EPISODE 21

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PERCIVAL : 

( My mother always told me : 

“When I stop talking to you, it's because I want you to think about what you’ve done.”

Has she…
…truly always said that?
“I’m tired, Percival.”
“I don’t want to hear you talk about the animals you saw in the forest anymore.”
“Don't you have anything else you’re interested in?”
I don’t know, Mother…
I don’t have anyone to talk to… .
Neste can’t stay with me all the time.
What is it you want me to say, Mother?
Why are you disappointed?
What do I have to do to make you happy?
“Are you giving me the silent treatment because I upset you, Percival?”
“Very well.”
“Then I’ll do the same.”
I…
…don’t understand what I did wrong…

“You should know what you have to do in order not to shame our family.” 

“If you don’t fulfill your duty, Percival…”
“...What was the point of bringing you out of Norgales?”
…
…Ah.
Third night in a row…

I really need to stop thinking about all this…
…but I can’t take my mind off it.
If I don’t prove my worth soon…
I might bring dishonor to my family…?
It’ll be the same if I die in the middle of a quest… ( That's so morbid… ) )

TRISTAN :

Percival…
I need your help.
Sorry I spooked you.

PERCIVAL : 

It’s no problem, but
aren't you supposed to keep someone with you?

TRISTAN : 

No thanks!
I’m doing just fine.

PERCIVAL : 

Sir, you’re feverish…
and quite obviously in pain.
Despite all that, you won’t take any medicine. I don’t understand…

TRISTAN  …
It’s complicated, Percival…
…but it’s best to hide your weaknesses.
Nobody likes a whiner.
All it gets you is pity, annoyance, opportunism…
You don't want any of that.

PERCIVAL : 

[embarrassed]

PERCIVAL : 

( It took two more days for the patterns to fade from Tristan’s arm.
He swore up and down he wasn’t in any pain anymore, even though Dame Morgan strongly doubted it.
Lamorak had to stay bedridden for a few more days.
He wished me good luck for the end of this trip, and told me we’d meet back up in Camelot. )

MORDRED : 

If we put our training on hold every time it rains, we’ll never get anything done.

PERCIVAL : 

The ground’s not great for training when it’s all wet, though.
I wonder if Corbenic Castle is the same.
We’ll see it soon enough, I suppose.

MORDRED : 

…I won’t be coming with you.

PERCIVAL : 

Oh?
Why not?

MORDRED : 

…I can’t rest easy while Lamorak’s here.
I’m worried for my mother, and for Gawain.
If he tried anything, I could stop him.

PERCIVAL : 

Come on, he’s still wounded, there’s not much he can do.

MORDRED :

(voice trembling) 

I’ve seen enough to know it won’t keep him from being a monster.

PERCIVAL : 

It’s my brother you’re talking about, Mordred.

And you weren’t worried when I was alone with your mother.

MORDRED : 

You’re not like him, and…
You couldn’t have done much, anyway.

PERCIVAL : 

Ah.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Do you think me less capable than my wounded brother?

MORDRED : 

Well, uh…

PERCIVAL : 

Don’t answer that. 

You know what, maybe you’re wrong.
Maybe I am just like him after all,
and he was right in the end.
You just want to manipulate me so I'll wind up on your family's side when you finish the job.
What, do you expect me to trust you not to murder my brother in his sleep? After everything you just told me?

MORDRED : 

Wh⎯

What are you on about? 

I’m just terrified because your brother’s aggressive!

You're not making any sense!

You saw how he reacted, right?

Why do you want to defend him so badly?
He didn’t want to bring you with him on a quest because he thought you weren’t good enough, as I recall! 

PERCIVAL : 

It hasn’t stopped you from defending Gawain,

even though she brings another squire along for her quests.
She clearly doesn’t need you.

MORDRED : 

…You know what,
maybe it's best that I stay here after all.
At least I won’t have to deal with you.

You’re from Listenoise, I’m from Orkney,
and I was really stupid for believing we could be friends. 

Good riddance.

PERCIVAL :

( I truly did regret letting my frustration get the better of me.

The day we left, we didn’t exchange a single word. )

GAWAIN : 

I’ll be leaving for Camelot soon, so we’ll see each other there.
Have a safe trip, everyone. <3

TRISTAN : 

Thank you, Gawain.
Are you sure you don’t want to come, Mordred?

MORDRED : 

I’ve got things to do here.

DINADAN : 

…Mordred.
I know why you’re staying here.
You’re afraid to leave your mother’s hugs behind, I understand.

( You’re gonna miss me, aren’t you? )

MORDRED : 

Go away.

MORGAN :

…They left.
With the shield, and without Mordred.

?? :

Even better than we thought, then?

MORGAN : 

…Are you sure Gawain doesn't suspect anything?
And that Estrangore knight seemed quite the nosy sort. 

BREUSE : 

Gawain didn’t cut me any slack, in any case.
If she suspects anything, she’s doing a great job at hiding it. 

As for Dinadan, I didn’t spill anything incriminating.
But…
He’s always been the observant sort.

TRISTAN : 

So Breuse didn’t say anything?

DINADAN : 

No.
Nothing interesting, at any rate.

But I’m still convinced Morgan had something to do with all this.
It was really convenient for Breuse to have so many magical items in his possession…
…as was his sparing Percival and leaving the hound with him.

TRISTAN : 

So Corbenic might be a trap?

DINADAN : 

Could be.
We’d better keep our guard up.

TRISTAN :

Hey, that’s my song.

DINADAN : 

You play it, then, if your arm’s so fine.

TRISTAN : 

… 

( annoyed )

DINADAN : 

That’s what I thought. 

Hey, Percy, you haven’t said a word since we left.
Got something on your mind, or are you just trying to stand in for Mordred and his bad moods?

PERCIVAL : 

I’d rather not talk about it…

PERCIVAL : 

( I did ask Sir Tristan to help me train while we were traveling,
but he postponed it until our return to Camelot.
And Dinadan told me to be patient, and not skip any steps.
So I didn’t push it…
…or mention Mordred.
…Nobody likes a whiner. )

TRISTAN : 

We’re here!

There’s York,
Corbenic’s capital.

DINADAN : 

It’s so gloomy…

 ( bad vibes )

TRISTAN : 

Wait ‘til you see the inside.

DINADAN :

Not a soul in sight…
Feels like deja-vu after Leeds.
Wow.
This place’s clearly seen better days.

 [ruins]

?? : 

Right you are, sir knight.
Sir Tristan, if you’re here…
I take it you’ve found the Perilous Shield.

TRISTAN : 

Indeed…
I didn't return empty-handed.
Your Majesty, Pelles.

PELLES : 

Perfect. Sirs,
welcome to Corbenic Castle. 

 
ROUND TABLE TRIVIA 

There are a lot of anecdotes around real-life York Castle, so here’s one :
In order to create a moat around the castle, a dam was built to divert some water from the river, flooding the eastern side of the city.
The flood was significant enough to become an artificial lake, serving both as a line of defense for the city and a plentiful fishing spot. It was called the “King’s Pool”. 

PELLES : 

Oh, a catch! 

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