Author's Ramble: I am so, so, so, so sorry. I completely forgot I was even supposed to post anything. I swear the next one will be up on time.
The Twelve Days of Christmas: Merlin Style.
Day Ten
Whoever was sending Merlin the gifts had kept their promise. Instead of nine nightingales running, or rather flying, freely around his room, he woke up to ten cages hooked to his ceiling, nine filled with the little birds and one empty one.
A note rested on his pillow beside his head.
Dear Merlin,
I told you they would come in useful, didn't I? Well, if I didn't I meant to. Feel free to do what you like with the tenth cage; I thought it might come in handy one day. Have you figured me out yet?
Merry Christmas Merlin.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer.
Merlin smiled. No, he wasn't really any closer to figuring it out but maybe whoever it was would slip and he'd be there. Of course, if he wanted to take the fun out of it, he could use magic but maybe that'd have to wait until after he got the twelfth gift or else it would be cheating. And Merlin didn't cheat.
As he went to work that morning, several people that usually ignored him smiled and waved, others said hello, and even two serving maids gave him a flower from the room they were tending. He smiled politely back but for some reason felt incredibly distant. Like he was somewhere else.
Arthur was still sleeping by the time Merlin got there and the servant smiled. "Arthur," he said softly, tip-toeing over to the sleeping Prince and waiting for some sign of being heard. When none came Merlin shook his head. "ARTHUR!" he bellowed a somewhat regrettable decision when the Prince pulled a blade from under his pillow and held it threateningly at Merlins neck.
"Oh, it's just you Merlin," he mumbled when he saw who it was. "Sorry."
"Not a problem," Merlin squeaked as Arthur placed the blade back under his pillow. Arthur mumbled something else as he rolled over and Merlin had to strain to make it out.
"I thought that knife would come in handy one day," Merlin frowned as he pretended to busy himself around Arthur's chambers. The way he phrased it again, Merlin thought. For the rest of the day, even when Arthur slapped him on the back of the head, Merlin seemed incredibly distracted.
On the tenth day of Christmas Merlin's true love gave to him: Ten bird cages.
Author's Ramble: Again sorry. The next chapter will be up tonight and I'm going to start on tomorrow's when it's done.