Nimue begins the slow work of gaining Kevin’s trust. Since she spent most of her time in Avalon in seclusion, she is confident that he will not recognize her. She believes that as a beautiful young woman, she will easily seduce him and enact Morgaine’s plan. To her surprise, however, she forms a genuine connection with him, bonding over a shared love of music. However, Nimue remains determined and tells Kevin to meet her outside during the New Moon so that they can have sex. Kevin, being trained in the ways of Avalon, knows this time is significant but is too enamored to care. She is able to trick him into saying he is hers the moment the moon changes, which puts him in a trance. Nimue feels triumphant at her accomplishment but genuinely broken-hearted at the thought that she did such a cruel thing to someone she came to love.

Before Kevin is confined to the oak tree, he tells Morgaine that he has acted for the Goddess. He explains that “the day of Avalon is ended. […] Would you then take the Holy Regalia with you into that darkness, preserving it carefully against the dawning of a new day that now shall never be?” (800).