“Sir Perceval! Sir Gawain is causing a real ruckus at the tavern, and I was told to come get you. Right away.”
A young runner stood before Sir Perceval in the castle courtyard. The boy—perhaps ten—panted, a fine sheen of perspiration glistening on his brow in the fading evening light.
“I see,” said Perceval. “I’ll be along soon.”
“Erm, Master Will said he needed you now.”
Will was Perceval’s father-in-law, and the owner of the Cup and Sword Tavern. The last thing Perceval wanted to do was disappoint the man.
“Fine. I’ll be right along.” Perceval tried to keep the irritation from his voice; this was not the boy’s fault.
After executing a low bow, the child dashed off.
Frustrated, Sir Perceval, knight of Camelot, marched his way across the …show more content…
The tavern looked much like it always did, clean, with scrubbed tables, dimly lit by lanterns casting a gentle glow over the space, and packed with people for supper. But there was one major difference that set apart tonight from others—Gawain stood upon the dark-wood bar, swaying, his linen tunic soaked with unidentifiable fluid, as he waved his tankard in the air.
“Love is a lie, my friends!” he bellowed, shaking his brown, shaggy hair out of his eyes. “Did you hear me? I said love is a LIE!”
He must have been carrying on for quite some time already, because not a single diner looked his way or appeared to give a damn about his antics. Perceval opened his mouth to address Gawain, but Perceval’s father-in-law, Will, stormed out of the kitchen, his round face beet-red under his graying beard, his fists balled it his sides.
“Perceval! I need you to get your friend out of here.”
“I will,” said Perceval to his stout father-in-law. “Do you have any idea how much he’s drunk?”
Will waved his hand vaguely at the diners. “See how busy it is in here? I don’t have time to play nursemaid to Sir Gawain.
“I understand. I’ll handle …show more content…
Gawain had done as asked, but there was no resulting pregnancy. Months later, Guinevere was carrying King Arthur’s baby, and Perceval thought Gawain had recovered from the messiness of the entire situation and put it behind him. However, if Gawain was referring to being in love with Queen Guinevere, he might as well slice off his own head and save Arthur the trouble.
Besides, Gawain’s friendship with King Arthur was still healing. Though Arthur had asked Gawain impregnate the queen, the whole incident fired up Arthur’s jealousy, and only recently had the two men resolved their differences. Thus, Gawain and Arthur’s relationship remained fragile, and would never survive such a thing as Gawain shouting from the top of a bar that he loved Queen Guinevere.
“Gawain, get down right now and come with me,” ordered Perceval. “This is not the time or place to make rambling and dangerous disclosures about being in love with women whom you should not be.”
“But I’m not done yet.”
This was carrying on too long. As much as he hated to do it, Perceval grabbed Gawain by the front of his damp tunic and pulled him off the bar. Gawain’s boots hit the ground and he wobbled, staring up at
A young runner stood before Sir Perceval in the castle courtyard. The boy—perhaps ten—panted, a fine sheen of perspiration glistening on his brow in the fading evening light.
“I see,” said Perceval. “I’ll be along soon.”
“Erm, Master Will said he needed you now.”
Will was Perceval’s father-in-law, and the owner of the Cup and Sword Tavern. The last thing Perceval wanted to do was disappoint the man.
“Fine. I’ll be right along.” Perceval tried to keep the irritation from his voice; this was not the boy’s fault.
After executing a low bow, the child dashed off.
Frustrated, Sir Perceval, knight of Camelot, marched his way across the …show more content…
The tavern looked much like it always did, clean, with scrubbed tables, dimly lit by lanterns casting a gentle glow over the space, and packed with people for supper. But there was one major difference that set apart tonight from others—Gawain stood upon the dark-wood bar, swaying, his linen tunic soaked with unidentifiable fluid, as he waved his tankard in the air.
“Love is a lie, my friends!” he bellowed, shaking his brown, shaggy hair out of his eyes. “Did you hear me? I said love is a LIE!”
He must have been carrying on for quite some time already, because not a single diner looked his way or appeared to give a damn about his antics. Perceval opened his mouth to address Gawain, but Perceval’s father-in-law, Will, stormed out of the kitchen, his round face beet-red under his graying beard, his fists balled it his sides.
“Perceval! I need you to get your friend out of here.”
“I will,” said Perceval to his stout father-in-law. “Do you have any idea how much he’s drunk?”
Will waved his hand vaguely at the diners. “See how busy it is in here? I don’t have time to play nursemaid to Sir Gawain.
“I understand. I’ll handle …show more content…
Gawain had done as asked, but there was no resulting pregnancy. Months later, Guinevere was carrying King Arthur’s baby, and Perceval thought Gawain had recovered from the messiness of the entire situation and put it behind him. However, if Gawain was referring to being in love with Queen Guinevere, he might as well slice off his own head and save Arthur the trouble.
Besides, Gawain’s friendship with King Arthur was still healing. Though Arthur had asked Gawain impregnate the queen, the whole incident fired up Arthur’s jealousy, and only recently had the two men resolved their differences. Thus, Gawain and Arthur’s relationship remained fragile, and would never survive such a thing as Gawain shouting from the top of a bar that he loved Queen Guinevere.
“Gawain, get down right now and come with me,” ordered Perceval. “This is not the time or place to make rambling and dangerous disclosures about being in love with women whom you should not be.”
“But I’m not done yet.”
This was carrying on too long. As much as he hated to do it, Perceval grabbed Gawain by the front of his damp tunic and pulled him off the bar. Gawain’s boots hit the ground and he wobbled, staring up at