A random story that takes place when Arthur and Leon are 9, and starting their training to be knights. I'm not sure if it's been done before, but anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoy.

Leon wasn't normally nervous. He'd never had any reason to be. But standing in front of the entrance to an impossibly huge castle, he couldn't help but feel a sense of worry creeping in. This castle was going to be his home for the next few years, and maybe for the rest of his life. He'd always wanted to be a knight, and travel around the kingdom having adventures, but now the time had finally come for his training to start he wasn't so sure.

"Come on Leon, you can't stand there all day." Leon's father placed a hand firmly on his son's shoulder and steered him towards the castle doors.

"Father, I-" Leon started, not sure exactly what it was he wanted to say.

His father stopped walking and knelt down so he was at the same level as Leon.

"Look son, I know it seems scary, but this is what you want to do. You're going to be a knight."

Leon attempted a brave smile, which was enough to satisfy his father.

"I know that you're worried. But I also know that you will do brilliantly. And your mother and I will make sure to write to you every week."

"But-"

"There's no time for buts, Leon. We can't keep the king waiting now, can we?"

Leon mutely shook his head.

"Good lad. Let's go."

Leon followed his father into the castle, marvelling at everything he passed. Everything was so much grander than his own home. His father was a noble, and a close friend of the king, but even so he had never seen so much gold and finery in one place. They soon arrived at the hall, and were announced to the king.

"Cadoar. Good to see you again." The king strode over to Leon's father and embraced him. "It's been too long- I hope you are well."

"I am very well my lord, thank you."

"Good, good. And this must be Leon then?" Uther glanced behind Cadoar, where Leon was doing his best not to be noticed.

"Yes, it is." Cadoar nudged his son forward.

"My lord." Leon gave a small bow.

"How old are you?" Uther asked.

"Nine, my lord." Leon wondered whether he should bow again or not, but decided against it.

"Nine. That's the same age as my son, Arthur. I'm sure you two will get along fine."

Leon just nodded, sure that he could never make friends in this grand place, let alone with a prince.

"Well, good to see you again. I trust you know the way to find Sir Mabon- he deals with the pages and squires."

"I do. Thank you, my lord." Cadoar nodded, and turned to leave.

"And come by once you've dropped Leon off- we have much catching up to do."

"I will, my lord." Cadoar replied with a smile on his face. He ushered Leon out of the hall.

"Father, where are we going?" Leon asked, as he passed a staircase they'd already passed several times. If he didn't have absolute faith in his father he'd swear they were lost.

"To find Sir Mabon… wherever he is." Leon's father looked about with a frown, and muttered to himself. "I could have sworn the armoury was around here somewhere." Just as he was about to lead his son off in a random direction, a small girl came running towards them.

"Excuse me. Are you here to see Sir Mabon?" She asked, trying to get Cadoar's attention. He looked round, searching for the source of the question. He looked down to find an expectant face looking up at him.

"Yes, I am. Could you tell me where he is?"

The girl nodded. "He sent me to find you. He thought you might have been lost."

Cadoar straightened up. "Not lost! We were just... taking a look at the staircase." Leon immediately looked at the staircase, certain that if his father had mentioned it it must have some importance. The girl was evidently trying not to smile.

"He's this way. Down that corridor." She pointed back the way they had just come.

"Ah. Thank you." Leon's father strode off down the corridor, leaving Leon and the girl to hurry after him. They caught up with him to find that he was starting a conversation with a stern faced man sitting behind a desk. He looked up when they arrived.

"Guinevere. That will be all." He dismissed the girl harshly. Guinevere nodded and gave a short curtsy. She gave one last look at Leon before she scarpered off down a narrow corridor.

The man stood up and regarded Leon haughtily. "I am Sir Mabon. While you are here you will report to me and me alone. I will be responsible for your training as a page, and when the time comes I shall assign you as a squire to a knight. I will be in charge of when you have free time, and also when you will be punished. Is that understood?"

Leon nodded, then added a "Yes sir" on the end.

"Good. Say your goodbyes to your father now, then come with me." Mabon stood ominously over Leon as he said goodbye to his father. When he was done Mabon swept out of the room. Leon looked back as he left the room to see his father gave him an encouraging smile, then ran off to catch up with Sir Mabon, who was already far ahead.

. . . . .

Leon sat outside in a small courtyard, feeling sorry for himself. As soon as his father had left he had been given a brisk tour of his new home, being shown the room he would share with the other pages, the room where he would eat, and the rooms where he would study and train. The studying had begun at once, and Leon had soon discovered that being a knight meant a lot more than just fighting.

He couldn't do maths, he couldn't recall historical facts, and he couldn't play an instrument. He was good at picking up new languages, but, as the other boys in his classes pointed out, languages were for girls. The others had run off after classes to play, but they had left Leon behind. Unsure of where to go, or what to do, Leon just sat outside.

"What are you doing?" A voice broke through Leon's thoughts. He turned to see a blonde boy standing behind him, a curious look on his face.

"Nothing." Leon stood up. He didn't know who this boy was, but he was probably here to tease him some more.

"Why aren't you with the others?" The boy had a decisively arrogant tone.

Leon shrugged. "They left me." He sat down again, hoping the boy would go away. He didn't. Instead he went and sat down next to Leon.

"They left me too. They don't like me very much." Remarkably he sounded very cheerful about his unpopularity. "Do you want to see something interesting?" The boy now sounded hopeful. "Only I didn't want to show any of the others, but I might show you."

Leon liked the sound of this. Maybe, just maybe, he might get a friend here.

"Alright. What is it?"

"Wait and see." The boy smiled mischievously and stood up, offering Leon his hand. "What's your name?"

"Leon." Leon took the hand and shook it. The boy's smile grew bigger.

"I'm Arthur. Arthur Pendragon. My father's the king." Seeing the expression on Leon's face, Arthur's smile dropped slightly.

"If you don't want to come any more, that's fine. None of the other's want to be friends with me because of my dad."

Leon shook his head, and jumped up. "I don't care."

Arthur's smile came back. "Really? Then let's go!"

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