Majority of the story is about Percival and a little bit of the end is about Merlin and Llacheu, Arthur and Guinevere's son. It's a sort of slow chapter I guess, nothing too interesting but it has a message to it. It's about family and of course it mention Arthur. No appearance of Arthur's ghost or spirit in this chapter though. Usually there would be but not right now.
Well enjoys folks! And please keep reviewing the story and tell me your thought on it. Alright thanks!
Chapter Two: The Love of a Son
By the time Percival returned home it was already past midnight. Arietta, his wife looked disheveled and tired but then yet she always had these days.
"Where have you been?" she hissed.
"On patrol, you know that," Percival defended himself. He didn't have to deal with this now. Not today.
"So help me Percival, I will ring your neck!" Arietta cries. "I've been worried sick!"
"You know where I'm at every night there really isn't any need to worry," Percival sighs. He was working all day, making sure that the people of Camelot were safe. Then they had another 'mock Arthur' as the knights liked to call it, when some random village idiot liked to dress up as Arthur and pretend he has returned. Percival was sick and tired of it all and was almost about to decree a law that if any other 'mock Arthur' would take place then he would arrest them. Of course he'd have to run that through with Guinevere.
"Percival! I have to take care of two baby boys! What would you have me do!?"
"I don't fucking know!" Percival swore. "Just leave me alone!"
"No!" Arietta yells as she marches over to Percival who has only taken three steps into their house which was given to them oh so generously by the queen herself. "I will not have you fight with me! You should be here earlier!"
"Do you know how hard my job is? I have to protect the people of Camelot, protect my queen, make sure that the magic is used for good instead of evil, which is fucking hard by the way because whenever I see a sorcerer down the street I think of Morgana did to me! Oh and did I forget to mention I have to run the night patrol all by myself because my best friend is fucking dead! So please explain to me Arietta why you are so angry with the fact that I am home late!"
"You have two sons to take care of!" Arietta cries, tears running down her face. She never liked seeing Percival this angry.
"You know what!?"
"What!"
"Sometimes I wish we were never married!"
And that had done it. Tears streamed down Arietta's face uncontrollably as Percival stood by the doorway. Unable to look at her face, he grabbed a cloak and wrapped it around himself.
"W-where are you g-going?" Arietta asks, her voice soft and fragile as if she is to break at any moment.
"Out."
And with those words Percival shuts the door to their humble abode leaving a crying wife and one son awaken by the fighting of their parents, while the other son cries, signaling to its mother.
"See anything you like mate?" a beautiful brunette winks at the all mighty knight.
"I do," Percival smiles slyly as if he is up to something.
"Do you know," the brunette grins, her smell is intoxicating.
"Yes," Percival breathes as he grabs her by the waist and pulls her closer to him. Drawing her scent to him.
"You're quite a catch," she giggles, her voice sounds like bells.
"You're not so bad yourself," Percival decides as he grabs her roughly by the shoulder and pulls down the sleeve of her dress.
"What yourself sir knight," she says seductively, "You haven't even paid me yet."
Rolling his eyes Percival sighs, "You'll get your pay soon enough. First let's play."
The woman giggles and nods her head as she rests herself on Percival's lap. He's at a brothel, obviously and he's had one to many to drink. The last time he had been here was five months ago on his birthday. He rarely came because it reminded him too much of the past. Many nights he had been here drinking with Gwaine and ogling the beautiful women. As well as being there with Merlin whenever he was hiding from Arthur, then being there laughing when Arthur would find Merlin then watching him loose a game to Merlin every single time.
Memories they are and that's all they ever will be. Percival smiles at the lady thinking of all the times Gwaine and himself had watched the pretty young ladies, but Percival never had the guts to speak to one. He was too 'noble' Gwaine had said. But now, after five drinks, nobility wasn't in his best interest.
"Are we going to get to it or what?" the brunette smiles as her golden eyes shine with hope of a lustful night.
"Yeah," Percival says, too drunk to say anything else.
"Hey wait," the lustful brunette says, drawing Percival's attention to her face rather than other areas of her body.
"What?" he groans. Clearly, he is annoyed.
"You're sir Percival right?"
"The one and only," he gives her a toothy grin.
"You were one of the King's most trusted knights!" she squeals in excitement.
The mention of Arthur stings. It brings back memories of good days that Percival would rather forget. "Yeah..."
"Wow! That's nice. Too bad he died," she giggled.
"Hey!" Percival finds his voice. "T-that's not f-funny."
"Now you're the funny one sir knight! Tell me more. What was he like? Was his blood as golden as his hair? And his wife...Queen Guinevere right? I bet you she isn't as beautiful as I am!"
"Shut up," Percival growls.
"Feisty," she laughs. "Now I want to talk about Sir Gwaine! He was so handsome too bad he betrayed his own king by telling that bitch Morgana his location. So much for being noble, right?"
That had done it for him. Percival, trying to keep his word of not harming a lady, pulls the brunette off of his lap. He takes a swig off of his tankard and storms off while slamming the door of the brothel behind him.
As Percival returns home he finds his wife sleeping on her bed in their rooms upstairs. A crying draws his attention to the chambers beside his and his wife's. Inside wept baby Gwaine, so young and so precious.
Carefully Percival picks him up, making sure not to hurt him. He remembers making a promise to Gwaine that if he does something so heroic and so bold then he'd name a son after him. Percival's first son was named Tristan after a great warrior who saved Arietta's life in the attack on her village many years ago, even long before Percival became a knight. The second however was named Gwaine, Percival made sure of it and of the fact that it would never change.
Tristan was young and growing, and was also friends with Queen Guinevere's song Llacheu who is also Arthur's son. Thinking of how Arthur would never know what it is like to hold a precious baby boy to proceed him made Percival sad. Looking down at crying Gwaine made him think of his best friend Gwaine, he had thought he failed but had not. Gwaine was the bravest and strongest knight out of them all, Percival thought. He served Arthur till the end and was the most noble, in title and by blood.
"Sleep now Gwaine," Percival soothed his baby boy. "Sleep now son."
Slowly Gwaine closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Percival joins his wife in bed later on after Gwaine is long asleep. He checks up on Tristan before he joins his wife too. As he slips silently into bed she stirs, waking up.
"Percival?" she says in a soft voice. Her eyes are red from crying and her hair is messy unlike its usual glorious red curls.
"I'm sorry Arietta," Percival whispers in her ear as he holds her close. "I didn't mean what I said."
"I'm sorry too Percival."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. If I were you I would worry too."
"I still feel horrible about the fight."
"Well don't," Percival says. "It's over. Now go to sleep."
Arietta falls back to sleep and Percival is glad that they made up that night. He of all people should know not to take things for granted.
Silently while looking up at the ceiling of their home, Percival takes the time to say 3 silent prayers. One for his family who he holds very dear to his heart, the other to the fallen knights as well as his best friend Sir Gwaine who he misses everyday, and the last one to king Arthur for his return upon Camelot and for the hope that he may one day hold his own son in his arms.
xXxXx
"Merlin," a little Llacheu calls to the powerful sorcerer. "Wait for me!" he says as he picks up his little feet and runs too Merlin.
"Hurry!" Merlin smiles genuinely at the young boy. He reminds him so much of Arthur. The same blonde hair, the wide eyes which are brown instead of blue, and the same strong will as Arthur had.
"I'm running as fast as I can!' Llacheu whines.
"Don't whine Llacheu," Meriln grins. "We're almost there anyways. Just a little bit further."
"Don't rush me Merlin I'm a prince!" Llacheu grumbles.
"Yes you are," Meriln smiles at him, thinknig of the first time he met Arthur and of how arrogant and proud Arthur had been.
"Come," Merlin says as he takes Llacheu's hand. "This way," he says.
It has been five years since Arthur's death and Camelot is in its Golden Age. Magic is allowed and Camelot has lived peacfully ever since Morgana's death. Ever since his death the Saxons have left Camelot alone, though Merlin suspects that they'll be back. It didn't matter though because magic is finally allowed in Camelot and even though Arhtur is dead his destiny had been finished. He had built a great Camelot even if he had not been there to see it. Merlin had to thank Guinevere as well for allowing the ban on magic go. If it wasn't for her none of this would have happened as well.
"I'm glad that you take me here Merlin," Llacehu grins as they make it to the Lake of Avalon.
"Well I'm glad too."
"Mother can't make it with me all the time because she was duties. I feel bad because I know she wants to see my father as much as she can."
"I know she does. She misses him every day and I bet that somewhere, wherever he is at that he misses her too."
"Does he miss me?" Llacheu asks, looking confused.
"Of course he does! He loves you!"
"But he never knew me," Llacheu sobs silently into his sleeve.
"There, there," Merlin soothes the crying Llacheu. "Don't cry."
"I'm not crying!" Llacheu shakes his head and rubs his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt.
Merlin smiles just a little bit, thinking of Arthur who did the exact same thing whenever he was upset or even crying at rare occasions.
"I'll tell you what Llacheu. One day you will see your father and he will hold you tight and never let go. He loves you very much and I know it, and your mother knows it, the knights know it, even the ugly Saxons know it!"
"Really?" a smile begins to tug at the corners of Llacheu's lips.
"Yes really!" Merlin lifts Llacheu up in the air and spins him around. "You're going to be a king! A perfect king to succeed you father and mother!"
"I'm flying!" Llacheu grins as he takes in the smell of the lake water and the flowers and dewy grass. The sun shines down on them and for a moment all of the sadness of Arthur's death is forgotten. In that moment everything seems to be perfect. Merlin takes in the smell, the light, and the sound of Llacheu's laugh.
As the warlock and the young boy travel home Llacheu grins up at Merlin from his little pony. "Thank you Merlin. I enjoyed today a lot. I know father would have liked it too."
"I'm glad Llacheu."