Sir Leon was a loyal and highly skilled Knight of Camelot who served under both Uther and Arthur Pendragon. He was made a Knight of the Round Table after joining Arthur's rebellion during the Fall of Camelot, and soon became Arthur's second-in-command and one of his most trusted advisors.
Biography
Early Life
Little is known about Leon's early life. He was born into one of Camelot's noble families, and Gwen and Elyan's mother worked as a maid in his household prior to her death. At some point after reaching adulthood, Leon joined the Knights of Camelot (The Once and Future Queen, The Coming of Arthur).
Knight of Camelot
Leon and Jonas at a council meeting.
While practicing for an upcoming jousting tournament, Leon greatly annoyed Arthur by allowing him to win because of his rank. Arthur became determined to prove he could win without being given preferential treatment, and later defeated Leon in the tournament semi-finals while disguised as Sir William of Deira (The Once and Future Queen).
Leon was one of the Knights who helped Arthur compile a list of suspected sorcerers and people suspected of consorting with them when it appeared that someone had tried to assassinate Morgana (The Nightmare Begins).
After Uther was bewitched into marrying the Troll Catrina, Leon was one of the Knights sent to arrest Merlin after Catrina accused him of stealing her family seal. Leon appeared doubtful of many of Uther's magically influenced decisions, and especially disapproved of his choice to strip Arthur of his title and name Catrina as his heir. Leon was later among those of tried to tell Uther that his new wife was a troll, and also attended several council meetings, during which he tried to dissuade Uther from introducing further taxes and advised him to decline Lord Bayard's offer of a visit (Beauty and the Beast).
Leon was one of the Knights who searched Gaius' chambers for magical objects after Aredian accused Merlin of sorcery. He found the magical amulet that Aredian had planted to frame Merlin (The Witchfinder).
Leon faces the Great Dragon.
Leon was looking over papers with Uther in the council chambers when Arthur returned from meeting Morgause. When Arthur revealed that he knew the truth of his mother's death, Uther ordered Leon to leave them and guard the door. While doing so, Leon tried to stop Merlin from entering the chamber, but chose to let him in when Merlin claimed that Uther's life was in danger (The Sins of the Father).
When Morgause used Morgana to put Camelot under a powerful sleeping enchantment, Leon was present in Uther's chambers when Gaius examined the King and ordered bedrest, believing him to be ill. He later fell victim to the enchantment himself (The Fires of Idirsholas).
Leon was among the Knights who defended Camelot when it was attacked by the Great Dragon. He was the first to volunteer to ride out with Arthur, and was injured by the dragon's fiery breath (The Last Dragonlord).
One year after the Dragon's attack, Leon led the border patrol that spotted Cenred's army and reported it to the court. He later fought in the Great Battle for Camelot, facing both Cenred's forces and Morgause and Morgana's skeleton army (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).
Leon was at the tavern with several other Knights when Gaius - who had been possessed by a Goblin - insulted him and spit beer in his face. Enraged, Leon challenged Gaius to a duel, but he quickly apologised and offered to buy him and his friends a drink. In light of their years of friendship, Leon accepted his apology and forgave him.
Leon afflicted with boils.
The next day, boils broke out on Leon and his friends' faces due to a magical potion that Gaius had used to spike their drinks. Leon went to Gaius for help and was sold an antidote at an exorbitant price (Goblin's Gold).
When Gwaine first visited Camelot, Leon broke up a fight between him and two thugs disguised as Knights. He arrested Gwaine for breaking the Knight's Code and was later present at his trial (Gwaine).
Fall of Camelot
Sir Leon drinks from the Cup of Life.
Leon was part of the Camelot patrol that was ambushed by Cenred's men after trespassing on his lands. The sight of the battle was eventually discovered by some Druids, who began searching for survivors and found that Leon was still alive. They took him back to their camp and healed him with water from the Cup of Life.
Leon made a full recovery and returned to Camelot. He recounted the incident to the court, which prompted Uther to secretly send Arthur to retrieve the Cup from the Druids before Cenred could discover it.
When Arthur failed to return from his quest, Leon was put in charge of a patrol tasked with finding him. After a day of searching, they saw Cenred's army marching for Camelot and were swiftly run down by soldiers. Leon alone survived the attack, as he fled after discovering that the soldiers couldn't be killed. He returned to Camelot and reported what he'd seen, but Uther ignored his warnings about the soldiers' immortality and ordered him to prepare whatever defenses he could.
Cenred's army reached Camelot that evening and attacked the following day, capturing both the city and the citadel in a matter of hours. Morgana revealed herself to be a traitor in league with her half-sister Morgause, who had killed Cenred and taken control of his army. Morgana was crowned Queen of Camelot and had Leon and the other Knights of Camelot imprisoned in the castle dungeons.
The first meeting of the Round Table.
One week after the Fall of Camelot, Leon was brought before Morgana and asked to swear fealty to her. Leon refused, after which he and the other Knights were assembled before a firing squad in the main square and again asked to pledge their allegiance. When they refused, Morgana responded by having her soldiers fire on the crowd, killing many innocent bystanders.
Leon was returned to the dungeons and was later visited by Gwen. Morgana had sent her to persuade him to pledge his loyalty, but instead they conspired to escape Camelot and find Arthur. Gwen used her father's forge to create a duplicate key to Leon's cell and smuggled it to him that night. They then fled the citadel disguised as a pair of women courtiers.
Once safe in the woods, Leon removed his disguise and took Gwen to a cave where he believed Arthur would be hiding. His hunch proved to be correct and they were reunited with Arthur and his allies later that day. However, unbeknownst to Gwen and Leon, Morgause and Morgana had allowed them to escape so they could track them to Arthur's hideout. The group fled the cave pursued by immortal soldiers, but were saved by the timely arrival of Percival and Lancelot, who blocked the path with boulders to halt Morgause's pursuit.
Arthur led his allies to the Castle of the Ancient Kings, where he invited them to sit at the Round Table and outlined his plan to infiltrate the citadel and rescue his father. Leon was among those who volunteered to accompany him, and later stood by as Gwaine, Elyan, Percival, and Lancelot were made Knights of Camelot.
Sir Leon, Knight of the Round Table
The next day, Arthur and his men snuck into the citadel while Gwen and Gaius remained behind at the Castle. Once inside, Merlin and Lancelot separated from the group to disable the warning bell while Arthur, Leon, and the others proceeded to the dungeons. They managed to trap some of the soldiers guarding the prisoners in a cell and held their own against those that remained.
Arthur was in the process of freeing Uther from his cell when the warning bell sounded, alerting the citadel to their presence. With their escape route cut off, Arthur led the Knights into battle against the immortal army until Merlin emptied the Cup of Life, instantly destroying the immortal soldiers.
Later, Leon accompanied the other Knights to the Castle to escort Gwen home to Camelot (The Coming of Arthur).
The Dorocha's Attack
- “Sire, if we don't get to the Isle of the Blessed, hundreds more will perish.”
- — Leon to Arthur[src]
Leon finds Morgana on the Plains of Denaria.
One year after the Fall of Camelot, Leon led a patrol of Knights that crossed paths with Morgana on the Plains of Denaria. When they tried to apprehend her, Morgana attacked them with her magic, killing Sirs Bertrand and Montague and rendering Leon and Elyan unconscious.
Leon and Elyan returned to the citadel and reported the incident to the court. They later attended the Feast of Samhain alongside the rest of the Knights.
The next day, Leon accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the other Knights of the Round Table to investigate reports of strange, faceless creatures attacking Camelot's villages. They discovered that the attacks were the work of the Dorocha, ghostly voices of the dead unleashed when Morgana tore the veil between the worlds.
Leon and the other Knights also accompanied Arthur on his quest to the Isle of the Blessed, where he intended to banish the Dorocha by repairing the veil. They made camp the first night at the fortress of Daobeth, where Merlin was badly injured by the Dorocha.
Arthur wanted to abandon the quest in light of Merlin's worsening condition, but Leon urged him to reconsider, as hundreds would perish if they failed. Lancelot finally volunteered to take Merlin back to Camelot on his own, and the rest of the group continued on with the quest. Leon did what he could to comfort Arthur about his decision and assured him that he'd made the right choice.
On Arthur's recommendation, the Knights decided to take a shortcut through the Tunnels of Andor, which were infested with Wilddeoren. They used Gaia berries to disguise their scents from the creatures, but were forced to flee tunnels when Gwaine killed one and alerted the others to their presence.
After another day of traveling, the Knights were reunited with Merlin and Lancelot, the former of whom had recovered from his encounter with the Dorocha. Like the other Knights, Leon rushed to greet them and was happy they were okay.
Leon advises Arthur to continue the quest.
The group reached the Isle of the Blessed the following morning. They crossed the lake by way of the ferryman's boat, and soon discovered that the Isle was guarded by Wyverns. Leon, Percival, and Elyan chose to remain outside to fend them off while Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, and Gwaine proceeded on to the stone altar, where Lancelot ultimately sacrificed himself to repair the veil.
Later, back at the citadel, Leon attended Lancelot's memorial alongside the rest of the court. He was present when a funeral pyre containing Lancelot's cloak and sword was burned in the courtyard (The Darkest Hour).
Further Adventures
Leon attended Arthur's birthday feast along with the rest of the court. Later, after the death of Uther, he also attended Arthur's coronation (The Wicked Day).
When they learned that Julius Borden was searching for the last dragon egg in existence, Leon accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table on a quest to find and destroy it. During the journey, Leon joined the others in playing a trick on Merlin wherein they pretended to eat all of the food he made, then produced one last bowl that they'd saved for him. As a result, he and the others Knights fell deathly ill when Borden poisoned their food and had to be saved by Merlin's magic (Aithusa).
Leon took part in Arthur's ambush on King Caerleon's raiding party. He was present when Arthur tried to pressure Caerleon into signing a treaty with Camelot, and when Arthur executed him after he refused.
When Caerleon's widow, Queen Annis, consequently declared war on Camelot, Leon accompanied the rest of Camelot's army to the battle sight. He joined the other Knights in cheering up Arthur by voicing their support for him, and later volunteered to serve as Camelot's champion after Arthur and Annis agreed to settle their dispute by single combat. Arthur chose to fight Caerleon's champion himself, however, and Leon watched the duel from the ridge alongside the rest of the army (His Father's Son).
Leon was one of the Knights who accompanied Arthur on his secret negotiations. They were ambushed by Morgana's mercenaries in the Valley of the Fallen Kings and Leon, Gwaine, and Percival were separated from Merlin and Arthur during the battle. After returning to Camelot, they recruited Elyan to help search and eventually found Arthur, but Merlin remained missing until the following day.
Later, Leon was on patrol with the other Knights when they encountered Merlin's alter ego Dragoon the Great in the Darkling Woods. Merlin was attempting to mount his horse so he could ride to Morgana's hovel and free himself from her Fomorroh's control, but due to the effects of his ageing spell did not have the strength to manage it.
Recognising him as the sorcerer supposedly responsible for Uther's death, Leon and the others attempted to apprehend him, but were quickly defeated by his magic. Merlin gleefully mounted his horse using the fallen Knights as a staircase and went on his way (A Servant of Two Masters).
When it appeared that Gaius had turned traitor and subsequently fled Camelot, Leon was the one to inform Arthur and Agravaine that a horse had been taken from the stables. They immediately assumed that Gaius had stolen it, presumably as part of his escape (The Secret Sharer).
Leon and the other Knights escorted Gwen and acting physician Merlin to Longstead, which had been stricken by a mysterious illness. While returning to Camelot, the Knights rescued a young girl, Lamia, from bandits. Lamia soon began to exert a strange control over the Knights, causing them to act increasingly possessive of her and aggressive towards each other. At one point Gwaine and Leon came to blows and Gwaine slashed Leon in the arm.
After Elyan appeared to have contracted the same sickness as the people of Longstead, Lamia persuaded them to shelter at her castle. She disappeared from the group when they arrived there, and one by one the Knights fell victim to her spell until a rescue party led by Arthur arrived and killed her. Leon and the others were then taken back to Longstead, where Gaius treated them for their illness (Lamia).
Leon participated in the jousting tournament that Arthur held to celebrate his engagement to Gwen. He was defeated by Arthur in the semi-finals. Leon was also present in the dining hall when Lancelot recounted the story of how he survived the veil and later attended Gwen's trial after she betrayed Arthur with Lancelot (Lancelot du Lac).
Leon was with Arthur, Merlin, and the other Knights when they came across a Druid Shrine. He joined the other Knights in teasing Elyan, who was complaining about Gwaine drinking all of his water. The next day, Leon attended training with Arthur and the Knights, and was present in the armoury when Elyan and Gwaine scuffled and Elyan was knocked unconscious.
When they told Gaius what had happened, Leon and Gwaine asked that Arthur not be informed of what had happened. They explained that Elyan hadn't been himself lately and they didn't want Arthur to think that his loyalties were divided. Later, after Elyan attempted to kill Arthur, Leon searched the castle for him along with Percival and Gwaine, eventually apprehending him in a castle corridor (A Herald of the New Age).
Leon was present when Arthur announced Camelot's new agreement with Nemeth and his arranged marriage to Princess Mithian. He was also in attendance when Mithian arrived in Camelot, after which he discovered the body of a young man who appeared to have fallen from a castle parapet and reported it to Agravaine.
Later, Leon participated in a hunting trip that Arthur had organised for Mithian and was the first to spot a deer. However, the deer in question was actually Gwen, who had been enchanted into the form of a deer by Morgana (The Hunter's Heart).
Second Fall of Camelot
- “We can't hold them for much longer! Lead the people to the woods! Retreat! Retreat!”
- — Leon during the Second Fall of Camelot[src]
Leon and Percival watch Arthur pull Excalibur from the stone.
Leon was among the Knights patrolling the city when Morgana and Helios launched a surprise attack on Camelot during the Feast of Beltane. He engaged the Southrons in battle, but was soon forced to order a retreat when Morgana's forces overran the city and took control of the citadel.
Leon led fleeing Knights and townsfolk to the safety of the Darkling Woods. They later sought refuge in the Forest of Ascetir, where they were eventually found and contacted by Merlin. He gathered them together to witness Arthur pull Excalibur from the stone, proving to all that he was rightful King and restoring his confidence in himself.
Afterwards, Leon, Arthur, and Percival began planning their own assault on the citadel, which was carried out the following day. Leon led a squadron of Knights to take out the sentries on the castle walls, then accompanied Percival to the dungeons to free Gaius, Gwaine, and Elyan.
Later, after the battle was won, Percival attended Gwen's coronation alongside the rest of the court (The Sword in the Stone).
Quest to Ismere
Three years after the Second Fall of Camelot, Gwaine and a patrol of sixty Knights vanished en route to Ismere. Leon attended the meeting of the Round Table called to discuss their disappearance, wherein Elyan informed the court of rumours that Morgana had taken up residence in Ismere. Arthur deduced that she may be responsible for the missing patrol and decided to organise a rescue party.
Leon was part of the rescue party that set out from Camelot the following day. They planned to catch Morgana by surprise by entering Ismere from the west, through Caerleon. Soon after crossing Caerleon's border, they came across the remains of a slaughtered village. The rescue party searched for survivors and gave the villagers a proper burial before continuing on to Annis' castle, where they spent the night.
When the rescue party crossed into Ismere the next day, they were almost immediately ambushed by Morgana, Ruadan, and their Saxon allies. Leon and the other Knights became separated from Arthur and Merlin during the battle, and were ultimately forced to abandon the mission and return to Camelot without them.
Leon and Elyan reported what had happened to Gwen and Gaius and the group concluded that they'd been betrayed. Gwen quickly deduced that the traitor was her maidservant, Sefa, who had eavesdropped on the meeting of the Round Table and had been seen leaving the city late at night.
Leon was present at Sefa's trial, where she admitted that Ruadan was her father and that she had been spying for him. Gwen consequently sentenced her to death in the hope that news of her plight would lure Ruadan to Camelot.
Later, after Arthur and Merlin returned to Camelot with the missing Knights, Leon attended Mordred's knighthood ceremony alongside the rest of the court (Arthur's Bane).
Later Adventures
"I'll leave you to your poetry then, my Lord."
Leon was giving a report at a meeting of the Round Table when the doors to the council chambers began to open and close by themselves. Though unnerved, the council continued with their conference until a chandelier broke loose and crashed down on the center of the Table, damaging it and startling the Knights. Afterward, Leon was ordered to see that the Table was repaired by the next council meeting.
Later that night, Leon was patrolling the castle when he came across Arthur and Merlin, who were searching for Uther's spirit to send it back to the Spirit World. When Leon asked what they were doing, Merlin covered up their mission by claiming that he was teaching Arthur poetry. Though surprised, Leon was satisfied with their explanation and continued with his patrol (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).
Leon was among the Knights that accompanied Arthur to rescue King Rodor. Like the other Knights, Leon was very concerned when Merlin was found unconscious next to the river they camped at, but continued on with Arthur when it was decided that they couldn't wait for Merlin to recover.
Later, when they arrived at the Tomb where Rodor was hiding, Leon remained outside with Elyan and the other Knights while Arthur and Percival accompanied Mithian inside. They were captured by Odin's men, but were soon freed by Gwaine after he and Merlin caught up to them (Another's Sorrow).
Leon accompanied Arthur and the other Knights of the Round Table on a mission to apprehend the sorcerer Osgar. He joined the other Knights in teasing Mordred along the way, and later partnered with Percival when they decided to split up to search the Forest of Brechfa.
Leon later went to Caerlanrigh with Arthur and the other Knights to answer the judgment of the Disir. Like the others, he ignored Merlin's warnings not to go armed into a sacred place and carelessly trampled the Disir's relics (The Disir).
The Dark Tower
Leon was one of the Knights who escorted Gwen and Elyan on their pilgrimage to visit their father's grave. While returning to Camelot, the group was attacked by snakes conjured by Morgana and both Percival and Leon fell victim to their bites. Gwaine and Elyan urged Gwen to ride on without them, but she didn't get far before she was kidnapped.
After Percival and Leon recovered from the snakebites, Arthur, Merlin, and the Knights set out to rescue Gwen. They found her horse abandoned in the woods and a trail leading east, which they followed until nightfall.
Though Arthur wanted to continue, Merlin convinced him to make camp before they lost the trail completely. A few hours later, both Leon and Percival woke from identical nightmares of the Dark Tower. Merlin theorised that they must still have venom from Morgana's snakes running through their veins, and that she had planted the visions in their minds to lure Arthur into a trap. This led Arthur to believe that Gwen was being held captive at the Tower.
The group resolved to travel to the Tower together and began their journey by crossing the Impenetrable Forest. They spent much of the day wandering in circles, their pace hindered by the Forest's dense foliage. The next morning they decided to return to the clearing they started from, but Merlin convinced the group that he guide them through the Forest, and (using his magic) successfully did so.
After leaving the Forest, the Knights endured an arduous trek across the Dollares Plains to arrive at the Tower itself. They climbed a staircase to a room filled with booby traps; the flagstones on the floor reacted to pressure, setting off arrows that wounded Percival in the leg.
Elyan, who was a little ways ahead of the others, figured out he could cross the room by using his sword to test the stones before stepping on them. The others were quick to follow suit, but upon reaching the doorway, Elyan went on without them, determined to rescue his sister. When Leon and the others finally caught up to him, they found Gwen unharmed at the top of the Tower and Elyan lying dead in her arms.
Leon later attended Elyan's funeral at the Lake of Avalon alongside the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Final Adventures
After an attempt was made on Arthur's life, Leon and Percival were sent to search the house of the King's stablehand, Tyr Seward. Leon was later present in the council chambers when Tyr was tried and sentenced to death, and was also present for the examination of Tyr's body when he was found murdered in his cell.
When Arthur was poisoned and near death, Leon stood with the other Knights as Gaius made his diagnosis and Gwen accused Merlin of the crime. Leon remained with Gwen as she sat vigil at Arthur's bedside, and took the opportunity to speak to her about ruling Camelot should Arthur die. He assured her that he and the other Knights believed in her capability and would stand beside her.
Later, when Merlin escaped from the dungeons disguised as Dragoon, Leon was one of the Knights who responded to the warning bell. He met up with Gwaine, Percival, and Mordred in the courtyard, and was startled when every torch in the square went out at once (A Lesson in Vengeance).
Leon was among the Knights present in the courtyard when Sarrum of Amata arrived to discuss an alliance with Arthur. Later, he and the rest of the court were present in the council chambers to witness the two kings sign a treaty that would establish an alliance between their kingdoms (The Hollow Queen).
Leon and the other Knights of the Round Table were sent on a patrol to capture a renegade sorceress and her accomplice. They found Merlin in the woods, who claimed to be gathering herbs for Gaius. Though Merlin planned to return to Camelot, the Knights placed him under protective custody instead, as they didn't want him traveling alone with a dangerous sorceress and Saxons on the loose. However, Mordred allowed Merlin to leave during the night, and the Knights continued their patrol without him (The Kindness of Strangers).
After Camelot's levy collection route was compromised, Arthur tasked Leon and Mordred with memorising the new route. He ordered them to tell no one of the change until the patrol was underway (With All My Heart).
Leon and the other Knights were on a hunting trip with Merlin and Arthur when they came across an arms shipment that had fallen victim to a Saxon raid. The group searched for survivors and then returned to Camelot. In light of the attack, Leon was ordered to dispatch extra patrols to protect their supply routes.
The Knights track the arms shipment.
Later, after one of the raiders had been captured, Leon attended Kara's trial and was present when she was sentenced to death. When Mordred, her former lover, responded to this by breaking her out of prison and running off with her, killing a guard along the way, Leon was one of the Knights that Arthur took with him to apprehend them. They caught up with them in the woods, where Mordred begged Arthur to allow them to leave and appealed to Leon and several other Knights for help, but all remained loyal to Arthur.
Leon was later present when Arthur attempted to offer Kara a deal, promising to spare her from execution if she repented of her crimes. Kara refused and was executed the following morning, shortly after which Mordred escaped from the cells (The Drawing of the Dark).
Camlann & Aftermath
Leon was among the Knights who fought in the Battle of Stowell. He later attended the meeting of the Round Table wherein the council discussed Morgana's plans for war and decided on Camelot's response. Arthur ultimately chose to make their stand at Camlann rather than the citadel in order to minimize civilian casualties.
Camelot's army set off for Camlann at sundown. Leon and Percival rode ahead at one point to scout out Morgana's army. They found that her forces would reach Camlann by the following evening and that her army outnumbered Camelot's 5 to 1.
Leon did not like the look of Camlann when they first arrived, noting that its dead end made it a death trap. Arthur stood firm in his decision, however, and Camelot's army set up camp. That night, Leon received a report from scouts that Morgana's army was on the move. He passed on the report to Arthur, who concluded that she would attack before the night was over and ordered Leon to prepare the men for battle.
Leon announces the start of Gwen's reign.
Leon survived the Battle of Camlann, and appeared to take over command of Camelot's army after Arthur went missing. He delivered news of their victory to Gwen and oversaw the initial search for Arthur. In the days that followed, he continued to send out search parties and faithfully reported their findings to Gwen.
Leon was later present when Gwen was named sole ruler of Camelot in the wake of Arthur's death. He announced Arthur's death to the court and led them in cries of, "Long live the Queen!" (The Diamond of the Day).
Personality
Leon refuses to swear fealty to Morgana.
In many ways, Leon was (narratively) meant to represent the ideal Knight of Camelot: brave, skilled, educated, and noble in both lineage and character. Leon was responsible and trustworthy with a strong sense of loyalty, particularly towards Uther and Arthur. He remained steadfast in his loyalty even at the potential cost of his own life, such as when he refused to swear fealty to Morgana during her first reign as Queen (The Coming of Arthur).
However, Leon could, at times, be a bit overzealous in his adherence to his duty. For example, he deliberately lost a jousting match against Arthur because he was afraid that he might injure him if he fought to the best of his ability. This, combined with his somewhat condescending attitude, greatly offended Arthur (The Once and Future Queen).
Leon was shown to be very courageous. He not only helped defend Camelot from the Great Dragon, but was the first Knight to step forward when Arthur asked for volunteers to ride out and face it. He also fought in the Great Battle for Camelot, where he faced both Cenred's soldiers and Morgause and Morgana's skeleton army; the First and Second Falls of Camelot and Arthur's efforts to retake the kingdom; and the Battle of Camlann (The Last Dragonlord, The Tears of Uther Pendragon, The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone, The Diamond of the Day).
Though undoubtedly brave, however, Leon was also a sensible man who knew the difference between courage and foolishness. For example, when his patrol first encountered Morgause's immortal army, Leon immediately turned and fled when he realised that the soldiers could not be killed, as it would be wiser to warn Camelot of the approaching army than stay and most certainly be killed (The Coming of Arthur).
Leon was equally pragmatic about his loyalties and duties as a Knight. He was not afraid to speak up if he felt that a superior's judgment was impaired, or that they were making poor or questionable choices. He was also capable of making judgment calls in rapidly changing situations, such as when he tried to stop Merlin from entering the throne room as per Uther's orders, then allowed him access when he explained that Uther was in danger (Beauty and the Beast, The Sins of the Father, The Darkest Hour, The Diamond of the Day).
Leon jokes with Merlin.
Though perhaps the most serious of the Knights of the Round Table, Leon was also shown to have a sense of humour. He often joined in when the other Knights teased one another or Merlin, and was greatly amused when Merlin claimed that the reason he needed a crossbow was to kill Arthur, as he believed him to be joking (Aithusa, A Servant of Two Masters, A Herald of the New Age, The Disir).
Relationships
Arthur Pendragon
Leon reunites with Arthur after the Fall of Camelot.
Leon had great respect for Arthur and considered him a close friend. Though there initially seemed to be some tension between them (mostly due to Leon allowing Arthur to win a jousting match because of his station, which offended Arthur), their friendship deepened over the years as they fought alongside each other and shared countless adventures (The Once and Future Queen).
Leon was fiercely loyal to Arthur. He was the first to volunteer to ride out and face the Great Dragon with him; refused to swear fealty to Morgana during her first reign as Queen, and joined his efforts to retake the kingdom during both the First and Second Falls of Camelot (The Last Dragonlord, The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone).
In addition to his loyalty, Leon was also shown to be a pillar of faith and source of comfort for Arthur, and was not afraid to question him if he felt his orders were unreasonable. For example, when Merlin was injured by the Dorocha, Leon argued against abandoning the quest to take him back to Camelot because hundreds more would perish if they did not continue. Later, after Arthur had followed his advice, Leon assured him that he'd done the right thing (The Darkest Hour).
Guinevere Pendragon
Leon greatly respected Gwen and considered her a friend. They knew each other for many years and perhaps even grew up together, as Gwen's mother worked as a maid in Leon's household. Gwen used this relationship to her advantage during the Fall of Camelot in order to help Leon escape (The Coming of Arthur, The Dark Tower, The Hollow Queen).
Leon was supportive of Gwen's marriage to Arthur, and took part in the jousting tournament that he held to celebrate their engagement. He later attended her coronation after she returned from exile following the Second Fall of Camelot (Lancelot du Lac, The Sword in the Stone).
In the years that followed Gwen's ascension to the throne, Leon was very loyal to her and supported her authority as Queen. When Arthur was poisoned and near death, he spoke to her about her future as Camelot's ruler. He assured her that he and all the other Knights believed her to be capable of the task and that they would remain loyal to her no matter what happened (A Lesson in Vengeance).
In the aftermath of the Battle of Camlann, Leon stood at Gwen's side as he announced Arthur's death and the start of Gwen's reign, leading the court in cries of "Long live the Queen!" (The Diamond of the Day).
Merlin
Merlin and Leon
There was initially little interaction between Merlin and Leon, mostly due to their different classes and roles as servant and Knight. However, they became good friends after Leon became a Knight of the Round Table because Merlin often accompanied them on their adventures (The Coming of Arthur).
Like the other Knights, Leon enjoyed teasing Merlin and often treated him as a younger brother. He had a tendency to playfully ruffle Merlin's hair and appeared to trust him greatly, as he interpreted Merlin's remark about killing Arthur with a crossbow as a joke without ever considering that he might be serious (The Darkest Hour, Aithusa, His Father's Son, A Servant of Two Masters).
Though Leon argued against taking Merlin back to Camelot after he was injured by the Dorocha, he later assured Arthur that he would safe with Lancelot. This indicated that he did care for Merlin, but was obligated to put his duty to Camelot first (The Darkest Hour).
Uther Pendragon
Uther and Leon look over paperwork.
Leon greatly respected Uther and was fiercely loyal to him, as he refused to swear fealty to Morgana during her first reign as Queen. However, though unquestionably loyal, he was not senselessly so. He was among those who tried to tell Uther that his new wife was a troll, and broke orders to allow Merlin into the throne room when he learned that Uther was in danger (Beauty and the Beast, The Sins of the Father, The Coming of Arthur).
Uther appeared to hold Leon in high regard. He often placed him in positions of leadership over his fellow Knights, particularly when Arthur was absent or unable to take command himself. Uther was grieved when Leon was presumed dead after his patrol was killed trespassing on Cenred's lands, and visibly pleased when Leon returned to Camelot alive after being healed by the Cup of Life (The Coming of Arthur).
Morgana Pendragon
Leon kneels before Morgana.
Though there was little interaction between Leon and Morgana before she became an enemy of Camelot, it can be reasonably surmised that he had the same respect and loyalty for her that he did for the rest of the royal family. This changed, however, after Morgana was revealed to be a traitor and declared herself Queen.
During the Fall of Camelot, Leon was taken prisoner and repeatedly asked to swear fealty to the new regime. However, Leon refused and instead declared his loyalty to Uther and Arthur. Morgana imprisoned Leon in the dungeons for his actions, where he remained under Gwen helped him to escape. Leon later fought against Morgana when he joined Arthur's efforts to retake the kingdom (The Coming of Arthur).
One year later, Leon was one of four Knights who encountered Morgana on the Plains of Denaria. She attacked them after they realised her identity, but Leon survived and later warned Arthur that her powers had grown (The Darkest Hour).
Leon later fought against Morgana during both the Second Fall of Camelot and the Battle of Camlann (The Sword in the Stone, The Diamond of the Day).
Gwaine
Leon and Gwaine
Leon and Gwaine were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Gwaine seemed to add a little humour to Leon's usually serious personality; they often joked around together and with their fellow Knights. For example, while on a quest to find the last dragon egg, the Knights teamed up to play pranks on Merlin (Aithusa).
Leon was normally very patient with Gwaine's antics. In fact, the only time the two ever fought was when they were both being controlled by the Lamia. Though Percival and Elyan managed to break it up before anyone was seriously injured, Gwaine slashed Leon's arm during the fight, the wound deep enough to require stitches (Lamia).
Elyan
Elyan and Leon
Leon and Elyan were good friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Though there was little interaction between them, they shared many adventures over the years and liked and respected each other.
It is possible that Leon and Elyan knew each other prior to Elyan's becoming a Knight, as Elyan's mother once worked as a maid in Leon's household (The Coming of Arthur).
Leon grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Percival
Percival and Leon
Leon and Percival were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. They first met during the Fall of Camelot, when Percival saved Leon and the rest of Arthur's allies from immortal soldiers (The Coming of Arthur).
As members of Arthur's inner circle, Percival and Leon went on many adventures together and made an effective team. Though Leon was of a more serious nature, he and Percival often joked around together much the same way Percival did with Gwaine. For example, they joined the other Knights in playing tricks on Merlin, teasing Elyan, and playing an initiation joke on Mordred (Aithusa, A Herald of the New Age, The Disir).
At the conclusion of the series, Percival and Leon were the only Knights of the Round Table remaining after the deaths of Lancelot, Elyan, Arthur, and Gwaine (The Darkest Hour, The Dark Tower, The Diamond of the Day).
Mordred
.jpeg){kind=link}
Though there was little interaction between Mordred and Leon, as fellow Knights of Camelot they appeared to be close friends who fought well together.
Like the other Knights, Leon tended to treat Mordred as a little brother, similarly to how they treated Merlin. During their search for the sorcerer Osgar, Leon joined the other Knights in playing a joke on Mordred by tricking him into riding his horse backwards, claiming that it was tradition for new Knights to do so. Later, he appeared concerned when Mordred was mortally wounded by the Disir (The Disir).
Though fond of Mordred, however, Leon's loyalty to him was second to his loyalty to Arthur. When Mordred freed Kara from the dungeons, he accepted Arthur's instruction to put his personal feelings aside and helped track the fugitives down. When they found him, Mordred try to appeal to Leon for help, but Leon ignored him (The Drawing of the Dark).
Abilities
Sir Leon, Knight of the Round Table
Leon was one of the most experienced Knights of the Round Table, as he served as a Knight of Camelot for several years before earning his place in the group. He was a skilled leader and was often tasked with leading independent patrols or squadrons of Knights into battle. After Arthur became King, these skills led him to appoint Leon as his second-in-command. He was one of Arthur's chief advisors, and often took charge of the other Knights in Arthur's absence (The Tears of Uther Pendragon, The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone).
Leon was an excellent swordsman capable of defending himself against undead skeletons, immortal soldiers, and powerful warriors such as Ruadan. He survived many battles in which many or most other Knights were slain, including the Razing of Camelot, the Great Battle for Camelot, the First and Second Falls of Camelot, and the Battle of Camlann (The Last Dragonlord, The Tears of Uther Pendragon, The Coming of Arthur, The Sword in the Stone, Arthur's Bane, The Diamond of the Day).
Leon also had some skill with a lance. He advanced to the semifinals in both Camelot's annual jousting tournament and the tourney that Arthur held to celebrate his engagement. He once came close to defeating Arthur in a training exercise, but chose to let Arthur win rather than risk injuring him by unhorsing him (The Once and Future Queen, Lancelot du Lac).
In addition to his combat skills, Leon was remarkably lucky. He not only survived the wounds inflicted on him by the Great Dragon, but made a full recovery. He was also the only Knight in his patrol to survive being ambushed by Cenred's men; the only Knight to escape an attack by immortal soldiers unscathed; one of only two Knights to survive being attacked by Morgana; and was one of only two Knights of the Round Table still alive at the end of the series (The Last Dragonlord, The Coming of Arthur, The Darkest Hour, The Diamond of the Day).
Trivia
- Originally, the character of Leon was only supposed to appear in The Once and Future Queen. However, he was so well received that the producers continued to bring him back. He is the only named Knight of Camelot to appear in more than one episode of Series 2.
- When Leon was injured by the Great Dragon in The Last Dragonlord, many believed that he'd been killed. This was ultimately disproven by his return in Series 3.
- Apart from Gwaine, who kept his noble heritage a secret, Leon was the only Knight of the Round Table to be born a member of the nobility ( (Gwaine, The Coming of Arthur).
- Leon appears in every episode of Series 4.
- Rupert Young was one of four candidates to replace Nathaniel Parker in the opening credits for Series 5, the others being Eoin Macken, Alexander Vlahos, and Ben Daniels, who ultimately did not return to the series after his mysterious disappearance at the end of The Sword in the Stone.
Appearances
- Series 2
- The Once and Future Queen
- The Nightmare Begins (cameo)
- Beauty and the Beast: Part Two
- The Witchfinder (cameo)
- The Sins of the Father
- The Fires of Idirsholas
- The Last Dragonlord
- Series 3
- The Tears of Uther Pendragon
- Goblin's Gold
- Gwaine (cameo)
- The Coming of Arthur
- Series 4
- The Darkest Hour
- The Wicked Day
- Aithusa
- His Father's Son
- A Servant of Two Masters
- The Secret Sharer (cameo)
- Lamia
- Lancelot du Lac
- A Herald of the New Age
- The Hunter's Heart
- The Sword in the Stone
- Series 5
- Arthur's Bane
- The Death Song of Uther Pendragon
- Another's Sorrow
- The Disir
- The Dark Tower
- A Lesson in Vengeance
- The Hollow Queen (cameo)
- With All My Heart
- The Kindness of Strangers
- The Drawing of the Dark
- The Diamond of the Day
In the Legends
Sir Lionel
Though Leon appears to be an entirely original character, he may have been at least partially based on Sir Lionel, a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend. Lionel was the son of King Bors of Gaunnes and his wife Evaine, the younger brother of Sir Bors de Ganis, and cousin to Sir Lancelot and Hector de Maris. After their father died battling King Claudas, Lionel and his brother lived as captives in Claudas' court until they were rescued by the Lady of the Lake, who raised them alongside Lancelot (her foster son) in her underwater kingdom.
Lionel first appeared in the Lancelot-Grail Cycle. Like many knights, he took part in the Quest for the Holy Grail. When Lionel was a young man, he was captured by Turquine, a rogue knight, who imprisoned him and whipped him with briars. A similar incident occurred during the Grail quest when Lionel was captured by bandits. They stripped him naked, bound him hand and foot, and dragged him along the highway while trashing 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 escaped his captors, but was filled with anger at his brother's failure to help him. The next time they met, Lionel challenged Bors to a duel. Bors refused to defend himself, as he had no wish to fight his own brother, and both a hermit and Sir Calogrenant were slain while attempting to defend him from Lionel's wrath. However, before Lionel could strike Bors down, a ball of fire descended from heaven and stopped the fight. Realising his error, Lionel stayed and buried the hermit and Sir Colgrenant while Bors continued his quest.
Like the rest of his family, Lionel sided with Lancelot when his affair with Guinevere became known. He followed him into exile and was crowned King of Gaunnes. Lionel fought in many battles against King Arthur, including the Battle of Joyous Garde. He later participated in the Battle of Camlann, after which he returned to Britain with the rest of his family to hunt down the last of Mordred's forces. Lionel was ultimately killed by Mordred's son Melehan, and his death was avenged by his brother, Sir Bors.
King Leondegrance
It is also possible that the character of Leon was inspired by King Leondegrance, the ruler of Cameliard and father of Guinevere. He served under Uther Pendragon and was entrusted with the keeping of the Round Table after Uther's death. Leondegrance later gave the Table to Arthur as a wedding present when he married Guinevere.
In later romances, Leondegrance was one of only a few kings who accepted Arthur as an overlord. Consequently, his lands were invaded by the rebel king Rience, and Arthur had to come to their rescue and expel the invading army. It was during this excursion that Arthur first met Guinevere, and the two fell in love.
Gallery
 |
To view the Leon gallery, click here.
|