Sir Leon, Survivor

Sir Leon lay awake in his bed in his quarters in Camelot. For the past week he rested quietly in a slightly drugged daze, healing from his wounds. He was lucky to be alive. The Great Dragon had killed the rest.

The monster was terrorizing Camelot, killing peasant and noble alike. Prince Arthur had failed to secure a Dragonlord to rescue Camelot from the vile creature. Then he asked for twelve knights to make a last valiant stand with him against the beast; either they would die or the Great Dragon would die. Leon was the first to volunteer, the first to stand with his prince. Even the prince's personal servant volunteered, brave lad.

They mounted up and rode out. They chose a place to stand that was to their advantage, they hoped. Prepared and alert, they waited. The Great Dragon attacked and the warriors spread out to encircle the monster. Then the Great Dragon flamed. Leon dove away off his horse and rolled down a gentle slope saving him from the full burst, but some fire did catch his whole leg. Luckily, the roll helped put it out. The pain from the heated armor scorching his flesh was intense and Leon passed out.

Sir Leon woke to hands tending his burns. Townsfolk had come out to see to the injured and dead. The smell of burnt flesh – man and horse – permeated the air. Bakers and blacksmiths who dealt with serious burns more often than other folk attended the knight with ointments and salves meant to keep burnt flesh supple.

Of the twelve knights who rode out with the prince, only Leon, the prince himself and his servant Merlin survived. Three knights had lived, but later died of their burns. The Great Dragon had killed the rest.

Alone in his room, Sir Leon wept for the comrades he'd lost. Arthur would tell young knights, "No man is worth your tears." Arthur was wrong. All good men who die in noble service deserve tears, and they were all good men.

Leon missed the eleven funerals. King Uther Pendragon himself visited the knight. For his loyalty and service, Leon was given a small manor house and land.

Gaius attended the knight with Arthur in tow. The prince winced when he saw the scarring on Leon's leg. But, Gaius assured him that the knight was not crippled and would walk and fight again, in time. The convalescence would be long.

It was a hard year for Sir Leon as he rehabilitated himself. But recuperate he did and on the first anniversary of the Vanquishing of the Great Dragon, Sir Leon once more stood with his prince.

THE END