Whenever the children needed it, the money would be theirs.
“I’ve got the crates of food waiting outside, this time, properly balanced in a wheelbarrow,” said Gwaine. “We should head out.”
The men reached the castle courtyard where the wheelbarrow stood. Gwaine took the handles and Percival guided the front.
“Damn sweltering summer,” complained Gwaine, as the men trudged along, easing the wheelbarrow over rocks, roots, and ditches. “This is a better workout than clanging around in full armor in the mid-afternoon sun.”
“Always the penchant for exaggeration.”
“You’re too tense these days.” Gwaine gave a grunt of exertion, maneuvering the heavy load around a tree stump. “You need a woman.”
“Right. I’ll order one up. Gwaine, how many times…show more content… “Gwaine, no, absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“She’s not my type.”
“Who is, then?” asked Gwaine, gesturing for Percival to take up his part of the load again. Percival complied and the two men moved through the darkness.
Who, indeed? It’s not that Percival was looking for a princess… that wasn’t the case at all. But he needed a woman who was more calm and docile, a woman who enjoyed quiet evenings by the fire, not rowdy gatherings at the tavern. Yes, Percival joined the knights in revelry from time to time, but the truth was crowds and socializing often made him tense. On rare occasions, a woman might approach him at the tavern, often after she’d indulged too much mead, and the moment he stood up from his seat, she usually blanched and babbled excuses about how she had to return home. Percival’s height and build were that imposing.
“Well, who is?” promoted Gwaine after Percival had failed to answer. “I overheard one a courtier talking about you the other day. She said you were handsome. I don’t see the appeal, but to each her own… I’m joking, Percival! You’re a good looking bloke. I’d give you a crack myself if I liked men.”
“Great. When desperation strikes in a century or so, I’ll keep that in