- This article is about the knight, Gwaine. For the episode he is introduced in, see: Gwaine (episode).
Gwaine was a Knight of the Round Table and close friend of Merlin. Born the son of a knight in Caerleon's kingdom, he rejected his family's noble heritage after the King refused to help them after his father's death. He wandered Albion as a vagabond until the Fall of Camelot, during which he pledged his allegiance to Arthur Pendragon and became a Knight of Camelot.
Gwaine served as a Knight for at least four years, during which he kept his noble blood a secret from his peers. He was killed by Morgana Pendragon in the aftermath of the Battle of Camlann.
Biography
Early Life
Gwaine was born to a noble family in Caerleon's kingdom. His father served as a knight in Caerleon's army. When he died in battle, Gwaine's mother was left penniless and the King refused to come to the family's aid. Gwaine's opinion of the nobility was forever altered by this experience, and eventually led him to reject his family's noble heritage.
By the time Gwaine reached adulthood, he had left his home and family and began living a vagabond lifestyle, traveling the world with his sword (Gwaine).
Trouble In Camelot
Gwaine punches Dagr.
Gwaine met Merlin and Arthur when he came to their aid in a tavern brawl against Dagr and his thugs. They won, but Gwaine was badly injured when he took a knife to the thigh in defense of Arthur.
Merlin and Arthur took Gwaine back to Camelot so his wounds could be treated by Gaius. Arthur and his father were deeply grateful for what Gwaine had done, but Gwaine was privately dismayed to learn that he'd saved the life of the Prince of Camelot. He preferred to avoid the nobility when possible; though he didn't hate all nobleman, he had yet to meet one worth dying for.
During Gwaine's stay in Camelot, he attempted to charm Gwen in the marketplace (who politely turned him down) and caused trouble in the local tavern by buying drinks for all the other patrons when he had no money. Merlin covered the bill by charging the drinks to Arthur, who made them both shine the boots of Camelot's entire army to pay him back. Despite this, Merlin found Gwaine's enjoyment of life amusing and refreshing and they got along well together, quickly establishing a rapport over the loss of their respective fathers and their desires to have known them better.
While attending to a pair of knights who were visiting Camelot for the upcoming Mêlée, Merlin discovered that they were armed with Stulorne Blades, magical swords that appeared blunt were actually dangerously sharp. After discussing the problem with Gwaine and Gaius and realising that they needed more proof, Merlin snuck into the knights' chambers during the night to steal one of the Blades as evidence. However, he was distracted by the discovery that Oswald and Ethan were actually Dagr and his goon Ebor in disguise.
Gwaine comes to Merlin's aid.
When Merlin failed to return to Gaius' chambers, Gwaine became worried and went to the knights' chambers to look for him. He arrived to find Oswald/Dagr throwing daggers at Merlin and quickly leapt to his defense. Gwaine easily defeated the two thugs, but was caught by Sir Leon and brought before the King for violating the Knight's Code.
Gwaine explained that he'd stepped in to protect Merlin, but Dagr claimed that he'd attacked them without cause, provoking a passionate response from Gwaine about the deeper meaning of nobility. Uther sided with the fake knights, but yielded to Arthur's please for him not to execute Gwaine and banished him from Camelot instead.
Gwaine accepted his sentence and prepared to leave Camelot immediately. Merlin tried to convince him to tell Uther that his father had been a knight, reasoning that Uther would likely pardon Gwaine if he knew he was a nobleman, but Gwaine refused, as he had no wish to serve a king such as Uther. He did, however, tell Merlin to look after Arthur before he left, remarking that, "Maybe that one's worth dying for."
Gwaine ran into Gwen on his way out of town, who praised his bravery and supported his impression of Arthur. Her words, combined with Merlin's trust and Arthur's attempt to speak up on his behalf, convinced Gwaine that Arthur was indeed a noble man and he secretly returned to Camelot to protect him during the Mêlée. He fought alongside Arthur against his would-be assassins, and together they killed them both.
Merlin S3 E4 - The Melee
Uther initially had Gwaine arrested for what he'd done and intended to have him executed for the murder of two knights. However, Gaius was able to reveal Dagr and Ebor's true identities, and Uther rescinded his judgment. However, he still refused to lift Gwaine's banishment.
Arthur disagreed with his father's decision and told Gwaine that if it were up to him, he would be welcomed as a friend. Afterward, Merlin tried one last time to get Gwaine to reveal his nobility and receive a pardon, but Gwaine stood by his conviction that he could never serve under a man like Uther. He decided to try his luck in Mercia instead and bid Gwen farewell on his way out of town (Gwaine).
The Perilous Lands
Gwaine's travels through Mercia eventually led him to a tavern in Angard, where he reunited with Merlin during another tavern brawl. Together, they escaped Gwaine's pursuers and fled into the countryside, where Merlin explained that Arthur had embarked on a quest to the Perilous Lands and needed their help.
Upon arriving at the border to the Perilous Lands, they were greeted by Grettir, the Keeper of the Bridge. He identified Gwaine as "Strength" (and Arthur and Merlin as "Courage" and "Magic", though Gwaine was not present for this) and announced that the trio was complete. Suspicious, Gwaine drew his sword to threaten the dwarf, but Grettir used magic to turn it into a bouquet of flowers. He assured Gwaine that his sword would return to normal on the other side of the bridge and allowed him and Merlin to cross without any further trouble.
While camping in a wasteland that night, Gwaine and Merlin tried to use quiet conversation to distract one another from the roars of unknown creatures. Merlin offered Gwaine the chance to go back if he wanted but, Gwaine refused, as he was there to help a friend. He then clarified that he was there for Merlin more than Arthur, as he considered Merlin to be the only real friend he had.
The next morning, Gwaine and Merlin followed Arthur's trail to the Fisher King's tower, where they spotted Arthur being pursued by Wyverns. They found Arthur unconscious in the one of the tower rooms, where he'd barricaded himself to escape the creatures. Arthur wasn't happy to see them, as he was meant to complete his quest alone, but ultimately accepted their help in searching for the Fisher King's trident.
Gwaine and Merlin in the Fisher King's tower.
Merlin eventually spotted the door to the throne room, but triggered a booby trap that caused it to close. Gwaine shoved Merlin through before he could be crushed, but Gwaine and Arthur were left on the outside. It took them several minutes to figure out how to reopen the door, but they soon managed it and found Merlin unharmed on the other side. Arthur happily retrieved the trident and the trio left the Perilous Lands behind.
Gwaine accompanied Merlin and Arthur as far as Camelot's border; with his banishment still in effect, 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).
Quest For The Cup
While traveling through Cenred's Kingdom, Gwaine was captured by the slave trader Jarl and held prisoner in his dungeon. He was made to fight his fellow prisoners for Jarl's amusement, eventually earning the title of champion.
Gwaine was reunited with Merlin and Arthur after they were also captured. Jarl decided to organise another fight soon afterward and Arthur volunteered to face his current champion, who he was surprised to learn was Gwaine. They faked a fight, stalling until they could think of a better plan, but ran out of time when Jarl ordered them to fight to the death. Fortunately, Merlin was able to start a fire with his magic and they escaped in the chaos that followed.
Once they were safe, Merlin explained that he and Arthur were searching for the Cup of Life and Gwaine decided to join them. They retrieved 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 became even more dire when Merlin and Gwaine learned that the arrow that had pierced Arthur's leg was poisoned. They spent the night camping in the woods while Merlin provided what treatment he could. Arthur regained consciousness the next morning, horrified that they'd lost the Cup, and the trio quickly set out for Camelot.
They reached the city the following evening, after it had been seized by Cenred's army. They sought refuge in Gwen's house and found her brother, Elyan, hiding to avoid capture. Elyan explained that the city had been overrun by immortal soldiers, and that the citadel had fallen soon afterward.
Determine to learn the fates of his father and Gwen, Arthur led the group to the citadel. He sent Gwaine and Elyan to the dungeons, where they saw Uther being dragged away by Cenred's men. They ran to Gaius' chambers and gave the news to Arthur, who ordered them to take Gaius and hide in the Darkling Woods (The Coming of Arthur).
Knighthood
- “Arise, Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot.”
- — Arthur Pendragon[src]
Gwaine becomes a Knight of Camelot.
One week after the Fall of Camelot, Gwaine the rest of Arthur's allies sheltered in a cave in the Darkling Woods. They were eventually joined by Gwen and Sir Leon after they managed to escape from the city. However, they soon discovered that Morgause and Morgana had allowed the duo to escape in order to track them to Arthur's hideout. Gwaine and the others fled the cave pursued by soldiers, but were ultimately saved by the arrival of Percival and Lancelot, who blocked the path with boulders to halt Morgause's pursuit.
Arthur led the group to the Castle of the Ancient Kings, where he invited them to sit at the Round Table and outlined his plan to infiltrate the citadel and rescue his father. Gwaine was among those who volunteered to accompany him, and Arthur rewarded his loyalty by knighting him alongside Elyan, Percival, and Lancelot.
The next day, Arthur and his men snuck into the citadel while Gwen and Gaius remained behind at the Castle. Once inside, Merlin and Lancelot separated from the group to disable the warning bell while Arthur, Gwaine, and the others proceeded to the dungeons. They managed to trap some of the soldiers guarding the prisoners in a cell and held their own against those that remained.
Sir Gwaine, Knight of Camelot
Arthur was in the process of freeing Uther from his cell when the warning bell sounded, alerting the citadel to their presence. With their escape route cut off, Arthur led the Knights into battle against the immortal army until Merlin emptied the Cup of Life, instantly destroying the immortal soldiers. At some point in the fight Gwaine became separated from the others, but was later revealed to be alive and relatively uninjured.
Later, Gwaine accompanied the other Knights to the Castle of the Ancient Kings to escort Gwen home to Camelot (The Coming of Arthur).
The Dorocha's Attack
One year after the Fall of Camelot, Gwaine was still serving as a Knight in Uther's court. He and Percival attempted to steal a roast chicken from the castle kitchens before the Feast of Samhain, which they attended that evening.
Gwaine later accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table to investigate reports of strange, faceless creatures attacking Camelot's villages. They discovered that the attacks were the work of the Dorocha, ghostly voices of the dead unleashed by Morgana tearing the veil between the worlds.
Gwaine and the other Knights also accompanied Arthur on his quest to the Isle of the Blessed, where he intended to banish the Dorocha by repairing the veil. They made camp the first night at the fortress of Daobeth, where Merlin was badly injured by the Dorocha. Lancelot volunteered to take Merlin back to Camelot, and the rest of the group continued on with the quest.
On Arthur's recommendation, the Knights decided to take a shortcut through the Tunnels of Andor, which were infested with Wilddeoren. They used Gaia berries to disguise their scents from the creatures, but one took an interest in Gwaine anyway, prompting him to kill it. Unfortunately, the creature's death cry alerted the others to their presence, forcing the Knights to flee.
After another day of traveling, the Knights were reunited with Merlin and Lancelot, the former of whom had recovered from his encounter with the Dorocha. Like the other Knights, Gwaine rushed to greet them and hugged Merlin, happy he was okay.
The group reached the Isle of the Blessed the following morning. They crossed the lake by way of a ferryman's boat, and soon discovered that the Isle was guarded by Wyverns. Percival, Elyan, and Leon remained outside to fend them off while Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, and Lancelot proceeded on to the stone alter.
A Wilddeoren investigates Gwaine.
At the alter, they encountered the Cailleach, the Gatekeeper to the Spirit World, who refused to repair the veil unless she was given the sacrifice she desired. Gwaine tried to force her to help them and was swiftly knocked unconscious by her magic. When he came to, the Dorocha were gone and Lancelot was dead, having sacrificed himself to repair the veil.
Later, back at the citadel, Gwaine attended Lancelot's memorial alongside the rest of the court. He was present when a funeral pyre containing Lancelot's cloak and sword was burned in the courtyard (The Darkest Hour).
Further Adventures
Gwaine and the other Knights at Arthur's coronation.
Gwaine attended Arthur's birthday feast along with the rest of the court. Later, after Uther's death, he also attended Arthur's coronation (The Wicked Day).
When they learned that Julius Borden was searching for the last dragon egg in existence, Gwaine accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table on a quest to find and destroy it. During the journey, Gwaine joined the others in playing a trick on Merlin wherein they pretended to eat all of the food he made, then produced one last bowl that they'd saved for him. As a result, he and the others Knights fell deathly ill when Borden poisoned their food and had to be saved by Merlin's magic (Aithusa).
Gwaine took part in Arthur's ambush on King Caerleon's raiding party. He was present when Arthur tried to pressure Caerleon into signing a treaty with Camelot, and when Arthur executed him after he refused.
When Caerleon's widow, Queen Annis, consequently declared war on Camelot, Gwaine accompanied the rest of Camelot's army to the battle sight. He joined the other Knights in cheering up Arthur by voicing their support for him, and later volunteered to serve as Camelot's champion after Arthur and Annis agreed to settle their dispute by single combat. Arthur chose to fight Caerleon's champion himself, however, and Gwaine watched the duel from the ridge alongside the rest of the army (His Father's Son).
Gwaine was one of the Knights who accompanied Arthur on his secret negotiations. They were ambushed by Morgana's mercenaries in the Valley of the Fallen Kings and Gwaine, Percival, and Leon were separated from Merlin and Arthur during the battle. They recruited Elyan to help search and eventually found Arthur, but Merlin remained missing.
The next day, Gwaine went with Arthur when he decided to conduct his own search for Merlin. They eventually found him climbing out of a bog, filthy but uninjured. The trio returned to Camelot, unaware that Merlin had been implanted with a Fomorroh by Morgana and was ordered to kill Arthur. On one of his attempts on Arthur's life, Merlin poisoned Arthur's food, but ran into Gwaine on his way to his chambers. When Gwaine tried to steal some of the food, he was perplexed by Merlin's uncharacteristically rude response.
Later, Gwaine was on patrol with the other Knights when they encountered Merlin's alter ego Dragoon the Great in the Darkling Woods. Merlin was attempting to mount his horse so he could ride to Morgana's hovel and free himself from her Fomorroh's control, but due to the effects of his ageing spell did not have the strength to manage it.
Recognising him as the sorcerer supposedly responsible for Uther's death, Gwaine and the others attempted to apprehend him, but were quickly defeated by his magic. Merlin gleefully mounted his horse using the fallen Knights as a staircase and went on his way (A Servant of Two Masters).
After Gaius was framed for magic and disappeared from Camelot, Gwaine was one of the few people who visited Merlin to see how he was coping. He believed Merlin's suspicions that Gaius had been kidnapped and helped him investigate by identifying some dirt he'd found as iron ore, which could only be found in the mines at the Ridge of Chemary.
Gwaine accompanied Merlin to the mines, and upon entering they were ambushed by Orn, who Gwaine killed with the help of Merlin's magic. They split up when they reached a fork in the road, and Gwaine's tunnel led to him the room where Gaius was being kept. He found Agravaine hovering over Gaius with a knife and was immediately suspicious, but Agravaine convinced Gwaine that he'd followed him and Merlin to help. They took Gaius back to Camelot, leaving Merlin behind, and Gwaine informed Arthur that Merlin's suspicions had been correct (The Secret Sharer).
Gwaine and the other Knights escorted Gwen and acting physician Merlin to Longstead, which had been stricken by a mysterious illness. While returning to Camelot, the Knights rescued a young girl, Lamia, from bandits. Lamia soon began to exert a strange control over the Knights, causing them to act increasingly possessive of her and aggressive towards each other. At one point Gwaine and Leon came to blows and Gwaine slashed Leon in the arm.
After Elyan appeared to have contracted the same sickness as the people of Longstead, Lamia persuaded them to shelter at her castle. She disappeared from the group when they arrived there, and one by one the Knights fell victim to her spell until a rescue party led by Arthur arrived and killed her. Gwaine and the others were then taken back to Longstead, where Gaius treated them for their illness (Lamia).
Like the other Knights, Gwaine was overjoyed when Lancelot returned to Camelot during Gwen and Arthur's wedding tourney. He was later present when Gwen was brought before the court for betraying Arthur with Lancelot (Lancelot du Lac).
Gwaine was on patrol with Arthur, Merlin, and the rest of the Knights when they came across a Druid Shrine. He annoyed Elyan by drinking all his water and then led the other Knights in teasing him. He also teased Merlin about a superstition that claimed salt circles could ward away evil spirits, which Elyan overheard.
Later that evening, Gwaine went to the tavern with Percival and some of the other Knights. When he returned, he heard Elyan yelling and went to check on him, but Elyan claimed to be fine. Gwaine recounted how Percival had broken Sir Brennis' wrist while arm wrestling, amusing Elyan, then left.
The next day, Gwaine attended training with Arthur and the other Knights, and later got into a fight with Elyan in the armoury that ended with Elyan falling unconscious. Later, when Elyan attempted to kill Arthur, Gwaine searched the castle for him along with Percival and Leon, eventually apprehending him in a castle corridor (A Herald of the New Age).
Gwaine was present when Arthur announced Camelot's new agreement with Nemeth and his arranged marriage to Princess Mithian. He was also in attendance when Mithian arrived (The Hunter's Heart).
Second Fall of Camelot
- “Behold! A Knight of Camelot, famed as the greatest knights in Five Kingdoms. Let's see if that fame's deserved, shall we?”
- — Morgana Pendragon[src]
Gwaine informed Arthur when Morgana and Helios attacked Camelot during the Feast of Beltane. He was ordered to secure the armoury, but was eventually forced to retreat to an inner chamber when the citadel was overrun.
Gwaine and Percival barricaded the doors while Gaius and Merlin tended Arthur's wounds. Merlin and Percival later conspired to sneak Arthur out of Camelot to safety, but Gwaine chose to stay behind with Gaius to slow down Morgana. They were soon captured and imprisoned in the dungeons with Elyan, who Morgana tortured for information on Arthur's whereabouts.
When Morgana paid them a visit, Gwaine demanded that they be given food, pleading particularly on Gaius' behalf. Morgana responded to his request by forcing Gwaine to fight her soldiers for her army's entertainment. Gwaine defeated his first opponent and was given a small piece bread, after which two more men were chosen to fight him.
This arrangement continued throughout the week that Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius were imprisoned. Though increasingly worn down, Gwaine remained optimistic even as Morgana made his fights more challenging. On one occasion, he was given only a wooden dagger to fight with, but nevertheless defeated his two opponents and was given a small loaf of bread. When he was returned to his cell, however, Morgana hinted that his next fight would be his last.
Fortunately, Arthur and his allies retook Camelot before that time came. Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius were freed from the dungeons by Percival and Leon, who were greatly relieved to see them. Though weakened by his ordeal, Gwaine was later able to attend Gwen's coronation alongside the rest of the court (The Sword in the Stone).
Capture at Ismere
- “Sir Gwaine set off for Ismere some six weeks ago. With him went three score of our finest men. There has been no word from them since.”
- — Arthur Pendragon[src]
Three years after the Second Fall of Camelot, Gwaine led a patrol of sixty Knights to the northern kingdom of Ismere. The patrol was attacked by wolves led by Morgana, who had taken up residence in the Fortress of Ismere. Gwaine and the other Knights were captured and taken to the mines beneath the Fortress, where they were added to the ranks of slaves forced to dig for a Key.
Though they Knights were scattered throughout the mines, Gwaine and Percival managed to stay together and often discussed what Morgana was searching for. They eventually located the rest of their men, who had also been listening for any useful information, but had been unable to learn anything new.
Soon after locating the last of their men, Gwaine noticed an odd blue light flickering the caverns. He saw the light again while working and decided to follow it, asking Percival to cover for him, but was knocked unconscious by a pair of Saxons before he could get close enough to see what it was.
After the guards left, Gwaine was approached by a strange, glowing creature that used magic to heal his wounds. Gwaine later woke to find the creature watching over him. It treated him kindly, assuring him he had nothing to fear from it, and they quickly became friends. When Gwaine mused that he'd never seen a creature like it before, it explained that it was the last of its kind and then encouraged him to rest, as his wounds were not yet fully healed.
The creature later woke Gwaine when the warning bell sounded. 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. However, he was relieved to find that the intruders were Arthur and Merlin, who were part of a rescue party searching for the missing patrol. Gwaine intended to introduce them to the creature, but turned to see it disappearing around a corner. He told Arthur that he didn't know what it was, but he owed it his life.
The trio hurried back down the tunnels, Arthur and Merlin supporting a still wounded Gwaine. They took cover when they encountered a dragon in the caverns and Merlin ran out to distract it. Arthur then ran after Merlin, leaving Gwaine alone. However, Gwaine was soon found by Percival and the rest of their men, who had freed themselves and dispatched the guards soon after Arthur and Merlin arrived.
Once the Saxons were defeated, Gwaine and Percival went in search of their missing friends. They found Mordred supporting an injured Arthur and helped them both to safety. Later, back at Camelot, Gwaine attended Mordred's knighthood ceremony alongside the rest of the court (Arthur's Bane).
Later Adventures
Gwaine and Merlin at King Loath's Tomb.
Gwaine was among the Knights who accompanied Arthur to rescue King Rodor. When Merlin was found unconscious next to a river near their camp, Gwaine stayed with him and Gaius while Arthur and the rest of the Knights continued their mission. Gwaine was deeply concerned by Merlin's injuries, and was relieved to find him recovered when he returned from gathering firewood.
Gwaine and Merlin rushed to catch up with Arthur, who Merlin insisted was walking into a trap. When they reached the tomb where Rodor was hiding, however, they found that Arthur and the others had already been captured by Morgana. They decided to split up, 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 guards preoccupation, Gwaine quickly knocked him out and stole his crossbow, which he used to shoot the guards surrounding the Knights (Another's Sorrow).
Gwaine accompanied Arthur and the other Knights of the Round Table on a mission to apprehend the sorcerer Osgar. He and the other Knights teased Mordred along the way, and he later partnered with Elyan when they split up to search the Forest of Brechfa.
Gwaine and Elyan were the first to find Osgar and attempted to capture him on their own. However, Osgar fought back and used his magic to throw them into a tree, rendering them unconscious, though not before he was mortally wounded by Gwaine.
Gwaine later went to Caerlanrigh with Arthur and the other Knights to answer the judgment of the Disir. Like the others, he ignored Merlin's warnings not to go armed into a sacred place and carelessly trampled the Disir's relics. He also came to Arthur's defense when the Disir criticised his behaviour (The Disir).
The Dark Tower
Gwaine, Percival, and Leon in the Impenetrable Forest.
Gwaine was one of the Knights who escorted Gwen and Elyan on their pilgrimage to visit their father's grave. While returning to Camelot, the group was attacked by snakes conjured by Morgana and both Percival and Leon fell victim to their bites. Gwaine and Elyan urged Gwen to ride on without them, but she didn't get far before she was kidnapped.
After Percival and Leon recovered from the snakebites, Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights set out to rescue Gwen. They found her horse abandoned in the woods and a trail leading east, which they followed until nightfall.
Though Arthur wanted to continue, Merlin convinced him to make camp before they lost the trail completely. A few hours later, both Percival and Leon woke from identical nightmares of the Dark Tower. Merlin theorised that they must still have venom from Morgana's snakes running through their veins, and that she had planted the visions in their minds to lure Arthur into a trap. This led Arthur to believe that Gwen was being held captive at the Tower.
The group resolved to travel to the Tower together and began their journey by crossing the Impenetrable Forest. They spent much of the day wandering in circles, their pace hindered by the Forest's dense foliage. At one point, Gwaine tore his tore cloak and became so frustrated he began savagely hacking at the plants, startling his fellow Knights. The next morning they decided to return to the clearing they started from, but Merlin convinced the group that he guide them through the Forest, and (using his magic) successfully did so.
After leaving the Forest, the Knights endured an arduous trek across the Dollares Plains to arrive at the Tower itself. They climbed a staircase to a room filled with booby traps; the flagstones on the floor reacted to pressure, setting off arrows that wounded Percival in the leg.
Elyan, who was a little ways ahead of the others, figured out he could cross the room by using his sword to test the stones before stepping on them. The others were quick to follow suit, but upon reaching the doorway, Elyan went on without them, determined to rescue his sister. When Gwaine and the others finally caught up to him, they found Gwen unharmed at the top of the Tower and Elyan lying dead in her arms.
Gwaine later attended Elyan's funeral at the Lake of Avalon alongside the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Final Adventures
- “There's an intruder within our walls.”
- — Gwaine[src]
Gwaine at Tyr Seward's trial.
After an attempt was made on Arthur's life and his saddle was found to have been tampered with, Gwaine was sent to arrest Tyr Seward, the King's stablehand. He was also present in the council chambers when Tyr was tried and sentenced to death.
Later, Gwaine was a member of the patrol that nearly discovered Gwen and Morgana conspiring in the woods. Gwaine chased Gwen and nearly caught her, but Morgana used magic to pull him off his horse, allowing Gwen to escape. Gwaine was taken back to Camelot and examined by Gaius, who determined that he had no broken bones, but ordered him to rest anyway.
When Arthur was poisoned, Gwaine was standing with the other Knights when Gaius made his diagnosis and Gwen accused Merlin of the crime. Later, after Merlin escaped from the dungeons disguised as Dragoon, Gwaine was one of the Knights who pursued him through the citadel and out into the courtyard. When Dragoon escaped, Gwaine informed Gwen that there was an intruder in the castle and escorted her to a guest chamber, where she would be safe.
After Arthur recovered from the poisoning and ordered Merlin's release, Gwaine accompanied Gaius to the dungeons to give Merlin the good news (A Lesson in Vengeance).
Gwaine was among the Knights present in the courtyard when Sarrum of Amata arrived to discuss an alliance with Arthur. Later, he and the rest of the court were present in the council chambers to witness the two kings sign a treaty that would establish an alliance between their kingdoms (The Hollow Queen).
When Merlin, Arthur, and Gaius conspired to drug Gwen and take her to the Cauldron of Arianrhod, Merlin and Gaius attempted to smuggle her out of the castle in a wheelbarrow, but were intercepted by Gwaine and Mordred. Gaius told the curious Knights that they were transporting a victim of red thrush fever. Gwaine was skeptical, as he'd never heard of the illness before, but let the, continue on their way. He also expressed some concern for the supposed victim, asking for their name so that he might send something to their family (With All My Heart).
Gwaine and the other Knights were sent on a patrol to capture a renegade sorceress and her accomplice. They found Merlin in the woods, who claimed to be gathering herbs for Gaius. Though Merlin planned to return to Camelot, the Knights placed him under protective custody instead, as they didn't want him traveling alone with a dangerous sorceress and Saxons on the loose. However, Mordred allowed Merlin to leave during the night, and the Knights continued their patrol without him.
The next day, they came across the body of a Knight whose face had been covered with excess skin. They rushed him back to Camelot, where Gaius identified the disfigurement as a ragaid, a magical declaration of war from a High Priestess to her enemies (The Kindness of Strangers).
Gwaine and the other Knights were on a hunting trip with Merlin and Arthur when they came across an arms shipment that had fallen victim to a Saxon raid. The group searched for survivors and then returned to Camelot.
The Knights track the arms shipment.
Later, after one of the raiders had been captured, Gwaine attended Kara's trial and was present when she was sentenced to death. When Mordred, her former lover, responded to this by breaking her out of prison and running off with her, killing a guard along the way, Gwaine was one of the Knights that Arthur took with him to apprehend them. They caught up with them in the woods, where Mordred begged Arthur to allow them to leave and appealed to Gwaine and several other Knights for help, but all remained loyal to Arthur.
Gwaine was later present when Arthur attempted to offer Kara a deal, promising to spare her from execution if she repented of her crimes. Kara refused and was executed the following morning, shortly after which Mordred escaped from the cells (The Drawing of the Dark).
Battle of Camlann
Merlin and Gwaine in the Valley of the Fallen Kings.
Gwaine was among the Knights who participated in the Battle of Stowell. He intervened in the capture of Eira, a young woman who saved his life when the Saxon he was fighting elbowed him to the ground. Eira hit the Saxon over the head with a piece of wood and gave Gwaine the opening he needed to end the fight.
After Morgana's forces overwhelmed the Fort, forcing Camelot to retreat, Gwaine took Eira back to the citadel with him. He saw that her wounds were treated by Merlin and was forced to deliver the news that she was the only person from her village to survive the attack. Seeing Eira's devastation, Gwaine promised that she would be safe in Camelot.
Gwaine later attended the meeting of the Round Table wherein the council discussed Morgana's plans for war and decided on Camelot's response. Arthur ultimately chose to make their stand at Camlann rather than the citadel in order to minimize civilian casualties.
As Camelot's army prepared to depart, Merlin enlisted Gwaine to escort him to the Valley of the Fallen Kings, an errand which Gwaine later told to Eira. Merlin and Gwaine found that the Valley was crawling with bandits, some of which attacked them during their journey. When they reached a cave, Merlin told Gwaine he could make his own way from there and sent him back to Camelot. Though confused and somewhat concerned by Merlin's odd behaviour, Gwaine did as he asked and left to catch up to Camelot's army, though he insisted on leaving Merlin his sword.
Gwaine in the Battle of Camlann.
Gwaine later rejoined Camelot's forces sometime after they'd set up camp at Camlann. When Arthur realised that Morgana intended to use a hidden path through the mountains to ambush them, Gwaine and Percival were ordered to take a patrol of men and find it. Arthur and the rest of Camelot's forces joined them after they'd located the path, and together they waited for Morgana's army to arrive.
Gwaine survived the Battle of Camlann and likely participated in the search for Arthur afterward. He eventually returned to the citadel with the rest of Camelot's army when no trace of the King could be found (The Diamond of the Day).
Death
- “Tell me where the King is."
"I'd rather die."
"Then you shall have your wish... Once you've told me. Not even you, Sir Knight, can resist the charms of the Nathair.” - — Morgana and Gwaine[src]
The death of Sir Gwaine.
In the aftermath of the battle, Gwaine was present when Gaius told Gwen that Arthur had been badly wounded and that Merlin was taking him to Avalon to be healed. He also heard Gaius recount Merlin's suspicions that Eira was a traitor.
Gwaine helped Gwen set a trap for Eira by giving her false information about where Merlin and Arthur were heading. He was later heartbroken when he caught her sending the information to Morgana, and watched her execution from a castle window the following day.
Furious with Morgana, Gwaine recruited Percival on a quest for revenge and they rode out to find and kill her. Knowing that Eira's last message would lead Morgana to Brineved, they planned to ambush her in the nearby woods. But though they succeeded in defeating what remained of her army and Percival even managed to land a blow on Morgana herself, their attack failed when she knocked them out with her magic.
When Gwaine regained consciousness, he found himself tied between two trees some distance away from Percival. Morgana tortured him to the brink of death for information on Arthur's real whereabouts, and though Gwaine tried to resist, he eventually told Morgana what he knew.
Gwaine's tortured screams drove Percival to break free from his bonds. He rushed to Gwaine's side, but Morgana was already gone and Gwaine died moments later, heartbroken that he'd failed his friends (The Diamond of the Day).
Personality
- “I think we've no chance. But I wouldn't miss it for the world.”
- — Gwaine[src]
Gwaine was generally fun-loving and mischievous.
Gwaine was fun-loving, laidback, and highly loyal. Though he initially appeared to be a reckless and carefree man who thought of little more than ale and women, he soon proved to be a selfless and courageous individual who respected honour and loyalty above all else.
Gwaine was particularly adamant in his belief that nobility should be defined by what a person did rather than who they were. As such, he was wholly dedicated to doing what he believed to be right. For example, when he first visited Camelot, he risked his life to save Arthur on two occasions, the second after he'd been banished under pain of death.
Gwaine was also quite humble. He refused to use his noble heritage to get out of unwanted punishments, and valued respect earned through actions over prestige inherited through a title. In fact, he once told Merlin that if there was anything he'd learned from his father's life, it was that titles didn't mean anything; it was who a person was on the inside that counted.
Because his family had been wronged by the nobility, Gwaine tended to dislike people of noble blood, viewing them as corrupt, selfish, and power-hungry, and hid his own noble heritage from others. He had a bit of a defiant streak and little respect for authority, openly criticising Uther on more than one occasion. However, Gwaine was not so prejudiced that he was unable to see the fairness and honesty in Arthur's actions, and eventually came to see him as a friend (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix).
Gwaine had a very trusting nature, preferring to see the best in people and forming a fast friendship with Merlin. He was also mischievous with a good sense of humour. He frequently organised jokes among the Knights, was infamous for his endless (and often mindless) chatter, and was generally known to be very cheerful and optimistic (The Darkest Hour, A Servant of Two Masters, A Herald of the New Age, The Sword in the Stone).
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Gwaine befriends the Diamair.
Interestingly, though Gwaine himself could not use magic, he appeared to have some experience with it. He was able to identify a pair of Stulorne Blades based on Merlin's description and recognised Wyverns from a great distance (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix).
Gwaine's attitude towards magic appeared to be somewhat ambivalent. He regarded the Stulorne Blades and Wyverns as dangerous and had no qualms about hunting down sorcerers, but was also willing to befriend magical creatures such as the Diamair that showed him kindness (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix, A Servant of Two Masters, Arthur's Bane, The Disir).
Relationships
Arthur Pendragon
Arthur and Gwaine
Gwaine and Arthur were close friends. They first met when Gwaine saved Arthur's life during a tavern brawl. Gwaine was dismayed to learn that Arthur was the Prince of Camelot. He had a low opinion of the nobility, and even told Merlin that if he'd known who Arthur was, he probably wouldn't have saved him.
However, Gwaine's opinion later changed for the better when Arthur defended him to Uther, proving that he was a man of honour. He later willingly returned to Camelot despite his banishment to protect Arthur during the Mêlée, and though Arthur was unable to convince his father to lift Gwaine's banishment, they ultimately parted as friends (Gwaine).
Gwaine and Arthur met again when Merlin recruited Gwaine to help Arthur with his heir's quest and their search for the Cup of Life. Gwaine later joined Arthur's rebellion during the Fall of Camelot and was made a Knight of Camelot. The fact that Gwaine allowed Arthur to knight him showed how he had come to trust and respect the Prince, as he had refused to become a Knight on prior occasions because he felt he could never serve under a man like Uther (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix, The Coming of Arthur).
As a Knight of the Round Table, Gwaine quickly became one of Arthur's most trusted warriors and regularly accompanied him on quests. Though Gwaine often teased Arthur about his royal privileges and annoyed him with mindless chatter, Arthur generally enjoyed his company and was frequently amused by his pranks and tendency to tease Merlin, though Gwaine was usually kinder to the servant than Arthur (A Servant of Two Masters).
Merlin
On a quest with Merlin.
Gwaine and Merlin were best friends. Gwaine took an almost immediately liking to Merlin when they first met, and soon came to trust him enough to share secrets about his father's life and his own noble heritage, making Merlin the only person in Camelot to know the truth of his noble blood. In turn, Merlin told Gwaine about his father's banishment (Gwaine).
By the time Gwaine left Camelot, he had come to consider Merlin one of his best friends. He immediately agreed to accompany Merlin to the Perilous Lands to help Arthur, and was delighted to be reunited with him when they found themselves being held prisoner by Jarl. Later, Gwaine and Merlin were both members of Arthur's rebellion during the Fall of Camelot, and Merlin watched proudly as Gwaine was made a Knight of Camelot (The Eye of the Phoenix, The Coming of Arthur).
Though some distance grew between them following Gwaine's knighthood, he and Merlin nevertheless remained close friends. Gwaine helped Arthur search for Merlin when he was lost in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, was very concerned when Merlin was injured during their mission to rescue King Rodor, and took time to help Merlin with a mysterious errand before the Battle of Camlann (A Servant of Two Masters, Another's Sorrow, The Diamond of the Day).
Gwaine was also one of the few people to visit Merlin after Gaius was framed as a traitor. He listened as Merlin explained his theory that Gaius had been abducted, and dropped everything to help him rescue his mentor (The Secret Sharer).
Guinevere Pendragon
Gwaine and Gwen
Gwaine and Gwen were close friends. Gwaine was attracted to Gwen from the moment he met her. Gwen did not return his interest and gently rebuffed his attempts at flirtation, but she also told him that she liked that he tried, and that he knew when to give up. Later, when Gwaine left Camelot, Gwen bid him farewell and Merlin and Arthur observed that they seemed "very friendly" (Gwaine).
Gwaine and Gwen remained friendly after he became a Knight of Camelot and she became Queen. They were both members of Arthur's rebellion during the Fall of Camelot, and Gwaine was among the Knights who risked his life to rescue Gwen from the Dark Tower. Gwaine was also willing to help Gwen set a trap for Eira when she was suspected of being a spy, even though he was romantically involved with her at the time (The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone, The Dark Tower, The Diamond of the Day).
Morgana Pendragon
Morgana forces Gwaine to fight.
Gwaine and Morgana were enemies. Though Morgana seemed to find Gwaine physically attractive, she despised him for being a Knight of Camelot and was brutally antagonistic towards him. During the Second Fall of Camelot, she derived sadistic pleasure from watching him fight increasingly unfair battles against her men, rewarding him with scraps of food each time he won (The Sword in the Stone).
Gwaine, for his part, reacted to Morgana's challenges with characteristic flippancy. He was still unafraid of her three years later, when she held him prisoner at Ismere. When he was dragged before her throne, Gwaine cheerfully remarked that they should stop meeting like this, and Morgana took pleasure in insulting his bedraggled appearance (The Sword in the Stone, Arthur's Bane).
Morgana ultimately killed Gwaine in the aftermath of the Battle of Camlann. Gwaine hunted Morgana down after Eira was executed, intending to kill her in revenge, but she overpowered and captured him. Morgana then tortured him to the point of death for information on Arthur's whereabouts (The Diamond of the Day).
Leon
Gwaine and Leon
Gwaine and Leon were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Gwaine seemed to add a little humour to Leon's usually serious personality; they often joked around together and with their fellow Knights. For example, while on a quest to find the last dragon egg, the Knights teamed up to play pranks on Merlin (Aithusa).
Leon was normally very patient with Gwaine's antics. In fact, the only time the two ever fought was when they were both being controlled by the Lamia. Though Percival and Elyan managed to break it up before anyone was seriously injured, Gwaine slashed Leon's arm during the fight, the wound deep enough to require stitches (Lamia).
Elyan
Gwaine and Elyan during the Second Fall of Camelot.
Gwaine and Elyan were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Elyan found Gwaine's sense of humour annoying at times, but despite their occasional squabbles, they liked and respected one another and made and effective team (A Herald of the New Age, The Sword in the Stone, The Disir).
Gwaine and Elyan were imprisoned together during the Second Fall of Camelot. Gwaine was very concerned when Elyan was tortured nearly to the point of catatonia, and Elyan was similarly concerned when Gwaine was repeatedly forced to fight for Morgana's entertainment in exchange for food (The Sword in the Stone).
Gwaine grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Percival
Gwaine and Percival stealing a roast chicken from the castle kitchens.
Main Article: Gwaine and Percival
Gwaine and Percival were best friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. They first met during the Fall of Camelot, when Percival saved Gwaine and the rest of Arthur's allies from immortal soldiers and they were later made Knights of Camelot together (The Coming of Arthur).
As members of Arthur's inner circle, Gwaine and Percival quickly became close friends and partners in crime. They loved to joke around and play pranks on both their friends and each other, and were often seen getting up to mischief such as stealing a roast chicken from the castle kitchens (The Darkest Hour, A Herald of the New Age, The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).
Percival and Gwaine went on many adventures and were shown to work exceptionally well together. For example, when their patrol to Ismere was captured and enslaved by Morgana, Percival and Gwaine worked together to locate their men and gather intel on what Morgana was making them dig for (Arthur's Bane).
They also teamed up together to ambush Morgana after the Battle of Camlann. Their plan failed, however, and they were both captured and Gwaine was tortured for information. His friend's agonised screams drove Percival to break free from his bonds, but he was too late to stop Morgana and Gwaine died in his arms (The Diamond of the Day).
Mordred
Gwaine, Mordred, Percival, and Arthur at Caerlanrigh.
Though there was little interaction between Gwaine and Mordred, as fellow Knights of Camelot they appeared to be close friends who fought well together.
Like the other Knights, Gwaine tended to treat Mordred as a little brother, similarly to how they treated Merlin. During their search for the sorcerer Osgar, Gwaine joined the other Knights in playing a joke on Mordred by tricking him into riding his horse backwards, claiming that it was tradition for new Knights to do so. Later, he appeared concerned when Mordred was mortally wounded by the Disir (The Disir).
Though fond of Mordred, however, Gwaine's loyalty to him was second to his loyalty to Arthur. When Mordred freed Kara from the dungeons, he accepted Arthur's instruction to put his personal feelings aside and helped track the fugitives down. When they found him, Mordred try to appeal to Gwaine for help, but Gwaine ignored him (The Drawing of the Dark).
The Diamair
Gwaine and the Diamair.
Gwaine encountered the Diamair in the mines beneath the Fortress of Ismere. It showed him kindness by hiding him from the Saxons and healing his injuries, for which Gwaine was grateful. They quickly became friends, and though Gwaine must have suspected that the Diamair was a creature of magic, he never hinted at any distrust or hostility toward it.
In fact, Gwaine was quite protective of his new friend. He warned it to hide when the warning bell sounded and was prepared to fight to defend it despite not being fully healed. When Arthur later caught a glimpse of the Diamair and asked what it was, Gwaine admitted that he wasn't sure, but was certain he owed it his life (Arthur's Bane).
Interestingly, Gwaine is one of only a few non-magical characters to befriend a creature of magic.
Eira
Gwaine and Eira
Gwaine met Eira during the Battle of Stowell, during which he rescued her from a Saxon and she saved his life. After the battle, Gwaine took her back to the citadel and later informed her that she was the only survivor from her village. He promised that she would be safe in Camelot.
Gwaine quickly fell in love with Eira, but soon discovered that she was a spy for Morgana. Hurt and betrayed, Gwaine helped Gwen set a trap for Eira by feeding her false information. He was present when she was arrested and later watched her execution from a castle window with Percival.
Gwaine blamed Morgana for Eira's death and set out with Percival to find and kill her. His quest for revenge ultimately led to his death (The Diamond of the Day).
Abilities
Sir Gwaine
Gwaine was an exceptionally skilled swordsman with a unique fighting style. Merlin was able to recognise him by it despite his face being hidden by armour, and Arthur also commented on it after Gwaine unmasked himself (Gwaine).
Gwaine's skill with a sword was such that he became the champion of the slave trader Jarl, and was able to hold his own in a duel against Arthur (though it should be noted that neither he nor Arthur were truly trying to hurt each other). Gwaine was only defeated in combat once, when Orn ambushed him and likely would have killed him had Merlin not intervened with his magic (The Coming of Arthur, The Secret Sharer).
In addition to swordplay, Gwaine was skilled in hand to hand combat. He frequently participated in tavern brawls and held his own against Arthur after their duel devolved into a wrestling match (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix, The Coming of Arthur).
Gwaine's most notable feat in unarmed combat occurred during his imprisonment by Morgana after the Second Fall of Camelot. She forced Gwaine to fight her men to earn scraps of food. Though Gwaine was initially allowed a weapon, Morgana made the matches increasingly unfair until he was expected to fight off multiple armed opponents with only a wooden dagger and his bare hands. Impressively, he succeeded (The Sword in the Stone).
Gwaine also displayed a surprising knowledge of magic. He knew that Stulorne Blades were forged using sorcery, even claiming to have seen them in action, and was able to recognise Wyverns from a great distance. However, he was unable to use magic himself (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix).
Etymology
- Gwaine is a masculine name of Welsh origin. The name is a variant of the name Gavin, which means "white hawk".
- It may also be a derivative of the Welsh name Gwyar, which means "bloodshed".
- 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
- Series 4
- The Darkest Hour
- The Wicked Day (cameo)
- Aithusa
- His Father's Son
- A Servant of Two Masters
- The Secret Sharer
- Lamia
- Lancelot Du Lac (cameo)
- A Herald of the New Age
- The Hunter's Heart (cameo)
- The Sword in the Stone
- Series 5
- Arthur's Bane
- The Death Song of Uther Pendragon
- Another's Sorrow
- The Disir
- The Dark Tower
- A Lesson in Vengeance
- The Hollow Queen (cameo)
- With All My Heart
- The Kindness of Strangers
- The Drawing of the Dark
- The Diamond of the Day
Trivia
- Gwaine is the third knight to have an episode named after him, after Valiant and Lancelot (Valiant, Lancelot, Gwaine).
- Other than Arthur, Gwaine is the Knight most likely to get himself into trouble (i.e. tavern brawls), and almost always drags Merlin and Arthur into it (Gwaine, The Eye of the Phoenix).
- The ring seen on Gwaine's necklace is actually his portrayer, Eoin Macken's, father's wedding ring.
In the Legends
Sir Gawain was a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend. He was generally portrayed at the son of King Lot of Lothian and Morgause (or Anna) of Orkney, and the brother (or half-brother) of Agravain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Mordred. He is also credited with at least three children: Florence, Lovell, and Gingalain, the latter of whom was also called Libeaus Desconus or Le Bel Inconnu, the Fair Unknown. According to some legends, Gawain would have been the true and rightful heir to the throne of Camelot following Arthur's reign.
Gawain appeared in more tales than any other knight, though he was rarely the chief hero. His character is believed to have been based on Arthur's nephew Gwalchmai from The Mabinogion. Calm, considerate, and polite, Gwalchmai was said to achieve more with kindness and understanding that most knights did with a sword. Similarly, Gawain was known to be a formidable warrior, courteous and compassionate, a friend to young knights and a defender of the poor. He was also an ardent defender of women, a trait which led to him being known as "The Maiden's Knight".
However, though earlier tales portrayed Gawain as an ideal or perfect knight, one other knights were measured, French writers took to portraying him as an antihero and a womanizer. Prose Tristan and other novels sometimes even characterised him as a villain and a murder, and in French romances he was often supplemented by other heroes (such as Percival and Lancelot) who would prove themselves to be morally superior to Gawain, mostly due to his tendency to follow the rules of courtliness to the letter rather than the spirit.
This version of the character was largely unpopular, and was not prevalent in most later works. However, some traces of it survived in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, where Gawain was portrayed as being intensely loyal to Arthur and often exhibited such traits as honesty, loyalty, and bravery, but could also at times be ruthless, vengeful, and cunning. Scholars are split about this Gawain; some think that he was inconsistently written, while others find him to be a complex, realistic (e.g. flawed) character. These flews were also explored in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, during which he experienced a brief fall from grace as he struggled with his inner demons.
Gallery
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To view the Gwaine gallery, click here.
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See Also
References
External Links
| Kingdom of Camelot |
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| Queen: Guinevere Pendragon Court Physician: Gaius Keeper of the Royal Library: Geoffrey of Monmouth Knights: Sir Leon • Sir Percival • Sir Brennis • Sir Cador • Sir Geraint Other Allies: Merlin • Annis • Odin • Rodor • Mithian • Godwyn • Bayard • Elena • Alined • The Diamair • Vivian • Olaf Former Allies: Morgana Pendragon † • Nimueh † • Cedric † ? • Cornelius Sigan † • Tristan de Bois † • Lady Catrina † • Edwin Muirden † • Uther Pendragon † • Agravaine de Bois †• Sefa• Mordred † |