A/N: This is very short, and is just something I wrote quite quickly. Hope it's okay though. :)
Arthur held his icy hands over the fire in a vain attempt to warm them. Glancing around the frosty woodland, his eyes landed on Merlin, who was huddled as close to the fire as he could get, clutching a mug which he occasionally lifted to his lips, swallowing the hot liquid inside it to try and warm himself up.
He caught sight of Arthur watching him and his lips curved into a small smile. "Want some?"
Arthur scoffed. "I'm made of stronger stuff than you are, Merlin."
Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"I don't feel the cold as easily as you do," said Arthur simply. Merlin pulled a face and lowered his eyes to his drink, raising it to his lips and gulping a large amount of it down. Too much. He choked, his eyes watering.
Arthur rolled his eyes as he watched him. "You have to learn to embrace the cold," he told Merlin over his friend's coughs. "Instead of choking on drinks."
Merlin held his mug out to Arthur. "Go on, try some," he said hoarsely. Arthur didn't take it, a frown crossing his face as he stared at it. "What do you call this?"
Merlin sniggered. "You don't know?"
Arthur ignored him in favour of staring up at the snow covered trees, trying not to shiver as an icy cold wind swept past him, chilling him to the bone.
"It's hot chocolate." Merlin's voice cut through the silence.
"Well, I don't need any," said Arthur impatiently.
"It's nice," Merlin protested, waving the drink in front of Arthur's nose. Arthur scowled up at the dark sky.
He felt Merlin force the mug into his hands. "Come on, Arthur, at least have a sip. You know you want to."
Arthur said nothing, wishing the mug wasn't so warm and comforting, warming his hands more than the fire could. Merlin laughed.
"You're shivering Arthur, even I can see that! Have some – it really warms you up."
"I don't need warming up," Arthur snarled through gritted teeth.
"You're being an idiot Arthur," said Merlin frankly. "But if you're sure…" He reached out a hand. "I'll have it back, thanks."
"No!" Arthur burst out. "I'll…try a little bit of it. Only a little, mind," he added, as Merlin's smile widened. "To prove to you that it is disgusting."
"I have no idea how you work that out," Merlin sighed as he watched Arthur raise the mug to his lips and take a cautious sip. He swallowed as the hot liquid trickled down his throat, warming his body up considerably.
"How is it?" asked Merlin eagerly.
"It's all right," Arthur lied. "Nothing special." However, as Merlin reached out a hand to take it, he kept a tight hold of it, shaking his head sadly.
"Sorry, Merlin. But I'm afraid it's mine now. I mean, you did give it to me, after all." Merlin glared at him.
"Give it back!"
"Sorry," said Arthur, shrugging. He took a large gulp and choked, in the same way as Merlin had done earlier.
"I'll have that, thank you!" said Merlin firmly, prising the mug of hot chocolate from Arthur's grip. "After all, you have to learn to embrace the cold, instead of choking on drinks." Arthur glared at him out of streaming eyes as Merlin walked away, a spring in his step, occasionally turning round to wave at Arthur, the precious mug clutched tightly in his hands.
A/N: Hope it wasn't too bad! :)