Title: Frozen Heart
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/OFC, Merlin/OFC
Prompt: N/A
WARNINGS: This is based roughly somewhere series 2, however as I am want to do, some series 3 stuff may creep in so there may be some accidental spoilers.
Disclaimer: Merlin not mine *sob* It's the BBC's though I want to rob them and get away with Bradley and Colin ^_^
Summary: Winter is a dark time for Camelot, but this year is made even worse when something, or rather someone raises her beautiful head and has her revenge.
Note: Cause I am both stupid and sado-masochistic for the first part of this year's advent I am writing a multi-parter. When my chapters run out I will fall back on tradition and do prompts I have been given! I am well aware the title sucks. If I think of a better one it will get replaced! Thanks to the lovely ladytanyata for beta-ing and if there is anything wrong it's my fault.

The snow was deep and nearly reached their knees, but it only managed to slow them down, not stop them enjoying themselves. It was a rare occasion that the young Prince and the King's Ward were allowed a little play time. The snow had fallen thickly overnight and their tutors hadn't been able to control their excitement. Lessons had been halted for the day and they had been given their freedom.

Arthur's cloak dragged along the snow behind him, still too big for him, but he had insisted he wear it, he was proud to wear the Pendragon colours. It collected snow behind him as he continued to roll the ball of snow with his gloved hands. Soon the sphere was heavy enough that he had to begrudgingly ask Morgana to help him with it.

When Arthur was happy that the giant snowball was big enough (because they couldn't push it any further), he began a new one and Morgana went back to her original activity of walking pictures into the snow. She kept looking behind her to see the patterns she was making and was paying little attention to where she was actually walking so occasionally fell over and couldn't help but burst into fits of giggles. Arthur would roll his eyes and mumble 'girls', but couldn't hide the happy smile on his face. This was such a rare treat for them and he couldn't pretend he wasn't enjoying it and to see Morgana so happy made him happy also.

When he had decided the second ball was big enough, Arthur called Morgana over again and they both managed to roll the new ball on top of the first. Morgana took a step back and angled her head slightly, appraising the construction.

"What is it supposed to be anyway?" Arthur grinned and told her proudly,

"It's a snow knight." Morgana laughed hard, almost doubling over with the strain.

"It doesn't look much like a knight to me." She managed breathlessly. Arthur crossed his arms and pouted. He stomped his foot for added effect,

"It is a knight because I said so." Morgana, used to Arthur's tantrums, just smiled, only just managing to hold back any further laughter.

"Well, he wouldn't be very good in a fight would he? He can't see and he hasn't got any arms either. And doesn't a knight need a weapon to fight with?" Arthur turned to look at his creation. Morgana watched his reaction, eyes bright and eager. Arthur's hands fell to his sides; his face a deep frown and he stomped off, definitely not looking back at Morgana (except to stick his tongue out at her). Morgana laughed knowing she had won the argument and Arthur was likely going off to hide somewhere and sulk for a while. She began stomping through the snow again, happy that she had one over Arthur.

It was only when she had begun to feel the cold that Morgana realised there was something wrong. Looking around her she quickly noticed that Arthur hadn't come back. She looked around her hurriedly, her dark curls bouncing around her as she turned her head in every direction. She couldn't see as much as a flash of red cloak. She closed her eyes to see if she could hear anything. It was then that she noticed how quiet everything was, it was almost as if the whole world was holding its breath, waiting along with her, waiting to see if something would happen. It made her feel uncomfortable.

Wondering if the grumpy Prince had got himself lost, she huffed and began following his footprints. As she kept walking, snowflakes started to fall around her, soft and fluffy; she could feel them land on her face and eyelashes. She hoped that the snow wouldn't fall too quickly or heavily and cover Arthur's tracks before she had found him.

"Arthur? Arthur, where are you? I didn't mean it, really." She called out to him but only her own voice echoed back at her.

As it happened, he hadn't gone too far. She finally spotted his red cloak among the trees ahead. As she got closer she called out to him again,

"Arthur! What are you doing? You've been here ages." Arthur didn't move. She walked up to him and carefully placed a hand on his shoulder. "Arthur?" He finally turned his head and looked surprised to see her.

"Morgana? What are you doing here?" His voice sounded dreamy, distant.

"I was asking you the same thing. Didn't you hear me?" Arthur shook his head, no,

"I was talking to the lady."

"What lady? Arthur, there is no lady." Morgana gave a quick glance around in case she had missed something. She could only see the trees, there was certainly no lady there and the only footprints she could see were her own and Arthur's.

"There was." Some of Arthur's temper filtered back into his voice but he still didn't sound like himself. "She was talking to me; you must have scared her off."

"Arthur, you're scaring me. There's no one here." He turned to her fully then, fists clenched, his face angry as he shouted at her,

"You are just jealous that she talked to me and not you." He gave her a shove and she stumbled back before falling into the snow. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. Arthur had been cross at her before but he had never hurt her, never pushed her. Not like this.

That was when she saw it, or rather her.

As Morgana looked up, her eyes watering, she saw the snowflakes flutter together and form a small flurry that spun like a small tornado until a lady formed out of the flakes, her form becoming more substantial the longer she watched. Morgana stared, frozen to the spot in awe of this creature, this magic, as the lady reached out to Arthur, a white hand gently placed under his chin so he would look up at her. Her skin so pale compared to the rosy hue of Arthur's. She smiled at him, but to Morgana it looked so cold. Blue eyes turned to look at her, chips of ice that sent shivers down her back. The lady bent towards Arthur and placed a kiss on his forehead with deathly blue lips. Arthur stayed where he was until she held out a hand to him. Slowly, his hand rose and he took hold of hers.

"Arthur, don't!" Morgana shouted but her warning went unheeded. The snowflakes whirled once more, this time encircling Arthur too and the pair vanished; only an echoing laugh filled the clearing. Morgana scrambled to her feet and spun around wildly, hoping for some sign of her step brother, but there was none. Arthur was gone.

"Arthur!"