Idele: A Fictional Narrative

"I don't want to know why you're grinning," said Percival the following evening at dusk. He and Gwaine carried the bulging sacks of Idele's excess donations to offer the women at the brothel.

Gwaine adjusted a heavy sack over his shoulder and flashed a cheeky grin. "I look forward to seeing the ladies is all."

"Gwaine, please… We're not staying! It's a quick drop off and that's it."

"Have you ever been inside the brothel?"

"No, I have not."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to pay women for sex. That doesn't appeal."

Percival could not imagine walking into a place, handing over coins, and disappearing into a room with a stranger and demanding she remove her clothes and… service him. He enjoyed women's bodies as much as the next man, but he …show more content…

Why couldn't Gwaine leave him be?

Percival hopped up from bed, marched to the door, and flung it open wide. "What?" he barked, as Gwaine stood there, a sheepish look on his face, holding a jug of ale and a huge half ham tucked under his arm.

"Sorry?" He flashed a smile. "Let me in, all right? We were supposed to talk about your troubles tonight. I'll be a friend and not an arse, I swear."

Percival crossed his arms over his chest and stood up tall. He wanted to tell Gwaine to piss off, but the scent of smoked ham and Gwaine's almost pleading smile made Percival's anger soften. "Oh, come in, then. But I want a center cut."

Gwaine walked inside and set up at the dining table, whipping out his belt dagger and carving up the meat. "All yours! But I need a little more light in here. And while you're at it, start talking about that woman."

Percival lit the wall torch with a rush wick. This was not going to be an easy conversation, but he figured it was best to start right in.

"Fine, but I don't want to say her name. I don't like to even think of it." He took his seat at the table across from Gwaine. "I met her at the feast we had welcoming that envoy from Mercia, though I had seen her around the castle before. She took a seat by me and we talked the whole night. She was friendly and fun, but she had too much to drink, so I escorted her back to her …show more content…

But even with the fun we had, I knew something was missing. She made it clear she was not interested in an official courtship, and she insisted we keep our meetings completely secret and never acknowledge each other around the castle. I agreed, because I assumed she didn't want people to think poorly of her, unwed, sharing a bed with a knight."

Gwaine sat back. "Where did it all go wrong?"

"At the end of the second month. Remember when the group of courtiers and knights

who'd gone on the diplomatic mission to the Western Isles returned home? Well, the moment they entered the Great Hall, she launched herself into a man's arms: her husband's."

"What? She lied to you all that time? You didn't know she was married?"

Percival took several gulps of ale. "I had no idea. I wouldn't have touched her if I had known she had a husband. Clearly, she was bored and I was her plaything. She lied. She never cared about me at all." He toyed with his tankard. "I didn't love her, but I cared. And there's more."

"Something worse?"

"I avoided her since then, and thanks to the size of the castle, that wasn't so hard. Just when I felt like I was getting over the mess, I saw her a few days ago. She's with child."

Gwaine's eyes widened and he stopped chewing. "Oh, damn. Could it be yours?"

Percival shook his head. "No. We've been through for about a