Board Thread:What If?/@comment-5674726-20140906160658/@comment-5772693-20140930182923

Sorry I didn't answer sooner, the first couple days I was just waiting to see if anyone had anything they wanted to add after the two of us made our posts, then life outside of the computer got in the way. This is the first time I've been able to find time for the internet in the last few days.

I agree with pretty much everything you said, I find it all very likely. I guess I was just looking at things like Uthers' reaction in a different light. Instead of being angry and trying to teach Arthur a lesson, I saw him being worried, the way he was whenever Morgana got kidnapped, but I suppose this situation does differ from a kidnapping. It would be capable Arthur running away from his responsibilities.

I think I also overestimated how much thought Uther would put in Morgana's feelings. I mean it would be pretty uncool of him to offer her the throne, and then take it back as soon as Arthur returned. I was thinking of it as Uther making sure that his son wasn't coming back and then resigning himself to that fact, but not being miserable about Morgana being his heir either.

As for Morgana staying her hand, yes that would be the wise thing to do, but I don't know if she could. She is so freaking emotional, I have trouble telling what she would do at this point in her life. In season one she would generally do what she felt was right, in seasons four and five she usually did whatever was most destructive, but in seasons two and three, I feel like anything could have happened.

He could do something that makes her mad without even realizing it and she snaps and kills him the way she tried to in 'The Crystal Cave'. Then again, I totally believe what you said about the act of dutiful daughter being less of a pretense than she would like and how much it would mean to her to be chosen over Arthur.

People seeing Arthur as an irresponsible brat rings true, because well, in this instance it is. Bailing on the Kingdom (where he is the only known child of the king) for a girl, probably wouldn't be taken kindly. I don't think I would want that kind of king. Though, I don't recall anyone saying anything when he gave a bunch of land over to Mithian, instead of marrying her.

Which reminds me of what you said about an arranged marriage for Morgana. I've seen a lot of fanfiction and other fanworks that go with the idea that Morgana isn't married because she absolutely refuses to even contemplate the idea of an arranged marriage. I never agreed with that.

I think she would be fine with that idea. A number of people seem to see her as a revolutionary or feminist, but I don't. I always thought that she liked the status quo the way it was. Plus if the way Uther treated Arthur getting married is anything to go by, it's not like he would make her wed someone she disliked or was thirty years older than her. Based on Morgana's interactions with Mordred and Aithusa I don't think she would be against the idea of having children, so there's that.

I think Merlin would try to keep Gwen as Queen, but would be willing to drop her if necessary.

Morgana as a good Queen. We've seen her ruling twice and both times, I hate to say it, but she was a tyrant. The scenario we are talking about here might change that, as you said, if she keeps Uther alive for a few years then she takes the throne with loyal followers, she beat Arthur, and Uther she is still mixed up about, but mostly kind of loves, and is dead. So, yeah it's possible that in this case she would be a good Queen.

Arthur would look pretty bad if he tried to take the throne from her. I don't think he would do that. My question is what would Merlin do?