The burning flames of the amber eyes were flickering restlessly as she gazed upon her companion. The hedgehog's normally white fur gleamed like pure silver in the waning light of the moon and the young cat could help but feel that the colour fitted one so precious to her. The knight limped slightly, the result of an injury obtained the previous day trying to protect her, and Percival fought the urge to be him to sit and rest awhile...

"The woods are too dangerous." Galahad had groaned when she first brought up the topic as he staggered and stumbled from the rouges' lair.

In other circumstances the hedgehog's struggle would have been a source of amusement for the female knight who was famed for her agility and grace; after all she had the proud honour of claiming to be the only member of the Round Table not to require a sword to climb walls. For a few foolish and selfish moments Percival allowed her fantasy to take over as she imagined teaching Galahad to climb swiftly and silently across the rocks. For once he would be on entirely unfamiliar ground whilst she had complete control but she wouldn't laugh at the young male, instead she would sooth him and be the patient instructor he lacked in his youth. Eventually after weeks of 'training', a perfect reason for the pair to be alone together away from the palace grounds, Galahad would be able to scale the high walls surrounding Camelot with ease and they would slip away from the watching eyes of Lancelot to their own paradise...

A cry of pain and the echoing rumble of shifting stones jolted the cat from her thoughts as she dashed to her fallen friend.

"Galahad!" She groaned as she wrapped one slender white furred arm around her shoulder and hauled the younger knight to his feet, "Let me help you!"

Swiftly the golden eyes turned away and fixed on the grey rubble, "I am a burden Percival; you would do better to complete the quest without me."

For a moment the feline's throat tightened, "and leave you to return to Camelot in this state alone?" Her eyes softened as a delicate gloved hand forced the tan muzzle of the the hedgehog in her direction, "Galahad you mustn't say such things about yourself. If not for you I would have been killed." The girl felt her cheeks warm as she blushed, "If I left you here to wait for the others to send a search party or allowed you to venture home alone, without armour and injured as you are, do you truly believe that I would be able to focus on our quest?"

"No," The hedgehog flattened his ears, "but I know how many trials you faced just to become a knight and I couldn't bare it if they thought you unworthy now."

The amber eyes glowed with warmth, "Oh Galahad you're so naive! I have proved myself to Lancelot and Gawain already and I am sure they would fight for me. Besides Galahad there are things worth more than a reputation."

Suddenly the hedgehog leaned into her side and the act of supporting him turned into an embrace, "one day Percival we shall not be knights."

The girl frowned in confusion and turned to her companion, "what will we do?"

The golden gaze was glassy, far off in thought, "we'll have a quite house on a hill somewhere, we'll become farmers and raise our children far away from Camelot, the King and the war."

"It sounds wonderful," Percival's tone was a purr, "but I could never abandon my brother like that nor you your father."

Galahad smiled, "I know, it's one of the things I love about you, but it is nice to dream."

"I will sit and dream with you Galahad when we are away from this place and you are somewhere safe and rested." Percival had forced herself to be firm and as they had clung together she found her natural grace had left her. The rocks shifted beneath their feet but they didn't fall. It was the perfect balance...

Beneath the pale light of the moon that filtered through the trees Percival smiled sadly. Galahad had fallen into a fever shortly after they had set up camp and she had been forced to tend him day and night for three days. The worry in her heart for the young knight, who's gold eyes had burned with unseen fears during his illness, had almost been too much to take. Despite her loyalty to the King, Percival knew she would have abandoned her quest if she had believed her ally was strong enough to be moved. For three days she had huddled beside his still form and understood real fear; something she had never felt in battle until four days earlier when she believed her love had thrown himself to his death for her sake.

"Percival?" The word, choked from a parched throat, was like music.

Heart fluttering like a little bird, the young cat saw the treasured knight staring at her with comprehension and recognition at last. Swiftly she brought him water, helped him drink and made him rest again.

"Percival." He whispered now, "the others..."

The lilac cat froze, they had been gone too long. The Knights of The Round Table would be searching.