There she was, sweeping the courtyard, a few strands of golden hair falling over her eyes.

Her job was not usually to clean up the grounds; Gwen must have dismissed her for the morning.

He knew the leaves had been building up against the white stone, but it was usually the job of one of the grounds keepers to clear up. It seemed just like her to find more work when she had finished hers.

Her breath fogged up around her in the chilly air and once again he wondered why she insisted on working outside in the cold. The thin brown shawl around her shoulders obviously did little to preserve her warmth, why she didn't buy a new, thicker one he didn't know. After all, any position within the Royal Household was of reasonable pay, especially when you were the personal handmaiden to the Queen. A simple woollen cloak, shawl or tunic would be well within her price range. Perhaps even one of rich furs if she saved up...

He shook his head and turned away; it was none of his business what she did with her time or money, and it most surely not his place to think about it. He had better things to think about, important things. Why had he even stopped to notice her?

"Percival!"

He started at the sound of his name and looked up at Gwaine, who stood at the end of the corridor looking at him with an almost apologetic smile. "Not to interrupt your lovesick stupor or anything, but there is a council awaiting your presence."

Oh, he remembered now. He was going to report in about what his small scouting mission had found down in Eastridge. Gwaine was to report on the training of the new Knights. And he was pretty sure Sir Boras had a report to make about a bandit attack a few weeks ago. Plus Leon would be making his monthly speech on the kingdom about taxes and deaths and war statuses from that list of his. No doubt they would be told what patrols they would be leading over the next month. He already knew he was to lead a patrol up North to a few farming villages, and yet the statement still had to be made official. Percival sighed. Councils were such dull affairs, yet necessary.

Nodding his acknowledgement to Gwaine, Percival began to walk towards him, forcing himself not to glance back at her through the window.

It was only a short trip to the council meetings from where Gwaine had found him. They walked side by side through the corridors, their blood-red cloaks billowing out behind them as Gwaine talked about how he reckoned some of the boys he was training were ready to take the oath and Percival bothered himself no more with the cold girl in the courtyard. She was someone else's concern. There was an unspoken acknowledgement and agreement between him and all the knights that she was Merlin's girl. Even if neither of them recognised it yet. Nonetheless, he still resolved to get Gwaine back for the 'lovesick' comment in training the next day.


Just something short for now, love Elle x