Leon Gaunnes

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**Sir Leon** is a loyal and trustworthy Knight of Camelot.

## Biography

### Birth

Leons parents Sir Bors the Elder and Evaine, head of the Albion Gaunnes household, rulers over the Brechfa hold in Camelot, had him when they were quite old, which made Leon and his mother very ill.

He was the couple's third son, and they knew that having Leon would most likely end badly (because of Evaines age), and the fact they had lost two daughters before their fifth name-day already. Bors holds a lot of land and money, but it wasn’t enough to save his wife. People thought that Leon was a lost cause, and since he was their third son people gave up faster, since 'they already had an heir'.

Bors didn’t give up on Leon. He felt incredibly guilty for not noticing his second son, Elinot Gaunnes, was ill before he died from an infection, and wanted to save Leon at all costs. He met Nimueh at Camelot, and he went to her for help, as a last resort, thinking she’ll say no. Nimueh made Bors' wish come true and cursed Leon to not die.

Leon knows he can’t die, as he was a very accident prone child. Due to immortality being taboo, he has kept it a secret.

Leon became friends with Gwen, who became a maid of the Brechfa household after her mother died. Leon was also friends with Elyan because he would vist his mother at work often.

Leon was betrothed to Lady Anwen from a young age, a marriage which would unite the House of Marthrafal and the royal House of Gaunnes.

Anwen and Leon met a few times in their childhood, and hit off straight away. Both found it embarrassing that they would one day marry, only seeing each other as friends.

### The Purge

The Brechfa hold had multiple Druid camps in it, and Leon had a childhood friend called Tirion, who was a Druid Mystic.

Tirion, and Leons other Druid neighbours, were drowned during The Great Purge. Leon feels guilt for ‘allowing’ his friend to die, and the fact that he has magic on him all the time with the curse and no one ever called him out or had him drowned.

Leon also feels some resentment to both his father, Sir Bors the Elder, and older brother, Sir Bors the Younger. This is because his father active during the great purge, and turned on his friends and fellow knights (if they practiced magic or had association with it). As for his brother, he quickly spoke negatively about Druids, and when he became a knight he also took part in killing those with magic.

In truth Sir Bors the Younger didn't believe the negative things he was saying, and a few years into Leons adulthood Bors the Young confronted this to him, to try and fix their friendship. Although they aren't close, Sir Bors the Younger's confession did help the brothers bond and become friendlier to each other.

### Moving to Camelot

Leon felt like he needed to become a knight of Camelot, to show his father and brother what a true knight was : Someone who protects people. He still sees his father as a ‘good’ knight, he was loyal, strong, and kind.

However Leon couldn’t fight with people one day and follow orders for them to be burned the next, he vowed that even though he would be fiercely loyal to the king and Arthur, if Uther asked Leon to turn on his fellow Knights or friends, for magic or without a just trial, he would refuse to.

Leon came to Camelot at the age of fourteen as a squire, six years after the purge, to start his training to become a knight, like his father and brother had. Arthur is seven years old at this point and Leon becomes a big brother figure to him.

### Squire to Knight

The year that Leon became a squire, was the same year that King Ganis died. Because of his death, Sir Leon's uncle, Ban Gaunnes, became king. When King Ban became king, King Glaudas ruler of Trégor, a kingdoms in Armorica, delared war on him for Léon.

This started the Trégor-Léon War, which would go on for eight years.

Leons uncle didn't call for his brother's or nephews aid for the first few years of the war. Because of this Leon didnt know how the war was going, or if he would be called to arms at a later date.

During this time Anwen and Leon started to develop romatic feelings for each other. They started to see each other in private when they were sixteen, secretly kissing or holding hands.

They were found out by Anwens family, who then requested that they married, not wanting any family members out of wedlock. So Anwen and Leon married at sixteen and Anwen moved to Camelot.

At the age of eighteen Leon became a proper knight, though he was mostly put on guard duty because of his age.

After seven years of battles Leons father, other uncle and older brother were called to the kingdom of Léon to help in the war. Leons father asked King Uther for reinforcements for the war, and Uther promised that he would send them, a returing the favour that the Gaunnes family did decades ago.

King Uther did sent reinforcements, which included Leon, and the kingdom of Léon won the war, gaining some of Tregor in the process.

There was a great loss however, with Sir Bors the Elder, Leon's cousin Prince Lucant and King Ban himself all lossing their lives on the battle fields.

A funeral was held in Léon, King Uther, Sir Bors the Younger, Squire Leon, Prince Arthur and many other Camelot nobles attended the funerals. They was also buried in Lesneven, their home town.

Due to Ban's only remaining heir was illegitimate, Bors the Younger became the king of Léon. The ownership of Brechfa went to Leon's uncle, Sir Clodio, as Leon wanted to say in Camelot and not have the duties of a Lord of a County.

Nine months after the War, Anwen gave birth to their first child, Tirion. Tirion is named after Leons childhood friend. The couple has since has a daughter called Evaine, after Leons mother, and Anwen is pregnant with their third child. Leon and Anwen have also promised a local seamstress that they will take in her son when she dies, as she has an incurealble illness and no living relatives. The boys name is Benjamin.

## Relationships

### Arthur Pendragon

> I have fought alongside you many times. There is no one that I would rather die for.
>
> Leon to Arthur

Leon has great respect for Arthur and considered him hiafter the war Leon and Anwen slept together and s best friend.

Leon came to Camelot at the age of 11, three years after the purge, to start his training to become a knight, like his father and brother had (Squire). Arthur is four years old at this point and Leon becomes a big brother figure to him. Their relationship developed over the years as they fought alongside one another and shared countless adventures.

Arthur tried to act as Leons wing man when Lady Anwen first came to Camelot. Arthur sees Leon as a perfect example of what a Camelot knight should be, and looks up to him.

There has been some tension between them at sometimes - due to Leon allowing Arthur to win at things due to his title.

In addition to his loyalty, Leon is a pillar of faith and source of comfort for Arthur, and was not afraid to question him if he felt that he was being unreasonable.

### Guinevere Pendragon

> No one can deny your wisdom, your compassion, and your loyalty. I am certain that were Arthur able to make this decision, he would choose you.
>
> Leon to Gwen about ruling Camelot

Guinevere and Elyan's mother served as a maid in his family's household, and when she passed away when Gwen is 8, they hire her so her family has enough money (Giving her little jobs around the house).

Leon greatly respects Guinevere and considers her to be a good friend.

### Uther Pendragon

> My loyalty is to the King and Prince Arthur. There is nothing you can do to change that.
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> Leon on Uther

Leon greatly respects Uther and is fiercely loyal to him. Though unquestionably loyal, however he is not senselessly so.

Uther holds Leon in a high regard. He often places him in positions of leadership over his fellow knights, particularly if Arthur is absent or unable to take command himself.

### Morgana Pendragon

Sir Bors the Elder and Evaine are ‘high’ nobles and were friends with Vivienne and Gorlois, so Leon has known Morgana and Elaine since they were born. He took up a brotherly role with Morgana, when she arrived at Camelot after Vivienne and Gorlois’s deaths.

### Elaine Garlot

> No need to feel alone, I will always be here.
>
> Leon to Elaine

Sir Bors the Elder and Evaine are ‘high’ nobles and were friends with Vivienne and Gorlois, so Leon has known Morgana and Elaine since they were born. He took up the parental role for Elaine when she arrived at Camelot after Vivienne and Gorlois’s deaths.

Leon is especially close to Elaine, since he were twenty-three when she arrived at the age of seven. Elaine gained a mother figure with Anwen, and even developed a sibling relationship with Tirion and Evaine, Leon and Anwen's children.

### Elyan

Leon had met Elyan due to his mother working for his family. They were close until Leon moved to Camelot at fourteen.

Elyan and Leon reforged their friendship when Elyan moved to the Capital to help his father with work.

### Robert Lanta

Sir Robert is one of Leon's closest friends at Camelot. They are similar in age, so trained to become knights around the same sort of time as each other.

## Abilities

Leon is one of the most experienced Knight of Camelot. He is a skilled leader, often tasked with commanding independent patrols or leading squadrons of knights into battle.

Leon is an excellent swordsman, and has some skill with a lance, often taking part in Camelots annual jousting tournament.

Leon is remarkably lucky, being in the right place at the right time.

## Trivia

* Leon comes up as having magic to those who can decect it
* Unlike most people in Camelot, Leon does not think badly of magic
	+ He does hide this opinion, knowing it could get him killed. He has helped innocent Druids and other innocent Mystic escape Camelot
* Leon speaks Gaulish, Breton, basic Vulgar Latin, Old English, Old French, basic Welsh and Common Brittonic
	+ Leon kept up his celtic language skills in secret
* Leon is ambidextrous
* His name comes from the kingdom in which his family rule, but he was also named in honor of Lionel Jeunnes, a very loyal knight of Sir Bors the Elder

## In the Legends

Like many knights, Sir Lionel took part in the Quest for the Holy Grail. At some point in his journey he was captured by bandits. They stripped him naked, bound him hand and foot, and dragged him along the highway while thrashing him with thorns. Sir Bors came upon the scene while on his own Grail Quest, and was forced to choose between saving his brother or a young woman who was being attacked nearby. Because his oath as a knight demanded that he save a woman before a fellow knight, even if that knight was his brother, Bors chose to save the woman. Lionel ultimately survived the incident and managed to escape his captors badly injured, he was filled with anger at his brother's failure to help him.