"Brainless jock," Gawain retorted.
"I'm already regretting my decision," Arthur muttered, before saying loudly, "We're making the full journey by foot so we can spend the time reconnecting.It's been a long time since we were gathered, we're still missing some members, and the world has changed significantly, even if the game puts us in familiar territory.So stow the squabbling, or I will make you sit in a circle and give interesting facts about yourselves, am I clear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," they chorused.
"Dismissed, then.Gawain, linger."
Lancelot caught up to Tristan and Iseult on the steps.
"Captain," Tristan greeted."Are we to talk strategy already?"
Lancelot snorted."Please, we all know the strategy is to let you and Percival be yourselves.The crowds will adore you, the opposing teams will be thoroughly incensed and determined to humble you, something even God himself could not do, and the tournament will carry on thus until the real fighting begins.No, I came to apologize once more for all the terrible things I said and did to break you from Maleagant's clutches.Whatever you say, I know it must have been horrifying for me to treat you that way."
Tristan smiled softly, the sincere smile he rarely showed any but their inner circle.Tristan's greatest weapon was his dumb jock behavior, and the finest armor could not compare to the charm he used to the same purpose."Some stuffy old man once told me never to trust the friends that shower me in praise, but the ones who will tell me how stupid I'm being.So I think I'm okay with the fact you were willing to hurt me to save me, Captain."
"Stuffy old man, am I?"Lancelot said dryly."Nevermind, I don't apologize to you for anything."He bowed to Iseult."I do apologize to you, Milady."
"No apology is necessary, Captain.If not for you, I would still be playing a harp covered in my own blood, screaming inside my own mind where I was caged like an animal.You saved me, and I have no complaints for the details of the doing."
"You are gracious.Tristan, I'll see you in an hour."
There wasn't actually much preparing to do.His inventory was still fully stocked, his sword was at his hip, and he could put on his full armor whenever he wished.
Though he was tempted to go back to the lake, as he could never have enough time in the water, instead he went in search of Percival.He was not surprised to find him in the library with Gawain.Percival, like Tristan, played at being a medieval jock, but he was the one who'd taught Gawain to read Arabic years and years ago.
"We thought we might see you," Gawain said."We three stand alone now, hoping our loves will be returned to us.I do not know how you bear it, Lancelot, when you started out alone and have faced Galehaut in multiple battles now."
Lancelot shrugged one shoulder."I do not have a choice but to continue forward.He gave up everything for me; I could do no less than fight with everything I have for him.I am sorry you must share my sorrow.We will get them back, whatever it takes."
"I believe you," Percival said."Thank you, Captain."
"So what are you reading?"Lancelot asked.
Gawain closed the book and offered it."Nothing, really.We were just marveling the library is so thorough.It was not this extensive back in the day, and Arthur spared no expense acquiring books.I suppose there is far more history and knowledge now, though.More than we ever could have dreamed up back then.Still so strange, the melding of past and present.It quite makes me dizzy."
"Gives me a damn headache," Percival said."Not that I'm complaining, mind.Being myself again is much better than the sad life of a sewage worker I was leading before Maleagant snatched me away in the night.Three years he held me prisoner."He shuddered."It was like I was locked in a box in my own mind.I screamed and screamed, but nobody could hear me.Then suddenly I was free."His hands curled into fists at this side, and his voice trembled slightly as he added, "Unfortunately, I remember all of it, including the people I was made to kill.To what purpose, I do not know.He kept us tucked away until he needed work done and then put us away again."
"Presumably so that if this worst case scenario happened, you could reveal nothing useful."
Percival grunted in agreement.
"I don't know what's worse, to be his puppet or to be nearly lost the way Galahad was," Gawain said.
"I will take the enslavement, if I must choose between them," Percival said, "because I don't think there is anything more terrifying on the planet than ghosting."
Gawain said thoughtfully, "Did you know in the previous century, ghosting meant leaving someone without a single word or warning?You just vanished from their life as though never there.Funny how terms evolve."
"Hilarious," Percival said flatly.
"I will leave the pair of you to your books," Lancelot said."I should probably actually see my room.I keep forgetting I have one."
"Well, what can a mere bedroom compare to an entire underwater palace and throne?"Gawain replied.
"How could you possibly know about that already?"
Percival chuckled."You always underestimate the power of castle gossip, Captain."
"Ugh."Lancelot left them there laughing and went in search of his bedroom.
