Gwaine


 * This article is about the knight, Gwaine, for the episode he is introduced in, see: Gwaine (episode)

"And that's Sir Gwaine to you!"

- Gwaine to Elyan Sir Gwaine was a Knight of the Round Table and a good friend of Merlin.

Early life
Gwaine was born to a knight and his wife. Early in his childhood his father died fighting in Caerleon's army, leaving his family penniless. When his mother went to the king for help, he turned her away. Gwaine's opinion of the nobility was forever altered by this experience; he believed that all nobles were blinded by power and greed, and that true nobility should be determined not by who you were, but by what you did.

Gwaine eventually left his home and family and began living a vagabond lifestyle, traveling the world with his sword.

Meeting Merlin and Arthur
"Why did you help us?" "Your chances looked between slim and none. I, er... I guess I just kind of liked the look of those odds."

- Merlin and Gwaine

Gwaine first met Arthur and Merlin when he joined them in a tavern brawl against Dagr and his thugs. Though they ultimately won, Gwaine was badly injured when he took a knife to the thigh in defense of Arthur, who took him back to Camelot so his wounds could be treated by Gaius. Arthur and his father were deeply grateful for what Gwaine had done - the king even wanted to thank him in person - but Gwaine was dismayed to learn that he'd saved the life of the Prince of Camelot. He preferred to avoid the nobility whenever possible; though he didn't hate all noblemen, he had yet to meet one he felt was worth dying for.

Gwaine caused quite a bit of trouble during his stay in Camelot, attempting to charm Guinevere in the marketplace (who politely turned him down) and buying drinks for all the other tavern patrons despite the fact that he had no money. Merlin managed to arrive at a solution by charging the drinks to Arthur. The prince was not amused, and made the two of them shine the entire army's boots to pay him back. Nevertheless, Merlin found Gwaine's enjoyment of life both amusing and refreshing, later remarking, "You livened the place up." Gwaine and Merlin got along well from the beginning, quickly establishing a rapport over loss of their respective fathers and their desire to have known them better.

Later, Merlin (who had been assigned to attend to Sirs Oswald and Ethan during their stay) discovered that the two knights were planning to kill Arthur in the Mêlée that Camelot was hosting. Their swords were really Stulorne Blades, which appeared blunt to the naked eye but were actually dangerously sharp. After discussing the problem with Gwaine and Gaius and determining that they needed more proof, Merlin snuck into the knights' chambers that night intending to steal one of the blades as evidence. He was distracted, however, by the crystal that Oswald wore around his neck. A closer look revealed the image of the thug from the tavern in the crystal's depths, and Merlin soon realized that Oswald and Ethan were really Dagr and one of his goons, Ebor, in disguise. Unfortunately, Dagr woke up with the crystal still in Merlin's hand, and grabbed him before he had a chance to get away.

Gwaine, who had originally wanted to go with Merlin before it was pointed out that he had no reason to be in the knights' chambers, soon grew worried when he didn't return and went to look for him. He arrived just in time to see Oswald taking a swing at Merlin with his sword, and quickly leapt to his friend's defense. He dispatched the two knights without much trouble, but was caught by Sir Leon and brought before the king for breaking the Knight's Code. Though Gwaine maintained that he'd only stepped in to protect Merlin, the two thugs claimed that he'd attacked them without cause, provoking a passionate response from Gwaine about the deeper meaning of nobility. Unsurprisingly, Uther sided with the supposed knights, though he did listen to Arthur's pleas for him not to execute Gwaine, deciding to banish him from Camelot instead.

Not particularly bothered by this sentence (as he never stayed in one place for too long anyway), Gwaine prepared to leave Camelot immediately. Merlin was less accepting, certain that the king would give him a pardon if he revealed himself as a nobleman, but Gwaine refused, explaining that he had no wish to serve a king such as Uther. He did, however, tell Merlin to look after Arthur before he left, idly remarking that, "Maybe that one's worth dying for." This sentiment was supported by Gwen, who he ran into on his way out of town, and her words, combined with Merlin's trust in the prince and Arthur's speaking up on his behalf, reinforced Gwaine's belief that Arthur was indeed a noble man. Because of this, Gwaine secretly returned to Camelot and entered the Mêlée, where he dueled alongside Arthur against his would-be assassins, ultimately killing both.

Though Uther initially had Gwaine arrested for what he'd done, intending to execute him for what appeared to have been the murder of two knights, Gaius was able to prove that Oswald and Ethan were not all that they seemed. With the king as witness, he removed the blood crystals from around their corpses' necks, exposing them as Dagr and Ebor. But though Gwaine was no longer under threat of execution, Uther still refused to lift his banishment. Arthur disagreed with his father's decision, telling Gwaine that if it were up to him, he would be welcomed as a friend. Though Merlin tried one last time to get Gwaine to reveal himself and receive a pardon, Gwaine stood by his conviction that he could never serve under a man like Uther, preferring to try his luck in Mercia instead (Gwaine).

Strength
"Ah, finally! Strength has arrived. The trio is complete."

- Grettir in reference to Gwaine

Eventually Gwaine's travels took him to a town called Angard, where he was reunited with Merlin while involved in yet another tavern brawl. With the warlock's help he was able to escape his pursuers, who were apparently of the opinion that Gwaine had been cheating at gambling. Upon questioning what the young servant was doing in Mercia, Merlin explained how Arthur had embarked on a quest to retrieve the Fisher King's trident from the Perilous Lands and that he needed their help. Eager to get away from his current predicament, Gwaine agreed to lend a hand and the two rode out of town as quickly as possible.

Merlin and Gwaine arrived at the Perilous Lands some time later. They were greeted by Grettir, the Keeper of the Bridge, who addressed Gwaine as "Strength" and Merlin as "Magic", and (with Arthur having already been named "Courage") announced that the trio was complete. Suspicious of the dwarf, Gwaine quickly drew his sword, only for Grettir to use magic to turn it into flowers. The dwarf assured the bemused vagabond that his sword would return to normal on the other side, and allowed both him and Merlin to cross the bridge without any further trouble.

The two camped out in the Perilous Lands that night, trying to distract one another from the roars of unknown creatures in the distance with quiet conversation. At one point Merlin offered Gwaine the chance to go back if he wanted to, but Gwaine refused. He said that he was there for the same reason that Merlin was: to help a friend, further clarifying that it was Merlin he was there for more so than Arthur, as he considered the warlock the only real friend he had. They started out again at daybreak, eventually spotting a tower surrounded by Wyvern in the distance and a figure making its way toward it. Upon realizing that the figure was Arthur and that the Wyverns were hunting him, Merlin and Gwaine raced for the tower.

They eventually found Arthur passed out in one of the tower's rooms, where he'd barricaded himself to escape the Wyverns. The prince wasn't particularly happy to see them, (as he was supposed to complete his quest alone and unaided), but ultimately accepted the fact that he had their help whether he wanted it or not. The three proceeded to search the tower for the trident, with Merlin eventually spotting a doorway that appeared to lead to a throne room. Unfortunately, when he stepped inside he triggered some kind of trap, and Gwaine barely managed to push him the rest of the way through before a trap door dropped down, nearly squashing him. It took Gwaine and Arthur some time to figure out how to get the door open again, but they soon managed it and found Merlin unharmed on the other side, much to the vagabond's relief. Arthur happily retrieved the Fisher King's trident from where it was lying discarded on the floor, and with their quest complete, the three quickly left the Perilous Lands behind them.

Gwaine traveled with them as far as Camelot's border; with his banishment still in place, he could go no further. They briefly discussed where he might go next, with Gwaine musing that perhaps he would ride south (The Eye of the Phoenix).

Retrieving The Cup of Life
"Gentlemen. It seems whatever it is that you're after, you could use a little help."

- Gwaine to Arthur and Merlin

Gwaine next met Merlin and Arthur when they captured by Jarl, a slave trader that operated out of the kingdom of Essetir. They were reunited in Jarl's dungeon, where Gwaine summed up his capture by saying: "Well, you know, wrong place, write time, wrong drink." Jarl returned to the dungeon soon after, looking to make two of his prisoners fight one another for his amusement. When the slaver chose Merlin as one of his combatants, Arthur volunteered to face his current champion, who turned out to be none other than Gwaine. The two faked a fight, hoping to buy some time until they could think of a better plan, but soon ran into trouble when they were ordered to fight to the death, or else they would both be killed. Fortunately, Merlin managed to save them by starting a fire with his magic, and the three were able to escape in the chaos that followed.

After Merlin (much to Arthur's annoyance) explained that they were looking for the Cup of Life, Gwaine decided to join them on their latest quest. The three managed to retrieve the Cup from the Druids without much trouble, but were ambushed by Cenred's men soon after. Arthur was wounded in the chase that followed, and the Cup was taken by Cenred. Things grew even more dire when it was discovered that the arrow Arthur had taken to the leg had been poisoned, forcing the three to spend the night in the woods while Merlin provided what treatment he could. When Arthur regained consciousness the next morning, horrified to learn that they'd lost the Cup, they quickly set out for Camelot.

They reached the city the following evening, after it had been seized by Cenred's army. Attempting to take refuge in Gwen's deserted house, the three soon encountered her brother, Elyan, who had managed to avoid capture. Elyan quickly explained what had happened, how Morgause had used the Cup to create an immortal army and that the citadel had fallen soon after the city. Determined to learn the fates of his father and Guinevere, Arthur led the group in infiltrating the castle. Gwaine and Elyan were sent to the dungeons, where they discovered Uther being dragged away by Cenred's soldiers. After meeting up with Arthur and Merlin (and now Gaius) in the physician's chambers and reporting what they'd seen, the two were then ordered to take Gaius and find refuge in the woods beyond the castle.

Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius soon met up with Arthur and Merlin again, and they five spent the next week sheltering in a cave in the woods outside Camelot. They were eventually joined by Guinevere and Sir Leon, who had managed to escape from the city. Unbeknownst to Gwen and Leon, however, Morgana and Morgause had allowed their escape in order to track them to Arthur's hiding place. Though forced to go on the run, the group was soon saved by the arrival of Lancelot and Percival, who dropped boulders from above to block the narrow path and halt the soldiers' pursuit.

With their current hideout compromised, Gwaine accompanied the rest of the group to the Castle of Ancient Kings. There Arthur revealed his intentions to infiltrate the citadel and free his father. Gwaine was among those who volunteered to accompany him, and was subsequently made a Knight of Camelot alongside Lancelot, Elyan, and Percival. Arthur and the knights then devised a plan to break Uther out of Camelot's dungeons: Merlin and Lancelot were to split off and disable the warning bell (though they were really planning to go after the Cup of Life) while Arthur, Gwaine, and the other knights proceeded on to the cells. Gwen and Gaius, meanwhile, were to remain in the Castle and prepare for any wounded.

The plan was carried out the next day. Arthur and the knights not only successfully infiltrated the dungeons but managed to locate Uther without much trouble. Everything was going off without a hitch up until the warning bell went off, alerting the soldiers to their presence. With their escape route cut off, Arthur resolutely led the knights in battle against the immortal army, which was soon destroyed by Merlin's emptying the Cup of Life. At some point in the fight Gwaine became separated from the others, though this wasn't discovered until after the army had been destroyed and he soon proved to be alive and relatively uninjured. Later, Gwaine accompanied the other Knights back to the Castle of Ancient Kings to escort Gwen home to Camelot (The Coming of Arthur).

Knight of The Round Table
"Arise, Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot."

- Arthur to Gwaine

Gwaine was still serving as a Knight of Camelot one year later. He proved to be as mischievous as ever, attempting to steal a roast chicken from the castle kitchens with Percival  shortly before the Feast of Samhain (much to  Merlin's  amusement). Later, Gwaine was among the knights who rode out with Arthur  to investigate reports of strange, faceless beings who had attacked one of Camelot's villages. They discovered that the attacks were the work of the Dorocha, ghostly voices of the dead unleashed when Morgana tore the veil between the worlds on Samhain's Eve.

Gwaine later accompanied Arthur on his quest to repair the veil on the Isle of the Blessed along with Merlin and the other Knights of the Round Table. They made camp the first night at an old fortress called Daobeth, where Merlin was badly injured by the Dorocha. Lancelot volunteered to take the servant back to Camelot, and Arthur, Gwaine, and the other knights continued on with the quest. On Arthur's recommendation they took a shortcut through the Tunnels of Andor. Gwaine was not in favor of this plan, as the tunnels were crawling with Wildeorren, but ultimately went along with it. Using Gaia berries to mask their scents, the knights' trek through the tunnels went fairly well up until they came across a group of Wildeorren. They hid behind a shelf of rock, but one of the Wildeorren followed them and took a definite interest in Gwaine's scent, prompting the knight to kill it. This proved to be a mistake, as the creatures hunted in packs, and the knights were forced to exit the tunnels at a run.

After another day of traveling, the knights were eventually reunited with Merlin and Lancelot after making camp at another fortress. Relieved that they were safe and well, the knights joyfully welcomed the two back, Gwaine greeting the previously injured warlock with a hug. The group reached the Isle of the Blessed the following morning. They soon discovered that the Isle was guarded by Wyverns, prompting Leon, Elyan, and Percival to stay behind and fend them off while Arthur, Gwaine, Merlin, and Lancelot continued on to the stone alter. There they encountered the Cailleach, the Gatekeeper of the Spirit World, who refused to heal the veil unless given the sacrifice she desired. Gwaine attempted to make her do so by force, but was quickly knocked unconscious by her magic. When he eventually came to, the veil had been healed and Lancelot was dead, having sacrificed himself in Arthur's place.

Back in Camelot, Gwaine attended Lancelot's memorial alongside his fellow knights and the rest of the court, and was present when a funeral pyre containing Lancelot's cloak and sword was burned in the courtyard (The Darkest Hour).

Gwaine attended Arthur's birthday celebration along with the rest of the court. Later, after the death of King Uther, he also attended Arthur's coronation alongside the rest of the knights (The Wicked Day).

When it was discovered that Julius Borden was searching for the last live dragon egg in existence, Gwaine was among the knights that Arthur took to find and destroy it. Gwaine joined the others in playing a trick on Merlin during their journey, pretending to eat all the food and then producing the bowl they'd saved for the servant when he'd just about given up hope. As a result, he and the other knights were stricken ill when Julius poisoned their food, and had to be saved by Merlin's magic (Aithusa).

Gwaine was also present during the knights' ambush on King Caerleon's raiding party. When the king's wife, Queen Annis, subsequently declared war on Camelot, Gwaine accompanied his fellow knights and the rest of Camelot's army to the battle sight. He later joined the other Knights of the Round Table in trying to encourage Arthur by informing the prince of their readiness to die for him. When Arthur bargained with Annis for the war to be decided with a duel between two champions rather than a battle between armies, Gwaine was among those who volunteered to serve as Camelot's champion, and later watched Arthur fight from the ridge alongside Merlin and the rest of Camelot's army (His Father's Son).

Searching for Merlin
"Do you really expect me to accept that? Just to sit here and take their word that Merlin's gone? I won't rest until I at least try." "I know, but just... Do one thing for me. Please don't go alone." "He won't be going alone.""

- Arthur, Gwen, and Gwaine

Gwaine was one of the knights who accompanied Arthur through the Valley of the Fallen Kings. The group was ambushed by Morgana's mercenaries during the ride, and Gwaine, Percival, and Leon were separated from Arthur and Merlin during the battle. They eventually found Arthur unharmed the next day, but Merlin, who had been injured during the battle, had been captured by the bandits.

After Sir Leon's search party failed to find any trace of Merlin (besides a bloody scrap of his jacket), Arthur decided to search for Merlin himself, and Gwaine accompanied him. The two spoke of Merlin during the ride back to the Valley, with Gwaine remarking, "You know what I like about Merlin? He never expects any praise. All these things he does just for the good of doing them." They located the servant soon after, covered in mud but otherwise unharmed. The three then returned to Camelot, unaware that Merlin had been implanted with a Fomorroh and was now under Morgana's control. Having been instructed by the witch to kill Arthur, Merlin laced the king's lunch with poison the next day. He ran into Gwaine on his way to Arthur's chambers. When the knight attempted to steal some of the king's food, he was perplexed by the servant's uncharacteristically rude response.

Later, Gwaine and the other Knights of the Round Table encountered Merlin (disguised as Dragoon the Great) while on patrol. The servant was attempting to mount his horse so he could ride to Morgana's hovel and free himself from the Fomorroh's control, but due to the effects of his ageing spell did not have the strength to manage it. Recognizing his disguise as the sorcerer supposedly responsible for Uther's death, the four knights tried to apprehend him but were quickly defeated by Merlin's magic, much to his glee. The servant then mounted his horse using the fallen knights as a staircase and went on his way (A Servant of Two Masters).

Rescuing Gaius
"I know everyone thinks he's a traitor, but he's not. He's been abducted, Gwaine. He may even be dead."

- Merlin to Gwaine

When it appeared that Gaius had turned traitor and subsequently fled Camelot, Gwaine was one of the few people who visited Merlin to see how he was coping. The servant was somewhat suspicious at first, saying that he was busy, but the knight was unbothered by Merlin's snappishness and offered to help. After a moment's hesitation, Merlin accepted. He showed Gwaine the dirt he'd found on Agravaine's boot, which the knight identified as iron ore. He told Merlin that he'd only seen iron ore once before in Camelot, while on patrol near the mines at the ridge of Kemeray.

Gwaine and Merlin quickly rode out to the mining caves. They were ambushed by Alator's bodyguard soon after they entered the tunnels, but Gwaine (aided by Merlin's magic) managed to fight him off. Reaching a fork in the tunnel, the two then split up. Gwaine's tunnel led him to the room where Gaius was being kept, where he caught Agravaine hovering over the physician with a knife. Gwaine was immediately suspicious of the nobleman, accusing him of being Gaius's kidnapper, but Agravaine managed to persuade Gwaine otherwise. He claimed that the guards at Camelot's gates had seen Gwaine and Merlin leave and, knowing how concerned Merlin was about Gaius, he decided to follow them. As for the knife, he claimed that he was just using the blade to check if the physician was still breathing.

Gwaine, still somewhat uneasy of the nobleman, nevertheless accepted his explanations. The knight then suggested that they find Merlin, but Agravaine quickly objected, saying that Gaius needed immediate attention and Merlin could find his own way back. Though obviously unhappy about it, Gwaine nevertheless escorted the two back to Camelot, leaving Merlin behind. When they arrived at the citadel, Gwaine carried Gaius up to his chambers and informed Arthur that the physician had indeed been kidnapped, just as Merlin had suspected (The Secret Sharer).

Later Adventures
"The knights are like brothers. Yet, they fight and quarrel like foes? It started the moment we found her."

- Merlin

When the village of Longstead was stricken with severe illness, Gwaine and the other Knights of the Round Table were tasked with escorting Gwen and Merlin there to provide treatment. Though Merlin did what he could, his prescriptions proved ineffective and it started to appear as though sorcery might be involved. The group started back to Camelot the next morning, intending to inform Arthur of their suspicions and return later with Gaius, who had remained in Camelot to treat a sudden outbreak of sweating sickness.

At some point in their journey they came across a group of bandits camped out in the forest. They initially planned to go around the group, hopefully remaining unnoticed in the process, but Gwaine observed that the bandits had apparently captured a young girl. The knights hurried down to the encampment, killing the bandits and rescuing the girl without much trouble. Identifying herself as Lamia, the girl appeared to be both terrified and distrustful, particularly of Merlin. She soon began to exert a strange control over the knights; they became increasingly possessive of her and aggressive towards each other, which eventually culminated in a fight between Gwaine and Leon. They also forgot the original purpose of their journey - to save the village - concerned only with doing what Lamia suggested they do.

The morning after the fight, the knights awoke to find that Elyan, who was supposed to be on guard, was missing. They found him unconscious in the woods, apparently suffering from the same sickness as the people of Longstead. Though Merlin tried to convince the knights to get Elyan back to Camelot for treatment, they - under Lamia's influence - insisted on taking shelter in a deserted castle instead. When Lamia disappeared almost immediately after they arrived at the castle, Percival and Leon quickly left to search for her while Gwen and Merlin set up camp in a nearby room. Gwaine originally stayed with them, but soon left to gather firewood and quickly became Lamia's next victim.

It wasn't long before the Leon and Percival met the same fate, leaving Merlin and Gwen to face the Lamia themselves. Merlin managed to stab her with a sword during their initial confrontation, but Lamia responded by transforming into a snake-like monster. The monster then chased him through the castle until they reached Gwen, who attacked the monster with a sword when it managed to snatch Merlin. The monster seemed unaffected, however, and likely would have killed them both had Arthur not arrived and killed it. The unconscious knights were then taken back to Longstead, where Gaius treated them for their illness (Lamia).

Gwaine likely participated in the jousting tournament that Arthur held as an engagement present for Guinevere. He was later present in the dining hall when Lancelot recounted the story of how he survived the veil, and joined the other knights in welcoming him back (Lancelot du Lac).

Gwaine was with Arthur, Merlin, and the other Knights when the group came across the remains of a Druid camp. At some point in the day he drank all of Elyan's water, which resulted in the younger knight drinking from the Druids' abandoned well. Back at Camelot, Gwaine teased Merlin about his superstitiousness, and later went to check on Elyan when he heard him cry out in the night.

The next day, Gwaine attended training with Arthur and the other Knights, and was present in the armoury when Elyan suddenly seemed to go mad. He ultimately had to knock the younger knight out, and asked Gaius not to tell Arthur what had happened, lest the king think that Elyan's loyalties were divided following Gwen's banishment. Later, when Elyan attempted to kill Arthur, Gwaine searched the castle for him together with Percival and Leon, eventually apprehending him in a castle corridor (A Herald of the New Age).

Some time later, Gwaine attended Arthur's announcement detailing Camelot's new agreement with Nemeth and his imminent marriage to Princess Mithian. He was present at the Princess's arrival alongside the rest of the court, and likely took part in the hunting party Arthur organized for her (The Hunter's Heart).

Imprisonment by Morgana
"Behold! A Knight of Camelot, famed as the greatest knights in five kingdoms. Let's see if that fame's deserved, shall we?"

- Morgana, about to make Gwaine fight for her army's entertainment

When Morgana and her ally Helios launched a surprise attack on Camelot during the Feast of Beltane, Gwaine was the one who informed Arthur. Gwaine was ordered to secure the armoury, but was eventually forced to retreat to an inner chamber. He and Percival barricaded the doors while Gaius and Merlin saw to Arthur's wounds. Later, he stayed behind with Gaius while Merlin and Percival escorted Arthur out of Camelot.

Gwaine and Gaius were soon captured by Morgana and imprisoned in Camelot's dungeons. They were soon joined by Elyan after Morgana finished torturing him for information on Arthur's whereabouts. When the trio were eventually paid a visit by Morgana some days later, Gwaine demanded that they be given food, pleading particularly on behalf of Gaius. Morgana responded to his request by forcing Gwaine to fight for her army's entertainment. When he managed to defeat his first opponent he was given a small piece of bread, and informed that he would have to fight better if he wanted more. Two more men were then selected to fight Gwaine.

This arrangement continued throughout the week that Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius were Morgana's prisoners. All three were starving and Gwaine worn from fighting, but he remained optimistic throughout his ordeal; when the guards came to take him to fight again, he blithely remarked, "Don't worry, at least we'll get to eat." He was released in the throne room and given only a wooden dagger to fight with. Nevertheless, he was able to defeat his two opponents, earning a small loaf of bread as a reward. When Morgana threw it into the cell with him afterward she told him to enjoy his meal, as she feared it would be his last, implying that the next time he fought the match would be so unfair he would have no hope of winning.

However, unbeknownst to Morgana, Arthur and his allies were preparing to retake Camelot. Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius were soon freed from the dungeons by Percival and Leon, who were greatly relieved to see them. Though weakened by their ordeal, the three ultimately recovered enough to be able to attend the wedding of Arthur and Guinevere, as well as Gwen's coronation (The Sword in the Stone).

Journey to Ismere
"Arthus should know not to send his men so far north." "Well, get on with it, then. Kill me." "I will. But first you're going to have to help me find something."

- Morgana and Gwaine

Three years later, Gwaine was in charge of leading a patrol of sixty knights (one of whom was Percival) to the northern kingdom of Ismere. The patrol was attacked by magical wolves that appeared to be controlled by Morgana. He and the other knights were then taken to the fortress she was occupying with her Saxon allies, where they were added to the ranks of slaves forced to dig for some sort of Key.

Though the knights were scattered throughout the caves, Gwaine and Percival managed to stay together. Eventually they located the rest of their men, who had been keeping an ear out for any useful information and steadily passing it on to Gwaine and Percival. One night, Gwaine noticed an odd blue light flickering in the caverns that disappeared before he could wake Percival to show him. The light reappeared a little while later, prompting Gwaine to follow it. However, he was knocked unconscious by two guards before he could get close enough to tell what it was. After the guards left, Gwaine was approached by a strange glowing creature that used magic to heal his wounds.

Gwaine woke some time later to find the creature watching over him. The creature treated him kindly, assuring him that he had nothing to fear from it and waving away his thanks with the statement, "I know that you are worthy of my help." When Gwaine mused that he'd never seen a creature like it before, it explained to him how it was the last of its kind and encouraged him to rest, as his wounds were not yet fully healed. It woke him some time later when the warning bell went off. Gwaine struggled to stand and picked up a torch, telling his new friend not to worry, as he would make sure that no one harmed it. Preparing himself to attack, he was relieved when the intruders turned out to be Arthur and Merlin, who had set out with the other knights to look for him after they discovered that his patrol had disappeared. Though Gwaine intended to introduce the two to the creature as friends, he turned just in time to see it disappearing around a corner, telling a bemused Arthur that he didn't know what the creature was, but that he owed it his life.

The three continued on through the tunnels, Arthur and Merlin supporting Gwaine, who was still wounded. When they spotted a dragon in the caverns, Merlin ran out to distract it and Arthur went after him, leaving Gwaine on his own. He was eventually rescued by Percival and the other knights, who had freed themselves and dispatched the guards soon after Arthur and Merlin had arrived. Later, back at Camelot, he attended Mordred's knighting ceremony alongside the rest of the court (Arthur's Bane).

Fight against Odin
"We need to get to Arthur. He's walking straight into a trap."

- Merlin to Gwaine

Some time later, Morgana formed an alliance with King Odin to conquer the kingdom of Nemeth, capturing its King, Rodor, and Princess Mithian in the process. Mithian later fled to Camelot accompanied by her maidservant, Hilda. There she enlisted Arthur's help to rescue her father, who had escaped with her but been too injured to make the full trip. Gwaine was among the knights that Arthur took with him on the journey, along with Merlin, Gaius, the princess, and her maidservant.

At some point in their journey Mithian attempted to warn Merlin that "Hilda" was really Morgana in disguise, and that she was forcing the princess to lead Arthur into a trap. However, Morgana caught him before he could inform Arthur, using her magic to throw him into a tree and choke him into unconsciousness. She then alerted the others to Merlin's location, telling Gaius that he must have fallen and hit his head. Anxious to reach Mithian's father before Odin's men caught him, Arthur ultimately decided to continue on to Nemeth, ordering Gwaine to remain behind with Merlin and Gaius.

Gwaine was deeply concerned about Merlin's injuries, growing worried when the servant failed to regain consciousness. Eventually Gaius sent the anxious knight to gather firewood. When he returned, Merlin was awake and determined to go after Arthur, who he said was walking into a trap. The two hurried to the Tomb of Ashkanar, where Mithian's father was supposed to be hiding out, but arrived to find that Arthur and his men had already been captured. The two split up at this point, Merlin sneaking into the tomb to find Arthur while Gwaine searched for the rest of the knights. He soon came across a guard relieving himself next to a tree. Taking advantage of the guard's preoccupation, Gwaine quickly knocked the man out and stole his crossbow, which he used to shoot the guards surrounding his fellow knights (Another's Sorrow).

Killing Osgar
When Arthur heard that his friend, Sir Ranulf, was killed by a sorcerer named Osgar, Gwaine was among the knights he led in search of him. Gwaine and Elyan found the sorcerer, threatened him, and fought him, with Gwaine managing to give the mortal blow. Osgar eventually died from his wounds. Later, when they all went to the Disir's cave, Gwaine threatened the Disir, but the Disir attacked and sent Gwaine flying (The Disir).

Rescuing Guinevere
When Guinevere was kidnapped by Morgana, Gwaine was one of the knights that Arthur recruited to help rescue her.

Arthur Poisoned
When Morgana had Guinevere poison Arthur,

Restoring Guinevere
After Arthur learns of Guinevere being controlled by Morgana from Merlin, he had Gwaine and Mordred change the delivery of weapons and supplies and tells them not to inform anyone about it, especially Guinevere.

Hunting for Finna
When Gaius informs Arthur of a potential enemy called Finna,

Death
Gwaine and Percival, after Eira's execution, rode off to find and kill Morgana. They killed all her Saxon bodyguards and Percival stabbed Morgana in the back, but she survived and defeated them. She tied Gwaine to a tree and tried to extract information of Arthur's whereabouts from him using a Nathair. Gwaine was tortured to the brink of death, and was forced to tell Morgana. His screams gave Percival the incentive to break free from his bonds, and he rushed to his friend's side. Gwaine died in Percival's arms, telling him he had failed.

Personality
"I think we've no chance. But I wouldn't miss it for the world."

- Gwaine

Gwaine was portrayed as a fun-loving, laid-back and highly loyal character, wholly dedicated to doing what he believes is right. He believes any can be of noble heart, and that whether you have noble blood or not, you can have a noble heart. His introduction showed him to be a rather reckless and carefree man who thought about little more than ale and women, though Arthur and Merlin soon learned that he respected honour and loyalty above all else.

Gwaine displayed his selflessness and courage by saving Arthur's life twice, despite having been banished by Uther Pendragon. Gwaine also proved to have a humble nature since he refused to reveal his noble heritage, telling Merlin his lifestyle had taught him that titles were not important. Gwaine values respect earned through actions over prestige inherited through a title, and also prefers the freedom of the vagabond lifestyle.

Gwaine generally dislikes people of noble blood, seeing them as corrupt, selfish and power-hungry. However, he proved an astute judge of character, seeing the fairness and honesty of Arthur, even referring to him as a friend at one point. He showed his defiant streak and refusal to bow to authority by criticising Uther Pendragon in front of Arthur, saying that he might one day be able to return to Camelot when it was ruled by a half decent king.

Gwaine had a very trusting nature, largely seeing the best in people and forming a fast friendship with Merlin. Gwaine also had a good sense of humour, frequently seen to be the orchestrator of jokes among the knights, talks constantly on quests, was well known for his mindless and endless chatter and is ever-cheerful and optimistic.

Gwaine was shown to have a fairly extensive knowledge of magic, even though he couldn't use it himself. This was shown in his recognizing and telling Merlin the creatures in the distance were Wyvern. He seemed to be quite accepting of magic, unlike most of Camelot's Knights, and although he threatened Dragoon the Great this was only because the other Knights had informed him about Dragoon's supposed crimes. Gwaine was grateful to the Euchdag because it had healed him and made friends with it, telling Arthur he owed it his life.

Arthur Pendragon
"He may not be of noble birth, but I can vouch that he has a noble heart."

- Arthur on Gwaine When Gwaine met Arthur for the first time, he was unaware that he was Prince of Camelot. Upon awakening in Gaius' chambers and realising that Arthur was nobility, his opinion of him was immediately lowered due to his previous experiences with royalty. He told Merlin that if he had known who Arthur was, he wouldn't have saved him. However, when Arthur begged his father to let Gwaine live, Gwaine realized not all nobles were blinded by power. He returned to Camelot to save Arthur, and later called him friend. He was also willing to travel to the Perilous Lands to help Arthur, despite the dangers. He did, however, agree to fight with Arthur when Jarl told them to, though this was only because Jarl would have killed them both if one refused.

Gwaine was later knighted by Arthur and fought alongside him to rescue Uther and the Knights of Camelot from Morgause and Morgana. A year later, Gwaine had become one of Arthur's most trusted knights. Although Arthur frequently complained about Gwaine's "mindless chatter" he also enjoyed Gwaine's company and together they often made fun of Merlin along with Leon and Percival. Gwaine tended to be much kinder to Merlin than Arthur was.

Merlin
"Why do you want to do this?" "Same reason as you. To help a friend." "Arthur's lucky to have us." "Not Arthur."

- Merlin and Gwaine Gwaine liked Merlin immediately on meeting him, and after Merlin stood up to Arthur about Gwaine's tavern debt and volunteered to pay for it, he grew to trust Merlin enough to tell him the truth about his noble birth, making Merlin the only other person with the knowledge of Gwaine's heritage. Gwaine immediately agreed to come with Merlin when Arthur was on his quest to find the Trident of the Fisher King, and enjoyed being on the run with his friend. Gwaine later met Merlin and Arthur while he was a prisoner of Jarl. Merlin was delighted to see him, despite their predicament.

Although some distance grew between the two, after Gwaine was knighted they remained close friends, with Gwaine frequently teasing Merlin. The strength of their bond was shown when Gwaine visited Merlin to see how he was coping after Gaius disappeared. Gwaine did not hesitate to help Merlin rescue the physician. Gwaine was also the only knight who was not openly hostile towards Merlin when the knights were controlled by Lamia, which implies Merlin's friendship with Gwaine was stronger than his friendships with Leon, Elyan, and Percival.

There have been many implications that Gwaine discovered Merlin's magic, although this is only implied and not confirmed within the show.

Guinevere Pendragon
"Let me carry that. A princess shouldn't have to lump her washing around." "Unfortunately, I'm not a princess." "Ah, but you see... You are to me."

- Gwaine and Gwen Gwaine was attracted to Guinevere when he met her in the streets of Camelot, and though she was not interested, she liked that he tried and that he knew when to give up. She gently rebuffed his attempts at cheerful flirtation, and was the last person he spoke to when leaving Camelot after his banishment. Arthur, who, along with Merlin, was watching Gwaine's exit from the castle terrace, noted that they seemed "very friendly" and insisted that Gwen "could do better than that", though he denied having any interest himself, much to Merlin's amusement.

Gwaine and Gwen were eventually reunited following Camelot's invasion by Morgause's immortal army and Morgana's subsequent betrayal. Gwaine was pleased to see her after her escape, and was later one of the knights who brought her back to Camelot after the battle (The Coming of Arthur). Shortly after Morgana's second attack on Camelot, he looked on with his fellow knights, Merlin, Gaius, and the rest of the court as Arthur crowned her Queen (The Sword in the Stone).

Gwaine no longer showed any romantic interest in Gwen after he was made a Knight of Camelot, though this could be because he knew her to be in love with Arthur and he didn't want to get in the way of their relationship.

Morgana Pendragon
"Ah, Gwaine. So handsome, so selfless. Of course you shall have some supper... As long as you're prepared to sing for it."

- Morgana to Gwaine

During Gwaine's first visit to Camelot, Morgana was surprised at how skillful he was with the sword, managing to save Arthur from two thugs who attempted to kill him (Gwaine). Morgana appeared to find Gwaine physically attractive, but was brutally antagonistic towards him, evidently considering him yet another enemy as he was among Arthur's best knights. She appeared to derive a sadistic pleasure from watching him fight increasingly unfair battles with Helios's men, rewarding him with scraps of food each time he won. He, in turn, appeared unafraid of Morgana, taking each of her challenges with characteristic flippancy. Morgana did not seem at all concerned for Gwaine's welfare, treating him in a dry and sarcastic sort of way, commenting that his next meal would likely be his last as her challenges for him were growing ever more brutal (The Sword in the Stone).

When Gwaine was captured and brought before Morgana three years later, he cheerfully said that they should "stop meeting like this" and was still unafraid of her, despite knowing that she was a very powerful sorceress. (Arthur's Bane) In the end, Morgana tortured and killed Gwaine with a Nathair after the final battle for Camelot, leaving him to die in Percival's embrace. (The Diamond of the Day)

Leon
"Trying to get us killed?" "We're riding to our deaths anyway."

- Leon and Gwaine, on the latter's trying to steal honey from bees

Sir Leon was a fellow Knight of the Round Table. He and Gwaine were good friends and worked well together. Gwaine seemed add a little humour to Leon's personality, as they often joked with each other and with others. In the episode Aithusa, for example, all the knights joined in to play a joke on Merlin by appearing to eat all of his dinner, only to reveal that they had saved a bowl for him after all. Leon was very patient with Gwaine; the only time they ever fought was when they were both enchanted by the Lamia, during which Gwaine slashed Leon's arm before Percival and Elyan intervened.

Elyan
"Absolutely. You're right standing, especially when it comes to sweet talking the ladies if nothing else."

- Gwaine to Elyan

Elyan was another of Gwaine's fellow knights, as well as his good friend, though Elyan could occasionally find Gwaine's sense of humour annoying. When Gwaine drank all of his water during a patrol, for example, Elyan was not amused, though Gwaine and Leon merely laughed when he voiced his annoyance. And though Percival initially appeared to side with him, saying that he shared with his friends and even starting to hand him his own water, he soon grinned and tossed it to Merlin instead, making Elyan even angrier. However, Gwaine demonstrated how much he cared for Elyan later in the episode, when he was the first to rush in to help him when he was being haunted by the spirit from the shrine. He was also the first to note that Elyan hadn't been himself since his sister's banishment, and asked Gaius to keep Elyan's recent problems to himself, as he (and the other knights) didn't want Arthur to think that his loyalties were divided. (A Herald of the New Age).

Elyan and Gwaine, along with Gaius, were among those imprisoned in Camelot's dungeons during Morgana's second attack on Camelot. Gwaine was very concerned for his friend after Elyan was tortured for information, and Elyan displayed similar concern for Gwaine when Morgana repeatedly forced him to fight for her and her army's entertainment in exchange for food. When Leon and Percival eventually broke the three out of the dungeons and asked if they were all right, Elyan replied with good-natured bitterness, "I've been locked up with Gwaine for a week." (The Sword in the Stone)

Gwaine was present at Elyan's funeral (The Dark Tower).

Percival
"Who's that?" "Don't know. But I'm liking him already."

- Arthur and Gwaine on Percival Gwaine and percival.jpg.
 * 196x196px]]Percival was Gwaine's close friend, and the two faced many dangers together. Percival was probably the most mischievous knight besides Gwaine, and loved to joke around with him. In the beginning of The Darkest Hour, for example, the two (with Merlin's aid) stole a roast chicken from the palace kitchen, smiling like little boys. The only time Gwaine and Percival have argued is when they were enchanted by the Lamia.

Percival was the only person that Gwaine took with him on his quest for revenge against Morgana. The two worked well in taking down Morgana's henchmen, but were ultimately defeated and captured by the sorceress herself. When Percival heard Gwaine's tortured screams, it gave him the strength to break the bonds that held him. However, he arrived too late, and Gwaine died in his arms, having told Morgana where Arthur and Merlin were heading. Percival tried to reassure Gwaine during his last moments, insisting that Morgana had forced the information out of him. After Gwaine passed, Percival was deeply saddened, bowing his head in respect and shaking in anger and sorrow over the loss of his dear friend and fellow knight.

When Gwen was pronounced Queen Regent of Camelot, Percival's expression was one of sorrow and despair, likely due to the deaths of both Arthur and Gwaine (The Diamond of the Day).

Lancelot
Gwaine and Lancelot were fellow Knights of the Round Table and likely good friends, having fought alongside one another many times.

Gwaine was present at Lancelot's funeral following his sacrifice to repair the veil between worlds (The Darkest Hour). He was also present when Lancelot recounted the tale of his survival following his return to Camelot. However, unbeknownst to Gwaine and the other Knights, the man who had returned to them was not Lancelot but rather a Shade raised from the dead by Morgana. It is unknown how Gwaine reacted to Lancelot's affair with Guinevere, or to his subsequent suicide (Lancelot du Lac).

Mordred
Both being Knights of Camelot, Gwaine and Mordred were close friends until Mordred betrayed them. Gwaine and the other Knights would often tease Mordred, treating him like a little brother (similar to the way they treated Merlin).

When Mordred was trapped in the forest, pleading with Arthur to allow him and Kara to go free, Gwaine was the first he turned to to ask for help. Gwaine hesitated for a moment, unsure, but ultimately set his feelings aside and remained loyal to Arthur (The Drawing of the Dark).

The Euchdag
Gwaine met the Euchdag after it healed him of the injuries given to him by Morgana's soldiers during their search for the Key to All Knowledge. Gwaine and the Euchdag quickly became friends, the Euchdag having known that Gwaine was worthy of its help and Gwaine being grateful that it had healed him. Though he must have guessed that it was a creature of magic, Gwaine never displayed any distrust or hostility; on the contrary, he was shown to be protective of his new friend, warning it to hide when he heard people coming and preparing to fight in order to defend it. When Arthur asked what it was, Gwaine admitted that he wasn't sure, having never learned that it was the "key" Morgana had been searching for. However, Gwaine also told Arthur that he owed it his life (Arthur's Bane).

It is interesting to note that Gwaine is the only main character, apart from Merlin and Morgana, to have befriended a creature of magic, not including those who have befriended Merlin or other human magic users.

Eira
"Eira, whatever happens, you'll be safe here in Camelot. You have my word."

- Gwaine to Eira Gwaine first met Eira when she was being attacked by a Saxon in one of Camelot's villages. He rescued her and took her back to Camelot, where Merlin treated her leg wound. Gwaine then told her that she was the only survivor of the area he had saved her from.

Gwaine quickly fell in love with her, only to discover that she had been using him to get information for Morgana. Hurt and betrayed, Gwaine watched her as she sent a message, using a raven, to Morgana, telling her where Gwaine had told her Arthur and Merlin were headed. Gwen then came in and explained to Eira that the location had been false, a trap set for her. The next day Gwaine watched Eira's execution from a window in the castle, with only Percival to comfort him (The Diamond of the Day).

Abilities
"Nobody fights like you do."

- Arthur to Gwaine

Gwaine revealed his knowledge of magic when he listened to Merlin describe a pair of Stulorne Blades he came across in the room of two thugs disguised as the knights Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan who had arrived in Camelot for the Mêlée. Gwaine informs Merlin that he had encountered the swords before and Merlin was lucky to come out of it with an injured finger only. He also revealed that he knew about Wyverns, the distant cousins of Dragons. However, Gwaine has never displayed the ability to actually use magic.

Gwaine was also an exceptionally skilled swordsman, and Merlin noted that he'd never seen anyone use a fighting style that was like Gwaine's, which meant that Merlin was able to recognise him even while he was in armour. Gwaine's swordsmanship skill was such that he became the champion of a slave trader named Jarl and held his own against Arthur in a duel (though neither he nor Arthur were trying to hurt each other). He was also skilled in unarmed combat and was frequently engaged in tavern brawls. During his duel with Arthur they wrestled each other after using swordplay. His skill at hand to hand combat is so great that he was able to defeat one of Morgana's armed warriors, when he himself was unarmed.

The only person who has defeated Gwaine in combat so far was Orn, the henchman of Alator, who would have killed Gwaine if Merlin hadn't used his magic to save him. Even when Gwaine was held prisoner by Morgana and forced to fight without any food or water, he was able to defeat his enemies.

Name
*
 * Gwaine is a masculine name of Welsh origin. The name is a variant of the name Gavin, which means "white hawk". *Other spellings of Gwaine include Gawain, Gawaine, Gauvain, Gawayn, Gawayne, Gawen, and Gwayne.

Appearances
; Series 3:
 * Gwaine
 * The Eye of the Phoenix
 * The Coming of Arthur: Part One
 * The Coming of Arthur: Part Two

Series 4:
 * The Darkest Hour: Part One
 * The Darkest Hour: Part Two
 * The Wicked Day
 * Aithusa
 * His Father's Son
 * A Servant of Two Masters
 * The Secret Sharer
 * Lamia
 * Lancelot Du Lac
 * A Herald of the New Age
 * The Hunter's Heart
 * The Sword in the Stone: Part One
 * The Sword in the Stone: Part Two

Series 5:
 * Arthur's Bane: Part One
 * Arthur's Bane: Part Two
 * The Death Song of Uther Pendragon
 * Another's Sorrow
 * The Disir
 * The Dark Tower
 * A Lesson in Vengeance
 * The Hollow Queen
 * With All My Heart
 * The Kindness of Strangers
 * The Drawing of the Dark
 * The Diamond of the Day: Part One
 * The Diamond of the Day: Part Two(Death)

Trivia
*
 * Gwaine is the third knight to have an episode named after him, after Valiant and Lancelot.  * "Gwaine" derives from the Welsh "Gwyar", meaning bloodshed.
 * Other than Arthur, Gwaine is the main knight who always gets himself into trouble, i.e. Tavern brawls and almost always drags Merlin and Arthur into it.
 * The ring seen on Gwaine's necklace is actually his portrayer, Eoin Macken's father's wedding ring.
 * Gwaine is seen to have an 'evil love interest' in the finale named Eira, whose is ​a spy for Morgana. == In the Legends == It is believed that Gwaine is loosely based on a Arthurian Legend knight by the name of Sir Gawain. Gawain was one of the greatest heroes in the Arthurian legend. Gawain himself is based on Arthur's nephew and knight from theMabinogion, called Gwalchmai. Gwalchmai is considerate, calm and polite and is said to achieve more with kindness and understanding than most knight do with the sword. On a few occasions Gawain exhibits these traits, who are not characteristic for the reckless, bold and playful Gwaine. Gwalchmai is almost forgotten in favour of Gawain. No other knight appeared in more tales, yet he is not often the chief hero in most of these medieval romances. Earlier tales of Gawain showed that he was the ideal or the perfect knight, against whom other knights were measured. However, in the French romances, he was supplemented by other heroes, such aImagesCABLCDYV.jpg Lancelot, Tristan, Percival and Galahad. The French writers tend to portray Gawain as an anti-hero and a womanizer; nonetheless, in Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur he remains furiously loyal to Arthur and is most beloved by him. Interesting note about Gawain in Malory's work: the character exhibits honor, loyalty and bravery but a times he is ruthless, vengeful and guileful. Scholars are split about this Gawain - some think that he is just inconsistently written, while others find him to be a complex, realistic (e.g. flawed) character. In many legends Sir Gawain was the first son of King Lot and, after his death, he went on to be the Orkney clan leader. He is featured in many Arthurian Legends, often as one of King Arthur's main knights. He is generally portrayed as either the principal or secondary hero with much courtesy, chivalry, and nobility. Throughout all of his trials and tales he is considered very well respected, loyal, and honest. However, in his goal to maintain these traits to the highest esteem, he is faced with many problems and trials along the way. In one of his most well-known texts, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain experiences a brief fall from this tower of perfection as he struggles with his inner demons. Gawain's greatest traits are also his greatest weaknesses in that he follows these to the letter rather than to the spirit. Gawain was also known as "The Maidens' Knight" because of his defence of women. He not only appears as a main character in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", but also in "The Wedding of Gawain and Princess Madeleine," the French princess. Gawain was made Prince of France and, later, King of France. In the legends he has five children: Jonathon, Caprice, Aqua, Amethyst, and Opal. In the Prose Tristan and the French novels, he was sometimes portrayed as a villain and a murderer. This version, for the most part, was not popular and is not prevalent in most later works. More recently, many writers went back to the old English and Welsh sources and turned him back into the hero many know him as.