Morgause

by Brian Edward Rise

 
The daughter of Ygerna and Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall and therefore half-sister to Arthur. She marries Lot of Orkney and their sons are Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, and Gareth. In the Vulgate cycle, Malory and other later versions, Mordred is also her son by Arthur. Though unaware of it at the time, Arthur has committed an incestuous act which serves to emphasize Mordred’s role as Arthur’s nemesis. Morgause later has an affair with Lamorak de Galis and she is slain by her son Gaheris who discovers the two in bed.

Gaheris

by Brian Edward Rise

 
A son of Lot and Morgause and younger brother to Gawain. He is not always distinguished from his brother Gareth in the romances, the possible result of the splitting of a single character. Gareth marries Lyones and Gaheris marries her sister Lynet in Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. Gaheris also slays his mother when he discovers her with Lamorak, the son of Sir Pellinore. Gaheris and Gareth are killed in the fighting that follows Lancelot’s rescue of Guinevere from the stake.