A/N: I finished this one. There are at least four chapters left to this story. I have some ideas for the sequel, but we'll see. Side of Leon is waiting for his next chapter, but I do not know right now, which Leon talks to me first.
Leon had just finished his report to Uther when Morgana arrived and dragged the king for a ride. Leon was thankful for that; he almost had blurted out: "Why was I punished?" But he could hold his tongue.
Until he got ordered his day was free. Without thinking his feet carried him to Gaius door. He knocked and entered when Gaius answered.
"Leon, Merlin told you were back." Welcoming smile was on the older man's face. "Now they won't send you away again, I hope." Gaius guided Leon to sit as Marleana had done.
"If Uther does not want to punish me more, then they won't send me away again."
"I don't believe it, punish you? Why do you think that he punished you?" Amazement was all over Gaius face, when he poured Leon a cup of tea.
"Arthur had many good options for my replacement, I know every one of those knights, I have trained with them, I have fought beside them, with two of them I was in the northern garrison. All of them were good to replace me. I could have been home four months ago. But any of them were not good for the king. I was mercy of Uther for four months. I can imagine what else it could be but a punishment." Leon looked desperately at Gaius, "Please tell me, that I am crazy, please tell me, that I have imagined it all."
"I cannot say that to you, my lad, I do not know for what he punished you." Gaius sat down and looked Leon, trying to find if seven months in Meredor, had affected the knight's mental health.
"I think, he found out about my feelings for Merlin."
"How?" Gaius' eyes went wide. "You have told anyone except me and your mother."
"I told Merlin, few days before I was sent away. We were upon the tower next to the sorcerer tower, and I told her. Someone must have heard us. Maybe someone must have followed us; I think it must have seen strange when a knight and maid go together onto one of the towers. I went first and then Merlin followed me."
"You told her, that's why she was so different for the first three months." Gently smiled formed on Gaius lips, "I am glad for you and her."
"She has not said anything to me, she needed time to think and then I was sent away."
"Then you will have lot to talk about." Gaius brows furrowed. "I know Uther is sometimes..." Gaius could not find a word.
"I think I know for what word you are trying to find a synonym." Amusement coloured Leon's question, he could not say the word bastard.
"Hush Leon, if you are right, you are already in trouble, we do not need to add to it." Gaius raised an eyebrow. "But do you really think that Uther could be this petty?"
Leon looked at him, raising an eyebrow it almost matched the older man's signature eyebrow. He did not need to say anything.
"Alright, he can be this petty, but do you think he really could do something like that to one of his most trusted knights and favourite knights."
"If he wants to teach a lesson, he will, look what he has done to Arthur" Leon took a sip from his cup wishing it were something stronger. "He kept me away this long, so I would forget Merlin. So, my feelings would die. But the king forgot that feelings do not die with a command, he should know it, he is still in love with queen Ygraine."
"Leon, if you are right, then you and Merlin are in big trouble." Gaius sighed, what else could go wrong.
He should have not thought that. He knew well question like that would bring more trouble and trouble came.
Chamber's doors flew open, and Merlin came running in.
"Merlin what happened?" Gaius asked in surprise and Leon rose with alarm.
"King Uther discovered Arthur and Gwen."
Leon pinched the bridge of his nose and uttered a word that had not passed his lips since the siege. "Fuck."
Gaius and Merlin looked shocked; they had never heard him curse like that before.
"I need to find Arthur." He nodded at them and left. Try not to run, try not to run, was the mantra running thru his head.
He headed to Arthur's rooms, but he had to pass the council room, when he was almost passed the door, Uther voice stopped him. "Sir Leon, stand and guard the door." Leon held back his cruse, with all his luck. Then he heard Arthur's voice, well he found him.
He did not like what he was hearing. First Uther was friendly and laughing at Arthur for consorting with maid, when Arthur he loved Gwen hell broke loose, Uther told Arthur to forget about love, most important was duty to the crown. And finally, he promised to banish Gwen if Arthur did not do as he was told. Leon let out a sigh when Arthur promised forget Gwen if she could stay in Camelot. Prince's second in command knew well, that Arthur did not mean it, his friend could not forget the one he loved. But it seemed the king did believe his son, because moments later Uther left the council room, when he passed Leon command followed. "Walk with me to my rooms and then you may leave."
Leon held back his groan and did as he was commanded. They were halfway to the royal chamber when Uther began. "You can bed a servant, you can play with servants, you can have your fun with servants. But to not fall in love with them, to think of marrying them, it is ludicrous. It is against the Law of Nobility." They reached to the doors to the king's rooms, Uther turned to Leon, "Never fell in love with a servant, most important never want to marry a servant. It would be shame to the nobility and to the crown." From king's eyes Leon learned the truth, Uther knew what Leon felt for Merlin. Uther furrowed his brow turned and closed his door with a bang.
Leon stood in the middle of the corridor, let his head fall back in frustration and hissed: "Fuck."
His mother had thought Uther would make an exception for him, in what world, until the king was alive, he could never offer marriage to Merlin.
He let out frustration groan. The guards who were coming to their post in front of the royal chambers looked him in wonder.
Leon only shook his head, turned around towards Arthur's rooms. He was about to turn the corner when he collided with Merlin.
"I'm sorry." Merlin muttered as he saw who it was.
"I am sorry." Leon smiled and then started laughing. "I should say this is a déjà vu."
Merlin raised an eyebrow, almost like Gaius and then a spark lit in her eyes. "You should look where you are going, Sir knight."
"You should know to respect your betters, maid. I should have you put in stocks for that." Leon held back his smirk if she wanted to play like that.
"You cannot order that only king or prince Arthur can give that order." Sanja one of the lady's maid passed them, wonder was written on her face. They held back their chuckles until she turned the next corner.
"You just unintentionally solved one of our little problems." Leon turned back to Merlin.
"What?" Merlin furrowed her brow with confusion.
"King knows about my feelings for you, that's why I was sent away."
"How?" Wrinkle between her brow was enchanting.
"Someone heard us, when we were talking on the tower and informed the king."
"And he punished you?"
"Yes." Smile formed on Leon's lips, "But Sanja just witnessed this incident and as she is the biggest gossiper in Camelot castle, the news about this will be in the king's ear in an hour."
Merlin sighed. "Nothing is safe anymore." Then she turned her piercing blue eyes into his. "We should talk about it."
"Yes, we should." Saying that, he took her hand in his, as she did not pull her hand back, Leon found himself hopeful. "But first we have to solve the other problem we have at our hands. I am heading to speak with Arthur."
"You cannot. Lady Morgana is with him."
"Gods be damned." He cursed and then checked their surroundings, no one was coming towards them, thankfully there were no alcoves for anyone to hide, so they could speak freely. "What are Arthur's plans?"
"To leave."
"Good plan." Leon could not hide his surprise from his voice, at Merlin's look he explained. "Not his usual haywire scheme."
"They are not that bad!" Merlin defended, Leon held back his chuckle, he knew most of Arthur recent plans were worked out with Merlin.
"Alright not all of them, but you forget that you could come and ask some help."
"I'll admit to that." Corner of Merlin's lips rose.
"Does Gwen know of Arthur's plan?"
"I am heading right now to tell her."
"Good, tell her that I am doing everything to help so that the plan will go smoothly."
"I will, I have to go now."
"I will wait until I can talk to Arthur." At the same time, they squeezed each other's hands and Merlin was gone. Leon clenched his hand to fist, to keep the tingle from Merlin's hand in his fingers.
He was thankful that the time he waited no one passed, otherwise he would have seemed like a damsel waiting for his lost love.
Arthur's door opened Morgana stepped from the rooms. She bored a look on her face that Leon did not like, but he could not say anything, he pushed himself against the wall, is Morgana would look he would disappear into the shadows. Luck was on his side and Morgana left in the other direction.
He knocked on the door. "Go away Morgana, we already discussed it." came Arthur's answer.
"Well, I have called many things, but Morgana is first." Leon smirked as he stepped to the room.
"Leon, thank the gods." Before the knight could react, his arms were full of his prince. "I have missed you."
"I am here, little brother." and he gathered Arthur close to him, forgetting probity, at that moment he held on tight. "I am here." Last time Arthur had hugged him thus was when he had returned from the northern border.
In few moments Arthur pulled back and stepped away. "I am sorry it was not prober of me."
Leon smiled and shook his head. "Arthur it is me; you do not need to be prober with me."
"I missed you so much." Arthur leaned against his bed post. "I was afraid, that I would not get you back here to the citadel, to be beside me as my friend, as my brother." He let his hand run thru his hair. "After two months of your placement to Meredor I understood that Father was punishing you for something, I do not know for what, but I knew you had upset him somehow." Arthur was embodiment of desperation. "I was scared that you would be away three years as last time. I tried to reason with him, but he had any of it. All the knights I offered to replace you were competent and perfect for the position. But he rejected them all, I almost saw a gleam in his eyes when he told me I need to find another one. Of what did he punish you?"
"I fell in love with a wrong person." It felt right to admit it.
"You are in love, with whom?" Arthur's eyes grew big. "Why have you not told me!" and there was the accusing tone, what Leon had expected, he knew Arthur well.
"Because right time for that story never was. And I am not going to discuss it with you right now. Your problem, is more important than mine will ever be."
"Why do you do it Leon, why do you sacrifice your feelings, yourself for the others?"
"Because you, my prince," he stressed the last part, "are more important than me."
"Leon!" Knight could see fight growing in Arthur and put a stop to it. "I heard about you plans."
"What! From whom?" Leon chuckled; Arthur was so easy to distract. He could see gears working in Arthur's head and then the prince got it. "Merlin."
"She knew she could trust me." Leon placed a hand to Arthur's shoulder. "When are you going to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning before dawn."
"Good, I know when to be ready."
"What!" Leon almost smirked, confusion in this large proportion was funny in Arthur. "You are not coming with us, you are knight of Camelot, you have sworn to protect her people."
"After all this talk, we had before, you know say that. In the name of the Maiden, I swore to protect Camelot and her people. You are the prince of Camelot, if something happens to you, Camelot will be lost." He shook his head and looked the young man. "If you think that I stay here, when you Gwen and Merlin are out there without protection." He raised his hand when Arthur wanted to argue. "Yes, I know you can handle it, I have seen you fought, I have trained you. My heart, my mind and my soul would be in rest, if I come with you and do everything to keep you safe." Leon looked the man he loved like brother. "And believe me if I stay here, I will do something drastic."
"It seems like I cannot convince you otherwise. And I think I would not put much fight in it."
"Good, where are we going?"
"I thought Caerleon, she is our ally, and we could get lost in there, Uther would never find us."
"Caerleon is a good idea, I thought the same."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I know my father will start searching for us, but what about your mother?"
"My mother will find us, if she put her mind to it. I think she has better resources then your father."
It got chuckle out of Arthur, "Maybe she should become Camelot's spymaster."
"Then there won't be any secret safe in Camelot. And there are things I would like to keep from my mother."
"You are quite right." Arthur had met Bryndis Leodegrance, she was formidable woman and if she was living in Camelot, no secret would be safe.
"What about the woman you are in love with."
"I am not discussion that with you right now. Continue with you packing, I am going to arrange everything else." Leon headed to the door.
"But we will discuss it." Arthur always needed to have the last word.
Leon only shook his head and closed the door behind him. He had much to prepare before they left.