~CHAPTER 10~

A friend will always speak the truth.

A month later...

"Morning." Gwaine walked inside the armory and yawned loudly.

"Good morning." Leon responded.

"May I ask what the plans are for our training today? Is prince Arthur joining us today?" Gwaine asked in a rather unenthusiastic manner, but received no answer. "Leon?" he turned to face Leon who was obviously lost in his thoughts for once more. This called for more drastic measures. "Delilah" he shouted on Leon's face and he jumped at his voice, making Gwaine laugh.

"Bloody hell, Gwaine! Why are you shouting?" he asked, completely ignorant of all that had happened previously.

"Because you were not listening you coot! Thinking about her again, weren't you?" he smiled cheekily. Leon nodded in agreement but seemed to be annoyed by his friends comment. Gwaine then realized it sounded like he was making fun of Leon and quickly corrected himself. "You two make a lovely couple. I know I usually vex you about it but you do look wonderful together. You are lucky to have her." he said and shocked Leon with how serious he was. That was not the Gwaine he knew.

"Why, thank you Gwaine. I have to admit, I was not aware that you could ever say something like that. No offense of course." he laughed.

"None taken. I have my moments, my friend. Could I ask you something?" he asked shyly.

Leon could not help but wonder for his friend's peculiar behavior. He had never seen Gwaine act anything like this. He was rarely ever serious when the party was alone so this side of him was never evident to the others. He quickly erased those thoughts and got back to their conversation, nodding his head in agreement and waiting to see where Gwaine was going with this.

"When are you going to marry her?" he just asked it, like it was a typical question he would ask everyday. Without even thinking twice about it. Leon was now sure something was definitely wrong with his friend.

"Wha-I don't understand. How come you ask this question now? I mean, you?" he kept asking with a shocked look on his face, causing Gwaine to giggle when he realized how odd he sounded.

"You heard me. When are you going to ask the big question?"

"I...I haven't thought about it just yet...Not that I don't intend to. But there's no need to hurry. We have time ahead of us and I don't want to pressure her. When the right time comes I'll ask of course. I do wish to spend the rest of my life with her. I love her." he kept on saying, reassuring himself that marriage was in the picture.

"Have you at least told her that?" he insisted.

"What? That I love her? She already knows that. We spend so many hours a day together and we do so many things. We even cook together. If that is not a sign of love, then what is it?'

"Yes. But have you told her?" Gwaine insisted and Leon was speechless, trying to recall if he had actually ever told her. He had not. Not once in this whole month they were together.

"I guess I just took it for granted that she knew. Why, how could that affect anything?" he asked and sounded worried.

"Look Leon, I'm usually the one to always see the glass half full but let's just face the facts here. In two days we will be heading outside of the walls. Does she know?" he continued and his face turned even more serious.

"No, not yet. I was thinking about telling her tonight. I'm meeting her at her work. But what does that have to do with anything?" Leon seemed confused.

"What if you do not come back? What will happen to her? You will be gone and she won't even know you loved her because you were foolish enough to think that you there was no need to say something you thought was obvious." Gwaine kept saying and with every word Leon's face grew even darker in terror as he realized the reality his friend's words revealed. And so he continued "Chances are we will all come back safe and sound but even the slightest chance of things going wrong can prove to be devastating in the end. You go out there and risk your life all the time. Of course that is expected and she understands it. That's your duty, that's who you are. But if you told anyone else that you will come back every time, they wouldn't believe you. But still, here she is. Don't you think she deserves at least to know that there is a man out there that loves her?"

"I...Oh God..." Leon sighed and hid his face in his palms. "I'm afraid you are right. So I should tell her? Show her just how much she means to me?"he asked shyly, like a young man asking for advice when in love.

"Run to her. Make every moment count." he encouraged him and patted him on the shoulder.

As Leon made his way out, he turned quickly to Gwaine "Gwaine? I like that side of you. Bring it back sometime." he laughed.

"In your dreams, pal." Gwaine laughed back.

"That sounds more like you." said Leon and left in a hurry to meet Delilah.

To be continued...

Coot = an old, foolish, eccentric person

Hi guys! I know, where have I been? Well, I'm afraid I'm sick and my stomach has been driving me crazy! I'm still recovering but I was a bit better so I finally decided to write a little! This chapter is really small but I'm also posting the next part in which...Leon finally confesses his love about Delilah. I know there has been a similar scene but don't worry! This one will be very different! I can't wait! I just love writing about these 2! I've fallen in love with Leon all over again in this fanfic! Anyways, stay tuned because next chapter is coming up really really soon! Kisses! ~xoxo~