First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 10

Uther couldn't tell what time of day it was, the heavy drapes in his room were still closed, a couple candles burned on the side table. Sitting up slowly, his side pulling and his head spinning, looking around he could tell he was alone. The King noticed a few bottles, he was sure Gaius had left, and a cup on the table, slowly he reached for the cup, relishing in the coolness of the water.

A sharp intake of breath caused the room to spin again at the realization of what had happened slammed full force back into his mind, "Arthur…" he whispered, emotions choking his voice.

Uther stood, the room spun as he reached for the bed post, another deep breath seemed to help but also caused pain to flare through his injured side. Glancing down at himself he saw he was in one of his night shirts and breeches, looking around he did not see his robe, giving it no mind as he slowly made his way to his door.

Pulling the door open one of the guards stationed outside jumped, "Sire, Gaius said you would sleep for a few more hours, you really…" the younger man was cut off by the King's weak but determined voice.

"Where is Sir Cador?" leaning heavily against the door, his eyes again attempting to blink away the dizziness.

"I believe in the council chambers, but Sire…" it shocked the young guard when his King took a few stumbling steps forward, catching himself on the wall.

"Help me, I must speak with him." Uther looked at the young man.

"Sire?" the guard took his Kings arm.

The guard was totally thrown by the pleading look of his Sovereign, "Please, I need to speak with him."

A slight nod had the guard pulling his King's arm over his shoulder, hand going around the older man's waist, surprised at just how much of the King's weight he seemed to be supporting before taking a few tentative steps that would lead them to the council chamber.

"I will be riding out with the next search party; the King is resting and according to Gaius should make a full recovery." Sir Cador was addressing the council when the doors were abruptly opened. "Uther…" in that moment propriety had been forgotten as the Knight saw his King's, his friend's weight being supported by one of the guards from outside his room. Rushing forward Cador started, "William what is…"

"Cador" the quiet voice of the King stopped his friend.

"He insisted Sir." The guard responded.

A nod from the Knight was all his response as he took the King's other arm, mindful of his injured side when Uther hissed. Quickly both men got their King to his chair, easing him down, "Find Gaius" Cador directed the guard.

"Do not, do not blame him." Uther patted his friend's hand, "I needed to find," a hiss of pain escaped causing Uther to begin second guessing his trip to the chambers. "Arthur? Le…Leon?" Pleading eyes were something no one ever saw on the older man's face, but everyone in the room could feel the despair radiating from their King.

"I have parties going out around the clock, I will be leaving soon to lead the next search, but there has been nothing yet Sire." The King deflated even more at those words; a shaking hand came to his eyes.

"If everyone could leave us." Sir Cador directed. He had given them the last report and next plan of action, they did not need to see their King in his current state.

With the sound of the chamber doors closing, a sob escaped the injured man, "Where is he Cador? Why have they not been found?"

This reminded Cador so much of the night Ygraine died and again when they had come so close to losing Arthur when he was just three. Only this time Uther was not only suffering emotionally, but his body had also been through an extreme trauma and any barrier the man before him had, were nearly non-existent. "We will find them Uther, I promise." The Knight squeezed his friend's arm.

Red-rimmed eyes looked up at hazel ones, "You should have seen him Cador, he learned, he experienced so much, I could already see his need to help…so much like Ygraine," another uncharacteristic sob escaped, "So much like her, I told him how proud of him I was. Even the knights had taken to him like he was one of them even though he is just a boy, I could see him transforming before me, but then…"

"Uther you need to rest" Cador said softly, having noticed Gaius coming in from the back way.

The King grabbed his friend's arms, "One of those bastard's blade hit him, I saw, oh God I saw blood on my son, then when he was struck…he didn't move." The King's head dropped to Cador's shoulder, "Leon got to him, he got him away, proud of him, he got him away from those bastards, I just don't know if…" The Knight felt the moment his King lost consciousness, quickly he motioned Gaius over to check the injured man while Cador took a deep breath and called for the guards to help get the King back to his room.

Night was settling over the small home; Arthur had spent most of the day sleeping. Leon had tried to get him to eat and drink during his periods of wakefulness. Only a couple of people in the village had come check on Hunith upon noticing a strange boy hanging around. She quietly explained the situation and they soon left. "are we causing issues for you, we can leave in the morning if so." Leon looked at the woman across from him as he ate the simple meal she had prepared.

"No it's fine, they just wanted to check to make sure there wasn't any issue." She said softly, glancing at her son as he sat on the edge of the pallet watching Arthur as he slept. "Besides your brother needs a couple more days before he can travel without much pain." She smiled at Leon. "I never did ask, where were you traveling to when you were attacked? There have been word of raiders crossing the border into Camelot, but they had generally stayed away from here, we are too small of a village for anyone to bother with us."

Leon looked over at Arthur then back down at the bowl before him. "we had been visiting friends a few days ride from here in Camelot, we had been headed west when we were attacked. In my desperation to get my brother to safety I did not realize the direction I was going, I never realized I had crossed the border. Once he can travel it will still be several days journey back home." Leon felt comfortable around this woman and her small son and in continued worry just needed to talk.

Merlin's excited voice broke the quiet, "Hi again, are you hungry? mother is a wonderful cook, you need to eat, I'll get you something." The dark-haired boy was up and moving before his words had fully registered with the adults in the room.

Leon moved quickly to his charges side, "How do you feel?" he helped Arthur set up, a wince of pain crossing his face.

"Better I think, everything still hurts but I can move a little better." Arthur gave a small smile to his Knight, no his friend.

Leon smiled back releasing the first real relieved breath since the attack three days ago. "That's good."

"Here, you need to eat it while it's hot, it so much better that way, but it's still good when it's not hot." Merlin had plopped back down next to Arthur, shoving a bowl at the blond, a chuckle escaping Leon as he looked up and Hunith.

"Does he ever do anything at a normal pace?" he smiled as the boy looked at him like he didn't understand what his mother was being asked, then redirected his attention to Arthur as he began to slowly eat.

"No, not normally." Hunith smiled at her son.

"Must keep you on your toes." Leon responded as he stepped back over to the table to finish his meal but still able to keep an eye on his charge.

"You have no idea." a hint of despair clouding her voice. Leon noticed but didn't say anymore.

A short time later Arthur tried to stand up, Merlin jumping to his side. "I can help, I'm stronger than I look." His goofy grin spreading across his face.

"It's okay, I can…" Arthur was determined to do it himself but began losing his balance before a small shoulder moved under his arm.

"Prat" the small boy whispered as he helped the older boy move over to the door, his mother and Leon were just outside.

"What did you just call me?" Arthur looked at the strange boy.

"A prat, that's what I call Will when he doesn't want to listen to me but ends up needing my help anyway." Merlin glanced up at the blond, a perplexed look meeting his gaze. A small shrug of the young boy's shoulder accompanied his reply, "everybody needs help sometimes but just don't want to ask."