Author's note:

GUYS *pokes you on the shoulder* GUYS! Guess what it's 3 days until! CHRISTMAS!

Let's see if I can keep up to date with my uploads shall we?

Chapter 25: Christmas Eve

"Arthur… Arthur… ARTHUR!"

"What Merlin?"

"Harry was asking if you needed help with your Christmas speech."

"Tell him thank you, but I think I'm a bit too busy to be worrying about some holiday that hadn't even been invented the last time I looked!" Arthur sighed.

"But it's Christmas!"

Arthur rolled his eyes turning very deliberately in his chair to face his friend. "Merlin,"

"Yes?"

"When did you say the world was going to end again?"

A frustrated pause, like before a child admits that they're wrong, "New Year's Eve."

"Which gives us how long exactly?"

Another pause, an exasperated sigh and then: "A week."

"A week, Merlin, yes, we have seven days before the earth decides to rip itself to pieces and you want to throw a party?"

"Of course!" Merlin had that annoying expression, one that he always used when trying to convince Arthur of something which sounded – and not to mention was – completely stupid.

Arthur ruffled his papers. Where had he put his notes on druids again? Groaning he pulled himself out of his seat and moved to look through a draw on the other side of the room.

"Go away Merlin and do something useful!"

"WINSTON CHURCHILL WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD FOR THIS!"

"Oh for god's sake…"

"You need something to keep moral up Arthur, otherwise people will just collapse. We need to show them that we are in control!"

"I don't think…"

"Come on Arthur, you need a break! You've already done so much." Arthur stopped sorting through his draws and raised an eyebrow at him.

Seeing the chink in his armour Merlin went on "You've already calmed conflicts that have been going on for decades. I've seen magic on the streets… This is the nearest to peace that the world has ever seen; opening a Christmas present from underneath a Christmas tree is not going to destroy the world! Who knows? Maybe it will save it" Merlin studied Arthur's face closely. "Look, we can't do anything until we've found Morgana, she knows we need her, so she isn't going to make herself any easier to find… we might as well celebrate whilst we can because you never know, in a week's time we might all be dead."

"Fine." Arthur clapped his arms at his sides "But you're doing the speech, it's my turn to stand at the side and clap and nod, so far that's always been you!"

"Really?" Merlin was grinning.

"Yes"

Merlin did a little jig of excitement "Thank you, thank you!" He squeaked. It was really like he had transformed into a little child at the prospect of such a celebration; Arthur wondered why everyone was so enthusiastic about the event, after all it was just another day.

"Oh, and Merlin" He shouted, catching him before he ran out the door.

"Yup?" Merlin beamed.

"Don't force it upon them; we don't want to start a huge religious argument at this point in time. Just tell them not to cancel any plans."

"Yes, my Lord." Merlin did a little bow – which could have been sarcastic, though given his current state, Arthur highly doubted it – and he was out the door, leaving Arthur to find his missing script.