A/N: This is finally the last chapter. I am sorry, that I added LOTR chapter to this story, it was an accident, as I do not get notifications, I do not know why, I have written to them, but the problem has not been solved, I will try again soon. Because of that I did not get notification about the story or notification of your comments, thankfully I came to check them and deleted the chapter. This time it is the real thing and it is the last one. I have one idea, with these Leon and Merlin, I will start writing it, I do not yet know, if I publish it.
But now read, enjoy and please tell me what you think of it.
It hurt to say, but he had to, knights of Camelot were morons, idiots, and fools. What had he done to be the commander of them all. Sir Farvel and his sidekicks had not believed him when he told them that he will have them fight with the ones they bullied, and they had tried again.
This time they had been caught by Leon himself, red handed and those hand would have been red, if Leon would have not gotten there in time.
He had had a strange feeling, that something was going on. It was the feeling that Arthur never had and sometimes Leon suspected that Merlin often did not have them, how they had survived this long, was mystery to the First Knight.
Well, he followed his strange feeling and found Sir Lancelot cornered by Sirs Farvel, Peverel, Namer, Sloan and Boen. Those arseholes had thought that Leon would not have the guts to order the duel, fools. Leon was thankful that this time it had been Lancelot, not Gwaine, who they had decided to pick on.
Lancelot had tried to talk them out of it. The honourable knight had kept his head, knowing that someone would come. He had not expected it to be Leon, but the sigh of relief that had escaped him, told Leon that Lancelot had been afraid that he could not keep talking for long.
So that is why, all the knight, who were in the city, were on the training grounds and as were most of the servants. Sir Farvel and his goons were going to face the Knights of the Round Table.
They were standing in the middle of the training ground, five against four. It was unfair and he had to think out quickly how to solve the problem.
But Before Leon could do anything, there was a voice behind him: "Why was I not informed of this?"
Leon held back his groan; he had hoped to get thru with this before Arthur learned about it.
"Sire." He turned to the prince. Who was making his way through the crowd.
"It seems unfair," Arthur stopped and looked at Leon, "I have every confident, that Knights of the Round Table can take their adversary's, but I would like that there would be an equal number."
Leon took a breath, thankfully, Arthur had not objected his solution to the problem.
"I was dealing with it, my lord."
"Good, so which one of us would take the fifth place?" Arthur inquired. The silence fell onto the grounds. Leon saw how the senior knight exchanged glances, they had hoped that Leon would stay out of the duel, because he could not show favouritism, but now the prince had come and give the permission for it. More so Prince Arthur himself showed openly who he favoured. "Or should we let the luck decide it?"
"What do you recommend?" Leon asked.
Arthur smirked. "Merlin." The girl stepped from the crowd and smiled to Leon, the First Knight should have known, Merlin had been the one who told Arthur about the duel.
Arthur picked up a stone from the ground and handed it to Merlin. "The one who gets the stone, will be the fifth."
Merlin hided her hands behind her back and moment later brought them fort again. Leon tapped her left hand Arthur her right.
A whisper went through the crowd when she placed the stone into Arthur's hand.
"Well then, Sir Leon you will be the judge, the one who has a sword on his throat has lost."
Leon suspected that Merlin used magic, so Arthur could participate not Leon. Arthur needed it, in weeks the prince regent had been on training grounds only handle of times, he needed to get his frustration out and show to the gods damn senior knights who is in charge.
The senior knights did not have a chance. It took only few moments, and the duel was over. Arthur lowered his sword and looked the crowed. "Sir Leon already told you, that bullying is not acceptable in Kingdom of Camelot, amongst the knights of Camelot, amongst people of Camelot. I am sad that this has gone so far, that the First Knight of Camelot had to appoint punishment as this." He looked all the knights, his disappointment shown in his eyes. "Sirs Lancelot, Elyan, Gwaine and Percival only fault is that they were brave enough to accompany me to get back Camelot, to get her back into rightful hands. They showed me their bravery, their honour, their duty, their strength, their loyalty, and friendship. I know their powers with swords, their quick thinking, their wisdom and intelligent. And for that I awarded them a knighthood. If you have any problems that they are knights of Camelot, you should have come and talk to me about it and not bully them. It was my decision. If I hear again that there is bullying in my Castle, City, Kingdom the consequences will be much harsher than the ones Sir Leon dished out." Leon saw shame on the knights faces at Arthur's words and then the prince turned to him, he sighed now there would be reprimand.
But Arthur said instead. "It seems like the senior knights need extra training; it was too easy to take them down. See to it, would you Sir Leon."
"Yes, my prince."
Arthur started to turn and then changed his mind. "Actually, I will take those training myself." Leon could almost hear the groans, which knight hold back. They considered Leon a hard trainer, but Arthur was brutal. "Make the schedule changes, Sir Leon."
He left and the crowd parted for him, Leon's: "Yes, Prince Arthur." echoed after him.
"There is nothing to see here anymore." Leon said with quiet and tired voice.
The servants and the guard started heading back to their jobs.
The knights lingered, finally Sir Marmant opened his mouth. But Leon raised his hand, only one man was brave enough to approached him. "Do not say anything." Leon pinched the bridge of his nose; a headache was forming behind his brows. "When I told you the punishment, I hoped you understand. Did you really think I would not give that order?" Leon looked them all, disappointment shone in his eyes. "At least something good came out of all off this, the extra training will better your skills."
"Yes, Sir Leon." mumbled the knights head bowed.
"Now, you are all dismissed." The knights cleared off form the training grounds. The Knights of the Round Table looked at him, hesitate to leave. Leon cocked his head, to show them to leave, he wanted to be alone. His friends understood and left.
Leon lowered himself onto the ground and leaned against the wall, he pulled his knees to his chest and placed his arms on them. He was permanently tired, by some miracle Merlin, Gwen or Gaius had not caught him out yet when he found little rest wherever he could. He rubbed his eyes and tried to make out a way to make a hunting trip sound as training exercise. Only way he could figure out to have some well-deserved rest. Then a small voice in his head told he that he was out of his mind, all hunting trips turned out a fight for their lives.
Well, there was no rest for the wicked. He lowered his head against the wall and closed his eyes. Few moments later he heard soft footsteps coming his way and someone sat beside him. If he had not recognised Merlin by her steps, then he would have known by her scent: herbs and magic.
He did not open his eyes when Merlin hooked her arm under his. "Which one of them told you?"
Merlin did not even need to ask what he meant. "All of them," she placed her head on his shoulder, "they came to find me as soon as they left here, they are worried about you. You are over worked, we all can see it, you never stop, you are always where you are needed, even if knights give you shit," Leon raised his eyebrow, Merlin tried not do use those kinds of words, "and our dear knights saw, what today's events cost you."
"You were the one who informed Arthur." It was a statement not a question.
"He would have learned of it anyway; the rumour mill was working overtime," he felt Merlin smile, he did not need to see it, "and I have my own gain in it."
"Your own gain?" This Leon needed to hear.
"Well, you know there were bets." It was said with little hesitant.
"Yes, I know, there are always bets." He had heard that there were bets, for how long he and Merlin would last. He had decided not let Merlin to learn about them, he had his own plans for those arseholes, and he did not need for them magically disappear.
"And I know, for this bet you were too noble to take part." Grunt of agreement was Leon's only response.
"Me, Gwen and Gaius, made a bet."
"Gaius?" World must have been spinning on its axes.
"Of course, he is a betting man when he knows he will win."
"Of course, he is." Leon muttered, could this day turn more bizarre.
"There were many options you could have betted on. Who would win, who would fall first, who would fall second and last, who would be the fifth knight who would join The Knights of the Round. There was one, no one betted on: that Arthur will be the fifth and the Round Table will win. Gwen made the bet, it was more convenient, as she is the sister of Elyan."
Leon chuckled, one of his suspicions were proven. "I knew, it was not luck that Arthur got the stone."
"Can you blame me?"
"No."
"We will split the money by four." Leon felt this time Merlin smirk, he felt like he was leaded to a trap.
"By four?"
"Yes, a quarter to you."
"To me, you three won the money..." he started to protest, but Merlin interrupted him.
"Gaius said, if you protest, he has embarrassing stories."
"Of course, he has." He really needed to have talk to Gaius.
There was silence, Leon lowered his head on Merlin's. The world was peaceful.
"Arthur is thinking how to name hunting trip as a training exercise. So, you and the knights could have a rest." Merlin mumbled.
Leon held back his laughter, great minds and so on. Instead saying it, he smirked. "If you call going hunting with you, knights, and Arthur a rest," a laugh escaped, "I would call it, keep your head down so you will not get shot by an arrow or you head bashed in or stabbed to death."
There was a snort from Merlin. "Moron."
"Your idiot, darling, I am your moron." Leon smiled.
"Pillock."
"I love you too."
"Your insufferable." Merlin said and rose to her feet.
"More like long-suffering." Leon looked up at her.
Merlin shook her head and reached her hand to him. "Come Arthur wants to talk to you in your quarters."
"He just wants to play chess." Leon took her hand and rose.
"If you want to call it like that." Leon smirked pulled her to him and kissed her.
Leon looked at the knight, he should move it, to save his rook, but the next move from Arthur would be taking the knight with his bishop.
He frowned it was Arthur he was playing against, the prince thought at least four moves ahead. Leon took a risk, he would let Arthur take his bishop and moved his queen. There was a surprised look on Arthur's face, that had been a move prince had not expected.
Leon held back his smirk and leaned back, crosses his arms, and waited. Arthur's brows furrowed, Leon closed his eyes and let Arthur think, he had not expected prince to speak.
"You were the one who said that we are not alone in this thing."
Leon opened his right eye, raised its brow, and looked at his friend. "I did."
"Then why did you not follow that advice as well." Arthur's voice was full of hurt and disappointment, Leon did everything for not to winch, he was not talking to the prince regent, but to Arthur, his brother, his friend.
"It was my problem, as the Frist Knight..." he started.
"Bullshit!" Arthur bit out. "I would not have intervened, but we could have discussed it."
Arthur was right, he knew it. "I am sorry, you had so many things on your mind, I thought I could handle it."
"Next time, come and talk." Arhtur leaned back on his chair, "maybe this time it was best, the situation was solved like this, the surprise on your face when I turned up, showed the knights, that you are in charge of them, that I did not know anything."
"You showed favouritism, I could not."
"Showing favouritism is my precedency." Arthur smirked.
Before Leon could answer, there was a knock on the door. Leon raised a questioning brow. Arthur only nodded.
"Enter!" Leon called.
All the Knights of Round Table spilled in.
"How can we help gentlemen?" Arthur asked. But this time Leon was few steps ahead of him, the knight's eyes fell on what the other knights were wearing.
"They finished them." Leon rose and ran his hand along Elyan's Pendragon red cloak.
"Yes, we got them after the duel." Lancelot answered.
"Good, now everything is as it should be." He started to sit again when Elyan grabbed his arm.
"There was a reason we came here." Lancelot said.
Leon turned back to them. "Go on."
"You have done lot for us." Elyan began
"So, we thought we should give something to you as well." Lancelot continued.
"After talking to Gwen, we figured it." Percival said.
Perfect teamwork, Leon cold only think.
"We could not let you wander around like a vagabond." Gwaine got Percival's elbow into his ribs for that. Now Leon was confused.
"What Gwaine, so nicely, tried to say," Leon cocked his head to left, Lancelot sarcastic and still a diplomat, he stored that information it into coroner of his mind, it could be useful, "is that Gwen told us how old your cloak is and why it is so important to you. We thought as a new area is starting, you should have a new cloak as we all and your cherished old one should stay for important ceremonies."
When Lancelot finished his little speech Elyan handed Leon a parcel. Leon felt his feet giving up under him and sat with a thud on his chair. Inside the parcel there was a new red cloak, thicker and better than his old one, he turned it and his eyes fell onto to the Pendragon crest, something was different, it was not as it should be. There was strange circle under the dragon's feet.
Seeing where his eyes fell, Arthur explained. "With my permission, all the original Knights of Round Table will have the circle under my crest, those who know will know, those who do not, will not." It was said so nonchalantly that Leon did not see a reason to argue with it.
"How long do you think, until we can send them on a patrol?" Arthur inquired.
"In a month or two," Leon looked them critically, "if Master Dareon agrees with me."
"Why shouldn't he?" Arthur looked as well at the knights, who had started moving nervously.
"Well, they are bad at poetry."
"Bad with what?"
Leon smirked at the surprised look Arthur gave him. "Poetry."
"Everybody is bad with poetry." Arthur said as if it was the most common mistake in the world.
"Hmm, well."
At last Elyan spoke up. "We are not bad with poetry," he looked pointedly at Gwaine, "he is."
"What is wrong with my poems? They are perfectly adequate." Gwaine sounded affronted, but the grin he wore told otherwise.
"Where do we start?" Elyan looked at Gwaine like he was out of his mind, "Elyan's skin is like midnight."
"Or Lancelot's eyes could bring woman to her knees." Saying those words made Lancelot shake his head.
"Or Percival's strong arms could hold me tight all night long." Percival looked up to the ceiling like he hoped some god would have mercy on him.
"Those are really good lines." Gwaine defended himself.
Elyan rolled his eyes and continued. "Are we going to discuss the time when you handed Master Dareon that tavern song with twenty-seven verses, about a hedgehog, claiming to be yours?"
"Well, that was little bit much I have to admit." Gwaine's smile turned sheepish.
"You do not say." Lancelot huffed, "wherever did you pick that one up, I have travel along most of Albion and I have never heard of it."
"Either had we," Elyan added support, "and at everything is holly, how did you manage to remember all twenty-seven verses."
"There are places you have not been, my young apprentices, where ale flows freely, and women have so big..." he could not finish.
"Gwaine!" Came a warning with five different voices.
"All right, all right." Muttered the jovial knight.
"So that is their problem." Leon turned to Arthur again.
"I think, that can be fixed." Arthur mumbled and said louder. "Find yourselves a place to sit, I have a sudden urge to hear that hedgehog song, but after this match has finished."
"I have a sudden urge for a wine or ale." Leon muttered.
"That problem can also be fixed." Merlin said, Leon had not seen her behind the knight, Leon suspected that it was her point. On her arms was tray with pitchers of wine and ale and goblets.
"Have you hit your head, Merlin?" Arthur asked. "Usually, you are not so well prepared."
"Maybe you head is usually stuck in your arse, that you do not see how prepared I am." Gwaine laughed out loud at that. Arthur muttered, "Idiot," and turned to Leon, "Whose turn it was?"
"Yours."
When the game was over Arthur looked at Merlin, who was had poured everyone a drink and now was leaning on a Leon's chair's back.
"I will give you a night off, after this I will not need you."
Merlin's eyes grew wide, she looked at Leon and others.
"Are you quite sure that it was not him who hit his head in duel?" There were solemn nods all around the room. Leon saw how everyone were trying to keep their smirks at bay.
"Then I can only conclude that someone had snuck in and took the real Arthur and replaced him."
"Merlin!" Arthur growled, "you are an idiot and a fool."
"Oh, there he is, our fearless leader, I was worried." Merlin sent a teasing smile to Arthur and sat on Leon armrest.
This time Arthur could not hold back his smile, instead of commenting, he turned to Gwaine. "Now let us hear the hedgehog song."
And Gwaine sang, all the twenty-seven verses.
When it ended Arthur really wished, that he had never heard the song.
When his chambers were finally empty, Leon let out a sigh of relief and pulled Merlin to his lap.
"Leon?" Merlin questioned.
Leon buried his nose to her hair and took breath. "This is nice."
"Yes, it is," Merlin snuggled closer, "what is on your mind."
"Nothing, it is at peace. For a now, Senior knights have been but into their place, Knights of the Round Table are almost trained, Arthur has gotten Kingdom back in order and Morgana is somewhere licking her wounds and not planning to attack for a while. I know it naïve to think but let me have this moment."
Merlin smiled. "We can have this moment, let us live this evening in a fantasy world where everything is well."
"Thank you for understanding, I love you."
"I love you too." Merlin raised her head and kissed him.
For that night, they stayed in their fantasy world, were everything was at peace. What future would bring, only destiny knew.
A/N: I thought I would end this chapter with a letter from Bryndis Leodegrance, what Leon would read to Merlin with commentary, but I figured that the ending you got was more suited. If you like to have the letter and commentary, please tell me and I will write it and add it to this story or as a one shot.