Arthur ducked raising his shield to cover himself then lunged forward. His opponent matching him blow for blow till finally Arthur saw an opening and tapped him on the chest with the flat end of his sword.

"Not bad, Erec. Keep up your training and maybe in a few years you can come to Camelot to become a knight like your uncles." Arthur told the young boy as he walked off the field to pick up his water skin. Leon's nephew had raw talent that was for sure, but he was far from knight material.

"Really?"

Arthur nodded tossing the boy his water skin before taking a sip of his own, "Absolutely, just make sure to keep up your training. You still have ways to go."

Leon smiled as he looked at his best friend and nephew. It was tough to tell his sister that their baby brother died. Along with explaining they weren't really fugitives. Apparently Agravaine did not waste time spinning a tale about their treachery. Blaming Leon for Leopold's death and Arthur for treason on what exactly he wasn't sure just that there was a large price for both their heads. His either dead or alive (Arthur was to be captured and taken back on sight) and any sighting of either of them was to be reported immediately to the regent.

Luckily his sister while devastated about learning of Leopold's death never doubted Leon's innocence and after a lot of yelling and crying the siblings came to an understanding. Leanza would allow them both to stay at the family estate to hide out till they came up with a plan to defeat Agravaine and help Arthur take his kingdom back.

"Erec its lunch time. Go wash up your mum should be done setting the table." Leon told his curly blonde haired green eyed nephew.

Erec nodded grabbing his gear, "Okay uncle." Erec pauses bowing slightly to Arthur, "Thank you for training with me, Sire. It was an honour."

Leon smirks slightly letting out a soft laugh once Erec was out of earshot, "He's really enamored by you, isn't he."

Arthur laughs, "You up for a training session after lunch then?"

"About that. Arthur we've been here a little over a month now and we haven't really done much beside train and help around the estate, which Leanza is grateful for but…"

Arthur sighs, "Have we overstayed our welcome already?"

"No! Of course not."

"It's alright I understand, but there's not really much we could do. We could do a bit of recon but considering everyone in town knows our faces our cover will be blown. I suppose we could have young Erec go into town and let us know what he hears but I doubt your sister will be too happy about that."

"Perhaps she would be okay with it, but it will probably cost me," Leon sighs the last time his sister got one over on him he ended up being forced to play dress up with her. Key words on the 'dress' bit, "There is another matter we should probably discuss in private."

Arthur raises a brow as he follows Leon to the small armory to put away his sword, shield, and armor, "What?"

"Let's wait for after lunch. We should probably hurry before Leza comes and drags us to the table by our ears."

Arthur laughs patting Leon on the back as they both head to the banquet hall.

Lady Leanza Francis of Dorchester was a head shorter than her brothers Leon and Leopold making her 6ft the same height as Prince Arthur. She had the family's curly light brown hair, but unlike her brother's hers actually reached mid back rather than her shoulders. She also had light chocolate colored eyes. Her features were delicate but don't let that fool you being raised with two brothers made her toughen up quickly and she was just as fierce if not more.

She was married off to a knight at 15 by her parents had Erec a year later soon thereafter her husband James Erec Williams of Shaftesbury was sent to battle at Camelford near Tintagel failing to return back home leaving her to raise a then five year old (now twelve years) all on her own.

"Leon you know that piece of silver right there with the three little tines well that's a fork you know what it is right."

Leon rolled his eyes making his nephew chuckle and Arthur bite his lip.

"I know what a fork is Leza."

"But do you know how to use it."

Leon's eye narrowed as he picked up the fork and dramatically stabbed the piece of meat on his plate, "Please do hold the applause, sister."

"Thank goodness you're a knight because you wouldn't cut it as jester."

Leon smiled as he brought the food to his lips.

"That's for sure, although he's not the dullest of the bunch. I have this one servant back at the palace and I swear I'd rather bash my head in then listen to his jokes."

Leon laughed, "George?"

"Gosh yes. The man makes jokes about brass."

"Brass?" Both Leanza and Erec ask watching the two men nod.

"Well go on then, they can't be that bad?"

Leon shook his head watching as Arthur's hands rose to his head to massage his temple.

"Tell us the joke uncle."

Arthur groaned as Leon started making sure to sigh dramatically, "Alright. Why did brass and steel join forces during the war?"

Erec raises a brow, "What war?" he asked curiously causing both men to groan.

"Not an actual war sweetheart," Leza interrupts nodding at her brother to get on with the joke.

"Because they were alloys." Leon finishes rather painfully.

"I don't get it?" the boy said watching as his uncle and the prince kept shaking their heads.

"We warned you it wasn't really all that funny."

Erec nodded frowning before taking a drink of his goblet.

"Did you tell Arthur of the letter yet?"

Leon shook his head, "I was waiting till after lunch, but seeing as you just gave away the news" turning to Arthur, "Leza received a letter from Camelot this morning."

"Where is this letter?" Arthur asked moving to rise out of his seat only to pause at Leon's glare for him to sit down.

"It's in the study. It's not going anywhere so lets finish our meal."

"You're right," Arthur relented making himself comfortable in his seat and taking another bite of his meal.

Arthur groaned leaning back on his chair full from lunch. The men moved to the estates library both sitting across each other looking at the seal of Camelot on the rolled up scroll across them.

"Did Leza read it?"

Leon shook his head handing the prince the letter knife in his hands, "She opened it at first thinking it was a letter of condolence but then realized it was for us once she saw it was from Gaius … well go ahead and read it."

Arthur nodded carefully unrolling the scroll and moving closer to the open flame, from the candle on the table, to make out the physicians scrawl. Arthur was about to read then paused as he watched the words in the letter start moving around and rearrange themselves. The prince almost dropped the letter in shock.

Leon gulped as he saw the movement over the prince's shoulder, "Gaius did use magic in the old days he probably used it to make sure his message would remain secret to only us."

Arthur cleared his throat he had many questions about magic his father always use to tell him it was the preferred tool of barbarians. That the use of magic corrupted the user's soul and led to madness. Gaius was far from mad but when he asked his father, he said Gaius was an exception. He had a strong mind and was wise enough to stop using magic before it corrupted him… Apparently the old man was picking it up again.

"Well, go on don't leave me in suspense."

"Dear Arthur…"

Gaius walked through the castle heading towards the main hall where the current regent was leading an emergency meeting. He nodded to the guards as they opened the door for him to enter. He made his way to his seat besides Geoffrey the court librarian and geologist.

"Gaius."

"Geoffrey."

The men greeted each other tensely as they turned towards Agravaine wondering what heresy would spew from his tongue next.

Gaius made sure to school his expressions of outrage and bite his tongue choosing instead to observe the fellow noblemen. Several he could tell did not believe a word of what the regent was saying but at the mention of 'irrefutable evidence' he saw that silver of doubt befall them.

"Sir Leon was seen by a servant exiting the armory with a crossbow. Moments later two guards posted outside his brother's chambers were shot and knocked out. Sir Leon nowhere to be found. In addition, after a search of Sir Leon's chambers we discovered a vial of what has been identified as a fatal poison the same poison that was found in the chambers of the late Sir Leopold."

Gaius raised his brow, "Lord Agravaine, are you insinuating that Sir Leon, First Knight of Camelot committed fratricide?"

Agravaine rolled his shoulders back fixing his posture then turned his gaze on the physician, "That is what the evidence seems to suggest. "

There was some murmuring before another lord cleared his throat, "What news of Prince Arthur?"

"Prince Arthur is missing. His absence in the middle of all this cannot be a coincidence. A night patrol saw two shadowed men exiting the citadel I fear to believe Arthur's involvement in this, but I have no other explanation as of yet to explain his actions."

Gaius could have scoffed at the man faux sympathy. There were so many holes he could poke into the man's story not to mention lies as he knows that both men left Camelot separately.

Only a couple more nobleman asked questions, some focusing on what motive the Prince would have, if it was possible that Sir Leon kidnapped the prince, and so forth but for every question Agravaine seemed to have an answer then of course there was the beginning of the spectacle when two guards burst in at just the right moment revealing that the Prince and First Knight were spotted together on an abandoned road heading towards Amesbury. The prince in no way a hostage but a willing associate.

Gaius shared a look with Geoffrey and knew that his friend didn't believe it to be a coincidence for a second. It was too neat. For a messy story to come together like Agravaine was making. Despite that some of the older noblemen and a few of the younger knights were lapping up his every word. True loyalists not to the crown but to their coffers and now apparently to the weasel, because he was not a man, who would no doubt take the throne.

Gaius made sure to make a mental note of each and every one of them as well as those he knew would back Arthur.

As they were dismissed Gaius felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Geoffrey giving him a look and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you manage to finish that book you checked out earlier in the week."

"Not quite, but I should be finished done copying the important parts I need. I could drop it off tonight."

The librarian nodded understanding the message. "I must be going back. Good day Gaius."

Gaius walked through the halls briskly heading towards the library only to be stopped by two guards.

"What is this?"

"Lord Agravaine requires your presence."

Gaius nods following the guards to Agravaine's chambers.

"Ah Gaius, please take a seat."

Gaius remains standing eyeing the chair cautiously before deciding its best to placate him. "Is there something wrong, Lord Agravaine? Are you ill?"

"There is nothing wrong. I am in perfect health. I called you here for another matter."

"What matter exactly?"

"I was getting to that, but first, how are you?"

Gaius raised a brow if he didn't know better, he would say he heard some concern coming from the regent, "I am well."

Agravaine hmmed, "Forgive me for saying this, but you are quite umm well you've been Camelot's physician for a very long time."

Hesitantly, "Yes."

"Have you ever considered retiring?"

Gaius eyes widened slightly in surprise before narrowing, "I have no reason to retire."

Agravaine gave him a once over, "Hmm… Disappointing. You see Gaius, I appreciate your help and I have no wish for you to retire if you don't want to, however…You must know you work far too much. You head to the lower town weekly don't you?"

"I do. Three days a week and sometimes other days if I'm needed."

Agravaine nods, "Not to mention all the patients you have inside the palace and within the citadel walls. You visit them daily right?"

"I have daily rounds. Not always the same patients though- "

"Of course," Agravaine cuts him off, "Weekly trips, daily rounds, you gather most of your ingredients by yourself from the woods around Camelot, right?"

"Not all of them I can pick some common ones at the market- "

"But the others are from the woods."

"Well yes."

Agravaine nodded again, "You seem to be exerting yourself a great deal for a man of your age."

"I manage. What exactly is your point for calling me… my lord."

"I want to lighten your load. In fact, I have found you an apprentice."

Gaius clicks his tongue in irritation, "Thank you, but I really do not need an apprentice. I can- "

"Oh no need to disagree with me Gaius. I insist. His name is Edwin and he a very talented young physician. I suggest he starts shadowing you for a few days so he may learn his way around Camelot. He will go with you to the woods, the lower town, wherever you must go he will be there to assist you." Agravaine left no room for argument as he made his way over towards his desk, "Once he knows his way around, he can do your rounds in the lower town and pick up what you need in the woods."

"I'm afraid I must decline."

"Well I apologize, but it's done. He arrives on Wednesday of the following week. I really recommend you give the lad a chance before you write him off. You may leave now."

Gaius bows his head slightly walking out a frown on his face. To 'assist' him more like to keep an eye on his every movement. Just perfect.

Geoffrey looked up from his book as he heard the doors to his library open. To anyone else they probably wouldn't have noticed the tension in the Physicians shoulders but Gaius was an old friend going back to when the men were in their teens so he was exempt from the lot.

"Gaius?"

"I brought the book back."

The librarian and court historian nodded, "Thank you. Perhaps you wish to stay and discuss it. I can call for some tea and biscuits to be brought up if you're feeling peck-"

"That won't be necessary I'm afraid I can't stay. Perhaps another time. There are some mentions in the book that I'll need to talk to you about later. You might wish to take a look to refresh your memory."

"Gaius did something-"

"I really should get going but perhaps we can meet up in a few days to discuss."

Geoffrey raised a brow trying to convey his questions only to see Gaius shake his head and nod subtly towards the entrance.

"Very well then. Goodbye Gaius."

Gaius nodded leaving the room ignoring the shadow tailing him back to his chambers for his own protection. Hopeful Geoffrey can find the message and hidden letter for him to send to the prince.

Geoffrey opened the book carefully skimming its pages till he finally came across a ripped piece of parchment crammed between two pages.

The regent grows suspicious of my loyalties he has planted shadows to follow me for my safety but I doubt my well being is high on his list. He has also gifted me with an apprentice as an attempt to push me to an early retirement and away from any influential ears without his knowledge. You are one of the few whose loyalties is wholeheartedly the Pendragons. I know you don't believe for a second the lies of Prince Arthur and Sir Leon and hope you agree to help act as my intermediary between them. I wrote a letter for the prince and enchanted it so only the prince, Sir Leon, and any blood relatives of either can read its true message. I hope you can manage to send it to Sir Leon's sister the Lady Leanza Francis in Dorchester she'll know how to reach them. The letter should be nearing the final pages of this book. If you do not wish to send it I'll understand but if you do let me know in our next meeting. When we take our tea ask me if I would like some extra sugar and I'll know you have agreed.

I urge you to get rid of this note, burn it if you can after reading. Do not ever mention word of it out loud perhaps I am being over cautious, but I rather not risk it.

Your friend.

"…Your friend and loyal servant, Gaius." Arthur finished reading the letter recalling the key points Gaius wished to share about the changes in Camelot.

"We need to get him out of there before Agravaine discovers him."

"I trust Gaius knows what he's getting into. He shall inform us of more when he can."

"We can't just wait here."

"We won't. I've made a list of my father's allies that I believe will help us. We can go through it together and decide who to reach out to first before heading off. Gaius can continue sending correspondence here and Leanza can forward them to us wherever we end up."

Arthur sighed as he noticed the look of worry on Leon's face, "If you wish to stay I'll travel ahead on my own."

Leon scoffed, "You won't get rid of me that easily."

Both men smiled they knew circumstances would probably become worse before they improved but at least they would continue to have each other along the way.