midnight shenanigans
*
December 24, 1575
The frozen midnight air snakes its way through Arthur’s many layers- scarf, three jumpers, cloak- and chills his very bones. He shivers slightly.
Ahead of him Merlin is walking quickly, one hand pulling Arthur along with him under the invisibility cloak. The castle grounds are pale with snow under the Christmas Eve half moon.
Arthur grumbles,
“Merlin, where are we actually going? It’s bloody freezing and I think my toes have fallen off.”
“Just a bit farther. It’s a surprise”, is Merlin’s reply. Arthur huffs.
Merlin suddenly stops when they reach the edge of a tall hill situated above the Great Lake. Letting go of Arthur’s mittened hand, Merlin mutters a wandless accio, hands outstretched dramatically towards the castle.
Then he turns round to Arthur and says cheerfully,
“Now we just have to wait a bit.”
Arthur is annoyed. Not only is he freezing, but he seems to be stuck with a crazy person on the edge of a literal cliff.
“Okay Merlin, what in the Godric is going on. When you said ‘let’s meet at midnight’ I thought we would be having a nice, warm, Christmas feast, or at least carrying out a Christmas-themed prank indoors, with normal temperatures and castle fires. I did not, for one bloody second, think I would be dragged out here with no expla- ..wait, what is that?”
Merlin, who has been listening quite calmly to this outburst, turns and smiles at the two odd shaped objects flying towards them. Merlin tells Arthur,
“Aha, here they are. Just on time.”
The Slytherin catches the two objects, which happen to be broomsticks. Arthur crosses his arms and waits for an explanation, which Merlin finally gives,
“I thought we’d go flying- you know, seeing as you’ve never flown before. And this is my favourite spot. It’s part of my Christmas present to you- Morgana and Gwen let me borrow their brooms. Oh, you’re shivering, wait a sec-“
Merlin takes Arthur’s hands despite his protestations, and murmurs a spell which instantly warms the prince up- it feels as if he’s put on a jumper that’s been warmed by the fireplace. Arthur grins for the first time that evening, telling Merlin,
“Wow, that’s a cool spell, thanks. Sorry I’ve been so grumpy.”
Merlin shakes his head,
“‘s fine Arthur, you’re always grumpy when you’re cold. Now let’s go- I’ll show you how to kick off.”
Arthur nods, following Merlin’s instructions.
With the lake below and the moon above, Arthur feels totally free on the broomstick. He’d avoided flying so far because he’d always had a fear of heights (after falling out a tree at age 6)- but this, this is worth facing his childhood fear. He does a twirl before shouting to Merlin,
“I BLOODY LOVE FLYING”
Later, near dawn, the two of them are sneaking back through the silent castle when Arthur remembers something. He whispers to Merlin,
“Wait- you can do wandless magic then?”
Merlin smiles shyly, nodding. The slytherin then adds,
“Please don’t tell anyone?”
Arthur gives Merlin the soft smile he reserves only for the dark-haired boy, replying,
“I promise”