Eleventh Challenge: A Beautiful Character
Category: Gen (Canon)
Characters/Pairings: Percival
Ratings/Warnings: K+
Word Count: 307
A/N—This takes place during 4x1, The Darkest Hour. And this is my eternal head canon.
Choose the character you love the most, then write a drabble that captures the essence of why they appeal to you so much. If you don't have a definite favorite, please just choose someone you really like from the show.
Sir Percival would not allow these children to die alone in terror. On his honor as a Knight of Camelot, he would remain with them until the end.
Percival's massive arms cramped and his legs burned as he raced down the dark road, fleeing the Dorocha—the deadly Shadow People—with three frightened, weeping children nestled in his arms.
"It's all right, children," he panted, his feet pounding against the dirt lane.
They were running for their lives, and the Dorocha's icy fingers of death crept closer; of course they were not all right, but these poor wee ones deserved a small measure of comfort during their final moments.
Despite his weariness, Percival ran. He hated the notion of these precious innocents dying, of how their parents' hearts would break. He had hoped for a family of his own one day, but with the Dorocha bearing down, their murderous shrieks making his skin crawl, he realized that would never come to pass. Still running, Percival mourned the life he would never have and grieved for the children he held in his arms.
The Dorocha's looming presence made his breath catch; this was the end.
"Children, it'll be all right, just—" he started, but a blazing torch lit his path, and the Dorocha fled, as the Shadow People hated the warmth and light of fire.
And there stood Sir Elyan, clutching his torch, heaving sigh of relief. Elyan and Percival jogged toward the cottage where these children lived. The knights kicked in the door and reunited the little ones with their grateful family members.
Percival could not suppress a grin. He had been given a second chance at life and would not take that for granted. With his heart full of gratitude, he silently vowed to be the finest knight Camelot had ever seen and, one day, gods willing, a loving husband and father.