I know, what am I doing?! I should be working on the next chapter to Trystan! I know, but I went from 17 reviews a chapter to 7, and this idea wouldn't leave me alone. Especially cause we have lots of ice around now all the snow has hardened. This'll be fairly short - 2 or 3 chapters I think. Enjoy! xxx
Merlin walked through the castle, same as every day, to Arthur's chambers.
Except today, there was something different about his look.
The manservant was covered in white.
White, ice crystals that were melting on him.
Snow.
It was the first snow of the year in Camelot, and the first Merlin had ever experienced in the kingdom. It had come overnight, thick and heavy, veiling everything it touched.
Merlin ambled into Arthur's chambers, only to find the room was empty. The warlock frowned, confused. The prince was hardly ever awake when he arrived, let alone up, dressed and away. Merlin shrugged and sighed to himself, before placing Arthur's breakfast on the table and beginning to dutifully clean up his master's chambers.
Arthur stormed down the corridors, fury emanating from him in powerful waves.
The only day off he ever got!
It was so typical of his father.
Heavy snow meant Arthur's holiday was completely scrapped and he had to ride out to check the lower towns.
Momentarily clenching his hands into fists, Arthur stormed into his chambers, causing the doors to slam into the walls with a deafening crash that scared the hell out of Merlin. Arthur felt his anger ebb away and turn into guilt at seeing the warlock on the floor.
The manservant had just picked up Arthur's breakfast, planning on returning it to the castle kitchens as it had gone cold, and had then turned to grab Arthur's laundry with his empty hand. The prince had then promptly thundered into the room, causing Merlin to whip around in fright, laundry forgotten, trip and fall, his hip smashing into the corner of the table on his way to meet the floor.
Oh, and he was now decorated in the prince's breakfast.
"Merlin, you idiot! Are you all right?" Arthur was instantly kneeling next to his manservant, a hand gripping the boy's bony shoulder.
Merlin pushed himself off the floor with a groan, sausages falling off of him onto the floor. "Yeah, just great," he answered with a wince, his hand automatically covering his side.
"Let me see," Arthur insisted, his voice edged with concern.
Merlin didn't bother to argue and simply leaned back breathlessly against the table that he now regarded as evil.
Arthur gently removed Merlin's hand, before slowly and delicately lifting up the warlock's shirt. The prince winced on seeing the bruise that was already forming. Extremely careful, Arthur lightly brushed his fingers against Merlin's skin, pulling back instantly at Merlin's hiss of pain.
"I want you to go to Gaius and see if you can get anything for that," Arthur commanded, then remembering his father. "Be back within the hour, though; we have to ride out and check the lower towns. Wrap up warmly."
Merlin scoffed. "I'm sure we do," he remarked, knowing all too well that the prince was just bringing him along for the ride.
Arthur smirked. "It is your job to be at my every need. You should know that by now."
"Oh, I'm sorry, you seem to have mistaken me for someone who cares…" Merlin muttered under his breath, He then launched into a documentary about prats and how Arthur was a royal prat and how prats found enjoyment in being unjust to poor, innocent manservants.
Arthur laughed. "Don't worry, I feel exactly the same way about idiots and how they torture their masters." The prince gave Merlin a knowing look. "This shouldn't be too bad, though. You're with me, after all, and this is your first winter here. You've got a lot to see."
Arthur was right. Merlin couldn't believe it.
Camelot was beautiful.
Not that is wasn't already, but the snow just brought a different feel, a different effect. Merlin was fascinated by how the white icing concealed everything, but showed it all and more to you at the same time. It was white and fluffy, pure and captivating. The landscape was like an apparition.
Like Heaven's touch on Earth.
After finishing up on checking round all the lower parts of Camelot, Arthur had decided to take Merlin further into the surrounding forest. The prince couldn't help but notice his manservant's reactions to everything. Merlin was like a young, spellbound child who had never seen winter in his life before. And Arthur felt great to give Merlin that experience – not that he would ever tell the warlock…
"Give me your horse," Arthur said as Merlin followed his lead and dismounted. "I'll tie it up with mine somewhere safe."
The manservant happily obliged and left Arthur to explore.
Merlin wandered further into the forest without thinking; he was completely awestruck. It was so pristine, the whole place untouched save for a few animals.
He eventually reached a clearing, and still enchanted by his surroundings he began to roam into the centre, hoping to see more of the forest. The space was completely empty – there was no trees, no footprints, nothing. Merlin felt like he was in the heart of the woods.
"Merlin!"
The warlock whirled round at the panicked yell, catching sight of Arthur charging down an icy hill, throwing all caution to the wind.
"Be careful, Arthur!" Merlin shouted.
In response, he received an incredulous and slightly fearful look. "Me be careful? Me! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing on there?!"
Merlin frowned. "It's just a clearing, Arthur. What's wrong?" The manservant was confused. What was scaring Arthur?
"Merlin, you idiot! It's not just a clearing, it's – "
CRACK!
Arthur's face was now drained of all colour, his expression full of horror. "Merlin, slowly, very slowly, walk towards me."
Now extremely worried, Merlin lifted a tentative foot and very, very gently placed it down towards Arthur.
CRACK!
Too late.
In a split second the floor beneath Merlin was ripped away and he shot down into the ground.
"MERLIN!"
Merlin opened his eyes. Everything around him was murky, and he had a faint feeling he was sinking.
He was… underwater.
Yes! He was sure of it. He was chilled to the bone, and his body seemed so much lighter – like those swimming lessons when he was younger.
But wait a minute. How was he underwater? The last thing he remembered was…
Then realisation hit him. He knew why Arthur had been scared.
This was no clearing.
This was a lake.