A Manservant's Loyalty (Merlin BBC OneShots)

Percival

Knights # 1.1

A heart of gold beats strongly in the hard chest of Percival, to those who don't know him, fear him for his large muscled frame that towers over most of the people who pass him.

Loyalty runs through his veins, he has been taught from a young age to never bite the hand that feeds him. Friendship is to be cherished and nurtured. Percival is man of few words, he enjoys watching people interact with each other, hearing their stories.

Percival chuckled softly along with his fellow knights, as his king and the manservant continued to throw insults to each other, with no meaning in their words, laughter lighting up the unluckily friend's eyes.

Percival has grown protective of Merlin, though they have not spoken to each other often, but his constant presence has earned him a place in the knight's large heart. Percival has seen the bond he has with the king and other knights to know that the manservant is a valuable friend.

Percival felt pain shot from his shoulder, a startled and pained gasp came tumbling out of the man's mouth. Eyes shooting down to see an arrow wedged in his shoulder.

"Bandits" Percival said loudly cringing as he moved his arm to pull back on the reins, his other hand gripping his injured shoulder.  Rebelled men came running through the trees, swords raised as they roared their battle cries.

Percival grinded his teeth together as he swung his sword defending him self, trying his hardest control his horse at the same time
without injuring his shoulder more.

A pained yelp came tumbling out as his mare, spooked throwing him backwards to the ground. Pain exploded from his shoulder, the air leaving his lungs when he hit the ground. The sword landing out of reach, his glanced around noting that the others were to distracted and busy with their own battles to notice.

"Lets go Percival" a familiar voice muttered, hands sliding under his shoulders, "Why do you have to be so freaking heavy" grumbled the manservant who dragged the large man away from the battle. Percival bit his lip keeping a groan of pain from of his shoulder.

Percival was surprised at the servant's strength as he was dragged, for a skinny serving boy he isn't weak. A yelp was heard before Percival was tumbling down a hill, curling into himself hoping to protect his shoulder, as the two rolled down the slope making the knight dizzy.

Gasping as the large knight was plunged into freezing cold water, the current of the river pulling him downstream, the cold water numbed his shoulder slightly which should of allowed him to swim to safety but the knight was far to disoriented to fight as darkness over took his senses.

⚔️

Percival woke with a groan, his shoulder throbbing with a dull pain. Blinking a few times he noticed he was laying beside a fire in a cave of sorts. His shoulder was wrapped in what looked like large leaves, his shirt, chainmail and boots her by the fire drying.

"Percival, how do you feel?" A familiar voice asked as Merlin's figure came from the darkness Percival moved slightly so he could see the boy.

"I'm fine thank you. Where are we?" Percival asked laying back down resting his shoulder, that protested at him moving.

"Safe" merlin answered vaguely, Percival glanced at the boy letting out a breathily laugh, "I'm not particularly sure where we are. The river took us down stream for quiet a bit before i could get us on land." Merlin explained feeding the fire lightly.

"You're stronger then you look" Percival commented after a long silence, merlin laughed flashing the knight a grin. Percival smiled with the boy, as he retorted a witty comment. Conversation came easy for the two men, asking simple questions about each other since they never really got the time to get to know one each other on a personal level.