The Twelve Days of Christmas: Merlin Style.
Day One
Merlin glanced around Gaius' chambers. All the usual books and papers and other such useful items for medicinal purposes. He sighed, reading the paper in his hand again.
Dear Merlin,
Your first of twelve days of Christmas starts now in Gaius' chambers. The rules are as follows: No searching for the next present early. No telling anyone what you're doing. And no trying to look for me.
Merry Christmas Merlin.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer.
The young Warlock smiled faintly. Love, Your Secret Admirer, he thought. Even if he didn't know who sent it, it was still nice that someone set this up for him. I wonder who it could be, Merlin thought as he walked up to his room.
With a gasp he looked at the large wooden box on his bed. He didn't want to open it. Not because he didn't know who sent it, but because it didn't really feel right. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind and Merlin was doing his best to ignore it.
Walk over to the bed. Sit down. Open the box. Be happy about what's inside, he told himself firmly. Merlin went to his bed, sat down, put his hand on the box lid and… hesitated. He could have sworn he heard someone knock. Oh well, it appeared that there was no one around so he prepared himself again.
Just as he was about to lift the lid, "Merlin, there you are," Arthur said, striding into the room and looking disdainfully at the mess on the floor before his blue eyes finally settled on Merlin's present. "Isn't it a little early for presents Merlin?" he asked, sitting down on the bed anyway.
Merlin shrugged. "Well, are you going to open it or just sit there looking at it?" Again Merlin shrugged his movements slightly more vicious this time, dislodging the lid and sending it tumbling into Arthur's lap.
The prince brushed it off and looked expectantly at him. Merlin just looked back. "Merlin," Arthur said in an exasperated tone. "The point of opening a gift is to see what's inside."
Merlin raised his eyebrows and peered over the edge of the box. "It's a carving," he muttered, reaching into the box and extracting the wooden carving. He looked closely at it, it was about the size of his hand and was the shape of a tree with a tiny bird sitting on one of its branches.
Arthur got up and moved to stand behind Merlin. "It's nice," he declared suddenly causing Merlin to jump. "It's amazing how much trouble some people go to for this holiday." With a smile, Merlin held up the carving so Arthur could have a closer look. "Good workmanship," Arthur praised lightly. "Who sent it?"
"I have no idea," Merlin replied happily. "This came with it though," he handed Arthur the paper that he'd found that morning and the prince took it, reading it over once before sitting on Merlin's bed again.
"Well, looks like your Christmas is starting early but look, you just broke the second rule," Arthur proffered the paper and Merlin glanced at it.
"No," he said, bringing his hands up to his hair. "How could I already break a rule?"
Arthur raised a royal eyebrow. "Merlin, I'm sure this 'Admirer' won't mind if you tell me, I am the Prince of Camelot. I have to go and have lunch with my father and Morgana, that'll be fun." He stood up again and made to leave the room.
"Aren't I needed for that?"
"Well, normally yes, but I think it'll be more fun to watch you trying not to look for the next gift," and with that as a goodbye, Arthur left.
Well, that was interesting, Merlin thought as he placed his carving on the nightstand.
On the first day of Christmas Merlin's true love gave to him: A bird in a tree carving.
Author's Ramble: When I had this idea it was quarter past twelve today. I was tired but I wrote most of it then but then remembered that I couldn't remember my password so I just left it until this morning. Day Two will be up this afternoon because it's not written yet. Hope you like (and review.) Happy almost first day of Christmas!