Different pt.2
Hello, hope you are having a good day. Yes, I am back. Sorry about the hiatus.
The next day, Percival met Olivia at the training grounds early in the morning and she showed him how to use a bow and arrow. Little did they know that Olivia's mother was watching.
"Like this?" Percival asked as he shot the arrow and made a bull's eye.
"Perfect. You catch on fast." Olivia answered.
"So do you."
"Yes, but it took you minutes to learn where it took me days to learn how to use a bow and arrow."
"It took me years to learn to use a sword. You learn in a few hours."
"Fair point. There's going to be a feast tonight, you are your friends can come."
"I don't know about Arthur and Gwaine but I know that I will."
"Good. I will see you tonight."
"Do you want to take a walk?"
"I would but I can't. My mother knows that we are talking to each other and she's starting to plant lies into everyone's heads. She doesn't want me near you. She thinks you're dangerous."
"What do you think?"
"That she's right about you being dangerous but what I mean by that is very different than from what she means. I don't agree with her but that wouldn't matter."
"You are a woman. You have the choice to do what you want to do. She can't control you."
"I know but I don't want war."
"How about I walk you to your chambers and we could be talking about our different cultures?"
"You win."
They walked to Olivia's chambers. When they got there, Olivia faced Percival.
"Thank you, Sir Percival for a nice walk. I hope to see you tonight." Olivia said.
"Your welcome." Percival replied. Olivia kissed Percival's cheek. Percival went to his chamber. He stopped to see Merlin. He went in and saw Gwaine tending to Merlin who was thrashing and mumbling. "What happened? Where's Arthur?"
"Arthur went t talk to the king. When he left, Merlin started running a fever and now he's doing this. He hasn't stop. You can watch him while I get Gandalf?" Gwaine explained.
"Sure."
Percival watched Merlin while Gwaine ran out of the room.
The king and Arthur were walking and talking when they saw Olivia's mother walk past. She looked at Arthur angrily.
"You have to forgive her. She has been greatly harmed by people like you."The king sighed.
"Most likely people like my father." Arthur answered.
"Yes. She is not the woman I married though and now I know that she was trying to control me. Olivia was very little when her mother died. I was grieving when I met Zelda. She was beautiful, fair, and kind. We fell in love and got married. Then she pushed me away and is how you now see her."
"It's nice easy."
"I feel like because she is unhappy, I must do all I can to make her happy."
"I felt the same about my father but the a very good friend of mine's told me to be who I want to be, not what my father would want me to be. Now that friend is lying in bed fighting for his life."
"I am very sorry. Gandalf is a very good physician. Your friend is in good hands."
"Thank you. Speaking of Merlin, I should go check on him."
"Will you be at the feast tonight?"
"I'm afraid not but Gwaine and Percival are two of my finest knights and I will make sure that they attend."
"I will be glad to see them. I pray that your friend recovers."
"Thank you."
Arthur went to see Merlin. When he walked into the chambers, he saw Percival, Gandalf, and Gwaine standing over Merlin's bed.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"Infection in both wounds. It caused your friend to start thrashing and talking in his sleep. His fever is very high. I have removed the infections but now he must rest. He can not be left lone for even a minute." Gandalf explained. Arthur went over and saw that Merlin was thrashing slightly while Gandalf cleaned the head wound. "Is the boy known for high fevers and seizures?"
"Yes. He was born very early from what Gaius said."
"Then you must be very careful. He may have a seizure. I will come by in a few hours with medicine for the boy. Keep him comfortable and tend to his fever. If it gets worse, take his clothes off and have a blanket cover his lower body. Then come get me."
Gandalf finished treating Merlin's head and then left. Arthur sat down on the bed and saw that Merlin was starting to wake.
"What's happening?" Merlin rasped.
"You have an infection. It's been treated but now you have to fight the fever." Arthur answered.
"Can I have something to drink?"
Percival grabbed the cup of water and helped Merlin take a few sips.
"My head is spinning." Merlin groaned.
"It's the concussion and the fever." Gwaine replied.
"Help me take my shirt off. It's too hot."
Gwaine and Arthur did. When Merlin's shirt was off, Merlin sighed.
"That feels a little better." Merlin moaned.
"Get some sleep. The sooner you heal, the sooner we can get home." Arthur answered.
Olivia was getting ready for the feast when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." Olivia sighed. Zelda came in. Olivia sighed. "Is this about Percival?"
"Yes. Olivia, he is very dangerous. They may be here to kill us all." Zelda said. "And the injured one may be their leader. He may be the one to kill all of us."
"I really doubt that."
"I fear that Percival is using you, Olivia. I do not want you to get hurt."
"Mother, I love you, but I am a woman. I can make my own choices."
"I know but I fear for you."
"The only way I can learn is the hard way. I will learn on my own, mother. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for tonight."
Olivia left the room. That night, the two knights were getting ready for the feast.
"Arthur, maybe you should let me stay with Merlin." Gwaine said.
"No, I want the two of you to go. When Merlin wakes, he will need someone to help him." Arthur replied.
"I can do that."
"Yes, but I think you should go. He is my servant."
"Yes, sire."
The two went to the feast. Percival saw Olivia and went to her.
"You look very beautiful tonight." Percival said.
"Are you flirting with me?" Olivia wondered.
"Maybe."
"Shame, not even drunk yet and you are already taking advantage of me."
"I'm not touching you."
Olivia took Percival's arms and wrapped them around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Now, you are." Olivia whispered as she leaned in to kiss Percival. They kissed and quickly pulled away when they remembered where they were. They looked around.
"One thing that makes us similar is how we dress." Percival said.
"Oh."
"yes, most women dress in gowns and ere makeup like the women here. They wear jewelry and have their hair up."
"Do they dance?"
"Sort of. It's mostly the younger women that dance while the older ones sit around getting fat."
Olvia laighed.
"You're right. We are similar but we are still very different." Olivia chuckled.
"Your people live longer than us, have pointy ears, different color eyes, and have more wisdom at a young age. That's it." Percival answered.
"Actually, there is the whole baby thing. We are pregnant for only 6 lunar months and are babies are born smaller. Women who become pregnant usually find out a week after conceiving. We have two weeks of bleeding during the month."
"Wow."
"Yeah."
Then the king came over.
"Father, this is Sir Percival. King Arthur's knight." Olivia greeted. Percival and the king shook hands.
"He is a very fine man. You would make a very good husband for my daughter." The king teased. Olivia and Percival blushed.
"Father, there is nothing between us."
"Well there should be. If he were to ask for your hand in marriage, I would agree."
"Father."
"It's alright, Olivia. It may happen but not for a while." Percival said.
"I should go see the other guests." The king replied. He walked away.
"Do you mean what you said?" Olivia asked.
"Yes." Percival answered. Then it was time to eat. They ate and talked and danced afterwards. It was late, when Olivia sighed.
"I should retire. It is getting late and I'm exhausted."
"Then let me walk you to your chambers."
"Thank you."
They talked as they walked to Olivia's chambers.
"Thank you for an amazing night." Percival said.
"You're welcome. How about we talk for a little while inside." Olivia answered.
"I'd like that."
They went in and sat on the bed. Olivia closed the door and they talked.
"When will you be going home?" Olivia wondered.
"Not for a month or so. Merlin's getting worse." Percival replied.
"Good. Not that Merlin's health is good but that you'll be here longer."
"Tell about your childhood. I've already told you mine."
"I would actually like to see if I was right about you being dangerous."
Percival smiled slightly as Olivia moved closer and kissed him. He kissed back. They wrapped their arms around each other and started getting passionate. Percival unfastened Olivia's dress and started taking it off of her. Olivia gasped and started taking Percival's clothes off. When they were undressed, they laid down and got very passionate.
"I would really like to see you pregnant." Percival whispered.
"Then do it." Olivia gasped.
When Gwaine got back, he saw Arthur tending to Merlin.
"Is he any better?" Gwaine asked.
"A little. He woke up and was able to swallow some broth but is still vomiting." Arthur sighed. "Where's Percival?"
"I don't know. Last I saw, he left with Olivia."
"Oh boy."
"Yeah. We'll know in the morning."
"Can you watch Merlin? I want to get some sleep."
"Sure."
Gwaine sat down while Arthur went to get some sleep.
It had been a few hours and Percival and Olivia were resting. Olivia looked down at Percival and smiled.
"I was right. You are very handsome and dangerous." Olivia whispered. Percival rolled them over so that he was on top of Olivia.
"How about now?" Percival panted.
"You are even more handsome and dangerous now."
"Good."
Olivia giggled as Percival tickled her.
"We need to keep quiet." Olivia moaned.
"No one can hear us unless they are at the door." Percival answered.
"Yes, but there are some people that would do anything to stop this from happening again."
"Then we don't let them stop us."
"I knew I loved your attitude."
Percival and Olivia kissed again. That morning, Percival woke and kissed Olivia's neck.
"Good morning, beautiful." Percival whispered as he felt Olivia wiggle.
"Good morning, handsome." Olivia moaned.
"Want lie here for a while or should we get up?"
"Lie here for a while."
After half an hour, Percival sighed.
"I should see the others. They'll most likely wonder where I am." Percival sighed. Olivia faced Percival and moved to lie down on him.
"Then let them wonder. I like this." Olivia moaned as she felt Percival rub her back.
"Anything for you."
They got passionate again. A few hours later, they got dressed. Olivia kissed Percival.
"I'll come visit you before bed." Olivia whispered.
"You could stay with me tonight?" Percival answered.
"Maybe."
Percival went to visit Merlin. He went in and saw the three talking.
"How are you feeling, Merlin?" Percival asked as he pulled up a chair.
"My fever's almost gone. I'm dizzy and nauseated. I'm in a lot of pain and you look different." Merlin explained.
"Where were you last night?" Arthur wondered.
"With Olivia. I slept in this morning." Percival mumbled.
"You're lying. We went to your room this morning. You were not there."
"You were with Olivia all night making love, am I right?" Gwaine teased.
"No." Percival lied. The other three smiled.
"Looks like someone had a good night. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to bed. Staying up all night with a fevered Merlin is not fun."
"Sorry." Merlin apologized.
"You can't help it." Gwaine answered. He went to bed.
"The Elf king and I are having lunch together after discussing a peace treaty." Arthur sighed. "I should hurry or I'll be late."
Arthur left Percival and Merlin alone.
"I know what it's like." Merlin said.
"What?"Percival wondered.
"To fall in love with someone different from you. I fell in love with a druid girl who was cursed to kill at midnight. Even when I found out that didn't stop me from loving her."
"What happened?"
"She died. She turned into the bastet and Arthur had no choice but to kill her. I was able to get her to a lake before she died. We were going to run away. It still hurts thinking about it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
"Does Arthur know?"
"No. It stays between us."
"I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks."
Olivia was cleaning her room when Zelda came in.
"You look very happy this morning." Zelda said.
"I am. I had a lot of fun last night." Olivia chuckled.
"I bet."
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. I saw that you were with Percival most of the feast. Were you with any other nice boys? Elf boys, perhaps?"
"No. Just Percival."
"Oh but he'll be leaving soon. Didn't you hear? Merlin is doing much better. They may be leaving within a couple of weeks."
"Really."
"Yes. The sooner the better. Their kind is much too different. They would never fit in with us and we could never fit in with them."
"Excuse me. I need to go do something."
Olivia left the room. She ran down a hall and ran into Gwaine.
"Where's Percival?" Olivia questioned.
"With Merlin. Why? Is something wrong?" Gwaine replied.
"No. I just need to talk to him."
Olivia ran to find Percival. Gwaine saw the smirk on Zelda's face. Gwaine went to find Arthur.
Merlin had just fallen asleep when Olivia knocked on the door.
"Come in." Percival said. Olivia came in and closed the door.
"Is it true? You're leaving sooner?" Olivia wondered.
"What? No. Where did you hear that?"
"Mother. She said that Merlin was much better and that you would be leaving within a couple of weeks."
"We still have to wait for his leg to heal. Your mother is trying to cause war between us."
Percival went to Olivia and cupped her cheeks with his hands. Olivia grabbed his forearms and tried to calm her breathing.
"I should have known. I don't know why I wasn't thinking clearly. I should probably leave." Olivia panted.
"No. Stay till you have calmed down." Percival answered as he helped Olivia sit down.
Gwaine went into the council chamber and saw the Elf king and Arthur talking.
"Gwaine, what's wrong? Is it Merlin?" Arthur questioned.
TBC