Leon

Sir Leon is a Knight of Camelot who has shown himself to be loyal and trustworthy towards both Uther and Arthur Pendragon. Unlike the other Knights of the Round Table, he is of noble blood (except Gwaine). He appeared to have been killed by the dragon's fire but it turned out that he survived since he later appeared. He participated in the battle against Cenred, where he also faced death, but was revived by the druids. Later on he refused to serve Morgana when she became queen. Which lead him to escape with his childhood friend, Gwen, becoming one of the Knights of the Round Table, and taking back Camelot. When he became a Knight of the Round Table he was involved in many adventures, like vanquishing the Dorocha, recovering a dragon egg, being possessed by a Lamia and taking back Camelot when Morgana became queen again.

Early Life
Not much is known about Leon’s early life. However it is known that he grew up with Guinevere (and Elyan) as her mother worked as a maid in Sir Leon’s household (The Coming of Arthur). He eventually joined the Knights of Camelot.

Knight of Camelot
When Leon revealed that he let Arthur win the jousting tournament, this annoyed Arthur, who later defeated Leon in the tournament masked as "Sir William of Deira" (The Once and Future Queen).

He later helped Arthur recover information on sorcerers when Uther suspected that someone was assassinating Morgana (The Nightmare Begins).

When Uther was bewitched by the troll disguised as Lady Catrina, Leon  was doubtful of his king’s magically influenced decisions and appeared disapproving when Arthur ’s title as Crown Prince was stripped away. He tried to tell Uther to reject Bayard 's visit while being eerily stared at by Jonas, but Uther ignored him, He was amongst those who attempted to tell Uther  that his wife was a troll, and had to endure several councils with her stenc (Beauty and the Beast).

When Aredian was searching Merlin's home for magical objects. It was Leon who found a magical bracelet (The Witchfinder).

When Arthur learnt the truth of his birth he came into the palace, full of rage. Merlin went after him, but he encoutered Leon, who was guarding the door. Merlin persuaded Leon into letting him in, to save the king's life. So if it weren't for Leon's actions the king would be dead and Arthur would never forgive himself (The Sins of the Father).

When Morgana was enchanted to make everyone fall asleep, Leon and Gaius discussed Arthur's whereabouts, whilst looking over a sleepy Uther (The Fires of Idirsholas).

When Arthur sent his men to attack The Great Dragon in his attack on Camelot, Leon and various other knights were attacked by the Dragon in battle. When the beast unleashed its fiery breath on the group, Leon was injured by the flames but survived (The Last Dragonlord).

He led the border patrols which spotted Cenred’s army and reported it to the court. He later fought in the great battle for Camelot against both the army of Cenred and the skeleton soldiers raised by Morgana (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).

When in The Rising Sun, Gaius, while possessed by a Goblin, insulted Leon and spat beer in his face. He quickly apologised when the enraged knight challenges him to a battle and offered to buy him and his friends a drink. However, the Goblin spiked the drink with a magical potion, which causing boils to grow on their faces. Leon and his friends went to Gaius, desperate, and Gaius charged coins for an antidote, satisfying the Goblin’s thirst for gold that was possessing him (Goblin's Gold).

When Gwaine arrived in Camelot, followed by a few thugs disguised as knights, Gwaine got into a fight with 'Sir Oswald'. Leon was also present during Gwaine's trial (Gwaine).



Leon later led a patrol that accidentally stumbled past Cenred’s borders, and Cenred had them made into an example for trespassers. They were all attacked and killed except for Leon, who had enough life left in him for him to be saved by a group of Druids, who took him to their camp and resurrected him using the Cup of Life. He then went back to Camelot and informed Arthur and Uther of this, Uther decided that the Cup must be recovered before Cenred found it. Arthur obtained it temporarily but it was taken by Cenred’s men, allowing Morgause to turn his army into immortals. As they marched into Camelot, Leon’s border patrol spotted them. The patrol was slaughtered except for Leon, who fled when he discovered their power when he mortally wounded one of them, but he did not die. Leon then informed Uther of the invasion (The Coming of Arthur).

Knight of the Round Table
thumb|300px|leftAfter Morgana took over, Leon and the surviving Knights refused to pledge their loyalty to her. With the help of Guinevere, he managed to escape and reunite with Arthur. He watched Arthur knight Gwaine, Elyan, Lancelot and Percival. When they attacked Camelot, to save Uther and the other Knights, Leon fought with the rest of them and survived long enough for the enchantment to be broken. He later went out riding with the new Knights to bring Guinevere back to Camelot (The Coming of Arthur).

The Darkest Hour
A year later Leon was coming back to Camelot with Elyan and several other Knights when they encountered Morgana on her way to the Isle of the Blessed with Morgause, where she attacked them. After arriving back in Camelot he recounted what had happened to him, and stated that her powers had grown. He later accompanied the Knights of the Round Table to investigate Drea ’s story, and they discovered that the Dorocha had been released, once they discovered it he went with Arthur and the the other Knights as the made their own journey to the Isle of the Blessed. On the journey they encountered Wilddeorens, but they escaped successfully. At the Isle of the Blessed; him, Percival and Elyan  fought a Wyvern, but they (except Percival ) escaped unharmed. Along with other knights he was devastated about Lancelot’s death (The Darkest Hour).

Later Adventures
He later attended Arthur ’s Birthday feast, and a enjoyed the festivities. He also attended Arthur ’s Coronation and cheered loudly for him (The Wicked Day).

Upon Arthur learning of the existence of a dragon’s egg, and the fact that Julius  was after it, he took the knights of the round table with him to hunt it and destroy it, while on the trip Leon  went with them, he later joined the others in playing a joke on Merlin, he was later drugged by Julius and was only saved by Merlin ’s magic (Aithusa).

Leon later joined the other knights on there ambush on King Caerleon raiding party, upon the declaring of the war by Caerleon’s queen, he joined Elyan and the other knights to inform Arthur of there readiness to die for him, and later volunteered to take part in the duel for victory (His Father's Son).

Morgana later sent a gang of armed bandits after Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table to chase and capture them in the Valley of the Fallen Kings, they all escaped, except Merlin. Back at Camelot, he led several search parties for Merlin, and informed him that they must have a traitor in Camelot again. Later he gave Merlin advice on which crossbow to use, believing Merlin’s statement of killing Arthur to be a joke. He later unintentionally tipped Gaius and Gwen off to Merlin’s attempt. {C {C {C He along with the other knights encountered Dragoon the Great and tried to apprehend him, however Merlin’s powers proved too great and he, along with the others, was defeated (A Servant of Two Masters).

During there investigation into Gaius’ disappearance, Leon informed Arthur and Agravaine of the fact that a horse was missing from the stables, suggesting Gaius had stolen it to escape (The Secret Sharer).

Leon was one of the Knights who rescued the Lamia from bandits. She soon started to exert her power over them, making them aggressive and more violent. Her first victim among them was Sir Elyan. Instead of going back to Camelot, she forced them to travel to a castle to the East that she knew of. Once there, the Lamia picked them off one by one. First was Gwaine, followed by Percival. When Leon saw Percival fall to the Lamia, he snapped out of her spell and attacked, but she defeated him. Thanks to Merlin’s intervention and Arthur’s arrival, he was able to recover from the attack (Lamia).

When Arthur got engaged with Guinevere, there was a jousting tournament, Leon participated, at the start they had to show tribute to Guinevere by giving her a ring, symbolising Arthur and Gwen's marriage. After they all gave her a ring a mysterious warrior entered the field and giving Gwen a ring, he revealed himself to be Lancelot, little that they knew, he was a Shade in league with Morgana. After reuniting with Lancelot, they posed a toast with their chalices. Later in the Tournament he was knocked out by Arthur, who was later beaten by Lancelot. Later he attended Gwen's trial after Lancelot kissed her, shortly before Lancelot's suicidal (Lancelot du Lac).

When the knights were making a practical joke on Elyan, they discovered a realm, and Elyan was posessed by a Druid boy who wanted to have Elyan kill Arthur. When Elyan failed to assasinate Arthur, the knights were sent to find and arrest him. Leon, Percival and Gwaine found him, and althought they didn't want to, they knocked him out and turned him in. Luckily, not long later, the Druid boy freed Elyan and Arthur didn't get killed (A Herald of the New Age).

Around the time Princess Mithian arrived Leon discovered a young man dead, who seems to have "fell". He told Agravaine who seemed upset, and told him to get Gaius and explain how he died, Gaius said that he probably didn't fall, then Agravaine discovered a note from "Odin's court". He later participated in Arthur and Mithian's hunting trip, he was the one who spotted the deer, unknowingly that it was an enchanted Gwen (The Hunter's Heart).

When a fire affected the citizens of Camelot, Leon and Elyan went to aid. Then the Southron Army attacked and although he was involved in a minor battle, the Southron Army won the battle and Morgana was once again crowned Queen of Camelot. He fled the kingdom when it was under Morgana's second reign. He later joined Arthur in retaking Camelot again. He definitely survived the battle because he was seen at Arthur and Gwen's wedding (The Sword in the Stone).

Personality
Leon is very loyal to the Pendragon family. Because of this loyalty, he refused to fight at full power when jousting against Arthur out of fear that he would injure him. He also tried to stop Merlin from interfering with a meeting between Arthur and Uther but Merlin convinced him to let him in by telling Leon that Arthur was trying to kill his father. Leon refused to pledge himself to Morgana, believing that she was not a true Pendragon and had no right to be queen. Even when Morgana had him and his men at the mercy of crossbowmen, saying they would be spared if they pledged to serve her, he and his men defiantly refused.

Leon is very courageous even when faced with overwhelming odds or magical opponents and helped defend Camelot from the Great Dragon. He also fought against Cenred’s warriors and the undead skeleton army during the siege of Camelot. However Leon knew the difference between bravery and foolishness and therefore fled from Morgause’s immortal army when he realised that they couldn't die, thinking that he should warn Camelot instead of staying to face what would have been certain death. He was also a skilled leader and during Arthur and Merlin’s search for Balinor he took command of the knights of Camelot. He was also shocked and horrified when Morgana ordered her soldiers to attack innocent people, demonstrating his concern for the wellbeing of the citizens of Camelot. Leon also had a ready sense of humour and he and the other knights sometimes teased Merlin, though Leon seemed to think of Merlin as a friend. Leon also interpreted Merlin’s desire to kill Arthur as a joke, not realising that Merlin, while under the influence of a Fomorroh, actually meant what he said.

Arthur
Leon respected the king and looked on him as a friend. Together they fought in many battles and went on many adventures. Their relationship got better when Morgana was queen and they went into hiding while meeting other people. Arthur made Leon a Knight of the Round Table, an honour bestowed on only his closest and most trusted knights, and the next day, Leon helped him, Merlin and the other rebels defeat Morgana. Leon stated that there was no one else he would rather die for and that he would follow Arthur to the mouth of hell if necessary (The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone).

Guinevere
Leon knew Gwen very well since Gwen’s mother worked in his household. When Morgana was queen and she helped him escape, they were very comfortable when talking to each other (The Coming of Arthur). Leon was delighted when he found out that she and Arthur were getting married, he showed his tribute by giving her a ring, shortly before the melee (Lancelot Du Lac).

Merlin
At first Leon didn't really know Merlin, but once he became a Knight of the Round Table they became great friends (The Coming of Arthur). He enjoyed tormenting Merlin but only as a joke and showed that he cared about him as he was upset when he found out Merlin  was nearing death on their journey to the Isle of the Blessed (The Darkest Hour). Leon also appeared to trust Merlin greatly as he allowed Merlin to take a crossbow for Arthur and even thought that he was joking when he, under the influence of a Fomorroh, said that he wanted to kill Arthur  (A Servant of Two Masters).

Uther
Leon respected the king and was just as loyal to him, albeit not as close, as he was to Arthur. However he was willing to disobey Uther's orders and even though Uther commanded him to keep everyone out of the king’s chambers while Arthur fought him, he still let Merlin in once he told him that they were going to kill each other (The Sins of the Father). Leon was one of Uther's favourite knights, because the king made him one of the leaders of the battle between Camelot and Cenred's army (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).

Morgana
It can be assumed that Leon greatly respected the Lady Morgana as much as all the residents of Camelot did. However, this changed after her betrayal was exposed. Witnessing her cruel methods, he denied to bow down to her and serve her once she was queen and swore loyalty only to Uther and Arthur. Even when she was about to execute him, along with some fellow knights, he still shouted "long live the king" much to her disappointment. He also took a leading role in taking Camelot back (The Coming of Arthur). A year later, he found her carrying a cart on her way to the seas of Meredor. He halted her, oblivious about who she is. She immediately attacked him but did not kill him. He later reported her powers had greatly grown (The Darkest Hour). When she conquered Camelot for the second time, he was one of the knights to lead the attack againist the Southrons (The Sword in the Stone).

Gwaine
Leon first met Gwaine when he placed him under arrest under the orders of the king for "attacking" Sir Oswald. However, when Gwaine was made a Knight of Camelot Leon started to respect him, and eventually be friends with him. As they are both Knights of the Round Table, Gwaine is one of Leon's fellow knights. Sir Leon enjoys playing pranks with Gwaine and takes his jokes in good humour. Gwaine seems to have brought out the more mischievous side of Sir Leon. The two fight well alongside eachother and never argue, the only time they fought with one another was when they were enchanted by the Lamia, this resulted in Leon getting a small wound in the arm.

Lancelot
Leon first met Lancelot when him and Percival saved him from Morgana’s immortal knights. Not long after, he watched him become a Knight of Camelot while they were all made Knights of the Round Table. Then they went on to overthrow Morgana and Morgause (The Coming of Arthur). They had many adventures when they were both knights, but it was not until they travelled to the Isle of the Blessed, he was very upset when he died (The Darkest Hour). When Lancelot returned he was over the moon, but when he had the affair with Guinevere shortly before her and Arthur’s wedding, Lancelot took his life (under Morgana’s orders), and again he was upset when he died (Lancelot Du Lac).

Elyan
Elyan and Leon knew each other very well since Elyan’s mother worked in Leon’s house when he was a boy. Together they had many adventures once they were knights, and they were great friends. Despite this Leon still deliberaetly annoyed Elyan once by not giving him any water (A Herald of the New Age).

Percival
As they were both Knights of Camelot and Knights of the Round Table, Leon and Percival went on many adventures together, as well as making jokes together.

Abilities
Sir Leon is one of Camelot’s most skilful warriors and was Arthur’s second in command. He was a highly skilled swordsman surviving many battles where many other knights were slain. Leon was also skilled with a lance and when practising against Arthur he would have defeated him if not for the fact that he was worried about injuring the prince. However it should be noted that Arthur had the sun in his eyes during the practice session.

Leon also displayed remarkable survival skills, being able to recover from the wounds inflicted on him by the Great Dragon, survive a battle with Cenred’s men long enough to be revived by druids who made him drink from the Cup of Life and escape from a group of immortal soldiers unscathed. On the first occasion Arthur and Merlin were the only others who survived besides him, and on the last two occasions he was the only person to survive. He also survived an encounter with Morgana when two other knights were killed by her, with Elyan being the only other person to survive.

Behind the Scenes

 * 48-1-.jpgnally Leon was only supposed to be a character in The Once and Future Queen, but he received such a good reception that the producers brought him back again and again. He is the only named knight of Camelot to have appeared in more than one episode in Series 2.
 * When Leon was injured by the Great Dragon in The Last Dragonlord, some believed he was killed. However, in spite of the belief that he had died in the battle, he returned in Series 3.
 * Leon appears in all of the episodes of Series 4.
 * Rupert Young is a candidate out of four other cast members that will replace Nathaniel Parker in the opening credits for Series 5. The others being Eoin Macken, Alexander Vlahos that will play Mordred, or Ben Daniels if he returns after his mysterious disappearance at the end of The Sword in the Stone.

Appearances

 * Series 2
 * The Once and Future Queen
 * The Nightmare Begins
 * Beauty and the Beast: Part Two
 * The Witchfinder
 * The Sins of the Father
 * The Fires of Idirsholas
 * The Last Dragonlord


 * Series 3
 * The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part One
 * The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part Two
 * Goblin's Gold
 * Gwaine
 * The Coming of Arthur: Part One
 * The Coming of Arthur: Part Two


 * Series 4
 * The Darkest Hour: Part One
 * The Darkest Hour: Part Two
 * The Wicked Day
 * Aithusa
 * His Father's Son
 * A Servant of Two Masters
 * The Secret Sharer
 * Lamia
 * Lancelot Du Lac
 * A Herald of the New Age
 * The Hunter's Heart
 * The Sword in the Stone: Part One
 * The Sword in the Stone: Part Two


 * Series 5

In the Legends
While Leon appears to be a completely original character, it is possible he may also be based on or around King Leondegrance. King Leondegrance, or King Leon, was the father of Queen Guinevere and his kingdom was Carmelide or Cameliard. He served Uther Pendragon, King Arthur’s biological father and regnal predecessor. Leondegrance was entrusted with the keeping of the Round Table at Uther’s death. When Guinevere marries Arthur, Leondegrance gives the young king the table as a wedding present. In later romance Leondegrance is one of the few kings who accept Arthur as his overlord. For this, his land is invaded by the rebel King Rience, but Arthur comes to his rescue and expels the enemy. Arthur meets Guinevere for the first time during this excursion, and they develop a love that eventually results in their fateful marriage.