#Guinevere x Lancelot

[kate-bridgerton]

Period Drama Appreciation Week 2024 || Day 4 - Favorite Relationship || Lancelot and Guinevere

[demonmoonsupreme]

Ugh. I have to say it. I’ve been holding it back because I know how much fandom hates this plot point so much. And like maybe it’s because I enjoy angst, or because characters coming in a vacuum sealed ‘morally upstanding’ package is just not realistic or enjoyable to me.

But Gwen should not have been ‘bewitched’ to cheat on Arthur with Lancelot. For one, it just sets another horrible precedence of magic use within the narrative. And two: it’s boring as hell. Oh, and also apparently Gwen was only allowed screen time in later seasons when her autonomy was nowhere to be seen. So three. Three reasons why I find it dumb as hell. And one that last front? Yeah, I think she should have willingly had an affair with Lancelot. I know, I Know. Cheating bad. Cheating make evil wrong person. Or whatever twitterinas are saying.

But hear me out (or don’t). How did Gwen feel after Lancelot died after she made him promise to return Arthur to her alive? Did she feel that she had unwittingly sentenced him to death? Her first true love; the man she looked for in other men. (Maybe we’d know how she felt if the writers didn’t have her going off like a broken record and just keep repeating what a great king Artie would someday be). I wish we had seen her grief, I wish she had been given time to mourn (as we know she never is in a series that kills every family member she has). And then Lancelot returns. She realizes she stills loves him, she feels guilty and blames herself thinking she had a part in his death. She thinks she asked him to sacrifice himself. And she wonders if she made the right choice. Lancelot and Arthur are there before her, and her wedding is in two days, and it’s all so sudden and the window of opportunity is about to be closed for the rest of her life; and she wonders if she’s chosen the right man. Gwen wonders if she’s been given a second chance, can she amend her previous choices. Does she want to amend them. Yes, this storyline opens her up to all sorts of criticisms. Fandom would condemn her a slut, she would join the ranks of women who can’t just make up their damn mind. Someone would declare it’s anti-feminist, because women aren’t allowed to be portrayed with “bad” qualities and when they are it just sets us all back.

But…it would be so much more nuanced than the plot they gave us. It would give Gwen the opportunity to make the choice because in the past it had been robbed from her (Lancelot leaving when he realized that Arthur loved Gwen, and Lancelot dying the first time). It would grant her autonomy over her own sexuality and choice of partner(s). Unlike the male protagonists in this show, Gwen is never actually given a real chance to morally grapple with anything, especially her own actions. She just is a good person who never does anything wrong, can be a bad-ass if it’s required, and falls into the straight and narrow path of ideal womanhood when she gets a boyfriend in a position of extreme power.

I know I’m barely making sense, but she just could have been written so much better. She could have been treated like a real person in the writers room, but she wasn’t.

[bisclavret]

guinevere to lancelot

[lenoreamidala]

but what about my wings?

[artistotel]

galahad shows up one day in camelot with a dozen of nuns and nobody is happy

[starchaser45]

WHY IS EVERYONE ON THIS SHOW SO SHIPABLE

[false-guinevere]

Guinevere and Lancelot are a Romcom

[alicole-sideblog]

What is the story of Lancelot and Guinevere??? Do they end up together or not ?? And what about her husband Arthur ??

I'm really loving this arthurian tales and don't know what to read or refer , can you please tell me about it or the source of it so that I can read it ? Also this is just like Alicole especially the devotion and the absolute adoration!!!

If you want an accessible version of The Knight of the Cart, my first rec is the LibriVox audiobook here. That's how I "read" it; I found it pretty approachable. There's also The Knight of the Cart Comedic Retelling by @mayapleiades, a pretty faithful and detailed recapping.

What is the story of Lancelot and Guinevere?

So the thing about Arthuriana is that it's all "fanfic"; there's no "canon". Throughout the middle ages, various authors wrote various stories, which were variously retellings and add-ons to earlier stories.

The specific story I've talked about to date is The Knight of the Cart by Chrétien de Troyes (+ Marie de Champagne + Godefroi de Leigni). That's the OG story, where the idea of their affair began. That was written circa 1177–1181.

The next adaptation of the idea was the Vulgate Cycle (c. 1210–1235). I haven't read it yet. I want to, but I'm still looking for an accessible version of it.

"Do they end up together or not?"

At the end of The Knight of the Cart, they are continuing their affair.

In later texts by later authors, things go less smoothly, their affair is discovered, and it kicks off the downfall of Camelot.

"What about her husband Arthur?"

That's an interesting question, and not one that The Knight of the Cart covers.

I talk about it here, but basically the original idea of their affair came from Marie de Champagne. She thought adultery was sexy and nonproblematic. (Or at least, she wasn't interested in hearing the problematic aspect condemned.)

Marie commissioned her fic from Chrétien, who we believe was uncomfortable with this subject matter. I think Chrétien was against adultery and didn't know how to handle the topic of sympathetic adultery, so he just... stayed silent on the issue.

The topic of adultery is weirdly absent from The Knight of the Cart, despite being arguably the main plot. It's simply not discussed. Lancelot and Guinevere never talk about it, never even think about it. Lancelot is fastidious about other aspects of honor, but he's totally down for flagrantly cuckolding his king without a second thought. (Which is honestly kind of iconic and I love it.)

It appears like virtually no one else shared Marie's vision of dead dove adultery. In later versions of the story, adultery is wrong and it needs consequences.

[alicentwhore]

Would love your thoughts on the Lancelot/Guinevere dynamics of pure but messed up love. Murderous crybaby Lancelot and playful and manipulative Guinevere <3

Love love love it. I am a firm believer than the dynamic (and both love interests) must be at least somewhat Fucked Up for the Guinevere/Lancelot relationship to really work for me.

They love each other genuinely, deeply, purely, but not healthily or innocently. Loving Guinevere doesn’t make Lancelot a better person or a good guy, if anything it leads him to sinful actions in pursuit and defense of his love.

Lancelot loves Guinevere but is the Best Knight, the Ultimate Knight for a reason. He is really really Good At Violence and Killing. And more importantly, he enjoys these things. He doesn’t want to. He so wants to be a good and godly man, but he is happiest when he’s sinning. And even his pure, chaste, love becomes another outlet for him to sin and commit violence, eventually even upon other people he loves (Gareth & Gawain). He’ll cry in shame and guilt but still won’t stop because this society and the people around his reward his behavior.

And Guinevere who has such little control over her life. She marries Arthur because Arthur wants to marry her. She is almost executed several times because Arthur just believes people’s slander or does an awful job of defending her. And Lancelot comes along. Lancelot who is devoted, obsessed, and rather painfully naive. She loves him. He is lower and so has no claim over her and is someone who can actually guarantee her safety and more notably, control. A knight truly and wholly devoted to her above Arthur. Who represents this extreme violence of the system that repeatedly harms her, but is a violence she can control, can use to protect herself. And so she tests this love, or devotion, and will pull back or get angry if there is ever a reason to question it. If she can’t feel truly in control then she won’t put her life on the line.

It’s a true knight and lady dynamic with all the brutal grossness of what a Knight and Lady are in a feudal world.

[itlivesinbox5]

Just.. internally SCREAMING!! This line alone was enough oh boy I’m done for💀💀

[vitalp0int]

Guinevere and Lancelot's Reconciliation

[choicesnutters]

Guinevere Theory (Chapter 16 spoilers!)

Not to be that person, but I REFUSE to believe we get our happy ending so easily. Something tells me this ain’t over. I suspect we will see Guinevere’s magic exposed in her wedding day and she will still find herself burning at the stake with the boys fighting on the battlefield.

All in all, I don’t think she actually prevented what she saw in her visions. Nothing in today’s episode mirrored them with the exception of the facial wounds. But the setting of the fight? And the fire? Even the dialogue didn’t match. I’m cautious going into next week’s chapter, that’s all I’m saying.

…Also hot take part 2, I think that crusty hoe Merlin will find his way back. Someone is controlling Arthur in the visions and his eyes aren’t glowing green. Maybe Merlin finds another way to get to Arthur.

[blackcur-rants]

If anyone is still curious, by the way, I am the one who commissioned this artwork and I still absolutely love the choices that @kaereth made with it. I actually very much imagined Lancelot as agender and Rromani when I commissioned this artwork and I think Kaereth got that across perfectly when they did this artwork. Furthermore, I think it's also kind of fun that there's more than a little bit of Gliimmadora influence in their designs, with Lancella as Catra and Gwenhwyfar as Glimmer and Arthes as Adora. There's also some great touches like theiir shared blushes, Gwenhwyfar being short and chubby but still clearly the subject of deep romantic affection, and the combined brunette/redhead/blonde and butch/femme/futch dynamic going on with these three versions of the characters. It's just a really beautiful and well-done piece of art that I'm glad I got to see. Thank you, Kace. Thank you so very, very much.

@kaereth @cynicalclassicist @carcosa-commune @dachi-chan25 @disregardcanon

A re-imagining of Lancelot, Queen Guinevere, and King Arthur as poly lesbians for a ko-fi! AKA Queen Arthes Pendragon with her wives Gwenhwyfar and Lancella

@cynicalclassicist

[beautifulsnake2162020]

The Vitulation Cycle: An Arthuriana fanfiction (King Arthur x OC and Arthur x Guinevere x Lancelot) CHAPTER 9: LANCELOT PART II

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction I do not make any money from this. Cultist Simulator elements belongs to the Weather Factory, House of the Dragon/Game of thrones elements belongs to George RR Martin and Arthuriana while generally regarded as under the public domain, it comes from the culture of Britain.

Chapter 9: Lancelot Part II

"He's still alive." Morgan's voice tells you coldly as she walks past you.

"How do you know?"

"Because if he wasn't the mages who don't like him wouldn't hesitate to tell me." She walks away leaving no room for further questions. It was probably her way of reassuring you that Arthur was still out there. You have made a vow to treat all women with kindness but as much as you have tried, you can admit to yourself that you and Morgan do not get along. You've always been more drawn to warmer people such as Guinevere and Arthur. Gwaine was your closest friend among the knights, and was one of the warmest people in court.

"Lancelot there's no point in worrying about our king. Merlin doesn't seem bothered, Morgan still glares at you and Guinevere, I'm sure Arthur is fine." He says as the two of you prepare to train with the other knights. Your worries must be evident if even Gwaine is telling you not to worry.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"For one thing you're not as much of a peacock as you were when Arthur was here."

"Oh now you are exaggerating." You couldn't help but chuckle as he gives you a look in disbelief.

But then he gives you a smirk.

"You know - I think you're right, you're not a peacock anymore because Arthur is not around."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I'm just starting to realize that all your bragging and teasing was just your way of trying to impress Arthur. Because now that he is not here, there's no one for you to impress."

"You are mistaken!"

"Am I Lancelot?"

All you could do is roll your eyes. Just because he was right doesn't mean he needed to know that. Nevertheless you tease him back in thanks for making you forget about your worries for awhile.

"I worry too." Guin tells you as the two of you lay side by side in her bed.

"Everyone tells me that my worries are for nothing. It is not that I don't have faith in Arthur, but it is because my heart desires to be by his side. I know this is a quest he must do on his own, and yet I want to be there so he won't be alone." You say as you gently caress her body. Not to arouse but in seeking comfort. You and Guin had more moments like these than just simply relieving physical urges. No one else knew what's it like to have a king as a lover. No one else knew the burden of the uncertainty of him never coming back.

And yet you knew he loved you and Guin and everyone else so much that he wouldn't hesitate to return to Camelot. Maybe he was on his way back to Camelot and you just didn't know it.

"I know, but no matter how long it takes for him to return, we have our duties to Camelot. We can't allow his work here to go to waste. I know it may not seem much, but it is what we can do while we wait."

You sigh as you feel yourself relieved as you can be in her embrace.

"You're right. Thank you Guin."

"You're welcome my love. Let's rest now Lancelot, perhaps tomorrow he will return to us at last."

He did not return to Camelot.

He did not return to you yet.

But nevertheless you receive word from Bedivere that King Mark and his troops were seeking shelter and asylum. There was a spy among them and several of their supplies and strategic spots were sabotaged by the Saxons. Several of his best troops were already busy in Cornwall's coastal region while he had initially thought the battleground within the landlocked area that was protecting Cornwall and Camelot would be an easier fight to win. Instead it was a trap made by the Saxons, their spies and their allies to trap him. His only safe recourse was to temporarily seek asylum and shelter in Camelot which was the nearest safe haven from the Saxons.

Once you and Guin saw the condition Mark was in, things became even more dire.

"Uncle you must stay in bed."

"Not now Tristan I need to make sure everyone-"

"Everyone is fine uncle. For my sake please stay in bed you are bleeding from several places. I'm not ready to be king of Cornwall uncle." That finally convinced Mark to settle down as Merlin and Seren, the court herbalist, treated his wounds. Merlin casted a spell that helped stop the bleeding and allowed them to examine the wounds more closely.

"The wounds are infected, Merlin do you have the maggots?"

"Right here."

"What do you two think you are doing?!"

"Trust them uncle it's surprisingly effective. Lancelot here can attest to it when he got a deep gash from an arrow one time."

"It is true your majesty. It will feel strange but the maggots only eat at the dead and infected flesh. If it weren't for them I perhaps would not still be alive today."

"Are you ready your majesty?" Seren asks as she and Merlin bring out several jars of maggots.

"Fine, do it quickly so I won't have time to change my mind! Lancelot please distract me, where's Arthur?"

"Arthur is still on his quest for the Grail your majesty."

"How come it seems all the knights are here?"

"It was mandated that Arthur find the Grail on his own."

"Without any protection?"

"Uncle calm down and stay still. The maggots are in place and they will be bandaging you up now."

"Your majesty don't worry he has Excalibur with him and sufficient resources."

"And it was mandated by the magical being that bestowed the quest told us all that Arthur must find the Grail alone."

"Oh"

"Can you sit up for us please?"

"Of course Merlin. Well how long has Arthur been gone?"

"He's been gone for about one year now your majesty. Hopefully his location in Albania will finally give him the Grail."

"Albania? For bloody sake that may take another year for him to return Grail or not. And with the Saxons possibly having an alliance with those Scandinavian raiders - um Tristan what are they called again?"

"Vikings uncle."

"Thank you, with a possible alliance between the Saxons and some Vikings I hope all our arms and resources are enough to hold them off and drive them out."

"We're all done your majesty." Seren says as she ties the last bandage and cleans her hands in a basin with soap and water.

"May I walk now?"

"Your majesty your body needs to recover!"

"But Merlin I'm hungry, and there is so much for us to discuss."

"Why don't we have dinner here uncle? We'll bring the food and everyone who needs to be present in here so you won't need to get off bed."

"He should be resting Tristan. But if your uncle needs to eat I shall personally see to his dinner to ensure he could be eating his medicine." Seren says as she briskly walks out of the tent. Presumably to make Mark's dinner in the makeshift tent used for cooking. Because of the urgency of his wounds several camps were set up with many healers rushing to the outskirts of Camelot to heal the wounded. Your plan is to have them treat the most urgent wounds immediately with makeshift shelter for the meantime before they move in to the accommodations being prepared for them by Guin and Kay back in the castle.

"Tristan, please tell my men that we'll be having a meeting in here."

"Couldn't you rest your majesty? Your men are probably wounded and tired. Several like you are in need of rest before further discussions regarding the Saxons." Merlin says as he begins packing up his tools.

"Please uncle, Cornwall needs you right now. Listen to Merlin and Seren they know what they are doing."

"It will also be getting dark soon your majesty, your head will be clearer after a night of rest."

"Very well, Tristan tell the men that after they break their fast tomorrow they are to come to this tent so we may continue discussing our new plans regarding the Saxons. Sir Lancelot please inform her majesty Queen Guinevere that I would like her and your fellow knights to join in. I don't really know who is in charge of Camelot's arms so I'll just have everyone attend."

"You know your majesty you and your men will be moving inside the castle by midday tomorrow. We can have the meeting in court."

"You're all just trying to make sure I get a long rest!"

"Your majesty I could assure you that it is more about practicality." He seemed convinced by that and leaned back in with a huff.

"Oh very well if you all insist."

"Don't worry uncle I'll be sure to inform your men about the arrangement."

"Thank you Tristan, I'll see you and everyone tomorrow sir Lancelot. Thank you for your accommodating us on such a short notice."

"You're welcome your majesty. Have a good night's rest." You give him a bow before exiting his tent and travel back to the castle as the night became darker and the light of the night time fires light the way for the first half of the night. It wasn't until you laid yourself to rest that you realized how exhausted you were.

For a few hours.

"Lancelot get up. We are under attack!" Mordred says as he knocks on your door.

"Here Mordred here's the key."

"Are you sure he won't mind Gwaine?"

"I'm up! I'm up!" You say as you quickly dress and arm yourself as fast as you can.

"Any idea who's attacking us?"

"The good news is that it is not the Saxons or the Vikings." Mordred says as the three of you head toward Guinevere's room.

"The bad news is that it is an unknown enemy. And one none of us have dealt with before."

"Where are King Mark and his troops?"

"Kay and Ector has already organized them to take refuge inside the walls. While they are currently leading the defense against our attacker they are currently being escorted to the castle, especially the ones still heavily wounded or need rest for their healing."

"Any idea why they are attacking us?"

"None, our lookouts just began noticing arrows being fired from nowhere. They immediately went to help King Mark and his troops rush inside Camelot."

"If I may sir Lancelot and sir Gwaine, I have a theory that this might be a raid attack or a large group of bandits who think they have a chance against Camelot. They don't have some of the advanced weaponry that an army normally has."

"Good observation Mordred. Although just because they do not have the dangerous weapons we knights are used to, that does not mean they should be underestimated."

"Indeed, Lancelot here has shown that he can still be deadly with just a shield alone."

The three of you arrive at Guinevere's door just as she steps out decently dressed given the circumstances in the middle of the night. Still as beautiful as ever though her hair was more tousled than she would have preferred to appear in court.

"Has anyone seen Merlin?"

"He is in his tower your majesty. I don't know what he is doing but he demands not to be disturbed."

"I see, and how are we coping?"

"Based on the reports arriving, we are holding up well."

"Hmm, let's have our reserves ready just in case. Has anyone asked our attackers who they are?"

"Sirs Ector and Bedivere have made several attempts but they refuse to respond."

The four of you now find yourselves in the part of the castle that was serving as temporary shelter to King Mark and his other wounded soldiers who needed to rest.

"Queen Guinevere, I've already ordered my men who are still able bodied to assist Camelot's arms in this surprise attack."

"Thank you King Mark -"

"Uncle, Queen Guinevere I found out who our attackers are!"

"Tristan not so loud! There are people trying to sleep for bloody sakes."

"Sorry Uncle." Tristan says as he breathes heavily from running to you.

"Breathe Tristan, who are attacking us?"

"Witch hunters sir Lancelot. They said that Camelot is no golden city for using magic and that they will only stop if we give them Merlin, Morgan…" He then becomes worried.

"…and Queen Guinevere."

Damn them.

"But I'm not a mage! Nor do I have any magical powers."

"I know your majesty but that is what they believe in. They believe that all uses of magic are wrong and against the way of things."

"Tristan how do you know they are witch hunters?" You ask in earnest.

"They have made a pyre and have kept chanting that they shall be blest for killing all magic. When I was first travelling to Camelot to become one of King Arthur's knights, they were attacking a group of travelling women whom they believed to be witches but were just herbalists. The men I fought that day are the same ones shooting arrows on our walls. They're using their hatred to justify any crimes they commit."

"Those bastards! They are lucky they are not in Cornwall if I have anything I could do about it!"

"Uncle please stay!"

"Lancelot are our archers there?"

"Yes your majesty."

"Good. Tristan who else is here among the members of the round table and who are on the front lines?"

"Within here, there's also sir Percival, sir Yvain, sir Dagonet and sir Bors. On the frontlines there is also sir Gaheris, Agravain, Gareth, Lamorak and Griflet."

"Tell sir Bors to ready the reserves. A part of the reserves for the front the other for protection of the citizens in Camelot. Assign the part of the reserves defending Camelot's citizens to sir Yvain and the reserves for the frontlines to whomever is free among those you've mentioned. If all of them are in the battlefield then you'll be in charge of it. Understood?"

"Yes sir Lancelot."

Fortunately the reserves weren't needed as the witch hunters had to retreat.

And Gaheris and Agravain were able to get some prisoners for interrogation.

"Based on what we've found on their person and from the prisoners themselves have confirmed what sir Tristan has already informed us. They seek the elimination of all things magical because they believe of its inherent unfairness between those who can wield it and those who cannot." Sir Kay says in all seriousness. Even more so than usual when every now and then he too would love a joke here and there. But that was nowhere to be found now.

"Additionally we have found that there is something they are looking for. We don't know what it is but it has something to do with something called the Targaryens."

Hairs stood at the back of your neck.

"Wait - isn't Arthur's first wife a Targaryen? Daenara?" Sir Bedivere asks.

"The same one who may possibly the Grail if she is still alive." Sir Percival confirms. His tone indicating that he too just came to that realization.

"Is that why the witch hunters attacked Camelot?"

"No your majesty, they believed that if they killed you, Morgan and Merlin they would be making a good example of returning the world back to fairness. Their search for Targaryens were a part of their orders from their leader to kill without mercy. Every man, woman, and child who were born into the Targaryens."

"Why?" Your love was as disturbed as you were.

"We don't know, my Queen."

You catch a glimpse of Morgan's face. Still cold as ever, but you could detect the faintest hint of sadness in her. From what you could gather she was rather close to Daenara. Was she worried about her? Could this mean that whatever secret Morgan and Arthur promised not to share could be the very thing that was making them targets by the witch hunters? Or perhaps they were both sworn to secrecy precisely because of this and this was their way of protecting the remaining Targaryens out there.

"Morgan? Any thoughts?" Guinevere asks gently, knowing that this was a sensitive subject for Morgan despite their differences with each other.

"This would explain why the Targaryens went into hiding shortly after they were attacked after my brother, Daenara and I left the commune."

"Does it have anything to do with what you and Arthur could not tell us?" Agravain asks in earnest.

"Possibly, until we know more we cannot be sure. The secret that Arthur and I are bound not to tell is one of the most precious resources in the magical community for a good reason. It's logical that anyone who hates and actively wants to end magic would be after the eradication of all Targaryens."

"What secret could possibly involve all Targaryens? If they were after only the men and the women I would understand, but to include killing the children?" Yvain was right, what secret could possibly involve all and anyone born of the Targaryens?

And then an epiphany came from the least expected person.

"Lady Morgan - it is their blood isn't it?" Sir Dagonet says as he looks straight at her. Morgan stays her cold unmoving self despite this inquiry.

"Their blood? Sir Dagonet what are you thinking? Now is not the time to be foolish!"

"Sir Bedivere think about it. If it is not their blood why are the witch hunters hunting down everyone born into the Targaryen family? Why not include their spouses or their relatives who are not Targaryen by blood? Their blood is so important that it even plays a role in their wedding tradition as Arthur had explained to us the significance of the wedding goblet. I don't know what their blood has to do with magic, but it must be so important that they are being hunted down by the witch hunters."

"…I never thought I would say this but you have a point Dagonet." You say in a mix of astonishment and worry. Astonishment, because of all the members of the round table you had all thought Dagonet to be one of the court's entertainers. It was moments like these that showed not only his closeness to your beloved but also that you should not have doubted his choice in making Dagonet a part of the brotherhood of the roundtable.

And you were worried because now with the new insight of why the Targaryens are in hiding and if it is true that Daenara could be the Grail, you were worried that Arthur might be too late and she may have passed at the hands of the witch hunters.

No

You can't afford to think like that.

If Daenara is the Grail, somehow someway Arthur will return to Camelot with her. Perhaps this is why he was ordered to do this quest alone. Perhaps it was to save her and her family from being hunted down.

That night after King Mark and his troops have healed significantly and thus made their way back to Cornwall you would send a prayer to your mother asking her to guard over Arthur and to safely bring him and whomever the Grail was back home to Camelot.

[bibliophilicstranger]

Someone should write a fic where Gwaine and Lancelot meet on the road before Lancelot ever goes to Camelot. They're in a tavern, sheltering from the rain, and over pints of ale Lancelot would tell Gwaine how much he wants to be a knight, how he's on his way to Camelot because he wants to help people, to protect them. And all the while Gwaine is sitting there thinking, "you poor sucker, you've got no clue about the First Rule." But Lancelot's genuine desire to help people gets to him and so Gwaine sits there getting drunker and drunker, wishing that knights were as good as Lancelot idealistically thinks. And he gets this absolutely crazy idea.

When Lancelot wakes the next morning, a still half-drunk Gwaine is sitting across from him. And he tells him, dumping a piece of paper and a signet ring on the table, "You can't be a knight in Camelot. You're not a noble. But I could be. So Congratulations, you're now Gwaine, Son of Lot of Caerleon. Take this to Camelot and they should welcome you as a knight."

Lancelot protests. Strenuously. But Gwaine knows the rules. As a peasant, Lancelot could never be a knight in Uther's kingdom, no matter how good his fighting or how noble his character. And Lancelot wants his dream so much that he agrees. From now on Gwaine will be Lancelot and Lancelot will be Gwaine.

And so Lancelot heads off to Camelot. He and Merlin meet as they do in canon, but Lancelot fumbles the introduction, unused to his new name, then ends up confessing all to Merlin. Merlin is more than willing to help with shenanigans and helps Lancelot practice his introduction so he doesn't screw up again, then introduces him to Arthur. Lancelot gets knighted and doesn't get outed as a fake, since the paperwork is valid (even if it's not his paperwork). He and Lancelot defeat the Griffin, with Lancelot discovering Merlin's magic, but Lancelot gets feted rather than exiled.

This gives Merlin an ally, which has various effects, lets Lancelot and Gwen court, and means that when Merlin meets "Lancelot" in the tavern brawl, he knows who he is.

I think it'd be a interesting change to see the spiraling consequences of.