Merlin and Arthur were sat on a hill overlooking Camelot. It was freezing and cloudy. The winds whispered of possible rain. But neither of them dared to move. Arthur was looking down the sharp end to the hill, which was more like a cliff overlooking the castle, now that he thought about it. He knew Merlin was a little scared of heights, so when Merlin but his hand out for Arthur to hold out of comfort, he couldn't bring himself to hesitate.
Arthur was boiling in contrast to Merlin, who was freezing, like rocks which have been in the sea for far too long, with waves crashing against them. Arthur would protect Merlin from waves if he could. Arthur could see Merlin's breath because of the sudden drop in temperature. Merlin shuffled closer, putting his stone cold face into Arthur's dragon-fire hot neck. Merlin breathed in his scent, he was shaking. Arthur couldn't bring himself to hesitate - he just pulled Merlin as close as was possible. Not a breath of air between them.
"It's so cold," Merlin whispered - Arthur barely heard him, or rather he wouldn't have if his ear wasn't so close to Merlin's lips, brushing against his ear slightly. "Like the cold when you're dead."
"And how would you know what the temperature is when you're dead?" Arthur countered, a rough edge to his voice. He couldn't bare the thought of losing Merlin. He pretended that it wouldn't happen, eternity had a fresher feel to it that an ending. Merlin did nothing but shrug and smile. The same smile that Arthur was in love with. He lost his breath for a second and kissed Merlin's cheek. Nothing but the wind could be heard.
Merlin smiled shyly against Arthur's chest. He loved it when Arthur held him like this, he loved feeling completely like he belonged to Arthur.
"The wind's blowing like it's the end of the world." Merlin gasped, his breath fighting against the turbulent wind. Arthur either didn't hear, or didn't wish to reply. The end of the world could not be thought about when he was so blissfully happy.
"You're so cold, Merlin. You're an idiot! Why didn't you wrap up."
With that Merlin pushed up and touched Arthur's nose and then kissed it. It gave Arthur a renewed warmth.
"Maybe I like living dangerously." He countered with a sly smirk. Shuddering ever so subtely, but Arthur could sense it. It made Arthur wrap his arms round him tighter. "Arthur, I know I never tell you this. But you're such a romantic. Bringing me up here so I could see Camelot at night, so beautiful to see it all lit up."
"I wanted to show you" Arthur replied, grinning ear to ear; pleased that Merlin enjoyed the beauty of Camelot as much as he did
"I love -"
But Arthur just kissed him. It was rough, yet brilliant. Their tongues battled and they kissed ferociously as though it was the last night of the world. Arthur had never felt so in love with Merlin before, he felt so alive.
"You know, Merlin." Arthur whispered against Merlin's soft, frigid lips. Hardly moving his mouth at all. "Sometimes you make me feel like I'm living at the edge of the world."
Merlin just smiled, and kissed him and kissed him and kissed him. All night long. Neither of them had felt so alive, sharing the warmth of Arthur's body. They didn't stop until the sun came up at dawn, and even then they hesitated to stop. If this was what living at the edge of the world was like, it didn't bother either of them.