Morgan is blamed; she casts the scabbard into the lake. The narrator is Taliesin, who comes to Urien's court as bard. He is young, charming and in love with his poetic powers. Morgan takes him to her bed. Taliesin believes the young man Mordred is her son. He senses darkness there under a courteous exterior. Taliesin wants to make the great song of Britain, but Urien is getting too old for battle. Arthur visits Carlisle; there is tension between him and Morgan, the fear of poison. Morgan wants Arthur's love; he wants his scabbard back. Margawse seduces Taliesin, who learns that it is she and Arthur who are Mordred's parents. Queen Gwenhyvar is left alone at Camelot. Taliesin steals a stained shirt of Arthur's as a keepsake for Morgan. When Gwenhyvar is kidnapped, Taliesin joins the hunt, but is lost in a bog, taken prisoner, and saved by Mordred. They rescue Gwenhyvar, who seeks sanctuary at Glastonbury Abbey. A suspicious Arthur takes her back; she denies that it was Mordred who took her. Morgan reveals to Arthur that Mordred is his son. Arthur offers peace with her; with breaking heart, she tells him not to trust Mordred. While Arthur is away at war, Gwenhyvar divorces him and claims that it is her royalty that legitimizes Arthur; Nimue gives the sword of sovereignty to Mordred. The people acclaim Gwenhyvar high queen and Urien sends Taliesin to warn Arthur. Mordred has been welcomed as king and marries Gwenhyvar. War will give Taliesin his great song; Urien orders him to help Morgan. The sisters ride to the battle; Morgan carries Arthur's shirt. They pass the battlefield of Camlann, where Morgan forbids Taliesin to sing of it. They find Gwenhyvar sheltered at Bryvyth's nunnery with Mordred's twin sons; Morgan asks Bryvyth's blessing. Nimue visits the sisters' camp. Taliesin sees Morgan washing the blood from Arthur's shirt at night and fears she is the goddess Morrigan, taking Arthur's life. Taliesin has lost his harp and missed the battle. Urien finds him; Arthur is dead and they seek his body. Morgan herself narrates this (the reliability of her account is left for the reader to judge).