Guinevere Pendragon

"All I know is that no one would sacrifice more for Camelot or for you than Gwen."

- Merlin to Arthur

Queen Guinevere Pendragon, known as Gwen to her friends, is the wife of Arthur Pendragon, one of the best friends of Merlin, the sister of Sir Elyan; a knight of Camelot and the sister-in-law and former best friend of Morgana Pendragon. Gwen used to be a servant, but is now the Queen of Camelot after marrying Arthur.

Early life
Little has been revealed about her background. She is the only daughter and second child of a blacksmith named Tom, she has been the personal maidservant to the Lady Morgana since they were both young girls. According to Merlin, she is one of the best seamstresses in Camelot and has learned from her father Tom how to mend armour and work with weapons. Gwen has only mentioned her mother once, saying that she was a maid in Sir Leon’s household and that Gwen and her brother Elyan had grown up with Leon (The Coming of Arthur). It is implied that Gwen's mother had died before the main events, however, as Morgana mentions after Tom's death that "she is now an orphan."

Servant and Friend
"Arthur's a bully and everyone thought you were a real hero"

- Gwen to Merlin Upon Merlin’s arrival in Camelot Gwen befriends him. She praises him for standing up to Arthur Pendragon, the Prince of Camelot, when he was bullying one of the servants. After developing a friendship with him she quickly becomes smitten with him (The Dragon's Call). Although Merlin is unaware of Gwen’s feelings for him until she kisses him in reveal when she finds out he is alive despite the poisoning (The Poisoned Chalice). Gwen has no known family other than her father and her brother, Elyan. When Camelot is hit by a plague sent by Nimueh, Gwen’s father falls victim to it. Gwen begs Gaius to help him but there is no known cure. Merlin uses magic to cure Tom as he can’t bear to stand back and see her suffer when he has the power to save Tom. When news of Tom’s sudden recovery reaches Arthur he arrests Gwen for witchcraft, although he disagrees with his father’s assumption that Gwen caused the plague. She is saved when Merlin, Arthur and Morgana discover an Afanc that was poisoning the water supply and destroy it (The Mark of Nimueh).

When a swordsman named Lancelot arrives in Camelot he is instantly attracted to Gwen, who in turn, wishes to help him reach his goal of becoming a knight of Camelot. Like Merlin, she is the only one who knows that he isn’t a nobleman. Gwen helps Lancelot with his armour first when he is trying to become a knight and later when he goes to Arthur defeat a Griffin. Gwen quickly grows to like Lancelot and also begs him not to go out to attack the Griffin, fearing that it will cost him his life. Gwen is upset when Lancelot leaves Camelot fearing that she will never see him again (Lancelot).

When Arthur is challenged to a duel to the death with a wraith - his uncle Tristan De Bois - it is from Gwen that Merlin gets the legendary sword Excalibur she tells him that it is the finest sword her father ever made. It is from The Great Dragon the sword gains its powers (Excalibur).

Gwen has shown she is capable of standing up for herself. When she is arrested for witchcraft she protests her innocence to Uther and Arthur (The Mark of Nimueh). When Merlin, Morgana, Arthur and Gwen travelled to Ealdor to defend it against bandits lead by Kanen she took it upon herself to represent the women of the town. She convinced Arthur to let her, Morgana, and the other women of the village fight. Moreover she scolds Arthur for his lack of gratitude for the food the people give him. Arthur, rather than scolding her for showing him disrespect, apologises for his behaviour. Gwen also encourages Arthur when he begins to doubt their chances of beating Kanen (The Moment of Truth).

Tom is killed by Uther after he is accused of harbouring a sorcerer, Tauren, leaving Gwen an orphan. Although she holds a great hate for Uther as a result she states that she wouldn’t kill Uther if she had the power of life and death over him stating that "would make her no better than him." Arthur assures Gwen after Tom’s death that her home and job are still hers and to ask if she needs anything (To Kill the King).

When Arthur is bitten by the Questing Beast the kingdom prepares themselves for the fact that he will die but Gwen refuses to give up on him. As she nurses him she tells him that the only thing that keeps her going is the hope that one day he will be king. It is obvious that although she dislikes his attitude and behaviour most of the time, she sees that deep down he is a good man and she believes that he will be a great King one day, and has faith that he will grow into the best leader Camelot has ever seen. When Merlin brings back water from the Cup of Life Arthur recovers, Arthur reminds Gwen of the things she said about him, playfully teasing her. Flustered by his flirting, she denies having said anything complimentary to him and flees, leaving Arthur bemused. Soon aftr that, Gwen nurses Merlin’s mother Hunith when her life is taken for Arthur’s, instead of Merlin. Before he leaves to confront Nimueh Merlin tells Gwen that she should never lose her good heart (Le Morte d'Arthur).

Falling in Love
Gwen continues to aid Merlin in his adventures in every way she can. Growing up in Camelot she had been open about her dislike for Prince Arthur. However, she soon gets the opportunity to get to know him better (when he lives with her for a few days during a jousting competition). She realises her opinions of him had been too harsh and based on shallow conclusions (The Moment of Truth, The Once and Future Queen). She and Arthur begin to fall in love, though their different social classes create problems for them.



They initially clash over Arthur’s rude behaviour but Arthur soon seems genuinely sorry to have treated her so badly, he tries to make it up to her by attempting (and failing) to cook dinner for them. Gwen appreciates the effort he has gone to and they soon start to respect and like each other, the atmosphere becomes more comfortable and they begin to relish being in each others company laughing, teasing and confiding in each other. Before Arthur leaves her; home for the final time he impulsively kisses he. But later tells her that it is not possible for them to be together as Uther would never understand, Gwen is accepting of this but they are both reluctant to part ways and have since developed the habit of staring at each other intensely whenever they come into contact. Later in the series, they begin to show more affection to each other, more openly. When Gwen was captured by Hengist’s men, Arthur went to rescue her, against Uther’s will. On the journey there, he confesses to Merlin that he is in love with her and warned him keep it as a secret unless he was to be behead.. He find that Lancelot has also come to rescue her and Lancelot soon sees that Arthur is in love with Gwen.

Morgana suffers from nightmares and when she wakes up she always calls for Gwen to comfort her, Gwen is worried for her friend and often stays awake with her so that she can look after her, she remains unaware that the nightmares are caused by magic and that Morgana is a seer (The Nightmare Begins). Gwen and Morgana have clearly grown apart in series 2. Morgana has no idea that Gwen fell in love with Arthur because Gwen chose not to share her problems with her and Morgana was too troubled by her own problems to notice, she has also chosen not to confide in Gwen about her magical abilities.

Reunion with Lancelot
"I thought I'd never see you again"

- Gwen to Lancelot

Gwen is still close friends with Merlin, but no longer has any romantic feelings for him. She is reunited with Lancelot when she is taken prisoner by an outlaw who believes her to be the lady Morgana. Unaware that Arthur has defied his father and is on his way to rescue her, she concludes that Uther will never pay a ransom for her and believes that she has been abandoned to die. She refuses to show her captors any fear, but privately despairs that nobody in the world seems to care for her.

Lancelot has become an entertainer of sorts, he has fallen on hard times and now gets paid to sword fight for other (richer) people’s amusement. He is participating in a cage fight when he spots Gwen being held captive. He vows to save her, and tells her that she gives him a reason to live. Gwen is overjoyed to see Lancelot and seems overwhelmed by his feelings for her at first, she soon accepts them and even returns his sentiments.

Her brush with death has affected her and she seems determined to take whatever happiness she can get, she no longer wants to be alone and is happy that she has found Lancelot. When Lancelot sees that Arthur cares deeply for Gwen he gives up on her without a fight refusing to come between them. He tells Merlin to tell Gwen that "some things can’t be" and sneaks away in the night when Arthur and Gwen are sleeping. Waking up to discover Lancelot gone Gwen cries silently, heartbroken to be abandoned again. Arthur looks sad for her and equally uncomfortable over the situation. They ride back to Camelot and as Gwen is reunited with Morgana, Arthur shoots Gwen a rather heartbroken look from the stairs(Lancelot and Guinevere). In later episodes, the two have appeared to be back to normal eg. when Gwen goes to Arthur to thank him for his humility (Beauty and the Beast).

Love for Arthur
"You have a kind heart Arthur. Don't ever change, not for anyone"

- Gwen to Arthur

When Arthur refuses to follow his father's orders (Beauty and the Beast) and punish a man who can’t pay the new tax Uther has imposed on his people, Gwen witnesses Arthur giving people back their money and smiles admiringly at him - although he doesn’t see her. Later in the episode, she visits Arthur in his quarters and comforts him (he is upset at his father's uncaring attitude) he doubts that he can be a king and a friend to his people. Gwen insists he can and that one day he will prove his father wrong. She tells him that he has a kind heart and should never allow himself to change for anyone. As Arthur listens to her and starts to cheer up, Sir Leon interrupts them by summoning Arthur to the great hall. Even after the events with Lancelot, Gwen and Arthur remain close; Gwen’s respect and admiration for Arthur is growing and Arthur is clearly happy that Gwen would seek him out and he seems to appreciate her advice.

Arthur is later enchanted by a king to fall in love with another king’s daughter as part of a plot to ruin a potential peace treaty between their kingdoms and Camelot. Around this time, Gwen starts to regain trust in Arthur’s feelings for her. However, she is left heartbroken when she sees him with Vivian. Merlin later seeks her out and informs her that Arthur was under the control of a love potion and she is the only one who can break it. Gwen goes to Arthur and kisses him, which breaks the spell. Arthur later apologises for the pain he caused her, and Gwen accepts it. However, when Arthur professes that he never loved anyone other than her, she sadly tells him she can't be his queen, at least until things can change. She also speaks with Gaius of it and he insists that no love is impossible. After Arthur and Merlin’s battle with the Great Dragon Gwen runs to Arthur and hugs him when he returns.

Morgana’s return and betrayal
"She isn't the person I knew. She's changed Gaius. I don't think she means well to any of us anymore"

- Gwen to Gaius

When Morgana returns to Camelot after being taken away by Morgause, Gwen is relieved but she becomes suspicious of Morgana’s curt and civil nature due to the fact that Morgana has secretly turned evil (The Tears of Uther Pendragon). Because her friendship with Morgana gradually deteriorates, Gwen starts to spend more time with Merlin and Arthur, such as helping Merlin when Gaius is possessed by a Goblin (Goblin's Gold) and persuading Gwaine to return and help Arthur (Gwaine). Morgana soon discovers Gwen’s feeling for Arthur when he is forced to marry a princess (The Changeling), which later results in Gwen getting captured by Cenred to lure Arthur to a trap (The Castle of Fyrien).



Gwen’s suspicions of Morgana appear when she sees Morgana with an old woman who is actually Morgause in disguise and when Morgana coldly tells her to get out of her room, to the point that she secretly discovers that Morgana has magic and she tells Gaius of her discovery. This makes Gwen aware that Morgana has turned against Camelot, making her the third person in Camelot after Merlin and Gaius to know of Morgana’s true loyalties (The Eye of the Phoenix).

When Morgana is tormented by dreams of Gwen becoming queen, she tries to stop Gwen and Arthur’s romance after encouragement from Morgause. When Morgana suggests it to Arthur, Gwen and Arthur decide to spend a day together away from the city. They have a picnic in the woods, treating each other as equals. When Gwen goes to kiss Arthur, they are interrupted when Uther and Morgana 'coincidentally' come across them during a ride.

Back at Camelot, Uther laughs at what he saw and tells Arthur that he was young once and tempted by servings girls. Arthur seems shocked, but surprised that his father has given him his blessing. However, Uther is unaware that Arthur is actually in love with Gwen, and commands that Arthur will never see Gwen again.

When Arthur insists that he refuses to abandon his feelings, Uther orders that Gwen be banished, leaving Arthur furious. When Arthur reveals that he intends to leave Camelot with Gwen and later return and take the throne, Morgana decides to frame Gwen for casting a love spell on the prince. Uther sentences her to death, much to Arthur’s fury and Morgana’s amusement. As she is dragged away to the dungeons, Arthur kisses her again, and she catches sight of Morgana smirking at her. When Merlin visits Gwen, she informs him of her suspicions of Morgana. Unbeknown to Gwen, Merlin casts an ageing spell on himself and pretends to place an identical poultice to that planted by Morgana under Arthur’s pillow, intentionally getting caught so Gwen can be free. She and Arthur later agreed that they have to keep up the master-servant charade, but that they do love each other, and he promises her that when he is king, she will be his queen(Queen of Hearts).

When an army of immortal soldiers invade Camelot and when Morgana’s true loyalties are officially revealed when she is crowned Queen, Gwen pretends to remain loyal to Morgana but helps Sir Leon escape Camelot. She is reunited with Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine and Elyan. Later her old love interest Lancelot and his friend Percival arrive. Gwen is not among the group that goes to bring an end to Morgana’s reign but returns to Camelot after Morgana flees with her unconscious sister Morgause (The Coming of Arthur).

Looking after Uther
"I do it for Arthur"

- Gwen on looking after Uther Although peace is restored to Camelot, Gwen has to look after Uther for a year as he is still shaken by Morgana’s betrayal. Gwen tells Gaius that she is only doing it for Arthur’s sake and not Uther’s. Meanwhile, Morgana attempts to take revenge on Camelot again by summoning creatures known as the Dorocha and Arthur plans to sacrifice himself to defeat them. Before leaving, he tearfully says goodbye to Uther and comforts Gwen by reminding her of the day he first kissed her. Gwen then goes to Lancelot, telling him to keep Arthur safe and he promises that he will protect Arthur with his life.

In Arthur’s absence, Agravaine, who is his uncle, takes charge of the kingdom and has the city gates shut to prevent food running out. When Gaius angrily confronted Agravaine about that, Gwen gives a speech to persuade Agravaine to reopen the city gates. Gwen then tends to Uther and reassures him that Arthur will return in a few days when he asks her where he is. Agravaine then visits Gwen and after apologising to her, summons her to his chambers for advice. However, unknown to Gwen, Agravaine is secretly loyal to Morgana and diverts her attention so that Morgana will enter Camelot and knock her unconscious to prevent her vision of Gwen becoming queen from coming true. After Morgana does that, Gaius finds Gwen and tells her that someone wants to get rid of her by leaving her to be killed by the Dorocha. After Arthur returns to Camelot when Lancelot sacrificed himself to defeat the Dorocha, Gwen mourns Lancelot’s death, telling Arthur that he sacrificed himself to fulfil the promise he gave to her (The Darkest Hour).

When Uther is mortally wounded by an assassin, Arthur plans to save him with magic but fails, resulting in Uther’s death. After Uther’s death, Gwen is one of the people who watch Arthur being crowned King of Camelot (The Wicked Day).

Arthur's Decision
"And you decided we can't be together?"

- Gwen to Arthur

Under Agravaine’s influence, Arthur is forced to break up with Gwen due to her social status of being a servant and his of being a king. Although this breaks Gwen’s heart, she holds her head high and tells Arthur that he should listen to his heart. Gwen even worries about what will become of Arthur when he causes a war between Camelot and Caerleon, and before a match, Arthur gives Merlin a ring, asking him to give to Gwen as an apology. Arthur eventually survives the match and becomes at peace with Caerleon. Upon returning to Camelot, he apologizes for his actions by presenting Gwen with flowers and kissing her.

Merlin Kidnapped
"I am as worried about Merlin as you are"

- Gwen to Arthur

When Merlin is kidnapped by Mercenaries, Gwen grows very worried for her friend's well being, even stating that she is just as worried as Arthur. Merlin was rescued later by Arthur and Gwaine (he had previously been held captive by Morgana, and, under her influence, on a new mission to kill Arthur) and Gwen was happy for her friend's return, even serving Arthur (something Merlin would usually do) as she thought he needed rest. Merlin was rude to her, and after speculation she and Gaius concluded that was being controlled by a snake called the Fomorroh. Gwen knocked Merlin out and Gaius attempts to kill the snake, but to no avail. This forces Gwen to knock Merlin out a second time, and after Merlin manages to destroy the snake, Gwen is happy that her friend has returned to his normal mind.

Later, Gaius is abducted and brought to Morgana in an attempt to discover who Emrys is. While the whole of Camelot believed Gaius to be a traitor, Gwen did not believe this, and comforted Merlin and supported his idea that Gaius had been abducted. Gwen later cared for Gaius after he was rescued by Merlin and Gwaine.

Lamia
"There's something about you Merlin. It's the way she looks at you as if you were the enemy."

- Gwen to Merlin

Lamia goes to the village of Longstrong, and begins preying on its inhabitants. Three villagers become its victims. Fearing an unknown illness, the wife of the village elder goes to Camelot to ask for help. She approaches Gwen, who tells Arthur. After consulting with Gaius, Arthur sends Merlin as the substitute physician, with Gwen and the Knights of Camelot to fix the problem. The Lamia is later caught by bandits, and rescued by the Knights when they leave the village to go back to Camelot.

However, she soon starts to exert her power over them, making them aggressive and more violent. Her first victim among them is Sir Elyan. Instead of going back to Camelot, she forces them to travel to a castle to the East that she knows of. Afterwards, the Lamia picks them off, one by one. First is Gwaine, followed by Percival. Leon sees Percival fall because of the Lamia. He attacks her but she defeats him. Merlin sees the Lamia after Leon and is able to wound her with Leon's sword. She changes to her true form and attacks again. Merlin runs and makes it back to Gwen, who hears the commotion. She uses a sword to try to kill the creature. Arthur (who had been following their trail when they were missing) kills the Lamia with a spear to the back. After the Lamia incident, Arthur comments on Gwen's bravery in his chambers, where the couple shares a very intimate kiss (Lamia).

Exile
"I cannot be without you"

- Gwen to Arthur

When Morgana hears of Arthur's intention to marry Gwen, she uses dark magic to bring Lancelot back from the dead and orders him to present Gwen with a bracelet that will enchant her to fall in love with him. Gwen is surprised by Lancelot's reappearance but is intent on becoming Arthur's wife. After Lancelot puts the bracelet on her wrist, Gwen begins acting strangely, visiting him in his tent before a jousting competition, although she soon comes back to her senses. However, after the match, she visits Lancelot again and is intimate towards him. She agrees to meet him that night in the castle. Agravaine brings Arthur to catch his soon-to-be wife kissing Lancelot and, in a rage, hurls his sword at him, but Gwen stops the commotion quickly. She is imprisoned and throws the bracelet away in rage.

During her trial, Arthur asks everyone to step out and demands to know why Gwen did what she did. Gwen says she did not know what happened and once loved Lancelot, but now loves Arthur. Arthur decides not to have her executed but orders her exiled, citing that if she returns, she will pay with her life. Merlin tries to persuade Arthur to change his decision, but Arthur says that he will never again be able to trust Gwen and that his decision was final, leaving Merlin hurt and angry that Morgana stole one friend from him (Gwen) and had dishonoured the other (Lancelot).

Life Outside Camelot
"You think I'd ever trust you again?"

- Gwen to Morgana

After her exile, Gwen adapted to life as a peasant in an outside village for some time. She wore Arthur’s engagement ring he gave to her as a necklace. The village was soon invaded by a warlord named Helios, who spared her life and took her into his refuge because of her beauty. He dined with Gwen and gave her beautiful clothes, but after Gwen found out that Helios was plotting to capture Camelot with Morgana, she fled and hid out in the forest for some time, while Morgana and Helios’ men hunted her down. Morgana and Gwen eventually crossed paths and Morgana knocked Gwen out, ripped her necklace off and turned her into a deer. Merlin would eventually find out after a hunting trip with Arthur, when he saw Gwen instead of the deer’s reflection. After she was hit by an arrow, he visited her and healed her wound. The next morning, Merlin and Gwen reunited and Gwen told Merlin of Morgana and Helios’ plans to capture Camelot, and how they are aided by Agravaine. A Camelot patrol passed, but to Merlin's dismay, Guinevere refused to join him as she didn't want to be seen by Arthur. Because Gwen can never return to Camelot, Merlin informs Arthur, but Arthur doesn't believe him. Arthur, who had also found Gwen’s ring in the forest, would also realise he still had feelings for her and ended his potential relationship with the beautiful Princess Mithian, saying that he still had feelings for her. Merlin later told Arthur that he and Gwen would somehow find their way back to each other eventually.

Reuniting with Arthur
"I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you"

- Gwen to Arthur

After these events, Gwen goes to Ealdor, the village where Merlin was raised. Soon after, Merlin brings Arthur to Ealdor to keep him safe after Morgana conquered Camelot. Gwen tends to him, and they reunite when he regaines consciousness. However, Agravaine tracks Arthur down and they are forced to flee.

Whilst preparing to save Camelot from the clutches of Morgana, Gwen attempts to talk to Arthur but he tells her that the affection he showed when they met in Ealdor was a moment of weakness and he still hasn't forgiven her for her brief affair with Lancelot. Despite this, Gwen stays by Arthur's side throughout the battle to save Camelot and duels against her former friend and mistress, Morgana, but is overwhelmed by Morgana's superior swordplay. Fortunately, Merlin uses his magic to cause an avalanche which knocks Morgana off her feet, but when the dust clears Morgana has disappeared. How Morgana escapes, or even if it is actually an escape or a rescue, is unknown.

Gwen and Merlin return to the throne room and find Isolde, a friend Arthur and Merlin had picked up during their travels, dying in the arms of her lover, Tristan. After seeing Isolde die, Arthur realises that he can't bear to lose Gwen again and finally manages to forgive her, asking her to marry him. Gwen accepts and is crowned Queen of Camelot (The Sword in the Stone).

As a Queen
Three years later, Camelot enjoys a time of prosperity and peace with Arthur and Guinevere as its rulers. However, after Gwaine, Percival and some other knights do not return from their mission, Arthur and his knights leave and Guinevere stands to rule Camelot alone. She befriends her maid, Sefa, but notices her odd behaviour when at nightfall she leaves Camelot and heads to the woods. When it is revealed that there is a traitor in Camelot, Gwen suspects Sefa, and, when the latter confesses her treachery, Guinevere sentences her to death (Arthur's Bane:Part One).

After Sefa begs Gaius to let her speak to the Queen, Gwen meets with Sefa but tells her that her decision to execute her still stands. It is then revealed that Gwen is using Sefa as bait to catch the real threat to Camelot, Ruadan. Gwen's plan to lure Ruadan to Camelot works and he is mortally wounded by Elyan. Gwen is last seen sitting on her throne beside Arthur as Mordred is knighted (Arthur's Bane: part two ) 

Attacked by the Spirit of Uther
One night, after Arthur had unknowingly released the spirit of his deceased father, Guinevere is walking down a corridor when she hears something behind her. She turns around but sees nothing. When she continues down the hall she hears the noise once again. She turns, asking if anyone is there, when there is no reply, he continues walking. A window next to her suddenly opens, then she walkes over to it and closes it. Within seconds the door behind her looks as though someone is trying to push through it, and all of the windows start banging open and closed. Gwen starts running and all of the torches go out. She turns around, frightened, then all of the sudden she is pulled to the ground and dragged across the floor, screaming. When she is back on her feet random objects start flying towards her from different directions. She runs into the kitchens as a spear plunges towards her, and she closes the doors just in time. When she enters the kitchen more items fly at her until she is knocked unconcious, then a fire starts, with Gwen trapped. Luckily Merlin arrived just in time to rescue Guinevere and take her safely to Gaius.

Personality
"Gwen is the most kind, loyal person you would ever meet and she has been more than a friend to all of us"

- Morgana on Gwen

At first, Gwen was shy and awkward and often found herself in situations she didn’t want to be in or saying things she didn’t mean to say. This usually happened around male characters, particularly Merlin and Arthur. Merlin immediately suggested that despite disliking him as a person Gwen had a crush on Arthur although this was untrue and he teased her about her attraction to "rough, tough save-the-world" types (The Dragon's Call, Lancelot).

She took a liking to Lancelot although - as with Arthur - Gwen claimed that he wasn’t her type when Merlin asked who she would choose between Arthur or Lancelot. Gwen also developed an unrequited crush on Merlin, attracted to the fact he was more or less the opposite of Arthur. However Gwen’s attempts to reveal her feelings for him frequently fell flat. For example when Merlin stated that she wouldn’t know the right man for her if he was standing right next to her Gwen looked at him and said "You're probably right." (The Dragon's Call, Lancelot)

As time went on she began to stand up for herself. It was she and Morgana who convinced Arthur to let the women of Ealdor fight when they were attacked by bandits, despite the fact that she was a servant. As a result Arthur began to acknowledge her more, seeking her out to promise her that she may keep her house and job after she was orphaned, and flirting with her after he recovered from the Questing Beast’s bite (The Moment of Truth, To Kill the King, Le Morte d'Arthur).

By series 2 her confidence and self belief had grown significantly, she now saw Arthur as someone approachable and she often offered him counsel and comfort when he needed it. She had to mother Morgana as her nightmares got worse, often staying with her through the night and worrying about her when she was away from her. She is unafraid to berate and challenge people in positions of power but she has confided in Arthur that she sometimes finds it difficult to express what was truly in her heart. She is fast thinking and quick to speak up and defend both her friends and those who were unfairly treated. Gwen is very wise and mature for her young age. She was also very beautiful and attracted the attention of many people including Arthur, Lancelot, Gwaine and at least three of the villains, Agravaine, Helios and Hengist; indeed Hengist stated that she was as beautiful as Morgana (though Hengist had never met Morgana). Despite her beauty Gwen was not a vain person.

Arthur stated that Guinevere always surprised him and said that although he thought he knew everything about her she kept finding new ways to amaze him. This could be one of the reasons why he fell in love with her. Although Gwen was usually kind and gentle she was capable of being aggressive if her friends were in danger and Arthur complimented her on her courage saying that she was a fearless hero (Lamia).

Gwen was also noted for being extremely loyal to Arthur and Camelot.

Over the next three years, Gwen adjusted to her role as a wife and as a Queen which made her more confidant in herself then she was before marrying Arthur. She was strong willed and took on responsiblity in her husband's absences. However Gwen also showed a considerably darker side, since she sentenced Sefa to death after finding out that Sefa had betrayed Camelot, even though Sefa had been her friend and was genuinely remorseful for her actions. It is also interesting to note that Gwen kept telling Sefa that she didn't have a choice, but in the first series she told Gaius that people always had a choice, although it was sometimes easier to think that they didn't. It is likely that Sefa's betrayal reminded her of Morgana, who had been her best friend half a decade earlier. However it was later shown that Gwen had actually never intended to execute Sefa and that it was only a plan to allow Camelot to catch her father, Ruadan who was the real threat. This showed that Gwen was a skilled actress since even Gaius, who had known her for many years, didn't realise that she was only using Sefa to get to her father. It also showed that she could be quite manipulative, ironically a trait that her former friend Morgana possessed, although unlike Morgana Gwen only used manipulation in order to achieve results that were in the best interests of Camelot.

Merlin
"You're strange. I don't mean that in a nasty way, you're just funny."

- Gwen to Merlin Gwen first notices Merlin when he stands up to Arthur when he is taunting a servant. When she introduces herself she admits that she thinks Merlin is brave and a real hero, and it is the beginning of a crush that develops over series one. Merlin makes her laugh and she admits that she likes that. At one point, after he was returned from the gates of death, she gave him a kiss. She appeared to be jealous of the attention Merlin paid to Nimueh, who was disguised as a handmaid called Kara(The Poisoned Chalice). However, Gwen later went on to develop feelings for Lancelot and Arthur.

The two remained very close friends and were like brother and sister, helping and rescuing each other on many occasions. For example, Gwen helped Merlin when his home town was in danger, even risking her life to battle bandits (The Moment of Truth). In turn, Merlin and Arthur helped rescue Gwen and Lancelot from being eaten alive by wilddeoren (Lancelot and Guinevere). Seeing Merlin as a mutual friend, both she and Arthur confide in Merlin about their feelings for each other. It was Merlin who discovered her kidnap in The Castle of Fyrien and she eventually confessed her situation. When Gwen went on a date with Arthur, Merlin boosted her confidence by telling her she looked lovely before he took her to see Arthur in the forest. When Gwen was in confinement, it was to Merlin that she shared her suspicions about Morgana. She later along with Merlin watched on proudly as Arthur was crowned King of Camelot. Later when Merlin was attacked by Lamia, Gwen attacked Lamia in order to protect him. She also noticed that Lamia seemed to think of Merlin as the enemy and that he had not been affected by her enchantments although she didn't know that this was because of Merlin’s magic. Although Gwen was closer to Merlin than anyone in Camelot, apart from Arthur and Gaius, she is still unaware of his abilities. It has been revealed that three years after becoming Queen of Camelot, Gwen will still remain close to Merlin but at some point their friendship with be tested, whether this means that it will concern his magic is yet unclear.

Arthur Pendragon
"I trust you Arthur. More than Uther, more than any man"

- Gwen to Arthur At first Gwen was disapproving of Arthur, believing he was arrogant and a bully. Eventually, however, she latercame to believe in his potential to be a great king. In series two their relationship became closer, and Gwen was able to provide Arthur with council and comfort. Convinced by Merlin, Gwen agreed to harbour Arthur in her home so that he can participate incognito in a jousting tournament. Initially, Arthur was rude and insensitive toward Gwen, leading to an outburst on her part, which seemed to make him admire her. They shared their first kiss after Gwen gave Arthur a token for luck in a tournament. However, he later explained that their social standings made their love impossible, to which she replied perhaps things would be different when he became king (The Once and Future Queen). Arthur has often valued her opinion and listened to her advice, including her request for him to better himself by showing humility and appreciation. In The Witchfinder, Gwen convinced Arthur to help save Gaius’s life. By series two, Arthur and Gwen had both realised that they had fallen in love, though Gwen also possessed strong feelings for Lancelot, which Arthur was aware and wary of.

Arthur has gone to great lengths to ensure Gwen’s safety; going against his father’s orders to rescue her (Lancelot and Guinevere), making Merlin promise to protect her should anything happen to him, and was willing to risk his life when The Great Dragon attacked her. In series three she has accepted that she is in love with Prince Arthur, but still cannot be too vocal about it because of her status as a servant. She often visits him when he needs support, as they both still highly value each others opinion. Gwen is usually private about her feeling for Arthur, but in Goblin's Gold, she admitted to being embarrassed about seeing him again because the goblin used magic to make her pass wind in front of him. Merlin asks why she is so worried, saying that everybody does it, but Gwen replies with 'not in front of people they have feelings for!' Merlin reassures her that Arthur will love her, 'warts and farts and all'. Feeling better after her chat with Merlin, she goes to see Arthur, but to her surprise, he has been turned into a donkey, in which he too, was highly embarrassed, particularly because of all people, it was Gwen that saw him in that form. After the goblin had been detained, they both agreed not to talk about the recent events that had passed. This seemed to clear the air and they were both happy. Arthur was also jealous when GwaineflirtedwithGwen. Nonetheless Gwen was only amused by Gwaine’s personality and remains loyal to Arthur. Gwen later told Arthur that the idea of her and Arthur being together was insane to anyone apart from the two of them (although this wasn’t quite true and Merlin and Gaius approved of their relationship). She also said that if he did marry Elena, she would stand by and watch him turn into the king Camelot deserves. However, she was visibly distraught on his wedding day, but when Arthur stopped the wedding she was relieved. They flirted after the ceremony, she teased him about Elena being too good for him and Arthur replied that he had forsaken her for someone just as lovely, if not more so. She shows to be very caring and concerned for his welfare and did not want to tell Arthur about being kidnapped for fear of anything happening to him. She told him that if anything happened to him she would never forgive herself. When Arthur made her promise to ride for Camelot to ensure her safety, she went back on it and stayed to make sure he returned safe. Later when Arthur was departing on a quest for the Golden Trident, Gwen went to see him before he left. Already knowing what she would say, Arthur reassured her that he would be careful, and kissed her good bye. Arthur knew what she would say however. She was very worried about him while he was gone, especially when she found out about Morgana’s magic, but was very happy and relived to see him safely returned.

When Gwen and Arthur are alone together in the woods they are completely natural and comfortable around each other. She tells him that she prefers him as Arthur, not prince of Camelot, and they share a kiss. Before she was imprisoned by Uther’s decree, she cried out for Arthur and they shared another kiss before she was dragged away. She makes Merlin promise to look after Arthur as she believed she was going to die. When she is saved, her and Arthur agree to keep up appearances, but she said she'd count down the days until they could truly be together. Since Arthur was crowned King, the two have been more open about their relationship to the point that Agravaine noticed and tried to get Arthur to end their relationship. Later when he asked her to marry him, she was so happy that for a moment she didn't seem able to speak causing Arthur to ask "Is that a yes?".Later upon being questioned about her betrayal with Lancelot, she said that all she had ever wanted was to be Arthur’s queen and upon exile was visibly distraught at having seemingly lost Arthur's love.

Gwen returned to Camelot to warn Arthur about the treachery of Agravaine and Morgana's alliance with Helios but she was too ashamed of kissing Lancelot to face the King directly. However she later met him in Ealdor and they shared a hug, although Arthur later stated that his show of affection had also been a show of weakness. Although Arthur was still angry with her about her kiss with Lancelot, they still loved each other, and Gwen fought in the battle of Camelot, even duelling against Morgana herself in the process. After Isolde died in the arms of her lover Tristan, Arthur realised that he couldn't lose Gwen again and finally forgave her. He asked her to marry him and she accepted and was later crowned Queen of Camelot after they married.

Tom
"Please Gaius, he's all I have!"

- Gwen on Tom

Gwen loved her father Tom and was desperate to save him when he fell fatally ill, and went to Gaius and Merlin to beg for help (The Mark of Nimueh). After being arrested for helping Tauren, Tom confessed that he only agreed to take the job to create a better life for Gwen, to which she replied that she was already content with her life. At the cost of Gwen, Morgana helps Tom break out of prison, but he was captured and executed on the spot. Gwen was devastated by his death and showed resentment toward Uther for his harsh ruling, but said that she would never kill Uther for his decision, as that would make her "as bad as him" (To Kill the King). She honoured her father to Uther in Queen of Hearts, which resulted in her being slapped by the king.

Elyan
"The more she feels for her brother's plight, the more she'll do for us"

- Cenred to Morgause

Elyan is Gwen’s brother, whom she hadn’t seen for about four years. Gwen loved her brother a great deal but was slightly resentful about the fact that he hadn’t contacted her in four years and that he put her, Arthur and Merlin in danger. In Lamia when Elyan fell victim to the Lamia's kiss she showed a major concern about his possible death. She is separated from him when she was exiled from Camelot by Arthur due to her 'affair' with the shade Lancelot and believed that she would never see him again. She was later reunited with him when she helped Merlin, Arthur and their new friends Isolde and Tristan take back Camelot from Morgana. He later was present at both Gwen's wedding and coronation watching on proudly.

Morgana Pendragon
"You know I have always been loyal to you Morgana and I always will be"

- Gwen to Morgana

Gwen had a close bond with Morgana who considered her to be her dearest friend in series one. She often comforted Morgana after she had a nightmare. Morgana often defended Gwen and Gwen’s family against Uther when they were in trouble, to the point where she got thrown into the dungeons (To Kill the King). The pair shared bravery and strong scruples, and together went to help Merlin when his village was under attack (The Moment of Truth). They were both unafraid to defy Arthur’s decision to keep the women out of battle, and eventually both fought in and survived the raid. When the two were captured by bandits, Gwen risked her life so that Morgana may escape, and the latter was hysterical to have Gwen rescued and refused to believe Uther when he said that Gwen was probably already dead (Lancelot and Guinevere). They started growing apart later in series two as a result of Gwen’s love for Arthur and Morgana’s magical abilities, both of which they kept secret from the other. When Morgana was taken away by Morgause, Gwen was very worried about her and missed her a lot.

When Morgana returned to Camelot, Gwen began to realise how much darker she had become and this caused their friendship to deteriorate. Because of this, Gwen began to spend more time with Merlin and Arthur and help them more often. However despite her suspicions, Gwen was heartbroken and devastated when Morgana was badly wounded by Merlin. Gwen’s suspicions of Morgana gradually began to increase when she saw Morgana with Morgause as an old woman and when Morgana coldly told Gwen to get out of her room after Arthur went on his quest to find the Golden Trident. As a result, Gwen discovered that Morgana had magic, making her realise that Morgana had turned against Camelot. Morgana discovered Gwen’s feelings for Arthur when he was forced to marry a princess and Gwen was later captured by Cenred to lure Arthur into a trap. Morgana later revealed Gwen’s relationship with Arthur to Uther and accused her of being a sorceress in order to prevent a vision of Gwen being Camelot’s queen from coming true. Gwen did see a smirk on Morgana’s face, confirming her suspicions that her former friend had turned evil. However Gwen still pretended to be Morgana’s friend. Morgana planned to have her executed when she discovered her conspiring with Sir Leon to break out of Camelot but Morgause said that she would be more use alive, saying that Gwen could lead them to Arthur. A long time later, Morgana enchanted Gwen so that she would fall in love with the Lancelot whom Morgana had about to prevent Guinevere from becoming queen resurrected after his death. Gaius believed that Morgana couldn't stand the thought of a serving girl taking what Morgana believed was her rightful place on the throne. Gwen met Morgana in the woods whilst travelling to Camelot to warn them that Morgana and Helios were raising an army, and her former friend turned her into a doe so that she would be hunted by Arthur and his men. Fortunately Merlin recognised her and Arthur found her engagement ring so Gwen survived the incident, albeit with an injured leg. Gwen eventually duelled Morgana in Camelot, and asked her why she hated her so much. Morgana seemed remorseful about what had happened the their relationship and actually appologised to Gwen but felt that she had to die so that Morgana could become queen. Morgana disarmed Gwen and pointed her sword at her throat but hesitated just long enough for Merlin to rescue her before Morgana could strike the fatal blow.

Three years after their last official meeting, Gwen and Morgana meet again when Gwen is kidnapped from Camelot, sending Arthur and Merlin on a frantic search for the Queen. Gwen is said to be enchanted and turned into Morgana's personal puppet in order to kill her husband (Arthur).

Lancelot
"As long as I live, my feelings for you will never fade."

- Gwen to Lancelot

Gwen took a liking to Lancelot, who had romantic feelings for her as soon as he met her. At first Gwen said to Merlin that Lancelot wasn’t her type, but later she developed romantic feelings for him (Lancelot). Lancelot turned to Gwen to get armour and weapons before going out to kill a Griffin. Gwen was sad when Lancelot left Camelot, thinking she would never see him again but they were later reunited while Gwen was the prisoner of Hengist. Lancelot said he had little to live for, but Gwen reprimanded him for this, saying that he was "everything beautiful in this world." He was determined to risk his life so that he may escape, to which she objected. He then told her that he would die for her a hundred times over, and Gwen kissed him before running away.

The two were reunited as prisoners when both were captured, and Lancelot professed his love for Gwen again before realising that she was present. After Arthur and Merlin came to their rescue, Lancelot noted that Arthur had taken extraordinary measures to rescue a maid and guessed that the prince harboured feelings for Gwen as well, which Merlin confirmed. Unwilling to come between Gwen and Arthur, Lancelot decided to depart, leaving a message for Gwen through Merlin saying that she had "changed him forever," but "some things cannot be" (Lancelot and Guinevere). Gwen burst into tears upon learning of his departure, and at this point seemed to share a stronger romantic bond with Lancelot than with Arthur. This later changed as her relationship with Arthur blossomed in later episodes, with both strengthening their strong love for each other, eventually Lancelot sees Arthur kiss her passionately, once in the castle and another in public (The Coming of Arthur). Gwen trusted Lancelot to keep Arthur safe and he promised that he would protect him with his life. When Lancelot was killed when sacrificing himself to defeat the Dorocha, Gwen was devastated at his death, tearfully telling Arthur that he sacrificed himself to fulfill the promise he gave to her (The Darkest Hour).

When Lancelot returned from the dead as a shade without a soul she was surprised It is unknown if she still has romantic feelings for Lancelot who died again when Merlin released his soul.

Gaius
Gwen is close friends with Gaius and went to him as soon as she discovered her father was seriously ill. She also gave Gaius a kiss on the cheek when Gaius was planning to leave Camelot (A Remedy to Cure All Ills). Gwen helped Merlin to save Gaius from being executed by Aredian and helped free Gaius from being possessed by a goblin. She later went to Gaius after she discovered Morgana’s treachery since she had no one else to turn to. Gwen went to help Gaius to stop a possessed Merlin from killing Arthur twice (A Servant of Two Masters). Gwen views Gaius as a second father and he views her like a daughter he never had.

Gwaine
Gwaine had his eyes on Gwen from the moment he saw her. He flirted with her in the market but stopped when he realised it wasn’t working. Gwen admired this about him and told him that she appreciated it. When he had to leave because Uther saw him as a commoner who had accused two knights, Gwen was saddened and assured him if Arthur was king, it would be different. It was her speech about Arthur that made Gwaine realise she loved the Prince and he was happy it wasn’t just because of his technique. Gwaine came back to help Arthur at the Melee but still had to leave. Gwen kissed him on the cheek to say good bye, which was seen by Arthur which made him slightly jealous. On later occasions it became obvious that Gwen and Gwaine were good friends. They greet eachother with a friendly hug, and later, Gwen seemed to be glad that he became a knight. The two get closer as season four progresses. Gwaine has various nicknames for Gwen which she politely ignores. It is currently unknown if Gwaine will continue to use these nicknames now that Gwen is Queen.

Uther Pendragon
"I don't expect someone like you to understand"

- Gwen to Uther

Although Gwen's father Tom was killed by Uther's knights when he attempted to flee the dungeons, Gwen did not hate Uther but stated that she felt nothing for him and wouldn’t kill him if she had the choice, as this would make her no better then him. Uther was the main obstacle in her and Arthur’s relationship since Uther followed the tradition that forbid royals to mate with commoners or servants. He banished her and sentenced her to death after finding out about her relationship with Arthur and being convinced by Morgana that Gwen had enchanted Arthur. He even physically slapped her across the face when she stood up for herself against his accusations of enchanting Arthur, telling Uther that he would never understand what it is like to love someone. Gwen was the only one who managed to provoke Uther to direct physical violence towards a prisoner throughout the series, probably because of her accusation that he was not able to understand real love and by that dishonouring Uther's love for Ygraine. Despite her dislike for Uther, she looked after him when he was broken by Morgana’s betrayal, but her indifference increased, which was clear when she told Gaius that she only did it for Arthur’s and not for Uther’s sake. When Uther died, Gwen happily watched Arthur being crowned king after his death.

Three years after becoming Queen, Gwen was present at Arthur's coronation anniversary dinner. Seeing that her husband was upset, she asked him if he was all right and he told her he was and kissed her on the cheek. After Arthur blew the Horn of Cathbhadh to see the spirit of his father, Uther critised Arthur's decision to marry Gwen and make her queen. While Arthur defended his wife and said that he chose love over matters of state, Uther became angry and when his spirit was released, Gwen, in Uther's rage, became one of Uther's victims and he tried to burn Gwen alive.

Leon
"I'm going to help you escape."

- Gwen to Leon

Gwen’s mother was a maid in Sir Leon’s household and Gwen and Leon grew up together. Though they saw little of each other as adults, due to Leon being a knight and Gwen being a servant, she broke Leon out of prison and helped him escape Camelot.

Hunith
Gwen formed a close relationship with Merlin's mother Hunith when Hunith came to Camelot looking for help against bandits that were attacking Ealdor. Gwen liked Merlin's mother, and she and Morgana decided to go with them to Ealdor and help her against Kanen, Hunith was very grateful with them and showed concern for Gwen and Morgana because of the dangerous trip. When they arrived to Ealdor, Gwen was thankful for Hunith's attention with her and Hunith supported Gwen's idea that the women should fight; during the Battle of Ealdor Gwen saved Hunith from being killed by a bandit. After Nimueh decided to take Hunith's life, Gwen stayed with her and nursed her until she was healed. After exile from Camelot, Gwen decided to stay for a time with Hunith in Ealdor. It can be said that Gwen and Hunith share a mother-daughter relationship.

Sefa
"I may be the Queen, but you don't have to hide your secrets from me"

- Gwen to Sefa

Sefa is Gwen's maid after she became queen and Gwen thought of her as a friend. She tried to make Sefa feel comfortable in her presence, telling her that just because she was queen it didn't mean that Sefa had to hide things from her. However Gwen later realised that Sefa is a traitor and furiously ordered her to be executed. She later revealed to Gaius that she actually had no intention of executing Sefa and that she just wanted to use her to lure her father, Ruadan to Camelot. This showed that she did actually seem to be quite attached to Sefa and she also seemed to feel sorry for her when Sefa told her that she just wanted to please her father. Sefa's love for Ruadan may have reminded Gwen about the loss of her own father although that didn't stop her from sending knights to kill Ruadan, whom she knew was a threat to Camelot. Sefa also seemed to have high respect for Gwen and is evidently sorry that she had to betray her.

Abilities
As the daughter of a blacksmith, Gwen was very knowledgeable about armour and various other peices of equipment. She was able to help Merlin and Lancelot when they needed armour and weapons and made a key to free Sir Leon from the dungeons after Morgana conquered Camelot for the first time.

Gwen was also known for her dress making abilities as she was noted as the best Seamstress in Camelot by Merlin.

Gwen also displayed some skill at wielding a sword although she was no match for Morgana despite the fact that Morgana had been injured before their duel.

Trivia

 * Guinevere is the only woman to have sat at the Round Table alongside her husband, brother, Merlin, Gaius and the other knights.
 * Due to her increasing relationship with Arthur, her outfits change due to the status she has in his life (Note: see the gallery at the bottom of the page).
 * Guinevere appeared in every episode except The Sorcerer's Shadow, Aithusa and A Herald of the New Age.
 * Guinevere is the only known servant to have married into a noble family.
 * Since Morgana's betrayal, Guinevere is the only female within Arthur's inner circle and is the 'mother' of the Knights of the Round Table and Merlin.
 * Angel Coulby who plays Gwen has stated in an interview that Gwen has very little interaction with Mordred.
 * In the same interview mentioned above, Angel has mentioned that little will change in regards to Gwen's friendship with Merlin except for on occasion, he will address her formally.
 * In many versions of the legend Guinevere goes by many different names including Wenhaver which is the name of the character of Guinevere in Australian author M.K Hume's book trilogy on King Arthur. Wenhaver is the polar opposite to the Guinevere we are familiar with in Merlin.

Legend


The character of Gwen is based on Guinevere, the wife of ArthurandQueen of the Britons, in the Arthurian legends. Guinevere appears in the earliest stories of Arthur as his faithful wife. The Welsh Triad names the three queens of Arthur, all three named Gwenhwyfar. It is widely accepted that the famous Gwenhwyfar of legend is the third one mentioned; she is the "daughter of Gogfran the Giant." Geoffrey of Monmouth portrays Guinevere as a noble lady with a Roman heritage, raised by Duke Cador of Cornwall. The recurring theme of her love affairs, whether by consent or abduction, has many variations. Early stories give Arthur as her rescuer, while later the rescuer is Lancelot.

The legends changed over time, and there would be a Love Triangle between Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot is entirely the creation of Chretien de Troyes and only appears at this date.

After Arthur’s death she fled to a nunnery where she remained until her death. The remaining living Knights of the Round Table bore her body to Arthur’s tomb where she was buried.