First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 21

It was another twenty minutes before Gaius returned, Arthur had yet to return to consciousness, a worried Uther sitting next to his son, much as he had spent the previous night, Leon nervously pacing waiting for both Gaius and his father to return.

"Sire, if you'll lift him up a bit," Gaius motioned as Uther got his arm under his son and eased him into a semi-sitting position, the physician uncapping the vial, waving it under the Prince's nose.

The reaction was almost instant, Arthur jerking in his father's grasp, "FATHER!" the confused boy called out again, eye's frantically searching the room, not realizing he was in his father's arms.

"I've got you Arthur, I'm right here." Fearful eyes met the blue grey of the King's.

"They said…" the blond almost starting to hyperventilate.

"Sh… everything is okay, I'm fine, I promise." Uther held his son close, feeling the tremors still flowing through the young boy's frame.

"They said you collapsed, you were pale and needed Gaius. I…all I could think…" Arthur took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself now that he knew his father was okay.

It was Gaius who responded, "Your father has been so worried about you this past week, he would not listen to me, that was the cause of his needing a little help this morning. I assure you, My Boy, your father is doing fine and, as with you, just needs a little more rest and some good food." Gaius patted the Prince's leg and stood.

"Thank you, Gaius." The King responded.

The older man bowed, "I will check on you both this afternoon before any activities begin." With that the physician left as Sir Cador entered.

"Cador?" Uther's tone wasn't missed by the two Knight's in the room.

"It is being delt with My Lord, It was not the guards, but one of the maids who was passing in a nearby corridor that caught a glimpse of you and heard your request for Gaius. The Steward is having a meeting with the entire staff with regards to the incident." Cador stepped next to the bed, Arthur had already pushed himself up and was trying to make his way to the side of his father's bed.

"Very well, but I will also have a meeting with the staff at a later time." Uther's voice a bit colder than normal.

A moment of quiet settled over the room as Uther stood, Arthur pulling himself to his feet, "Again I am sorry you were upset" the King rested his hand on his Son's blond head.

"It was just…" Arthur looked down, fear had gripped his soul when he'd the staff talking, a part of him felt slightly foolish for his overreaction.

The King knelt in front of the Prince, "Do not worry anymore about it. This has been a terrible week for both of us, but we will get through it, okay?" Uther's hand cupped his boy's uninjured cheek.

Taking another deep breath, "Of course, Father."

Another slight smile crossed Uther's face as he stood, "Sir Leon, if you could accompany my Son back to his chambers and help him prepare for the day. We will meet in the Council Chambers in about an hour, we have a celebration to attend to."

"Of course, My Lord." Sir Leon bowed, motioning for Arthur to come with him. Another quick glance toward his father and the Prince left the room.

Upon reaching the Prince's chambers both boys entered, one of the young maids was still moving about the room looking up as they entered, "Your Highness" she bowed.

"That will be all, thank you." Leon said to the girl who quietly left the room.

Arthur slowly made his way to his bed, sitting on the edge, "Arthur?" Leon went to sit next to him.

"I was so scared," Arthur clasped his hands tightly, "I was afraid that something happened, just as we had gotten back, just as I saw Father was okay, then…" a frustrated breath escaped the boy as he jumped up and started pacing, his hands going to his hair, pulling slightly as he ran his fingers through it, "I shouldn't be scared, I'm a Prince." The blond looked at the young Knight, "You weren't scared. The whole time, while we were with Hunith, on our way home, you were never scared."

Leon couldn't believe what he was hearing, a shuttered chuckle slipped from the Knight, "Are you kidding, I was terrified." Arthur looked at Leon, not believing that the older boy had ever been anything but brave and unafraid. "when the…when the attack happened, I was terrified. I knew I had to get you to safety, but for a moment I couldn't see a way out. Then your horse went down, and I tried to grab you, you broke away from me and tried to reach your father." Leon knelt in front of the younger boy, "You were so brave trying to reach the King, you were fighting your way like a seasoned warrior, your focus on reaching your Father." The older boy ran a hand over his face, his mind replaying the moment the Prince had taken the hit that left him unconscious for nearly a day and a half. "Then when you were hit, I was terrified. I was terrified I had failed you, had failed the King, had failed the Kingdom. I grabbed you and ran never more scared in my life." Leon stood, squeezing Arthur's uninjured shoulder before moving to the window. "Don't ever think I wasn't scared."

Arthur watched the Knight who had gotten him away from the attackers, who had eventually found someone to help them, it honestly never occurred to him that Knights could get scared. They were some of the bravest men he had ever seen. He'd watched them train since he was a young boy, they were always so focused, so disciplined, fear was never something he had ever seen on their faces, that he had ever seen on his father's face and his father was the greatest Knight of them all.

Then he recalled seeing his father's eyes meet his as Arthur fought his way toward him that day, thinking back now he realized he had seen fear in his father's eyes. His Father, the King, the greatest Knight in the Kingdom had been afraid. Then again when Arthur saw him for the first time since that terrible day, he saw fear turn to relief when their eye's met the night before.

"I'm sorry" Arthur nearly whispered, walking up to stand next to Leon.

Leon looked down at his charge, "There is nothing to be sorry for. Just always remember, everyone gets scared… everyone, but it's how we use our fear. Do we use it to hide, or do we use it to do what needs to be done even when it feels all the odds are against us?" kneeling again looking into the blue eyes of his Prince, "Fear can keep us alive and help us focus on making our way back home. So never think fear is a bad thing and never believe anyone who tells you they are never afraid." Once getting a slight nod from the Prince, Leon pulled him into a quick hug, "We are all safe, we are home, and according to your Father we will be celebrating today, so now…" Leon stood again, "You need to eat your breakfast and we need to get you ready, the King will be waiting." The young Knight gently pushed his charge toward the table to eat.