happilyeverbeginning | Forbidden Love

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Forbidden Love - Percival & Galahad

"Henceforth, it is forbidden for any knight to court another knight. The punishment shall include stripping their knighthood, and dishonor upon their name."

Perhaps some of the nobles had suggested it, jealous of the only female in a group of men. Perhaps the king was trying to prove his superiority to other territories. Perhaps fate was just cruel.

The night that royal decree had been announced to the land, it was raining hard enough to make farmers worry for their crops. As a result, most wouldn't dare venture out into the darkness. If someone had bothered to take a look outside, perhaps if they squinted they would see Percival standing before Galahad's home, fists clenched, but silent. It was impossible to tell what was dwelling inside of her. She had raised a hand to knock, but then gave up, lowering it.

Her head leaned on the door, allowing the rain to wash over her body. It was a pitiful sight.

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It had been a late night. Galahad had spent the better part of the day taking a portion of the patrol outside of the Kingdom's wall. The Kingdom had been having problems with monsters lately so they had to redouble their efforts to keep everyone safe. Everyone had been extra on edge because of it, especially when it came to the safety of the Kingdom.

The weather had taken a turn sometime during the afternoon, which always made work more difficult. It was late before they all finished their shift and returned to through the city gates. All the guards were exhausted and damp, Galahad was no exception.

As soon as the rest of the guard were safely past the city gate, he headed for home leading his horse behind him. Ugh, He couldn't wait to get dry.

Though as he approached his dwelling, he saw a figure leaning on the entrance. He paused some distance away and squinted through the rain and the dark to try and make out who it was. "Can I help you?"

It took a good, full moment before she lifted her head. Despite the noise of the rain, she knew who had spoken. After all, who else would it be? She placed a flat hand on the door, taking a deep, heavy sigh. Everything was hurting. Everything was over. Best to get it over with, and begin the healing process somewhere else.

Finally, she looked at him. "Galahad." Her normally strong voice was now brittle and broken. As if on the edge of total collapsing if she couldn't keep up her will. "I... I came to say goodbye. I'm leaving the kingdom."

"What?" Even with her tone of voice, he didn't want to believe that she'd meant that she was leaving for good. Something must have happened for her to lose such composure. What could have gone so wrong that she would leave during such a terrible time? Galahad began to twist his horses lead in his hands nervously. "When will you be coming back?"

She was grateful to be wearing her helmet, so he wouldn't have to see her real expression. Though she could only hope her voice wasn't giving away what her face would.

"You don't understand." She wasn't surprised. In the worst of situations, Galahad tended to be hopeful and naive. "... I'm not coming back. This is... I'm leaving for good. You will not see me again after this day."

Galahad stayed silent and his eyes drifted towards the ground. Before he realized what he was doing, his hand dropped the lead to his horse. He didn't want to lose his teacher and... friend forever. Why couldn't he ever see her again? What would make her decide that? "Did something happen?"

Her hand reached up instinctively to perhaps catch the lead, but she dropped it. No, helping him would do nothing now.

"... You must know it is no fault of yours. It is my own weakness. I have striven to devote my heart and soul in service to the kingdom... To care for it and nothing else. But I can no longer put the kingdom and it's people first in my care. I have... tried to fight this feeling, but it is a losing battle."

A moment, and she looked him in the face. "Did you hear the royal decree from our king?"

She seemed awful quick to dismiss him of any guilt. It was.. odd. What was going on? "Decree?" Galahad shook his head. "I've been out on patrol beyond the outer wall. We'd just returned."

He motioned for her to come inside and outside of the rain. "Whatever it is, I'm sure you don't need to do this. You've served the Kingdom faithfully for all this time. Surely, they couldn't just turn their back on you and drive you away. You're a valuable part of our team."

That explained it, though she had to wonder if he would connect the dots even if he did know about it. But it would be cruel to leave him uninformed. She made no movement to join him inside, staying still in the drenching weather.

"... It is forbidden for knights to court one another." Her voice was almost a murmur. "Should they have evidence of it, the royal court will strip them of their knighthood." A shame that would follow that person to the grave.

"..." Galahad put a hand against his chest. Suddenly he felt in the pit of his stomach as though he had something to be ashamed of. He'd scarcely even come to be able to acknowledge that they were..courting, being shy and uncertain as he was. Had someone found out and urged the decree to go forward?

"I...can't.." So they had to choose between Knighthood and themselves. "We can talk to the King. They have to be able to see reason."

Still as hopeful as always. It was one of many things she adored about him. It also made this all the more painful. Her vision blurred as hot tears rolled inside of her helmet. She was grateful he could not see this too.

"That would run the risk of shaming us both... I won't let you sacrifice all your hard work for my actions." Yes, she blamed herself for the times they had. She was the older one, the mature one, she should have known this would have lead to ruin. Instead she let her affections blind her.

"You have your whole future ahead of you... You're brimming with potential, Galahad. You will do great things for the kingdom... It needs you. It will survive without me... and... so shall you."

Unfortunately for Galahad, he couldn't hide the raw pain and emotion on his face under a face mask, though that didn't mean he didn't try to save face by turning away. Somehow he managed to avoid tears though that was thanks to the mere shock of it all.

He'd scarcely even started courting his fellow Knight--or rather, she began courting him--but that didn't mean that she didn't mean the world to him. She was the first one he'd ever looked at in that way.

He allowed several deep breathes, most of them were uneven and forced.

"You don't have to leave." He looked ahead into his dark house. "I'll leave you alone. You don't have to talk to me ever again. I'll..even find another teacher. "

"... If only things could be so simple." She looked down, one hand clenched. What he had spoken of was logical, yet logic and emotion did not often go hand in hand. How the roles had reversed - he thinking with his head while she with her heart. He'd truly become a man to be proud of.

"... But I know things cannot be this way. Because... seeing you every day... Knowing you were here... I would still long for you every day. I could not be the sort of knight the kingdom needs. The true problem is..." She smiled sadly. "... That I love you too much, Galahad."

He wiped at his eyes with the back of his face.

"I..." She.. what? She'd never told him that she liked him to that extent before. Not that he'd ever doubted her affections. "How is distance supposed to change that. I will still feel the same way, even if you're not here with me."

He turned, headed for the door, and gave Percival a tight hug.

Percival felt her heart shatter as he embraced her. A tiny whimper escaped her, and before she could stop herself she began to cling to him, her head pressed onto his shoulder. No, she didn't want to go, she didn't want to leave him, she didn't want to stop loving him. Just because those things were right did not make them fair.

"Galahad..." It was all she could get out. She didn't want to be the brave, steadfast soldier for just this night. She just wanted to be a woman.

He stayed quiet a a few rolls of thunder sounded overhead. But with the decree, he couldn't stay like that forever and risk arousing suspicion. He pulled himself away solemnly and quietly added, "I'll.. see you to the gate."

He turned towards the house. "Please wait here, and I'll get you some things to use on your way."

She nodded numbly, wishing their embrace could have lasted ten lifetimes. But they could no longer afford even the simplest of gestures. She waited in the doorway, half in and half out, breathing softly. Her body sagged, feeling as heavy as her heart, as heavy as the rain.

Though he tried to be quick, it took him some time to gather together everything. He filled a satchel with some food, supplies, all the money he could find, and even a gift: a ornate knife that he'd intended to give as a present sometime later..when he worked up the courage to do so. He included a note which read 'use this to protect yourself in my stead'.

He brought it all back to the entrance, praying that she hadn't quietly left during the time he'd been getting what he needed.

"Do you have a way to get to the next city?"

She had stayed in place, perhaps unable to move just yet. When Galahad returned to her, her grip was limp as she took the satchel without bothering to look inside it. All of her energy was drained, making her little more than a moving doll.

"The gate." Her words were soft. Even though Galahad had already said he'd take her there, she wanted a guarantee, desperate as she felt. "Please... take me to the gate."

That answer was worrisome in and of itself. Percival was sharp witted, articulate, and rarely repeated herself unless it was needed. She sounded so.. removed. "Of course, My Lady." He said as if he'd never said a word about it.

"If you have no plan on getting to the next town, I'll charter you a carriage so.." He felt his voice start to quiver. "..you won't have to travel in the rain." Surely there was someone around willing to do the work if he paid them enough. "No matter how long you intend on being away, If you could find the time to write.." Tears gathered on the brim of his eyes and he closed his eyes to hold them back, though they spilled over just the same.

"I don't mean to make it more difficult, But you have been my greatest friend and inspiration. You understood what it was like to be different and have a talent that no one else shared. I care for you just as much as a friend as a partner." "Please don't leave me forever." He could barely get the words out, "Please come back."

Percival wanted to say a carriage was unnecessary and could lead to someone finding out why she was leaving. She wanted to say she could not promise letters, as she was afraid of him landing in trouble. She wanted to say she cared for him just the same, that she loved him with all her heart, that she truly wished to come back some day.

Yet nothing left her mouth. She had no will in her tongue. Instead, she lifted her helmet ever so slightly. Actions spoke louder than words. She stepped toward him, and pressed her lips onto his, kissing deeply. She could only hope that all of her sentiments could be expressed this way, the things she would miss and the things she would hold onto.

With his eyes closed he didn't see her move closer. He just assumed the silence he received in return would be left at that. But as he felt something on his lips his eyes snapped open. But they hadn't even...

Once he overcame the shock of what she was doing, he held both hands up--a aqua hue surrounding him--and sharply pushed her away with his abilities. "I..can't." He sniffed. "If it's my duty; I can't go against that. I'm sorry." Though half of him was just reeling. It was a lot to take in at once.

The shove had hurt her emotionally more than physically. Yet she couldn't fault him for his devotion to duty - it was another thing she had loved him for. Yes, he would do well without her. Perhaps he might even find someone else, someone proper, someone suited for him. She put her helmet back down, swallowing, and turned her back to him.

"Let's go." She didn't wait for any other words or actions and began to walk with slow but steady footsteps.

Galahad lingered back as he held the back of his wrist to his mouth, face flushed. That wasn't what he'd hoped to have handled that kind of situation. And without her having returned any of his words, he felt like it was her way for of substituting an action for a farewell.

Her way of saying that there was no way to make it work as long as the decree stood between them.

He trailed along after Percival, trotting after her to catch up.

The gate wasn't far, but the depressing steps made in the rain made it seem ages away. She spared no glance at him, and found her head sagging down again, unable to see ahead. She thought not of her future, but his own.

"You will do so many great things." Her voice was tender. "I am proud of you... and you will become a knight that all will be proud of. Do not let this... ever hold you down. You're too good for that." He was too good for her.

If years of training had proven anything, it was that Percival knew his tendencies all too well; She would've known better than anyone how this would affect his work for an unforeseeable amount of time. Galahad often let ordinary things get to him more than a Knight should. He was no stranger to others saying he was much too sensitive for his line of work.

"I'm glad to hear you say these things. But.." He clung one palm to his opposite arm. "Please stop talking like this is the last time we'll see one another." The whole tone had a undertone of finality that he didn't like. "You're talking like you have one foot in the grave."

A bitter chuckle left her. "My apologies." Maybe she would die of a broken heart, in some overly melodramatic fashion. What a fitting, pathetic end to someone who had let her love dominate her future. Perhaps her grief was making her unable to think straight. Who knew how she would handle the travel with this state of mind?

Percival fell into silence again, walking aimlessly ahead, perhaps not even looking for the gate.

It seemed as though there was nothing more to speak about as they made their way to the gate. Galahad certainly could come up with words of substance as he tried his best to regain his composure before they reached the outer wall.

As they came within its sights, he stopped. "This is as far as I can go." Any further and he would be questioned by the city guards. He reached for Percival's hand and gave it a polite, cordial kiss. "I hope that I'll see you again some day. ....Farewell."

"... Farewell, my love."

She had meant to say his name. But it was obvious any control she had over herself had long since left. It was uncertain if she would regain it, such as she was uncertain over their futures. She held his gaze for eons... and then walked away.

The rain, at last, began to let up.

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Forbidden Love - Percival & Galahad

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