First Official Visit
By Montez
Disclaimer: see chapter one
Chapter 23
Arthur ran toward his father, the affection the boy was showing and needed was unusual, but nothing had been normal for over a week now and truth be told Uther needed it too. The King turned just as his son reached him, the boy throwing his arms around his father who returned the embrace. "Arthur" he whispered into the blond hair of his son.
Leon came to stand next to his father, but quickly picked up on the tension in the air, "Father?" the older boy said softly, not wanting to draw Arthur's attention from his father.
Sir Cador placed the scroll inside the box in the middle of the council table, looking up at his son he saw the perplexed look, "Nothing to worry about today." Though Cador knew before the day was out both himself and the King would more than likely be looking at what the scroll contained and how it would be leading the meetings the next day.
"Father…" Cador could see the wheels in his son's mind turning, the boy knew whatever had happened before he and Arthur had entered the room had baring on the events of the past week, just by the King's deminer and his own father's evasiveness.
"Not today Leon, today is about Arthur and you." Cador pulled his son into a hug as he glanced at his oldest friend, who had yet to release his own son.
Gaius had joined the men and their sons in the council chambers just before the speech was to be given, "Sire, Prince Arthur, Sir Cador, Sir Leon, I hope this hour finds everyone still on the mend with nothing new occurring."
"Gaius, How is our unexpected visitor doing?" Sir Cador asked as the older man worked his way toward the group. The Knight tried to not bring to much attention to his request, but as usual Leon was analyzing his father's question.
"Ah, He is exhausted, dehydrated, the wound to his side is showing signs of infection. He has yet to regain consciousness I'm sorry to say. However, someone is with him as we speak." The physician responded without giving too much away in front of the younger boys in the room knowing this was not something they needed to know of until their father's deemed ready.
"Thank you, Gaius," Uther commented, he had been listening to the quiet conversation as Arthur looked on, but knew from past experience he would only be told what he needed to know, so he didn't ask about whom they were discussing.
The older man nodded, and a slight smile crossed his face, "I believe I mentioned earlier this morning that I wanted to give both Arthur and you Sire a quick check-up before everything began."
"Do I have to?" Arthur moaned, causing all present to chuckle, the tension breaking some, even if Uther's and Cador's was a bit forced.
"Oh, not just you my boy, your father as well." Gaius smiled, rocking on his heals as the King looked nearly as uncomfortable about it as Arthur.
Uther needed to live in this moment after the week that had passed and he couldn't resist the 'child' in him as he also responded, "Do I have too?" causing Arthur to burst into laughter, a sound the King feared he'd never hear again.
Once the laughter died down and both the King and Prince were pronounced fit enough to enjoy the celebrations the four men and Arthur made their way to the hallway leading to the balcony used by the King to address his subjects.
Members of the council were present as requested, getting their first real look at their young Prince, many shocked to see the still visible bruising on the boy's flawless face and the bandage still present on the back of his neck. They had been told of the hit's their Prince had taken, but to see the visual representation of those hits on the child shook many of the members. They had indeed come close to losing their Heir to the Throne and it made their next day's meetings that much more important.
Uther paused at the still closed doors, turning to look at his son and Sir Leon, whose father was just behind him, "Before we step out, I want to again personally express the unrepayable gratitude to Sir Leon who kept our Prince," The King smiled at his son, squeezing his uninjured shoulder slightly, "Safe while within a hostile region." Leon nodded and smiled at Arthur.
"Sire, if I may?" Sir Leon stepped forward. The King nodded, eager to hear what the Knight had to say. "I was not alone in keeping our Prince safe this past week," Uther looked intrigued, Cador had mentioned that the boys were found within a small village just across the border of Essitir. "The Kindness of a young mother and her son allowed Arthur's injuries to be treated and helped keep us safe during that time. I believe she should also be recognized, though she is not here, she played no small part in the ability of both mine and Arthur's return home."
"Yes, your father mentioned you were found at a home of a peasant within Essitir. What was this woman's name so we can recognize her generosity." Uther responded.
"The village was Ealdor, and the kind woman was Hunith, and her son Merlin…" Leon was interrupted by Gaius
"Hunith? You were with Hunith?" Gaius responded, a sense of excitement and wonder in his voice.
"Gaius, you know this woman I take it?" Uther looked questioningly at his physician.
"Yes Sire, I knew Hunith as a child, it has been many years since our last meeting, but if that is who nursed Prince Arthur through his injuries then I understand why he has healed so well. I taught her a few things when she was a child to help in the healing arts, Ealdor is a very small village with no doctor. When I visited a few times she took an interest in what I did, so I taught her basics. She was a natural honestly." The older man finished.
"She mentioned she knew you Gaius." Cador looked from the physician to the King, "I did give her what little coin I had with me, I was hoping at a later date to possibly do more."
Uther had taken this all in when Arthur pipped up, "Don't forget Merlin, he helped too." Looking up at his father, "It was kinda nice having someone around my own age, he was a bit weird, talked nonstop…" Leon chuckled at that comment. "But he helped too, made sure I would eat when I woke up those first few days. I gave him one of my throwing knives, but I also want to do something for them. They are so poor but they shared what they had. Can we do something for them Father?" Arthur nearly begged the King.
"We will discuss it at a later time, but we will try. Now, I have a speech to give, our subjects wish to see their Prince and his Knight." With that Uther turned as the guards opened the balcony doors to a suddenly roaring courtyard.
"Welcome to all for the celebration of the safe return of Prince Arthur and Sir Leon after one of the most harrowing weeks in recent memory. I wish to start by recalling the seven brave, and fearless Knights who gave their lives during the attack on our return trip home from my yearly visits to the outer villages. They fought bravely, without concern for their own wellbeing to protect both myself and Prince Arthur; Sir Gareth, Sir William, Sir Kay, Sir Lucan, Sir Lionel, Sir Anthony, and Sir Hector." Uther paused a moment as the courtyard fell silent in remembrance of their sacrifice.
"I also wish to express my gratitude to the brave men who helped me to safely return to the Citadel, Gaius for helping with my recovery, and finally to Sir Cador for his unwavering devotion to myself and to Camelot." During this the crowd grew louder in their cheers. Raising his hand's Uther brought the crowds volume back down to continue, "I wish to thank each and every one of you, my loyal subjects, for your unwavering belief in the safe return of my son, your Prince. Nightly vigils were held during the darkest nights of this past week, your faith in the men searching and in Sir Leon's ability to keep Prince Arthur safe will never be forgotten. Just before coming out, I was informed of an unlikely participate in Prince Arthur's safety and recovery of some of his injuries incurred during the cowardly attack. In a small village of Ealdor, just across the border of Essitir, a young woman by the name of Hunith and her son Merlin, gave shelter and medical attention to both Arthur and Sir Leon. Though she is not from our Kingdom, she did not hesitate to offer assistance with what very little she had, she graciously shared with them. She will forever have the gratitude of both the kingdom of Camelot and that of her King." Again, cheering interrupted the King's speech. A final hand wave lowered the noise, "Now finally, to the reason we are here today." Turning slightly Uther motioned the young Knight to step forward, "Sir Leon, you showed bravery worthy of a Knight of Camelot on that dreadful day. You never left my son's side, you fought to get him to safety, even as he bravely fought to get to my side. Though he was injured, you, without regards to your own safety, got my son, our Prince away from the fight and to those who were willing to help in his time of need. You stayed with him through his brief convalescence, and at your father's side brought my son back to me. There are no words to express how I feel, how light my heart and soul became when I saw Arthur ride in with you last night, thank you will never be enough, but thank you I do" The King stepped toward the young man, pulling him into a tight embrace as the crowd roared again. "And now," Uther called loudly, "The reason for this celebration; OUR PRINCE IS SAFELY HOME!" Uther raised his hands as Sir Leon and Sir Cador stepped up behind their smiling Prince and hoisted him into the air for the whole of the courtyard to see, the Citadel vibrated with the sound of the citizens as they got their first daylight look at their returned Prince.