Guinevere sat on the throne, Arthur's crown heavy upon her head. She was not cut out for this. She had never been cut out for this, she was a serving girl, the daughter of a blacksmith. The royal seal felt like a pound of lead in her hand. How could anyone, least of all Arthur, have thought her worthy of this.
Arthur.
Guinevere looked over at Sir Leon, standing at her side.
Arthur had believed in her.
Now Arthur was dead.
Merlin had believed in her.
Merlin was now missing.
They had trusted her, and she would not break that trust. She never had, not for anything, and she never would.
Guinevere gave Sir Leon a slight nod. Leon turned to the crowd. Sir Percival stood at the front, silent as the grave. He had returned, told of what he had found—of Gwaine's death, Morgana's body and Merlin's disappearance—and had not said a word since.
"The king is dead," Sir Leon said.
Guinevere looked over at Gaius, who nodded solemnly. Arthur was dead. And Merlin would never return.
"Long live the queen!"
"Long live the queen!" The people chanted. Their sorrow was heavy, but they were joyful to welcome Guinevere as their ruler, so their cries were sincere. "Long live the queen! Long live the queen! Long live the queen!"
Guinevere surveyed her subjects now standing before her.
She would make her family proud.
As one might well imagine, Sir Leon and Queen Guinevere were married. It took them a year to get around to it, since all of Camelot was in mourning for Arthur and Merlin, the latter of whom still had not been seen.
Guinevere was known as the Commoner Queen, beloved by all. She united many of the smaller kingdoms under the banner of Camelot, and did indeed inherit Queen Annis's lands after the great woman's passing.
Princess Elena and Princess Mithian, known as the Light Queen and the Dark Queen respectively, joined their kingdoms into one when they joined their hearts.
Queen Vivian, known as the Golden Queen, managed to settle down and stop looking down her nose at everyone in time to become the fourth of what were known as the Great Queens.
Guinevere had three children: Elyan, Arthur and Merlin.
Merlin was a girl.
Guinevere thought the original Merlin wouldn't mind too much.
Gaius saw Merlin once more, on his deathbed. As did Guinevere, and Leon, and Percival. They all said that he looked as though he hadn't aged a day.
And he hadn't.
And so peace reigned throughout Albion for many years.
But war did come again, as war always does. It was not to arrive in Albion until after Guinevere and Leon and all the rest had since passed away, but it did arrive. With it, all records were destroyed. People were scattered. Families were torn apart. Castles were burnt down.
And so history warped and twisted itself, passing from mouth to mouth until it morphed into myth and legend. The story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and of Merlin, the greatest wizard of them all, was never forgotten. But it was not remembered properly, either.
Until many years later.
When King Arthur woke up.