Leon's a loyal knight, but no one knew that many years ago, when he was a teen, he was a threat to Camelot and Uther wanted his head.
More than once, there had been groups of bandits that threatened the people, and the knights had to take care of them. Yet, it was always the same knight that knew where to find them. He was also the one that always chose the best places to camp, the safest ones, they had never been attacked when he said somewhere was safe, so Arthur usually listened to him.
Once again, there was a bandit feared by many, but Arthur knew his knights could beat him. There had been only one bandit that was a threat and had never been found. He appeared many years ago, when the king was a teenager. He was well aware that they would be around the same age, since he was a teen as well. He called himself Leonard. He still didn't know how a teenager could make so many people tremble just by being mentioned.
-Arthur, we've been trying to catch this guy for a week. Are you sure we actually can catch him?
-As long as he's not Leonard, - Leon flinched at the name - yeah, I'm pretty sure we can catch him.
-Fine. Maybe we should let Leon lead us, though - they all nodded and looked at the knight, who just nodded and walked away. The bandit was caught an hour later.
-How do you do it, Leon? - Elyan asked - it's like you know every bandit in Camelot - he laughed
-Something like that. When I was around fifteen, I ran away and was attacked by many bandits, so many, I was able to figure out the way they think. Places to hide, perfect spots for them to attack...
-How did you survive? -Lancelot asked. Leon pretended he didn't listen - Leon? How did you survive that many attacks as a teen?
-I don't know. I got lucky, I guess... - he whispered, and they all knew he just didn't want to talk about it
-Alright, then... We should make camp.
-Here? Arthur, do you want to get us killed? This place is not safe at all!
-Leon, you may know the bandits, but I know my kingdom.
-Fine! But we will get attacked, don't say I didn't warn you.
-We'll see.
Needless to say, at the middle of the night, a lot of bandits decided that attacking the king and a few knights was a good idea. The fight lasted the rest of the night. Luckily, they weren't very good at fighting, if they were, some knights would be dead for sure.
-I told you it was a bad idea...
-Yeah, I should have listened to you.
-Yes, you should have. Now some of us are hurt and they stole our food.
-Leon, we killed them, they didn't steal anything.
-Actually... Leon's right. They stole our food. - Merlin confirmed.
-But when? - Elyan asked.
-When they rounded us up, of course. We were fighting and couldn't do anything about it.
-Alright... There should be a village close enough. We could buy food.
The knights agreed and rode to the nearest village. By the time they arrived, pretty much everyone was already awake.
The people in the village were already selling food, just as they had hoped, so they approached the little market. One by one, as they acknowledged the presence of the knights, they hid, pure terror in their faces. "Strange" they thought "maybe they have magic or something"
The king, the knights and the servant approached the only man who wasn't hiding. He hugged his son and pointed the first thing he found at them, which happened to be a carrot.
-Take one more step and I'll kill you!
-With... A carrot? Mate, you do realize we have swords, right? - Gwaine said.
-GWAINE! - Merlin scolded - sorry. We are just here to buy some food. Why are you afraid of us?
-To buy some food? Yeah, right, I'm not falling for that again. You may not remember me, Leonard, but I remember the day you robbed me like it was yesterday!
The villager pointed his carrot directly at Leon and looked at him in a way that showed just how much hatred he held against him. Leon took a few steps forward with his hands raised and you could hear the whole village gasping.
-I do remember you. - he whispered - I remember this whole village. In fact, I remember every village and every innocent person I ever robbed or attacked.
-Leon? - his friends managed to say, staring at him.
-I am not proud of the boy I used to be, of Leonard. I guess I wanted to be different from my father and the only way I found, was to become a monster.
-I've met many who still have nightmares about you! And that's your excuse!?
-It would take me years to find everyone I ever hurt and make it up to them. I know you hate me, and I hate myself too, but I'm begging you... Please give them food. They're not guilty of the crimes I committed.
-We were innocent too and you didn't seem to care!
-I know. Believe it or not, it pained me to attack innocents. To see the terror in their eyes, to hear their cries, to watch them tremble at the very mention of my name. That is why I decided that to cause so much fear just so that I wouldn't be like my father, a knight, was not worth it. And at the end, I became one not for him but to make it up to everyone. To fight bandits like me.
-Fine. Have your food, but never come back, Leonard.
-I won't. Thank you very much.
The knights bought their food and rode away, stopping in the middle of nowhere to have breakfast.
-So... You are Leonard. THE Leonard, the only person my father hated just as much as magic...? - the king asked
-I've heard many stories about you.
-I guess most of them weren't exactly nice. Arthur, if you want my head, you can either kill me here and now or wait till we get to Camelot. I won't run away or fight.
-I won't kill you! You may have been a bandit... The bandit, but you are still my knight and one of my best friends. Besides, many people fear you, I'm sure that'll be useful at some point.
-Are you sure?
-Absolutely.
-Thank you.
