Pendragon's Blood

Part 1: Meeting Gawain

My arms strained as I pulled the bucket from the well, and my hands started to burn against the rope. I threw my back into it, feeling ridiculous as I propped my foot on the edge of the well, and pulling with all my strength. "Come. . . on!" I grunted through gritted teeth. My unruly black curls stuck to my forehead and a few strands fell in my eyes, annoying me to no end because I could not brush them aside. Presently, the top of the bucket appeared over the edge, and relief flooded through me.

CRACK!

I jumped at the sound of a horse whip cracking nearby, and at the same time letting go of the rope. "NO!" I howled, lurching forward to try and grab it before the falling bucket took it down with it. My fingertips brushed against the fraying rope but failed to snatch it.

A blur of red and brown rushed past me and ran to the well, nearly giving me a heart attack. I lost my footing in my surprise and toppled over onto my rear end. I looked up to see Sir Gawain balancing over the well, with one foot on opposite sides, seeming to hover above the well's gap with his strong callused hands gripping the rope. I winced and covered my eyes with my hand. Of course, it was Gawain.

Gawain grunted as he heaved the bucket over the rim of the well. When it cleared the brim of the well completely, he clamored down the side and carefully set the full water bucket into the ground. He straightened, shaking his head to sweep his long bangs aside and out of his blue eyes. Turning around, he smiled and walked up to me, offering his hand. "Hello again, Meadow."

I took it – even though I knew that might encourage him again. "Thanks," I mumbled, beating off the dirt from my dress. I brush past him and pick up the full bucket and pouring it into a long jug, then struggled to get the bucket back into place on the pulley to draw more water to fill the second and third jugs.

"Ow!" I sucked in my breath sharply as the pulley pinched my skin and I waved my hand in the air to ease the pain before putting them back onto the stubborn pieces of metal.

Calloused hands covered mine softly. I looked up with annoyance at Sir Gawain and he just smiled back. "Here, let me." he gently pried my hands off the pulley and took the rope away from me. I folded my arms and stonily watched him work on it. I noticed a few of the young women and girls around my age purposely slowing their pace to watch the knight in action.

I fought the urge to snap at them as they oohed and aahed over his skill, muscles, and overall handsomeness. "Lucky girl," one maiden sighed to her friend, looking right at me. My face turned red, and unable to stand being part of a spectacle, I stomped up to my jugs and picked up the water-filled one and meaning to send Peter to do the rest, but Gawain stopped me.

"Where are you going?" Gawain asked, noticing my struggle to balance the pottery on my hip.

"I changed my mind," I answered hotly, succeeding on balancing the vase-like pot on my side and trying to pick up the other two with my other hand. "I'll send Peter to get more water later."

Gawain hopped down from the well, gesturing behind him insistingly. "But I just fixed it! It's all ready to draw more water."

"No thanks," I muttered, fumbling around and hearing the ladies behind me scoff at my stubbornness.

"She should accept the man's help, at least!" one lady commented to her teenage daughter. "I know tons of girls who would die for him to give them the smallest bit of attention!"

I blush harder and grit my teeth. Get away! Run! my mind screamed at me, as if it couldn't bear how slow my feet were currently moving.