Merlin and Vivien Summary

King Mark and Vivien hear a minstrel praising the virtues of Lancelot and Guinevere. He says that some men, following Lancelot's example, have decided to not love single maidens at all, because remaining virgin is more fitting for a knight. Mark is upset by the minstrel, whose words he does not believe, and asks Vivien if she is willing to go to Arthur's court and covertly expose the scandals therein. Vivien says she will, citing the hatred she has for Arthur. Her father died in a war against Arthur, and her mother died on her father's corpses; thus, Arthur left her an orphan from the moment of her birth.

She travels to Camelot and, upon seeing Guinevere, falls at her knees in tears. She says that her parents were killed in war, not against, but for Arthur and that...