First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter 8

"Here, it's not much but it's warm." Hunith handed Leon a steaming bowl.

Only then realizing he had not eaten in over a day, not caring what was in the bowl he eagerly ate while sitting next to Arthur, who was wrapped in a thread-bare blanket near a small fire.

Upon reaching the villager's home he had been directed to lay the Prince on a blanket covered pallet on the floor, the small dark-haired boy was moving around gathering items his mother needed; water, cloths, a few herbs and a small container of what Leon believed to be honey. He remembered Gaius using honey to help fight infections.

Hunith knelt beside the small boy, carefully checking his face, hoping the severe bruising wasn't hiding any facial fractures. Gently probing his cheek, around his eye socket and along his jaw she was relieved it didn't seem to be the case. The child had let out a small whimper causing Leon to surge forward, "Arthur?" he whispered, placing his hand on the boy's chest, the Prince didn't respond as silence filled the room again.

Easily turning Arthur onto his side Hunith began carefully cleaning the cut just below the hairline on the back of the boy's neck. "how did he get this?" She knew a blade cut when she saw it.

"He was trying to help our friends when we were attacked, I never realized until I had gotten him into the woods that he had been hit by a blade." Leon's emotions were again trying to betray him, the possibilities of what could have happened overwhelming him.

During the ministrations the young mother caught sight of discoloration just below the neckline of Arthur's shirt. Once cleaning the cut and placing a bandage on it, she gently lifted the boy's collar. Looking up at Leon she motioned, "Help me get his shirt off" Confused but helping they both let out a gasp at the nearly black bruising that covered Arthur's upper arm and seemed to slide across his shoulder toward his neck.

Leon covered his mouth as Hunith whispered to her son about some herbs and making a paste. Again, silence settled as the dark-haired child brought the items to his mother, watching as she mashed them together, creating a paste to put on the injured boy's shoulder and on the worst of the bruising on his face.

Once finished, she pulled the blanket over the child and looked at the older boy, "were you hurt?"

To be honest Leon never even thought about checking himself, his focus had been completely on Arthur, he really had no idea. "I don't think so." The Knight said, looking from his charge to the lady across from him.

"You both need to rest. Your brother's reaction when I was checking his face was a good sign, with any luck he will awaken soon. He'll need to take it easy for a few days, he will probably be to sore to move, but we must keep an eye on him." Hunith stood, gathering some of her supplies while her son gathered the rest.

"Thank you, for everything." Leon said quietly staying next to his Prince.

It was near midnight when the warning bells sounded through the Citadel signaling the approach of the riders. Several Knight's who had been sent out by Sir Cador came riding through the gates, finally followed by what was left of the contingent that had left with the King. Sir Cador and Gaius were in the courtyard when Sir Aaron rode in, the King held close to the Knight's chest. "Hurry, get the King to his chambers!" Gaius called out as several men rushed forward to ease their injured King off Sir Aaron's horse. The men soon disappearing into the castle with the physician quickly following,

Sir Aaron dismounted and leaned his head against his saddle, it was a moment before he felt a hand on his shoulder, "Sir Aaron?"

The younger Knight turned and met the eyes of his commander, "I'm sorry Sir"

"Sorry for what?" Sir Cador asked as activity continued around the two men.

A broken appearance overtook the younger man's face, "We did what we could, but we were unable to protect the King. The attack was so swift and brutal." Taking a deep breath he continued, "and the Prince…" Shaking his head, the burden of guilt he was carrying was nearly staggering, "We were unable to find any trail indicating what happened to him or Sir Leon. I know he reached the tree line with the Prince, but I also know the boy was injured, I don't know how bad, I don't know if Sir Leon was injured, I don't even know if…if they are still alive." Exhaustion and weariness overtook the Knight who again leaned his head back against his saddle attempting to grasp the scale of all that had occurred and what the possibilities were.

"Sir Aaron…Aaron, look at me." Sometimes formality needed to give way to familiarity. Once the young Knight turned, Sir Cador placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "You got our King back to the Citadel alive; you must understand and remember that was your goal. I know…" His own voice cracked slightly, "I know our Prince and my son are still unaccounted for, but we will find them. I have men out looking already and once I know the condition of the King; I will be heading out myself. You have done what you were trained, what you were charged to do. Our King may be injured but he is alive and now he is safe. Whatever the coming days bring, we must remember that." A small nod was all Sir Cador received from his Knight, knowing the man will continue to second guess every decision that was made, carrying the guilt of having lost their Prince. Until Arthur (and his own son) were found and returned none of the Knights will be able to breathe properly, nor their guilt dissipate.

An hour later found Sir Cador in his King's room as Gaius finished his treatment of their Sovereign, "How is he?"

Gaius looked at the Knight as he packed up his supplies, "He has a severe concussion and a deep laceration to his side. Fortunately, it does not appear that any infection has set in but his is running a slight fever that I believe has come from the trauma his body has sustained. I do believe he could come around anytime as he did react as I treated his injuries."

Sir Cador pulled a chair up next to his friend's bed, rubbing his hands over his face, there had been no rest since the rider arrived with word of the attack.

"What will you tell him about Arthur?" Gaius asked quietly. The older man thinking of the small boy he had helped bring into this world, whom he had treated over the years. It seemed the whole Citadel was holding its breath waiting on word of their Beloved Prince.

"I honestly don't know," Sir Cador sat back, looking at his King and Friend. "What can I say? We know very little other than he and Leon were last seen disappearing into the woods."

Gaius came over and placed his hand on the First Knight's shoulder, "Cador, how are you holding up, your son is missing also?"

The Knight, the father had tried to not focus on that, had tried to focus on his concern for his King and the Prince. "May heart nearly stopped when Sir Richard arrived with the news. I know my son is a Knight, he is trained to do what is needed and to protect his charge at all cost, but still…"

"He is your only son, just as Arthur is Uther's. You are a father first, I can not begin to imagine what you are going through." Gaius spoke softly.

Taking a deep breath, the older Knight looked at the physician, "I have to believe he is okay, and that the Prince is okay until I know different."

Silence settled over the room for several minutes until a slight moan was heard from the bed, Gaius stepped closer as Cador sat on the edge, both me watching as Uther struggled to open his eyes, his hand going to his head. It took a few moments before grey-blue eyes finally opened to the dimness of the room. Staring at the ceiling for a moment, seeming to be trying to process what had happened. Closing his eye's again, taking a deep breath before reopening them. Looking to his left he could see Gaius's concerned face, "what…" the King whispered out.

Sir Cador placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, "Uther?" the King turning slowly at the sound of his friend's voice. "Are you with me?"

A slight nod and a mouthed, "yes" was the Kings answer.

"Do you remember what happened?" Cador glanced at Gaius when the King closed his eyes again.

Another moment passed before the King's quiet voice spoke, "visiting the villages,"

"Yes Sire, you were on your yearly trip." Cador was waiting to see if his friend remembered the attack.

"We were headed home…something happened," Uther again struggled to gather his jumbled memories. "We were attacked," Cador nodded but said nothing, "There were…" a sharp intake of breath along with the King's futile attempt to get up let both Knight and Physician know what was coming next. "Arthur…where is my son? He was…" Uther's hand went over his eyes as his body dropped back to the bed, "Cador," a pleading gaze met that of the Knight, "He was hurt, he was…" the King's voice cracked. "Cador where is Arthur? Where is my Son?" a tear seemed to escape the father's eyes as he stared pleadingly at his friend.

"We don't know Sire," formality taking over for what was needed to be said. "Both Prince Arthur and Sir Leon are missing."