A/N: Here it is the third chapter. Enjoy there is another author's note in the end.
Leon did not have time to talk to Arthur, not until Uther and Lady Catrina wedding. He had been on a patrol when Gwen had been taken. He had been upset, that he could not help her. But She had slap him over the head and told him, not to be so noble, he could not be everywhere. He had also missed Arthur's birthday, again. He had wanted to be in Camelot for that, but Uther had sent him on a mission to Caerleon, as a diplomat getting one last signature for the latest treaty and that is why he missed his friend's birthday. As he had gotten back that morning, he had not seen Arthur, so he had not had time to give the prince his present. He had even taken it with him to the wedding feast, but Arthur was always somewhere else, not where Leon was. And Merlin was agitated, but she stayed away as well.
At the middle of the feast, he had had enough. He snuck out from it, he did not like those kinds of things, he would always stay for food and drink, but when the dancing started, he left. He knew well that every nobleman would want him to dance with his daughter, he may be the third son, but as he was one of Uther trusted knights rising in ranks, they wanted him to be in their family.
But he had eyes for only one girl, who he could not to take to the dance floor. How he wanted dance with her. Merlin had quietly entered his heart and made home for herself.
The king's wedding had been with short announcement, that he had not time to take care of his armour, now was the perfect time for that, no one was going to come and bother him. Armoury was the perfect place to hide.
"Here you are!" He had forgotten one man, his childhood friend Arthur. He could always find him, even in their children when Leon had hide himself from his father and Sir Bors, in the library, because they never figured to search him from there, Arthur always found him.
"Here I am, Sire." Leon finished sharpening his sword and then looked at Arthur.
"You are still upset with me; it's been a month?" Arthur stood in the middle of the armoury, this time Merlin had been left behind, but Leon knew the girl would come to find her master soon.
"No Arthur, I am tired, I do not always have the energy to maintain the prim and proper image. Not to say to Uther, what I really think of his actions."
"Well, I have to say to you, old friend, you do not need to pretend that you are noble, and chivalrous." Arthur smiled brightly.
"Ah-ha, very funny." Leon made a face.
He reached his hand behind his back and smiled. "I was away for your birthday, and I could not give it to you on the right time, but here happy birthday." He held out a bag to Arthur, who took it. Inside the bag was a beautiful dagger, its hilt was made from silver it was decorated with beautiful ornaments on one side of the blade there were words courage and on the other side loyalty. On the end of it hilt had a ruby in the colour of Camelot red. The scabbard was made of finest leather and beard the same ornaments as the hilt.
"Thank you, I will cherish it until the end of my days." Arthur placed the dagger on his belt. Suddenly a helmet fell, both knights turned to the sound. "Sorry," Merlin picked the helmet back up again, "Arthur, King Uther wants you back to the feast."
"Damn," cruse slipped princes' lips, "I am going, but you," he pointed at Merlin, "you have been gallivanting around for days, and forsaken you work, so polish my armour that has been waiting for two days." he huffed and left dramatically from the room.
"Polish my armour." Merlin muttered, "Prat." she took the rag.
Leon held back his smirk, it was strangely satisfying watching Merlin, muttering profanities at Arthur, but same time doing as she was ordered. Leon knew if he were to leave, Merlin would use magic.
Loen tried to fix a strap on his foot guard, but Merlin distracted him, something was wrong, Merlin's muttered more, and her moves were agitated.
"Merlin what is wrong?"
"What?" She raised her head, "what are you talking about?"
"Something is bothering you; would you like to tell me?"
"You would not believe me, Arthur did not." She mumbled; her eyes were full of sadness.
"You do not know, what I will believe." He raised his eyebrow when Merlin looked at him sharply.
"The new queen is a troll."
Leon had to bite his lip so not laugh aloud. "Well, she is not my cup of tea, but I would not insult her like this."
"I am not insulting; the queen actually is a troll."
Leon hoped his face was as flabbergasted as he himself felt. "What?"
"I knew you would not believe me." Merlin started more vigorously polish the breastplate.
"I did not tell you that I do not believe you, I am just processing it right now. You said a troll?"
"Yes, a troll. I have seen her real form." Merlin's eyes were full of such sincere honesty, that Leon had no doubt that the girl was telling the truth.
"It would be humorous if the kingdom was not at stake." Leon huffed and finished fixing his strap. "But you do not have any proof, that's why Arthur does not believe you?"
"Yes, thankfully Gaius does. And you do, but you cannot do anything to help me. Uther would find a way to take your title away."
"I can always work behind the curtains, if you need anything, just ask, I can figure something out."
"I will." Merlin continued his work.
Leon put his thing away, nodded and left the armoury. He did not look back knowing well that Merlin would use her magic to do her job, he could still pretend ignorance.
Everything went downhill from there. He had frozen in his place when Uther gave order to arrest Merlin, for stealing Lady Catrina's seal, Merlin would not do anything like that. He had come out of his shock when Arthur had pushed his elbow into Leon's ribs. "I will go and warn Merlin."
Leon shook fog out of his brain. "I will lead the guards on a wild goose chase." They nodded to each other.
Leon knew exactly where Merlin was at that time of a day, but first he brought guards to Gaius.
"Where is Merlin?" he demanded, Gaius looked him as a fool or like he had grown a second head. "Where he always is on this time of a day, serving Arthur. What's this about?"
"We have come to arrest her, by order of the king. She is accused of stealing Lady Catrina's seal." He could see that Gaius wanted to exclaim "I don't believe it!" As he had many times when Leon had been a teenager and he had produced incredible story to save his and Arthur's butts. But Gaius kept himself quiet. Leon leaned in and whispered. "I know where she is, Arthur is warning her, I will do anything for her to get a way." Gaius nodded. Leon patted his shoulder and called guards with him. Leon smirked when Arthur sent Camelot knight on chase around the kingdom same time Merlin was hiding in Gaius's chambers.
Next time his shock was deeper, Uther had just revoked Arthur's title as the crown prince, it was the utmost betrayal for Leon. When Arthur stopped Gaius from protesting, Leon opened his own mouth, like he had predicted his move Arthur turned to him and shot him a look. Leon could read from it, shut up and keep your head down. Only thing what he could do was to follow the command. His stomach turned uncomfortably when he clapped on Uther's announcement that lady Catrina was to be the next heir of the throne. If he had not believed that Catrina was a troll, now he would definitely believe. He had marched out of the throne room to go to Arthur's when Gwen stopped him. "Lady Morgana wishes to speak with you." Leon held back his groan but followed Gwen.
"Lady Morgana." He bowed when he stepped into the lady's chambers.
"Sir Leon, what can we do?" Leon raised his head in as shock, once he would have called Morgana most beautiful woman in the realm, but now he knew better. "My lady?"
"This has gone too far, don't you agree?" Morgana stood middle of her chamber; frustration written all over of her face.
"I can agree and disagree with you." He bowed again.
"Sir Leon do not be so diplomatic; I know you for years. This..." there was a pause, "thing has gone too far, it is out of hands. What was he thinking taking away Arthur's right to the throne, Uther has lost his mind." last part was said in whisper, like Morgana was afraid that someone was listening on, "what can we do?"
Leon looked at her, she was regal, and she was determined. "If Uther will not come to his senses soon, the only thing we can do is a coup."
"A coup?" Morgana asked intrigued.
"Yes, a coup, but we will have two problems. First Arthur does not want to be a king just yet, I can understand his reasons. Second when we do this and fail, the consequences will be dire, Uther will punish us all. Arthur would be thrown into the dungeons, until he dies, or Uther will gain his senses again, I will lose my head, there will be no doubt in that. And if Uther will find out that I was here speaking with you about it, and he will find out, you will be locked into your rooms and he will make queen Catrina to find you a husband and I believe no one of us would want to know how that would end."
Morgana pondered over it. "You are right, we should wait, but if this thing does not calm down before a month, I will come and talk to you about it again." with a nod he was dismissed. And he did not have time to go to Arthur.
He could not stop laughing, he almost fell off his chair, if only Leon would have known that in a short time one great dragon would be doing the same, except the chair thing, under the citadel, he would not have believed it. "It is not funny." Arthur threw his hands into air.
"Pardon me Arthur but let me have this moment. Soon I have to sit in council with her." Leon could not finish laughing, he would have wanted to be a fly on the wall when the queen turned to her true form.
"She is the queen of the realm, heir to the throne. And father cannot see what she is, he must be enchanted."
That started Leon laughter again he could imagine Uther besotted look when Morgana and Arthur tried to convince him to see who his queen was. "Oh, my gods, you just but some many disturbing images into my head."
"Leon." Command was full of irritation.
"I know, I know, I am sorry Arthur." Leon took a breath, to calm himself down. "Gaius is already planning an intervention; he wants council to help him reason with Uther."
"Do you think it would help?" Arthur inquired.
"No but it is a worth of try." Leon did not think that anything would help.
And he was right, the intervention had not worked. I had been so much effort to play humble and noble. The tusks had been a perfect move. Uther had threatened to cut of the heads who insulted his queen again. Trying not to yell. "You are married to a fucking troll." into the king's face in the council, had taken all his will power. How he hoped that there was a solution for all it.
Next day before the night fall, he saw Merlin snooping around the corridors where Arthur's rooms were.
He grabbed her arm behind her back. She turned with a fright and then relived breath escaped her mouth: "Leon it is you."
"I apologize for frighten you. As you as sneaking so openly around, I presume that you have found a way to end enchantment on Uther?" Leon let go her hand.
"Uther needs to cry tears of remorse." Tears of remorse was Uther capable of remorse even more was he capable of crying? Who did Uther love the most, for whom he would cry. Explanation was for only one – Arthur.
"So, to you have a plan?"
"Yes, we do. but we have to convince Arthur with it." Smile was back on Merlin's face. Leon eyebrow shot up, convince Arthur?
"Are you going to share it with me?"
There was hesitation in Merlin's face. "I am sorry, but I cannot."
"Why?" Annoying curl had fallen into his eye again, he pushed it away.
"Because you would not agree." answer was quiet like whisper.
"As I deduct for Uther to cry in remorse, something needs to happen to Arthur."
Merlin nodded, but the nod was slow. Oh, Leon definitely would not like the plan.
Leon frowned, "Who's plan is it, yours', or Gaius'?"
"Gaius'."
"Good." Relief washed over Leon.
"Good? Is something wrong with my plans?" Merlin looked him, like Leon had just insulted her.
"You have good plans, but they sometimes tend to go haywire. Do not feel insulted. Same goes for Arthur's plans."
"Alright. I know what you mean about haywire." Merlin was grinning again.
"When and where it all will take place?"
"If the prat agrees, then in an hour in Arthur's rooms."
"I will go then to this floor's guards' room, I will be close if you need anything, you just have to call."
"I will." Smile was so bright, that Leon felt like he wanted to do everything in the world for the smile would never leave her face.
He bowed, let her leave, and headed to the guards' room. He knew the two guards who sat there, he had been on a patrol with them many times. The coaxed him into game of dice, even if he did not like gambling, this time it was to pass the time. The hour was gone sooner then he thought, He saw how Uther headed with a quick pace to Arthur's chambers, two guards were with him. Few moments later all three in the room had to cover their noses, the queen went by, her shadow with him. Leon waited, to hear Merlin's call, he heard how Uther called his guards, then there was silence. He wanted to go and see what was happening, but Merlin had not called him, and he still needed to keep low profile. When almost ten minutes after Uther called his guards, he heard Arthur yelled. "Could somebody remove this stinking thing from my rooms." He sighed in relief, he left the guards to handle it and went to his rooms. That was not his problem. Right now, his world had gone back to right place and he felt so tired.
Morning two days later he walked out of the armoury, he was the last to leave, he had to train newly knighted knights. The sun was shining to the archway, and the air fresh and rotten smell had left the citadel.
"Good Morning Sir Leon, how is this fine troll free morning for you?" Merlin was standing by the archway holding Arthur's sword. The prince had to leave to his father who had been insisted to see his son. Arthur had ordered Merlin to wait.
"It is perfect and yours?"
"The royal prat has been working me since the dawn. But otherwise, everything is better than to have a troll for a queen."
Leon laughed; this day was beautiful. "The kingdom will own you a gratitude."
"The kingdom does not know, and its rulers will forget soon." Sadness swept into Merlin's bright blue eyes.
"But there will be one knight who shall forever remember." He took Merlin's hand, remembering his father's lessons, he lowered his head and kissed the girl hand. There was blush on Merlin's face when Leon raised his head. The knight sent her a cheeky grin and headed to the do his job.
A/N: The scene where Leon is laughing his head off, I wrote it, deleted and wrote it again. Because it felt right, but at the same time I was wondering, that if Leon really would be like that. And then he almost hit me over the head and said he could let himself loose.