Third Time Lucky - Be Careful What You Wish For

After breakfast in Glasgow at 9am and a successful but thankfully low-cost lunchtime trip to the Slaters warehouse sale, I settled down to read in the bedroom (danger - warm, comfy, cover). I could say the cliche 'the rest is history' but I made a valiant attempt to stay awake and read for an hour or so before waking up in the dark.

When Morgaine's first dalliance with Lancelot took place, her maidenhood was vowed to the Goddess and she regretting keeping that vow.

The second was on the night of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar's marriage, where Lancelot would have tumbled Morgaine like a milkmaid in the stables, just to avoid the thought of his beloved Gwenhwyfar in Arthur's arms. However it was he who was tumbled from his horse and spent the night unconscious, Morgaine, in her role of skilled healer, lying by his side. So close yet so far away.

Today, the third was when the men returned from war with the Saxons and from Arthur to the general soldiers, each would have company that night but the Queen's ladies in waiting, including Morgaine, who had not returned to Avalon, were secured away, protected from roving eyes. She could sense the power around her and also Lancelot, restless and alone She walked abroad to seek him out and if he was not there, then she would know it was just her fancy and not to be. However he was. He apologised for dishonouring her with their earlier dalliances but Morgaine expressed her regret that the dalliances had not been fulfilled. Not what he would expect from a lady at court but Morgaine is her own woman, a trained priestess and more than capable of taking a lover if she so chooses. She led him underneath the moonlight sky and with the apple trees as a canopy, they make love - although not technically speaking*, which is key.

For Morgaine, it should be act of great power and she feels betrayed, as well as unfulfilled (yet again). For Lancelot, both have been pleasured without dishonour or risk - how could he worship Gwenhwyfar if Morgaine, or any other woman, were to have his child instead of his beloved Gwenhwyfar.

The bond between Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar remains intact, Morgaine flees (again).

Unbeknown to both, Arthur gives Gwenhwyfar sanction to take Lancelot as lover** and have his son, which Arthur would accept as a gift from the Gods and rear as his own heir, rather than put her aside as barren and take another wife to give him a son.

But Arthur is unaware that he has fathered a child with his sister Morgaine and so already has a son and heir . . .

*A useful phrase
**Similar arrangement, different criteria, different goal