Chapter 28. Sir Percival's death

Laura's POV

After Sabrina left me in my room and locked the door, I immediately wished to get out of there. Sabrina was fighting Count Lancaster completely on her own, and Percival was lying in the hall, almost dead and perfectly defenseless. I sobbed. Percival actually loved me! I remembered his face, when he stood between me and the evil wizard Count, and when he was shot with lightning. I couldn't say I loved him back, but he was a true hero and he could have been our true friend...

Suddenly, five loud crashing sounds filled the air. I trembled. My canaries (Percival gave them to me...) were frightened nearly to death.

Then, I could hear Sabrina and the Count talking loudly. Sabrina ran somewhere - I heard her fast footsteps. And finally, a horrible "BANG-CRASH-SHHHH!" rattled my eardrums. I smelt smoke.

"What's that?" I cried. The canaries were trying to fly away. I opened the window and unlocked their cage, they escaped the room and vanished in the dark sky. I envied my poor birds. Oh, if only I could fly too!

I ran around the room like a crazy, called for help - nothing help. After five minutes of such despair, the wall of my room fell - and was burnt down by an enormous fire. I screamed and jumped out of the window.

"I can break my bones and become an invalid, but I won't die!" I thought.

I fell through the leaves of the tree that grew under the window of my room, so the falling wasn't so fast.

And while I was coming down to the ground... At first I thought it was a happy dream or a flashback... I heard Walter's voice.

"Goodness! Look, she's falling! Over there!.."

I closed my eyes, but different voices came into my ears. Daphne's voice. Mrs. Grimm's. Basil's. Puck's.

"Please don't haunt me before my death..." I begged. "Please don't haunt me..."

But a pair of strong arms caught me three feet away from the ground. I opened my eyes and looked up into Walter's handsome face.

"Walter?.." I squeaked.

"Laura, dear, Mrs. Michaelson came and told me everything! The army of Fort Charming was at Maple Leaves - can you imagine such a happy coincidence? We were planning future battles... I'll explain you later. Well, the wizards transported us straight here!" Walter kissed me on the cheek. "We saw the fire... Oh, where's Sabrina?"

"Sabrina's probably dead, she tried to fight Count Lancaster by herself," I sobbed. "Percival - he tried to protect me - the Count killed him..." I burst into tears.

Puck ran to us:

"Sabrina's dead? I can't believe it! We'll search for her now!"

"Calm down, sweetheart," Walter whispered. "The full army's here. Mirror's destined to be killed."

I half-closed my eyes. Walter carried me to a bench in the garden and laid me on it. A blue-haired woman with bluish wings gave me some medicines - I can't remember which exactly.

Many odd-looking people unleashed streams of water on the horrible fire. Puck led another group inside the unharmed part of the house. Walter sat near me, holding my hand.

I slowly fell asleep - or unconscious. Just my eyes closed and the world faded around me.


Later

I woke up. Walter was still sitting near me, and his smile was wider and happier:

"Laura, Sabrina and Percival are both still alive. Mirror is trying to escape, a special group is chasing him. Henry and Veronica are tracking down his agents. Everything's going to be all right."

I stood up and told Walter that I wanted to visit Sabrina and Percival. Walter walked me to a large tent, which looked like a tiny hospital inside. Two beds were standing there. Sabrina and Percival were lying on them: Sabrina had some small burns, a broken arm and a broken leg, and Percival had a bad burn on his chest.

Mrs. Sprat was taking care of them.

"Laura?" both of them said in unison. Sabrina's voice was cheerful, and Percival's was trembling and weak. I ran to them.

"I was saved by Puck - he carried me away from the fire. I wasn't hurt a lot, and anyway I'm getting better with every hour," Sabrina grinned. "Mrs. Sprat has a healing salve that does wonders indeed. My burns have almost disappeared, and the bones will recover in two days or so." Her voice became sad when she glanced at Percival and whispered:

"He's getting worse. Nurse Sprat can't save him."

I turned to Percival and took his hand.

"Percival," I cried, "please don't die."

"No, Laura," he breathed. "It's for the better. It's all for the better."

I burst into tears again:

"Oh, don't say it!.."

"Laura... you know it," it hurt the poor man to speak. "You'll marry Walter... I bequeath... my estate... and title... to both of you..." He managed to take a deep breath. I was crying desperately:

"You saved my life, Percival, you can't die!"

"Marry Walter Hartright," he whispered. "Laura, you'll be... happy with him... Now... I just have... to... say... that I loved you, Laura. Farewell..."

"No!.." I sobbed.

"I have a bad... burn... The Count will... pay for... it... I know... I don't worry about it... Farewell, Laura, dear..."

He closed his eyes and grew silent. I checked his wrist and felt no pulse.

"Mrs. Sprat!" I screamed. "Percival has died!.."


Two hours later

I was recovering from a breakdown. Thank goodness Walter understood me and didn't feel (or at least seem) jealous or angry.

"I'll respect his memory forever. He saved you, Laura," Walter said. "I can forgive anything for this."

Well, when I got a little better, Daphne asked me:

"Laura, do you know how the whole army with all the magic got into this universe."

"No," I said. "It was a true miracle! You came just in time!"

"I'll tell you how it happened!"