First Official Trip

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter 3

"Really…you're serious?" Leon was pacing in the small chamber just off the Knight's quarters. His father watching, slightly amused, at his son's nervous pacing, his hand running through his unruly curls. "You mean it?" the young knight finally stopped and looked at his father.

"Yes, Son, I mean it." Cador saw an array of emotions filter quickly over his son's face, excitement, determination, honor, and fear. "The King wishes for the Prince to accompany him, and he wishes for you to be the Prince's escort. Your sole job would be to stay at the Prince's side and ensure his safety on the journey."

Leon had started pacing again. Sir Cador knew his son was confident in his abilities as a knight, that confidence and unparalleled skills is what allowed him to be knighted at the unheard age of 18. Still, other than routine patrols and his appointment as Prince Arthur's private trainer, this would be the longest, most important experience the young man had undertaken.

A slight chuckle finally escaped the pacing boy, as he turned to his father, "Do you think I'm ready for this?"

Cador approached his son, who was as tall but not as broad as himself, laying his hands on the boy's shoulders looking him straight in the eye. "I have no doubt you are ready, and I am very proud of you Leon." Pulling his son into a tight hug then stepping back. "there are a few things we need to talk about, most you already know. This will be a time in which you cannot second guess any decision you make regarding the King's and Prince's safety." The older man motioned for his son to take a seat at the small table in the room, dropping into the chair across from him.

"Father?" Leon knew on a basic level his responsibility was to the King and Prince and knew it was his duty, if needed, to lay his life down for his Sovereign.

"Since you were a boy, I have never shielded you from the sometimes-graphic reality of being a Knight of Camelot. You know of the real threats that our profession entails. Even through your training you have seen men go out on routine patrols that turned out to not be routine, and you have seen men lost." Cador looked at the young face of his son, though a knight, the father could not see past that curly-hair child that would follow his father around, wanting to be a hero like his daddy. His heart ached at the thought of his own son facing the dangers Cador had faced over his many years of service to King and Country. "You have seen me hurt." A slight shadow had crossed Leon's face at the mention of his father's injuries just a few years ago while Leon was just a squire.

"This may be, and I pray it so, an uneventful trip yet the possibilities are always there, bandits, enemies of the King, rogue sorcerers. You need to understand that if those situations arise, you must take charge without reservation. It may seem unthinkable now, but you may have to very well 'order' the King or Prince to do something and if they do not listen you 'will' have to make them do it regardless of what they say. Their protection, their life is the number one priority of a Knight of Camelot, by any means necessary. Do you understand?" Cador knew from experience how his King was, his stubbornness and determination to never run from a fight had made the First Knight's life very difficult at times. Many times over the years he had to physically make Uther do what was needed for his own safety whether the King wished to follow directions or not.

"Excuse for saying father, but the Prince can be just as stubborn as his father." Leon ducked his head. As he had gotten older, he rarely even discussed with his father the views he had for his King.

Cador reached across and patted his son's hand that lay on the table, "Don't I know that son." The older man smiled, "but let's not tell the Prince." A small wink broke the tension as both men chuckled.

Leon stood and gave a slight bow to his father, no his commander, "I understand my responsibility Sir. I will do everything in my ability, until my last breath to maintain the welfare of Prince Arthur and ensure his safe return to the Citadel."

Sir Cador rose, giving the young knight a look of a commander, not a father. "I have every confidence in your abilities as a Knight of Camelot to complete the task assigned to you with all the honor and dignity of your position. I bid you a safe and uneventful journey"

Both men gave a slight bow to one another before Cador again pulled his son into tight embrace. "There is one more thing you have been asked to do before this undertaking…" stepping back the father caught the son's eager expression, "You will be informing Prince Arthur of his inclusion on this journey. I can't wait to hear what his reaction will be." Sir Cador patted his son on his back as they headed toward the door.

Thirty minutes later found Sir Leon standing outside the young Prince's room. The knight knocked and slowly entered, "really, this again?" Leon commented as he closed the door.

A muffled thump broke the silence, "what?" Arthur glanced at the older boy and loosed another knife.

"We have talked about you using your wardrobe as a target." Another thump was the responding answer.

Leon had noticed over the months he had been working with the Prince, that not only was he insanely skilled with a sword for someone of his age, but he was almost scary at his ability of knife throwing. Unfortunately, the Knight had also learned that when the boy was bored or angry, he tended to take it out on his furniture, using the wardrobe as a target. "So…" Arthur responded going to gather the knives that were clustered in the inner circle of the target he had drawn on the door.

"I think that is quite enough." Leon purposely stepped in front of the said piece of furniture.

"Fine, whatever", the Prince tossed the knives carelessly onto the table and flopped on his bed.

"You need to put those away." Leon's 'don't test me' tone seeped through as he crossed his arms and looked at his charge.

"William can do it, it's his job anyway, his IS my servant." Great the older boy though, I'm still dealing with the 'bratty' Prince (not that Leon would ever dare say that out loud).

"But you are in training to be a knight and that means YOU take care of your equipment. Now pick them up and put them away." Crossing his arms Leon waited for the inevitable response.

Sitting up Arthur gave Leon a hard look, for a moment the young knight could see Uther's gaze starring back at him, "I am the Prince, I do not have to listen to you. You are a knight; you have to listen to me."

Leon walked over and took the younger boy's arm, pulling him toward the table, thankful he didn't have a little brother as he sometimes wanted to just pop the young prince on the back of head and say 'really'. "I do not allow you to throw your equipment on the training field, you will not throw your equipment now…put them away." The tone was one Arthur had heard before and begrudgingly listened to.

Reaching across the table the Prince picked the five blades laying across the surface, stomped his way to his weapons stand, noisily put the blades in their appropriate places, turned and crossed his arms, "happy now"

Leon just shook his head and walked to the window overlooking the courtyard, "you know if you want to accompany your father on his trip to the outer villages you are really going to have to listen to me a little better." The Knight then waited for his words to register in the Prince's mind.

Without even looking the young knight could tell from the younger boy's sharp intake of breath that he realized what he was being told. "I get to go?" Arthur's voice was quiet, almost unsure, like if he said it to loud Leon would tease him for falling for a cruel joke.

Turning with a stern look on his face. "The King announced to the council today that he wishes for you to accompany him on this year's visit."

"Really!" a huge smile broke across Arthur's face.

"Really" Leon responded with his own smile. Before realizing it, the Knight found his arms filled with that of an excited Prince.

"I get to go, I finally get to go…" Arthur stepped back, running both hands through his short blond hair. Turning back to the older boy a look of worry crossed his face, "you're coming right?"

"Didn't you hear what I said? If you are going you have to learn to listen to me, of course I'm going, somebody has to keep you out of trouble." Leon smiled.

"I'm no trouble" the young blond stated with a smirk on his face.

"sure, no trouble at all" Leon laughed as he put his arm around the grinning youth's shoulder, ruffling his hair, heading toward the door.