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To say that the day’s turn of events had been shocking would be an understatement, for as Percival strode forward at Gaius’ behest to lift Merlin’s mutilated body off the ground, he felt nothing but a cold numbness taking over his body. He’d had the presence of mind to ensure Gwaine fetched the herbalist while two others rode for the midwives, but still, he felt almost as though he was moving through a fog. He watched as Elyan rushed into the courtyard with a medical litter, working with another knight to lay it flat next to Merlin. Elyan’s face was shiny with tears, and Percival thought that maybe his own would be too, had he a mirror to gaze at.
He knelt by Merlin’s feet as Gaius calmly instructed Arthur and Elyan to help him move Merlin onto the stretcher, waiting for any orders for himself as he stared blankly down. Red rippled beneath his gaze, and as the surface of the bloody pool smoothed out, revealing his reflection, Percival realized with detachment that he was indeed crying. Another drop splashed down, then another, each a surprise in their own right as he felt nothing.
His hands grasped the handles of the litter as Gaius directed him to, but even the wood beneath his hands felt like empty air as he carefully lifted the stretcher with Arthur and Elyan. Blood was already pooling in the leather sling, and Percival had a wild feeling of nausea rush through him before that, too, faded away. Before he knew it, he was sitting in the hallway outside Gaius’ door. Elyan was quiet beside him as they listened to Gaius and Arthur plead with Merlin to stay with them.
Percival’s eyes closed as he leaned his head back against cool stone. Immediately, images of his family played before his eyes, their slaughtered bodies strewn across the square of their hometown, their empty eyes gazing at nothing as he screamed Cenred’s name in anger. With that thought, Percy finally felt the numbness snap, giving way to rage. He stood, hands balled at his sides. Cenred had paid for what he’d done, and so too would Merlin’s attacker.
“I’m going to join Leon in his search.” He said, striding down the hallway. He barely got ten feet away before Elyan’s response had him freezing in place. He slowly turned back, eyes wide with horror as he stared at the other knight, who sat with his head bowed in grief. “What did you say?”
Elyan inhaled shakily before repeating himself. “Merlin did it to himself. There’s no one to find.”
Just like that, the rage drained from Percival, and the shock set in once more.