Sir Percival

It was difficult for Percival to take his eyes off Gwaine long enough to concentrate on the situation at hand. They were trying to decide whether or not to tell Arthur about Merlin being a sorcerer. Percival wished he had never brought it up in the first place.

Gwaine flipped his thick mane out of his face and Percival felt a flutter in his chest. He met Leon's eyes for a moment. There was sympathy there. Percival shook his thoughts clean and tried to focus on what Gaius was saying.

"I've known since the day Merlin arrived in Camelot," said Gaius slowly. He did everything slowly, but Percival admired that. "I never thought the day would come where I'd be sitting with the Knights of the Roundtable discussing magic."

"Me either," said Gwaine, and Percival's attention went to that spot on Gwaine's neck just below his chin where a rogue hair had decided to grow away from all the others. Once again Percival forced his attention back to Gaius.

"We're debating about whether or not to tell Arthur," said Leon.

"Oh no, you can't do that. Our king is young, and has a good heart, but Merlin and all of you would be hanged for treason. You all mean too much to me for me to allow that to happen. My heart wouldn't be able to take it."

Percival smiled. The feeling was mutual. He had grown fond of Gaius and Merlin since he's been in Camelot. He turned his attention to Merlin as he remembered when he found out Merlin had magic.

He had been on patrol and Merlin claimed he was out searching for fresh fruit. There was a pear in a tree just out of Merlin's reach and before Percival could get over there in time to help him, the pear seemed to float into his hand as if it was being controlled.

Percival did not make his presence known to Merlin. He watched as Merlin walked up and down the trail magically getting the ripest fruit off the tops of the trees with no effort on his part at all. The sight would have been almost humorous if Merlin hadn't been doing something that could have gotten him in a lot of trouble.

Percival sat up straight and stared at Merlin. How powerful is he? Can he stop Morgana? More importantly Percival had to ask himself if he would still willingly walk into the mouth of Hell for Merlin as he would for Arthur. The answer was yes.

"Let's decide right now," said Leon looking out the window at the dark sky. It was very late, Percival noticed. "We'll vote. Who is for keeping this a secret?"

Percival was extremely surprised to see that Elyan had come around and at the last second put his hand up too. They were all agreed. They'd spent an hour in the armory discussing this and finally agreed. Percival yawned. It was time for bed.

"It's settled then, we take this to our graves," Leon said as he put his favorite sword on the rack behind him. He helped Gaius out of his chair and offered to escort him back to his chambers. They left. Elyan left quietly.

"I'm going to find a woman to warm my bed," Gwaine said as he thumped Percival on the back. Gwaine gave Merlin's arm a squeeze before he left. Percival sat back down to process Gwaine's words. He's getting a woman for the night. Percival had a terrible ache in his head and his chest.

"Are you alright?" Merlin asked.

"Why are you still here?" Percival asked.

"I have to get this armor cleaned for Arthur," Merlin said.

"Why don't you just use magic?" Percival asked.

Merlin grinned, "You want to see some?"

Percival nodded. Merlin said something in a weird language he didn't recognize and suddenly the armor was polished and mended and the sword was sharpened. Percival smiled. Very impressive.

"What's troubling you, Percival?" Merlin asked sitting down beside him. Percival felt like a giant next to Merlin. He hoped the smaller man didn't feel threatened by him.

"Could you use magic to make someone fall in love?" Percival asked as he pretended to be sharpening Leon's sword that he took off the wall.

"Of course, there are hundreds of love spells, potions, and enchantments."

"Are there spells to make someone fall out of love?"

"Only if they were enchanted, it won't work if the feelings are real."

Percival had thought it would be so. He wanted to break something or sit there and cry as his heart was breaking. Is there magic to mend a broken heart?

"This is about Gwaine isn't it?" Merlin said.

"You know about that?" Percival asked.

"I pay more attention to the four of you than you think I do. I know you love Gwaine, I know Leon keeps a cat in his chambers; I know Elyan is terrified of spiders. Gwaine, well, I could write a book on Gwaine."

Percival stared at Merlin. He was willing to keep their secrets. It was only natural that they should keep his even if his was a very large secret.

"Can you do something about this?" Percival asked. He blinked back tears. He was a knight of Camelot, he shouldn't cry. "I'm tired of feeling this way."

"I can't," Merlin said, "I'm sorry. There is no magic for heartbreak. The only way to make this easier for you is if I enchant Gwaine."

"No. I can't allow that. I want him to love me of his own free will," said Percival. He stood up. He offered to walk Merlin back to Arthur's chambers and explain that he was what kept Merlin so that the poor man wouldn't be scolded.

They walked down the corridor. Percival carried the armor for Merlin. Arthur was sitting at his table staring into space. He seemed lost in his own thoughts. Percival hated to disturb him.

"Merlin, where have you been?"

"I'm sorry, sire, it's my fault. I held him up," said Percival.

"That's good of you to take the fault, Percival, but it's not necessary."

"He was helping me with a problem," Percival said.

"Is this about Gwaine?" Arthur asked.

The King knows too? This is embarrassing. Percival nodded slightly. He could not look Arthur in the eye. He kept his face low.

"Very well, I hope you were able to fix the problem, Merlin," said Arthur.

"Unfortunately, this sort of problem has no solution," Merlin admitted.

"I do not like hearing that. Surely, there must be something," Arthur said looking at Percival. When no one said anything he didn't press the issue. "Thank you for returning my servant to me. Have a nice night."

"Thank you, Arthur."

Percival ran into Gwen in the corridor just outside Arthur's chamber. She was about to turn in for the night. She was unaccompanied by guard and Percival knew that Leon was going to be very angry about that and possibly be sacking some men tomorrow.

"Good night, Percival," said Gwen, giving his arm a little pat.

"Good night, my lady," he said without looking at her.

"Are you alright? Is this about Gwaine?"

Percival blushed and kept his head down. He walked away without answering her. It was too embarrassing.