Flowers for the Maid
Sir Percival was known in all of Camelot for many things. First, there was his legendary strength. He was also famous for his great swordsmanship. The man was also a fine warrior, a gentle soul, and he ruled fairly upon the lands that were administered to him as a Knight of Camelot. He was obviously a great man and an even better Knight, who had helped the late King Arthur overcome monsters, mages, armies, and much more. Yet, the simple sight of those incredibly blue eyes sufficed to render him useless. Better, even, he was terrified. And the source of his terror was standing mere feet away from him, behind Queen Guinevere.
The Once and Future Queen's maid was not dangerous, by standards. She was, in fact, quite the opposite. Gifted with what most people believed to be the kindest smile in all the lands, and the softest disposition, the young lady was so gentle that the birds she fed jumped in her open palm rather than flee from it. She was also the Prince's caretaker, and the boy absolutely revered her. But Percival was nonetheless terrified of her. Terrified, and quite enamored.
"The preparations for the annual jousting tournament seem to be going well," Guinevere smiled at the rest of the Round Table, sipping on wine.
"They are advancing fast, Your Majesty," Sir Leon agreed. "Everything will be finished on time for the big day."
"I am glad to hear that. It is the first tournament William will attend. He has been quite excited, hasn't he, Mercia?"
"That is all he has been able to talk about for quite a few days, Your Majesty," the maid agreed. Percival could not ignore the amused gleam in her eyes at the young Prince's antiques.
Prince William had been a surprise and a blessing at the same time. Arthur had left a legacy before his death and as the kingdom was grieving him, Gwen had discovered she was with child.
"Make the kingdom and me proud, Sires. I could not face King Bayard ever again if one of his men won."
"We will make sure to honor Camelot, my Queen," Sir Kay guaranteed.
"Sir Percival seem lost in his thoughts."
So lost he hadn't even picked up on the comment.
"Percival?"
Upon hearing the Queen say his name, he lifted his head to look at her.
"My Queen?"
"You have barely said a word this evening. Is anything bothering you?"
"Hardly, Your Majesty. I…"
He could not finish his sentence as the door of the Round Table room opened. A maid came in and bowed before the assembly.
"I apologize for interrupting your meal. The young Prince has been demanding to see Mercia before going to bed."
"If my Queen allows me…"
"You may go. Tell my son goodnight for me, will you?"
"Absolutely, Your Majesty."
The two maids made their way out and let the gathering finish their dinner. Percival longingly looked at the door that closed behind Mercia. A few snickers were heard across the Round Table.
"Sir Percival, valiant Knight of Camelot, defeated all sorts of monsters, yet vanquished by a pair of blue eyes," Sir Constantine laughed.
"I think somebody owes me a little compensation," Merlin, the official Sorcerer of the Court, smirked, looking at Sir Galahad, who begrudgingly pulled a small pouch and passed it to the wizard, muttering something about him using his magic to cheat.
The Queen herself looked very amused.
"Don't listen to them, Percival. Mercia is a great girl, and very beautiful for that matter. With some wooing, you could gain her heart."
"Oh, but he is just frozen in terror, your Majesty," Sir Gareth commented, causing another wave of giggles to course through the ranks.
Percival's cheeks reddened and he hid behind his cup.
"Maybe flowers. That could always work," Merlin suggested, half seriously.
Percival zoned out, an idea sprouting into his brain. He had been so scared of the young woman he had not thought of the most obvious method. Flowers!
oOo
After coming back from her usual morning walk with the Queen, Mercia woke up Prince William, bathed and dressed him, before accompanying him to the library to meet his tutor. Will was a very curious little boy, and the old professor agreed to answer any question he had for him. That day, all of them were about the tournament, its origins, and history. Mercia usually sat down a bit further, keeping him under her watchful gaze and reading a book at the same time. After the lesson, the Prince usually ate lunch, and had an afternoon nap. The Queen usually being in her study during that time, Mercia had two hours to herself during which she usually went back to her room to do some embroidery.
As she was walking back to her quarters, a strong floral smell tickled her nose. The entire hallway smelled like a field in spring. As she walked closer, she saw servants making a beeline to her room as other maids looked inside, whispering and giggling.
"Mercia, here you are! They just started coming in a few moments ago and putting them there," Alberta, the cook, who slept in the room just next to hers, said as she saw her. The older woman watched her features intently, trying to read anything that could explain the strange phenomenon.
"Put what in… oh…"
The flower scent came from her bedroom. Dozens and dozens of vases garnished every space of her chamber. They were on the small table, on her nightstand, on the windowsill, even on the ground.
"Someone has an admirer," one of the young chambermaids chuckled. "I wonder who that could be!"
"Well, to have so many flowers delivered to her, he must either be a gardener, or a rich man!" Alberta said as the rest of the maids chuckled and agreed.
"A rich man?" The Queen's maid chortled. "Don't be ridi…"
"Excuse me? Are you Lady Mercia?" A young servant asked.
"That is me, but I am no Lady, just a maid."
"Sir Percival sends his warmest regards, and says that though the flowers are no match to your beauty, he hopes you like them."
She was at loss for words. A stutter came out of her mouth as her cheeks and neck flared up, tinting themselves in a bright red color.
"Sir Percival, as in Knight of Camelot Sir Percival?" One of the maids asked after a second of heavy silence. When the young boy nodded, there was a squeal coming out of the maid ranks. The boy and the rest of Percival's servants bowed, before all turning around and leaving the castle through the service door.
Queen Guinevere appeared out of the hallways, enquiring to know about the commotion.
"Is everything alright ladies? You look flabbergasted."
"Your Majesty," the maids all said, bowing before the Queen.
"I saw about two dozen servants coming in from my window, holding flowers and decided to take a break."
"Sir Percival had them sent for Mercia, your Grace," someone piped up.
Guinevere looked inside her maid's room and took in the colorful array of flowers that garnished it.
"Well, took him long enough!"
oOo
At the next Knights gathering, the night before the tournament, Mercia could barely look in his direction. She looked at her shoes the whole time, as the Knights, Queen and mage ate and laughed together. At times, she risked looking up, and her eyes always ended up darting to the Knight who had sent her flowers two days before. He was joking with the others, and she adverted her gaze quickly before he could see her looking. Now, Mercia had always noticed he was handsome. Her first day working as Queen Guinevere's handmaiden, two years prior, she had immediately thought so. She remembered how she had first seen him, when the Queen went to watch the Knights' training, fighting alone against two of them. He was taller, more muscular than any of them were, and it had taken all her control to not stare too much. But she had shut down any girly fantasy that came to her mind. He was a Knight, which made him a noble, and she was just a farm girl who had gone to the city after hearing that the Queen needed a new maid. That was, until he sent her enough flowers to cover her room.
He had only caught her staring once. Her cheeks heated up upon crossing his baby blue gaze, and she quickly looked at her shoes again. She felt his stare burn a hole in her head, but she refused to look up. He continued to try to lock eyes with her until a fellow maid asked her to William's side. She muttered an apology to Guinevere and thanking her lucky star, she practically ran out of the room.
"Percival, what have you done to the poor girl?" Constantine asked, baffled.
"I followed Merlin's advice!"
"Hey, now, I merely suggested flowers, not that you turn her room into Gwen's garden!"
"You should've seen the poor darling's face when she found out who sent her the flowers," Gwen chuckled. "One of maid told me that as soon as your servant relayed your message to her, one would've thought she was just told she became the Queen of a neighboring kingdom."
"Percival, you ladies' man!"
"Dear old Gwaine would have been so proud."
"You'll have the chance to impress her at tomorrow's tournament!"
"She'll be with Will and I, so she'll have a splendid view. The ball is in your camp, Percival."
The Knight had at least the decency to blush.
oOo
Since he had started serving Arthur, Percival had been in many jousting tournaments. The rules were always the same, which was why he allowed himself to drift and paid no attention to Gwen as she enunciated them. Her maid, however, held all his attention as she was smiling at the young Prince's enthusiasm. She looked up and her gaze fell on him. At first, she blushed and adverted her eyes. But then, she looked again and risked a hesitant smile. He smiled back and bowed his head slightly towards her. She looked at her hands, on her lap, cheeks flushed, and smiling to herself. He had yet another surprise for her.
Right as Guinevere had sat down in her seat next to the other monarchs and their servants, and dismissed the Knights to their tents to prepare, a young page holding a single red rose bowed before the Queen, her son and her handmaiden.
"Your Majesty, if I may relay a message?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, your Grace," he curtsied again before turning to Mercia. "Sir Percival sends this rose and said that from where he stands, your beauty is breathtaking."
William giggled as the maid accepted the rose. It felt like for the past few days, Percival's only goal was to make her blush, and he was spectacular at it.
"I still don't understand his fancy for me," the maid whispered, out of breath.
"What's not to like? Go to him, you know you want to."
She hesitated an instant before deciding herself.
"My apologies, your Highness, if I may be excused for an instant," she stuttered.
"Go, before the tournament starts," Gwen smiled knowingly.
Mercia put the rose on her chair and exited the stands after bowing to the Kings and Queens, making her way to the Knights' tents. There were a few ladies there too, as they came to encourage their champions, but all of them seemed to be of some sort of upper class. Though some seemed to not have any titles of nobility, they did not lack riches. Mercia felt small and underdressed and she did her best to ignore their curious stares as she asked a squire to point her to Sir Percival's tent.
"Sire?" She called weakly before entering upon his signal.
He seemed very surprised when he saw her. He was even bigger up close, she noticed. His shoulders were probably twice the size of hers, and he seemed to just have finished putting on his armor.
"I… I wanted to thank you… for the rose, today… and the flowers you had delivered to my room… and…"
She clenched her fist around what seemed to be a piece of fabric, hesitating for the slightest moment, before walking up to him and looked him directly in the eyes.
"I would like to give you something as well…"
"You do not have to, Lady Mercia. Your presence is a gift in itself," he finally spoke, thanking every star in the sky for not saying anything that would make him sound like a fool. Though he had had a false sense of insurance after the flowers, it didn't change how nervous she made him.
"I want to. Consider it a good luck charm."
She unfolded the fabric in her hand. It was a simple white cotton handkerchief with a little peacock embroidered on one of its corners. Percival's heart almost broke out of its ribcage as she tied it securely around his arm. She was choosing him as her champion.
"I know ladies usually give participants pricier and more luxurious handkerchiefs, but I am just a farm girl. Though it isn't made of the finest silk on the market, I embroidered it myself."
"I would choose this one over a thousand silken ones," he assured, grabbing the hand that was still on his arm and kissing it.
She gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen before curtsying and taking her leave. When she sat back down next to Guinevere, she was smiling from ear to ear.
"I gather it went well?"
"Your Majesty guessed well."
oOo
Percival was good. He was spectacular, actually. He had even gotten to the final round against Sir Constantine. However, he had sustained a few injuries, mainly during an earlier round when the wooden lance of his opponent had hit him in the abdomen. He had only remained on his horse due to his strength and agility, but had been favoring that side since. He had held on until the very last second, almost winning, but the pain and exhaustion had gotten the best of him, and Sir Constantine emerged victorious, making him the champion of the annual joust.
"Go check on him," Gwen told her worried maid.
"Sh-should I?" She stuttered.
"You look like your seat is on fire. Go, he'll appreciate it."
She hurriedly excused herself and all but ran to Percival's tent. She didn't even bother to make her presence known and walked in as Gaius was about to bandage his wrist. The Knight had removed his armor and was sitting on a bench wearing only his shoes and pants. He had white gauze all over his torso as well as on one of his shoulders. The Court's medic was muttering something about three bruised ribs and how young men couldn't be a bit more careful these days.
"You're lucky the wrist is just sprained. No swordfights for the next week or so."
"Allow me, Master Gaius."
Percival's eyes opened wide at the sight of her. Gaius did not seem fazed, almost like he had known she was there all along.
"Will you be alright, dear?"
"Yes. I grew up with brothers and have had my fair share of sprains."
Gaius seemed to hesitate for a second before shrugging.
"Oh well. That will allow me to take care of another patient. Percival, I shall see you in three days."
"And you will. Thank you, Gaius."
As the old man left, a silence fell on the two people. She took a seat next to Percival and gently took his arm, bandaging it with the gauze left by Gaius. As she tied it, her eyes fell on his other hand. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed he was clutching onto the handkerchief she gave him. She had been about to let go of his hand, but instead held it in hers.
"You must be disappointed," he said, breaking the heavy silence. "You made me your champion only for me to lose."
"Disappointed? Sir Percival, I was and still am very impressed by your performance today. You are mistaking my worry for displeasure."
He grabbed her free hand with his non-bandaged one.
"Why me?" She blurted.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You are a nobleman, Sire. You could have any woman possessing any title and any riches. But you chose a handmaiden who, before that, was only a farm girl."
"So was I. Before I met Arthur, I worked the fields for sunrise to sundown. And when my father passed, we were so deep into debts we had to sell it. My mother started working in an inn whose owners offered her a small room and three meals a day for her services, and I came to the city to look for a job. But on the way, I met Lancelot and the both of us went to help Arthur take back Camelot. I was not born a noble, I was given a title."
"That still does not answer my first question."
"I was taken by your beauty when Guinevere first introduced you as her maid. But seeing you interact with the other servants, with the Prince, and with pretty much everyone you met, and before I knew it, I fell in love with your kindness and gentleness. So why not you?"
She did not answer.
"I want to court you properly, if you'll allow me. Now if you do not reciprocate my feelings or do not wish for me to pursue you, just say the word, and I will never bother you again."
Mercia bit her lip and before she knew it, she had leaned towards him and kissed his cheek. For a second, she feared that her action had been too forward, but he sent a blinding smile her way and grabbed her other hand with his unwrapped one, the handkerchief between their palms.
"I am not used to gifts or attention from men, Sir Percival, so excuse my inhibition. It is not that I do not reciprocate your feelings, it is just that I do not know how to. But I will learn with time."
"And I will wait."
She seemed to hesitate before gently putting her head on his unhurt shoulder. A smile split Percival's face in two. In fact, it was so long his cheeks hurt from it, but he could not care less. Soon, she had to excuse herself to get back to the Queen.
That night, at the banquet, Sir Percival walked right through the crowd of women competing for his attention and made his way to where Mercia was standing. He kissed the back of her hand and asked her to dance, which was met by a general disappointment from the female public, and quite a few cheers and wolf whistles coming from the Knights' side.
oOo
She had been walking with the Queen and her guards at the boarder of the woods when Percival came out of nowhere riding his horse. He stopped by the two women. Mercia gave him a smile and a small curtsey as he stepped down. The Knight bowed in front of Gwen before standing straight.
"Your Majesty, I hope you do not mind if I steal your handmaiden away from you."
"I don't see why not, but it is her decision at the end."
"Just wanted to get your approval first. Of course, Lady Mercia gets to decide if she wants to spend the rest of the morning with me."
"I… I couldn't! I still have to tend to the Queen, and the Prince, and I need to…"
"If it is what you are worrying about, there are plenty of servants in the palace. Go, and have some fun! You deserve it."
"I would love to go with Sir Percival, but Your Grace…"
"Oh, for Camelot's sake! Percival, take her with you, the poor girl deserves a nice break."
The Knight picked up the servant, ignoring her protests, and set her on his horse before climbing behind her.
"Queen Guinevere," he saluted, giving her a nod, before riding away.
"Sir Percival! I had so much to do!"
"You heard the Queen! And you can just call me Percival."
"You are a noble. I have to…"
"Yes, that, but I'm also courting you. So, like I said, just Percival would do."
She smiled at him and he almost fell out of his saddle. He must have looked like an idiot because she let out a small – and really adorable – giggle before she settled against his chest. Like she had promised, she was making efforts to be more affectionate with him, and he was being patient.
Soon, Percival halted his horse. They had arrived at the most stunning clearing Mercia had ever seen. The trees were more spread out, but still gave shade, except for some patches of light here and there. There were small wild flowers growing and the grass had a beautiful dark green shade to it.
"It's gorgeous," she whispered, almost out of breath.
Percival got down and extended his arms to help her do the same. She put her hands on his shoulders and his strong grip on her waist lifted her like she weighed nothing (which she probably did, to him) and set her down on the ground. He pulled out a long sheet from the bag attached to his saddle that he placed under a tree and invited her to sit there. He took his place next to her as she admired the landscape around them, sparkles in her eyes. Percival did not know what to say without sounding like a total fool, but she didn't seem to mind. Soon enough, they were conversing like they had done so their entire lives.
"Forgive me if my feelings scare you, but every day that passes, I see myself falling for you more than the day before."
He was conscious of how sappy he was being, and chances were, the other Knights would never let him live this one down if they ever caught wind of it. But one look at the shy smile that answered him, made every potential joke and ridicule worth it.
When he walked her back to her quarters, he gave her a respectful bow before grasping her hand and kissing it. She grasped his other one, and the next thing she knew, her blue eyes were anchored deep in his own. He saw her get on the tip of her toes and met her halfway. Her soft lips seemed to caress his and he felt Mercia smile against him. The handmaiden threw her arms against his broad shoulders as Percival's strong arms encircled her waist. They were separated by the sound of giggles behind them as well as someone clearing her throat. They looked behind them, cheeks red, to see the rest of the servants and Queen Guinevere (who could often be seen conversing with the maids as she used to be one and deeply appreciated their work) smiling, and the matronly Alberta arching an eyebrow, hands on her prominent hips.
"Uh… I should… I should take my leave, then… Majesty… Ladies… Milady."
He hurriedly kissed her hand before almost running away, his entire face looking like a tomato. Gwen walked toward her and linked her arm to hers, and led her to the group of women she was previously talking with before the lovebirds arrived.
"So? How did today go? Tell us everything! I haven't had any tales of romance of my own since Arthur's death, and I'd appreciate living vicariously through you!"
oOo
The big man in armor gulped as they neared the little cottage. His horse could feel his nervousness and seemed easily excitable the closer they got to the house. He breathed in, recalling Mercia's meeting with his mother a few weeks back. Percival had been courting the woman for months now, and after his matriarch's incessant pestering, he had brought the maid to his estate to meet her. She had immediately taken a liking in her, seeing that Mercia was in no way like the haughty, condescending nobles' daughters she's seen around the court.
"This one seems to know the value of arduous work and doesn't look above her nose!" She had said, her arm around his dame's.
He got off his horse and tied it to a tree nearby, and arranging his cape and chainmail, he knocked on the door. Mere seconds later, a young tousled haired boy of barely fourteen years opened it and faced him. His big blue eyes opened wide as he took in the massive Knight at his doorstep. Percival smiled, trying to make himself a bit less scary. The lad still looked petrified.
"William! Who is at the door?" A woman's gentle voice was heard. "Oh… Oh! Sire! Please, come in! Will, it is rude of you to make a Knight wait outside!"
She ushered him inside. It took him a second to respond as her dark hair and blue eyes seemed more than just familiar. The small house was simple, yet clean. There was a table and a few chairs around it, as well as a chimney in which a low fire was burning under a delicious smelling pot.
"Would you like something to drink or eat, Sire? We don't have much, but there is water, and I could ask one of my boys to milk the cow…"
"Please, do not disturb yourself, Madam. My name is Percival. I am a Knight of Camelot's Round Table. Is your husband home? I wish to speak with both of you about an important matter."
"Yes, he is outside working the field with my two oldest sons. William, go fetch your father and brothers, will you, dear?"
The boy nodded and ran outside from the back door. Soon, he came back, and three men stepped inside with him. Percival stood up by respect. They seemed to be sweating from the sun outside. The oldest one, the father it seemed, blinked as he saw the nobleman standing in his cottage. His sons, one looking just out of his teenage years and the other not so much older, looked at each other.
"Sire! What do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Am I late on the taxes? It seems like we just paid them a few days back!"
"No, no, do not worry! It is about your daughter, Mercia."
Her mother looked at him with worry in her blue, and it seemed for a second that he was seeing her daughter instead as they looked so similar.
"Is she alright, Sire? My sister does not usually cause trouble," the oldest out of the three brothers asked.
"She is perfectly alright. I came here to formally ask all of you to allow me to marry her."
There was a lot of confused blinking.
"You. A noble. Marrying my Mercia?" Her father finally uttered.
"But she's just a farm girl!"
"Like I told her, I was too before King Arthur, may he rest in peace, made me a Knight of Camelot. I love your daughter more than I thought was possible, and I have from the first time I saw her. And I want to make her my wife, if I would have your blessing."
"Are you… are you really serious about this?"
"I am a man of my word and honor. I would cherish her every day until my last."
Mercia's mother fell more than she sat down on a chair and put her hand on her mouth, eyes glistening with tears, and she kept murmuring a shocked "Oh, my Lord" as her husband and sons just merely looked at him with eyes as round as saucers.
"Yes. Of course. Oh, by Camelot, absolutely. Golde, our daughter is getting married!" He finally said. His wife, Golde, started sobbing and got up to embrace the Knight out of happiness. Percival returned the grip and patted her shoulder before she was joined by the rest of the family.
Soon, he was galloping back to the castle, and ran through the corridors until he barged into the Round Table's room, in which his brothers in arm were dining with the Queen and the Court's Sorcerer. All eyes turned to him, including the blue eyes of the woman he treasured more than anything. He took big and determined strides as he made his way to her, before grabbing her hands and kneeling in front of her.
"Mercia, there was not a day since I have known you that I have not loved you, and there won't ever be one in the future. I am just coming back from your parent's house and have their blessing. So, will you make me the most fortunate man in the land and become my wife?"
She gasped and put a hand on her mouth before removing it to show the biggest smile he had ever seen.
"Yes! A thousand times, yes!"
He got up, spun the maiden around before cupping her face and giving her the most breathtaking, dizzying kiss she had ever received, under the cheers of the rest of the Knights.
Their wedding had been a small affair, with only the Queen, their respective families, their closest friends and the Knights. The next day, as she was visiting the maids and Guinevere, there had been some teasing and giggles about how much of a big man Percival actually was, especially compared to her petite stature.
And the following year, on a foggy morning, the two welcomed a strong, healthy boy that ever so sensitive Mercia suggested to name Gwaine, in honor of Percival's best friend who had given his life for Camelot. Little Gwaine was followed by a brother and two sisters, making them the proudest parents in the land, and they seemed to be as much in love every day that passed.
oOo
"I'm sure you'll love it here!" Her roommate assured her, smiling brightly.
"This campus is beautiful! And thanks for showing me around!" The new girl smiled, holding a book to her chest.
"Sure! I would've loved it if someone did this for me last semester! Here they are. Hey guys!"
The little group stopped passing the football around, and one of them, a cute blonde boy, adopted a big, dumb, enamored smile as he saw Gwendoline approach.
"That's Arthur," she whispered. "My boyfriend."
"Hey, babe!" Arthur said as she got closer, engulfing her in a hug. "I see you made a new friend! I'm Arthur, nice to meet you!"
"Pleasure's mine!"
"Guys, this is Mercy, my new roommate. She just transferred to Avalon U, so be nice to her."
"Ah, I see Morgan finally moved out!" A skinny boy with a British accent, dimples and blue eyes commented. Marcy had the strange impression that his eyes had seen centuries, yet still conserved a boyish mischievousness. He seemed nice. "I'm Marley, by the way."
"She wasn't so bad…"
"Gwen, she had creepy voodoo dolls around and she tried to jump you when you ran for Student Government President."
"… True."
A boy with a leather jacket, longish hair and a bad boy attitude grabbed the newcomer's hand and kissed the back of it.
"Hey, gorgeous. Name's Gavin, at your service," he said charmingly with a lopsided smirk.
"Idiot, give her a second before being weird," another one said, rolling his eyes. "Excuse the dumbass. I'm Elias. Gwen's twin. Nice to meet you. And that's Leonard, we just call him Len, and Lance."
"Hey!"
"It's nice to meet you all, truly," she smiled sweetly.
"Hey guys! Sorry I'm late, I had to… wow."
There was a round of smirks at the newcomer's reaction to the petite girl with the flowery dress, the loose braid, and the startling blue eyes. She gave him a dazzling, innocent smile, and his face flared.
"Aherm… sorry. I was uh… unpacking. My car broke down on the highway, and it took me a couple hours to find out what was wrong. I just got here half an hour ago."
"No problem, man. Hey, meet Gwennie's new roommate, Marcy. She just transferred."
"Nice to meet you," she said to the boy standing in front of her, bright smile still on. He was a good foot taller than her, and he probably weighed twice than she did, and it did not seem like fat.
"Same here. I'm Percy."
"Perce here is our linebacker."
"Linebacker?"
"Yes, they're all in the football team. Arthur's quarterback."
"Hey!"
"Except Marley. He's the mascot. So, he usually walks around with an armor, chainmail, and plush horse at games."
"Go Knights!" Gavin said in a hilariously high-pitched voice, brandishing around imaginary pompoms. The rest of the group laughed as he tripped and faceplanted.
"Percy seems to like you," Gwen whispered to her new friend.
"N-No he doesn't," Marcy stuttered.
"Look at the poor boy, he looks like he just saw the sun for the first time!"
The transfer bit her lip. Coincidently (or not), the bigger one out of the group of guys tripped.
"Well, if you're interested, he's very single, and he's just a big teddy bear."
"Hey, girls! We're passing the ball around, wanna join?"
"Sure!" Gwendoline smiled, putting her sweater down on the ground and running to join them.
"I'll pass. I've never really played, so I'm just fine with watching."
"It's not really hard. Here, I'll teach you," Percy offered.
"Really?"
Their friends discreetly high fived as he put his hands over hers to correctly place them on the football.
"Hey, if you want… I could… I could show you some nice spots around campus… when you're free…?" He suggested, over the ball.
The hesitant tone in his voice made the big, buff guy in front of her look so cute. She smiled, her cheeks pink.
"I'd love it if you did. Does tomorrow afternoon work?"
The Knight's mascot looked at the two of them and took in Percy's big, goofy, happy smile. Of course, the two of them would end up finding each other. Though their love was not mentioned in the legends like Arthur and Guinevere's was, they had had the most beautiful life together, and after Mercia had died of old age, surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren, Percival had not taken long to follow her, a mere three weeks after she passed. The two had been buried next to each other, and their love had been too pure for them not to meet when Arthur and his Knights rose again.
Marley – that was the closest thing he could find to Merlin without actually using his own name – smiled at the scene. Of all places for the Once and Future King to rise in Britain, the prat had made him fly all the way to the rural areas of Maine, in the United States, that bloody fucker. But it was all worth it when he saw the familiar faces of his most loyal friends.
The sorcerer could not help the big smile on his face when Gwen told them the next morning that a bouquet of flowers had been delivered to the girls' dorm room for Marcy, with a cheesy message that the transfer had found adorable. A few hours later, in the afternoon, Percy himself had shown up to their doorstep as promised, holding a small daisy that she immediately put in her hair before they took off to explore Avalon University's campus. Of course, there was a few cheers coming from their table as Gwendoline retold the events and a few weird glances from the neighboring students.
Some habits died hard, and no matter what century it was, the handmaiden's heart seemed to always be won over by a big guy with a heart of gold and a sheepish smile holding flowers.
Fin
Hiya y'all!
So this one has been sitting around forever waiting to be finished and ta-daaam! Here it is!
Basically, just because Percival is an absolute sweetie, as well as my favorite Knight in general and there aren't enough stories on this website about him. Enjoy, leave a review, and I'll see you guys in my next work!
Love and kisses,
Maddie.