EPISODE 22

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PELLES : 

Eat your fill, dear knights.
Please make yourselves at home.
I had a room prepared for you.
You must have had a long and exhausting journey.
I look forward to the tale of your adventures.

TRISTAN : 

You've given us more than we could ask for, your Majesty Pelles.

The journey was rather peaceful. 

PELLES : 

Nonsense, it’s the very least I can do.
Ah, but it’s true that you knights ask for no reward for your feats.

TRISTAN : 

Indeed. We don’t want people to feel indebted to us
when we’re merely doing our duty.

DINADAN : 

There is something I’d like to know, though.

What’s wrong with your kingdom?

PELLES : 

Whatever do you mean?

DINADAN : 

Your kingdom is a wasteland.

There’s no livestock, no crops.
Your people are starving.
And you…
you sit here and fish.

PELLES : 

...What is your name, knight?

DINADAN : 

Dinadan of Estrangore,
son of Brunor of Estrangore.

PELLES : 

Oh, so you’re the crown prince?

DINADAN : 

No, my brother is.

PERCIVAL : 

( Prince?! )
Dinadan’s a prince?? 

TRISTAN : 

…
…So are you?

PERCIVAL : 

…Oh.
That’s true. 

PELLES : 

I see. Dinadan, does this mean your father has asked you to convey his demands regarding the sudden influx of my people on his lands? 

DINADAN : 

Oh, no, my father didn’t ask me jack.
I saw with my own eyes the conditions those who chose to stay in this wasteland are living in.
So…? 

PELLES : 

…You must know I am only the regent. My father is the true king of Corbenic.
Calling me “King Pelles” is a misnomer.
You see, my father is…
…unwell.
He left me to rule a kingdom whose wealth has run out. 

I have nothing to offer my people but barren lands…
all this because of…
of…

PERCIVAL : 

( How is a prince supposed to act, exactly? 

Should I change the way I speak? )

TRISTAN : 

Because of what, your Majesty?

PELLES : 

…
And who might you be, young squire?

PERCIVAL : 

Percival of Wales.

PELLES : 

Of Wales? Are you a child of Pellinore, then?

PERCIVAL : 

I am, sir.

PELLES : 

I see.
What a pleasant surprise.

DINADAN : 

…?
So, you’re going to⎯

PELLES : 

My servants will show you to your room.
We shall speak again tomorrow, if you so wish.

TRISTAN : 

You seem tired, miss.
Is everything alright?

SERVANT : 

I’m touched, sir, but there’s no need to worry.

PERCIVAL :

…
( A barred gate?
Or maybe it’s just off limits.
These chains look quite heavy. I wonder what’s behind those doors…
…Whatever.
It’s not going to help me become a knight any faster⎯ )

PELLES : 

Did I frighten you, my boy?

PERCIVAL :

 (stunned) 

I… I⎯ 

PELLES : 

Are wondering what’s behind this door?
Curiosity is only natural.
It’s not intrusive.
It’s perfect, even.
There…
…lays the source of all my woes.
A great trial, but also a great treasure,
waiting for the one it is destined for.
The one who will attain glory and honor by overcoming its trial.
I believe you to be the one, young Welshman.

Come back here tonight,
and you can see it for yourself.

PERCIVAL :
( This light…
…The door's open?
…Should I really be here?

…Yes.
I have to know, one way or another.
Do these stairs lead down to the dungeons?
Am I going to have to fight a wicked fay who’s been imprisoned there?
I should’ve brought my sword…
but that would have woken Tristan and Dinadan.
They would have wanted to come with me, and it’s my trial, not theirs.
What…
…is this strange place?
…
Is this the treasure he was talking about?
The one destined for me?

!

This magic…
…didn’t mark me?
It’s true that these symbols are different…
They don’t look like they’ve been carved onto the cup. 

…This is a bad idea.
It could hurt me like it did Sir Tristan,
or worse.
The king must’ve made a mistake.
I’d better go back to bed…
…But. )

…

DINADAN : 

Look, I’m not saying Percival isn’t here.
I’m just saying the weird dungeon underneath the castle maybe isn’t the best place to start.

TRISTAN : 

Quiet, Din. We don’t know what may be in here. 

DINADAN : 

Fine… 

TRISTAN : 

He’s been out of it the whole trip…
And now he runs off in the middle of the night? 

DINADAN : 

Given the king’s reaction yesterday, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence.
Seriously, why's everyone so fussed about Pellinore?
I was young when I met him, but as I remember, he was kind of a monomaniac piece of shit. 

TRISTAN : 

Language, Din.
That said, the only time I ever met him, he tried to kill me, so you kn⎯

DINADAN : 

Perciv⎯

TRISTAN : 

( looking for a pulse )

He’s alive! 

DINADAN :

…
( stare )

[ the creature gropes for… something. ]

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