The Call of Camelot

Chapter 22 - Percival's Love

"By God's bones Cara! I've told you before you can't go wandering off like that!"

"I was admiring the trees, Mordred! It's not like I'd dashed for Kit and taken off on my own again"

"When are you going to understand that when you disappear like that, you terrify me!"

"And when are you going to understand that I'm a grown woman and not some helpless damsel in distress!"

I knew I should feel bad for snapping at him, all Mordred had wanted to do was spend a morning with me in his favourite place and I'd effectively shit all over his good intentions. But I was furious at his timing. Mordred's panicked call had echoed through the small woodland only moments after the Druid woman had shared my Mothers name, meaning I only had a few seconds to give her a message before I had to run from the clearing and find Mordred before he found her. Luckily I'd caught him before he ventured too close to the burial mound.

"I'm aware that you are far from helpless Cara but you're behaving as though you're not in danger!"

"Oh believe me Mordred I'm fully aware of how much danger I'm in! Now take me back to the palace" (ironically, the one place I was actually in the most danger)

The journey back to Camelot town was miserable, I was still shivering from what had happened by the mound and though Mordred had given me his cloak as a peace offering I'd done nothing but mumble my thanks and retreated back into silence, replaying the name Annwn over and over in my mind. My Mothers name was Annwn.

I know it sounds ridiculous that I hadn't asked Percival or Laura for any details of my Mother, but in truth she had been such a mysterious presence that it had been easier to put her to the back of my mind while I dealt with the problems of the here and now, promising myself to deal with that part of my past only when and if I ever found some peace in this time. But clearly that plan had now gone up in smoke! Even if I hadn't wanted to involve her in my life yet she plainly had other ideas and if my suspicions were correct, Annwn had been watching everything that had happened to me ever since I'd arrived here, which is why I needed to get to Percival!

"Will I see you at the games later?" Mordred asked me warily once we'd returned to the stables

"I haven't a choice, the Kings demanded I attend whether I want to be there or not, so yes you will see me. I trust you don't need to watch me return to my room?" even if Mordred had wanted to escort me back to my chambers the tone of my voice was warning enough that his company wasn't welcome. I did feel guilty for my behaviour towards him, he'd not really done anything wrong but I needed to escape his company and get to Percival without arousing suspicion so if that meant I needed to act like a bitch, then so be it!

Thankfully Mordred heeded my warning and let me retreat from the stables alone. Percivals own chambers were somewhere in the oldest part of the palace, close to Mordred's own rooms which is why I needed to find them in a hurry before my guard caught me somewhere he knew I shouldn't be. Luckily an obliging servant gave me directions, which again made me wonder about what Elin had told me earlier and that, so far, I hadn't seen a single servant who behaved as though I was a terrifying demon. But right now the behaviour of servants was at the bottom of my list of priorities so I pushed it to the back of my mind and hurried to Percivals rooms.

"Cara! You shouldn't be here!" Percival snapped the moment he opened the door, but he soon let me inside when I replied "So, her name is Annwn is it?"

Like Mordred's rooms, Percivals chambers were luxuriously furnished with velvet covered furniture and a large four poster bed that dominated the room. The walls were a treat for the eyes; covered in colourful frescos of half naked maidens and mythical creatures that were still beautiful despite the faded paint and cracks that betrayed the true age of the building. Once again I found myself feeling quite envious that my own accommodation was extremely dark-age-esque in comparison.