A/N Is this a purely indulgent fic? Perhaps. Do I absolutely love Merlin and Aithusa's relationship? Yes, because I am a sucker for small dragons and their human counterparts.
Merlin shivered slightly in his blankets, his warming enchantment obviously having faded during the night. Something shifted beside him, which he immediately curled around, seeking the warmth from the tiny body.
The thing nipped him slightly as he curled a bit too tight, and he blinked awake. The pale blue eyes of the small dragon blinked back at him, head cocked to one side. She made a warbling sound, before rubbing her face on his, almost purring.
Before Merlin could react, she had used his body as a spring, claws digging into his body for a few seconds before launching herself off and onto the windowsill, where her pupils widened slightly, watching something outside.
Wincing, Merlin sat up, dragging the warm blanket around his shoulders, rubbing his hands together to get some semblance of warmth into them. He stumbled over to the window and… oh. Oh. It had snowed, little flecks of white puffs drifting past the window. Camelot was shrouded in a blanket of white, and there were already children running around and playing in the snow.
Smiling to himself, Merlin watched Aithusa look at the snow. She looked absolutely fascinated, her entire world changing in one night, covered in a thick layer of snow. Quickly, Merlin repeated the warming spell, sighing in relief as it spread through his body. Surprisingly, he had the day off, courtesy of Gwen of course. (Arthur had grumbled, but relented, both Gwen and Merlin giving each other secret smiles. They both knew that Arthur secretly cared about Merlin's wellbeing, and was only grumbling to put on a show).
Gathering Aithusa in his arms, an indignant squawk torn from her mouth, as she struggled and failed to release herself from Merlin's arms to go back to her perch on the windowsill.
Slipping his head around the door to make sure that they were alone, he stepped outside of his room, grabbing the herb basket, and with another indignant squawk from the baby dragon, put her in, and shut the lid.
Whistling, Merlin left the castle, occasionally having to stop and wrangle the curious dragon back into the basket. Finally, when Merlin surmised that they had made it far enough outside of Camelot that no one would find them, he released her from her temporary prison.
Aithusa, young and excitable as she was, jumped out of the basket, and disappeared promptly into a snow drift.
Merlin snorted, watching as her head suddenly appeared, eyes immediately finding him, a naive curiosity shining through her eyes which sent Merlin doubling over in fits of laughter.
The young dragon gave him a glare, shaking her head before she pulled herself out of the snow, setting down and lifting up her paws as she sniffed at the offending white stuff curiously.
Merlin settled down, magic flowing through his fingertips as he created a dry patch for him to sit on to watch over the young dragon.
Finally, Aithusa seemed to decide that it wasn't her enemy, taking a few cautious steps through the snow, her body relaxing as she got used to it.
Merlin grinned, hands already moving, cupping and shaping the snow in his hands, trying not to laugh as he did so, so as not to give the game away. Waiting, Merlin spotted his opportunity as Aithusa turned around, curious as to the marks which she had left in the snow.
The snowball went flying, hitting her on the head, before spraying off in powdery clumps. Her reaction was immediate.
She jumped, startled by the sudden impact, and Merlin laughed at the surprised expression on her face. Next thing he knew, he was contending with a pile of snow in his face, Aithusa flicking her tail at him, shooting clumps of wet snow into his face and down his jacket.
Merlin glared at the young dragon, but couldn't keep the smile off his face as he started making more snowballs, chasing after Aithusa as they fought in the snow.
Merlin missed this. He missed being young and carefree, playing with Will in the snow, chasing each other around the village, shoving snow down the other's jacket at every opportunity, and then running away before the other could catch them.
Merlin's heart panged as he watched on, Aithusa continuing to galavant through the snow, delighted at the way her tail made shapes and swirls and patterns in it.
This was the way it was supposed to be. Aithusa may not know what the concept of freedom was as such, but she deserved it. Just as the druids and Merlin and all of the other sorcerers out there, just trying to live their lives. Sighing, Merlin sat down, hand trailing through the fresh snow, allowing the powder to slide through his fingers.
He had never felt more alive than he was when he was in nature, breathing the fresh air, feeling the ground beneath his feet and the wind rustling through the tree branches. Magic was everywhere, albeit more dormant than it had ever been.
It saddened Merlin, as he watched Aithusa rolling around in the fresh snow, that just like him she would not know freedom. That eventually she would realise that the tiny bit of freedom which she had would soon disappear, to be replaced by fear and wariness wherever she would go.
Unless Merlin changed it.
Unless Merlin… no. It was too crazy to even think about it. Arthur would never listen. Or would he? Merlin would never know… unless he tried. And if Arthur didn't listen? Well then, Merlin would leave, he would leave and find another place for him and Aithusa to live, someplace far away where he could start afresh.
Yes… no one would ever have to live in fear of their lives again. It was time to stop hiding. For the sake of Aithusa, for the sake of the druids, for the sake of those who were like him, and just wanted to live a normal, peaceful life.
It was time the world had a change of heart.
It was time Arthur knew the truth.