Talk:Morgause/@comment-75.67.105.242-20131215050347

Here's my theory: Morgause isn't actually Morgana's half-sister; she's the daughter of Ygraine and Gorlois (what a wonderfully complicated love square that makes, huh?). Remember, when Uther refers to Morgause as Morgana's half-sister, he's talking to Gaius, who at that point still thinks that Morgana is the daughter of Gorlois and Vivienne. So it follows that Morgause is EITHER Vivienne's child OR Gorlois's child, not both. In the legends, Gorlois is Ygraine's first husband; we know that Morgause was born in Camelot and that Gaius was the one taking care of her, that he thought it necessary to sneak her away and tell Uther that the child had died, that Uther is highly concerned with people finding out who Morgause is. We know that Morgause is older than Morgana and Arthur, perhaps older enough to have spent much of her childhood with legalized magic; we know that Nimueh, a High Priestess, was a good friend of Uther and Ygraine's, and that communication between Ygraine and the High Priestesses would not seem amiss; we know that Morgause knew Ygraine well (or at least claimed to) and that Morgause's mother gave her a bracelet from the house of Gorlois -- a present which seems more likely from Gorlois's mistress than his cheating wife. When confronted with Morgause's existence, Uther concentrates on Morgause being Morgana's half-sister, saying Morgana must never find out she has a half-sister -- the strained way he says it fits in with what would be going on in his head: Morgause and Morgana aren't sisters at all and they're both Arthur's half-sisters.

As for Ygraine's barrenness, its possible that the first pregnancy (Morgause) was a rough one, and that she had difficulty conceiving again. Uther, who seemed to love his wife very much, may have had his affair with Vivienne to convince himself that he was still virile / as revenge against Gorlois.