Are you ready for some arthurian folklore and historical background? No? Too bad, now you read and learn something. :D
I had to research a little as to not make up anything on the myth! Had to omit some things to fit the legends to the movie (some poetic licence was taken there!) but well, hope you like it anyway!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and blablabla.
As usual, reviews and critics are much much much appreciated :)

Enjoy :D

Hannibal, true to his words, had stayed to watch over his sleep till he had heard the rustling of sheets and covers.

"How are you feeling now, Will?" the doctor asked, as he came to his bedside.

"Like a coma patient that just woke up" he croaked out, making the other chuckle.

"That doesn't surprise me. At some point I had to come and check on you, afraid you had inadvertently

OD'd on the sleeping pills. I'm quite sure you haven't moved in your sleep at all."

Will pulled himself up in a sitting position and rubbed the leftover sleep out of his eyes. "If how I'm feeling is anything to go by, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened." He looked up, meeting Hannibal's amused gaze. "I'm sorry you had to waste your morning like this, but I can't say I'm not happy you stayed."

"Don't mention it, I'll gladly do it whenever you need me to." He glanced at his watch. "I should take my leave now. You seem well and I'm sure you'll want to get your day started."

"Can I offer you breakfast? Or lunch, at his point. As a thank you."

"As much as I would love to, there are a few commissions I need to take care of."

"Alright then. Don't let me keep you."

Will got out of bed and followed Hannibal to the living room, crossing arms on his chest as he leaned on the wall while the other retrieved his coat and petted briefly the dogs that have kept him company. His presence alone in the room was enough to make Will feel at peace, like a lifeboat when you're lost at sea and the waves seem to be trying to swallow you in their deep blue jaws.

"Will I see you tonight then?" Hannibal asked as he turned to him.

"Sure."

"Good. We can discuss more of your dreams if you'd like to. I should have some books that could provide an interesting read for you, I'll see if I can dig them up."

"I'm not sure I want to dwell more on all this."

Hannibal looked at him for a long time, seeming to be carefully considering his words before replying.

"Wouldn't you like to find out what's the cause of those dreams? So far avoiding the matter has proved not to be the best option."

"I have to agree with you on that" he conceded with a sigh. The doctor replied with a smile.

"Have a good day, Will."

"You too, Doctor Lecter."

As the door closed behind him, Will moved back to his room to get changed.

"Hello Will. Please, come in."

Will smiled his greetings as he made way into the by now familiar studio and took off his coat. Both comfortable in the quiet of the room, they calmly took seat in the usual armchairs, facing each other. Hannibal waited for him to speak, quietly observing him as the other squirmed a bit under the weight of his gaze, stealing a few glances in his direction.

"I guess I can't avoid the matter any longer."

"The topic of our sessions is completely up to you, Will."

He slowly exhaled. "Alright then…let's talk about King Arthur." Will said, a deprecating smile curving his lips in a mocking half-grin.

"What would you like to know?"

"Did he really exist?"

Hannibal rose and moved to the closest bookcase to browse the titles, as he took his time to answer before taking a book out and opening it, shuffling its pages as he walked back towards Will.

"Although the tradition places him either in the late 5th and early 6th century or in the medieval setting of the 12th century, historians are not in agreement on the historical background of the character behind the legend. Some place him in the late 2nd century, as the name of Lucius Artorius Castus is first recorded: a high-ranking commander in the Roman army, it is believed that he fought against Sarmatians in eastern Europe early in his military career. After their defeat, given their valor in fight and their cavalry skills, the Romans spared their lives and had them and their progeny join their forces. Artorius Castus was later assigned in the command of a numerous of Sarmatians based and campaigning around Hadrian's Wall." He bent over Will, showing him the passage where he had read those infos and the images attached. "The theory says that Castus' exploits at the head of a contingent of mounted troops were the basis for later, similar traditions about 'King Arthur', and, further, that the name 'Artorius' or 'Arthur' became a title, or honorific."

Will hummed, his hand reaching for the book, the paper feeling smooth under his fingers. According to his dreams, the knights were actually Sarmatians, so it fitted with the historical proof.

"Some scholars believe that the legend was based on Ambrosius Aurelianus, a powerful Roman-British leader in Britain. He was renowned for his campaigns against the Saxons, and there is some speculation that he may have commanded the British forces at the Battle of Badon Hill."

Hannibal turned the pages for him, till a picture made Will's heart miss a beat, his eyes growing impossibly wide as for a second the hollow neighing of horses and clopping of hoofs filled his ears.

"Wait."

The doctor eyed him curiously. "Is something the matter, Will?"

"This place…" He took the book from Hannibal's hands, and observed closely the picture. "It looks hauntingly familiar." Will looked at him over his glasses, tilting the book in his direction.

The doctor, leaning over the other, took a glance at the picture that had Will so interested. "The gates of Hadrian's Wall."

"I've been there, in my dreams. But I swear, I've never seen it before in this life." He turned the pages back and forth, then looked up. "Is there no picture of Badon Hill?"

"The location of the battle of Badon Hill is currently unknown with certainty. There are a few hypothesis, but none is supported by definite evidence."

So much for validating his dreams then.

"What about the knights?"

"I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge on their historical background. There is much to say about them in the folklore though, maybe there's some truth to it. For example the one you mentioned this morning, Dagonet, according to the myth was Arthur's beloved jester as well as a Knight, one who saw himself as a courageous warrior and would present himself as such."

"A jester?" Will laughed, incredulous. "I don't know about that part, since he seemed very taciturn man to me, but from his actions he really was brave…and selfless."

"I guess some poetic license was taken, then."

"Definitely" he scoffed.

"What was your name?" Hannibal asked with nonchalance.

"Galahad" he replied, letting the other take the book back into his hands.

"Ah, the 'Perfect Knight'. Known for his courage, gentleness, courtesy and chivalry. He was also the one that accomplished the quest to retrieve the Holy Grail and, upon fulfilling his duty, requested that he died and ascended to Heaven. No other man ever achieved such honor, and the Grail was never to be seen again on this earth."

"Sounds pretentious" Will commented under his breath. "And tiresome."

"Tiresome?"

"Perfection is not interesting so much as the flaws of a person. Only with those you can witness change, be it for better or worse."

Hannibal stilled after that sentence, and kept his eyes fixed on the man seated in the armchair he was leaning over. What a wonderful riddle he was. He smiled a bit to himself, turning around as to not let him see the mask slip. "I must say I agree."

Will rubbed his face tiredly. "I don't know, it all still seems too unreal to me" he said, exhaling loudly.

"Your incapacity to wrap your mind around it may be for the news of all this. Give it time, maybe something else will come to you that will help you break the spell. All you've dreamt of till now were isolated moments, not a continuum, so I understand it may be difficult for you to see the picture as a whole. For now" he said as he closed the book and handed it to Will, "take this home. Read it when you feel like it. If you feel like you're losing grip on reality, read it to remind yourself what is real and what is not."

Will stood up from the armchair, eyeing the book cautiously, not sure what to do with it. After a few moments he took it into his hands.

"Weren't you the one speculating about reincarnation and such?" he asked, curious, looking at the doctor.

"It still is an hypothesis I would like to explore with you, but I care for your well-being more" Hannibal said, his calm gaze grounding him. Will smiled at that, grateful for his friendship, and absent-mindedly shuffled through the pages again as he moved towards the windows. As he got there he moved the curtains and got lost in his thoughts while looking outside, volume still open in his hands. Hannibal joined him as he came to stand beside him, both enjoying the shared quiet of the evening.

What Will didn't realize was that the reflection in the windowpane wasn't of them, but of two men unquestionably more scruffy and hairy, whose eyes carried the weight of thousands battles.