Heat of the Moment
Chapter 1
Today's just another day... Arthur thought, padding the sheet that covered his naked upper body. He yawned a few times and wanted to lay there forever, though he suddenly rushed out of bed. The thing was, that his manservant George could enter the room anytime and he just didn't want that incredibly well-mannered imbecile to see his upper body, let alone dress him.
This had been the case since Christmas. It had never been a problem for Arthur when Merlin was his servant, but well, Merlin wasn't here right now. Why did he give the fool off for Christmas holidays anyway? As fast as he could with his sleepy mind, he dressed himself. He had just finished this, when George entered the room, with the always o-so-serious expression on his face. ''Sire,'' he called Arthur very formally, ''would you like your breakfast right now or shall I wait for your orders?''
''Jeez, George,'' Arthur said irritated, ''just give me the meal already. I'm starving.''
''As you wish, my lord.'' George left the room with little baby steps, trying to make himself sound as quiet as possible. Arthur didn't know what the point of this was. He was awake, so why be this silent? It only annoyed him, because he was so used to Merlin, who always tripped and fell over the mess in Arthurs room - which he never cleaned, because he was too busy swearing at him.
Arthur looked out of the window. It amazed him that so many small snowflakes could form such a big pack of snow. It surely was one meter in length. If Merlin was to come back to Camelot he'd surely be held up for a few days, because it was not done to travel back with this weather. Oh, if only Merlin was here... he wanted to make snowballs and start a little snowball fight with him. He wanted to see the crystal clear snowflakes lying upon his hair, only to be able to ruffle his hair. Then he wanted to sit next to, talk to, laugh with and tease Merlin. All these thoughts Arthur had, were unaware for the last named person. He just thought of it, but he didn't search for anything behind it. They were good friends. Nothing more. And to be honest, he liked it that way.
It was the Second day of Christmas, but there was nothing fun about it. Later on that day, Morgana would probably beg Uther and Arthur to spend the day horse riding, followed by warming up at the fireplace in her own room. Arthur didn't feel like doing this today. Maybe if he'd get some nice Christmas presents from her he'd go with her.
After breakfast, Arthur got a quick visit from Morgana. She stood in the door opening, and asked him to come, for she heard Uther had some news for him. Arthur looked in the mirror one more time, very smoothly, and joined her on the way to Uthers chambers.
''So,'' Morgana asked, ''no rings under your eyes today?''
Arthur shrugged. ''Well, I don't know. I can't sleep well lately.''
''Does it have something to do with Merlins departure?'' Arthur saw her grin. How he wished she was walking under a tree with a big pack of snow on the branches right now, so that he could give the three a push, but a very casual one, obviously.
Unfortunately, there was no tree in the halls of the castle, so Arthur let her know with words that he was not amused with this in the slightest, by saying: ''Why does everyone, even you, think, that every time I'm apparently not comfortable in my own skin, it has got something to do with Merlin. I'm sorry, my dear Morgana, but that's nonsense.''
''Would it be nonsense to say that ever since Merlin has been your servant you haven't showed interest in other women... or men?'' She showed a triumphantly smile.
Abruptly, Arthur stopped walking for a second. ''Pardon me,'' said he, almost losing his temper, ''but are you assuming ĺ am gay?''
Morgana pouted: ''I wouldn't say it like that... but maybe that's what it is?''
''You've completely lost your mind. Are you going to tell me you've made a book where you write down all my actions, twentyfour seven?''
''Mmm, that might be a good idea...'' Morgana smirked.
''Oh, stop it, you! And for the record: I'll never forgive you for calling me gay.''
''I did nót!'' Morgana chuckled. Secretly, she was enjoying this, a lót. Arthur didn't want to give her this satisfaction, but he already did by reacting to her statement.
''Indirectly, you did,'' Arthur said offended. ''Now, if you don't mind...'' He walked passed her very hastily, not wanting to continue this ridiculous conversation Morgana'd started – but he already heard her footsteps becoming louder and louder behind him.
''What now? Haven't you harmed my pride enough already?'' Arthur snorted.
''Don't be such a girl, Arthur,'' Morgana answered. She turned left in the big halls of the castle, walking to her chambers instead of Uther's.
Arthur frowned and asked her what she was doing, but she just said: ''I have a surprise for you,'' and made it look like it was a great deal. That was the only reason Arthur followed her, but he didn't set his hopes too high for this surprise. ''What is it then?'' he asked, ''horse food? So the horses will not die when we have to ride them for five hours long agáín? That would be clever, Morgána.'' He emphasized 'again' and 'Morgana' to be sure to get an answer, even though he knew she didn't like his cockiness that much. Ok then, she didn't like his cockiness at all.
''Can you just be patient, for one single second?'' she muttered.
''I'll be as patient as a girl.''
''That doesn't make any sense.'' An annoyed Morgana looked at Arthur. ''You're so stupid... And now hush, otherwise you won't get your present.''
''Fair enough.''
As they entered Morgana's chambers, Arthur saw an enormous box of one by one meter, wrapped up in red gift paper, decorated with a green ribbon. The moment he saw it he knew that ór it would be horse food for the rest of the eternity, ór it would be something completely else. The last one seemed more logical, somehow. He felt a bit of guilt, when staring at the box, because he didn't get Morgana a present as big as this one. Would she still like the necklace he bought her?
''Tadaaa!'' She smiled, the corners of her mouth curled up. He saw the twinkling in her eyes. ''I'm sure you'll love this! It took some time to get this here, but I'm glad it wasn't snowing as much yesterday as it does today, otherwise it would be a Third day of Christmas present, or maybe a sixth.''
Arthur didn't know what to think because he was slightly confused. The present didn't come from Camelot, then? Would that mean it was something exclusive? Anyway, he was itching to undo the paper, and Morgana didn't stop him when he walked to the present and undid the green ribbon on top of it. And when he did that, he heard a strange noise, like the thing you hear when someone's –
''Morgana, why are you breathing this heavily?'' he wondered aloud.
''I'm no – ok, it's me,'' she admitted, ''I'm sorry but I'm overly excited so my breath gets a little heavier and sounds a little bit more... manly?''
''You're messing around with me.'' Arthur turned around to see her, to look if she wasn't lying to him. ''What is the mea – AAH!''
He leaped a good four meters in the air, scared to the death by the sudden sound of a 'suprise!' behind him. Two strong hands brought him back to the ground and as Arthur turned, he saw a person who looked an awful lot like Merlin. The red shirt, the jacket, and for Christmas' sake, a green scarf which Arthur had never seen before. Then there was the goofy smile, the nonchalant locks of his deep brown, almost black hair, and the dazzling blue eyes, that could make people do whatever he wanted if used correctly.
''Good heavens!'' Arthur cried out, finally realising it actually was Merlin. ''What are you doing here?''
''Merry Christmas,'' was Merlins answer, before he hugged Arthur tightly. Both their bodies felt hot when pressed together, due to the sudden adrenaline shots they both got through this surprise. From his eyecorners, Arthur sneaked a peak at Morgana. Her fat, smug face had this annoying smile planted on it, but for this one second Arthur didn't care. He was holding Merlin, and even though Morgana was giving him these looks, he was grateful that he didn't have to spend another day with George. And maybe he was grateful as well because his best friend was here. And that was what Christmas was all about right? Being with your beloved ones. Starting with this 'present' made the day suddenly a lot more beautiful.