EPISODE 112

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GUINEVERE : 

A ruler’s duty is to their kingdom first and foremost.
That’s the first thing my father said, when I agreed to marry Arthur.
It was almost an accident.
I was studying politics, the laws and customs of various kingdoms, considering becoming a druid,
when Arthur came to offer an alliance with my father, King Leodegrance of Cameliard.
Cameliard is a strategic holding for many kingdoms, located as it is in the middle of Britain,
and was often attacked by its neighbors.
So my father offered him a bargain.
An alliance, in exchange for Arthur’s assistance, along with his allies’.
From this time, I remember most clearly
brazenly speaking up, along with Arthur.
Two youngsters, barely out of childhood,
taking a stand against our elders’ inaction.
Is that when my father decided that offering my hand in marriage was a wise choice after all?
Perhaps he saw something promising in our union.
New fire, new strength…
… new hope.
The hope that was promised, ever since Arthur’s advent.
Hope for an united Britain, peaceful and prosperous.
Much later, I learned that before it was Arthur’s,
that hope, that great cause,
was Merlin’s.
I never knew what drove him to pursue this goal. But I could see the influence
he always had on Arthur.
His cautious ways, his cold calculations.
His fears, his beliefs…
The distance he sometimes put between himself and others…
These aspects with which he shaped part of Arthur.
After all these years, I don’t know who Merlin is.
But I know Arthur.
We rule together, as we always have, with the people’s best interests at heart.
Despite our mistakes…
Despite his distance…
Despite…
… my barren womb.
As Queen, my duty is to make sacrifices for the sake of the people.
And yet…
This rage I feel
in the face of these lies,
this isolation.
What if
there were other lies?
Should I expect another revelation?
I cannot
go on like this.
Not after all these years.
Not after what he told me.
…
There is something you should know.
…
As your queen, I have failed you.
Aglovale and Lamorak are among a number of knights
whose deaths could have been avoided.
We did not take Sir Lamorak’s state,
or the situation he found himself in, as seriously as we ought to have. 

[ the crowd whispers among itself. ] 

However, the rumors of this being the result of a blood feud coming to a head
are not lost on me. 

[ gawain catches people in the crowd glancing back at her, whispering to each other, and dinadan among them. ]

Whether or not they’re true, those rumors prove we failed to put an end to it.
Because of it…
… I will accept your blame and your resentment.

[ shock!! ] 

I can only promise you to never again let such baseness stand.
I… have my own causes for resentment.

BORS : 

Lance… ? 

GUINEVERE : 

Even more so, since I came to a certain revelation,
for which I can only blame those who already knew.
…

[ she spots morgan in the crowd. morgan shakes her head at her. ] 

…
Merlin once made a prophecy that announced the end of the Round Table,
as well as Arthur’s death. 

MORDRED : 

Arthur’s death…
… Arthur’s… ? 

ARTHUR : 

… 

GUINEVERE : 

I refuse to watch as my knights tear each other apart.
We must also take into account⎯
ARTHUR, NO!

[ arthur freezes. guinevere stares back at him, terrified. ]

ARTHUR : 

…
Guinevere, please.
Let’s talk⎯

[ lancelot points her sword at arthur ; gawain follows suit in his defense. the crowd’s whisper grow to a din. ] 

LANCELOT : 

Really…
So you don’t get it, Arthur.
…
Guinevere made herself quite clear.
She’s leaving. 

ROUND TABLE TRIVIA 

Long ago, druids assumed all scholarly professions : doctors, professors, clerics… 

NPC : 

If you work hard at your lessons, you can even become an olam*!

*highest druidic rank

The Germanic invasions changed those customs : by bringing their own to Britain, the Germanics made it easier for a greater share of the population to access practices previously reserved for druids.

DRUID : 

Twenty years of study, just to get replaced like this?! [ shook ] 

Ever since then, druids have become marginalized, even as their political power remains. Custom dictates that children from noble families should be educated to be druids. 

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