Gwynnever - Queen of Camelot

Chapter 8

"Gwen?" called Percival as she was twirling the sword almost winning him out. "You're strong." He says. Percy took her there every afternoon or when he wasn't on the clock so she could train in the deepest part of the forest because he could, tell she didn't like staying with her hands on herself. She needed to relieve a little stress and he liked her company. Also, she was a good trainer and was teaching him a lot of improbable techniques.

"Let's take five." She said grabbing the water flask as she avidly drank and then threw it to Percy. She was wearing her leather clothes, the ones she had when they met her the first time and it defiantly fitted her like a glove. Percy never once made a lascivious thought about her; he just wasn't like that. He liked Gwen but like he'd like Gawain. He had no interest in that sense, because he knew she never gave him any signal to move forward in other direction beside friendship. Percy didn't ever have the pleasure to grow up with siblings, so having another human being to look after was something he'd craved before. He knew Gawain sisters but it wasn't the same thing. He hardly got to see them while Gwen was with him most of the time. He was starting to care about her. Like a little sister that was beating his ass every time they were fighting.

Lancelot on the other hand, was beginning to get on everybody nerves, acting like a hound on heat every time she showed up. Percy noticed, Arthur noticed, everyone did honestly. He even became aware of how tensed Gwen became when he so much as just looked at her. That is why he took her this far away. To give her a little peace. He'd leave her with Gawain more gladly than with Lancelot.

"Does Alis still keep on giving you treats? Because I'll fight you for couple of them."

"Yes, but she's more subtle since someone went complaining to her. She gives me one scone every morning and if I don't show up, she makes sure I find it in my lunch."

"I'm jealous." She shrugged and moved on to a tree to look through its branches. "I'm irresistible to women." She joked and Percy laughed.

Then she bluntly asked: "What do people do in balls?"

Perce felt taken aback but managed to put together an answer. "Many things. Why did you propose it if you don't even know what it is?" she raised an eyebrow and turn to face him.
"I know what it is. I just never went to one myself. I traveled a lot."

"Did you have a nanny that taught you this king of stuff?" wanted to know the big man sited on the small trunk.

"I had a sword teacher thou." She exchanged and grabbed her sword to show what she had learned.

"I doubt these pretty moves help in a real fight."
"They don't." she bowed perfectly as she was taught and then straightened. "But it was mainly etiquette that he my brother had to learn, so I wanted to be part of it. It was only for boys, actually. But my teacher took pity in me and to be honest got tired of me harassing him so much he gave in. it's what you're suppose to do if you get challenged officially, I guess." She took her glove off and throw it to the tree and proceed to say. "I Gwynnever of Leodegrance, challenge to a duel or something." She hit the side of the three leaving small marks with her blade. "I've always wanted to say this, especially to someone in particular."

"You brother?" risked Percy but she shook her head. "No, believe it or not. He is not the first name in my list of people I want to take out of this world. Although he is pretty close to the top."

"Why do you think he hate you so much?" started Percy trying to take advantage of the moment. She hardly spoke about her life.

"He wants my throne. It is so ridiculous, if he so much as just asked me, I would have given him to him. I have no interested in titles and honors." She sighs and lowered her blade. "Anyway, what is done, is done. Now he'll never receive it that easily ever again. It's my mission to prevent that he gets too comfortable and I'll succeed. Although I believe he has men looking for me at this very instant."

"By the way, since you never been to a ball and taught me some new tricks, let me exchanged the favour by teaching you how to dance properly." she accepted the offer and even though it was a disaster, Percy never once complained about his poor mistreated feet.

"It getting late." He said looking at the sunset. "We need to go. exercise on your moves, just think of it as dance with death. The ones you do when you're about to strike. Same principal, just don't kill anyone at the end please." he giggled making Gwen smile.

"I'll just take a quick dive in the pond and follow you. I don't like feeling this dirty." She explained. Percy was tempted to wait behind a tree not to spy her, but because he had a weird feeling after what she just told him and didn't want to leave her alone in the middle of nowhere but she read right through him.

"I'll be fine! Go! Your shift starts very soon." She encouraged him smiling widely and he complied. Afterall, she knew how to defend herself better than he ever could ever protect her.

Once alone, Gwen took off her clothes and dive into the pond, the water was still warm from the sun. she was thinking about undoing her braid but she didn't feel that safe to do so.

No one ever saw her with her hair down and she was planning to leave it this way until maybe one day she found someone she truly loved. It was a symbol of love, his father told her. Of vulnerability. People could grip your hair and pull till you surrender. She needed to have it under control at all times.

Something broke catching her attention. She kept swimming casually, keep on listening. She moved under the boughs to gain the upper hand if needed.

The noise grew louder, the intruder was not interested in hiding.

Good because she was very interested in fighting instead.