Board Thread:What If?/@comment-5674726-20130929195047/@comment-5367080-20131001154625

In regards to Merlin, provided he does not know the truth he would continue as he was in the first season, he would maintain his trust for the Great Dragon, whilst Nimueh remains upon the Isle of the Blessed.

Merlin as a whole had little contact with the people of Ealdor, his best friend Will is dead as is his mother and many of the others, though they would have all cared a great deal for Merlin I doubt they would risk leaving their livelihood to bring him to his mother.

Kilgarrah only wished to be set free because he lost his trust in Merlin, seeing as he has not abandoned him like he did when his mother was dying we can assume they would continue with their relationship as normal.

The major change would come in the form of the third season, Merlin would be captured by Morgause and left to die at the hands (well stingers) of the serkets, without the ability to summon Kilgarrah he would be unable to break his bonds and the poison would kill him.

Without Merlin to save Camelot, the forces of Cenred and Morgause would win the Great Battle of Camelot, Uther, Arthur and Leon would die on the battle-field whilst Gaius is taken prisoner by Morgause's forces. Morgana would not become Queen as she does not have a right to the throne, instead Camelot would become an expansion of Cenred's realms. Guinevere would likely continue as serving girl to Morgana and Camelot would live in a state of oppression.

It's hard to say what else would happen but I think Lancelot would return to Camelot to fight against Cenred's occupation, whilst Morgause would go on to become Cenred's wife, subtly working to make herself or Morgana heir to his throne before she at last ends his life.

Overall magic would be free and the people of Camelot would be living under the tyranny of Cenred.