First Official Visit
By Montez
Disclaimer: see chapter one
Chapter 12
They were breaking down camp, it had been nearly a week since the attack on the King's party, nearly a week since their King had been gravely injured, but thankfully was recovering, and it had been nearly a week since Prince Arthur and Sir Leon had gone missing in the midst of the attack. The attack had happened a day and a half from the Citadel, search parties had searched nearly all the forest, trails and villages between the Citadel and the estates the party had visited. Villagers from both Lord Evan's and Lord Andrew's region had even offered their services to the Knights who had come through since they knew the area better, but there had been nothing.
Sir Cador was beyond exhausted, despair was taking up residence in his heart, in his soul. He could not understand how the two boys had simply vanished, especially if Arthur had been injured. "Sir, we need to think about returning home, we need to rest and regroup. You are exhausted and we will do them no good if we can barely keep going from exhaustion. Another party can be sent out." Sir Richard had been the Knight who had made the mad overnight run to inform the court of the attack. He had recovered enough from the ordeal to head out with Sir Cador when his patrol left the Castle four days ago.
Sir Cador could see the wisdom in his Knight's words, but as a father felt that if he returned without his son and his best friend's son that they may never be found, something he could not accept. "I know, you're right Richard, but I don't know if I can, now that I'm out here, I don't want to go back without something that can tell me what happened." All of Cador's men knew the man was fearing not only for the Prince, but for Leon. The older Knight's that were fathers could totally understand the reasoning behind Cador's actions, his need to not return home without his son.
The party of about ten knights were packing up when Sir Cador called them to the center of the camp. Looking around at each of the men, some young, some older all with the same expression; despair. Each man in this group, each man who had gone out over the last week, each man who had returned from that fateful trip held the same look. The grim resolve of what all of them were thinking, but none willing to speak out loud. After the first couple of days, they all knew the hope of finding a missing person was nearly impossible and if they did it was usually for recovery, that was not something any of them ever dreamed they would be doing regarding their Prince. He was still a boy, only just learning to live life, only just discovering who he was and who he would become. The men who had been on that trip, who had been drawn in by the blond's excitement on what would have normally been a dull trip felt the ache the most. They had seen the boy's want to learn as much as he could from the knight's he wasn't normally around. They had all been thrilled to be a part of teaching the young Heir the skills they knew.
They had all learned a few things about their Prince over those weeks; he was a quick study, taking in everything he was shown, asking questions when he didn't understand. Arthur had shown them a hint of the natural skills the boy had with regards to swordplay, and many had been shocked at his unnatural ability with his knives, he had shown them all up during that challenge. But to stand here now, knowing no other patrol had found anything, knowing their own patrol had not found anything, it was a blow like they had never felt. None of these men wanted to return to the Citadel and look at their King and relay news that would bring the kingdom to its knees, none wanted to admit the hard truth that their beloved Prince may truly be lost to them.
It was with heavy hearts the men assembled around their commander, knowing he too was being slowly destroyed by his own son's absence. Sir Cador cleared his throat, his voice rough with emotion, "It is…" clearing his throat again, no man would dare comment on the sheen in the Knight's eyes, "It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness for the whole of our kingdom that this decision must be made. After today, the extended searches will be called off. We will put all our effort into this last day as we have everyday since our Prince and our fellow Knight," Again another choke cracked the man's voice, "went missing, but tomorrow morning we will make for home and pray that the God's have graciously received both Arthur and Leon into Avalon, that we can support our King in this tragic loss and help our kingdom heal and continue to grow in the memory of our Prince." If heavy breathes were heard, if men turned away, hands coming to their faces, no one would say a word. "We move out in thirty."
At the small house in the tiny village of Ealdor, Leon was again helping with small things round the home, a humble payment for all the kindness the woman had shown them over this last week. The Knight knew they needed to be heading home soon, Arthur was able to move more with less pain and had been able to stay awake for longer stretches. It would take them days; they could only hope once they got closer to the Citadel that they would run into one the patrols that were regular occurrences in the forest.
Leon had watched a very unlikely friendship grow between his Prince and the excitably and exceedingly happy Merlin. Though he knew, in all likelihood, the boys would probably never meet again, it was good for Arthur to at least experienced being around someone close to his age, though at times Leon had seen an old soul, if you will, shining through the dark-haired boys' eye.
They had all just sat down for lunch when Leon spoke, "Hunith, I wish to thank you and Merlin both for allowing us refuge in your home this last week and for taking care of Arthur, for that I will be forever in your debt. With that said," the Knight looked at his Prince, "we will be leaving at first light to hopefully make our way home."
Hunith knew it was coming, Arthur had been doing much better the last couple of day and she knew both boys were obviously missing their home. "It has been no trouble, you have helped me prepare for winter, I dare say I will probably not need any wood for a couple winters to come." Leon blushed slightly. He felt if that was the only repayment for the kindness they were shown then he would make sure they would stay warm at least. "Arthur, Leon, it has been my honor to help you both and I pray that your journey home is a safe one. I will have you both some food prepared for your trip." The rest of their lunch was in comfortable silence, both Arthur and Merlin exchanging glances as they finished eating.
"Wish you didn't have to go, except for Will, I don't have many friends." Merlin looked at the blond beside him, they had taken to throwing small pebbles into a shallow hole they had dug next to the house.
"How come I didn't meet Will, you keep talking about him, but I haven't seen him." Arthur had made all four of his pebbles, Merlin had only made one.
"He's with his mother visiting family a couple villages over, they are due back soon, he'll never believe I made friends with a Prince." Merlin's innocent words caused Arthur to miss his next shot, the blond gabbing at him. "what?" the younger boy shrugged his shoulders, "I know it's a secret, I won't tell. Mother suspects you're noble just because of how you talk and act."
Looking at the strange boy beside him, he took a few calming breaths, vowing to himself to not mention it to Leon, "what makes you think I'm a prince though?"
Merlin's mischievous expression met the blonds gaze, "don't know, just do that's all." The smaller boy leaned over as if to impart some ancient wisdom, though with as strange as this boy was Arthur wouldn't be surprised it that's exactly what he was about to do. "I also know you will be a great Prince and a great King, but don't tell anyone else that." That mischievous smile was back, Arthur could do nothing but smile back.
"You know Merlin, there's something about you, but I just can't put my finger on it." Both boys laughed as they went back to their improvised game. The afternoon slowly weening into evening.
"Sir, I think we should go back a way to make camp, we are getting close the border with Essitir. We don't want our patrol to be misinterpreted." Sir Richard had stayed near Sir Cador, he worried for his commander.
"I know. There is a river not to far, we will water the horses then head back some." silence again fell over the group, no man daring the break it.
They were allowing their horses to drink their fill and making sure each man's waterskin was full, though there were a few streams on their way back they best take advantage of the river while they could. A few men were eating quietly. Sir Cador was staring at the river, his mind squarely on the loss of his son and prince. How was he going to tell his friend, how was he going to accept it himself, that he would never again see his son's bright smile and unruly curls he refused to cut. Cador couldn't help a small smile about the continued discussion over Leon's hair.
A disturbance behind him had Cador turning, he would throttle the men if someone had started a fight, emotions running high or not. But it was an out of breath, Sir Benjamin who came racing across the camp, a strangely familiar object in his hand. The young Knight quickly thrust the object into Sir Cador's hand, "where did you find this?" still not believing what he was holding.
"Over here Sir, under some bushes a ways back from the bank. There's something else…" Cador looked up, hardly believing what he held, the question on his face quickly answered. "there are also two chainmail shirts, one small enough for a child."
"SHOW ME!" most of the men raced after their commander, Sir Benjamin soon stopping next to a cluster of bushes, kneeling he pulled out the shirts and an all too familiar shoulder guard. "Sir Benjamin take half of the men and move further back, make camp. Sir Richard and the rest of you with me, we're moving upriver." The solemn men moved about quickly, a glimmer of hope was sparked within them and for the first time in a week Cador had hope as he looked down at his son's sword in his hands.