Sir Leon was wasting away. The few times he left his chambers, he needed to lean against a wall, or a person all the way to his destination. King Arthur gifted him a beautiful walking stick, but he refused to use it.
It was obvious to anyone who saw him now, that Sir Leon had lost weight. Practically all of his muscles from training had disappeared, and he had to get all his clothes altered. Everyone who cared about him was concerned.
"Gaius!" King Arthur called as he entered the physician's chambers.
"What can I do for you sire?" Gaius asked.
"Gaius, is there nothing you can do for Leon? It's been nearly a year now."
"I am doing all I can, my lord. I've searched all my books, and consulted as many of my fellow physicians as I can."
"Have you learned anything helpful?"
"No." Gaius hesitated.
"What is it?"
"I've been conversing with an old friend, and have invited him here so we can compare knowledge. There is a possibility he'll have something that can help, but I do not wish to give false hope."
"It seems as if he is getting worse. Answer me honestly Gaius, is this illness going to take the life of my best knight? My friend?"
"Sit down sire." Arthur and Gaius found seats and settled down.
"Gaius?"
"As far as I can tell, this illness is not likely to directly take his life, but..."
"What?"
"Being so unwell is severely affecting Sir Leon. I have had patients before who, when faced with living with something so terrible, they have decided they would rather not live. Sir Leon hasn't given me reason to suspect he will do the same yet, but I fear it is only a matter of time. He dedicated his life to serving you and this kingdom as a knight, and now that he can no long serve as a knight, I fear he'll believe he has no reason to live.
"As to why he is getting worse, it's like a spiral. The illness caused him to be depressed, the depression is making the illness worse, and as the illness gets worse, so does the depression. Most days he can't do anything because of the illness, and the few days the illness lessens enough that he might be able to do something small, like walk or watch training, the depression makes him unable to get out of bed."
Arthur ran his hand through his hair. "But you find a cure, right? Even if you have to read every book in the kingdom and talk to every physician, if there is cure, I believe you can find it."
"I will certainly do everything in my power, but I'm afraid it's not as simple as just finding a cure."
"Nothing is ever simple, is it?"
"I'm afraid so. Sir Leon has been a prisoner inside his own body this last year. You know as well as I, when knights have been taken prisoner by enemies, they don't always come back whole, even if their body heals."
"But this illness isn't as bad as being captured and tortured by an enemy kingdom, is it? He has comfortable chambers, and his friends visit often."
"It's certainly not the same as being captured by an enemy, but it is quite bad. This illness can be painful at times, and visitors can bring as much pain as relief."
"What? Are so saying it's not good to visit him?"
"Not at all, it's good to visit him, and he does enjoy the visits, but when you visit, what do you?"
"We typically keep him updated on the running of the kingdom, tell him how patrols went, how training is going, Gwaine's lasted escapades in the tavern, basically everything happening in our lives. Oh..." A look of realization passed over Arthur's face. "I'm an idiot, aren't I. He's hurt when we talk about things we use to do with him, and now we don't. Should we stop talking about that stuff?"
"No, I believe it will hurt him more if you stop talking. He's told me he enjoys hearing those things, despite the pain of missing out."
A few weeks later Gaius's friend, the Physician Dagur arrived. True to his word, King Arthur provided anything they could possibly need to find a cure for Sir Leon.
Gaius and Dagur spent weeks mixing up different herbs and shoving them down Leon's throat. He should have been rather annoyed at being used as a lab rat for these awful tasting combinations, but Leon was to deep in depression to care. He barely noticed things going on around him.
Finally after months of experimental potions, during which Dagur had to take his leave, Gaius figured out the best combination of medicinal herbs, salt, and water for Sir Leon. It wasn't a cure, but combined with an exercise routine, Gaius was confident it would grant Sir Leon a bit of his life back.
Gaius ordered that Sir Leon get out of bed every single day, and walk around his chambers for 5 minutes. After a week of that, it was changed to walking the hall outside his chambers for 10 minutes. Then 20 minutes. After a month and a half of Leon's friends helping him every day with his rehab, he had made remarkable progress, both physically and mentally.
He knew that he would likely never be completely well again, but being able to walk around the castle for an hour at a time, albeit with his walking stick in one hand and a friend's arm in the other, really lifted his spirits. Being physically confined in his chambers for so long made him feel trapped in his mind as well. Now that he was out, he spoke to every person he crossed paths with. Often just a few words, most people had things to do and places to be, but that human contact was needed. It felt like drinking cold water after a patrol in the desert.
Leon still thought often about being a knight, but he slowly came to terms with the fact he would never serve again like he use to. He mourned this fact, crying himself to sleep more times than he would like to admit, but it was healthy way to say goodbye to that part of his life. One day while King Arthur was escorting on his daily walk, he told the king that it time to make his retirement official. It was a difficult and painful conversation, but necessary.
Sir Leon retired with full honours. All the honours typically given to a knight who retired after being injured in battle, and a few more honours for years as head knight, and his part in the legend of the round table. It was a spectacular ceremony, with many guests, and afterwards, instead of the typical feast, there was a small dinner, with his closest friends.
King Arthur offered to grant him a number of estates, and wealth, but Leon decided to stay in castle. Despite his condition, he did what he could to stay busy, and serve the kingdom.
He would often walk around the castle, with the help of his sturdy walking stick, mingling with everyone from servants to visiting dignitaries, and bringing their concerns, their, recommendations, and their compliments to the King and Queen.
He returned to being a valued and trusted member of the council, despite frequently falling asleep during meetings. When other council members sniggered and whispered about his quiet snores, the king would give them a glare that could kill, and motioned for a servant to give him a blanket and pillow. If asked about it afterwards, Sir Leon would swear he hears better with his eyes closed.
He helped the knights and squires with training. Not by sparring with them anymore, although he did attempt that a few times when he was having a good day, but by watching their drills and sparring matches, and giving good pointers and advice.
He sometimes accompanied Gaius on his rounds. Remembering what it was like to be to ill to leave his room, he did what he could to ease the loneliness of others who were sick.
He never joined the knights again for a patrol or quest, but he did join his friends on a trip down to the tavern in town on occasion. And sometimes, when the weather was really nice, and he was feeling up to it, he would join his friends for a 'hunt'. Meaning a leisurely horse ride through the woods, with hunting weapons, and a picnic lunch. It wasn't often someone actually killed something on one of these hunts.
Sir Leon had his knighthood painfully torn from him by an unusual enemy, but though the scars may never completely heal, he was still a valued. A friend to many, and proud citizen of Camelot.
The End.
A/N Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed!
