A/N: My response to crshore's challenge to use the words "crenel", "capture" and "capitulate" and have a character cry/call out/weep. Huge thanks to sarajm and Donna for fixing my verb tenses and word choices.

A Competition

The four men stood at the bottom of the West Tower, staring up at the imposing stone wall and the series of embrasures that studded its face. A plan had been decided on and now it was only a matter of putting said plan into action.

It had all started at The Rising Sun. A couple of mugs of beer had led to the telling of tales, which led to boasting of talents, which logically led to a competition. No one could quite remember who had proposed the challenge, but soon enough Arthur, Elyan, Percival and Gwaine found themselves outside the walls of Camelot, staring up at the West Tower.

The challenge was simple: Each man would shoot five arrows towards the topmost arrow slit that was situated just below the row of merlons and crenels that surrounded the top of the Tower. The winner would be the one who got the most arrows through the small opening in the stonework. A difficult enough task to be sure, but it was soon made all the more demanding by Arthur's pronouncement that they would all use longbows.

The men were all well-versed in many different weapons; hand any of them a sword, a mace, a lance or a crossbow and each would wield it with skill and dexterity. A longbow, however, was a beast of a different nature. It was not a weapon commonly used by Camelot's finest and could prove to be the turning point on which the competition lay.

Elyan was up first. With his background, he figured he would win hands down, so it was with very little hesitation that he let fly his first arrow. It bounced off the wall and the lighthearted jeers of his companions filled the air.

"Hey, that was only my first try," said Elyan as he armed himself again. "This one will make it in, I guarantee."

Adjusting his stance and correcting his angle slightly, Elyan let his arrow fly towards the wall and, sure enough, it sailed through the narrow opening. "Yes!" said Elyan as he turned to his companions, a grin on his face. "I told you!" By the end of his turn, Elyan had managed to get three of his arrows through the tiny slot. "Beat that," he said to Gwaine, who was the next to try.

Gwaine tried his best, but he was unable to beat Elyan's score. "Three arrows; not bad," said the dark-haired man as he stepped to the side to let Arthur have his turn.

Grinning at his companions, Arthur said, "I'll admit that three arrows is acceptable, but just wait until I'm done. Watch and learn, my friends. Watch and learn."

Stepping up to the line they'd marked on the ground, Arthur licked his finger and held it up, testing the wind direction. At this, Gwaine snorted and chuckled, but refrained from saying anything at the look that Arthur threw in his direction. Arthur picked up his bow, notched his arrow and, taking careful aim, released the string and watched the projectile fly up and through the slit in the wall.

"Ha!" he crowed to his friends, as he lined up his next shot. Both his second and third arrows flew through the break in the stonework, though his third arrow had a bit of a wobble.

Feeling extremely confident now, Arthur let loose his fourth arrow, but he had either acted too hastily or had not released smoothly, for the arrow wobbled and wavered and then bounced off the wall.

"Careful, Arthur," said Elyan with a laugh, "now the three of us are tied."

"I'm not worried," answered Arthur. "This last one will go in, I'm sure of it." Just as predicted, Arthur's final attempt also soared through the opening.

"Four out of five!" he called, as he loosened the string on his bow and turned towards Percival. "You know," he said, "there's no shame in capitulating right now," he said to large man. "There's no way you can beat four arrows!"

While all the shooting and joking had been going on, Percival had been standing quietly to the side, saying nothing. However, if anyone had bothered to look closely at the tall, reserved knight, they would have seen a glimmer of amusement deep in his blue eyes. While the other three had been going on about their prowess with weapons, none of them had grown up with a bow in his hand. Percival had. By the time he was ten years old, he had become an expert with a bow. He had the keen eye and steady hands so necessary to be a successful archer. If anyone had bothered to ask, he would have cheerfully admitted his prowess, but since no one had … Percival simply smiled to himself as he stepped forward to take his turn.

One by one, his arrows flew through air and straight through the slit in the wall; no wobble, no yaw, just beautiful arcing trajectories. Elyan, Gwaine and Arthur stood there, eyes wide and mouths open, amazed at the talent shown by their friend.

"Well, Percival," said Arthur, "I am truly impressed. But you've not won yet, my friend. You still have one arrow and I don't think you're going to make it."

"I'll take that bet!" said Gwaine with a smirk. "C'mon Percival. I know you can do it and if you win, Arthur's buying the next round!"

Silently, the big man notched his final arrow and raising his arm, he smoothly pulled back on the string. He aimed along the arrow, adjusting slightly for the light breeze, took a deep breath and let the arrow fly.

It was a perfect moment, the kind of moment Percival wished he could capture forever. The bowstring snapped back with a ping, and there was a slight whoosh as the arrow left his hand and flew up towards the wall. The four men watched for what seemed like an eternity as the arrow flew up and up, heading straight towards the long, narrow opening in the stones.

Then, the arrow disappeared into the embrasure. He'd done it! With a smile of satisfaction, Percival turned to his companions and said, "I believe that's five for five!"

His friends gathered around him and offered amazed congratulations and slaps on the back.

"Well done, Percival," said Arthur. "I bow to your expertise with the longbow."

Percival laughed at Arthur's mocking bow, but before he could say anything Gwaine grabbed his arm, raised it high in the air and cried out, "To the Champion! And to the Tavern as I believe Arthur's buying!"

With laughs and in high spirits the four men made their way back through the castle gate and towards The Rising Sun. It was time, after all, to celebrate!