First Official Trip
By Montez
Disclaimer: nope still don't own Merlin, BBC is so lucky
Chapter 2
"The last matter is my annual trip to the outlying villages" Uther was addressing his council. This trip was something he had done for many years, the only time he had not was during the two years of the Great Purge as it had been deemed unsafe. During that time he had still been mourning and needed to stay near the citadel, he hadn't wanted to leave his infant son unprotected. Yes, there had been the knights and an array of caregivers, but Arthur was all he had left of his beloved and he would not risk anything happening to the young heir. "I will be gone appropriately three-weeks, Sir Cador is in charge while I am away, he has my complete trust as always", Uther gave a subtle nod to his dear friend. "However, this year there will be a small change, Arthur will be accompanying me."
Murmurs could be heard among the council members, "Sire, are you sure, he is just a boy…"
Uther's raised hand stopping the objection, "I understand your concern, but I believe he is old enough for the trip, plus he needs to start learning the importance of knowing the kingdom he will one day rule. My decision is final. Dismissed." With that the men at the table rose, gave a slight bow to their King and filed out.
"Sir Cador, if you will remain." The Knight turned once everyone had filed out and the guards closed the large wooden doors of the council chamber.
"Sire", The larger man neared the table.
"Cador, I need your honesty in this question, not only as my Knight, but as my friend. Do you think I'm making a mistake in taking Arthur?" Uther was rarely ever unsure of himself, but he also knew he could not protect his son forever.
"As a knight I understand the need for the Prince to begin his education of understanding the finer aspects of his position. As your friend, I worry. This undertaking is a long, intense journey, and as you know yourself, it can have its own dangers." Cador had taken a seat to the King's right.
"I know," Uther placed his head in his hands, "I have always tried to protect him, shield him, but I can tell he is starting to become restless staying inside the city walls. Several of the guards have come to me stating that there have been numerous times in the past year that they have had to stop Arthur from venturing into the forest." The sigh from the King was long as he leaned back in his chair, "apparently, he is becoming very good at his ability to remain quiet and unnoticed, just a few weeks ago, Arthur made it to the tree line before the battlement guards spotted him. I fear what might happen when he finally manages to make it. It could be hours before anyone realizes. I can't bear to think…" Cador knew Uther was not an emotional man, he rarely let anything shake his unflappable façade, Arthur was the only exception.
Only the First Knight and oldest friend to the King had seen the terrified father that lay beneath. There had been three times since Arthur's birth that the friend, not the knight, had to console his distraught friend. The first being the night of Arthur's birth, the immense joy and celebration at the birth of the King and Queen's first child and heir to the throne, quickly to turned to a hellish nightmare when complication shortly after delivery stole the kingdom's beautiful Queen and Uther's true love. Cador held his friend as the new father held his newborn son and cried for the tragic lose that would overshadow everything from that moment on.
The second time was when Arthur was just three-years old. A horrific fever had swept through Camelot that winter. Every precaution was taken to shield the young Prince from possible exposure to no avail. Four of the most intense days paralyzed the entire castle, the blond-haired, blue-eyed bundle of energy was stricken and fear for his life had been all too real. Uther never left his son's side, cradling him in the large bed as the fever settled in his small lungs. Gaius had done all he could and by the third night tried to prepare the King for the worst. Cador sat next to the bed that held his King and Prince, it seemed as the night wore on the young Prince's breaths became more labored, his small body shaking from the fever and exertion of the simple act of breathing. Uther wept that night, begging his son to fight, begging the God's to not take away the last thing he had remaining of his wife and his heart. Finally, it was a plea to his beloved, praying for Ygraine to intervene on their son's behalf.
That night the child's breathing stopped, the sound the King made was something Cador never wanted to hear again. In those moments the room had taken on an ethereal look, the air had stilled, the walls themselves seemed to be holding their breath. Something occurred that night that was never spoken of outside those four walls, witnessed only by the three people within. A misty glow formed around father and son, Uther had looked up and inhaled sharply, a whispered word slipped from his lips, "Ygraine…" the moment only broken by the quiet inhale from tiny child in the King's arms. Gaius rushed forward as dawn broke over the kingdom, their Prince would live.
The third time had been just a little over a year and a half ago. The Prince in all his stubborn tenacity had snuck into the stables and saddled his father's horse. The large stallion was known to be as temperamental as his owner, but a squire had made a comment, the boy overheard and was determined to show everyone he was quite capable of handling the dark beast. An alarm had gone out as soon as Arthur and the horse broke through the stable doors, the young Prince holding on for dear life as the animal burst with speed only the King was capable of controlling. Several knights and guards had taken off after the speeding beast as Uther reached the courtyard. Running to the stable the Sovereign jumped upon the nearest horse, Cador yelling at him as the King took off. The Prince had reached the lower town before anyone had been able to catch up, and all they could do is watch in horror as the large animal reared up when a stray dog got under its feet. The momentum carried it up and backwards, its footing going from under it, the sound of yelling and screaming echoed through the street as its giant weight landed on young boy's body. "ARTHUR!" was the only thing heard in those few seconds it took everyone to process the scene, it was Uther's yell that broke the silence as he had witnessed the animal fall, then scrambled to get its footing back. Pandemonium erupted, several guards raced after the terrified horse, while the knight's rushed to their downed Prince fearing the worst.
Cador had arrived just as Uther reached his motionless son, one of the knight's was already racing back to the castle to get Gaius, he could see that the distraught father was getting ready to grab his son up on instinct, "SIRE, DON'T MOVE HIM!" From experience the knight knew the consequences of moving someone in the condition of the Prince. Reaching the King's side, he could see the pale features of the youth; there was a small trail of blood coming from his nose, a slight stain just noticeable on the dirt covered stones beneath his head, and his left arm lay at an unnatural angle. The Knight knelt beside the King, "Sire, you could do more damage if he is moved improperly." He whispered, his hand resting on Uther's arm, the one with the hand that laid lightly on his son's still moving chest.
The sound of a cart and fast approaching horses cleared the street's again as Gaius arrived and jumped from the seat, "What happened?" the older man began his evaluation, listening to the description of the incident. His quick, sure fingers ran over Arthur's still body, paying special attention to his head and neck area. Without being asked two knights brought the carrying board from the cart. "I need some material, something I can roll up and three straps about five-six feet in length, hurry." Gaius wasn't taking any risk in moving the young Prince. Within minutes the straps were given to the physician who proceeded to lay them out before placing the carrying board on top of them, the material soon followed. "I need room, Sir Cador I require your assistance, Sire, please move back some." Reluctantly the King moved a short distance as the Knight stepped closer to older man. "I need you to do exactly as is say," Glancing up he motioned for two more knight's, the board having been placed as close to the Prince as possible. "we need to move him slowly, I have to hold his head still as not to move it, I need you to lift his body as I do his head, no higher, no lower." Gaius watched as each man nodded in understanding. The older man's firm hands held the boy's head near his neck a barely heard 'go' came as the men easily raised the blond and gently placed him on the board. The material was quickly placed around the injured boy's head and neck to keep it stable. "I need those straps tight enough to keep him from moving but not so tight to cause additional injury" Gaius tightened the one at Arthur's head, Cador tightened the one at his waist while another knight did the one at his ankles. The four men lifted the board and made their way to the cart, placing it on the hay filled bed. Uther quickly climbed into the back, just behind Gaius while Sir Cador jumped in the seat and began the slow process toward the citadel.
Several knights swarmed the cart as it entered the courtyard, they gently raised the board, keeping it level between them even as they climbed the stairs into the castle, toward the physician's chamber. Two days passed as the Prince lay unconscious, Uther ever present at his side. Cador remained also, knowing his friend needed the silent support. The injures were not as severe as first feared; twelve stitches on the back of his head, a broken arm, two broken ribs, several bruised, and a severe concussion which explained the continued unconscious state. Gaius assured Uther many times that if the boy continued to respond to external stimuli, he should wake up soon. Ease finally settled over the kingdom on the second evening when the young Prince finally opened his eyes.
Sir Cador's mind snapped back to the present, his friend still watching him, gauging his possible reaction. "I will arrange a slightly larger contingent of Knight's to accompany you during the trip. I will send messages to Lord's in the area of your visit, but I will not inform them of Arthur's inclusion, we needn't to let that information out any sooner than necessary as to not add additional dangers."
Uther nodded, "Agreed, the fewer people who know of his inclusion the better. I do have a request that I wish to run by you." Cador looked at his King, nodding slightly, "I request the Leon also accompany us. I feel his presence would greatly benefit both Arthur and me. An extra set of eyes whose sole focus is watching over the Prince."
This was a big step for his son, entrusting the Prince to Leon within the grounds was one thing, but dangers were real outside the walls. The father in him was hesitant, he knew the King could order the young knight as was his right, but Uther wanted his friend's approval on this. Taking a deep breath Cador sat up straight, looking his King square in the face, "It would be an honor for my son to accompany you on this journey. May I be the one to inform him?"
A sigh of relief escaped the Sovereign, "Of course, once you have spoken to Leon, have him let Arthur know. I believe it will help with his mood." Uther chuckled.
"No doubt, My Lord." Standing, Sir Cador nodded and left the room. He needed to talk with his son, to prepare him for what is expected of him on this first huge assignment since his Knighting. He hoped the bond his son and the Prince were forming would be in their favor on this journey. He knew Leon was firm with the boy during training, not giving an inch just because he was the Prince. He hoped this connection would be enough if something were to occur. Leon had to be sure in his abilities and know what was absolutely needed if the need arose. As a knight the priority was the welfare of the royal family, their safety above all else, that included being strong enough to tell, not ask, the King and/or Prince what to do and in some cases make them do it.