First Official Visit

By Montez

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter 18

Arthur had been overwhelmed by the sights and the noise upon their arrival at the gates of the lower town. He had never seen so many people out, the road ablaze as their horses never slowed. Everything was a blur to the young Prince, not fully grasping what was going on or why so many people were out. It continued through the upper town, but Arthur felt his heart leap as the gate of the courtyard came into view. Sir Cador had assured him his father was alive, but his terrified mind was still afraid, until he saw his father for himself that fear would not leave. He had never seen the courtyard so bright at night, it was as if the sun had woken just to shine on that space. Sir Cador entered the gate just ahead of Leon and Prince Arthur, at the moment they cleared them the young Prince began to search for his father. The King would always be at the top of the stairs when arriving parties entered, but Arthur's heart clinched when he did not see his father where he normally stood. It wasn't until Leon pulled up next to Sir Cador that the blond finally saw who he needed to see, he could feel tears forming in his eyes, his throat clogged with emotions when he saw his father standing tall, staring back at him.

Sir Cador came around and lowered him to the ground, the courtyard had gone silent, though the young Prince did not notice, all he saw was his father take a step forward, he heard his name quietly slip from his father's lips. At that moment all that mattered to the young boy was getting to man he had feared he had lost, the man he had been reassured of was alive, but until that moment he didn't fully believe. He saw his father drop to his knees as Arthur raced across the short distance, "FATHER!" escaping as he raced into his father's waiting arms.

Once the Prince was in his father's arms the courtyard erupted again, their Prince was alive, their Prince was safe, their Prince was home.

Leon dismounted, standing next to his father, watching his King and Prince reunited. It was the first time in over a week, God was it only a week? It had seemed so much longer, that Leon could really breathe. Cador saw his son stumble a little, quickly grabbing his arm, "Leon?"

"I'm fine father, just…" the young knight again looked from his father to his King and Prince, "I am just so happy to be home." Cador pulled his own son into a tight hug as they continued to watch Uther and Arthur's reunion.

"I am so glad you are safe and finally home" the older Knight responded, keeping his hand on his son's shoulder.

The crowd was starting to disperse, the King and Prince oblivious to what was happening around them. "Father" Arthur again whispered into his father's shoulder, both were crying, though the young Prince could never recall a time he had seen his father cry.

"Arthur, I thought I'd lost you." Uther said into his son's blond hair, taking in the feel of his son back in his arms. "I was so scared." The King pulled back meeting his son's tear-filled blue eyes. It was the first time he noticed the discoloration on the right side of his face. The older man's mind flashing back to the hit his son had taken, this was a fading reminder. "Oh Arthur," Uther gentle touch the side of the boy's face.

"It barely even hurts anymore" Arthur replied as his father gently turned his head to better see the bruising. The young boy again felt his father's strong arms pull him back in for another hug.

After a few more minutes Gaius approached his King and his Prince. "We are so relieved to see you, my boy." The older man gave the boy a slight bow. "My Lord, I believe we should move inside to allow me to examine the Prince for any additional injuries that occurred from the reports of the attack."

Uther felt his son shutter at the mention of the attack, he was sure the boy had been dealing with his own nightmares and the King needed to be sure there were no lasting injuries, especially from where the blade had struck him, "Of course," Uther smiled at his son before attempting to stand, the King faltered for a moment as both Gaius and Sir Aaron moved forward to help their Sovereign.

"Father?" Arthur had quickly picked up on his father's need for help, also reaching to try and help him stand.

Placing a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder, "I am fine, still recovering myself."

Just as they were getting ready to make their way up the stairs Arthur turned around, looking for the older boy who had been his constant companion, who had protected him, taken care of him. The young Prince noticed Leon starting to walk away with his own father, "Leon!" the blond shouted, breaking away from his father to run toward his protector, his friend.

Leon knelt as the boy slammed into him, "Told you I would get you home." The young knight whispered.

Leon looked up as he noticed the King slowly approaching, Arthur felt his shift and stepped back just enough for the knight to stand up. "Sire." Leon gave a bow to his King who had stopped in front of him. The older boy could feel his own father just behind him.

"Sir Leon," Uther replied just before he did something that shocked the young knight, his King pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you for keeping my Son safe. I can never repay you for this."

The King stepped back looking at his youngest Knight before turning and hugging his dearest friend and First Knight as well. "Sir Cador."

"My Lord" Cador responded seeing the life returning that had slipped from his friend's eyes those days ago when they had no idea of what had become of either of their sons.

"Tomorrow will be a time for resting and celebrating both Arthur's," Uther smiled down at his son, "and Sir Leon's safe return to us. The day after I will call a meeting of the council so we can better understand everything that happened over this last, terrible week and begin to put it all behind us." The King gave the young Knight's shoulder a squeeze, "Rest Sir Leon, you deserve it, tomorrow we celebrate." With that the King started to slowly make his way up the stairs, his Son close to his side.

A short time later found Uther, Arthur and Gaius in the young Prince's chambers; a servant had already arranged a tub of hot water for the Prince to clean himself up. Once the boy was done and in a comfortable set of sleep clothes Gaius began his examination. The boy hissed as the Physician moved his bruised shoulder around, both the King and older man noticing the angle the bruising took as Gaius moved to inspect the healing cut across the back of the Prince's neck, next he checked the boy's face, but saw not fractures beneath the now fading facial bruises.

Gaius let out a deep breath as the Prince laid back in his bed, the King sitting beside him, "well it appears that despite the varying reports of our young Prince's injures, he seems to be healing quiet well. No sign of infection from the cut on the back of his neck, no fractures from any of the bruising, he will continue to be sore until his shoulder heals completely but it is more muscle and tissue damage than anything serious." The Physician looked at his sleepy Prince, "Which means for you young man, no training for at least two weeks until the bruising fades completely, understand."

Arthur's tired voice tried to argue, "Two weeks, I'll forget everything I've learn."

"I don't believe that for a minute," Gaius replied as both men chuckled at the boy's argument. "and I will tell Sir Leon so he can keep an eye on you, so you don't sneak and do it. You need to let yourself heal, just as I have been arguing with your Father." The older man smiled as the Princes eyes continued to droop. "Sleep now, Arthur."

Within minutes Arthur snuggled down into his bed and sleep claimed him. Uther sat a moment just staring at his Son still hardly believing after over a week he was safely returned to him. But he could not shake the damage to his son's shoulder and how it lined up with the cut on the back of his neck. "He could have been killed." The King said quietly, the back of his hand brushing his son's cheek.

"Sire?" Gaius looked at his King. He knew exactly what the man was speaking of.

"You could tell as well as I just how close it had been." A shuttering breath escaped the father, "If it had been any deeper, my Son would have died on that road, if it had been any deeper it could have…" as with so many times within this last week, which had felt like a lifetime, Uther found himself covering his mouth in a futile attempt to contain a sob that overtook him.

"Uther, Arthur is going to be fine, look…" Gaius pointed to the now sleeping Prince, "he is home, he is safe. You cannot worry about what could have been, it did not happen. We need to focus on not only his recovery, but yours as well. Now I suggest you turn in too, Sire. Tomorrow we can all begin the healing process from the trauma of this experience."

Gaius watched as Uther settled a little more down into the bed beside his son, "I will not leave him tonight, I would not survive if I awoke in the morning, and this had been a cruel dream. I need to stay with him, I need to know he's here, that he's alive, that he's safe."

"Of course, My Lord. I will inform the guards of your whereabouts, make sure to send for me for any reason." With a nod from his King, Gaius took his leave allowing father and son to pass the night in assurance that each was truly safe and alive.