Pendragon's Blood

Part 2: The Northern Field

I sighed and started heading for the room of the Table, where the Knights of the Roundtable would meet. Cringing at the loudness of the squeaking door, I peeked my head into the room, slightly startling Sir Percival and Sir Ywain out of their conversation. They looked at me in surprise, and Percival leaning on his sword and Ywain cocked an eyebrow.

"Do you happen to know where Sir Gawain is, my good knights?" I asked, using the formal way to speak, hoping to get on their good side. Rumors have said that knights like to be talked to as if they are nobles, and I didn't want to take the chance that they didn't feel that way.

The knights shared a knowing look. Ywain jerked a thumb to the window. "He's out in the fields with his horse."

"Thank you!" I called over my shoulder.

"Try the northern field!" Percival shouted as I left the room, and they both burst into laughter. I groaned, knowing what they were laughing about and feeling awkward and annoyed. The northern field is rumored to be the romantic hang out for the knights and their ladies.

Aargh! How much more humiliating can this day be?

I found a pony in the stables named Dawn and headed down to the northern fields. "Gawain!" I called for what seemed like hours later. "GAWAIN!" I finally paused after a good ten minutes, a little breathless. Frustrated, I was about to turn Dawn around when I heard a faint voice talking near the edge of the forest. I dismounted the pony, quick tied her reins to a tree, and cautiously walked over.

"You see, Strider," Gawain was saying, speaking to his pure black horse. He was sitting on a crumbling stone fence and whittling something with his knife. "There's this girl I like, but she won't give me the time of day!" I blushed, knowing full well he was talking about me. "But when I'm around her, all the things I want to say is blown out of my mind – and I'm mostly speechless! All I can think of to say is the most stupid things..."

I pressed myself against a tree, listening intently.

"She's the most beautiful girl I've seen," he went on, emphasizing each word with a stroke of his knife. "Her long curly-black hair that when she lets down falls long past her waist. She has these dark chocolate eyes that are almost as dark as your coat, Strider." he laughed softly, shaking his head. "When she's not being uptight with me and when she smiles, she's a real eyeopener. But you see, I can't tell her these things, she might punch me in response!"

I almost burst out laughing but somehow held it in. What he said was probably true. I left my tree and strode toward him with my shoulders relaxed and head high. "Well, I'm sure Strider agrees with me when I say knights shouldn't be afraid of anything! Especially of a young woman like myself who couldn't possibly pose you any danger."

Gawain's mouth dropped open in surprise. "M-Meadow!" he stammered. "I-I didn't realize you were there!" he blushed the same color as his over shirt. "I apologize f-for the unnecessary words that may have offended you and for-"

"Sir Gawain," I interrupted, sitting down next to him and throwing him an apple for his horse. "That apology is quite unnecessary. There is nothing to apologize for, I'm sure." I felt my face flush as well. "I'm flattered by your kind and somewhat eloquent wording, my lord. Though I'm not sure what you see in me other than my – erm – attractiveness."

"I assure you, Meadow," Gawain rushed to say. "There is more to my liking for you than you're beauty! You care deeply about your mistress and how people talk of her, you are loyal to the King and his court, you guard your heart more than anything – which makes me believe you are kindhearted. And. . . and. . ." he stammered, his face heated up as he got more and more flustered.