happilyeverbeginning | Courtly Love - Galahad(Silver) & Percival (Blaze)

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Courtly Love - Galahad(Silver) & Percival (Blaze)

Being the first female knight in the kingdom - and as far as they knew, it was a first for the entire realm - came with its honors and its burdens. There were many who had felt Percival wasn't fit to be among the knights merely based on her gender. Cruel women scorned at her lack of femininity. Men boasted they could 'make' her into a woman they courted her. These insults and dregs were easily ignored and cast aside... typically.

The day that Percival realized she had fallen for her her fellow knight Galahad was also the day she actually cared about the gossip the villagers whispered about her. She knew Galahad would never spew such bile about her - no, her worries lay if there was truth to the mudslinging. How could someone without a touch of elegance and grace win over a man?

Maybe food would do it.

It was one of her rare days 'off', where she was relieved from duty. She went to the markets early, buying all the necessary ingredients and trying not to act like a flustered mess. She didn't know how to flirt, or seduce, but she knew how to cook.

Midday, dressed in soft colors, in a dress that felt ill-suited to her, she headed for Galahad's home. She wasn't sure if he'd be there or not, but either way she planned to drop off a gift. In her hands she held a woven basket, and under a blanket were a loaf of bread, jam, two apples, and, most importantly, a freshly baked cherry pie. She had slaved over it, done every step carefully, hoping her thoughts and feelings could be rolled into dough.

... This was ridiculously sappy and silly, she thought, now standing in front of his house. What was she thinking? She couldn't do this! Maybe it was best just to drop the basket off in mystery and forget this whole stupid plan.

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Like Percival, he too knew what it was like to be assumed to be something based on an appearance or rank. Being the youngest of the Knights, son of a great warrior like Lancelot, others expected much and berated him without knowing his capabilities. It was hard to escape his age or his fathers shadow at times.

Not that he wasn't proud to have Lancelot as a father, but it was difficult to keep up with the demands that it brought. Even on his own day off he would find himself in the training yard to practice his skills. Galahad started his morning with training outside in the courtyard. It was odd not to have Percival there on her days off to train by his side. Unlike many she would take the time to explain with words rather than actions.

Very few words...but words nonetheless.

After practice, He approached his home just outside the palace. As he drew closer he noticed Percival outside the door in her unusual civilian attire. What was she doing there?

Galahad cleared his throat, "My..Lady?" It was odd calling her by anything other than 'comrade'.

Her ears shot up, but that was the only part of her - externally - that gave any show of surprise. She hadn't earned knighthood by being easily spooked and skittish, after all. But what really threw her off was the title - 'My Lady.' So he did see her as a lady. Or he was just being polite. Either way, her heart was hammering away.

Forcing herself to retain casual composure, she turned around and met his eyes. "... Good day to you... Galahad." She almost called him "Sir Galahad" out of impulse, but hoped the simple use of his name would show this was a friendly exchange. It would probably help if she could just smile on command. Sadly, even smiling didn't come naturally to her. She took a breath.

"... How does the day find you?" She forced conversation on, wringing the basket's handle in her fingers.

Calling him by his first name in such a familiar fashion coaxed Galahad to look off. He might have been a knight, but he hardly held the complete disposition of one. At least, definitely not as convincingly as Percival or the other Knights.

"Well. I'm well." He nodded, "I'd just finished training in the courtyard." Galahad reached for the door and pulled it open. "Won't you come in?"

With one sentence, her 'plan' was thrown completely off the arranged path. She was just supposed to leave it, or give it, and get away. But leave it to Galahad to always be extraordinarily kind without even giving it a second thought. As such, she couldn't find the will to say no.

"... Just for a little while." She gave no reason why. After a quick nod of her head in gratitude, she walked inside of his house, both hands tightly gripping her basket. Her eyes darted all around, feeling a strange rush of excitement being here.

He made sure to hold the door as she headed inside, then follow her in and click it shut behind them.

Galahad idly busied himself with putting his weapons aside and the extra armor that they wore during training bouts. "It seems as though you have talents you keep from the rest of the knights." He said while nodding towards her basket. Something in their smelled amazing.

A hint of a smile tugged at her mouth. Yes, praise was what she had sort of been going for, but to actually get it was thrilling. "It's nothing that amazing, honestly." She watched him, trying to find lines that would make her both humble and appealing. It was a difficult process. "I had some leftover ingredients, and I didn't want them to go to waste. So, I..."

She swallowed. Gods above, this was embarrassing. "I... got some things together, and... thought you might like it."

That he might...? Galahad blinked, letting the implication sink in for a moment. "For me?" With that he uttered the only response he could think of. "Are you sure?" That was a greaet deal of work to just give away to someone.

"Of course I'm sure. I'm giving it to you, aren't I?" Alas, that had come out far sharper than she intended. What to her seemed like simple logic could easily stab as an insult, if she wasn't careful enough.

But now worry set in. If he didn't believe her, if he was skeptical, or... a worse answer all together. "... If you don't want it, you don't have to take it." She glanced away, trying to look strong. "It's fine."

"N-no! No. I mean yes." Galahad held up his hands and waved them back and fourth. He was always so graceful with words.

He sighed and breathed in to start over with what he'd meant. "I mean that: I would be honored to be the recipient of all your hard work."

Percival fought off another smile. It was difficult - seeing Galahad flail and stutter like that was adorable. It also put her at ease, because it meant he was being honest. She shook her head, and headed to his table, placing the basket on top. Opening up the cloth, she began to take out all the food that was inside.

"... I can always count on you to be honest." She said with her back to him. "No matter what, that's how you are. I've... always been glad you stayed that way."

Galahad glanced at her dumbly. Of all the things to say.. "A Knight must uphold all promises. To do otherwise wouldn't be honorable." It seemed second nature to him. "If I'm to earn my keep as a Knight, I'll uphold that no matter what." Especially for his fellow Knights.

To a boy who grew up in the Shadow of one of the greatest knights--Lancelot--he had been ingrained with the code that the Knights upheld since he could remember.

Percival shook her head, but didn't argue. To her, there was a difference between honesty with your feelings, and a knight's honor to be truthful. Yet as long as they were on this tangent about the truth... She finished taking everything out of the basket, and clutched at her dress where her heart lay underneath. It'd be easier to say this without facing him.

"So, that means... you'll be honest with anything I have to say to you?" Her voice became quieter, softer. "No matter what I tell you, no matter how... odd... it sounds... you'll still give me your honest answer?"

That question in and of itself caused him to arch an eyebrow with interest as he looked on with a degree of curiosity. What kind of question was...that?

Though, of course, it spawned the obvious answer. "Yes.. I would never think of lying. On my honor as a Knight."

Heat came to her cheeks, an she was grateful he could not see her. Percival closed her eyes, deciding to take the plunge. Perhaps it was better to know, and to be rejected, than to endlessly wonder about what ifs.

"... Even if I asked you... how you feel about me?"

"F-Feel?" Galahad cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. "Of course, I think you're a talented Knight and a reliable ally that anyone would be fortunate to ha--" He coughed mid-sentence, "--have by their side."

Percival's ear flicked at his stutter. Had he been about to go in a different direction? Or was that her mind being foolishly hopeful?

Now she turned around, making the choice to face this hardship head on. "Is that all?" She asked, her voice cool and calm, a lie about her nerves. "Is there nothing else, besides the same loyalty and brotherhood you have for our fellow knights?"

"..." His face shifted and he looked off. Of course it wasn't all, but saying everything exhaustively was embarrassing to say the least.

"I.." A pause. "I admire you most of all. You're the only one who showed patience and perseverance enough to allow me to train despite the differences my abilities presented. I will forever be indebted to you. And.."

He nodded. "I will always care for you."

Something akin to relief swept through Percival. Her face softened, and she came up to him, taking his hands. It was a little amusing that he was being led down this path without realizing why, but she was willing to state the obvious.

"I will always care for you too." She spoke, looking him right in the face without any hesitation. Even if he wasn't willing to look at her, she wouldn't back down "... More than a brother, more than a friend... You make me feel as if I am 'allowed' to be a woman..."

Galahad looked to his hands with a contented expression.

"I wouldn't think of telling you what you could or couldn't be." Not only for the reason of respect, but also she was one of the most talented Knight's he'd ever known. Anyone in their right mind would allow her to do whatever she would.

Percival doesn't let go of his hands, nor loosens her grip on them.

"... It's because of that... I can tell you, as a woman... how I feel for a man." She leaned in a little more, trying to make him look her in the eyes. If he didn't get the implication yet, she'd have to do something a bit more drastic.

'A man' wasn't descriptive enough for him to think it was related to him. "I see.." His face fell.. maybe she liked someone else and wanted to make sure there was no animosity between the two of them.

"I wouldn't want you to deny your feelings."

What a sweet naive little soul.

"Then I shan't." If it was bluntness that would get through to him, then blunt she would be. Percival yanked down on his hands hard, in order to make him look at her. Only when he did would she suddenly press her lips onto his own.

If she wanted to get his undivided attention, she certainly accomplished just that. Galahad's eyes snapped wide open and his color practically turned from a clean white to a dusty pink within an instant.

Galahad's thoughts were clearly written on his face: HIM?? She'd meant him? All that was about him?

And the food was made for him purposely.

And she'd come here asking all those questions because she.. liked. Him.

Of course, shock over being kissed did not equate having feelings for that person. Percival wasn't fool enough to believe otherwise. Though the fact he was offering up little resistance was nice.

She pulled back as quickly as she had started, having gotten the message across. She also released his hands, keeping them to her chest.

"... That's all I wanted to say. What you do with this... is entirely up to you."

The shock didn't subside along with her stepping away. He stood there trying to wipe the shocked look that must've been on his face. And just like that, his typical front of the graceful knight all but dropped as he tried to think of a way to handle the situation; For his father taught him many things in the way of the sword but never in matters of the heart.

"I-I.. You.." Galahad felt his heart lurch. How he felt about the situation and what he had said was genuine, but never did he think that it would be reciprocated in such a manner.

"..Uh.." He pointed at himself and whispered, "..You.. like. Me?"

Percival couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. After all that, he was still having doubts? Perhaps it was less naivety and more poor self confidence. Whether they became together or remained as friends, she'd have to work on that. Someone as good as him didn't deserve to feel bad about himself.

"Yes, you. I can think of few other reasons why a girl would kiss a girl."

"I.." Of course it was a silly question, but thinking about how he felt seldom came to mind. Even if he felt a rush of warmth inside his chest every time they trained together or chatted idly he had put that aside for the greater good.

Galahad cleared his throat and folded both hands behind his back in an attempt to regain some of his lost dignity for the momentary lost in composure. "I have sworn a vow to protect this Kingdom and all who inhabit it, whether they be common or of royal blood."

A pause. "..And if you choose to give your heart to me, I will protect it with my life. It will be the most precious thing I protect; for I would never let it break." He held his hand out to her with a bow. "You have my word."

Percival carefully watched him straighten up, trying to interpret his reaction. She remained silent and still, in an attempt to be patient. When he spoke of of his vow, she momentarily thought it would be about their brotherhood and nothing more.

So imagine her shock and delight when he then added to protect her heart. Her eyes widened, and a rare smile spread across her face. It took all of her will to remain a courteous lady and not jump into his arms with a strong embrace. Instead she managed to contain her joy, and delicately placed her hand in his, bowing her head respectfully, thanking him. "...You've made me very happy." It was almost a whisper. "... And I shall not falter as a knight, nor as a woman. You shall have my best of both. That is my word to you."

With sincerity, He took her hand in his own and placed it over his heart. "You're the finest tutor, mentor, and one of the greatest knights I've known. I've never known nothing less than your best." He was all to honored to be thought of in such a way by her.

Galahad motioned towards the interior of his house. "Would you care to sit for a while, My Lady?"

A faint redness came upon her cheeks, now that she knew his flowery compliments were more than just the kindness he showed to all. Percival squeezed his hand, her smile becoming bigger and more genuine with every passing moment. She truly could not recall a happier moment than this.

"I would like that very much..." And then, she couldn't resist a gentle moment of teasing." ... My Galahad."

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Courtly Love - Galahad(Silver) & Percival (Blaze)

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omg so l8 ;-;

you were on vacation! cut yourself slack! XD

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