I still have some 372 posts to read before I catch up, but still let me partake.
I think about a month ago before this debate began, Mistral pointed out (quite correctly) that Meegat was a guardian of societal values. So why not assume that she was a priestess of a matriarchal religion, in which case Avon's role would be the role of the Sacred King. The Sacred King is worshipped, treated with greatest honour, but at the end of his rule he is sacrificed to the Mother Goddess. Avon doesn't exactly die, but he does get nearly killed by deadly radiation after he has performed his function.
So why not represent this as a case of a man brutally misused by a woman? (Just for a change...)
N.