot, miss.

It's an honor to attend so brave a warrior.

Then you must meet another.

This is my good friend, Lancelot.

Will you lift your veil?

You have an unfair advantage over us.

Lancelot...

Guinevere of Loedekrantz.

Say something.

I'm your servant, miss.

He is a man of few words, my lady

but he is our finest soldier.

Who's that?

Who?

Up there

on the balcony.

Arthur, don't you recognize your own sister?

That's Morgaine.

Come from Avalon to honor you tomorrow.

Excuse me, my lady.

I must greet my sister.

Where's my little brother?

He's here.

He's still here.

Shall we go and get the horses?

Or no, a single horse, and ride like we used to?

The good times have returned.

I hear you've had a hundred princesses.

Come. I'll show you something.

You see that girl down there?

You must promise to tell no one.

We're to be married.

Do you love her?

I will, sister.

But there is someone else, isn't there?

No.

There is.

You cannot fool a priestess of Avalon.

There is...

there has been someone else.

It was a wonderful night.

But...?

Why do you press me so?

A sister's privilege.

Tell me her name.

I don't know.

You didn't ask?

We didn't speak.

Will you see her again?

I want to, sister

but I don't know where she is.

Well, you could at least tell me what she looks like.

I don't know that either.

How can you not know that?

She was wearing a mask.

It was at the Rites of Beltane.

I was consecrated there.

We made love.

It was everything I ever dreamt of.

I tell you, sister

something about that girl's eyes

will be watching me forever.

Arthur!

I must attend my duties.

You will come down and join us

won't you?

You must meet my future bride.

( sobs )

My aunt Morgause used magic

against a woman she had decided to hate.

By the fire...

and the stone...

by the water...

and the air...

I curse you.

Guinevere of Loedekrantz, I curse you forever!

By Excalibur I swear that I

Arthur Pendragon, King of Britain

will deal fairly with Druid as with Christian alike.

All men shall worship as they choose.

My hand for justice!

cheering )

One kingdom...

the old wisdom and the new.

One kingdom united here at Camelot

to stand against the tides of barbarism!

cheering )

trumpets blowing )

Brothers and sisters!

( cheering subsides )

We have not only one joy to celebrate

today, but two.

Today our King

has pledged fidelity

to Britain, to Avalon

to the Holy Father

and he has promised to marry the Christian Princess Guinevere

of Loedekrantz.

cheering )

He has the people's passion.

If anyone can save Britain, he can.

He'll have to do it in his own lifetime.

What have you done?

No son of his will follow him to the throne.

Ours will.

Long live King Arthur!

Don't leave me, Morgaine!

Hurrah!

What is it, lamb?

Was it the excitement in there?

No, Morgause, it's not that.

What is it then?

I think I'm with child.

After the coronation

Arthur rode off to visit the border country

leaving Guinevere in Lancelot's care.

Arthur has a great mind for leadership.

I would never have let the tribesmen fight alone.

That's because you're a warrior, Lancelot.

You like to throw yourself into the fray

come what may.

You must think me a simple man, indeed.

yelling )

neighing )

Lancelot!

( screami)g

Guinevere!

( screami)g

thunder rumbling )

Are you hurt, my lady?

No, I'm fine.

But you risked your life for me.

It's my duty.

Your devotion moves me.

My devotion has no end, my lady.

I must confess something to be rid of it...

then we must say nothing more.

I dreamt of you in Glastonbury.

You opened a curtain into Avalon

and lifted me in.

It wasn't a dream.

I was there with Morgaine.

She lifted you in.

But I asked her to do it.

So you felt it, too?

But I am sworn to Arthur.

As am I.

So we have nothing to confess.

But I have sinned with you in my thoughts.

Thoughts are not deeds.

The Bishop says to think is to do.

My thoughts don't answer to the Bishop.

If they did, I would burn in hell

a thousand years

every time I see you walk past.

Hell is very real to me.

We must do nothing about this.

Are you listening to me?

Swear.

Swear what?

To do nothing.

I don't intend to sin against my King.

Why then won't you swear?

No.

There will be nothing between us.

Will there, my love?

I'm afraid.

Oh, of course you are.

But don't worry.

I used it myself

before I was married.

It even has a pleasant taste.

Here, now take your medicine.

Drink, Morgaine.

You'll be free.

Drink.

What are you doing?

She's carrying a child she doesn't want.

I'm helping her to get rid of it.

Leave us, Morgause.

I'm not an infant crawling at your skirts, Viviane.

Nor am I one of your adoring priestesses.

I'm a queen

in my own right, wife of Lot of Orkney.

You do not order me to go or stay.

I said leave us.

How could you do this to me-- to us?

I never intended for you to know.

Well, I do know now.

How could you have arranged for such an abomination?

It is my sacred charge, Morgaine.

You and Arthur are the last remaining links

between this land and the world of mists.

Those links are becoming weaker with every year.

I must do everything in my power

to keep them alive.

Even if it means sacrificing everyone you've ever loved?

Even if it means sacrificing my very soul.

That is what being the Lady of the Lake truly demands

as you, too, will find out.

I?

Why, of course.

What else has all your training, all your suffering been for

if not to fit you to be the Lady after I'm gone?

You have the greatness of soul, Morgaine.

I can see it.

I've seen it all along.

I am carrying a bastard child fathered by my own brother.

You are carrying Arthur's successor.

Would you have Morgause murder it in the womb

in order to have her son step into Arthur's shoes?

No.

If you bear no child, the offspring

of Lot and Morgause will be next in line for the throne.

Why else is she so solicitous of your needs?

I don't believe it.

Then go ahead.

Let her ambition shape the nation's future.

Morgause thinks of nothing and no one

but herself, Morgaine.

Your motives may be nobler than hers

but you still move us around like pieces on a game board.

What has my mother given up for your Avalon?

My father died at Uther's hands because of you.

My poor, innocent brother, Arthur...

who was a baby on my lap and loved me as no other...

And I loved him.

Look what you've done to us.

You've twisted our love and turned it into shame

all for the sake of Avalon.

No!

I will not kill the child within me.

But I will not let you take him to Avalon.

I will not let you twist and bend him to your will.

I can train him to be the greatest ruler

Britain has ever seen. He will never set foot in Avalon, Viviane.

He will not be one of your pawns, and nor will I.

You have sworn to obey the Goddess through me.

My vows were to her, not to you.

I renounce you. Do you hear me?

I will never set foot

in Avalon again.

You will obey.

Never!

Where else was there for me to go

but with Morgause and Lot

into the wilds of Orkney?

There, my child could disappear

into the teeming brood in Lot's castle.

LOT: Eat and enjoy!

No man will ever say I don't keep a great hall.

shouting )

Even in the depths of winter.

laughing )

shouting )

I saved the best cut for you, Morgaine.

Wasn't it you who told me the best meat

for a breeding woman was the liver

of a stag eaten raw?

( groa)s

MORGAUSE: Baby's coming.

Quick, quick, get her to her chamber.

It's all right. It's all right.

Wife, wait.

You're quick to bring

our son's rival into this world.

If this child dies

and Guinevere fails to produce

an heir for Arthur, then our son

will be High King.

You think on that as you bring this infant into the world.

You think well on it.

screams )

Morgaine, swallow, swallow.

Push.

It's all right. It's all right, Morgaine.

Here.

screams )

Push.

panting )

( birds chirpi)g

Morgaine.

Why are you hidden from my sight?

Morgaine.

( fire crackles )

She won't be able to feed him yet.

Poor bairn.

But the wet nurse is ready.

Shall I take him, my lady?

The woman's waiting.

Not yet.

( door creaks )

( door bolt sliding )

( cries )

crying continues )

Mother.

( panting )

Yes, child.

Mother.

Forgive me.

For what?

Arthur...

he...

he doesn't know.

Arthur is the father?

Don't tell him, please.

Please, don't tell him.

( cries )

crying continues )

Let me hold him.

Let me hold him just once.

Leave us.

What is this, woman? The child is alive.

And will remain so.

Why?

It is Arthur's child.

Son of a king.

She told you?

In her fever.

She doesn't know I know.

Son of a High King.

No matter how many sons he has

this child will always be his firstborn.

With this secret, we have a weapon in our hands.

Think of it, husband.

His flesh.

His blood.

His heir.

But my instruction.

My influence.

I'll teach him to have little need of Morgaine

and great need of me.

And as the years pass

Britain will become more and more our own.

( baby cries )

It's time for his first meal.

A new and dreadful power

was unleashed

and the fate of all Britain was altered forever.

It was as if my life had become lost in the mists.

Everything that I loved and cherished was gone.

I thought there was nothing more

that could be taken from me.

How wrong I was.

But at Camelot it seemed that High Summer

had come to Britain at last.

Under the rule of a good brave man

with the Knights of the Round Table

our beleaguered country was at peace.

Arthur was the High King everyone had hoped for

and Guinevere, his Queen.

I've missed you, my love.

Are you ill?

My courses have come on me again.

Why do you let them distress you so?

But it means I haven't given you a son.

I haven't given you an heir.

We are young yet.

We have years for children.

Now get dressed.

The troops have returned--

victorious, as I promised.

And they expect to see the queen by my side.

Arthur!

( gasps )

Oh.

What is it, Morgaine?

I'm fine.

Another bad dream?

Mum, why do you have so many bad dreams?

Some people are born that way, my poppet.

It's like, some people have brown hair

and some people have yellow hair.

Some people see things.

Shh.

Not yet.

He's far too young.

Strange that in the peace of Orkney

I should feel distracted so.

Why don't you go back to Camelot?

What about my child?

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 I.

Now I'll have you 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.

I promise.

And so the day came when I returned to Camelot

the beating heart of Britain itself

and the place where I had spent my childhood

with my little brother, Arthur.

Knights...

My sister has returned from Orkney.

You remember Gawain.

Morgaine.

Percival.

Galahad.

Accolon.

I heard you were educated on the Isle of Mists.

I was trained there, as a priestess.

I 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 we hardly spoke at all.

It's more fitting that I should bow to you, Morgaine.

You were in the King's affections long before I was.

Come, let us talk as sisters...

for sisters is what we are.

I will not pretend I am not afraid of you.

I 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.

I 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.

I couldn't guess.

Then I will say it aloud, if I 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 I will not burn for it.

This time, this one time...

I will believe you.

You will have it by the night of Beltane.

LANCELOT: There, there, my old friend.

Everything's all right now.

You'll gallop like a colt.

You have a way with horses.

Better than with people, I sometimes think.

All people, or just some people?

I'm speaking of women.

I 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.

Oh, you may speak of it to me, cousin.

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

I lifted her into your world.

Little did I know all that would come from that moment.

I love Arthur

more than I've ever loved another man.

Whatever else is in my head or my heart

will stay with me till I die.

And do you know what is in my head and in my heart?

I feel the loss of you, dear cousin.

No one touched me like you did.

And still, even now

I yearn for you.

I have fought many battles, Morgaine

but none like the one I've fought since that day in Avalon.

Come to bed, Arthur.

( rhythmic drum beating )

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 I don't care.

Let them practice their pagan magic

if the Goddess will bring me a child.

banging on table )

Drink, men, drink.

We'll have our own Beltane celebration

within these walls where it's safe.

laughing )

( celebrants ululating )

( celebrants ululating )

You would walk without light?

There's 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?

( grunting )

Oh, and my Queen.

Arthur.

Guinevere and Lancelot--

two people I love most in the world.

Do you love me, both of you?

laughing )

Here we go.

Sometimes I think Lancelot is the best of us.

Up you go.

grunting )

Come.

Come, lie beside me, both of you.

I 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 I see how you two look at each other?

Arthur... No.

I will get to the end of this...

even if I have to command your silence.

My wife thinks it's her fault we have no child.

But I 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 I say it is 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.

I 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.

( celebrants ululating )

I 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?

I 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 I go back...

to the way things were?

How can I sit at his table?

How can I kneel before him and call myself his servant?

You are not to blame for loving Guinevere.

What can I do?

Don't worry, cousin.

We'll put our heads together.

I just never dared hope.

And then the Lady Morgaine told me there was hope

and I spoke to him, and he asked me.

Who? 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 I 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...

GUINEVERE: 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.

I bear you no child.

But, my Queen...

I took poison from a witch.

I slept with you and your friend

and gave myself to your lust

and ungodliness, and all for nothing.

All for nothing.

No baby.

Where is my baby?

It is in God's hands now.

Not ours.

Now, don't cry.

God does not reward sinners.

We are all sinners, my love.

He knows that and understands.

And he knows that you value pagans equally with Christians

and fight under a banner of the Mother Goddess

as if she were equal to our Father in Heaven.

Our Father may be in heaven, Guinevere

but the Goddess is Great Mother to us all.

She is not Great Mother to me.

She will not give me a child

and while you honor her

God will not give me a child either.

You say you are a good man

but you condemn your wife to barrenness

for the sake of an oath to painted savages.

I despise you, Arthur Pendragon.

Neither good Christian, nor good pagan

nor good husband to me.

MORGAINE: And so Lancelot was married to the Lady Elaine.

If he could not make me happy

at least he could fill her simple soul with delight

and heal the wounds that had been inflicted on him

by the magic of Avalon.

Has my mother come, Old Druid?

Your mother sends her blessing, my son.

Perhaps she could not bear to see you married

under the banners of Christianity all alone.

LANCELOT: We'll visit her on the way to Pellinore.

Thank you, Morgaine.

Morgaine... the Lady of the Lake is heartsick

that you have withheld yourself from her.

I think of her often... though I'm committed to my course.

How does Viviane fare?

She longs to have you at her side.

She did what she did in the service

of the Goddess.

And although you reject her

you do not reject the old ways, I think.

For which I honor you.

MERLIN: Ah, this is Accolon

of Wales.

He also is strong in the old religion

as is his father, Uriens.

We've already had the pleasure to meet, Merlin.

Will you join me in the dance, Lady?

ARTHUR: If you can bring your horsemen down from the Welsh hills

we can trap the Jutes

before they breach the line of the Avon.

It will be done, Your Majesty.

Any thought, Sir, of that boon that I crave of you?

King Uriens has long been a widower

and wishes to remarry.

And I asked his High Majesty if there was a lady

of your court who would be willing

to become Queen of North Wales.

Morgaine.

Morgaine?

Is she not a little young?

I think she would be happy with an older man.

She is no giddy, young thing.

What do you think, King Uriens?

The High King's own sister?

I would be honored, if she'd have me.

We will discuss this later, my friend.

I thank you, My Lord.

Morgaine for Uriens?

He is a good man

of the old religion, and an important ally.

Should we not at least ask her?

I think I know what her answer will be.

Morgaine, we have had an offer of marriage for you.

Well, it has been broached.

You are asked to join yourself

to the Royal House of North Wales.

It is a wild place

and you will be far from Camelot, sister.

There is one of the old religion there who would wish to wed you.

I cannot pretend

I'm as surprised as all that, brother.

Why the sly fellow!

He did not tell me he had spoken to you.

What shall I tell him?

You may tell him I'd be happy to live in North Wales.

I am happy for you, Morgaine.

Very happy.

( trumpet fanfare plays )

Friends...

on this auspicious day, I have yet another note

of happiness to sound.

My dear sister, Morgaine

is to be betrothed...

to King Uriens of North Wales.

( shou)s

For a moment it did not sink in.

And then I realized

I had been tricked into marrying the father

instead of the son

and there was nothing I could do about it.

To have rejected Uriens there and then

would have humiliated him in front of the whole country

and cost my brother the loyalty of Wales.

I was caught...

like a fly in a web.

How could you let this happen?

There was little I could do.

First they take down the banners of Pendragon.

And then Morgaine

the one person who could have kept the spirit of the Goddess

alive in Camelot, is sent to North Wales.

And why?

Because of some Christian ninny.

I have lost...

my strength, Viviane.

I feel

the power of the Goddess

is no longer in me.

Why, you're just tired, Merlin.

It's been a long journey from Camelot.

I am more...

than just tired.

Surely there are enough herbs in Avalon

to give you back your strength.

I shall ask Raven to fetch you some-- Shh, Viviane.

Please... don't leave me.

Please.

Poor Merlin.

I'm getting tired, too.

I'd hoped Morgaine would put on my robes.

Perhaps... no one will step into your robes, Viviane.

Perhaps

Avalon will die with us.

But there's young Mordred yet.

He's coming of age.

He is our best hope.

chuckles )

We had a long fight together, you and I.

You have been a worthy partner.

I've learned everything

I know from you, Merlin.

We shall fight for many years to come.

No, I...

won't see any more wars.

But you will continue.

You have always sacrificed everything for Avalon

and done so gladly.

Merlin...

do you think I've wasted my life?

No.

We gave everything to Avalon

because we had no choice.

But we failed.

No, we didn't fail.

We did what we thought was right

every single moment.

Sometimes we were headstrong

but we lived our lives with passion

and commitment.

And we should be grateful for that.

Viviane...

find

some happiness.

Just... a small...

moment... of happiness...

that belongs... only to you.

I think the Goddess...

lives in our humanity...

and not... anywhere else.

shudders )

Merlin?

Merlin?

( weeping )

( sobbing ): Merlin!

Strange as it may seem, in marrying King Uriens

and moving with him to Wales

I won myself some of the few years of happiness

my life was to bring me.

When Accolon came to be with us

it seemed for awhile as if we were a family.

But far to the north, under the tutelage of Morgause

my son Mordred was growing to manhood

a manhood that would destroy us all.

Whoa.

Whoa. Stay your horses.

What is it, My Lord?

MORDRED: Lucious

take these men back to Orkney.

Take not this road

but the one that follows the river.

I will see you this night.

Yes, My Lord. Follow me.

Viviane.

You know me then?

Of course.

I welcome you to Lothian, Lady of the Lake.

You act as if you'd been expecting me.

I could feel you long before I could see you.

You have a plan for me, I think.

I come in the cause

of the Goddess, Mordred.

She needs a champion, and the question is

will you be that champion?

You already have one.

His name is Arthur.

Avalon can no longer rely on Arthur.

He's dismantled our presence at Camelot

and he has no heir.

Will you be that heir?

Why should anyone acknowledge me as the High King's heir?

'Cause you are his son.

His son?!

( chuckling )

But my mother is his sister.

The blood of two parents from the same powerful line

rich in magic, run through you, Mordred.

You have the power, too...

and you know it.

His son?

Arthur's son...

by his own sister?

Yes.

I have the power.

I have always known that.

I can bend men to my will.

I am placing the future of this land

in your hands, Mordred.

Will you rise to it...

or remain here, powerless in the Scottish wilderness?

You made me, Aunt

as surely as if you had fashioned me out of clay.

What do you think my answer will be?

Leave me.

Leave!

Why didn't you tell me?

She's come to you, hasn't she?

Why didn't you tell me

who my father is?

I was waiting until you were ready.

I'm ready.

Viviane believes I'm ready.

Oh, Viviane!

Don't you see how ruthless she is?

Breeding you out of her own niece and nephew

looking 20 years ahead to a time

when she might have use for you.

But in return, she is placing the reins of power in my hands.

Not she alone, Mordred.

( sighs )

It was I

who ensured that Arthur and Guinevere

have no son of their own.

It was I who cursed her womb.

So, you'd like to see me on the High Throne...

...with you as High Queen Mother?

Yes.

But nothing

can be done now.

Arthur's flame has never burned brighter.

Anyone who raises a hand against him

will be torn to pieces by his companions.

You think I cannot defeat him directly?

But if you win power that way, it will not last.

Listen to wisdom.

Your enemy is that the King is so loved.

So, Britain's love of her King must be made somehow less.

How?

He must be discredited.

No man is without flaws.

With the King, it concerns his Queen.

I do not like to think that this great king...

this great man, my father

is my enemy, and that for the sake of Avalon

I must bring him down nothing!

I would rather love him as all men do.

I would like to look on my mother...

Lady Morgaine...

I would like to look on her, who bore me, as my mother

not as the priestess or the goddess.

I am so weary of gods and goddesses

I am weary of my fate.

Who was yonder

old Roman said

"Call no man happy until he is dead."

My task, then, is to bring that greatest of all the happinesses

to my father.

( laughing )

You will be drunk, dear one.

So I will be drunk!

So let it be!

I drink to death and dishonor.

And the Lord God said unto Abraham

"Lo thou art in thine 90th year

"yet I will grant thee a son

"and from his loin shall spring a people

"as numerous as the stars in the firmament

and they shall inherit the earth."

Forgive me, My Lord.

I came without announcement.

Mordred of Lothian.

I pray only to serve you, sir.

I've heard of your deeds, lad.

You've routed Saxon troops who outnumbered you

seven to one.

I have been questioning those Saxons

who fall into my hands, My Lord, and I believe

they are planning an invasion.

But they've been peaceful for ten years.

They've spent that time building ships

hundreds of ships

and if I know the Saxon mind

this time it won't be petty skirmishes.

They will take this country

from shore to shore.

How could this be?

It could be true, sir.

The Saxons have never been as quiet as this.

I beg of you, sir...

grant me the order of knighthood.

Let me bring my knowledge to your army.

With my tactics, we will destroy them

on my honor!

laughter )

My lords

I heard always that a champion's duty

is to meet with all comers.

Now, I have cause to chastise this impudence!

( chuckling, murmuring )

( men laughing )

ARTHUR: Where did you learn to fight like this?

Are you the son of one of my men?

Not of one of your men, sir.

My father was gone long before I could know him

but if you find me familiar

perhaps it is my mother you see in my face.

She is your sister...

the Lady Morgaine.

Morgaine's son?

Why, I don't believe it.

She would have spoken of him.

She would have, my Good Lady

but that I believe there was some sadness in my making.

I was raised at Orkney

by my Aunt Morgause.

Yet, you have that regal air possessed of Morgaine.

Who but the son of my sister

would have marched in here like that?

( men chuckling )

I can see by your face beyond doubt that you are hers.

Welcome to my court, lad, and to my table.

Sit with me, and tell me everything.

We shall stay up till morning getting to know each other.

Men, welcome my nephew.

He is one of us.

( cheering and pounding )

When King Uriens died

I could not stop thinking of Avalon.

I knew that one phase of my life was over

and a new one was about to begin.

And much though I still loved Accolon

I knew, too, he could not be a part of it.

Morgaine.

This was your father's favorite view.

I'll be leaving soon.

You could stay.

Thank you.

But every time I look at you, I'll see him.

Where will you go?

I must go back to Avalon.

But if I thought the Mother Goddess would make it easy

for me to come to terms with Viviane, I was wrong.

The Saxons are upon us.

( grun)s

Ride!

horses whinnying )

( men shouting )

yelling )

She's over there!

Lead on!

Whoa!

indistinguishable conversation)

( men shouting )

whimpers )

( grun)s

MORDRED: My men tell me the invasion will come

before the next full moon, My Lord.

We are ready for them.

Except in one respect.

And that is?

If you were to die in battle, sir.

Well, you would fight on.

Lancelot would fight on.

All my brave companions would fight on.

And which of them would become High King, Sire?

You have no designated successor.

I cannot designate a successor

while my queen might yet bear me an heir.

It is a hope she clings to.

I will not rob her of that.

Whatever the cost to your kingdom?

If I choose someone not of my own descent

it will split the Companions.

There will be war between us

and the Saxons will prevail.

Then choose someone of your own descent, sir.

I am your son.

I... am your son.

But Morgaine... is your mother.

It was she that you slept with in the Great Marriage.

She was the Virgin Huntress.

You coupled with her

and together you conceived a child.

I am that child, come now to demand that which is my due!

GUINEVERE: No!

It's not true.

You're lying to force Arthur to promote you beyond your merits.

Arthur, tell him it's not true.

Tell him you never...

you never...

He cannot tell you

because he knows what I say... is true.

And all this time

when I could not give you a child...

( cryi)g

Mordred is his son.

For many years

I gave myself to my husband

in the name of our Lord.

For many years, we prayed to fashion life within me.

But it seems that God has not heard those prayers.

Perhaps he has heard...

but did not will it.

But what did he will instead?

That a bastard child

sprung from an incestuous bed

should triumph over our tireless devotion?

They say his way is... unknowable.

Of course.

I am too small to understand the will of God.

Do you think...

I'm being punished for the night we spent together?

I don't think it's God who punishes us.

I think we punish ourselves.

Would it not be a comfort to believe

just for a time, that we create

our own heavens and our own hells?

It would be a comfort.

It would, Lancelot.

LANCELOT: Maybe God does not grant you

all the comforts you ask of him

but offers you others which you refuse to see.

Maybe you should find the comforts

he does offer you, my dear lady

and accept them.

Wounded and weary, at last I arrived

at the borders of Avalon.

I felt, somehow, I had never left.

But then I realized the power I once prevailed over

had left me a long time ago.

I was stranded on the outside like a child locked out.

Viviane had forsaken me.

bell tolling in distance )

Then I heard a sound I had not heard for years:

the bell of Glastonbury.

( tolling continues )

My daughter.

My daughter!

( weeping )

Oh, where have you been, my child?

Mother, I've had such sadness.

( both weeping )

Come.

( door closing softly, footsteps approaching )

Lancelot?

Wrong.

( gasps )

( breathing raggedly )

( moa)s

Run!

Mordred.

Such a trick is worthy of you.

In the King's name, Lancelot

I accuse you of high treason.

Gawain.

In God's name, how could you lend yourself to this?

I never believed it of you.

I would to God I had fallen

in battle before ever I saw this day.

Dress yourself.

I will not take you so disgraced into Arthur's presence.

Enough men have witnessed your shame.

I'm glad for your sake

that you would come with us quietly.

Mother?

See to the Queen.

She'll be in your hands until Arthur deals with her.

Come along, My Lady.

Get into your gown.

You do not want to go shameless before the King

do you?

Get me your sword, Lancelot.

Come.

Stop!

Let them go.

It is for the King to decide their fate now.

No man in all of Britain will hide them now.

They have defied you.

He has slain one of your most loyal men.

I love them both.

I will not hunt after them.

I beg you, My Lord.

Lancelot has committed treason...

treason against The Crown

to which I have sworn my allegiance--

sworn with my life.

Lancelot and Guinevere are part of me.

Do not ask me to tear into my own flesh.

If you do nothing, Father, you will lose the confidence

of your army and your men.

You will cease to be High King in anything but name.

I have not the heart for it.

I have no choice but to leave this in your hands.

( bell tolling )

I cannot bear to say good-bye to you here, My Lady.

I am no longer any man's wife or lover.

From this point on I give my heart to no one except God.

I've lost my King, I've lost my honor...

and now...

( bell tolling )

That day I saw you on the stairs...

that bell was also ringing.

Remember?

How could I forget?

So innocent we were.

I pray...

there is a heaven

and that you would be an angel in it

so when I die... we can be together at last.

( softly praying )

I knew you'd come.

Mother Superior, I come seeking forgiveness.

And this is the place where you shall find it.

Suffering brings women to God.

When you left Camelot, Arthur missed you so.

I have often thought my greatest sin

was coming between the love

that you and Arthur have for each other.

How is my dear brother?

He is in great danger.

He has need of you now.

Why? What's happened?

It is your son... Mordred.

panicked voices )

As I raced back to Camelot

to be with my brother in his hour of need

I saw people fleeing from the coasts.

( yelling and screaming in distance )

The final assault of the Saxons had at last begun.

It was at that moment that I finally encountered

the one person I had given up hope of ever seeing again.

I was behind you much of the way.

I was proud and unforgiving.

I may have turned my back on you, but my heart never turned.

I destroyed something between us in the name of the Goddess.

Now I fear I have destroyed something else in her name.

Will Camelot and Avalon disappear into the mists?

I see a land that runs red with blood

where chaos rules.

It is the end of an age.

I thought that I knew what to expect

when Viviane and I reached Camelot.

But it was beyond anything either of us had imagined.

I am Morgaine, sister to the King.

Where is my brother?

Where is Arthur Pendragon?

Mother.

What a surprise.

So, you came to see Arthur... and not me?

You came to see your brother

and not the son you bore him.

Welcome to the new Camelot.

This is an abomination.

I thought you would be proud.

We are keeping the ways of the Goddess alive.

These are not the ways of the Goddess.

You think you know her ways better than I?

You always got it all, while I was left with nothing.

But someone was watching out for me

and what god it is I care not.

The tribesman only follow you

because you have the Pendragon banner

hanging over their heads.

I am the Lady of the Lake.

I am the High Priestess of Avalon.

And I declare she has been deceiving you.

This is not Avalon.

This is not the will of the Goddess I serve.

This is her will.

And it is murder and perversion.

My sister is an evil sorceress

intent on destroying all that is Camelot.

yelling )

( yelling )

wailing )

weeping )

( screaming )

Now bring me to the King.

Is it you?

Is it really you?

You've come back to me.

My sister...

why did you not tell me about our child?

Why did you bear the burden all alone?

The pain of it would have been no less for me

had I shared it with you.

You always looked after me.

I've done my duty, and now you must do yours.

What duty remains for me to do?

You must protect your land against the Saxon invasion

the likes of which I've never seen before.

I'm a sinner, and I'm weak.

We have both sinned.

But are we going to let those sins drag us down

as some priest would have it

and send us crawling on our knees begging forgiveness?

Or are we going to rise above them

and do what we were put on this Earth to do?

What were we put on this Earth to do?

You were put on this Earth to lead your people, Arthur.

Stand.

The Saxon invasion has begun.

They have lined our shores.

They will take down Camelot.

You must ride out now

even if it's the last battle you ever fight.

You must bring one last note of glory to Avalon.

And so Arthur and the remnants of the Round Table

rode out for their last battle.

( women weeping )

( neighing and gallopi)g

We will fight as we always did.

As we always did, my friend.

( thundering hooves )

He's joined the Saxons.

Our Father in Heaven and our Mother of the Earth

soon I shall be taken into your house.

Let me be fit to wear your robes.

Let the sword that I die by cleanse me.

And if there is honor

in the course you have set for me

let me earn it today.

( all yelling )

yelling )

( hooves thundering )

horses whinnying )

( swords ringi)g

( horse whinni)s

warriors roaring )

( screaming )

( flames roari)g

( screaming )

Arthur!

Arthur!

Arthur!

Mordred!

( gasps )

Father.

VIVIANE: The Goddess holds everything in balance.

Without her, destruction and chaos will prevail.

Bring me my horse.

( screaming )

Arthur!

Father.

( screaming )

Why have you become my enemy?

You truly believed

that I was ever anything else, my father?

( grunting and yelling )

( pained cry ): Oh!

( whinnying )

( agonized gro)n

Arthur!

( whinnying )

( groani): Oh!

Mother.

( wind whistli)g

MORGAINE: Lancelot.

ARTHUR: Take me home, sister.

( gasping for breath )

Take me to Avalon.

Though Avalon had already rejected me

I felt its strange power as it drew

the dying King and I back towards its sacred shores.

I began to doubt we would ever reach Avalon.

Perhaps for our disobedience

we would be lost in this limbo of mist forever.

Or perhaps with Viviane's death

it had simply disappeared.

( bell tolling )

Are we shut out of Avalon, sister?

I fear the Goddess has rejected us, Arthur.

As we rejected her.

Perhaps she needs an offering.

( coug)s

Give it back to the Goddess, Morgaine.

It belongs to her now.

clap of thunder )

clap of thunder )

We are home, Arthur.

My little brother.

My love.

We're home.

Avalon faded from the world of men

and only Glastonbury marked where its wonders had been.

The Saxons overran Britain and made it their own

and the Goddess was forgotten.

Or so I was convinced for many years.

( quiet praying )

YOUNG GIRL: Virgin Mary

Mother of God, pray for me.

Until at last I realized the Goddess had survived.

She had not been destroyed

but had simply adopted another incarnation.

And perhaps one day future generations

will be able to bring her back as we knew her...

in the glory of Avalon.