All language subtitles for The.Mists.of.Avalon.S01E01E02.1080p.WEB-DL.DD5.1.H264

[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.