Merlin woke in the early hours of the morning. He snuck out of his room, past a snoring Gaius and to the small tree that he had stuck in the corner of the room. He had done the same as a young boy in Ealdor; His mother would smile at him as he decorated it with his magic.
It was beautiful in Ealdor during the Christmas season. The whole village would decorate the town with mistletoe and holly reefs. It was a time for family coming together and sharing the happiness that having a family brings.
He looked down at the two presents under the tree and smiled. He had bugged Gaius endlessly asking if he could unwrap his present early. "Open it." He heard Gaius's sleepy voice say and he turned to see Gaius looking at him. He was still lying in his bed and Merlin grinned.
"Open yours too." He said happily as he took the two presents over to where Gaius was and dumped a small present on Gaius's lap. "Merry Christmas." Merlin said and waited for Gaius to unwrap his gift.
Gaius sighed but tore the flimsy paper apart. He gasped when a small amount of dried herbs fell onto his lap. "Merlin, how?" Gaius asked, looking up at his ward with wide eyes; it was Aydabeil; a plant that Gaius had been searching for, for years; an herb that could cure all and any internal ills.
"Magic." Merlin said simply and then began to tear the wrapping off of his own gift. He frowned when he held up a small scrubbing brush, looking over to Gaius he lifted an eyebrow in question and Gaius grinned cheekily. "I'm just joking."
He laughed and pulled an oddly shaped present out from underneath his mattress. "Merry Christmas, Merlin." He said as he took it.
He tore the paper from it manically and smiled broadly when he held up the Angel's hair crystal necklace. He tied it around his neck and hugged Gaius briefly.
"Well off to work." He said merrily and skipped out of the physician's chambers, excited to see the look on Arthurs face when he sees his present; a long-term diet plan that he had written out himself.
Merry Christmas!