A bit of magic
They hardly got any time to relax. They spent whole day going from a shop to another, making lists, packing gifts, writing letters.
Merlin had disguised himself in Santa Claus and he'd asked for their help. Celeste had agreed on the spot and the others had been forced to join them.
First, the Camelotians were disappointed as he used magic to turn water in gold. They'd never like magic as it was, so they couldn't help disagreeing as they saw it used to gain wealth. Merlin said nothing. He just left and came back half an hour later with a cheque instead of gold. Then, he forced them to follow him in every shop he went. He bought sweets, fruits, clothes, toys, books. And all of them had to be sorted and packed according to the list.
The next day brought the same schedule, shopping, shopping, shopping. They were exhausted. Only Merlin and Morgana seemed to enjoy it to everybody's surprise.
But it was worth pain as they saw the happiness in the children's eyes. It had been a tradition for old Merlin and old Morgana. For four years they had been offering gifts to orphan children and poor people who needed help as well as ill people.
After the accident, they'd paid for a new hospital and for three years they had been visiting and easing the patient's pain, bringing smiles on their faces. Morgana had even decided to enter the medical school and now she was in the fourth year.
For the first time, the Camelotians saw that magic could be used to help. The children's smiles and enthusiasm as they saw the gifts, the kindness the sorcerer displayed in front of the children, his patience as he listened to every of the children's stories. And even young Morgana was different. She played with them and laughed a lot.
Eventually, they all join the party, kings, queens, knights, witches, warlocks and children, they all played together under the thousands lights and among Christmas snowmen and Rudolfs.
The day had been pretty long, but eventually Arthur & comp. were allowed to go back home and do what they knew best - watch TV. Although, they didn't say it aloud they'd loved to spend the time like that and they felt a bit nostalgic that the day was over.
They were all seated in front of TV, noisily laughing and joking when the door opened and Celeste brought a tiny wet puppy. Soon, young Morgana and young Merlin came in, each of them having a similar puppy in their arms. And this continued with Avalon, Chris and the old Merlin and Morgana each harbouring such a puppy in their arms. Seven puppies were brought in and there were some to be brought in too. So, they went back and came with other four puppies. Eventually, they stopped there.
They had found them in the woods, alone and hungry. None could imagine how they'd got there, but as they couldn't find their mummy and the puppies were trembling due to the cold weather, the seven decided to take them home and feed them.
And so they washed the puppies and warmed them with the hairdryer. The little ones seemed the enjoy the warmth and they cuddle in their little boxes, on the warm fluffy blankets the group had putted there for them. Darky, as he couldn't stand for being number two, not even for a few moments, cuddled in front of the hair dryer, over the poor puppy which was in line for being dried.
They feed them with the use of some syringes. They were so hungry and vulnerable. Darky as well tried to get attention and suddenly he "fell in love" with the milk they needed to feed the puppies even though his bowl was full with food.
When the cat realized that his attempts were in vain, he decided to take the hard way. And he took his revenge on the poor puppies. Darky didn't allow his masters to feed the "babies" as he kept rubbing against their hands and pushing the syringe away. He'd never been so jealous.
The little ones were sitted near the fireplace to welcome Santa when he would come. They had their own sock hanged at the fireplace near to Celeste's which was the biggest of all. Well, it was no wonder considering the huge wishlist she'd written to Santa (well, she'd dictated it as she could write not even a word except for her own name).
Darky had his own sock, too. The cat was probably going to receive a new toy as he'd already destroyed his old one as well as the sofa and the curtains (but Morgana hadn't found it) and Merlin's folders and documents (Merlin had Darky with him one day, hoping the cat would entertain the child Merlin was trying to help. Well, Darky did his job lovely, but he also destroyed everything he could. And he had a liking for paper.)
To Celeste's disappointment, Santa had come again while she was asleep. She'd tried hard, very, very hard not to fall asleep and wait for him, but it'd seemed Santa had been very busy again and he had been unable to come earlier. Yet she was happy that he'd brought her everything she'd wished for.
In fact, everyone had received something. There was hardly any space left under the Christmas Tree.
At first, the group hadn't dared to get close as they'd probably thought they hadn't got anything. It was young Merlin who first noticed there'd been gifts for everyone. He'd spotted Morgana's gift and he handled it to her. Then the group started to look for other gifts and so in just few minutes everybody started to unwrap the gifts, curious to find what was inside.
They were also curious to know who'd brought the gifts, but all they got was "Santa Claus" and a lovely story about how Santa keeps bringing gifts every year.
Well, Celeste had bubbled something about Santa while they'd been decorated the Christmas Tree, but they hadn't pay attention to it. Considering Celeste was speaking all the time, it was very difficult to follow her after a while. Arthur had even wondered whether she wasn't Morgana's daughter. Morgana had just answered him Celeste was a great, great, great, great, grandchildren of her brother and her sister-in-law and that they were related indeed.
Because nobody should be alone for Christmas, as Merlin and Morgana firmly declared, the group had to spend the day with an old lady who lived in the neighborhood. They couldn't get why they should be there too. If Merlin and Morgana wanted to keep her company, they were free to do that without involving them. But no, they had to go, too. And it was very boring. The worst part was that they were not allowed to complain.
They were just the two of them and old Merlin decided it was time to give her the present. His wife opened it as quickly as possible. She was enthusiastic and curious.
Yet Morgana was shocked as she saw the picture. She had forgotten about it. In fact she hadn't known he'd taken her a photo that day. The witch only hoped Merlin would keep the photo for himself. She was too colourful for enjoying the idea of anyone seeing the photo.
Years ago
Morgana was sitting at the window, watching the huge snowflakes falling down from the sky. It was a view she'd never enjoyed before. It had been snowing very, very seldom in Camelot and it had never used to last. She'd seen a lot of snow while she'd lived in the mountains, but the witch had been so full of hatred to notice the beauty of the winter.
But now, as she watched the snow while she being inside where it was warm and comfy, the winter looked totally different to the witch.
But she had to share her happiness with Merlin who was very deep asleep. Yet she knew the best way to get his attention.
She gathered as much snow as she could in her hands and then she sneaked in his room, dragged the blanket away from him and put the cold snow on his bare chest. Afterwards, the witch tried to run away. Morgana had never thought it would be so easily.
Well, she'd managed to run away just because he'd been too confused to notice her. Yet there was still a problem. They were alone at the cabin which meant she was the main and only suspect.
Morgana heard him calling her kindly, but something told her not to trust him. So, she stood there. She cursed for taking off her boots and her coat as the witch knew very well what would happen should he were to find her.
There was no way she could put something warm on her as he was blocking her way to the stairs while her cloths were upstairs. He'd probably heard her running down stairs and now was waiting for her to come out of her hiding place.
All her efforts were in vain as she couldn't hold back a sneeze. The witch tried to run upstairs (exactly like in all those stupid horror films where the victims always went up stair instead of going out. Well, at least she had an excuse as it was very cold outside and she was just in her pajamas.)
He followed her. She tried to protect herself by throwing pillows and fluffy toyes at him. It didn't work as he caught her. The witch begged him not to throw her in the snow. She hadn't thought at consequences.
Although throwing her in the snow was pretty tempting, Morgana was hardly wearing anything on her and the last thing he wanted was to spend the winter preparing her tea and throwing napkins.
So he just played with her like a cat would do with a mouse. He kissed her gently while in his mind he'd already prepeared his revenge.
He watched her pwhile she peacefully fell asleep. The witch had really believed he'd forgiven her. Well, he did, but his idea was funny and it was worth being tested...on Morgana.
The warlock put a sleeping spell on her just to be sure and started to paint her body using her eye shadow pallet. It took a lot and it was too easy to remove, but it was very funny. Paint would have been better, but it was toxic and too difficult to remove. Merlin left not a single part of her body unpainted. Now she was a rainbow alien. To make sure it would last he added a bit (well, the entire bottle) of makeup setting spray. He should have become a makeup artist.
It was such a pity Morgana didn't see his talent. But Merlin had already immortalized the moment on his camera and she had not even noticed.
