Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in the series, I'm just borrowing them from their respective owners to play with a little and I promise to give them back when I'm done. No copyright infringement is intended and I don't make any money from writing fanfiction.


Little Leon

A desperate king travels to seek help to have an heir, accompanied by his loyal knight. A scheming sorceress assures that the visit gets a different outcome than anyone involved would have anticipated…


"Arthur, I don't think this is safe" Leon insisted as they dismounted. It was the fifth or sixth time that he said so and although Arthur felt his patience disappear, he tried not to let it show as he led his horse over to a small clearing and tethered it there.

"Nonsense!" he said and tried to sweep away the worries of his second-in-command with an airy wave. "What on earth could possibly happen?" A lot of scenarios went through Leon's head but he decided not to say anything. Arthur had already made up his mind and he wasn't going to budge no matter what Leon said or did.

Ever since Arthur and Gwen had decided that it was high time that they had children, the king had become slightly obsessed with the lack of result, and after he'd consulted all the best of Camelot's physicians without any luck, he'd resorted to seeking advice from everyone from druid healers to wise women. The woman that they were on their way to see right now was yet another old crone claiming to be able to help the royal couple conceive and Leon had to reign in his temper as they approached her hut, situated on the outskirts of the small village. There was no doubt in his mind that she'd charge Arthur an arm and a leg and send him back with some useless herbal remedy and a few soothing words. The king's desperateness to have an heir had become known through the kingdom and some had tried to take advantage of it. But whether he liked it or not, Arthur was determined to see the old woman, and so Leon straightened his shoulders and knocked on the door.

"Enter." A fragile voice was heard from inside the small house and Leon pushed the door open, allowing his king to enter before him.

"Welcome, Your Highness" the voice greeted Arthur as he stepped over the threshold. "And you too, Sir Knight." Both men turned to look at the person speaking and their eye fell on a small woman sitting beside the fire. She looked ancient, but even though her back was bent, her hands were gnarled and her face wrinkled, the grey eyes peering at them were clear and sharp.

"Please." She motioned to the chair opposite to hers and Arthur hesitantly sat down and Leon remained standing beside him, ever ready for whatever peril that might threaten his king.

"Now then" the woman began as she gathered her shawl more closely around her. "You seek help in conceiving an heir, Sire?"

"Yes" Arthur simply answered, but after a brief pause he continued. "And it has been suggested that the problem might lie with me, not my wife. She has been examined by some of the best physicians that Camelot can offer and none of them have found her health less than perfect." Arthur's shoulders slumped and Leon knew how hard it was on the young king to admit this. He felt like a failure and a disappointment, both to his wife and to his kingdom.

"It happens, it happens" the old woman mumbled soothingly, nodding. "Sometimes nature just need a little bit of help, Sire." Before she had the time to say anything else the door burst open and a small child, just a couple of years of age, tumbled in.

"Gran!" the young boy shouted excitedly. "Come see this, Gran!" Then the child stopped abruptly as he realized his grandmother had visitors and he bowed awkwardly to the king and his knight who, equally awkwardly, returned his greeting. After that, the woman coaxed the suddenly very shy and quiet child onto her lap and stroked his hair.

"What is it that I have to see, my dear?" she asked and the boy seemed to forget about the visitors again as he bounced excitedly and started telling her all about how he and his friend had gone to the small pond and waded in the shallow water and how his friend had gotten a leech attached to his foot.

"… and it's bigger than any leech I've ever seen before, Gran, it's like a monster."

"Oh dear" the woman sighed, ushered the child off her lap and slowly pushed herself to her feet. "I fear that I'll have to leave you to take care of the poor boy, Sire, but I'll return shortly. Would you mind keeping an eye on this little rascal until I return?" Without really waiting for an answer she began to leave and Arthur was too surprised to do anything else than nod. When the door closed behind her and left them alone with the boy Arthur instantly looked to Leon for help. He hadn't got the slightest idea what to do with the child.

A little while later the old woman returned and excused herself, and while Arthur graciously said that it was no trouble, and after all, emergencies like giant leeches had to take priority, there was no mistaking the huge look of relief on his face when she told her grandchild to run along and console his friend, and to be back again in time for supper. The woman contemplated this for a while, her gaze shifting between Arthur and Leon for some reason, before she started to measure different kinds of herbs and mix them together to a paste, all the time mumbling in the old language until the mixture was ready.

"There, Sire" she said, handing him a small jar with the fragrant paste. "Take two tablespoons of this and dissolve in a cup of water. Drink it before breakfast each morning for the next fortnight and I believe that soon you'll have the child that you long for."

"Thank you." Arthur accepted the jar and pocketed it. "As for the question of payment, I was told that…" The woman interrupted him, shaking her head.

"No, Sire, no payment is needed."

"Pardon?" Arthur was taken slightly aback. "Surely there is something that…?"

"Lifting the ban on magic was I that I could ever have hoped for in this life" the old woman answered with a sincere smile and both Arthur and Leon found themselves smiling in return. Arthur stood up to leave but the woman laid a hand on his forearm, stopping him.

"A blessing for the journey, if you'll allow it, Sire?" she asked and Arthur hesitated briefly but then nodded. "And you, Sir Knight?" she continued and Leon nodded as well, against his better judgement. He didn't trust her and he'd rather have gone without her ministrations but on the same time he didn't want to appear rude by saying no. Still, if she was up to something fishy then he had no doubt whatsoever that Camelot's Court Warlock, (and wasn't it strange to think of Merlin like that), would have something to say about it. The woman opened a small flask smiled.

"Never fret, my dears" she said, as if she'd read his mind. "I wouldn't do anything to invoke the wrath of the mighty Emrys." She cackled out a laugh before she murmured a brief blessing and then anointed Arthur's forehead with the oil from the flask. Then she did the same thing to Leon and both men left the small hut and went back to the clearing to fetch their horses.

They had only made it halfway back to Camelot when Leon began to feel dizzy. He tried to figure out why he suddenly felt bad but couldn't think of any reason. He hadn't skipped any meals, he'd drunk plenty of water and the morning's training session had been held in the shade of some large trees. He wasn't ill and no battle injures bothered him, in fact his health had probably never been better. So why did he fell as if he'd keel over and fall off his horse?

"Leon?" Arthur's anxious voice cut through his thoughts and Leon struggled to focus.

"Yes, Sire?"

"What's the matter?" Leon shrugged and tried to straighten up to show Arthur that he was fine but the effort made the world spin and he clutched the pommel of his saddle. Arthur wasn't fooled and quickly steered his horse closer.

"You're pale as a sheet" he remarked, holding out a hand to steady the knight.

"I feel dizzy" Leon was forced to admit and Arthur looked worried. If there was someone that he could always count on then it was Leon and he wasn't used to his second-in-command being unwell.

"We need to get back as quick as possible" he decided when he saw Leon swaying precariously. "Give me your reins." Leon tried to protest but quickly realized that he didn't have the strength to sit up and let the king lead his horse as he slumped over its neck.

As soon as they entered the courtyard Arthur threw the reins of both horses to the waiting stable hand, ordered one of the guards to alert Gaius and another one to help him support Leon. Between them they half-supported, half-carried the blonde knight to his chambers were Gaius waited with his bag of medical equipment. After a thorough examination Gaius couldn't seem to find a reason for the sudden illness that had befallen the knight and gave him a draught to sleep on, hoping that whatever it was would go away after a good night's sleep. Arthur reluctantly left after Gaius' assurances that the knight should be fine and the old man promised that he'd check on Leon the first thing he did the next morning. After giving the knight a comforting pat on the shoulder Gaius left as well and Leon sank into a deep and dreamless sleep.

"Gaius? How is Leon?" Arthur asked, looking around the physician's chambers as he expected the knight to be there.

"I thought he was with you, Sire?" Gaius looked questioningly at him. "He wasn't in his chambers this morning when I came to see him and I assumed that he felt better and had joined the training session."

"No" Arthur said, suddenly feeling ill at ease. "No, he wasn't there. I thought that you'd told him to rest." The king turned abruptly and swiftly made his way towards Leon's rooms. On the way he met Percival and the large knight was immediately worried when he heard what had happened.

"Leon?" Arthur knocked on the door sharply. There was no answer and he tried the handle. The door was unlocked and swung open to reveal the very tidy, very sparsely furnished and very empty room. Both he and Percival entered and looked around. With an uncomfortable weight in his stomach Arthur realized that there was no way Leon was in the room, there was no place to hide even a small child in there. Both men turned on their heels and set out, Percival to alert the rest of the knights and Arthur to try and locate his missing Court Warlock. Ever since magic had been legalized and Merlin had been given his new title he'd worked endless hours to protect Camelot against any sort of magical danger that might threaten the kingdom and half of the time he didn't remember to eat and sleep. Or bathe for that matter, Arthur remembered, with a scrunch of his nose. When he reached Merlin's new chambers he didn't bother knocking, in revenge for all the times that Merlin had barged into his chambers with nothing but the slam of the door against the wall to announce his presence, but he immediately regretted it. Because Merlin had company. And they were busy.

Swearing Arthur jumped back and tried to shield his eyes but it was too late and what he saw would probably hunt him until the end of his days. He'd seen most of his knights undressed, when they shared tents and bathed together out on campaigns, but never quite like this. Not together in a bed, completely naked and panting, moaning and sweating, limbs all tangled together. But at least now he knew why Gwaine had been absent from practice this morning and he was relieved that he didn't have to send out a second search party as well. One missing knight was enough.

"Get dressed!" he barked at the couple and he wasn't surprised when Gwaine talked back like the cheeky bastard he was.

"Why, Princess, we were just getting started. How about joining us?" Arthur blushed furiously at the thought and Gwaine yelped as Merlin gave him what sounded like a solid smack on the ass.

"Just a minute, Arthur" Merlin called and the king rolled his eyes.

"Please, take your time, don't hurry on my account" he answered sarcastically. "I'll just go look for Leon on my own."

"Leon's missing?" came Gwaine's voice, all playfulness gone and replaced with worry. Within seconds both Merlin and Gwaine were dressed, somewhat presentable and out the door and Arthur filled them in as they went to organize the search.

It was late in the afternoon when they reluctantly took a break so that everyone could get something to east and get some rest. They had gone through the whole castle and the lower town, they'd asked everyone and anyone and still there was no sign of Leon. No stone had been left unturned and still the knight was missing. Merlin had started to suspect sorcery and had locked himself into his rooms experimenting with something while the others headed out to neighbouring villages and searched the forest. As night fell they were forced to break off the search altogether and the knights and Merlin gathered in Arthur's chambers for and impromptu emergency council.

"We have to keep looking" Percival insisted. "That's what Leon would do for any of us." Arthur shook his head.

"It's too dark and we would just wander around aimlessly. It's better to continue in the morning, when we're rested and have a proper plan." Percival's face hardened but he didn't speak against the king openly. He didn't have to either, his thunderous expression said it all and Elyan placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"I still think we're missing something" Merlin said thoughtfully. "Was there really nothing in his rooms?"

"No" Arthur cut off curtly. "There was nothing in there."

"Can't hurt to have a second look, though, can it?" Merlin suggested and realizing that Percival would spend the evening chewing on furniture if he didn't have something to do, Arthur nodded.

"Very well" he acquiesced. "But no one is leaving the citadel tonight." He looked around and was met with nods of assent. Then Merlin and Percival left to look through Leon's chambers once more.

There was not much really. Leon didn't have much furniture and things, and everything was kept neat and tidy, every item at its designated space. Nothing seemed out of place or unusual. The two men poked through all the cabinets, looked at the shelves once more but they couldn't find anything out of the ordinary and when Merlin cautiously suggested that they should go get some sleep and continue tomorrow, Percival kicked a chair in sheer frustration.

"What was that?" Merlin stilled and listened attentively as Percival grimaced when he flexed his stubbed toe. "I think I heard something."

"I can't hear anything" the large knight said testily, still standing on one leg.

"Make sure that you wear boots next time that you feel the urge to kick something" Merlin suggested and Percival glared at him. "Wait, there it is again!" And this time even Percival heard it, a quiet whimpering coming from the antechamber.

Quickly they moved across the room and peered into the dusty antechamber. The space was unused and there was nothing in there except a small, broken bed. There was no way anyone could hide in there, unless they curled up under it. Merlin promptly fell to his knees and looked under the bed. What he saw made him let out a sound that was a mix between laughter and a sigh of relief. He got down on his stomach, stretched out his arms under the bed and fumbled around a bit. When he emerged from under there again it was with a small blond boy, curled into a tight ball and quietly crying.

"Well, I think we've found Leon" Merlin concluded, looking down on the child in his arms. Percival only nodded, speechless.