Advent Prompt Day Eight: Leon's Christmas Cheer
Leon’s Christmas Cheer
Sir Leon mystified many single women of the Camelot court. Was he gay or just thick? One had to have a certain amount of intelligence and cunning to be a knight, so Leon wasn’t thick, and he never gave any indication that he preferred men, so he wasn’t gay. “So just what was his problem?” they wondered.
The ladies had hung mistletoe in strategic spots around the citadel in hope of catching the elusive knight and getting a kiss from the most sought-after man in Camelot. Arthur used to be first, but he’d married Gwen. One would think Gwen’s brother Elyan would be next since he was Arthur’s brother-in-law, he was perceived as being a little young.
No matter where the small sprigs were placed, Sir Leon managed to avoid them. Perhaps it was the eager lady waiting nearby that made him detour. All the other knights made it their business to stand under the “kissing plant,” (Sir Gwaine was beginning to abuse the privilege), but not Sir Leon. Finally, several of the ladies had had enough.
A plan was hatched and Operation: Snog Leon, was activated. A page came to Leon with word that the queen needed his presence in the Great Hall at once. Like any good knight, Sir Leon went immediately. As he entered the hall, the doors were closed behind him. Before him stood Queen Gwenhywfar, looking serene and lovely. Behind her stood practically all the single women in Camelot, looking lovely and predatory.
“Your Majesty?” said Leon, a little nervously.
“Sir Leon, I have summoned you here to receive your Christmas cheer.” As Gwen said this she pointed up to the lintel above the door. Mistletoe had been affixed there; not a sprig, but an entire shrub.
“Will you stay or will you flee?” Gwen asked him. “The choice is yours.”
Leon looked at her, then at the thirty-seven ladies, sighed and smiled. “I surrender,” he said.
“Then your first cheer shall be from me,” said Gwen and raised up on tiptoe to give Leon a gentle friendly kiss. Thirty-seven court ladies lined up behind her. “I’ll stay to make sure none of them gets carried away,” she whispered to him.