A/N: So this is just a cute little one-shot that I thought of as I looked outside at my snow-covered yard.
Just to clarify: Morgana is not evil in this, and she and Arthur know that they're siblings.
Please enjoy!
Arthur and Merlin were walking through the courtyard one chilly day, their footfalls crunching in the snow. Their breath billowed out in front of them, and both were shivering, although Arthur would never admit to it. Merlin, however, would.
"It's cold. Let's go back inside."
"My father told me to go pick mistletoe for the festival, Merlin," Arthur replied. "And considering the only place you can find this plant is at the tops of trees, an able-bodied man is needed for the job, which makes me wonder why I brought you with me."
Merlin gave a little huff under his breath and halted his steps, trying to decide whether he should follow the prat and make sure he doesn't kill himself falling out of a tree (although there was a bit of humor in that) or retreat back into the warmth of the castle.
While Merlin was pondering, a snowball suddenly nailed the dear prince in front of him.
"Hey!" Arthur protested, shaking the frosty substance from his neck and shoulders, "If you don't want to come, that's fine! But don't throw snow at me!"
"It wasn't me!" Merlin defended himself. "I swear!" he added at Arthur's disbelieving look.
"Then who was it?"
"Oh, boys!" a voice called to them from across the courtyard.
Both Arthur and Merlin turned their heads towards the voice and saw a smirking Morgana and smiling Guinevere approaching them. The boys smiled widely.
"Ah, finally we have their attention! See, Gwen, I told you that would get their attention," Morgana told her friend.
"And this will have theirs," Arthur muttered playfully as he scooped up a handful of snow and launched it at the girls.
Morgana and Gwen quickly dodged it, squealing.
"Arthur!" Gwen protested.
"Merlin, help us!" Morgana appealed to her friend.
"I'm sorry, my lady," the warlock replied with his signature smile, "but this is too much fun." And with that, he joined Arthur in throwing snowballs at their friends.
Seeing that they were on their own, Morgana and Gwen began throwing snowballs at the boys in retaliation, all four of them forgetting just how cold it was in their excitement.
Suddenly Arthur saw a golden opportunity as Gwen took her eyes off of him to get another handful of snow, and he lightly tackled her to the ground, making sure she fell on top of him so as not to hurt her.
"Arthur! Arthur, let me up!" she demanded, laughing.
"Nope, I'm rather comfortable like this," he replied, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist. She smiled at him, taking in his disheveled blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, and leaned in for a kiss. Arthur was eager to comply.
Merlin and Morgana were having their own moment, Merlin having grabbed Morgana's slim waist and refusing to let her go, no matter how hard she shoved against him. Finally, out of breath, they shared a smile and a kiss, Morgana wrapping her arms around his neck.
Unbeknownst to the four of them was that the king had seen all of this. Uther could not believe that his own children could be in love with servants, and be so open with their relationship! He was about to turn from the window to order the arrest of the servants when a familiar warm feeling suddenly encompassed him.
Uther, a soft voice said. Uther, let them be.
Uther turned back to the window, seeing how happy Arthur and Morgana were, laughing in their play. He sighed, but decided to hold his tongue. He remembered what it felt like to be in love. And so he walked away, leaving the forbidden couples to their fun, and began reminiscing about his Ygraine.
A/N: Reviews are much appreciated! Happy Holidays, everyone!